Rock Candy

This isn't exactly the age of decadence, but re-watching period dramas like Downton Abbey and The Tudors have me swooning at the sight of extravagant heirloom jewelry. These modern-day versions aren't worth millions, but I've gone crazy for their vibrant colors that look good enough to eat!

Alexis Bittar, $186

Coralia Leets, $788

Kenneth Jay Lane, $84

Bauble Bar, $28

Oscar de la Renta, $397

A cure for the Monday blahs..

It's Monday. Does everyone still hate those? If so, I might have the cure for you: photos of adorable baby animals! Pinterest has been a wonder for many things, including DIYs and recipes I might never get around to but love to know exist. Currently topping the charts are these little guys, and I feel no shame in spreading the cute.

original source

There, don't you feel better? :) And now back to your regularly scheduled fashion and style..

Do you rock a mullet?

You're probably hoping for some T-shirts with epic hairstyle images, but unfortunately I'm not obsessed with those at the moment. A "mullet shirt" is apparently the name for tees that are longer in the back (..ohhhh), and they're all I want to wear this fall!

NastyGal, please enlighten the masses:

Laced chiffon blouse, $68

I recognize that NastyGal's styling is unrealistic for 99.9% of the population, but for a moment let's imagine a black or nude tank underneath, some black skinny jeans and tall boots. Voila! My fall uniform.

Now can I get an encore, do you want more? Sorry, Jay-Z has been having a moment in my iPod. Anywho, check these out, and tell me if you're on board with this trend!

Vero Moda snake-print chiffon shirt, $50 at ASOS.com

Wallflower lace jacket, $48

Morphine Genereation mesh-back tee, $36 (was $68) at ASOS.com

Striped mullet tee, $68 at Obvious Clothing

And if you accidentally wandered here looking for an actual mullet T-shirt, today is your lucky day:

Mullet shirt, $30 at Zazzle.com

Zara launches e-commerce in the US

The heavens parted, and the Fashion Gods said unto us: Zara now offers online shopping in the US!

Didn't it feel like this day would never come?

Admittedly, my Midtown office is surrounded by Zara stores and I rarely find myself in any of them. But I do have my moments when I would kill for need see an item on a blog, etc, and just can't find it anywhere. It's too early to tell if my sartorial woes have been solved, but I'll gladly welcome another opportunity to shop--especially where most of the goods haven't already been picked over.

For example, where has this beauty been all my life??

Zara Combined Clutch Bag, $159

Please, someone hide my wallet. And my PayPal.

Gimme gimme

Michelle Chang skull ring, $348

GyspySolDesigns turquoise cross necklace, $38

BrideBlu giraffe charm necklace, $18

AmandaDeer mini feather necklace, $24

My obsession with Etsy has never been healthy, but now I feel it's at an all-time high. I fear my friends and family may stage an intervention for my sudden obsession with cute, tiny charm jewelry.

And I don't even care.

GIVE ME TINY CHARM JEWELRY.

Studded lust

Numph studded jersey jacket, was $102, now $49 at asos.com

It is very, very hot outside. So why am I lusting after this very warm-looking studded jersey jacket? Oh yeah, it's completely comfortable AND badass.. like fighting crime in your pajamas.

Am I nutso, or do you suddenly want one, too?

Elle Vietnam - Perfection beyond obsession

OHMYGOODNESS. I absolutely can not stop staring at these photos of Dinara Chetyrova in July's Elle Vietnam. Such strength and power enveloped in billowy silhouettes, luxe jewel tones and stunning animal prints.

I can't get over it. Can't. Obsessed is not the word.

Happy Friday!

Images via here

Watch your back, Ariel

A movie match made in heaven. But really, if I wore any epic one-piece suit this summer.. this would be it (thoughts of vagina dentata aside). $90 at Black Milk!

Forever loving Alexis Bittar jewelry

Swarovski-crystal encrusted gold cuff from the Miss Havisham collection, $225

Sorry it took me so long to pick back up, but I will be posting regularly again. I'm still in Florida (where my dad lived), so posts might be shorter until I get back to Brooklyn at the end of the week. Thanks for all of your support, it really means a lot to me.

Back to the bloggy blog.. if I were only allowed to wear jewelry from one designer ever again, Alexis Bittar is hands-down my pick! There is something so elegant yet semi-undone about everything he creates. I want all of it!

Also, don't get confused--Alexis is a (rather good-looking) man. His glamorous statement pieces frequently adorn the Gossip Girl stars and were often found gracing the Sex and the City ladies (Patricia Field is a big fan!).

Which is your favorite? 

Duchamp gold hoop earrings from the Elements collection, $175

Flora gold gem-encrusted bracelet from the Lucite collection, $450

Freaking out for this bag

I want need will die without am absolutely overreacting for this bag. Antik Batik black leather fringe bag, was $335, now down to a slightly more manageable $168 at Net-A-Porter's (tip: pronounced Net-A-Port-ay) 50% off sale.

Please steal buy this for me.

Obsessed with..

Sometimes, an obsession just goes to a level that can't be controlled. Luckily I'm not quite to that point, but if I don't get my hands on at least one of these--and soon--chaos could be near.

These are the things I can't get out of my mind:

1. J.Crew's Spring 2011 Lookbook
Way preppier than anything I own, and yet I can't imagine wearing anything else this spring.

2. Gorjana jewelry
Simple and incredibly elegant is how I aspire to dress, reflecting the fact that my life is in order. Until then, I'll be drooling over this necklace as I eat grilled cheese sandwiches and blog.

Gorjana "Taner" necklace, $60, at endless.com

3. Hot kitchenware
Following a near-obsession that almost occurred after cooking chicken parmesan for the first time, I decided that I just had to learn how to cook, because it was so easy and delicious. That didn't last long, but until I get the cooking bug again, I'd like to at least appear domesticated.

Diamond-Cut Measuring Cups, $32, at Anthropologie

Picking Pansies apron, $32, at Anthropologie

Rococo potholders, $12, at Anthropologie

Cookbook, $40, at Anthropologie

4. Unnecessary crop tops
When I watched this go down Betsey Johnson's runway, my brain shut off. I wish it were part of Pink Patch, so I could snag it for under $100!

5. A job
My freelance gig is up this Friday. Yikes! Anyone need an assistant fashion editor?