Everything's Better with Frosting

1. Boutique 9 “Better” Sandals $46.80 (clearance);  2. Gold Circle Chain Belt $23.00;  3. Cream Leather Obi Belt $32.89;  4. Topshop Leather Fingerless Gloves $36.00;  5. Costume National Top $64.00 (on sale);  6. Hoss Intropia Bow Brooch $32.89;  7. Modcloth Moss of All Skirt $39.99

1. Faux Leather Strap Belt $16.30 - H&M Stores;  2. Therapy Sheepskin Waterfall Coat $32.63 (on sale);  3. ASOS Chain Detail Lace Cuff $10.34;  4. People’s Market Kebo Black Dress $36.00 (on sale);  5. Sword Earrings $26.00;  6. Tasha Layered Chain Choker $48.00;  7. The McKay Over the Knee Boot $27.95 (on sale)

1.  Topshop Nude Leather Skinny Belt $32.00;  2. Modcloth Creme Fraiche Tights $14.99;  3. Mixed Media Scarf $9.00;  4. Victoria’s Secret Over-the-Knee Buckle Boot $44.99 (clearance);  5. Twenty8Twelve by S.Miller Gigi Chiffon-Trimmed Jersey Top $48.86 (on sale);  6. Miss Sixty Skirt $32.00 (on sale);  7. Carole Wood Bead Cuff $14.00

For Salpy ;)  

Dress: sample sale; Scarf: Saks; Cardigan: Allsaints; Handbag: Asos; Boots: Naughty Monkey; Jewelry: Saks

After a frustratingly long hiatus, I am finally mostly moved into my new office (at least enough to get Frosting up and running again)!!  Unfortunately, my closet is as yet dismantled and strewn between four closets in two houses, and Francesca is currently residing in another town (sad face)…  Luckily, Salpy, Deanne and I did an inspired by shoot a couple of months ago that never made it up!  Hey hey heyyy.

Jamie had challenged me to create an outfit inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma.  The result felt like something akin to Laura Ingalls Wilder meets Holly Hobby, and kind of made me want to spin around in circles in a wheat field somewhere, but we’re gonna go ahead and say it was successful for argument’s sake.  Also, we took pictures in Burbank after making a large delivery to Warner Bros. Studios, so I got to lug boxes around dressed like this, which was interesting.  I felt pretty hot and grubby, so forced the girls to stop for ice cream first, which everyone knows is pretty much the best cheap bribe ever next to birthday cake.  

One of my current favorite celebrities to watch is Diane Kruger.  Her style always seems to hit that golden balance of both effortless and chic — generally with one or two quirky touches that keep her look intriguing on a totally approachable level (okay, maybe not totally.  I’ll admit that perfect face would probably be intimidating as hell in person).  This Chanel-obsessed celeb obviously knows how to work a designer label, so I thought it would be a fun exercise to recreate some of her outfits on budget.  I had to fight serious shopping cravings to avoid purchasing any of these pieces for myself, but Jay and I just got the keys to our new home, so any extra spending money will likely be used for interior fashions rather than personal ones for the time being.  Although there’s always the hope that an extra fedora may go unnoticed on my hat rack…  

1. A Common Thread Knit Bow Tie Necklace $25.00;  2. Denim Sailor Shorts $19.99;  3. White House Black Market Two-Tone Slingback $49.99 (on sale);  4. Chambray Elena Blouse $19.99;  5. Forever 21 Floral Woven Clutch $14.80

1. Old Navy Suspended-Neck Top $5.99;  Modcloth Cute Comedienne Skirt $37.90;  3. Double Ruffle Hair Bow $10.95;  4. J. Crew Woven Straw Fedora $24.99 (on sale);  5. Sephora Super Shimmer Lip Gloss – Desert Gold $4.00 (on sale);  6. Essie Nail Polish – Intimate $7.79, Target Stores;  7. Krystal Flower Sandal $16.20

1. Elbow Sleeve Lace Top $19.80;  2. dELiAs Ada Skirt $14.99 (on sale);  3. Bamboo Multistrap Gladiator Sandal $18.20;  4. Brixton Grand Hat $45.00;  5. Oversized Striped Cardigan $65.00;  6. Stitch Detail Belt $7.99

Jay and I crashed an elementary school for these photos.  We’re hardcore like that.  Luckily it was Sunday and there weren’t a ton of little kids around to flip out over Francesca’s presence on their turf; however, several “concerned” community members did check up on us to make sure we were legit.  I’m not even entirely sure we’re legit, but apparently we looked safe enough and were allowed to stay.

I’m still working on seeing how little sleep I can get by on and still function at a remotely competent level.  I am balancing this experiment by wearing things that look like I’m trying while actually functioning at a remotely competent level (and which I could also comfortably nap in should said experiment fail).  This sweater fits the bill perfectly, and I am in love with it.  It was part the fallout of a February shopping spree, for which I entirely blame Miss Shini of the supremely addictive blog, Park & Cube.  She offered a massive discount to online boutique, Luphia, and I obviously lack the will power to say no to massive discounts.  But now I have a super stylish sweater that can also double as a pillow if need be, so all is obviously well with the world.  

1.  Tiered Jersey Maxi Dress $32.50 (on sale);  2. BCBGeneration Sheer-Knit Sweater $49.00 (on sale);  3. All Saints Zette Ring $50.00;  4. BCBGeneration Sheer-Knit Sweater $49.00 (on sale);  5. Chambray Snap-Front Blouse $39.50;  6. Modcloth Rock Around the Block Ring $13.99;  7. Topshop Oversize Round Sunglasses $32.00;  8. Fancy Knit Dress $24.00;  9. Michael Antonio Ori Knee-High Boot $47.27

1. Diane von Furstenberg ‘Samson’ Maxi Dress $485;  2. Wool Sweater $97;  3. Tom Ford ‘Rhonda’ Round Sunglasses $395;  4. Valentino Rose-Front Stretch Bootie $1,145;  5. Alexis Bittar Crystal Encrusted Ring $255;  6. Chloé Denim Shirt $381 (on sale);  7. Made Her Think Gladiator Fringe Ring $225;  8. 3.1 Phillip Lim Tunic Dress $395;  9. Yin Cosmo Boot $416