My Fall Story

Ordinarily I love the fall fashion shows and especially the large August/September issues of the fashion magazines outlining the fall looks. Each of the shows or fashion spreads have a story to tell. The tales from Fall 2010 have left me a little cold. The Marc Jacobs/Prada take on the full figured 1950s housewife has been told before and seems like a costume from "Mad Men". The minimalist look from Chloe and others seemed to go overboard towards the masculine without a nuance towards the feminine. So where does that leave the story for fall? I decided to write my own. I have been watching alot of classic movies lately and watched "It Happened One Night" along with a string of B movies with Myrna Loy as a very young heroine from the 1930s. These women dressed with a panache and cleverness that is missing from anything presented by designers today. The lovely dresses, furs and sequins abound...so what can we take from the Great Depression for the Great Recession? I am drawn to fur collars with classic camel and tweeds mixed with denim in a modern look. My fall story is starting to take shape with my recent jacket find...

Out of the Closet

I have a very specific philosophy about closets. Might be my type A personality but the system works for me. I put certain types of clothes together- jackets, pants, blouses in a designated area. Once they are in the area, I sort into groups by color. My shoes are a different story- they are displayed randomly like pieces of art because they pretty much are! Plus they are easily accessible in their individual spots on shelves. I place my handbags and hats above everything because I don't access them as often and they are fun to have at eye level. I like having everything organized because then the closet feels more like a collection of things I love rather than a jumble of clothes. One rack is set aside for when fashion happens and I get an idea for an outfit. Ensembles are completely put together on hangers including accessories like scarves and jewelry for easy access when I need them. I also have a huge antique mirror hung in the closet for function and decor. Next to the mirror I hang my longer necklaces simply on nails to keep them from tangling. Finally, a small heart frame contains a photo of my grandma...my fashion inspiration and icon.

I Heart Jenna Lyons

My favorite blog, The Glamourai , featured a piece about Jenna Lyons, the creative director, now president of J.Crew. I love Jenna's style and the look she has created for J.Crew. Found myself thinking about another article I read earlier this summer about Jenna's personal style. Her favorite pants are an exaggeration: either super skinny or super wide, nothing in between. I decided to pull out my super wide Gap khakis and pair with a recent J.Crew spotted sweater find in honor of Jenna's big promotion. Paired with vintage mink collar, Michael Kors leopard belt and Athena Alexander platform wedges. Nail polish is Blue Blast from Sally Hansen.

DIY Denim Vest

Love the look of denim vest with flowery dress or T-shirt to give a rougher more casual edge. I decided to visit the Gap for a vest and found one for $50.00 on sale. Figuring I could do better for less, I found a cute Ralph Lauren denim jacket with a fitted longer vest-like shape for $6.99 at the Goodwill. I simply cut the sleeves off and followed the existing trimmed edge for a hem. Voila! I have a great denim vest DIY style.

A Walk in the Park

Summer Shine

A Rose is a rose...