Elephant Locket

(Image Credit: Freshy Fig's Etsy)

Isn't this vintage locket lovely? I've never seen anything quite like it.

Inspired by: City Hall Park

  

 1.) Wayuu Taya Foundation Susu Bag (Shopbop, $175)

   2.) Rumba Time Big Apple Slap Watch (Shopbop, $25)

3.) Cartier Scarf (Bluefly, $154)

4.) Paisleys Spoon Rest (Anthropologie, $10)

Every morning on my commute to SPI, I pass through New York's City Hall Park. Full of public art like this "Splotch 15" sculpture, the park is a huge source of style inspiration. With a wardrobe full of black and gray, I'm not normally one to dress like a rainbow, but I think I could incorporate some brights into my accessories like the ones pictured above.

Readers what are your style inspirations? Are there any other public art pieces in New York I should seek out?

PS Click here for a link to the Wayuu foundation's website--It's a really cool nonprofit working with the indigenous people of northern Colombia and Venezuela.

I was Bombarded with Pornography at American Apparel

I'm the first to admit that I like American Apparel. I'm a big fan of the company's business practices, and I own several of the brand's most popular styles. However, I most certainly don't appreciate their website's use of full-frontal nudity with absolutely no warning.

I opened americanapparel.com earlier today in anticipation of the brand's newest leather clutches. As I clicked the accessories tab, I was bombarded by a photograph of towels displaying images of naked men, one of whom had his penis fully exposed.

Yes, I'm well-aware of the fact that American Apparel is known for having provocative advertising strategies. Maybe I should have known better, but I think that page should have had a warning or something. What if I had been at school? At work? In front of a child?

Am I being reasonable, or just prudish? Readers, what do you think?

The waiting game

I've been lusting after this Sparkle & Fade dress from Urban Outfitters for some time now. I finally worked up the nerve to put it in my shopping cart only to realize it won't be available until the end of May! What a disappointment. Now I can't decide whether it's worth it to order this far in advance. What if I find another dress I like more before then? I would have loved to have it during my graduation celebrations!

Readers-- what would you do? Pre-order the dress or wait it out?

Sundress Day Dreams

1.) Shoshanna Strapless Full Skirt Dress (Shopbop $375)
2.) Mojave Bikini (Anthropologie $148)
3.) Jack Rogers Hampton Thong Sandals (Bloomingdale's $96)
4.) Spring Flower Ring (Forever 21 $3.80)
5.) See by Chloe Tieta Carryall (Shopbop $175)
6.) Umbrella in Diane Signature Print ($45)
7.) Cats 1000 (Ray-Ban $135)

I know it's hard to believe with all this talk of snowpocalypses and snowmageddons, but yesterday Punxsutawney Phil predicted spring is on its way. Even though the temperature in North Carolina is barely out of the thirties, I couldn't help but get a little excited. I'm already dreaming of sundress season.

Readers, are y'all ready for spring fashion? Or are the mittens and scarves of winter more your style? 

Ways to Procrastinate During Exams

After finishing my last final yesterday, I'm finally headed home to Nashville to celebrate the holidays with my family. Exams were rough, and I can't imagine going through them again, but for those of you still stuck in University libraries nation-wide, here my favorite procrastination websites:

College Humor--Okay, so some of the jokes are a bit questionable, but the site's definitely good for a laugh when you're stressed out. Parodying college life, this multimedia website was started by a Wake Forest alum, Ricky Van Veen, so you know it's got to be good.

Orisinal's Winterbells-- Winterbells is not your typical computer game. Soothing music plays are you navigate a bunny through the sky, collecting bells as you go. Lose a round? No problem, the bunny falls peacefully to the snow-filled ground. There's no animated violence, no aggression, no simulated bunny death, just good clean fun. Be careful though, it's addictive.

Pandora--For those of you who can't study in complete silence, I recommend Pandora. Just plug in an artist or song you like into this online radio and you'll be instantly serenaded by only the music you like. It's my favorite place to discover bands I might not find otherwise.

Sporcle--Whether you're cramming for a History final or just a Harry Potter fanatic, Sporcle has a quiz for you.  My favorite trivia games? Historical Tweets, Harry Potter Top 200, and Famous Faces Badly Drawn.

Online Shopping--Even as my bank account inches closer to $0.00, I find myself scouring the internet for this season's latest trends. My favorite one-stop shops with lots of inventory include: department stores like Bloomingdale's, Etsy, Shopbop, Bluefly, and online sample sale sites RueLaLa and Gilt.

Readers what are your favorite websites to procrastinate on? Besides blogs of course!

Chic Coats for Cheap

How cute are these wool coats? With temperatures dropping, now's the perfect time to invest in some stylish outerwear. Even better, these chic coats are on sale at Old Navy for a limited time. The plaid "prep coat" (top left) is less than $30, and celebrities like AnnaLynne McCord and Kristin Cavallari have been seen sporting the "ruffled wool-blend coat" (bottom left, $60). The sale continues until November 10.

Obsession of the Moment: Capes

My top trend this fall is definitely the cape. I'm obsessed with all the pieces pictured below, especially the Anthropologie look. Readers what are your favorite trends for fall?

(Clockwise from top left):
Everything in Place Cape: Anthropologie ($198)
Alice and Olivia Emory Cape: Shopbop ($495) 
Navy Wool Capulina: Etsy ($56)
Ultimate Military Cape: Topshop ($190)

Shopbop Friends and Family Sale!

Midterms are fast approaching, so my apologies for a brief post this morning. Today online retail giant shopbop.com is offering 20% off any regularly-priced item! It's almost too good a deal to pass up. Enter inthefamily20 at checkout to receive the discount.

I'm currently craving this and this and this, but can't decide if they're worth the splurge. Readers are you shopping Shopbop's Friends and Family Sale?

Hautelook Rant

Readers, I wanted to give you an update on this post from back in August. Here's the story:

At the time of the post, I had just scored a deal through Hautelook on a chic Rachel Pally dress and couldn't wait for it to arrive on my doorstep perfect and pristine, ready to be packed for school. Unfortunately, nothing happened how I imagined.

First, the dress didn't arrive until after I'd left for college, more than a week after they estimated it would be delivered. I called customer service to complain, and they eventually refunded the shipping charge, which I thought was very professional of them. I thought the saga would end there.

Nope. Once the dress finally arrived in Nashville, my mom took the box inside and forgot about it. When she finally opened the package to send me the dress, she found the inner bag to be mangled and the dress ripped. At this point it had been over a month since I'd placed the order. There was no way they would take it back so after a lengthy phone call debating my options, my mom kindly agreed to stitch up the tears.


 Fortunately, the large bib of fabric covers nearly all of the stitching, so this didn't become a total fashion nightmare/ waste of money, but I'm still super annoyed. I understand Hautelook is a discount retailer, but that doesn't mean products should come damaged! My dress had at least four tears in it. I think that's ridiculous.

In contrast, when I placed an order with one of Hautelook's rival sample sites, RueLaLa, my purchase came quickly, wrapped appropriately and completely free of any damages.

Readers, have you all ever has issues with Hautelook?  I'm curious to see if this was a fluke or typical of their company. Weigh in in the comment section!

Obsession of the Moment: House of Harlow 1960

Earlier this week, Shopbop.com debuted House of Harlow 1960's Fall 2010 collection. Filled with statement pieces, the triangle-inspired line ranges in price from $57 for a set of turquoise leather and gold earrings to $220 for a tribal cuff. While slightly extravagant for everyday, pieces from Nicole Richie's fall collection would add the perfect boho-chic touch to an outfit for evening. My obsession of the moment: the enameled tribal wrap ring ($65). It adds an instant "cool" factor to any look.

Readers, will you be shopping House of Harlow's Fall line? What are your favorite jewelry pieces this season?

(Image Credits: Shopbop)

Say Goodbye to Summer :(

I thought I'd give you one last look at white dresses before Labor Day banishes them to the back of your closets. Readers, do you adhere to the "No white after Labor Day" rule?

1.) Alice + Olivia ($277.20)
2.) Nightcap Clothing ($264)
3.) Milly ($176)

(Photo credit: Shopbop)

Anticipation

I don't know what people did before online shopping. More specifically, I don't know what people did before online sample sales. Designer clothes for cheap and I barely have to lift a finger? There must be a catch. All in all, they're pretty terrific, but it takes forever for purchases to come in the mail.

A few weeks ago, I ordered a super-cute Rachel Pally dress through one of Hautelook's blow-out sales. I got a great deal on it, but it's no where in sight! I recognize that I'm being a bit impatient, but cross your fingers that it comes before I leave for school next week. My order status suggests an estimated delivery around August 14, but the dress hasn't shipped yet.

Have any of y'all ordered through Hautelook? How long did your order take?