come hither

What a 180, Louis Vuitton! Replacing hard-body Madonna with "voluptuous" & sensual Lara Stone! (I only quote voluptuous because as of the fashion industry, she is - as a size 4.) She looks amazing, and I'm so glad Marc is on her side!




In last month's VOGUE, Rebecca Johnson wrote about her curviness


More of my girl crush, Lara.



It's just more appealing and aesthetically pleasing to see clothes clinging to a body rather than hanging from it! Sexy came back this spring with LV's ads and also notoriously provocative Versace. Both designers, and many more, have their models lying down in springs ad campaigns.


And I quote the CUT, "Legs splayed, backs arched, lips parted, eyes smiling and a little stoned-looking, it's the kind of uncomfortable position women never adopt in real life naturally, save one circumstance."

vibrant thing

I am loving unexpected color pairings right now. For Christmas, D got me a J.Crew grandfather cardi in a beautiful light pink. I love light pink but I have too much of it! As a New Year's resolution, (and a recent post of mine) I've chosen to wear more COLOR! So, I exchanged it for the same cardi, but in a rich rusted burgundy. In an online video I watched recently, Jenna Lyons, creative director at J.Crew, gives some tips on what's cool for this season. She said that those who want to wear color but aren't used to it should start with "makeup colors, hues you might actually find at the cosmetics counter." Jenna Lyon's talks Fall.

I've been pairing my rust cardi with fuschia scarves and tanks a la Chris Benz.

More pink and red by COCO! You amaze me...

Red and grey is such a cool combination. The grey softens the red in a way that the black on red (more bordello) has never been able to do. I think it was ELLE that I read this in.

More vibrant things.

tipsy cooking

Last night was my Mom's birthday and my siblings and I threw her a party! (J's homemade arrangements above!) We had the main course catered and we made the hors d'oeuvres & desserts ourselves (us meaning my two sisters and I - all the bro did was pick up booze and move some chairs. BOO.) I wore an outfit of almost completely J.Crew and teetered on 4 inchers while getting giggly, lovey dovey drunk. (The best version of drunk.) Here are two recipes from last night...

Bacon Wraps (Psuedo-sister RLK thought this up. So yummy!)
1 pckg Philly cream cheese
1 pckg crescent rolls
1 pckg bacon
Bunch chopped chives
Mash together the cream cheese and chives. Spread out the crescent rolls on a floured cutting board and pinch together the perforated seams. Spread cc mixture on crescent rolls evenly and cut into long thin strips, then cut again the other way through the middle. Roll each strip individually. Microwave bacon on a plate with paper towels for 3 minutes, so it's slightly cooked but still flexible. Cut each bacon strip lengthwise and then again in half. Wrap around each crescent/chive roll, secure with a toothpick and bake 20 minutes at 350! Ta-da!

Chocolate Roll Cake with Raspberry Mascarpone Filling (adapted from Ina Garten's Pumpkin Roll Cake)
For the cake:
4 eggs
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup sifted confectioner's sugar

For the filling:
12 ounces Italian mascarpone cheese
1 1/4 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 handfuls raspberries, just eyeball it
Pinch kosher salt

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 13 by 18 by 1-inch sheet pan. Line with parchment paper and grease and flour the paper.

Separate eggs. Allow egg whites and yolks to stand at room temp for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and cocoa powder.

In an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat egg yolks and vanilla on high for 5 minutes, until thick and lemon colored. Gradually add 1/3 cup granulated sugar until dissolved.

In another bowl, beat egg whites on medium with the wire attachment until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold egg yolk mixture into egg white mixture. Sprinkle flour mixture over egg mixture; fold in gently just until combined. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake 375 for 12 to 15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.

While the cake is baking, lay out a clean, thin cotton dish towel on a flat surface and sift 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar evenly over it. As soon as you remove the cake from the oven, loosen it around the edges, and invert it squarely onto the prepared towel. Peel away parchment. With a light touch, roll the warm cake and towel together (don't press!) starting at the short end of the cake. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.. AWAY from the dog's reach!

Meanwhile, make the filling. In an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the mascarpone, confectioner's sugar, milk, raspberries and pinch salt until combined. Raspberries will be broken and chunky. Once the cake is cooled, unroll it, spread the filling evenly, and then roll it back up gently. Sift confectioner's sugar atop. Garnish with whole raspberries and serve sliced!!

Currently Craving

A utility belt like this Burberry Prorsum one to tone down dressy, feminine separates.

A warm army green parka.

Red TOMS shoes as an alternative to ballet flats. (And every purchase gives a child in need a pair of shoes!)

A rose colored frock a la Lanvin... this one reminds me of Andie's in Pretty In Pink!

This one by Grace Sun is more my speed.

Vince's taupe leather jacket. I love the draped lapel and hidden off-center zip.

Adam's leopard sequin embellished tank.

DVF's black and white wrap dress.

A plain white shirt with unexpected detailing, like Victorialand's artsy interpretation.

Elizabeth & James' yellow suede platforms.

I guess it's more of a really long wish list!
Ta ta!

This old thing? Well, I'm glad you asked...

Does anyone else have the tendency to itemize themselves before they leave the house in the mornings or while walking down the street to work? I have this fantasy that one day I'll be walking along, minding my own business, when an incredibly chic writer with a covetable wardrobe from Lucky or Marie Claire would pop up and say the best thing I could ever hear, "Wow, that's such a cute outfit; who are you wearing and can I do a five-page fashion spread on you?" I'd say, "Who, me? Oh, this old thing? Well it just so happens I have a detailed list of what I'm wearing, and where you can get it in my top handle! Look at that!" It's happened!! (To someone, once.. I think!) Well, I'm always prepared, should that ever happen to me!

One of my fave nights on the town with PC: Geren Ford grey silk dress, Kate Spade pink slingbacks, yellow no-name clutch, my Nana's pearls - knotted, J.Crew plain gold chain, Anthro sparkly studs. And I believe you are wearing Tory Burch, K??


Today: Velvet black swing dress with bell sleeves, Meteo grey rabbit fur vest, Alex Woo gold lace necklace, leaf necklace from CMM, snakeskin cuff, gold and silver Alexis Bittar bangles from TJM, J.Crew cross-hatched black tights, J.Crew black suede pumps with rose satin bow! Pic soon to come!

Itemizing might be my new way to sign my posts!

xox G.

Alexa turns it on

There are definitely things I like more than a celebrity fashion line. Sweetface by J.Lo, um okay - House of Dereon by Beyonce, no thank you and Bitten by SJP, maybe lasted two seconds. But some are very chic, like Kate Moss for Topshop, Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. & the Olsen's Elizabeth & James. Well here's another I will soon add to that short list of celebrities who have passed my clothing line test. Alexa Chung and Madewell (J.Crew's cooler, edgier little sister) are debuting a range of pieces that encompass her enviable cool-girl downtown style. Expect printed tees, leather biker jackets, full skirts and girlish velvet dresses from the model, DJ and former MTV personality. VOGUE quotes Alexa, "I want to bring back forties tea dresses, sixties mod dresses. . . . I want to bring cute back."

J.Crew/Madewell CEO Mickey Drexler’s asked Alexa to create a capsule collection, including lookbooks full of her sketches and inspirations. WWD’s description makes it sound like the clothes will be marched right from her closet to the sales floor: tea dresses, polka dots, high waisted skinny jeans, and wool jackets with lace. The collection will land in stores in late August, and Alexa will star in their campaign, too. Obvi.

Here's Alexa with her signature Mulberry bag, oh you know, the one that's named after her.



The cropped tux jacket from Madewell. I like!

someone get me a hot toddy

I was in Vermont all weekend (thank you MLK for that extra day of skiing!) Ahh, Vermont - land of snow, hot tubs and apres ski drinks! Also, the home to a collection of my dad's vintage (are they allowed to be called vintage if they're ugly?) J.Crew sweaters. Total 80's zigzags and stripes in primary colors - a must for apres ski!

Here's an old photo of B, D & J wearing them at cocktail hour. Lookin' good! My dad loves this male bonding routine... he calls it Man-Town. Man-Town in the hot tub, Man-Town at the Loft in Ludlow, Man-Town in our backyard around a fire pit (which one time got so high and strong, my brother-in-law's eyebrows were singed off!) It's a grown-up version of 'no girls allowed' and I don't mind it - LET THEM!


Up in VT, I get into a fashion funk. It's more about warmth and functionality! Like my black Under Armour spandex leggings and crewneck I wore to the bars last night on the access road at Killington.. Sheer laziness! (Maybe if I was in New York, I could have paired it with heels and told everyone it was a sporty black catsuit.) It's also just super casual up there. If I was vacationing somewhere chicer like Chamonix or Gstaad, I could pull off the outfit above, from DVF's Fall '10 RTW. Black (faux?) fur, winter white frills AND leopard print leggings - I love it!

Prints are another chic option for apres ski fashion. I tend to experience an intimidation factor with them but I've been lusting after this Fall '10 Anna Sui dress since it debuted on ShopBop this winter. Until the European ski trips commence, though, I think I will stick to my thick wooly socks, underarmour catsuits and "vintage" J.Crew sweaters.

Africa by Toto

Here's DJM and I at the point in Cape Point, South Africa. Just cause I feel like it!

Another one of the same nature, kayaking off of Clifton Beach, Cape Town, just because I want to.

Kayaking after sunset in shark-infested waters? If you insist. And because this is supposed to be a fashion-type BLOG, please note my cobalt pullover (hey, its a cardigan, but thanks for noticing) and my un-washed hair. That's all.

Red Rain

Since mid-summer (in my night's dreams), I've been looking for the perfect red dress. I don't have this color really anywhere in my wardrobe, which is such a crime.. I know!
I saw this woman on the Sartorialist (Is this becoming a trend for me? Maybe just an obsession). She's wearing it perfectly, with rich brown sandals and a cognac top handle - so effortless. Actually, now that I'm staring at her dress, it looks orange to me, but you get the picture.. I've been craving a red dress that is easy and classic enough for day wear.

This DVF style is perfect and almost matches the LIST woman's dress. I definitely need another wrap dress to hug me tightly!

Here's another red DVF wrap dress. I need this too, emphasis on NEED! Without red in my closet, it's incomplete! I could wear this out on Valentine's night, or any other night I need to turn up the heat. I don't know this model, but she certainly looks like she's on the prowl!!! Meow! :)

As for now, I'll get my red fix with rouge! I need it on this cold Monday. I love this color on Amanda Seyfried, which makes me think I would love it on me, because we have similar coloring. I read that she was wearing Dior Lip Pencil in Heather Rose and Rouge Dior Lipstick in Fantastic Plum #874 on www.makeupbag.net. Sephora here I come!!

peonies, sequins & chambray

Flowers & fashion.
The girl in the picture above is celebrating both at the same time. (From The Sartorialist, a favorite blog of mine and the fashion world)

Peonies are only one of my favorite flowers. During my summer of unemployment, a period I miss terribly, I gardened mostly every day with my mother. We tended to large hydrangea bushes in a variety of colors including cerulean, fuschia, sage, lavender and ivory, and struggled to protect two large yellow dahlia plants from a teeming beetle population. I need to find a way to encorporate all three of these large flowers into my wedding somehow.. (something that isn't happening anytime soon, but like any girly girl, plans in her mind constantly).

Another favorite of mine - anything sequined, sparkly, glimmering, or shiny!!!! Things that catch the light have always been in style (um, hello - DIAMONDS?) and are still so mainstream today.

You can find something shiny in almost any form: blouses, pants (a la American fashion God, Ralph Lauren in the Spring 2010 RTW - above), makeup, jewelry, and shoes.

Here's another example of sparkly embellished pants from the Balmain Spring 2010 show. My sister, JMK, has translated Balmain's runway to her real-way with a pair of sequined pants quite like this, in black.

An American classic: denim from head to toe. Don't confuse this for the faux pas named for our northern neighbors (Canadian tuxedos), denim on denim works when different hues of blue are mixed. And how comfortable does that look? I can imagine myself riding across the pasture of my non-working South Carolina farm to tend to my pot-bellied pigs, goats, chickens and my lone cow in the mornings. Then, a young and single Paul Newman and I would browse our vegetable garden, and cook a fabulous dinner for our ten closest friends. In a perfect, fantasmical world!


Ralph Lauren embodies how I would dress if I had no monetary limits. Although its not very descriptive and a fashion cliche, what RL designs is classic, timeless, yet trendy; it's true! I love brands that stay true to themselves, as opposed to bending any way the trends lead them.

I've also become super-obsessed with the J.Crew store lately, because it looks like Glenda the Good Witch's glitter wand exploded in there. I recently got the Supernova Necklace (above) for it's equal balance of parts tough and sparkly. I think that's why sequins and chambray go so well together. I love the juxtaposition of a menswear inspired shirt and girly, shimmering sparkle!!


Which is better? I can't decide. The lighter, popover style would go well as a shirt or a beach coverup but the darker version can be worn all the way open as a warm weather jacket.

Another J.Crew style I'm lusting after.

These Christian Louboutin's would definitely satisfy my hunger for sparkle.

I would gladly click my heels together a thousand times for these.

Or these.

But I will most likely get these, just enough glint for everyday wear and bankable.