Kimberly Ovitz

laragale — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:10:49 +0000

Kimberly Ovitz‘s classic in the front, modern in the back little black dress has been all over the red carpet lately – and I love it. The rest of her line is a similar mix of contrasting styles, tailored with slouchy, preppy with bohemian, all in sharp neutral colors. Not surprisingly, the Martin dress is sold out at most online retailers despite the $495 price tag but I bet it won’t be long until there are more affordable knockoffs everywhere!

Christian Siriano for Payless

laragale — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:04:19 +0000

Christian Siriano has had a collection for Payless in the works for awhile now – and the first few pairs are up! The platform sole, punky details, and cone shaped heel are right on trend, and I do love a colored sole. None of the original designs that he debuted have shown up yet however…maybe he had to tone down the designs? Or maybe they were deemed too similar to the Rodarte collection? Either way, I hope the blue and green tapestry pair are available at some point!

Julie & Julia

laragale — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:08:45 +0000

I immediately drawn to this movie by the infectious charm of Meryl Streep playing Julia Child in the previews – I don’t think many actresses could have pulled off this part as endearingly as she did. What I wasn’t expecting was the obvious, which Kasmira worded so well on her blog:

“The Julie side of the story explores all those blogging themes you’re familiar with: the ease of blog creation, wondering if anyone is reading, the thrill of the first comment, the puzzlement of family over this ‘blog thing,’ craving the approval of perfect strangers, the struggle to continue posting regularly, and the dream of a book deal.”

Hmm, apparently I live under a rock. This movie isn’t about the predictable plot or the fleeting moments of cheesiness (both of which are present) but the art of good food and good relationships. Both of those elements seem very genuine, and if the smiles and laughs are any indication, most other people in the theatre left with the same warm and fuzzy feeling that I did.

And if you are a blogger or interested in blogging, it definitely is a must see! Duh.

The Zoe Report

laragale — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:42:14 +0000

I don’t know how I feel about Rachel Zoe. I’m not doubting that her influence on the fashion world is pretty profound, but she’s not my favorite. Maybe it’s the oversized 80′s prom dresses she tends to wear in her ads for Bravo, or the fact that her catchphrase seems a little too close for comfort if she doesn’t eat a sandwich. Still I had to check out her new site, The Zoe Report to see if there are any worthwhile style tips.

The verdict? I have to admit, I was entertained, and picked up a few items to add to my shopping list as well. If, like me and unlike Zoe, you aren’t looking to drop thousands of dollars on couture pieces, she does include a “Parallel Universe” link at the bottom of every article with more afforable versions. A quick summary: I like the idea of white nail polish for fall although it probably wouldn’t flatter my skintone, I do want the Sartorialist book, pyramid stud jewelry but I prefer earrings, and the highlight for me was this Anthropologie coat - looks so cozy!

Townhouse a la Tom Ford

laragale — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:16:50 +0000

You know, I love black and white. And modern design. And luxury townhouses too. But somehow, Tom Ford’s home seems to have carried these themes a little too far. I want to rush in with a bag full of brightly colored pillows, vases with flowers, and an array of citrus fruits for the bowl in the kitchen. Then again, I’m not a highly respected fashion icon, so maybe I’m missing something?

Trend: Bib Necklaces

laragale — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:41:45 +0000

The enormous Fall issue of Lucky showed up on my doorstep this weekend, and not surprisingly fashion on a budget was a big focus. One of the trends I especially liked was bib necklaces – they can glam up a tunic for night or give your work outfit a new look, from glitzy to bohemian. If you’re interested in any of the pieces of these outfits, visit my profile at Polyvore for the details (almost everything is under $50!).

This gorgeous BR necklace was what originally caught my eye in Lucky, but it’s one of the pricier versions at $150. Still, it would make an amazing piece for a night out on the town!

Arden B has a slightly punk version with interlocking chains for $28. I think this would be perfect to give a classic outfit like a pencil skirt and button-down or a sheath dress a little edge.

On the more bohemian side is this pretty coral necklace from Anthropologie for $38. I would wear this with jeans, a boyfriend tee and flats for a comfy weekend outfit.

If you’re into shiny things, this necklace from Forever 21 definitely has the bling factor and could dress up an otherwise plain top.

Shoe Love

laragale — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:25:13 +0000

Another fashion blogger fell for with the same shoes I just bought at the Anniversary Sale, and she also pointed out that they are a close replica of the Giambattista Valli’s that Rachel Evan Wood wore a few years back, which I had totally forgotten about. I loved them then, and I love my more budget friendly version now!

Four Dollar Dress

laragale — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:43:28 +0000

I found this dress on the clearance rack at Target for $4! I love the plum color, pockets, and the exposed zipper in back. It’s definitely an easy piece to throw on and go out to dinner which is where I wore this with a burgundy belt and Michael Kors two tone burgundy pumps that I snagged at last year’s Nordstrom sale. Very simple but mixing ridiculously cheap pieces with more quality items is one of my favorite style tricks.

I go back and forth about posting outfit pictures on my blog. I usually don’t think to take pictures even if I’ve put thought into what I’m wearing and I’m actually pretty camera shy. But I like getting outfit inspiration from other the other sites on my blogroll so much that I figured one or two posts can’t hurt!

If You’re Ever in Pittsburgh…

laragale — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:58:45 +0000

Eat at Cambod-Ican Kitchen. Ignore the rather shady exterior, the lack of a sign out front, and the odd collection of used furniture and knickknacks that resides right inside the door, although, that’s all part of the charm. Instead focus on the food. Because it’s amazingly good, incredibly cheap, and cooked from scratch while you wait.

BYOB (because you can do that in Pittsburgh) or drink wine out of water glasses while you watch the line of people heading to or coming from the Southside bars run out the door and around the corner. We went here with friends this weekend, and we’re just waiting for it to be featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives! The stir fried rice noodles were delicious and anything with their signature Moon sauce is worth a try.

Other highlights from our Pittsburgh trip were the Carnegie Museums, Mattress Factory, and Hofbrauhaus - the last of which is a replica of a famous German beer hall. It’s gimmicky to the extreme, but I have to say that walking into a massive room filled with people dancing on benches and clinking liter beer steins to a polka band playing Michael Jackson (did I mention it was 8 pm on a weeknight?) is a pretty unique experience. And the sauerkraut was delicious.

I think it’s only fitting that our Pittsburgh weekend was filled with good times and simple, non-pretentious food. And beer too, of course.

image from Carnegie Pulse

Tortoiseshell Heels

laragale — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:53:57 +0000

How did I not already know about The Outnet? Shoeperwoman saved my day by posting a pair of shoes from this site. Designed by the same team as Net-A-Porter, this website offers the same high end labels at discount prices. It’s a treasure trove of gorgeous things, but what caught my eye (not surprisingly) was these amazing Giueseppe Zanotti sandals – I’m a sucker for anything tortoiseshell. I also love that they show each item in a fully styled look which was one of my favorite features from Net-A-Porter. I still can’t justify these at $318 but I’ll be keeping an eye on the site for sure.