Madrid, Shopping Bag in Hand

And last but not least in the Madrid wrap up, let's talk shop(ping). Just as I was unprepared for the number of pastry shops I'd encounter, the amount of clothing options were out of control. There was a wonderful selection of wears from local and national designers that were as gorgeous as they were affordable. The easy breezy aesthetic of Madrid really comes through. Yet another reason to love this city! I'd be lying if I said it was easy to be walking by said shops almost everyday while around town with my girlfriends! I have no shopper's regret however, I will love everything I bought for years to come, especially the big suede satchel I got at the first spot on my "must" list: Hakei. They sell mostly clothing but their luxurious leather bags and shoes made them stand out. I hope I don't regret not scooping up those ballet flats too!

Hands down my favorite find was Malababa. Carriers of jewelry, handbags, and accessories, everything is handcrafted in country. Just visiting one of their stores is a treat. I will be taking a page out of their book as far as home design goes as well. Can I live here please?! Following my shoe trend here, I am pretty sure that those flats are the coolest shoes I have ever seen. That's how the pair looks, with one shoe in each color spectrum. This works in a quirky by lady-like way.

eseOese wasn't too shabby either. It's J. Crew-meets-Anthropologie vibe really hit the spot, especially with summer on the horizon. 

 

On the extra fun fashion end of things is Kling. The location I visited even had a vintage section in back!

Ok so Zara is a Spanish brand so this one still counts even though it's all over the globe! I hadn't loved anything that came out in a long time but I am glad I revisited. Their spring and summer collections are spot on. 

The part of Zara they are still hiding from us United States folks is Zara Home. I couldn't help but share all these photos. Happiness via bright colors is real!

A Very Merry Birthday

I celebrated my birthday earlier this month and I have to hand it to my friends and family, I received some amazing presents. I can't help but celebrate these objects' innate beauty, especially since vintage jewelry is involved!

First up, a pair of lovely cloisonne hair combs that my friend found on Etsy. I am thinking they are Japanese inspired with the fan and oriental flowers. They are so unique (and have purple in them!) that I am waiting for the perfect moment to break them out. I appears that these days, combs are reserved as bridal accessories only but I will change that! These are just too irresistible. 

This antique bracelet was given to me by my boyfriend's grandmother. I think she read my mind. I simply cannot imagine anything more exquisite. I had just seen the Pompeii exhibit at the Museum of Science and was stunned by how stylish the nearly 2000 year old jewelry artifacts were. Brilliant gold, cascading chains, pure elegance - this piece is in a very similar vein, though its origins are more shrouded in mystery. It belonged to my boyfriend's great-grandmother, given to her by a former world-traveling lover. The only clue I have is the Arabic engraving located in the center of each part of the clasp. Hopefully some day I will find out what it says.

And last but not least, my new footwear that I will surely where for the next decade or so. Cowboy boots are hands down the basis of nearly all my outfits. I could ramble on further but I am pretty sure I made my passion clear in this earlier post! I still wear my original pair of men's boots (more roomy = way comfortable) but those are so rugged that I was yearning for a sleeker, slimmer version mainly so that I'd have a boot to wear on nearly every occasion. I fell in love with the dusty charcoal color - Frye wins again!

Wooly, Wooly: A Pendleton Round-Up

Help! I have a serious obsession with all things Pendleton!  Winter is approaching so I find myself increasingly drawn to all things warm and fuzzy. Durning a visit to Portland, Maine this weekend, I happened across a chic boutique whose window display featured one fantastic black and white wool/leather weekender. I already own entirely too many travel bags so I reluctantly passed it by. That said, after feeling a tinge of non-buyer's remorse I was relieved to find it here (also at right), just in case I changed my mind. 

The Oregon-based brand's bright woolen blankets are probably their most sought after offering, perfect for chilly nights. They'd look pretty fab on the wall as well.

These same textiles work wonders on apparel and home goods too. How spectacular is this furniture? The leather accents make it sophisticated but the cozy cushions mean no stick-to-your-skin nonsense.
Pendleton makes many a plaid print but as you can see, the Native American inspired designs have captured my imagination as of late. And I am not the only one. The felted wool fabric has been utilized by many others over the years which makes for some good vintage and new finds. The recent Pendleton for Opening Ceremony collaboration gives these patterns a modern twist on cropped jackets and pencil skirts while some choice blazer and coat Esty finds keep things oversize and classic.

Or how about these two striped affairs via Yuketen and Madewell? I have a fear of primary colors and can't say I feel much towards backpacks these days, yet I'd sport either one of these! 

Better yet, these cushions are covered with reworked blankets for that one-of-a-kind look. Overall, geometric patterns are oh-so-versatile but beware, there is a fine line between totally modern and horribly outdated. My rules: avoid the 1980's by saying no to neon color schemes and use home items sparingly - leave the matchy-matchy  to the ski lodges. Anything I missed? What are your favorite wooly items?

Well Structured

After a few years of religiously carrying around my hobo bag, the tide has turned. My luxuriously roomy arm candy has become a black hole for my belongings (think daily "I definitely lost my wallet" panic attacks). I need some structure in my life! Surely a crisp new satchel bag will do the trick. Speaking of, this style of handbag has climbed to the top of the fashion charts lately so the pickings are anything but slim. And what a perfect way to make any outfit look pulled together, without sacrificing fun - aka sophisticated back to school style, for the kid at heart. It also dawned on me that satchel bags are most decidedly borrowed from the boys. I see a shadow of a briefcase or old school doctor's bag even in the pinkest of pink varieties. My mind must have been stuck in retro mode as my online bag admiration session somehow also led me to discover this vintage wallpaper carrier. Yes, yes, we all love to hate on '70s olive green and burnt orange but come fall, these colors fit right in! 

Row I: Patricia Nash "Trento"; Proenza Schouler "ps1" 

Row II: Brahmin "Selia"; Pendleton Messenger 

Row III: Brahmin "Natasha"; ASOS WHITE "Harris"

**These days, none of my handbag related thoughts would be complete with out bringing Brahmin bags into the picture. These beauties are crafted in the right in Fairhaven, MA and make a great case for being your next "investment piece."**

It's Almost Back to Boot Season!

**Yes, you may have noticed that I updated my blog design. I will be adding more personalized touches in the coming months but in the meantime was dying for something a little more streamlined.  Let me know what you think!**


It rained yesterday and I have to say, putting on some closed toe shoes felt real nice. While I happily cast off socks for a few summer months, I do go into withdrawal as I start to miss my beloved cowboy boots. This particular pair was a gift from my mother who also has passed on the "gift" of boot-addiction. Over my six+ years of ownership, these boots have become finely aged and distressed, really they are now an extension of my body.  That said, there is always room for more pairs. Fall offerings have hit stores on and offline everywhere so I am setting my sights on some new western inspired wares. At the top of my list are some fresh picks from Frye (obviously) and my newest discovery, Sendra. Turns out the Spaniards are the father of the cowboy boot - and this company is doing a superb job carrying on the tradition!

Top: 5529 Judy B., 2073 Maxi, 6990 Cuero Britnes (all by Sendra)
Middle: Jane Braid, Deborah Studded Tall, Deborah Back Lace - Cognac (all by Frye)
Bottom: unknown, 3434 58 Seta, 7860 H Rolling (all by Sendra)

Lust At First Sight: House of Harlow 1960

News flash - while I consider myself to be a champion of personal style, I do not claim to be über up to the minute on fashion. Furthermore, I am perennially skeptical of celebrity "designers." I am always open to exceptions however and I found one during a search for the perfect stacked ring set. House of Harlow 1960, um can we be friends? Yes, yes, I know this is perhaps old news but wow, I give Nicole Richie props for genuinely making  a contribution to the fashion world. It also helps that I am hopelessly devoted to jewelry of the bohemian genre. These pieces are so elegant, show stopping but understated. The coin earrings have Egyptian princess written all over them, the studs have leather inserts, and the ring has my all time favorite, abalone.  I'd be willing to spring for a piece, but how would I ever choose? The swooning has begun!