Ruffles from Gucci, Chloe, Balenciaga, and Givenchy via Instyle.

Ruffles are making a big impact on Spring 2013 fashion.  It has been awhile since the ruffle flounced its way onto multiple runways; the last time that ruffles appeared in such numbers, they were more of the prarie variety than today’s modern, sculptured masterpieces.  It seems like the ruffle is this season’s extension of the still popular peplum trend.  My best advice for buying ruffles that will have staying power is to buy a piece with a smaller dose, perhaps a classic sheath or skirt with a ruffle on the bottom.

Here are some of my favorite ruffled pieces:

Giambattista Valli

Valentino

                                                 Erin by Erin Fetherston

Ralph Lauren Blue

                                                           Halston Heritage

Zara

                                                              BCBG

                                                  Laundry by Shelli Segal

                                                        Halston Heritage

Nicholas Kirkwood

See by Chloe

What’s your history of wearing ruffles?  What is the likelihood that you’ll don ruffles this spring?

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My first purchase of the year was technically purchased in 2012, but it didn’t arrive until 2013 (Important information to know in case I end up going one item over my allotted 25 items for the year!).

For over a year, I’ve been jonesing for a pair of flat brown riding boots.  I have a pair of J.Crew brown heeled riding boots that are about 8 years old and still beautiful, but these boots are not the most comfortable and removing them requires a hard pull with both hands since they don’t have zippers.

Flat brown riding boots are probably the item that I’ve been missing most in my fall and winter closet.  Too often I’ll find myself thinking, “If I only had a pair of flat brown boots to go with this outfit…”  I considered splurging on a pair of gorgeous Ferregamo Fersea boots this fall, but I ultimately decided that the lack of a zipper would drive me crazy once again.  So I settled on a pair of Corso Como boots on sale on Amazon, as pictured above in coffee burnish.  This color is now sold out on Amazon.  Now for a little tangent on my love of Corso Como and Amazon…

I randomly purchased a pair of Corso Como black riding boots 5 years ago at Nordstrom because they A. Looked great and B. Fit comfortably.  I often have difficulty finding shoes that fit well because my feet tend to be long and narrow.  These boots have turned out to be the best pair of shoes I have ever owned.  At the time, the over $300 with tax was the most I had spent on a pair of shoes.  I’ve also invested in the upkeep of the shoes (new heels a few times, insoles, etc.), but the money spent has been worth it.  I’ve worn these boots hundreds of times; I’ve walked all over NYC and Paris in them, worn them in court, and I’m even wearing them as I write a draft of this blog post.  In fact, any time the temperature dips below 65 degrees in September-March, there’s at least an 80% chance I’m wearing these boots.  I’ve received a ton of compliments on them.  The funny thing is, despite their age and wear, everyone thinks my boots are new.  Often, the same person will compliment me on them more than once, believing each time that they’re new boots!  If you’re interested in a similar pair, try the Corso Como Rena boots, available at Amazon.  Before this purchase, I was unaware of the Corso Como brand, but ever since, it has been on my radar.  These days, the prices are even better than the price I paid for my first pair.

I’m a huge fan of the breadth of merchandise on Amazon; we buy homeware items, books, and everything in between from Amazon.  The Amazon Prime Membership is worth the annual fee to receive free 2 day shipping on Super Saver items!  I recently read that by 2023, Amazon will surpass Walmart in sales, but I believe that this will happen even sooner.  Any time my husband and I need anything we head to Amazon first.  We must order items from Amazon at least twice a month.  I did all of my Christmas shopping for my son and husband on Amazon.

Here’s hoping that my purchase of the new brown riding boots proves to be just as successful and enduring as my black riding boot purchase!

Do you wear riding boots?  Are you an Amazon shopper like I am?  What is the best pair of shoes that you have ever owned?

It seems like just yesterday that I was sharing my Midweek Inspiration from last week.  Between recovering from a sinus infection, celebrating Valentine’s Day with Baby Boy, and taking a long weekend trip to visit family (in addition to all of the regular commitments), the past week has flown by.

Here are some items that have inspired me in the past week:

This breathtaking photo makes me long for a return to Capri.

 

If you’re in NYC, don’t forget to drop by French fashion darling Vanessa Bruno’s pop up store before it closes on February 26.  Extra points if you pick up macarons from the store’s Laduree cart along with a Diptyque candle and bouquet of fresh flowers for yours truly.  And while we’re on the subject of French boutiques in New York, you can read about the French boutique invasion in New York here.

 

K. Jacques triton sandal in navy.

I’ve had K. Jacques sandals on my list for a couple of years now as a classic item to add to my wardrobe.  Preston of Keep it Chic, a blog that captures my fashion aesthetic, shared that these sandals are now available in navy, causing these babies to skyrocket even higher onto my style priority list.  These would be the perfect shoe for a scene like the one pictured above in Capri.

 

Interior via The Girls of Lincoln Park.  Original source unknown.

I’m always drawn to black and white, but here my eye focuses on the mix of gold, silver, and crystal in this room.  I wouldn’t think to pair the three together, but somehow it works here without looking too staid.  Maybe it’s the orchid that gives the combination a literal fresh touch?  I also love that (probably faux) Hermes coffee table tray.

 

If you’re watching the Oscars this weekend or enjoying another screen marathon, you might want to try this tantalizing sea salt and honey butter popcorn recipe from Domestikated Life.

 

Image via The Sartorialist.

I love the casual mix here.  A sleek leather-trimmed coat, motorcycle boots, and Prada tote are softened up by a peek of lace and emerald green (hello Pantone Color of 2013).  This shows that a chic way to wear color and frill is to temper it with basic black.

 

Image source

“You’re never going to get everything done.  So get the right things done.”  Mike Vardy via The Happiness Project.

“Let’s all decide to no longer hide behind the excuse that  we “don’t have time.”  The  truer response would be “I don’t care enough  to really protect the time.”  A Design so Vast.

I read these compelling quotes in the past week.  Sometimes it takes a restatement of the simplest truth to cause us to more deeply understand something we know to be true.  Time is our most precious resource.

Becoming a mother changes priorities.  It happens both instantly and slowly, over time.  Lately I’ve been reexamining how I spend my time.  All of it is so precious and as a mother with a career, I feel the need to have the time apart from my child be well spent and purposeful.  There are many events I’d enjoy attending or people I would like to see or catch up with over the phone more often, but I don’t.  It comes down to the fact that I have to make sure that the right things get done and that my time with my child is protected.  I’m going to arm myself with these quotes for times when the deluge of opportunities threatens to impede on my time with my child or my other highest priorities.

Sometime in the past year, I read that the greatest skill of our time is the ability to sort through all of the information available and focus on what’s important.  This too is something with which I struggle, particularly when it comes to media and consumer goods (fashion!).  The above quotes have also inspired me to become more mindful of the media I consume and narrow my focus.  One of my great pleasures in life is consuming books, blogs, magazines, and catalogs, and it’s difficult for me to find the time to keep up with all of the media I find deserving of attention.  I also have trouble keeping this blog updated with all of the noteworthy things I’ve encountered (There are so many things!), and that’s one reason why I’ve started this Midweek Inspiration series.

What do you think of my picks?  What has been inspiring you this week?  Have you found any quotes lately to arm yourself with in the face of life’s challenges?  Do you share the same struggles with prioritizing or media consumption?

Since it’s midweek, I wanted to share some things that are inspiring me this week.

Image via The Sartorialist.

This article, video, and photo shoot of Lee Radziwill, sister of Jacqueline Kennedy, and a fascinating woman in her own right, has been all over the internet this week.  I’ve found it completely inspiring; you should check it out if you haven’t already.  I especially enjoyed getting glimpses of her chic Parisian apartment.

 

I tried this simple dessert recipe for blood oranges dipped in chocolate and sprinkled in sea salt.  It was a delight to my tastebuds!

Meg Braff Interiors.

I appreciate interior designers who can inject color and a bit of unpredictability into rooms with classic foundations.  Meg Braff’s interiors have me excited about creating similar spaces in my own home someday.

The final item that has inspired me this week is a quote from Nate Berkus’ interview in Matchbook Magazine’s latest issue, in which he describes his process for selecting rooms to feature in his latest book, The Things that Matter:

“The truth is I had one requirement and that is that the spaces really told the stories of the people who live in them.  I took all the labels off what I thought was ‘good design.’  I wanted to get a collection of beautiful spaces together, but more importantly than that, I wanted to make sure that these people had the capacity to talk about why they chose the things they live with every day.”

This quote really resonates with me.  It sums up what I would like to do in this space:  inspire others to “talk about why they chose the things they live with [and wear] every day.” 

What stylish things are inspiring you this week?

Have you made New Year’s Resolutions? How about Style Resolutions? This year I resolve to:

1. Complete a 25 Things Challenge (More details coming!)
2. Sell items I don’t use on eBay.
3. Repair and tailor existing items that I’m not wearing.
4. Try to come up with new outfit combinations.
5. Attempt to take photos of my outfits each day (This will aid with #4).

Please share your 2013 Style Resolutions with me and I’ll be back soon to share details of my 25 Things Challenge!

One day in Paris after lunch at Bistro Le P’tit Troquet on Rue Cler, we decided to walk to the end of this cobblestone street so favored by Rick Steves.  We happened upon a chocolate shop called La Mere de Famille and decided to go in.  It had a good feel to it, the type of feel that a one-of-a-kind store has (even though we later learned that the shop has several locations).  We decided to try a few different pieces of chocolate so I inquired about the price of a box.  The price seemed reasonable (If I remember correctly, it was in the $20-30 range), so I decided to buy a box.  We stood in the small shop and chose a plethora of chocolates.  I kept waiting for the salesperson to tell us that there was no more room in the box, but we kept filling, filling, filling up the box with more pieces.  Quite a different experience from places like Godiva.  We were thrilled to discover that the chocolate was fantastic.  My mother deems it some of the best chocolate she has ever had, even better than Jean-Paul Hévin’s chocolates.

I later learned that La Mere de Famille is the oldest sweet shop in Paris, dating back to 1761!  Don’t we know them when we see them?!  We may have not made it to the Paris Chocolate Festival (an item on my agenda that ultimately did not fit our schedule), but we stumbled upon something good!

Dear Readers, I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas or a festive time celebrating whichever holiday you observe. I had planned to do a series of holiday posts, but as you can see, that plan did not come to fruition. I’m returning to blogging on a regular basis now. You can expect me to wrap up my Paris trip coverage in the next several days and then begin to cover a wider variety of stylish things.

While in Paris, my mother and I had one night set aside for a dinner for just the two of us. After considering several restaurants, we ended up not making a reservation. Given our trip’s busy pace and our lack of sleep, I was tired. That evening we decided to just begin at the destination we had chosen for a drink and then figure out where to have dinner afterwards. After considering a few elegant bars, (Bar Hemingway at The Ritz is closed since The Ritz is under renovation until 2014) my mother chose Le Bar 228 at Le Meurice. She said that the photos on the website reminded her of The Oak Room at the Plaza, which is also currently closed, but remains our special place in New York.

Le Bar 228 certainly had the same feel as The Oak Room, with its wooden bar and elegant surroundings. Despite its superior formality, Le Bar 228 has an even more intimate feel than The Oak Room; the room is smaller, and unlike The Oak Room, there are no windows. The atmosphere inspired me to one day have a library with a bar modeled after this gorgeous room of luscious paintings and wood paneled walls with inlaid gold details. We sat and chatted while sipping champagne cocktails, enjoying the best bar snacks ever, and listening to live piano and bass. The room was cozy and quiet. Although the furnishings were formal and the servers wearing tuxes, there was still a relaxed feeling to the bar.

Le Meurice has an extensive drink menu. Now drinks at Le Bar 228 are not cheap… But in choosing a location in which to have a rare cocktail out, I take the same approach that I do with shopping: one high priced drink in an amazing atmosphere is more valuable to me than 3 cheap drinks in a mediocre setting. A cocktail or a cappuccino is a great way to enjoy surroundings that might not otherwise fit into your budget.

The atmosphere of Le Bar 228 and Le Meurice in general, combined with our weariness, made us want to stay. Le Meurice has a grand and expensive restaurant, aptly named, Restaurant Le Meurice, but we didn’t even inquire about availability. We had noticed several people dining in the open area adjacent to Le Bar 228, and we decided to have our dinner there. I later learned that this dining area is called Restaurant Le Dali, as it boasts Dali inspired decorative touches, including a Dalinien chair with feet in the form of ladies shoes and a lobster on a telephone. The menu was not large, but it featured salads, burgers, and dessert. A good salad appealed to us both that evening, so we ordered a comice pear salad with almonds and Comte cheese and an order of fries. The salad had a wonderful combination of flavors and the fries were just as good as McDonald’s, high praise. I also ordered a chocolate mousse cake. After we finished our meal, we headed back to Le Bar 228 for a nightcap.

I have been to many places where I’ve enjoyed the atmosphere, in Paris and elsewhere, but I can’t say that I’ve ever enjoyed another atmosphere more than that at Le Meurice. As I said to my mother, “I’m ready to be taken up to my room!”

I’d also like to mention that the people watching at Le Meurice was at its finest. I spotted better fashion here than anywhere else on my entire trip; elegant dresses and coats, fabulous Chanel bags… It makes sense, given Le Meurice’s location on the rue du Rivoli, overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries, that it would be filled with fashionable people. Paris Fashion Week shows often take place in buildings surrounding The Tuileries Gardens and The Tuileries are a popular meeting spot for French fashion editors and other fashion lovers.

When it was nearing our departure time at Le Meurice, I asked our server where we could call a taxi. He replied that he would call one for us. When the taxi arrived, he and another gentlemen retrieved our coats and helped us into them. Outside, a black Mercdedes taxi was waiting. A luxurious experience from start to finish. On my next trip to Paris, you can count on me making at least one trip to Le Meurice.

My first major acquisition from Paris was the black leather tote bag that I wrote about last night. My second major acquision was abeautiful Hermes black leather Rivale bracelet purchased for me by my mother.

On our first trip to Europe, my mother unexpectedly purchased me a small diamond ring while visiting a diamond factory in Amsterdam. Yes, my mother bought me my first diamond, a fact I cherish. I wear the diamond ring every day, so it’s yet another purchase that was well made considering the frequency of use, not to mention the sentimental value.

As on our previous trip to Europe, my mother wanted to buy me a special piece of jewelry to commemorate our trip to Paris. I had been eyeing some Hermes bracelets with the possible intention of buying one. I adore the Collier de Chien, but it’s pricey and it was actually unavailable at the Hermes store on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. I was able to try on one of the Collier de Chiens that was reserved for another customer, though. Although I loved the bracelet, I didn’t find it to be as wearable for every day. I absolutely adored the Rivale, however, and when I tried it on in the store with my Hermes “H” aka “clic clack” bracelet that my parents gave me for my birthday last year, the two looked just right together.

So now I have yet another piece that I wear almost every day. I love these Hermes bracelets. They match my leather tote, compliment casual or business attire, and they are in perfect harmony with my style. When I look down at my wrist, I have a bracelet celebrating a milestone birthday and a bracelet celebrating my second trip to Europe with my mother. I love having physical possessions that remind me of my parents and my travels to Europe with my mother. My travels in Europe with my mother have been some of the most fun and meaningful experiences I’ve had in life so far. I hope there will be more in our future.

Do you have items that you wear every day? Are they associated with a specific person and/or experience?