Sew What?

I got a sewing machine for Christmas, and I have been so busy dreaming about all the wonderful things I am going to create, I haven't actually gotten around to making any of them. But I will! I must! I will!

In all my plotting, I have become quite taken with this little gem of a site, Burda Style. There are tons of hip, easy patterns for everything from dresses to quilt tops to handbags to fleece ski masks, and a bunch of them are even free!

I am especially loving the Jenny Dress, which is actually four patterns in one! Three skirt variations and a dress!! There are not enough exclamation points in the world!!!













I am not quite confident enough to tackle it yet, but I think one of you should try it and let us know how it goes.

And tell us, what other patterns and projects are catching your eye these days?

Seasonal Sparkle

'Tis the season for holiday parties, which brings the inevitable and oh-so-frustrating question of what to wear.

This has been a topic of particular discussion around my house as of late, as my aunt and uncle were off last night to attend the White House Christmas Ball. If you think trying to decide what to wear to the company Christmas party is tricky, imagine what trying to decide what to wear to the President's Christmas party might be like.

(For inquiring minds, my aunt went with a lovely, full-skirted black satin dress, accented with sparkling rhinestone accessories. She looked perfect.)

For those of you wardrobe planning for a slightly less formal event (and my guess is that would be all of us), might I suggest some favorite new finds.

I am totally loving this sequined jacket from one of my all-time favorite online retailers, ModCloth.




This capelet can swing in any direction you need it to. Pair it with a simple white tank and skinny black jeans and heels for a casual night of Christmas cocktails, or put it on with a slinky pencil skirt and lace tights or over a Little Black Dress for a dressier look.

Other glittering looks include this black sequined top and or this more daring, shimmering cropped tank.





Another look I am really loving this holiday season is the winterizing of summer wear for a breezy, cold weather look. Take this outfit from Anthropologie, for example.




Just add dark-colored tights, a cozy sweater and knee-high boots to a lacy, summery skirt, and you have a formal Winter outfit where once only a light Summer outfit existed. I love the unexpected mix of colors and textures, not to mention the chance to reuse old favorites in a new season.

This same idea can easily be applied to more formal wardrobe items as well. You can add a ruffled cardigan and tights to a dressier sundress or skirt, for example. You can even layer tights under a pair of formal shorts and finish off the look with a belted sweater or blouse.

So, see? Christmas parties aren't so bad after all.

Tell us how you plan to get glammed up this season.
And save some egg nog for me.

Fall Finds: Boots Made For Walking

Comfortable walking shoes are the holy grail of city living, and comfortable walking boots are my current quest. I have some really great boots that I really love, but nothing I can walk to work in and then wear at work all day long. Practical + fancy = a tricky combination.

Do you find yourself up against the same battle? I took the fight to the Internet, and here is what I found. (Spoiler alert: We come out winners!)

A comfortable black boot that can go from work-day, to after-work-play is a valuable thing indeed, and I think these shiny black boots fit the bill.

I love the patent detail on the heel and the toe, which helps to dress up the boot, while the low heel and easy pull-on construction make these a practical as well as a fashionable choice.

I always find myself struggling to find good brown shoes of any style (I have no idea why this is), but I fell in love with these tall scotch-colored boots right away.

The color is just right, and the boot just looks so classy. The rounded toe and the flat heel also promise easy walking, while being easy on the eye.

And for something a little more edgy and on-trend, I like these tan slouch boots.

The relaxed design at the top makes these boots a particularly attractive option for those of up with a little more to love in the calf area, and the buckle detail is the perfect complement to a simple, throw-it-on-and-go weekend outfit, though I think these could be paired with a dress and some muted patterned tights for an office look as well.

Are you also a fan of boots made for walking?
Tell us about your favorite finds.

Are You Having A Cute Day?

It was a little slow at work today (can I get a Hallelujah Chorus on that one?!?) so I spent some quality time with my friend, the Internet, and stumbled across this little gem: Have A Cute Day.

I love the premise of this site. Two (cute) sisters putting up pictures of the (cute) things they wear every day, and sprinkling in some advice and giveaways and how-tos on top. I have always thought it might be kind of fun to photograph what I wear every day, just to see how my own taste and style emerges. And I love seeing how other people put their favorite pieces together.

Most of all, I love the attitude of these sisters that fashion is for every day. High powered business meetings days, grocery store days, playing with your kids all day days. We can look cute on all of them!

Here are some of my favorites from the ladies of Have A Cute Day.










How about you, dear readers?
What are your go-to cute items?

Crafted and Found

The rule about swearing in my house always was that it doesn't count as a swear if it's a quote. (This has given us a surprising amount of latitude when it comes to cussing, just for the record.) Which is why it is not really swearing for me to tell you that the other day I went to a craft fair called Crafty Bastards, and I wish every single one of you could have been there.

There were skirts stitched together from recycled fabric! Jewelry made out of vintage typewriter keys! Purses made from the covers of old books! Hand-bound journals! Screen-printed T-shirts! And the list goes on and on.

But since every single one of you couldn't be there, I am going to do you the next best thing. Which is tell you where to find some of my favorite finds, all through the magic of the Internet. Can you handle it? Here we go.

For starters, I could not get enough of these statement headbands from Giant Dwarf. I bought this one in blue and gray tones, which turned out to be the perfect accessory match for my new Shabby Apple teal wrap dress, Azure Coast.

I was also quite taken with these enamel pendants from Dandelion Blu. The cherry blossoms were my favorite.

I can see this being just the right piece to grace the neckline of the Martha's Vineyard brown wrap dress, or to add a flash of color to the Storm grey knit dress, a personal favorite of mine. Throw on a pair soft pink heels to tie it together and you'll be the most stylish thing out there.

And now that you're all dressed up with somewhere to go, you need a one-of-a-kind, on-trend clutch to carry for your night out on the town. Right? You can find everything from whimsical to fancy at North Carolina-based Pear Threads. The Condie clutch, made from soft vinyl and vintage kimono fabric seems a match made in heaven for Shabby Apple's new black tiered dress, Tiery-Eyed.

And those of you currently stocking up on Shabby Apple's new line of maternity dresses should also be stocking up on some so-cute-you-could-die screen printed baby onesies from Pinecone + Chickadee. Seriously, if this cupcake came on grown-up clothes, I would be all over it like a cheap suit.



Now you're wishing you could have been there, too. Aren't you? Crafty Bastards happens here in D.C. every October, so feel free to join me the next time around. Until then, tell me which of these fabulous finds is your favorite, and how you plan to flaunt it.