Uptown Cargo Pants

Cargo-inspired silk pants (or is it silk-inspired cargo pants?).  I feel like these are made for people like me who have an urge to dress it down even when dressing up.

J Crew Collection, available here.

Laced with Courage

This past weekend was my 20th college reunion.  I packed a dress, and a fabulous but never-worn-sitting-in-my dresser-for-two-years pair of cream lace shorts that I bought several years ago at Club Monaco.  When I bought them, I remember thinking that I had no business owning a pair of dressy short shorts (too impractical, too short, too not me).  In fact I didn't buy them initially, but subsequently convinced myself that there would be a moment when I WISHED I had these in my sartorial arsenal.  Now it might sound crazy that a clothing item could inspire courage, but these lace shorts did precisely that this past weekend.  If only I owned them in college.

Clockwise from top left: Madewell, BCBG, Club Monaco (also in white) Zara (also in black).

My Secret Cheapie, no. 4

Chic and practical and comfortable.... all for $79.

Vince Camuto Ellen ballet flat.

This One No That One - Horn Swarovski Bangles

I spotted these at Metier in San Francisco, and then on my friend Charlotte's wrist (which really sold me).  The polished horn is beautiful all on its own but the smattering of Swarovski's really make this bangle.  

Available here, $115 each.

Treasure Hunting - Madewell

I have the closed-toe version of the nude wedge and I have to say I'm feeling a bit of "peep" envy.

Dusty clay and green garland, $198.   Also available in villa blue, black and warm ember.

Admiring: DIY Silver Baskets

Craftiness skipped a generation in my family.  My mom is a needlepointer extraordinaire as well as a highly competent knitter and seamstress, and I can barely sew on a button and much to my mother's dismay, take my pants to the cleaners to be hemmed.

In the recent issue of Martha Stewart Living (a magazine I typically avoid because it has a way of making me feel incompetent vs. inspired) I found a project I think I can handle - spray painted straw baskets.  They are both gorgeous and practical at once.  Although I'm imaging that once I start metallicizing I might not be able to stop...do you think my husband would appreciate a bag of silver golf balls for father's day?

Photo by Johnny Miller.  Rice baskets from Lantern Moon, Krylon premum metallic spray in sterling silver.

Treasure Hunting - Gap

Available here, $39.95.

This One no That One - Soludos Espadrilles

I have my eye on the black perforated ones.  Rather unexpected, for an espadrille.

Soludos for Opening Ceremony, available here.  $40/pair.

Admiring: Chuck Taylor Playlite

Yet another reinvention of the classic Chuck Taylor.  These have summer written all over them.  I think it's the mesh.  

Available here, also in black, red and blue.

Not Boring Navy

Navy is well represented in my closet.  It's my black.  This past summer one of my closest friends (yes that's you, Alison) declared that navy was boring and as such, not blog-worthy.  I'm finally getting around to proving that while timeless and understated, navy need not be boring.  Of course it never hurts to have a foil - a little texture, a little pattern, a contrasting color.  But even all by itself, I think navy rivals, and perhaps even surpasses, black with its elegance. 

 Top row: K Jacques sandal;  Lauren Moffatt dress; Anthropologie clutch;  Bottom row: Freda jumpsuit; Kain modal sweater; J Crew scalloped eyelet shorts.