Cute Magazine Alert!

I'm always keeping an eye out for new online magazines. Dujour isn't strictly an online magazine (it's available in print too, which is great because you know how I feel about print!), and it isn't new, but it does look adorable. Read the latest issue online, subscribe to the print edition here, or read the incredibly cute blog here.

Young Love

I decided long ago that when I grew up and made my millions (as an English/Creative Writing major, laugh all you want), I would buy a single expensive handbag. I would use that handbag forever, thus justifying it's ludicrous price tag. In a previous life, this handbag would be a Balenciaga City motorcycle bag, which I fell in love with after realizing that the cheap bag I carried til it fell apart was a knockoff of the $1,445 original. (On a side note, will you look at what I'm wearing in the post I linked to from "cheap bag"? Things have changed so much - including my style - and yet I'm still wearing those same over-the-knee socks.) Anyway, the realization that my beloved, yet sadly shredded/disintegrated bag, was available in long-lasting buttery leather was enough for me. My desire for the Balenciaga bag was born.

This love, as I mentioned was in a previous life. I have transferred my affections to something a little more special, something not cradled on the arms of countless Hollywood celebrities.

My new dream bag is $567 - still something to buy after I make my fortune - and made of supple (I imagine) black leather. The hardware is gold. There are buckles, zippers, and several pockets. There is an option to wear it over the shoulder or across the body. My new dream bag is...

....drumroll....

The Eva/Harris bag by CC Skye. And it is glorious.

Ain't she jes' a bewt?

Ah, to be young and in love!

Swapping It Up

The clothing swap/Boston blogger mixer on Thursday was positively epic. I started the night a bit bedraggled due to the intense wind that determinedly buffeted my hair around and blew up my dress as I trudged around Porter Square.



I wore a dress from Nordstrom, my trusty Steve Madden combat boots, and Target socks. My studded bag is Nine West.

My friend Elizabeth braved the wind with me as well, but somehow she managed to look fresh and neat by the time we got to the swap location. Unfair!



The blogger mixer was fun, but the real excitement was the swap! We spent a few hours gazing over the balcony at the calm before the storm.



...and then the swap started. It was an absolute madhouse. The rows and rows of racks were devoid of clothes within minutes. Every time I blinked, I swear some item I was eying disappeared. It was all gone so fast!

So what did I score? Here are the highlights:


A long gray loosely woven sweater, layered lace top, and printed tunic.


Pink skirt by 120% Lino, Elie Tahari printed top, and H&M tunic.

My favorite item was the skirt. Just look at the gorgeous detailing!



In addition to swapping, there were a few vendors in attendance. I was gifted the raddest belt by Proxy Apparel. It's made of soda can tabs and is both 100% recycled and 100% fair trade. I was a huge fan of all the things Proxy had to sell, especially when I found out their mission is "to empower and employ women in a sweatshop-free sustainable world." So cool.



As the evening wound down, the bloggers gathered in a makeshift dressing area to put together outfits made of swap items. It was not easy! We then walked the runway to the cheers of watching swappers. It was an experience, to say the least. Lots of smiles.

Elizabeth's outfit consisted solely of swap items. It was very '70s.



My outfit was entirely swapped too. And yes, that is a jacketless hood on my head. No big.



Phew, what a night! We left tired but happy. Check out The Swapaholics on flickr to see more snaps from the night, including the chaos of the swap itself, the amazing looks put together by other bloggers, and a photo of me on the runway in which my face looks like a grandmother's.