Translation: I Want This Top

Dear Daydream Nation Silk Tunic,

I think you're rad. Let's make babies.

Love, love, love,

Kori

P.S. If you love me too, please go on sale. As a very wise woman once said (or at least JLo), love don't cost a thing. So I figure you should at least be under $25. Thanks, babydoll.

Etsy is Love

Let me just say that I love Etsy. It's like the biggest, best crafts fair mixed with a flea market, a thrift store, and your grandmother's attic full of everything fantastic. Last night I went Etsy-crazy. I tend to go on Etsy for large spurts of time, and each time I add a million beautiful items to my favorites. And each time has a theme, mostly because my interests change depending on my mood. Last night's theme was all things girly. I think I'll share a bunch (and when I say a bunch, I mean a BUNCH) of my finds with you so that you can oooh and aaaah along with me. And if you decide that you absolutely must have one of them, you are not alone.


Hooray for cupcake stuff! I love cupcakes. They're so happy.
Cupcake dress
Cupcake necklace
Cupcake flats


This stuff reminds me of a sweet, girlish grandmother. Love.
Earrings
Teacup/saucers
Headband
Brooch


This stuff it kitschy and girly and fun. I love it all!
Dress
Fanny Pack
Handbag
Crafty Curios

To see more of my sweet finds, go here.

I Have Found Love and It is Beautiful

Oh. My. Word. Have you ever seen such beautiful, fanciful dresses? I was stunned into a glory-stuck, dazed silence when I found the dress section of Armour sans Anguish. And for a good reason, I might add. These pieces of wearable art look like they stepped right out of a fairy tale. I may never be able to afford them because most of them are over $100, but I can at least look at them online and drink in their gorgeousness. Aaah. Love love love. Most of the dresses pictured above have already been purchased (I'm not surprised), but if you look carefully you can find some just waiting for your eager and impulsive mouse hand to give the 'buy' button a click.



See? Look how dreamy that is. I want it more than I can say.

I think this kind of dress love is unhealthy. I should probably save the love for family members and possibly a significant other. Oh well. Don't tell my parents that they've been replaced.

Lulu's Fashion Lounge

Lulu's Fashion Lounge is an online boutique of sorts that I have known about for a long time. I have to admit that I was never really all that impressed with the merchandise they had to offer. Well, folks, the tides have changed. I visited the site today for the first time in months, and, lo and behold, there was a fantastic selection of shoes and accessories. I wasn't thrilled with the clothing choices, but the shoes and accessories were dead on, especially the shoes. Not only are most of them extremely cute, but they also have a huge under-$50 section. Can you say score?Still, there were two pairs of shoes that stood out, shoes that unfortunately lie outside of my price range. Look how pretty:


Oh. My. God. I am in love with these boots. They are such a rich, unusual (for boots) blue and I really like the unique touch that the little metal studs add. I'm a size 8US, hint, hint...Pretty please with a cherry on top...


I remember coveting these flats (or maybe very similar ones) at Urban Outfitters. So unique and fun! I love them maybe a little too much.

Anyways, those are the lust-worthy, out-of-budget items of the day. So sadly, I didn't buy them. I did unpocket the cash for a pair of plain red flats (just those junky Mary Janes you can buy in any Chinatown, but I'm a sucker for any shoes with a $6.00 price tag), a cute strawberry printed headband with a bow, and the bag that is shown below. Sweet, isn't it? I think I will be very happy with my purchases, even if those blue boots and white flats aren't among them.

Two Very Different Dresses

Below are two very different dresses that I'm digging right now.


The first thing I thought when I saw this Forever 21 dress was Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. I can totally see her out on the town in this dress and some killer heels. This spring I'm all about feeling fabulous and funky and colorful, and nothing says that more than taking wardrobe inspiration from Carrie Bradshaw.


I know what you're thinking...I just went on about how I was loving color right now, and now I'm coveting an American Apparel dress that can only be described as dark and simple. But you leave out one key thing...accessories. I think that this dress would be so fun (and comfy as hell) with bright shoes and big plastic jewelry.

Happy dress shopping!

LOOOOVE

I've fallen in love. With a xylophone. Not just any xylophone (give me a little credit), but this indescribably uber-cute xylophone from Fred Flare. What would I do with a xylophone, you ask? Play music, I guess. Okay, fine, I don't really have much of a reason to buy it, unless I can unite with xylophone-lovers around the world and form a big, bad xylophone bad. Are you in?

My Topshop Desires

The title of this post says it all...



Oh, how I covet this coat. It's perfect and I want it! Wish it was in my budget.



These shoes are somewhat unique, and they look comfy as well. I want.



I also want these shoes. They would add a splash of color to an outfit, they are probably comfortable since they're flats, and I'm really into the t-strap thing right now.



I have no idea why I'm so enamored with this dress, because it's not the kind of thing that I usually go for. But you have to admit, it's a damn nice dress.



A simple, pretty bag. End of story.


I wish I could go on a Topshop shopping spree. In addition to what I posted here, I would buy a neon bomber jacket for every day of the week, neon skinny pants to go with them, and a sweet plaid coat that caught my eye. Maybe I'll spring for one of the items pictured above. After all, Topshop now ships to the US. Hooray!

Tights and Leggings

Right now I'm really into fun tights and leggings. I love neon tights that pop from underneath a skirt or dress, and I admire the funky abstract patterns you can find on various leggings. I really covet the H&M leggings below. They would really pump up the little black dress or black shorts or a black jumpsuit.



I need to get down to H&M one of these days. It really has some fantastic clothing at very good prices. Also, I want to check out Madonna's collection. It seems pretty nice to me...I love that kimono-style dress that's being featured. Very classy, no?

Abaete and Lela Rose for Payless

I'm getting kinda psyched for Abaete and Lela Rose's collections for Payless. The Abaete collection is due to hit stores in March '07. As in this month. So get ready for a major shopping spree! The Lela Rose collection won't be available until Fall '07, but that gives us plenty of time to get excited.

The above pictures are my 2 favorite shoes from each collection. The Abaete shoes on the top left are funky, unique, and they have the spring bling-bling trend down flat. Whether I can walk in them is another story. The Abaete shoes on the bottom left are what I like to call retro-fabulous. I'm a big fan of flat boots because I refuse to put my feet in anything that will cause them pain (well, unless it's absolutely gorgeous). I could see these boots with a lot of current trends, like jumpers, tunics, retro dresses, and pretty spring dresses. These are my favorite shoes from the 2 collections, so I will be picking up a pair of these. Hey, the price is right! The Lela Rose collection includes some pretty nice shoes as well. The pair featured on the top right is adorable. I love the t-strap look, and I love how they are chunky, but still femenine. I may have to spring for these as well. The red pair beneath these is nice, too. I don't find it incredibly special, but, like most red pumps, it has that old Hollywood glamour appeal.

Just to show how awesome the boots are, I'm posting a picture I found of a girl wearing similar boots. The pic is from the flickr group Wardrobe Remix, and it was uploaded by liebemarlene.

The Perfect Look

No matter where I am, I always manage to find some sort of item of clothing or accessory that I covet. I tell myself that if I had that item, I would wear it, adore it, plan whole outfits around it...you get the gist. As someone who is so interested in fashion, I always feel that my wardrobe is hopelessly inadequite. I want to trade with someone else, please.

And yet, I also have to wonder...what can I pull off? Some woman can put on the frumpiest grandma dress and turn it into a head-turning, eye-catching walking piece of art. I can't. I consider myself a confident person, but I don't have that "oh, i just rolled out of bed and slipped into this amazing outfit" air. If I wore some of the things worn by the brave and beautiful, it would just not look right. So here is the dilemna.

My most out-there outfit does not venture beyond the likes of the image on the upper left. I think I pull it off.

But could i pull off a bright, high-wasted pencil skirt with neon tights? or huge aviators and a vintage jumper with tall leather boots? Or am I just too afraid to try? We shall see...

Cheap Designer Apparel

www.bluefly.com
Clothing, Accessories
Discount shopping online just doesn't get better than this, with an ever-changing and growing selection of designer clothing and accessories. Searching by size and designer is a snap.

www.designerapparel.com
Yes! The average person can now afford designer clothing!

www.smartbargains.com
Clothing, Accessories, HomeAn outlet center online: get everything from linens to Loehmann's fashion overstock.

My Stores

I am not a cheap person. I don't spend a lot of money, but it's not because I don't want to. I jsut don't have a lot of it. This is kind of unfortunate for someone who loves fashion. I'm not going to waste my time complaining about it, though. I've found some stores that are in my price range and carry some pretty awesome clothes, most of the time. I've also found some online thrift stores, but so far I'm too chicken to buy from them.

Cheap but awesome stores:

• Wet Seal
• Forever 21
• Delia's (sometimes)
• alloy.com
• Target

My one splurge:

• Urban Outfitters

Stores I covet:

• Free People!
• Betsy Johnson