On Her & At Home

Whether you prefer a touch of ikat in your wardrobe or on your sofa, it's an irresistible print for summer.

On Her: Ikat Tank, Gap, $49.95
At Home: Ikat Pillow, DivanCushu, $39.90

{ holiday 2010 } Twinkle Toes

What's the holiday season without a little sparkle? Nothing is more festive than kissing under mistletoe and clinking glasses of champagne in a pair of glittering shoes. Here's to a Cinderella moment this holiday. Cheers!

(pictured clockwise, starting from upper left)
Steve Madden, Caryssa Glitter Platform Pumps, $129
Kate Spade, Charm Heels, $325
Kate Spade, Flash Ballet Flats, $125
Gap, Glitter Ballet Flats, $49.50
Badgley Mischka, Kiss Kiss Heels, $200
Miu Miu, Glitter Oxford, $585
Arden B., Glitter Pump, $34.30 (on sale)

Wild America

{I have an affinity for badgers thanks to my alma mater: University of Wisconsin-Madison.}

After waking up to 37 degree temperatures this week, I think it's safe to say that summer has flown the coop - or at least migrated to California. In a desperate attempt to salvage the season, we went on an outing to my favorite part of Madison: the Henry Vilas Zoo. I hadn't intended to don a coat, but the crisp air made wearing a mere sweater dress impossible. To be fair, however, the coat is one of my favorite sartorial items - especially when it causes men to fondly reminisce about vintage hunting jackets.

Outfit Notes: Coat-Gap; Dress-H&M; Necklace-Forever21; Tights-Simply Vera Vera Wang; Shoes-Banana Republic; Bag-Rebecca Minkoff

Come on, Vogue

Inspiration is a fickle thing. Just when I think I've seized enough creative juices to pen a few entries, the light is extinguished by job stress, a growing to-do list and humdrum January weather. Flipping through the pages of the latest glossy or browsing runway shows on Style.com doesn't always reignite that fire - at least not in the same way a vintage magazine cover can.

I'm unapologetically in love with Vogue and spent some quality time browsing the Conde Nast Store for vintage covers that sparked a little glimmer of sartorial optimism. Here are a couple of my favorites, along with current pieces to recreate the artists' visions.

Tucker Wrap Jacket ($320); Guess Flower Cluster Ring ($22); Janna Conner Designs Light Blue Quartz Ring ($60); Marc Jacobs Skirt ($438.78); Bally Sandal ($198)

Kate Spade Hoop Earrings ($48); K Karl Lagerfeld Scarf ($65); Tracy Reese Wrap Dress ($175); Silver Playing Cards ($8.88); Gap Sandals ($34.50)

Thumbs Down

Well, the much-anticipated Vena Cava for Gap dress came. And went. Right back to Gap.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a great-looking dress. But it has some sizing and quality issues. I normally wear a 6 at Gap, but I ordered sizes 6 and 8 because I heard it runs closer to designer sizing. They sure weren't kidding. There was no hope I was going to squeeze my hips into the 6. Thankfully the 8 fit...if I didn't want to eat, sit down or move. Not exactly realistic. I would have preferred a 10 (which interestingly enough is the largest size Gap offers in the dress).

Sizing issues aside, the quality was sub par. On one of the dresses, the zipper was already pulling apart from the garment at the seam (easy fix, but one I shouldn't have to make upon tearing it from the package).

Did anyone else have better luck with Gap's designer collaboration?

Fall into the Gap

It's only been sixteen days into my sartorial sabbatical and I've caved. My closet simply couldn't go on much longer without the Vena Cava for Gap khaki zip dress.



Our local Gap doesn't carry it, so I ordered a couple of sizes online to try. I'll report back on how it fits.

(I may be slightly pathetic, but I do have a lot of pretty clothes.)

Alexander Wang, Vena Cava for Gap

I'm not sure where my sartorial awareness was for the last month because I just learned that Alexander Wang, Vena Cava and Albertus Swanepoel are falling into the Gap. The trio have reworked Gap's signature American prepster fabric - khaki - into surprisingly covetable pieces.

The major drawback to the capsule collection is the price point. The Albertus Swanepoel hats are $39.50 each, while Alexander Wang and Vena Cava designs range from $49.50 to $88. $88 for a Vena Cava dress is a bargain, but a Vena Cava for Gap dress is still, well, a Gap dress - and it's not worth $88.

But I want it. I've been having heart palpitations over the Vena Cava zipper dress (below).

The collection is scheduled to launch on June 16. I'll be one of the first in line to try on the dress (and probably break my no-shopping vow in the meantime).

(Pictured clockwise, starting from upper left.)

Alexander Wang for Gap trench coat, $88
Albertus Swanepoel for Gap bucket hat, $39.50
Vena Cava for Gap zipper dress, $88
Alexander Wang for Gap shorts, $49.50
Albertus Swanepoel for Gap wide-brimmed hat, $39.50