Happy Halloween from Afar

This is the third Halloween in a row that I have been out of the United States and the first year that I have not dressed up at all. And even though I am used to it, and really Halloween can't be that big of a deal (right?), I still can't help being jealous. Especially with all those weekend party pics plastered all over the Facebook. Dressing up is one of my favorite things to do and Halloween in the States is the ultimate. Nothing beats getting ready with your friends, taking photos and stuffing your face with candy. Mmmm.

Last year and the year before in Germany we put together some last minute costumes and managed to find parties where at least some people were dressed up, but it will never compare to being in NYC where an entire subway car is filled with people trying to outdo each other with the cleverest costumes — and clever costumes there are. Anyway, it's fine, I'm cool with it, I am going to sushi in England, and that's not so bad.  

But I did manage to find some pics of the last time I was in the Sates for Halloween, when Sarah and I dressed up as beauty queens — Miss New Jersey and Miss Alabama — with orange tans, fake fingernails, accents and all. It was pretty fun. I'll also throw in a photo I just received of my niece in California and her pumpkin collection. So cute. So yes, have a Happy Halloween for me! I'll have some sashimi for you. 

Random Sunday

PARIS—An Yves Saint Laurent fashion show, 2007.

A House and a Dog?

First it was this, now this. Am I growing a slight obsession with big dogs and comfy lived-in spaces? Hmmm. 

via Clever Nettle 

The New Polka Dot

We all know I love a polka dot dress and have many many of them, but this polka dot obsession has moved beyond the PDD with a recent sweater and a flowing polka dot pant purchase. I kinda want to wear them together, but maybe that is a little much? I think these ladies are doing it right. Maybe next I can do the polka dot pantsuit. Not too much at all. 

via All the Pretty Birds

via Russh

via Mr. Newton

via Bazaar

Oh Just Some World Champions

Life is weird, I always say that. Pretty much because I often end up in situations that I never thought I would experience and in places I never thought I would be — last weekend was a pretty good example of that. Although I do like sports — I have three older brothers, I played soccer my whole life etc — until Sunday I had never seen, or even thought to see, a rugby game. And Sunday was the ultimate rugby game. It was the World Cup Finals, New Zealand was playing France, and I was in a bar (at 9 am) surrounded by more Kiwis then I even knew existed in London. It was a scene from the beginning, and I always knew it was a big deal, but I started to realize just how important this all really was as the game went on. Each of their faces got more and more wracked with nerves as the really close game continued, you could feel the intensity, until finally the time wore down and New Zealand won by just one point and the bar exploded with screams, tears, popping bottles of champagne, boys and, one girl, drinking out of a shoe (later I was told it was a French shoe) and pretty much total celebratory debauchery. It was a pretty amazing thing to see, just complete happiness all around, which turned into one of the most fun days I have had in awhile. Take a look at the craziness:  

Random Smiles

I have a little more time on my hands these days and the opportunity to regularly blog again and work on some writing projects I have going. It feels good. So anyway, like most bloggers I think, I have a folder on my desktop where I put images I come across that cause some sort of reaction. With my new freedom, I had the time to look through the folder, and thought I would share a few photos that were obviously saved because they made me smile.

Little Things I Love About England...

...Primark. I think I am not supposed to admit that — you know with all the terribly cheap (child labor?), terribly made (fall apart in just days) clothes knocked-off of legitimate designers. But the thing is, there is a time and place for such things. Maybe? For a very long time now I have been obsessed with chunky heel, dark blue shoes: first it was these, then there was these — which I actually tried on last time I was in London, but even though they are so much less expensive than the Miu Mius, I still just couldn't bring myself to spend a couple hundred on a pair of six inch heels that, unlike Hanelli, I won't be able to wear on a daily basis...or ever, really. More recently, the idea of these fantasy shoes being done in velvet came into the picture, first with these and then with these. Yet again, Dries van Noten? I don't think so. And the Topshop pair, again cheaper, but these are boots made of velvet, not really a practical choice for wet New York winters. 

So it seemed my blue shoe dreams were just not going to come true. Until yesterday that is, when I popped into Primark to buy a cheap pair of gloves and a scarf (PS. I'm in England and it's cold) and okay, maybe take a quick look around, and there they were: chunky, blue, velvet and cheap. As much as I want to own quality well-made goods that will last a lifetime, they don't have to to be my six inch velvet heels (who can tell in velvet anyway?) that may only leave the apartment on my feet two or three times in their lifetime. 18 pounds (yup) is just fine for them, and I think I feel almost as excited...

And just for fun, and scale and to show how these shoes will probably be worn most of the time, here's the whole model shot of me in them in my pajamas. Look how tall I am! So any ideas where I can wear my new favorite shoes with proper clothes?

CrazySexyCool

Photos via BecauseImAddicted.

Random Sunday

Manhattan. 1961.

A New York Day Trip: Governor's Island

Since yesterday I shared a New York day trip with you and since I have a little free time for the first time in a couple months, I thought I would post some photos I promised I would put up a long time ago from our trip to Governor's Island this past August. It was an amazingly hot summer day (in which it was predicted to rain) and Whitney, Rachael, Megan, Julia and I got all dressed up in 20s garb and took a ferry to attend the annual Jazz Age Lawn Party. It is something I had wanted to do since seeing all the pics on the Sartorialist and other street style blogs (we spotted Bill Cunningham there snapping away) year after year, but finally found the motivation to actually do it. And oh was it worth it, everyone in attendance was decked out in costume, not a better place in the world to snap photos and people watch. And although I did spend a lot of time scoping out the scene from our blanket, watching (and critiquing) everyone that walked past as I sipped on a summery cocktail, I seemed to have only taken photos of my friends. Ooops. Next year I will make a point to branch out a bit, but for now, here was one of my favorite summer days...

And a little tragic love story acted out on the water...