Oh, White Moccasin!

I'm curiously drawn to the Abaete white moc ($30) from her summer Payless collection:

Because all the hipster girls in my hood are rocking the moccasin? Or because this picture is very deja vu, evoking Mom in the '80's or an older hippy sister? Either way, some weird emotional force is demanding that I go to 34th Street and try them on.

Also from the Payless website, some new alice+olivia for summer:

I don't think this 4-inch patent platform sandal ($35) qualifies as an egregious misuse of preppy pink, like that found yesterday on The Preppy Princess. This is more on the hot side of pink, yes?

For those of us less bold, or with an aversion to hot patent pink, here are some sweet Mary Janes and charming sneaks (both $30). Note the stitching along the edge of the sneaker.

And hark, alice+olivia clutches ($25)! I've seen them in store and up close and personal they look good. Ooo, are you feeling the grey, with the Mary Janes and some cropped skinny pants? Or jeans rolled up? Just humor me and say yes.




Payless, 110 W. 34th @ Broadway

Weekday Pics for Saturday

This bathing suit caught my eye in the window of Macy's Herald Square after my Jane Seymour excursion. It's Jantzen and sexy. I love the red and the retro style. And although I'm a big fan of a tan belly, it's important to have a good one-piece. Sorry, no prices as I was too lazy to actually walk into the store. But Macy's bathing suit floor is a life-saver. I'll visit next week.

Some more Zara: Here's a perfect high-waisted khaki skirt ($79) in an office-ready, but not dowdy, length. The v-neck tank is $15, and if it can give me cleavage you know it's good;

And some white blouses, pretty and all see-through. Left, $59, right $89. I know it's all about sheer this spring, but I'm going to resent fumbling for underpinnings pre-8am;

A flower print jacket ($149) that I think I like, although it's kind of garden party-ish, but maybe that's why I like it?

While we're on flowers ($79), sorry, bad pic but it's a skirt,

hits me just at the knees, and is much prettier than this;

Zara jeans, $79. I haven't bought their jeans yet as I always want them to be less $$. But these are very soft and have a swingy, wide-leg bottom. I didn't buy them as I went a little crazy with paper denim cloth at Strawberry last week.

Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th

Zara, 34th just east of 6th

Arte y Pico Award

The fabulous Ms. eye4style awarded me with an Arte Y Pico Award, and although I'm not sure exactly what it is (the blog is in Spanish), I'm way grateful to her because I'm someone who generally loses at everything, eg: football pools; Monopoly & Sorry! against my sister; and anything involving competition with the husband.

Here are the rules of the Arte Y Pico Award:

1. Bloggers must pick 5 blogs that deserve the award for creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte Y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

Excellent, a chance to share some favorites:

I'm a BIG fan of eep!ramblings, her diva rooster mascot, her dislike for American Apparel ads, and her great sample sale reviews.

Peruse Salsa 101: Reflections on Latin Music for an afternoon. Vincent Livelli's blog is full of fascinating stories. A salsa aficionado who taught Latin dance on cruise ships in the 40's, Livelli's reminiscences upon hot New York clubs of yore are alone worth the read. Nod to the Brooklyn Rail for this gem.

I lack prep credentials, but love The Preppy Princess and her clever writings on all things preppy. The "Preppy Logo Problem" parts one and two are not to be missed.

He's rude, lewd, crude and funny. Yes, it's Xmastime. Read everyone's favorite "The Manny Tapes." He also has some great Brooklyn bloggers on his roll, so be sure to check them out.

I couldn't decide so it's a tie between two talented women at different stages of life: The Clothes Horse, a student with admirable style; and Lipstick at the Mailbox, a working mother of two from the South who cracks me up.

Read, enjoy, support those fellow bloggers and pass on what you like.

Little Big Things

Striped Socks, & argyle too: Co-worker Alice has a love affair with socks. Her criteria? They have to be soft and they have to make her happy. She picked these up from Banana Republic ($8.99 each) yesterday:

Alice no longer wear heels, thus it's all about the sock. But never mind that her shoes no longer take up precious closet space; her husband now complains there's no more room for socks! The moral of the story: Girls, you'll never win this battle, so don't pay much attention to similar protests from your significant other.

Funky Sunglasses: For years now I have been unable to pass up ridiculous sunglasses sold in gas stations all over North America. I could spend hours flipping through those tall, twirly display racks. So it won't surprise anyone that I picked these up at Aldo Shoes ($12):

Thanks to my officemate/model who had two words to say about these: Austin Powers. I adore mixing it up every once in a while with something tres tacky. These should do the trick. Blue, white piping, & hurt your head. Check, check and check. Now if only they were mirrored.

Something Pretty: To cleanse your palate, here are some pretty Miu Miu shoes from Rag Nation. No, not on 34th Street (sigh) but I had to share these and their many other great second-hand designer items. Don't miss their spring clearance sale. Thanks to MUG for the heads up.

Banana Republic, 17 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th
Aldo Shoes, 15 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th

Bag of What?

This morning the husband was complaining about his clothes. "I'm going to have to buy some new clothes." "Great!" I said, "You can meet me on 34th Street and then I can blog about it." "No, no," he answered, " I just need some Levi's and a bag of shirts."

"Bag of shirts?" Good God, what does that mean? It means I'm a very bad wife as he hasn't shopped since the "bag of shirts" era, which thankfully I must have slept through during my 20's. Sigh, time to spend some clothes allowance on the husband.

Does this Billabong shirt ($42.95) come in bags?


Billabong, 34th just west of Broadway

Jane at Kay Jewelers

As the blogosphere world continues to turn round Monday's night Gossip Girl, I spent a few brief moments with a TV star from a different era. Yes, I was hanging with Jane Seymour, rapping about jewelry! Also in attendance were several other excited ladies and a couple of creepy older guys (one even in a suspicious raincoat). Jane was looking super hot. See below for her stunning turquoise blue dress.

{Warning, Mom, stop reading, spoiler below!!}

Me, I was totally composed and politely asked her to sign a Mother's Day card. And can I tell you she was so nice and chatty about her line of jewelry for Kay that I totally got sucked into getting Mom a necklace? For real! And I wanted to buy this diamond anklet ($199.99) and these earrings ($599.99) that you can put different charms on...yes, I am the PR world's wet dream.

So because I know you're secretly obsessed with Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, I mean Jane, here are some pictures for your pleasure:

Sorry there's no full length; I thought it would be weird to ask. But the dress was the perfect length, just above her knees so classy sexy. I like it that she admits to her plastic surgeries (augmentation and eye lift) and it doesn't look overdone. Here's her signature:


It's no impatient scribble, but is grace itself. Kay Jewelers sells the cards for $3, $2.50 of which goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

All in all, a very satisfying celebrity moment, although it's no Xmastime meets Gordon Ramsey.


Kay Jewelers, 136 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th

The Blouse Tent & Other Stories

The Tent: I loved these ($89) on the hanger at Zara, but....

Oy, that's a lot of shirt. Perhaps I'm just too tall/big for this look. Do petites look adorable in these?


This one's better ($79), right? Maybe? And the back is lovely; I tried rather unsuccessfully to shoot it.

Fashion Therapy: The hip therapeutic shoe. When the husband's knee began hurting, he panicked with an atypical hypochondriac moment (I'm usually the hypochondriac), freaked me out with fears of BONE CANCER, then luckily read this article in New York Magazine. So last Friday I go to Foot Locker on 34th Street and get him a pair of these:

As close to barefoot as you can get, the classic Converse All Stars ($44.99). In grey, not white, because anything new is promptly besmirched in his presence. I love them, he loves them, he immediately spilled beer on them (click on photo for beer stains) and after one weekend his knees are much better. A hipster miracle. Because seriously, I can't have him walking barefoot in the city.

Zara, 39 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th
Foot Locker, 120 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th