SHOES GALORE

HERE ARE A FEW FAVORITES FROM JCREW.COM. TAKE A PEEK FOR YOURSELF AT http://WWW.JCREW.COM. $150 - $200 IMAGES FROM JCREW.COM

CIRCA 1864-65

I SPOTTED THIS WORK IN PROGRESS WHILE VISITING MY HOMETOWN. IT'S A HISTORIC BUILDING IN PETERSBURG, VA, DATING BACK TO 1864-65. IT'S BEING TURNED INTO ONE LUCKY PERSON'S HOME! TAKE A LOOK AT THE COURTYARD IT'S SIMPLY AMAZING, THE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS HANGING OUT FRONT IS A TRULY UNIQUE CONCEPT, THE BALCONY REMINDS ME OF THE FRENCH QUARTER, & THE BRIGHT GREEN DOOR REALLY STANDS OUT. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

I'M FALLING FOR

GAP'S FALL COLLECTION. BASICS ARE A PLENTY AT GAP.COM, HERE ARE A FEW FAVORITES: GRAY WOOL BLAZER $98, PERFECT TROUSERS $64.50, WHITE OXFORD $44, BOATNECK SHIFT DRESS $58...YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH ANY OF THESE PIECES! IMAGES FROM GAP.COM

SHINE

ADD A LITTLE SHINE TO WARDROBE THIS FALL. TAKE A LOOK AT JCREW'S TAKE ON THIS TREND. I LOVE THE WAY THEY PAIRED A SIMPLE CASHMERE CARDIGAN WITH THE OVER THE TOP METALLIC DRESS. L-R: CARDIGAN $175, METALLIC JARDIN SHEATH DRESS $328, METALLIC ROSE SHEATH DRESS $550, ANTIQUED-GOLD SEQUIN DRESS $595. ALL IMAGES FROM JCREW.COM (LISTEN TO SHINE BY ESTELLE, IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

3.1 PHILLIP LIM FOR KIDS...WOW! I LOVE HIS WOMEN'S LINE...THE KIDS COLLECTION IS JUST AS FABULOUS. I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, BUT IF I DID I WOULD HAVE TO SPLURGE ON A FEW PIECES FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS...THEY ARE SO CUTE! PRICES RANGE FROM $115 - $325. IMAGES FROM ELUXURY.COM (http://www.eluxury.com)

GIVE EM THE BOOT

BOOTIES ARE BACK FOR FALL. I FOUND ONE THAT I'M KIND OF DIGGING, TWELFTH ST. BY CYNTHIA VINCENT ALISON ZIP FRONT PLATFORM BOOTIE $350...THEN I REALIZED THAT NINE WEST'S LLUME BOOTIE $109 IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME. TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF. (L: NINE WEST, R: 12TH ST) IMAGES FROM LORDANDTAYLOR.COM & SHOPBOP.COM

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY & I'M OUT-OF-TOWN. I WILL POST NEW BLOGS NEXT MONDAY. HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK...STAY SAFE & COOL. birdie butter

QUICK READS

1. NEED TO KNOW IF YOUR LOCAL STARBUCKS IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK? READ THIS ARTICLE: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-07-17-starbucks-closings_N.htm

2. WANNA SEE IF YOUR LOCAL MALL IS GIVING AWAY FREE GOODIES FOR SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED CASH? READ THE ARTICLE: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2008-07-17-shopping-mall-incentives_N.htm

3. WHICH MUSEUM IS DISPLAYING DIRT? GET THE DISH BELOW:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-07-17-smithsonian-dirt-exhibition_N.htm

*all articles are from usatoday.com, image from americanapparel.net (unisex hanover eyeglass $50)*

FAUX REAL

CHECK OUT THE LATEST IN WALL DECAL DECOR. THE DECALS WERE DESIGNED BY AMT FOR STUDIO JAN HABRAKEN. THE DECALS INCLUDE IMAGES OF CLASSICAL STYLE FURNITURE, GRANDFATHER CLOCKS, CHAIRS, & IMAGES OF CLASSIC CHAIR BACKS FOR YOUR OWN CHAIRS (DESIGNED BY WIETSKE HOOGSTADT FOR STUDIO JAN HABRAKEN). THE DECALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH WHATISBLIK.COM. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DESIGNERS OR TO PURCHASE VISIT:

http://www.whatisblik.com/janhabraken.html BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE OTHER AMAZING PRODUCTS! images from whatisblik.com

SUPER TIGHT BUDGET?

NO WORRIES...USATODAY.COM HAS A LIST OF THINGS YOU CAN DO IN HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR $2 OR LESS. IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO VISIT THE 4TH LARGEST CITY IN THE U.S. TAKE NOTES. CLICK THE LINK TO FIND OUT WHAT ADVENTURES AWAIT YOU: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-07-17-houston-on-two-dollars_N.htm IMAGE FROM WIKIPEDIA

COVER GIRL

I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN I REC'D MY ISSUE OF DOMINO THE OTHER DAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN I SAW WHO WAS ON THE COVER: MARA BROCK AKIL. AKIL IS THE CREATOR & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF TWO OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS, "THE GAME," & "GIRLFRIENDS (no longer on the air)." PICK UP THE LATEST ISSUE & TAKE A PEEK INSIDE HER 1920S L.A HOME. YOU WILL LOVE IT & HER FAMILY IS BEAUTIFUL! IMAGE FROM DOMINOMAG.COM

LOOK WHAT I FOUND

A TIMELESS LARK & WOLFF GREY SHIRT DRESS BY STEVEN ALAN $78. IT'S CLASSIC & SIMPLE & WOULD FIT PERFECTLY IN YOUR WARDROBE. AVAILABLE @ URBAN OUTFITTERS. IMAGE FROM URBANOUTFITTERS.COM

ART FOR ALL

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR OWN GALLERY? WEST ELM PROVIDES A WONDERFUL GUIDE ON HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN. CLICK THE LINK TO SEE HOW TO INCORPORATE A GALLERY IN YOUR HOME USING THEIR ART INSERTS ($14 & UP) & GALLERY FRAMES ($19 & UP): http://www.westelm.com/media/WE/Files/gallery4_080630170500.pdf

IMAGE FROM WESTELM.COM

PREP TIME

RUGBY STYLED STRIPES, CRESTED BLAZERS, THICK TIGHTS, CARDIGANS & CHAMBRAY ARE QUINTESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR THE PREPSTER. URBAN OUTFITTERS HAS AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION FOR FALL: LUX DRIFTER DRESS $29.99, 0815 LOVES PEACE LEGACY BLAZER $104, PREPPIE CREST PE V-NECK $28, BDG DOUBLE STRIPE CARDIGAN $48, OPAQUE TIGHTS, $12, HERALDRY V-NECK $28. SEE THE ANDROGYNOUS BLOG BELOW FOR SHOE IDEAS. IMAGES FROM URBANOUTFITTERS.COM

ANDROGYNOUS

FALL IS AROUND THE CORNER. I'M EXCITED! I REALLY LOVE THE SHOES HITTING THE STORES NOW. THE LACE-UP OXFORDS & LOAFERS W/ OR W/O TASSELS WILL GIVE YOU THAT MENSWEAR INSPIRED LOOK WE SAW ALL OVER THE RUNWAYS. HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITES FROM URBAN OUTFITTERS. L-R: FRYE PAIGE OXFORD $178, BASS PENNY LOAFER $98, BASS TASSEL LOAFER $98. IMAGES FROM URBANOUTFITTERS.COM

ARE YOU PART OF THE PLAN?

STARBUCKS IS TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET CONSUMERS BACK IN THEIR STORES. THEY ARE TESTING SEVERAL PROMOTIONS IN VARIOUS CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. WANNA FIND OUT IF YOU'RE IN THE TARGET MARKET? READ THE ARTICLE FROM USATODAY.COM, http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-07-09-starbucks-promotions_N.htm, TO SEE. IMAGE FROM USATODAY.COM

SLIGHT COVER UP

VESTS? ARE THEY HERE TO STAY? THEY'VE BEEN HANGING AROUND FOR A FEW SEASONS. I'M NOT A HUGE FAN, BUT I'VE FALLEN PRETTY HARD FOR THE SEE BY CHLOE LEATHER VEST ($795)! THE LEATHER VEST WILL TOUGHEN UP ULTRA FEMININE LOOKS OR ADD AN UNEXPECTED LAYER TO YOUR EVERYDAY WEAR. IMAGES FROM SHOPBOP.COM

LOOSE CHANGE

CHECK OUT THESE FABULOUS 24K HAND-PAINTED VENETIAN LEATHER COIN PURSES...FEATURED IN LUCKY MAGAZINE (AUG 08)...AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE @ http://www.figmentsdesign.com/ ($62). 30% OF SALES BENEFITS THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES. TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER ONE OF KIND ITEMS @ FIGMENTS DESGN. IMAGE FROM FIGMENTSDESIGN.COM

TAKING A BREAK

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY & DON'T BREAK THE BANK! birdie butter