Such is Life

hello thursday...

{image via fashion gone rogue}

Will you be my bridesmaid?

As many of you probably imagined, I'm going to be a DIY bride... to every extent possible. I'm really hoping to do invites and save-the-dates entirely DIY-- along with decorations, thank-yous, etc.

This is for two reasons. 1) Our budget. I want an awesome wedding... but we're 23 and 25 and footing most of the bill entirely on our own. and most importantly 2) We want our wedding to be US, first and foremost. And cookie-cutter invites are definitely not me.

But I haven't even started thinking about invitations (okay that's a partial lie). However, asking my bridesmaids to be in the wedding? Done and done. I wanted to ask in a really sweet and personal way. We decided on 5 attendants each-- it worked out perfectly. Clayton has Jesse, his best friend from college, as his best man, and then Mike and Brenton, his two high school besties, plus his two best friends and film buddies from NYC, Justyn and Christopher.

Crissie is obviously my maid-of-honor (and well on her way to becoming a professional maid-of-honor). Then I have my two besties from college-- Juliana and Sarah -- and, of course, Clayton's two younger sisters, Livi and Hannah.

So I bought 4 bridesmaid books and one maid-of-honor book and then composed 5 lovely notes, asking each girl to please be my bridesmaid.

The wrapping paper I used was actually leftover scraps of the paper we bought to wrap Meghan and Mike's wedding present.

The cards came out perfectly!! Even without a paper-cutter... which I really should invest in. Or maybe register for? (No, I need it before then!!) Most importantly, I want each bridesmaid to feel unique throughout this experience. This is why each girl will wear a different dress in multiple colors, and choose own accessories-- but now I am infringing on an upcoming post. Crissie is a genius. I'll leave it at that. :)

Wedding Wednesday- Kelsey's Colors

We are in full force planning mode here right now-- picking colors, dresses, venues....! Luckily I get to do all the fun stuff- like collecting pictures for inspiration and designing flower girl dresses {more to come on that front...} while Kelsey {and Mom} have to struggle with the guest list and accommodations... Here's the first look at Kelsey's wedding inspiration--

{row one: style me pretty 1, 2, martha stewart. row two: the knot, martha stewart, once wed. row three: style me pretty, oh hello friend, live w mcs. row four: the knot, once wed}

Lazy Monday

Do you ever have days when can't be bothered with high heels or bright colors? Today feels like a flats and neutrals day to me...

There's nothing like a good pair of jeans to cure the Monday blues-- don't you agree? 

{top: Rebecca Taylor, jeans: Gucci, shoes: Joan & David, necklace: Bijoux, bag: Michael Kors}

Sunday Best

One of the highlights of my weekend is always the Sunday Style section of the New York Times. This week Bill Cunningham's "On The Street" spread was about leopard print--which inspired this week's Sunday Best outfit...

I used to have a pair of leopard print heels but I wore them to death last year. I may need to find a new pair in invest in for fall... if only this Charlotte Olympia pair were in the budget. Le Sigh.

{Dress: Alice by Temperley, clutch: Tory Burch, glasses: Tom Ford, shoes: Charlotte Olympia}

I'M ENGAGED

Hello all!!

Yesterday my boyfriend (or fiance I suppose...) asked me to marry him! Yes! I am engaged! Engaged engaged engaged engaged!!! Prepare for massive wedding planning and over-posting and a crazy DIY bride! And, of course, I've already asked Crissie to be my Maid-of-Honor.

(showing off my bling)

I can't even begin to express how happy I am! And the ring is amazing. It's his great-grandmother's from the 1920s. It actually hurts my finger a little because it is so heavy. I guess I just have to get used to wearing a massive diamond on my left hand. I think I can deal :)

Inspired by Sass & Bide

New York Fashion week might be over-- but London's has just begun- and after that Milan and Paris- oh my! (I had a professer tell me once it was easy to remember the order the cities show in, as it is alphabetical--I never did figure out which alphabet he was referring to...)

Today I am feeling inspired by Sass & Bide's London Show. The mix of prints, patterns and texture give the collection a life of its own. Each new look feels like a logical progression from the last, the next stanza in the poetic presentation. And since Spring 11 feels like a lifetime away right now, I've found a few current pieces-inspired by the patterns and gorgeous coral colors of Sass & Bide- to hold us over....

{*images via Style.com; sweater: Vanessa Bruno, tee-shirt: MICHAEL Michael Kors, scarf: Kapow! Wow!, wallet: Hobo, shoe: Valentino, short: Tory Burch}

Sunday Best- Sweet September

It's a crisp September day in Manhattan- not fall just yet, but not summer anymore either. Her color-block Tibi dress fits the changing season perfectly--intertwining the softness of summer with the stricter structure of fall. The sun peeks through the clouds, reflecting off her Kara by Kara Ross necklace, but the air is still chilly enough that her playful polk-a-dot tights are a necessity. Her Christian Louboutin pumps click along the sidewalk as she strolls up 5th Ave to catch the Howard Hodgkin exhibit at the Met. Would you care to join her? What will you be wearing?

Golden Dreams- Elie Tahari

I love when a collection just sings to me. When it hits all the right notes and each new look sends tingles of excitement down my spine. Elie Tahari's Spring 11 collection sang. The subdued palette of khaki, saffron and a generous dose of gold was perfectly showcased in the flirty, yet sophisticated lines of the shorts, skirts and dresses he sent down the runway. And the ankle wrap sandals? An absolute symphony. 

Rather perfect, don't you think?

{images via wwd.com}

Fashion Week Envy- Part Two

Well, hello again- are you back for some more twitter stalking of Fashion Week with me? I hope so--because I have some lovely finds today. Have you seen these yet?

@womensweardaily shares a look at the Tommy Hilfiger

and Carolina Herrera

And DKNY's PR girl {@dkny} sent out these beauties-

{oh- hi anna!}

{maybe my favorite pic so far....! via-@dkny}

And here's Monique Lhuillier via @StyleWriterNYC

{someone HAS to wear the blue gown on the red carpet...who should it be?}

And leaving class Monday night I got front row seats to Marc Jacobs... while walking up 8th ave to the Subway...

"@womensweardaily: 70's elegance"

"@StyleWriterNYC: Flowing chiffon halter dresses, satin pantsuits, and Studio 54 girls in @MarcJacobsInt's SS11 show"

And one final look for the night:

"@habituallychic: In case I forgot to mention it, the clothes @cmbenz are really beautiful!"

I hope you all are enjoying this as much as I am! Who is your favorite person to follow durring fashion week? 

Fashion Week Envy- Part One

Since last Thursday I've been jealously lapping up every possible Fashion Week detail-- via the New York Times, WWD, Style.com--and twitter. Above all it seems- twitter has provided me with a glorious window to a world I so long to be a part of.  So I've been obsessively checking my twitter feed, drooling over the often blurry, sometimes disjointed twit pics of my fashion week followees. Here are some of my tweets looks so far-

From Thursday:

"@harpersbazaarus New designer Whitney Pozgay putting on the finishing touches! Beach chic is her inspiration."

"@womensweardaily Vena Cava's geometrics"

From Friday:

"@harpersbazaaru sneak peak: Peter Som's run of show backstage. Candy colors and mini lengths were the perfect early morning treat."

"@harpersbazaarus- Cute lineup at Steven Alan"

"@harpersbazaarus- Steven Allen presentation is making me wish it was summer all over again"

BCBG via @womensweardaily

"@womensweardialy Ports 1961" {PS- I reallly hope the yellow gown shows up on the Red Carpet... }

And- oh my- this post is getting lengthy- a quick look at Saturday and then time for an intermission...

"@womensweardaily Khaki pants and top at Edun."

"@reyalfashion There isn't one garment I don't like at the Yoana Baraschi presentation."

Don't you love it? I feel like they are all sharing just for me--even though I know their thousands of other followers are getting the same treats as me... check back for more tomorrow! 

Trend Spotting- New York Fashion Week

It's day three of Fashion Week and Spring trends are already emerging--from the pops of tropical color, to the flowing sheer fabrics. Anther look showing up on runway after runway--the little white dress...

{BCBG Max Azria, Bensoni, Christian Siriano, BCBG Max Azria- via style.com}

And a more surprising trend: a lot of RED. I've had such a color crush on red lately-- I'm loving that is it carrying out of fall and into spring...

{BCBG Max Azria, Vena Cava, Peter Som, Rag & Bone- via style.com}

What do you think for the Spring shows so far?