Merry Christmas!

& Happy Holidays, loves! xx

ashley goldberg.

Ashley Goldberg, you're the best. Are you making wrapping paper yet?

moday inspo.

happy monday!

spiffy specs.

I caught a glimpse of the Sylvester chandelier shades from A-Morir in the December issue of Bazaar and had to check out the rest of the brand immediately. Kerin Rose Weinberg launched A-Morir in 2008 and named the first collection after her most favorite classical composers. Since then, the brand has been collecting famous fans like Lady Gaga, Rihanna & Snoop Dog {no shock there}. These are some seriously decorated sunnies. Better yet, ever pair is handmade with genuine Swarovski stones. Take a gander at the rest of the current collection at A-Morir's online store.

jenna lyons, glamour girl.

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The Glamour Women of the Year Awards were last night, and I cannot stop reading articles & tweets today about how touching and lovely Jenna Lyons' acceptance speech was. As we all know, she had a difficult year (Page Six was all over her divorce and new girlfriend Courtney Crangi, Fox News criticized her for painting her son's toenails pink). She spoke about how her start in the fashion business was not so glamorous  working in a hallway as an assistant to an assistant, but due a motto of "Nothing worth having is easy" she was able to eventually work her way up as President and reinvent J Crew to the current, buzz worthy business it is today. She thanked and credited her inspiring mentor (Mickey Drexler) for helping her build a fulfilling and trend altering career & loving son (Beckett) for reminding her that the world actually does revolve around him. Well thank you, world, for Jenna Lyons. And Congrats, Jenna! I think you're the coolest.

monday inspo.

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oh, steve.

benzel & jessie ware: if you love me.

This video features the lovely soul singer from London, Jessie Ware, taking on the 90s song "If You Love Me" by Brownstone. It's spinned & reproduced by 15 year old Umi Takahashi & 16 year old Yoko Watanabe. This brilliant Osaka duo met on a an online message board about ankle socks (who doesn't these days) and bonded over their love for 90s R&B. The video is directed by Kate Moross, who gives a colorful & soothing touch to the new version. I dig.

cameron, get in my closet.

Rumor is that Alex Wang is on the very tight list of who's to take over for Nicolas Ghesquiere at Balenciaga. With creations like the Cameron boot, I can see why.

liebster award.

I was so excited to be nominated for the Leibster award by Kelly at the darling Sparkles and Shoes this past weekend. The Leibster award is given from one blogger to another up and coming blogger that has less than 200 followers. THE MEANING: Liebster is German and means  sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.  THE RULES: 1. Each person posts 11 things about themselves 2. Answer the questions the nominator made for you, and create 10 more questions for the blogs you nominate. 3. Choose nominations and link them to your post. 4. Go to their page and tell them.

My 11 Facts:

1. I voted early! I hope you did too, or are voting today!

2. Museums (in particular the MoMa, MET & DIA) cheer me up.

3. I desperately want a tattoo (or 7), but I change my mind daily on what I want so I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

4. The last book I read was Steve Jobs biography, and it took me approximately 6 months. Oops!

5. Brunch is my favorite time of day.

6. I really wish I spoke Italian. Or French. Or both.

7. Shiny Happy People by R.E.M. is my guilty pleasure song.

8. I dye my hair a new color or shade at least 4 times a year.

9. My middle named is spelled Meaghann, the Irish way. It's kind of ridiculous.

10. I have a serious weakness for anything with truffle oil.

11. My aunt wrote letters to me the day I was born & the first day she met me as a baby. She described the days to me, wrote about what was going on with my family and in the world and gave me some stellar life advice. She kept them and sent them to me for my 25th birthday. It was, by far, the coolest present I've ever received.

10 Qs from Kelly:

1. What is your favorite beauty product? Aquaphor! Or Nars Illumintor in Copacabana.

2. Gold or silver? Gold.

3. Three favorite online shopping websites? Pixie Market, ASOS, SSENSE.

4. What is something you learned recently? I am constantly (attempting to) learn how to get around my new city, Chicago! It is WAY more complicated than NYC. Hello, 6 way intersections? Barely numbered streets? Come on, help a lady out.

5. Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer? Fall for sure.

6. What is your favorite cereal? Whole Foods vanilla almond granola. nomnomnom.

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world and money was no object, where would you go? Today, I think I'd hang with Clooney on Lake Como.

8. What pair of shoes do you wear the most? Converse or Banfi Zambrelli! ;)

9. What did you laugh about today? The ridiculous mass texts I have going with my hysterical, one of a kind friends.

10. What three things do you want to make sure you always carry with you? iPhone, ultra fine tip sharpies + a ridiculous amount of bobby pins.

10 Qs for Nominees:

1. If you could live in any era, when would it be? 2. What is your favorite kind of tea? 3. How did you come up with your blog name? 4. What is your favorite holiday? 5. What language do you wish you spoke? 6. Sweet or Savory? 7. If you could interview any past (or current) President, who would it be? 8. Favorite tumblr? 9. What is the most embarrassing song on your iPod? 10. Guilty pleasure TV show?                                                              

I nominate:

Emily --> Isn't That Charming
Sheri Ann --> Sprinkles and Style
Heidi --> Dooley Noted Style

Albertina --> Mimosa Lane

Get it, ladies! xx

mix tape: 11.5.12.

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you don't know how lucky you are - keaton henson

summerlong - xylos

landfill - daughter

12 - alexi murdoch

something good - alt-j

heartbeat - jjamz

about today (live) - the national

you're too cool - the zolas

all i want - kodaline

locked out of heaven - bruno mars

i know you care - ellie goulding

whirring - the joy formidable

give me love - ed sheeran

lick the pain of the burning handshake - zola jesus

farther along - josh garrels

setting stone - breakfast in fur

listen on spotify here

nyc's newest neighborhood.

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It's good to see that in the wake of the horrifying storm that was Sandy last week some New Yorkers are able to find a touch of humor in the situation. Seeing the photos of hundreds of marathon runners heading to Staten Island today to help clean up, getting emails from my favorite restaurants in my old neighborhood that were giving out free food to those without power and chatting with friends who were housing everyone that could fit in their teeny tiny (but with power!) apartments all week reminded me if there was ever a city that can recover from a tragedy, it is most certainly my beloved New York. I love you New York, and I can't wait to visit you soon! If you want to help with Sandy relief efforts, you can donate to the American Red Cross here.

color crush: chartreuse.

I am no stranger to color. I have been known to peruse Pantone books for hours, and one of my favorite parts about my last job was picking all of the colors every season for Hunter Boots! Right now I am really digging this bright & unusual shade. Shop some of my current faves in this color below.

there's a leopard in your living room.

I am a lady that loves leopard. So much that my closets are color coded and there is an entire section dedicated to the print. I consider it a neutral. Recently, I've been wanting to add more leopard to my living space as well. I have a couple pillows that I adore from Arianna Belle, but I want more! Specifically, that divine couch in the photo above.

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What are some of your favorite patterns to accent your living space with?

emergency compliment.

But seriously, it did. In a compliment emergency? There's a full supply here.

fymw: the book, the trailer.

All you need to get a book deal these days is a really great tumblr. One of my fave menswear delights, Fuck Yeah Menswear, is coming out with a book of it's own. If you're not familiar with the site, I suggest you check it out. And if you don't feel like it, you should probably just buy the book (launching November 6th) because it's Bespoke Knowledge for the Crispy Gentleman. So, yeah. Take a gander at the trailer below.

More importantly, are you following yours truly on tumblr? xx

coats & coats & coats.

Zara has so many FANTASTC coats right now I felt it would be a crime to not talk about them. Outerwear is such an important part of a lady's wardrobe in a place like Chicago because when it's chilly (which is most of the time), it's all people see! I'm having a love affair with 3, 4 & 5. Which are your favorites?

monday inspo.

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Because you are. Happy Monday!

minni havas.

Lately I've been trying to get back into creating my own art, but I keep getting distracted by some of the new contemporary artists I've been stumbling upon. Minni Havas {b. 1983} is a Finnish illustrator that mostly works in colored pencil. Every line is so perfect and she uses light so well that you think to yourself "did someone actually draw this by hand?".

Which one is your favorite?

pamela love x nine west.

I've been a huge Pamela Love fan for quite some time, so you can imagine my delight when I saw that she was collaborating with Nine West on a shoe for this Fall. The boots are a perfect blend of rock and roll and western with a touch of a Harley Davidson for good measure. I need the black version on my feet immediately, if not sooner. Too bad they don't ship until 10/30!

meant to be: fizzy florals.

This fantastic floral look on Taylor Tomasi Hill in Paris & this Coca-Cola can.

monday inspo.

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Do something spontaneous & put a little spice in your Monday.

mix tape: 10.11.12.

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stubborn love - the lumineers

white coats - foxes

black flies - ben howard

anything could happen - ellie goulding

kids {cover} - lady danville

angels - the xx

wildest moments - jessie ware

lover of the light - mumfords & sons

hood - perfume genius

same love - macklemore x ryan lewis ft. mary lambert

miracle - ghost beach

young blood - birdy

medicine - daughter

rivers and homes. - j.viewz

we don't eat - james vincent mcmorrow

listen on spotify here

fur sure.

The chilled Chicago Fall weather means breaking out your most beloved cozy coats and warm accessories, but what excites me the most is that it's time to start wearing fur. Fur real, folks. See what I did there? Real (sorry PETA) or faux, fur is a timeless cold weather staple that never goes out of style. Whether it's a classic floor length mink (thanks, Grandma!) or an electric blue mongolian lamb piece, there is something for everyone. Whenever I wear my favorite fur pieces it's like when people wear a snazzy pair of sunnies or eyeglasses--> everyone wants to try them on. I spent a good portion of my Saturday afternoon trying to retrieve my vintage mink collar from friends at a pulled pork extravaganza...everyone wanted a piece of the mink. So for you, my lovelies, some furspiration below from some of our favorite street style divas as well as some coats, collars & snoods that won't break the bank. 

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monday inspo.

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May the good vibes be with you. Hope you have a lovely start to your week!

pfw ss13 favorite: valentino.

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Holy Moly. This was for sure my favorite of the Paris shows. As usual with Valentino, every detail was perfectly pretty. Soft lace, die cut leather, silk, chiffon, sheers, beaded embroidery... the materials used in this collection were to die for. The necklines stood out in each look, detailed with an almost doll-like, sophisticated touch that could have felt overly sweet but didn't. I can't wait to see some lovely ladies on the red carpet wearing those last four dresses.

Who do you think would look best in them?