H&M Garden Collection: More Floral!

What's up with floral? First Liberty of London for Target, and now this. The fashion industry apparently wants you to dress up like Easter this spring. Are you having it? If so, skip on over to H&M, where their eco-friendly Garden Collection launched on Friday and is reportedly going fast. The collection is dominated by feminine tops and flowy floral dresses and is made with materials including organic cotton and recycled polyester (hey, if it's gotta be polyester, recycled is the way to go). Here are the pieces I will might did venture out in the rain today to check out:


My favorite piece by a country mile is this psychedelic watercolor skirt, $29.99. UPDATE: Purchased! The colors are not nearly as bright as they appear in this picture; in fact, I'd say they about doubled the saturation on this image. But the cut is still really flattering, even with those pockets.



These sweet floral ballet flats, $14.95, are a close second. Methinks a little bit of floral goes a long way. UPDATE: Uh, not great quality. Unpurchased.



That said, I do like this pretty floral dress, $19.95, but it looks like it has a tie in exactly the wrong place for anyone with boobs (click to enlarge).




And I also love the double pattern on this dress, $17.95 (!). It might be too little-girl for me, but I like it anyway. Toughened up with a leather or denim jacket, it might just work. UPDATE: Purchased! With the sash circled in front before being tied in the back, you can even give yourself a waist. Done and done.



Finally, there's a lot of volume on this pretty top, $24.95, but I bet it would look great with skinny jeans.

Totally Old News

BUT. I was checking in on awesome preteen wonderblogger Tavi, she of the giant bow and front-row invites and whatnot, and she informed me that Carey Mulligan's Prada dress that she wore to the Oscars, when seen close up, is AMAZEBALLS:::



IT HAS TINY SCISSORS AND CORKSCREWS AND FORKS AND SHIT ON IT! (Click the pictures and they'll show up bigger.)



Pretty much best dress ever.

That's it, it's settled: Mulligan wins the Oscars.

Never Enough NUDES!

I am so with Tamar on this insatiable need for cream-colored footwear. However, I could give two craps about classic simple pumps and need a little more embellishment. Like so:


Jeffrey Campbell bow-back heel, $128. THAT BOW!



Faryl Robinson Madison wedge, $228. I could see myself wearing these a LOT.



Jeffrey Campbell Buttons peep-toe pumps, $96. Cute as a...yeah.



Vivienne Westwood by Melissa Anglomania Lady Dragon Ball matte pump, $150. With the rubber-stamp! On the rubber shoe!

This Buckle-Covered Ellington Leather Bag Is The Business

Buckles on boots? Well, sure! But BUCKLES ON A BAG? WHY is this not happening MORE often than like the go-round of Hayley's Comet? I mean, this buckle-covered leather bag by Ellington is really, truly the biznass.

($249, Ellington, Ellingtonhandbags.com)

Also, is it not the handbag version of the Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain multi buckle boot?

And hey! This does too! ;)

($197, Guess, Endless.com)

NEED, LIKE YESTERDAY: Beige Nude Heels. Now.

I CANNOT stop needing for beige heels for spring. Like so:

($80, BCBG, Zappos.com)

I love the simplicity here and the name: Cream Puff!

($83, rsvp, Zappos.com)

I have (unofficially) declared this the spring I go opentoe. But I kind of appreciate the aesthetic of an '80s-style monotone beige pump. I might make an exception for these though.

($304, Michael Kors, Zappos.com)

However, I'd absolutely make an exception for these excellent deconstructed beige and orange-toed heels. I mean, LOOK AT THEM.

($710, Vionnet, Net-a-porter.com)

These Vionnet beige leather heels are the Natalie Portman of footwear -- just plain perfect to look at, and also very expensive looking.

($476, Givenchy, Farfetch.com)

Clearly Givenchy's footwear design team has broken into my home, installed a secret camera in my bedroom, attached invisible electrodes to it, and monitored me sleeping to have created the shoe of my dreams. Obviously.

Tightening My Belt

Truth be told, my actual belt probably couldn't get any tighter at the moment (ahem). I speak metaphorically. These vintage belts are RECESSIONISTA-friendly. Bet ya haven't heard that one in a while, huh? Jesus, what a horrible word. Anyway, some cheapish belts for ya:


Vintage brown belt, $28. This unusual asymmetrical belt has a bit of an equestrian vibe to it, no?



Gold arrows belt, $14. Those arrows are both gold and silver. No info on waist size other than "SM." It's like fashion roulette! Or you could email the seller, I guess.



Double-mouse belt, $45. Eek! Two mice! Very cute!



Simple brown belt, $16.

Free Boots!

After many weekends of thinking about it but not actually doing it, I finally made it over to Beacon's Closet with Carl's $42 credit slip. His unwise button-down choices = my wardrobe's gain. Pickin's were a little slim (and I don't just mean the jeans rack), but I did manage to come up with a trip-justifying purchase (involving no actual money changing hands, which, yay!):


I snatched up these 80%20 patent-leather Jackie hidden-wedge boots, which list at $200 and are on sale at Amazon for $56, for a cool $27. Perfect for gray, rainy, depresso days like today, especially when worn with a pop of color. And they're supercomfortable, too.

Hooray, resale!

In other news, 80%20 has shoes both reasonably cute and extreeeeeeemely questionable in their new spring line. I leave it to you to figure out which are which:


Molly Tea Party sandal-bootie thing. (There are many more versions of this style, just not quite as...floral.)



Marlee seersucker sneaker. Note the circle on the back of the heel. (Have I given my hand away? These are cute!)



Sadie seersucker wedge, $92.99. I honestly can't even tell with this one.

These Brown Bess Studded Moc Boots Are My Achilles' Heel

($374, Bess, Ssense.com)

Stick a fork in me. I'm done. These studded Bess boots are my downfall. I do have to say though, I'm hitting a wall with the studded stuff. I own a studded handbag, studded trench, and boots with studs, they're in constant wardrobe rotation, and never the three shall meet. It's more than enough, you know?

Mara Hoffman Is Killing Me Softly

... Case in point:

($290, Mara Hoffman, Bonadrag.com)

Green Is the Worst

Seriously, when were you ever like, hey, let me wear a kelly green sweater today? It's just not a good color to put on your person. I feel embarrassed for all these people walking around in bright green shirts and whatnot. Olive, okay. But come on people, you look ridiculous. However, I will celebrate my 1/8 Irishness or whatever it is by a) wearing green eyeliner, and b) posting these sandals, which would be fully awesome IF NOT FOR THE DAMN GREEN.



Matt Bernson Sherpa Buttermilk sandals in stupid neon green, $168. But how rad is that gold stitching, eh?

Happy St. Patty's Day. Go drink something Irish (NOT GREEN BEER)!

Hot Shorts

These shorts remind me of my absolute favorite pair of shorts: just the right length, the right wash, the right cut. But these have those two subtle studs on the front flaps and at the pocket seams. If I were the type of girl who gets shot for street-style blogs, I might wear them with black tights and oxfords. As it is, though, I think I'll just dream of summer.



Everyday or Eternal trouser shorts, $90.

Jean Jackets: Yea or Nay?

I've been thinking about jean jackets lately. Perhaps I was scarred by the memory of the oversize acid-washed one I wore in high school, but I've never been able to even think about owning one in my adult life. Actually, that's not true. I purchased a denim trench-ish coat from H&M several years ago, but I barely wore it (imagine that!). But I know a small number of fashionable people who can and DO rock a denim jacket (Tamar among them), so maybe it's time to reconsider? My gut feeling is I just can't do it, but here are a few versions aside from the classic cut that have made me ponder the issue a little bit.



ELLE moto denim jacket, $44.99. Kinda weird that Elle's making clothes for Kohl's, huh?



Jeanology blouson denim jacket, $49. This could be cool, but it's hard to tell because of the way the model's posing. Show us the clothes! This is not an editorial spread, Newport News! You're not that cool! Not cool at all, in fact, but nevermind.



Vintage ruffled denim jacket, $36. This is so prim and proper, I love it. Somebody snap it up!



Diesel Lodyn jacket, $117. This is similar to the classic cut, but the rounded collar adds just a touch of interest.



I'm not usually one for 80s styles, but this vintage acid-washed grommeted jacket, $89, is speaking to me. It's not telling me to drop $89 on it, however.



Black denim is kind of in a whole different category, but I do like this Rachel Roy bleached, studded blazer-style number. It's $104.25.


And finally, there is this atrocity, which for some reason reminds me of my beloved co-blogger.


"Vintage 80s Avant Garde Studded Denim Oversized Cocoon Coat," $65. I love that this coat exists.

What say you? Do you own a denim jacket, and if so, do you wear it?

This J. Crew Dress Is Taking Over My Life

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I tried this on and it SUCKED. I looked like some kind of neon and peach monk. Not at all flattering on a short, curvy chick. Guess that's why they had it on a professional dancer in the catalog. Oh well.

($350, J. Crew)

I have thought about this J. Crew "Delphinia" dress approximately 8,44,583 times a minute today, causing my personal productivity to come to a screeching... nay, SLAMMING halt! I have a wedding in Hawaii next month. Therefore I think I may need to pull the trigger.

Cat Power

Uh, Tamar? How is it that you don't own this already?



Paul & Joe cat-print dress, $145. Also comes in yellow and navy.



ROWR!

Um, Seriously? What Happened Here?

($585, Maurizio Pecoraro, Luisaviaroma.com)

WTF is this macrame cage bag thingie?? It looks like a lab dissection gone wrong meets an arts and crafts project gone wronger. And is that an abstract vagina down the middle there?

I Am Just $429.30 Away From My Dream Nude Ankle Boots!

($429.30, Gianna Meliani, Luisaviaroma.com)

Gianna Meliani OBVIOUSLY stole these nude mesh ankle boots out of my dreams! Return them to me!

Ombré Trenchcoat Rides Again!

Well, hello there! Let's talk about trenchcoats. Loyal readers may recall I have a thing for ombré trenchcoats, yet have never actually purchased one. First there was the $200 Anthropologie one dip-dyed orange. Then there was the green-accented Calvin Klein one. Neither of which I purchased. Will I purchase this one, or add it to the list of coulda-beens?





Gradient purple trench coat, $69, made by a tailor in Shanghai. Love those ruffles in the back! This designer has gone and made the annoying trenchcoat flap cute! It's so unique, I might finally pull the trigger....

Thoughts?

Give Me Liberty or Give Me...A Chop't Salad

I wish I could say a lot of things about the Liberty of London for Target pop-up shop at 42nd and 6th here in N.Y.C. I wish I could say I popped in and was delighted by the impossibly cute teapots and knickknacks and dresses. I wish I could say I was transported to a magical Alice in Wonderland-ish world of colorful cuteness, available for no more than the cost of a few cups of tea. I wish I could say I took a turn around the block on a flowery bike. Mostly, though, I wish I could say I popped in at all. I wish I did NOT have to say what actually happened, which is that I waited on line for 30 minutes, determined I'd be on line for another 20 at least, and that my life would be more improved by a Chop't salad and some tissues (this cold!) than by a floral piggybank.

I will try again in the morning, and Tamar and I are all set to road-trip to Jersey on Sunday for the official launch (this is serious business), but for the moment, here are my picks, based on Target's tiny pics:


Halter dress, $29.99. This is THE piece of the collection as far as I'm concerned. Kudos to the designers for making a beautiful dress that a woman can bend over in without worrying about flashing anyone, and kudos to Target for pricing it at $30 instead of the $50 and $60 and even higher I've seen in other designer collabs.


Tankini, $19.99 per piece.


Peacock swimsuit, $34.99. Maybe.


Flowerpot, $9.99. Because terra-cotta is kinda boring.


Piggybank! I lied; I totally need a floral-print piggybank. How else am I gonna save money? Deciding between this and the black and white. It's $9.99.


Chemise, $17.99. Uh, chemise, really? You wear this shit to bed? But it's so pretty! And she's wearing shoes! Further investigation required.

And that's just my picks of what's on the press page, which I think is incomplete. I see a lot more pillows and bedding, for instance, in the videos. And since my new cat has pissed on most of our throw pillows (thanks, Louie!), it's time to stock up.

For my money (as yet unspent), this is one of the best Target designer collections yet. Don't sleep, kids! The collection launches in stores Sunday. Developing!