I Went To Austin And Left With This Avocet Ring (And A Hangover). Both Worth It

Hey fashion friends, cat lovers, compulsive shoppers. It's been a minute. Blog and blog people, I love you, but the truth is, I'm a good blogger but a shitty updater. Why? Because I'm in front of a screen pretty much from the minute I wake up to the second my head (and, let's be honest, my drool) hit the pillow. I need a small break from Interneting to put my face in things that matter -- food, yoga mat, cat bellies, husband's neck. So, it's not that I don't love blogging. I do. I just give no fucks about pageviews. Caring about pageviews on your personal blog is like caring about your weight. It's just a number. Why are you worrying about number when you could be... not worrying and eating instead? It's just that I love the sky and talking to people in person, and traveling, and not Instagramming stuff for a second and instead trying to commit things to memory instead of screens. I've written thousands of blog posts in my head that, oddly, didn't make it to the computer tubes. Maybe if I get one of those Google Glass thingies that scream "DON'T HAVE SEX WITH ME PLEASE EVER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SEX BECAUSE I'M WEARING THESE COOL VIRTUAL GLASSES AND DON'T NEED SEX OR HUMAN CONTACT. I'M HAVING SEX IN MY MIND."

I digress, as I so often do.

I just got back from a week in Austin for SXSW. I'm sorry, body, for the fried things and nicotine and cider beer or whatever I put in you. I'm sorry. The ciders were free and I was feeling fuck-free.

I worked my ass off, but I had a little downtime which I spent shopping and strolling on South Congress Street, where, at the suggestion of the lovely ladies at Paige Denim (shout to them and the guys of Immaculate, who threw an excellent, definitely not Kosher dinner party), I stopped by Feathers Boutique, which is where this gorgeous Native American tribal head dress ring by Mexico City jeweler Avocet imprinted itself in my mind.

Stunning, right? I haven't worn silver in ages, but this ring, like 75% of jewelry I shouldn't be impulse-buying, did.

Other reasons you should check out Feathers, besides their jewelry selection -- including my girl Katie deGuzman's K/LLER jewelry -- they carry Alchemy tees, which have cool retro-luminati designs on tees softer than the little pinky/ white part of a kitten's ear.

I got this one in black and white:

Also spotted at Feathers: Mustard-colored Mickey and Minnie denim. 1994 me would've creamed my jeans for these.

Buy these? I did not. Missed connection.

Finally, in my South Congress rampage (I gave myself a one-hour break between work and work), I stopped into Prototype Vintage, which is IMPECCABLY organized, super clean and priced to move. Picked up two '80s vintage tees -- an all-over print Mickey shirt and these super '80s illustrated ladies on a Las Vegas souvenier shirt. I wish everything still looked like this.

They were both under $40 -- certainly not thrift store prices, but definitely not New York "vintage" prices, where used things cost more than new things.

On that work tip, I did some interviews for the mtvU Woodies. Jack Antonoff of Bleachers was particularly cool:

Here we are making emoji faces:

That's a Reiss "Springstreen" blouse (it's the most beautiful, breathable and unwrinkable thing in the world) and a Lionette Frida necklace if you give fucks about that sorta thing, and JC Ramos of Blo Austin did my hair, and he's a follicular genius and a total doll. I'm supremely into Jack's grown-up Suddenly Seymour style, by the way.

You need to listen to his song "I Wanna Get Better" RIGHT THE FUCK NOW and see him on tour by any means necessary.

Oh yeah, here's me, and, much more importantly, goddess queen superlatively superior human being Iggy Azalea serving Dolly Parton "9 to 5" realness.

 Finally: DOGS! Austin's got the BEST ONES!

THESE GUYS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION! Contact AustinPetsAlive.org

+ AUSTIN MUSTS:

SHOP
* Feathers Boutique:
1700 B South Congress Ave. and Milton
Austin, TX 78704
512-912-9779

* Prototype Vintage:
1700 1/2 South Congress Ave and Milton Street
Austin, Texas 78704
512-447-7686

* Uncommon Objects: BEST VINTAGE/ ANTIQUE SHOP IN THE WORLD, NO CONTEST.
512 S Congress Ave
Austin, Texas 78704
512-442-4000

HAIR GAME STRONG:
* JC Ramos/ Blo Dry Austin
1611 W 5th St, Ste 145
Austin, TX 78703
512-355-1256

EATS
* Uchiko
* East Side King
* Liberty Bar
* Lamberts Barbecue
* Houndstooth Coffee
* Flat Track Coffee

The Hatters' Oui & Fuck Off Rings: Mais oui!

$40, The Hatters

Do I speak French? Non. But do I love The Hatters' cute little oui ring? Oui. Oui, I do. Do I like the $40 price? Also, oui! 

By the way, The Hatters is Stephen Davis and jewelry designer Michelle Kim, and they clearly have a sense of humor, as evidenced by these delicate, yet strongly worded "Fuck Off" rings:

$18, The Hatters

$10, The Hatters

Also, you'd be hard pressed to find a better diamond ring for just 10 bucks.

Kelly Wearstler's Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Is Even Better Than I'd Dreamed, Which Is Saying A Lot

Kelly Wearstler's F/W '13 leather knit sweater. It's in my head so much that it's giving me OCD.

You know Kelly Wearstler, right? The woman who'd be your personal stylist/ life coach/ closet guru/ spirit animal if you could afford to live your best life? The superlatively L.A. designer's dressed Gwen Stefani (THAT PINK LEATHER JACKET, HOMG!), turned out the Viceroy in Palm Springs in her signature post-modern Hollywood Regency-on-a-safari-holiday style (because she runs that game), and she has excellent hair. And she has an excellent collection of Fall/Winter 2013 separates and accessories, all supremely textured -- primal leathers, rough and tough moto jackets, heavy metal jewelry, brass in pocket -- in geometric prints, and Vivienne Westwood, punk-leaning patterns and visceral, mixed-material mash-ups that totally shouldn't make sense together but somehow totally do. I want to live in her showroom, I want to live in her closet, I want to live in her clothes. See why in these photos from my recent trip to her Chelsea showroom to check out the collection. (No I didn't steal anything. Aren't you proud?)

Yes, that is a brass plate on a leather clutch, in case you needed reminding.

+ Check out more Kelly Wearstler jewelry after the jump.

The Best Shit I Bought, Wore, Did, Ate, Etc In 2012

Okay. Yay, happy 2013! Given that I have more than enough running observations, statistics, judgements, trivial/ triflin' concerns, condemnation, ambitions, thoughts about cats, musings and mumblings going through my brain in just the time it took me to type this sentence, I'm therefore not usually prone to public reflection, review, or navel gazings, such as the year-in-review-style posts that fill up my Facebook feed at the end of December/ beginning of January. I'm not trying to hate. It's just generally not my thing. But, like, if I'm going to reach back into the bowels of 2012 and extract a common theme of the year, then YOLO: Why not take a minute to look back at the year that was (and all of the shit I bought), and raise a glass to 2012?

All joking and unicorn heels aside, one of my daily goals is to always remain fully aware and appreciative of my countless blessings, from having a loving relationship, friends so incredible that I sometimes feel like I should pay them for the privilege, and living in a city I love in a place I'm happy to call to home, to the little things that aren't little at all, when you take a step back and really, profoundly consider them -- just waking up in the morning, and having a healthy body and healthy mind. Truly, in the midst of the daily grind of flying out the door, rushing to work, being annoyed by the 47 billionity thousand trillion things that can annoy you on the ride to work, it's a privilege and a gift -- even on a bad day -- just to get out of bed every morning and stretch out four limbs that can carry me anywhere. Those things alone are truly more that some people can say they have. I don't care if that sounds emo. Sure, 2013 had some crap moments. Every year does. But I got to spend another year on Earth (thanks, Mayans!), and given the alternative, I'll take it.

Okay. So, let's talk shopping and other superficial stuff!

+ Best thing I bought in 2012: My Chris Habana Nostradamus necklace: I stopped into American Two Shot -- FINALLY -- last month, looking for gifts for my sister. A few hundred bucks later I walked out with this Chris Habana necklace for myself, and a pizza iPhone case for my sister. I am a TERRIBLE person. But I LOVE this piece probably way more than any healthy person should. This was my one really indulgent impulse buy of the year, and, in the words of Katy Perry, no regrets, just love.

+ Second-best thing I bought in 2012: Urban Outfitters BDG chambray button-down: Being a woman, ahem, cursed with a more than ample endowment, if you will (yes, I'm talking about the curse of the big-busted woman, but I'm trying to be discreet, because I am TOTALLY A LADY!), I truly believed I would NEVER own a decent button-down. But holy shit and Gloria in excelsis Deo! Urban Outfitters' chambray button-down came around and turned my world upside down because IT FITS, Y'ALL!

+ Third-best thing I bought in 2012: CW-X sports bra: DUDES. My CW-X sports bra changed EVERYTHING. Again, see above. If you're over like a C cup, sports bra issues can be THUH WORST. CW-X is by Wacoal, and they know what's UP. I found that the cup sizes aren't true to your real non-sports bra cup size, so the size I bought was smaller than my real size, but I don't care, because it fits like it's true to size. I can't remember what size I bought, and quite frankly, if you're that interested, then you're probably a real creeper, so fall back. But if you're not a creeper, try the CW-X VersatX Support Bra or the CW-X XTempo from Paragon or ShoeBuy.com. Zappos carries some, too. You might have to shop around a bit to find the right size and fit, but it's worth it. Trust. Seriously, after going to Lululemon and asking for a sports bra in my size and basically getting this from their "enlightened" employees:

... Finding CW-X sports bras was like a revolution.

(More favorite/ best things after the jump!)

Holiday Gift Guide Day 3: Ole Henriksen Celebrate The Truth Kit & Asha Zodiac Ring

$60, Ole Henriksen, Sephora

I've recently been on the hunt for a new skin care regimen (note: I didn't say "REGIMENT") to replace my current brand, which is lovely but costs exactly 25% of my part of the rent. (Thanks, online percentage calculator.) With the country about to take a nose dive off the fiscal cliff, it's time to scale back my skin-related expenditure while maintaining the illusion that I spend hundreds of dollars on my skin. (You get to the age when that sort of thing becomes important to you, well, because... you just do. It's kind of a bummer, but otherwise you'd be dead, so just accept it and move on.) Anyway, I recently discovered Ole Henriksen's Truth Crème Advanced Hydration, and while I'm not shallow enough to PRAY for affordable yet highly effective moisturizer, if I were, this right here would be the answer to my (superficial) prayers as it's the best moisturizer I've used, well, since I discovered the triple-digit stuff and justified spending almost three Benjis on it. The Truth Crème Advanced Hydration pulls off the peculiar task of feeling both light and rich at the same time (DANISH PARADOX!), and while I've read a handful of reviews hatin' on the scent, I actually love it: think crushed-up Smarties all over your face. What? It's a selling point! 

Holiday Gift Guide Day 2: Bendel's East Meets West Necklace + Lush's Snow Fairy Shower Gel

How's that old saying go? Oh yeah: WEAR ALL OF THE SPARKLIEST THINGS EVER AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN, EVEN WHEN THE SITUATION DOESN'T CALL FOR IT. And the situation DEFINITELY calls for it all day erry day beginning December 1. Seriously, it's cold out, zero people look hot in sweaters (except for brutally hot dudes like Jon Hamm, and that's about it), so go HAM on the sparkly jewelry and shoes for the holidays. Especially where dinner parties and holiday soirees are involved. As far as I'm concerned (and I AM concerned), when you're invited to a holiday party, you should be wearing something that sparkles so hard you need to hand out those creepy little tanning bed glasses to all surrounding guests. And maybe issue one of those warnings to anyone with epilepsy. Henri Bendel's East Meets West Mykonos necklace, shot through with with Deco metallics and mother of pearl detail, shines like the light of a thousand menorahs. You could probably see it shine from space. It's so festive that it truly deserves its very own holiday.

$489, Henri Bendel, HenriBendel.com

Juicy Couture's Cat Holiday Tip Video Is The Best Cat Video Of The Week (I'm Kind Of An Expert)

I can't with Juicy Couture's Eticat video with Derek Blasberg. Canonically speaking, it obviously wins best cat video of the week, and TRUST ME, I've seen any and all new cat videos as I play a key role in determining the cat video canon. Now please to enjoy the video as well as the most crass, tactless cat on the internet (seen above). And pick up some sparkly Juicy Couture jewels AND learn some manners while you're at it.

$228, Juicy Couture

Cute for a cat, even cuter for you.

LOFT Is Literally Making The Holiday Season Bright. Get Familiar.

LOFT is getting ready to ring in the holidays, and they're not doing it with Santa sweaters and fugly forest greens. No. Try CORAL AND GOLD BROCADE PANTS. Think Beverly Hills Regency (if my mental wellbeing had a preferred design era, it'd be Beverly Hills Regency). Also, try BLACK SEQUIN SLOUCHY PANTS (they look WAY better in person), rich melons, and '60s-inspired rhinestone costume jewelry that'll turn an atheist into a God-fearing believer, to quote Wyclef Jean. Check out these photos I took at the Loft Holiday 2012 preview, and happy Chanukkah to ME!

Bing Bang's Moon Gorget Necklace is GORGEOUS

Bing Bang's Moon Gorget necklace deserves its own national holiday. Like, I look at this and Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" plays in my head. THAT'S how good it is.

$355, Bing Bang

Sorrelli Jewelry's Pinkberry Collection Makes Me Happier Than A Medium Peach Pinkberry With Mochi And Honey

This Sorrelli ring is FOUR rings in one, and THEY'RE ALL INSPIRED BY PINKBERRY!

There are few things on this planet that make me happier on a very primal, feeding-my-hungry-id level than Pinkberry. I will go several train stops out of my way for a cup of their tart, refreshing cups of frozen crack, and I have carefully crafted, intricately researched opinions (as in, I thought about it a lot) on various Pinkberry locations throughout the city (my favorites: Spring Street and the "secret" Pinkberry in Hell's Kitchen, because it's nearly hidden). I love it with a fury and a passion with which most people love their own children.

One of the other things (besides cats and the kind of carbs that involve pasta) that makes me happy on such a base, primitive level that only operant conditioning can thoroughly explain is sparkly jewelry.

So, when I heard that Sorrelli jewelry created a collection INSPIRED BY PINKBERRY AND that PINKBERRY WAS OPENING THEIR FIRST BROOKLYN LOCATION, I was pretty much like: 

I got a chance to check out the collection IN REAL LIFE at a preview event, and it is sparkle nirvana for just the price of a week's worth of Pinkberry. (The average piece is around $40, and nothing is over $100.)

Check out photos of Sorrelli's Pinkberry collection after the jump:

Cast Of Vices = Accessories For Pill Poppers

$200 - 1,295, Cast of Vices

I'm celebrating the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Obamacare (DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE FACT THAT AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE IS SOMETHING THAT HAD TO MAKE ITS WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT) with Cast Of Vices' cheeky little porcelain pill signet rings. Vicodin is never more a knuckle away! Too bad I'm such a square that my drug of choice is Aleve (SO GOOD for cramps!) Maybe I'll custom order a naproxen sodium ring. FUCKIN' GANGSTA.

I Love Love Mert's Wooden Crystal Necklace & Faceted Rings

Need I even explain why I love Love Mert's painted wooden "crystal" necklace and faceted wood rings? They're handmade in Lake Tahoe, California using wood from designer Melissa Michelsen's dad's workshop. They're the perfect way to do folksy art teacher without looking like Ms Lippie from "Billy Madison." (Not that I wasted a cumulative 144 hours or so of my life that I'll never get back watching that movie during college or anything.)

Below are a few snaps of my favorite pieces Love Mert's doing for fall. The crystal necklaces start at $32 each and are available this summer on Endless.com. And the Trae rings are $36. No, that's not a typo.

 

YOLO Rings By Wendy Brandes? Because, Why Not?

$415 for the set, Wendy Brandes

The hilarious and talented Wendy Brandes, jeweler and blogger in one, made YOLO rings. (Google it.) Because someone had to.They're $415 for the set. Get 'em. Because really... # YOLO. (Or, as I like to say, YOLOL.)


Also, in related news, Zac Efron has a YOLO tattoo. I'm pretty sure that's all you need to officially cement your douche status for all eternity.

Credit: Zap2it.com

Also, sorry, Drake, but I'm giving YOLO to the Strokes.

Alexis Bittar's O'Keeffe Collection Is Art For Your Arm

I've been a fan of Alexis Bittar for years now, because Lucite is way more within my financial wheelhouse than diamonds are. Also, what up to his Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired collection, which mixes Southwestern motifs like skulls and Najavo prints with Deco metals and crystals. If you can't handle the vagtasticness of the silver antique bracelet then I guess you're just not woman enough.

A TWO-HEADED CAT NECKLACE EXISTS! STOP THE WHOLE WORLD!

Hurry up and STOP EVERYTHING and know that a two-headed cat necklace exists.

$122.50, Steph Mantis, Fab.com

It's for sale on Fab.com (get a Fab.com invite here if you don't have one), and it's by Steph Mantis, who INVENTED cat butt magnets and clearly knows that a two-headed cat is ideal since you just have to clean out ONE litterbox.

(Via Pawesome)

+ Related: What I think, in general, about Fab.com + photos of my cat watching "Downton Abbey."

Lanvin's Winged Eagle Necklace Deserves To Be Saluted

$1985, Lanvin, BergdorfGoodman.com

Lanvin's eagle necklace commands so much respect that you really ought to take your hat off, stand, and salute it. It's a necklace befitting R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly," which, I'm sure we can all agree, is the apotheosis of his career.

3 Photos Of My Cat Watching Downton Abbey

I love Downton Abbey, you love Downton Abbey, critics love Downton Abbey, everyone and their cat loves Downton Abbey. My cat, specifically.

Enjoy three photos, which I swear I did not stage, of my cat Rory watching Downtown Abbey:

I hate O'Brien, Carson hates O'Brien, even cats hate O'Brien.

I know. I miss Bates too.

Patiently waiting for me to rewind because neither of us understood WTF they said with those bloody accents.