everyone loves a snuggle.

I really hate how much I love my snuggie. It’s a blue, poly blend, fleece nightmare, and I definitely shunned my boyfriend when he first proudly toted it home. But this particularly chilly winter threw the snuggie and I together in to a vortex of fate, and despite my best effort to stay away from the Tackiest Item of 2009, I developed a love for that awful thing.

It’s an embarrassing affair, like one between the homecoming queen and the president of the science club. He may give her everything she needs, but she’ll never admit she’s into it.

Blankoak is a snuggie we can all admit to loving.

It’s Icelandic (from Reykjavik, specifically, which tells me nothing because my knowledge of Icedanic geography leaves something to be desired, but it sounds cool) and made from sheep’s wool. The explanation for it on the website is “for January is cool.” Touche. Well played, Reykjavik-ians, well played.

cool clothes for cool girls

The Battalion was founded by two Echo Park, CA sisters who design minimalistic-yet-fascinating, simple-but-not-simplistic and modern-without-being-trendy women’s clothing. They’ve cited fascinating women and eras gone by as their main inspirations, and their interpretations of Anais Nin (SS 2009), the discovery of the New World (FW 2009) or ballerinas (SS 2010), have consistently been pretty great.

The brand got it’s start when designer Linda Wong began creating outwear from scraps of cashmere upcycled from rag mills, and it has managed to maintain it’s je ne sais quoi, bohemian appeal by never sanding down it’s semi-tough exterior. The Battalion isn’t a trend producer or a trend follower, it’s a brand that focuses on luxurious comfort and wearability for the slightly above-average woman.

Also, I want that fringe sleeve dress. So good!

H&M Garden Collection

There are a lot of things that I find exciting; macaroons, especially pistachio ones, finding the perfect pair of shoes, the travelocity commercials with the jaunty gnome... My love for each of these things is neck in neck with my love of H&M. The store never disappoints. It rolls out new and sartorially inventive styles before most magazines even recognize them, and it makes them available in a price point that gives reverse-sticker shock. (For example, that striped shirtdress I was wearing in the last post? Yeah, that cost me $6.95. Really. Really really.)

Then there's this, and this makes me happier than pistachio macaroons, shoes and jaunty gnomes combined:

Thank you H&M, for embracing sustainable design and not covering it in burlap. Thank you, for having the brains to make something that is both desirable and wearable. And thank you, for making sundresses out of recycled plastic bottles, so that I can use the phrase "Yeah, my sundress is saving the world," and meaning it.

give me... with hearts in my eyes

As of late, I've been browsing the internet for for wish-list fulfillment as opposed to going out and finding them, purchasing them and showing them off. All in all, it's significantly better for my pocket book, probably healthier for my materialistic soul, and certainly more fun because this type of virtual shopping has no bounds. Another by product of my wandering is endless discovery, my current favorite being With Hearts In My Eyes, currently selling at bonadrag.com.

lace crop top

lace up back dress

black lace bodysuit

lace flair pants

knit dress

It's lovely... The innocence of the girly dresses meshes with the exaggerated silhouettes. Lace bell bottoms? Perfection.

give me... THIS

At the risk of sounding immature, or using this blog as a means of living vicariously, or growing even more hedonistic than I already am... I give you:

Insight brand is hit or miss for me, but the instant I saw this tank top, four times in one day, I might add, in four separate boutiques, I fell in love. It's a kitten! In a beret! Painting!

I WAAAAAAAANT IT!

give me... a permanent vacation

That headline is so apt, in so many ways. But besides my lethargy, the desire for a permanent vacation means, actually, the desire for the Permanent Vacation, Swedish wonder-brand. They do capsule collections that are quite simply based on whatever they're enjoying at the time. It appears that the summer of 09 is the summer of soft focus, filtered light and throwback florals for these Swedes. I love love love their stuff, and as much I'm enjoying the summer season, I'm also looking forward to their fall and winter debuts. Imagine all the cozy Nordic knits!

P.S. Many of you responded and said that that which you want most from a fashion blog is outfit posts, so I'll be trying to use more of those in the future. Look for more ME on the website, as well as some lifestyling guides as well, all in the coming-soon, as-soon-as-I-suck-it-up-and-get-to-it section.

"Giant, awesome rings"

I've been verifiably obsessed with enormous rings lately, and my favorite place for vintage via the internet is still the lovely etsy.com. I found these by searching "giant awesome rings" and the results are just that. Whiiiiiiiich one do I get?? Ah, the decisions. 

This giant lion ring is so 70s fab... I want to wear it with a muumuu and big sunglasses in Palm Springs. 

I think the spiral detailing alongside the sides of this ring are what got me-- it's just so ornate.

And this, although the priciest of the bunch, is faaaaaaaaabulous in everywhich way. 

The description is "gorgeous, big and gaudy" and that just about sums up everything I want in a ring. 

And I think this one is utterly perfect for me, for this moment. It's vintage 60s, which I adore, and it's embellished but simple enough to wear all day, every day. 

in praise of... litter sf

I've fallen in love with the idea of body jewelry... not so much piercings, since I've succumbed to and recovered from that phase already, but actual chains and gorgeous shiny things to wear in places not limited to the neckline, ears, and wrists. Litter SF brand is my current favorite for such things, and being the magpie that I am, I'm sure they've just gotten themselves a loyal customer... or at least a die-hard fan.

layered chain bracelet, $65

bullets and chains knee straps, $115

cleopatra chain snake rings, $75

multi chain harness, $115

leafy vintage ear cuff, $68

"swoop" $145

These are definitely more "investment-y" than my normal, antique fair or thrift store sparklers, so I think I can rationalize only one- favorites? I will need council for this big decision.

erin leigh heart on etsy!

I have cyber-wanderlust... I can spend countless minutes, err, okay, hours, without human contact, just gawking at old fashion editorials, amateur photography, aspiring designers and all the fabulous bloggers out there. Miss Erin Leigh Heart (of the aptly named erinleighheart.blogspot.com) is one of my favorite discoveries. Everything in her adorable Etsy shop looks wearable, summery and in general, like things that should live in my closet!

This blue dress is my favorite, I love how blouson it is in the front...

$56- Jersey Knit Racerback Tank Draped Grecian Mini Dress Tunic

$78- Jersey Knit Hot Pink Fuchsia Pantsuit Jumpsuit

$43- Silver Bubble Sleeve Floral Evening A-Line Trapeze Dress

$54- Jersey Knit Neon Orange and Yellow Tunic Mini Dress Cowl Neck

$79- Black Halter Avant Garde Couture Evening Party Dress

I think it's important ya'll check out Miss Heart's shop here. Now.