Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 9/3/10

We’re on the cusp of Labor Day weekend and the Northeast is preparing for a hurricane? tropical storm? something called Earl. We will probably only get strong winds and torrential rains, but I’m not looking forward to climbing on a bus this afternoon from New York City to Providence, Rhode Island–following the very trajectory of the storm.

In honor of the stormy weekend ahead, I chose Tania from What Would a Nerd Wear as this week’s Look of the Week–I love the combination of the short skirt, oversized plaid, and rain boots.

Best of the Looks:

Designers should really give Christina Hendricks some dresses.

I always love MyEdit’s hair–here’s a tutuorial.

Jewelry made from books. WANT.

While we’re on the subject of jewelry I want, look at these rings.

Best of the Books:

10 Amazing Facts about Books

Secret Storage Books

See who is buying which books where, in real time! (The Book Depository)

Stay dry this weekend, friends!

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 8/13/10

Happy Friday the 13th, friends! Has anything weird ever happened to you on a Friday the 13th? I don’t want to jinx myself, but I feel like my Fridays of the 13th variety tend to be good ones rather than bad ones. Maybe that’s because, as a rule, Fridays are awesome. After work tonight, I will board the Bolt Bus for my LAST ROUND TRIP to New York before I move there. Though I’m not moving until next weekend, Joe is moving Sunday, so I’ll be helping pack and clean and get his things settled into the new place. Very exciting! Though the fact that my arms are very sore after moving one bookcase from my apartment to a friend’s new place doesn’t bode well for the next two moving weekends….

Maybe I’ve got weddings on the brain since last weekend, but this week’s Best Look is Jentine from My Edit in something she wore for a wedding. I really like the color and cut of the dress, and the use of the brooches along the bodice is genius.

Best of the Looks:

A look at fitness fashion inspired by Jessica Biel at Sterling Style.

LOVE this umbrella.

Like this look–especially the necklace.

An adorable collaboration between Peanuts and Lacoste.

Best of the Books:

Jonathan Franzen on the cover of Time–what does it mean?

Book tunnel!

The new edition of the Chicago Manual of Style is here.

Fancy new Art Deco covers for Fitzgerald books at The Debonaire.

Happy weekend everyone!

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 8/6/10

Another busy week here at Looks & Books and a busier weekend coming up! It’s finally time for the wedding of one of my best friends, and I’m the Maid of Honor. I can’t wait!! Though that toast is looming over my head a little…also, the heels of my shoes are a little higher than I’m used to. Send good “don’t fall” vibes my way please!

My favorite look this week is from District of Chic, one of my favorite style blogs. E’s truly got a style all her own, and she can pull pieces off that I would never be brave enough to wear myself, but on her, they are perfect! Just look at the leather jacket. It’s essentially wearable art–the studs, the asymmetry, the neckline. Wonderful!

Best of the Looks:

This dress at Sally Jane Vintage is too cute and just right for the end of summer party blitz.

Another lovely dress (and granny boots) at The Sartorialist.

Tempted to order this ModCloth skirt…though it might be too short for the office. Nothing a pair of tights can’t solve!

These shoes look comfy AND stylish.

I will take one of every necklace in the Vamoose collection. K thanks bye. {via Camp Comfort}

Living in Amelie at Design Sponge.

Best of the Books:

A list of the best magazine articles ever.

Flavorwire has a list of the “10 Best Dressed Characters in Literature.” Right up my alley!

An eBook article drinking game!

Entertainment Weekly has a list of New Book Classics. How many have you read? (I’ve read 37, but I would disagree with quite a few of these.)

Recordings of Sylvia Plath reading her poetry from the British Library.

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 7/30/10

It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks–I know I haven’t been updating as frequently, but I’ve been back and forth to NY four times in less than three weeks, with a fifth trip planned for Monday morning. When things calm down, I will be a much better (and calmer) blogger!

I haven’t done a Friday post in a while, so I wanted to try to squeeze one in before another whirlwind weekend. So, without further ado, the most basic of links:

This week’s favorite look is from Garance Dore–love the shorts, love the layering, love the haircut, love the plaid. The end.

Best of the Looks:

“Plus-Size Wars”

Want this dress.

A super easy DIY necklace tutorial at Clothed Much!

Best of the Books:

Literary Doppelgangers!

Don’t know about the interrobang?!

Yes, I must have this typewriter.

New issue of Smokelong Quarterly is out–featuring a good friend, Bridget Pelkie!

The plight of the copy editor.

Gotta run to meet a certain handsome gentleman, but happy weekend everyone!!

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 7/9/10

For a short week, this week was loooong! Does anyone else feel like that during shorter work weeks? I’m heading to New York for the first of three weekends in a row to help set up for An Ideal Husband, a play that Joe is producing, running over the next two weeks in the West Village. If you’re in the city, go see it! It’s going to be great.

I saw this on The Sartorialist yesterday and gasped at how much I love everything about it. The shoes, the bold color contrast of indigo and yellow, the belt, the sunglasses, even the ponytail. I just want it all.

Best of the Looks:

The NY Times examines the recent flurry of fashion community sites where users can comment on others’ outfits and style

I absolutely adore these Kara Ross rings {via Dilly Dallas}

Sterling Style has a helpful fishbraid video tutorial

Notebook paper t-shirt!

Best of the Books:

READ THIS essay by Steven Church–“I’m Just Getting to the Disturbing Part”

An interesting NY Times Op-Ed on the power of reading printed books over reading on the Internet

The Paris Review interviews Sloane Crosley (yeah, who doesn’t want to be her?)

A thought-provoking Vernacular post on race in fiction and writing workshops

Quirky notebooks at Swiss Miss

These book cover designs for Faber’s 2010 Poetry Collection are gorgeous

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 7/2/10

It’s the Friday before a long holiday weekend and the weather in Boston is GLORIOUS and I have a relaxing weekend ahead that I hope to fill with equal parts relaxation and productivity–things are looking good!

My favorite look this week is E from District of Chic. The combo of the striped tank and striped skirt is so effortless that it looks like a dress–a very chic dress! And those sunglasses make me rue the fact that I don’t wear sunglasses….

Best of the Looks:

Jenny from Closet365 channels Virginia Woolf

A video of the ladies from Mad Men dishing on smoking, drinking, and 60s fashion at Jezebel.

I love this look on The Sartorialist.

Tips on building on a basic black cardigan at Black Dog Finds.

Best of the Books:

The Guardian asks if challenging books are worth the effort.

The benefits of daydreaming.

Bookspotting at O’Hare airport–people still buy books!

Speaking of buying books, if you want to submit to Tin House, you’ll need to provide a receipt proving you bought a book at an independent bookstore.

What are you all doing for the Fourth? I don’t have any concrete plans, but I’m hoping for the day to involve some food, some friends, and maybe even some fireworks. Happy Independence Day, all!

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 6/25/10

I have the feeling that this is going to be a great Friday. We had some storms last night that cleared out a little of the suffocating humidity, so I had a lovely walk to the train this morning (I walk on the bike path behind my apartment for optimal puppy spotting), and I’m feeling rested enough to embrace a low-key weekend full of brunch dates, wandering, and perhaps some World Cup action.

On to the weekly round up! My favorite look this week comes from Elaine, of Clothed Much. It’s such a simple concept, but somehow the combination of the yellow beads, orange print, and red belt make for a juicy summer outfit!

Best of the Looks:

Understated is the best kind of sexy–backless dresses at A Cup of Jo

Another pretty summer hairstyle from Real Simple

I adore Julie at Orchid Grey’s outfit here–and it gets better when you read the story behind the dress!

Sugary and swanky–couture cakes!

Need a necklace for your book? Here’s one.

I love the idea of the blog New Dress a Day–with a budget of $1 a day, she takes a thrift store dress and transforms it into a new stylish item every day!

Best of the Books:

Nicole Krauss has a new story in The New Yorker: “The Young Painters”

Even the greats write fan letters–Nicholson Baker to John Updike

It would have been awesome to attend this Poet’s House fundraiser and hang out with Bill Murray

McSweeney’s summer sale!

What are you guys up to this weekend?

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 6/18/10

This week has been pretty hectic–I’m still playing catch up from not having done a “Best of…” post last week! Sorry about that, friends. Without further adieu, here are my Friday bests:

What I Wore was one of the first style blogs I found myself checking daily, coveting Jessica’s outfits (ok, and pretty much her life–her blog is her job and she’s got a book deal and she lives in Brooklyn–I could go on, but I won’t) and getting ideas for my own outfits. I know that mixing patterns has been something of a trend for a while now, but there’s something about the mix of these colors and patterns that’s subtle, while still getting the point across. It’s something I would love to challenge myself with. How about you? Do you let your pattens mingle?

Best of the Looks:

Artist Stina Wirsen creates the most gorgeous watercolors of fashion {via Oh Joy!}

These Bandolino wedges are too adorable for feet {via Smart, Pretty, and Awkward}

And while we’re on the topic of shoes…I will take these also. {via Snapshot Fashion}

LOVE this pretty hairstyle–want to try it for myself. {via Refinery 29}

Best of the Books:

A lovely poem about wool socks {via Put This On}

Amazing photos of the Library of Congress from Boing Boing

For the truly devoted Carrie Bradshaw fan–Sex and the City, the Prequel

Clive Owen to play Ernest Hemingway. Yes.

Flavorwire compiled a “nerdy mixtape” of songs inspired by modern literature.

In just a couple of hours, I’ll be absconding from the city and driving up to York Beach, Maine, to spend the weekend relaxing with my mom and my sister. I’m looking forward to it! What are you all up to this weekend?

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 6/4/10

Since it was a short week this week, I’ve been scrambling a bit to keep up with things–I need a few extra days just to get it all done, but I’m happy for the weekend! Tonight, I’m going to see one of my favorite bands, Stars, play at the Williamsburg Hall of Music in Brooklyn, and then tomorrow we’re hitting the Brooklyn Flea–super excited!

My favorite look this week was Emily from Cupcakes & Cashmere. Her outfits are always amazing, but this one struck me especially because of the classic aviators, breezy white shirt, pretty floral scarf, and sky-high YSL heels (oh those shoes). It’s such a dynamic blend of casual and glamorous.

Best of the Looks:

Tom’s wedges are so cute! {Unruly Things}

Love Kyla’s plaid shirt dress.

A gift guide for tote bags from Stacked.

I must go to this: American High Fashion exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum

Best of the Books:

A new story from Jeffrey Eugenides in The New Yorker

Free summer reading for low-income students

Legendary Paris bookshop Shakespeare & Company will launch literary magazine

20 Fiction Writers Under 40--The New York Times examines the New Yorker’s list

Best of the Looks, Best of the Books 5/21/10

It’s a Friday full of sunshine, cupcakes, drinks, and a visiting boyfriend–I am in a good mood!

This week’s Look of the Week is Christina from Second Skin. She always has some great vintage-inspired, creative outfits, and the background scenery of her photos is breath taking. I am still a little on the fence about the romper trend, but I really love this one–the crisp stripes and buttons lend it a very Continental feel, no?

Best of the Looks:

An adorable necklace at Post Grad Hair Cut

This NYTimes article profiles Facebook groups focused on preventing high schoolers from wearing the same dress on prom night. Embarrassing!

A homemade skirt tutorial on What Would a Nerd Wear

Love the spring flower clutches at EmersonMade (via Tea & Toast)

Best of the Books:

Improv Everywhere’s latest stunt involves a bunch of Ghostbusters in the New York Public Library.

NoGoodforMe.com’s post on how books have influenced her own personal style and love of fashion

I would like to see this documentary about bad writing.

“It’s a Book, Jackass.”