The ladies, enjoying some hot cider around the bourbon tree.

Joe was our intrepid MC. Though it looks like he’s taking off his pants in this photo, he’s displaying a swanky pair of khakis.

 Even Chief immensely enjoyed himself!

 This outfit incorporates 4 of my new items: a basic gray skirt, a gold striped sweater, a blue jacket, and a tortoiseshell necklace. I wore this the rest of the day!

I took pictures of the rest of the stuff I got, but the lighting wasn’t right and they came out terribly, so here’s a list instead. I got (not including the items pictured above):

• a pink J. Crew halter sundress
• a brown dolman-sleeved top
• a basic olive green dress from Forever 21
• a gray Banana Republic sweater
• a vintage navy houndstooth skirt
• a headband
• 2 belts 
• a black short sleeved sweater
• a pale pink scarf
• hoop earrings
• a necklace
• a brand-new Michael Kors silk shell
• a gray felt hat

Here’s a list of my favorites–what items are you after for the spring?

Scallop Sateen Skirt: $79.50

Martina suede wedge: $228

Jules dress: $188

Contrast stripe tee: $39.50

Crinkle chiffon skirt: $118

Cafe capri: $79.50

Lillian dress: $198

In reality, I probably won’t actually buy these pretty things. But, if all goes according to the plans in my head, I WILL be buying these, for a certain day in September…

Evie fleurette peep toe pumps

]]> http://www.looksandbooks.com/2012/01/30/j-crew-spring-2012/feed/ 6 http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/12/19/sparkles-and-ribbons-dresses-for-new-years-eve/ http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/12/19/sparkles-and-ribbons-dresses-for-new-years-eve/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:49:53 +0000 Jill http://www.looksandbooks.com/?p=2124 New Year’s Eve is one of those anxiety-inducing holidays when people ask you about your plans months in advance, everything is too crowded and expensive, and you have to stay up late. Additionally, it’s common to feel as though you need to buy a new dress, no matter what you’re doing. Sometimes, the need to buy a new dress is a great thing, but sometimes it can cause even more stress.

Most of the “New Year’s Eve” dress guides I’ve seen online this year have given the spotlight to lots of sequins and shimmer. These dresses can be expensive, so I thought it would be fun to put together a kind of “alternative” NYE dress guide–what’s wrong with wearing a little color on the last night of the year? Why do you need to spend more than $200? Here’s a few suggestions to get the wheels turning:

Ruche Brigantine Dream One-Shoulder Dress: $37.99

Zara Flounced CrossOver Dress: $59.90

Francesca’s Fine Line Dress: $44

Madewell Silk Paper Lanterns Dress: $117.99

Express Colorblock Halter Dress: $79.90

Do you buy new dresses for New Years Eve?

Henri Matisse Guitar Girl earrings

Poet  Portrait bracelet

Carson McCullers Southern Authors Necklace

Bulldog Pug Earrings (I think these are actually my favorites).

Which one is your favorite? Do you have a colorful winter coat?

I’ll come right out and say it–I read a lot of fashion blogs. When style bloggers are asked what they enjoy most about blogging, the most common answer I’ve seen is “the community,” or “making all of these great new friends.” And it’s true–many bloggers become friends with each other, attending events and sharing clothing. I’ve even made a couple of friends by blogging.

But sometimes blogging can feel a lot like high school, complete with cat fights and popularity contests. Fashion blogging is a trend that has blown up over the last couple of years. There are style blogs for every type of woman: older women, transgendered, scientists, teachers, lawyers, petite women, curvy women–you name it, there’s a style blog out there for you. But despite this seeming diversity, many style bloggers maintain an exclusive “members only” kind of attitude, making most of the community seem like an exclusive clique. Most of the successful and well-read bloggers stopped responding to comments and reading other blogs long ago, yet still try to maintain a friendly and familiar tone with their readers. They post photos of each other and link to their other connected fashion blogger friends, gushing about some boutique event or another where they got to take home new clothing to add to the piles already sent to them by sponsors.

I don’t have a problem with sponsorships or making friends in the blogging community–it’s the exclusivity that gets to me, the very clear message that if you’re not “in,” your blog doesn’t matter. It’s very tough to find a solid audience in a field so saturated with content, and when the content is so often glossier, flashier, and full of free designer clothing and sponsored giveaways, it’s tempting to give up–especially when other bloggers start doing the very thing you’ve been doing with your blog for the past two years.

I know I’m not the only one with these complaints–I discovered a forum recently where others trade comments and rants about fashion bloggers, and though it’s fascinating to read through the comments and see that many other people share my opinions, many of the comments are just mean-spirited and unfair. I don’t think it’s appropriate to tear down a blogger because of what she looks like or what shape her body is in.

In an ideal world, people would appreciate quality content and the prettiest, most popular, and wealthiest girls wouldn’t keep getting all the luck (and the readers…and the sponsorships…and the book deals). But the world doesn’t work that way, so I (and a ton of other great blogs) will continue to try to produce good writing and fun posts, not because it will get me free stuff, but because it makes me happy.

What do you guys think? Do you read other fashion blogs? Do you get this same vibe, or is it all in my head? Is it even worth talking about?

1. A silk blouse

2. A bright pencil skirt

3. A charcoal sweater

4. A striped skirt

5. A printed blouse

What closet holes are you trying to fill?

How did you celebrate Halloween this year?

Items from top, left to right:

BB Dakota Turn it Upbeat Coat at Modcloth: $120

Topshop Orange 3D Flower Shift Dress: $100

Cynthia Rowley Pickpocket Skirt: $69

J. Crew Dream Cardigan: $85

Jigsaw Oversized Cable Scarf: $95

Yesstyle Smoothie satchel: $55

In her post, Rebecca says she was reminded of the cover for Justin Torres’ We the Animals while watching last week’s Project Runway. One of Viktor’s  dresses, printed with photos he had taken of the sky in Mexico, is reminiscent of the sky on the cover of Torres’ novel. While the thought didn’t occur to me at the time, the observation got the wheels turning in my own brain, and I thought I would highlight a couple of looks that remind me of book covers.

The Corrections: Jonathan Franzen

Image from Lands End Canvas

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: Haruki Murakami

Rockabilly Bird dress at Unique Vintage

The Bell Jar: Sylvia Plath

Sigerson Morrison pointy-toe flat (via La Garconne)

I like this idea–I think I’ll make it a regular feature! What do you think? Do you like the idea of creating outfits or featuring items based on different book covers?

]]> http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/10/25/cover-alls/feed/ 7 http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/10/05/inspiration-station/ http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/10/05/inspiration-station/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:07:13 +0000 Jill http://www.looksandbooks.com/?p=1980 Firstly, I offer my sincerest apologies for being a lame blogger. I have no excuses. Sometimes blogging just gets away from me and once I lose the thread, it’s tough to pick up again.

Luckily, when I’m feeling a little low in the creativity department, I know all I have to do is turn on my computer to find some inspiration. I thought I would share some of my most recent sources of inspiration–what are yours?

The Looks Department: 

• Kendi Everyday: If you read fashion blogs, you’re probably already familiar with Kendi, but I am constantly inspired by her style, her wit, and her ambition–she recently opened her own store in Texas: Bloom. That’s pretty awesome, if you ask me.

• Lucy Laucht: Lucy’s blog is not your standard photo-heavy daily outfit blog–her photographs are beautiful and thoughtful, as is her sense of style.

• My Edit: Besides possessing superhuman thrifting capabilities, Jentine has an incredible sense of style–one that doesn’t always fit the mold, but rather challenges it and reshapes it into something more awesome. In addition to being a talented dressmaker and shopper, she also works outdoors for a living doing landscaping–so the heels are totally optional.

• The Other Emily:  Emily’s style is simple and seemingly effortless, but it’s the details that get me–everything is always perfectly paired and coordinated, without being matchy-matchy. She always seems to have the perfect necklace, belt, scarf, or shoes to make even the most basic outfit far from boring. She’s also just settling down in Brooklyn from a whirlwind tour of Europe studying architecture–SO interesting.

• What I Wore: Jessica Quirk’s blog is one of the first style blogs I read regularly, and I’m still a huge fan, years later. Jessica’s style is predominantly feminine and retro and I would love to have access to her collection of beautiful vintage dresses. One of the things I enjoy about What I Wore is that it goes beyond a style diary–Jessica offers many DIY tutorials and tips on making your own clothing, as well as regular series (this month she’s putting together some impressive home-made Halloween costumes!). Jessica was able to translate her blog into a successful business and her book is on sale now.

• Oisercage: Oisercage is really in a category all its own. Dyane writes from Washington D.C. about everything from personal style to gender, race, writing, and the creative process. I love her writing, I love her photographs, and I love her style. She’s a triple threat!

Stay tuned for the Books Department next week! I’d love to hear what your favorite style blogs or sources for inspiration are!