I’ve been obsessed with Fiona Paxton’s ultra-statement necklaces for the past year and I may just need to take the plunge and splurge on one of her pieces. The RCA trained textile designer has worked in fashion for over 10 years developing prints and embroideries for big-name clients- think Chloe, Armani and Moschino. Her eponymous collection puts her past work experience to good use. Bold geometric patterns and intricate hand beading are the signatures of pieces. I love the way that they drape over the neck almost scarf-like.

Now, if only I could decide between the Sylvie, Connie, Paxton Lane or Paxton Dott necklace…

If you’re anything like my friends and I- or Nicole Richie, the Olsens, and Reese Witherspoon (to name a few celebrity Fashionistas)- you have probably been obsessed with the Givenchy Nightingale bag for some time. If you are anything like me, however, that lovely leather work of art is just a tad bit out of your pricerange. Just a tad. Which is incredibly sad, because it is truly one of the best bags out there, in my humble opinion.

Today I stumbled across the Rembrandt Small Satchel from BCBGeneration. Swoooon. The silhouette and straps are reminiscent of the Nightingale, but the zipper detail makes it not quite a blatant knock-off. And the price tag? Almost as beautiful as the real thing…

Ever since a long weekend in my hometown over the 4th of July weekend, I’ve been feeling a bit homesick and nostalgic for my small town upbringing and the summers spent in the countryside. Don’t get me wrong, I love Los Angeles in the summertime- the weather is great, the beach is lovely, the sunsets are to die for- but it just doesn’t quite compare to those of my youth. Days spent up at the lake, endless fields of wild flowers, being able to bike to the other side of town for the perfect greasy burger, that dusty, warm summer smell in the air and the feeling of total freedom (well at least until the end of August) is something I long to relive. I stumbled across these images of Missoni’s (yes, I just transitioned from small-town-America daydreaming to Missoni, this is how my mind works) f/w 09 campaign and just about died. Something about these images perfectly captures the summertime freedom I’m missing.

The campaign was shot by Ryan McGinley, who also did Stella McCartney’s fall campaign. I need to do some more research into his work, he has seriously stolen my heart with this one.

I may need to cure my summertime blues with a little retail therapy. Somehow, a Missoni scarf seems like the perfect splurge.

Lykke Li’s Youth Novels has been in constant rotation in my car for the past year. It’s a great CD for road trips, and a pick-me-up during my daily commute. So, I am totally stoked to be going to see her live for the first time this Tuesday. Even more so when I came across this photo of her on Style.com rocking the couple-years-old trend I haven’t quite gotten over myself- turbans. How cute does she look? (If only a little seasonably inappropriate…):

Turbans are a trend I’ve been obsessed with for years, ever since the Spring 2007 Prada collection. Yet, the closest I’ve gotten to actually sporting the look was a wide knotted satin headband, that I have tragically misplaced. I’m thinking for Tuesday’s concert, I may finally need to go all the way with the look… paired with a vintage concert tee and cut-offs, to tone it down a little.

This black and gold lame version is exactly what I need in my life.

Today I got my business cards at my new job, and they are ever so pretty. Pale green and on great cardstock, they are the first business cards I’ve had in my career that I will be actually proud to hand out. After receiving them I automatically, being the shopoholic I am, thought of getting myself a chic little business card holder in which to carry them so that they don’t get lost in the mess of my always overstuffed handbag.

Now I just need to decide whether my career woman personality is more suited to a tabbed pink leather card holder from Rowallan of Scotland, a patent orange leather small wallet with a snap closure from Furla, or funky olive croc from Kena Kai.

I was totally obsessed when Anya Hindmarch came out with her infamous “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” tote in 2007 and made sure to pre-order one and still use it (with handbags, I truly do reduce, reuse and recycle). I was, however, a little bit slower to jump on the I am Not a Paper Cup bandwagon, which, considering the insane amounts of coffee I consume, a shame. However, finally inspired by getting a new job (my bebe mug won’t seem quite at home in my new office as it did at the bebe studio) I bought myself the awesome, reusable cup.

The 8 oz. cup is a double walled (keeps your drinks hot or cold and your hands, well, not), reusable, porcelain cup with a cheeky “disposable coffee-house cup” design from CA Design. A total klutz, I love the silicone lid because it keeps my keyboard protected when I inevitably knock my cup over on my desk. Plus, the chic president of my new company already complimented me on it… so, go me!

Now, all I need is for them to start offering the venti size…

When designing Lanvin’s “accidental tourist” resort 2010 collection, Alber Elbaz was influenced by Acapulco… and Samantha Roson.

Hm, quite an interesting pairing, but the influences are definitely noticeable if you look for them, and totally work to create a resort collection that has something for everyone- beach-goers, urbanites, uptown girls and downtown-skinny-hipster DJ’s.

I love that this collection puts a feminine twist on Samantha Ronson’s cool-girl hipster look. While I totally love her style, I’m just a little too girlie to pull it off head to toe. So thanks, Alber Elbaz, for showing me the way.

Pair white shades- such as these Ray Ban Wayfarers, and cool kicks- I can’t get enough of my red Converse All-Stars, with your summer dresses, bright colored jumpsuits, skinny jeans, white suits and pretty much anything else to get the Lanvin/ Ronson look.

Source: Style.com, W Editors Blog Image Source: Splash News

Monday night at the CFDA Awards’, otherwise known as the Oscars of the fashion world, Kate and Laura Mulleavy won the coveted Womenswear Designer of the Year award (for a list of the complete 2009 CFDA award winners, click here). A much deserved award, I am thrilled for the adorable sisters from Pasadena, as well as for the rest of the night’s nominees and winners. Much like the Menswear Designer of the Year award, my award for the best dressed of the night is a tie.

The fire red shade both Ashley Olsen (in a gown from New York Vintage) and Diane Kruger (in Jason Wu) are wearing has stolen my heart. While Olsen and Kruger’s looks for the evening are quite different, their color choice puts them both at the top of my best dressed list. I’m sure that they are both thrilled.

I am quite smitten with this shade. I’m thinking these adorable Juicy Couture Samantha Patent Pumps may be the perfect purchase to introduce the bright orange-red to my closet.

Image Source: Style.com

I haven’t kept a journal or sketch book in years so I end up randomly doodling on scraps of paper or writing inspiration ideas- for both my writing and my day job- on random sticky notes I inevitably lose. Most often, those ideas are lost along with the sticky note… or recalled months after relevancy has past. Sure, I could probably use my newfangled iPhone to keep track of such thoughts, but I have enough problems just texting on that thing. Plus, there is no doodling in the margins on the iPhone. To remedy this situation, this weekend I purchased three Moleskine notebooks- a two-pack with blank pages and lovely green covers and a calendar/ planner that begins July 2009 and goes through 2010 (never too late in the year to start getting organized, right?). I plan on carrying the planner and a notepad with me at all times to document any inspiration/ plans that I may have. Of course, I couldn’t just buy any old planner or sketchpad, no, mine have to be cool. I’m a loser like that. Is that ironic? For two centuries now Moleskine (mol-a-skeen’-a) journals have been the legendary notebook of artists, writers, intellectuals and travelers- from Ernest Hemingway to Charlotte Ronson.

Need a notebook/ sketchbook/ reporters notepad/ planner with an elegant design and superb portability? Join the Moleskine bandwagon:

Image Source: A Little Space For Me

Obsessed with this cheeky editorial in Vogue Parisshot by Terry Richardson. I can’t blame the older woman in the first shot for checking out Anja Rubik’s legs, the lucky woman has stems for miles. I’m more than a little jealous. Not helping the jealousy factor is the hosiery she is wearing in these shots. While I love both pairs, the polka dot tights are really perfect and I fear that I must splurge on them immediately. Love the sheerness of the black and the tiny, tiny size of the polka dots (larger polka dots are tricky on the legs, in my humble opinion). They are totally 80’s and glam while at the same time understated. You can wear these a million different ways- paired with white summer mini dresses and layered with skirts and boots come fall is what I keep picturing- and they will last you season after season if you treat them well.

That’s how I’ll justify splurging on Wolford for these polka-dot bad boys…

Image Source: Models.com

For more images from this shoot, check out this LiveJournal link.