Nashville on My Mind

I visited Nashville for the first time last month, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since.

Of course, the horrific flooding has captured the hearts of many, but I have to admit, Nashville had mine long before the flood photos started showing up in my news feed. It really is a remarkable city, full of unique character and style, and I hope the recovery effort goes as quickly as possible. The thought of Nashville without visitors makes me incredibly sad.

Aside from my work-related commitments, my first order of business was to seek out a kick-ass, authentic pair of cowboy boots. Liz Phair was humming in my ear, telling me I was the kind of girl to find "alligator cowboy boots they just put on sale," and, as usual, she was right. I found these beauties at Nashville Cowboy, arguably the best of the downtown boot shops.



Could you just die? They weigh a ton, but I adore them nonetheless. I can't wait to rock them this fall.

My next stop was the lovely little town of Franklin, where I had some time to kill following a shorter-than-expected meeting. Happily, I stumbled upon Philanthropy, a store which combines two of my great passions: fashion and charitable giving. 10% of their revenue goes directly to charitable organizations -- they've raised over $120,000 in the last three years! And best of all, their stuff is cute. I was drawn in by their awesome window display and left with an overflowing shopping bag of cheap chic clothes and accessories. I mean, look at this place!



The sweet girl at the register clued me in on their mission...somehow I'd missed this sign on my way in.



It's a delightful boutique, and well worth the trip to Franklin the next time you find yourself in Nashville. I, for one, can't wait to go back.

Brushstrokes

Paint and I are having a moment. I'm not actually painting, mind you...I'm just draping myself with artfully painted silk and wistfully pondering Spring.

It started with this gorgeous silk dress that I snatched off the sale rack at an obscenely overpriced boutique in Old City. There was something about the paint-splashed effect that made me gasp...and the $60 price tag (marked down at least 75%) didn't hurt, either. I plan to style this down with a denim vest, gray wedges, and a cotton scarf from Paris. Is it April yet?



Then I tripped over this stunner at Banana Republic of all places. It's more graphic than the dress, but it has the same silk painting effect -- in fact, they're calling it the Painterly blouse. The fun thing about this one is that I've already given it a test drive at work, peeking out from under a cashmere cardigan. But it'll be even sweeter with skinny jeans and flats this Spring.



These purchases got me thinking about art-as-fashion, and lo and behold, I found a few other paint-inspired options that are just the thing for the warming months ahead...

Stunning, stunning silk t-shirt dress brought to you by the genius that is Thakoon:


A mermaid-worthy fantasy by ADAM:


This sweet little DVF number is actually called "Monet Fields," and would you believe it's currently 70% off at Shopbop? And the only remaining size in stock is...mine?



Gotta run! I've got some, um, painting to do.

Please stop bedazzling my cardigans

There is a piece of every working woman's wardrobe that is so essential it is nearly sacred. My friends, I give you...the cardigan.



The cardigan goes anywhere. Solves any fashion crisis. Eases you from a non-suit day at work to picking up groceries on a Sunday afternoon. It goes with your favorite t-shirt and your favorite LBD. It is a garment for all seasons.

Or, at least, it used to be.

Every few years, my trusty cardigans begin to look worn, and I know it's time to replace them. Generally, this is not a problem. I drop by a Banana or a J Crew or an Ann Taylor and pick up a few in neutral colors. No, it's not high fashion, but it is an absolute necessity for pulling together my wardrobe. And, frankly, it's kind of a no brainer. I'm pretty much convinced that places like Banana and Ann were put on this earth solely to provide the working women of America with decent quality basic cardigans. Right?

Not right. This year, a terrible, terrible thing has happened to cardigans. It looks like this:



And this:


And (shudder) like this:


The cardigan has gone bedazzled, my friends. Which means that 1) it is no longer a trusted basic and 2) it's gonna look dated in a hot second. You might buy one embellished sweater for fun, but two? Three? That's a first class ticket on the train to fashion disaster.

After more than a decade of wear, I have exacting standards for what a cardigan should be. It should have long sleeves, a lightweight cashmere/silk blend, and small, non-obtrusive buttons. Ideally, it should lightly skim the body and hit at the hip. It should have a bit of stretch and feel slightly cozy. It should retail for under $100 and last at least two years.

In other words, it should not come with flair.

For months, my search has been in vain. A couple of places have carried the basic model, but they sold out in ten seconds flat and/or could only offer me an XXS or an XL. I was beginning to court desperation.

But then, like a beacon of hope in a world gone mad, I discovered this place on a recent business trip to NC. Finally, a mid-level clothing retailer without a Bedazzler at the ready! I nabbed a basic black cashmere cardy for $70 on sale, and then had them track down a beige version somewhere in VA that should show up in my mailbox any day now. Like all other non-crazy cardigan styles, it was nearly sold out across the country. (Case in point: I would typically insert a photo here, but the the inventory is so low that they took it off the web site.)

So, I'm safe for a few years now. Perhaps by the time I need to restock, everyone will have put away their ruffles and sequins.

We can only hope.

Here Comes the Dress

As much as I love fashion, I've never been much of a wedding girl. The pomp and circumstance has always seemed so artificial to me. And all the ridiculous pressure to have ONE PERFECT DAY? Gah. It's a recipe for disappointment and disaster.

But here I am, a second time bride gearing up for a non-traditional wedding that's a little bit Him (family, friends, vows, old-fashioned romance) and a little bit Me (we're having a big ol' multi-course dinner party themed to 1920's Paris).

But what to do about the dress? 1920's Paris calls for ultimate fabulousness, but A) I'm on a budget and B) wedding dresses these days all look the same to me: strapless satin A-lines or mermaids with tasteful details of beading or lace. Which, to be fair, is perfectly nice. It's just not my style.

A couple of weeks ago in Bal Harbour, I found a gorgeous, 100% silk evening gown on the Neiman's sale rack for 75% off. I can't go into detail because Scott reads this, but suffice it to say, it looks the part. And the whole thing felt somewhat fortuitous. It was the only one left, a size 6, and it zipped up as if it were meant to be mine. I had it shipped home, tried it on for my family, and felt good about it.

But...I can't quite commit, and I don't know why. Maybe it's the fact that it's the only one I've tried on. And while I do love a bargain, I also like to exhaust all of my options before making a final purchase. And so, I made an appointment at Bridal Mecca, aka Kleinfeld's. If I don't find my WOW dress there, then it just doesn't exist, and I'll be happy with the one from Neiman's. But if I do...

So, in preparation, I started searching the web for ideas. Here are a few I like, although I don't think any of them are quite "it."



Vintage glamour from Claire Pettibone.



A little evening bling from Pnina Tornai.



Simple elegance from Sarah Arnett.

These are all perfectly nice. But, of course, what I really want to do is rip this Chanel Couture gown from Kirsten Dunst and make a run for it.



Now that's a WOW.

What they're wearing in Memphis

On a recent business trip to Memphis, I found myself with a free afternoon. When visiting a new city, some people seek out museums. Some visit famous landmarks. Some catch a local sporting event.

I shop.

And as luck would have it, the very first boutique I happened upon (in a strip mall, no less), was the adorable Flirt. The owner, Stephanie, was on hand to show me around the fall collection. Flirt specializes in fun, easy pieces -- I picked up a colorful tunic that can be styled in a million ways.



Before I left, Stephanie was kind enough to provide me with a comprehensive list of some of the best shopping Memphis has to offer. I headed out toward Germantown, where I popped in on Lola, Divine Rags, and the super cute (and super affordable) Wish. The store was so well merchandised, I couldn't help but take a few photos...





All in all, it was a great afternoon. The next time you find yourself Walkin' in Memphis, be sure to show some love to the local boutiques!

Kate Spade makes clothes. And they are fabulous.

I don't know why I didn't discover this sooner, but Kate Spade is making clothes these days, and they are fabulous.

When her bags first hit the scene, and the boxy fabric style became somewhat ubiquitous of the streets of Boston circa 2000, I wasn't much of a fan. They were a bit too prim for my taste, and I never bought one.

But on a recent trip to Nordstrom, I came upon a rack of perfectly crafted, ladylike garments that has forever changed my opinion of the brand. Not only were these clothes wearable from the office to a dinner date and back again, they were extremely high quality -- luxe fabrics, impeccable detailing, and refined craftsmanship. Best of all, the price point was far below what I would have expected for this level of construction.

Here are a few looks I'm loving from katespade.com.



This one is to die for. I love that you can channel Coco at the office, and then take off the sweater and sweep into your favorite cocktail lounge later that night as a vision in ivory. Perfection.



If I owned this blouse, I might never take it off. Here's proof that this seemingly ladylike garment pairs as easily with jeans as it does with your favorite work attire.



Who doesn't need a little colorful tweed in her life? I'd throw a jacket over this for work, and then wear it as is, with some great jewelry, for a fall evening event.

I can't wait to add a little Kate to my closet.

Well, I guess that answers that.

While styling Jill last weekend, guess what I found at Bloomingdale's at a really great price point?



Coming soon to a fall event near you: Lauren, in a fur vest.