what i want today: marc jacobs turnlock clutch

this clutch is giving me fond memories of a certain oh-so-beautiful MJ zip clutch i briefly owned. it was the most stunning emerald green color, and i adored it so...and babied it so...and consequently, i was seriously wallet-paranoid, which is an annoying person to be. so, i sold it. but i still miss it every day.

this marc by MJ version would make me much less nervous, at half the price, and i think it has nearly all the style of the original.

probably not the same fabulous suede and satin linings, though...

deal of the day: 30% off via neiman marcus private sale

(yves saint laurent rive gauche bag, $1,995 less 30%)

sigh...practical is so very overrated.

if you're feeling less practical than i am, don't miss the private sale event at neiman marcus, today only. take 30% off selected spring merchandise - just watch for those little green "private event 30% off" tags as you're looking around, or you're bound to disappoint yourself when you settle on something that isn't included in the sale.

oh, you can only access it through this link. and use code NMMAY for free shipping while you're at it.

can't talk now...off to find someone to whom i can sell my body in exchange for that lovely bit of leather above.

(ps...speaking of sales, new markdowns at eluxury start today, and they include free shipping at any price. not a bad way to start the week.)

asked and answered: summer party dress

hard to believe, but i'm already getting reader questions about summer wedding attire. is it really that time already?

no matter - i have a fantastic solution to this annual dilemma. this darling dress by theory just screams spring to me. i love the ruched bodice, love the length, love the pockets - i would wear this beauty to every wedding, baby shower, and bar mitzvah between now and september.

the color is fantastic, flattering on pretty much any skin tone, and perfect for warm weather. the silhouette is forgiving enough to allow for that second piece of wedding cake. and the style is simple enough to allow for multiple wears without anyone pointing at you and screaming "hey, you wore that to nancy's wedding last month!" after one too many trips to the open bar.

to restyle this piece and really make it your own, try adding a huge, chunky necklace in cobalt blue one day, and a dainty strand of pearls another. cardigans, blazers, sure...but i'd even consider layering a white button-down over it, and using the belt to tie the whole thing together (no pun intended). or, scrap the belt entirely, and substitute a gorgeous scarf.

that's a lot of mileage to get out of a dress for $250. oh, and free two-day shipping (hurray for avoiding their notoriously slow-boat shipping) with code NMFAST.

what i want today: cashmere military-style sweater

so, my hubs has recently pointed out that i've been overdosing on grey lately. i suppose he may have a point. but how can i resist when there are so many fabulous options out there?

take, for instance, this gorgeous, military-inspired cashmere cardigan. the styling on this is just flawless - it manages to be completely on-trend, but not so over-the-top that you won't be able to wear it in six months. the fold-back lapels give this such great detail, as does the button-tab mandarin collar. the color makes this a perfect neutral, and as a serious cashmere snob, i can tell you that neiman marcus private label cashmere doesn't pill, doesn't stretch, and lasts forever.

best of all, it's part of the winter clearance at neiman. regular price was $425, but tack on all of the post-holiday discounts, and you can take it home for about half that.

after all, there will be plenty of time for color this spring...