what's next: mod print dresses

everywhere i turn this month, it's all about mod print dresses. cute little minis with gorgeous retro-inspired prints, and oh-so-wearable silhouettes. a few of my faves:

the print on this gorgeous badgley mischka shift dress ($398) is so stunning, i hardly know where to start. it has all the vintage charm you could ask for, which tells me this beauty will be staying in your closet for decades to come. the price is a little steep, but it's actually reasonable for the brand - a great opportunity to score a high fashion piece without a second mortgage. if i splurge on one great piece this spring, i think this dress will be it.

this marc by marc jacobs colorblock dress ($298) just screams retro, but he's done a beautiful job of updating the styling for modern wear. plus, the silhouette is ultra-flattering for just about anyone.


on the more affordable end of the scale, i love this shirt dress by maggy london ($158). i'm not normally terribly impressed by her construction, i'll warn you. but i love the print, and i love the ruffle collar - this dress would be absolutely perfect for work, and i think undoing a few buttons at the top would even make this happy-hour appropriate.

from our friends over at tobi, this soda blu flutter dress ($93) is a great way to try out the trend without breaking the bank. love the color combo, which is striking, but neutral enough that you can really use accessories to change the look.

finally, this version by ziji is really gorgeous - i love the print, but i love the silhouette even more. the drop waist, the asymmetrical neckline, the draped sleeves...it's just fantastic. and, it's marked down to $60. so, if you happen to be a size 8, you shouldn't even have to think about this one!

what i want today: more cardigan goodness

so, i know spring is going to come eventually. and when it does, i'm going to wonder what on earth possessed me to buy so many cardigans and sweater coats this winter. but the truth is, when the temperature plummets and the rain just won't quit, all i want is something warm, cozy, and loose-fitting to curl up in.

the latest on my list is this classic black option from lily mcneal, whose knits i just adore. the length is great for covering up those minidresses it's still way too cold to wear, and the cut is roomy but still tailored. best of all, it's on sale at tobi for $137, which is a pretty fabulous deal any way you look at it.

merry merry!

well, 'tis the season for me to take a couple of days off. i hope everyone has a wonderful day of gifts, eggnog and general merriment (not necessarily in that order). and for those that aren't christmas folks (or are just truly obsessive shoppers, like me), well, here are a couple of fabulous sale offers to keep you busy all day tomorrow.

* tobi is offering 25% off sitewide with code PERFECTGIFT

* the grand mademoiselle blog has scored us all an exclusive 15% discount at one of my favorite shoe stores, barefoot tess, with code GRANDM

* basic boutique is offering 25% off sitewide with code BASICGIFT.

* even though they annoy me at times, i wouldn't be doing my job if i didn't let you know that plaza too is offering 20% off with code FAMILY, but only from 12/26 to 12/29.

* and of course, remember that you get 20% off at active endeavors with code CARDIO

i hope everyone has a truly fabulous holiday. ooh, and be sure to stay tuned later this week for a roundup of my absolute favorite items from 2007!

deal of the day: 25% off sitewide at tobi

honestly, the holiday sales are supposed to be after christmas! these pre-holiday discounts are slowly killing me. but, since i have no willpower whatsoever, and i assume my readers are just as challenged as i am in that respect, i'm going to go ahead and let you all know that tobi, one of my very favorite fashion sites, is offering 25% off all full-priced merchandise on its site, through the end of the year.

but okay, for those that are still holiday shopping, let's see if we can put this discount to good use. tobi is such a fabulous site that i think perhaps we can knock off your entire holiday list at once. watch me work...

for the hubs, i'd love to snag him a fabulous leather jacket, and no one does it better than mike & chris. right now, i'm leaning toward the super cool, but casual temple street style, which i know would become an instant favorite in his closet.

for mom, i always love red flower candles...they look gorgeous, they're topped with those fabulous dried flower petals that make for a gorgeous display, they smell divine, and they burn forever. pick up one or two in her favorite scents (i love the blood orange and french lavender). or, if she's more into fashion than fragrance, i think really lush cardigans are always a safe bet for mom. i love this one from eden, which is a great wardrobe staple. if she lives in a colder climate, or is just perpetually freezing (like my mom is), this cardigan coat by lily mcneal would be just perfect.

for a little sister, i think it's tough to go wrong with a funky graphic tee. if she's a rock star wannabe, she'll love the new tees by andy warhol for levis - my pick is this pink moto design. but if her style's more girly, i love this mod peacock tee by topless california, which is a great tunic length and perfect for layering.

for dad, you can up his 'cool factor' with this merino wool sweater by theory. or if he's still using that ancient bottle of old spice aftershave, try giving him this gift set from sharps barber shop to bring his morning routine into the 21st century.

brothers are a tough group to buy for, but i'm thinking i'll pick up a pair of these funky skull socks and a fabulously cool new wallet for my little bro, like maybe this black-and-green "loungemaster" by j.fold - even the name is perfect for him.

and....as long as i'm shopping for others, i think i probably deserve a little gift for myself, don't you? so, there's a very decent chance i'll be sneaking some paige denim, this gorgeous swing coat from (who else) lily mcneal, and maybe one of these beautiful italian linen scarves by love quotes. hmm, maybe i'll pick one up for mom too, while i'm at it...

if i can manage to rack up $250 in purchases (which shouldn't be tough), my whole order gets gift-wrapped for free, in tobi's gorgeous signature wrapping. that should leave me plenty of extra time for even more shopping! um...for others, of course.

holiday sale fabulousness at tobi.com

it's not often an opportunity like this presents itself, so prepare to max this benefit. tobi.com is offering 25% off sitewide when you enter code GIVEGET at checkout, now through Monday, 11/26/07. that means 25% off classic pieces like paige jeans, jennifer tuton jewelry, vince cashmere, and oh so much more. i mean sure, it's the season of giving & all that...but hey, you deserve to get as good as you give!

some of the many, many things in my shopping cart this morning:

* that yummy lily mcneal sweater we talked about yesterday

* any of jennifer tuton's gorgeous jewelry, but especially this amazing turquoise pendant necklace.

* i'm obsessed with paige denim, and have been dying to pick up their fabulous hillhurst trouser jeans.

* with all of those holiday parties you're about to get invited to, i can't think of a more perfect splurge than one of milly's gorgeous cocktail dresses. i love this tank cocktail dress - the empire waist will hide any holiday indulgence, and the style is classic enough to allow you to wear it solo or change it up with accessories.

* i love this long-sleeved, tunic version of the loomstate tee from yesterday's post - the color is gorgeous, and it will make a great layering piece. plus, loomstate is just the ultimate when it comes to amazingly soft cotton.

* this foley + corinna jet setter tote has a gorgeous, classic shape, but the dark plum color keeps it interesting, and right on trend for the winter months.

of course, it's much easier to justify spending on yourself if you're also buying gifts for others....fortunately, tobi has loads of options for your nearest and dearest.

* red flower sets the bar when it comes to candles - amazing burn times, and decadent, fabulous scents. they're perfect for your mom, your big sis, or that flawless hostess you know. for holiday gifting, i love the italian blood orange, which will give a bright, festive scent to anyone's house, without being overly traditional. and, only $25 each with your discount.

* i love everything over at juice beauty, and this little "to go" kit is the perfect way to create a new addict...especially at $22.

* denise heffernan makes some really stunning earrings, and you can pick them up for a steal. i love the grey topaz cluster earringsand the gold ginko leaves, and i think they'd be incredibly versatile for all sorts of different styles.

* and i generally shy away from buying clothes as gifts...it's just an all-around tricky business. but i happen to love this draped top by velvet - it's a very classic style, endlessly versatile (great layered or solo), universally flattering, and it's a great $50 gift for the fashion lover on your list.

and, of course, you always get free shipping at tobi...just one more thing i love them for.

so, remember, the magic code is GIVEGET. trust me when i tell you this is a sale worth taking full advantage of - it's your chance to stock up on loads of fabulous, full-price items that never see the discount side of life. happy wednesday!!

start your engines....the holiday sales are upon us

i can hardly believe we're here already....and i hardly know where to begin. today, just a quick little spin around the eluxury sale. but tomorrow....hold on to your hats! and maybe start browsing around tobi.com. you know, just window shopping....

anyway, elux has some pretty fabulous markdowns happening - amazingly, no bags i love, but i would definitely direct your attention to the tods ballerinas, the marc jacobs pumps i've been lusting after for 3 months, those michael kors flat boots i've also been lusting after for months, and what i have to admit is a really darling sweater dress by juicy couture (love the ruffled bib front - i can completely see this with a cardigan and some colored tights).

the best news? every last thing i've named here is under $250. see? i'm not completely evil...

ooh, and while we're talking sales, the one-in-a-blue-moon shopbop sale event is upon us. i don't think i need to give you much help on maxing this one out! details are below...happy hunting!

what i want today: good thoughts for the shoppingsmycardio dog

second surgery in a month for my sweet little pup today, so send up some good thoughts for her, please!

in the meantime, she's helped me pick out today's "what i want" items...but she's a serious shopaholic, so we have a handful of goodies today. pretty fabulous dog to be enabling us all even during her time of stress, don't you think?

first up, i've been dying to talk about this lily mcneal sweater, which is just endlessly versatile. the a-line shape really gives this piece its magic. i love that you can wear it open as a cardigan, loose as a jacket, or closed as a dress (maybe throw your favorite jersey tank dress underneath, just to make sure the layers work out okay). this is destined to become a staple in my closet. true, jezebel is looking at it more as a snuggly blanket for her to sleep on...but she'll have to fight me for it.

the peacock motif on this coin purse by dutchy is just too cute (though, i admit, i've been a little obsessed with the peacock motif of late). the 4x6 size makes it perfect to throw in your bag as an extra holder for cash and those annoying one-store-only credit cards you don't want to make space for in your wallet, but it's still large enough to throw a cell phone and a lipstick into if you wanted to make a quick grocery store run (or a quick run to the pet store...). not bad for $64.

last but not least, jezebel thinks this have faith t-shirt by loomstate would help to remind us to keep our fingers crossed for her all day. and since i've been craving a loomstate t-shirt for months now, this might just be the excuse i've been looking for, especially since active endeavors has that lovely 20% discount for jezebel's admirers (use code 'cardio' at checkout).

of course, since jezebel helped, we have to talk canine couture as well. jezebel already has this cute cupcake leash, but i'm thinking she might need the toadstool version too. and i really think she should have this cute pink plaid teddy bear to hang with during her recovery. and maybe this 'sniffany and co' dog bed. no? too much? sigh...

so, to recap...send good thoughts, shop 'til you drop, and forgive me if posting's a little sparse this week :)