what i want today: ombre from vince

i've always been a sucker for ombre dyes on fabric, ever since i was a wee girl. now that they're back in vogue, i'm as giddy for them as i was back then. pieces from vince (one of my absolute favorite designers) fall collection are starting to trickle in, and the collection is packed with gorgeous ombre pieces i'm dying to own.


this shirred ombre silk top is so subtle, it will pass muster long after the ombre trend fades. the detail on the neckline is just fantastic, and that shade of blue is as chic as it gets (though the grey color it also comes in is equally fabulous). this summer, i'll pair it with shorts for a casual dinner out, but the grey version would look just as lovely with my black tuxedo trousers - now that's versatility i can get behind.


and i haven't quite figured out the fundage details, but i can pretty well assure you this gorgeous cashmere v-neck will be in my closet by the time the weather turns cool. i'm absolutely addicted to cashmere sweaters, and this one has so much style, i hardly know where to begin.


and i've been after this branch print shell since i saw it at a trunk show months ago. it was gorgeous then, and i love it just as much now. and, as always with vince, it's endlessly versatile. i can see it with cut-off denim shorts, and i can see it with a pencil skirt - ooh, and maybe some fantastic bright heels. a perfect summer/early fall piece, any way you accessorize it.

all are available at shopbop. also, neiman marcus is currently doing an online trunk show of the fall vince line (so fantastic, i've been forced to ask my dog to hold onto my american express card for temporary safekeeping...). both are well worth a look!

neiman marcus private sale event: today only!

this doesn't happen all that often, so even though it's so temptation-inducing that i actually feel a little guilty sharing with you all, i just can't resist.

today only, neiman marcus has taken 30% off select pieces from the fall '07 collections. the first call sale started yesterday too, but trust me...this is much, much better.

to find the goods, click here, and stay within that link, as it's invite-only. as usual, the site workings are annoying, and you do have to fish around a little...make sure your selections say "private event" below the pic before you buy - the price will be discounted when you put the item in your basket.

the loot in my basket (that i really, really shouldn't be buying:

that loeffler randall matilde boot i've been coveting all season (and best of all, this one's a pre-order, so i might be able to pass it off as an after-christmas extravagance).

a really gorgeous m by missoni dress that will be perfect this fall - of course, i'm just ordering it to try it on......really.

any number of diane von furstenberg wrap dresses - the good styles never go on sale, so this is fantastic!
a couple of really gorgeous vince cardigans - vince uses amazing, ultra luxe cashmere, so i always love to catch their designs on sale.

and yes, even the most fabulous of fabulous: manolos at 30% off. told you it was a good day!

i'd shop quick, and buy quicker...half the things in my cart already show as unavailable on the site.

oh, and use code PRIVATE for free slow-boat shipping while you're at it. happy wednesday!

shoppingsmycardio gifts: so many men, so little time...

i have no idea why, but men are just impossible for me to choose gifts for. every year, i spend at least twice as much time picking out gifts for the men in my life as i do the women. i'm not sure if they're really that tough, or if it's just that venus/mars thing, but i get a little sick of buying the standard cologne, tie or golf paraphernalia. so this year, i'm getting out of the rut.

one thing i know for sure is that the way to a man's heart is undoubtedly through his stomach. enter the custom chip & dip kit from route 11. for just $33, you can choose four bags of chips and two dips, and they'll arrive at his door fresh and ready for devouring in front of the televion during all of those christmas day football games. plus, you can choose crazy, boy-friendly flavors like habanero and dill pickle, or cheesy bacon dip (my hubs is totally drooling right now if he's reading this).

another surefire success is alcohol - i don't think there's a guy in the world that would turn down a six-pack. i love the idea of picking up his favorite spirit, and tying this keychain flask to the bottle...especially since the flask is only $20, leaving you plenty of room to splurge on that 21-year-old glenlivet.

the man bag is a tricky business - you want something functional, and probably semi-professional looking, but it has to be unquestionably masculine. this version by serious sporting goods designer filson is rugged but tailored, incredibly well-designed (think solid brass hardware, double layers of waterproof canvas on the bottom, and leather trim made from the same stuff they use for horse bridles), and will be a great lightweight option, since it's primarily canvas. and, since it's coming from a company that designs hunting and fishing gear, no worries about the "it's too metro" argument.

i love using gift-giving holidays as an excuse to equip the men in my life with things i think they should have. some might call it selfish, but i love it when people buy me things i'd never be able to justify buying myself. this 'bottoms up' hoodie by loomstate is a classic example. loomstate uses the most amazingly soft organic cotton, and this is a piece that will be a weekend staple for him for years to come - but i don't know any guy that would spend $170 on a hoodie, no matter how much time i spend giving them the 'cost per wear' argument. plus, really: wouldn't you rather borrow this than that threadbare fleece pullover he's had since 1983?

or, if he's past the hoodie stage of life, consider a classic cashmere sweater - i can't say enough good things about the cashmere from vince, and this v-neck style is classic enough to work for just about any guy.

watches always feel like a great gift idea, until you get to the counter at the department store, where you're promptly overwhelmed by the options. the truth is, i've tried a few times, and i've never been right yet. but if you have a guy on your list that's on the hip side of square, i think this teak watch by nixon is about as cool as it gets. plus, it's available from our friends at active endeavors, who give shoppingsmycardio readers that lovely 20% discount with code 'cardio', making this watch come in comfortably under $200.

if you're buying for a guy that's more geek than chic, the new ipod nano with video is probably the most obvious choice. i have to admit - they're pretty dang cool. i like the product RED version, but i'm guessing most true blue geeks are going to go for the plain silver model. but if you're looking for something a little more off the beaten path, i love these star wars USB flash drives from urban outfitters. they come packed with wallpaper, film trailers and clips from the movies - and he'll be the coolest guy in the computer lab when he's saving things to a storm trooper.

and if none of this fits the bill, aren't the boys always telling us that the godfather is the greatest movie of all time? even if they're dead wrong, this brand new annotated script is the ultimate guide to the ultimate guy movie. with stills, trivia, behind-the-scenes details plus a full script, he'll be doing his best brando impression well after new year's. pair it with the DVD box set, and this is one gift guaranteed to make you little miss popularity.

deal of the day: barneys spring sale

how could i have forgotten this most fabulous of spring occasions? so much to show, i'm just going to get right to business.


this pleated shell is an absolute must for the coming fall trends you'll be seeing. trust me: structure, sculptural detail...this piece has it all, and for under $200 (one of the challenges of an "impeccable tailoring" trend is the high pricetag of perfection). the neutral tone keeps it seasonless and really sets off the detail.


this tunic ($199) is the ultimate universally flattering piece. that raspberry color is fantastic on all skin tones, the belt creates a waist, and those wide kimono sleeves disguise any arm pudge. all in all, it's just about perfect.


true, this tee by splendid doesn't look exciting. but it's one of those rare and coveted closet staples you'll turn to time and again...and it's $39. so, you can afford to trust me on this one.


i absolutely loved this dress when it came out this spring - and i love it still. by vince, an old favorite of mine. love the ombre, love the twig print - this is just a gorgeous, effortless summer look...especially for $119.


and i had to include this silk daisy print dress ($279) just because i love the print so. that grey color is right on trend, and the pattern keeps it from fading into the background. darling for work or weekend.


last but not least, don't miss the denim. seven's classic "ginger" cut is on sale for $119, along with all sorts of other lovely denim options.

i could go on and on....but this is a sale worth exploring yourself. happy hunting!

what i want today: not to be freezing

i have a fabulous new office in the big, bad city. actual window, actual view, actual walls on which to hang art, degrees, etc. very exciting.

but it's also about 45 degrees in here by mid-afternoon. seriously, they have no concept of the thermostat being able to move in both directions.

so, i need some sort of all-purpose, cute cardigan/sweater thing that i can keep at my office, and which will look chic and fabulous with everything i might possibly wear, ever. i'd like to keep it semi-trendy, as i have plenty of the generic-button-down-cardigan in my closet, but blah.

a couple of options from the nordstrom anniversary sale , since i haven't really done a post on that yet (due to the aforementioned summer sale boycott). but if i have something i actually need, i see no reason to not buy it just because it's discounted, after all.


first up is this cardigan by tracy reese. i have to admit i'm not loving a lot of the new mega-volume trends for fall. so this sweater is a good compromise for me. it's very tailored and classic, but the slightly wider sleeve is a nod to the new trend without forcing me too far in. the navy will blend with all sorts of things for fall, and you can wear it alone, dress it up with a camisole, or dress it down by layering a long-sleeve tee. options abound. it's $179 on the sale, but i'm willing to spend a little more on a piece that won't be out of style by february. the question is whether the style's really an all-occasion sort of thing.

i actually really like this one, and i think it fits the versatility bill....but the short sleeves concern me (since my arms are completely freezing at the moment). but then, on the other hand (er, sleeve?), short sleeves are so nice for typing nonstop, as i'm prone to doing. no smudging them up on ink-stained documents, no having to push them up to my elbow, causing them to stretch out beyond all reason. plus, it's only $65...cheap enough that i don't have to feel too badly about buying it for a test run.

outside the sale, i'm sort of loving this (though not at $300, i hate to say). but i think it would fit the 'all purpose' bill pretty well, and i think it dresses up or down fairly safely. if only i could find a clone that was, you know, less expensive. plus, i have a sort of built-in aversion to buying anything from juicy couture...i just feel like i'm so too old for that.

i happen to love pretty much everything i own by vince, so i suspect i'd love this cardigan as well. it looks nice and tailored, but the only downside is i can't see pairing it with long sleeves. then again, will i need a cardigan if i'm wearing long sleeves?? anyway, it's more mid-range, at $161, on sale at tobi, one of my fave online haunts (incidentally, tobi also has some really amazing pieces from see by chloe on a ridiculous sale right now...if you're a fan, it's definitely worth a look).

anyone have any other ideas?? i'm definitely open to suggestions!

what i want today: summer sale items perfect for fall

just dropping off a couple of pieces i've run across this morning from the summer sales that i think would work fabulously for fall.

first, if you happen to be a size 2 (ahem, j), you should snatch up this darling jersey dress by james perse for $77 in the saks sale immediately. it's only available in black, but this would be a completely excellent work dress, and could even be easily jazzed up for cocktails. plus, nothing is as yummy soft and comfy as james perse cotton. truly fabulous.

same goes for this gorgeous (not to mention flattering) dress by vince, down to $110 in the sale. love the marine blue color, love the cut, and again, looks super comfy and perfect for work.

for some unknown reason, zappos has marked a ton of l'autre chose boots down by 40%just in time for fall. i love these grey foldover boots, which i think would actually be pretty comfy with that nice platform on the toe (you can also snag them in beige, which would be equally fabulous for fall). or, if you love the riding boot look, these are a great choice (i love that they have the riding boot style, but still have a heel...so much more versatile!). check out the rest of the goods here.

and, last but certainly not least, this minidress by julie brown would be just so hot with a long chunky cardigan and heathered tights in a couple of months...for under $60, that's about the best deal around.

sale of the day: marc by MJ at barneys

i made a little visit to barneys yesterday, and had to let you all know they have loads of lovely new items on sale...including some fab MbyMJ scores. among them, that lovely graphic print top (above) that i've been coveting since i first spied it. naturally, they're out of my size...but if the tee fits, i hope someone will snag this cutie.

don't miss this fantastic coat that would be well worth picking up, if only to store it away until next fall. and i picked up a fantastic vince cashmere cardigan for $150...it's a little more fun than this one, but the price is definitely right either way.

check out all the goods here.

PS...random tanget, but i simply do not see how this item of clothing, lovely though it may be, qualifies as a "dress".

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!!