so, big exciting news....

that's right, hold on to your stilettos, girls (and boys, of course...we're equal opportunity shoppers here at SMC). the lovely, impossibly fabulous ladies over at the daily obsession have asked me to start doing some writing for them as well. very fun stuff, though it is going to require me to be even more creative and fabulous than i already am, which hardly seems possible. but i digress.

so, occasionally, i'll be asking you to follow me over there for a post or two...or perhaps i'll save you that oh-so-tedious extra click by double-posting. but either way....meet the new san francisco editor of TDO! très exciting, no?

[incidentally, the shoes have little to do with the post, other than (1) posts without pictures are boring, and (2) they happen to be super cute stilettos, thereby cleverly tying into the first line of the post. i know, i know. anyway, if you're dying to own them, they're $360 at bluebee, one of my favorite spots for unattainble but fabulous merchandise.]

item of the day: is it really possible?

i saw these in the august lucky, and literally couldn't believe i was going to have to do this yet again. but here we go: check out these darling shoes from, of all places, payless?!

seriously. they're $20. i think they'd be super hot with the baggy short shorts everyone seems to insist on wearing now, but picture them with a skinny black pant in the fall. ooh, or a tweed pencil skirt. maybe some tights? i guess what i'm saying is i think you'd get your $20 worth from these shoes, which are actually pretty darn hot.

what i want today: no more sale emails

yep, i admit it. i'm tired of the summer sales. i'm tired of being terrified to open marketing emails from my favorite stores, because i know it's going to mean that a pair of shoes i've coveted for months is now 80% off, and still too expensive for me to buy, but i can't possibly resist at that price, so i buy anyway, and go still deeper into the all-too-personal relationship i'm developing with my american express card. seriously, it's a vicious cycle. what's a girl to do?

so, i'm boycotting the rest of the summer sales. i mean it. in fact, i think i'm even boycotting the nordstrom anniversary sale, the greatest summer sale of them all. (naturally, if it becomes necessarily, i will be weaseling out of this statement by pointing out that the anniversary sale is actually a pre-fall sale, not a summer sale.) hence the very serious boycotting picture above (granted, the women pictured above are picketing for suffrage, but i think you see my point).

anyway, in honor of my boycott, there is no "what i want" today....there is just a commerce-free zone. until tomorrow, of course, when something totally fabulous will be on my "i must have this or i just might possibly die" list. so, save your pennies....

asked and answered: hip, professional work tote

a reader posted a question recently:

I am on a limited budget and need a new bag that is good for work and school. So, it needs to be able to carry a laptop and files and I would like something that is fun and professional and will work with brown, navy, and black suits.

Help? Please? Is it possible for a reasonable price?

i'm never one to shrink from a challenge, especially when i already have an idea in mind ;)

first, a couple of notes about construction. i'm actually not a big fan of leather bags for the briefcase/laptop carryall, for two reasons. one, leather is heavy. it will add as much as ten pounds to your load if you want a leather bag (at least, if you want a quality leather bag), which isn't what you need when you're lugging a 15" laptop and 10 case files at the end of the day. and two, leather doesn't take abuse the way microfiber, or other well-made fabrics will. it is going to show scratches and corner wear, and most of us aren't going for that "broken in" look when we're trying to put our best foot forward.

the other note about construction is to pay attention to the handles. thicker handles are your friends - those flimsy, thin handles you see on many bags are just going to cause you major shoulder trauma (not to mention stretching out your favorite cashmere sweater).

okay, enough principles. after going through more laptop bag sites than i care to admit, i've determined my first choice was the right one. i'm suggesting a bag by talene reilly - there are a number of great choices in this line, but my favorites are the cate and the sydney. for you, since i think this is going to serve as a multi-purpose bag, i like the sydney for its exterior pockets - the ease of access thing is very important for those hot young attorney-types.

lots of gorgeous color combos, but i think for your purposes, i'd choose the camel tweed with caramel trim (pictured above), because it's stylish and polished, but not stuffy. it's also going to be a very flexible color, and will look fabulous with black, navy and brown. this one's a tad over your budget, at $308, but i'm very pleased to let everyone know that the designer (who is absolutely darling, by the way) has offered all of my lovely readers a 20% discount off all of her bags, bringing the price down to $246.

the other color palette i'm loving is her brand new cream linen with white leather trim - if you're looking for a summer option, i think this bag is about as fresh as anything i've seen - much better than the standard, boring black laptop bag everyone else is toting right now.

so, that's my recommendation - i'm not bothering with a runner-up, because i really think this is the bag for you. in fact, i'm so convinced that i think i'm going to be adding the cate bag to my own work wardrobe! i hope the rest of you will follow suit - the designer has informed me (how exciting that i get to announce this!) that her line has just been picked up by neiman marcus, which is a huge step for any brand. buy one of her pieces now, and you can say you knew her when!

remember to use code cardio at checkout on the talene reilly website to save 20% on any purchase!

what i want today: pretty much everything at nest

this site has crossed my radar before, but it popped up on the daily candy deals email i received this morning, and i took another look. nest has really improved its offerings, and they have several things that have me reaching for my credit card this morning. plus, it's all for a good cause, so the shopping is completely justified...even necessary!

this gorgeous wool throw would be the perfect way to modernize any living room or bedroom. i love how cheery and colorful it is, and the print is bright and fun, and just the right amount of girly. only $40 on sale!

i am seriously lacking in the jewelery department. i covet much, but rarely buy...and the result is that i have a few classic pendants, but not much that's really "fun." plus, i fear my style leans a little too far toward classic for some of the really trendy pieces i tend to fall in love with. but these gorgeous gemstone beads are right up my alley. they're like a fun version of the classic pearl strand. i'm picturing them with a chic black sweater and jeans, or my white shirtdress by doo.ri for gap. pick them up for $45, which is a steal for a necklace like this one.

i have absolutely no idea what i'd do with this, but it's so darn cute, i'm tempted to order it anyway. sure, it's kitschy...but i think it crosses over into what i like to call 'kitschy-chic'. anyway, it's $27.50, so not exactly a major investment.

nest also strikes me as the perfect spot for gifts, and something tells me a number of my friends will be receiving goodies from this site when the holidays roll around. take, for example, these darling little pocket mirrors, in 3 different designs (here, here and here). you know you'd use this every day, and you'd think of me whenever you did - that's a pretty perfect gift, especially when it's only $8.

pick these, and so many more fun goodies, up now...unless i get to them first!

what i want today: an open letter to....

dear bottega veneta:

why, oh why, are you torturing me with this absolutely gorgeous pink canvas bag that is beyond adorable, but way too large for any non-giant person to use as a daily bag? seriously. this bag and i could have so many good times together, if only it weren't large enough to act as carry-on luggage.

sigh. alas, i must covet its gorgeously perfect color, its luxurious woven leather handles, its impeccable construction and completely fabulous shape from afar....because my husband will surely kill me if i buy yet another overnight bag.

love and kisses,
SMC

(of course, if you do have use for an overnight bag and/or are a fan of the humongousness of this beauty, you can pick it up on sale for a ridiculously reasonable $504 right now at NAP. trust me - you'll never get a piece of BV for a better price!)

deal of the day: 50% off at summerblu.com

so, i get these emails from summerblu periodically, giving me codes for 50% off their sale items. all fine and good, thanks. but i got one today for 50% off everything. and girls, they have some lovely, lovely stuff - including the lauren merkin clutches i just adore (the louise in vintage is my top pick), which you can get for as little as $90 with the code.


not to mention lots of lovely ella moss tops, splendid tees (my personal fave), and even some paige denim in classic black (and no, they're not skinny!).

head to summerblu armed with your credit card and code WEEKEND - they'll even include free priority shipping! so, shop it up, my friends....the code's only good until sunday, july 8. oh, and items are final sale...so be sure you'll love it before you buy! though, at these prices, what's not to love??

what i want today: just a little eye candy...

in the spirit of the recent holiday, a little red-white-and-blue fashion that doesn't make me cringe. not practical, not responsible....but oh, so fun! paisley jacquard d'orsay heels by, who else, manolo blahnik. sure, they'll set you back $665...but you'll look so hot, no one would ever suspect you had to sell your plasma to buy them.

pre-fall is here!

PS ~ don't forget about our exclusive 20% discount over at halsea...the code is cardio20!

what i want today: more nine west shoes

hard to believe, i know...two pairs in one season? what in the world is going on over at nine west ? for me, that's right up there with the odds you'd catch me in skinny jeans more than once. whatever they have cooking over there, i hope they keep it up...hot, fun shoes for under $100 is definitely something i could get used to!

lots of fabulous jewel tones to choose from in this style, including a bright yellow, raspberry, and pewter, but my fave is this gorgeous blue that i spied in the july vogue (i know, $69 shoes in vogue? this post just gets crazier and crazier). seriously...page 188 if you don't believe me.

these cuties are just the things to wear now with baggy shorts and cute little summer tees, but they'll transition beautifully to fall as well. i mean honestly, how hot would these be with some straight-leg black pants? pretty hot.

and, best of all....drum roll, please....available up to size 12 AND in both narrow and wide widths. this one's for you, mom! (and for j and m, with their wide feet!)

seriously, though, you know if they were in vogue, they're going to be sold out in about 15 minutes...so order soon. happy shopping!

EXCLUSIVE discount from a truly fabulous designer

for those who don't remember, i did a little write-up on the designer who started halsea, a fabulous company that specializes in travel-friendly bags and accessories. anyway, i recently received an email from sally, the designer, who wanted to thank all of YOU for reading up about her company...by offering all of you darling readers a 20% discount off her entire site!

how fabulous is that!?


anyhoo...use code cardio20, and pick up a whole new travel ensemble! seriously, i want one of everything. her roller bag is impossibly perfect - durable enough to be checked, but cute enough to actually make you excited to pack! and the weekend bag (the piece i fell in love with first) is honestly the absolute perfect size for an overnight getaway. even the totes are the perfect balance of practicality (hello, waterproof canvas?!) and cute. you can mix and match the designs, or be the most coordinated girl on the plane.


either way, you can't miss with any of these gorgeous designs, and you certainly can't miss by supporting sally's company, as she is one of the sweetest designers i've ever had the pleasure of chatting with!

summer shoes are calling....

lots of great summer sales happening now...too many, really. but a couple of shoe sales you have to at least check out.

plazatoo, a site that has an amazing selection, if somewhat spotty customer service, is having their spring blowout. score loeffler randall's bianca flats for $199, sigerson morrison's darling laverne flats for $139 (down from $275), and the gorgeous classic longchamps leather tote for $429 (down from $720).

another favorite, barefoot tess, is offering a 35% storewide discount with code BFT. there are a small handful of shoes that aren't eligible for the discount, but the vast majority of the site is up for grabs. my picks would be the adorable french sole rhythm flats (which haven't been on sale anywhere else yet), or the loeffler randall lark python flats, which i think would go with just about everything in my closet right now.

happy hunting!

the coolest thing evah!

okay, so maybe i'm lame, but i feel about designers the way most people feel about celebrities. so, imagine my complete and total excitement when, after submitting a question to her site via email, i got an email from rebecca minkoff, herself, last night! seriously, how freaking cool is that?? in fact, we actually exchanged a handful of emails...if i swung that way, i'd so have a crush right now!

if you don't know her work, well, shame on you...go check it out now. she does such an amazing job of mixing hip and classic - classic shapes, hip colors and details. great quality, gorgeous leather, yadayadayada. all while managing to keep her prices squarely in the "regular people can actually afford my designs" range (roughly $500-600).

in fact, i was so darned excited by the whole encounter that i'm now seriously obsessing over the darling bag above...but since i've lusted after it for more than six months, i guess it's not a huge shock. what can i say...i'm a consumer whore. i think we already knew that.

so. if you love her designs too, you have options. first, rebecca (eeeee, we're on a first-name basis!) just completed a huge sample sale...many of the styles are gone now, but it's worth a call to the boutique in NYC to see if anything's left, as everything was 50% off, which is a killer deal. call 212/677.7829 if you're so inclined...if the designer is any indication, everyone at the store is going to be completely sweet and nice.

if they don't have what you want, the best price i've been able to find on the most well-known of her bags, the "morning after" (and the "morning after mini") here in all sorts of colors and in both sizes - all are on sale, plus you can get an additional 10% off with code summer, making it the best deal i've ever found on this bag (well, excluding some ridiculous anthropologie markdown after christmas, but i'm not entirely convinced that wasn't an urban legend...).

what i want today: free stuff from the TDO girls!

so, since my blog has been woefully inadequate lately, allow me to direct you to a visit over at the daily obsession, where the wonderful TDO gals are doing a super feature on the best summer beauty products...and giving away a new prize every day this week! can't beat that.

check out yesterday's offer here, and today's here and here....and stay tuned here to see the rest of the week's offerings! with as much as they're giving away, there's a chance even i could win something! well, or you...you definitely could. :)

what i want today: studded cap-toe ballet flats

so, i finally had a great excuse to catch up on all of my fashion magazine reading (14 hours on a plane...lovely), and a few things caught my eye. first and foremost were these darling flats that i'm completely in love with (trust me on this one - the picture is less than perfect, i know, but the shoes are gorgeous). they'd be absolutely, completely perfect for your fall wardrobe needs. the cap-toe shoe is incredibly hot for fall, not to mention the studs, patent, and metallic detail. i love the gunmetal color - not as flashy as gold or silver, but every bit as flexible. honestly, can't you just picture these with at least 10 outfits in your wardrobe?

best of all...under $70. no kidding. i'm rarely this impressed by nine west shoes, but they've done an amazing job this time of taking the best elements from shoes made by several high end designers (this pair looks like the brainchild of marc jacobs, tory burch, and lanvin), rather than just flat-out cloning, which i find irritating and a bit sad.

i'd like for all of you to go out and buy these, because i think they're about the hottest thing ever. sadly, they don't come in my size...so i need to live vicariously through all of you.

what i want today: halsea weekender bag

i know i've been MIA for a while, but nothing's really been singing to me recently...and my readers only get the best of the best, darn it! plus, well, there have been technical difficulties...it's been tough all around.

anyhoo, over the weekend, my web wanderings led me to a site that i have a pretty huge crush on. halsea is the creation of a designer who was aiming for "the gals who have moved-on and moved-up from the teenage surf/skate market...a women who want sophisticated, casual beach style and embrace laid-back luxury."

hey wait...that's me! i love sophisticated, casual beach style! and really, who doesn't want to embrace laid-back luxury?

anyway. everything on the site is darling (and is, by the way, perfectly coordinated), but my favorite has to be this weekend tote. i love literally everything about it. i love the laminated canvas, as it's perfect for travel (not like those travel bags that are super cute, but you know you're going to cry if the flight attendant lets a can of coke explode in your general vicinity). i love the multiple exterior pockets - just the thing for boarding pass, ipod and magazine, so you have quick access before you stow that baby in your overhead compartment. i love that it's incredibly lightweight (so you can actually carry it, especially with the shoulder strap they include), but will still hold a ton. at 13" x 21", i think i could actually use this as my only bag for a weekend away! and, i love the leather bottom, which is there to give this baby longevity - you don't have to worry about the canvas ripping as you yank your bag off the security belt.

the truth is, i just love smart, well-thought-out design, and this bag fits the bill in so many ways. plus, it's fun to look at, and doesn't blend into the sea of black roller bags.

$225 at halsea. a little steep, i realize, but something tells me this is a bag with serious longevity potential. comes in several lovely patterns/colors, but the one pictured above is an easy favorite for me.