what (else) i want today: amy butler for mikasa

oh, the love...the love is here, it is strong, and it is going to potentially compel me to buy an entire set of china with birds on it (which, yes, i realize is very high on the list of "things i do not need"...and i just don't care).

if you don't know amy butler, you should get to know her - she's a fabric designer and artist extraordinaire. and the decision to do this vintage-inspired collection for mikasa is nothing short of sheer genius.

a big thank you to poppytalk for letting us in on the fabulousness, and to design healing for taking the pics!

what i want today: missoni scarf

i've been coveting a new scarf for positively ages - and the coveting was finally reinforced when even my darling hubs told me he'd seen more than enough of the ancient (but lovely) j.crew version i'd been sporting for the last 3 winters. i know it's not really scarf weather any more, but i continue to covet nonetheless.

for me, the ultimate would be one of the many beauties by missoni, who does an amazing job of making scarves that will go with anything, and in virtually any weather.

the version above ($225) is a cotton blend, so it's never too heavy, but at 9" wide, it's still thick enough to bundle you up when you need the warmth.

and i've been in love with this silk-trim version since i first spied it months ago. sadly, at $660, it's probably not coming home with me...but it's definitely in the "covet from afar" category.

either way, i'm sure to be warm and toasty all summer long. hey, that air conditioning can get bitter!

shoppingsmycardio interviews: design*sponge

for those who aren't familiar, grace bonney is the editor and founder of design*sponge, the ultimate resource for all things new, stylish and fabulous in the world of home design and accessories. she's also a contributing editor for domino magazine. so, in a nutshell, she's amazing.

i am positively addicted to her site - it's the first place i check for inspiration whenever i'm ready for some changes to the home decor at casa SMC, whether it's a fabulous new serving piece for my upcoming soiree, a new piece of art, or a complete room remodel.

grace is such a sweetheart that she very kindly offered to share some of her expertise and advice with all of us. i loved her answers so much that i'm actually splitting the interview across two days - it's just too much good information for one post. so, look for the second half later this week. and now, without further adieu...

SMC: I think it’s pretty safe to call you the queen of design blogging – design*sponge is such an amazing resource for so many people! Can you give us an idea of how design*sponge came to be? Did it begin through your work with one of the many magazines you’ve written for, or was it more of a personal outlet?

design*sponge: Well, I wouldn’t call myself the queen of anything - except maybe queen of ‘America’s Next Top Model marathon watching’. Design*Sponge has always been such a fun project to call my “job” and I’m just happy that people are still reading and enjoying it.

When I started things in 2004 I was just trying to find a personal outlet for my endless design chatter (my boyfriend could really only handle so much). I tested out a lot of formats and styles and ended up settling on a product-focused blog with occasional personal mentions, because that represented me at the time. But as I’ve changed changed and grown up a bit more I’ve tried to move away from that format and focus on evergreen content- pieces that will be pertinent months or even years down the line (like city guides, product guides, diy projects and home tours). The magazine work was just a really lucky offshoot of the site- it started with a few newspaper pieces and lead to a 2-year stint at House & Garden Magazine. Now I’m a contributing editor at Domino and enjoying having a place to write outside of Design*Sponge.

SMC: Your email inbox must just be a treasure trove of great ideas. What is the most fantastic piece you’ve seen this week?

DS: Oh man, right now I’m so far behind on my email I don’t even know. The good and bad thing about being a one-woman-show (in terms of email and day-to-day operations) is that I have to answer several hundred detailed emails a day. 75-100 of those will be emails with a zip file full of home photos asking for a personalized list of suggestions, a few hundred will be small product requests (great sofa under $500? Dining table in hot pink?), a few dozen will be assignments and correspondence regarding projects we’re working on at the site and then 150-200 of those will be submissions. I love answering everyone’s emails personally but I can fall behind pretty quickly so this week I’ve barely dipped into the submission folder. I did see a few great additions to the ShopSCAD online shop, some new cards from Blue Ribbon Letterpress and some great new furniture makeovers from Knack Design.

SMC: How would you describe your personal design style? And can you translate that into a few key pieces that you have in your house now?

DS: Right now? Chaos. My home is in flux right now and always represents where my head is at the moment. With site projects and wedding planning coming up I’m a big mess of ideas so my house is a big mess of ideas. But right now I think I’m starting to embrace a bit more traditional style with an emphasis on strong wooden furniture and feminine patterns. I’d love to go for a modern-day Dorothy Draper look if I could but I don’t think I could pull it off. I think I’m perpetually the girl who wants to be classy and cool but always ends up a little frazzled.

SMC: One of my biggest design challenges is budget, and another is time. If I had my way, I’d just gut my house and do things exactly the way I want them, from top to bottom. But, of course, that’s not reality for most of us. What sort of baby steps do you start with when you want to start making changes? Say, for example, that you had $100 to spend – what would you do? What about $500?

DS: I guess it really depends on your needs - but I know that’s not a fun answer. If I had $100, honestly I’d save it up and get that to around $500 or $1,000 and then tackle a room makeover. I’m trying to focus on encouraging people to invest in nicer pieces so they end up throwing away fewer pieces each year.

That said, if you have $100, I’d suggest hitting the flea market or thrift shop where you could find a chair, chandelier or maybe even a great dining room table that just needs a little paint/fabric love to give it a facelift. Re-habbing old furniture is a great way to stretch a tight budget.

SMC: If you had to design an entire house, from furniture to knick-knacks, using just 3 online sources, what would you choose? (I know, it’s torture...)

DS: Off the top of my head: Shop SCAD, Orange (a vintage store in LA) and Heath Ceramics. I’m trying to combine crafty with vintage but keep things simple.

SMC: What are your favorite, no-fail home decor tricks to employ when you’re really stuck for ideas?

DS: That’s an easy one - I turn to my trusty staplegun. I have a huge collection of fabric I keep in my utility closet and when I’m bored I redo the seat cushions on my desk chair or any small seats/stools that are easy to swap out. I also love to use gift wrap as impromptu wallpaper in unexpected places like door molding and inside cabinets or drawers.

a huge thank you to the fabulous design*sponge for all of this fabulous advice, and stay tuned for the rest of this interview later this week - grace gave loads of wonderful advice for buying art and restyling your own home.

(ps...i just want to point out that that last tip is a truly fabulous one...i never realized how easy it was to reupholster a chair until i just stopped being scared and tried it. now i'm addicted!)

what i want today: martine sitbon handbags (and a shopbop code!)

this only comes around a few times a year, so it's quite an exciting happening (you know, unlike certain retailers who have perpetual 20% off codes floating around, and inflate their prices accordingly....cough). today through thursday only, at shopbop.com, you'll save $25 on $150, $50 on $250, $100 on $500, and $150 on $750 orders, with code TAXBREAKO8.

sure, i hate those codes that try to trick you into spending more, but hey, everyone's got to make a living. i'm pretty sure they're trying to swipe that tax refund you're hopefully getting, you know, before you wise up and put it into an orange account or something.

so, the real question: how to spend all of this extra cash?? well, if it were me (sadly, the self-employed never get those fabulous refunds), i'd shell out for one of these gorgeous handbags by martine sitbon. i've been dying to tell you about these for months, but now's the perfect time.

sitbon has been an icon of french design for decades, but is finally hitting our shores, and what a smash hit it is. the leather on these bags looks silky soft, light, and slouchy. and the styling has that perfect european "effortless chic" thing down to a T.

my top pick is her gorgeous pleated tote (above, $427). i'm in love with the soft, ladylike pleats matched with the big, bold tote style. the combination makes this the mega-bag you can tote without feeling like you're schlepping your life around on your shoulder. and that pale peachy-pink color is just the thing for summer - light and fun, but not too girly.

or, if you're in the market for a clutch, don't miss this quilted foldover version ($249). the style is perfect for toting all of your daily essentials while still keeping your look perfectly polished.

if the bags aren't ringing your bell, never fear...i have a hunch you'll find something to spend that lovely tax refund on.

cheap thrills: forever 21 jewelry

just found myself stuck on forever 21's jewelry page. granted, the sheer quantity of options can be overwhelming, but how can you not love a collection of hip, fun jewelry when every single piece is under $10?? here are a few of my favorites (listed clockwise from top left).

this feather lucite bangle ($6) has such a modern vibe - it's sure to add polish and fun to a basic jeans-and-tee ensemble.

this cute little cubist heart necklace ($7) is so subtle, but stylish - no one would ever guess the price. and i just love this little owl necklace ($8) - he's sure to be a conversation piece.

enamel bangles are everywhere this spring. at less than $8 for this gorgeous graphic version, you just can't miss.

this art deco pendant ($7) would make any ensemble chic, bold and bright. i'd replace the 18" chain with something much longer, to offset the chunky style of this piece.

speaking of chunky and bold, this graphic necklace ($8) just screams 1982, but in a good way. it's just the thing to jazz up an all-black or all-white ensemble.

studio 54, anyone? i love the retro '70s vibe of these chain mail earrings ($4)...they'd be fab with a white minidress and heels.

fill your cart today - if you can manage to spend $75, the shipping's free.

exclusive marimekko discount!!

well, dear readers, i have some fabulous news. the lovely people over at alwaysmod.com - a fantastic one-stop shop for all things marimekko - saw our post about marimekko prints today, and have kindly offered you all an exclusive 10% discount on all purchases over $75. just use code shoppingsmycardio at checkout, through april 25!

this is a fantastic opportunity to pick up some gorgeous accessories, home decor, and all sorts of fun pieces. i love their mini coin purses, those gorgeous scarves i mentioned below, and this fantastic umbrella is high on my list. the aprons are pretty fantastic too. happy hunting!

what i want today: big, bold prints

ever since i read an article in the april vogue about the author's first marimekko dress, i've been craving big pattern...in a big way.

there's the original, of course, which one can't overlook. this site has more options than just about anyone, and their pricing is pretty impressive. i love this tunic style shirtdress ($219), which gives you the fabulous pattern, but the conservative styling reins it in and makes it office-appropriate.

but then, i think if you're jumping on this look, the "reined in" thing isn't really the point at all. i love this blouse (on sale for $109), which is completely over the top, in the best of ways. wear it with a skinny black pant or pencil skirt, layer a turtleneck underneath, leave it open & call it a jacket, or close it up and call it a blouse - this is a piece i'd never get tired of.

i'm also loving some of the less obvious versions floating around this spring. this version by puella ($176) is a little bit 70s flower child, but the styling keeps it modern.

if adding color on top of pattern is just too much for you, try this big, bold black and white number by mika piirainen ($183). i love the swirling pattern and classic cut - this is a dress that's so classic, your daughters are sure to fight over it one day.

and, if all of this pattern is just a little more than you can convince yourself to try, consider dabbling with a fabulous marimekko scarf ($20), which can give you that splash of crazy color and pattern, without stretching your boundaries too far. for me, if i can track down these absolutely amazing wooden brooches (which seem, tragically, to be out of stock absolutely everywhere), i'll die a happy woman.

(PS...i would also be remiss if i didn't mention the marimekko line for H&M hits stores tomorrow, 4/10. a sneak peek can be found here..enjoy!)

what i want today: gorjana's new fine jewelry collection

gorjana is always one of my go-to designers when i'm looking for affordable, gorgeous, and on-trend jewelry. so when i saw that they'd released a fine jewelry collection, i couldn't resist a peek.

true to form, the pieces are delicate and detailed - and for 18K gold and precious gems, quite reasonably priced.

my absolute favorite is this trio of grey diamond briolettes on a simple yellow gold chain ($370, above). the grey is so unexpected, and i love that the style is so understated. at first glance, you might not even realize they're gemstomes at all.

also, be sure to check out the petal ring ($370), which would be absolutely gorgeous stacked as a trio, and the hand-sculpted gold bangle ($650), which feels more like a work of art than a piece of jewelry.

check out the entire line here, and let me know what else you find to love!

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".

deal of the day: TDO anniversary giveaway

why am i always disqualified from winning the very best giveaways?? okay, so normally you might think i'm a little biased, but seriously, the loot to be scored via the daily obsession's giveaway in honor of their two-year anniversary is pretty freaking amazing. i counted 89 products, including everything from beauty and fragrance, to handbags, clothes and underpinnings. total value is right around $3,200. happy birthday indeed!

to enter, just leave a comment about how fabulous this giveaway is, which shouldn't be hard. you can see all of the details here. good luck!!

what i want today: textural tops

this spring, i can't help noticing that designers are returning to some of the tricks of the trade that really make me ooh and aah. intricate pleating, ruffles, and other fabulous details turn everyday styles into something really extraordinary - finally, you don't have to look like every other girl on the street.

this pleated tunic/minidress by jovovich-hawk ($395) would be endlessly versatile for the warmer months. pair it with a slim black trouser now (just swap out the slip for a cami), and wear it solo for a fabulous outdoor party dress when summer's in full swing. the texture is so striking, i don't even think you need to accessorize this - it speaks for itself. hmm, well, maybe just a bold cocktail ring (which would be 20% off with code CYBR20)...

i love the gorgeous slate blue color and the over-the-top ruffling on this silk top by joie ($185). this would be every bit as cute with a white pencil skirt as it is with shorts - and those lovely ruffles are sure to hide the results of one too many frappucinos.

and the pintucked top and bold belt on this girly taffeta blouse by twelfth street ($192) just scream summertime chic to me - again, love this with a pencil skirt, maybe a wide-legged ash grey pant, jeans, tailored shorts...the options are endless. oh, and it's an additional 25% off (today only!) with code 25TODAY.

these are just a few of my faves - if you're in the mood for a little extra za za zoom in your closet, i'd suggest a stroll through shopbop's spring blouse collection - they've done a really excellent job of pulling some unique options together.

scarves, scarves everywhere...

i've been really in the mood for scarves lately, and with good reason - they're absolutely everywhere this spring (huge thanks to coquette for the runway pics). as french women have known for decades, a colorful silk scarf can instantly transform an average outfit into a chic ensemble. so i'm thrilled to see american fashion finally following suit.

but i find that i avoid accessorizing with scarves as often as i might like, and i think i've finally figured out why. square scarves, i've decided, are a lot of work. the folding, the twisting, the meticulous styling...it's all just so much effort, and not really what scarves are all about anyway. but, when the hubs recently picked up a gorgeous oblong scarf for me, it was love at first wear.

oblongs, which usually range from about 4" to 16" wide, and anywhere from 50" to 80" long, are infinitely versatile. toss them around your neck to dangle long, tie in a simple half knot (my favorite), or wrap them in any way you would wrap a winter scarf (find a few how-tos here, as i'm terrible at written instructions for these things).

use them as a belt (i love replacing belts on dresses with scarves), a head scarf (this look is impeccable at the beach, when your hair is a mess - and unlike a square scarf, an oblong will cover just the right amount of your head without turning into a babushka), or tie them in a big floopy bow at your neck to recreate that 80s "big bow" look that seem to be back these days.

another favorite look of mine is to replace (or just wrap) the handle on your favorite handbag with a scarf. this works best if your bag has metal fixtures at the handle bases - simply tie one end of your scarf to one fixture, and the other end to the other fixture. let the original handle dangle a bit, and voila. (i've asked my lovely michael kors skorpio bag to help out with this demo)
as for where to buy (we are all about shopping here, of course), most of the images in this post are from echo designs, which makes absolutely lovely scarves. my personal favorite right now, though i'd normally advise colorful scarves, is this black-and-white version, taken from a photograph by mena suvari, of all people.

echo also has a stunning vintage collection - they've recently reintroduced several of their older, classic designs. i love the retro style of this stoplight pattern. the colors of this moroccan tile design would complement just about any neutral ensemble. and this mod fish scale pattern is pretty fabulous too. best of all, most of echo's scarves won't set you back more than about $50, so you can afford to experiment. the trick is to pick a young, colorful design, so that you don't look like you raided your mom's closet.

there are also loads of gorgeous options at shopbop right now, if you needed further proof that scarves are as of-the-moment as you can get. my faves are the DVF options, which have that retro style/glam thing down perfectly.

the truth is that once you get a scarf (or several) home, if you're willing to be adventurous, the options really are limitless. and i think you'll realize what french women have known for years: just a touch of chic makes all the difference.

you are important

i so, so badly want to buy this and hang it in my bathroom. fortunately, it's from one of my favorite art sites, 20x200, which means i actually can buy this and hang it in my bathroom, without breaking the bank.

20x200 in a nutshell: every tuesday they release a print of a painting. every wednesday it's a photograph. edition is limited to 200 pieces, size is 8x10, price is $20 each. they also offer a larger size of each piece, edition of 20, price is $200. or, a gigantic version, edition of 2, price is $2,000.

but basically, it's a fabulous way to get a limited edition print, from an often very well known artist, for peanuts. i absolutely love it!

cheap thrills: gryson for target

wow, lots of bags this week - it's just that time of year, when self-control becomes a major problem.

but i did want to share that the first piece of gryson's collection for target is finally available online. i love this handheld satchel with an optional messenger strap - gryson has done a lovely job of making this piece look much more elegant than many of the other designer collections target has managed. and i love that they've bothered to incorporate their signature woven style in this bag, so that it actually does remind us of the designer.

only the black satchel is available right now, but if you love it, i'd grab it now. otherwise, preview the full line here, and keep your eye on target's website, as they generally release designer collections online a few days before they hit stores.

celeb alert: gerard darel bags

i know, we don't often do the celeb-stalking thing here on SMC, but i couldn't resist today. gerard darel has been a superstar in europe for years, and he's finally catching on stateside. i got a little sneak preview of his latest collections in my in-box this morning, and couldn't resist sharing this mega-size hobo that all of the starlets are carrying around lately.

and it's no wonder: if you're still insisting on toting a bag that will actually carry everything you need all day (instead of sacrificing preparedness for the beauty of that cute little clutch), darel's midday midnight hobo is just about perfect. i love the rich, saturated colors, and the leather is so wonderfully slouchy that it just melts into your torso when you wear it. a nice feature on a huge bag, as it allows you to carry it without looking ridiculous, no matter how stuffed or empty it is.

to snag the bag that katherine heigl, jessica alba, cameron diaz and the like are loving this spring, head to shoprumor.com with your $895 in tow. they'll have to special order it for you, but having tried last year to obtain a darel bag in the US, i can tell you it's all but impossible. i love that gorgeous orange-red that cameron's carrying (duh), but the purple is definitely of-the-moment, and that green is absolutely stunning too. you just can't go wrong.