Scarves

Don't get me wrong, i love summer. The sunny, lazy, dazed, slow sweatiness of it all- but it's September now and I'm eager to wake up again to the electric crispness of a cloudless Fall morning. I can't wait for the first little nip in the air for an excuse to bust out my boots and SCARVES. There's no end to their variety, and unless you're shopping the designer counters, they're generally affordable and easy to collect.
I found this little gem on a pretty awful site that I'm almost embarrased to mention, but you can really scarves ANYWHERE, even the drug store sometimes, so I'll go ahead and tell you:
http://www.fashionscarvesandshawls.com/ (yegchh....)
but the color palette & zig zag pattern rocks. When selecting scarves, I go for bold graphic designs in colors that flatter my skin tone, and these days I like the square cuts with a little bit of fringe the best.
Come on cold front!!

White

White happens to be the color (or combination of all colors) that brings out one's natural beauty. One can wear little to no make-up while wearing white and still be a ray of sunshine. It is crisp and clean, and it has managed to remain pure for centuries (i.e. wedding dresses). White has always been a color that symbolizes innocence and tranquility, but that does not mean you have to behave so in order to wear it.
Too many people refrain from wearing white in fear of dirtying it or getting yellow pits (embarrassing, I know, but it happens to almost everyone), but there are so many solutions to these tiny, little nuisances. Really hot water helps the yellow, but it's not really good for your clothes, so I would suggest the Clorox Bleach Pen. It takes out every stain, and it's really easy to use...so have no fear because August is here, and what better way to end the summer than by wearing the coolest color.
The blouse above is from dELiAs , and I love it because it extracts the ideal characteristics of a white garment.

Tashi

At Maya on South Congress, you can find jewelry by the Canadian design team Tashi. Darling, understated, easy to wear and affordable, I really like this poppy charm. I love that it is flat like a drawing-  the 2 dimensionality makes me think of Andy Warhol's Flowers prints for some reason. And it's real silver so it won't turn your skin green. 

Beyond the appeal of the pendant itself, I love the dual associations the poppy inspires. On the one hand it inspires romantic notions of mystery, dreams, and beauty, on the other lies darker associations of the poppy - opiates, addiction, blood, and death.

Tashi doesn't have a website, but with some searching you can find them on sites like Mudmetal and even Amazon. But for the best selection & to see them in person and try them on- visit Maya at 1508 South Congress. 

Hats in the Belfry

OK, I was reluctant to post about Fedoras because I thought they were just too ubiquitous already, but HOT DAMN do I love 'em! Yes they are popping up everywhere now, but I can't help it- they're just sexy. I found what has to be the mother of all hat shops online- Hats in the Belfry, which has scores of fedoras in seemingly endless colors, fabrics, & styles - not to mention any other kind of hat you could possibly imagine or desire. That's where I found this adorable little feminine number. 

To top it all off (heh), they even have "Hat University" where you can learn about the history of hats & hat styles. I am working on my major in Fedora Studies with a minor in Cloches. 

Birthday Suits

It's a cruel, cruel summer. Blistering, sweltering, oppressive & just too hot for clothes! Which is why this entry is dedicated to the ultimate minimalist ensemble- the birthday suit. You're born with it so it's inevitably dyed in your most flattering color. It's breathable & adjusts to the temperature around you, kinda - when you consider the phenomenon of sweating. I've been wearing mine as much as possible lately, at least around the house. Out of the house, I wear as much of my birthday suit as can be considered decent.

Here's me in my backyard this past weekend with friends,

(Ok, no it's not me, it's Ruben's Union of Earth & Water but isn't it lovely?)

COLORS
This past spring I was a bit frustrated with how I could not seem to develop a liking for the floral patterns and bursts of what I like to call "Easter colors" coming out from all the ready-to-wear lines. Everyone else was buying the latest summer dresses and floral tops, and all I wanted to wear was black, gray, and white.
However, I recently rekindled my love for colors when I looked at the colors that were being used abroad. They're not exactly "Easter pastel", but they're also not neon bright. They're the perfect combination of warms and cools that made me find a new appreciation for colorful apparel.
This top is by A.P.C., a very cool line in France that never disappoints me. The website is www.apc.fr.

Jane Mayle Dresses

Jane Mayle dresses

I've become really obsessed with this designer recently. She is known for creating artistically intricate pieces and paying particular attention to details in her garments. The dress shown here, for example, has a zipper that opens up only to reveal more fabric underneath the garment. I also love the way the dress is all black and white except for the colorful, floral neck lining. The designer has a shop in Little Italy of New York City, and it's kind of hard to find her stuff anywhere else but Ebay.

Feather Headbands

These make me want to channel my inner flapper/hippie. We came across some like these at Parts & Labour in Austin, but they are also all over Etsy. The elegant example pictured here is made by Feather Brain. Check out her Etsy shop.

I prefer the style worn behind the ears to the ones worn around the crown  because these look good with any hair style and on a wider age range. Although the thin band crown style headband is charming, it's hard to pull this off unless you have very  long hair (and are under 25).