Substance and Style...

Gourmet Brunch - Goat Cheese and Ham Panini w/ Truffle Oil, along side an Olive Oil Baby Spinach salad w/ Shaved Almonds & Balsamic Reduction...HEAVEN


Bennett's Donuts - A Hidden Gem in Fort Myers


You Can Never Have Too Many Pairs of Chanel


Time-less Classics

I'll have paninis and strawberry orange mimosas with a side of Prada. Thank you! I had the ultimate pleasure to spend my lovely Saturday morning with one of the most endearing, heartfelt, stylish woman I've ever met. Her home - pure, simplistic, modern perfection. Her wardrobe - what dreams are made of. With an amazing family and a circle of friends that rival "The Sisterhood", she lives what most people would call - A FULL Life. Her sartorial and domestic style is well curated and sharp. Chic and clearly defined, everything within her home and closet seemed as though it was filtered through a well defined funnel of what works and doesn't work for her taste and lifestyle.

She's really good friends with my boss (yep, the owner of these crazy Dries), and it was definitely necessary to feature her on this blog, sooner rather than later. I feel so honored to have been allowed inside of her amazing home, and absolutely privileged to bring these beautiful images to you.

Now, if you'll excuse, I have to go organize my wardrobe - thanks to my special guest, I now have direction on what perfected style looks like...

All Abroad...

Two days and I'm off to NY for a week before heading to LA for the Film Independent Spirit Awards. I'm overly excited and my well curated wardrobe is a reflection of that bottled up anticipation. Only traveling with 14 pieces in total, because I'm really looking forward to shopping for the holes in my wardrobe. Below is a working list of items that I will surely be hunting for between 2 of the greatest cities in the world.

1. Black Fitted Blazer, 2. Black 510 Super Skinny Jeans, 3. Black Cardigan, 4. Black Lace Up Oxfords...

These aren't really exciting but I'm all about classics, and building a well curated wardrobe starts with a strong foundation. Now to put on my sequin sneakers and click my heels 3 times, cause, "There's no place like home! There's no place like home!"...

No Title. Sorry....

H&M Sweater, Target Vest, 510 Super Skinny Jeans, Aldo Lace up Oxfords

Enjoyed a bowl of frozen grapes and spaghetti tonight for dinner. It's hard to believe that I'll be in New York this Sunday for a week before I fly off to LA for the Film Independent Spirit Awards. I haven't even started packing yet. And, can we briefly touch on the fact that I am in desperate need of a haircut...so FRUSTRATED!

Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program...

Been without my internet since Friday, and in the words of Rachel Zoe, "I Die". Not able to view the shows of NYFW, or tackle the 200+ updates on BlogLovin, I can't believe I survived the weekend. Somewhere in there was Valentine's Day, but I'm single and don't celebrate that day, so moving right along. Thank you!

I wore this outfit last Friday to the office. The sweater is a vintage find from Ebay that was handmade in Sweden. It's extremely warm, and will be perfect for my New York trip next week (yes, I'm going to NY a week after Fashion Week. Devastated, I know, but at least I'm going). Paired it with a Forever 21 basic tee and my 510 Super Skinny jeans. Oh internet, how I've missed you so...off to catch up on all the shows I missed last week.

Big Love...

My Inspiration - Acne AW 2010 Collection




My cockapoo Aspen, couldn't resist the chance to get her picture taken.

Getting dressed at 6am to get to work by 6:30am can sometime be a bit much. I found it quite liberating actually to know that I only had a small window of time to get dressed and dash out the door. No time to dance back and forth in front of the mirror tugging at every sad attempt to look more fashionable, extreme, and daring than my clothes (most anyway) would allow.

Going through my "wardrobe in proceess", as I'm now referring to it, I thought about the Acne AW 2010 collection in Sweden. They did this long over lean look - translation, big, long shirts with slim, skinny bottoms. Perfect! Reached for my recently thrifted Banana Republic shirt, 510 Super Skinny Jeans, and my black Aldo lace ups and viola! Hello, No Nonsense Wednesday!!! The look was completely beyond chic and definitely one I'll be adopting more and more. Finally, another reason to go thrifting again...as if I ever needed a reason.


Photo Credit: Style Salvage

Tuesdays with Morrie...

What an AMAZING book! I remember reading this in grade school thinking that I would only want to live each day as if it was my last - to the FULLEST. No regrets! And then I grew up, graduated from college and secured my first full time job. Now, I only want to live long enough not to lose my mind!!!

Wearing my vintage silk paisley tie with a J.Crew plaid shirt, grey Target tweed vest, and of course the 510 Super Skinny jeans. The whole look had a whole Mister Rogers appeal - especially when I threw my vintage Pringles of Scotland cardigan over the entire frock.

A little literary intellect from Mr. Morrie himself,

“Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do”; “Accept the past as past without denying it or discarding it”; “Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others”; “Don’t assume that it’s too late to get involved.”

I'll try Morrie, I'll try...

Innocent and Pure...

Anything but...it did make a nice title though. This beyond amazing embellished satin cummerbund dressed up my solid foundation of wht button and 510 Super Skinny for the unofficial fashion event I attended today and my friend's dinner party (which was beyond amazing and decadent. Italians truly do it better!). It sort of reminds me of a chastity belt for the waist, only way more fabulous.

Chastity Cummerbund

The vintage appeal of the sequins, cabochon crystals and the metal chain remind me of Roman armor. The weight on this piece proves that this has superb construction and was probably really expensive at one point - translation, an excellent piece for the well curated wardrobe. Best part is, it was Free 99. Oh, yeah!!!!

Waisted...

So the blazer I bought on my last thrifting hunt turned out to be such the conversation piece at work today. A lot of people thought it was a fun constructed jacket, but nope, it's pretty much a uniform blazer that I pulled tight on either side and belted. Right now, I'm LUSTING strong, statement dressing and it feels so natural - don't you just love self actualization...I do. Must collect more strongly constructed blazers to give myself options on colors, textures, prints, the works. Remember, I'm building a timeless collection that is, In Ernest.

Later on today, I'm going to a fashion lecture, more like history lesson on couture at the Interior Design school here in Fort Myers - this aughta be good. Not sure what I'm going to wear, but I'm sure it'll consist of a white button up and my Levi 510's. Every great artist needs a blank canvas...

Slightly Obsessing...

Klein Tool Bag

Some contents of my Klein bag - Louis Vuitton pouch and Moleskin journal

So excited for my upcoming trip to New York at the end of the month. Can't wait to see my friends, have good eats, and overlook Bryant Park yet again. Wearing J.Crew vneck sweater, Gap pants and vintage Hogans that first premiered here. They pinch my right foot to the point that I have to take breaks and take them off under my desk during the day - but I love them so, and will never let them go! No pain, no gain! The Klein tool bag is an official tool bag, my maintenance guy had one and gave me a look as if a secret code - sorry, no power tools in here, homie. This is for fashion only. I'm giving a look.

While we're on the subject of bags, there's a bag that I'm absolutely obsessing over and can't stop thinking about - I've been having dreams of walking the streets of NY and every major fashion-know-it-all stops me and let's me know that they love my bag, all the other people are left with this "Is he serious" look. Oh, how I love it so!

I've been in the market for the perfect everyday bag outside of my work bag, something I can wear crossbody, black, leather of course, a little fashion and little rock and roll. I think I may have found it, the icing on the cake that will have most people staring and some swooning. Hey, people are gonna stare, might as well give em something to look at. Stay tuned...

Toggles and Chains...

This black and white chained sweater from Forever 21 was an impulse buy that has continued to bring me joy every time I wear. Paired with my Marc Jacob toggle sweater coat, it was the perfect outfit to battle the lovely weather Florida is having. 60 and a little windy. I love it!

Can't believe the weekend is fast approaching. I put a few books and the movie Princess Mononotke on reserve at the library - I've never seen this movie, but I hear it's life changing and absolutely, AMAZING!!! An EPIC film. Here's hoping...

Studded Muffin...

My version of the stacked bracelets trend - two watches; the Kenneth Cole one (on top) doesn't work.

My parcel ( I love that word, it sounds so regal) arrived from Forever21 yesterday - you know, the one I posted about it here, last week. After inspecting everything and making sure it was at least close enough to those enticing web images - CAUTION, items online can appear more luxurious and quality made than they actually are, I immediately tried on this studded shoulder sweatshirt, and decided to waste no time debuting it at the office and on the blog. I don't play around when it comes to new purchases - no time like the present I like to say. I always purchase items that I can wear NOW and LUST forever.

Paired the ultra soft darling sweatshirt with my H&M black trousers and Zara tuxedo shoes for a totally modern Tuesday meetings look. I kinda wish the studs went all the through the shirt - they're glued on, and I wish the bottom hem was more fitted to the body - has this weird cheaply constructed hanging effect going on. But hey, for $17, I really can't complain. Although, it did inspire me for my next DIY project.

Stay Tuned...