Hostess with the Mostess

I've been thinking of the perfect housewarming gift lately.  I'm not sure why - I don't know anyone moving into a new home - so it must be my ongoing obsession with beautiful housewares:

These sweet smelling lavender wands

These personalized dinner menus from Perideau Designs (at Etsy)

This succulent trough arrangement from Olive and Cocoa

These Lilly Pulitzer water bottles from Lifeguard Press

A Meal-in-a-basket, such as this pasta basket suggested at Real Simple

This rustic cheeseboard from Firewood Furniture (at Etsy)

PS: Don't forget the cheese!

These great cookbook flag set from Spoon Sisters

These stack and grow herb kits are perfect for an apartment balcony

This Home Maintenance Organizer by Knock Knock will help keep all the not-so-fun stuff in check

These Table Topics Conversation Cards would be a great icebreaker at the Housewarming Party.

This Fig Leaf soap by Sweet Petula is a great gender neutral scent - and pretty packaging!

What's better than soap?  Flowers and soap. Satin and Birch's 2-for-1 French Flower Market Soap set would make a beautiful addition to a guest bathroom. 

Last but not least, who doesn't love a substantial, scented candle?  Made with recycled glass and soy wax, this exotically-scented (Aloha and Volcano), Capri Blue Jar Candle from Anthropologie is a great selection for both the stylish and the eco-friendly.

Fit Your Buns Like a Bra

What if your butt size was measured and fit like a bra size?  Well, apparently, now it can.

Check out this article about Levi's new "Curve ID" system, which matches women to jeans based on shape, not just on size. All jeans sizes for women now come in three shapes - slight curve (straighter figure/flatter fanny), demi curve (evenly proportioned hip and seat) and bold curve (smaller waist, larger seat). The shapes are based on a complex formula developed my Levi by analyzing scans of 60,000.  Very scientific, eh?

I don't know about you, but as a women with a guaranteed "bold curve", I'm pretty excited at the thought of just pulling on a pair of jeans specifically tailored to my body type.  This could open up a whole new world of styles for me. 

What do you think?  Will you be having your "trunk size" measured (hehe)? 

Check out more about the Curve ID system here.

LWN.

Everyone wants to have the cool kid at school (or playgroup, or family reunion...). Either you already have kid(s), or you're one of those people who don't have kids but think, "If I were a parent, I'd be awesome. My kid would awesome. He'd be like Maddox + Kingston TIMES INFINITY."

Even people who fall into the "there's a reason the animal kingdom eat their young" category has a godson/niece/bestfriendfromhighschoool's kid who is the "IhatekidsbutthiskidisTHEcoolestkidever" kid.

All those cool kids gotta look cool, so thank heavens for House of Mongrels. Organic, eco-friendly playclothes with vintage-esque graphics like rockets and robots.

And if there's anything cool, it's rockets and robots. And House of Mongrel has plenty of both. Check more out on their website, or at Urban Baby Runway.

Your kids can thank me later.

9 By Design

Have you seen this show? I love love love it. Kids? NY? Gorgeous design? Please.

Magnifique!

To fill in all you non-Bravo addicts out there, the premise of the show is basically this: married couple Robert and Cortney Novogratz build amazing homes out of basically nothing all over New York, keep flipping them and moving merely blocks away... and do it all with SEVEN kids. Sheesh.

While the reality show aspect is entertaining - I like to watch their parenting styles, and how they seemingly do it all - I mostly love it for the inspirational design.

You can find the "official" show site here, but for some real eye candy, check out the website for the Novogratz's design firm, Sixx Design. I love their use of artwork, of open spaces, and especially what they consider a "kids room"






Style to spare, non? Although I keep wondering where all the toys are kept...

LWN.

This Optic Sea Glass Table Lamp from Crate and Barrel is making long for the beach...

LWN.

Love. Want. Need.Diane von Furstenburg "Paulita" ruffled mini-skirt. Ooh la la.

I heavily debated whether to post about this skirt. In general, I'm not a fan of the mini. I have neither the legs, nor the inclination, to show so much skin (see my Shabby Apple post). But it was too gorgeous not to share.

When I talk about fashion as art, this is what I'm talking about people.

Insane fashion... and not in a good way

So, I admit that sweatpants are my best friend when I'm lounging on the couch, watching Project Runway, eating some Ben & Jerry's. Mmm...

But sweatpants at work? No. Or at a cocktail party? Unforgivable. And have you ever seen a garbage bag - yes, a garbage bag - used as a purse on a night out?

You will soon, apparently. A garbage bag made by Louis Vuitton, no less.

The Wall Street Journal just posted an article on the new "low-end" high price fashion that's become trendy. Among the must have items: "upscale" sweatpants made of high-end fabrics like cashmere, meant to be worn with heels. According to a Senior VP in Miami who purchased a few pairs of Alexander Wang sweatpants (price tag: around $110), the heels take it "to a whole new level." Hmm.

Of course, if Alexander Wang isn't your thing, you can always go for Michael Kors cashmere version, which sells for $995 (no, that's not a typo). The WSJ quotes top trend expert Sally Lohan as saying the sweatpants trend will take off: "We really balked at wearing leggings but eventually we all did—they were a good comfortable item to wear," she says. Um, speak for yourself Sally.

The trend just doesn't stop at sweatpants. The new "it" bag from Louis Vuitton this season is the "Raindrop Besace" - essentially a plastic bag attached to a strap. And sold for $1,960.

Read that again.

A plastic garbage bag. For nearly $2,000.

Unfortunately, Marc Jacobs isn't the only designer featuring trash as fashion. In January, punk icon Vivienne Westwood debuted her Fall 2010 menswear featuring "homeless chic", complete a cardboard box runway, and models sporting bedrolls and and shopping carts.

Now, I love fashion. Love love love fashion. I truly think, when done properly, it is an art form onto itself. It can also be a luxury. While I personally cannot afford a $2,000 bag or $250 Tshirt, I get why people who can (and can't) spend their hard-earned money on a beautiful, well-made bag in butter-soft leather, or a fabulous, flowy evening dress in the perfect color. It's gorgeous. You'll use it. It makes you happy.

Still, I've always had a bit of a guilt issue when it comes to high-end fashion. As much as I love it, should I really even think about spending hundreds of dollars on a bag or a dress when there are folks lined up at food banks around the country?

At the end of the day, for me, it all comes down to the artistic element. We may "need' that dress as much as we "need" a painting, but arguing that it’s useless or unnecessary is simply saying that art is not important at all. Which is obviously not the case, or the Louvre would not exist.

But there is also the matter of taste, and of responsible art. Marc Jacobs argues that people will buy anything Louis Vuitton makes just as long as it’s exclusive. Well, just because you can take a crap, wrap it in tin foil, put a couple of fishhooks on it and sell it as earrings… doesn’t mean you should.

What do you think? Is this just yet another ridiculous fashion trend in a long line of ridiculous trends (read: hammer pants), or have we as a society stooped to an entirely different level? Is it irresponsible to be “inspired” by the recession and the homeless to put garbage bags and sweats on the runway…only to sell them for thousands of dollars? Have we finally become "Derelicte!"?

Wall Street Journal Article via Yahoo Shine!
Sweatpant Image via Net-a-Porter

Vivienne Westwood Image via Times Online

One Dress, Three Ways

One day as I was perusing the wonderful world of online shopping, I came across Shabby Apple. I couldn't believe I hadn't heard of them before. Check out their mission:

"After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it. "

Love it, right? As a mom and woman turning (ahem) 30 this year, let me tell you, certain skin should just not be shown any m

ore. Consider it a public service. But that doesn't mean I don't want to be stylish and work the latest trends. Au contraire.

As usual, I couldn't pick just one, but their "Tuxedo" dress seemed to have it all: a little black dress that's casual enough for the weekend, cute enough for date night, and chic enough for work. Check out my suggestions for the three different looks below:

Weekend Casual

- Orla Kiely Multi Scribble Stem Print Super Maxi Sling Bag

- Chocolat Blu “Jillian” Sandals

- Sequin Metal Paillette Teardrop Hoop Earrings

Date Night

- Big Buddha "Mia" Purse in Fuchsia

- Betsey Johnson "Calandra" Pumps

- Juicy Couture Multi Flower Hoop Earrings

Work - Neutral Chic

- Olivia Harris Pop Out Convertible 22000 Purse in Blush

- Nine West "Ambitious" Pump in Natural White

- Kenneth Cole New York Circle Woven Chain Bracelet

The Color Issue!

As you can tell, I love color. And apparently, so does InStyle. Love this cover!

Besides the eye candy, it features a fantastic interview and spread with Gwen Stefani. The makeup, the hair, the styling... all on point. I highly recommend.

For more style tips from Gwen, you can check out the behind-the-scenes video here.

PS: Before I forget, check out Gwen's deep aubergine nails! It's Lippmann Collection "Dark Side of the Moon".