Adrien: Just The Shoes

I'm going to be honest, this has not been the best week I've ever had and the weather has been horrible. So, when I got home last night (after driving on the highway in the pouring rain) it was the best thing ever to find an unexpected package waiting for me. My sweet friend Jennifer had a pair of shoes that didn't work for her, but she though I might like them and she was right. They are so freaking cute, y'all. Something about that fun pop of patent orange is cheering me right up. (Or at least making me not want to cry.)

The rest of my outfit isn't quite working for me today, but whatever:

 

cardigan: Ann Taylor (similar)
skirt: Ann Taylor (similar)
shoes: Camper Helena Alto
bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo
trench: Banana Republic (this year's version)

Man Alive.

A: It is a sad, sad world when Bradley Cooper is considered the Sexiest Man Alive:

M: It sounds like even Bradley Cooper thinks that is ridiculous. The only time I found him sexy was when he was speaking French.

A: Wow, I can get on board with that. Mostly, though, he just seems kind of douchey.

M: It works in French, though. But otherwise...meh. Give me Taylor Kitsch any day. Seriously, GIVE HIM TO ME.

A: Every time you mention him I have to struggle to remember who he is. So be my guest! HE IS YOURS.

M: Have you still not watched Friday Night Lights? We may not be able to remain friends.

A: Isn't it about football?

M: I haven't noticed.

and also:

A: Well, I guess I'm the one watching a show about time-travel pioneers living with dinosaurs because of him:

But if I'm going to be straight up, here's who should have won:

M: Now really, in what universe is Bradley Cooper sexier than Ryan Gosling?

A: THANK YOU RIGHT. No contest.

M: I think even Cooper himself would agree. I would have also accepted:

A: The thing with John Hamm is, while i adore him,  I only think he's really sexy as Don Draper.

M: I am completely fine with that.

A: Well, and there's this revelation.

M: Now all I can think about is Jon Hamm and his lack of unders.

M: Which I am also totally okay with.

A: Maybe this will distract you:

(with thanks to the Hairpin.)

M: *faints dead away*

Okay, I am back. There is none better than Paul Newman. I think this is my favorite:

Everything is my favorite.

A: Oh, YEAH. I'm not a huge Redford fan but man, that photo is everything that's right about the world.

M: That photo could bring peace in the Middle East. Has anyone tried that?

A: It might also be able to solve the financial crisis.

M: Obama, this is the key to your re-election! Call us!

A: WE ARE SO GONNA SOLVE WORLD PROBLEMS. (No really, Barry! Call us!)

M: Surely Michelle is a reader, right?

A: Um, yes honey. I'm sure she is.

Bespoken For.

M: Gwyneth is at it again. Damn it, I want bespoke cashmere things.

A: Eh. I bought her goddamn face brush. I have fed the Gwynbeast.

M: I think I just really like to say the word bespoke.

A: This reminds me of a ridiculous article I read in Vogue about Aerin Lauder's Aspen home and how simple and unpretentious it is. In the next paragraph they mentioned the cashmere-lined coyote fur rugs she has strewn about.

M: HOW IS THAT A THING.

A: I KNOW. I was all...

...

...

NO.

M: Okay. Okay. Coyote-fur rugs. Okay. CASHMERE LINED. WHY.

A: Because in Wildly Rich People Land even the drinking glasses are cashmere lined.

M: Cashmere lined toothbrushes! Cashmere lined soup spoons! I was going to make a joke about wiping their asses with cashmere but it's just too crass.  Oops.

A: Haaa. I wonder what their cashmere sweaters are lined with?

M: Unicorn tears.

A: Wouldn't that be damp?

M: True...they rub unicorn tears on sun spots. Their cashmere sweaters are lined with beagle puppy ears.

A: Beagle puppy ears are the softest substance known to man.

M: Man, rich people are kind of mean.

A: Mean, but lined in cashmere.

M: So soft!

A: Soft like the devil.

M: I bet the devil smells really good.

Marianne: FINALLY.

Okay, yes, this outfit is another incarnation of my Pinterest obsession/J. Crew fantasy, but that's not what I want to talk about. It's the boots, y'all. 

I acquired my beloved black Frye Lisa boots three years ago and seriously from that day forward I have kicked myself for not getting them in brown. Do you KNOW how hard it is to find brown boots? Apparently it is the freaking fashion holy grail.

And so, for three obsessive years, I have had an eBay alert for these boots. And in that time, they have come up three times in my size (or within a half size because I was desperate). The first time, they were in rough shape and sold for $50 more than I was willing to pay. The second time, they sold for more money than I had budgeted and I was outbid. But the third time is the charm and they are MINE.

And they are glorious. In perfect shape and they actually fit better than my black ones. Tell me, do you have something you've been stalking for years? Make me feel less crazy. Or, you know, don't. I have my boots to keep me company.

sweater: Merona Fair Isle Toggle Sweater

shirt: Paper Denim Cloth (similar here)

scarf: no label

legging jeans: Gap (similar here)

boots: Frye Lisa (similar here)

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Mag Bag in Fool's Gold (similar here)

Adrien: Foggy

So, what to do if the weather outside is really photogenic but you're wearing an outfit that you posted on the blog a few weeks ago? Um, how about some layers?

Okay, see, I think a lot of people don't put much thought into outerwear. I know I didn't used to. I had one jacket and one winter coat that I wore constantly without really thinking about how they looked with what I was wearing. The thing is, during the winter months I spend a lot of time with my outfit covered up so I really started trying to make my outerwear a second outfit. (This doesn't require a wardrobe of coats but it does help to have more than one.) The easiest way to do this? Buy scarves. I now have a wardrobe of scarves because nothing can make you look pulled together more than the right scarf.

Okay, that's the lesson. Now, here are my layers for a day that started out cool and foggy:

cardigan: Gap drape sweater
jacket: J Crew Field Jacket
scarf: Ann Taylor (similar)
bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs
shoes: Chie Mihara

Broken.

A: Just for you.

Okay, really for me.

M: That made me laugh.

A: I thought it might. It's like, for both of us.

M: He looks tiny there. Like Pocket Craig.

A: That must have been from Before.

M: Before Bond? Because his beefy-ness is part of what I don't like. I can manage him in this photo, save the creepy eyes boring into my soul.

A: Yes, before Bond he was scrawnier. I think he put on something like 20lbs of muscle for that role. I APPROVE THIS MUSCLE.

M: I truly think this is the only beefy man I find attractive:

A: Yes, yes, I know. But Daniel Craig was only super-beefy for Casino Royale. Now he's just normal-beefy.

M: I find him most attractive when he isn't looking at me, doesn't have a creeper mustache, and is wearing clothes. I think I'm broken.

A: He can be kind of creepy. Which I enjoy.

M: Wait, maybe you're broken.

A: I'm pretty sure that's true.

Marianne: Trying again.

Yep, still trying to decide on these booties. They are growing on me, even though they are definitely about a half size too big. They are ridiculously comfortable and I get loads of compliments on them.

And yeah, totally getting upstaged here. Do you mind, Lu?

I think I like them better with the opaque black tights. What say you?

wrap sweater: Product (similar here)
dress: BCBG (similar here)
tights: Spanx reversable
booties: Biviel
scarf: J. Crew (similar here)