WiNK (-y faces unacceptable)

As does every NYC-phile, I have lot of favorite city spots, but with locations in SoHo, Uptown and on Lex, WiNK is by far the fairest of them all (okay, three-way tie with Scoop and Olive and Bette's, one of my favorites since age ten). Now that that's out in the open, I hereby declare that I will forever associate WiNK's in-house label with flowy silk dresses and bright, punchy blouses-- and vice versa. The colors and textures are wholeheartedly representative of the brand, thus creating its own visual textbook definition among my spectrum of stylistic differentiation.

Organizing my GMail address book this morning, I got a bittersweet reminder of my summer in the city when I came across the contact information of WiNK's undeniably baller founder and manager, Ilse Werther. Talk about dream job. How awesome was it for me to browse the Columbus Ave. store (aka heaven), inquire about retail opportunities, receive the card of the company's manager, then see her in real life... on The City? OMG is right, boys and girls. (Side note: thank you to Theresa Breitton, once again, for opening my eyes to the actual relevance of MTV to my life... seen only once in a blue moon, it tends to make an appearance every once in awhile.)

This all being said, I hate missing out on the good stuff just because I don't go to school in the best city in the world. So here begins my mini-story's happy ending: words can't begin to express my sheer joy upon seeing the banner stating, "ONLINE WAREHOUSE SALE: UP TO 80% OFF". Yesssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Side Show Mesh Skirt

Free People, $39

Britney Blazer

WiNK, $66

Taryn Blouse

WiNK, $46

Brette Velvet Burnout Dress

Dolce Vita, $79

Marcel Dress

Valerie Tolosa, $88

Annie Velvet Dress

Myne, $100

Tony Romper

TT Collection, $100

Sequin Splash Shorts

LaROK, $119

Lover Short

Rich and Skinny, $56

Fringe Round Scarf

Left Coast by Dolan, $13

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Things I want

Self-explanatory. Happy holidays.

Leather/suede shorts

 Leather Short

Silence & Noise, $128

Microsuede Short

Sparkle & Fade, $129

Scalloped Shorts

Chiffon Scallop Short

Lucca Couture, $48

Scallop Short

Fletcher By Lyell, $59

Vela Shorts

Leifsdottir, $258

Sequin shorts

Sequin Short

Sparkle & Fade, $29

Sequin Glam Shorts

Forever 21, $23

Sequin Hot Pants in Black

Forever 21, $23

Sequin Hot Pants in Silver

Forever 21, $23

Texture-esque shorts

Floral Jacquard Shorts

Forever 21, $18

Lace Shorts

Forever 21, $17

Jacquard Woven Shorts

Forever 21, $20

Dark-hued rompers

Falling Buds

Kimchi Blue, $49

Faux One Shoulder Silky Romper

Silence & Noise, $69

One Shoulder Romper

Lucca Couture, $69

Atypical tights

Two Tone Panel Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Garter Net Tight

Betsey Johnson, $28

Opaque with Glitter Back Seam Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Geometric Open Sheer Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Lurex with Hearts Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Pretty sure I just got a "lady-boner" from all this fashion goodness, as did my entire wardrobe. Sigh. Soooooo many ideas.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Se fiesta aquí

I know I butchered the verb tense (along with singlehandedly making up the tense and meaning completely), but as D-D-D-D-Dr. D would say, what I'm getting at is the phrase "Se habla español aquí", or "Spanish is spoken here". Clearly, I haven't studied my español since senior year of high school when I somehow managed to receive a 4 on the AP exam, but what can I say? Everything Señor has taught me since seventh grade stuck. Now, who would have thought I would be applying this knowledge to my own little fashion blog so many years later? More importantly, who would have thought I would reference two professors in one post? Creepy. Moving on.

In essence, partying happens here. Party is not a passive verb, but if you understand what I'm trying to convey, it just kind of works... similar to how "fratting" became a gerund as ubiquitous among my daily vocabulary as is the word "Calloway". Double lives, anyone? But I digress. So it's that time of year again: final exams, heinous Christmas sweaters and apparently, chasing black raspberry Belvedere with Four Loko. Christmas time is upon us, meaning New Years isn't far behind. I always like to give a nod to everyone's beloved Topshop during the holidays because it's a brand which exudes such sparkle year-round. In short, if the holidays were rolled up into a sole apparel brand, Topshop would be it. This year's NYE selections highlight texture, movement and simplicity-- three of my favorite concepts for sure. Last year, I was about vintage (thanks, Mom) mixed with fast fashion basics; now, I'm intrigued by understated pieces that can be played up by meticulous details and loud-in-a-good-way accessories.

Limited Edition Twist Dress, $340

Chainmail Vest Dress, $370

One Shoulder Drape Dress, $110

Slinky Cape Sleeve Tie Waist Dress, $80

Iconic Heavy Beaded Dress, $270

One Shoulder Suede Dress, $310

Chain Back Bodycon Dress, $100

It actually pains me how distracted I am right now, so commentary will come later.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Since 1937

It's actually absurd the amount of Madewell stuff I deem aesthetically pleasing as well as legitimately versatile enough for real life. Here's a free-for-all post with no point whatsoever other than to publish a bare-boned wishlist from now until the end of time. Take note of peripheral pieces like charcoal tights and mid-calf leather boots serving as offshoots from the lace-up combat boot and cousins of the basic riding boot from a few winters past. Let it be established now that my priority colors to test run for winter '10-'11 are mustard, silk blue (a color/texture that I totally just made up), olive green, apple red and as usual, the ever-popular plum. F/W is my very favorite time to experiment with mixing textures and juxtaposing even the most unnatural, unexpected color palettes.

The more I expose myself to certain crazy talented style bloggers, the more willing I become to challenge established boundaries and show off outfits that I'm expecting will warrant confused looks and whispers back and forth between all-too-typical plain janes who hold their Burberry scarves, Hunter boots and Speedy totes in the highest of overly-conspicuous designer logo esteem. (To Wake girl at GSO: yes, I myself shop online enough to recognize you spent several hundred on your Juicy equestrian boots-- congrats! They're certainly nice, but with that fat investment, could you not pick out something with a bit more soul during your latest trip to Neiman's than a pair of boots displaying an obviously branded company crest?) I realize it's all a judgment call of taste and preference, but four obvious designers in a single outfit via logos? Gross. And so begins my never-ending rant regarding esoteric philosophy... how I got here, I'm not quite sure. So I'd better stop before I become too bitter about how much it STS in even more ways than one.

Back to my initial intentions, presenting Madewell.

Base #1: Black Biker Boots

Starry Nights Blazer, $198

Pemberly Blouse in Gemstone, $118

Nightbeam Shimmer Shorts, $125

The Buckled Biker Boot in True Black, $173

Base #2: Brown Biker Boots

Costwold Vest in Hthr Llama, $128

Perfect Chambray Shirt, $68

Campfire Cargo Shirt in Cornflower Wash, $70

The Griffith Pony Bag, $350

The Biker Boot in English Saddle, $230

Base #3: Black Wedge Booties

Sweatshirt Top in Hthr Smoke, $68

Plié Tank in Black Nude, $52

Gilded Racerback Tank, $88

Seeing Spots Tank, $88

Silk Tulip shorts in Dark Olive, $88

The Cinch Sack in English Saddle, $158

The Leather Wedge Bootie, $248

I'm so looking forward to Christmas break when I can go on a full-out spree because God knows my wardrobe and I very much deserve it.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.