Change Your Spots

Leopard by girlseeksstyle! featuring gold tone watches

Jimmy Choo Wheel leopard-print calf hair flats, $495
Charlotte olympia shoes LEOPARD, 518 GBP
Tory Burch Haircalf Mini Bag - Leopard Hair Calf, $295
AK Anne Klein Women's 109072BKLE Round Gold-Tone Leopard Print Leather..., $65
Miu Miu Leopard-trimmed leather gloves, $540
leopard Coat \ New In Store 15/09/2010 | in French Connection New In...

I'm sure you've noticed by now that leopard is in this season--there's just no escaping it now. The bold animal print is making an appearance on everything it seems--from bags and shoes to sweaters, coats, and even hair accessories. Just a touch of jungle cat can be youthful and fun. I especially like to see it used with more traditional or classic pieces, like Jimmy Choo flats, or with a ladylike, feminine look. 

If these spots aren't your thing, you can still be inspired by the trend and go the subtle route. Leopard doesn't have to be loud or in-your-face to be great. Try just a hint of the pattern with a watch band or a belt for a minimal yet effective pop. 

Share your favorite spotty look! I can't wait to use my Tory Burch leopard mini bag. 

Rainy Day Women No.12 & 35

There's nothing like a little Burberry and Bobby D to brighten up a rainy Friday morning.

Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35 by girlseeksstyle! featuring a trench coat

Tory Burch Divine cashmere sweater, $350
Burberry Cotton-twill trench coat, $1,395
Stretch twill Minnie pant in Black - J.Crew, $80
Love Ballerina in Black or Beige Patent, $485
Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A Changin LP, $22

Loving Leifsdottir

Waking up early is rough--I have never been a morning person. Waking up to darkness outside makes it even worse, and now that autumn is officially here (as of today!), I better brace myself for some sunless mornings. It is overcast here in Chicago today...gray, gray, gray...and when the outdoors won't cooperate, I turn to bright, energizing outfits and fun patterns to wake me up. My favorite Leifsdottir pieces are my gloomy go-tos. Polka dots, florals, and playful textures in feminine silhouettes are what make these Finnish designs stand out, and I always feel great wearing anything Leifsdottir. Have you seen the new lookbook?

Leifsdottir by girlseeksstyle! featuring a pencil skirt

Buleria Skirt, $198
Organza Petal Skirt, $228
Coming & Going Skirt, $198
Swan Song Skirt, $168

Hair: the good & the bad

About a year ago, I made a rather spontaneous decision to chop off my hair--I was bored with it and thought a drastic change was in order. The thrill lasted about an hour, and I have been growing it out since then. I am envious of girls who look great with any haircut! Have you seen Emma Watson's new cropped 'do? I was thrilled to see her bold new look--she pulls it off so well. Are you brave enough to try this style?

Emma Watson, actress
photo courtesy of The Huffington Post

My hairstyle-induced excitement was quickly subdued as I flipped through the latest issue of Elle and laid my eyes upon human hair jewelry. I'm all for innovative fashion, but this is a little too alternative for me. Where did this trend (dare I call it that?) come from? I suppose it shouldn't be such an odd concept to  embrace since we wear animal fur, but I don't see myself excitedly dressing in human hair anytime soon.  Am I alone on this one? 

Human Hair Earrings by Bitching &Junkfood
photo courtesy of Bitchingandjunkfood.com

Human Hair and Vegan Leather Strap Necklace by Kathy Coleman
photo courtesy of etsy.com

Sunday Brunch

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, no doubt about it. Scrambled eggs, cereal, french toast--you name it, I love it. There is one dish in particular that I just can't resist: flapjacks. WARNING pancake lovers--these are not the fluffy, airy, traditional pancakes you're thinking of. The flapjack is the thin, chewy, crepe-like cousin of the pancake, and in my opinion, a thousand times more delicious. For those of you familiar with Chicago, Walker Brothers is home to the most amazing flapjacks I have ever encountered, and i always order them any time I eat there...*sigh*

Sometimes a stack of flapjacks is in order and I can't hop over to Walker Brothers for a fix. After many, many attempts to recreate the exact mouth-watering deliciousness of my favorite breakfast eatery, I have finally come pretty darn close: Lund's Swedish Pancake Mix. I follow the recipe on the box, but pour the batter a bit thicker than directed, and voila! Flapjacks! Now, excuse me--its breakfast time!

photo courtesy of Google Images

Item of the Day

I love when style equates to comfort, which is why these Fortasse jersey sneakers from Adidas by Stella McCartney are today's Item of the Day.

Item of the Day 9.18.2010 by girlseeksstyle! featuring flat sneakers

Adidas by Stella McCartney Fortasse jersey sneakers, $130
Adidas by Stella McCartney Fortasse jersey sneakers, $130

Capes

After all my blabbering about fall wardrobes, you can probably tell that I'm quite excited for the leaves to turn. It isn't the cold weather that I love, but the great fashion that comes out around this time. One of my favorite fall pieces is the cape--so simple, so versatile, so sleek. I know capes frighten a lot of people, but there is no reason for that! You don't have to be a model to pull one off--they're flattering and can easily up the style factor of a basic outfit. It's like any other piece--find the cut and length that works for you. Complete the look with some chic leather gloves and you're all set.

Capes by girlseeksstyle! featuring a check coat

nna Blue Cape, 450 GBP
3.1 Phillip Lim Mohair and wool-blend check cape, $1,100
Stella McCartney Wool-blend cape, $1,445
Wool-blend cape with leather trim, 3.1 Phillip Lim

Lovely Shoutout

I am currently drooling over Proenza Schouler's show at New York Fashion Week. What a lovely collection. Thanks to Vogue.es for showing these (& more) great runway shots--take a look for yourself!

Bite-Sized Art: Tiny Showcase

"Art is the elimination of the unnecessary"-Pablo Picasso

As an art lover, I am constantly trying to find unique pieces--if not to buy, then at least to liven up my computer desktop. Tiny Showcase is one of my favorite online art sources. The site is a collective of limited edition prints in miniature size, updated every Tuesday. The prints are super affordable, ranging between $5-$20, making this a great way to collect some original art. A portion of each piece sold is donated to a certain charity (each artist picks a charity to highlight), which makes this deal even sweeter.

"For every field, there's a mole" by Caroline Hwang
January 6, 2009

"A Blazoning of Arms" by Jez Burrows
March 23, 2010

"What Cheer? Brigade" by William Schaff And The What Cheer? Brigade
May 21, 2010

Retro Parisian Dreams

Favorite photos from my trip to Paris

Museum Day

Smithsonian Magazine is hosting its 6th annual Museum Day on Saturday, September 25th, granting free access to any Smithsonian Museum or affiliate institution all day. The list of participating museums is pretty sizable, so it is likely that there is one by you. Take a look at the official event website to find a museum and print your access pass. Each ticket provides free admission for one person and a guest, so find a friend to bring along! This is a great Saturday activity! I hate to admit that it has been a while since I have had some time to check out a cool exhibit, but I am going to take full advantage of this opportunity and pop into the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

C'est Magnifique!

Miss Dior by Sofia Coppola,
photo courtesy of http://www.modernepr.com/blog/tag/miss-dior-cherie/

This month, Travel & Leisure showcases a "Guide to Secret Paris," an insider's tell-all of where to go and what to see in The City of Light. Expat Alexandra Marshall chronicles must-see neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, and hotels, presenting Paris through the unique eyes of an American living in France. It's like having your very own tour guide. Now all I need is a plane ticket!

Custo Barcelona at Fashion Week 2010

This morning I was excited to see runway shots from the Custo Barcelona show at New York Fashion Week. The bright colors and patterns are always so appealing to me, and this season's collection is no different. I think I need to head to the Chicago Custo store this weekend and have a closer look. Here are some styles featured on Elle.es.

Custo Barcelona by girlseeksstyle! on Polyvore.com

Custo Barcelona - Custo Barcelona - Nueva York - Mujer - Primavera...
Lindsey Wixson Pictures - Custo Barcelona - Runway - Spring 2010 MBFW...

Sign Me Up!

Looking for a vacation? Bloomingdales has partnered up with Continental Airlines and The Leading Hotels of the World, offering a super enticing vacation sweepstakes. Enter yourself to win round-trip airfare and a 5 night stay for two at one of eight offered destinations--Argentina, Italy, Sweden, Amsterdam, Russia, China, Brazil, and Scotland. There is also the option to enter for a Segway or an Airstream Trailer, if air travel just isn't your thing. With such a great selection, it's hard to pick just one!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you pick?

photo courtesy of Bloomingdales.com

Fall Weather, Fall Wardrobe

While the first official day of fall isn't for a couple more weeks, Mother Nature seems to be prepping a bit early this year. Changing leaves and chilly, brisk wind call for some wardrobe reinforcements: boots, corduroy, and warm cardigans are back! I'm pairing my new J.Crew Valerian sweater with a brown skirt and my favorite Frye boots. Tory Burch's globally inspired jewelry adds some excitement to any outfit, and a bright pop of turquoise blue seems to make cold weather a bit more bearable.

What's on your list of fall favorites?

Fall Wardrobe by girlseeksstyle! featuring j crew tops

J.Crew Valerian cardigan - rustic orange, $88
J.Crew - Atelee skirt, $90
Frye Engineer 12R Boot, $212
kate spade Canvas Tote
Tory Burch Afrikan Beaded Bracelet - Congo Blue, $35
Triple Buckle Belt, $38

In Honor of Fashion's Night Out...

These mannequins are on their way to a new home--all strapped in and waiting in traffic on a busy street in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I hope they get some cool new couture! 

What are you excited to see at Fashion's Night Out tomorrow? Keep your eyes peeled for the fun, fantastic, and downright unexpected.

Beauty Is Pain?

Somewhere in Paris, or perhaps along the Cote d'Azur, French Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir sat pensively, reflecting on the world around him. When he claimed that "the pain passes, but the beauty remains," could he have foreseen what was to come? 

Suddenly, the famous beauty-is-pain mantra seems quite literal as designer Cynthia Rowley teams up with Band-Aid Brand to create her very own stylish line of bandages. The duo has labeled this project "Hurt Couture," attempting to transform these sticky latex strips into the latest accessories for fall. 

So, what do you think? Is this a ridiculous extension of the fashion world, or are you vying for your own box of first-aid finery?

Cynthia Rowley Band-Aids by girlseeksstyle! featuring a cynthia rowley

Cynthia Rowley Dress Up Band-aid 7116ab51 on Audrey Kitching's Blog -...
BAND-AID Brand by Cynthia Rowley - Dress-up Band-Aids - Exclusives

Luxury H&M

I almost couldn't believe it, but it's official: Lanvin is the next fashion house to collaborate with H&M! New York Magazine reports that the new line will be available November 23, 2010, and frankly, while I'm not a big H&M shopper, I can't wait. Lanvin has always been a favorite of mine, so I'm interested to see how a collection like this will translate to a massively accessible store like H&M. What do you think?

photo courtesy of Vogue.es

Precious Stones

This season's jewelry collection from Tiffany & Co. includes some refreshing earring selections: turquoise, black jade, and stunning lapis lazuli. These simple, yet commanding studs are sure to elevate any outfit. These earrings are a great way to keep things basic but interesting.

new from Tiffany & Co. by girlseeksstyle! featuring sterling silver jewelry

Elsa Peretti®Two Carat earrings, $550
Elsa Peretti®Two Carat earrings, $225
Elsa Peretti®Two Carat earrings, $495

September!

How is it September already? Summer flew by so fast and I have nothing to show for it--no fading, but still visible tan lines, no vacation souvenirs, no lightened beachy hair. So what now? I'm going to make the most of this situation and focus on the good to come...wardrobe transition! Finally, I can break out dark navy and wine colored nail polishes, velvet Miu Miu ankle boots, and a new trench! Looking forward, here are my top picks for the early fall--what are yours? So long summer, helloooo September!

Fall Wishlist #1 by girlseeksstyle! featuring j crew jackets

J.Crew Faux fur-trimmed cotton jacket, $380
Tory Burch Ross Lace Up Flat - Tory Navy, $235
Speedy 30 with Strap, $1,090
Chanel Le Vernis Black Velvet