Ah, consumerism.

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I've gone on a bit of a shopping spree over the past few days. I'm rationalizing by pointing to the fact that I've been so focused on the house and the move that I haven't really bought myself anything in quite a while. Also, I really wanted this stuff.

Sunday was the Jean Paul Gaultier for Target release. I rose and I shone and I hustled over to Target first thing. Before 9:00. AM. Not only did my Target not have any of the stuff out, they had no idea what I was talking about. All the way up to the manager! Another reason I won't miss this town.

So, back home and to Target.com I went.  The trench I really, really wanted sold out by 4am Sunday morning.

But, I did grab this dress:

And this top:

Then, a certain someone got me in big trouble by texting me to check out the L.A.M.B. boutique on Rue La La. Big trouble.

Who could resist these!? Not me.

And then. And then. I went back to Target today. And they finally had the Gaultier line out! So, I bought this.

Which...looks ridiculous in this picture, no?  Yes.  Yes, it does.  But it's actually really cute!

Ahem.  And I bought this.

And, now I will go to Target every day until they get the rest of the line (specifically THAT TRENCH) in.  And I will buy the trench.  And then I will need to be separated from my debit card for a good, long time.

Vintage-inspired inspires me.

Ah, I am love love loving the winter collection at vintage inspired boutique ruche. I love the totally affordable pricing almost as much as I love this:

I want to sneak into this picture and make it all mine mine MINE!

I'm obsessed with fingerless gloves this winter (as is everybody it would seem) and I covet every one of these items.

sweater vest, gloves, top, rings, purse, skirt, shoes

dress, scarf, birdcage necklace, owl necklace, coat

First spotted on Sacred Lotus.

Technorati tags: ruche, fashion, vintage

Bollywood is not coming to find *me*.

I mentioned to a friend that I was going to go Bollywood for Halloween this year and she sent me a link to this amazing site and specifically the beautiful dress below: I could have kissed her! How amazing is this!? Then, I could have kicked her. It's $599.95!! What is she doing to me!? Hey, this one is only $340.95. Sweet! I like it better anyway. I really need to get on the hunt for reality based items. Halloween will be here in like a minute.

You Make Me Happy, My Eyes on Gray

I am suddenly and completely obsessed with gray. Picked up a pair of gray skinnies today. Am on the hunt for the perfect pair of gray heels. Want gray boots. The only place I don't want gray is my head. Unless we're talking gray hats. In which case, yes please.

If only these weren't $329. Because, they would match perfectly with this dress I picked up last week. In a size 4. Fine in '09 HELL YEAH.

New School LBD's

September issues are here...yippee!! And thanks to that, I've discovered a new take on the LBD. Forget black, hello Little Bright Dresses. Paired with black tights and boots, I'm almost excited about Fall!

BCBGMAXAZRIA Sleeveless Stretch Poplin Dress Yoana Baraschi Pleated-Neck Silk Dress Silence & Noise Strapless Tulip Dress Anthropologie Musings Dress

Some stuff I hate and other stuff that I love.

I believe I have previously mentioned the extremely stupid clause embedded in my Fine in '09 Campaign. The one where I decided not to buy any new clothes until I hit my goal weight...? Stupid. I amended the clause a few weeks back and now get to buy one new thing for every pound I lose in a given week - no rounding up, no carry overs. This week I get to buy two things. Yay! So, I hit the mall. I knew it was a bad idea before I did it. But, that never stops me. I fugging hate the mall in this godforsaken town. HATE. IT. The first problem is that it is geared toward a hip hop crowd - ManAlive and Journey's and Basix galore. Two Journey's in fact. I don't really do Apple Bottoms and Baby Phat and the like, so that leaves me the other half of the mall. Toss Penneys and Sears and we're down to a third of the mall. Even the Macy's sucks. The Macy's! I ♥ Macy's. But, this Macy's sucks. I walked in and got smacked across the face with 8 - NO JOKE. 8. - giant Ed Hardy displays for the new Christian Audigier perfume. Ed Hardy. Macy's. WTF. So, now I've got the last little quarter of the mall. They ripped out my Gap. Just ripped it out and stuffed a cheap azz hooker rag shop in it's place. Like the other 647 cheap azz hooker rag shops in the mall weren't enough. You guys, there is nothing left for me. I even broke down and walked in to a Forever 21 today. I can speak of this no longer lest I spiral into a deep fashion depression. I thank you for enduring this horrific tale of woe - the spiritual cleanse does me good. Oh! Wait! Not all was doom and gloom. I did find a lovely Michael Kors dolman sleeve blouse after I finally fled the mall. Yay for that! Ok, let's look at some things that I love. From Donna Karan's Fall RTW show, I adore this dress. Just love it from all angles and want it. Source: Style.com

Source: Donnakaran.com

And, I adore shoes with beautiful detail in the heel. One of my favorite shoes of all time is this Spuntate Raso Peep Toe from Prada's Spring 08 Resort Collection. They were impossibly hard to get a hold of when out and I've long since given up hope, thereby saving me a cool $600. Luck!

Source: Neimanmarcus.com

While I can't say that I love, love, love these shoes from Bally's Fall collection, I do have a passionate appreciation for the gold filagree detail.

I love the carpet bag looking fabric on these mary janes, too. Just don't like the platform. Without it, I would heatedly heart these.

Source for all: Bally.com

Tell me this isn't the most beautiful dress you've ever seen.

From Style.com, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Fall 2009, Paris Fashion Week.

Unfortunately, I don't believe it could drive me to work in the morning, though it likely costs more than my car.

Things I see that I love.

I don't even like ankle boots, but something about this pair is far enough removed to make me ♥. I can't say that I usually care for Fendi's handbag collections - far too much focus on F-E-N-D-I all over the place. I prefer not to volunteer as a walking billboard. This is not to say that were they to deemphasize the logolove, I would have the means to run out and stock my closet with their Fall line. But, I have standards even in my own imagination. I do love this clutch. (Don't love the picture or the angle, but it's the best I could find. I really love the oversized gem detail, which is repeated on this clutch from the same collection.

I wish I could say that I'm not usually a dress person, just to continue the theme but I so am. I love strappy summery sundresses and this embroidered cotton Zadig & Voltaire is right in my sweet spot. The strappy ties in the back are just adorable.

Things I Will Buy When Allowed.

I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel of my self-imposed moratorium on new clothes purchases. I've got 10 more pounds of baby weight* to go before I will allow myself to buy anything new. But, when I do...debit card watch out. I will burn you to smelly, plastic ash.

Gray & yellow are one of my favorite combinations in the world. That and jack & coke and toast & honey. This dress from Martisse is perfectly professional yet not stuffy.

For this ring, the term "things I will buy" is used very loosely. In the sense that I would never in a million years spend $9k on a ring. Nor do I wear gold except in a ghetto fab kind of way. But, it's lovely.

Now, I would not hike this dress up over the tips of my underwear. But, I would wear it, and wear it and wear it again. From Matthew Williamson's collection for H&M. Not that we have an H&M anywhere near us. But, we travel. Occasionally.

*Can you call it baby weight when your "baby" is three years old?**

**Yes you can when it's the sweet little bunny's fault you're so fat.***

***Not that it's her fault that I ate like a starved pig while pregnant with Her Sweetness than laid around like a retired, arthiritic sloth after she was born.****

****Although, it's only fair to note that I never craved a hot fudge sundae in my life until I grew her. Just sayin'.

Ready, sketch, SHOW!

When I first spotted the sketches from Atelier Versace's spring line - courtesy of TLo - I was enraptured. The dresses are breathtaking. The shoot was alluring. The sketches are stunning. I couldn't wait to see them making appearances on the red carpet. And they have. Some good, some bad. I'm not sure any of the red carpet looks have lived up to the promise, yet. But, let's take a look at them anyway, shall we?

The Met Costume Institute Gala hosted a ton of pieces from the collection. A ton. Emma Roberts wore this fantastic sequins-on-steroids bubble dress.

This China red silk organzamazing was one of my favorites. Jessica Biel (srsly!) totally shocked me in this. Beautiful. Claudia Schiffer wore the shit out of this three dimensional and intricate gown. I know Allegra Beck is pretty young. But, she's not that young. I wish she hadn't toned this dress down so much with the undershirt. Or whatever the heck you'd call that. Penelope Cruz wore the grecian to an Oscars after party. I actually thought this particular dress was the most boring design in the group. But, the most boring design in a poetic collection isn't the worst thing a dress can be.

You can see the lovely roped detail better below.

And the only one who just did. not. pull. it. off...? Eva Longoria. I'm thinking they had to take it up at least 4 1/2 feet. She's tiny. The dress is colossal. No Cannes do. (Ok, that was lame.)