Friday Fashion

Friday Fashion comes from Asos today. I stumbled across the site and fell in love with its quirky jewelry. Do enjoy, friends.

Gold bunny ears ring, $8.

Wildfox stag earrings, $25.

Moustache pendant necklace, from $6.00.

Orelia chunky shaped ring, $10.50.

Black and gold bow necklace, $49.

Friday Fashion: Feelin' Fruity

For today's Friday Fashion, I bring you bright, delicious-looking coin purses from Lisa Perry. Each one is $25, and they look good enough to eat! So cute! I think the pear might be my favorite...what about you?

Friday Fashion: A Bigger Chill in the Air

So, I might have lied yesterday. I think I would rather skip along a tree-lined road, enjoying the crisp weather, wearing this jacket.

Can't Chard-ly Wait Coat, 149.99.

Or this jacket.

Couture Allure Coat, $123.99.

Or even this jacket.

Cobblestone Street Style Jacket, $59.99.

Head go 'splody from adorable outerwear. Must now lie down.

Friday Fashion: One for One

Tom's has expanded from shoes to eyewear. They maintain their slogan, "One for One," and for each pair of glasses purchased, Toms will provide either medical treatment or prescription eyeglasses or sight-saving surgery for someone in need.

I've heard cynics complaining about Toms customers, asking, "Why don't they just donate money directly to the cause? Damn hippies/yuppies/[insert pejorative term here]." I disagree. I think Toms is doing wonderful work. If you need a new pair of shoes or want a pair of sunglasses and are going to buy a pair one way or the other, why not purchase from Toms and help others out while you're at it? My life is all about multitasking, and I appreciate companies that feel the same.

Numerous color options are available in three distinctive, classic styles:

Classic 101: Or, as I would call them, the "Tom Cruise in Risky Business Sunglasses"

Classic 201: Or, as I would call them, the "Audrey Hepburn in anything Sunglasses (sorry, Tom, this look isn't for you, apparently)"

Classic 301: Or, as I would call them, the "Tom Cruise in Top Gun Sunglasses"

Friday Fashion: Landscaping

Thanks to my recent motivation, we received an estimate from our landscaper today. We have to finish staining our porch before the plants can go in, but here's a little taste of what we might expect! So excited! :)

Links from here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Friday Fashion: Arf

I adore animals. Unfortunately, thanks to my stupid body, I'm allergic to both cats (since always) and dogs (since early adulthood). Even though I would develop an off-putting rash on various unsettling parts of my body, my eyes would redden and slowly swell shut, and my nose would become my own personal fountain, it's hard not to pet and cuddle sweet little fuzzy-wuzzies when I see them.

My family always had outdoor cats (which soon became "porch cats" when I went off to college...perhaps because my parents didn't want me to come home). In my parents' new home the cats enjoy a luxurious lifestyle with run of their own spacious, freestanding garage. We also had two indoor dogs during my adolescence (which I slowly became allergic to over time, though I blamed it on their shampoo).

After a rather dispassionate relationship with my family's outdoor farm dog named "Spot," and her subsequent, mysterious disappearance while we were on vacation one summer, my parents finally caved to the whining of their only child, and we adopted Chanelle Lacy, "Nellie," from the local shelter*. She was a few-years-old miniature dachshund who had been given up by her elderly owner. I thought she was knobby and strange looking, but she soon developed a bossy personality and wedged her way into our hearts once we got her home.

Just a year or so later, my dad picked me up from elementary school with news that he had a surprise at home. I guessed everything under the sun except what he had found: another miniature dachshund. She was so skinny and frightened and had obviously been abused. He saw her wandering through a nearby field (quite providential, as her brown fur nearly perfectly matched the brown field in February). She became our fat, jolly "Sallie," though she would forever hate all men except for my father.

They were good dogs, and they lived for many happy years with us. Both were killed separately on the gravel road in front of our farmhouse when I was away at college (one by our mailman, who currently resides on my mental blacklist). Their loss was devastating, and my parents haven't had a dog since. But we had good years together, and they were like members of the family.

So, long story short, I love animals, and I have a particular soft spot for dachshunds. Also, I love ModCloth, in which all of the following appear:

Twin Tabbies Shaker Set, $11.99

Portable Pet Ring, $11.99

Ruff-And-Tumble Necklace in Pug, $37.99

Gal's Best Pal Brooch, $69.99

Ruff-And-Tumble Necklace in Dachshund, $37.99

Love you, Nellie and Sallie. Miss you.

*This is my personal exhortation for anyone interested in obtaining a pet to seek an animal from local shelters. I have trouble tamping down my frustration and scorn when people tell me they purchased a dog or cat from a puppy mill or specialty breeder. Yes, I am absolutely going to think less of you if you don't at least entertain the avenue of rescuing an existing animal in need, but instead have one personally engineered for your enjoyment. And I'm not going to apologize for my disdain.

Friday Fashion: Easter

To finalize the Easter Eggstravaganza here at KittyMarie (ha, see what I did there? I'm a true original...), here are some sweet, springy Easter dresses that would work great for your church service or family luncheon or ritualistic sheep sacrifice (you, know, "lamb of God." Or was that in bad taste?).

I adore the white base of this dress and the graphic flowers (and pockets!). To prove that there does exist a vengeful God, I would be certain to accidentally spill some of that sheep blood on this lovely frock. Gallerista Party Dress, $325.

More with the big, graphic flowers, but what other time of year could you don giant roses and not be scorned and/or institutionalized? Abstract Floral Dress, $29.97.

Okay, don't judge me on this one. I love the soft colors (especially the gray bottom). Plus, I have a serious ruffle problem. I apologize; I am seeking professional help. This dress just might be the cure. Swan Cloud Dress in Pink, $199.99.

Go forth and binge on Cadbury eggs!

Friday Fashion: Headbands

I am a lover of headbands. Always have been. In spite of frequent headache side effects, headbands are the hair accessory du jour pour moi. I've never been into barrettes or been able to effortlessly pull off cute hats, but I can rock a mean headband.

I found this headband in a hat store in Michigan on vacation with Husband. It is black and sparkly and satin (and admittedly hard to see in this image), but it contrasts nicely with my blonde and sits comfortably flush against my noggin.

So, in honor of headbands, I bring you a few that I think are cute.

This Pluma Grace headband would be wonderful for bridal wear or a fancy cocktail party. It looks sturdy and sparkly. $65.

I first thought this Final Flourish headband from Anthropologie was made out of some kind of feather, but upon closer inspection I discovered intricate beading and sequins. Lovely! $28.

Ban.do is a really wonderful site if you have never taken the time to peruse. They offer a special heart clip that can glam up your hair, outfit, shoes - anything you want (and 25% of the proceeds benefits the relief aid in Japan)! I am quite taken with their simple but sweet Girlie Satin Bow headband, $35.

Friday Fashion: Pretty dresses, ad nauseam

BlindIrishPirate, as usual, comes up with the best sites. She's turned me on to Shabby Apple. The dresses are so casually beautiful, the fitting not tight and uncomfortable-looking or the construction tortured. Simplistic, elegant beauty; truly lovely.

Girl Next Door, $196.35.

Red Scallop Tiered Dress, $86.

Brown Scoop Neck Dress, $88.

Navy Pleated Dress, $88.

Friday Fashion: LBD...again

I apologize. I'm going to have to revisit the LBD. I have found more. Take this journey with me, won't you?Let's revisit this theme one more time: The Power of Ruching. That should be the title of a New York Times best-selling fashion book that I'll probably never write. Or maybe I'll just change my blog header... And I adore the sweet little bow. A New You Dress, $77.99.The sweetheart neckline is adorable. The cap sleeves are the cutest. And the upper chest mesh fabric is so modest and sexy at the same time. Love! Grand Finale Dress, $67.99.This wins as today's favorite. I am bowled over by the soft, scalloped neckline, which nearly creates an off-the-shoulder look. The seaming is delicate, and the folded decoration at the waist provides an exciting and unexpected pop of color. Mystery Loves Company Dress, $189.99.

Friday Fashion: LBD

I just adore little black dresses (LBDs). In a pinch, there's nothing better. I don't, however, actually seem to own any, except one stretchy one that I bought at a store in France, oh, about eight years ago. And I only wore it once. In a skit. Days after I bought it. So maybe I'm not the LBD expert, preferring pretty, contemporary floral patters and bright, skippy colors. But I can still love LBDs, and soon I will have a reason to wear one! Woo-hoo! Here are a few I fell in love with online (apologies for the lack of diversity in stores; one site just had too many pretty ones!).
This. Is. My. Favorite. I've come to terms with the fact that my upper body does not look best in strapless dresses (one word: sleeves), but I LOVE this enough to pretend like my body would look good encased in its pretty. $34.99.
Here's the best of both worlds for my body type: Sleeves and ruching (ruching is the gathered fabric around the midsection, for those of you who have never been concerned with muffin top). I wouldn't even have to spend time with Demon Jillian to look moderately acceptable in this ensemble. Hate those shoes though. I never understood the podiatric bondage look. $156. (I pretty much just made up the word "podiatric.")Say it with me again: Ruching. Roo-shing. It's fabric magic. If I could lift weights that were more than five pounds without tipping over backwards, this dress could potentially work for me. $32.50.*This dress looks a little Puritanical, and I kind of like that about it. The lack of cleavage is sweet. And it's hard to see from the picture, but it is covered in tiny, neat rows of ruffles. $30.*OH SPEAKING OF RUFFLES. This dress might be my second favorite. Or my first. Whatever. It's too artsy for my neck 'o the woods, but I think it's wonderful. I wish the site had a picture of an actual human being wearing this dress, because I would love to see how those ruffles fall. They probably accentuate all the right parts. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. $20.*

*These prices aren't actually dollars, they are pounds. But I don't know how to enter that little "L" symbol for pounds, so you get "$." Still, a great site, with international delivery!

Friday Fashion: Need Supply Co.

Here are a few of my favorite things from Need Supply Co. And these are just from the accessory tab!I adore the rough-hewn feel of this Tangerine Ring, $49.99. And the color is dazzling!I. Want. These. I am never not cold. With these Long Gloves, $19.99, at least my forearms would be toasty!.
And for my ears...Cable Hat, $24.99. I dig the cranberry color.Even with my entire body covered in wool and fleece, one could still be stylish if holding this Vintage Floral Wallet, $18.And finally, a piece of jewelry both adorable and a little bit melancholy (can jewelry be melancholy?), Birdcage Necklace, $22.

Go forth and be fashionable.