Bringing Sexy Back

I could be wrong, but the ruching on the back of this 9-year-old skirt is cool. Dare I even say sexy?

On the other hand, I suppose it could just look like the world's most incredible pantyline.

Outfit: J Crew T-shirt, no-name skirt; Stuart Weitzman sandals; random cheap bangles.

It's a Sweatshirt! It's a Bag!

Wonder what happen if you left your fave cuddly sweatshirt alone one night on the bed with your favorite tote?

This.

From MM6 Maison Martin Margiela, the email heralding the sweatshirt bag's arrival came with the most mesmerizing video of a sweatshirt, its arms wriggling and waving up over where a head would be to turn into a bag. Wish I could figure out how to link it.

If you were just wearing the sweatshirt, I would think those people who steal internal organs would be pretty darn excited by the random zipper across the front. Easy access!

So, here's the thing — it costs $240. I'm trying to figure out how to rationalize that price. If you divided by two, that would make a $120 sweatshirt and $120 tote bag, still way too much for either.

Think I'm gonna go watch the vid some more.

Friday Shoe.... Proverb

A gift of shoes
Is a true gift indeed.


Shoe n' Tell: These lovely Stuart Weitzman flats were a gift from a friend. From the looks of 'em, she wore these babies for all of 30 seconds. They are absolutely pristine. And perfect.

Love that sassy hint o' snake print and how the bow sweetens things up. They go with everything.

Thanks, Jess. :) Oh! And, how coincidental, happy birthday.

Great Drape

This email from Saks recently landed in the in box.

Oh, Saks, you know me so well.

I love everything on this page. Everything.

In fact, the Patterson J. Kincaid dress (upper left) should arrive any day now (I ordered it on supersale in white). In particular, I am lusting after the Alexander Wang draped tops. They look crisp and dressy, but not too. You could easily wear to work or an event or even a casual affair, depending on the bottoms you pair with it.

You can't quite make it out in the teeny photo, but both the long and sleeveless tops have this cool zipper detailing, too. My favorite part, though, is the strategically placed knot. Yes, I will have another brownie, thankyouverymuch.

Hostess With the Mostest

No one would ever mistake me for Martha Stewart.

My cakes, while tasty, are typically lopsided and unattractive. My homemade cards look like one of my kids (and not the artistic one) made 'em. No where are my shortcomings more evident than entertaining.

I prefer small gatherings — just a family or two. It gets way too hard with lots of people. It wasn't always this way. BK (Before Kids), it wasn't a big deal to host a bunch of people. Now cleaning the house and doing all the prep work is just debilitating. So you can understand why — with a big Sunday gala looming — I am not so chipper. It's a fundraising event for a good cause and it's smack in the afternoon, so no one really expects much, right?

Which is good. Because I am not a fresh-flowers-on-the-table and cute, custom-made napkin rings kind of girl. In fact, my plates and plasticwear are usually all just mismatched from previous gatherings.

These things are my idea of fun entertaining.
• Pick Your Nose Cups ($5.95). These are a hit with kids and adults.
• Big Lebowski coasters ($12). Honestly, these don't even really resemble Jeff Bridges, but I can't resist a "Big Lebowski" reference.

Kimon-Ohhhhh......

It's hot. I'm bored. Did I mention it's wicked hot?

It is soooo hard to dress when you don't want to sweat in anything really nice or wear something, like say skinny pants, that's tight and will only cling and make you more miserable in the heat. What's a gal to do?

The answer may well be a kimono dress.

The sleeves are wide and loose (good for waving a breeze down into the swampy armpits), and the dresses are mostly short and not tight. Sounds like a summer winner, even though I am officially sick of my hot-weather wardrobe.

Some options (the Patterson J. Kincaid one should be on its way to me):

• Winter Kate "Komodo" dress ($269). Personally, I think that Nicole Richie is like school in the summertime...... no class. But the trollop makes some nice clothes.

• Elizabeth and James "Anita" dress ($365). This one's my favorite, but that price tag is a downer.

• Patterson J. Kincaid "Vanessa" dress ($65, from $188). It's linen, which should be cool, and has an easy-breezy look. In fact, it's almost a ringer for that pricy EJ frock.

A Clean Moisturizer

Oh skin. Can't live with you, can't live without you.

I've always had a heck of a time with my complexion. Things finally seemed like they were on the upswing a few years back. Then things took a turn for the pimply. And the dry. Oh, but parts are still oily, too. Who knows what to do?

Complicating things is my new goal to keep cosmetics and cleansers clean and green. If I weren't so stubborn, I probably could even things out — and only poison myself a little bit.

One brand that I've had remarkable success with is 100 Percent Pure. I've used the cosmetics and lotion. After being non-plussed by another clean moisturizer, I gave Argan Oil Hydration Moisturizer SPF 30 ($26 for 2 ounces) a try. Good stuff. It's light, very light. I'd venture to say it's best for oily or combo complexions. Really dry skin might need heavier stuff.

I like that it rubs in well and has argan oil, which is the latest beauty darling. No scent, which is a big bonus for my bloodhoundish self, and it rubs in quite easily. No Casper-ish cast.