Diamond Jubilee

Lovely fragrance line at Anthro (retail $32 per bottle) celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee - The Holland Park fragrance gives Jo Malone's Vintage Gardenia a run for it's money.

Marni x H&M Brocade Skirt

Another Marni x H&M disappointment - the brocade skirt (I am failing on all parts here on this collaboration!)  Size 8, slightly too big and too voluminous for me.  Let meknow if your interested - it was $79.95 + 8 shipping.  I will say that the quality is pretty good for an H&M collaboration AND there are pockets!  I love an A-line skirt with pockets!

Not Scoring

This week has been all about "misses" - from the Marni x H&M top that's way to boxy (is it worth altering?) to the dot dress that was ill fitting (huge on top, tight around the hip/bum area) to finally the eyelet blue JCrew dress I ordered (which arrived, was lovely but was way too full in the skirt making me look like a modern day Scarlette O'Hara in a mini dress).   The one item however that I am really the most disappointed about was a vintage dress that I found by my house for $80. I had never seen anything like it - I regret not photographing it because it was truly stunning.  I would have bought it in a second if it would not have needed extensive alterations.  Maybe I will pop by Eden take a photo today.

Sparkle This Spring

I am a sucker for any type of sequined shoes. Especially flats.  $695 at Miu Miu

More Marni

Today I received my Marni x H&M polka dot dress and I have to say I am super disappointed. The dress is huge on top and tight around my hips and just does not work for my body type. Luckily I only spent $80 + shipping but I for sure now would like to offer it up to whomever may be interested. Leave a comment if you think you want this dress in your life....

Cartier Nail Bracelet

Marni x H&M : The Top

My Marni x H&M top arrived and I have some thoughts:

1. The quality is not bad but the fit is a bit off - its almost too boxy.
2. The top is nice but the miss here is the elastic band around the bottom. I know its there for structure but I think if it had simply been trim, the top would fit better.

I would have priced it at $59.95 not $79.95. I would have been angry if I had paid an inflated price - the person I got this from on eBay most likely lost money due to listing etc.. as shipping was $8.00 and I won the top for its retail price of $79.95.

Balloons

Sort of obsessed with the violet hue of this Nanette Lepore "Balloon Dress"

Yet Another Collaboration

And yet another collaboration in what seems to be an endless stream of the high for low - Alberta Feretti for Macy's. I have always been a fan of her romantic long dresses - red carpet stunners. But the collection looks a bit bornind and well mainly like INC pieces already available at Macy's. Three dresses stand out though I am sure that they will be on the higher end at $149 - and I am not sure if the quality/detail that Giambattista Valli had in his collection (which seemed to bomb here in Portland) or Doo Ri whose price point was on the mark and quality was decent enough that you didn't feel terrible buying it.  My selects below but they may only be appealing as they are on a model who is clearly somewhere in Italy (Amalfi Coast?)...must be vacation or need of one on my mind.

Rothko

With Jon is Europe for nine  days I have had little time to myself - meaning not much time to update my blog, watch anything on the DVR or get some fitness at the gym (last thing is most prefered).   Last night I had a babysitter and I went to a curatorial talk at the museum for the Rothko exhibition (only in London, Paris and Portland!). Bruce Guenther the museums head curator really knows how to tell a story and bring the art to life in a really fun way.  I learned more about Rothko than I ever imagined. The show is beautiful and is at the museum until May. I highly suggest checking it out if you are in PDX - I have been three times.

Choices

I have a $240 gift card coming from JCrew (due to some dress drama). My choice picks would be either of the below - though I would rather get either on sale.... decisions.

Punk Princess? Yes Please!

Coveting the quilted version of the Boy Chanel in gray.....

Fall Footwear

Is it sad that its not even spring and I am thinking about fall footwear? My favorite from The Cut's top 20 round up.

 Alexander Wang Booties

 Chanel. Sigh.

 Lusty Lanvin's

 Marc Jacobs

 Proenza Schouler

Louis Vuitton

New Home: Before

More photos of our new place while it was still staged that we are converting to a two-bedroom.

Turning 40

I am turning 40 in a few months (about 5 to be exact) and with the price of Chanel bags as much as two months of a morgage I am thinking that I should  scale back to a more affordable new classic but am torn between a red PS1 and a classic Celine box bag.

Marni x H&M

So my Marni pieces arrived and I have to say they are actually lovely and cut rather large. Luckily I was able to trade someone my size 8 coat for a 6 though I think I need a 4.  I wasn't the biggest fan of the dress with two prints (blue dots on one-side) but I love the bracelets. I am awaiting the metallic printed top which I won on eBay and have bid on a few other pieces so I am hoping to end up with hopefully a selection of things I will love...

Devestated

After months of training yesterday I took a tumble - on my way to lunch of all places during a wind storm (nearly getting run over by the above ground subway). I have my 5K on Sunday and even though I have a Dr appointment on Friday - I am still fairly afraid that after months and months of training, I will not be able to run. The result is simply devastating to me.

Current Elliott Lament

A month ago I picked up a pair of the Current Elliot micro polka dot jeans in the Stiletto cut.  I do not often wear jeans so I went with what fit (a 28) and wore them to work. three hours into my day they were baggy and unflattering. I went back to Nordies, ordered a 27 (have no idea when the last time I was a 27 in jeans) and they arrived a week or so ago.  I put them on and wore them to the cinema with Max - just a few hours later I found myself pulling them up - and yes they were a bit baggy.   There is no way on earth I am a 26 - I don't even want to go there so I am now trying to figure out what to do (keep vs return).  I sort of hate this about jeans and shopping for jeans - I feel like 10 years ago you could buy a great pair of jeans and they would always just fit - stay tight and look good and this isn't the case anymore.

Suggestions?

Marni Mania

At 3:47 AM PST I awoke to a text from my childhood best friend Lynne, who decided to brave the rush and wait in line for Marni at the Palm Beach H&M. She was in the first 20 in line (her 8 year old in tow as she is a single mom). I told her that I would take any of the following: The dot print coat, the double print long sleeve dress and any of the bracelets. She got me all of the above plus the sequined white collar. The coat is an 8, the dress is a 6. I am hoping that one of them works (praying for the coat as it would get the most use).  I should receive my package on Monday - and report back then. If something doesn't work out I will let you all know and will be asking for what I paid + shipping. Fingers crossed it all fits.

All You Need Is Love

Weight Loss

Over the past year I have battled my buldge. I am finally down to around to about 5 pounds away from my goal weight. And while I drive every day to push myself harder/further, try to eat better, try to cheat-eat smarter what I slowly lost sight of is what happens when nothing fits anymore?  This morning was a perfect example of that. I was getting dressed for work and nearly everything that I put on (non-old Mayle, non-new Mayle) was slightly too big. Instead of taking 5 minutes to get dressed it took me 20 and I got to work later than usual. I ended up wearing a Marc by Marc dress I bought a few months back - the style is supposed to be less form fitting and it was comfortable. But what about all those JCrew pieces (among others). What do I do? Do I alter them? Do I consign them? Do I try to buy them smaller if they are even still available? I know that I need to choose between weight-loss and my warddrobe fitting but I actually never thought that this day would come.

Rag & Bone Galaxy Dress

Recently I was in Nordstrom and was intrigued by the Rag & Bone dresses - I haven't really shopped Rag & Bone before but I do like the quality of the dresses and I love the prints... below is the "Galaxy Print Dress" in the Leonard style.  I love the exposed back gunmetal zipper.

Looking Forward To Reading This

Home Sweet Home

The past few months have been a whirlwind - Jon and I have been in negotiations to buy our first home (which is very exciting!). We fell in love with this building and the unit which is loft like with 500 square feet of private outdoor space off our living room.   We close today, and receive the keys and I am so excited. I know that a place like this in NYC would easily be 5 million dollars (if not more). The photos I took yesterday are of the place still staged. I can't wait to share new photos when we finally move in. I am also pretty excited that YES! Those hedges are ours!