Judging Books by their Covers

I know it is pretty hard to beat the loveliness of a dusty old hardcover book with beautifully embossed cover, but Penguin is starting to publish the classics in a new line of some of the prettiest hardcover books I've seen, rivaling those old vintage covers (designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith). I hear they sell out all over, but Amazon is releasing this set at the end of this month. Wuthering Heights! The Picture of Dorian Gray! Pride and Prejudice!

Doesn't it make you want every one of them lined up on your bookshelf?







(order them on Amazon here)

I dunno. On one hand, I'm glad that we are producing beautiful products (I mean, if you are going to own the classics, they might as well be really pretty, right?) but on the other, I feel like this is another case of ripping off the perfection of the past and making it easy to own these vintage inspired covers without all the hard work of searching for the real vintage books. I feel like many people would still argue that the old books are more unique and maybe preferable to these new ones. What do you think?

Outfit Inspiration - Glee!

Have you guys seen Glee? It has some kind of crazy story lines, lots of singing, choreographed group dancing, and ... the guidance counselor named Emma wears some pretty killer outfits.

They are a little preppier than I usually go for, but I am still really taken by all the strong color combos and great monochromatic outfits reminiscent of something perfectly polished that you could pull off with the help of JCrew or Kate Spade. Notice, she seems to rock a few vintage-inspired accessories, like prim sweater clasps and large flowered necklaces and brooches too.






(all photos from midwestern cliche).

Designer - Dahl by Alison Kelly

So, maybe you remember Alison, from Project Runway Season 3? The cutest blonde designer ever that my roommate and I both had huge girl crushes on?

(She got kicked out pretty early on for sending models down the runway with Minnie Mouse hair bows. Which, I have noticed on the runway since, and on heads like Lady GaGa and Paris Hilton. So. She was just too fashion forward, and totally robbed, in my opinion)

Anyway. Alison just opened an etsy shop!

I'm especially a fan of this simple black high-waisted skirt. I feel like it is something I would wear all the time.


(via the Storque)

Shoe Review - OutsideLands

We also took a bunch of pics of shoes at OutsideLands as well that I liked too much not to post. Shoes always look so worn and personal! Since even summer in SF can be chilly, I am really liking the fall-ish jean and boots combos, and all the creative colorful tights pairings with boots or oxfords.

Trendspotting: OutsideLands

Aubrey and I have been doing a little local fashion blogging at NBC Bay Area, and put together a little fashion slideshow over there of some of our favorite outfits and people that we had seen at the OutsideLands Art and Music Festival. Tights with shorty shorts, southwestern prints, 80's florals and cute hats abounded. They didn't use all the photos that we took in the slideshow, so here are a few of my favorites to get a peek at how SF's best dressed go out for a day at Golden Gate Park:

DIY: Vena Cava Tee Shirt Dress

Confession time. So... maybe I read Teen Vogue. And maybe I still can't afford half of the clothing that the models wear (which means I am not sure how teens are supposed to afford it either). But, I am a fan of the designer DIY projects that they have each issue, since "practically free" is the only thing that fits into my budget these days. Vena Cava's project a few issues back is a perfect end-of-summer style that anyone can create, with a comfy tee shirt and a simple skirt sewn on the bottom.


I picked up some floral fabric at the thrift store the other day and have a v-neck I'm going to attach it to over the weekend!

Designer - Dear Creatures

I know these guys have made a bit of a splash around the fashion blogs, but I am so in love with the styling of the newest Dear Creatures line that I had to share as well. The clothes are cute in their own right - simple plaids and solids in basic shapes and vintage a-lines (though nothing seems really groundbreaking) - but the concept behind it all, touting 1960's girl scouts, outdoors, teepees and camping, is what really charms me.