When I grew up as a belle in the South, no woman in her right mind would be caught DEAD in white before Easter or after Labor Day. While I am sad that some traditions have changed, this is one that I really don’t miss! White is a perfectly acceptable color all year round. The weight of the material and the style change slightly. And the white is not quite as bright on Winter clothes. We have also put away the Labor Day clock so enjoy your white sandals as long as the weather is warm.
This white reptile retro pump called the Hill Street from Joseph Griffin is actually a winter shoe. Look at the white shoe with the bow and peep toe. The Hill Street pump from Joseph Griffin is chic and sweet with a touch of retro charm. Its reptile-textured leather creates a luxe look, while details like the off-center knotted bow and asymmetrical collar make this a decidedly modern style. Times have changed!
Click here to learn more about the Hill Street from Joseph Griffin at Endless.com.
Call me crazy, but I can think of no better way to spend a rainy morning than trying out luxurious fragrances with a friend. This morning, I met my friend Janet Dashiell at her Los Gatos shop, The Black Swan Boutique. We talked and sniffed and sniffed some more. I felt so great when I left the store. My outlook on the rainy day was completely changed! It was like revisiting the smell to every great memory I ever had!
Not your year to buy Valentines jewelry? Instead of flowers that die or chocolate that never leaves, consider the most intimate gift…fragrance.
If you would like to learn more about fragrance, click here to receive my ezine, which will go out on Monday. Or visit Janet at the Black Swan Boutique. She and her knowledgeable staff will gladly work with you on an individual basis to select the fragrance or fragrances for your unique style.
And now through Valentines Day, all of the Black Swan fragrances with rose essences are 30% off. These include Sottile, White Flowers and Winter Rose by Yosh, No. 1 (the most expensive fragrance in the world on sale!) and 1872 by Clive Christian, Miele Rosa and Caterina de Medici (wore by Caterina de Medici when she was the Queen of France) by i Profumi di Firenze, Drole de Rose by L’Artisan and West Side by Bond No. 9.
Big, whimsical flowers are everywhere this season. From belts to handbags to shoes to clothes. These are no cute little daisies but big hydrageas in soft purples or patent leather flowers on accessories to wear with your favorite LBD. Flowers add fun and whimsy to dreary days. Unlike the chains which are also a major trend this season, they take outfits of a very classic cut and make them trendier without being masculine or edgy. Here are a few of my favorites. 
Want to make a great statement with your leather? If you love the red of this season, look at this soft and beautiful skirt. Constructed of Nappa Leather, a soft and luxurious leather from Italy, this red skirt will remain a favorite for many winters to come! The details on this skirt include a nail head detail and all over top stitching. There are adorable flap pockets at the front. Notice that the pockets are lower, so they don’t bring attention to the waist. The silver zipper closure at the front is also very fun and trendy but subtle enough to be enjoyed for seasons to come. These couture details are typical of the couture lines of the finest fashion houses at much higher price points. Think you can’t wear a pencil skirt? Well think again. This skirt has a contour waist yoke, princess seams and a center back seam for a great fit.
So what to wear with? There are boots from above the knee to the ankle, colored or textured tights and opaque hose, and open toed and pointy toed shoes. All will look great with this skirt. Avoid the flats with the skirt. It is too much of a mix between cute and sophisticated. This skirt will look beautiful with tweed jackets or depending on your body type, with the season’s blacks or winter whites. The jacket pictured here is a tweed from the Linton mills, which is where Chanel procures many of its signature tweeds. It is the epitome of a classic jacket that is notched up by metallic silver in the fabric.
