Look of the Day: A Year in Review

 Texture & print in January

Florals in February

Dusty Dior in March

Sporting April

Neon & Neutrals in May

Jeans in June

That Dress (July)

Autumn Preview in August

Scarlet in September

California Chambray in October

Mini Dress for November

Tartan December

It's been a very successful year! Here's to 2014!

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Look of the Day: Fur & Glitter

 I can't get over these pictures. The lighting could have been so harsh and ruinous, but Bella is amazing. She took some stunning photos!

 The vintage dress is from Bella's collection at Beats & Bohos. I styled it with a fur stole I inherited from my uncle's mother, and matching silver shoes and clutch. Perfectly over-the-top for ringing in the New Year! The diamond shaped earrings are a great deal on Oasap.

More shots from our styling sessions can be found on Bella's blog, The Citizen Rosebud. Or, stop by Beats & Bohos to see some of my other picks from Bella's stash of vintage wear! She also has a lot of treasures for sale in her Etsy store

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Look of the Day: Casualize

I usually reserve my fur for fancy events, but it's time I put it to good use and start wearing it with more outfits. It's an easy way to add an extra layer of warmth without adding more winter bulk.

So! Good news! I found my wedding ring!! I had put it in with the rest of my jewelry I had packed on the trip. Genius, right? I don't remember doing it at all, though, because it was like 4am when we got up to catch our flight. I'm so happy it wasn't left on the plane. It's not huge, it didn't cost a year's sallary, but it's my ring and there isn't another one like it, so I'm glad to have it back. (There's a picture of it in this post)

I love this little tote bag. I found it at a pet/gift store that was switching to online-only. I think I paid $3 for it.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Thrifted maxi skirt (similar) - American Apparel hoodie - American Apparel leotard - vintage fur - tote bag featuring pugs (locally made) - Classic Vans - Forever21 frames (similar) - GAP denim jacket (similar)

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Look of the Day: Leopard print + flatforms

I'm writing to you from the past. As you read this, I'm most likely on a plane coming back from Houston. We flew down, just for the weekend, to take part in the wedding celebrations of my husband's aunt. I'm sure it was all lovely, but as I am writing to you from the past, I don't know for sure yet.

I do know, for certain, that I will not be wearing this fur hat. It's supposed to be in the upper 70's and most likely quite humid. The Weather Underground says a chance of thunderstorms!

Maybe I will bring these shoes, though. They're better suited for warm weather. I traded in my Forever21 flatforms at Buffalo Exchange for these sweet Gee WaWa flatforms. They're way more comfortable and are made of the softest leather. I wore them out dancing in England, at Heathrow and Keflavic airports, and to my friend's birthday party last weekend. On top of that, I have bad feet, so I can certainly attest to them being comfortable and pretty easy to walk in! I only paid $22, but would happily pay full price for another pair. Preferably, a close-toed version, like these.

Update: I nearly forgot to mention the Thrift Love Link-Up I'm part of! Visit LindsayLiving.com, check out Lindsay's great blog, and see what great thrift store finds other bloggers have styled.

Fur hat (similar)- Forever21 coat - thrifted sweatshirt (similar)- thrifted oxford shirt (similar) - Forever21 leopard print pants (similar) - GeeWaWa Flatforms (similar)

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Fall Wish List: Accessories

I would like to introduce you to one of my many treasures: My cheetah fur collar. I think it's completely amazing! The epitome of exotic.

I purchased it for $20 in an antique store in the capital city of Olympia, Washington. It has to be at least 30 years old, if not older. In the 1980's, it became illegal to sell or trade endangered animals and products made from those animals, and these days you still can't trade something like cheetah fur over state or international borders!

It seems that at one point, the collar was attached to a coat. It also has the name "Gail Ladage" written on the underside. I would love to know the story behind this lovely piece of fur.

This collar is just one piece of fur from my ever-growing fur collection. It's amazing what you can find at thrift stores and garage sales! I have a rabbit fur stole that I have featured in at least one post, a black rabbit ushanka, and a huge wrap-around stole made of wolf (I think).

It seems I am set when it comes to Fall accessory trends! Fur and faux fur has been predicted to be one of the many popular trends for Fall clothing and accessories. But what if you're too grossed out by real fur and not thrilled about faux fur's tendency to look cheap? Well, there are plenty more trends to follow, love, and make your own.

Fall Accessories by fleur-d-elise featuring purple sunglasses

1. You'll need a couple classic belts to go with all those midi skirts!
2. Leather gloves are very versatile! Perfect for fetish-inspired styles or classic mid-century looks. Plus, they keep your hands warm, duh!
3. We've already talked about this, need I remind you? Fur is warm and on-trend.
4. Can't get enough polka-dots! Umbrellas are perfect in this fun pattern.
5. Cat-Eye glasses: the perfect way to accessorize classic feminine looks or even add a touch femme to masculine looks, like we're seeing in Moschino's F/W 2011 line.
6. I'm not really sure if this is a trend. I just really like that cuff.

Too much J. Crew

I've been using J.Crew catalogs for a lot of my snowflakes and I think it's starting to get ingrained. I keep having this urge to wear layers of sweaters and baggy things, topped with gaudy jewelry. Sweatpants and heels keep coming to mind as well. You so crazy, J.Crew.

I wore this to my friend's birthday party. We had hors d'oeuvres and everyone brought wine, because after a while you realize it is the cheapest and quickest way to get drunk, while looking classy and grown up the whole time. Wine + Good People= Fantabulous time.



One thing I should point out: my outfit is not vegan. I think I am wearing four different kinds of animals. I just bought the cashmere (goat) hat at J.Crew for $20. Such a great color AND easily seen in the snow, just in case we have another blizzard. The rabbit fur stole has been featured before, as has the sheep's wool jumpsuit, and the leather Vince Camuto boots. Yup, that's four. Thanks Creatures, have a nice evening!

Hopefully, after all this borrowing of fur and hair (I plan to give it all back of course), I will be warm for once. The cold always finds its way under my layers.

In these photos:
Vince Camuto boots
Donna Karan jumpsuit
J.Crew hat
Forever21 skirt

Rouge

I needed more red in my life, so I bought this sweater. It's thin, but I like sweaters that way. I like to think I will layer them one of these days, when it is extra cold outside.

Other colors I need more of:
Teal
Forrest green
Peachy-pinks
Beige
White

What colors do you feel are missing from your life?



I feel that the majority of my posts are about colors. They are the most obvious aspect of a piece of clothing, so it makes them easy to write about.

Lately, I've really been enjoying my brooches. Turns out I have quite a few; most of them never worn. I seem to be missing my favorite. It is a bug, but not a real bug. It's sterling silver with a green amber body. I got it for my 17th or 18th birthday. The one in the pictures is real, its exoskeleton being affixed to a gold body, and is of the genus Chrysochroa. I'm not sure which species though. We have similar beetles here that are in the same family, Buprestidae, but they are around 1/2 inch long, instead of 1 1/2 inches. I can't recall where exactly I find this pin; probably in my dad's things or at an estate sale.

In these photos:
GAP wool sweater
American Apparel Harem Pants
Rabbit Fur Stole
Madden Girl heels
MAC lipstick

To the nines

I'm trying to remember the details of a memory I have. It's only a couple years old, I was maybe 22 or 23. I remember being downtown somewhere; an urban setting. I could have been in San Francisco visiting my mom or in London visiting friends. What I know for sure was that I walked past a stately old woman. She was one of those women who seem almost ageless, or like she had been one age for all of eternity. She had a strong, important gate, and walked easily in her heels. Dressed all in black and fur, with a pillbox hat and a clutch, she was wearing her best; the outfit she saved for shopping downtown. She is what I think of when I see fur stoles. Her presence is hard to place in a real time and place, but she is a charmed memory.

In this series:
Antique rabbit fur stole
GAP Cardigan
Vintage polka-dot top
Thrifted belt
J. Crew wool pencil skirt
Madden Girl pumps
GAP clutch
Vintage cuff