OMG...

Guess "Rumala" Over the Knee Boot at Nordstrom!

I heart this boot. Mushroom color, soft leather, over-the-knee, 3.5" stacked heel. Under $200. Boot love. That is all I have to say.

Fall fashion predictions...

It's only August you say! It's still 70ish degrees outside and sunny! I've barely gotten my newly-polished toes into my sandals! I know, I know ladies, but I'd like to give you a fall fashion prediction preview so that you can keep your eye out for some lovely things whilst sipping lemonade.

PLAID
Yes, lumberjack-y plaid. On a classic campshirt (sized down to fit your cute, feminine frame of course), a tunic, dress, what-have-you. You'll be seeing this all over the place for the fall. However, I recommend it in SMALL accents (one piece at a time girls!), lest you be confused with one of the Wisconsin hunter wives around here :)

CUTOUTS
This will be most common in the shoulders/arms area and is a nice, 80's throwback that can show off the most feminine parts of you while draping the parts you don't really want to show off (like, at all).

GRAY GRAY GRAY + MUTED COLORS + EXCEPTIONS
Gray is back in a big way as a nice, alternative neutral. I have always been a big fan of heather, charcoal, mist, whatever because it's a bit unexpected yet highly wearable. Look for it in tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, bags, makeup.

While lots of color will still be popular in our segue from summer to fall, colors will be more muted - think pastel or washed. Soft pinks, lilacs, baby blues...

Exceptions to the above: hot, neon-ish chartreuse (see Heidi Klum below)

MOTORCYCLE/ROCKER CHICK
Motorcycle-inspired shoes and heels + actual motorcycle boots will be a big deal. PLUS look for cool, moto-inspired wear (skirts, tops, jeans, jewelry). I see lots of leather, studs, grommets - very tough-chic. Really, you CAN pull it off, even if you're a peace sign kind of girl. Try it in small doses!

SKINNY JEANS/LEGGINGS
Definitely still in. Really. Hang onto your dark wash and gray ones. If you're feeling adventurous, add some with zippers at the ankles or in a cute, pastel color.

Now, some MUSTS for your fall wardrobe...

BOOTS
Look for the following (get one or all, so hard to get just one pair, I know):
Over-the-knee (not quite but almost thigh high) in suede or leather (a la Kate Moss)

Vintage leather (wonderful for moto boots or western-inspired)
I personally love Frye boots, but make sure you do a search and check E-Bay for better prices. Anthropologie also has a huge selection of limited edition ones in their Fall catalog.

Ankle boots or booties with a stiletto heel (sexy!)

BLACK TIGHTS
Opaque, stretchy and durable - you will wear these with every suit, dress and skirt you own and with any color shoe you like. A great way to modernize your existing outfits. Yay!

ANYTHING HIGH-WAISTED
Skirts, pants, jeans, shorts, you name it. Just try them on! You'll never know unless you try, right? Very retro and surprisingly flattering, especially for short-legged gals comme moi...

VINTAGE LEATHER
In addition to the aforementioned boots, look for skirts, bags and jackets with a real (or not so real) distressed, worn look. This speaks to my long-running quest for effortless cool, no?

So, that's it at the moment girls. Ta ta for now!

Today's shoe obsession...

In our ongoing efforts to look effortlessly cool (see effortlessly cool girl above), sometimes one must turn to the classics.

Frye Boots have been around for ages (literally, 1863!), specialists in high quality work boots that have become, somewhere along the way, pretty darn fashionable.

Because they already look broken in and scuffed, they can add that certain je ne sais quois to most anything you put on (skirts, dresses, jeans, shorts, la la la). To top it off, the brand has an important place in American history and they last forever, so you just may be able to justify the initial investment...

Lately, I have been jonesing for a pair of tall Frye Campus 14L Boots in a dark brown leather, something like THIS. Originally introduced in the 1960's, they impart such a casual, go-with-the-flow vibe that they'd be right at home in the city or around a campfire.

While the "new" versions are great, in my fashion dreams I envision happening along a true, vintage pair. Therefore, dear readers, I will be scouring the Ebays and Craigs Lists and thrift shops of the world with an eye on the prize.

I'll let you know soon whether my patient efforts toward cool have succeeded...