Oh hey there!

It has been quite some time since my last post. (doesn't that sound like a confession?) I was experiencing a tremendous lack of inspiration for my blog due to my tremendous lack of free time in the recent months. And I have told myself a million times that I would "get back at it" but I have failed time and time again.  

BUT NO LONGER! Now that the sun does not set at 4pm as it has been, it seems that there is more time in the day {sometimes} and I have more time to focus on the more important things in life...like blogging.

So stay tuned for new things, and more regular posts! I've got a few things up my sleeve and I hope you all will like them. i.e. pinterst projects, fashion inspirations and outfits for less, and home improvement/decorating ideas. Looking forward to great things ahead!


oh and this isn't an April fools joke. I really am coming back. 

A lot of news...

Here I am again. After quite a lengthy hiatus....but for good reason. I have a lot of news...

First News: A new look for High Fashion & Cheap Wine. I was feeling very disconnected from my last design and thought a fresh new look would be just the ticket. This design will work (for now) but I would like to get something more custom in the future. If anyone has suggestions on who to work with for custom blogs, please leave a comment! Because I find myself not utilizing my blog as much as I'd like, due to some changes in my life (read on), I do not want to spend a lot of money (at this point). So any *up and coming* designers or very inexpensive known designers are appreciated. 

News: The last time I posted anything, I was sitting on the balcony of my Massachusetts apartment, enjoying a glass of wine, and making a to-do list for some big changes that were coming our way. The first on that list: Packing. Packing because the bf and I were making a move from Massachusetts to New Hampshire....because I accepted a new job....in a new industry...with no office to visit on a daily basis....with a company who encourages their employees and was voted one of the best companies to work for by CNN. Quite exciting, I know!

As you would expect...this was all very stressful! Not only did we have to make a quick move, but we had a terrible time finding an apartment. Maybe because we were being picky, but just when we thought "this is the one!" we would get a call saying that they had selected someone else. Frustrating. We kept saying to each other "why doesn't anyone want us?! we are great tenants, always pay on time, mind our own business, etc" but we were disappointed time and time again. And let me tell ya, it's hard to move somewhere when you haven't got a place to move!

Now, because we have lived in several different apartment complexes before, we said...lets start fresh and move into an owner occupied home. This is where the frustration came into play. In the past, WE had always selected where to live. We would just say, yes we will take it, sign some papers and move in the furniture. This whole owner occupied search is QUITE different....THEY decide if they want you...you do not get to decide. You have no control....and we like to have control. Anyway, after a long search and subtle begging, we have a beautiful second floor apartment in an old Victorian home with the nicest landlords...oh! and a fenced in yard for my favorite pup. So it all worked out in the end.

With the move done, it was time to start my new job. My new job is in the craft beer industry and is very different from my previous jobs working with designer apparel and taking orders from a busy CEO. When I accepted this job, the only thing I knew about this particular craft beer was that I really enjoyed drinking it. And as we all know, it is much easier to sell a product if you love it right? So I suppose I was on the right track. 

Between the new job, the move, trying to furnish and decorate our new home, and figuring out now to manage my time, High Fashion & Cheap Wine has been pushed aside. I know what you're thinking...excuses, excuses. But seriously...I'm trying! 

Stay tuned for more posts if i find the time, and thanks for coming back to check in! Don't forget to leave comments about custom designs or anything really. 

**have fun**    **drink responsibly**   **look stylish**

So...summer happened.

So...I blinked. And then it was August.

So many things have been going on this summer that I haven't even thought about taking a moment to write a post. I'm so bad at this blogger thing. 

But don't fret, my friends! Soon I will be back at it and have glorious things to post about! 

But in case you've missed me..here is what I have been up to this last month. 

1. End-o-June: I went on a family vacation with the BF, his brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and the pups. It was wonderful! I had such an amazing time with them and am so thankful to have a family in New England since I can't be with my family back home in Indiana as often as I'd like. 
2. Bachelorette Extravaganza #1: FINALLY I was reunited with my college loves!! My bestie from college is getting married in September and our friend, Pooja, throw the ultimate Bachelorette weekend for us in Chicago. The theme "LBD" while the Bride wore white, and it was fabulous! Family style dinner, followed by drinks and catching up, then brunch on saturday, and trolly around the city Saturday night, and a tearful goodbye on Sunday morning. You never know how much you miss/need your girlfriends until you have to say goodbye. But it will be Hello again in September and I can't wait!
3. Bachelorette/Shower Extravaganza #2: Not only is my bestie from college getting married, but my BEST BEST friend from childhood is ALSO getting married in September, and I am her Maid-of-I-Couldn't-Be-More-Honored! I threw her a Bridal Brunch (which my great friend, Katie, was kind enough to catch on camera) and I could not have been happier with the results! Complete with mini-pancakes, mini quiche, and mimosas. What more could you want? Cupcakes?! Oh yeah...we had those too, as parting favors! I was just so pleased. From their we packed up and headed down to Louisville, KY for a fun filled night on 4th Street. If you haven't been to 4th Street, you're missing out. We had such an awesome time...and a few of us rode the mechanical bull....in dresses....not the classiest thing we've ever done, but we got a free round of drinks out of it! So chalk that up for a bachelorette success! 
4. New Beginnings:  A lot has been changing for me in the past month...a lot of great things...stressful things...exciting things! Things that I think will really launch me into a better place in my career, and my life (and my life with the BF). I can't wait to share more...but I will wait...for now. Stay tuned for the latest! It's coming....I promise.

**have fun**   **drink responsibly**   **look stylish**

Hint for whats to come
"Take Pride in Your Beer"

YSL, no longer.

FASHION NEWS!

The iconic label Yves Saint Laurent has dropped the Yves. Goodbye, YSL...Hello...SL?

If there were Facebook buttons on real life situations, I would dislike this. {side note} Facebook needs a dislike button. Sure there are plenty of things to like on Facebook, but trust me, there are plenty of things to dislike also. Point made.

WWD confirmed this morning that new YSL Creative Director, Hedi Slimane, has in fact decided to change the iconic Yves Saint Laurent name to Saint Laurent Paris. Slimane stated that the brand needed to re-brand itself, and along with that re-branding a new, more contemporary name was in order. As reported, the fashion house will not eliminate the known YSL logo completely. The logo will still be visible and present on shoe soles, cosmetic cases, and various other products. However, I can't help but wonder, if the idea is to re-brand the fashion house, why keep the iconic logo? Is this because the company knows that many products are purchased solely on the fact that they are YSL? Why not try to phase out the old logo? Perhaps brand products as YSL for Saint Laurent Paris? 

Whatever their reasoning my be, I would still like to dislike this decision. When Karl Lagerfeld leaves Chanel do you think they are going to let the new creative director come in and say, "we need a re-branding, let's try a name change." Absolutely not. 

There are reasons that these fashion houses have been around for as long as they have, and though they must be at the leading end of fashion, it doesn't mean they have to lose what they have always been known for, or known as. Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, and now Saint Laurent Paris? Just don't roll off the tongue quite as nicely as (que terrible French accent) Yves Saint Laurent.

Back to Basics

Hello All! I know I've been M.I.A for a couple of weeks, and I can feel myself falling into a pattern. Write a few blogs, forget about it for a while...Whoops! Realize I haven't written in a week or two....write a few blogs, forget about it for a while....you get the picture.

Anyway, to get back into the swing of things, I thought I would share with you all my revelation from the weekend. 

Is it just me, or does the fashion world seem to be more "trendy" now than ever? And I don't mean, "Oh shoot, that girl is so trendy!" I mean...there are so many trends...too many really. Prints, neons, cropped shirts, colored denim,  color blocking, tribal prints, pastels, floral prints.....is your head spinning yet?!

As I was cleaning out my closet this weekend (which was very eye opening by the way) I realized that all of these "trends" don't make for a substantial wardrobe. I mean, next summer am I really going to wear tribal print jean sorts? Probably not. Cropped tee's and tanks? I'm not sure why this is a trend in the first place, but you are more than likely not going to be caught dead in that next year when the hem lines are long again. So why are we spending all of this money on these trendy, one season, trying-to-be-something-we're-not, fashions? 

What happened to building a wardrobe around the "basics" and getting creative with those items? Where did the good ole' days of dressing up with your accessories go? As I rummaged through my disaster of a closet, I realized that I was about to take hundreds of dollars of "last years trends" to Goodwill....and my bank account cried.

Let's get back to basics people! Start building a better wardrobe. I'm not saying give up on all trends entirely, but have the basics to back it up! If you want to buy neon pink denim, go for it! But make sure you have the perfect plain white tee to pair with it and a great leather jacket to carry them into the fall! All I'm saying is, if we spent more money on buying basic, quality clothing, we would get much more bank for our buck!

Here's a checklist to get you started....

** you can get the original PDF by visiting InStyle **

so roll up the sleeves on your sheer button-down, oversized pocket, high-low hem line blouse, and start purging all of your too-trendy clothes. Let's face it, as much as we would all like to live at Coachella 24/7, 365, it's just not going to happen. And even though Pinterest does provide an abundance of inspiration for us to pretend we are fashion icons, the truth is that, the sexiest look is a simple v-neck tee and the perfect fitting jeans.

**have fun**  **drink responsibly**  **look stylish**

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Weather Forecast: Massachusetts

Saturday: Rain

Sunday: Rain

Monday: Rain

Tuesday: Rain

Wednesday: Rain

WTF, New England?! How am I supposed to get as tan as a Mexican on the weekends when there is nothing but rain? (no offense to anyone of Mexican decent here...I honestly admire your skin tone.) I enjoy a nice afternoon shower every now and again, but 5 straight days of rain?! Please tell me that this whole global warming business hasn't pulled a fast one on us and exchanged our weather with Seattle! I will undoubtedly fall into a rain induced depression as fast as Kim Kardashian moved on from Kris Humphreys.

To avoid the rainy day depression, break out your best rainy day fashion essentials. Rain is one of the best ways to show how creative you can be with your wardrobe and accessories. You shouldn't have to match your wardrobe to the colors outside.... taupe, grey, beige. Be colorful! If you've got a caramel colored rain coat (like myself), then wear bright, vibrant, rain boots. Add a pop of color to your outerwear to brighten the world around you. Or use a large yellow umbrella for an awesome color pop in your accessories.

And don't forget about your hair. We work so hard to polish our look but with the rain, polished hair seems to be impossible. Embrace messy hair!! With the right products and the right amount of effort (or lack there of) you can accomplish the perfect messy hair. And with messy buns and pony tails all the rage right now, you can pull off this look for work or play.

{sorry blondes, I'm partial to brunettes}

What is your favorite rainy day look? With the next few days of rain, I could use some suggestions.

**have fun**  **drink responsibly**  **look stylish**

Fail.

Once again I have failed on my attempt to capture memories via photos.

And I had a great Memorial weekend full of fun to share with you guys!

Fail.

And now it is Friday, and it's time for another fun filled weekend, and I've neglected to post anything all week. 

Double Fail. 

Sorry about that. 

Memorial Day weekend was perfect....well aside from me over overindulging on {vodka tonics}on Sunday night...triple fail. The weather was beautiful. Highs in the mid to upper 80's and the hot sun against the cool breezes from the lake...*sigh*...perfection.

We drove up to Lake Winni Friday evening after work looking forward to a fun trip, but no one had more fun than our precious pup. He loves short car rides, but long rides are his favorite. There is nothing like sticking your head out the window and smelling the sweet exhaust from all of the passing cars on the highway. 

Saturday we spent the morning on the Lake and braved the cold waters as we reached one of the many sandbars. It was nice and relaxing and just enough "lake time" before we had to head out to the boyfriend's cousin's graduation party. This is where I really failed at taking pictures. 

The boyfriend and I looked very nautical with his striped seersucker shorts and boat shoes, and my white and navy chevron maxi skirt. Our afternoon (and into the evening) was spent on his Aunt and Uncle's large deck overlooking NH mountains while a fully stocked bar and homemade margaritas were at our discretion. But what was even better than the margaritas was the full wine tasting right there on the patio. If you live in Kansas, make sure you check out Prairie Fire Winery. Currently they only sell locally in Kansas, but the wines are delicious! It's a family owned business right in the heart of Kansas (and they use some Indiana grapes which I'm a huge fan of). As we sipped the night away there were smiles, and laughs, and poking fun at one of the girls who had gotten a little too friendly with the tequila. All the things I love. 

The rest of the weekend was spent on the lake, enjoying the boat, and using plenty of sunscreen. Here are a couple of pictures that I was able to capture from the weekend. 

Instragram was able to show me what I would look like with lighter hair...hmm..maybe for the summer?

Uncle and Nephew.

I will try not to neglect you all again this weekend and week. And I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and have big plans for this weekend as well. 

**have fun**  **drink responsibly**  **look stylish**

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday to All!! 

If you're anything like myself,  you have been counting the minutes until 5pm since you stepped foot in the office this morning. There is so much anticipation about the long weekend ahead that I find it hard to concentrate on work! 

I am so excited to kick off summer this weekend with the boyfriend and my East Coast family. The weather is predicted to be perfect, the boat is in the water, and we have beer to stock the refrigerator. What more could you ask for? 

After what we hope to be a nice drive (but is likely to take longer than anticipated as we are heading to the Lakes Region of NH with about 3/4 of New England) we will unpack and relax with a few nice wines and select cheeses. I will make sure to snap a few pictures for you all as it has been some time since my last edition of Fresh Bottle Fridays. 

But until the clock strikes 5pm, it is here I will sit at my little cubical day dreaming for tomorrow. Saturday morning...the first morning of the long weekend...the first unofficial Saturday morning of Summer....{ahhh bliss}. 

And to make sure we are all current in the news...

Happy Memorial Day! 

**remember to thank a veteran**

**have fun**  **drink responsibly**  **look stylish**

LBD...is there a new meaning?

May is almost over, which means June is right around the corner (you know, in case you don't know the order in which our months occur). And as any romantic comedy has taught us, June is the "unofficial" official {wedding month}. 

A month of love and joy, crazy Aunts and Uncles, and open bars. But before we go squeezing ourselves into our bridesmaids dresses that we ordered a size too small because "we have so much time to lose the weight," there is one night of pure drunken debauchery....the bachelorette party. 

"The Last Fling Before the Ring." 

"The Bride's Final At Bat." 

(for those baseball fans out there)

"Give her the kisses before she becomes the Mrs."

A night when the bride and her girlfriends head out on the town for a night of body shots, strippers, and funny penis shaped objects. A night for us all to remember...or forget...but then recall again the next morning after reviewing our vast collection of Instagram pics. 

But what are we wearing in those pictures? Much like the trend of a June wedding, the LBD is always a go-to when it comes to bachelorette attire. It's classy and sophisticated. It's very Aubrey Hepburn. Or in some cases it can be very risque and revealing. But in any case, the LBD is a staple in most women's wardrobes. In fact, most have more than one. One for a night out at a nice dinner, another for a work event, and another for a night out with your girlfriends when you want to "shake what your momma gave ya." The LBD, the go-to, the safe, and the easy.

But does LBD strictly have to mean "Little Black Dress?" Black is so......dark. When you're out for a bachelorette party you want to stand out! You want to walk into the club with a statement....like "We're here, bitches!" and watch as the eligible bachelor's form a line to get in on the bachelorette action. And let's be honest, even the most hideous male can join in on the fun....for one shot...only one! And then he must be on his way.  

Ladies, are we going to surrender to the LBD and what it has always stood for? I say no! Now is the time to redefine the LBD. Let's change the meaning to the Little BRIGHT Dress. We, as bachelorette attendees, have an obligation to the bride to make this the best night of her single life, and we will not do so if we are blending in with the walls and couches. Let's embrace the color! Stand out in neons and bold prints and patterns!

Or why not the Little BLING Dress? What says "buy me a drink" more than glitter and sequins? Your VIP table will certainly sparkle after a few Red Bull Vodkas while the DJ blasts "Call Me Maybe." Whatever your party decides when it comes to wardrobe, just remember...

*have fun*  *drink responsibly*  *look stylish*

What are you wearing?

The official kick off of Summer is this weekend! Memorial Day Weekend. A weekend full of fun in the sun...hotdogs and hamburgers...Coronas and lime...all while looking at your bikini bod wishing you would have said no to a few more of those red velvet cupcakes. But regardless if you could stand to lose a few more pounds or not, summer is here! And that means it's certainly time to embrace your summer wardrobe! 

So what are you wearing this Memorial Day Weekend? Will you be breaking out your favorite cutoff jean shorts and flip flops? Blowing the dust off of your Sperry's and heading to the Cape for Mimosas and sailing? {feel free to take a moment here and pretend that we all live the good life.....*sigh*} Or maybe you'll be spending the weekend with family and friends at a backyard BBQ. Whatever your plans may be, this is your chance to set the tone for your Summer style. 

And in case you are in need of inspiration...or perhaps you haven't looked at a calendar recently and did not realize that this weekend is Memorial day--and now you're frantically going through your mental closet inventory and realizing that simply nothing from last year will do--here are some quick inspirational outfits for your viewing pleasure.

This fun and floral combination would be perfect for hitting the beach with some girl friends or spending the day hopping from one sidewalk cafe to another.

Rope in your admirers with this nautical look. Complete with Sperry Top Siders (a New England staple) and YSL bag, you'll have everyone asking you to be their first mate.

(too many boating references?)

Whether you are flipping burgers at the grill or sipping on sangria on the deck with your best girlfriends, this outfit will give you the "cute yet casual" look you're going for.

I hope these outfits (made for you by me courtesy of polyvore) have got your creative juices flowing and you're ready to create the perfect Memorial Day weekend wardrobe. 

*have fun*   *drink responsibly*   *look stylish*

I've linked up with long distance loving for more Memorial Weekend
outfit inspirations, click the link below to feel inspired!

And check out all of the other fabulous blogger who have joined the party!

Oh my Preakness!

We can't all be masters of fashion. Its not something that comes easy to everyone. And that was pretty apparent at this years Preakness.

I know in a lot of cases, people use this event, and others like it, to step outside of the box and wear things they wouldn't normally wear. I'm cool with that. It's not every day you can walk around in an American flag bikini with your belly hanging out while your friend looks as equally stupid in her "party with sluts" tee (which she cleverly cut up because that's "cool"). I'm pretty sure these girls were from New Jersey. They look like a product of the Snooki State.

Parties and festivals like the Preakness are also a great excuse to bring out your favorite fanny pack. Sick deer hunting jersey, bro.

This guy got it right. He put together the perfect mix of style and humor. I love the bow tie, but not as much as I love the floral print pants and old school Nikes. Well done sir. He clearly had a successful shopping trip at Goodwill.

Oh, and who doesn't love a pimp hat? 

It was fun, Preakness..things got weird. See ya later, Baltimore.

Road Trip

7 hours in a packed Lexus SUV seems like a small price to pay for a fun filled weekend in Balitmore.

This weekend we are attending the 137th Annual Preakness. For those of you who are thinking "the whatness?!" Preakness is part of the coveted Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby of the East Coast....well...it more like the Kentucky Derby's ugly cousin.

Will there be big hats? Yes. Celebrities? Yes. Dignified ladies and gentlemen? I'm sure there will be...but not where we are going.

The Infield. Where you go to get your Preak on. If you've ever gone to the Indy 500 and sat in the infield then you understand the situation we are about to put ourselves in. Booze, sun, and more booze.

I'm expecting to see some pretty amazing ensembles. And I'll do my best to document these for you all. But after a few trips to the Mug Club tents, I make no promises.

Happy Preakend!!

Ne-glect-ing

So I have totally been neglecting my blog lately. Sorry everyone. It was not intentional. I have just been a busy little bee these past few....ugh....weeks! My apologies! 

I have fun things to tell you all about! 

Exciting things! Fashionable things! Blogger things! 

Stay tuned in the next few days as I try to catch up and provide some great posts for you all! I have also thought of a fun little blog series that I think you will all enjoy! Get excited...it will be funny...and sarcastic...and it may make some people mad...without intention of course...but some people are more sensitive then others, so I'm sure some will be offended...but those who aren't will laugh! 

And remember...it's okay if someone gets upset because...

"Every party has a pooper, that's why we invited you! Party Pooper! Party Pooper!"

Weekend Recap

This weekend was delightful.

As quickly as the time went by, I was able to enjoy the weekend and slow down for change. After the last few weekends in April that included holidays, visitors, and a trip back to Indiana, it was nice to have {nothing} to do. No schedule. No obligations.

I wish I had more pictures to recap my nothingness this weekend, but I am a great slacker when it comes to taking photos. So stories will have to do. 

Saturday was a nice day for napping...and that is exactly what I did. The windows of our apartment were open and the sun was shining in just the right way to keep me warm but not blind my tired eyes. Cooper took advantage of this time and sprawled himself out on the floor near the window, basking in the afternoon rays. The boyfriend also took advantage of our lazy afternoon and choose to nap on the bed...telling me after he awoke how nice our bed was when just one person was in it. I responded with "maybe tonight you can see how nice the couch is." And we laughed. 

That night we put on some music and turned off the t.v. and made dinner together. A delicious homemade New England meal. Mussels, scallops, whole wheat and spinach pasta in a white wine sauce with scallions and sun dried tomatoes. If you're thinking to yourself, "yum" then you're correct. It was great. I mean....we probably could have charged for that meal.

Sunday, as you may have seen from my earlier post, was peaceful. A few nice walks with Cooper in the morning, and a couple nice shots of him near the blooming trees. And after a few cups of coffee and breakfast, I set out to the town park for a quick run. It reminded me of home when I arrived. People were taking the time to enjoy life and seemed to not be worried about the hustle and bustle that usually consumes our lives.

There were new parents pushing baby strollers and numerous games of soccer being played in the open fields....and there was a hockey rink...which did not at all remind me of home, but reminded me of the home I'm building here. A foreign sport to me until a couple of years ago when I made the move across the country to Massachusetts. 

While on my run I was able to snap an adorable couple with their babies...

kind of hard to see but there are 3 little ducklings

just a moment earlier they were all in a line on the banks of the pond

The rest of the afternoon was spent on my balcony finishing up a book that I had started a few weeks earlier and then in the hurry of life had neglected to continue reading. The book was called "The Art of Racing in the Rain." I had purchased the book a few years earlier and in true form, never read it. 

I will tell you this of the book.....if you have a dog, be prepared with a box of tissues. If you are an ugly crier, read this book in private. The looks I was getting from the boyfriend as I was sobbing hysterically on our couch were scary. 

I hope everyone else had a awesome weekend...stay tuned for more posts this week as the boyfriend is out of town and I will have entirely too much time to myself. 

Sunday Morning

ahhh.....Sunday morning....*sigh*

I woke up today, looked out my window to the sun shining, the birds chirping, and my dog at the side of my bed wiggling furiously...which could only mean one thing....he's gotta go. 

We walked outside to "take care of business" and I couldn't help notice how quiet and peaceful it was. Now, I live in an apartment complex, which means that when I take my dog out in the morning it is usually a battle of which dog can get to the fire hydrant the quickest and how long it will take for my dog to pull my arm off when he spots a leaf blowing in the breeze that he MUST chase. But today was different.

As Cooper was carefully sniffing around the grass trying to find the perfect spot to soil, I noticed there wasn't a single dog in sight...the breeze wasn't strong so I was able to keep both arms...and I thought to myself...I must seize this moment! 

So I snapped a few pictures as Cooper and I enjoyed our morning walk....alone....and peacefully. 

Wishing everyone a glorious Sunday. 

Love, 

M & Coop 

Blog-Browsers

Dear Blog-Browsers, 

I love that you stop by from time to time to view my precious, little sarcastic, and fashionable (at times) blog. 

It makes me happy to hear that you stopped in, read something...liked it, and then kept reading. This is always delightful news!

Do you know what would be even more delightful? If you clicked that little {follow} button over there to the right....I know you're looking at it....yep, that one right there. Go ahead...click it....I dare you

I would love to see my number of followers jump from 13....to say...25! Wouldn't that be fun! So if some of you might decide to {follow} instead of browse, I would be happy...and then, if you're feeling crazy, and you decide to tell your friends, and then they click {follow} I would be ecstatic! 

I am excited to see how many browsers are out there...and to see if you actually click follow. Don't be shy...stop in and say hi! HA! Rhyming, and I didn't even try! that's too much....just click follow. I'll be forever thankful. 

Sincerely, 

M

p.s. it might also say "join this site" instead of follow...which is also acceptable. 

Let's Talk F-A-S-H-I-O-N

Step outside. 

Take a deep breath. 

Spring is in the air....finally!

I always love the first warm days of Spring. The grass is greener, the sky is brighter, and even though the pollen count is staggering, this season's styles are nothing to sneeze at. 

Ladies, tuck away your UGGS. Fold your sweaters nicely in your cedar chest. This season is all about Pleasing Pastels, Ladies in Lace, and Bold Florals. 

Looking for inspiration? Check out the runway shows of some of my favorite designers. 

Pleasing Pastels

- 3.1 Phillip Lim: The collection is effortless. The blouses are free flowing. The pastels are muted, yet optimistic. The pants are structured and add the perfect amount of tailoring to this collection of deconstructed masterpieces. 

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE for the 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring Show

- Louis Vuitton: Now, I love Marc Jacobs for his own line, but Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton blows my mind. This collection is the epitome of feminine elegance. There are pastels and lace, color blocking, and feathers. In one word, stunning.

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE for the Louis Vuitton Spring RTW Show

Ladies in Lace

- Valentino: Lace was apparent in nearly every piece of this Valentino collection. But in true Valentino style, this collection mixes the hard and the soft. Black leather dresses with lace embossing, a nude leather dress with a modest hem line, lace details at the shoulders, and sheer sleeves (amazing). Every garment is expertly done with just the right embellishments. And pockets! Where were we before the introduction of pockets?! 

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE for Valentino Spring 2012

Bold Florals

- Diane von Furstenberg: DVF updates the wrap in her Spring 2012 RTW collection. Her collection has a little bit of everything. Light, airy blouses, sheer fabrics, and lace detailing. But what caught eye were her bold floral prints. She has created a beautiful display of florals throughout her collection, from her iconic wrap dresses, to printed trousers. However, the stand out pieces to me? The amazing floral jumpsuits! You've outdone yourself, Diane. And I thank you for that. 

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE to watch the DVF Spring Show

- Peter Som: The Peter Som collection SCREAMS bold florals. The flowers seem to explode off of the garments in a dramatic fashion. While the gentle touch of a cropped jacket pulls the look together. The use of mixing pattern and texture is done brilliantly in this collection. A. must. see.

photos courtsey of www.style.com

**sorry, no video for this show**

These are just a few of my favorite looks for Spring. And because, once again, I did not win the Mega Millions,  I will be working on ways to get these and other great looks for less. I will keep you all posted on my challenge and maybe even provide a few Polyvore looks for you, my loyal readers.

p.s......

don't even get me started on handbags!