Do We Love It?

I need this. I need this right now:

From here

It’s a locket. It’s a pendant. It’s amaaaaaaaaaaazing*:

*Here is where I would normally insert the picture of a model wearing the necklace, but for some reason the model is wearing the necklace with an open cardigan and no shirt. So if you want to see that you’ll have to do so at the source – I don’t want to end up on the google results list of some very specific kind of fetishists out there.

In addition to being head-over-heels for the colors and  design, I also love that this is handmade and sold on etsy.com. Hooray for small businesses and upstart entrepreneurs!!

Now who wants to support one of them by buying me this necklace?  🙂

Someone at the Nashville Anthropologie clearly reads my blog and is trying to make my head explode:

If you need me I will be at the hospital recovering from a ruptured brain aneurysm for the remainder of the week.

Aaaaaaaaaand we’re back to boots.

So I’m starting to think that not only do I have seasonal affective disorder – you know, the thing where you get depressed when you don’t get enough sunlight in the wintertime – I think I might also have a weather-affected shopping disorder, too. Because while the weather in Nashville looks like this today:

I find myself thinking I’m in desperate need of things like this:

And this:

And this*:

*Ok, not really this one. Seriously – what is up with Anthro and clothes with animals on them this season???

All that to say, I can’t be sure whether I actually love these boots or my judgment is clouded by the actual clouds that are hovering outside of my window:

L.L. Bean 10-inch shearling Bean Boots

Dare I say I actually think these are kind of, in their own way, cute? No, I will never wear them to trudge through the snow-covered hills on some kind of hunting expedition. But I would wear them to keep my toes warm and my feet dry on the rare occasions Nashville actually sees some snow accumulation – or more likely on the days we have rain that is so cold and blowing-in sideways that you wish it was snow instead.

So what do we think kids? Has my fashion sense been compromised? And have I mentioned that I hate Winter? Because I do. I just want to make sure you all knew that.

When it comes to fashion I have learned that it is safest to never say never.* I mean, if you had told me this time last year that I would own a pair of these I would have punched you in the face:

But there they are – in my living room.

And while I still think they have absolutely zero redeeming qualities from a style-standpoint, they did an excellent job of keeping my calves and feet warm last winter. And for that I thank them.

So in the spirit of embracing things you once never thought you could love, I give you cardigans with elbow patches:

I am especially digging that navy blue one and the gray wrap sweater.

Once upon a time I would have scoffed at these. I would have called them too old college professor-like or asked you if I looked like someone who just came from riding at the stables. But for whatever reason, this fall elbow patches have started to grow on me. (And I mean that in a good way – not like a fungus.)

But what do you think?

*Here is something I can say never about. NEVER. :

And I mean over my dead body will you EVER find these on my feet. And if for some reason one of you decides to literally put them on my dead body as a joke, I will haunt you for all of eternity.

I am a girl who likes a challenge. Tell me I can’t do something and suddenly I am on a mission. Just ask the poor ski patrol in Jackson Hole, Wyoming who dared ask me if I needed a ride down the mountain on their snowmobile after they watched me fall approximately 18 times in thirty seconds on the bunny slope. Instead of politely saying “no thank you” I yelled at them that I would get down that mountain on my own or I would die trying. Sorry nice ski patrol lady!

Keeping that in mind, I recently convinced a friend to buy this skirt:

And when she agreed to buy it  – which was a good call on her part b/c she looks totally fab in it – it was with the caveat and understanding that I would be responsible for helping her figure out what to wear with a bright orange pencil skirt. Challenge accepted!!

Now here is how J. Crew suggests you wear this skirt:

Woof! And to think – J. Crew actually paid someone to put this look together. Call me J. Crew – because, as evidenced below, I can do better.

Outfit No. 1:

Now as a double Alabama grad it pains me to match this orange skirt with a navy and white top. But try as I might I cannot deny that navy and orange look good together. Plus I’m toning down the AU overtones with a beige open cardi with some great details and a fun chunky necklace. Also my friend is an Ole Miss grad so she probably doesn’t have as much of a natural aversion to this color combo as I do.

Outfit No. 2:

I am LOVING the idea of a dark purple paired with this bright orange. And I am especially loving it with this amazing leopard-print cardi on top. I could make a whole week’s worth of outfits out of that cardi – I love it that much. So if you want one you better get it before I snag them all for myself.

(And b/c I know you will ask – yes Emily, you should wear this with dark brown tights.)

Outfit No. 3:

While I certainly do not advocate wearing this mustard yellow shirt alone with this skirt, I think a little bit of yellow peeking out at the collar of this yummy gray sweater would be fab. But if that makes you nervous you could substitute a light blue collared shirt instead for an (almost) equally stylish look.

So there you have it. Three ways to wear one of the season’s hottest colors without looking like a giant pumpkin. (Which would only be acceptable today – so if you already own this skirt and aren’t wearing it there’s still time to go home and put it on with a green shirt for instant pumpkin-ness.)

Happy Halloween kids!!

I just started writing this post by saying that I didn’t actually buy that many pairs of shoes or boots last fall and winter. And then I started counting them in my head. And I realized that was a lie. (And no, I will not tell you what my final internal count was because it is slightly embarrassing. And probably inaccurate. To the low side.)

Now given how much I talk about shopping, shoes, and shopping for shoes you might think I have an unlimited budget for these type of things. But trust me, I do not. And as a result, sometimes difficult shoe-purchase-related decisions must be made.

This weekend I almost impulse-purchased this pair of boots at Nordstrom:

Luxury Rebel Abby Boot

In real life they’re more of a light gray-brown than the dark taupe-y color they appear to be in the picture. And they looked super-cute with the tan slouchy socks and leggings I was wearing when I tried them on. I WANT them. But I don’t NEED them. And I really don’t need to spend $165 on them right now.

Especially when what I NEED right now is this pair of shoes:

Coach Taffy Pumps

Now obviously I do not NEED these in the strictest sense in the word – I obviously own other black pumps and shoes. I mean, I do not need these like Lindsey Lohan NEEDS an intervention or like the Kardashians NEED to disappear from our national consciousness.

But I do spend a good part of the winter months putting on black and black-related suits for courtroom appearances and my go-to black pumps have seen better days. I think this pair is  cute and non-boring but still conservative enough to be courtroom appropriate. And right now they’re on sale

And yes, I could get spend less money and get a perfectly functional pair of black pumps to get me through the winter. But lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how I’ve reached an age and point in my professional life where it’s more important to have quality over quantity when it comes to fashion – especially in my work wardrobe. It really seems to cut down on the number of people who think I’m there to be the court reporter and not the defense attorney.

I think I already know the answer but I’m going to ask anyway:

Sometimes an outfit or a piece of clothing can be more than the sum of its parts. Take this jacket for example:

This jacket features many elements to which I am vehemently (fancy word of the day) opposed if taken individually:

Faux fur trim – check!

Adjustable waist toggles – check!

Overall aura of New Jersey ski bunny  – check!

Despite all of that, I think I might love this jacket. Or maybe it’s just freezing in my office right now and I love the idea of anything warm. Obvs I need you to help me decide.

As a general rule I don’t like logos on my clothing and accessories. And I especially don’t like logos on my designer clothes and accessories. For example, I would never buy a Coach bag like this one:

Or date a guy who wears a pair of Gucci shoes like this one:

I wouldn’t date a guy who wears shoes like those for many, many reasons but not the least of which is wearing shoes like these or buying a Coach purse like the one above says “I want you to know exactly how much money I paid for this” and that’s a pretty douchey (And that’s pronounced dou-shee, not dou-shay. Name that tv show.) statement to make. Plus I’m not paying all of that money to advertise for Coach, Gucci or anyone else. They should be paying ME to advertise for THEM because I am fabulous.

But despite all of this, and for reasons I cannot explain, I have always had a soft spot for the Tory Burch Reva flat. And right now I am seriously lusting after this one:

I know that gold medallion is just a giant status symbol but I can’t help myself. And they’re definitely not cheap. So if I’m going to give in and sell out like the masses would I be better served getting a classic black pair like this one:

Or if I’m going to splurge should I get something fun like these purple ones:

So many logo-riffic choices, so little time. Help me decide.

If you only know one thing about me it should be this – I don’t like to lose. Or be wrong. Ever. And if you know me, then you already know that. I mean, I’m the girl whose Senior “award” in my high school choral group (we were glee before Glee was cool) was something along the lines of “winner of all debates no matter what.” And yes, I am the perfect example of the cliche of going to law school because you like to argue.

But as I’ve grown and spent a lot of time arguing professionally, I like to think that I’ve mellowed a bit – or at least become more open-minded to opposing points of view. And I’ve gotten a few opposing points of view on this post I made a few weeks back.

And so, in the interest of fairness, I’m going to put it to a vote – the site is called “do WE love it?” (emphasis added) after all,  not “Things Shea loves and/or hates and tells you about.” So  here it is again:

Now you can obviously read my thoughts on this dress in this post if you’re so inclined. (Here’s a hint – they’re not very flattering) But now it’s your turn to tell me what you think.

But wait – there’s more!!

Because I’m now such an open-minded person I don’t want to judge a designer’s entire body of work based on one dress alone. So before we write-off Ms. Taylor as a designer of camel-dresses only, let’s take a look at some of the other pieces in her Anthropologie collection:

Fire Ants Maxi Dress (yeah no kidding)

If there’s a second thing you should know about me, it should be this – I am never going to wear a dress with giant fire ants on it. But you might. And that’s great. But I will judge you for it.

Adelie Blouse (no idea why this isn’t called “Penguin Shirt”)

Even without the penguins this blouse is a little too twee for me. But remove the peter pan collar, exchange the penguins for something in a graphic or geometric print and it would be right up my alley because we all know I love a defined waist.

In Clouds Blouse (do not be fooled – those are snails)

I actually really love the shape and color of this blouse. And if those were big white polka dots instead of medium-sized white snails, I could totally picture myself tucking this into a black pencil skirt and rocking it with a big gold cuff and some fab black heels. But they’re not polka dots, they’re snails. So no.

I’m sad to say that as long as this collection consists solely of brightly-colored animal patterns, the odds of me becoming one of Ms. Taylor’s customers are slim. But what about you?

When I was but a small child, before I knew who Audrey Hepburn or Coco Chanel was, I had but one style icon:

Laugh if you must, but this little piggy is undeniably fabulous. And the fact that a brash, bossy, high-maintenance woman like Miss Piggy can land a nice guy like Kermit (even if he is a frog) gives hope to all single girls everywhere.

So imagine my glee when I opened InStyle’s November issue to find my icon finally getting the fashion props she deserves in this photo spread. Let’s enjoy some of the fabulousness shall we?

Miss Piggy in Prabal Gurung:

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Miss Piggy in Jason Wu:

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Miss Piggy in Opening Ceremony:

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I don’t care that she’s a pig. I don’t care that she’s a muppet. And I don’t care that I’m 30 years old. I still love her. Check out the full spread in the November issue of InStyle and I promise you will love her, too.

And if a brash, bossy, high-maintenance pig can get to wear fabulous designer clothes, then one day maybe so can I.