Sunday Best v.175

Puppy topiary by Jeff Koons

I had a wonderful little weekend jaunt to the Shenandoah Valley to attend a wedding and managed to hit up an art festival before we came home...art festivals always leave me feeling so inspired and wishing I had more time to create. Luckily, we don't have any more trips planned in the next few weeks, so I'm looking forward to some downtime.

• A hilarious graphics department mistake during "Once Upon a Time."
• Singer Grimes has the sweetest backstage requests ever.
• Funniest kids' Halloween costumes.
• Why Tom Hanks can no longer yo-yo diet for movies.
• The best of the spring 2014 fashion season.
• Malala Yousafzai is really inspiring.
• Researchers have the proof: rich people really do care less. (Although I'm sure there are always exceptions.)
• The wonderful side of reaching your late twenties.
• Best online quiz game ever: IKEA or Death Metal?
• The Kenny Powers Magic 8 Ball.
• Fed up with our government? Drunk dial Congress.
• A legendary art installation is at risk because of a zoning ordinance.
• How Wes Anderson made The Royal Tenenbaums.

Jane Birkin-Inspired Wedding

Not all of us can be winsome hippie models with Hermes bags named after us, but you can't blame us for trying, right? For the bride brave enough to forge her own path, trading glamour for understated beachy style, take inspiration from the wedding of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg.

Look at this pretty hippie chick!

Jane looked like a serious supermodel in her slinky crochet knit dress, accented with a kind of rock 'n' roll necklace and simple halo of flowers.

Jane Birkin-Inspired Bride

1. Keep the makeup simple and understated, but with a healthy flush. I like Revlon's PhotoReady creme blush line.
2. Steal Jane's look and accent a deep v-neck with a long pendant necklace, like this one by Elizabeth and James.
3. You can get a flower wreath that last forever from Urban Outfitters.
4. Copy her natural look with Lipstick Queen's bare nude lipstick.
5. For a look that's both modern and classic, I like this diamond baguette wedding band, $3,000 from Catbird NYC.
6. Get a vintage-inspired crochet gown from Etsy seller Daughters of Simone.
7. And finally, a perfect batch of wildflowers (lavender is particularly French) is the finishing touch.

Birkin-Inspired Wedding Party

1. To keep the hippie-inspired, casual sexy vibe going, I like the idea of inviting bridesmaids to choose their own 70s-inspired maxi dresses, like these dresses from Calypso St. Barth, BCBG and Revolve Clothing.
2. Gift them with a sculptural, classic gold bangle, like this one by Alexis Bittar.
3. Gold sandals can pull the look together. I like these gold disc sandals by Nine West.

See my other wedding inspirations: Audrey Hepburn, Winona Ryder, Jean Harlow, Grace Kelly, Mia Farrow, The Great Gatsby and Jackie Kennedy.

Modern Jane Austen-Inspired Wedding

Every year, I like to celebrate my anniversary on my blog by dipping my toes back in the fantasy world of wedding planning. It's a shame we're only supposed to have one, because I can imagine planning limitless weddings, for every type of mood. Today's fantasy wedding is inspired by the Jane Austen era and let me say, it's making me wish I could have my wedding again!

The Jane Austen look is pure romance...demure, delicate colors and soft updos accented with delicate jewelry, as you'll see in top (Emma), above (Pride and Prejudice)...

The OTHER Pride and Prejudice...

And my favorite, Sense and Sensibility.

Jane Austen-Inspired Bride

1. I would wear a romantic jeweled headband or ribbon in my hair, like this one by Jennifer Behr.
2. This Temperley gown captures the romance of the era without becoming a Regency costume. I want this gown.
3. I would accessorize with beautiful dangly earrings in a classic motif, such as these cameo earrings, antiques from 1st Dibs.
4. Something blue: an antique sapphire ring.
5. Modernize the dressed-up slipper with these sheer Kate Spade heels.
6. Carry a sweet, small bouquet, such as a cluster of peonies.
7. Keep makeup simple and rosy, with a swipe of pink, such as NARS satin lip pencil.

Jane Austen-Inspired Bridesmaids

1. Give the Regency-style empire waist a modern spin in the beautiful muted tones of this Esme maxi dress, $260 at BHLDN.
2. For a bridemaids' gift, an antique-inspired locket, $68 at C Wonder and an initial ring from Max & Chloe.
3. Match the romance of the era with the current nude nail trend with this Deborah Lippman polish in nude. 
4. The girls will look fresh and pretty with Korres Lip Butter Stick in Rose, $15.

Three Years

Three years ago today, I had the happiest day of my life thus far. I really, truly wish I could relive our wedding day...being surrounded by our closest family and friends, dancing to our favorite songs and feeling all that love was just incredible. I still feel it today, and it's so touching when our friends and family remember our anniversary (not like I'm keeping it a secret...I definitely put it on blast!). 

The thing that has surprised me the most in our marriage is how I really never get tired of seeing Sean or talking to him. He really is my favorite person to talk to, and my honest-to-goodness best friend. If I could offer any marriage advice from what I've learned in three years, it's this: Keep expectations realistic, try to roll with the punches as they come, approach every issue as a team and don't keep your feelings — good or bad — to yourself. Be able to laugh when you definitely messed up (like the two occasions on Monday when I convinced him his sense of direction was wrong, and I was definitely the messed up one). Brag on your person as much as you can. I can't wait to see what our fourth year brings us.

2 Days in Ocracoke

 To put it mildly, I've been busy lately. Too busy, frankly, to worry about planning something special for our third wedding anniversary. So I asked my husband, Sean, to plan a surprise and my god, did he deliver! He told me a few weeks ago we were going to go out of town and I really had no idea what that meant...for a night, far away, somewhere hot, somewhere cold? On Friday, he told me we were going somewhere neither of us had been and to "think beachy." Then, on Saturday night, traveling in the darkness, we set off toward the Outer Banks.

We traveled for hours, and finally, steered toward a sign for the ferry to Ocracoke, an island off Cape Hatteras, where Ocracoke village sits on the bottom left edge. Sean didn't realize it, but this was truly romantic because, not only is Ocracoke an adorable, secluded beach village, but it's also where my parents honeymooned. I've been hearing about it and looking at pictures from the trip for 30 years! When they went, it was truly remote, and really didn't have much to do or even many places to eat. Over the past few decades, it has evolved into a sophisticated, incredibly charming island village that I'm now hoping we can return to visit every year.

Also, 2 days isn't long and there was plenty more to do, but it's also enough! We were amazed at how we were able to both do a lot and still feel totally relaxed during the one full day we had on the island.

I have many, many more pictures after the jump, if you'd like to look!

Sunday Best v.174

A shot of the gorgeous home of style maven Beatrix Ost, Estouteville, right outstide Charlottesville. I'm out of town today on a super surprise anniversary trip care of my husband, but never fear, I got links right here!

• The best advice ever for curing writer's block.
• Why are women still wearing unflattering black pants in the workplace?
• The real secrets to happiness.
• New York City is investing in building girls' self esteem. AMEN!
• It's here: the Papa Johns cookie pizza.
• Ode to the humble state park, still open during the federal shutdown.
• Those frisky weather service guys just want to get paid.
• A groom makes his wife's Pinterest board a reality.
• True stories of wedding night sex.
• Amazing details in movies that you never noticed.
• True faces of the average American.

Fall 2013 Trends: Illusion

A hint of sheer fabric has always been so much sexier to me than completely exposed skin. Clearly, designers agreed this season, which sheer fabric draping over the front of dresses, on sleeves and on backs all over the runways. I especially loved these classy dresses by Lela Rose, Oscar de la Renta, John Rocha, Temperley, Luisa Beccaria and Alberta Ferretti.

Some options to incorporate the sexy look into your wardrobe:

1. A sleek and chic dress, perfect for bachelorette parties and holiday events. $90 at Lord & Taylor.
2. A daring yet demure dress, $88 at Nordstrom.
3. An extremely versatile dot-printed blouse, $50 at the Loft.
4. Sheer sleeves somehow seem work appropriate on this blouse, $21 at Kohls.
5. The perfect Christmas party dress by Adrianna Papell.
6. For the most daring among us, a geometric dress, $60 at Need Supply.
7. Daring from the back, a half-sheer tee, $18 at Aeropostale.

Fall 2013 Fashion Trends: Tweed

Tweed is in for fall. It's laughable right? Like, duh, when is tweed NOT in for fall. But I was impressed with how many designers really found ways to reinterpret the fall classic, either by pairing it with edgy leather or sparkly sequins or with a new cut.

Gorgeous tweed pieces popped up in the collections of Chanel, Prada (oh, I DIE for these coats), Badgely Mischka, Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera and Zac Posen.

Unfortunately, the malls don't quite deliver the same ingenuity that appeared on runways, but you can still capture the classic spirit and odds are, the pieces you buy today will never go out of style.

1. Capture that schoolboy look at an AMAZING price with this blazer, $35 at Target.
2. Pair this classic tweed skirt with turtlenecks, blazers, satin blouses, bejeweled tees...the pairings are basically limitless. $69 at Nordstrom.
3. This ladylike tweed dress is made a little edgy with leather trim, $90 at Lord & Taylor.
4. And this young, edgy dress is made a little grown-up with tweed. It would be great with tights and ankle booties. $254 at Urban Outfitters.
5. A work appropriate tweedy sweatshirt, AMEN! $118 at J. Crew.
6. And a wear-it-everywhere tweedy Tee, $60 at J.Crew, as well.

Fall 2013 Fashion: Modern Jungle

The animal print will never, ever go out of style, but designers are always finding new and interesting ways to use the patterns of leopards, tigers and giraffes.

Take inspiration from the runways of (left to right), Diane Von Furstenberg, Tracy Reese, Monique Lhuillier and Burberry, which had the chicest line-up of animal print trench coats you've ever seen. These prints are highly unique, and frankly, aren't as easy to replicate at the mall. But, that doesn't mean you can't get into the spirit!

1. A modern reptile print that looks high-tech, not trashy, top $68 at Topshop.
2. You can't beat the price on Philip Lim's 80s throwback leopard T-shirt dress, $30 at Target.
3. Leopard looks rich in a jacquard print skirt, $89 at Ann Taylor.
4. Leopard flats are a must, but consider tiger loafers, $80 by Dolce Vita. (hopefully there are cheaper ones out there!)
5. A bit pricey, but this giraffe-print Dooney & Bourke bag will never go out of style, $168.
6. Tiger-inspired cat-eye sunglasses, $10.
7. Snakeskin looks chic in this scarf by Armani Exchange, $38.

Fall 2013 Fashion Trends: It Was All Yellow

Fashion is so funny. I just spent the past couple weeks looking at the spring runway shows and then remembered ... duh, I need to know what the trends are for this season! I went back and looked at my favorite looks I'd pinned last spring to see what common themes emerged, so this week, I'm featuring my own little spin on each of them. Get ready to feel like shopping for fall!

More than in recent seasons, this fall's trends were really .... fall. Does that make sense? Classic colors, like pumpkin, burgundy, black and, to brighten it up, yellows from mustard to chartreuse. It brings a bit of sunshine on darker days, but also perfectly complements a classic fall palette. Yellow popped up on the runways of (left to right) Matthew Williamson, Emilia Wickstead, Elie Saab, Oscar de la Renta and Lela Rose.

Use it sparingly with these much more affordable options:

1. If you've got it, flaunt it in this body-con yellow dress, $130 by Karen Millen.
2. It might seem counter-intuitive, but I feel like this is the go-anywhere citron blazer, $228 at J.Crew. Wear it with gray pants, black dresses, plaid trousers, jeans and leopard flats...seriously, it could be just the thing a fall wardrobe needs. 
3. Brighten up the office in a yellow pencil skirt, $49 from Dillards.
4. Another go-everywhere piece: a mixed-print gauzy mustard scarf, $28 from Nordstrom.
5. Stay stylish in the football stands with this beanie, $6 at Target.
6. Channel Mad Men in a funnel-neck sweater, paired with a midi plaid skirt or a pair of cropped pants, $64 from Topshop.
7. Pad around town in chartreuse loafers, $56 at Threadsence.