Lions, Tigers, & Bears! Oh My!

Y'all, I am way in love with animal prints right now.  I don't mean the leopard/zebra/snake-type animal prints.  Those I'm not fond of to be honest.  They just seem cheapy.  What I'm talking about is prints that are animals - like birds and horses and such.  I'm totally in love with an animal pattern.  The smaller the print, the better.  The more geometric, the even better. 

Today I share my love of animal prints, or prints of animals rather, with all of you.  Try out one of the options below and bring a fun little critter into your life wardrobe!

United Bamboo, $862.56 *

ASOS, was $62.90, sale $37.74 *

Max C London, was $80.87, sale $46.72 @

A Wear, $44.93*

The Addison Story, $226

Marc by Marc Jacobs, was $298, sale $208.60

Topshop, $85

Topshop, $220

Anthropologie, $158

Zara, $79.90 *

ModCloth, $22.99

ModCloth, $49.99



@Available in more colors

*EWP Fave

Seriously, Project Runway??! Seriously??!!

Today I will voice my extreme displeasure about the winner of Project Runway. 

In other words: SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT

Okay, non-finale viewers gone? Good.

So can we all just agree that Anya did NOT deserve to win?  Yeah, horribleness.  Y'all, she did not have a single pant, top, or jacket.  Hell, she didn't even have a single ZIPPER OR BUTTON.  It was just caftan after caftan.  I'm pretty sure I could grab a printed fabric and wrap it around a model and put together the same runway show.  Thirteen v-neck printed caftans does not a Project Runway winner make. 

But, sadly, last night it did. 

I don't understand.  Viktor was clearly the best.  Those prints were to die for.  I literally licked the screen when his opening dress came out on the runway.  Okay, not literally, but mentally.  To die for, people. To die for.  And he had, you know, designs complete with structure and zippers and all. 

Hell, even crazy Josh pulled it together for a runway show.  His collection had vision, was fashion forward, and had different types of pieces.  No one but Anya showed the same look over and over.  The judges should have skewered her for it, but instead they picked her as the winner!!!!
I get why they kept her all season, the fans loved her and it keeps people watching. I get that, I do.  I don't think she deserved to be in the finale, but I didn't question the decision.  But it's the finale, you already have the viewers there, there's no next episode to get people to watch.  You don't have to keep the fan favorite anymore.  YOU CAN GET RID OF HER.

While Anya really did have fun style, good style does not a designer make.  Hell, by that criteria, I'd be an amazing designer!

I have never been so disappointed by a reality tv show decision since Bristol Palin made it to the finals of Dancing With the Stars.  But she at least didn't win!  I seriously had a 10 minute rant about this with 4 sales associates at my favorite Bucktown boutique today.  And we were all equally as upset about it.

So, readers, what did you think?  Are you equally as angry?  Or am I being crazy?  Sound off in the comments!

New Website, Book and Jewelry Line from Designer Turned Curator Elizabeth Galton

Elizabeth Galton

It’s been a very busy year for London-based jewelry designer Elizabeth Galton. The former creative director of Links of London quit her high-prestige job to start her own company where she serves as a curator, a champion if you will, for other contemporary and commercially viable designers. The result is the luxury jewelry and accessories website, ElizabethGaltonStudio.com.

New Website, Book and Jewelry Line from Designer Turned Curator Elizabeth Galton

Elizabeth Galton

It’s been a very busy year for London-based jewelry designer Elizabeth Galton. The former creative director of Links of London quit her high-prestige job to start her own company where she serves as a curator, a champion if you will, for other contemporary and commercially viable designers. The result is the luxury jewelry and accessories website, ElizabethGaltonStudio.com.

ATM Dispenses Diamond Jewelry, Gold and Silver

Bollywood star Raima Sen unveils Luxury ATM in Mumbai.

Why accept money from an ATM when you can get diamond jewelry, gold or silver?

A company in India has built what it says is the world’s first machine that dispenses gold, silver, diamond jewelry and religious jewelry.

The Gitanjali Group, the machine’s creator, is calling it an ATM, but I think a vending machine would also be an apt

ATM Dispenses Diamond Jewelry, Gold and Silver

Bollywood star Raima Sen unveils Luxury ATM in Mumbai.

Why accept money from an ATM when you can get diamond jewelry, gold or silver?

A company in India has built what it says is the world’s first machine that dispenses gold, silver, diamond jewelry and religious jewelry.

The Gitanjali Group, the machine’s creator, is calling it an ATM, but I think a vending machine would also be an apt

24-Ct. Graff Diamond Ring Could Fetch $3.5 Million at Auction

Graff diamond ring. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Superb jewels, top-quality colorless diamonds, rare gemstones, natural pearls, and signed jewels from Bulgari, Cartier, Boivin, Graff, JAR, Tiffany & Co, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston will be part of Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on November 16.

Several private collections also will be part of the auction at the

24-Ct. Graff Diamond Ring Could Fetch $3.5 Million at Auction

Graff diamond ring. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Superb jewels, top-quality colorless diamonds, rare gemstones, natural pearls, and signed jewels from Bulgari, Cartier, Boivin, Graff, JAR, Tiffany & Co, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston will be part of Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on November 16.

Several private collections also will be part of the auction at the

Date to the pumpkin patch

Visiting the pumpkin patch with my boyfriend:Kitty pumpkinMy friend Whittney made an adorable pumpkin cake!

Adorbs Halloween idea

Hershey bar + Crepe paper + Googly eyes...Love it.

Hong Kong Trade Fair Attendance Up 16%

The ceremony at the opening of the fair at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The world’s largest jewelry trade fair has lived up to its billing by smashing attendance records.
The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, which concluded September 25, saw its attendance increase by 16.3 percent, according to its organizer, UBM Asia. A total of 51,500 trade professionals from 155

Hong Kong Trade Fair Attendance Up 16%

The ceremony at the opening of the fair at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The world’s largest jewelry trade fair has lived up to its billing by smashing attendance records.
The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, which concluded September 25, saw its attendance increase by 16.3 percent, according to its organizer, UBM Asia. A total of 51,500 trade professionals from 155

A month of costumes

We're coming to the end of October and I've already had my fair share of costumes:cat
pirate
aerobics instructor
nerd

I love Halloween!

2012 AGTA Spectrum Award Winners

Best of Show winner from Todd Reed. Photography by Sandro Art & Photography

The American Gem Trade Association unveiled its 2012 Spectrum Award winners Monday in Manhattan. Scores of jewelry and fashion journalists had the opportunity to view not only the winners, but the hundreds of entries to what is considered by many to be the most respected and prestigious creative award for the jewelry

2012 AGTA Spectrum Award Winners

Best of Show winner from Todd Reed. Photography by Sandro Art & Photography

The American Gem Trade Association unveiled its 2012 Spectrum Award winners Monday in Manhattan. Scores of jewelry and fashion journalists had the opportunity to view not only the winners, but the hundreds of entries to what is considered by many to be the most respected and prestigious creative award for the jewelry

London Shopping - Jermyn Street

Once upon a time a few years ago, I bought Mr. EWP a Thomas Pink shirt for a gift.  And that day a love of English tailors was born.  The man has been obsessed with the Jermyn street shirtmakers ever since.  So after my day of shopping in Paris, Mr. EWP got his very own day of shopping in London.  We headed to Jermyn Street and went from old shirtmaker to old shirtmaker. You could see the tradition of tailoring dripping from the shelves and bolts of cloth.  It really was interesting to see.  We even went to the royal family official shirtmaker, not surprisingly they didn't have anything off the rack for Mr. EWP to purchase, but some other shirt stores did - Harvie & Hudson, T. M. Lewin, and Charles Tyrwhitt.

But what Mr. EWP was most excited about, the place he has been talking about one day going to for years, was Edward Green.  Think of them as the Louboutins of men's shoes.  Or so Mr. EWP says. I choose to just take his word for it. They were rather pretty, I'll admit. For men's shoes that is.

There really is nothing like them. And you can only get them in London or Paris, they're not available online and they only have 3 stores -the ones in London and Paris.  
 While Mr. EWP tried on boring fine shoe after fine shoe, BabyWP and I decided we'd annoy the snooty sales staff by playing on the floor.  I have a policy that if I'm ponying up the money for your expensive items, then I get to do whatever I want in your store, and what I wanted to do was play with my baby and do a photoshoot. 

After buying a lifetime's supply of dress shirts, ties, and cufflinks, we took a break from Mr. EWP Shopping Day to make one little stop for me - to a fancy milliner.  I've been a little this side of obsessed with fancy hats since the Royal Wedding.

 And these ones were positively works of art.  I drooled my little heart out, but I had made my indulgent purchase the day before, so no hat for me.  And, let's be honest, I'll use that bag WAY more than I ever would a fancy fascinator.

But it sure was fun to try one on!  It was seriously SO GORGEOUS.  Absolutely a showpiece.  And only $1000.  To her credit, the saleswoman didn't scream when I grabbed it and tried it on and took a bunch of pictures of myself. 

Coming up - my London purchases.  And to make it to purchases, I'm including Mr. EWP's shoes.  I, myself, only bought one thing in London. Can you believe it?

love this...

J. Crew sweater:

Chopard’s Spring 2012 Collection Warms the Autumn Chill

Imperiale Full Set ladies watch.

The mid-point of autumn seems like an inappropriate time to talk about spring collections but the fashion industry moves to its own schedule—even when it comes to high-end watches and jewelry. And in this realm of what is known as “hard” luxuries there are few more fashionable companies than Chopard.

The Swiss luxury brand recently released its spring

Chopard’s Spring 2012 Collection Warms the Autumn Chill

Imperiale Full Set ladies watch.

The mid-point of autumn seems like an inappropriate time to talk about spring collections but the fashion industry moves to its own schedule—even when it comes to high-end watches and jewelry. And in this realm of what is known as “hard” luxuries there are few more fashionable companies than Chopard.

The Swiss luxury brand recently released its spring

Christie's Geneva Auction to Include Private Jewelry Collection

Ruby and diamond jewelry set mounted by Cartier.

A highlight of Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on November 16 is a sale of an “extraordinary” group of jewels from a private collection.


Harry Winston
“Timeless Elegance – Important Jewels from the Collection of a European Family,” has 67 jewels gathered together in the mid-20th Century, bearing the style and signature of some of

Christie's Geneva Auction to Include Private Jewelry Collection

Ruby and diamond jewelry set mounted by Cartier.

A highlight of Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on November 16 is a sale of an “extraordinary” group of jewels from a private collection.


Harry Winston
“Timeless Elegance – Important Jewels from the Collection of a European Family,” has 67 jewels gathered together in the mid-20th Century, bearing the style and signature of some of

Two Flawless Diamonds May Fetch $18 Million at Hong Kong Auction

Leading Christie’s Hong Kong sale of Magnificent Jewels is a pair of unmounted round brilliant-cut D flawless diamonds, weighing 35.77 and 35.61 carats each. The auction house said it is the largest pair of its type to ever be offered at auction.
The diamond pair—each roughly the size of a cherry tomato—received a “Triple Excellent” rating for their polish, symmetry and cut grade. Adding to

Two Flawless Diamonds May Fetch $18 Million at Hong Kong Auction

Leading Christie’s Hong Kong sale of Magnificent Jewels is a pair of unmounted round brilliant-cut D flawless diamonds, weighing 35.77 and 35.61 carats each. The auction house said it is the largest pair of its type to ever be offered at auction.
The diamond pair—each roughly the size of a cherry tomato—received a “Triple Excellent” rating for their polish, symmetry and cut grade. Adding to

Parisian Purchases

 I couldn't go to the capital of fashion and not bring home a few goodies for myself.

First up, a dress from my new favorite store: Promod.  It's like a European Forever 21 - lots of cute things, and all super cheap!! If a certain baby hadn't had her fill of sightseeing for the day and started crying, I'm pretty sure I would've bought out the store.  As it is, I walked away with two things.

Promod,  36.95 €

And then there's this, my delightfully delicious Parisian splurge.  Mr. EWP said, since we were in the fashion capital of the world, I could buy one ridiculous thing I wanted.  What I actually needed were some camel/cognac boots, but $1000 boots just don't do it for me. I prefer my fancy shoes to be pretty and adorned with butterflies.  So I decided I'd go for the other thing I've been wanting - a structured brown bag.  After much much looking, and taking of pics and different shops to compare them (yes, I'm a nerd), we settled on this piece of leather yummy goodness.  And since it's leather, it fits for our 3rd anniversary gift. You're welcome, Mr. EWP, for taking care of your anniversary gift shopping for you.  I'm such a thoughtful wife. :)  And I'm only just a little delighted that it's not even available in the US yet.

Yves Saint Laurent

Here I am modeling my bag, as well as my third Parisian purchase - a top from Promod.  It's not on their website that I could see, so no linky, but I think it was like 15€.  Gotta love a cute cap sleeve and a bow!



Now on to London!

Shopping In Paris - Oo La La

One of the things I was oh so excited about on our trip to Paris was not the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, but the shopping.  Oh the shopping!  Every corner we turned was another fabulous store. We ran across three Chanels in one day. THREE.

There was a Dior that was an entire city block. It was all Dior in all directions, including a baby Dior! Sadly, BabyWP didn't get any presents from baby Dior.

We perused the displays at Moschino.

 In our time in Paris we saw lines for three stores: 1) the Apple store, which has lines outside all over the globe, so I wasn't so surprised.
2) Louis Vuitton

And while it isn't exactly my thing, I guess I can see the draw of this ginormous Louis Vuitton store. I was only slightly tempted to yell at the people "Why are you waiting in line for this???!"  

The other line (which I had a picture of but has somehow disappeared from this post) was... wait for it...

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The Paris Abercrombie had guards and a LINE.  A LINE. It was so ridiculous. I didn't understand. At all.

 But in non-ridiculous store news, we did make a stop at the tres adorable baby store Petite Bateau.  BabyWP needed a Paris present (as did some other babies we know).

 Now that we've done baby shopping, can we do me?  Pretty please?

We made a stop in Missoni, and I really must say that it is just NOT for me.  It's all so loud, and while I am for bold and vibrant, I'm not for Missoni's version of bold and vibrant. Their Target line was tame in comparison. [fyi, I was not a fan of the Target line because I thought it was too busy]  But a plus for them - their sales staff was SO NICE.  Ridiculously nice and fawny over us.  

 I was oddly excited about going to Bottega Veneta.  What can I say, I love shoes.

 Especially if they're this pretty.

 From there we hopped into Lanvin.  Mr. EWP seemed to think all designers were the same, but he got over that idea when we went into Lanvin and a plain black skirt cost $2500.  Not all designers are created equal.

 Mr. EWP's only store request was Hermes, where we discovered they sold horse bridles and riding gear. Who knew?

 I don't like these shoes, but I thought they way Tod's arranged them was pretty so I took a picture.

 As for me, I made a beeline to Yves Saint Laurent.

 What did I buy? Well that shall remain a mystery... until my post on my Parisian purchases.