Twinkle Jewels Peekaboo Just a Dreamer Top

Twinkle by Wenlan has always come through with cute, quirky clothes with just enough polish.

[revolveclothing.com]

See by Chloe Daytripper Bag

I've never been much of a handbag girl, but I tried it out last year.  After all, at the very least, a girl needs something to hold things as she gallivants about town.  The terrible thing, though, is that the handbags I purchased have turned out to be too heavy for comfort.  With my sensitive back, I can't really use my Mulberry or Marc by Marc Jacobs bags as often as I'd like.

This one by See by Chloe seems like it would be just the thing.  It's small and cute.  The zipper and metal accents are just the right amount of edgy.  And I can wear it cross body, which is how I've worn my bags since middle school.

Waiting for the sale...

[shopbop pics]

A few recent shoe purchases

Review to follow, when they arrive in the mail.

Not so basic

Somewhere I heard the suggestion that as women get older, they should look for basics with special details like sequins and whatnot.  I'm assuming that details help up the "special" factor of the piece, especially if it's something as grubby as a t-shirt.

Whatever the reason, I'm really loving this J. Crew t-shirt, which has sequins sprinkled over a large rose print.  The fabric is thin, so it feels soft and elegant.  It's cut to fit snugly, but it's not a baby tee.

I wear it underneath a cardigan or blazer for work, or with my Paige jeans for going out.

Lululemon outlet

Passed the outlet on the highway as my boyfriend and I were going to pick up his newly purchased 1977 Chevy Luv. I insisted that we stop on the way back. Who knows when we'll be driving these 75 miles north of Seattle again?

The store was huge and took up an entire corner lot of the outlet mall, so I felt sure that I would find many things I liked. But after making a circuit of the entire store, pawing through circular racks and whole sections of yoga tops and bras and underwear and pants organized by size, I only found a small handful of things to try on. There was none of the signature Lululemon items like their Groove pants, and many of the products were in garish Xanadu colors made ten times worse because they were rendered in spandex.

The sales associates are all dressed up in workout gear. They were so earnestly, chirpily helpful. The changing rooms were spacious and colorful, but dirty. They reminded me of the discount stores I grew up shopping in with their tumbleweeds of dust and drive-by smudges on the wall.

All in all, somewhat disappointing. I did, however, make off with a well-fitting sports bra (only 10% or $3 off, though) and a technical running shirt that will work nicely for yoga. It's definitely worth a stop, but not a special trip.

[pics from lululemon athletica flickr]

Organic jewelry

Ever since I got a dogwood blossom ring from James Avery (any teenager who grew up in Texas will be familiar with this jeweler), I've had a soft spot for rings and necklaces with an organic bent. It's a natural combination: minerals and metals with nature motifs.

Robert Lee Morris released a line of nature-themed rings, necklaces, and cuffs for Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's Elizabeth and James brand. My favorite are the rings, in particular the twig cluster ring. It's not too literal an inspiration, organic but a little edgy as well. The whole line is simple and sinuous--something I could imagine myself loving as much as that dogwood blossom.

[images from shopbop]

A.P.C. covetousness

Two things I'm coveting from the Fall/Winter line. I love the ease and charm of the sailor dress, but I'm wondering how much I'll love it in a few years. Given the price point of A.P.C., anything I get there has be an "investment" piece that will last a few years.

The drape of the masculine trousers has the perfect slouch, so that one is easier to justify. It just doesn't tug at my heart as much as the dress does.