Winter Outerwear Wysh Lyst

It's coat season and according to our Queen, Anna Wintour, the overcoat is the new purse this season! Thanks a lot, Queen Anna!  We get about 2 days a year to wear coats in the South so I can't change coats like I do my handbags.  However, a girl can window shop and dream, right?  I can also maybe plan trips to cold climates - Christmas shopping in New York or Chicago, skiing in Colorado...

So, as soon as I get the news about overcoats, I start cyber shopping and window shopping at my favorite places and ran into a few problems.  First, coats are bulky and they have to be to keep you warm - especially those cozy puffers.  However, I really try not to wear anything bulky that hides my figure because then I think it's OK to curl up with ice cream and fried rice on a regular basis! So not good! So, when I'm coat shopping, I look for outerwear that is not bulky if possible.  That works for me because I'm in Texas and rarely need big, warm coats anyway.  I did run across some true cold weather coats that I liked and made the lyst even though I may never need them.

My next issue was the 3/4 sleeve length coats.  Really - what's up with that? So, I only need to keep warm from the elbow up?  I'm confused about that so clearly none of those made my lyst...

One more issue: fur.  So, I'm not one of those extreme PETA type people, but wearing fur is just strange to me. I'll play with fake fur (I have a super cute faux fur vest) but the idea of real animal fur on my body kind of freaks me out.  Guess what else didn't may my lyst! 

Other than that, there were lots of coats that I really liked (of course - shopaholic that I am).  Some were conservative and will stand the tests of time and other were quirky, trendy, and fun.  See some of my picks below! What are you currently loving with outerwear?

BCBG Trench Coat with leather sleeves

St. John Collection Glittered Double Breasted Topper -Neiman Marcus

Biker chick trend! Bagatelle Mixed Media Open Front Jacket

Burberry Brit Quilted Band Back Jacket

New Nude Notions

I recently had a very enlightening conversation with my very good friend, Tes, about nude shoes.  We always discuss outfits and bounce ideas off of each other when we have events so one day I got a text from her asking about nude shoes.  What blew my mind is, that up until this conversation, it never occurred to me - a Brown girl - that "nude" shoes encompasses a much wider range of colors than I had ever considered.

In our discussion, Tes reminded me that the point of a nude shoe which is to make your legs look longer. Well, I knew this theoretically, but I'm 5'8" and all legs so I don't really need my legs to look longer! My dear friend, Tes, on the other hand, is about 5'4" so this discussion opened my eyes quite a bit!

Tes said that "nude" to her is what she sees when she is naked (a color with which she's very familiar!). After literally laughing out loug, all of the lights in Manhattan lit up in my head! Up until this discussion, "nude" to me in reference to a shoe was any color from creamy beige to chocolate brown (all of which I have in my closet).  I should also mention that when I look for "nude" shape wear, I always try to match my skin tones (all 25 of them - but that's another post, maybe about makeup...) and pout when a shade to match isn't available!  Ironic, right?

So now, when I am dressing someone for an event and a nude shoe is in order, I have more to consider! 

I have to ask myself how tall is my subject and how long are their legs?

If they are petite and we are considering nude footwear, I should try and match their skin tone!

Thank you, Tes! I am always happy to learn something new!  It's even more fun with you because we always giggle so much!

The Nude Spectrum:

Nude Burberry Peep Toe Pumps
Source:  My closet!

True "nude" for me (sometimes)
Saint Laurent - Neiman Marcus

Pretty chocolate nude!
Manolo Blahnik - Neiman Marcus

Valentino - Saks Fifth Avenue

Burberry - Saks Fifth Avenue

Christian Louboutin - Saks Fifth Avenue

Saint Laurent - Saks Fifth Avenue

Summer Wysh Lyst - Sexy Sandals

Guess who's back in cyberspace!!! I have worn out yet another computer but things have been patched up and I am back in business!  ...and very happy to be back, might I add!!

So... 

I'm cyber shopping for summer sandals instead of setting up my email so I can get in touch with potential clients!  Check out what I'm loving for the summer.  I currently have a small crush on great, sky high wedges...

I am really digging Alice+Olivia's wedges on the Saks 5th Avenue website...

,,,for a walk on the wyld side...

...a more conservative version...

  

What girl wouldn't love to rock a new pair of "Choos"?

Burberry and Burberry Prorsum (in that order...)

Ahhh - Prada...

Don't even bother fooling with these unless you really, really know what you're doing! I'm not fooling with them!  Maybe when I grow up for real...

Giuseppe Zanotti

Burberry Prorsum

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!  The fashionistas are real jet setters! I have let London Fashion Week just slip right by me and they are already in Milan so I have some catching up to do!  First, I'm checking out the king of awesome rain slickers and wellies: Burberry!  Their higher end line, Burberry Prorsum, had a beautiful collection that paired shades of grey (and sometimes beige) with some beautiful collegiate shades - hunter greens, burgundies, mustard yellows, etc...  I like to call them "Ive League" colors.  Very Joe College!  My favorite looks are below!

 
 Runway photos courtesy of style.com