My older sister Melissa is getting married this weekend! I’m Maid of Honor, so I’ve been hard at work on my toast and we’ll be driving up to Rhode Island tomorrow morning for all the festivities. I’m very much looking forward to celebrating! It’s going to be a great wedding.

So an early congratulations to Melissa and Dennis! I’ll be on blog hiatus for the rest of the week, but I will return next week.

 Pink button up: J. Crew Factory

White pants: Gap

Oxfords: DSW

Bag: Aldo

Joe said I looked a little “country club” in this outfit, but I am also okay with that.

My new bag that doubles as a clutch–I haven’t bought a new bag in over a year, and I thought this was perfect for summer strolls and concerts and day trips.

Obligatory shoe shot.

How do you feel about white pants?

I’ve been feeling a little uninspired by style blogs lately–it seems that everyone is going the same thing, over and over. Does anyone else get that feeling? So, I’m a little low on links today. Regardless, I hope you all have a great weekend (we’ve got visitors from Boston coming, so should be a fun weekend!)–get out there and enjoy some sunshine!

PS–Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! We’ll celebrate properly next weekend.

Best of the Looks:

I like the way the colors are working together in Chiara’s look–The Blonde Salad.

A simple and inexpensive midi skirt at Old Navy.

The trendiest in glasses looks.

Textbook takes another look at Holden Caulfield.

Love the literary look series at Books Matter.

Best of the Books:

Cooking by the book–I really want to try one of these dinners!

Fun look at how books are made.

An iPhone case that looks like a bookcase!

Books the staff of the NYT lies about reading. (You know you all do it too!)

Happy weekend, all.

By now, you’re probably aware that legendary children’s author Maurice Sendak passed away this week. It’s not only a loss for children the world over, but for all of the grown ups who remember reading his work as a child. I have vivid memories of reading Where The Wild Things Are in school, in first grade.  After we read the book, our teacher passed out brown paper grocery bags, markers, and yarn and asked us to make ourselves “wild things.” My creation had a head full of bright orange yarn and a leering grin. When we were finished, we cut out eyeholes, put the bags over our heads, and paraded around the hallways of the school. We were encouraged to roar and shout and yell. It is one of the few memories I have of elementary school.

And why does it stick with me? Because I was never a wild thing. I was quiet, shy, followed the rules, sat by myself at recess. While Max, the hero of Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, hungers for excitement and breaking the rules, I was content to read in a corner. So, for me, putting on a mask and roaring down the hallway was an excuse to come out of my shell, even if just a tiny bit. That’s the wonderful thing about the book–it celebrates the fact that children shouldn’t be afraid of their anger, their hunger, their desires, even their fears–it celebrates that children are REAL PEOPLE with the same kinds of emotions as the rest of us. There aren’t many books, even those written for adults, that have stuck with me in this way.

Do you have fond memories of reading this book?

Despite a relaxing, fun, and delicious weekend (or maybe because of?), Monday has been exceptionally rough. Whenever things get like this, especially during my birthday week, I am tempted to wallow, and to treat myself with things that aren’t good for me. For example, I went to J. Crew on my lunch break, hoping to help things by spending money and buying clothes I don’t need. Luckily, nothing quite worked in the fitting room (though that REALLY didn’t help), and I walked out without making a dent in my wallet. However, I did buy chips and guac at Chipotle on the way back to the office and devoured most of the bag though I’d already eaten a salad for lunch earlier. Now I have a stomach ache and profound guilt.

Do any of you have this problem? When things don’t turn out as hoped, or are just particularly crappy, do you turn to shopping or ice cream or other things that are “bad” for you to make you feel better? I’m thinking that kicking back with a book and the pup and the fiance will help the situation a great deal, but what to do when those options aren’t available? I’m interested in your tips!

*Image 

It’s been a long and stressful week, so I’m very much looking forward to lots of fun this weekend. How about you?

Best of the Looks:

Chloe of the Chloe Conspiracy works a fantastic yellow skirt with a pretty pink sweater and a lovely mint clutch.

Speaking of birthdays, how cute is this Madewell shirt?? 

I’m actually sporting this hairdo today. 

Curious if I could pull off this ombre manicure tutorial…

This maxi skirt is seriously tempting for summer strolls.

Best of the Books:

Wigleaf’s list of top 50 (very) short fiction is out, and my dear friend Rebekah Matthews is on it…TWICE.

Famous writers’ book shelves. 

In other awesome writer friend news, check out the first chapter of What Ends, Andrew Ladd’s Amazon Semi-Finalist entry in the 2012 Breakthrough Novel Award. Read it now!

Turns out there won’t be an HBO adaptation of The Corrections after all.

It’s Short Story Month! Check out Knopf’s list of short stories at #shortreads. 

And that’s the Friday scoop! Have a great weekend, all.

Today’s cover is yet another book I haven’t read–and have no desire to. I’ve never even seen the movies! As an Italian, I guess I should be ashamed–I will sit down to watch them someday.

This is not only another book I haven’t read, but another simple black and white cover. It’s striking, and there’s no denying that it is iconic. The typeface, the marionette strings, the stark colors–they all coalesce to make this cover stand out.

The Look:

Despite the fact that I was dismayed to see yet another black and white cover, I’m really happy with the outfit I created. I really want to wear it, in fact. I took the small accents of yellow and red and incorporated them into the main black and white elements of the outfit. And the leopard–well, nothing says “Italian mob” like a leopard print, no?

Anyway, to summarize, my toes are a pretty coral pink and buffed to a shine. But they’ve been hiding away in boots and tights because the weather has been much too chilly for any bare skin, never mind sandals. HOWEVER, my birthday is coming up, and with my birthday comes the opportunity to go shopping! I’m looking for some good flat sandals that are comfortable enough for traipsing around the summer sidewalks (and subways) of New York, but also formal enough to be appropriate for the office. Here are a few ideas I’ve been considering–I would love to hear your opinion!

Bass Clementine Sandals in Cognac ($69.99)

Madewell Crisscross Boardwalk Sandal in English Saddle ($59.50) This one won’t ship until 6/18! Boooo.

Sam Edelman Gigi Sandals ($65)

Seychelles Pansy in Whiskey ($90)

Which ones should I get??

]]> http://www.looksandbooks.com/2012/04/30/opentoedseason/feed/ 7 http://www.looksandbooks.com/2012/04/26/fashion-book-middlemarch-dorothea-brooke/ http://www.looksandbooks.com/2012/04/26/fashion-book-middlemarch-dorothea-brooke/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:36:48 +0000 Jill http://www.looksandbooks.com/?p=2397 It’s the last week for a Middlemarch Fashion Book post and I thought it would be appropriate to end the series with Dorothea, arguably the book’s central character, if there is one. Dorothea (or “Dot” as I’m sure her friends liked to call her….no?) is a woman set in her principles, guided by her inner sense of morality and justice. More than any other character, she tries her utmost to do right–and not always with the best results. She is grounded and fair-minded, self-sacrificing to a fault. But as annoying as all of this sounds, she actually grows on you, and may even become your favorite. She is good hearted, kind, and strong, even funny at times. Many of the characters in the book end up falling in love with her despite all of their pre-conceived notions about her, and you will too.

For Dorothea, fashion is of the least importance. She’s a beautiful woman, but doesn’t seek to draw attention to her appearance in any way. She is austere and simple. I went with a look of classic, understated elegance here, using an entirely black color palette–Dorothea would be seeking to blend into the background, but she always stood out in spite of herself.

I have to say, this cover doesn’t really speak to me. Maybe it’s because I’ve never read it…I’ve never even seen the play. I suppose the story of Willie Loman, the down and out salesman, is familiar to all of us, but I don’t know that I would agree that this book cover is “iconic.” But it’s the project I’ve taken on, so I will forge ahead!

The Look:

For this particular cover instead of creating an outfit, I decided I would put together a few of my favorite business casual looks I’ve seen around the Internets, inspired by the haggard man in a suit pictured on the cover. These looks would make any day at work at least bearable.

A blazer over a fun floral dress at Kendi Everyday

Cropped, high waisted pants, oxfords, and a chic briefcase: Helmi Otsalla

Bold heels, a pencil skirt, and a trench: Sydne Style

A classic DVF shirt dress in a fun print with an edgy bag: Love at First Shop

Tailored trousers, a neutral sweater, and an unexpected pop of color: A Fashion Deliberation

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