The ladies, enjoying some hot cider around the bourbon tree.

Joe was our intrepid MC. Though it looks like he’s taking off his pants in this photo, he’s displaying a swanky pair of khakis.

 Even Chief immensely enjoyed himself!

 This outfit incorporates 4 of my new items: a basic gray skirt, a gold striped sweater, a blue jacket, and a tortoiseshell necklace. I wore this the rest of the day!

I took pictures of the rest of the stuff I got, but the lighting wasn’t right and they came out terribly, so here’s a list instead. I got (not including the items pictured above):

• a pink J. Crew halter sundress
• a brown dolman-sleeved top
• a basic olive green dress from Forever 21
• a gray Banana Republic sweater
• a vintage navy houndstooth skirt
• a headband
• 2 belts 
• a black short sleeved sweater
• a pale pink scarf
• hoop earrings
• a necklace
• a brand-new Michael Kors silk shell
• a gray felt hat

Here’s a list of my favorites–what items are you after for the spring?

Scallop Sateen Skirt: $79.50

Martina suede wedge: $228

Jules dress: $188

Contrast stripe tee: $39.50

Crinkle chiffon skirt: $118

Cafe capri: $79.50

Lillian dress: $198

In reality, I probably won’t actually buy these pretty things. But, if all goes according to the plans in my head, I WILL be buying these, for a certain day in September…

Evie fleurette peep toe pumps

]]> http://www.looksandbooks.com/2012/01/30/j-crew-spring-2012/feed/ 4 http://www.looksandbooks.com/2012/01/27/best-of-the-looks-best-of-the-books-12712/ http://www.looksandbooks.com/2012/01/27/best-of-the-looks-best-of-the-books-12712/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:58:35 +0000 Jill http://www.looksandbooks.com/?p=2193 It’s raining cats and dogs here in New York (I wish that were true…actually it’s just really soggy and windy outside, not furry and cute) and I’ve got a very low-key weekend ahead of me. My goal is to be as productive as possible, cleaning the apartment and working on some writing projects, but I’ll most likely also reserve some serious couch time with Chief, and maybe some Friday Night Lights. I’m also hosting another clothing swap on Sunday at my apartment (this time with books too!). It’s the first one I’ve done in New York, so we’ll see how it goes–stay tuned for the full rundown next week!

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Best of the Looks:

I love how all the colors and patterns are working together in Julie of Orchid Grey’s look.

This Dorothy Perkins dress is perfect for summer parties. It doesn’t matter that I already have a few “perfect summer dresses.” I always want more!

This cardigan has my name all over it.

A look back at the headband, through history.

Best of the Books:

Many of the 2012 Academy Award nominees were actually based on books.

Have you seen Capitol Couture, the Hunger Games-inspired fashion Tumblr?? Go now.

America’s most literate cities–not necessarily the wealthiest.

25 Things I learned from opening a bookstore. 

For our February meeting, my book club is reading The Marriage Plot, one of the most buzzed-about books of 2011. FSG even rented a billboard in Times Square, an unprecedented move in the world of literary fiction. I’m just about three-quarters of the way through the book, so I’ll reserve my judgment for when I’m finished, but so far, I’m enjoying the book. It’s not Middlesex, but what is? I guess the only problem with writing a modern American masterpiece is that then you have to follow it up.

In Eugenides’ latest, Madeleine Hanna, Leonard Bankhead, and Mitchell Grammaticus graduate from college at Rhode Island’s Brown University and find themselves confronted with that age-old question: what now?  The book glides from perspective to perspective as the three do their best to figure out how to be adults.

This Fashion Book very nearly wrote itself: I was struck by the following passage, and could immediate picture Madeleine’s outfit–summer, 1982, Cape Cod.

“To meet her mother, Madeleine put on a pair of khaki linen shorts, a white blouse, and a navy sweater with a white striped V-neck. One good thing about being out of college–and living on Cape Cod, not far from Hyannisport–was that nothing now prevented Madeleine from dressing in the Kennedy-esque style in which she felt most comfortable. She’d always been a failed bohemian, anyway.”

Have you read The Marriage Plot? What did you think?

I did a Fashion Book for this a few months ago, but the cover art is too good to resist doing a coverall too.

The Looks:

The cover incorporates two of my favorite things: bright colors and polka dots. So I revisited some of my past Pinterest pins and dug up some looks that are reminiscent of the cover (it was surprisingly easy).

Little Tin Soldier

What Would a Nerd Wear

Vionnet suede sandals

Kate Spade

What I Wore

How have you been spending the weekend?

Best of the Looks:

I know we’ve all seen enough coverage of the fashion from the Golden Globes last week, but Evan Rachel Wood’s dress was my favorite by far. It was dramatic, gorgeous, and reminded me of Alexander McQueen.

Madewell’s spring line is out and I really want this dress.

Kendi’s right on the money with her take on 3rd grade. I had jeans exactly that color then, and frequently wore them with a brightly-colored sweater with a horse’s face on it. Trendsetter?

I love Monique’s personal and inspiring post about her hair.

A neat trick at Clothed Much to keep your belts in place.

Best of the Books:

Ten literary traditions for die-hard fans.

Author Sophie Masson dissects cover art among different editions at Writer Unboxed.

Miss Bibliophile unveils some truly unique dolls in the likeness of writers.

A new column on the Ploughshares blog dissects “blurbese,” the often cliche-ridden language of book reviews.

An entertaining post at BookRiot on how to merge bookshelves with your partner–without the fallout.

It’s an effective strategy, and I think it accomplishes the goal of forcing the American public to carefully consider how this legislation will influence their daily lives. The Internet is not just Facebook and Downton Abby animated gifs. It’s a vast wealth of information, information that helps us every single day (how many times have I Googled “toxic foods for dogs” in a panic after Chief has eaten yet another sketchy morsel from the sidewalk?), information that most of us take for granted. Think back to when you were growing up, before every household had at least one personal computer–our lives were just different then. And there’s no going back.

If you agree that the bills, if passed, could be irreversibly damaging to the Internet and society, consider signing this petition at Google, or contacting your local representatives. Voting begins on January 24.

I’m likely preaching to the choir, but I think it’s a worthwhile discussion–what would you do if your access to the Internet was limited or censored? Do you think there’s any benefits that can come from the above legislation?

I’m still adjusting and feeling my way around the new world of Tumblr–do any of you guys have an account? Leave your link the comments and I will follow you! What other favorite Tumblrs should I be following?

Hope you’re all having a great long weekend!

Best of the Looks:

Jentine’s look just encapsulates everything I’m loving about style right now–a braid, a shiny pencil skirt paired with a utilitarian button down, calf-length boots in cognac, and tights. I’m stealing this.

This Dorothy Perkins dress makes me nostalgic. I don’t know why.

Speaking of Downton Abby, Miss Bibliophile showcases a lovely photo of the ladies, as well as an awesome Design Sponge “Living In…” feature.

Broke & Beautiful gives us the scoop on Miz Mooz shoes on sale–I really wish I could buy the Goldie t-straps in gray. Sigh.

Modcloth’s Sundress of My Life IS the sundress of my life…but not for the price tag. Yet another sigh.

Best of the Books:

Bookriot has the top most miscast literary roles.

Ten musicians who should write novels.

Is Twitter the literary salon of our time?

Lovely vintage book week posters.

Whimsical video of books that come alive at night.

What would Dorian Gray listen to? Stream his mixtape. 

Anyway, perhaps I can use trying to accomplish one of my other goals, spending more time reading, as an excuse for my lack of blogging. My daily reading routine usually consists of reading on the train to and from work, which adds up to roughly an hour or more every day, but reading on the train is a different experience from reading at home, and I’d like to spend more of my downtime at home reading. Right now, I’m working my way through a 750 page novel calledWinter’s Tale. Written by Mark Helprin in 1983, the book meanders through a kind of alternate reality, where time isn’t linear and New York City only barely resembles the city we know today.

Though Helprin claims he hates magical realism, the book is bursting with it–there’s a horse that can fly, a secret village on a lake only accessible to a chosen few, and a massive cloud wall that swallows up anything in its path and causes it to disappear in both space and time. The narrative shifts from the beginnings of the 20th century to shortly before the year 2000. Though the “future” of the story is a city of televisions and skyscrapers, nothing else resembles the modern world we live in today. It gives a weird and haunting quality to the story, which centers on a thief named Peter Lake who falls in love with Beverly, the consumptive daughter of a newspaper mogul. Their love is enduring, and turns out to have properties that surpass the common boundaries of life and death, time and space.

Helprin’s writing is beautiful and expansive, and in his world, winter is a truly gorgeous season, where everything sparkles and sings. It almost makes me want it to snow! ALMOST.

I initially wanted to create a look based on the book’s qualities of loveliness and dreaminess, but I decided instead to put together a look that will keep you warm in any winter. Cozy’s the word.

What’s your favorite season? Are you longing for snow?