The online shopping has gotten a bit out of control, lately.  I think it started last Fall, when I started to offset my holiday gift purchases with (highly deliberated, highly justified) investment-piece purchases for myself.  Tit for tat.  But it’s January now, and unfortunately the balance has tipped…these days, my purchases are, well, purely self-centered.  After some serious number-crunching, I’ve decided that I need to draw the line.  It’s going to be all about window-shopping now, and I can at least make it count by working with what I already have in the closet.

Today it’s about my 1 week-old Current/Elliott The Ankle Skinnies in Fig Leopard.  Fucking cool jeans, these are – wear them with any basic top and still feel like you stand out from the crowd.  They’re perfectly faded and the denim is nice and stiff, all of which stamp out any cheese factor.

Here’s an outfit I created on Polyvore, and it kind of rocks my world.  I think my Vince sweater can sub for the Alexander Wang, and I just found an amazing black cotton trench at a thrift store in Fremont last month.  My new 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent tote has the same slouchy oversized look as the Ps1 tote (though not nearly as kick-ass, but that’s ok).  I can probably scrounge up a funky cuff somewhere in my jewelry box and I definitely have a cool scarf lying around in my closet.  I’ve been wearing these jeans rolled up at the ankle, but that’s just me.  I’m thinking I might live in these on the weekends this winter, as I just haven’t been in the skirt and tights mood lately.

This spot launched over a year again but I’m ALWAYS ecstatic when it airs.  I’m talking “stop-what-I’m-doing-grab-the-remote-turn up-the-volume-transport-myself-to-this-magical-house-in-some-remote-spot-of-the-world-reserved-for-superior-human-beings-and-marvel-at-the-beauty-of-Lara Stone-and-Hot Guy-for-30-seconds” ecstatic.  This is aspirational branding at its best.

P.S., the music slays me.

Monday-Friday mornings, NYC.

I’m a creature of habit, and that means starting off my day with a solid get-ready routine.  No 5 minute makeup tricks and wash n’ go styling happening in my little corner of NYC at 7:30 in the morning.  Some might call it high-maintenance, but it’s really just that I love the quiet and calm that comes with easing into my day – it’s the one block of time that belongs to me.  No meetings, no urgent requests, just me, my makeup bag and the boys of Phoenix.

I’ll admit that the idea of grapefruit and yogurt initially seemed…harsh.  The thought of combining two such distinctively sour flavors made me salivate.  Well, it turns out that’s what sugar is for.  27 grams of it, to be exact.  The easy way out? Perhaps.  I’m not sure I really care, though.  What I do know is that right here in this little container, there is a magical mix of silky milk, tiny flecks of pink pulp that burst in your mouth, and an uncanny blend of tangy, sweet, tart, and just the tiniest whisper of bitter (to remind you that this is, after all, grapefruit).  My probiotic intake is about to skyrocket.

Imaxtree via nymag.com

Anyone who knows me well knows that I live for silky button down blouses, the color gray, and anything drapey.   In my version of Cinderella, Donna Karan would be my fairy godmother and I’d show up at Prince Charming’s ball wearing this.  I’m sure my evil stepsisters would talk smack behind my back and say I looked like I was wearing a potato sack, but I wouldn’t give a shit.  In fact, it probably wouldn’t be my scene, anyway.  I’d just go for the free champagne, and to be that chick who wore pants to the ball and maybe didn’t even say hi to the Prince and probably flirted with the dudes in the string quartet instead.

Selma Blair in Lanvin.  This. is. gorgeous.  This is the perfect non-maternity maternity dress. The navy + grey with black accents is so urban chic.  Perhaps not the conventional color palette of a glowy pregnant woman, but I think that’s why I like it.  It feels consistent with her style…very sleek, minimalist, very effortlessly cool.  I love that U-shape scoop neck, but I do think a necklace could have been amazing with this – the dress is so simple that she could’ve gotten away with a really interesting statement piece.  Also not loving the hair.  A long sleek ponytail would have been great.  I will say that I don’t think she would have been able to pull off this dress if there were major cleavage going on.  Hey, I guess not everyone’s boobs get big when they’re preggers.  In any case, I think she looks fab.

But right now, nothing is more beautiful.

This morning I bypassed the truck (well actually, it wasn’t there) and popped into Financier.  I was in the mood for something indulgent.  Maybe a pain au chocolat.  Or maybe.. almond brioche? I’d never seen this before…a thick slice of bread, smattered with almond slices and dusted with powdered sugar.  Yet still seemingly light, somehow.

Well, smitten with my choice.  It was like an unbattered slice of french toast.  The crust was sugar-crystallized and crunchy, while the bread itself had a very subtle custard-like consistency that still retained the characteristic open, airy texture of brioche.  The almonds were perceptibly toasted, and really added an elegance to the flavor.

I nibbled on this thing for over an hour, alternating with sips of coffee.  It was all quite lovely, and perhaps enhanced by the fact that I was also wearing my favorite Lanvin scarf today– watery blues, soft corals and silvery grays.

Ah, the French…they really know how to elevate a cold winter Tuesday.