To be or not to be? Tano or not Tano??

I am constantly on the lookout for up and coming handbag designers. I found Isabella Fiore about three years ago and fell in love with their bags, Aaneta followed shortly thereafter (a mother/daughter team who creates beautiful leather bags).....now, an affordable bag hits the Neiman Marcus website - TANO. LunaBoston has been carrying this line for years and they are very unique, but casual and so reasonably priced that it will become your every day bag! As  low as $275.00 @ neimanmarcus.com or $159 @ tanobag.com. Bold purples and greens make up this season's brightest of leather..... 

Also check out Melie Bianco Woven Fapover Clutch...gorgeous and only $64!! 

20 degree balmy November day brings winter white hats and big scarves.....

Briefly looking at the 25 degree temperature outside my bedroom window this morning I realized it was time to bust out the necessary cold weather gear. I have been hesitating to wear Alice's 1960's crotchet/knit slouchy beanie because I wasn't sure it was my style even though I adored it. The thing I didn't quite get was that the hat paired with a scarf knotted and tied in all different directions was just the right look to keep me warm and stay true to who I am. On my 1/2 mile walk to the bus I kept catching glimpses of the hat in shop windows and not only was it adorable, but it was my Alice.....

The above hat, from Banana Republic, is very similar to the one my grandmother made 40 years ago. The scarf is a gorgeous print that you can find at Anthropologie and is tied exactly the way it should be, messy and warm.

To get me through the cold months - these are a few of my favorite things!

The Ben Sherman Chichester Swing Coat with the perfect BC Footwear fushia flats I snagged in NYC last weekend... an unexpected print with a bold color has an updated 80's meets 2000's chic-ness! Love it.

It took me 2 months to find the perfect black, flat boot - WELCOME to my life, Frye Bonnie Riding Boot.....yummy

These truly are the perfect boot - throw on with your short little matte jersey tunic and knit patterned tights or over your brand new True Religion skinny jeans.

In a time of recession, I want more....

Why, in a time of absolute crisis and when everyone else is "battening down the hatches" do I feel the need to buy staples for my wardrobe? I am pumped about this blog because I am going to bring to all of you fabulous finds! Items that are day to night by integrating jeans, hoodies, dresses, tights, flats, and great boots with perfect finishing touches. I will share all of my online secrets - the websites I sweat over - really it's a labor of love and the things I can't live without....... I think on a blog it's okay to say that I am good at finding diamonds in the rough - staple wardrobe pieces from various retailers ranging from Target to Bloomies to Neimans - I search endlessly because it's my passion and I believe it's also an art form....

My Current Obsessions:

- Frye Riding Boots - black and flat

- Gap off the shoulder (soft as butter) tunics w/ brown tights and flat boots

- J.Crew headbands and bow belts

- Ben Sherman black and white checkered high collar wool coat

- LuluLemon yoga pants

So, please enjoy and give me feedback - I am always looking for that unique piece and it doesn't have to cost a ton!!!