Equestrian Overdose

My coworkers can attest to my love of horses.  Our director emailed out a note with news of a pitch to a horse-related organization..... and within seconds I had emailed a response (kindly) demanding that I create the proposal and work on the potential project. There may or may not have also been a squeal or two (or three... plus a hand clap) involved.  I was beyond overjoyed!

I rode my first horse at the age of seven.  Just like countless girls before me, I instantly fell in love with riding, horses, and the whole equestrian experience. My fear of heights dissipated the second I swung my leg over the horse, grabbed hold of the reins, and let my horse carry me away from the barn and into the riding ring.

My first riding experience! It all started with a horse named Ami. 

While Summer is always overflowing with nautical motifs, Fall is abundant with equestrian everything.  Silk scarves emblazoned with bits and stirrups find themselves wrapped around the necks or purse handles of chic women everywhere.  Riding boots are slipped on and worn trekking through piles of colorful leaves.  Houndstooth hacking jackets provide the perfect cover up on chilly day.  You'll never run out of possibilities:

Pink Pineapple Shop Earrings | J Crew iPhone cover | Ralph Lauren handbag | Ralph Lauren dress | Gucci scarf | Stubbs & Wootton slippers | Fornash necklace 

When I was old enough to drive, I still begged my parents for a horse instead of a car.  In hindsight, I appreciate the Volvo more.  Although a girl can still dream!

Buying up a new collection of equestrian goodies is perfectly acceptable if I get to work on a horse-related marketing project, right...?

xoxo,

Admiring the Famed Red Soles

Fashion exhibits are the ultimate window-shopping experience.  Decades of delicate, intricate, spectacular couture, all in one impeccably curated salon.  Some don't see the value in paying to see what can be admired with a trip through a high-end department store, but to see a single designer's career collection all at once provides an intimate look into their inspirations, their creative process, their vision, and their tremendous skills.  

A glance into the workshop of Louboutin

I make it a habit to attend every designer exhibit I can.  From the Met's awe-inspiring annual Costume Institute productions (the Schiaparelli and Prada exhibit with fictional conversations between the two women was beyond cool) to the theatrical set-up of Jean Paul Gaultier's greatest collections at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, I leave each one with goosebumps and a renewed love of the art of fashion.  

This weekend I finally made my way to the Design Exchange for the Louboutin retrospective.  It is probably one of my favorite fashion exhibits that I've ever seen.  From the moment you walk in, you feel like you've entered the glamorous world of the man who frequented burlesque clubs, exotic locales, and parties with the most fabulous of women since the 70s.  The setup was perfection - providing the perfect context in which to view these tiny works of art.  I mean, THIS is what you see when you first walk in:

I wish I could have a magical carousel with rotating Louboutin heels!

I've never seen such an incredible assortment of shoes.  There were heels made from the most imaginative of materials - from tree bark to garbage, from goat hair to peacock feathers.  Any girl could buy into her own definition of glamor. Here is just a sample of the shoes on display:

I wish I could live in that exhibit.  With each new step in my own shoes (simple penny loafers, unfortunately), I held back a squeal of excitement and resisted an attempt to pick up a shoe to stuff it in my over-sized tote.  The exhibit officially closed on the 15th, so I'll have to make do with the occasional walk through the Holts shoe department until I can one day own my own pair of red-soled beauties!

Has anyone else heard of any other fabulous fashion exhibits coming up that I should be aware of?

xoxo,

CanadianPrep Does South Beach

It may be nearing the end of August, but this gal is just now enjoying her first official vacation of the year. And let me tell y'all, it has been a LONG time coming.  I've endured countless all-nighters, several occurrences of "oh can you just do this one thing for me... for tomorrow," and far too many moments of my brain aimlessly drifting into thoughts of lands far far away.

You can bet that I'll be enjoying every moment darkening my tan (or sunburn) on the sandy beaches, getting lost in the pages of my books (or September issues), and sipping on delicious fruit smoothies (or Shake Shack peanut butter shakes.... or frozen margaritas).

And of course you won't catch me out-and-about in the tie-dye sarongs and "I heart SoBe" t-shirts found in every beach shop lining Ocean drive.  Nor the gaudy glamorous suits and high-heeled sandals that have made an appearance or two on the infamous Miami Kardashians.  I may stick out like a sore thumb, but my preppy ways follow me everywhere I go.

Here are my South Beach vacation essentials:

Kate Spade grosgrain sunhat (similar) | Vineyard Vines tote | J Crew seersucker suit | Essie polish in Tart Deco | J. Crew white linen skirt | Joe Fresh gingham button-down | Lilly Pulitzer McKim sandals | Ray Ban New Wayfarers  

What are your beach essentials?

xoxo,

Lilly Pulitzer Makes it to Toronto

Yes, you read that right. THE Lilly Pulitzer has opened up in the Greater Toronto Area.  I just about died when I walked by, stepped back, rubbed my eyes, and then had my wildest dreams come true.  And yes.... I went shopping.

First J Crew, then Kate Spade, and now Lilly Pulitzer - so many of my Florida favorites have followed me up to Canada.  Now all I need is a Vineyard Vines, and I may stop missing my home state just a tad less.  Or at least stop sticking out like an obnoxiously bright prep amongst a sea of urban hipsters.

xoxo,

J. Crew's Deviation from the Classics

I can still remember my very first purchase from J. Crew.  It was a v-neck navy, kelly green, and white argyle sweater vest.  That was when J. Crew was still quintessentially preppy.  We've all witnessed some of our favorite brands begin to conform to changing fashions.  Gap and Tommy Hilfiger each had "sporty" phases, and Abercrombie & Fitch deviated from its original hunting wear and novelty items.  Of course, companies do have to evolve in order to serve consumer tastes, but the issue arises when they deviate too much from what the core brand historically represented.

I'll admit to missing the true-to-preppy form that J. Crew once represented, perusing my old catalogues for the ribbon belt, argyle vest, and silk tie headband days long gone.  But I still swoon over the updated and occasionally "hipster" styles present in today's J. Crew style guides.

I caught wind of this story from the Huffington Post, and find myself impressed with J. Crew's reaction to the customer's letter of dissatisfaction.  The incident started with a simple email, and suddenly Mickey sets up a conference call to help address the customer's issue.

You can watch the video and read the article on Huffington Post Style.

While I do miss the old style, I've swooned over enough dresses, sweater sets, and shoes in recent years to still love what the brand has turned into.  I think there becomes a point where we have to loosen the tight reigns we've held onto memories of the brand we loved in the past, and judge the company and its products against what they've matured into today, especially when it comes to the ever-changing world of fashion.  J. Crew still offers many of the classics it once did, and most of them with monogramming options.   But they've also added sequined pencil skirts, painted t-shirts, and cashmere leggings to help grow a new generation of loyal consumers.  

As long as the classics never truly disappear and monogramming is still available, I'm okay with the occasional leather pleated skirt and whatever else the oh-so-fab Jenna Lyons and Mickey Drexler throw our way.

xoxo,