I'm surprisingly impressed...

I've never really been a huge Banana Republic fan having always thought their collections were a bit mundane and stale but things seem to be looking up for BR in their Spring/Summer 2010 line. The collection features the classic BR safari inspired khaki trenches and capris, some head to toe denim (which I'm still on the fence about), lovely silk trousers and high-waisted shorts, gorgeous camel coloured leather jackets and some beautiful silk dresses in lovely shades of teal, peach and indigo (which I need to get my hands on).
Take a peek...

A little more Steve Madden...

While on the topic of shoes, I started torturing myself today by taking a quick look at the new Steve Madden Spring/Summer collection that you can order online. I do realize that it's still January and the thought of strappy sandals on my candy colour painted toes seems like a distant vision considering I have four layers on at the moment and the heat blasted, but it doesn't hurt to look...

MYLAA $69.95 us

WAVVERLY $79.95 us

THUNNDER $39.95 us


WHEATON $129.95 us

RADIANTT $79.95

DEVINNE $89.95 us

So if I can't resist ordering a couple pairs, can I just call it being extremely proactive and organized?

Who needs prozac when you have shoes!

One store I pray will one day miraculously pop up in Vancouver is Steve Madden. There are two locations in Quebec and one in Ontario and zero in BC!! (I'm stomping my feet for dramatic effect) Until that glorious day arrives, I'll suck it up and make some trips to NY and Montreal or a much cheaper (but far less exciting) solution is to order online.

While shopping at Steve Madden in New York, I found more than 10 pairs that I could have bought on the spot, but after just spending a ridiculous amount of money at Top Shop 30 seconds earlier and my entire shopping budget blown, I painfully chose only one prefect pair to take home with me...

Was it classic suede black pump with the cute rose detail ($99.95 us)...

Or was it the fun plum peep toe ankle booties ($109.95 us)...

Or was it the over- the -knee grey suede boots ($99.95 us)...

Or the dark brown riding boot with a fantastic chain detail ($249.95 us)....

Now I could have justified buying all four pairs because they're all so completely different and I'm positive I would have worked them into my wardrobe, but I did enough justifying in one day and realized I had to make a decision (which I am just crap at). Both pairs of boots would have gotten an insane amount of use but I wanted something more exciting and the black pumps were adorable but not trendy enough for me....

So I picked the plum ankle boots!!!!! Probably the least practical, but so me...

My New York Love Affair... Part 1

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years”

Thomas Wolfe

New York City. The Big Apple. The City that Never Sleeps. Whatever you choose to call it... I've gone with; The Most Unbelievable, Glorious and Fu**ing Amazing City...Ever. The lovely people, the fantastic sounds, the buzzing excitement, the magnificent buildings, the non stop nightlife... oh and the FASHION!! I did everything I ever imagined myself doing in NYC; I ate french fries at Pastis, I strolled through the golden leafy paradise of central park in autumn, I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, I saw a romantic Broadway play, I shopped in Soho ( I actually did this numerous times), I secured the best spot and had my lunch on the steps of the MET (Blair would be so proud), I saw pieces of art that took my breath away, I danced the night away to the best hip hop dj's I have ever heard, I hummed the 30 Rock theme song outside of 30 Rock, I pretended to be ridiculously rich in Bergdorfs, I had some wondrous street meat and I got felt up by a stranger on the subway (kidding...) All I can say is that I fell in love with this city and as soon as I pay off the CC's, I'll be on the first (direct) flight back to rack them all up again!

So you ask, what did I spend all my money on???

Well here's a little taste of my many purchases...

I bought this fabulous leather bag in Soho from a store appropriately called Bag.

But in this colour below...

They carried so many unbelievable styles I was seriously torn between the one I purchased and these other beautiful ones...

And they offered every style in any of these gorgeous colours...



I went a little crazy at Top Shop (I almost spent the whole day there...) buying two clutches, three silk tops that almost look identical, two over-sized cardigans, two dresses and a handful of jewelry. Justification; I had to take advantage because they don't ship to Canada!

This is one of the silk vest tops in a shade I've chosen to call camel...






I know, doesn't look that exciting, but the material feels so nice on my skin and under the arms they've done beautiful inserts of lace. Small details like this make me very happy...







I bought about a million silk scarves on Canal street in the brightest shades I could find like this one below that I've been wearing constantly...





I had an even more risque love affair with these stores...

Intermix
With brands like Mara Hoffman, Jay Godfrey, Elizabeth and James and Chloe, what's not to love!
Olive & Bette's
Cute boutique store carrying Splendid, Free People, James Perse and Ella Moss.

Bergdorf Goodman
I wanted it all; The Zac Posen and Marchesa dresses, the Lanvin purses, The Christian Louboutin booties! I was in heaven... and now poor!

Missing: undeniably short, always over-dressed, bright scarf wearing blogger...

First off, I would like to apologize for being completely MIA during the last few months. I promise to never leave you again unless something incredibly important and serious takes my attention away... like for example the Holt Renfrew 60% off winter sale, which is happening now!
Ciao!

Kidding! (But I will stop by at some point... obviously...) I have no excuse for my absence, no wait that's a lie. Here are my well thought out and hopefully forgivable excuses;

~ A much needed vacation to Montreal and New York which took up an insane amount of research time and by research I mean figuring out the clothing stores I could spend the most money in and flawlessly executing my to plan tear up of the dance floors of NYC...

~ The holidays which were so incredibly busy and stressful I almost didn't even have enough time to finish off my 4th mimosa most days...

~Oh and there's a boy that's stumbled into the picture as well. A cute boy. A boy who makes me smile. And I'm sure you will all agree that when faced with a morning of either sitting in front of your lab top typing away or laying in bed all day with a glass of champagne, a pile of french toast with whipped cream and strawberries and a cute boy laying beside you, you would pick the latter...

Despite all those horrible setbacks, I have a million things that I've been dying to write about...

Yours Truly,
The Loveleighest...