Bordering on Christian Grey, only it's Louboutin

I love clothing and accessories with just a little bit of an edge. I like how it keeps people guessing. Anything with a stud or some type of hardware catches my eye, as does anything with a skull on it (in moderation). So what do you get when you put together black leather, buckles, a silver heel and toe? You get these pretties -- the Chelita booties by Christian Louboutin. The toe is a little on the Western boot side, of which I'm not a huge fan, but overall these boots have had me biting my lip since I first laid eyes on them. They're available for pre-order at Saks Fifth Avenue and right now it looks like they're not available anywhere else. I'm very tempted to go in-store and try them on if I can find them.

When bling needs to go undercover

I've really come to appreciate bling in more places than I have before. Aside from the expected jewelry bling, I've added it recently to my shoes (Jimmy Choo ballet flats). I've purchased boots and handbags with studs. It seems that the more ornamental, the better. I look around my living room and suddenly it seems a bit bland.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Victoria's Secret picked up on this trend. I had a few coupons burning a hole in my pocket so I decided to see what my newest lingerie options were in-store. That, and my workhorse everyday bra had just gotten tossed into the trash after the underwire broke. (I wondered what was stabbing me in the ribcage for almost an entire day before I figured it out.)

This bra is the prettiest thing I have seen in a long time. It's neutral but has just enough bling to make it, well, pretty. Yes, it's a lot fancier than the bra that was unceremoniously trashed, but what the heck, I was due for an upgrade. I've always been a fan of the Body by Victoria line but they've really outdone themselves this time. And, judging from the new merchandise on the website, it looks as if a lot of interesting, pretty and unique designs are going to be in-store.

Wedged into my shoe collection

It never really gets that hot where I live, and sandals aren't necessary for most of the year. But on those really hot days -- maybe 10 per year -- it's always good to have a cute option.

The wedge is great for height without needing a stiletto. And it offers stability too. Sometimes Calvin Klein is a hit or miss -- their mass-produced shoes aren't always made with the highest quality and as a result comfort and fit can be compromised.

I was pleasantly surprised with these wedges. They are really comfortable, don't rub my feet or toes, and are a welcome addition to my shoe collection. And while I won't be able to wear them a lot, they're unique and were a good purchase.

They're available in two color combinations at Piperlime, although I'm sure they are available elsewhere as well.

Where have Choo been all my life?

I'm a girl who loves my heels. But sometimes, flats are a necessity. And they have to be cute ballet flats. I like to have a lot of variation with my flats, and I'm always on the lookout for chic and comfort combined, which is often not possible. The reputed gold standard of ballet flats, the Tory Burch Reva, does an OK job, but not that great. The same goes for J. Crew and Kate Spade. Banana Republic has pretty good padding but sometimes their fit isn't that great. Lanvin has cachet but their soles are ridiculously thin. Chanel, Gucci, Valentino and Prada are better but not for the wallet, as is Christian Louboutin. Did I miss anyone?

Apparently, I did.

How could I have missed looking at Jimmy Choo? Possibly because I always felt their heels ran a bit narrow, so they were never the most comfortable on me. I assumed their flats would be the same. Then, a few months ago while assaulting the sale rack at Saks, I came across the Jimmy Choo Weber flat (sadly not on sale). I couldn't resist the bling on these flats so I slipped them on my feet. The cushioning was amazing! It was almost like wearing slippers. They were by far the most comfortable ballet flats I had ever tried on. But ... no sale = no going home with me.

I never forgot the lovely sparklies, though, and a few months later managed to score a pair from Bluefly for a really good price. I've seen them on other sites and they also come in a beautiful bronze.

If you are in the market for blingy ballet flats, these are the ones you should try.

The discovery of Chanel Beige hype

I try my best to not buy into hype as much as possible. If a product is great and I need it, I will buy it. But I am not the person who buys the "It" bag unless I love it, and I will absolutely not buy uncomfortable shoes, no matter what color the soles.

Truth be told I am a huge fan of Chanel nail polish. I love the formulations, the color palette, the unspoken swankiness of wearing something -- anything -- Chanel. I realize Chanel is now one of the top brands for young Hollywood starlets, but when I was a teenager, Chanel was worn by old white ladies who lunched at charity events. Someone my age wouldn't be caught dead wearing Chanel. If she was alive and wearing Chanel, she was most likely carrying her octogenarian grandmother's handbag while Granny adjusted her white gloves after fishing for the keys to her Cadillac DeVille.

When Chanel asked me to "discover" their exclusive new color, I was a rapt audience. I waited patiently for the email telling me what exclusivity awaited me, their loyal customer.

They had me discover ... Beige. Wow, Chanel. Really? Was this some type of joke? Where was Ashton Kutcher? Was I being punk'd? I even checked the email address to ensure that it actually came from Chanel. It was like being asked to discover my inner blandness.

But then there was the hook. I found a coupon code for free shipping. And for some reason, even though there is a Chanel boutique in my city, I wasn't going to pay sales tax either. And somehow, I felt sorry for these little boring boxes of Beige.

So I caved. And the blandness arrived today. At the very least, I guess it will be a good safe color for work.

Rockin' a Valentino

Valentino has always been glamour, sophistication and a little bit of haughtiness to me. I never would have thought you could add studs to various Valentino items and give them an edge while still maintaining their sophistication. The one thing that always gives me pause regarding Valentino is its higher price tags. A few seasons ago I was fortunate to nab some hot pink rosette ballet flats on sale at Saks for a killer price of about $240, but I haven't been able to repeat that unbelievable deal.

Now there are some big sales upon us -- specifically Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's -- and I'm wondering if I just might be able to snag my next Valentino item, the Rockstud Dome Satchel. I saw it in person at my local Nordstrom but it was months ago, and I'm not going to count on the fact that it's still in stock. However, given the fact that my office is within walking distance to Nordstrom, I might have to drop by and see if I can press my luck. 

Praise for Prada ponyhair

I am a sucker for a great deal. I am a sucker for Prada. I am a sucker for shoes. See where this is going?

Every once in a while, I find a screaming (and I mean really screaming) deal on eBay. Usually it's from a seller who is inexperienced, or doesn't necessarily know the value of what they're selling. It happens less often than it did when eBay was in its infancy, but sometimes I am lucky.

Last week I won these shoes. They were a great deal as they only cost me $10.50 (no that's not a typo), and they are Prada, and well, I am a sucker for shoes. I had another Prada lover authenticate them for me so I can wear my new (to me) Prada ponyhair flats with pride.

The perfect party dress

Sometimes life just hands you something amazing when you're least expecting it. A week ago I got a phone call from Palm Springs Life magazine. They were calling to tell me that I had won their grand prize in a sweepstakes. They were flying me plus a guest down to Palm Springs, picking me up in a limo, sending me to a fashion show during their Fashion Week, and then also sending me to the Food & Wine Festival the next day. Unbelievable! I have won things in the past but nothing like an all-expenses paid vacation. What a score!

Since I was going to attend their Fashion Week, I knew I needed a party dress. Something that wasn't all black which is usual fare in San Francisco. I nabbed this adorable magenta 50s-style dress from Banana Republic. It's from their Mad Men collection. It arrived today and fits perfectly. Not only that, but it is made of 100% silk which is rare these days -- most dresses I see are polyester. I can't wait to wear it to Fashion Week!

Just a dot of color

I love cool housewares as much as I love great fashion. It really comes down to things that are a fabulous design. I am into decor, remodeling and renovating, although I am getting to the end of what is doable in my current residence. I'm feeling like I might have to start all over again! At any rate, I don't have room for any more dishes or glassware, but if I did, I would start with these awesome glasses by Jonathan Adler. I saw them online but I'm sure they are also in store. They come in this cool blue and also a sunny orange.

I'd bet on this pony

I have always loved the Alexander Wang Rocco bags. But then again, I am a huge fan of the Louis Vuitton Speedy and the Gucci Boston, so that's probably no surprise. The AW bags have all been leather up until this point. Finally -- something to shake things up a little -- the newest Rocco is made of ponyhair and leather! While this pushes it over the four-digit mark (much to my dismay), this gorgeous bag is on my short list.

Creamsicle colors for spring

Chanel is already thinking about spring nail colors. Although the names of the colors are nothing fancy (April, May, June) they do look like frosty drinks, don't they? I'm told they will be available for purchase in January 2012.

I'm singin' the blues

Don't get me wrong, I liked Chanel's Blue Satin when it came out. But I LOVE the Jeans de Chanel collection. They are not sparkly, the colors are very saturated, rich and creamy. I had to get a set of three. Get them while you can, as they are a limited edition and are already selling out. They're still available on the Chanel  website.

Fall is arriving and it's furry

Shearling coats often are a little too overpowering in my opinion and sometimes have too much of a Western look for my taste. However, I think this coat from Vince is more streamlined and chic. I love how it's paired with an infinity scarf and casual top. I can see myself wearing this often. The retail price is steep at $1,975, but maybe someday it will go on sale. A girl can dream, can't she?

Some cheap bling (relatively speaking)

I was shopping at my local Neiman Marcus today and chatted up the sales associate in the Chanel makeup department. She mentioned that nail polish is the new impulse purchase as opposed to lipstick. I thought this was very interesting, but absolutely true. Cosmetic companies have been bombarding consumers with new colors every few months. And it is easier to go wild with crazy colors on your nails than on your lips. (Remember those horrible gothy lipsticks that Chanel put out a few years ago? They didn't look good on anyone.)

And of course, a new bottle of nail polish is $25 at Chanel, far below the price of a new Chanel bag, or any designer handbag for that matter. Cheap bling.

As nail color is the new impulse buy, I had to participate. Chanel's Fall 2011 colors are in stores now, and I felt the draw of buying two new colors, Graphite and Peridot.

Soon I will need more nail polish storage, but colors like this make it worth it. 

On the hunt for the perfect off white bag

It is really difficult to find the "perfect" off white (or bone) handbag. Mostly because there are so many variations of the color. White is sometimes too stark, and often an off white handbag has too much of a yellow undertone in it for my liking. I started out with the Coach Kristin Hobo, but it had too much of a grey, almost dingy feeling to it. So back it went. Admittedly I also get annoyed when my Coach bags go almost directly to the outlet after they are released, but that's a story for another day. Maybe I will re-buy my Kristin again, but only if it is deeply discounted.

I've come across another coup by Alexander Wang, and I have been a big fan for quite some time. His Rocco bag can do no wrong (well, except I would love it if it were a bit lighter). I think this new color, which he is calling Bone, is a great warm color, which I prefer. Alas, the price tag I do not prefer, so I'm hoping I can snag this one on sale at some point.

Here comes the sun

I love a little flash of color here and there. And what is happier than a yellow bag? Yellow can be tricky, especially in clothing, as it can cross over into too-close-to-neon territory. But splashes of yellow are fun, never over the top and always make you smile. Kate Spade did a wonderful job with this bag -- just bright enough, a delicious texture, a great size and extremely functional. Sadly it has sold out on the website but something tells me it will show up elsewhere, and you can also probably spot on on eBay or Bonanzle at some point.

Now I'm craving a frothy, fruity drink

I know it's not spring everywhere, and a lot of people are still buried under snow. Thank goodness there's no snow where I live, and I'm even seeing some sunshine through the rain this morning. An inexpensive way to infuse the ol' wardrobe with some spring goodness is nail polish. Relatively cheap and a small pick-me-up. How could I resist Chanel's new spring line? It was impossible. Check out one of the great new shades, this one called Orange Fizz. I got it at my local Neiman Marcus but it's also available for purchase on the Chanel website.

Breaking the color rules of winter

I remember clearly when I was a kid how my grandmothers and other senior relatives followed "color rules" based on the season. That meant no white after Labor Day (and certainly not before Memorial Day), no patent leather except for in the spring, no pastels in the winter except for winter white, which of course then couldn't be worn in the spring or summer. It was dizzying trying to remember all the do's and don'ts.

Living in a warmer climate, these rules seems to not be as strict. There are some colors that seem to cross over between spring, summer, fall and winter. Like this bag by Alexander Wang. I managed to snag it on sale at Barney's although sadly it has sold out there. It's the Rocco bag in mustard. I think this could possibly be a year-round bag, as the color doesn't seem to fit a specific rule in the seasonal book.

Winter boot perfection

Hold the phone ... I found the perfect winter boots! Finally! Well they aren't for inclement weather but they are perfect for non snow days. Yummy black suede, a comfortable heel and the ultimate in style. The only thing that is temporarily holding me back is the price, but usually Christian Louboutin is worth it. These boots are available at Saks for $1,095. By hook or by crook I will find a way to add them to my wardrobe.

A no-hassle tassel

I'm generally not a fan of tassels or fringe -- I immediately think of a western theme gone wild in a bad way. Even the famed Balenciaga bags are sometimes too much for me. Ralph Lauren can be the same with his fringed pieces. If you add a great deep purple into the mix, though, I can be swayed. Case in point: the fabulous Coach Brynne. It's similar to a Gucci Boston or Louis Vuitton Speedy, but the leather is divine and the colors rich. The website shot of the purple doesn't do it justice -- it's much better looking in person. So of course you're not surprised that I added one to my collection.