It's places like Forever21 that save my bank account when I absolutely have to have something new in my life. It's like that feature in Glamour- Eat this or ALL this where they show you one little fried something or other next to a plate chock full of good things for the same amount of calories. You can have all this for $224.90. And, really, you could probably get away with only one pair of sequin running shorts.

I take it back, they are totally different. You do need both pairs of sequin shorts.

Well, the snow never made it in time for my holiday party, but that really was the least essential item of the three. The champagne was there, the sequins were out in full force, and everything single thing that could be drank in my house was drank. So fun that I think that just became the First Annual.

I go back and forth on the knock offs... Fake bags and copies billed as the real thing are always a no, but after that, SIGH, I don't know. Would I like to be able to buy the original of everything? Sure, but that will never, ever be a reality. And all fashion and most of the world is ripping each other off, who ripped off other people before them, who inspire something else that becomes another thing that gets ripped off anyway. In any case, here is a direct knock off at half the price. What do you think, worth the extra bucks to get the "real" thing? And why do I not care so much when it's not a bag or a designer dress?

REAL: KG by Kurt Geiger Salvador Studded Boot, $272.
FAKE: Steve Madden Toughy, $150. Of all three, I am digging the taupe cheap guys most.

These shoes stopped me dead in my internet wandering, virtual window shopping, cruising down the information highway tracks. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Quilted platform? With tiny gold studs? Topped with grosgrain bow? Supported by a patent heel? Finished with a gold chain slash ribbon bow hanging daintily off your ankle?! Who would even want these things? ME! ME! I WOULD!!

Parisian Wedge, $270, TopShop.

I would hope I would at least have the good sense to pair these little cupcakes with something simple and easier on the eyes. Little black dresses with some clean lines and simple movement. Such like:

1) Tubular Black Beaded Dress, $33, Forever21. Loving the little 3/4 sheer sleeves on this. Echos the prissiness of the shoes with the scoop neck and shift shape. You'd be all knocky knees and tiny wrists in this.
2) Bodkin Lacuna Dress, $196 , La Garconne. I think Bodkin is being SUPER generous even calling this t-shirt a dress, but hey, it's the holidays. You get a little more room. I'd get it a size too big and wear it with leggings. Not tights, leggings. Super tight and opaque black leggings anchored by giant parisian platforms. Perfect.
3) Pencey Open Back Cutout Dress, $500, BunnyHug. I love the New Years Eve is like Halloween in that you can get away with just about anything, but that people are more inclined to dress it up then get as trashy as possible. Opaque tights, heavy shoes, and the cut out ribs are all but forgiven.

OR JUST GO BONKERS ON THOSE SHOES.

Phillip Lim 3.1 Dress. Fly me away on wings of matte black sequins. Leaving behind a cloud of shiny golden glitter. Dreamy.

I've never been much of a pre-distressed jeans kinda girl. While I mostly cursed my lot as being in the younger half of a generation chock full of cousins and their hand-me-downs, torn jeans may have been the one item I didn't have to look far for. I would, however, make an exception- a huge, $7,500 expception- for these baby grey, torn all over, sequined darlings. These are not jeans. They are not pants. They are more then an outfit, they'd make your entire wardrobe. Sigh, googely eyes, tweeting cartoon birds around my head. If you are not seeing it, flip through this month's Glamour and check out the way better shot of them in one of the editorials.

So what's a girl surviving on beans and rice to do? Get Mom to buy a pair of sequined shorts instead! I actually can't believe she spent the 20 bucks on these. When she said something along the lines of "Well, if it makes you happy just to have them and own them, you should have them," I felt truly understood. Yes, Mom. It will make me happy to have these.

They may not be Ralph Lauren Holiday blah blah blahs, but they are MINE.

H&M.

Who will give me a tab in these troubled economic times? OK! Blog is back. Starting now. Promise. Ish.

I used to love Erickson Beamon. Then I hated him when he came out with that god awful collection for Target. Or was it Urban Outfitters? In any case, it was a hot mess, except without being at all hot. Then I saw this and decided to love him again. THEN, I saw the rest of this collection and decided I still hate him save for this insanely amazing bracelet which I will be expecting in my new stocking come Christmas morning. Or Christmas Eve if I get antsy.

Glenda Cuff by Erickson Beamon, $475 at CharmandChain.

Well, not exactly vacation. Life has had a few bumps in the road lately (laid off, divorce, dog got shot, among others), including losing my camera. The blog has not been top of the list. BUT. Work starts Monday, got a better man, puppy is back to same old Mister Marmol, and I have been promised a camera for my birthday. So, blog will be back, and hopefully better, very soon. Sowwy!

The whole damn club was lookin at her.

Was Flo Rida talking about these booties? He must have been, these things got it going on. No boots with fur that came before even matte. Black pony hair wedgey guys perching on crazy wooden heel. Angles. Texture. Sigh. Drool. Dream.

You could wear a paper bag with these and look amazing. But you wouldn't. In a perfect world, the world where these reside in my closet, these items would be right there with 'em. Lush fabrics, angles on top of angles, black and gold galore, super plush look.

Finsk Fur Wedge, $562, OakNYC.

The rest is from TopShop. Getting that high-low mix on, ya heard?

When was the last time you saw a piece of jewelry designed for a charity that was not terrible? It's usually a lot of abstract hearts and weird symbols on cheap cords or cheese ball inscriptions in even worse fonts scrawled across bracelets and silver pendants. To be honest, the rest of the collection for Heart U Back, the jewelry designed for ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), is exactly that. BUT. These bracelets are totally radical! I would wear these guys just for the wearing, not the do gooding, but it's always nice to know your dollar bills are going somewhere good.

Dog Bone Bracelet, $40, Heart U Back for ASPCA. I am especially digging on the red and gold.

I know... I know... not a post in a month and I start back with something I hate. It's only notable that I hate them because I want so badly to love them. I saw the little thumbnail and my heart jumped. FINALLY. A suitable Chloe knockoff. Shoulda known better than to think someone coulda knocked off Chloe in a way that I would want to wear. I have learned many life lessons of late and I think this one will stay with me the longest- never assume a Chloe knockoff will be good. Ever. Look at that heel. It's just hideous. Turns my stomach.

If you want to be grossed out further, or don't hate them and would like them on your feet, go here.

New ring. A present from my Mother. Is she the sweetest or what?? I love this thing. It's perfect. Little red heart lips sparkling all over.

I need a serious hug so bad. You know, when you just want to be squeezed so hard you start to have a hard time breathing but you pretend like can breathe fine so they don't stop hugging you? Yeah. I would settle for a super cozy sweater to wrap myself up in. What says comfort and feel good better then a shark? To me anyway...

TopShop, Knitted Shark Cardigan, $100.

I'm walking on broken ground again. Oh, oh, when will I learn?
All you do is push me back in the dirt, And I'm in the Quicksand.

STILL on this La Roux kick. Can't... kick it? No, I can't SHAKE it. I am seriously in the quicksand. Not in a La Roux there is a boy in my bed what to do? sort of way, but more in a seriously life can you cut it out for ten seconds with the this and the that and then on top of the that the other thing?! sort of way. Jeez louise. I looked it up on the ole interweb though and turns out quicksand can't kill you. As long as you don't struggle, it's impossible to drown, contrary to what Indiana Jones would have you believe. So, whatEVER world. You can't kill me. Science SAYS so.

I want:
* A new blog layout. This was never really the look I was going for. Ideas? Suggestions?
* A new header. This one has to go, asap.
* One million dollars. American.
* ONE Cubbie Bear win this series. Preferably tonight.
*All of these tights. I know it's a little early, but fall can come early in Chicago. Actually, all the seasons just tend to show up whenever they want. Welcome to Chicago, Summer. I hope you enjoy your brief stay at the end of August.

Suki Cream Tights, Bebaroque, $65. These remind me of ice cream. So, naturally, I love them.
Carousel Tights, Bebaroque, $77. When people used to say "Put on your party pants and..." I thought it was a metaphor, like a thinking cap or something. No, they really meant "Go get your party pants, you know, the ones with the confetti party roaring up and down the front of them." Oh.... duh.
Studded Mesh Leggings, Stylestalker, $175. These are my favorites. If someone wanted to be my stylist and dress me up in things, this would be an excellent place to start.

I clearly did not do the flash test before leaving the house this morning. I get a pass today because I got my number one main man back last night. Me and my Mister Marmol. Back together. Where we belong. I will train him to take a daily polaroid of me to avoid this situation again. For now, oh wells. I can't wait to take this dress into fall with matte black AA leggings. I got them last year and have yet to wear them. I like to be about 6 seasons off, trend and other wise.

Dress: Forever 21. Shoes: 80/20. Bracelets: Hodgepodge of Vintage.

Necklace: Not wearing one. You know when you are missing something and you just don't know what? I was feeling that way about this outfit until I started looking at these for the 800th time. My pal, Alicia, makes them. That girl is a wonder. Amazing blog, great etsy, and now a new shop- Talonalia. It seems like the Owl is the big hit, but I ordered the Sparrow. It reminds me of when my small paw was stuck in a claw. And this, apparently, is a memory I would like to carry around my neck.

Between $30 and $75, and worth every single penny. GET AT IT!!!

No, this dress is not anything but a vaguely ethnic patterned drop dress from Forever 21. This is one of those dresses, like my plaid maxi, which inexplicably gets compliments and comments from everyone, mostly dudes. It really impressed the old guy in the old timey shop that was selling vintage leather and beautiful silver pieces. Especially since he didn't know what Forever 21 was, so for all he knew I was confirming that is was a treasured find. It is one of my best dresses.

Dress: Forever 21. Shoes: Dolce Vita. Sunglasses: Grey Ant. Feathers: Amazing hat band found in another old timey shop. There was a whole mess of them and I got a whole mess of things. More to come later.

I very much want a silver phoenix cuff. Very much. I also want a gold phoenix. Painted on the hood on a black and gold car. Dream big.