the find: masculin / feminin foundations

just a short and sweet post for your Monday: Emerson Fry (aka the NYC designer who consistently makes everything i want to wear) is having a major sale. i don't think any designer does well-made, chic wardrobe foundation pieces with a feminine spirit and a tomboyish flair better than EF. so in case you're looking for the perfect ponyhair leopard print heels or the wear-with-everything black ankle boots, get them now for half off!

currently reading

via

what i want to read this month and the next:
Just Kids by Patti Smith
Here is New York by E. B. White
and some more Didion.

also, inspired by my belated Wire appreciation (i am still not over season 3 episode 11...), i'm hunting for some excellent mystery / crime fiction. any recommendations for titles by Dennis Lehane, or others?

what are you reading right now?

review: stylish travel 2.0

the ultimate travel dream team: ultralight carry-on, streamlined travel kit

i have pretty low expectations when i travel. my one experience flying first class happened when the airline bungled my international itinerary, and i spent most of that short, luxurious flight (tea service! fancy armrest gadgetry!) worrying that the airline had just lost all my luggage.

since then, i try to only take carry-on.

saturday-gram: easy does it

simple weekend dressing for a day of errands and visiting dear friends and their beautiful baby: favorite white steven alan shirt, blue jeans and Ferragamo pumps. perfect for a surprisingly un-January-esque day after frigid temperatures all week long. looking forward to catching up on episodes of Downton and The Wire, and a nice long weekend ahead, rounded out by inauguration coverage on Monday (happy MLK Day!).

what are you weekending in?

essentials: shoe and handbag care kit

the indispensable care kit: 

waterproofing spray, conditioning cream, quick polish sponge, 

suede / nubuck brush and scuff-eraser 

a reader got in touch recently asking about how to pre-treat her new A.P.C. boots (i reviewed mine here) before wearing them.

style notes: for 2013

via vogue.es

hey, i still believe in new year's resolutions. in spite of those that manage to get away by February.

foundations: the perfect faux leopard coat

the inspiration: Emmanuelle Alt

longtime LAM readers know that i have a fondness for leopard print, and firmly believe in its neutral properties. that leopard print coat has been on my radar for ages since this iconic photo made the rounds of style blogs a few years ago. 

after some trial and error, i think i may have finally, finally found it.

essentials: big bag theory

via jak & jil

it's a new year, and i'm full of ideas for ways to organize, optimize, and minimize. on the organization front, one of my major peeves is a messy black hole of a bag where i can't find anything. 

essentials: APC // SC

hope you all had a lovely holidays and new year! my uniform for the first days of 2013 is mostly revolving around the awesome A.P.C. boots and SC bag (similar).

what's in heavy rotation for you right now?