All About Navy

In case you missed it, Sunday's Emmy Awards were a flurry of sparkle and shimmer. Earrings were huge (both literally and figuratively) and navy blue reigned supreme. Navy is a great color that can be worn with everything and by everyone. Personally, I love it with black, but that is entirely up to you. Here are a few of my favorite navy pieces from around the web. You don't need to hit the awards shows to look fab in this color!

Zoe Striped Dolman, $29.50 and Treesje Navy Lita Cuff, $58

Gap Slouchy Pant, $35 and Tibi Chantilly Dress, $348

Lookbook #4 - Grey Skinny Jeans 4 Ways

When I heard grey was one of the "it" colors this fall I was so thrilled! I love grey worn as an alternative to more popular neutrals like cream or brown. I was doubly happy because a few months ago, I picked up a super cute pair of grey skinny jeans at Winners (aka TJ Maxx) for a super steal - $20!

They are made by Ben Sherman and have long silver zippers at the bottom, and just enough stretch to be fabulous and comfortable! Since Winners is a luck-of-the-draw kind of place, these particular ones are long gone, but click here to find a similar pair of Levi's (one of my fave denim brands).

Here are four ways to wear these skinnies now and into the coming season.

Look #1 Friday Business Lunch - Talla bib-neck cap sleeve top, Forever 21 gold braided headband (click here for a similar style), shell earrings from Mexico, gold Aerosole sandals (no longer available, but try these)

Lust or Must? Romeo & Juliet Couture Blouse

Romeo & Juliet Couture Rolled Sleeve Blouse, Bluefly.com, $61 (orig. $113)

I am a huge fan of Bluefly.com. Any place that sells designer pieces at reduced prices kind of gives me shivers. Today's "Lust or Must" has me drooling. This top goes beyond a basic black blouse and it can be worn day or night. For day, simply layer a fitted v-neck tee or cami for extra coverage, and by night all you need is your fave lacy black bra. Tucked in, left out, or belted, I think this blouse is such a must. Vote below and let me know what you think, and while you are at it why not leave a comment backing up your answer? Come on, I double - no triple - dare you.

Love, A

poll by twiigs.com

Subscription Prescription

I had heard all the talk and every time I passed a newsstand, I tried to shield my eyes from getting an advance sneak peek at the latest edition of Harper's Bazaar. Jennifer Aniston as Barbra Streisand? I was so excited and raced down to my mailbox every day to see if my big fat fall issue was stuffed into it. But everyday, I was disappointed. My mailbox contained bills and, thankfully, current issues of some other magazines I subscribe to (Real Simple and my beloved Vanity Fair), but no HB.

The days started piling up and I began to feel like a total fashion outsider; was I the only one who hadn't seen this supposedly amazing spread? Fed up with waiting, I went to Bazaar's website to report my issue missing, only to discover that my subscription had expired. Was it possible I had missed any one of the half-dozen reminder notices they send out, enticing you, and in some cases, frightening you into renewing: "You don't want to MISS it! It's our best offer EVER!!!" I suppose I must have, because there was no Jen tribute to Babs headed my way.

No special subscriber cover, but at least I finally got it...

No matter. Now that I was aware of the situation, I just picked one up the at my local magazine shop, but I had an even bigger conundrum; should I renew or branch out and test the waters elsewhere? So, I put it to you, dear reader; and as such, would love it if you would vote in the poll below. Why not leave a comment while you're at it (we just love comments here at 365 FR!) backing up your choice? The hole in my mailbox must be filled with one fashion magazine, delivered on a regular (fingers crossed) basis. I will order whichever one gets the most votes. I promise.

Love, P

poll by twiigs.com

The 5 W's - Kenneth Jay Lane Necklace

Who:A

What:Kenneth Jay Lane Hammered Necklace

Where:www.theoutnet.com

When:Recently-ish

Why:Because it is so classic! I had been eyeing this necklace for a few months before I took the plunge. I was lucky enough to find it on "The Outnet" (net-a-porter's outlet site) and it was a steal at $56 marked down from $120. The downfall of shopping at a discount place is that the merchandise moves quickly so it is no longer available. See below for similar styles!

Confession of a (Reformed) Shopaholic

I may be about to commit haute couture hari kari here. I just don't think I can take it anymore. If I see one more chunky sweater or suede boot, I just may burst into tears.

My confession is this: I think I may be the only fashionista out there who does not love fall. There I said it. Am I looking forward to buying myself a camel coat (the "it" item for the coming season)? Yes I am (god willing). Once the temperature drops, will I be grabbing the chunkiest knits in sight? Yes I will. But right now, it's August. The few remaining dog days of summer. Glorious, warm, sunshiny summer. And as much as I love the massive fashion mags that go hand in hand with the month of September, I am simply in full denial and I am not ready, okay people? I am not ready.

Just a couple of items I am most likely to pick up in the fall (when it actually arrives)

photo credits to Shopping Info for the coat (sadly no longer avialble) and PoshPosh for the sweater

So, try to see me less as a "hater" of fashion's most cherished time on the style calendar, and more as a girl who's getting ready to say farewell to her flip flops, her bikinis and her sunhats. In short, her favorite time of year.

Love, P

A Night At The Opera

Have you been to any great parties lately? I have been keeping it pretty low-key as of late, but I did recently receive an invitation to this year's San Francisco Opera Bravo! Club's black tie opening night gala. The performance is Aida and it takes place on Friday, September 10th (get your tickets here). Of course I feel like I have nothing to wear, but as a Fashion Rehab survivor I know I must first thoroughly investigate my closet before hitting the shops. Maybe I will invest in a dress or pair of shoes, but certainly not an entire ensemble as shown below.

Night at the Opera by 365 Fashion Rehab

Before tackling my closet I thought it would be fun to dream up my own "A Night at the Opera" ensemble as if money was no object. As if I was privy to every celebrity closet and luxury brand imaginable. Jimmy Choo shoes, Catherine Malandrino dress, Tacori earrings. It doesn't get much better than this.

Lust or Must? J Crew Rhapsody Hobo

J Crew Rhapsody Hobo in Nutmeg $325

Okay, I am essentially obessed with this bag. I was walking home from my local coffee shop the other day when I saw not one, but two girls both wearing white tops, jeans and carrying bags this color. Could it be the missing neutral in my bag collection? I realize it is a quite a pretty penny and a bit higher end than some of our other items in the Lust or Must Hall of Fame, but it also falls into almost all of our investment piece categories; high quality, highly versatile and classic in both color and material.

Will I have the discipline and patience to save my hard-earned loonies (that's dollars for you peeps South of the border) for this burnt sienna beauty? It is too early to tell.

What would you do?

poll by twiigs.com

Love, P

Closets & Cocktails with Pretty Shiny Sparkly

We here at 365 FR are so excited because one of our fave fashion bloggers, Kristina from Pretty Shiny Sparkly, is the latest edition in our Closets & Cocktails series. If you haven't already, you must, must, must check out her blog. It's a daily read for us!

Pretty Shiny Sparkly, indeed! Kristina, the authoress of this fab site in one of her marvy outfits. Do the shoes look familiar? They inspired my post, My New Boyfriend, Jeffery Campbell

What is your style motto? - If it's not fun, it's not fashion!

The Lady Isn't a Tramp

Betty and Joan - two t.v. characters who have become fashion icons faster than most.

Joan's necklace pen? Functional, fashionable, brilliant!

For reasons unclear, I have begun, in earnest, watching AMC's much lauded "Mad Men". In the beginning the showings up here in "Canuk-istan" - to employ a Jian Ghomeshi-ism - were a touch sporadic and so, even though I really enjoyed the show, I gave up on trying to watch it regularly. So, in these lazy, hazy, dog days of summer, I have started from the beginning. Yes, Don is handsome, Peggy intriguing and Joan beguiling, but my addiction to the show (and I know I am not alone here) is anchored in the costumes, the style and the fashion. I sit mesmerized, pausing and rewinding to get a better look at an accessory (Brooches- I am newly obsessed by these jewelry pieces of which I own a cool zero!) or a hairdo (Betty Draper's slightly rumpled, voluminous blond bob just after waking).

Watching Mad Men makes me feel nostalgic for a time in fashion which I will never be a part of...

The Blogfire of the Vanities

We rarely touch on the subject of home decor here at 365FR, but it really is something that P and I both love. During out "year without" (along with no clothes/accessories/makeup), we were also not allowed to shop for what we called "frivolous home decor". This included anything from picture frames to candles and anything else that we considered pretty. It was a very rough year! P recently wrote about wanting to revamp her dressing room and was seeking advice on where to start. She was thinking about adding more shelves, doing some wallpapering, getting organized and maybe even creating a bedroom vanity. Please come along for the ride as I take a mini-break from the world of fashion and share with you some design inspiration and my fave decor sites. I hope P likes them, too! (Read P's "Re-Organize, Re-Design, Re-Define" post here.)

Vintage dresser with a cottage appeal (housebeautiful.com) & dahlias in a white vase (photo credit: Apartmenttherapy.com)

Beautiful old Hollywood dressing room from This Is Glamorous & mirror image from pepperdesignblog.com (click here to see price of each mirror)

Reader SOS! To Toss or Not To Toss?

A faithful reader and blogger, Plummy (from Style on the Cheap), recently wrote in inquiring about cleaning out her closet. She said: "After we've tossed the obvious rejects from our closet, how do we differentiate from the maybes?" What a great question! She has some items that are in perfectly good condition but are not making it in her monthly (or even yearly) wardrobe rotation.

My "new" purchases from my trade-in at Crossroads. Zara dress and Elizabeth and James shoes. (Oh, and that is P's Hugo Boss bag! We did a swap when we were in NYC!)

Plummy's situation involves a pair of perfectly good pink Aerosole pumps (worn once in 4 years) and a dress (only bought last year) with a pattern that she says is both hard to wear and doesn't mesh well with her current accessory collection. My advice? Ditch the dress immediately. You already know the dress has faults, so do it a favor and pass it on. If the dress seems like it could be a great fit for someone else, why not take it to a consignment or vintage store that does trade-ins? No money is exchanged, but you can pick out something that will suit your lifestyle better. I recently dragged a bag of what I would call my "good unworn stuff" to Crossroads Trading Co. (they have stores across the states) and replaced my barely worn ill-fitting items for the above Zara dress and Elizabeth and James shoes.

Lust or Must? Betsey Johnson Bowtime Knee Sock

Betsey Johnson Bowtime Backseam Knee Sock, $15

I am so into socks right now! Especially with open toed shoes. I wore a sheer black pair of knee highs to San Francisco Fashion Week last Friday but had wished that they were beige so they would stand out against my black shoes. I think these Betsey Johnson ones are absolutely darling.

What do you think?

Love, A

P.S. Only 24 hours left to enter our Karma bracelet giveaway! Contest closes Tuesday, August 1oth - click here for details!

poll by twiigs.com

Lust or Must? Benefit Sunday Funday Kit

Benefit Cosmetics Sunday Funday $38. Think you'd like to add it to your makeup bag? Click here.

As part of our participation in Fashion Rehab, at the beginning of the project, we took stock of what we owned. As I perused and added up all my beauty products, I was genuinely horrified to discover I had 83 pots of eye shadow. A huge contributer to this was a large compact I had bought at Saks that housed close to half of that massive number, but nonetheless...

Upon successful completion (yay!) of the project, I addressed my makeup collection with my newfound conscious shopper's eye. After discussing it with the lovely Miss A, I realized it was time to chuck almost all 83 pots and start anew. Being fair-eyed, fair-skinned and fair(ish)-haired, I knew I only really wore a handful of colors on a regs basis. We both agreed I should find myself an all-in-one compact that would do the trick. I think Benefit Cosmetics new Maggie Collection in Sunday Funday may be the one - there's even a mini Hoola bronzer and the infamous Benetint!

What do you think?

Love, P

P.S. Have you entered out Dogeared Sterling Silver Karma bracelet giveaway courtesy of Blush boutique? Click here for details! Win it for yourself, or it makes a great gift!

poll by twiigs.com

Best in Toe

At the beginning of the summer, all the fashion mags cover the hot toe-nail polish colors for the coming season. This year, beauty editors were touting warm browns, soft pinks and bright corals.

OPI's You Don't Know Jacques, Essie's Tart Deco & Cajun Shrimp also by OPI - all available at Amazon

It's all well and good to delcare these hues in early spring, but which ones have you actually gone for? And what did you think of them?

If you have ever gone for a pedicure with me, you know that I am uber indecisive when it comes to time to choose my polish. Why it takes me so long is beyond me. Maybe it's the wall filled with every color you could imagine that halts me in my un-pedicured tracks? Too much choice?

San Francisco Fashion Week - The Reinvention

This past weekend marked the rebirth of San Francisco Fashion Week. Held at the Vitaminwater Social Club, it was a collaboration of some of San Francisco's finest designers. Ready to Wear on Friday night and Avant Garde on Saturday. Both shows were jam packed, and filled with some of the best in Bay Area style bloggers and fashionistas.

Friday night's show featured a montage of some of my favorite contemporary designers; Clu, Generra, Black Halo and 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, as shown by local online retailer, Fashionistette.com. Old turned new with a beautiful collection by local designer Joy Fan of Vintage Joy. (Think black lace layered over purple underthings with bright red lips and coiffed 'dos.) Work Clothes celebrated all things summer with an homage to the true California girl. Fedoras, mini dresses, and fun printed tees were the stars of their show.

Outside of Friday's event with my beloved SF ladies: actor and comedienne, Shaye Troha (left), and Catherine Hopkins of BB Dakota (center).

White Trench by Generra

Independence Day - Blush Boutique & Dogeared Bracelet Giveaway!

Today's Independence Day feature (meaning independent boutique, nothing to do with holidays and fireworks - although this store does make us feel like celebrating!) is Blush Boutique, located in Anchorage, AK. Owned by former Los Angeles resident, Haley Welsome, Blush is a spot not to be missed. Carrying brands such as Current Elliot, BCBG, Ella Moss, Mike and Chris, and Chan Luu; Haley's customers keep coming back for her discerning taste and warm personality.

Also, in true 365FR spirit, Haley and her best friend, Jules Laird live thousands of miles away from each other (like a couple of other girls we know...). So, how do they stay in touch? Jules (a production manager in Irvine, CA, at Too Faced cosmetics) accompanies Haley on her multi-annual buying trips to Los Angeles. As Haley says, "Jules has a wonderful eye and is the perfect sample size!". It warms our heart just thinking about it. Oh, and what about that Dogeared Karma bracelet giveaway? All you need to do is join Blush's Facebook page and follow us on either Twitter or Facebook and you could win. (See bottom of interview for full details!)

365FR: What inspired you to start your business?

HW: I went to college to be a teacher, graduated, and then decided to get into real estate because I was living in Southern California and the industry was booming. After a year of working as a realtor I realized it wasn't my true passion.