hot shot of the day - free up

that little secret part of me who still wishes i lived in the OC .... i've always loved Free City.

particularly jazzed over the new MATSHOP tshirt.  easy, relaxed, cool.

$138, buy here

hot shot of the day - wedged in

a perfect fall wedge.

MyMu Ceci Wedge, 4 inch heel, $328

buy me here!

Lanvin Fall 2011 Campaign Movie

i. am. dying.
this is so funny, chic, awkward, and amazing.
it's like...merry christmas, fashion world!
HOW CHIC IS ALBER AT THE END?!

hot shot of the day - from Kate Moss' wedding

such glamour.
Kate + John Galliano...be still my heart.

(all shot by Mario Testino, via vogue.com)

style file - this week's highlights

what a week!  an earthquake and a hurricane!  i mean, how do you dress for those kinds of events?!  thankfully, the hurricane didn't impact any of my outfits during the week and the earthquake..well...all it did was knock over my little model McQueenadillo shoe.

my absolute favorite dress i own - a beautiful silk confection from Timo Weiland's SS11 collection..  i saw this on the 'runway' when they showed last fall and instantly fell in love. 

the ruffling along the back is absolutely stunning.  it's the most perfect dress i own, and i wear it as much as physically possible!  and i think the messy braid was a perfect compliment to the construction of the dress.

pants, the gap. top, self-modified jcrew. shoes, banana republic.  long, straight, severe ponytail, inspired by Marc Jacobs fall 2011 runway!  loved this look...i really like doing sharp lines and classic looks with modern twists.  

black jeresey dress, jcrew.  long sleeve top, Madewell. pony hair leopard print booties...leopard print is the gift that keeps giving.  i love pairing them with a short hemline and long sleeves!

running errands to prepare for Hurricane Irene!  shorts, self-modified the Gap. top, anthropologie. jute bottom flats, Steve Madden.  

fall is almost here, everyone!!  can't wait!
stay safe & dry this weekend, east coasters...
xx

Hurricane Irene mania - SoHo Shops Prepare (sorta..)

things are about to go on lockdown in Manhattan, so we thought we'd get out of the apartment before it became a dangerous situation.  first inclination...stalk the weather channel's Jim Cantori (he's kind of a stud muffin..) where he's reporting from in Battery Park City.  okay, we tried, but it got boring.  the river wasn't really churning, it was just a rainy day.  so up next, we walked around our neighborhood and found the shopping mecca of SoHo ....boarded up and prepped for the storm!  a weird sight!  i have to admit though..some of them were amazing ...some where...well..you'll see.

The Apple Store, SoHo - not sure what those tarps are going to do but the sandbags are the most hardcore we saw.  the entire first floor of the store is deserted, all products are off the showroom floor and put into safety.  

Diesel - pretty impressively boarded up!

the infamous Prads SoHo - windows are covered and blocked out with heavy canvas, but nothing special.  they have the advantage of being up about 8 feet from the ground.

Elie Tahari did a professional hurricane prep job.  either they hired someone or one of their employees is from Miami.

despite the experts repeatedly saying that taping windows does absolutely nothing to pretend them from breaking, tons of shops taped their windows.  This is Burberry's kind of sad attempt at saving their windows.  i'm not convinced -  they didn't even take the merchandise out of the windows.

Louis Vuitton's weak attempt at window taping - at least the bags aren't in the windows.

Armani's taping adventures were by far the most impressive and organized, but still, i doubt it would do anything against flying debris, you know?

SoHo's beloved sandwich shop, Olives.  the iconic red bench was still out but the shop owners were bringing it in as we were walking away.  great job boarding up and +100 points for decorating the plywood!

Michael Kors on Prince Street - again...one of their employees is from Miami or they hired professionals.  Perfectly covered windows, sandbags... nice work, Kors.  word is every store of his in the city was boasting the same impressive protection! no sassy hurricane bitch is going to mess with Michael Kors!

Issy Miyake's Pleats Please (this store intrigues me more every day - however, i need to win the lottery before i can afford anything from Issy Miyake..so it will continue to just intrigue me) - they didn't board their windows up or sandbag anything..but they did totally clean the showroom out to protect the incredibly expensive and beautiful clothes/bags in the event of flooding.  it was very eerie, actually.

my absolute #1 favorite - Chanel in SoHo!!!  broken down boxes lining the windows (and only HALF the windows..the rest of the windows are around the corner and they weren't covered!) and two sandbags!  DYING!  i just imagine all of the chic, whispy Chanel sales associates having a conversation about it over an espresso and a cigarette...

Chanel girl 1: oh. my. god. you guys, headquarters said we have to "prepare the store" for the hurricane.

Chanel boy 1: what does that even mean?

Chanel girl 2: um, like, what? lock the doors?

Chanel boy 2: guys i lived in Miami for a year, and they used sandbags!

Chanel girl 1: where would we even GET sandbags?

Chanel boy 1: this is New York, you can get anything.

Chanel girl 2: okay wait, i'll call my AmEx concierge, they'll send them. they send anything. how many? like...1?

Chanel boy 1: probably 2.

Chanel boy 2: i guess i'll break down the boxes the purses came in. we can..put them...in..the windows?

Chanel girl 1: god, you're like a genius.

Chanel boy 2: i know.

i mean, i'm pretty sure that's EXACTLY what went on there....word for word.

Hurricane Irene mania - what to wear?!

Hurricane Irene is tearing up the eastern seaboard right now, and while i don't advocate going outside during an extremely dangerous weather event like a hurricane...i DO advocate stylist rain gear!  rain boots and a good rain jacket are essential items that every woman should have in her closet - i admit i spend more time in my rainboots during the winter than i do probably in any other shoe (they're great in snow too!).

while some may balk at the idea of dropping a little over $100 on rain boots or a rain jacket... consider the consequences of not having said items... wet/ruined high end jeans, destroyed suede heels, ruined silk tops, drenched cashmere or chiffon..ugh. no thanks!

the key is buying simple and basic items to help you brave the elements...save the polka dot rain boots for your 7 year old niece.. the classics are exactly that...classic!

the classic tall Hunter boot - simple, chic, stylish, no fuss.  they go with anything and keep your feet dry as a bone.  in a variety of colors, $125, usa.hunter-boot.com

a twist on the classic, the short Hunter boot is just an abbreviated version for shorter girls who don't want to be consumed by how tall the 'tall' boot is! variety of colors, $115, usa.hunter-boot.com

jcrew's Weatherby Rain Boot adds a little something extra with the full back zipper and snap closure.  variety of colors, $79.99, jcrew.com

The North Face - The K Jacket - waterproof, great color, great cinched waist... and it's The North Face.  the last and final word in clothes designed for hardcore element exposure.  everything i own by the North Face is worth every penny. in white or black, $179, thenorthface.com

right as rain jacket by lululemon ...adorable,  functional, and waterproof.  what else do you need?  oh, and it's well made, like every other lululemon product! black or grey, $178, lululemon.com

stay safe and dry this weekend, east coast!!!

 xx

thanks for everything, Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs retired as Apple's CEO today and we just wanted to say...thanks!  Thanks to a man who has truly changed the landscape of technology worldwide and done so in the most stylish way possible.  understanding and embracing design and aesthetic, Jobs is who actually made the cell phone a chic accessory.  he made it chic and easy to carry a laptop in your purse (love you, MacBook Air!), and i mean..how did we all live without our iPads?!  a true visionary and innovator... so...Thanks Steve!  take care of yourself!

xx Stilettos on Sullivan

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in square holes...the ones who see things differently - they're not fond of rules.  You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things..they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Steve Jobs

in the bag - Henri Bendel Serena Satchel

Henri Bendel serves up structured chic for fall - available in all black too!

i kvell for embossed croc leather.  

available at www.henribendel.com, $450.

to the streets, to the streets!

daphne groeneveld & lindsay wixon, styled by edward enninful...i mean, you just cannot get any more amazing.  particularly obsessed with the Donna Karan & Dior jackets with fur collars....you know my love of fur.

oh, and the Miu Miu dress w/ the rockabilly hair.  i. die.

photo credit

hot shot of the day

Tilda Swinton wearing Haider Ackermann in W Magazine....

she is the fiercest woman alive.

designer spotlight - Cushnie et Ochs

the new guard in fashion is making waves.   prabal gurung is blowing up, timo weiland just got named as one of the members of the new class for the CFDA Fashion Incubator...and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist Cushnie et Ochs are making heads turn. women want their clothes, and men are snapping their necks watching these women walk past them in their figure flattering designs.

Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs teamed up and launched their namesake line in Spring of 2009, showcasing a powerful aesthetic of clean lines, form fitting dresses, and touches of leather, fur, and all things rocker chic. however, Cushnie et Ochs clothes are for powerful women who are taken seriously and are serious about looking good.  always glamorous, architectural with an edge and strongly on trend, i daydream about wearing the below the knee pencil skirt with hair trim to an important meeting...strutting in, making an instant impression, and then taking control.  that's the kind of woman who wears Cushnie et Ochs...they're the kind of clothes that make women feel strong, hardcore, and powerful.

luckily, the world has taken notice too...in the past two years, they've garnered rave reviews and have appeared in numerous major publications including Flant, Elle, Surface, Marie Claire, and Glamour..but most recently, they dressed Jessica Alba for the cover story feature of the September issue of Lucky Magazine in a stunning royal-hued fall 2011 dress..

again, another label that is making fashion FUN again.  every season, i cannot wait to see what these two ladies will come up with next!  always unexpected, incredibly chic, and LOTS of fun to wear... Cushnie et Ochs is one to keep your eye on...

check out their website here.

shop online at bergdorfgoodman.com & shopbop.com

check out all of their collections at style.com

style file - this week's highlights

dress - moulinette soeurs.  love this dress in late summer.  the polka dots are relevant again for fall, but the light chiffon and swingy circle hemline keep it fresh and sweet for summertime.  i also love the mismatched print of the belt/scarf.  it's a perfect vintagey touch.

top - marc by marc jacobs. pants - the row. these pants are everything and i thought i'd switch it up and go with a looser silhouette on top.  it was a risk but it worked out!

top - hammered silk w/ interesting details, bought at a random little shop in NoLita

casual friday! pants, salmon tank top - jcrew. sneakers - j.purcell.  i am absolutely living for an oxford tied at the waist lately.  i think it's so chic.  and after work, i take the tank top off from underneath and it's a whole different look!  i just love the touch of menswear.

coffee run!  shoes - tory burch. skirt, top - jcrew.  i love this skirt..it's kind of odd and a strange salmony/orange color and doesn't go well with very many things...but somehow..it works.

summer is officially winding down.  new york fashion week is in less than 3 weeks, and once that last model sashays down the runway, fall has officially arrived.  i'm on the hunt for a few very special pieces still for fall, but i'm sure i'll find them.  what are you looking for to complete your closet for fall?

Mad Men Capsule Collection - Banana Republic

The Banana Republic design team paired up with Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant to create their next installment of the Mad Men Capsule Collection - featuring Betty, Joan, and Don inspired looks, taking cues from the stylish folks of Madison Avenue in the 60's.

the collection itself is well styled and surprisingly non-campy (some 'capsule' collections based on a certain period tend to be a little costumey), and the pieces are fairy versatile and and well made (although certain looks did seem to run a bit smaller than others...)

cardigans, pussy-bow blouses, a circle skirt, a well cut and conservative sheath - all are clothes that most women can work into their closets with either (that cardigan doesn't only come in leopard...there is a grey and a primrose colored cardi as well...for those who can't quite bust out an animal print.)  the best pieces (and most expensive pieces...although nothing is over $250) are the jackets and shoes..

i love the leopard trench, although when i tried it on, it was a little louder than i expected, and the shoes are absolutely perfect for any occasion...the office, a date, or just running Saturday errands!  i ended up buying the jacket in the last look - a double-breasted, bracelet sleeve wool jacket with an interesting neckline that will go beautifully with jeans or trousers...and will (as pictured) look amazingggg with GLOVES!  i'm so excited to get a great pair of leather driving gloves for fall!  

all in all, the collection is a hit for Banana Republic! It's different enough from their normal aesthetic to garner attention (hell, it got me there on a Thursday night!), and it's fashionable without being avant garde, ensuring their base customer won't be scared off.  well played and very well priced!

i could do without all the pearls..but i am LOVING the chignons!!!

shop the collection at www.bananarepublic.com