Sissy's Southern Kitchen & simply splendid vintage

mom in '74  & me at Sissy's Southern Kitchen

Thank goodness my mom held onto this most cherished little dress of mine. Or hers, I should say. And is it weird that I've named her Ruby? Yes. Regardless, Ruby made her debut in the photo above at my dad's 10 year high school reunion. Fast forward 30 years to me...in her closet...hunting for treasure. Blammo! What a treasure, indeed! I love this dress. I look for excuses to wear it. But on Friday night, no excuse was necessary - it was the perfect dress for dressing "in my southern best" for Sissy's Southern Kitchen's Grand Opening Party. (And by the way, I think my mom wore it best!!)

On a side note, Dallas locals…I can't say enough about the mouth watering food served that night. I couldn't stop eating the crab cakes, deviled eggs, spare ribs…and perhaps the best fried chicken I've ever had. You must stop in at Sissy's…it's simply splendid.

Seeing Red

Are you well red? With Valentine's Day smack dab in the middle, February hails as the month for love. (And with so many birthdays falling at years' end, I think our parents felt this way too.) (Eww.) (Sorry.) The fabulous and oh-so-splendid blog, chartreuse & a twist, is celebrating the love this week with a color post on...wait for it...RED. I decided to link up and share my favorite red, red finds. Hop on over, link up and showcase your well red selves!

linky love

Links I'm lovin'!!

always say thank you in style with an oh-so-chic merci

who doesn't like a killer color combo

fall in love with this sweet sixteen

and more happy colored inspiration


ENJOY!!

Friday's Fancies: Sparkle & Shine

Just because you're going into the office doesn't mean you can't dazzle your co-workers with some shimmer and sequins. A pop of sparkle goes a long way, so save your so-bright-it's-blinding shine for evening. And make sure to choose accessories you can wear both in the am and pm.  I have no room in the funds for two pair of Louboutins. Or one, for that matter.

So tell me, how will you   s p a r k l e   &   s h i n e    this holiday season?  Friday is gonna be here for a little while longer...long enough to create your own Friday Fancy! Check out some inspiration HERE!

Marc by Marc Jacobs silk top, $325  Vince sequin tank top, $295  The Row skinny pants, $1,990  Vince sequin skirt, $209  

Christian louboutin heels, $1,075  Chanel shoulder bag, £3,300 Hourglass Prodigy Hydrating Lip Gloss -Opium, $26

Friday's Fancies

1.  Lilly Pulitzer Cassie Dress Slub

2.  Alexander McQueen Leather Knuckle Clutch

3.  3.1 Phillip Lim Absinthe Green Regine Braided Evening Sandal

4.  Charlotte Olympia Priscilla Striped Pump

5.  Lilly Pulitzer Upscale Bangles

6. Necklaces by Ileana Makri and Aurora Lopez

7. House of Harlow 1960 Gold Sun Cocktail Ring

Is it even possible that Fridays could get more fun? Yes. It is. Thanks to {av} at Long Distance Loving. Her weekly series, Friday's Fancies, gives glam loving gals everywhere a chance to leave budget woes behind and become that stylist we've always secretly wanted to be. Here's more from {av} herself...

 I am partnering with Lilly Pulitzer to provide a little distraction from the colder temperatures through their Jungle Glam Resort collection. Whether you're a regular Lilly lover or not, everyone is sure to find a piece which suits their fancy {pardon the pun!}. Each week for Friday's Fancies, you pick items you would love to have in your closet and forget about the pricetag. This week, some of those items could actually end up in your closet!! {Click here to find out more!}

Yes, you read that right. 

In conjunction with the launch of their Resort 2011 collection, this is a giveaway of epic proportions! A dress, a pair of shoes, and a few gorgeous accessories will glam up the wardrobes of a few very lucky {long distance loving} readers. If you're doing the math, that's over $750 of Lilly loot up for grabs! 

This giveaway gets better. If today has you running around like crazy with no time to play, don't fret. You can still enter to win! Head on over to Long Distance Loving and check out the fine print...


Good Luck!!

trending tribal

trending tribal by alongcamesplendor 

Don't get me wrong. I love being a boy mom. I love that our house is littered with miniature golf clubs, plastic trucks and evidence of backyard explorations. I love that I know how to get sidewalk chalk and mud out of hair, ears, eyes...and teeth, for that matter. I love that life with Mr. and Little Mister is far less feminine than my single years. 

But every now and then I miss my girlier days...and by every now and then, I mean those times when I'm on the edge of losing it after trying on 5 different outfits - all of which I hate, scurrying around in mismatched shoes deciding which one is best, sweating and wondering how it suddenly got so hot in the bathroom, running 45 minutes late to an event that my husband wasn't all that thrilled to go to in the first place and now he's found some game on ESPN12 between teams no one's heard of but it beats making small talk with strangers so now he really doesn't want to go and neither do I, given I'm in a robe, skivvies, two different heels an oversized necklace I just had to have but can't figure out what to wear it with...oy vey...please just humor me and say you can relate. Living with girls is like having a full time staff of stylists on call 24/7. No problem (or wardrobe crisis) is too big for my fashionable friends. 

So what's a boy mom to do? Turn to her new bestie, Polyvore, and put that outfit in question on paper. Or urgent email to previously mentioned stylists. Or...on your blog. Boom. We're back in business, ladies. 

Stylish and chic and mother of two (boys), Anna of A Newfound Treasure has one treasure, in particular, that's been in her closet for weeks. Now judging by her fabulous blog and eye for all things fashionable, I doubt she has the same kind of wardrobe dilemmas that seems to come fairly regularly for me. Hey, I just like confirmation that I either look smashing or so scary that you wouldn't be seen with me at CVS. But I get the feeling Anna simply wants to pose a fun challenge and see what of finery her readers impressively find.

Our mission? Match her tribal treasure with your own personal sense of (unbeatable) style. Email it to Anna at anewfoundtreasure {at} hotmail {dot} com. Oh and comment below with a link to your Polyvore perfection so I can see what you talented lovlies put together!

sincere thanks + street style

And now for some Sartorialist inspiration...from the stylish streets abroad. All this street style gets me thinking I should retire my usual "grocery store, post office, Walgreens" uniform of sweats and t-shirts. I may not have glamourous errands to run, but it wouldn't hurt to feel glamourous while scoping out the best sale on toothpaste every now and then, would it? 

smoke-break style on the streets of london

mother & daughter perfection in paris

a serpentine silhouette in milan

ladylike lovely in paris

Maybe high heels and hats are a bit much for a trip to Target, but I could at least put on something that doesn't have an elastic waste band. 

And now in unrelated news, I have a HUGE SINCERE THANK YOU to announce...

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the fabulous ladies over at reFINEstyle. ACS was just recently featured on their blog, The Style Book! Their musings, moments and must haves will be your new "must have" morning read...enjoy!

reFINEstyle in a frame

It's Wednesday. I like alliteration. So let's go with..."What I'm workin' on Wednesday!!" My next project has been months in the making. I'm on the hunt for a too-good-to-be-true deal on a vintage designer scarf to display in an over sized, gorgeous (also vintage) frame. 

My solution? reFINEstyle.com - if you haven't been to this genius site yet, I strongly urge you to check it out. Think 1st Dibs but with designer (to-die-for) apparel and accessories. I'll let their consignment experts tell you, in their own words, what they're up to.

reFINEstyle.com is an online marketplace of pre-loved designer fashion and accessories. Curated by a hand-selected team of sellers across the country, an ever-changing selection of consignment merchandise is offered to the fashion-minded buyer at greatly reduced prices. The best pieces. All in one place.

My theory? The best place to find a too-good-to-be-true deal on an uber-fab scarf? A too-good-to-be-true online shop! Oh but it is true, friends.  It's true indeed.

Here are a couple dandies I've seen lately that caught my eye! (PS: I've learned the hard  way...if you see something on reFINEstyle that you want - grab it! The goods go quick!) (Oh! One more PS: My sister, Alissa of Re-Finery, is one of reFINEstyle's consignors! Make sure to check her stuff out too!!)

Re-Finery's Hermes scarf on reFINEstyle

Hermes Scarf via reFINEstyle

Gucci Scarf via reFINEstyle

So which one is your favorite? I'll make sure to give updates with progress and pics once this project officially gets underway. In the meantime, mosey on over to reFINEstyle...and finally get your hands on that (discounted) Celine bag you've been coveting.

that 70's series

Free-spirited, gypsy style. I've always loved it. And I'm tickled pink it's one of the top looks for fall.

Why is it that I'm so fascinated by the 70's? Maybe it's because I secretly want to feather out my layers like Farrah Fawcett. Or perhaps it's because...if given the choice to own any single wardrobe from that decade...I would choose my mother's.  (Photos to come. Although she would never admit it, she was the epitome of style for her time...)

I think it's a combination of both mixed with the fact that I'm just a little bit gypsy at heart. Regardless, I'll be wearing my poncho, bell bottom, fringe, boho, floppy hat, tailored trench look delightfully this fall.


Then and now.

*images via google

misSOni EXCITED about Missoni for Target

Little Ms. Marina at all the way up here brings us (or just me if I'm late on this info) some too-good-to-be-true news. Missoni is set to debut their new 400 piece line for Target on September 13th! Am I the only one out there giddy with glee, day dreaming of the glorious morning I show up 30 minutes early, eager for those red Target doors to open and clouds to part, revealing a completely in-stock and fantastically affordable Missoni selection????  I apologize for my excitement, but I've been in love with a certain Missoni throw for a while now. However, my spending habits have gone from splurging unnecessarily to spending almost all my "me" money on one handsome, little toddler. It may not be the one I've had my eye on, but getting my hands (and my funds) on any one of those iconic zig-zag throws will do just fine. 

See a sneak peak of the goodies coming our way next month!

too cool for school

Recent blog post from YouPlusDallas: Park Cities

Before we know it, little brainiacs everywhere will be heading back to school, leaving Mom with a little extra time on her hands.  Oh my, my, my…however will she spend it?  Might we suggest by getting a head start on updating your cool-weather-wardrobe? Just in time to shop the Autumn 2011 collection, Stella McCartney will  soon be opening the doors to her new, Highland Park Village diggs.  And fashionistas all over Dallas are giddy with anticipation. Here’s to hoping her kids line will be coming along for the ride.  Of course, considering that my toddler, Max, has recently decided that wearing clothes is no longer his thing…it might be wise of me to splurge on something for myself, instead. Come on, can you really blame the little guy? It’s hot out, right? Right?

So get ready, you stylish socialites. In just a few short months, label lovers with a particular fondness for Stella’s take on cutting-edge fashion, can delight over the eye candy she’ll be bringing to Big D, proving yet again, that Dallas is a designer shopping destination.  Yee-haw!

currently loving...

I'm loving this Spellbound Maxi Dress by Mara Hoffman available at Anthropologie. I imagine the corset top and full skirt would flatter the majority of figures - even those with post-baby squishy mid sections like mine.  Oh I wish I had an excuse to splurge on this little lovely.  Would I be too overdressed for a popcorn/reeces pieces movie night at home with my boys?

currently reading...

Photo courtesy of All the Best Blog via Summer Thornton Designs

All the Best Blog (and List!)

Design inspiration comes from many places.  99% of the time, I get mine from images - lovely photos of lovely things.  Don't be fooled by my last post - I don't get my kicks from books...unless of course, it's a beautiful hardback to display in my home.  Sure, I read for other reasons, but not for ideas on what to do with that annoying empty space in my kitchen or how to wear that high-waisted skirt.  Until now, that is.  All the Best Blog, founded by Rhonda Carman, has me hanging on her every word.  With Q & A's from well-known designers like Jonathan Adler, Summer Thornton and Kelly Wearstler, you'll stay up reading well past your bedtime.  Who says nothing good happens past midnight?

fabulous fifty

Have you read the premiere issue of House of Fifty yet?  Mix a little bit of Lonny with equal parts High Gloss - oh, and throw in some overtones of inspiration - and you've got House of Fifty.  It's destined to become a part of your "must-read" online magazine collection.
Make sure to check out Kayce Hughes on page 40.  A full-time fashion designer and mother of seven, Hughes dishes on the ever-so-elusive balancing act of the working mom. And if her story doesn't inspire you - then you must have skipped over the part about vintage fabric shopping with her daughters - including her oldest who now has followed in her mother's entrepreneurial footsteps.  Enjoy!

i love a good sale.

in case the return of green grass & beautiful spring weather aren't enough to get you out of your house this weekend - perhaps a couple good sales will!

re-finery spring trunk show: score new and gently used designer bags, sunglasses, clothing, jewelry and shoes including vintage bally, dior and gucci. lots of new inventory including manolo blahnik, tibi, tory burch, j brand, nanette lepore and more at up to 85% off!

sat. april 17 / 10 am -4 pm / 5431 W. University Blvd.


vintage chic trading co. spring market: the design district showroom's first market event will offer home furnishings, accessories, antiques, lighting, jewelry, gifts, and flowers. owner carla sayklay describes the showroom’s inventory as “industrial chic meets vintage style.”

april 1 5 - 17 / 10 am - 6 pm / 2336 irving boulevard

shoes cure blues

since i'm a big, swollen, pregnant mess right now - and the thought of shopping for clothing only depresses me...i've turned to shoes! loving shopbop's spring selection and if it wouldn't jeopardize my marriage, i'd order ALL of these...
Ports 1961 Geisha Sandals in Buff
Loeffler Randall Honey Open Toe Cutout Booties
Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Frisco Whipstitch Flat Sandals
Boutique 9 Post Cutout Flat Booties in Natural
Balmain Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain Zipper Sandals
Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Roma Wedge Sandals with Knotted Straps

*photos courtesy of shopbob