What We're Buying - Bib Necklaces

Pie + Fortune are quite the costume jewelry aficionados.  Originally designed for movie and stage productions, these larger than life gemstones have been a popular and affordable alternative to their precious counterparts ever since.

One of the best spots to find on trend accessories at bargain prices is Forever 21.  With their recent 30% off online jewelry sale, Pie + Fortune were happy to purchase a few necklaces they fell in love with at an irresistible discount.

 

 

Pie initially had her eye on the sparkling pearlescent bead necklace she blogged about a few weeks ago.  At 1/3 of the price of a necklace Fortune picked up at a Turkish jewelry party the ladies attended earlier in the year, Pie hoped it would be just as gorgeous in person.  Since Forever 21 doesn't allow jewelry returns, and their rhinestone encrusted selections can be hit or miss, Pie + Fortune first trekked to the retailers' 34th Street location to scope it out.  Ornate, gleaming, and a bit fancier than Fortune's more upscale boho look, the necklace fits Pie's extravagant tastes to a T.

 

In keeping with her gaudy style sensibilities, Pie also scooped up a gorgeous emerald, navy and teal statement collar, along with a pearl choker interspersed with silver spikes.  Pie loves the juxtaposition of ornate jewelry against a casual outfit and, as she works in a more relaxed office environment, will be pairing these pieces most often with a tee shirt, black skinny jeans and fun flats. 

Fortune, on the other hand, chooses more opulent accessories to work with her wardrobe.  Thriving in a corporate environment, she mixes high and low to perfection.  Fortune had to have the shop's light blue and silver rhinestone necklace, stunning against a simple black sheath dress.  She also purchased a lavender and gold shimmering bead chain necklace, which will peek out from underneath a chiffon button down blouse splendidly.

And the pièce de résistance?  The Rhinestoned Velveteen Collar; featuring hundreds of sparkling stones, both Pie + Fortune are crazy for this lavish treasure.  Ultimately ending up in Fortune's online cart, she plans to use it to dress up her solid color tops for the holidays.  With a flouncy skirt, bow-topped heels, and tights in tow, she's sure to outdo even the most sparkling of Christmas displays.  

From top: Sparkling Pearlescent Bead Necklace; Bejeweled Collar Necklace; Rhinestoned Spikes Pearlescent Necklace;  Emerald Cut Rhinestones Necklace; Shimmering Beads Necklace; Rhinestoned Velveteen Collar, all from Forever 21.

Life in Photos - Our Day at the Zoo

Have we mentioned we love to go to the zoo? We usually take a trip to visit the Bronx Zoo at least once a year, preferably together, when school is in session, the days are growing short and the crowds have receded. Sometimes we're even lucky enough to find a fun-house mirror in a green bathroom.

  

   

And to find time to play with the locals.

And of course to visit our favorites. Pie + Fortune both adore the red pandas, and this year we got to see a wee baby red panda! Pie loves any and all apes and monkeys, and Fortune loves watching the otters. 

   

And, perhaps best of all, we get an excuse to ride a carousel. A bug carousel, no less! You may not be able to tell here, but Pie is astride a lovely lady bug and I am perched on a bee.


A magical day as always, I can't wait until our trip next year!

À La Mode - Art Deco

 

Forever reminiscent of the 1920's and 30's, the sharp lines and deep colors of the art deco movement are here to stay. Throw on a swingy dress, grab one of these decadent gems, and roar into the new year in style.

1. Avant-Garde Duty Necklace, Modcloth; 2. Deco Rhinestone Cuff, Neiman Marcus; 3. Lennox Bib Collar, ShopBop;

4. In Hip Hop Shape Earrings, Modcloth; 5. Art Deco Drop Earrings, Piperlime;

6. Petrol/Gold Sculptural Earrings, StyleBop; 7. Crystal + Resin Deco Bracelet, Ideeli; 8. Large Gold Disc Ring, Couture Candy.

Luxe for Less - Kate Spade Kaleidoball Crystal-Encrusted Necklace

Kate Spade Kaleidoball Crystal-Encrusted Necklace, $398.00 at Neiman Marcus. 

Rhinestone Pearlescent Collar Necklace, $23 at Forever 21.

I recently snagged the Rhinestone Pearlescent Collar Necklace pictured above from Forever 21. After discovering and quickly falling into lust with Kate Spade's beautiful Kaleidoball Crystal-Encrusted Necklace I found the perfect alternate at our old fail safe- that's right, Forever 21 to the rescue again. I can't wait to wear this over a pretty pale pink cashmere sweater, it just sings holiday cheer!

Holiday Fashion - All Tied Up

 

Sweet all year round, bows are all the more bewitching when spotted during the holiday season.  Whether you aim to go bold with bright outerwear, or simply want a hint of embellishment, you'll love tying on one of these playful pieces.

 

1. Mary Jane Bow Flats, Shoptiques; 2. Bow Detail Leather Gloves, Asos;

3. Duo Bow Cuff, Baublebar; 4. Bow Necklace, Asos; 5. ID Bow Ring, ShopBop;

6. Bejeweled Bow Skinny Waist Belt, Forever 21; 7. Suzette Bow-Collar Coat, Neiman Marcus.

À La Mode - Swathed in Oxblood

This season seems to be all about richness and flair. Sequins, velvet, fur, suede and peplum abound- but oxblood is reigning king. A sequined peplum dress in the gorgeous hue? The perfect triple threat for the trendy dresser. Whatever your favorite cut or fabric this season try it in oxblood (trust me, it's out there) and take it to another level.

1. Velvet Wrap Skirt, Lipsy;  2. Quilted Affair Bag, Rebecca Minkoff; 3. Bobby Tall Boot with Fringe, Madison Harding;
4. Fur Tipped Shawl, TopShop; 5. Oxblood DeManta Tote, Alexander McQueen; 6. Velvet Mary Jane Shoes; Marc Jacobs at Forzieri;
7. Petite Fairisle Flippy Dress, TopShop; 8. Velveteen Ballet Flat, Forever 21; 9. Sequin Peplum Dress, TopShop.

Books We're Reading - The Great Perhaps

 

I must admit, I have a tendency to judge books by their covers.  Haunting the shelves of Unnameable Books one lazy Sunday, I happened upon Joe Meno's The Great Perhaps and was instantly intrigued - a giant squid?  Pigeons?  A homemade bomb?  Thirsting for a curious tale, I scooped it up and wandered home, pleased to embark upon a strange new odyssey.

Meno's novel portrays the daily highs and lows of a dysfunctional Chicagoan family set in the weeks preceding the 2004 presidential election.  Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different family member -  Jonathan, the father, is floundering in his career.  Suffering from lifelong seizures set off by the mere glimpse of a cloud, he lives in a hazy, otherworldly state, consumed by his life's passion -  capturing and studying a giant squid.  Madeline, his wife and fellow scientist analyzing pigeon mating patterns, is dissatisfied with Jonathan's neglect.  Captivated by a cloud-like shape she sees hovering over their yard, she wrestles with leaving Jonathan to follow this enigmatic mist.  Amelia, their 17 year old daughter, is a budding Marxist obsessed with teaching her fellow high school students about the evils of consumerism.  Outfitting herself in a black and grey cardboard costume, she lectures students about the storm cloud of capitalism shadowing the world.  Thisbe, their younger daughter, is struggling with her sexuality.  Each afternoon finds her at a local park with a fellow female classmate, sprawled out with hands touching and eyes closed, flying amongst the clouds together.  Confused about her feelings, she turns to God for answers her inattentive parents can't provide.  And Henry, Jonathan's father, declines alone in a nursing home.  A former aeronautical engineer during WWII, he is wracked with guilt over designing planes used to bomb the Japanese.  Sending himself letters each day explaining his past life's work, he also plots his escape to the airport, hoping to be embraced by the clouds once again.

As the title suggests, the novel highlights the ambiguity and anxiety found in life and in love.  Both Jonathan and Madeline care deeply for each other, but neither are able to communicate their needs.  As a result, their marriage hurtles ever forward towards divorce, although neither truly want to separate.  While they try to relate to their children as adults, and are very hands-off in their upbringing, their daughters instead desire more structure and less honesty.  Nobodies' needs are being adequately met, and no one can even begin to understand how to alter this destructive course.

In the end, Meno's dystopian view of the American family left me dissatisfied.  The story began with promise, and I was initially enthralled by the compelling narratives of Jonathan and Madeline as they dissected their marriage.  However, characters initially grounded in reality became more erratic and peculiar as the tale progressed.  The conclusion of the novel similarly disappoints; though the book sets the reader up for a cataclysmic finale, the author instead abruptly ties up these loose threads in a neat, little package.  I felt unable to comprehend how Meno got from point A to point B, with so many of the books' special, unconventional moments negated by a tacked-on ending.  The metaphorical cloud motif, too, never really found its mark, and the story proved as nebulous as the magical realistic element interspersed into each character study.

In a sentence?  Although my impromptu selection turned out to be a Wes Anderson movie without the quirky charm, I will forever be tempted by thought-provoking book jackets.