polished & pink

FENDI peekaboo leather tote
via Net-A-Porter.com

meet me in the dance forest...it's going down

forecast for saturday, 89 & sunny with a chance of a crazy dance party (99%)

so excited to head out with my favorite concert-going folks and enjoy some good music. especially looking forward to Ed Sharpe, MIA, Sleigh Bells & Yeasayer

alive & well

well hello there blogosphere. i have missed you. fall is here & i have the workload to prove it.  until i come up for air (after work event on Friday, Oct 1) a few things that have been on my mind...

i'm obsessing over the Futurebirds album.
chill music makes a stressed life much better
http://www.myspace.com/thefuturebirds

there is a chill in the air in the mornings & evenings in DC
perfect running weather....

i did it. cut the bangs & bought the NARS lip color.
rough pic on the streets before a night out with MC :)

In other news NYFW was amazing. I am so excited about the Spring 2011 collections. more on that later...

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

After the tan has faded into the fall, I am looking for ways to enhance my pretty minimal beauty routine.  No longer is the "fresh summer no make-up face" acceptable in the office when your skin is washed out and the dark circles are showing. So, in taking a cue from the always inspirational JCrew catalog and photos of girls about town, I have decided on the perfect beauty product to add a pop of color to my pout.  

The look defined: clean matte skin, defined brows, a flush to the cheeks and a serious lip.

working it on the streets of NYC
photo via Style.com (Tommy Ton)

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Orange/Red

Fall Dinner Party

I've been gushing over the change of the seasons on here, but I am truly thrilled to be moving into fall  and the accompanying cooler temps and richer, more comforting food.  To celebrate, I had some of my favorite people over (Lindsay, Dave, & Julia) to toast to the new season and test out the menu featured in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine.

table setting

in my opinion - no dinner party is complete without a
little bubbly to start the evening off right...

Soup:  Honestly, I don't think I have ever had a parsnip before I started chopping them up to put in this soup.  The flavor is very different, it almost has a little bit of a licorice bite to it?  Once complete, the soup was pretty much a more complexly flavored potato soup.  The toasted almonds were a great touch!

Salad:  Arugula is my favorite "green" and it's bitter leaves with the asian pear (hybrid between an apple/pear), crunchy celery and the tangy champagne vinaigrette composed a really beautiful and tasty salad.

Main course:  What is not to love? Thick papardelle noodles, ooozey taleggio cheese and mushrooms. This pasta was heavenly.

Dessert: I skipped the Espresso Creme Brulee's featured in the magazine because I think 3 courses is sufficient and I don't have a kitchen torch handy (shocking, i know).  In lieu, we finished off the evening with some coffee Hagen Daaz ice cream,  bottle of red wine and some girl time - much better than any creme brulee could ever be.

Good food, Great friends. Success!

All images via Martha Stewart Living Magazine

Jimmy Choo for Ugg

Usually I highlight the best of the fashion world, but this could not be ignored. Jimmy Choo for Ugg what the heck??????  Jimmy I am dissapointed...
 
How can you go from this gorgeousness....

To this awfulnesss....

Gross.  The sad part is I bet all of the celebrities will FAIL and wear them all winter long.

Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"

I just got a chance to listen to this album in it's entirety and of course it is amazing. Urge you to check out Arcade Fire's new album "The Suburbs"

At first listen, Rococo comes out on top as my favorite jam

NY Fashion Week

One of my favorite weeks of the year!  Tons of blog updates, tweets from the tents and emerging trends walking the runways.

In recent Fashion Weeks past I have been addicted to the photo-blogging of Tommy Ton (Jak and Jil)  He captures all of the crazy nuances of the ensembles worn by fashion's finest models, editors, and trend-setters galore.

Take a peek at what has been captured thus far as the Spring 2011 runways are hitting the streets this week...

Tommy Ton via Style.com

inspiration - Alexa Chung for Madewell

the fashion world & corresponding blogosphere have been swooning over the Alexa Chung for Madewell collection and i can't say i blame them.  it is perfection.  girly. british. hip. nerdy. really all things i love in one.

this look is a combination of a few trends i've highlighted on the rix-mix over the past few weeks:

high waisted jeans - yes

leopard skinny belt - mmm hmm

loose silk blouse- got it!

buddy holly glasses, check!

Alexa Chung for Madewell

neutral nails

i'm loving the fall nail color palette. of course Chanel hit it right on the mark with these muted shades:

Chanel Nail Polish - image via CUT blog

inspired by the chill in the air on this gorgeous fall day & the aforementioned color palette, my awesome boss/friend J.B. & I took a little excursion during lunch...

OPI - "You Don't Know Jaques!"

awful picture in the directors chair in JB's office, but you get the idea...haha, color matches my shirt - yes i am a dork

HAPPY FRIDAY

bang! it's the new year

no matter what anyone says january does not feel like the "new year" to me.  i still fully embrace the changing of the seasons and the year with the turn of fall.  not only am i switching up the wardrobe - incorporating new trends (military, fur, leopard, neutrals) but i figure now is as good of time as any to revive my locks with a haircut.

i have always loved bangs and have had them before.  for me they really evoke a demure and kind of endearing nerd vibe while simultaneously being incredibly chic. another HUGE plus is that a fringed forehead with the rest of the hair in a chignon is classic style & go with no fuss.

so BANG! here are my inspirations:

Zooey Deschannel

Alexa Chung w/ Jason Wu

Anne Hathaway in Devil Wears Prada

Kirsten Dunst

Alexa Chung

feelin' foxy

Eventhough it is still warm outside, I am lusting over all the luxurious fabrics and furs that were on the fall runways.

The minute I saw this Joseph coat in the Intermix fall '10 lookbook, I knew I had to have it.....then I looked at the price tag, ouch.  While this exact coat is out of my reach, I think I may come pretty close to achieving this look.

Joseph Menswear Coat with Fox Fur Collar @ Intermix

Re-creation to keep the look less than $1000

Coat by Zara

+

Adrienne Landau Fur Collar @ Shopbop

Voila!

"SICK MUSE" - METRIC

obsessed with this song. video. her dancing. her dress.*

enjoy!

*thx minki

fall wedges

new shoes!  after searching high & low, i finally found a pair of wedge hybrid boot/oxfords that will fit quite nicely into the fall wardrobe....

Sam Edelman- Effie

I intend to look like this while wearing them....

photo by Garance Dore

Happy Fall!  

weekend highlights

u.s. open

the weather was absolutely perfect!  it was so good to spend some time with the fam & see my sister in action at her production internship.  

celeb sightings included: gavin rossdale in federer's box, eli manning & will ferrell in the CBS box with us - will ferrell's facial expressions are the exact same in real life, i literally just was laughing looking at him.  and eli manning is adorable, his wife is also gorgeous....

tennis faves were maria sharapova (loved her turquoise tennis dress), rodger federer, and monfils.

of course i had to buy a "vamos rafa" t-shirt to support my favorite spaniard

monfils

rodger federer

maria sharapova

hershey

relaxation station. eating, sleeping, catching up with friends & family.  a great way to start off "the new year"

i loved going to the farmers market and buying fresh produce.  sunday night we had a cookout and i made bruschetta with fresh tomatoes from the stand and basil from my moms garden.  so fresh & delicious.

looking forward to... U.S. Open

i am getting so excited to head to Flushing, NY this weekend for some quality time with my family and of course, tennis!  we are so lucky to be able to attend the tournament every year and this year i am especially looking forward to up & coming cutie John Isner, who won in straight sets last night to advance to round 2.  let's keep it up John!  I want to see you on Arthur Ashe Saturday....

unfortunately, another American favorite - Andy Roddick was ousted last night...we'll miss you Andy!

Hopefully, I will get to see Federer play.  Plus he always brings out the Vogue staffers to the match.  Hello Anna Wintour...

*Side note -- my sister got to interview Federer in the Mercedes Benz tents yesterday as part of her internship (jealousy doesn't even begin to describe...) and said he was very nice.  Always good to hear!

AND another one i'm watching...frenchie Monfil.  love his energy & personality on the courts

Updates after the weekend.  Happy Labor Day!!!!!!!!!!

LBD

cameron diaz stepped out in what i consider the perfect date night/night out look.  fitted LBD, red lip & relaxed waves in the hair.  love her. love this look.

image via PopSugar

stud muffin

as rachel would say..."i'm having a stud moment"  well actually, i am not, because i am at work and i think i would get some serious stares from my co-workers/client if i was rocking any of these edgy accessories....however they would all lend some serious attitude to any outfit & i don't think that a little stud never hurt anyone.   

happy hump day people

Valentino - Studded Flat

Alexander McQueen - Clutch

Christian Louboutin - Spiked Flat

Alexander Wang - Rocco Mini Duffle

Marc by Marc Jacobs - Studly Stud Earring