Permit me to tell a tiny tale. One year and one month ago, I got a really nice note from a reader named Genevieve. It was full of unexpected compliments and stuff, and also directed me to Lagarconne.com, which at the time featured a mood board with the picture above. Did I know what it was?, she asked politely.

I did not. But I became obsessed. I even e-mailed the Lagarconne.com writer (who was nice and actually responded, but didn't know). I googled relentlessly. I gave up.

And then today! I was flipping through Laird Borelli-Persson's newest book, The Cocktail Dress (which is fab, and I'm not just saying that because I once got to hang out with Laird for a week at India fashion week and thought she was super-cool), and there it was. My picture!

And so, the answer, ladies and gentlemen: It's a photo called "Girls in the Windows" by Ormond Gigli. The backstory is here. I am smitten all over again.

My dream, in YouTube format!

I think I would die from happiness if I ever got to do something like this. Which reminds me: Did you ever see this spontaneous food court musical? My inner Broadway diva is *dying*.

Just a little Sound of Music to start your Thursday!

Bending the Rules

I am in a cleaning out/purging stage with my apartment, and am devoting all my free time to emptying drawers instead of blogging. The place has just been feeling a bit too cluttered lately, even by my own extreme-maximalist tastes. As a result, I'm trying hard not to buy things to add to all the stuff. Very, very hard. Like these shoes. Mmmmm… satin rosettes.

But! I totally caved when I saw the new magazine Uppercase, which looks to deliver the creative, clever, inspiring mix that is missing from so many mags. I bought a subscription instantly. I can't wait for it to arrive. I'm like a little kid who keeps checking the mailbox.

Your Monday Morning Beauty Report

There's something about the big-time beauty editors that infinitely intrigues me. No red lipstick fazes them, their bathrooms could pass for a Sephora, they know all the secrets of the world's most beautiful people -- and the people that make them that beautiful, too. And so, a double dose of purely pleasurable pretty-related reading: 25 Random Things About W's Beauty Editors and then, a lengthy Q&A with Teen Vogue's Eva Chen.

Photo from InStyle, which routinely has the best beauty product shots around. Love.

Spring Shopping List: Dressy Shorts

Longtime readers know that I am pretty vehemently anti-khaki, mostly because I can't understand how a fabric that looks unattractive on so many became part of our must-have-basics lexicon. Also partly because I, a product of a grade school with a dress code, wore way too much khaki growing up.

Of course, khaki does have its time and place, like on the golf course. And picnics. And on tiny children. But also on Chloe's rolled-cuff, super-voluminous spring shorts (at left), which I admit I drool over every time I see them in a fash mag.

I am pretty sure that Chloe shorts are out of my budget, but I'm intrigued by Express' similarly just-baggy-enough slouchy shorts (right), just $40. Tempting…

Current Obsession: The Slouchy Blazer

I love the way these instantly elevate a v-neck tee and skinny jeans, which is pretty much my uniform when I'm too busy to put together a proper ensemble. Isn't Madison Marcus' "Alliance" jacket (at left, $348) amazing? And I can personally vouch for Iisli's jerseyish "boyfriend blazer" (at right, $358), which I featured in a photo shoot recently and had to use serious willpower not to buy it immediately. It's really that perfect.

The Blog Post In Which I Eat My Words

My friend Holly recently confessed she'd ordered a dress from Chadwicks — and liked it a lot. I mocked her gently. C'mon, Chadwicks? That frumpy clothing catalog I'm pretty sure my mom has received monthly since about 1982? (Um. Sorry, mom.) And then, flipping through one of the fash mags this month, I chanced upon a Chadwicks ad featuring the floaty, punchy-hued Charlotte dress (above), and promptly placed an order myself. (Just $50! Not too shabby.)

Apparently, I wasn't alone, because it was backordered for some time – but it just arrived in all its bright pink, ruffled-front glory, and I sorta instantly loved it. (Note: I got the coral-ish "papaya", but in a Petite size – it seems to fit the same up top as the standard size, but lops about two inches off the bottom which I find to be a much better proportion.)

And so, a public apology to Holly. But really, what's next? Newport News? Hmmm… I do think this coat is pretty cute…

Isaac + Liz = Strong Reactions

After my recent mention of my love over the Liz Claiborne spring lookbook, I'd have to say you readers fall into two camps: those who are willing to give the new Issac Mizrahi-designed collection a chance, and those who — maybe based on some repressed memories about unstylish experiences with the Liz Claiborne brand in some less fashionable times — would never, ever be caught dead in Liz Claiborne.

But, I'm hoping we can all (or, nearly all) appreciate the clean, classic styling of the new lookbook. Even if the pieces aren't your cup of tea, the chic, easy, pared-down feel of these looks is easy to love: simple statement accessories, slim cuts, a bit of colorful quirk. And on a more personal note: Also possibly my new hair muse?

Erin Wasson dreams big for both of us

Model Erin Wasson had a garage sale (of Balenciaga shoes and other model swag) at her home over the weekend. The reason?

"If I'm working all day and I have a dinner or something, I'll go from jeans and T-shirt to maybe a simple black dress. Same heels. Same hair and makeup. I really like the idea of being utilitarian. My dream is to edit down my wardrobe and be very Japanese, where you have one rolling rack and it's like your four T-shirts, your five dresses, your two pairs of jeans. That's so not the case right now. I have so much crap in my closets. I love the idea of being super edited."

Sounds so appealing, doesn't it? I am so a minimalist at heart. And yet, I am so a maximalist in real life.

{Erin Wasson images from here, which sheds more light on her personal style.}

Flower Power

I instantly loved these rose-adorned heels on Some Notes on Napkins — so much so that I immediately purchased some big, inexpensive flowers pins on eBay and plan to attach them to an old pair of simple, strappy, dressy sandals. Stay tuned…

And speaking of color…

One of my favorite finds in recently memory is Canadian textile designer Virginia Johnson, whose gorgeous, printed, oversized cotton scarves are a great way to add some color to a classic ensemble. (I've been throwing my own hot pink artichoke-print scarf over a boyfriend blazer, white v-neck tee and skinny jeans, a la the always-polished Glamour writer Susan Cernek {third pic, in orange scarf}.) I first found the scarves in D.C. at Urban Chic (which also stocks her fab totes), and now they're popping up in more places, including Barneys.

And now, speaking of Susan, I totally heart this look too. So chic, clean and unfussy. Love the menswear influence. Perfect.

The Festival of Colors

Several years ago, I had the good luck to be in New Delhi on the day of the Hindu festival of Holi, where the entire country splatters each other with bold, bright, saturated color. I often say it was one of the best days of my whole life — right down to where we, dripping in colored paint, went out for a big fancy meal after the celebrations died down.

This year, Holi fell on March 11, and The Boston Globe’s awesome "Big Picture blog posted a bunch of images from the festivities. If these shots don’t get you in the mood for Spring's big, bright, punchy hues, I don't know what will.

Resurfacing for important Barbie-related announcements!

What, dear reader, could drag me out of my selfish, I'm-taking-care-of-my-own-needs blogging break and bring me back to the interweb?

Why, the Jonathan Adler-designed Barbie house, which debuts today, of course. I am kinda sorta completely dying over the Barbie mirror he created above.

In other news, I am fine! And busy! And ironically, thinking about fashion all the time! (I've also been under the weather since NY Fashion Week, but finally got a nice batch of antibiotics today and hoping that clears this pesky sinusitis right up.) Spring has sprung here in D.C. (at least intermittently) and that has gotten me all excited about sandals and jumpsuits and colorful scarves and adorably dressy shorts. I will return soon.

In the meantime, please feel free to discuss amongst yourselves:

+Did you not totally *die* over the Lanvin collection? Because I pretty much drooled all over my keyboard.

+I cannot believe my favorite purchase of the season (so far!) actually came from VictoriasSecret.com. But it absolutely did, so I will happily give credit where it's due.

+So, these shoes: Cute, or too Mandal-ish? I just got them, and I really cannot decide if I should keep them.

+It is taking a LOT of willpower not to purchase this bag. And actually, half the J. Crew spring collection, if I'm being honest.

+I am kind of obsessed with the Liz Claiborne advertising lookbook for the season (available in a fashion magazine near you, or catch a glimpse online here). Well done, Mr. Mizrahi, well done.

Refreshingly retro

I am absolutely in love with this photo from Garance Dore. The detailed skirt, the retro handbag, the fur thrown over the shoulders… swoon.

In related news, a coat or cardigan lightly thrown over the shoulders is one of my favorite transitioning-into-spring styling elements right now. I love how it instantly adds a bit of a Country Club-ish, old school element to an ensemble. When weather has permitted, I've been doing it pretty much constantly.

Witness me, keeling over and going to fashion heaven...

...Because that is exactly how I'd describe being backstage at Rodarte. Details and photos over here...

Just a shameless reminder...

My editor Jenn and I are blogging up a teensy storm over at the FW Fashion Week blog. Whitney Port sightings (above), hanging backstage with DVF, partying with Lindsay Lohan... yep, it's all there!

I'm putting all my web-related attention towards blogging for FW this week. We'll be heading to Fashion Week on Friday and plan to be doing show reviews, backstage coverage and general fashiony people-watching over there all week. Hope you'll come visit!

Speaking of fashion: There's a big change in the perception and presentation of DC style, thanks to March Vogue's cover girl, Michelle Obama. Oh, what I would give to get 10 minutes with her to talk Thakoon.

Hello from the Worst. Blogger. Ever!

In my defense, I told you it might get quiet around here for a bit. It is just one of those crazy life-work-life/work transition times where energy runs low and blogging – not to mention shopping, devouring magazines and adding to my fashiony wishlist -- moves to the bottom of the "to do" list. It is also January/February, that gray time of year when stores are having insane markdowns on the last remnants of the picked-over winter merch, but the fresh, new, spring-y stuff seems totally silly to buy when there's still snow on the ground. I hate this time of year from a fashion perspective.

Until! My issue of New York Magazine's bi-annual fashion supplement Look arrived yesterday, and – as usual – it's pretty brilliant. (It was also stop publishing after this, which makes me very sad.) Though it's pretty reader-friendly – profiles, info, breaking down trends in a simple, graphic way – it always has a great artsy component to it that I rarely see elsewhere, like documentary photographer Benjamin Lowy's backstage chronicles from across the four fashion weeks. Here's just a few snippets of what he captured. When you're done here, I might suggest Alexander Wang's fash week diary too.

And now, I return to busyness and dreaming of spring… Despite my claims above, I totally broke down and bought a silky shorts onesie yesterday. The salesperson was trying to convince me to wear it with tights, but I might just hold out for actual bare leg season. Warm weather can't come soon enough…






More soon, I promise! There is a light somewhere at the end of this tunnel…

It is just like I feared…

Do not think I've forgotten you. I have not! But, as I suspected a few weeks back, January is passing me by in a gigantic blur of incredible busyness. Work has really ramped up in the past few weeks, and while the good news is that I'm still totally loving it – the people, the creativity, the running around town to procure random objects for interesting photo shoots – the bad news is that most of the time, I come home at the end of the day and collapse on the couch to a mix of demanding kitties, cheese-based food products and reruns of House.

Oh, right, and did I mention the world's biggest party is about to be underway, practically in my backyard? It's impossible to be in DC and not catch inauguration fever. Despite the masses of tourists, traffic snarls and obscenely frigid temperatures expected to descend this weekend, I'm incredibly excited to have a front-row seat to such a major event. And, okay, also to have a reason to justify a pretty incredible Phillip Lim dress to sport to one of the big balls.

In any case, the blog has been moved to the the metaphorical backseat for just a tiny bit longer. Although if I get to meet Oprah this weekend, I promise you'll be the first to know! (Well, you, and anyone within a 20 foot radius who will probably hear my squeaks to excitement.)

As for the resolutions? I totally fell off the no-credit-card wagon when I spotted this Alkemie large stingray cuff on sale at Farinelli's in Clarendon last week and didn't have any cash on me. (I'd been eyeing it online forever.) Of course, I immediately misplaced my card after buying it — is that a sign or what? — so I've been pretty good ever since. I'm just telling myself that if Oprah compliments me on the cuff, it will so be totally worth it.

PS) In case you hadn't noticed, I've added my twittering to the sidebar there at your left. I'm trying to keep it fashiony, for the most part. Really, it's the least I can do for being such a poor blogger...

Making a list, checking it twice…

Ah, I do love making resolutions. I generally revise them on a monthly basis – goals are good! – but here's a snippet of what I'm plotting for 2009.

1. Go rollerskating with the roller dancers in Central Park at least once.

2. Visit the remaining two Disneylands (resolution carried over from last year, and I think even the year before). That means, Tokyo and Hong Kong, you're on my travel list!

3. Have more impromptu dinner parties at home, even if that just means putting some takeout in vintage Pyrex, setting out tasty nibbles, and serving lots and lots of wine.

4. Maintain stock of wine, cheese, crackers and takeout menus so above can actually be achieved.

5. Use said dinner parties to corral friends into playing board games. I am severely lacking in quality Apples to Apples time.

6. And, if that tactic fails, find some more friends who enjoy playing board games.

7. Part ways with the credit card, for good. Learn to love what I have in my closet(s) and be more experimental with it.

8. Eat more fruit. And, on a fairly unrelated note, wear more hats. Both will be good for me.

9. Laugh more, love more, read more, sing more (even if just in the shower), dance more, smile more, say hello to people on the street more, hold doors open for people more, offer up my seat on the subway more, make funny faces at babies more (if possible).

10. Do not allow more than three New Yorkers to go unread at one time. Ignore the fact that this resolution is already off to a bad start.

11. Catch up the number of countries I've visited to my age. Which hopefully means: Turkey, Greece, Mexico, Bulgaria, Brazil…

12. Take up tap dancing.

13. Drink lots of water. Stop buying fancy moisturizers when what I probably really need is to just not be so dehydrated.

14. Play a full round of golf, on an actual golf course.

15. Blog more! Read more! Sew more! Photograph more! Dress up more! And be as creative as possible in everything I do.