I know it's early July, but the fashion person in me has one eye on fall. (It doesn't help that I'm in chilly London, where it's 60 degrees, raining and full of people still wearing tall boots, tights, sweaters and jackets.) As part of early autumn style prep, I've been watching for ruby red pieces -- move over, pink; red's the color for fall -- but also nice neutrals.

Two pieces that caught my eye (er, wallet): Topshop's faux leather and khaki trench coat (scored here in London at the enormous Topshop mothership) and Nixon's fab tortoiseshell watch.

Also on my transitioning-to-fall list? Emerald green pieces, Peter Pan collars (everywhere in London) and serious statement jewelry with a nature-y twist.

"Swapping is the New Shopping": The Swapaholics are Coming to DC!

Amy of the very adorable PunkyStyle — aka, my personal hero, because she runs an amazing vintage store out of an airstream trailer (that's it above; isn't it awesome?) — is also part of The Swapaholics, a neat traveling swap meet where you bring a bag of nice but unwanted clothes and get to shop for new stuff from other swappers.

Which, in itself, is pretty terrific. But that's not the best part! They're making their first swap stop in D.C. at the Clarendon Ballroom in DC on July 14 (we are so excited, we will invariably be first in line). Tickets are available here, and you can take 25% off the $20 ticket price with the code SPINACH.

(If you're not in DC, check out other upcoming swap events here.) Swap on!

When I had a slight freak-out in Loehmann's, and other stories...

I spent most of Memorial Day running around Manhattan with one of my favorite fashiony cohorts, doing things like the McQueen exhibition at the Met (goose-bumpingly great), the YSL-Pierre Berge documentary L'amour Fou (eh) and a long, lingering visit to Barneys (fantabulous, as always). It was pretty much perfect. But then it was even MORE perfect, because -- while killing time scouring for Helmut Lang at Loehmann's -- another shopper caught my eye. Was that? Could it be? Really? Yes, it my personal fashion icon Iris Apfel in her signature round glasses, poking around the racks of discounted Dolce like the rest of us.

I introduced myself, shyly, as a fan. (Which seemed more appropriate than gawping from behind a rack of clothing.) Her response: "Thank you," and then: "I'm sorry I look like crap." (She didn't. She was colorful and adorable. I, on the other hand, was wearing a sweaty tee and shorts. Gah.) We chatted for a few minutes, and then I practically skipped out of there.

Weekend = made.



Also: I am SO breaking out the 80s charm necklace this week in celebration. If it wasn't so hot, I'd break out the oversized muff as well. Love.

Spring Finds, with a Side of Guilt

Dear loyal, patient, lovely readers (eg, at this point, Mom):

As always, my apologies for the vast space between blog posts. Who'd have thought that having a busy blog and a busy full-time job would be so tough at times? My love for fashion hasn't waned; just my amount of free time. But some exciting things are in the works, and I've been gearing up the spring wardrobe in anticipation.

Above, my recent favorite finds. What have you found lately that you LOVE? I'd love to hear.

xoxo,
Ms Spinach

Photo, from top left, clockwise:
-Magnolia Frame Headband, BHLDN.com;
-Jeremy Scott fuchsia winged ballerina slippers, Adidas.com;
-Zara Terez oversized Mediano lizard-embossed oversized clutch, Bluefly;
Timex classic men's watch, Amazon.com;
-scalloped bloomers (for under those slightly-too-short floaty dresses), H&M's fab Conscious Collection.

Vintage! Preppy! Croquet! Whee.

You know how I love my Vogue Korea shoots. This one's been making its way around the internet, but it's so pretty, it's worth sharing again.


Also loving the blossom-pink lips and cheeks.

The Mad Potter of Biloxi Finds a Home

Those of you who follow my Twitter handle know that I spend a lot of time in the South for work. It's not an area I knew very well before this job, but I'm always amazed about the little-known corners that I come across and find so lovely and inspiring.

Case in point: The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum in Biloxi, Mississippi, a brand-new art museum on the Mississippi coast that just happens to be the only Frank Gehry-designed structure in the area. It won't be fully completed until 2012, but much of the museum is already open and it's truly fantastic.




The museum is named after (and houses the work of, among other artists) ceramicist George E. Ohr, above, aka "the mad potter of Biloxi," (isn't his style fantastic?) whose inventive, contemporary pieces were only somewhat appreciated in his time but have come to be recognized as pioneering after his 1917 death. Gehry's swirling mix of metals and old-fashioned Southern brick mix with the aging elm trees on the property to create an unexpected visual retreat. I spent a few hours poking around the place recently, and left feeling excited and inspired. Here are some snaps I took — but they hardly do it justice. I'd say it's a must-stop if you're in the area, especially after it's fully finished next year.

The admission stickers (mustache!):


An installation by artist Jun Kaneko:






The "pods", still under construction, which will eventually be mini-galleries within a glass atrium:

On the Street With Bill Cunningham

It has been a long time since I've seen anything as marvelous (that's mah-vell-us, in Bill-speak) as Bill Cunningham New York, the documentary about the longtime street fashion/social circuit photographer for the New York Times. Bill himself is just wonderful, and the cast of originals who know him — Editta Sherman and Iris Apfel, for starters — add that much more amazingness to the film. Already, I can't wait to see it again. It's just opened nationwide, and really: You must go.

Paris Flea Market: How to Get There Gracefully

I'm not sure I've ever been to the Paris flea market and not gotten lost — I can remember very clearly my brother and I standing in the middle of the tacky swap meet section and saying, "could this really be it?" — which makes Jordan's delightful map and helpful directions for how exactly to get there all the more welcome.

*The photo above popped up as I was searching for Paris flea market pictures. And even though it isn't about the flea market, I love it. I also want a pink bus now, s'il vous plait.

Thinking of Spring. And hats. And especially spring hats!

Occasionally, you see a picture that you just looooovvvvvve. Exactly how I felt when I saw this photo of the Turlington-Burns family in the April Vogue.


I also now want a gigantic Philip Treacy flower headpiece. Please and thank you.

Spring! Spring!

I popped by Anthropologie this week, and pretty much got instantly giddy over the lineup of pretty printed dresses they're bringing in for spring. Despite the fact that I'm hunkered down in a sweater right now, it is coming! Bring on the pinks and greens and yellows — and picnics and longer days and sunshine and tulips. Can't wait.

Behind the Scenes: Lucky's Blogger Shoot

Love this adorable video of Lucky mag's blogger-focused fashion shoot for their March issue. So fun to see some of my favorite bloggers looking fashionable, as usual. (Also: How insanely adorable is The Glamourai? I want/love her hair.)

A Veritable Bazaar of Cover Images

My old alma mater Harper's Bazaar has just released a retrospective of cover images from the past 140 years in glossy magazine form. I snagged one immediately — not only is it a great look at the mag's storied history, but it's beautiful enough for a coffee table (but only like $10). Love.

Butler & Claypool: The Launch!

This Saturday marked the debut of Butler & Claypool, the DC-based retail/design collection I've launched with five other fash-savvy friends. The idea is to bring pop-up shopping, local design/art talent, music, food, drinks and cool people together on a regular basis around the city. Our preview event, a vintage pop-up shop of carefully curated retro finds, was a big hit, if I do say so myself. More than one person announced, "This feels just like Brooklyn!" (Could be the American Ice Co.'s amazing exposed brick walls), which, as a former Brooklynite, I took as a very big compliment.

Here are just a few snaps I took...

staging area: my miniscule apartment hallway...

trucking -- er, vanning -- the goods over to American Ice Co. in the early morn...

stuff! pretty stuff!

When I Grow Up, I Want to be Jenna Lyons.*

At Lucky mag's Fashion and Beauty Blog Conference a few weeks ago, J.Crew's amazing Jenna Lyons was the closing speaker of the day. She gave us a sneak peek of the company's "J.Crew Goes to Italy" videos, the first of which -- About a Shoe -- has just debuted on their website. It is short and fun and pretty and you should watch it. That is all.

*Not kidding. Not at all.

Alexa + Net-a-Porter = True Looooooove.

Net-a-Porter's new magazine has just debuted, and I'm smitten with the cover shot of one of my favorites, Alexa Chung. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about a store-created magazine -- isn't that kinda like a catalog? and do I really want to pay $10 for a catalog? -- but Net-a-Porter's editorial efforts are always so well-done, I think I just might have to check it out.

Truthfully, the tough part is buying the magazine without throwing anything else in the shopping cart with it. Like you, perfect hot pink Marc by Marc clutch. Or you, phenomenal Tom Binns cuff. Or, sigh, you, absolutely amazing McQueen spring collection. Stop tempting me.

In case you missed it, which would be a travesty.

Also: Jumpsuits. So hot again, as of right this second.

Behind the Scenes: The Heart Truth Red Dress Fashion Show

the red carpet stays clean before the show...

New York Fashion Week kicked off kicked off Wednesday with the Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection Fashion Show, in which celebs strut the catwalk to help raise awareness about heart disease. The Heart Truth just happens to be a client, so we were lucky enough to work part backstage for most of the night, helping fellow bloggers connect with the night's "models," including Dita Von Teese (we. die.), Eve (teensy) and Giuliana Rancic (teensier, and kind of awesome and hilarious).

It is not every day we get an all-access pass to Fashion Week backstage, so we took major advantage of it. We tweeted up a storm, and snapped a ton of pix about what things were like behind the stage. Most of all, we had a blast. A good cause and a good time? Cheers to that.

the staff scurry around in their bright red scarves

the calm backstage before the storm

vacuuming up the red carpet before the louboutins hit

audrina patridge (+ reality show crew) has her makeup done by bobbi brown

eve checks out the swarovski gems

backstage = no longer calm. no longer walkable, either.

setting up the fashion show tent

my favorite dress: eva amurri in chris benz

giuliana rancic = super-animated!

the red carpet, after the rush

the catwalk in full effect

the dresses come off, to be auctioned for charity

the red carpet = rolled up and ready for next year