unexpected florals

File these shoes under Will Never Be Mine.  First, because they're for men.  Second, because they're from Dolce & Gabbana and cost 700 euros.  No matter though, I can just admire this work of art from afar.  Yes, those flowers are actually cross-stitched directly onto the suede brogue.  No appliques or trompe l'oeil here.

More eye candy...

l'f unisex

Sturdy, comfortable, slightly ironic and extremely joyous oxfords for both him and her (read: me) in a rainbow of delectable colors.  No laces.  No tongues.  Vibram soles.  Truly unisex, italian-made shoes from designers Licia Florio and Francio Ferrari of  L'F Unisex.   I'm totally sold.

And how great do they look in action? Love how the tonguelessness (it's word. trust me.) gives an extra peek of sock or skin.  Just think of the possibilities!

And so many more color combinations...

manly pleasures

A simple crewneck sweater.  You'd think it would be an easy find, but sometimes these staple pieces can be so elusive. 

I was fairly ecstatic to find this oatmeal sweater in the men's department at H&M the other day,  which is quickly becoming my go-to place for perfect boxy sweaters.  The sweet elbow pads were a nice bonus.

See a few more I've scored from the men's section, plus some extra picks from this season's collection...

beanie love

I am in love.  It happened to me around the same time last year, and it's happening again.  At the time I thought I might be a wee bit insane for spending so much money on a mere beanie, but I wore them nonstop all year and they're still going strong; they have been the source of much happiness in my life.  So now I don't feel so shy about proclaiming my love for this little knit item.  These magical beanies from Steven Alan are lusciously thick and sturdy, not to mention they come in all these super covetable colors.  I'm thinking maybe navy.  And maybe burgundy for the husband.  (Which means I get to steal it all the time.)  Oh, and maybe red too...

woven

I've talked about black sneakers here before, and it seems such a simple thing you'd thing I'd have taken care of that basic need by now.  Alas, I have not.  And while I still have my eye on those classic New Balance 501s, I'm obviously still a little ambivalent.  What can I say, I have a wandering eye.  And it has wandered to these soon-to-be-released Nike Free Inneva Woven kicks.  Very very cool.

all images from slamxhype

Do you do sneakers?  Other than Converse, I mean.  Which ones are your favorites to wear outside the gym?

i pity the fool

Today I picked up a little something that I'm in love with.  No, not this gentleman.  Just the shirt off his back.  Laugh all you want, I'm dead serious.  I came from hot Wisconsin summer days, so humid and pollen-filled that running was out of the question, and arrived in the sunset district of San Francisco, which might as well be Mordor.  It is foggy and wintery and cold, all the time.  Perfect for a jog really, but not in a tank top.  So we headed over to a nearby Sports Authority and found a women's department filled with teeny tiny skimpy tops and shorts.  Last thing I need is another excuse to not exercise, so I was determined to find something appropriate.  I headed to the men's section and found this.  I look way cuter than this guy, I swear.  And after running in it, I can honestly say that it is perfect.  I bough it a little large so I don't get all the "compression" effects that you're supposed to (I think maybe he's upset that he's being squeezed too tight?), but it was wonderfully breathable and dried in 5 seconds flat, kept me warm but didn't make me hot.  So, even though this guy is frowning at me like he wants to beat me to a pulp, I'm going to buy more.

Do ever shop men's?  In sporting goods stores?

beach essentials

I'm back!!  Almería and Málaga were ridiculously beautiful and relaxing, and through it all I ate like a champ and rested like a pro.  I'll tell you more about the trip later (with a few recommendations in case any of you find yourselves in Southern Spain any time soon), but for now I thought I'd post what turned out to be my beach essentials.

1. black bikini - ok, mine's from H&M, but I dream of having a luxurious yet basic Eres swimsuit like this one day
2. kindle - loaded with tons of fiction and nonfiction, something for every possible mood
3. baseball cap - again, mine's from H&M, the men's department, but anything to block the sun while you're napping face up will do.
4. a coverup - this sheer cotton shirt from Zara was perfect (especially since, unlike the model here, my legs are not 5 ft. long, so it was much longer on me), both for when the sun was hitting too hard, or when the wind was sandblasting us.
5. sunglasses - these, picked up in Madison last summer, are still my favorites.  My other countless pairs are feeling neglected, but I'm trying to reduce object-induced guilt.
6. sunscreen for your face - this one by Kiehl's is still my go-to here in Spain, but in the US I also swear by Peter Thomas Roth
7. peshtemal - turkish bath towels are the best for the beach; they take up very little room in your bag and are great for laying on, drying with, and wearing as a wrap.
8. notebook - for recording all the ins and outs of your trip, your thoughts or dreams, or for planning that novel that you're gonna write, one day, you swear,
9. sunscreen for your body - something with a high spf, applied liberally, every few hours.  That's how I went from Snow White to Beyonce.  Ha!  Seriously, I came back with what I thought was a savage tan but literally NO ONE noticed.  Just goes to show you how very very pale I was to begin with.  Now I just look normal.
10. a favorite pen - not your father's cherished mont blanc fountain pen, just a good solid fat pen that makes you happy, that you can scribble with even when you're weakened by hours of sun and sea.
11. flipflops - havaianas for me, always.  They never give me blisters.  But that part about them not getting hot in the sun?  Lies.  Nevertheless, I love them.

bird

Bird is one of my favorite online stores.  By which I mean I pretend shop there all the time.  So imagine my excitement this morning when we were trying to figure out where to have breakfast and I saw their logo on a sign up the street.  No, I thought, it couldn't be!  But YES!  It was!  I am staying just a few blocks from a brick and mortar Bird store!  And the first thing I see inside?  These lovely oxfords:

Dieppa Restrepo!  The stuff oxford legends are made of!  In person, ready to be handled and fondled and tried on.   They are lovely, and really substantial, by which I mean the leather feels thick and like it will last years and years even after softening around your feet.  As you can tell, I am seriously tempted.  How do you think they compare to all my other bone-colored oxford choices?

Being inside Bird was seriously exciting to me.  Husband waited patiently while I touched every single thing in the store and asked "Isn't this beautiful?!"  ("uh huh, sure, nice,")  Of course I want to show you all the things I fell in love with, but there's so many items in the store that they don't even have listed online.  After the jump, a few pieces that plucked at my heartstrings...

zara macho

You guys check the men's section at Zara too, right?  Because I have to say, there are so many wonderful bags and scarves and hats to be had there, and the occasional belt or pajama bottoms too.  The other day when I was buying my hot pink pants the line at the checkout was so long I headed over to the empty men's department.  (Why was I the only one who thought of this?)  Anyway, once there I got totally distracted by what would be my umpteenth dance bag, but it was so tempting I could barely keep my hands off it.  It would be a perfect bag for the gym or studio, or a quick weekend trip or even as a carry-on.

canvas bag 

 In case you don't regularly trawl the men's sections of your favorite stores, here's a some more of my picks from Zara hombre:

printed scarf

 knit harem lounge pants

more scarves 'n bags 'n hats 'n things after the jump...

not just for the boys

Found this amazing store for men, and am thinking maybe we ladies should raid it.  How gorgeous is this bag?

Jil Sander Travel Bag

more finds after the jump...