Great Minds Think in White

This post goes out to Knightcat, thanks for the reminder!

What is summer without the quest for the perfect white sundress? Remember when the entire universe was obsessed with this one? That was like the "Macarena" of Michael Kors's career.

Anyway, moving away from the lace/crochet/bell sleeve thing ... how can you go wrong with a soft white cotton dress? I seriously have been dreaming about finding the perfect gauzy, layered version since I saw Leisl jumping around the gazebo in The Sound of Music.

In hopes of getting one step closer to fulfilling this dream, here are MANY to choose from:

Left to right from top:

1. Miss Selfridge halter neck, UK 20.
2. Top Shop with studs, $80.
3. French Connection Michael Kors sub-reference, $148
4. Adam tuxedo style $170 (was $425, if you are a size 6 you are in luck)
5. Marlene Birger angel sleeve $249
6. Jessica Simpson pouf sleeve (no, seriously), $128
7. Walter blouse-style $268
8. Forever 21 simple perfection $22.90
9. Marc by Marc Jacobs V-neck awesomeness $448*

* I really endeavor to avoid crappy image quality, but sometimes the sites just do not hook me up.

Photo credits (from top): Le Fashion (source unknown), Roger Deckker, Leslie Lessin (stylist), Marlene Marino.

Negative Space

Photo credits & Where to Buy: Chloe Sevigny in I.D. Magazine c. 2000, Sass & Bide c/o Circa Now for sale on her Ebay now, Johnny and Kate from Johnny Depp Fan, The Haute Pursuit, Georgia in ru_glamour c/o Le Fashion, Shakuhachi via Circa Now, you can buy the top version here.

And lots of affordable options (left to right): Hot Topic stockings ($10), Miss Selfridge dress (45 quid), Top Shop slash mini dress/top ($40).

Basics: The New Little Black ... (I can't actually write that)

The one item I wanted from Top Shop was not at the NYC store and sold out online. It was a perfect black silk one-piece with a tie waist. I must have deleted the image in a fit of rage. But I'm still obsessed; I think the silhouette is a new basic.

Finding these online is a treasure hunt because the webmasters don't have a category for the hybrid. I guess the UK determined they'll last because Top Shop and others have a category for them, be it jumpsuit, onesie, romper, playsuit ... (further enabling your regression to age 4).

That being said, there are some actual dresses below too - all the style of a romper with none of the crotch!

Left to right from top:

1. Thakoon, $800 (a dress).

2. Top Shop, $90. Go! Don't let bad shopping timing happen to you!

3. Miss Selfridge, UK 35.

4. Heartloom, $145 (another dress).

5. Forever 21, $22.80. That extra 80 cents'll kill ya.

6. Vivienne Westwood, $915. That extra $800 bucks ...

Photo credits (left to right): Adeline R. on Lookbook.nu, find her here, Cavali campaign from the sun.co.uk found on In Search of Little Sadie, That's Chic.

The Basics: Grey Ghosts

Photo credits (left to right, from top): William Wegman, Altamira, My Delusional Mind, Garance Doré for Vogue.fr.

Weimaraners (those grey hounds above) are nicknamed Grey Ghosts. Their coats are the same silvery grey in black and white or in color- no wonder Wegman loved taking their picture.

Sweatshirt grey is the perfect neutral to me. It flatters every skin tone (moreso than black or white I think), and it goes so beautifully with red lips or red nails. I think every basic should come in grey, but they don't! It took some time to round these up, but I want to buy them all and wear them until they fade into nothing.

From top row, left to right:

Forever 21 with neon seams, $9.80.

James Perse, $65.00.

Miss Selfridge, UK 20.00 (they ship to the U.S., pretty low shipping).

KAIN, $88.00.

J. Crew cashmere (an essential), $145.

Norma Kamali french terry blazer for Walmart, $20. Go to the store! It's not online, even though Bazaar says it is.