Turn around its on your back

Backpacks have been getting a lot of attention lately. Or maybe I just rely too heavily on my love Refinery 29 to tell me what's up. Either way, when it comes to backpacks there is only one for me. Fjall Raven. Known by many as the top choice of Scandanavian schoolchildren, this simple classic looks great stateside too.
If you're interested, I just found where you can buy them online.
The top photo is mine and the others are from Flickr. I found it very hard to pick a color, but if authenticity is your bag, this ice blue is one of the original colors for the brand.

Craving: Crop Tops

Crop tops, petal tops, ruffles- these are all part of my desired silhouette for spring.
Get going on those crunches if you're adventurous, or for a more refined look, stock up on some more high-waisted bottoms.
From left: Mociun, Rowena Sartin, Bona Drag

D-I-Y-Oh-My

Being as these two dresses are unattainable, one too high (can't currently afford Opening Ceremony), one too low (is vintage ebay find too low?) I won't be in possesion of either soon. As for just right? I'll have to make it myself. They're both essentially the same shape, so one pattern will do, but picking fabrics will be tough.

Thoughts?

from PopFemenist- Oscar Wilde on Fashion

"If I am occasionally a little over-dressed, I make up for it by being immensely over-educated."

"And, after all, what is a fashion? From the artistic point of view, it is usually a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months."

Neon

Usually Mike & Chris sort of bores me. Their leather jackets are nice, sure, but since their original leather hoodie the designs have seemed less inspired. I had mostly ignored their ready to wear line, but there's no better way to grab my attention than with a splash of neon.

Mike & Chris Edwin Dress in White

Ruffled My Feathers

Doing some eco-friendly shopping over at BTC Elements I came across this Barcelona Dress. Its one of a kind, made from reclaimed and secondhand fabrics, and features my favorite- an exposed zipper in the back. Instantly it reminded me of this wall covered in brightly colored recycled plastic bags in Vienna.

Shopping for Button-Front Skirts

Rufus Skirt by With Hearts in My Eyes on Bona Drag. Lux Chambray Circle Skirt at Urban Outfitters. Claudie Pierlot Suede Skirt at Otte.

The Rufus Skirt in Grey Guatemalan is my clear winner with the added bonus that it reverses to black crepe satin on the other side. Added added bonus is that I've been secretly dying to order something from Bona Drag.

Chatterbox- intern edition

Victoria: did i tell you about the HILARIOUS jacket that merrell sent to housekeepers?

it is the funniest thing
http://www.trailspace.com/blog/2008/01/25/merrell-gatherer-jacket.html
me: nooo
who's merrell?
Victoria: they make boots and stuff
and this "stuff it yourself" jacket
me: oooh i see
Victoria: its just the worst idea ever
EVER
4:05 PM me: hahahah
that's ridiculous
Victoria: it came with this little booklet of photos
of things people had stuffed in there
me: i thought merell was some girl we know
like what?
god
Victoria: like birdsnests and lint and leaves and newspaper and ramen
4:06 PM and like dead feathers they had found on the forest trail
me: haha
Victoria: wooooops
me: wait, one more thing
Victoria: yes
go on
me: they hired a new fashion assistant here
i wasn't quick enough
Victoria: oh no!
me: but guess what her name is...
lizzie!!!!!!!!!
Victoria: elizabeth?
me: gaaaaahhhhh
4:07 PM Victoria: oh haaaaaa
me: yes!
Victoria: she is trying to steal your life!!!
me: its horrid

Trend- Cutaway Oxfords

LD Tuttle Charlatan Oxford Sandals at Creatures of Comfort.Mario available at b store London.
Opening Ceremony Suede Lace Up Sandal at shopbop.

Kiss Me Kate

Check out Aussie designer Kate Hurst's SS 07-08 collections. Entitled Diamond Life and Diamond Life 2, the collections are distinct, but carry the same themes (ruffles, buttons, high waists, anoraks). I like how her creations are both flirty and strong. Most importantly, they look like they'd be a lot of fun to wear.