H&M launches Conscious Collection

Do you remember when pregnant Natalie Portman appeared wearing a gorgeous H&M white dress during a Red Carpet event?  That dress belongs to the Conscious Collections H&M is launching in store today!

How much do you want to bet that this dress will disappear very, very fast?

Here are the other pieces from the collection: lots of white and summery/flowy dresses! I especially like the scalloped edges in the off-white dress. It seems that that’s the design trend for the Spring 2011!

Images: H&M

H&M Glamour Collection

H&M has released this morning a few additional images from the Glamour Collection with lots of animal prints, sophisticated cuts and soft fabrics. I'm loving it and can't wait to stop by the store to pick up a few of these pieces.

In other H&M news, last week the Swedish chain was the talk of the town since 9News found out a job posting for a store manager position for H&M in DENVER! I could not get any better news than that. Nobody has confirmed anything yet, but that’s a pretty good sign that soon enough I’ll be spending my days inside an H&M.

Images: H&M

a liberty print romper.. bringing spring to winter.

Photos by Neil!

Liberty Print Romper, Ruffle Socks - Forever21

Denim Hair Bows, Black Lace Up Heels - H&M

Black Cardigan - Thrifted

A new romper for the spring and summer! The liberty print pattern is my favorite.. it has a vintage feel.

This weekend is off to a wonderful start. We had a Goodwill run yesterday morning with successful results. My friend Lauren and I hit up Frothy Monkey for coffee and the Local Honey sale for vintage last night and I found a great pair of striped denim overalls for spring. Afterwards, I watched Twelve Monkeys with some friends. This morning, Neil (who has today off!) and I slept in. Late.

And I had a surprise package in the mail last night.. remember this lace trimmed marching band dress? Well, I sent it out to a lovely girl in London last November, and it never reached her. Instead, for some odd reason, the post decided to send it back to me.. and I just got it. So, it's going back up in the shop! The girl who bought it before is in the middle of a move so she's unable to buy it again, which means I've got a dilemma.. do I keep it now that it's back in my possession, or do I list it in the shop? Oh man alive I'll probably just relist it.

Rhiannon and her boyfriend Drew are here today! In about ten minutes, we're going to meet them and my parents and head to the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's old home. And it is a ridiculously beautiful day out, so I'm excited to be outdoors.

And I just joined bloglovin, so feel free to follow my blog with bloglovin!

Happy weekend!

pale pinks and blues and creamy whites.. or, why spring can't come fast enough.

I'm not the first to say that with the holidays over, I'm looking forward to spring already. Maybe it's this first winter snow that hit Nashville yesterday, maybe it's because there are no big events until the weather turns warm again. Or maybe it's because the fashion world has bred us to always be looking towards the future with collections being delivered months and months in advance. Maybe it's because Urban Outfitters has just released their early spring catalog and I spent way too much time looking it over yesterday. Or maybe I'm just sick of this ridiculous cold.

At any rate, I made this blue floral comb today to aid in bringing about warmer weather. I'll let you know if it works. I've also been looking for a short white dress and pastel playsuits lately, and I CAN'T WAIT to steal Neil's chambray button up from him so I can pair it with the Forever21 high waisted navy shorts.

Here are some spring-y, sailboat images from the Current/Elliott Spring 2010 collection to keep you warm. My favorite is the blue playsuit by far.

And Refinery29 just posted a link to the lovely H&M Garden Collection.. all of the pieces are romantic and soft, not to mention extremely affordable. Don't you love the red cardigan with rosettes all over?

Alright. Now that's out of my system, I'm prepared to go back to winter - and to a new nautical inspired outfit with pleated slacks that I've been plotting. And to my imminent search for a classy Valentine's Day dress (any suggestions?). More on that later!

an inside day with aubrey beardsley

Photos by Neil!

Floral Ruffle Dress - Urban Outfitters

Mustard Cardigan, Black Lace Up Heels - H&M

Ivory Bow - Handmade

Yesterday felt like an inside day. I didn't want to do anything but sit on our couch, light a pumpkin spice candle, drink black coffee (ok, coffee with soy creamer, which rocks), and read.

Although.. these pictures are a bit misleading. I headed to the thrift store with Neil not long after they were taken. Thus, the shoes.

When I did get a chance to read later in the day, though, I picked a couple of books filled with images that never fail to inspire me - images drawn by Aubrey Beardsley, an English artist from the late 19th century.

I fell in love with Aubrey Beardsley's drawings during my Irish Renaissance class in college. We learned all about the incredible Oscar Wilde, which made me learn about his play, Salome, which introduced me to Beardsley's artwork for it.

Beardsley's work is so unique, kind of whimsically off balance. The women in his drawings, even the ones intended to be beautiful, are never altogether perfect or symmetrical. He gives many of his characters a cartoonish edge, but still manages to make their clothing romantic and almost ethereal.

He was also a bit of a rebel, drawing plenty of erotic images - all filled with nudity. Often, he would have to redraw an image for a book due to the graphic nature of the illustration. He was quoted as saying, "I have one aim - the grotesque. If I am not grotesque, I am nothing."

This all changed towards the end of his life. Beardsley converted to Catholicism. Rebel no more.

I have two books of Aubrey.. one is a compilation of his drawings and another is specifically his Le Morte d'Arthur work, which he completed over 200 drawings for. He drew Le Morte d'Arthur when he was only 20! Sadly, all of his work happened within five years of that beginning achievement, because he died of tuberculosis at 25.

When you have a chance, look up pictures of Beardsley. His side profile is memorable - he has a distinct, sloping face that makes me happy inside.

Yes for weekends! I'm hitting up the Tennessee flea market with my mother in law tomorrow, who is staying with us for a couple nights. What are your plans?