I’ve never even daydreamed about owning an orange leather dress, let alone shopped for one. But when Elizabeth Banks stepped out in an orange leather sheath in August, I took notice; and when Charlize Theron stepped out in one a couple of days ago, anxious foot-tapping commenced. Oooh, I want one!

Three successive thoughts:

1) Both ladies did the right thing by pairing their orange leather dresses with nude heels.

2) I prefer Charlize’s dress, which looks slightly more relaxed. I’m not actually sure Elizabeth can breathe.

3) One question: Leather bridesmaid dresses?! You think?

I just watched the 2002 Kate Bosworth movie, Blue Crush. Man, I love surfing movies! They get me every time, with all that thrashing water and high-energy music and visual adrenalin. Makes me feel like I was born to surf. Even though I’ve, uh, never even touched a surfboard in my life.

Think this could be me someday?

And then maybe I could have a grown-up version of a surf-inspired bedroom?

But really, who am I kidding?

Because once I start living off the surf, I’ll only be able to afford an old, dilapidated beach shack. Hm, maybe I need to start looking for a chic, grown-up version of one of those.

*Image of Kate Bosworth from IMDB.com. Beach bedroom from Coastal Living.

I just started streaming Gossip Girl again after skipping the last two seasons. The clothes don’t thrill me like they used to, but the set designs are insane. And I had forgotten how perfectly the bedrooms are matched to their owners.

Anyway, the reason I’m filing this away in my mind is because of the interesting silver wall behind the headboard in Blair Waldorf’s bedroom. It’s like… tile? Or wallpaper? Whatever it is, it makes my heart flip a little. It adds an element of glamour and shine to an otherwise heavy bed and almost masculine matching lamps and blue wall.

If I was shopping for a red carpet dress, I’d totally hit up Carmen Marc Valvo, whose fall 2011 collection was just so pretty and, in his words, inspired by ballerinas.

“I gravitated towards them for their sense of beauty, poise, their grace, their elegance and their sensuality and femininity. So I wanted the collection to evoke that sense of beauty and movement. It is a collection full of romance and poetry. Lots of laces were employed, silk chiffons and metallic tulles.”

Gorgeous times two:

Add celebrity stylist to my long list of pretend careers and I’d put that black lace dress on Zoe Saldana and the blue organza one on Lea Michele! Am I right, or am I right?

Everyone in our household was hit with a stomach virus this week. Eww. I spent all of yesterday in bed and am still not 100% today, but one good thing came of it: I finally introduced myself to Project Runway! I’ve been meaning to watch that show for years!

Anyway, I made it through several episodes (I say “made it” because I barely did—man, that show is stressful. Thanks to some great editing, every minute had me completely on the edge of my seat!). So now I’m addicted. And thankfully, no longer vomiting.

I thought I was over ombré until I saw this Carolina Herrera gown from her fall 2011 collection. Couldn’t you totally see this dress on Katherine Heigl (hence the inset)?

Maybe it’s because we’re still in eighty-degree weather over here, but this white-winter setting for Ann Taylor’s new collection seems completely out of place. Am I the only one still thirsty for autumnal browns?

The cobalt blue shift dress, however? Definitely something I can get behind (or in).

I loved this dress on the spring 2012 runway:

and I love it even more on this Glee girl.

The above line, as you may very well know, is from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Oh, Mr. Darcy…

Eh-hem! Allow me to segue quickly from classic literature to fashion (naturally).

Remember Kiera Knightley’s wardrobe in the screen version of Pride and Prejudice? A man may consider her wardrobe to be the furthest thing from sexy, but it is one of my favorite film wardrobes ever. And not just in a “Wow, what beautiful costumes!” sort of way, but in a “Hey, I could dress like that EVERY DAY” sort of way. Not only do I find these dresses sexy (especially with flat boots—swoon!) but practical, comfortable, and versatile, too.

Which brings me to my next point. This spicy orange dress from NAHM’s fall 2011 collection is so Kiera Knightley in Pride and Prejudice. Which means I want it now.

Good friends of mine will totally understand when I say: I could wear this exact outfit that Gwen Stefani wore yesterday.

Granted, I would prefer the pants slightly less tapered and without the zipper (they already have enough edge without those details), and the heels are a little too vampy for my taste (though I admit they’re still awesome), but otherwise this is all me. I love a chic, refined look with edge and teetering on the border of masculine and feminine. Even every accessory in this photo is begging to be mine. Love. It. All.