The olive pattern in the background started out as a simple branch that I painted in Photoshop.

I then repeated the olives on a roughly painted background of desert-inspired colors.

With a few Photoshop filters (including my favorite, rough pastels), the background turned into this:

*Names will always be changed.

Although I admit I feel like I cheated. A friend of mine hosted a clothing sale last week, and another friend noticed that I was coveting a pair of jeans and bought them for me. Isn’t that just too generous?! And then another friend sold me one of her brand-new Victoria’s Secret bras (buying undergarments and socks are acceptable if necessary) and then she threw in a dress for free (which is the item I really wanted). So now I have a new pair of jeans and a new dress and I’m feeling a bit guilty about it. Guilty, and giddy. Ha… ha?

Anyway, I may not be shopping, but I’m still gleaning plenty of late-winter style inspiration from my favorite retailers, like Kate Spade:

And J.Crew:

And Anthropologie:

There’s plenty of drooling happening over here.

These bathrooms from HGTV.com are killing me with their sharp modernity blended with the tree-laden design.

So, birch tree wallpaper in a bathroom? Yes. Please.

*Image from HGTV.com.

Favorite favorite? Emma Stone. Where has this girl been all my life? She pulls off high-fashion so effortlessly.

Second favorite: Dianna Agron. She was on my list last year, too, but this year she wins for her absolute understanding of the balance between classy and edgy.

Third favorite: Claire Danes. Surprisingly, she was also on my list last year. To be honest I have no clue what Claire is up to professionally, but she always shows up looking amazing, so there ya go.

Notable: I also really loved Jessica Alba from head-to-toe. Despite her look being “safe,” it was also very, very pretty. And although Madonna ended up on a lot of “worst dressed” lists, I loved her dress, her one glove, and her entire look.

So… tune in next year? Can I say, with confidence, that my blog will continue on that long?

Someone please buy and enjoy it for me!

The 46-year old fashion house just announced that not only are they unable to deliver their spring collection to retailers, they won’t be presenting a fall collection at all.

I didn’t hate their spring collection; it was simple, well-edited. On the other hand, I wouldn’t wear most of it. It lacked… well, street cred. There were only three looks I loved and wanted to wear:

And only another three that had serious potential:

The sequin gown could have been so much more than this. Sequins are supposed to be fun, but this gown just looks sad. Maybe if the sequin pattern wasn’t so random—instead the sequins could have been treated like an ombré, as if they were falling from the bodice and collecting at the hem? And maybe if there were glimmers of color throughout, or a sweetheart neckline?

The second dress has this utilitarian/flirty thing going on, which I really like, but the bottom half, instead of draping nicely, needs a little something to save it from frumpiness. Maybe it should have been a pencil skirt.

The third dress is the most depressing because it could have been awesome. The embellishments at the top are insane! But it seems someone didn’t have the time to finish this one. It’s rocker chic at the top, bland and getting blander at the bottom. Ugh! So depressing.

Ungaro has been fumbling along since its founding designer retired in 2004. (Remember the disastrous Lindsay Lohan collaboration in 2009? Yeesh.) But even though I criticize their designs, I doubt that’s the main issue here. Maybe there’s some bad management (the company is notorious for its “revolving door”), and there’s definitely poor marketing: only about 1,400 people are fans of their Facebook page—as opposed to 131,000 fans of Salvatore Ferragamo, and almost six million fans of Gucci. Really, it all just seems like one big mess.

But I do feel bad for them. I feel bad for the brand that Ungaro himself built, nurtured, and sustained. I feel bad that a brand I grew up admiring may have already missed an entire generation. Most of all, I feel bad that I kind of wish they would float away quietly.

Or, perhaps better yet, have an amazing comeback. I wouldn’t feel bad about that at all.

It’s crazy how that happens. One day I decide to take projects, and the next day I have ten inquiries.

Anyway, this is the first of several “my projects” posts you’ll see in the next few weeks.

I like the simplicity of this birth announcement, and the contrast between cheerful color and quiet layout. Most of all I love the cute little icon in the corner—imagine just adding a flower to the vase when this family has their second child!

*Names, information, and photo have been changed.

Hellooo, heaven.

Oh, and besides the color pop, Klotz was smart to use woven shades and a walnut nightstand—they warm up a very cool color on the walls.

*Image from House Beautiful.