Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own.

So despite the autumnal nature of these photos, I spent all day today thinking about Christmas. I made Christmas music playlists for my iPod, my office was decorated for Christmas today, and I actually made my Christmas shopping lists! I love to buy presents, and half the fun is trolling around for the perfect gift on the internet - I am not a mall gift shopper.

What will I be going to the mall for? A sparkly frock. I'm going to two Christmas parties for sure, and I'm going to have to find the perfect dress - it will ideally be totally covered in sequins.

wearing: dress-charlotterusse, aviator-forever21, boots-jeffreycampbelllitas

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun.

I know my boyfriend hates the time I've got him waking up, but it's hard to deny that there's any other time of day that better suits capturing a beautiful image. I may hate the darkness that begins at just 5 pm, but I don't hate the bright, glittery sunlight that comes in the window so much earlier that it did before. It certainly beats being woken up by a buzzing alarm clock.

Today we have one of those fantastic Sundays where there's really nothing we NEED to do. Sure I have laundry going, and we'll probably take the dogs on a walk later, but other than that it's likely that I'll fill my day with coffee, reading blogs, and catching up on my DVR.

wearing: flare jeans-gap1969, bird blouse-charlotterusse, felt floppy hat-forever21, clogs-poppybycoach, jewelry-forever21&limited, "daisy"dog-myown

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"action is character. i think that means that if you never do anything you'll never be anybody."

So after a few months of obsessively following the photography on my favorite blogs of late (song of style & late afternoon) and being bitter that their boyfriends took their lovely pictures every day, while I was stuck with a self timer camera and my front door, I finally struck up a deal with my boyfriend. I do the dishes - his absolute least favorite chore - and he wakes up an hour earlier and takes my blog pictures before I go to work at 8. I figured it was a fair trade, an hour of sleep for 10 minute of dishes every day....in the long run, I really think I made out well, but don't tell ; )

Today's weather was sort of hilariously bipolar: 40 degrees when I woke up, 65 by lunchtime, 70 this afternoon, and down to 50 again by nightfull, hence the fur vest, cardigan, scarf, and t-shirt I layered up.

wearing: fur vest-ebay, oatmeal cardigan-dkny, tshirt-trulymadlydeeply, chinos-americaneagle, scarf-nightmarketinchina, booties-forever21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Allure & Warmth

Was there ever a more alluring piece of outerwear than a cape? Sure, coats are lovely, but capes are so elegant. Coats make me think of nothing but cold, while capes inspire images of Russian spies a la Bond girls, their intentions hidden behind their dark hoods, a satchel hanging from a leather gloved hand.

My favorite affirmation from the day I wore it? An older (well...much older) co-worker of mine said as I passed by "I love a cape. I had a cape when I was a girl.." in a wistful, reminiscent way, as though she was picturing herself in the early 50s, probably in something quite similar to the one I had on. I had to suppress a giggle, but not a smile.

wearing: cape-asos, jeans-gap1969, boots-gojane, bag-chinese night market

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Fads are the kiss of death. When the fad goes away, you go with it.

Wonder of wonders, I actually managed to sleep through my jet lag haze last night and get dressed like a human being this morning! Most of the outfit is comprised of clothes that I got while on my trip to China. My favorite newly acquired piece would definitely be this jacket. A camel coat is something I'd been contemplating for a while, and when I saw this version in the window display at H&M in Hong Kong I literally marched in, tried it on, and got in the checkout line!

The booties are my low-budget answer to the perfect shearling Burberry booties everyone's been obsessing over. Honestly, they're as comfortable as my Litas, and have a rugged quality that's perfect for marching around in the cold.

I realize this outfit is a little bit of a trend overload, but in my opinion, all the 'trends' that are so in style this season aren't really so "un-classic." Camel? Regardless of its ubiquity at the moment, it's not like camel won't be cool ever again. Military? It's popped up so often that I hardly think it's fair to say it'll soon be "out." A shearling aviator jacket is arguably a completely classic style

As for this Mulberry Alexa look-a-like? Well, let's just say that I hope someday it WILL be timeless. I love the style that much.

wearing: coat,dress-h&m, boots-gojane, bag-night market, scarf-f21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse