There's something about pink shoes...

(L'Wren Scott matador coat, T by Alexander Wang tank, J.Crew necklace, AA skirt, Zara shoes)

So as you can see, I have a current new obsession: my hot pink shoes. I can't get enough of them. At this rate, they'll fall apart in a few months! But I really think there's something about hot pink shoes that draws people in. While wearing them out and about today, I had inquiries from three young girls working outside a Ruehl store, a 60-year oldish man who stopped me to say "Those are the most beautiful shoes I've seen in a year," and a mother of twins who stopped pushing her baby stroller to ask me where I got them! 

Again, I have to thank my lovely friend Marc from Mission to Murse for taking these beautiful pictures! He's a wonderful photographer with an innate talent for taking pictures and endless patience.

Drama queen

(L'Wren Scott matador jacket, Nanette Lepore cardigan, Elizabeth & James pants, Guess boots)

I don't get many chances to wear my beloved L'Wren Scott matador jacket. But I paid so much for it that now I figure I may as well wear it whenever the mood strikes. No matter how many pictures I take, it's nearly impossible to capture the true beauty of this piece--its smooth thick fabric, its detailed carved buttons, its precise cut and fit. And I just love how it makes me feel when I put it on, all dramatic and mysterious.

I once recall trying to explain to a friend my passion for beautiful clothes, but she only shook her head in disbelief. That's when I dragged her to my closet, took out the L'Wren Scott, and made her feel the lovely fabric. I can still see the expression on her face as she stroked the heavy silk and took in the mandarin collar and pleated tailcoat. Ah-ha! I think she got it.

Dark & dramatic

Since I was scheduled to attend Lauren Conrad's Spring 2009 fashion show at L.A. Fashion Week two nights ago, I decided this was a great opportunity to wear my fabulous L'Wren Scott matador coat for the first time! Paired with a lacy Nanette Lepore blouse, J Brand skinnies, and some fierce Guess peep-toe boots, I was all set to go! I definitely spied some gorgeous outfits in the crowd. My fave fashionista wore a dark gray T-shirt tucked into a snug black leather miniskirt--a simple, sleek, and chic L.A. outfit.

My fab find from the Barney's warehouse sale

Crippling buyer's remorse could easily set in at any moment, but I'm resisting the urge to feel guilty over what I feel is a truly fabulous find. My friend and I drove to Santa Monica yesterday to explore the racks on the very last day of the Barney's Warehouse sale. As the final hour approached, I found myself clutching desperately at a gorgeous L'Wren Scott matador jacket, originally priced at $4000 and about 85% off. After a great deal of vacillating on my part and relentless urging from both my friend and the cashiers, I decided to throw caution to the winds and make the pricey purchase, no small feat when you're living off a writer's salary. But the coat is a truly gorgeous creation. Straight off the Fall 2007 L'Wren Scott ready-to-wear runway, the coat, in thick, high quality fabric, is shorter in the front with a long pleated tailcoat in back--a very majestic matador style that evokes visions of mystery and dark romance. A mandarin collar and intricate buttons are some of the few details that enhance a sharply elegant cut. It fits like a dream, as if it were tailored specifically for my body, and projects that goth-y high fashion look which is perfect for fall. I've never felt quite so wonderful about spending so much money before...

By the way, the picture will never, ever do the coat justice. This beauty must be seen, felt, and touched in person for full appreciation.

Spotlight On: The High-Waisted Pencil Skirt

It's a well-known fact that every girl should have a high-waisted pencil skirt in her closet. But not all of us can afford one by L'Wren Scott, such as this streamlined beauty that sells for a whopping £785, which translates into...well, knowing the exchange rate nowadays, a lot of US dollars. Sigh. Thankfully, Rebecca Taylor comes to the rescue with a classic knee-length pencil skirt. With sexy seam detail down the front and a buckle, the skirt is designed to give a trendy twist on a classic look. Plus, the camel color matches just about anything!

Abigail Lorick (known as the designer behind Gossip Girl's Eleanor Waldorf Designs) makes a high-waisted feminine skirt in yellow and black. Though this one is probably a challenge to color coordinate, its whimsical pattern and flattering silhouette are too difficult to ignore. And big plus, it's on sale!

I love that the pencil skirt breathes some style into workplace outfits. I usually pair mine with a ruffled shirt, like this cool sleeveless one by Geren Ford, for an ultra-feminine style. How do you wear yours?