Happy feet!

I didn't mean to go shoe shopping. Really, I didn't. I was at Target stocking up on essentials (tea, gum, kid's cereal!) when I spotted these black gladiator sandals. On sale. I've been pretty good about saving money lately, but when I put these babies on, my resolve crumbled.

I've been looking for the perfect pair of gladiators for over a year now, but couldn't find an affordable and comfortable pair. These are non-leather, too, another stipulation for my footwear that makes shoe shopping more difficult. Not these lovelies!

Sleek, stylish, and comfy enough for work and play. What's not to love?

Tee: Men's department, Urban Outfitters
Sunglasses: Simply Vera
Necklace: Borrowed from Mum
Bracelet: Gift, also from Mum
Jeans: Ann Taylor Loft
Sandals: Target
Bag: New York & Company

Also, a quick note to everyone who reads and subscribes to this blog: Thanks for all the love! I've been experimenting with a name change for this site, as web crawlers seem to have difficulties finding "Ip & Aud." I've decided a subtle change would be best, so you all know where to find me. My URL will stay the same, but if you've already linked me to your blogroll, please update and list me as "Ip & Audrey." Thank you so much! I love you all and cherish your support, witty comments and advice!

Secret sanctuary

Today, the weather was finally fair enough for a little trek into the woods...

Or is it an enchanted forest? Call it what you like; I call it my sanctuary. It's become my secret hiding place...

Surely no one will ever find me!

Tunic, leggings: Forever 21
Cardigan: BDG, Urban Outfitters
Boots: Payless

I hope you find a little sanctuary today.

Jane Erin

I wore the wrong outfit to work today.

It's spring, almost summer, it's supposed to be all about brights and whites. But those are hard to pull off when it's cold and drizzly. My mood tends to match the weather - just like in Jane Eyre, one of my all-time favorites - and I like my outfit to reflect the weather, too. (Really, I love any excuse to bust out my favorite khaki trench!) So I bundled up in my favorite layers-- sure, they're from last year, but let's look forward and call it "pre-fall."

Beret: H&M

Sweater (Silence & Noise), vest (Lux), dress (Kimchi Blue): Urban Outfitters
Leggings: Forever 21
Boots: Payless

Trench: Gap
Scarf: Kohl's
Bag: Simply Vera by Vera Wang, Kohl's

I love you, khaki trench, but I still hope the sun will shine so I can go play outside. :)

La vie en rose (and an old samovar)

June seems to have forgotten it's summer. Let's hope some roses (and a straw fedora) will remind her.

Cardigan, skirt, fedora: Ann Taylor Loft
Heels: Jessica Simpson
Locket: vintage

Summer lovin'

Hello, loves. It's been too long since my last post! I took a little hiatus, ended one of my day jobs and started another (now I write, substitute teach, work at a boutique and for eco-fashion sites Green Cotton and Jute & Jackfruit! Busy girl!). But I've really missed blogging here! To get back in the swing of things, I've decided to post my latest obsessions, fashion and otherwise. Here's what I'm loving for Summer '09:

The return of tie-dye! It's funky, free-spirited, and long overdue for a comeback. Lauren Conrad and Ashley Tisdale both wear dresses by Gypsy 05. I scored an adorable one from Ann Taylor Loft and will post some summery beach shots soon!

Ashley's photo makes me crave my favorite warm-weather treat: an iced toffee nut latte (with soy, of course). Trust me, it's the best flavor combo!

And speaking of vegan treats... How about some cute cruelty-free sandals that don't resemble jellies? (Though jellies are still a fun summer staple!) Check out NeuAura, as seen in Boho Magazine and InStyle. These are definitely the most fashion-forward shoes by a vegan company I've ever seen (though I'm also a fan of Mohop's ribbon shoes). Love the totally on-trend cork-metallic combination! Stay tuned: I plan to do a longer review of these shoes for Green Cotton, a follow-up from last summer's post on eco-friendly footwear.

I'm a lifelong Chanel fan, even if the iconic fashion house is far out of my clothing budget (nor do the animal-skin accessories jive with my ahimsa ethics/aesthetic). So I was floored when I found something that exudes that same Chanel chic without the pricetag, or not-so-vegan material. Voila!

This quilted jersey purse from Urban Outfitters would complement every summer ensemble I could muster. Adorable and affordable? Oui, s'il vous plaît!

My summer soundrack: tunes by Japan's all-time number one songstress, Utada Hikaru (ever play Kingdom Hearts? She sang two songs for the video game series). This NYC native layers her shiver-inducing soprano over latin and hip-hop beats, resulting in an addictive mix that will definitely shake up your playlist.

Another addictive import? The anime hit of the summer: K-On!, or Cagayake Girls, a Japanese cartoon about a pop-rock quartet of high school girls. "K-On" comes from "keion," the Japanese term for "light music" (what we would call "pop"). The comedy, cutesy schoolgirl uniforms, the catchy songs... what's not to love? It also reminds me of Sailor Moon (remember, fellow nineties girls?), with musical instruments. K-On! only airs in Japan, but if you're an uber-geek like me, you can find ways to stream it online. And here's a fun fashion tie-in: Danny Choo (heir to the shoe empire of none other than Jimmy Choo!), aka the Tokyo Dance Trooper, blogs all about it, and other fanboy fun, on his amazing website.

When I'm not reliving my childhood with cute cartoons, I'll be indulging in some of my favorite summer activities: vintage shopping (the bag, above, is Givenchy!), and taking peaceful strolls by the water. I hope everyone is enjoying warmer weather and relaxing days. Check back soon for my summer style editorial!

Happy Earth Day!

Another Earth Day is upon us, and I feel like there's a lot of great green buzz out there... so much so that we seem to hear and care about going green every day, not just once a year. But Earth Day is still a great time to consider the planet and what we can do to give back. Usually I like to do something big on Earth Day, like plant trees or organize a neighborhood trash pick-up. Sadly, I have to work today, and the gray, rainy weather makes spending my Earth Day outdoors rather difficult. But we all know that it's not all about doing something big-- helping the earth is all about the little things.

The eco-fashion site I blog for, Green Cotton, has tons of great eco-friendly tips, tricks and trends. So if you're looking for some fresh, going green ideas, it's a great place to start. Here, just a few of my suggestions for how to have a happy Earth Day, indoors or out!

If it isn't raining where you are (or you don't mind a little precipitation), head out for a relaxing bike ride, or swap your car for your bike when running errands around time. Not only will the earth thank you for saving some carbon emissions, you'll get a great workout to boot!

Today, you can even go green at the movie theater. Disney's new eco-aware movie "Earth" hits theatres today. The imagery is lush and gorgeous, and the baby animals are almost too cute to stand. Go check it out!

If you're not an avid recycler, what better day to start? You can get blue recycling bins from places like Office Depot. Ikea has some really great stackable bins that blend right in with your storage shelves. Sorting your recyclables is a good way to help out and keep your carbon footprint tiny!

Today's also a great time to try an organic, eco-friendly beauty product if you never have. I've recommended Alba for cleansers, toners, moisturizers and more. Physician's Formula makes gorgeous and sweetly-packaged all-natural make-up. If you've got a slightly bigger beauty budget, you can try Cargo's PlantLove lipstick, which comes in a compostable lipstick case made from corn. Even the box is plantable: stick it in the ground, and it grows wildflowers!

If you've been dying to check out some chic eco-fashions, Jute & Jackfruit has some gorgeous green finds. Shopping for sweet spring dresses? Try one made from organic cotton or bamboo! You'll love the luxe softness and will feel good about making an earth-friendly shopping choice. The newest styles from Kelly Lane are especially beautiful.

No time to plant trees? How about starting a little herb garden in your windowsill? If you're more ambitious and have quite the green thumb, then you know planting season is almost upon us. Now's a great time to get planters and start your veggie, herb or flower garden indoors. In May, when you're pretty sure there won't be anymore frost, simply transfer your little planters outside!

My garden is starting to peep up. The pictures I'm sharing today are of my lovely little flowers. I highly recommend starting a garden, if you haven't already. It's a great way to feel connected to the earth and have your own little green space.

What are you doing for Earth Day? I'd love to know how you celebrate our amazing planet!