with the amount of shopping around i’ve been doing for fall boots, i could probably do a post on shoes every single day! since i know some of my choices are probably going to be pretty predictable and in line with what’s in style (i.e. desert boots, clog boots), i thought i’d share a style that might not be the biggest trend, but certainly on my wishlist for fall: jodhpur boots. they’re also called chelsea boots or paddock boots. they originated in the victorian era as a riding boot and were adopted by the mods in the 60’s as a fashionable style. but i think they’d also incorporate quite nicely into a more modern wardrobe. perfect worn with skinny jeans sans socks!

marais usa chelsea boots $120
these are my top pick for chelsea boots because of the clean line across the top. they are the ultimate in simplicity, and the style is perfectly casual and cool. the two photos of the girl are also from marais.

aigle boots jodhpurs $119
if you live in a place that gets a lot of rain, these aigle jodhpurs are actually made to look like leather, but you get the functionality of rubber, which makes these perfect all-weather boots for the winter.

asos alfie leather chelsea ankle boots $75.80
if you’re budget is a little slim, these clock in at a slightly lower price and they come with a bit of distressing so they’re already perfectly worn in. and asos has a lot of sales, so you can probably get yourself a deal if you keep your eye out!

since recently expressing my eagerness for fall clothing, i thought today i might share with you this beautiful pre-fall lookbook from la garçonne. in my outfit post on tuesday, i was expressing how quickly fashion moves forward, and that anxious feeling i get about incorporating new fall pieces into my wardrobe even though it’s the middle of summer. thankfully (or not so thankfully, depending on how you look at it), designers and shops have got it figured out with the release of pre-fall collections and lookbooks. what i especially appreciate about these pre-season types of looks is that they are pretty much appropriate year round for places like northern california, where “transitional” dressing and the use of layers is required most of the time.

these are my favorite outfits from the lookbook, and the styling is spot on! i love the bare legs with comfy sweaters and plenty of easy flats. this is a wonderful example of how to dress as the seasons change from summer to fall, but really for any time when we’re experiencing fair weather. now if only i could afford all of these beautiful designer pieces! a girl can dream…

last week, after styling an outfit inspired by the gibson girls, i got a few requests for a post with some of my actual inspiration images. the thought actually grew out of my recent visit to the met museum american women exhibit where they featured several vintage gibson girl looks. to watch a video with the outfits from the exhibit, you can click here. the gibson girl has come to refer to the symbol of independent american beauty at the turn of the century. but i really just love their elegant yet sporty styles with high collars, waist coats, and fun hats! so i decided to take some time to dig up some vintage photographs of some of the famous gibson girls themselves!

first up, pictured above is evelyn nesbit. she was an artists’ model and became famous for being the subject of illustrations by charles gibson, whom we can thank for the title “gibson girls.” i find her gaze to be so incredibly captivating and i love her outfits complete with those wild feathered hats. images from the library of congress.

there are tons of photos of miss gabrielle ray on vintage postcards as she was an english stage actress, and was apparently one of the most photographed women in the world. you can certainly see why, with her stunning beauty and perfect gibson girl hair. i just love all of her cute costumes, especially the sporty sailor looks. postcard images from performing arts.

camille clifford was pretty much the quintessential gibson girl, with her statuesque hourglass figure which was the subject of many illustrations of the era. she represented an ideal of the time with her corseted 18-inch waist. certainly not an ideal i could ever imaging wanting to live up to, but her images are stunning nonetheless. postcard image from performing arts.

i’m sure by now you’ve all noticed my preference for wearing straw boater hats tilted off to one side of my head. it’s true that i often have to restrain myself from wearing one every single day, and have styled many outfits around them! of course, this has led to an interest in expanding my hat collection. the only catch is that modern day milliners are few and far between, and since they’re such a specialty item, the prices are usually out of my range. but that certainly doesn’t stop me from admiring them! today i was browsing through tumblr when a picture from a vogue australia april 2010 editorial shoot came up on my feed, and i was instantly captivated by a particularly beautiful lace tilt hat by suzy o’rourke. while i doubt i’ll have it in my budget to ever afford one of these beautiful pieces, i can certainly appreciate them from afar! and it’s a good reminder to keep my eye out for vintage look-alikes!

now that it’s summer, i’ve been pretty much fixated on pretty dresses or simple outfits comprised of shorts and blouses. they’re easy enough to throw on in the summer heat, but the details in these looks set them apart and create plenty of interest!

kansas couture: rose-colored glasses
the combination of the perfect fit and interesting cut of katy’s dress with that amazing straw sailor hat and round sunnies is so spot on! she definitely shows us that a simple dress never has to be boring!

les mads: a day in disneyland
i love this look because the polka dots and lace collar are super cute, but the look is perfectly comfortable and casual for a day in a theme park.

pandora: madame bovary c’est moi
again, this is a very simple look to keep you comfortable in the summer, but that dress is out of this world! the modest length and open cut feels so fresh in a sea of mini dresses! and of course you know i love those jessica simpson platforms.

diary of style: hello tokyo
lately i feel very drawn to the red, white, and blue combo. it’s only cheesy on the 4th, but the rest of the year, it’s such an eye-catching look. i especially love the swallow print on her cute dress and the way that she added a splash of red with a simple ribbon around her neck.

slickwalk
i love the way that she takes these preppy pieces, but makes them super casual and cool with the wrinkled linen shorts and perfectly worn in oxford boots.

here’s lookin at me kid: wardrobe wednesday – neutrals
i just recently discovered this blog thanks to my obsessive tumblr browsing and i have to say i’m sad that she only does outfits on wednesday! her styling is so perfectly put together and i really think i need a felt fedora now!

last night i was sitting with my boyfriend having a chat and he asked me if we could go on lots of picnics over the weekend. picnics are pretty much one of my favorite things to do, so today my head has been filled with sammich and watermelon and potato salad dreams. so i thought i would post some of these beautiful vintage photos of people on picnics so you could share my mood. none of these are my own, but you can click through for the source of each one.

i’m off to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for a grilled portobello mushroom sammich. care to share any of your favorite picnic foods and/or locations? i feel like hearing picnic stories and ideas.

i recently stumbled across this editorial, she was once mine. it was inspired by pin up girls of the 1950’s and was shot in the liguria region of italy. besides the fact that i would love to go on a vacation to such a beautiful place and experience some real summer heat, i love the modern take on the classic style. and i just can’t get enough of those amazing hairstyles! i feel like this whole photo shoot would be great with some of those beautiful zelda sweetwater swimsuits. in my dreams!

i gotta tell you, this week was really good for inspiration. i wasn’t even able to be at my computer nearly as often as i usually am, yet i still managed to find so many great outfits the few times i managed to find the time to sit down and read my favorite blogs! but as per usual, you can take a peek at everything that tickled my fancy by checking the constant flow of inspiration on my tumblr. and now onto the looks:

the sartorialist: on the street… lucia, florence
basically, this picture should be on the cover of scott schuman’s next book. it’s like marry poppins: practically perfect in every way. i love the color palette of her simple summer outfit and the way she tied that cute scarf in her hair with those cute sunglasses.

style is style: try to have some fun and don’t get caught
every time lydia does outfit posts on her blog, i am blown away at her ability to out-do herself each time. i am tempted to post her looks here week after week because they are all so good! i love the china blue dress layered with an easy blouse and cute lil mary janes.

february forehead: woodstock 2010
i am right now on the hunt for a cute little ruffle blouse just like this so i can try to steal this summer look for myself! she looks like a modern day gibson girl!

team peter stigter: aifw streethearts award #1
note to self: make some wacky shoe clips out of all of that yarn that’s been sitting in my work room for ages, and place atop a simple pair of shoes! also, where can i find a cape as amazing as this one? so perfect!

dear beatrice: the way to there
i am finding myself becoming very fond of these monochromatic looks. i love the way beatrice went all the way with her red and white gingham look with a red bow, red sunnies, and the perfect pair of red platforms. so fresh!

growin’ up: library of my dreams!
and while i do love the simplicity of using only one or two colors, i gotta hand it to jessica for this beautiful combination of rust red, peach, and army green. and i am loving the shorts suit look this summer especially!