We've Moved!

Attention!  "So Much To Smile About" now has it's own domain name!  You can find me at http://somuchtosmileabout.com/.  Please update your bookmarks.







Thanks!

Pretty Pastels

Images via Patterson Maker, If I Had My Own World, Patterson Maker, and This Is Glamorous

 From left, Valentino, DKNY, 3.1 Philip Lim, Preen Line

Classy, Cool, Chic

I just love this coat and the glasses, from an editorial in Elle Beligique, November 2010.

Photos by Alain Richard, styled by Anne Rabeux, via Dustjacket Attic.

Shop It To Me

Here's a special announcement just in time for your holiday shopping!  Tell your friends about Shop It To Me and you could win shoes that make you swoon!  

To enter, just invite your friends to join.  You get one entry for each friend who signs up (plus you'll still earn gift cards, too).  You can also tweet for extra entries.  Follow @ShopItToMe on Twitter and tweet this once/day until November 19th: I so want to win the [*insert designer name] shoes. Follow @ShopItToMe http://bit.ly/alaKTa #fashion

*Designers include Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Chanel or Christian Louboutin

Check out all the details here.  You must be a Shop It To Me subscriber to win - if you're not already, sign up here!

Shop It To Me creates personalized e-mail alerts that feature the latest markdowns, secret promotion codes, and even VIP sale events for brands, items and sizes you want.  They check for all your favorite brands at close to 200 retailers each day, including TopShop, Neiman Marcus, Cusp, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Saks, Shopbop, theOutnet and more!

In related news, "So Much To Smile About" is a now a Shop It To Me Trendsetter - one of Shop It To Me's fave sites about fashion, shopping and other trendy topics!  Check out the other Tredsetters here!

Wise Words

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” - Oscar Wilde

Model Alexandra Tretter photographed by Alexei Hay and styled by Alberto Zanoletti for Elle Italia November 2010, via Dustjacket Attic

Intermix Holiday Lookbook

"Welcome to the holidays! The invitations arrive, the plans are made, and the anticipation begins with the question 'What am I going to wear?'... This season we're loving metallics, both the icy tones of silver and gunmetal and the warm glow of gold and bronze.  The decadence of velvet, lace and satin.  The heart-stopping, entrance-making drama of the ultimate red dress.  The perfect finish with one of our exclusive fur vests of jackets, of course." - Adrienne Lazarus, President, Intermix

Below are my favorite looks from the Intermix holiday lookbook - you can shop all the looks here!

Black Tie Affair

If you need inspiration for a black tie event this holiday season, check out these guides from Shop Bop, Net-A-Porter, the Outnet and these beautiful photos from the Marie Claire UK December 2010 issue.

Lydia Hearst and Benedict Cumberbatch for Marie Claire UK December 2010 via Noirfacade

Thanksgiving Recipe

This year for Thanksgiving, I'm making dinner for my roommate and myself.  While it won't be anything fancy, there are a few classic dishes we'll prepare for traditions sake.  The recipe below is one of them - a favorite dressing that my Grandma has always made for Thanksgiving.

Cubed bread pieces (about 12 cups)
1 cup or more chopped onion
1 cup or more chopped celery
1 stick of butter

Cook celery and onion in butter until translucent.  Season bread cubes with sage, poultry seasoning, brown sugar and salt.  Add celery and onion to bread mixture.  Mix well.  Cover bowl tightly with aluminum foil and place over double boiler.  Steam stuffing for 1-2 hours.

All images via Marta Stewart

Top Fall Trends

Image via The Always Gentleman

With 100 blog posts under my belt and the winter months upon us, I wanted to take this opportunity to round up all the previous posts on my favorite fall trends.  They were wonderful, and you can be sure I'll continue to wear them, trendy or not.  At least, until Spring...

• Leopard print. Oh, and I had more. And so much more for this.
• Camel/nude/neutral. See also, Zara. And H&M.
• Red. Trendy, yet timeless.
• Lace. January Jones loves lace too.
• Skinny belts. I just love them.
• Tapered trousers. Perfect for work *and* play.
• Faux fur. A look that "never goes out of style."
• Ankle boots (utility edition).
• Leather. Not as edgy as you think. Also, motorcycle jackets.
• Sequins.
• Brocade.
• 70s Style. So sensual.
• Shades of olive.

Happy Friday!

Neighborhood

The other day, I wandered around my neighborhood on a bit of a photo hunt.  Fall is by far my favorite season, and it is especially beautiful in DC.  These are just a few photos I took from the U Street area I call home.

Black and White

"Studs, sequins, leather and lace take centre stage for winter's sexiest trend." - Marie Claire UK December 2010

Model Sophie Vlaming photographed by Kim Myers Robertson for Marie Claire UK December 2010, via Noirfacade

From left, Haute Hippie, Michael Kors Leather Pants, Alexander Wang

Hello November...

Images via Marta Stewart Home Design and Dress, Design & Decor

Platters available at West Elm

Model Yulia Kharlapanova for Vogue Turkey Nov. 2010

Place setting images via Marta Stewart Home Design

Golden Moment

"To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life." - Samuel Johnson

Natalia Vodianova by Michelangelo di Battista for Harper's Bazaar UK December 2010

Images via Noirfacade

J.Crew Spring 2011 RTW

In case you haven't seen it yet, the J.Crew Spring 2011 RTW collection is perfection - and I want it all.  I love the soft colors and the pops of orange and blue... something to look forward to.

"[Jenna] Lyons' own personal style has long influenced what J.Crew's women's collection looks like, so there was more of her signature mixing of day and night, high and low - chambray with lamé jacquard, sequins with cotton fleece, a floor-length dress with a rugged military jacket. The studded cotton sweater worn with chartreuse duchesse satin evening shorts is destined to be an editor favorite, and the peep-toe lace-up heels made in the same Italian factories used by the designer big guns received many nods of approval." - Style.com

Photos via Style.com

Window Shopping: Lands' End Canvas

How cute are these outfits from Lands' End Canvas?  (Yes, Lands' End!)  The pleats and plaid are perfect for the winter months!  What's even better?  They're made using earth-friendly practices and community-boosting initiatives and the company is based out of my home state of Wisconsin!

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Shades of Purple

Model Alexandra Tretter photographed by Alexei Hay and styled by Alberto Zanoletti for Elle Italia November 2010 (via Dustjacket Attic)

Hello Moto

I can't say I've ever ridden on a motorcycle, but I do love this look.  The below options are from Shop Bop (my fave) but if you are looking for more budget friendly options, read this Budget Babe's post from a couple months ago.

 Stockholm Streetstyle via Berries

From Left, Dallin Chase, Robert Rodriguez, Veda

Fall Friday

"Autumn is a second Spring where every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus

Happy Friday!

Images via Home Design and Dustjacket Attic

Model Darla Baker photographed by Don Miller, styled by Daria Anichkina for Elle Russia Nov 2010.