black tie mandatory

aphrodite eat your heart out. there's nothing like a gorgeous silk dress to make a woman feel beautiful. and any man would be lucky to have a woman in this dress be his arm candy. where to begin? the perfect blush shade of rose? the expert pleating around the bust? the delicate yet extravagant beading around the bust? the sweeping train that commands presence? all combine to create an ethereal gown. many gowns tend to be too boring; it's usually just a long dress in a rich color and perhaps some draping detail here or there. this dress nixes the cliche factor by bringing attention to the chest in the pleating and beadwork. the wearer is forced to stand tall and let the dress show off her assets. whoever styled this model got it right with the simple diamond earrings and bracelet and the elegant bun hair-do. i only wish i had a reason to need to wear a gown like this. and, of course, to be able to afford it.

reem acra
satin face organza strapless gown
reemacra.com
$5690

i've always had an affinity for watches. it can become a costly accessory depending on which brands you covet. but somewhat justifiable because of all it's functionality. i admit i wear my staple silver link watch 6 out 7 days of the week, but having a watch like this one in the jewelry box adds nice options and definitely spices up a t-shirt and jeans day. i think what especially stands out with this watch is the rose gold. it glimmers in the hour and minute hands as well as the hour indicator marks. the thought of an all gold watch seems too opulent to me, and i probably won't sport one until i'm over the hill. but the mixture of rose gold and different hardware- steel, mother of pearl, squartz, sapphire crystal, is admirable. leave it to the swiss to tell us what time it is. someone also needs to tell me what little inner clock is supposed to represent.

glamrock

miami techno silk

glamrockwatches.com

$995

golden globe

i admit i'm not really great at discerning great jewelry. being the girly girl that i am, i'm mostly drawn to flashy, sparkly items. i remember having a phase in junior high where i thought tiaras were all the rage. i'd like to think i've grown up in my jewelry taste since- which brings me to the lovely little number to the right. when you bring fashion down to it's most basic principles, it's an art form. and with jewelry, you get to experiment that art form with materials you could never fully hope to embody in a skirt. the wiring on the ring is masterfully crafted. the shape is intentional yet completely careless. the swirl on top of the orb reminds me of a drizzle of caramel over an ice cream sundae. the wiring for the band of the ring is brilliant; if it had been a solid band there would be no continuity. i can't help but draw some sort of symbolism from this ring. perhaps the vermeil orb represents trapped beauty. perhaps the gold wires represent complexity in unison. it's probably a good thing i don't own this ring because i would stare at it all day contemplating different notions.

Devon Leigh
14k gold filled wire bubble ring
devonleighdesign.com
$335

tea time

first off, i must apologize to my viewership for the unexplained hiatus. it's been quite an exhausting 5 months opening the flagship store for converse. that said, i welcome you back.

this teapot isn't darling per se. but it does look like it's been plucked straight out of the mad hatter's table. creator jono pandolfi calls it the willy-nilly teapot. i guess there's really no other way to describe its oddities. the small indents are "pinched" details that match the rest of the misshapen structure. i suppose the designer intended for it to look like two cups stacked on top of each other from a distance. but whether you're up close or far away, the teapot will definitely add some drama and interest to your afternoon tea parties. i especially enjoy the little swirled wheels at the base. it almost makes it mandatory to serve cinnamon rolls with the tea.

Anthropologie
willy-nilly teapot
anthropologie.com
$298