Mon bel homme and I just returned from an amazing weekend in Boston, leaving us relaxed, recharged and (almost) ready to get back to work in DC. I’ve never been to the city in the fall and it absolutely did not disappoint- the leaves were absolutely gorgeous and the laid-back academic rhythm of the city was the perfect environment for us to visit with friends, relax, and enjoy ourselves. It’s always at this time of year that I go into a sort of ‘nesting’ mode which includes improving my closet and my house. And so, if you will indulge me in a bit of fantasy, I will give you my current wish list, otherwise known as the ‘things that are too expensive for me to ever buy’ list. This has been changing/growing for years and keeps me occupied when I daydream at work of being the Editor of Vogue instead of a cog in the government machine. Enjoy!
1.) For quite some time, I have wanted an ‘investment’ handbag that will serve me for work and real life. I own a total of four handbags that I’m quite fond of at the moment, but nothing that I intend to keep for a serious length of time. Obviously, every girl would be lucky to have the Hermés Birkin or Kelly bags, but let’s not get too unrealistic (who really has $17,000 to spend on a handbag and time for a three-year waiting list?). For this, I have had my eye on a some different bags for a few years:
The Yves Saint Laurent Muse bag ($1,990 from Net-A-Porter)
Fendi Peekaboo Tote, Medium ($3,330 Bergdorf Goodman)
Mulberry Bayswater Bag in Black Mini Croc Pattern ($1,200 from Mulberry)
2.) D.C. isn’t a terribly cold city in the winter, but after growing up in Ohio and going to university in St Andrews, I’ve braved a few brutal winters and appreciate the value of a great coat. With so much time spent wearing a winter coat, I’ve never understood why people opt for bulky, unflattering pieces that make them look less than their best. During my time in St Andrews my friends introduced me to Barbour, who make absolutely gorgeous coats and jackets that are water-proof and extremely warm.
Barbour Ladies International Jacket
Aaaaand, sorry I’m not sorry- I love me a good fur coat:
velvet BY GRAHAM & SPENCER Faux-Fur Coat ($247 at Neiman Marcus)
3.) For some reason it seems to be the trend currently to spend $30 on a pair of shoes and be satisfied. I’m not sure why anyone older than the age of 18 would find this acceptable, but I suppose in these days of economic hardship, savings of any kind makes a difference. I prefer to invest in shoes and then care for them so that they last, I have been wearing the same Michael Kors heels in black and nude for nearly three years and am very satisfied with them. I am currently lusting after these more ‘serious’ investment pieces:
Coach Therese Boots in Cinnamon ($398 from Coach)
Christian Louboutin Simple 85 Leather Pumps ($625 at Saks Fifth Avenue)
4.) Now that I’m done mentally decking myself out like a 5th Avenue Princess (hey, a girl can dream) the things I would LOVE for the house. Mon bel homme (MBH) and I are extremely lucky to have a house with lots of room and a lovely office with built-in book shelves that serves as his man-cave and our guest room.
Whenever I do manage to buy mon bel homme some nice whiskey or Scotch, it doesn’t seem to stay in the bottle veyr long, however I would really like to get him a nice bar set so that he can keep making all those fabulous cocktails.
Lauren Ralph Lauren “Glen Plaid” Crystal Barware ($50-120 at Horchow)
Do you remember that one episode of ‘Friends’ that is all about Pottery Barn? Like the characters, I am completely charmed by almost every item they offer. I can’t help it! If I could just live inside a Pottery Barn that would be fine by me.
Are you serious, Pottery Barn? Organizing things AND visual aesthetics? I have wanted this ‘daily system’ for years, literally. Daily System ($12.00 – $54.00 at Pottery Barn)
There’s something about autumn and winter that just makes you want to curl up with a good book in front of the fire in your favorite leather armchair. (Maybe with one of MBH’s famous Manhattans he mixed up with that bar set ; )
Chesterfield Leather Armchair ($1,599 from Pottery Barn)
It’s a turning point in a young ladies life when this is on her wish list, but what can I say? After trudging around at work all day with those Christian Louboutin heels, all I want to do is come home, have a nice meal with MBH and relax. Ma mere has a KitchenAid mixer and uses it all the time, and when I go home I end up using quite a bit as well.
KitchenAid Artisan Red Stand Mixer ($349 from Crate & Barrel)
Finally, one of the few things that I wish I could improve at our house now, predictably, are our closets. We don’t have a lot of clothes, but the way the closets are set up now there is not a lot of space to hang things. I don’t need a gigantic closet, I just need a nice, neat, organized closet.
Happy closet- from one of those closet system companies that preys on women’s needs to be organized and protect their beloved shoes.
So, dear readers, these are the things I think about buying if I had unlimited amounts of money and wasn’t a lowly defense contractor. It is my plan to slowly acquire things over time that I love and build a small closet with things of high quality. I’m sure the house will come together over time as well, as we purchase investment pieces like real adults and not the Ikea-lovers that we currently are. What is on your wish list?
Categories: Brands, Closet, Fashion, Guide, Interior Design, NEEDS, Shopping
