DIAMONDS ARE A GATSBY FAN'S BEST FRIEND

If the dapper Jay Gatsby magically crossed realms and occupied the nonfictional world for a day, what kind of diamonds would he give his woman? I guess Tiffany & Co. asked the same question, because the jewelry connoisseurs have engendered a few perfect pieces for that specific Gatsby-loving crowd. Let me tell you, the pieces are simply gorgeous. The prices, on the other hand, are also fitting to Gatsby's groupies. This is certainly no vintage costume jewelry! Until the day I win the lottery and have an art deco themed party to attend, I'll just ooh and ah at the window displays, just thinking to myself, "It makes me sad because I've never seen such--such beautiful jewelry before!"

1. Deco Fan bangle, $140,000 2. Ziegfeld Collection daisy signet ring, $650 3. The Great Gatsby Collection savoy headpiece, $200,000 4. Corsage necklace, $485,000 5. Yellow Diamond Daisy medallion, $250,000 6. Ziegfeld Collection Black Onyx earrings, $135 7. (for the guys)  Ziegfeld Collection Ziegfeld cuff links, $350 8. The Great Gatsby Collection diamond flower ring, $875,000

NEW COOL THING: TASTEMAKER

You know those rooms and spaces in your house that you just struggle with? Maybe you've got some good ideas (or are just not feeling anything Ikea has), but planning and organization are far from where you would like them to be. Perhaps the thought of hiring an interior designer has crossed your mind, but who has the budget and time for that? For those of you stumped with this décor dilemma, I give you Tastemaker. Launched in April, the service claims the phrase "design for everyone." The process is extremely user friendly and fun. Here's how their site breaks down the process for newbies:

MEET YOUR DECORATOR

"Tastemaker will handpick three professional decorators that match your style

and budget. Each decorator will respond with his or her vision for your space 

and offer a flat-rate quote to design it. Pick the decorator you like best and the 

project begins."

GET YOUR DESIGN BOX

"Your decorator will work with you to create a complete custom design. That final design will be delivered right to your doorstep in a Design Box that comes with floor plans, paint colors, detailed product info, and any additional instructions you will need to finish the room."

 BUY THE COMPLETE ROOM

"Make your new design a reality by purchasing any or all of your decorator’s suggested furnishings from Tastemaker— at the guaranteed lowest available price. A few clicks and Tastemaker will take care of everything for you."

Sounds awesome, right? I know a room or two in my house that could use this. I think this is a great option for anyone searching for a design solution--especially one that fits a variety of spaces and budgets! Here are some of my favorite completed projects from their site.

all images from the designers' profiles

EXPRESSION: DISAPPOINTMENT

I hate when I have bad things to say about something I love, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I must warn you.
Basically, J.Crew can do no wrong in my book. Their style is undebatably chic and affordable (compared to most high fashion brands), and they constantly boast about their fabulous imported fabrics. Not gonna lie, about half of my wardrobe is J.Crew (the other half being Madewell!). With my purchasing frequency I guess a dud piece was bound to pop up eventually. Of all things, the dud was their vintage cotton tees. It's a t-shirt for cryin' out loud! How can someone even manage to screw that up!? Oh well, they did. 
I bought two in mid March for about $20 dollars each with an additional 20% off. Not bad. "They're quality, they'll last a long time," I thought to myself. "I mean this is J.Crew we're talking about." I've probably worn each of them about six times since then, no rigorous activity involved. And then the other day as I was slipping out of one I noticed a gnarly, hole-filled armpit. It looked like a rodent had gnawed its way through! So then I checked the other one: same thing! I know there's no way that these holes are the result of something I've done. I was astonished and disappointed. I have tees from Forever 21 that don't even tear that easily. Next time I stop by the store I'll be sure to show them these. Thankfully they have awesome customer service, so I'm sure I'll at least get store credit; however, it would've been nice to not have this kind of issue in the first place.

Moral of the story: J.Crew is fantastic, but steer clear of the vintage cotton tees.

photos by Shelby Mistor

P. S. - I searched long and hard for a gif of the mom from A Cinderella Story saying "I am very very very very upset about this" with all her botox-pumped sauciness.  No gif, but I got a video!

DORM INSPIRATION: WALLPAPER TILES

3 words.

removable

wallpaper

tiles

I know, I know, a dream come true, right? If you think so, you're not alone! I was pumped to see Oh Joy's post about the new wall treatments from Hygge & West. Easily removable and reusable with a clear, low-tack adhesive, a number of tasteful tile patterns are offered. My personal favorite is the Petal Pusher pattern in taupe and white (pictured below) designed by Joy D. Cho (and I'm not just saying that because I love her little family and her blog!) . I know you'll only be living in your dorm for about 9 months out of the year, so this may not be the most practical purchase. But to those of you who want to go the extra dorm-decorating mile, I say go for it!

P.S. - Joy mentioned that she has some "really exiting new products and patterns launching in 2014" that I can't wait to see!

BREAKING NEWS: MISS VOGUE

Miss Vogue, the new teen addition to the Vogue UK family, hits newsstands this month! As an avid Teen Vogue subscriber, I'm definitely on board for a British version of the little sister mag. Plus Cara Delevingne, the magazine's debut cover star, looks young and playful as opposed to her typical somber face put on by more mature publications. Unfortunately, it's unclear whether or not this is a one-time deal or a permanent addition, but I'm super excited none the less. God save Miss Vogue!

photo via Vogue UK (you can also find out more details through the link!)

FALLING FOR: MONIQUE LHUILLIER BRIDAL

With wedding season about to kick into high gear, I've got my radar tracking pretty new bridal styles. Not new to the world but new to me is Monique Lhuillier Bridal. When I saw the Fall 2013 collection I was so impressed. So many becoming silhouettes and not a boring dress in sight! Perhaps my favorite feature is the slim dress with a gauzy overlay. I love that it combines the flattering form fitting gown with the fullness of a princess dress. She did a couple different takes on the style and I found each of them delightfully refreshing! The beading was also worth zooming in on. Monique Lhullier is definitely a name I'll be holding on to!

all images via Monique Lhuillier

IS THAT A WARM OCEAN BREEZE I FEEL?

I keep seeing the palm/banana leaf print everywhere this season! The update from last year's technicolor tropical is much appreciated. Typically I don't think to pair yellow and green tones together, but the combo is really growing on me! Everything here really makes me crave a dinner by the beach... or a piña colada!

1. Madewell skimmers 2. Milly iPhone 5 case 3. Michael by Michael Kors pants 4. Topshop shirt 5. Juicy Couture keychain 6. Juicy Couture bag