Dooley Noted Style: January 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

style muse

Every time I see a photo of Olivia Palermo in a magazine or online I am always swooning over her ensembles. She always looks perfectly put together and never over the top. She is on point with trends but never falls onto the fashion police lists for being too crazy with her style picks. I don't think I am alone when I say that she has incredible taste and always is dressed impeccably. Take a look at a few of my favorite outfits in the images below and judge for yourself. Does this real life Blair Waldorf play it too safe with her style or is it just right?

floral top, sailor tweed shorts, bright clutch - absolutely beautiful

having your pooch with you is always in good style in my book

just a casual stroll down the street with her riduculously adorable boyfriend

dying over the leopard booties, sweater poncho & leather skinnies

loose blouse & coated denim...loving that she is wearing the booties again

this is so my idea of a cute outfit for a bike ride

this monotone layered look is so chic

structured blazer & dress = perfection

mixing brights & patterns effortlessly

polka dot high low one shoulder gown - so pretty if you have good gams to show off

(is her bf for real?)

there are no words for this fur trimmed pea coat

casual chic

(note the bag is almost identical to the zara tote featured in the look for less post)

her trademark look statement necklace

flowy chiffon in canary yellow

( I love but wouldn't wear in fear of looking like big bird)

shorts & tights - so adorable

fur, all black & oversized clutch to match the ballet flats - in love

***images via olivia palermo the socialite & olivia palermo street style***

want more Olivia??? visit her blog here

Monday, January 30, 2012

these boots were made for walking

It's no secret that I hate wearing a sensible shoe. I always have to ask my husband if we are cabbing it or walking to places simply to plan my outfit accordingly. He has learned that cabbing it his safest bet. I never want to ruin one of my favorite parts of an outfit - the shoes! This doesn't bode well with living in the city never mind the broken sidewalks of Beacon Hill and after last weekend when I nearly lost a foot to frostbite because I didn't have a proper shoe for the frigid weather, I was forced to look into a walking shoe that is also cute for the wardrobe. Thankfully my mom aka "santa" was to the rescue and the over the knee riding boots that were back ordered from Christmas arrived the next day. Below are five looks that I simply adore and will be trying recreate with what I have in the good old closet - these women are totally my thin-spiration because let's face it - a knee boot looks so much better on a lean legs and skinny jeans do too!

Oh and to boot (pun intended) some of these styles are on sale. Go get yours with the links below!

I couldn't resist a pic with a Berner in it

(I will one day be a mommy to a furry baby & hopefully look this chic walking him around the hill)

I can't get enough of this casual yet effortlessly chic day time look - adding in an over sized leopard clutch pulls this outfit together perfectly

this outfit is the trifecta of perfecting the equestrian look, riding boots, blazer & a tailored shirt, I would totally wear this look but unfortunately the only thing I know about horses is how to bet on them at the track

two tone boots are genius - goes with everything - WANT!

rain chic

comfy yet stylish & loving the over the knee socks

*image from*

~ Go Shopping ~

lace up ankle booties

over the knee riding boots

own & love - most comfortable boot to walk around in!

Happy Monday!

Friday, January 27, 2012

for the love of etsy

I can't help notice that sites like Pinterest and Etsy are getting tons of attention lately and I really think Instagram is next to blow up (if your not on it, it's a photo sharing site with comments, followers etc). Today however is about my beloved Etsy, I am a true addict to the site and daily I have my nose pressed up against the computer screen trying to locate fab finds which I am sharing with you today. While what I think is a total gem might not be everyone's cup of tea but isn't it fun to see what others find interesting or think is pretty. If we we all liked the same stuff wouldn't the world be so blah! I just adore Etsy and think the items are so unique and not something you will find in the typical brick & mortar stores out there. I was torn about sharing all my finds because I so am in love with each and every one of them but I have zero room for extras in my life right now. Wouldn't you agree that this site is an incredible phenomenon that not only makes crafts look cool but it also has generated so many businesses out there that probably didn't have a shot otherwise in succeeding in a village shop. For some of these small time entrepreneurs all it takes is to be mentioned in some sort of media or a wedding blog and boom they are an overnight success. I remember when I was planning my wedding I used Etsy like crazy to find so many customizable elements as well as hard to find decor items that were either too pricey in the stores or just didn't have the right look. The site can be very overwhelming but if you know what you are looking for you can narrow down your search and locate exactly what you need and most of the time at a cheaper price then you would have paid in retail. Below are a few of my favorite finds that I just keep in my little Etsy heart folder waiting for the day when I will actually can purchase one or all of these goodies for the home, the office, the wardrobe or give as a gift! . Do you have any special Etsy finds that you want to share or is it too good that you have to keep it to yourself???

pretty calligraphy calendar

oversized foldover clutch

love the look of these vintage styled frames that mix patterns but all coordinate together perfectly

custom lucite trays - so many pattern & color options to match your homes decor

gold & white paper mache bowls - so chic for catching your keys when you walk in the door

couldn't resist some home made jewlery - this emerald three stone ring is redonk

(I used this designer for bridemaids rings - amazing work & custom)

use code: dooleynotedstyle for 15% off your order

this faux gold deer head mount is so fun & woodsy chic

bubble chadelier

vintage camera

white wrap dress

letterpress printed vintage atlas wall art - pick your state or country & boom you have artwork

this vintage typewriter would look fantastic on a shelf in an office

french style poufs

for the list lover like moi

custom bedding - yes please

vintage first aid kit

would be cute on a book shelf in a living room or office

(esp if your a md)

~click on the hyper links above each image to go shopping~

Thursday, January 26, 2012

the look for less

With the way trends are theses days it seems whatever you buy is trumped by a new style the next day. It's difficult to keep up with the ever changing looks of the fashion world never mind spending a paycheck on a fab item only to have that item on the "do not wear" list the next week is hardly ideal. I try to keep up with styles that are current but that also aren't too trendy in hopes that I don't hate them too quickly. I, however have fallen prey to trends and sometimes when I finally have the nerve to wear the new style it's no longer tasteful and my money is wasted. So this begs me to ask the question - why spend so much on the items I am not so sure about. The options are endless for looks that resemble the high price tag items. H&M and Forever 21 are the two obvious stores that allow you to give a trend a try without breaking the bank but the quality may not always be up to par. Below I put together what I think are some stylish finds for achieving the look for less.

Tibi Shift Dress - $396