Love letters: Shopbop edition

My dearest Shopbop,

My adoration for you has grown quietly over the years. Whilst a young, broke thing in college, I would scroll through your lookbooks, searching for ideas for my rather lackluster wardrobe. Whenever I desperately needed some jumper cables for the uninspired portion of my brain, this did just the trick.

I never did order anything from you, at least not until about a year and a half ago. I bought a pair of Cheap Monday sunglasses, and they arrived to my house in lightening speed. Unfortunately, they looked like absolute crap on me. So back they went. (For free, no less! God, why does every store not have free returns at this point? Don't they get that online shopping is the future and should be made as convenient as possible?)

Then a few months ago I went through this anxiety-ridden phase where I realized I had no clothes that were really representative of my age and I was always dressing like I was in my early 40s. So I placed an order for a gazillion different knit dresses when there was an extra 20% off sale promo and again, they arrived quickly. And some of them were even on hangers! Do you know how much that warmed my heart? I am so lazy about hanging up new clothes. That requires going to the basement and finding a spare hanger and that is too much work so I usually leave new purchases on a chair and say that I'm just absorbing their beauty and newness. Right.

Obviously the houndstooth-printed box was a huge turn-on for me.

 So anyway, all the pretty new dresses arrived and I spent two hours trying them all on and settled on two. Ironically, I've only worn one of them once. It turns out trying to dress young just isn't my thing. But whenever I buy something I really love (and I really do love both dresses!) I always end up getting loads of wear out of them, even if it takes awhile. So I still have faith.

Now, Shopbop, I turn to you again because I need some jewelry. Specifically, jewelry that doesn't give me hives. More specifically, a gold choker and some dangly, neck-elongating gold earrings. You see, I usually buy my accessories at Forever 21 (like I said, I'm young and broke) but it turns out my skin can't handle nickel, and it turns green and I get rashes on my neck and my earlobes start to ooze. (Sorry, TMI.)
So I'm doing my usual order-a-million-things-then-send-back-what-doesn't-work deal. And I love you for being so cooperative with my crazy, picky shopping habits.

If you want to buy anything for me on my wishlist, feel free. I certainly will comply most happily.

Shopbop, thanks for your patience, quick and free shipping, and houndstooth-lined boxes. Rock on.

Truly yours,
Sam

My knight in shining armor.

Ok, SERIOUSLY how awesome is this ring that I bought at Thirteen Vintage the other week? Right? I'm obsessed with it. I had been looking for a really great, cheeky ring for awhile now and completely fell in love when I spotted this in the jewelry case.

The jewelry line is called Monserat De Lucca and they make all sorts of equally cool, edgy stuff, like these pieces (also all available at Thirteen Vintage):

Just about everything has moving parts, making it all really fun to play with. There's a ring with a maze in it and a guitar case-shaped locket that opens. The skull and brain come as a set to be worn separately, OR you can open up the top of the skull and put the brain inside.
So clever.
I want every single piece.

This is completely great.

I read about Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Casey Perez in this month's issue of Nylon, and now I'm completely obsessed with her stuff. These rings are totally fantastic and I want both. Nothing speaks to me more than witty jewelry, and Casey hit one out of the park with these rings.

Must have.

Snagged

I'm a huge fan of jewelry that has a bit of wit to it, so I'm positively smitten with this Burberry ring that's made to look like barbed wire.

Unconscious Obsession: Enamel and Gold Jewelry

I was picking out accessories to wear today and realized I had unknowingly assembled a little pile of enamel and gold jewelry. I love the way these pieces add a dash of preppy polish to an outfit.

The white cuff is from Lilly Pulitzer, the green bracelet is from J. Crew (both birthday gifts), and the ring is from Forever 21.

Currently lusting over...

I'm completely infatuated with everything that British jewelry designer Ring Leader has to offer, but especially their rings and bracelets that double as stamps. Each piece comes with an ink pad, so you can literally leave your mark whenever and wherever the mood strikes.
The designs are at once quirky, edgy, and wearable: everything I look for in accessories. If it weren't for the fact that this city is depleting my bank account already, I'd totally want to splurge. Nonetheless, I'm planning on hunting Ring Leader down next week during London Jewellery Week, just to witness the beauty in person. (And yeah, that's how they spell jewelry over here.)