SKINNY JEANS ARE NOT DEAD... But We're Making Room ...

I truly believe that skinny jeans are here to stay. As MK and I discussed the other night, they're merely a TYPE of jean, not a trend. And the right pair (case in point, the grey Zara jeans I've been wearing for about three years now, 98% because I love them and 2% because of their Xtreme Vanity Sizing -- they're like 8 sizes smaller than I actually am. Win/win!) can truly slim you down if they're not obscenely tight -- though, I will admit, despite the fact that I am short and curvy, my legs -- while far from toothpicks -- are pretty proportional, and I don't have a ton of thigh-age, so that does help with being able to pull them off. And either I'm rolling, completely delusional or a combo of both, but I'm convinced they don't make me look shorter than my 5 feet + 2 inches. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

So, as much as I love skinny jeans, let's diversify, people. A girl does need SOME non-constricting jeans in her Ikea wardrobe. (Erps, that'd be me. Stoopid no-closets Brooklyn brownstones!)

Anyway, I'm more than willing to make room in my wardrobe and heart for some wider-legged jeans, though I draw the line at Kate Moss '70-style jeans so wide that if you sewed up the legs and cut them apart down the middle, there'd still be so much fabric that I'd look like a denim-clad Hassidic mermaid.

Sophisticated trouser-style jeans in a nice dark shade is where it's at.

Which is why I love these Flying Monkey jeans:

($51, Flying Monkey, Lulus)

These are a great winter-spring transitional jean, they look great with a wider heel, and hello, they're like $50 bucks!

Jeweled Clutches!

Ay mami! I've been sitting on this topic for so long my ass hurts. No excuses! Post time! So many jeweled clutches, so few occassions to use a jeweled clutch!

Let's start with the completely unattainable ones, shall we?

($1890, Devi Kroell, Net-a-Porter.com)

Amazing. Too bad Devi Kroell didn't feature any of these in her Target collection.

($2,495, Leiber, Neiman Marcus)

A piece of art, I tell you! Sadly, just a few thou outta my tax bracket.

($580, Burberry, Net-a-Porter.com)

Oh mah stars. Love the geometrical designzorz.



($1255, Burberry)

Ah... Burberry. You tease, you! So close yet so far away.

($98, Steve Madden, Macys)

Oh Steve Madden. You make lovin' fun!

($57, Monsoon.co.uk)

Not bad atall. I like the different jewel types.

($28, Lulus)

Super cute, and I love the zipper pocket on the back! Lulus done does it again!

($45, Shopintuition.com)

Easy peasy! Love the purple one.

($38 Buy It Now, eBay)

OMG. LOVE. Need. Might... buy. But I already have a green clutch. But can you EVER have enough green clutches, I ask?

($133, Dazeddorothy.co.uk)

I can't decide if this is cute or a mini trainwreck... like, not a complete wreck, but more of a derailment.

($55, Betsey Johnson, Amazon)

I've blogged about this before, and now I'm blogging 'bout it again because I still want it. Wah!

($33, Asos.com)

Love love love. And no, it's not jeweled -- technically it's "plated," -- but it's close enough.

($68, Shopsueyboutique.com)

No, it's not a clutch, but it is jeweled, and it IS ridiculous, and I DO love it.