Fortune Cookie Coin Purse and Other Diana Eng Creations

Do you guys remember Diana Eng from Project Runway Season 2?  Her website is full of interesting fashion accessories that fall within her "Fashion Engineered from Daydreams" theme.  Described as "a line of whimsically playful creations. Inspired by sea creatures, mad hatter tea parties, and hacker cocktail parties, each design comes from a daydream."  Now that's a little bit too kooky for my taste, but some of the items are very cool. 

Fortune Cookie Coin Purse (65.00)

Miura Ori Scarf (350.00): inspired by a biomimetic Japanese folding technique

Fibonacci Scarf (275.00): knit in the order of the Fibonacci numbers

Lifebooker

I pride myself on being up to the minute with online shopping developments, but it took me an embarrassingly long time to discover the amazing-ness that is Lifebooker (Thanks Pam!).  It's essentially Groupon for beauty and health.  You can find amazing deals on anything from manicures to botox.  You can even book appointments online.  With Valentine's day just around the corner, it's also a great link to share with your significant other as a not so subtle hint.

Do Nothing for Two Minutes

New (Lunar) year, new resolutions.  My resolution this year is to relax more, which is a very difficult task for my type-A mind.  Needless to say, I failed miserably at my first few attempts on this link, but eventually I was able to relax for two whole minutes.  Check it out and tell me what you think: aggravating or amazing? 

Courtesy of Marissa.

Efficiency Tip: Classic Clothing Checklist

This simple checklist can help you pare down an overflowing wardrobe of trendy items or help you build a classic wardrobe from the ground up.  Simple and efficient, just what the doctor ordered for a busy Professionelle.  Found at {a glamorous little side project}.

Techonology Tip: Organize Your Email by Color

I hate being on working group email lists because I end up getting a million emails that do not concern me and consequently miss the emails that do concern me. I learned a neat trick that allows you to color code emails in Outlook that are sent directly to you. Emails sent directly to you will show up in blue (or red or whatever color you pick) so that it is visually distinct from all of the other emails you receive. Here's how you set it up:

Click on "tools" then "organize." Select "using colors." The second bullet point should be an option to "show messages only to me in . . . ." Select the color you want and the hit "turn on" button.

You need to do this for each folder you have individually. For example, if all of your mail regarding Project XYZ gets automatically filtered to a certain folder, you will need to do this for that particular folder.

Deal Brief: Copy Cat Chic

I recently discovered Copy Cat Chic blog. Reichel B., the author, finds inexpensive alternatives to chic, but pricey, home decor items. The concept is nothing new, but I'm utterly amazed at the deals she's been able to find. Her readers help her scour the web for deals, sometimes finding the same exact item at 1/10th of the price. If you're thinking about buying a new piece of furniture or accessory for your home, be sure to check out Copy Cat Chic before putting down your credit card.

Here's just one example post, for more visit Copy Cat Chic!

Twiggy Floor Lamp

>> Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The perfect way to add a splash of color to your room: The iconic Twiggy Floor Lamp. So simple, so gorgeous and sooo expensive! ;)

via

Hive Modern's Twiggy Floor Lamp in Red = $2,338

CB2's Lantern Arc Floor Lamp = $199

Kansas City Kate

It used to be that Kate Spade handbags depressed me. They were black, boxy and horribly expensive considering they were made from nylon. Now, the Kate Spade brand has the exact opposite effect. I love her feminine details and bright colors. Looking at the Kate Spade window display on 5th Avenue always brings a smile to my face.

She also happens to be from Kansas City (the about page on her website describes how her upbringing in KC influenced her aesthetic), which is where I will be going next week to spend the holidays with my boyfriend's family. So, I thought this was the perfect time to feature some of the things I love from Kate Spade. Enjoy and happy holidays!

Polka-dot Jillian Dress (375.00)


Head in the Sand Melinda (425.00)


Stripped Bow Jacket (445.00)

Theory Winter Roundup

Just in time for Christmas, the Theory website is full of amazing pieces to get you through a winter work week.

Riva Sweater Jacket (355.00)


Abree E Dress (695.00)


Betty Dress (285.00)


Lentora's Blazer (425.00)


Ellery Coat (645.00)

Typography for Lawyers

The first time a senior associate asked me to change "straight quotes" to "curly quotes" I thought he was crazy. But, apparently there is good scientific reasoning behind his request (along with putting only one space behind periods and using bold or italics but not both). Typography for Lawyers was written by Mathew Butterick, a former graphic designer and typographer turned lawyer. It's filled with handy tips on how to make any document, particularly legal documents, more effective from a visual perspective. This is not to say that I advocate torturing junior associates with typography changes at 4am on a Friday night, but the advice is sound and the tips are interesting.

Boutiques.com

Fashion meets Facebook meets Twitter meets...Google? Google's new website, Boutiques.com, combines social media, blogging and shopping. For more information, see this article by the New York Times.

After taking it for a short test drive, I can say that I am completely addicted. The website allows users to create their own "boutique" where they can shop for and share the items they love (kinda like a Facebook profile). Google has also convinced celebrities and fashion bloggers to help with the launch of the site by creating their own boutiques for the public to peruse. Want to see what Olivia Palermo is buying? Simply go to her boutique. You can even "follow" her (exactly like Twitter).

What I really love about the website is that Google has teamed up with Like.com. As previously featured on Professionelle, Like.com technology shows shoppers items similar to the one you're interested in. It worked decently well before, but trying to find say, a black bag with gold hardware, was sometimes difficult. Like.com would show you plenty of black bags approximately the same shape as the one you're looking for, but it didn't always pick up on the details. This time around, the "similar products" feature on Boutiques.com does a much better job. So, if you found the perfect brown riding boots, but they happen to be $700, you can look for a similar product for less on Boutiques.com.

Let me know what you think, and start following Professionelle at Boutiques.com!