Bangles and baubles and shoes, oh my!

I've been on a tear lately buying accessories. I've wanted tortoise bangles for the longest time, and couldn't seem to find any online. Two weeks ago I was surprised and pleased to find six or so at a thrift shop; priced at two for five bucks, I bought four of them, not wanting to be greedy. Four skinny tortoise (plastic, of course) bangles looked quite nice on my wrist; six seemed to be pushing it. Now, of course, I'm wishing I'd gone overboard and gotten the last two as well.

Naturally, now that I've found my bangles after what seems like ages of looking for them, they've popped up courtesy of Ralph Lauren, no less, at three price points.

Chaps, three bangle set, $18.00:

Lauren Ralph Lauren, three bangle set, $30.00:

Ralph Lauren, five bangle set, $225.00.

I purchased the cheapest set at my local Kohl's; believe it or not, they're not quite as nice as my thrift shop finds! They're just a bit smaller in diameter, and the color's just a wee bit off. You quite obviously get what you pay for, eh? I'm thinking that 225.00 seems a bit overpriced for plastic, but I just may treat myself to the five bangle set. Accessories last a lifetime, especially the classics, and tortoise bangles may be as classic as it gets.

Classic while perhaps debatably classy, I finally sated my lust for leopard. I'm starting small but a bit daring for me: leopard ballerina flats with a Chanel-esque quilted cap toe! All done quite grandly and cheaply by the folks at Old Navy:

The fit is a bit odd; the size 8 feels like a 7 on my foot (a bit tight!) but moving up to a 9 felt more like an 11. How completely bizarre is that? No half sizes, naturally. For 20.00 bucks though, I decided to splurge on a bit o' cat; I've worn them with two outfits, and I'm convinced that these are definitely something worth having at a higher price point -- and a better fit!

In the past week I've also purchased a set of three silvery bangles, and two three-piece sets mimicking pieced tortoise and pieced turquoise (to go with my lovely new blue bag!)

I've worn two successful outfits this week that are going on my favorites list: khaki linen jumper with a crisp white shirt worn open over it, silver earrings, my now infamous tortoise bangles, sheer stockings and the also now-infamous leopard flats. Topped off with my blue Pierotucci, I looked fabulous.

Today's outfit was even better: slinky black side-slit skirt, white long sleeved v-neck t-shirt, powder blue cardigan, pearls, silver earrings, silver bangles, sheer black stockings and my leopard flats; blue Pierotucci bag. Perfection!

I love silver jewelry in the summer. Silver's pretty in winter too, of course, but it seems especially refreshing in the summer. Against the powder blue of my sweater and the white t-shirt...perfection.

Today's bag: blue Pierotucci Birkin-inspired bag.