Part boat shoe, part sneaker-boot, Surface to Air's Sailor Sneaker is the perfect shoe for making the summer-into-fall transition in style. The sandy hue and nautical lace-through detail is appropriate for the still warm days but the boot styling gives it a more substantial feel than your summer Sperrys. $220 @ Frances May.
I can't get enough of Portland boutique Frances May these days. Their Fall 2010 picks are all so covetable that I'm glad I live a safe 3,000 miles away, lest I be tempted to stop in and try on these lovely wares. Some pieces I've been eyeing from afar:
Viva Vena by Vena Cava Paper Knife Dress, $187.
The dress code at my office is pretty lax -- leather pants are perfectly acceptable in our finance department (work it, Roberto), a bit of cleavage before noon won't raise any eyebrows, flannel shirts are commonplace, and if you're a creative, well, anything goes. I have to say that it's pretty convenient to be able to shift from daytime to evening without sacrificing too much style, and it allows me to scoff in disdain at the stuffy jackets and pantsuits I invariably encounter during happy hour. Your workplace may not be as awesome relaxed as mine, but here's my version of workwear that can be taken out for drinks without getting you labeled as a dull nine-to-fiver. I apologize in advance if any of these killer looks inspires a lecture from HR.
I just ordered Surface to Air's Rubin Dress, and if all goes well when I try on, I'll be strutting into the office with it on Monday, with patterned tights and loads of necklaces. $192 @ Oak.
V-neck sweaters from two of my favorite labels, albeit in limited sizes:
Acne Hotel V Pullover in green, $75 (was $199) @ Gargyle. Available in small, large, and XL.
