The City Sage

Craving: Endless Country Roads

Yesterday we had San Francisco's first truly hot weather in weeks. It reminded me: in spite of all my recent talk about fall fashion and decor, summer is not over!!! And it got me to thinking about that most venerable of summer institutions, the road trip! Having criss-crossed the continent at least 6 times, I consider myself an expert on the topic.

I'd love to load up the car with a cooler of snacks and iced tea, a couple sleeping bags, and a pair of dusty boots. I'd grab my fella or a few of my girlies--or maybe just myself--and hit the highways with no particular destination in mind. Soak up the sun through the windshield, count the cows and horses that dot the landscape, get hopelessly lost at least once.

But the most important part of a good road trip? The music. As the Huz will tell you, I once cranked the radio so loud that I blew a fuse in the car. To get in the mood for this post I made my ultimate country road trip playlist--think country twang with an alt rock edge. You can listen to it here---and add songs of your own! So head over there and tell me: What's your fave road trip tune?

P.S. Have you entered to win $1000 yet? Create your ideal fall outfit and the cash could be yours!

Image Credits: 1. Patric Shaw for L'Officiel 2, 6, 10, 11. Stephanie Williams 3. From Me to You 4. Chris Blott 5. Tom Corbett 7. Matt Jones 8. Chris Everard 9. Jock Sturges 12. Grace Huang

At Last! Fashion Addiction Pays Off with $1000 from Polyvore!

Are you as psyched as I am about the biggest contest of the year? Polyvore is so excited about their new Mini Editor that they're awarding $1000 to the reader with the best Fall outfit! I've gathered my must-haves for fall so you can build the perfect look right here at The City Sage--the more mood boards you create with my picks, the better your chance of winning!

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And any blogger can get in on the action and win $1000 themselves! The Mini Editor is a free widget that brings the Polyvore styling tool to your blog, giving you and your readers the power to mix and match up to 100 of Fall's most swoon-tastic items. To get the Mini Editor and to read full contest rules, check out the Polyvore blog--then style away!

Polyvore Contest! Win $1000 with the Perfect Fall Outfit!

What's the easiest money you'll earn this year? Style the winning Fall outfit with Polyvore's new Mini Editor and $1000 will be yours! I've used the Mini Editor to round up some of my fall must-haves so you can create your ensembles right here on my blog. You can make as many looks as you like--every new set is another chance to win, so go wild!

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Bloggers, you can get in on the action too. Install the Mini-Editor on your site, pick up to 100 fave Fall items, and encourage readers to make outfits. The blogger whose reader has the best set will also get $1000! Of course I'm partial to the goodies I've collected here--with everything from cargoes to florals and beyond, search no further for everything you need to create the winning look!

The official rules: One blogger and one reader will win. The criteria for selecting the best Mini Editor will be based 50% on how many sets readers submit and 50% on style and aesthetics. The winning blogger will select his or her favorite set created by a reader to also win $1,000. The winning blog and the winning set will also be featured on the Polyvore blog!

Loving Leopard for a Wild Weekend!

I have always loved leopard. Case in point: the leopard fringe monokini I rocked to the pool at the age of eight. So as you can imagine I'm overjoyed to see leopard getting the editorial coverage it deserves! From tiny touches like hats and shoes, pillows and throws, to roaring loud statements like jackets and pants, carpets and chairs, this print is simply...wait for it...the cat's meow. (Groan!)

Not only do I adore the playful glam sensibility that leopard projects, I'm surprised at how versatile it can be. Pair it with reds, blacks, and greys for a nouveau riche opulence, or tone it down with shades of cocoa, gold and taupe for an aristocratic safari vibe. Or simply appreciate it from afar and let its daring energy set the mood for a wonderful weekend! xo

P.S. Enter to win a custom suite of social stationery; check out a super sneak peek of the soon-to-launch Rue Magazine; enjoy some early Fall Outfit to Room; and go over to the glitter side!

Image Credits: 1,6. Elle Decor 2. Greg Kadel for Harpers Bazaar August 2010 3. J. Crew 4. Perfect English 5. Vogue Espana September 2010 via Fashionising 7. Domino via Apartment Therapy 8. L'Officiel August 2010

At Last! The First Sneak Peek of Rue Magazine!

Are you ready? Rue Magazine launches in less than a month and we're hustling and bustling to perfect every last page! But we simply couldn't wait until September, so we slipped a couple sneak peeks to our friends over at Shelterpop. I mean come on, you guys. How could we possibly keep these images under wraps for four more weeks?!

Not only did Shelterpop share some visuals, they also did a really lovely write-up about the upcoming debut of Rue. Click through to get the full scoop--and to see a photo of yours truly looking somewhat dazed (hey, it was taken at the end of a looong, sleepless week in NYC!) And stay tuned in the weeks to come as we 'accidentally' leak some more pics to your fave blogs and media outlets!

P.S. The photographer of these stunning photos? The incredible Manny Rodriguez--my new hero. You're absolutely going to die when you see the rest of this Dallas home.

Giveaway! Custom Stationery Suite from Bella Card Co.

Is there anything more wonderful than receiving a handwritten note in the mail? It's such a thrill to open the mailbox and find, nestled amongst bills and credit card offers, a sweet card from a dear loved one. And I'd be especially delighted to open an envelope from Bella Card Company. These cheerful and cheeky designs are the perfect way to say, 'Was just thinking of you!'

Alicia, the designer behind Bella Card Company, is offering one reader a custom suite of social stationery! Alicia will work with the winner to design a set of three coordinating items: a calling card, a notecard or letterhead, and an envelope or address label. You can create your own personal brand--or wouldn't this make a lovely gift for a new bride who has just changed her name?

To enter, just visit Alicia's shop then leave a comment here telling us who would be the first person you'd send a letter with your personalized stationery. For example: I'd send a note to my grandma and to thank her for letting me use her pool this summer!

How to Wear It: Geren Ford Fall 2010

The Look: Flirty Tiers The Occasion: Gathering of renegade 'Bring Back the Bustle' fashion activists.
The Look: Bone-In Dress The Occasion: Meeting of rival 'Corset Comeback' group across the hall.

The Look: Harem Pants The Occasion: Confirming that no, these will not fit your massive calves.
The Look: Wobbly Stripes The Occasion: Posing as sedimentary rock to attract cute geologist.

The Look: Gold leather The Occasion: Debut collection of Princess Leia's bikini cover-up line.
The Look: Extreme shoulders The Occasion: Role of Lady Android #4 in Bladerunner 2010 remake.

The Look: Drapey Teal The Occasion: 'Accidentanlly' standing on sidewalk grate as subway passes.
The Look: Long, Lean, Yowza! The Occasion: Rue Magazine launch party in NYC, baby!

All images courtesy of Geren Ford, whose Fall collection totally rocks.

Designer Spotlight: Cecilie Starin

Not only does San Francisco boast some of the world's best restaurants and most awe-inspiring natural settings, it also plays home to an incredible roster of interior designers. One of my top picks is Cecilie Starin, whose approach to 'classic design with a modern twist' has me picking my jaw up off the floor. Her work oozes drama and grandeur, yet at the same time feels utterly livable.

The trick is to take traditional shapes--a cabriole-legged desk, a four-poster bed--and combine them in irreverent ways. A Louis VXI chair gets a zebra treatment; a marble Apollo head rests on the floor. Unite the look with a palette of refined yet multilayered neutrals and you're golden.

Channel Cecilie's style at home. Campaign-inspired pieces like a leather folding chair and mirrored chest exude aristocratic gravitas. Accents in ebony and cocoa have a high fashion sensibility, while a faux hide rug will fool even the most experienced safari trekker. Plenty of gilt, brass, and dark wood only looks like you have a butler on hand to polish all day: 'Jeeves, you missed a spot!'

Interiors images courtesy of Cecilie Starin Interior Design. Shopping Guide: 1. Mirrored Chest of Drawers 2. Gold Hurricanes 3. Brass Serving Tray 4. Cane and Velvet Occasional Chair 5. Campaign Chair 6. Zebra Hide Rug 7. Gold Branches Candelabra 8. Greek Motif Box 9. Italian Urn Lamp 10. Windowpane and Needlepoint Pillows 11. Treillage Gold Leaf Coffee Table

Outfit to Room: Toast Pre-Fall

Gasp! The new Toast catalog recently hit the airwaves and they said the 'F' word! That's right, they're sending out early Fall vibes and I don't know whether I should grab a scarf or run in search of the nearest flip flops. Of course with San Francisco's funny 'summer' weather, I usually get to do both in the same day; so a little pre-Fall Outfit to Room action feels just right!

The sensibility of this season's offerings have a distinct 90's feel to them. Minimalism rules with slim dark pants, layered tunics and flat ankle boots. But the palette feels very 2010; touches of soft pink and hints of subtle sparkle remind us that we survived the millennium with a bounce in our steps!

Florals still bloom strong. They're big, bold and hardy, and have a decidedly more graphic presence than the twee prints of collections past. I don't see myself in a blossom bedecked blouse anytime soon, but I am considering some fun fabric stretched over a canvas frame in the living room.

I swear I had an ensemble just like this in the 7th grade. In fact there's a chance that I wore it several days in a row while on a 'clothing strike'--a failed attempt to get my mother to buy me a pair of $60 Gap jeans by wearing the exact outfit for weeks on end. I wonder if I went on a 'couch strike' whether she'd buy me a velvet settee like the one above...

Memories of bucket hats come flooding back. Sadly, my bucket hat was plaid and it matched my dress, so the effect was not nearly as cool as this orange one. Here's my chance to get it right the second time around. Or maybe I'll just stick with a ponytail and spring for a fab pink chair with neon pillows? Somehow crimes in decor seem less heinous to me than the fashion sins of my youth!

Fashion Images: Toast UK Interiors Images: 1. Skona Hem 2, 5. Marie Claire Maison 3. Blueprint 4. Nuevo Estilo

Etsy is My Kryptonite: Vintage Shop Round-Up

With my recent crazy work schedule, I haven't been able to do nearly as much flea market hunting as I'd like to this summer! Fortunately, my favorite vintage stores are just a click away on Etsy. Every once in a while I like to pop in and see what's brewing. Ethanollie is flush with goodies as usual; I'm especially fond of their old books and butterfly prints. The whole shop is a photo stylist's dream!

Visiting Two Art Directors is like taking a trip back in time. I can't get enough of the worn and weathered patina that marks not only their treasures but also the way in which they display them. Plus I'm a huge fan of their 'instant collections'. Why spend months searching for the perfect quintet of antique jewelry boxes when you can buy them all in one fell swoop?

And of course we can't forget High Street Market, possibly the most impeccably curated vintage store in the universe. Every time shop owner Kelly sends out her 'New Product!' emails, my Visa runs screaming in the other direction. I'm populating my entire house with her adorable brass animals and recently welcomed this fine fellow to the fold. Now you tell me: What vintage shops do you love?