I’m a sucker for hoodies, as demonstrated by my inability to stop embellishing them left and right.  I especially love seeing the fun stuff other people do with them.

Aviator Nation has this whole 1970s, surfer vibe going that reminds me of Dogtown and Z-boys, the first Red Hot Chili Peppers album, and the thrill of finding an original Ocean Pacific tee at the thrift store.  Expensive but super cute.

The hoodies at Toast have a whole different feel, sweet and playful in unexpected fabrics.  I’ve had this shop saved to my faves for forever and really just need to buck up and order something already.

And somewhere inbetween are the fun, cool hoodies by Isla New York–who I think I stumbled upon via Twitter.

I would seriously get one of each if I could justify it.

I have a few simple tops and dresses that I’ve been tempted to mix up with crazy leggings–especially with New Years approaching.

I found a few pairs on Amazon that had me dying with laughter but also dying to see what they’d look like in person.  Of course, given that, for me this would be something very infrequently worn, they’d have to be much cheaper.

I don’t know if I could do tie dye since I haven’t sported it since I was 15 but maybe in black?  In the same vein, black newsprint leggings seem like they might be a subtle way to have fun with the trend.

Aw, who am I kidding.  When you see the leggings I actually picked up the other day, you’ll see how tame and unadventurous I am.

Perhaps it’s simply because it’s summer, but I’m noticing a trend here.

First from Mango and Free People, with a little bit of air conditioning in the back.

And Charlotte Russe and ModCloth with a bit of an 80s feel.

And this basic Rachel Pally dress from ShopBop.

I’ve worn enormous, Jackie O frames since I was a teenager, back in the 90s when they were much harder to find. I’ve never been tempted to change that up–until now.

These glasses, worn by Amanda courtesy of Copenhagen Street Style, remind me of Amelia Earhart, O Brother Where Art Thou and all of the starlet extras in Fred & Ginger movies.  & it also reminded me of a photo I’d seen in my flickr contacts not too long ago.

Casey of Elegant Musings has consistently amazing style.  Her nose for vintage–and for finding items you might think are vintage but are really new–is beyond enviable.  That includes these sunglasses that are so 1940s–but are actually from Forever 21!

Not sure I could pull these off but I’d like to try.

Almost all of my laundry was dirty this past weekend & I threw on a pair of the boyfriend’s jeans inbetween showering and waiting for the laundry to dry.

Realizing I had enough excess hem to peg them like I used to as a fifth grader, I rolled them up.  & just about died laughing.

Hips render this look pretty silly so I won’t be sporting it any time soon.  But I should thank all of the celebrities and much more stylish bloggers for the memories.

This article in Lucky inspired me to pair my bright blue chinos with a ribbed tank–a color combination I don’t think I’ve tried before.

Though my look is a lot less couture.

When we later went out for dinner, the boyfriend threw on something besides a t-shirt and unconsciously echoed the color scheme.

I guess we have to be one of those couples who matches every once in a while.

Perhaps it’s just because I remember this look the first time it made an appearance.

But J.Crew trying to give instructions on how to peg your jeans just made me laugh.

& even if I hadn’t sported my pegged jeans with International News sweatshirts back in the day, I think I could figure it out without their help.

When I saw Ninni on Hel Looks, I immediately thought she’d doodled on her tights like the Clothes Horse.

But in fact Ninni’s tights are not DIY–they’re by My o My and not too dissimilar from the Bebaroque tights the Queens spotted last month.  Using fringe, embroidery and any number of amazing techniques, the Scottish design team behind Bebaroque take legwear to a whole new level.

Which Anabela also spotted and pondered if a DIY version might be possible.  So even though I’ve been going very light in my time online (comparatively speaking), I’ve still managed to stumble on some lovely things via my favorite sites and wander from connection to connection.

My love of silhouettes, like my love of purple and vintage capes, though not as frequently covered on (Into) the Fray, is just as constant.

I’m enamored of the pendants in Little Black Rabbit’s shop.  Playful and Victorian in feel, they all remind me of something you might find in a Lewis Carroll book.

Equally tempting are the digital collages by Cafe Baudelaire.  This is easily my favorite and reminds me of the vintage print I got off eBay some time ago.

For a modern take, check out the English Muse’s find.

For a few weeks I’ve had handbags on the brain.  It’s not really something I need at all but the two I carry regularly are both going on at least a year and the desire for a change is taking hold.  Unlike shoes, where just about any pair is worthy of my attention, I’m extremely picky about what I carry around every day.

I’ve been drawn to the idea of a satchel crossed with a tote ever since I saw this bag on American Eagle’s web site.  But I just don’t do brown bags.

I started looking for a bag explicitly in this style and found a brand that seemed to specialize in it: Hype.  Unfortunately, even at a deep discount, their prices are generally far beyond what I’m willing to pay.

Here are some other, sometimes less expensive versions I found in my search–but ultimately passed up.

Clockwise from top, Kim White for $250, Gap for $49.50, and Mod Cloth for $34.99.

Little Thoughts had a post on a similar bag style a few weeks ago and Lisa laid out some fantastic tips when it comes to shopping for a handbag.

Later this week I’ll share the purchase I did make.

In my mind, there is no better way to start off the Monday after New Years than with a post about shoes.

Like Wendy B., I refuse to call this color ’nude.’  However, the magazines I read at the gym seem to be losing their shiz for the color and I’m kind of digging it as a trend.

These Naughty Monkey heels are marked down to an astonishing $20.99.  I’m digging the hardware details & wishing I could justify open toe shoes with the weather we’re having.  I think Carley at Hot off the Sales Rack might like the 2nd pair with their dramatic bow.

By Anne Klein, this pair mixes a little gray in with the beige.  $26.69 in a range of sizes.  The hint of 1940s cabana style to these Via Spiga wedges definitely appeals to me.  The price varies according to which size you want (how lame is that?)

If you’re not interested in the height of these shoes, there’s a lacy flat that will make you look like you’re bare foot.  & finally, the pair I like best in a D’Orsay style.  Even better, they’re calling this color ‘Powder Flake.’  That I can live with.

Though I think I have my New Year’s outfit figured out, I’ve been browsing just to see what’s out there.

I first noticed a proliferation of tiers on this dress at the Gap, currently marked down to 49.99.

Then I saw more than one dress with pleated tiers at Nordstroms, too.  This included a lovely ombre version that’s out of my price range, and a less painfully priced one with sexy sheer cap sleeves & back.

Finally, I was checking out Overstock to see if their bargains beat the general discounts that seem to be everywhere at the moment.  Even they had multiple tier dresses, including a one shouldered version.

I don’t know if this is a look I’d personally sport, but it certainly is ubiquitous.

The reason I’m so dead set on finding a cape on ebay is because it’s impossible to find a hooded leather jacket for less than a few hundred bucks. This is a lot more than I generally pay for–well, anything. But like the cape, this has been a long, drawn out search that resulted in a partial find (that I admittedly love) with the real deal continuing to elude me.

This is why I’ve actually thought about paying retail for a leather coat.  These, from Overstock and Mango, are at a price point I could almost justify.

These two, however, are just wrecking me.  If only the one on the left had long sleeves.  Ack, who am I kidding?  Even then, I can’t really justify the price.

Even Nine West has gotten in on the action, though this one won’t be available until the middle of next month.  & I’d bet money that it’ll be back ordered within days.

It’s kind of embarrassing to be talking about the same topic years after the point.  I mentioned capes in my second ever post on this site, went on to make my own, shortly after found one at Value Village, and still haven’t quite landed on one that suits my needs.

Anabela recently finished sewing a cape that was much nicer than mine (I’ll chalk the wonky lining and collar up to the fact that it was the second item of clothing I’d sewn ever.)  While I would love the APC version she references, I know there have to be some vintage options that won’t break my bank.

There are hooded versions (currently bid at $15.50 and a buy it now price of $84.99 respectively.)

Cute plaid capes with covered buttons and reversible capes in blue and gray.

And the belted capes that are seriously tempting me.

Related reading:

Coat Trends – Dolman Sleeves

Coat Trends – Anoraks

I love the drapey dolman sleeve in the few items of clothing I personally own.  I’m starting to notice it everywhere as we head into winter and fall.

I’m not crazy about the color of this jacket from Free People but the foldover collar is definitely an element I love.  The white coat by Trina Turk is available at Nordstrom.  It looks super versatile and I can imagine it with just about anything in my closet.  Don’t know what’s up with the model’s face, though.

Or these two cardigan versions from Forever 21.

Karmaloop’s take on this trend looks like a rainslicker.

And this shawl from Yes Style is perhaps the most dramatic version of the trend.  Thank God her expression doesn’t appear to have been affected like the other two.

I really try to have clothing for big events planned far in advanced–I hate making a last minute dash to try & find the right pair of shoes or tights.  Shopping under those pressed, frantic circumstances almost always seems to mean I will never find what I’m looking for.  Prior to the Whidbey Island garden party, however, I had a moment of panic and didn’t want to iron my linen dress.  Given that the boyfriend’s single summer weight shirt was dirty, we made the last minute dash I generally hate making.

Not unexpectedly, the two dresses I tried on didn’t work and I walked away from Macy’s empty-handed (the boyfriend, on the other hand, pretty much found an entire outfit.)  I did notice, however, a ton of cute fall jackets.  Along with the cropped and swingy styles that have been very much the trend for the past few years, I noticed another style that didn’t seem as prevalent last fall.

Nordstrom is calling the trend the ‘City Anorak’ but the first thing that came to mind when I saw the plethora of these on Macy’s racks was, ‘Windbreakers are back?’

Which isn’t to say I don’t like these.  The slouchy style is very much in line with everything in the shops at the moment–from cardigans and boyfriend style jeans to the oversize drawstring hoodies I saw at the Rack the other day.  & if I’m anything, I’m a sucker for a deliberately slouchy look that’s also subtly stylish.

I’m not sure how crazy I am about these short sleeved versions by ShopBop and TopShop respectively.  As much as I love the 3/4 sleeve look, even in coats, a short-sleeved jacket is still kind of beyond me.  Especially in satin.

My love of silhouettes was established with one of the in this space.  However, this new, larger scale take on silhouettes took a moment for me to fully appreciate.

This cityscape necklace glimpsed on Etsy’s front page reminded me of how much I like one of the boyfriend’s many Threadless tees. 

The Stone Jungle design by Andre de Silva Cruz is pretty much always sold out–the boyfriend nabbed his during one of the rare reprints.  It’s popularity is apparently one of the reasons it was turned into a wall decal by blik.

It was simultaneously encouraging and disheartening to find the quilted patchwork trend that I’ve seen in various forms on craft blogs being mass produced by a major retailer.

It was encouraging because I love the idea of this tradition gaining visibility but disheartening because these were being sold for $12.99 (and $9.09 on the Target site).  Given all of the binding and sewing that would go into these necklines, my first thought is for the people who made these and got paid nothing to do so, then for the crafters on sites like Etsy who couldn’t possibly charge so little.

I mean, how adorable is this little tote by Frecklewonder?  The colors are bright and fun, the fabric is vintage and the inner lining is an apple print.  Adorable, right?

I wish I knew the answer to the dilemma of affordability versus honoring the artisans in our own back yards.  The green movement is gaining hold daily (I’ve never seen so many people with their own grocery bags as I have in the past few months at my local grocery store) but there’s still a long ways to go.

And God knows my own hypocrisy is wrapped up in this given that we were at Target to pick up things on the cheap: razors, new pillows, some eyeshadow for the wedding we went to later that day and God knows what else.

Who would have thought you could have a love/hate relationship with Target?

Asymmetrical shoes kill me.  Maybe it’s because I’ve always loved mary janes and this gives the look a grown-up, modern twist.

These colorful jelly flats are available at Urban Outfitters while these leather heels are by Corso Como.

Then there are these two pair from Endless, one of the easiest web sites I’ve ever used for shoe shopping.  The only bad thing is that this search yielded very few asmmetrical mary janes–and the few I found had chunky heels I don’t usually go for.  You can always trust Fluevog to bring the quirkiness and this pair are no exception.  I love the little ruffle on the heel of the second pair, but…the heel.  Sigh.

While trends and styles seem to change at an ever faster pace, trickling down from runways to Forever 21 and H&M before hitting the sales racks at thrift stores, you’ll notice my trend-watching hovers pretty far below the radar.  I take notice given that the only reading material at the gym is In Style or Us, but noticing rarely develops into action.  Looking over two of the ‘trends’ that are supposed to be so huge for summer (and I feel like both of these were supposed to be everywhere last summer, too), you might start to understand why trends don’t mean a lot to me.

The maxi dress.  Even when this is done well, like the J.Crew eyelet dress, it still has overtones of night gown.  When it’s done poorly, like this $455.00 cotton sack, it just makes me want to roll my eyes.  Plus, I’m short.  Ridiculously, ludicrously short.  Pulling one of these off when you’re the height of a great dane is about as likely as nationalized health care.

Yeah, Talitha Getty, blah icon blah.  No.  Just, no.

Slightly related to the maxi dress, especially given the world traveler angle ShopBop seems to be going for, is the ethnic/tribal explosion.

Whether bags, tops, or coats, the ‘ethnic’ look is suddenly every where.  Granted, this is a very personal thing particular to someone of my background, but I don’t need clothes to achieve an ethnic look.  I mean, if you’re going for a bright, colorful look, or are interested in different textiles and prints–I get that.  But that is not how this trend is being marketed and I think bell hooks would have a ball with how places like Shopbop are touting their items as being a ’sophisticated’ take on ethnicity.  Oookay.

I understand that clothing should be fun, that we should be able to play around with looks and experiment with different styles.  If fashion never changed, that certainly wouldn’t be possible.  However, there are times when I can see the dollar signs in marketers eyes, and these two trends are definitely making me hold my wallet a little tighter.

Feel free to disagree.