Today's Special: The Lust List

The high waisted black pencil skirt. A must have fall wardrobe staple! TIP: Order one size bigger than usual, as they tend to run small and fit skin tight.(and this is a bad thing?)

Rachel Zoe Lauren Leather Platform Pumps. I am DYING!!! These gorgeous babies have my name written all over them. BIG PROBLEM: They are SOLD OUT everywhere. Which makes me want them even more....

A nice wool pea coat. This gorgeous one is from Vivien Westwood is gorgeous and especially cozy for the crisp fall temps here in New England. Quite stylish too.

Amatriciana. Quite possibly the worlds most perfect food. I love me some pasta!

This gorgeous leather cuff from Uno De 50. Simple and edgy enough for everyday, this bracelet pairs well with any look for fall. BUY HERE: candybarcosmetics.com

Eve Lom Cleanser-Voted "the best cleanser in the world" by Vogue Magazine, this balmy cleanser emulsifies into a magical oil that cleanses, tones and exfoliates all in one step. Perfect for all skin types, the Eve Lom Cleanser is great for your skin's transition from summer to fall. BUY HERE: candybarcosmetics.com

A cashmere and silk scarf from Louis Vuitton. Every stylish woman knows that a touch of leopard adds just the right amount of style and class. At $895.00 this scarf may be a bit too pricey for everyone's budget, but I'm obsessed with it. TIP: Buying at top dollar means that it will last. At that price this may be the last leopard scarf you will ever need to buy. Like ever.

And last: eggplant colored nails. So many variations on the shades of eggplant, the experts predict that eggplant with be the hot color this fall for nails. TREND ALERT: Also look for Navy, Hunter Green and of course, black.

Now if my wallet would just cooperate, I could add all these glorious things to my wardrobe right now!

The Bag Lady

I have a serious affinity for expensive handbags. Always have, even as a little girl, and probably always will. Hello, my name is Candy and I am a bag addict.

It all started innocently enough.

A customer walked into the store carrying the bag above. It's called the Birkin and a company named Hermes makes it. That bag above is the Holy Grail of handbags. Books have been written about, wars have been battled over it and there used to be a years long waiting list for it, if you had the Benjamin's to lay down. No one said a word about the bag to the woman, but we all noticed it. After the woman left, we started talking about the Birkin. With a price tag of $10,000.00 to $150,000.00, it is a RIDICULOUSLY expensive status symbol.

We began Googling the bag to find the price and all these sites came up offering the Birkin at discount. $250.00 for a Birkin and three days to ship? Surely these bags couldn't be authentic. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, you know. But they all looked so beautiful and the desire to own one overtook me.

I called Hermes in New York to get a price and was told by an employee, "We cannot discuss the Birkin AT ALL over the phone, but you can come to the store and we will be more than happy to help you." When I asked the employee to repeat what he said, he said that Hermes prohibits talking about the Birkin anywhere other than in the store. My reply, "Have I asked you about something illegal?" My call to the Boston store produced the same response.

Holy contraband. It was then that I got lost in my iPad, pouring over websites with delectable pictures of Birkins in every size and color. But interestingly enough, the official Hermes web site does not have the Birkin on it at all. I checked eBay, and the forty million other sites, which are all bootleg knockoffs and began thinking I could break my rule about fakes, if the fake was of quality. But how could I really know, and why was I so intoxicated by obtaining even a cheap imitation?

I had to put the iPad down and walk away after an hour of researching return policies on these web sites and reasoning that $250.00 or $350.00 wouldn't be a lot to risk for the hope that I could possibly own a good fake. Even if in reality I knew that this probably wouldn't be the case. And here I am today, still thinking about it; even writing about it, but the urge to buy has released itself from me.

I think I'll go visit one soon at the Hermes store in Boston, but I'm afraid it will just feed into my addiction even more. Look what happened to me when I was in it's presence for 5 minutes.

My name is Candy and I am a bag addict.

Today's Special: My Lusty List

Summer is finally here and I wanted to share with you the top five fashion faves that I am lusting after for the season.

1. Old Navy Striped T's: Nothing says Summer better like a bright, new boldly colored t-shirt or tank top to pair with shorts. This Old Navy top comes in several vivid colors and make looking fresh a breeze! The best part? It's $5.99!! At that price we can all afford to pick up more than a few of our favorite summer colors. Looking good means feeling good!

2. ANY and ALL things Jeffrey Campbell: These honkin', kick ass wedges are unbelievably fresh! If Louboutin is the King of the stiletto, then Jeffrey Campbell is the Duke of the wedge. There is nothing sexier or stylish than a pair of these babies. I actually own the pair pictured above, and they are my most favorite shoe. I just recently added two new pairs to my personal collection. They are always at the center of attention and the topic of shoe conversations when I wear them. Affordable in most shoe-loving circles, a pair of Campbell's will run you anywhere from $150.00 to $300.-ish. Check it out here: Jeffrey Campbell

3. Fringe!!!: Fringe bags are HOT! and there are a million styles and colors and prices to choose from. From luxe to bargain prices, some have a lot of fringe, some have a little fringe, so find your personal fringe barometer and rock this look. It helps if your pair your fringe with some RIDICULOUSLY large sunglasses. Jus' saying.

4. RIDICULOUSLY Large Hoop Earrings: Speaking of RIDICULOUSLY large, I am STILL on the hunt for the perfect pair of over sized hoops. Kim K and JLo made the look famous and I have yet to find my big hoop soul mate. I want to wear them with my hair pulled back for maximum effect and pair them with pretty, natural make-up and glossy nude lips. Haaay!

5. Cute, White Shorts: Aren't these the cutest??? Unfortunately for me, these are more for Frick than mom. But that's OK. At my age I can still rock a pair of white shorts, just not a pair of maxi-shorts. Give me a little more length on a pair of white shorts, a pair of honkin Jeffrey Campbell wedges, a fresh tank and a knee length neutral sweater vest. Aye mami!!

So there you have it. My lusty list! Now I gotta go to work to pay for it all!

Happy shopping bloggers!