the hills vs. the city

last night the hills kicked off it's sixth season minus one lauren conrad plus one kristin cavallari, and we have to admit that we didn't love this new equation. it's obvious that kristin is just there to further her own acting career, and the thought of heidi and spencer procreating has us a little nauseated this morning. however, odds are we'll still find ourselves tuned into mtv tuesday nights at 10:00 if for no other reason than wasting time until the city airs at 10:30. whitney port and her new york crew somehow seem less vapid and plastic than their LA counterparts. perhaps it's because the series is still relatively new and hasn't yet recycled through characters and their relationships ad nauseam...we'll wait and see.

kristin cavallari cozying up to justin bobby last night on the hills left little to be desired this season.

whitney port and her band of new yorkers may have a more interesting story to tell on the city.

buzzing about lemlem

model liya kebede is no stranger to the fashion world. she has graced the cover of vogue magazine and, in 2000, was asked by tom ford for an exclusive contract for gucci's fall/winter fashion show, but we love kebede for her giving spirit and dedication to improving the health and well-being of mothers and children through the liya kebede foundation. using her native ethiopia as a platform for creativity, kebede introduced lemlem--a sustainable clothing line that supports ethiopian artisans and brings african-inspired fashion to the global market. when poole shop received our first shipment of lemlem scarves in july, we sold out within a matter of days. but we have more on the way...stay tuned for news of our next shipment that is due to arrive by october 15th.

the under is o-v-e-r

remember a few seasons ago when we put a turtleneck under everything in our closets? from fancy "evening" tops to dresses to everyday button downs, nothing was off limits. so this fall it's time to learn a new trick, which is actually an old trick: let's focus on layering on top of our outfits. thank goodness it's the season of the boyfriend blazer and grandpa cardigan. if you're not ready to rid your wardrobe of all those tops you thought were so cute two years ago, at least update your look with a new outer-layering piece.

the look was cute in 2007, but today it just looks dated. nix the turtleneck under the blouse look and opt for a chunky cardigan over your feminine pieces. this season is the perfect time to mix and match what's already in your closet, so have fun with a new arrangement! whether it's designed to look like your grandpa's cardigan or boyfriend's blazer, these celebrities show us that an oversized look pairs perfectly with everything from distressed jeans to sophisticated silhouettes if done correctly. at poole shop we have the perfect boyfriend-grandpa-cardigan-blazer from vanessa bruno that will work wonders with your wardrobe this season.

couples dressing

exactly when did we start dressing like our boyfriends? or did they start dressing like us? with the comeback of separates this season and the economic downturn, women's fashion has become less feminine and more androgynous. dresses are sparse on the racks while skinny jeans, boyfriend blazers and plaid button downs abound. perhaps last year's boyfriend jean was the first indicator that we would soon be able to look into our guys' closets for inspiration.

the relationship may be over, but it looks like adam brody's style left a lasting impression on rachel bilson. separately, they are both seen sporting skinny jeans and plaid shirts.

it looks like reese witherspoon did indeed reach into her boyfriend jake gyllenhaal's closet to top off her look with this trendy fedora.

it doesn't take much imagination to see couple kate moss and jamie hince's coordinating style. grey skinny jeans, blazers and shades...perhaps they should find matching boots.

sugar overload

candy, cupcakes and cokes...last night's sugar rush is this morning's headache, but we had a blast at our annual teen party at poole shop! here are a couple cute pics from the event...

you're never fully dressed without a scarf

call it a wrap; call it a pashmina; call it a neck warmer: these days there's hardly a picture snapped where hollywood's style set isn't wearing fall's easiest accessory. textile designer virginia johnson has always been a favorite of ours, and her latest shawl designs, including a cheeky and colorful sombrero print, have been all the rage at poole shop. we love the oversized yet delicate nature of her shawls, which allows them to be worn as traditional scarves or cozy wraps. we've even heard that one fan uses hers as a throw at home. grab one for yourself and a friend (they make great gifts, by the way) for $198, and put that finishing touch on your daytime look.

so long...farewell...auf wiedersehen...

as of 5:17 PM this evening summer 2009 is officially over, so please, please, PLEASE put away your white jeans, tank tops and flip flops. we understand that transitioning from season to season can be difficult--especially in the south where the thermometer hovers in the mid-80's throughout the month of september--but we have a couple pointers that will help navigate the way through your closet.






#1: flirty + hardcore = transitional bliss

take sienna miller in this feminine dress paired with motorcycle boots and a leather jacket. the look is flawless and expertly melds a summer wardrobe into fall. to make this look your own, chose your favorite flowy dress from summer (liberty prints work especially well), dust off your ankle boots from last fall and invest in a great leather jacket that will carry you through the season.





#2: one part summer + two parts fall = the recipe for total togetherness

victoria beckham shows us that shorts and boots can happily coexist when blended with a tailored blazer. instead of switching your closet over from summer to fall this year, try something new with a "grab-and-go" approach. think of each item in your closet as either a "summer" or "fall" item. summer would include shorts and tees, while fall would include blazers and boots. when you're looking for that perfect transitional outfit, grab one summer item, two fall and voila: total togetherness!


for more inspiration on how to blend summer and fall, stop by poole shop to see our new collection from wren that includes a lightweight blazer and adorable plaid tunic. we dressed this little darling in wren's corduroy blazer and silk mini skirt for a great summer-meets-fall look. when the weather cools down even more, throw on a pair of colorful see by chloe tights and knee-high isabel marant boots for the total fall package.

the real emmy winners

we'll admit...we're not so into who won the emmy for best supporting actor in a dramatic series (in fact, most of our television watching involves reality tv, so that's the only category that grabs our attention); however, we do care about the red carpet fashion. this year we give the gold star to heidi klum--glowing in marchesa--for showing the world that pregnant does not equal boring and frumpy. the runners-up for us include olivia wilde, also in marchesa, and our favorite gossip girl leighton meester looking goddess-like in bottega veneta. thanks for a great show, ladies!

football and fashion

our twitter's been buzzing for days with news from new york fashion week, and we almost feel like a part of the action. one of the hottest tickets in town has been to alexander wang's show, which drew quite a crowd including anna wintour and rachel mcadams. early reviews of his spring collection--inspired by the great american pasttime of football--leave us pining for our high school days and thoughts of breaking into the boys' locker room. check out this video from his show, and you'll feel like you're front row with fashion's first family:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOR-k9c7hGU.

dannijo's design duo

poole shop's favorite accessories designer duo--danielle and jody snyder of dannijo jewelry--were featured this morning on the today show. check out the video here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/32893500#32893500, and swing by poole shop to see the latest collection that has quickly become a favorite among hollywood's "in" crowd.

double grande triple whip no foam red eye

it's our favorite time of year here at poole shop. the air is a little more crisp (at least in the mornings), the sun sets a little earlier, and a little thing called the pumpkin spice latte is back at starbucks! we always know that fall is knocking on our door when the starbucks chalkboard beckons us back to the heavenly land of pumpkin spice...and we know gingerbread and peppermint mocha aren't too far behind. so raise your lattes and join us along with starbucks fans like rachel zoe, nicole richie and ashley olsen in a toast to our favorite season.

ovitz obsessed

poole shop debuted kimberly ovitz's first collection last spring, and we've been ovitz-obsessed ever since. now it appears that the rest of the fashion world is catching on to what we loved when we first saw her minimalist-meets-LA style. check out some of the buzz the fashion press has issued on ovitz recently: new york times style magazine, vanity fair, style.com.

but the buzz doesn't stop there. "it girl" and fashion impresario chloe sevigny was spotted in a dress from ovitz's fall collection (below) and the same dress just appeared on the sartorialist blog (bottom) during NYC fashion week.

keep your eyes on this young designer. for spring, she hints at breaking away from her neutral palette and issuing some color. our buyer hits NYC next week to take a peak at the collection...we'll keep you posted on what to expect.

photo courtesy of the sartorialist.

fashion worth gossiping about

gossip girl season 3 premieres tonight at 9PM on the cw. while we can't wait to see what our favorite upper east-siders are getting into now that they've put constance behind them, we have to admit that we sometimes find the fashion more inspiring than the story lines. so poole shop has put together a few outfits worthy of manhattan's elite.

behind-the-scenes of season 3, leighton meister is spotted wearing a casual lavender ruffle blouse. blair waldorf would love this dressed-up 3.1 phillip lim version at poole shop:

punky taylor momsen rocks black & grey stripes while filming a scene in NYC. we've reinterpreted jenny humphrey's look with this black and grey ensemble of our own (dannijo chain necklace included).

blake lively keeps it simple in cutoff jeans and a white tee. we think serena van der woodsen could use a little more tailoring while staying true to herself in a current/elliott button down over a simple tee shirt dress.

the devil wears a bob

intimidating? intriguing? influential? anna wintour, editor-in-chief of american vogue, is all those things and more as chronicled in the new documentary the september issue. following the making of a magazine (the 2007 september edition of vogue, which remains the most successful in history), the film shows us the inner workings of wintour's army. from fashion week to photo shoots to closed-door meetings, we are given a glimpse of the life behind the trademark bob and dark sunglasses. as one blogger has opined "this isn't the devil wears prada...anna wintour is much scarier than the devil." the film opens in charlotte today at the manor theater, and we can't wait to see it!

tweet! tweet!

today we tweet...we've become a little obsessed over the past few days. we're trying to get 1 million followers like ashton kutcher -- is it possible? follow us at http://twitter.com/pooleshop.

guys do it, girls do it

in fashion the graphic tee is ubiquitous: sported by celebrities, rock stars and everyday joes like ourselves. this season try pairing your favorite tee under a boyfriend blazer or grandpa cardigan for an updated look. scour vintage stores or goodwill for a great worn-in tee or check with your favorite boutique for one you can weather yourself. this month marie claire features the "oui" tank by wren that has just arrived at poole shop. understated, adorable and perfect for pairing...come and get yours before they're gone!