Style Icon: Patricia Field

Patricia Field is a larger than life costume designer with some pretty exceptional style. Starting with her signature bright-red hair!

 She is most well-known for the film "The Devil Wears Prada" and the television show "Sex and the City." I became a big fan through watching the "Sex and the City" special features where she talks about style on the show. She's so enthusiastic and fun and has such a clear idea of who each character is. I'd argue Carrie's style is the closest match to Patricia Field's: totally kooky, but still stylin'.

Her energy is infectious. She has tons and tons of ideas and obviously loves what she does. Just the way she dresses shows how much she embraces life (and the weird, Patricia Field embraces the weird).

Pictured above: Patricia Field embracing the weird.

She's definitely a hero. I think it's so important to be enthusiastic about life. To do something you love. To wear what you want even if it's ridiculous. Or actually, to wear something you want because it's ridiculous. And so: Patricia Field: role model and style icon.

Loving It

Lately I've been loving...

1. Thomas has been pointing at everything. "Let's talk about this thing over here! Okay, now let's go over there. Awesome. Now I'm going to point at that stranger over there. What's up stranger?!"

2. Thrifting all the kids toys (and outdoor kiddo furniture in the case of this picnic table).

3. My latest nail color was a lot. Very chalky, apparently. I loved it. I hated it. I took it off.

4. New art purchase! Bee a Weirdo!

5. Thomas playing with other kids. It's the best. How cute? (It was no one's birthday. Despite the balloon.)

Remix - Dansko sandals

I've talked about my Dansko clogs on this blog as they are the best, but now I must put the spotlight on my Dansko sandals, which are also the best and in fact better than the best if the weather is hot. My toes need freedom in the summer! Pictured above: Toes enjoying freedom.

These shoes have seen me through walking-heavy days of fun travel, being a schoolteacher and being a pregnant schoolteacher. Let me tell you what, that last one is a true test, and these shoes 100 percent did their job. How are they both so cute and so comfortable?

I don't really think of myself as being a person who is loyal to a brand or even cares about brands, but Dansko shoes are my exception. How do they make me feel both like a professional teacher of the children and like a fabulous '70s siren? I don't know, but that's what they do!

Style Icon: Andre 3000

Andre 3000 is so damn dapper I can't stand it.

This man can wear the hell out of a suit/hat/polka-dot bowtie. He is not afraid of prints or pattern mixing.

AND he wrote the most infectious dance tune of all time. Just try listening to it without shaking it like a Polaroid picture.

Little black dress

I wore a little black dress to take a walk and eat ice cream with Robert and Thomas. Thomas got a few bites of the ice cream, and he was all about it. Of course. Who isn't all about ice cream? 

This picture was taken on my favorite street in my town. The sidewalk is uneven (and for some reason I love that, and I love maneuvering Thomas's stroller over the bumps). It's filled with trees and cats, gardens and weird lawn decorations. Thomas and I are always pretty happy when we're walking down this street. Thomas LOVES being outside. If he's a fussbucket, I just take him on a walk. Robert, on the other hand, becomes a fussbucket when we go for a walk. It's just a wee bit too hot and humid for him. (Thankfully, he recovers enough to be pleasant company.) And me? I'm somewhere in between. If there's a breeze, I'm usually good to go. Hope you all are enjoying your summer inside or out!

Loving It

Lately I've been loving...

1. Taking Thomas to the park

2. Playing in tunnels!

3. Sweet snuggles

 4. Ducks!

5. Sad teething face, on-point hair

6. Smiles!

7. Serious fountain action

Style Icon: Marilu Henner in Taxi

I used to watch "Taxi" on Nick at Night, and I so loved Elaine. She was such a cute, tough chick in a garage full of men, and her '70s style was to die for.

I actually think she could have worn a potato sack and looked stylin' next to these fellows. She was generally pretty boyish, pretty casual (I mean, she was driving a taxi), but she still managed to look like a 1970s television star -- fluffy hair, nice scarf, wide-leg pants, she was happening.

And it was her "just one of the boys" look I loved even as she was obviously not just one of the boys.