Proper Prep

 Featured above: Tucker dress, Banana Republic maryjanes; Joie top, Fenton/Fallon for JCrew necklace, 

H&M shorts, Jimmy Choo wedges

The countdown has begun to Mon Petit Chou Chou's Improper Bostonian debut! As initially posted here, MPCC will be featured in the Style Profile feature set to run in the Fall/Arts edition of the magazine released this week.

The editor for the feature, (the lovely) Amanda Knoor, initially asked me to pull together 4-5 looks for the shoot. Above, are two of my faves from the test photos with husband pre-shoot. Post outfit run with husband I felt sure what my choices would be....until I got the warning to avoid black. No black? Absolute insanity!! My poor Alexander Wang dress and Top Shop romper were left by the wayside. After shedding a few tears for them I went back to my closet and drawing board for some more colorful choices. If they wanted color, color they would absolutely get!

As soon as I was asked to come in for the shoot I made a 911 call to my #1 stylist at Anita Kurl, Cory, to fix my bangs.  I have him to thank for all the complements I have been getting lately on my choppy fringe. I pinkie swear, no more home haircuts for me! The lovely Danielle at the Saks Chanel counter also came to my rescue and whipped up a delightful smokey eye. I am smokey eye illiterate and she is the ultimate master of the shadows, deftly wielding her palette and brushes. Below are some shots of the prep.

It takes an army and I have some spectacular people enlisted!! Once I was cut, styled, painted, and primped, I was able to face the shoot full on. Stay tuned for photos from the shoot this week!

Message in a Bottle

Another fall trend I'm quite keen on are messenger bags. I want something large, roomy, utilitarian, and preferably in a supple leather. The last time I sported this look was in high school (though I won't tell you when that was!) and trust me, great strides have been made since those early years.  This latest re-emergence of the trend has everyone designing their own version of the messenger, from Top Shop to Proenza Schouler.

I plan on investing in a new laptop or I Pad soon and I need to gear up with the proper accessories to tote such gadgets around in! New I pad in hand, means I will probably opt for one of the more budget friendly options though.....someday Mulberry, some day.

Aldo Harvley $45

Top Shop Contrast Satchel $90 

Proenza Schouler Large Leather PS1 $1,995 

Jas MB Old School Messenger Bag $465

Ecote Surplus Messenger $68

Mulberry Alexa $1,150 

Concert Run Down

Along with all the college kids moving back (my street is currently a collage of U-Hauls), fall also brings a wealth of fabulous concerts and tours to the greater Boston area. I have already secured tickets to see some of my favourites live, and was so inspired, that I felt compelled to create a new play list.  If you can't make any of the shows (which are all very affordable), definitely download some of these tracks!

Daily Candy was also inspired by Ra Ra Riot's new release The Orchard, and partnered with them to create the "End of Summer" play list featured here. Definitely check it out to see what inspires their awesome tunes and get some more fresh ideas for your ipod.

Concert dates to check out:

Marina and the Diamonds Paradise September 1

Stars House of Blues Boston September 23

Ra Ra Riot Bowery Presents Boston October 1

Miike Snow House of Blues Boston October 10

Phoenix Agganis Arena October 18

Florence and the Machine House of Blues Boston October 31

Kate Nash Paradise November 18

Concert Inspired Play list:

Stars: Your Ex-Lover is Dead

Ra Ra Riot: Boy

Kate Nash: Merry Happy

Florence and the Machine: I'm not calling you a liar

Marina and the Diamonds: Numb

Phoenix: Rome

Miike Snow: Song for no one 

Stars: Wasted Daylight

Ra Ra Riot: Winter 05' 

Florence and the Machine: Cosmic Love

Phoenix: Girlfriend

Miike Snow: Black and Blue

Kate Nash: Do-Wah-Doo

Marina and the Diamonds: Hollywood

Phoenix: If I ever feel better

Back to School

Featured: Rag and Bone Dress, Aldo Oxfords

Husband titled this my school girl look. I supposed posing with the bike doesn't exactly help out my cause, but I don't care! I am obsessed with all things Rag and Bone these days and no one can tell me otherwise. Have you seen the new fall collection? Enough said.

I am ashamed to admit I have had these gold oxfords for months and just couldn't find the right thing to wear them with. Problem solved! These were the last shots we took before I hacked my bangs to bits and I have no regrets! Post bangs is a much better look for fall (as seen here). And I already had #1 hairdresser Cory fix them for me. I seem to get more compliments on them now that he cut them.....very odd indeed.

Baba Ganoush-licious

My in-laws maintain a pretty kick ass garden in their back yard. Thus, we are the happy recipients of their hard work on a regular basis. Zucchini (see my fritter recipe here), divine tomatoes, basil galore and eggplants till I drop. I like to make a classic gazpacho with the tomatoes, make the aforementioned fritters and I roast my eggplant to make a delightful baba ganoush.

I have tinkered and tried out a few recipes and I like Tyler's recipe the best (click here for link). Less is usually more with me and tahini. It is painfully easy to make your own pita crisps and well worth the effort. In fact, the entire recipe is pretty painless, the longest amount of time being allotted for roasting the eggplant.