When hot summer days quickly fade

to chilly nights

there’s only one thing to do.

Shop fall’s must haves:

neutral colors,cozy sweaters, booties,

that are sure to keep you warm.

1. Coquette Dress

2. Una Wax Cotton Coat

3. Germaine Pullover

4. Mustard Seed Mary Janes

5. Cotton Mini Dress

Shop New

… and don’t forget to follow us.

Oh Darlings, I wait until the last moment to accept the chill in the air, never wanting to let go of summer. The next stage is the mad scramble to locate my favorite jackets, scarves, hats etc. to keep me warm. There is always a bit of joy finding that favorite scarf or hat I had forgotten about…but still I lust over buying up a few new bits and pieces. Here are a few fall layers you may want to add to your wardrobe from around the site, there’s even a few sale items in the mix — smashing. Share a favorite of your own with us, won’t you?

Okay, we admit it…it’s easy to make new friends when someone writes such nice things about what we are doing. That’s how we virtually met Christine Mastrangelo who contributed her Editor’s Picks this week. Below she shows us how she would transition into fall, shopping the independent designers on Smashing Darling. In her own words: Un-stitched is curated by a girl named Christine, who’s looking to explore fashion through the eyes of emerging designers, the social networks that connect us and the clothes she chooses to wear. That makes us so happy we practically came Un-stitched. Happy Friday darlings, go soak up another summer weekend, and pray for summer temps and sunny days to last way into fall.

Our Editor’s Picks have taken a bit of a break around here, but when we saw Kristen D’Amour posting about indie fashion landing in the WSJ we were inspired to bring them back. Read her blog description below and you’ll understand why we felt an instant bond. If you are blogging/writing/printing about indie fashion and want to play, do be in touch, or send us a heads up on your fave blog about indie fashion. (Comment below or email: mo@smashingdarling.com)

there is more to style and shopping than what you find in the mall.  there are so many independent clothing designers whose heart and passion are in creating clothes.  they have a unique point of view in their designs and often times hand make the stylish clothes and accessories.  the clothing menu is dedicated to bringing awareness to indie fashion designers and giving people an option outside of what is offered in the mall, while providing the latest in fashion trends and tips.

Kristen D’Amour in Lamixx

My mantra for fashion is: don’t be afraid to mix and match – colors, styles, patterns.  I love discovering new combinations either on other people or in my own wardrobe. (Which is usually discovered by accident, when I’m bored by the clothes I have and start mixing pieces together).  So this outfit, Agency Day, is an outfit I would love to wear to work.  The best thing about it though is that every piece you see here was made by these independent designers listed below.

MarMaFashions: I like the vintage-inspired touches of this cropped jacket, like the rose pin at the collar.
Love, Anjia: This tunic has an interesting print that adds texture to this outfit, but is also not overpowering.
Asuyeta: Made by one of my favorite indie designers. I like the unique color of the skirt that is actually a really cool print when you look at it closely.
Mi Mo Handbags: I have a weakness for dark brown bags.  I like that this one looks like its worn-in, but is actually new Italian leather.
Julie Seidell Jewelry: It’s classic with its Swarovski Pearls and silver chain, but is unique and modern at the same time.
Anne Maa Designs: This ring is just cool. It reminds me of my days going to the Museum of Science as a child – good memories!

agency day by the clothing menu on Polyvore.com

We become more and more obsessed with Smashing Darling everyday. We have serious case of {heart <3 lust} for this website. LadyLux’s West Coast Editor, Macala Wright spent the week looking through every brand on Smashing Darling to bring her design hits for 2010.

2010 Smashing Designers To Watch

1. {Ao3} Designs - Brown & Oatmeal Handbag – I love the balance and symmetry of this handbag. The pattern reminds me of 1940s Hollywood Glam; being in LA, a little West coast glam is a must!

2. Cynthia Jones Jewelry – The Simply Siren Statement Necklace – This is a beautiful piece! I’m obsessed with “simple” statements and this one take the cake. This necklace goes from elegant and sophisticated to urban bohemian in less than 60 seconds.

3. Mimo – The Mimo Satchel – has been in a few or our sets. I can’t help it, I love it. I own it. It fits my 15″ Mac or my Mac Air perfectly. It’s a must have bag.

4. KRELwear – Cream Bishop Dress – This dress represents fashion forward, edgy Southern California style to a “T”. It’s amazing and could be worn at three different ways. In LA, versatility is a must.

5. Red Doll by TM – The Ingrid Jacket – is gorgeous. It’s not your average piece; at the right event, it’s definitely gonna turn a few heads and get a girl noticed. Perfect for the aspiring actress or models.

6.  Status – The Kimono Top - is effortless. It says “I don’t have to try, I just have taste.” The top can be worn your skinny jeans and ballet flats or over a pair of leggings. In the summer, it’s a dress to be worn with Sam Edelman or Frye gladiator sandals. It receives bonus points for coming in three colors.

7.  Manic Trout – Marie Louise Zsa Zsa Cocktail Ring - is amazing. It’s bold, it’s big, yet the design and wiring maintain an earthly, organic feel. We love this. We’d pair this with our Status Kimono top.

8. Vaness Quijano Jewelry - The White Brass bracelet - is extremely modern. It’s Rhianna meets your inner Valley dominatrix. With four inch stilettos, watch out! You’ll own the room with this piece. Riding whip entirely optional.

9. Sue Rock – These fabric belts – remind me of my favorite Chanel clutch handle with their design. They’re very unique and I love that the scarves are recycled, making this an eco-friendly accessory line.

About LadyLux:
Once upon a time, there was girl named LUX. She believed in humanity, doing good for the sake of good, and all things beautiful in our world. As she grew older and began to take stock of the world around her, her mission in life became clear: be a Change Agent. The tasks associated with being an “Agent” is to use her mind and voice to help fix what is broken in the world and empower the people in it to do the same. Thus was born The Lady LUX Network.

At LadyLUX, our motto is “Good for the Sake of Good.” We believe in doing good and being good, while looking good. We believe in fashion, life, love, philanthropy, eco-luxury and laughter. We empower women to follow their passions, live authentically, and to honestly know and love themselves. Choosing health and your best self, being good to others and good to the environment is simply living the LUX life. In each outfit we put together, we always include organic and “green” items that were created with the idea of sustainability.

See last week’s LadyLux Editor’s Picks here.

Smashing For The Holidays by MsLadyLUX on Polyvore.com

We all know the holidays gifts can be a bit blasé. In order to avoid less than stellar gifts, we fell it’s perfectly acceptable to send gift ideas, request or DEMANDS directly to a family member’s or loved one’s inbox.  Here are the LadyLUX covets for Him and Her via our favorite Indie site, SmashingDarling.  

For Her:
1. Bronwen Red Leather Mac Case – $85.00. This case is lusciously LUX. Most laptap cases are ultra modern and sleek. The Bronwen case is something entirely different; it’s glamorous and eye-catching, while being refined and tasteful. This case will be noticed in any meeting. Bonus points for how it discreetly holds the power cord.
2. Deanna Burasco’s Waffle Necklace – $45.00. Deanna’s jewelry is very unique. She uses pieces created from shrink plastic and mixes them with ribbon and metals. This is not your ordinary necklace, it’s delicate, but also make a great style statement that says, “Yes! I have fierce indie fashion taste.”  3. Merigirl Black A-Line Dress – $85.00. We know what you’re thinking, “Another black dress?” Yes, of course! We firmly believe that a woman can never have too many of these. This one is fantastic; it’s woven and stretchy – perfect for the girl needs a bit of give because of delightful indulgence during the holidays.   

For Him:
1. The Go Robot ! Defense Ring – $88.00. Men’s accessories expanded in 2009 beyond belts and shoes. It’s now acceptable for men to sport bags, goggles, necklaces and fantastic bling. This ring is masculine and notoriously sexy.
2. Mana Moon Chain Maille Bracelet – $98.00. We’re continuing with sexy accessories. This bracelet is unusual. Proceed with caution, this isn’t for rural town wearing but it’ll turn heads in major metropolitan areas from New York to Berlin.
3. Black Lego Cufflinks – $18.00. Whoever thought of these was brilliant! Any man who’d wear lego cuff links quickly instills a major case of  <3 (heart) for us. Sexy and fun!

About LadyLux:
Once upon a time, there was girl named LUX. She believed in humanity, doing good for the sake of good, and all things beautiful in our world. As she grew older and began to take stock of the world around her, her mission in life became clear: be a Change Agent. The tasks associated with being an “Agent” is to use her mind and voice to help fix what is broken in the world and empower the people in it to do the same. Thus was born The Lady LUX Network.

At LadyLUX, our motto is “Good for the Sake of Good.” We believe in doing good and being good, while looking good. We believe in fashion, life, love, philanthropy, eco-luxury and laughter. We empower women to follow their passions, live authentically, and to honestly know and love themselves. Choosing health and your best self, being good to others and good to the environment is simply living the LUX life. In each outfit we put together, we always include organic and “green” items that were created with the idea of sustainability.

See last week’s LadyLux Editor’s Picks here.

Bundle o’ Joy

Bundle o’ Joy on Polyvore.com

So you brought home your new bundle of joy, and you have spent every waking moment with your beautiful baby girl, taking it all in, not wanting to miss a moment. Or maybe your sister or best friend just had a little one, and you, the favorite auntie can’t get enough of the 10 little toes. And you want to buy every cute outfit, stuffed toy and diaper accessory. Oh boy, things can get overwhelming quickly! Since we love babies and their sleep-deprived parents, we put together this list of our favorite baby items, which are as functional as they are cute. And of course, we threw in some fabulous pieces for the mom-fashionista, so that she feels gorgeous when hanging out with the mini-me fashionista!

Babywearing is a great way for the mom and the baby to bond, so we started our set with a fabulous sling. The Marimekko Samovaari Ring Sling from Bronwen Handcrafted boldly combines fashion and function in a gorgeous black-and-white pattern. The bold pattern and the beautiful rings introduce drama, while the fabric drapes beautifully. Rest assured that your baby will be safe and sound in the sling. It’s made from durable cotton and 5 times reinforced for strength. The Sling Rings are made from aluminum and designed
specifically to be used in baby carriers. They are lightweight, free of welds, strength tested, smoothed, and made of only the strongest and non-toxic materials. To match, we threw in the OiOi Moroccan Sand Hobo Diaper Bag. Now our fashion mama can look fabulous strutting down the street with the baby and all the necessary items.

What about the little fashionista? Smashing Darling has got your little one covered too! It’s hard not to fall head over heels in love with the Missoni Knit Dress from Bronwen Handcrafted. This darling little pink number is made from a missoni knit fabric, made from cotton with bits of wool and rayon as textural accents.

To keep her warm, you can layer a cute onesie under the dress. Mew Baby makes the most adorably onesies. We chose the Piggy Back design in pink on a darling white onesie.

Every girl, no matter how little she is, must have a pair of fabulous shoes. Claudia’s Bowtique has created the Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco Baby Booties, which are fit to be worn by your little princess. Made of silk pistachio green fabric, these darlings are topped with a gold ribbon, a light pink embellished trim, and a small black & white cameo button piece. How smashing is this darling?

Bronwen Handcrafted contributes the third item for our set in the form of The Bib. Cut generously, this bib will ensure that none of the baby’s food ends up on her fabulous outfit. You can even order the little princess’s initials sewn into the bib.

No baby ensemble is complete without a super soft and cuddly baby blanket. We found this amazing Baby Bella Blanket from Sara Bella Maui. This handmade super soft blanket has both, a pink furry side and a pink satin side. It’s perfect for the little princess.

And if your bundle of joy starts to burp, you will always be prepared with the Disco Dot Burp Cloth from Spoiled and Soiled. With pink dots on a chocolate background, you will still feel trendy taking care of your baby’s burping needs.

About Lil’Grams:

Children create cherished memories everywhere and all the time, at home or on the go.  Lil’Grams gives parents peace of mind that those memories will be stored, and that loved ones will get updates the way they want them. An ideal gift for new or expecting parents, Lil’Grams takes the pain out of getting organized and keeping family and friends updated, by creating a living baby book that friends and family can enjoy, no matter the distance!

At LadyLUX, our motto is “Good for the Sake of Good.” We believe in doing good and being good, while looking good. We believe in fashion, life, love, philanthropy, eco-luxury and laughter. We empower women to follow their passions, live authentically, and to honestly know and love themselves. Choosing health and your best self, being good to others and good to the environment is simply living the LUX life. In each outfit we put together, we always include organic and “green” items that were created with the idea of sustainability.

See last week’s LadyLux Editor’s Picks here.