I regret not finding these boots sooner, given I can already tell I would have wanted to wear them every day this winter. I love their clean shape, and in black suede they're especially versatile. Given their moderate one-inch heels and lack of pointy-ness, they've got comfort going for them, too. The mid-calf height is good both to pair with skirts and to wear under pants (I've never been a boots-over-pants kind of girl, and trying to layer tall boots under jeans never feels quite right to me, even under straight-leg styles), and on top of everything else, they're $225, which seems incredibly reasonable for shoes I know have a real shot at getting daily use.

Inexplicably, I find myself dwelling on the idea of wearing an adult onesie this summer—a little shorts-on-the-bottom romper that I can breeze around in on weekends in the city. Though my rational self wonders if this is too trendy and inappropriately kid-like for a woman approaching 30, I want one anyway, and so be it. I didn't have a fully formed vision of what exactly this mythical onesie should look like, but then I went on a work trip to Boston and came across this Opening Ceremony version, made of butter-colored silk. I was tempted to try it on, but didn't (who knows why), and then, of course, it lingered irritatingly at the back of my head for days. Which is why there's the Internet, right? L.A.'s oogaboogastore.com has it (it's such a good site, incidentally, with an intriguing, edgy-cool mix of artist multiples, books, and clothing by indie labels). I'm as drawn to it as I was in Boston: I love the row of delicate buttons down the front, and the way the straps crisscross in the back. The print and the fancy fabric help keep things sophisticated, and though the cut is appealingly loose, a drawstring at the waist ensures that your shape won't get lost in the shuffle.

If you really, really like someone, buy them a Spencer Peterman bowl. A dear friend just gave me one, and I think it's one of the best presents I've ever received. The designer scours forests for fallen trees, especially ones that are covered with moss and dirt and just beginning to decompose. Then he takes them back to his studio to handcarve and polish into smooth bowls in a myriad of sizes (mine is 15 inches—perfect for serving a big salad at a dinner party). It's so lovely: There's something poetic about transforming nature's waste into a gorgeous keepsake. Each piece is one of a kind and kiln-dried to suck out the moisture in the wood, so if you take care of it properly (which really just means using common sense, rubbing it down with mineral oil every so often, and not throwing it in the dishwasher), it could last forever. All the better to remind the person you've given it to of what a terrific friend you are.

After living a sloth-like, exercise-free existence for the last six months, I'm desperately trying to motivate myself to get back into a gym routine. I bought a couple of perky fitness magazines recently thinking that they might help, and while they weren't uninspiring, they still didn't quite get me motivated enough to shake the dust off my running shoes. At this point, buying a new workout outfit might be my only hope. Lululemon Athletica makes the best ones—the materials always feel cool and soft against your skin, and the pieces are cut so that they're both exceptionally flattering and incredibly comfortable. I'm thinking of buying another Pose Tank, which flares slightly at the bottom so that it's not too snug against your midsection (especially good if you haven't done a sit-up in as long as I have) and comes with a little built-in zippered pocket that's sized perfectly for a bit of cash and a house key. And while I'm at it, I'll stock up on another pair of these sleek leggings, which can be used on the treadmill or for Saturday-morning yoga. Unfortunately, you can't actually buy their clothes online, though you can view the whole collection and call one of their stores to place an order—which, if you ask me, is really just an excellent excuse to procrastinate a little bit more before getting to the gym.

I spent the weekend in Vegas, where on Easter Sunday the temperature peaked at 75 degrees. It was the first time in far too long that I can remember stepping out without piling on at least half a dozen layers, and feeling the sun on my bare arms made me euphoric. My mind was racing with fantasies of my yet-to-be-acquired summer wardrobe, and one thing I know I want is a stash of gauzy, exotic white blouses. I love their balance between sweet and cool, and from a practical standpoint, when it's really hot out, it's hard to beat anything that's light in color and cut from featherweight cloth. I've had great success finding nice ones on trips to Mexico, but since I'm not going there anytime soon, I'll buy the Corey Lynn Calter top I just spotted on Anthropologie's website. The silhouette is akin to a simple V-neck tee, but it's got some gorgeous details: intricate appliqué trim framing the collar, and really fine silver pinstripes that add the perfect hint of flash.

I, like pretty much every other woman I know, especially around the Lucky offices, have a little obsession with Marni. The clothes are unfalteringly interesting and not overly trendy, and exude a particular Italian arty vibe that never makes you look like you're trying too hard to be chic. The only downside to the label is that it's expensive, now more than ever with exchange rates where they are. I've been stalking this long gray wool voile dress on discount site yoox.com for a while now. The classic, elegant silhouette is offset by a mod white belt, and though from the front it looks rather conservative, a slit down the back adds the perfect dose of sex appeal. They were originally selling it for $680, which was still more than I cared to spend, but it just got marked down to $478—definitely still pricey, but much easier to justify, especially for a piece as cool and infinitely wearable as this.

I've been looking for a crisp shirtdress to wear straight through from now until the end of summer. My instinct is to go with something really clean and classic, and this Tocca version is pretty spot-on. I love how completely un-fussy it is: Its only embellishments are a waist sash (I'd probably knot mine as opposed to tying it in a bow the way they've done here, to mitigate its girliness), a smattering of pearly buttons down the front, and subtle buff-colored pinstripes. And, true to form, I've already built a bunch of imaginary events around it: I'll dress it up with bright kitten heels for summer cocktails at some rooftop bar, and wear it with espadrille flats for weekend brunch with my girlfriends.

I've always had an extreme approach when it comes to jewelry: I either go no-holds-barred with a piece that's really oversize and dramatic, or else with something so fine and delicate it practically disappears into the rest of what I'm wearing. Finding something low-key and small is easy; finding something that's big and statement-making is a bit trickier—if you want it to still be elegant, which I do. This smoky mother-of-pearl cocktail ring by the just-launched line Little Gems, though, fits the bill perfectly. The stone is pleasingly massive, and its cool, amorphous edges are framed in a wide band of bright, hand-hammered gold, which gives the rough-cut rock a vaguely Byzantine twist. It's an outfit-making piece that's modern, earthy, and exotic all at once.

Senior fashion editor Laurie Trott recently drew my attention to Brooks Brothers' stellar selection of men's pajamas and now I have happily settled into a full-on obsession. They make classic sleepwear sets with button-front tops and roomy drawstring bottoms, which come in a slew of different prints done up in crisp cotton. There's something so refined and kind of backward-sexy about wearing beautifully tailored men's pj's to bed. And what makes the Brooks Brothers options even more special is that they can custom-monogram any style: tons of fonts, in tons of colors. My first purchase was these Pinpoint Stripe Pajamas with my initials block-printed in bright red stitching.

I was slightly surprised to see our executive editor Meredith Rollins wearing an olive-colored, waxed cotton Barbour jacket into the office today—Barbour jackets being more or less the domain of fancy hunters, ancient fly fishermen, and preppy New England types in general. Though Meredith has kind of a preppy vibe, this jacket is a super-flattering, nipped-at-the-waist, shrunken spin on the iconic Barbour style; it's sleek, but it still retains all the cool, rugged details (weatherproof material, tons of pockets, plaid lining) that the company is famous for. She says it makes her feel "like a sexy British heiress at her country retreat," but I think the look is better summed up as downtown-girl-gone-woodsy.

Back when I was a student living in L.A., one of my favorite things to do when procrastinating was to wander around a charming strip of boutiques and cafés in West Hollywood called Sunset Plaza. There was—and is—some great shopping there, and my little ritual consisted of picking up an Ice Blended at the Coffee Bean and heading next door to Tracey Ross to gawk at all the beautiful clothing. There was always the best balance of cool high-end designer stuff and more accessible contemporary lines, and though I don't think I ever even bought anything, it was so much fun just to comb through the racks. As I was dawdling over my coffee this morning, totally lagging on getting dressed and out the door, I found that there's an online counterpart to her store, and it's almost as good as being there in person. It felt just like the old days for me, fantasizing about wearing this wispy and pretty Antik Batik dress and Lerario Beatriz's brilliant satin and tulle tee—which made me guiltily, but happily, late for work.

This set of placecard holders is a fun (and slightly more approachable) take on the trend of using deliberately mismatched silver at the dinner table—which, as I discovered on a recent trip, every restaurant in Portland, Oregon, is inclined to do. They've got a romantic, old-world vibe, and remind me of the type of thing that you'd find at some crumbling but wildly glamorous manor in the English countryside. And if, realistically, you're not the type who's ever going to bother making name cards for your guests at mealtimes, these could also serve you well as napkin rings.

I have high hopes that any day now the temperature is going to spike upward so I can finally retire the big black down-filled parka I've been living in these last few months. Trolling through J.Crew's site just now I found exactly the thing I'd like to replace it with for spring. This knit sweater coat is so Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby adorable. The bright yellow and white sailor stripes feel fresh, and the Peter Pan collar, oversize buttons, and three-quarter-length sleeves give it a mod twist. I love what the model in the photo has going on; there are a lot of different styles and colors converging in one outfit, and yet it totally works.

I've been searching like crazy for traditional men's-inspired oxford shoes for months and had all but given up. While lace-up oxfords are relatively easy to come by, I wanted more of a jazzy—if not quite Chicago-the-musical—vibe. So these Rachel Comey brogues are perfect: They really do feel like a man's shoe scaled down to female, unclunky proportions. The rich cognac leather is the kind that will get better with age, and the details (skinny waxed laces, an elaborate-but-subtle pattern composed of teeny perforated holes) are pretty timeless. I can imagine wearing them with straight-but-not-too-tight jeans and a simple white tee and going all out with a classic tomboy look.

After avoiding them my entire life—I can't believe I'm even going to admit this—I want Birkenstocks. As much as I love the idea of owning shoes that are truly, insanely, walk-on-air comfortable, their crunchy connotations were always too much for me to bear. But Phillip Lim's collection of reimagined Birks just hit stores, and now I'm firmly on the bandwagon. With a bit of fringe, skinny straps, and black patent leather, this hippie staple has gotten a downright glamorous makeover.

This dress is everything I love about Wenlan Chia's line, Twinkle. The silhouette is simple but unabashedly feminine in a '50s-ish, La Dolce Vita kind of way. Whether or not it's your style, it's hard to top the combination of a tight bodice with a nipped-in waist and a full skirt in terms of a cut that's pretty much universally flattering. And when you zoom in on the photo you can get a better look at the pattern, a random mix of zigzags and what looks like daisies getting swept away in the wind. It's the perfect blend of sweet, irreverent, and not overly trendy, and I know if I actually buy it I'll be wearing it constantly.

I showed up at a cocktail party last weekend way overdressed. I vaguely remembered the invitation saying something about party attire, though by the time the evening rolled around and I was already late getting ready there was no time to call my host to clarify what that meant. I slipped on a long black dress and heels, and as soon as I arrived and spied another guest in a metallic sequined tunic and leggings I started to feel like I'd accidentally channeled the look of a boringly conservative concert pianist. As it turned out, literally every other girl there had gone bright and short—how did they all know but me?? After a couple glasses of champagne I stopped caring, but if I could go back in time this strapless Vera Wang Lavender number in shimmery chartreuse is exactly what I'd have worn instead.

I've been told I have temperature issues, and it's true: Somehow I find I'm always at least a little bit colder than anyone else is at any given time. To compensate, I've taken to carrying a cashmere wrap with me almost every day, no matter what the season (even in the summer when it's steamy hot outside, overzealous air-conditioning inevitably makes every building I walk into unbearably freezing). This gadget I found on DWR's website could be life-changing for me. It's a "climate control" machine that acts as an all-in-one personal space heater, cooling device, and air purifier. It can raise the temperature around you as much as 32 degrees or decrease it by seven, and all the while its built-in filter catches even the teeniest bits of dust and pollen so those of us who suffer from allergies can breathe a little easier. Its curvy, sleek design looks vaguely (and somehow charmingly) like a cross between hairdryer and bowling pin, and though it's quite powerful, it's also extremely energy-efficient and takes up very little desk space. I'm sold.

Though my style generally errs on the side of minimalist, lately I've found myself uncharacteristically attracted to playful, bordering-on-cartoonish trompe l'oeil clothing. My favorite example is this Sass & Bide dress. The aesthetic reminds me of the type of thing that Olive Oyl would wear for a spin on Popeye's ship—graphic, nautical, and lovably kooky. I like the idea of buying it one size up, so that it fits a bit looser than it's shown on the model here, which would also make it more versatile for daytime running-around-on-the-weekend use. It also happens to be made of silky bamboo fiber, so you can feel good about its eco-ness, too.