Spring Into Neutral

More home design treats coming this week, but on the fashion side of things, I'm intrigued by the very dominant neutral trend for Spring this year. I'm a color girl myself - bright hues make me happy. But bright hues AND patterns = a little much. This season, many color-heavy designers, such as Tory Burch, have erred on the side of caution, creating an abundance of complex patterns rendered in taupes, whites, and grays. What do you think - cool and collected, or a tad dull? 

All images, ToryBurch.com

Spring Things: Seven Style and Home for Under $50

Forget the market - this is my picnic bag and thermos. This is what my lunch goes in. This is what I eat out of at the office. Because it's spring! Inside my head.
Market Tote and Thermos, $9.95 and $15.95, Lilly Pulitzer.


Who is this kid? What's he squinting at? It must be bright inside that diamond.

Diamond picture frame, $25, Neiman Marcus.

These shoes are SO CUTE! SO CUTE! I repeat: if you order them, stay away from my size. They're mine. Though my size is locked in a top-secret vault, and Al Qaeda couldn't drag it out of me, so you'll just have to guess.
Lela Rose for Payless Neilson bow flat, $29.99, Payless.

Yes, I do take notes (yeah, I'm look'n at you life. Don't try anything). I take notes everywhere - unlike my blackberry, the notes don't delete themselves. Or randomly email themselves to people (Dear Entire Address List: dont forget 2 buy milk, eggs, breadcheese on way home).
Volant notebooks, $12 for a set of two (8 colors), Moleskin.

The most wretched thing about this time of year (and there are so many wretched things) is the RESTRICTED FOOTWEAR thing. You can't wear your pretty heels (splash, splash, down South. Slush, slush, up North). You can't wear your flats (slosh, slosh - right over the sides). Leather? Not if you like it. Spots are only charming on dogs. So I can't wait to wear pretty shoes again - and pretty shoes with pretty flowers? What could be better!!! I'm going to prance in posies come spring.
Rose Trotting Blooms (shoe clips, 8 colors, other styles available), $45, by EmersonMade.

Lest we get carried away with our spring euphoria, let's remember that the season has its dangers. Flying things, for instance. I spend a large part of my time, March - August, dealing with the tyranny of flying things. Especially flying things that sting. But butterflies are the exception - who wouldn't want more?
Sunbell Necklace, $48, Anthropologie.

Transition time for sweaters.
Jackie zip-up cardigan, $24.80, Forever 21.

All images, companies as listed.

Alive and Well

It's been an awfully negligent past week here at Sanity Fair, what with only two posts, one of which expired after 24 hours. But, I'm back! There are a number of wonderful things lined up for this week, including a few trend reports, great decor finds, and a special on one of my favorite accessory companies. So stay tuned! In the meantime, a little something lovely, in hopes of warmer weather...

The most recent issue of Victoria featured Gina Galvin's glass folly - a Victorian-style green house 

chocked full of whimsical seating areas and garden implements. Doesn't it make you wish for spring?

All images, Victoria Magazine.