My mail carrier is a unique creature. Whomever this person is, (and I no longer think its the nice Mexican lady who fancied a little "shot of tequila" after noticing our new  apartment mailbox...or maybe it is?) they like to crumple and shove. I thought that mail carriers were taught the proper way to fold large mail around smaller mail, and to just keep things tidy and organized.

My mailbox is the antithesis of the textbook orderliness preached by the USPS. Where there should be neat folds and smooth magazine bends, I get a hurricane's detritus in a 6 by 12 box. Dirty penny savers, wadded up coupon packets, postcards for useless services, Chinese food menus, and every other type of tree-killing paper missal wadded into the corners of my box as though they were being used to stop a strong wind from seeping in the cracks. That's just the junk mail. Proper mail, such as bills, magazines and catalogs also emerge crumpled and ripped - I cannot remember the last time Vanity Fair emerged from my box with nary a scratch. And isn't that a horrible killjoy? I do love a pristine magazine...

But, this mining for mail only makes the mailbox gems all the more exciting to open up. A mangled J.Crew cover, for instance, always yields sensory delights within. It's true, I often wish J.Crew would send me less catalogs because they are so evil and full of beautiful temptation, but they have me now so I suppose the catalogs will keep coming. Good thing too because they are really lovely - especially this latest one shot in Prague.

These outfits are such perfection for Fall. Okay, so I have a thing for the mustard yellow that's out these days, especially in jacket form, and here I cannot decide between the long version and the peacoat. The peacoat look is so stinkin' chic I can't stand it - so Ali McGraw in Love Story... I don't even much like Ali McGraw, but I love this. I also love the flared jeans that promise "legs for days" - I could use a pair of those. Especially with the adorable red jacket.

File under: "I'll take one in every color"...