Growing up, my idea of a good time involved strapping my brother’s plastic toy traffic cones to my head, throwing a sheet over them and calling myself Maid Marian. I glued things together and painted on the walls, played piano poorly and used refrigerator boxes for impromptu puppet show theaters. The one thing I never did was play with dolls—until now.

Between living in Manhattan, being a Store Adorer and going to Parsons, I’ve become my own doll, a template for extravagant games of dress-up and whimsical fantasies played out through various getups and constantly changing style. And this season I’ve noticed, as ultra-femininity maintains its hold on boutique fashion, that designers are trotting out garments bringing to mind the tea parties and porcelain lips, lace crinoline and rosy cheeks of childhood playthings.

This frothy white Phillip Lim shirtdress evokes the nighties and frilly underskirts of antique porcelain figures. I can just see it sitting on a glass shelf, arranged around tiny muslin legs. Luckily, it’s our size ($595 at Aloha Rag).

For the modern doll, this Doucette Duvall retro shift is prim and proper with an edge. The side buttons and slightly belled sleeves make this dress part Jackie-O, part Audrey Hepburn, and all picture-perfect. ($390 at Kaight, made from all recycled vintage materials.)

Barbara Feinman Millinery is an altar to girlhood in its own right, bringing us back to the future of hats—no longer an outdated extravagance, toppers like these are incredible scene-stealers. This gunmetal taffeta bow cocktail hat ($225) and the everyday “ginormous rose” beret ($110) both look like they walked onto 9th Street off an art-deco figurine.

Doll collectors know the feeling of peeling back a doll’s skirts and looking at her perfectly molded feet, often tucked inside little booties. The booties looked exactly like these LAMB button heels, perfectly updated for us with their round toes and stunning stilettos ($520 at Shopbop.)

Previewed in the summer at Chanel’s couture show, minimalism is back in a big way. Though career wear is often defined by sleek, wearable silhouettes rarely fussy or augmented by details, on the whole, minimalism has taken a backseat to whimsy and avant-garde extravagance (my personal tendencies) during recent fashion weeks. It doesn’t take Greenspan to explain the economy’s effect on our sartorial sentiments, and since the oligarchs pretty much have all the money these days, simplicity’s more of a necessity than a choice. It’s interesting to see modern cuts (that bring to mind Yohji Yamamoto-style ’80s bareness) in the work of Lanvin, Jill Sander and Calvin Klein (shown above from Style.com), and to see them diffuse into our shops — and inevitably, our closets.

I have Active Endeavors to thank for leading me to this Dolce Vita minidress, which I plan on ordering for myself — the Hannah dress evokes the Calvin number (but at $233, for a much more plebian price point), pairing soft flannel with a sharp, architectural structure.

Minimalist is the order of the day at amazing LA boutique Heist, where the selection speaks to me more of downtown autumnal Manhattan than Orange County.  From the Helmut Lang to the Hanii Y, all of Heist’s picks have a razor’s edge to them. I love the Hanii Y high-necked jacket, with its controlled balloon shape ($425). Store Adore Shoppers save 25% on nearly everything at Heist, online and in store!

Tribeca gem Aloha Rag is expensive for sure, but its gorgeous collection is staggering. With its characteristic Asian bent, most of the goods run minimalist chic, and the more high end pieces, like this Martin Margiela knit dress ($845), look like they came off the runway, or out of the modern gallery at Parsons.

My favorite e-boutique La Garconne also reflects the runway trend toward simplicity in its overall style, heavily emphasizing shades of grey throughout the year. This season it’s in its element with pared-down edgy pieces like this structural skirt from United Bamboo ($327).

Today is my birthday. Suffice to say that it’s a big one. So JUST IN CASE ANYONE WHO LOVES ME IS READING THIS, here’s a no holds barred list of everything I’m coveting right about now.

1. An Yves Saint Laurent Bag

My friend Natalie boasts a full arsenal of YSL bags, and I have handbag envy every time I see her. Somehow, the YSL brand represents a kind of luxurious living marked by a full and important citified life accompanied by loads of leisure time in fancy places. I’ll take any bag that comes my way, but the Large Rive Gauche (not too logo-y, but definitely designer, $1795) is among my top picks.

2. A Puppy

I just want one! But aren’t these guys super cute? A friend recently turned me on to miniature bulldogs, but I’ve also been pining for a toy poodle (a tough one–he’ll be black) or maybe a puggle. I currently own an imaginary dog (this is true–sometimes I show my husband how I walk it down the street) but I’d really really like the real thing. And Daniel if you are reading this: I promise I’ll walk it, even in the winter.

3. A Mixed Metals Chain Necklace

I just wrote about Kitchen Sink necklaces–my own name for piled on designs that incorporate layers of chains, charms, and other found objects. Lisa Levine’s 1,000 chains necklace ($425) from her original collection is a charmingly tangled take on the layered chains look I can never quite pull off when I try it on my own.

4. More Rockstar Jewelry

I also recently wrote about Covet, a sliver of a jewelry store in the West Village. It’s my new favorite spot for glamorous pieces that I can actually afford to splurge on once in awhile. Covet co-owner Alexis Mack never takes off this leather bracelet with a diamond tapered bar ($380) so the leather has softened perfectly around her wrist.

5. A Stretchy Belt

A belt with a little bit of elastic doesn’t leave awkward gaps when you sit down or ride above your waist while you’re walking. This simple yet elegant Lanvin belt from cutting edge boutique Aloha Rag (a location recently opened in Manhattan!) fits the bill ($270). I also like this one by Leyendecker from Intermix ($120), where Store Adore shoppers get an exclusive discount.

6. Flowers from Prudence Designs

I love it when my guy friends ask me where to buy flowers for their girlfriends because I’ve got the secret to winning any girl’s heart. Flowers from Prudence Designs are the most natural and elegant I’ve seen–and the compact designs are perfect for brightening up a desk. This bouquet is made up of white and pink rununculus ($140), my favorite flower.

7. ALSO

Pinkberry, really good ice cream, french fries, chipwiches made from fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, a vacation somewhere warm that I don’t have to pay for, a morning to sleep as late as I want to (preferably a weekday), more time with my friends, more time with my family, the success of Store Adore, and another occasion (now that my wedding is over) to have all of my favorite people in one place.

And if I don’t get a lick of it, I have so much to be grateful for: my perfect husband, my wonderful parents, my best friend and business partner Cristina, the best friends and family anyone could ask for, an awesome Store Adore staff, getting to do what I want to for a living–even if it means I work all the time, New York, good health…Here’s to 30 more happy years.

Cards have been au courant for a while. Who can forget the photos of Ben Affleck in Vegas during the Bennifer era? These days, poker’s even popular with the pre-teen set. (The community center in the ever upright Boston neighborhood of Beacon Hill actually hosts a family poker night.)

With the proliferation of Vegas-centric movies coming out of Hollywood (”21″ starring Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey, and “What Happens in Vegas” starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher are both currently in theaters), gambling is firmly in the mainstream. Not surprisingly, the fashion world has followed suit.

Jewelry designers have created golden talismans that look lovely worn around town or at the tables. Check out the three we’re placing our bets on.

John Wind Gaming Necklace

From this fifteen-inch silver chain hangs four vintage gaming charms: blue pawn, die, chess knight and wooden token. Designed by John Wind, the necklace is available at Art Effect, $137, our favorite gift shop and jewelry boutique in Chicago.

Sheila Fajl Good Luck Charm Necklace

Sheila Fajl’s 18K plated gold necklace is chock full of charms, with a four leaf clover, rabbit’s foot, money bag, horn, horseshoe and feather. Available at Polka Dots and Moonbeams, $44, a super source for trendy, celebrity favored styles.

Luis Morais Fancy Cookie Necklace

Suspended from a long 14-carat gold chain is a yellow diamond studded ring holding five tokens of luck: skull, black coral horn, tiny heart, horseshoe, and four leaf clover. Available at Aloha Rag, a funky boutique in Oahu. At $5,310, it’s strictly for high rollers!

Main image: Yves St. Laurent vintage spade brooch (or pendant) in red enamel, available at Archive, $98.