Is it Really so Strange?

I'm back?

2011-01-28T16:57:00.000-05:00

Wow. I haven't blogged since last May! I'm still not sure I'm ready to return. I got so burned out last time. I think I'll take a slow approach and not pressure myself to post so often. Maybe just once or twice a week. But with better posts with more content. If anyone is still out there reading this that is...

Makeup: pinks and purples

2010-05-18T09:32:00.000-04:00

I've been so uninspired by makeup lately. it used to be I could create a look and happily wear it for a few weeks before I got bored but now I tweak and change everyday and I'm always bored. But lets face it I haven't been myself at all lately. I don't know. Maybe it's my layout change? i thought it would inspire me to take this blog further but it seems to have had the opposite effect. If anything I'm closer than ever to abandoning the whole project.

So here is some makeup I've been playing with using some fresh spring pinks and purples. I used a pale lilac/grey cream as an all over lid base. Then I used a icy pale lilac, almost pink, loose powder as an highlighter in the inner corners but also a wee dot in the center of each lid to draw in the light. Then I used a thin line of eggplant purple cream liner.

I used my favorite blush ever, a natural pink flush on the cheeks and a rosy pink gloss on the lips.

Makeup used : Cream shadow in Gossip, loose shadow in Jelly Roll, and cream liner in Stiletto; all by Benefit.

Benefit powder in Thrrrob and Sally Hansen gloss in Bloom.

Daily Wear: running away with the band

2010-05-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

I haven't been around much I know. I've been working a lot, A LOT and I really feel i have no time for recreation between that and my errands and chores. I've just been way too busy to think about posts or clothes or pictures. I haven't kept up on the blogs I follow either.

This month, not sure of the date, marks my one year anniversary of keeping this blog. And I'm wondering if it's worth the bother to continue. I think I'd feel guilty if I stopped. And unlikely to ever start it up again. But while it can be fun for me, it isn't necessary. There are thousands of indistinguishable blogs out there and I'm not sure I want to contribute to the deluge.

A couple quick pics of my fantasy of running away. I'm going to Rome and Barcelona in the fall. Thinking about and planning that are taking up my brief moments of free time.

I don't wear my glasses much here, but I got new ones.

Series: black and white stripes

2010-04-29T09:25:00.000-04:00

So, I finally got together my pictures for this series: Black and white stripes! I even tried to break up the monotony by doing a dress, skirt, and pants look, though all the outfits are really very basic. I wanted the stripes to be the star so no over accessorizing.

I really loved this chevron striped party dress as it has a nice rockabilly feel. Alas, I barely got it on and had to smash my breasts down to do it. As size five B cups want this dress? It was only worn for the pictures and I had to change to something else the night I wanted to wear it out.....so sad.

I wore the dress with just basic black tights and cute little black and white maryjanes, probably my favorite heels. I love that it's snug at the breast and waist and flares out in the skirt.

And a back view to see the little bow tied messily in the back.

And here I am being a jerk and jumping on the bed. I can never get pictures to take right in the bedroom because of the purple walls, I think. Color adjust just makes things worse. This is a casual look, for going to flea markets in the early hours.

Here's a better view to see my red flats. I just wanted a little splash of color. It's hard to tell that the tee shirt is striped because the stripes are so tight. Worn here with a denim skirt and black tights.

Outfit details: Black stripe tee(thrifted); denim mini skirt (Calvin Klein); black tights (Hue); red flats (payless)

And my favorite of the three looks. This is my cowl neck stripe top worn with sailor cut jeans and black and white spectator peeptoes.

I went thrifting with my best friend in this and I just felt really comfortable. I think I'll do this one again, which is rare for me. Usually I just wear things once and no matter how much I love them I just can't stand to look at them again. Maybe it's because I have so many pictures to remind me.

Outfit details: black and white cowl neck top (thrifted); wide leg jeans (style and co); spectator peeptoes (steve madden).

Daily Wear: Ladies Who Lunch

2010-04-26T10:22:00.000-04:00

Had a lovely day off with Mum the other day. My mom doesn't quite live int he same place as I do and we often have conflicting schedules. So I get to see her about once a month. And we always get brunch at the same place because we like it and it's my favorite so I go there as much as possible anyway.

I usually try to go out of my way to dress up when she visits which is weird because she's not formal at all. Sometimes it makes sense if we're going to a play but even if we just get a bite to eat and take a walk or sit in my house and talk, I still try to dress like a "lady".

This usual translates to a kind of retro secretary/librarian look. Anything fancier ladylike would just be totally out of place, I guess. So I wore my pink/off white houndstooth skirt and a white blouse with the puffy sleeves and sweet bow at the neck. Then I just through on my black and white spectator heels and sheer nude stalkings. I felt a little over dressed in a way but I really liked the look. Everyday is Halloween anyway, so who cares!

Outfit details: pink houndstooth skirt (banana republic); white tieneck blouse (jones collection); black/white spectator peeptoes (steve madden)

Daily Wear: Girly Menswear

2010-04-23T19:45:00.000-04:00

I wanted to experiment with some menswear inspired looks with feminine details of course but I went too lady with it. The only thing menswearish about it are the wide leg pants and corduroy blazer.

I wore the "suit" with a creamy ruffled blouse which in the end felt too prissy. I would have preferred a plainer blouse or button up.

And then the shoes were dainty heels with little bows when what I really wanted were brogues , spectators with a more solid heel.

I like the purse though. It ties in all the neutrals I was using. I'm just disappointed I wasn't more 70s looking. Oh well!

outfit details: brown wideleg trousers (Gap)' cream ruffle blouse (forever 21); khaki cord blazer (rue21); colorblock purse (vintage); taupe/tan kitten heels.

Smokey eyes- Grey edition

2010-04-21T09:14:00.000-04:00

As you've probably noticed, I'm a wee bit MAC obsessed and I like to pounce on new limited editions when they come out. I'm doing much better at using restraint and not buying a much of stuff I don't need or even really care for just because it's new and limited edition. Having said that, I couldn't resist the Liberty of London collection that came out last month with its adorable packaging. I did however manage to only buy the two things that most appealed to me. The india ink blue nail polish and the grey shadow. And once I had a new grey shadow in hand, I knew I'd have to do a smokey eye post.

I created this really easy look by first applying the pale dove grey shadow (satin finish) all over the lid. I then used a matte black shadow in the outer third of my lid into the crease and up a wee bit. Lastly I used a black cream liner (you could go thin or thick on this) and then a bit of mascara.

I finished the look with a pink blush, berry lipstain and berry gloss. Foundation and powder and all that stuff too of course!

This is a paler, day version because I had to go to work after the pics were taken but of course you can dial up the intensity if you like. I'm trying to practice restraint in creating day appropriate looks and realistic versions of runway makeup but fell free to go wild!

Makeup details:

eyes: Benefit creaseless cream liner in Towne Car; Sephora all over color in 91M; MAC's shadow in Bough Grey; Clinique's High Lengths mascara in Black.

Cheeks and lips: Benefit's Thrrrob powder; Benefit Benetint lip stain; Lancome juicy tube in Berry Bold.

I like doing makeup posts, in part, because you can actually see my eye color. For some reason close-ups don't result in red eye but all of my other photos do resulting in red eye corrector resulting in black eyes. But I like my real eyes much better.

Daily Wear: Girly Rocker

2010-04-18T09:12:00.000-04:00

Rock and Roll is such a classic look to me. I think it's because black never quite goes out of style. And we certainly love our icons to be on the rebellious side. And even though I realize it's actually a classic look, forever on the cutting edge, the very definition of cool....I can't help but feel really uncomfortable playing the part.

I think it's because rock star clothing tends to be tight and shiny and sexy, while I myself am a wallflower. I don't like sexy looks on myself. I gravitate toward a sort of vintagey cutesy look. So every so often, probably once a month, I try to create a rocker look that's a bit more on the girly side.

And I always fail! haha!

It doesn't help that it makes me strike actual "poses". awkward, unflattering me!

This outfit started with the silver brocade tulip skirt. I knew it has cute rocker girl possibilities and I wanted to try the look without incorporating any pink at all. I added up zip up legging as much for warmth as the rock factor. My blouse has a bra hook closure that you can't really see here. Then of course the most important part was the high heeled ankle boots!

I took a close up of the skirt so you could really see the brocade. Otherwise it just looks like metallic shiny crap.

Outfit details: silver brocade skirt (angel); black hook blouse (contempo casuals); zip up leggings (pink rose); ankle boots (payless); absinthe necklace (BarkerBell)

Redhead Tribute: Christina Hendricks

2010-04-15T19:03:00.001-04:00

So who isn't obsessed with Mad Men? No spoilers here, and please don't tell me anything! I'm not much of a tv watcher and I got in late in the game. I haven't netflixed my way through the series yet. I just felt that Christina Hendricks was a perfect choice for my series of tributes to redheads. She's a lovely woman offscreen of course, but I'd be lying if I didn't say her main appeal to me was her wardrobe on the show.

She defies the rule about redheads not being allowed to wear pink and she's gorgeous in it! This is so va va voom sexy for the workplace but it suits her character completely.

I know she hates her body type being such an issue but she's like the retro kate winslet, being praised for being curvy and not anorexic. I love seeing a sexy sultry curving girl on tv but I agree it's still annoying and wrong to judge someone by their looks one way or the other.

The pinnacle of 60s fashion.

From the red carpet, showing her just as lovely without the red lipstick!

From a magazine photo shoot. Refreshing to see her out of character.

Indecisive Procrastinator

2010-04-12T10:34:00.003-04:00

I've been having the hardest time making my mind up lately! About anything! And I'm being really terrible about procrastinating with every little thing. I feel like these problems are linked in some way. Like I can't make a decision because I really don't want to have to do anything.

Procrastination. I still have yet to file my tax returns and I have only, what, three days left? My I.D. (don't drive) expired rendering me unable to buy alcohol or use my debit card in certain establishments. I knew this was happening a month before it expired and yet did nothing. Which is what I did last time it expired. I have issue with getting it renewed because I also need to do the name change on it, from when I got married two years ago! procrastination.... I know they only take check or money orders but I dont do checks and a money order is prepaid and I dont know the cost of renewing and doing a name change, etc so I keep letting it go. I was supposed to do that first thing this morning but it isn't happening and this was like the one day during the week when i might have had time to do it.

Indecision. I can't dress myself anymore. I used to just let instinct take over and lead me through the process but for the first time in my life I have to try on multiple things and I'm never happy with the result. Like in these pictures here where I kept changing the combination.

And I've even been indecisive about where to go on vacation in the fall. I wanted to go to Paris and Brussels but then my husband wasn't into Belgium and I thought September would be too cold for a London/Scotland trip because London was so chilly last year so then we finally came to terms with Paris and Barcelona. But then I couldn't get the time from work that I wanted and now I have to go late september into early october and I felt Paris might not be as enjoyable because i like to spend so much time outdoors. So then it was Barcelona and Naples, Italy because I thought it would be cool to see the isle of Capri and pompeii and it's more southern than Paris so it will be warmer. But then I read a lot about Naples not being so nice and I became paranoid that if it was too cold for beaches I wouldn't have anything else to do. So then we decided on Rome. SIGH!!!!!

Some variation of this outfit I would have worn on vacation to Capri, had I decided to go there!

outfit details: embroidered skirt (thrifted); white t shirt (american apparel); lavender ruffle flats (payless); peach jacket (vintage...came with a dress).

Ethereal Easter Dress

2010-04-07T08:58:00.002-04:00

I always seem to be running behind my little self imposed blogging schedule so I always feel stressed and failure-ish. But work has been crazy (both of them) and in general, with some other life stuff, I'm exhausted and stressed pretty much all the time.

So this was my "Easter" dress. We don't celebrate. But usually we seem to go to this vegan place for brunch because before we were dating we went there for an easter brunch and it was the day we realized we both liked each other. We spent that whole day together and it is a very fond memory for us so went again. But they seat you with strangers if you have a small party and I'm really really not good at strangers. So I was mostly silent and irritated and probably came across as a total bitch. Eh.

This is the filmy sheer pink dress form my flapper photos last year. I forgot how low-cut it was! I was going for a kind of ethereal ghost girl vibe but i mostly failed. I think I simply has on too much pastel so I just looked like an Easter egg. I got the theme of sheerness with the dress and the fishnets but it just didn't come together right. I would love to see someone else's ghost girl photos! lol

Outfit details: pink ruffle dress (thrifted); purple fishnets (urban outfitters); cream maryjanes (target); cream headband (forever21); necklace (BarkerBell).

This is a blurry side of of my necklace. It's an old absinthe print.

Side two shows what appears to be devils and demons clutching at the bottle. I guess I know how my ghost girl died. I bought this necklace at The Little Flea, a local flea market that also showcases local artists. I forget the girl's name (i lost her business card!) but I found her etsy site and she makes a ton of jewelry from vintage and recycled parts using everything from old prints to watch parts and Barbie shoes! Please go check her out here.....BarkerBell

April Etsy Finds

2010-04-04T14:40:00.003-04:00

I meant to have this up yesterday in case anyone had some pre-Easter jitters and needed a sugar detox internet break. But that may still be the case today. Here are some recent finds in the vintage etsy universe. Enjoy.

Absolutely the best first! seafoam green mid-century danish modern daybed. This would be perfect in any room of my house and I'd put it in my bathroom even if it would fit! By The Vintage Supply Co.

Cool brushed aluminum armchair. It may be pink but appears to be a nice neutral color for any decor, even if it is a pale blush color. By Swankarama.

1930s art deco closet in a lovely white color. Doesn't have to be relegated to a bedroom. Makes a cute coat closet too! By Onlinechic

Frosted glass and aluminum lamps. By Zedandminky

A showplace for your collections. Teak mid century modern bookshelf/storage unit. By designermadness.

Enough fantasy shopping, I need to do some household chores. I'm working on another series and have an Easter dress to take pics of if that's the sort of thing you're into. Probably on Tuesday. See you soon!

Mixing prints- 3 ways!

2010-03-30T18:00:00.004-04:00

I was saving this for tomorrow but I couldn't wait! I really like combining prints so I've been experimenting a little and wanted to show you some looks I've come up with. I don't like silly fashion rules and I see no reason to not wear prints together.

This is the first experiment. Really subtle. I kept to the same aqua color palette which I think really worked. It hardly looks mixed at all. I wore this to a lunch out with Mom.

The button up skirt had aqua and black THIN stripes on a white background. The aqua/gold brocade jacket over top has a more open, wide print. I think staying on the same color (aqua) and mixing large and tiny prints makes this work. I kept the rest of the outfit really simple with grey pants.

Outfit details: aqua brocade jacket (H&M); aqua strip shirt (aerpostle); grey skinny pants (urban outfitters); cream maryjane heels (target).

Experiment no# 2. Stripes and plaid. These prints are in a similair porportion but I toned down the mixed print effect by having the purple of the dress surrounded by a lot of black.

This is a strapless dress overtop a striped tee. I wore this to a friend's house for summer weather Coronas.

Outfit details: purple plaid dress (grass); striped tee (H&M)l black tights (hue); black maryjanes (zappos.com)

Experiment no# 3 loud and wild! an geometric art deco print dress with a polka dot jacket. This was completely over the top but the only one of the three I was complimented on, so go figure.

The blue, white, and yellow(lining) of the jacket were repeated in the dress, along with a few other colors. Again, I used neutrals,( in this case brown tights and boots) to tone down the jarring prints. I think i got away with this one only because the jacket was viewed as a warmth-giver, not an outfit-maker.
Outfit details: art deco dress (BGBG); blue polka dot jacket (charter club); brown tights (hue); tall brown boots.

I think this last one was my favorite only because I loved the dress and the way it fit so much.

Z Spoke--Zac Posen

2010-03-28T18:33:00.002-04:00

This is just a little peek at Z Spoke, Zac Posen's line, to be found at Sax Fifth Avenue. These are just my favorites. I love that almost the entire collection is dresses and skirts outfits.

This is the perfect dress for me. I love the sleeve length and the little collar. I love the big pockets and the piping. Bright Happy Spring!

I've been experimenting with mixing prints (that series should be posted on Wednesday, hopefully) and this really appeals to me.

And here is that print again but this time in a full dress. This is definitely more revealing than what I'm comfortable with but I love the way it drapes.

Love this color combination and the sexy librarian collegiate look.

All in all I think I love this collection because it uses a lot of bright spring green which I find beautiful. But I also really like the attention to little details like the collars and piping, the way a piece drapes, or it's neckline. Super cute!

Shirt dresses: three ways!

2010-03-25T09:15:00.005-04:00

I've long had a thing for shirt dresses. They can be dressed up or casual. They are forgiving on many body types. And I'm really glad to see them make a resurgence. I decided to do a little series on them with two I've had forever and a brand new one!

This is my new one! I love it so very much. It's a chambray style but I still call in denim.

It came with the little belt--it's navy with white dots. I wanted a relaxed sexy feel so I paired it with brown tights and my tall brown boots.

Outfit details: Chambray shirt dress (Tommy Hilfiger); sheer brown tights (can't remember!); tall brown boots (ask later, too lazy to go look....sorry?)

This dress made me feel so cheeky if you can't tell. This dress doesn't really have a good fit so I used a big belt to give me back my waist.

Back view. The dress is white with black polka dots inside squares. I thought it would show up better so I didn't take any closeups.

Outfit details: graphic shirt dress (rue21); wide black belt(swiped form a kensie dress); opaque black tights (hue); black heeled maryjanes (payless).

I went belt-less with this one and probably felt the most self conscious. This dress is an olive green with kind of a black and brown brocade print to it.

too much boobs and ass in this one. I think this is going back in the donate pile! I wore pigtails for a change because my hair was being super uncooperative but then my husband loved it.

Outfit details: brocade shirt dress (rue21); olive opaque tights (hue); brown heeled maryjanes (mudd).

Shades of Blue

2010-03-22T10:43:00.004-04:00

I'm not completely immune to hearing about trends and I'd have to be living under a rock to have not heard about Blue being the next big thing, the new black, the whatever for Spring!

And blue being my favorite color and all, I thought I'd try wearing different shades of blue in honor of trendiness. ha ha I wore outfits in navy, light blue, and aqua. Here are my results.

This is almost head to toe navy blue because of the dress and tights. I had to add a little color though even a neutral and went with brown maryjanes.

The monotony was also broken up a little because the dress actually had fine silver threads running through it.

It was a little chilly that day so ultimately I had to throw on a jacket and a little scarf, more brown.

Outfit details: Navy blue dress (DKNY jeans); Navy ribbed tights (the Gap); brown heeled maryjanes (Mudd); brown corduroy jacket (forever21); Brown/purple scarf (no idea!)

I liked the idea of using a neutral to break up the blue so this tan creates a colorblock effect. This is actually a sweater worn over a dress.

In order to get this color tights, I had to layer a sheer turquoise pantyhose over a bluer opaque tight.

Outfit details: Blue fuzzy sweater (thrifted); Tan shift dress (thrifted); turquoise pantyhose/blue opaque tights (hue/dkny); tan kitten heels (totally forget, nothing major).

And this was my favorite of the experiments--Aqua! This is the one I got compliments on all day so I feel like I finally got the right blue for me.

As you can see here, I wore a polka dot button up under a babydoll sundress. It was warm but not enough to bring out the super summer clothes.

Outfit details: aqua ruffle dress (kensie); aqua dot top (thrifted); palest grey tights (hue); silver flats (payless, of course!)

What is your favorite shade of blue to wear?

Neon 80s Part 2!

2010-03-19T09:12:00.002-04:00

So I guess I went through a little neon phase last year and I only did one post about it. This was from my archive, posted in November but from earlier, I'm guessing August?

I decided to have another go at it this time using pants as I'm trying to find a pair that fits and experimenting with the styling. dresses are really so much easier.

Well at least my photography skills are a little better. Ha Ha These pants are in fact very uncomfortable. The search continues. I blame my wide hips/thighs. Pants are for scrawny girls!

I tried auto adjusting the color but I think the color actually shows up truer in the unedited photos. Oh well. I ended up wearing the same black shoes and orange tights. I totally forgot what i wore last time. I've worn this blouse before. It's a very citron color, silk, with a pleated bow across the top. Hot pink bow belt continues the theme. Black capris to avoid overwhelming the whole thing and blinding people.

Outfit details: lemon silk blouse (zinc); pink bow belt (H&M); black capri pants (express); hot orange tights (hue); black heeled maryjanes (payless of course!).

I'm shooting to have something else posted on Monday. Enjoy your weekend folks!

Inspiration: Eclectic Whimsy

2010-03-18T16:51:00.002-04:00

I'd intended to do this post days ago but as you know life gets in the way. And in this case "life" is code for work. But there's no time like the present as they say.

And what I mean by "eclectic whimsy" is really my way of saying I dressed all kooky and took pictures of it. I wish I could blame it on Tim Burton's Alice in wonderland but I haven't even seen the film and I doubt he'd appreciate the comparison!

Scrawny awkward poses make me look kinda thin. It's the body equivalent of all those myspace photos you used to see. I've worn this dress before. It's black with white stars, this time paired with my white ruffle cardigan. Purple tights, bow headband, and spectator heels. Just a little bit of everything. Not sure if that's the eclectic or whimsical part.

If anything about this was homage to Wonderland it would be this pocket watch on a chain I bought in Paris last year. The only thing I was late for was getting to work.

More awkward posing. I swear I wasn't drunk, I just really look like I am. All I had was coffee, honest.

outfit details: star print dress (style and co); white ruffle cardigan (kensie); bright purple tights (hue); cream bow headband (forever21); pocket watch necklace (Paris street vendor); peep toe spectators (steve madden).

Smokey eyes- Green edition

2010-03-13T11:06:00.003-05:00

Maybe it was the upcoming St. Patrick's Day. Maybe it was all the buzz with teal eyeliner. I don't know. But somehow I decided to do attempt a smokey eye look using green and teal instead of the typical greys of the modern browns.

It turned out better than expected and certainly better than photographed. Taking pictures of my makeup is seriously hit or miss and unfortunately this was miss. I haven't discovered a consistent way to get makeup shots and its very frustrating. Alas, here it is....

It translates much more daytime than it did in reality. I paired the green/ teal eyes with rosy cheeks and mauve lips. Here is a close up of the eye makeup with my eyes closed.

It looks lighter here. Probably the flash but the pictures were all around too dark with out it. I actually used a dark matte green all over the lid and then used a shimmery teal as eyeliner on the lower lash line and into the crease and outer corner. Then just a little black liner on top and mascara.

Colors used:

eye makeup: MAC Starflash eyeshadow in Strike a Pose with the dark matte green shade in the L'oreal duo Forest. Benefit eyeliner in Onyx. Bare Escentuals mascara.

Cheeks and lips: Benefit cream blush in Shhh with Moon Beam as a highlighter. Clinique lipstick in Bamboo Pink.

I'm already planning my next makeup look. I picked up a couple things from MAC's Liberty of London collection to play with.

March Etsy Vintage Furniture Finds

2010-03-10T08:52:00.002-05:00

I've done a post or two before about the wonderful vintage furniture and decor that pops up on etsy. That's definitely a website I've logged a lot of hours on just browsing and oohing and aahing! I don't have any affiliation with the sellers featured here. I just really like the pieces and wanted to share them with you.

Last time I focused on mid century modern pieces, because that's what I really love best. But this time I looked for more romantic pieces which is how I'd like to style my bedroom more toward. I didn't search for any particular era, just sort of looked around clicking on the sweet stuff.

Vintage wooden and wire birdcage by Little Brown Bird. Already sold out!

Gorgeous wicker twin headboards by Readornment. Can be put together as shown to make one King sized headboard.

Cute pink and blue floral antique chair. On wheels! Not really the colors for MY bedroom, but surely lovely in yours. By Vintage Chic Furniture.

Vintage marble lamp by High Street Market. Already sold out!

Last by not least a white chair with hot pink upholstery. By The Vintage Laundry

leftovers

2010-03-07T10:02:00.003-05:00

I've been working a lot lately. Really Really a lot. So I've been really bad about finding time to work on stuff for this blog. I'm exhausted. My back hurts. No, make that my whole body hurts. I'm emotionally stretched very thin right now as well. And I may very well be hung over right now.

And there is no end in site.

I really hope to have a day to work on blog stuff and catch up on household chores soon. Right now it looks like I'll get a day off on March 15th. I do have loads of stuff planned though so please stay tuned.

These are some old pictures. I think just after I cut my hair. And my hair already feels like it needs a trim. So sometime last month. Whenever I had a day off to play around because there was two feet of snow outside.

I'm wearing my comfy wide leg high waist jeans with a black and white striped top. The top has kind of a funnel neck and is layered under a vintage green shell, worn as a sweater vest. Silver flats. During my layering phase...

I need to get ready and go to work now. See you soon!

Redhead Tribute: Laura Prepon

2010-03-03T08:56:00.005-05:00

I didn't want to leave you hanging too long while I work on posts that are going to take some time. So I thought today would be the perfect day to launch my long promised tribute to red heads. I've been a red head my whole life (well except for a few unfortunate teenage years when I died in purple or black). It's taken me a really long time to learn to love and accept being, what they call, a "ginger".

I got picked on mercilessly growing up for being different. I guess I don't quite fit in in other ways too but this was immediately noticeable.....from across the room! But now I love having something special about me. As an adult I can see the value of having a "rare" look. I no longer feel it makes me ugly, but instead exotic! Well at least here. Some countries I could probably just blend right in.

Enough about me! I decided to do my first redhead post on Laura Prepon because I mentioned her very early on in this blog when I was obsessed with high waisted 70s jeans. I also have a soft spot for That 70s Show. While not my favorite era of vintage, it's cute and funny. And I when I die heaven will look like the Foreman house!

This is a promo pic for the show so she's in character but still kinda not. She just has such a natural clean look. They often downplayed her beauty on the show but she really shines here.

In character again but in a more tomboy way. still lovely of course!

And here is where we get Laura and not Donna. Absolutely goddess worthy. Stunning!

And here she is sexed up during that lad mag phase before she went blonde (Boooooo!!!!)

Unreal. This is her at her most "made up". This is what I want to roll out of bed looking like.

Who's your favorite redhead? I don't have one! But I'd still like to know yours...

Wardrobe Round Up

2010-02-28T09:16:00.006-05:00

I haven't been posting many of my "daily" outfits because I want to take some of the focus off of myself in this blog. But this blog is in part about style, particularly in clothing so I do feel I should post some of what I wear. These were taken on three separate days in February and are kind of all over the place in terms of style. I'm trying to find patterns in the things I wear but the only thing these have in common is there are no pants!

In order that I wore them.......

This is the most formal of the three. I wore it to the Theater to see a local production of Sam Shepard's Buried Child.

I was going for a kind of posh thrift store lady look. I guess I accomplished it because I got a lot of compliments that day. I'm wearing a vintage pink dress that's really light and airy with pale dove grey tights, an aqua and gold brocade jacket and gold maryjanes.

And just a face shot that sort of shows my makeup. I was still rocking the bright pink lips.

This is my sassy little french girl look. I didn't do anything in particular on that day. Just went to a diner for breakfast and did some vintage shopping later. Spent most of the day on some early Spring cleaning. Still loads more to do on that front.

I'm wearing a plain white t-shirt with a red and whit stripe skirt and black tights. I love the little pockets and the way the skirt flares out. My favorite of the three outfits in this post.

The only picture where my shoes came out. My standby red flats with the little white buckle! This is my bedroom by the way. You don't get to see it much on this blog.

This is the sexiest outfit! I had to work at the vintage shop that day. I intended to go out afterward and see some bands play but I've been so extremely sleep deprived and stressed about some stuff that I just couldn't make it. I don't like to dress sexy anyway.

The shop cat was very curious about what I was doing! I usually wear a lot of bright colors and patterns and with this outfit I was trying to focus more on the shape of things and the structure. So I used a simple palette of red, white, and black. I wore this with a structured tuxedo style jacket, black, with satin lapels. It didn't make it into any pictures.

And a close up of my peep toe spectator heels. Adorable but very uncomfortable.

So anything in common? Nothing really across all three but some common threads seem to be: dresses, maryjane heels, red, and black tights. I guess I can live with that.

Shop Girl

2010-02-24T08:35:00.004-05:00

I recently had to spend the whole weekend working at the vintage shop. This, in addition to my regular weekday job. I'm not complaining I just want to explain why I took time to play at work. I'm obviously not taking pictures of myself while I have customers in the store!

I love the reflection of everything in the glass case, the light bouncing off all those rhinestones!

I love this dress, vintage and bought where I stand of course. The belt isn't original to it, that one is missing. But this ties into the bit of red on the neckline and the little red buttons on the sleeve cuffs.

And then here's another mismatchy look. I'm sitting in this massive throne. If there's every a strikingly unusual chair in my pictures it's because they are made by a local artist, Greg Karkowski. I'm positive I'm spelling his last name wrong. I'm terrible at that.

I'm wearing a Kensie sundress over a stripe top and purple tights. This picture is kinda old. I'm moving away from the grunge, layered, Holly Hobby look. These pictures were all taken before I chopped my hair off.

See you soon!

Style Inspiration: 70's career wear

2010-02-22T08:59:00.002-05:00

A while back I found a vintage green and white suit comprised of a skirt and vest. At first I considered doing a Bonnie and Clyde take on it, in honor of one of my favorite bloggers at Sally Jane Vintage. You probably already know her, but if not go read her blog right now. She has perfect style with pencil skirts and berets, and beautiful sunset hair.

But in the end I decided to go with a more literal translation of the suit.

I always style the button up in a a similar way, librarian chic. The brown pattern on the top lends itself to wearing brown tights and my brown Holly Hobby style chunky maryjanes.

I took these pictures in the little vintage shop again. The owner is working on a website so hopefully soon I can share more of my little life with you.

I know I haven't been posting outfits as much but I think it's just not very fun for me. I don't photograph well and I really want to put more focus on other people in this blog. I still need to get my profiles of redhead together. And I'm also thinking of doing a henna dye to brighten my hair up. What do you think?

Runway Inspired Makeup-Derek Lam

2010-02-19T09:00:00.002-05:00

I think I might actually prefer the makeup to the clothes when it comes to runways. It's not that I don't appreciate the beauty of designer pieces, I just think they are better represented in Look books. For some reason runway photos do nothing for me. Unless there's attention grabbing makeup!

Derek Lam's Spring runway makeup was very bird of Paradise: lots of turquoise, purple, and orange. And while it's not really appropriate for everyday, I thought I'd try my hand at two variations of the theme.

This is Derek Lam. I went just slightly more subtle....

This version is the more intense of the two. And here it is again....

And here is the more subtle, softer version...

And again...

Both looks used MAC eyeliner in Obviously Orange, and Haunting and Plum Dressing eye shadows. The more subtle version uses the more universally flattering plum while the more intense version relies more heavily on blue. Pardon my pictures, taken on different days in different light.

The softer version used the peachy Benefit cream blush in Hush, while the more intense version used Origins cheek stain in an orangey coral, Coralberry.

Both looks used Benefit full finish lipstick in Lady's choice with Benefit pearly pink gloss on top. With eyes and cheeks so colorful, I really just HAD to tone down the lips. This look was very noticeable and bright in both versions and I got a lot of odd looks when worn in public.

All in all I think this was a successful home version of the look. Though I don't know anywhere I'd wear it to.

Hair inspiration

2010-02-15T17:48:00.002-05:00

A couple of weekends ago when we were all under two feet, at least, of snow, I killed some time by watching a really cool movie. It's called Paris, Texas and if you haven't seen it please do. But I warn you: it's a slow burn.

I found this girl so beautiful and intriguing.

I loved her pale skin with bright pink lips. I loved her pink fuzzy (backless!) sweater. And I really love that blonde bob with the slight wave. I was captivated.

And then I remember seeing an article in Lucky about girls faking a bob on the Spring runways which made sense because I feel like I saw some bloggers doing that recently.

And then I remembered how I tried pinning my hair underneath last spring to fake a bob.

It looks pretty short here. This was during my flapper posts. I really loved the makeup. I even had those bright pink lips (ha!).

So then I just gave in and cut my hair off. Six inches.

It's a little longer than the girl in the film. I have a round face and can't have hair stop right at my chin. And I didn't intentionally wear that bright pink lipstick. I guess it's something I keep being drawn to?

So how do you decided when to change your hair? Celebrity trends? Online inspiration? Cabin fever?

Spring wishlist

2010-02-12T13:12:00.005-05:00

Well, I looked at what was lacking in my wardrobe, I've glanced through the spring trend forecasts, and I've settled on the pieces I think I'll need most this Spring. Of course, I'll end up buying loads of things not on this list and probably barely anything that is but it's still fun to pretend. The pictures are not exact representations, merely similar things I could find photos of.

The investment piece:

A pleated taffeta skirt. I'm really into rich jewel tones right now and I keep hearing about how cobalt is the new navy so that would be wonderful. Another good choice would be a ruby wine color. I'm calling this an investment piece not because of price but because I view it as something that will come in handy for seasons to come. I want something with a really beautiful luxe European feel to it.

photo: etsy

The fun/ trend pieces:

A belted jersey dress. I'd prefer a flattering wrap style but with shirt dresses being so trendy right now I might have to go with that. I'd like a fun bright color like a Smurf blue with cute details.

photo:etsy

White tuxedo jacket. Menswear and boyfriend style blazers are big right now. And as I'm looking for a way to incorporate more white into my wardrobe this seems like the perfect way to do it.

photo:etsy

The transitional pieces:

Cropped trousers. In a beautiful versatile grey these could easily be made for cold or warm weather. I'll have fun experimenting with making them more feminine or incorporating more menswear style.

photo:etsy

Short sleeve thin knit sweater. A perfect piece to layer with now or wear alone for chilly spring evenings. I think emerald green would be perfection.

photo forever21

The Classic Pieces:

Double breasted coat with fold over collar. I know a coat isn't very Spring but what with the 20+ inches of snow we had last week, I'd say we have plenty more winter to enjoy. I have a few winterish coats but none in grey my favorite color.

photo forever21

Boys white T-shirt. A wardrobe must! Cheap, basic and oh so versatile. I'll wear this every day with everything.

The Accessories:

Ankle band sandals. I saw these last year but wasn't brave enough to get a pair. I'm not really a fan of foot exposing shoes but I'm trying. In a lovely brown.

ethnic fabric bag. Global accessories are huge for Spring and though I have many purses, I have none that are anything like this.

photo:etsy

charm necklace. Something sweet and dainty. I may actually start to wear jewelry!

photo: forever 21

Outfit Delight

2010-02-09T08:34:00.002-05:00

Yeah, part whatever in a never ending(I can't stop shopping) series. Buying stuff just encourages buying more stuff because I have these things and nothing to wear them with!

What it is: super cute mod style dress with contrast piping and buttons. This dress pretty much sums up what I'd like to wear forever if I was a cartoon character.

What I'd wear it with: black and white ballet flats to coordinate and then for a splash of color, a bright enamel cuff bracelet.

What it is: a lovely vintage diaphanous pink dress

What I'd wear with it: a short sleeved velvet jacket and velvet and gold T-strap heels. Supremely glamorous in a 40's starlet kind of way.

What it is: a green and white vintage suit comprised of skirt and vest.

What I'd wear with it: a short sleeved ivory blouse and green suede moccasins.

What it is: A vintage nautical dress

What I'd wear with it: a pair of navy sling back wedge sandals and keeping with the theme, a cotton and rope satchel purse.

Stick with me folks. I've got many posts planned but some require research or just additional time in general.

I'm even going to try to pay attention to spring trends. Whether I follow them or not is a different story.

what not to wear

2010-02-07T15:02:00.002-05:00

First in a series as I continue making many many mistakes in dressing myself.

As was pointed out to me recently, I'm not fat. It had been one of those days (weeks) and yes I did need that pointed out to me. So yes while my weight is within the normal healthy range, it doesn't mean that my clothes fit the same way they did when I was 21 (or even 25). And I do what I can to be healthy but genetics do have a say in things and as it stands I'm what they like to call pear shaped.

This means that my hips/thighs are disproportionately larger than my waist/chest. So getting dressed/buying clothes can be a struggle. Just because something is cute, doesn't mean that it is cute on me.

So, if you are bottom heavy like me..

Rule #1: Don't wear shirts that draw attention to your lower half. Shirts are supposed to be the friend of the small on top girl. Layer wisely.

This outfit doesn't work because my shirt ends right where my thighs are largest. It is ruffled and patterned and draws the eye right where I don't want it. Especially since I have a cardigan covering the rest of it. It also doesn't help that I'm wearing skinny pants that emphasize the difference between my thighs and my ankles.

outfit details: grey skinny pants (urban outfitters), ruffle bottom shirt (american rag); tangerine cardigan(H&M), silver flats (payless, of course)

I feel like such a celebrity.

2010-02-05T09:11:00.006-05:00

I didn't really have a post planned for today. I'm having some technical difficulties which is why my posting in general has slowed down. But I noticed that my interview with the blog Fashion my Legs went up today and I wanted to make sure I linked to it. This is the first interview I've ever done as a blogger and it was fun and exciting. so please go check it out. You can read it here. And sign up to follow the blog too if you're as crazy about tights as I am.

I'll have real posts as soon as I get everything on my end sorted out. thanks for the patience.

Mid Century etsy finds

2010-02-02T09:00:00.003-05:00

I did a search of vintage furniture on etsy with "Mid Century" and these are just a few of the super cool things I found. Mid century/Modern/Danish whatevers are my favorite and I often look to etsy for fantasy shopping. If you've seen the posts of my house, then you'll know I do have a small but much loved collection of vintage and retro decor.

I have a really tiny bathroom but I might be able to fit something like this. I think it's supposed to be for magazines and maybe put your drink and an ashtray on top but I'd love it as a towel and toiletry stand. Photo: Good Vintage

This is Florence Knoll Credenza. This would be perfect in so many capacities. Entertainment center, additional clothing storage, buffet table, or my personal fave, home bar. Bottles get tucked neatly inside while the top provides a display area for vintage cocktail shakers and glasses. Photo: Swankarama

Probably best served as dining chairs, I really want to but these in my living room because I love vibrant colors there. This is a beautiful duo; I usually only see these sold singly. Photo: Rhan

Mushroom lamp! This would look lovely atop that credenza. I could put this in any room of my house and feel good about it. Photo:fabulousmess

I love shiny varnished wood and I never thought I would. Getting into 60s pieces made me disdain wood for plastic for years but now I'm learning to appreciate the lovely simplicity of pieces like this. I want to put this chair next to a little side table for visitors to enjoy. Photo:Reclaim the Throne

Please visit these etsy sites and fill your homes with these lovely items. And I would love to hear about your finds!

I think I need a change.

2010-01-30T09:57:00.002-05:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about whether or not I want to continue doing this blog. It is kinda fun and I enjoy having a hobby albeit one I don't talk about in my real life. Most people I know have no idea about this and even those who do, like my sweet husband, don't really hang out here. I like being able to connect with the girls (mostly) behind the blogs I read. Having a blog makes me look like less of an obsessive stalker and more of a colleague. I hope.

But I also don't want this blog to just become an exercise in narcissism. Truly, I'm not that confident or vain to think that people just want to look at pictures of me and my constantly under construction home. So what do I want this blog to be about? Well, vintage stuff, mostly. That's my passion. So while I do have lots of vintage dresses I could photograph myself in, I'd like to do more photo stories of other vintage bloggers and actual vintage photography. And since my rehab house is often a subject here, I'd like to do more with vintage and retro design and decor. And makeup being my first love, I can't leave that behind but perhaps I'll do more how-tos instead of show offs and focus more on retro/ or even runway looks.

And in order to set myself apart from other bloggers, I need to ask myself, what, if anything makes me special or different from them. As a redhead, I find myself fascinated and drawn to other red haired bloggers, models, and actresses. I want to do features in that area. And though I wouldn't exactly call myself a full figured gal, I'm often a far cry from the girls in blogs I read who have such petite frames. I have such a struggle finding clothes that fit, let alone flatter. If even one girl comes here for tips and advice to help them dress around an oversize ass or above 125 pound frame, I'll know I done good, as my dear friend Jenny would say.

But what would you like to see here? I welcome all tips and advice as I'm really still so new to all of this.

outfit details: grey skinny pants (Urban outfitters); white ruffle cardigan (Kensie); pink and grey floral blouse (Kensie); silver flats (payless, of course!)

100th post? Woo Hoo!

2010-01-28T08:52:00.002-05:00

I know some bloggers post every day (and those are some of my favorite blogs) but I never thought I'd make it to one hundred posts, even if it has taken me three seasons to do so. I'm starting to wonder why I stick with it on some days. I'm really not confident or vain; I don't like having my picture taken. I don't think I'll ever be famous with ten thousand views a day and invitations to exclusive events. Ultimately doing this has to be just for me, cause there's no guarantee of even continuing the 25 views a day I do get. I wonder what people would even like to see in this space, should they come to look? Perhaps I should seek out newer bloggers and befriend them a bit so they won't feel so overwhelmed. Do bloggers even feel overwhelmed? haha who knows. Here some typical pictures of me, in bright colors, being silly at home to tide you over while I think things over.

This is what happens to my hair if I do not brush it immediately after washing.

I think I have the oddest shaped face in history and not in a good way.

Not sexy, just silly.

Outfit details: seafoam dress (Kensie); tangerine cardigan (H&M); dove grey hights (Hue); taupe ankle boots (payless, of course).

New Year, New Neutrals

2010-01-26T08:53:00.003-05:00

I think we've come to expect that MAC will always be on trend for makeup but they've really hit the nail on the head with all of their neutrals lately. Some people view neutral makeup as a no make up look but that's not true. And it isn't a bland or blah look either. Neutrals are perfect for winter. They are multi dimensional without calling too much attention to themselves.

The released Warm and Cosy the day after Christmas with rich warm neutral colors that made for a very romantic look ready for snuggling in front of the fire drinking hot coca. And then in January they released All Ages, All races, All Sexes, a collection of neutrals so full there are truly perfect colors for everyone. Finally a company that understands that "nude" doesn't mean beige, it's different for everyone!

Released the same day as Warm and Cosy, was winter's counterpart Love Lace. This collections had some lovely frosty pinks and blues. And one strange fellow- a sort of purple, grey, brown eyeshadow that was color and neutral all at once. Add to that the smokey eye pigments from x-mas and I knew I had to wear all these colors.

So my look has been to experiment with doing a smokey eye without relying on the cliche black and grey and silver. You can do an equally lovely, glam smokey eye with browns and a bit of the purple curiosity.

On the eyes: Frosted grey-purple all over lid to crease (Hypnotizing-MAC from Love Lace); chocolate copper-bronze in outer corner and above crease, also used as liner on loxer lashline (Chocolate Brown-MAC from Sexpot pigments); Brown Mascara (Benefit's Bad Gal); Benefit's browzing eyebrow kit in Light.

On the lips: nude lip pencil all over lips (Benefit's Posh); pink brown gloss (Liquer- MAC from All ages, etc).

On the Face: Mac's Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 foundation in NC15; MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder in Light; Benefit's ten powder bronze and highlighter; Benefit's Erase Paste concealer in Light.

And finally, Blissed Out nail polish from the Warm and Cosy collection, a beautiful creamy light beige.

This was fun but I'm still looking forward to bright and brash spring color.

A Tale of Two Sundays

2010-01-25T10:37:00.003-05:00

I think in general people tend to be down on sundays, thinking of them only as a boring bumper to the dreaded Monday morning and back to work for most. They don't have the party allure of friday or saturday nights. Lots of smaller shops close but the malls are full of the after church crowd elbowing their way back to the sale rack. But I like Sundays. Sometimes my husband or I have to work over the weekend but usually we get to spend it together.

And saturday tends to be so busy! There are chores to do and errands to run. And recreation leans toward the stressful side of things because shopping can be so tiring. It just feels as busy as a work day. It's even more complicated when you have plans for the evening. You never get a break!

But sundays can be so blissfully relaxing and rejuvenating. We almost always go to a lazy brunch at our favorite little place where we can indulge in sweet crepes or french toast or savory omelets and quiches. Sometimes we skip this if we did it on saturday, like when mom comes to visit. And then we barely get out of bed!

It's nice to laze about and lurk around on the internet. Or reading books or watching movie after movie. Sometimes we'll bake or make a more time consuming but delicious meal for dinner. If only Morrissey were right about everyday being like sunday!

The first outfit is from the birthday brunch I mentioned from a couple weeks ago. The second is a bit older and was a day spent blissfully in bed!

outfit details: #1 black zip up leggings (macy's); Crosshatch dress (kensie); white short sleeve cardigan (Kensie); #2 grey pants (urban outfitters); yellow cashmere sweater (thrifted); stripe floral vest (scrapbook)

What I want for Spring

2010-01-20T09:14:00.003-05:00

This isn't really a wishlist or a trend prediction. These are just some things I've been thinking about to help hone my vision of what I want my spring wardrobe to look like. If any of this ends up being really trendy, I reserve the right to pretend I've never heard of it.

1) White. But not just as a background neutral. I want to focus on white pieces and white outfits. This is a color that intimidates me and so I must conquer it.

2) Jewel Tones. I love deep rich colors especially after seasons of wearing loads of neon/brights and pastels.

3) Simple Separates. I tend to wear a lot of patterns or heavily detailed pieces. I think it can be distracting to have too much goin on at once. So I'm gonna try to tone it down a bit. sometimes.

4) Menswear. I really hate how my body looks in pants but I think this is all the more reason to keep trying until I get it right. Structured pieces are probably more flattering than anything floaty and bubbly anyway.

5) ethnic jewelry. I rarely wear jewelry but I want to try. I'd like some pieces that have a sense of history as though they have a story to tell. But without being super big and showy.

so what about you? What are you going to try for Spring?

Grey Days

2010-01-18T15:45:00.002-05:00

I took some pictures next to my partially renovated kitchen wall because it's this lovely aqua blue and I wanted to punk up the blue tones in my clothes. I wish I had someplace interesting to take photos. Half my house is in shambles all the time because I'm working on one project or another and I live in a kind of depressed urban area. The best bit of nature is a cemetery and I feel really weird about hauling my tripod up their for vanity shots amongst people's dear dead loved ones. Pittsburgh is an exceedingly gloomy gray town anyway. I really can't wait until spring.

My life is all rather routine. Is yours? I have a work schedule and a chores schedule and I go to the same place for brunch every weekend. I have a couple thrift stores I frequent, a couple of places I order take out from. I watch a lot of movies on Netflix. I guess it's partly the weather, I tend not to want to do much when it's grey and cold. But I can't but feel that there isn't much to do anyway. What am I missing? It's hard to know if I'm bored or just boring.

Somebody send me some excitement! I guess I'll clean out my closet and get rid of anything that doesn't fit or I just don't care for anymore. I wish I had someone to give them to. I think that would be more enjoyable, to see someone love them, than to just drop them off at a charity shop.

I'm still feeling preppy casual these days. It's a nice break from dresses all the time.

outfit details: (wide leg jeans-Macys; argyle sweater vest-thrifted; blue stripe top-thrifted; and silver flats-payless of course)

Birthday party frock

2010-01-17T14:22:00.003-05:00

My birthday was last weekend! I usually dread my birthday, holidays in general make me depressed but this year I managed to have some fun. My actual birthday was on Sunday but I did most of my celebrating on Saturday. My mom came to visit me and we went to Brunch and did some shopping and hung out a bit.

And then I went to an estate sale with my boss at the vintage store and bought some kitchen wares. They had a ton of vintage clothes but were not my size. It was still really fun to look though and there was a ton of vintage home wares and furniture and art of all varieties. The only downside was that I fell down the stairs. HARD. (I was hurting for days, badly. I still have a bruised bum but at least my left arm works again).

My super sweet husband took me to my most favorite fancy pants restaurant for course after course of sushi. Melt in your mouth delicious and world's better quality than I've ever gotten anywhere else. Afterward, we went to a bar near our house to meet up with friends for a dance party called Fight: soul vs funk vs mod rock vs disco vs power pop. I love dancing but couldn't do much because of my fall. It was still lots of fun. I didn't stay too late and so I got to avoid the disco. Not really my thing. But no matter what you can't say anything against soul music. Everyone seems to gravitate to it. It's fun!

On Sunday, birthday proper, I went to a brunch with friends and it was lovely yummy vegan food. And my dear husband bought me a tripod so I can stop precariously balancing my camera on shelf edges and boulders. I had mentioned wanting to learn to knit or crochet and so he took me to the store where I got a beginners crochet book and some hooks of various sizes and some yarn. I want to make myself a scarf but right now I'm having some difficulty getting started. I have a difficulty learning from reading manuals and looking at diagrams. I really wish I had someone who could sit down with me for half an hour and just show me how to do it. I'm trying not to get too discouraged.

I love armloads of thrift store finds!

2010-01-15T08:56:00.002-05:00

I've gotten back into my thrifting habit lately instead of just looking for vintage or new items off the sale rack. It's really fun to have something catch your eye and rush over to it hoping it's in good condition and fits. And when you have a clothing addiction, which I think anyone reading this would have, thrifting is really the only way to go.

I'm still exploring some rock and roll looks but I can never manage ot make them look very tough. I still end up with cutesy details marring up the whole thing because I just like really soft girly clothes. I've been focusing more on preppy pieces because I don't feel like I have enough classics. I've managed to find some staples that have a little twist like a bright color or cool pattern to make them more my own.

What it is: An argyle v-neck sweater vest.

What I'd wear with it: a classic white button up shirt and a black high waisted pencil skirt.

What it is: tangerine cardigan.

What I'd wear it with: uh, well, a classic white button up shirt. The perfect one is really hard to find. I've yet to succeed finding something so basic and obvious. And a pair of 1940's style high waisted trousers.

What it is: a cream colored vintage handbag, found at Good Will, with a tag from the vintage store I work at. I rescued it even though I really didn't need another purse. But now I love it and take it anywhere that I don't need to carry much.

What I'd wear with it: Well anything really but I'll take this opportunity to imagine a dream outfit. I want a pair of tapered flat front black trousers and an edwardian jacket with lace at the cuffs and collar.

What it is: a wonderful bubblegum pink sweater.

What I'd wear with it: A zippered black mini skirt and hot pink suede booties. Because I think that's rock and roll.

Jumper Dress and Leggings--3 ways

2010-01-14T16:20:00.003-05:00

When I thrifted a plain black little jumper dress a couple months back I had no idea how much use I would get out of it. At first I wore it proper slipping dainty little blouses underneath. But as it got colder, I craved thicker fabrics and had to start wearing my tops on the outside. Coupled with the leggings I bought, despite hating the trend (I guess I needed to try them to understand), I can keep wearing this poor dress all year long.

First I tried it in the grungy rock and roll way I've been reclaiming.

I have a snug black and blue check button up and my faithful houndstooth flats (also receiving much wear)

Then I tried to make it preppy.

I wore a black and white striped button up. I like how the cuffs upturn to reveal some pink and yellow stripes.

And then the third is my favorite. A cute and sassy look.

I love my new bubblegum pink sweater!

What do you think? Is there an article of clothing that you can't stop remixing?

Across the Universe

2010-01-10T14:28:00.004-05:00

I just watched Across the Universe the other night. You know that musical that uses all the Beatles music. I've talked to a few people who have seen it and they all seem to give it mediocre reviews but all for a different reason. I guess there's a lot not to like?

I really really really like musicals. But i was turned off by this one at first because I found the use of popular song to be kind of distracting to the process of settling in to get to know the characters which is so important in the first fifteen minutes of film but I'm glad I stuck it out and watched the whole thing.

I liked this movie but didn't love it. I'm not a huge Beatles fan and this film confirmed for me what I already thought. They have some really good songs but I don't think they are end-all be-all of music. If you aren't already a Beatles fan, I don't think you'll come away from this movie one. I might even be a little sour towards the Beatles. A boyfriend once cited them while breaking up with me. Apparently love was not all he needed.

I thought this film was lovely to look at, a cool idea, but ultimately a bit overambitious. The plot was a bit weak in spots and some characters seemed to have been written in so they could have the same name as a song. This is particularly true of Prudence who didn't move the plot along like other minor characters and just kinda popped in and out without reason. This was disappointing really because they set her up to be a main character by featuring her as with Lucy and Jude in the very begining of the movie.

I was also kinda put off by the over psychedelic scenes. When it began to look a bit too much like a music video, it took me away from the plot. I was also annoyed by many of the cliches. In general I find psychedelics to be the least interesting thing about the 60s and find it really irritating when it is linked to a moral superiority. I'm anti-war too but I don't think frying your brain and claiming yourself as artist is a political statement. I'd rather be one of the squares.

So yeah, I wasn't very impressed by this movie. But I do like the 60s and I do like watching attractive people break into song without a moment's notice.

I'd recommend this though if you are a Beatles fan or are curious about seeing what Glee might have looked like in the 60s.

Daily Wear: I wear this every time she comes over

2010-01-08T09:19:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I feel like the world's oldest, well, I don't even want to call myself a style blogger, but you get the picture. If you're like me and you follow an ever expanding list of style/fashion/beauty/vintage blogs, then you will have noticed that most of these girls are so delicate and young and almost unnervingly lovely.

Self-esteem, meet floor.

And admittedly, I'm participating in what can be a rather shallow endeavor. I don't really think that clothes make the woman.

But I'm certainly not critiquing the lovely blogs I read or the many many wonderful ones I don't even know about yet. It's just sometimes I get embarassed that my hobby is actually posting pictures of myself online, that I awkwardly take myself. And they aren't even the sexy kind! haha

Well, if you haven't guessed it by now, my birthday is coming up and it's all too much with my seasonal blahs. I don't want to be older. And admitting that I care can also be received as shallowness.

And since I'm always so upfront about my insecurities and flaws and never photoshop a thing.....

I have lots of grey hairs. And looking at that picture, all I can think is that I wish I would have put on makeup before taking that picture.

Anyway, rant over. These are just a couple of pictures of my navy sweater dress again, that I posted about when I was being a grunge princess. I guess I'm having that phase. Again.

I wore a red button up with tiny white pinstripes, twisted up brown tights and my brown maryjanes. I guess this is my business casual grunge look.

My hair is usually as flat as a young girls chest. It's a bit bigger in these picks because I started using Lush's veganese conditioner. Now it has more body and it has more of it's own shine so I don't need a serum. Still grey though.

My Evolution

2010-01-02T18:13:00.004-05:00

I've been thinking about clothes lately.

Yeah, I know. Duh.

So I guess I'll start over. I've been thinking about style lately. In clothing, interiors, attitudes.

No, that's still not quite right. While all of it is true, I guess what I really mean is I've been thinking about myself lately.

And before I get too self-conscious and apologetic, this is a blog, right? Land of self absorption and navel gazing. But this is what I've been thinking.

When I was little, and well past the age of embarrassment, my mother picked out my clothes. Well of course that's completely normal and expected when you are very young but there comes a time when most girls want to start having a say in what they wear. My mother was still playing dress up vicariously through me into high school. I wanted desperately to pick out my own things, mostly in an attempt to fit in at school and with friends. One of my most awkwardly embarrassing moments was when I was 12 and brought some neighborhood friends inside to see my room. My mother had laid out "outfits" complete with costume jewelry all over my bed and draped over surfaces. I can still hear my friend asking "your mom picks out your clothes?" in a mixture of disbelief and disgust.

I love my mother.

She has no sense of style whatsoever, now or then.

So in my great rebellion in the tenth grade I threw away all the clothes I had except for a few things I actually liked and what I could find on the cheap at thrift stores. The summer before eleventh grade I actually bought back to school clothes that I felt a connection to. I was finally able to express myself.

And my expression, while very risque for my particular high school, was not original either. I did the babydoll t-shirt thing, thrift store finds, flannel and overalls. I wore vans sneakers and knock off doc martens. Costume jewelery was casy usunder in favor of safety pins and chains.

It quickly evolved into a goth look. I died my hair black and started wearing purple lipstick. I alternated between the tomboyish look of black jeans and concert tees and black slip dresses and fishnet stockings. I did this for too long.

Eventually, say age 20, I started to crave more variety, more color, but I had no idea how to go about it. Then came a phase of greys from dove to charcoal, not black but not color either. I bought blue denim jeans. I tried to evolve a style but really had none. I held onto to a lot of black clothes and ended up wearing purples and burgundies and I'm more embarrassed about this anti-style than any other phase of my life. It only worsened as i incorporated more colors and variety.

Then I had my semi-single bar phase. I wore skinny jeans and form fitting tees, black tall boots tucked under the pants. I got interested in jewelry and wore big earrings and other chunky pieces. I rarely wore dresses or skirts. I ended up with a lot of trousers in pinstripes and greys. I did a casual girly menswear look if that makes any sense. This slowly evolved into a black and white stripe obsession. Then to general black and white combination, in any pattern. Jewelry became bold but minimal. I started wearing shift dresses and leaned toward a 60s mod style.
I loved getting dressed to go out but felt too much like I was going with the crowd and what was popular then.

Then I moved South for grad school. I was beyond sick of black and white. I had a lot of personal problems and clothing and style were on the bottom of my list of concerns. I was kind of living out of a suitcase. I threw together whatever was handy, that I had brought with me. I had less than zero to spend on anything new. It was hot in summer and I wore capris and tank tops and felt poor and bland. To make matters worse, my then boyfriend's friends were all hip art students with cool creative style so I felt even more bland by comparison.

I went through a short lived career phase (back when I thought I would have one). It started with a month long seminar I attended. In an effort to impress I wore suits, or skirts and blouses. I had limited suitcase space and mixed and matched a lot of separates to make a new outfit everyday, including outside events (bars). I never repeated once. Unfortunately this business casual followed me home. I wore a lot of jeans with button up shirts and blazer combos. But I was also single again so from time to time I threw on a dress.

And it's kind of a blur from there. Around that time I met the man I would eventually marry. Maybe my style evolved partially to catch his eye, to become the type of girl I thought he would like. Perhaps I had just gotten my groove back, in the parlance of our times. Somehow I got to where I am now. I like to wear dresses a lot. I'm not much for jewelry. Makeup is often what makes the outfit. I love color and pattern but sometimes I get intimidated by texture. My sources of inspiration are more diversified. My confidence is growing.

Tell me your story, love. How have you evolved?

(I'm seen here in my dining room playing with neon brights and structured menswear; blazer-vintage, neon blouse-Macy's, blue jeans--Macy's, brown maryjanes--Mudd)

New stuff: rock and roll addition....sort of!

2009-12-31T08:51:00.002-05:00

I've been really enjoying posting about new purchases because I've started imagining what I might wear with each piece, whether it's things I already own or not. Usually not. It's helping expand my comfort zone with clothing and helping me to experiment more instead of wearing a basic uniform of the same thing every day.

I'm having fun with more rock and roll looks which I feel really aren't me. I don't have a bold personality and I really like to avoid black--something I associate with rock and roll dress. But luckily I have some other looks too for when I feel to meek to be a rock star.

What it is: Black ankle-zip leggings.

What I wear it with: I never thought I'd buy leggings. I'm really not a fan of this trend. I initially bought these to wear under pant for an extra invisible layer of warmth. But then I started playing with the rock star aspect of these in real life. But my fantasy outfit would be to pair these with a emblem schoolboy blazer and black flats with the studs across the top.

What it is: a pink bow belt.

What I'd wear it with: Despite being pink and girly, I think this has great rock and roll potential. I'm always drawn to girly things so I'd like to tough this up a bit. That being said, I still prefer dresses. For this I'm thinking a silver diaphanous short sexy dress and studded black ankle booties. I think I'm ready to start my band ;)

What it is: a vintage white sweater with orange trim.

What I'd wear it with: This is fitted so it immediately calls Marilyn Monroe to my mind. I'd wear it in her casual style with denim capris. But with silk and lace lingerie underneath!

What it is: black and orange cross hatch dress.

What I'd wear it with: I know, I know. I can't stop buying these summer dress in winter. I'd like to get a white leather clutch and black suede ankle boots. This would be perfect for a picnic. I can't wait for the weather!

Of course I had to end with something lady like and not rock and roll in the slightest but I'm trying to toughen it up a bit. Maybe just for going out?

What have you bought lately? Any good post X-mas sales?

'09 Year in Review Part 2

2009-12-29T08:46:00.002-05:00

In my last post, I listed my top ten favorite outfits from the last year (or rather, the part of the year I had a blog, I'm still new!) In order to be fair and nor portray myself at some kind of high fashion vintage princess (haha) I thought I'd post some of my gaffs as well. But I'm only picking the worst five because my blog is young so I don't have many photos and I really do like most of my outfits from summer.

1) Attempting to mix black and brown.

This is still not a color combination I'm comfortable with though I've seen others do it quite well. This failed because it's too much with the layering and the lace texture and the plaid pants. And I think I used too many shades of black, cream, tan, and brown. Must learn simplicity.

2) The bland corporate look I need for my day job.

In fact, I'm wearing the jacket right now. I could get away with jazzing it up a bit and I do at times but I think I'm mostly depressed about the whole situation. And I look miserable here. I think I might feel better if I started wearing more fun jewelry. I never wear jewelry in general, except the wedding band.

3) Attempting to wear warm weather clothing in cold weather

This failed because of the jacket I think. Still too summery. I don't think it was that cold yet but I think even a light weight scarf and a more serious jacket in a tweed or something would have made that top more appropriate.

4) Lady in White.

This just isn't me. I like bright colors and patterns and this just feels wrong. I think it's a cute eyelet dress and I like the tiny white dots on the navy shoes but this outfit really lacks something that couldn't be helped by the little pins on my right breast. Just blah.

5) Winter layering

I'm not sure why I didn't like this. I guess I think it looks thrown together because it very much was. My husband called on his way home and said I had ten minutes to get ready so we could get dinner/drinks. These things were just close by. He liked it though.

So what sartorial mistakes have you made this year? And what have you learned?

'09 Year in Review

2009-12-27T16:46:00.009-05:00

I'm sure everybody is going to be doing some version of these so I'm making my quick and visual. That way you can just scroll down and then be on your way.

In no particular order, my top ten favorite outfits posted on this blog.

1) My orange floral dress.

2) My green dress with white polka dots.

3) My tan jumper dress.

4)My pink sundress with the large floral print.

5) My red white and blue plaid dress

6) My cobalt and orange outfit.

7) My brown and aqua mixed prints outfit.

8) My grungy sweater dress outfit.

9) My orange and blue outfit

10) My pop floral look.

Well, it seems I have a taste for bright colors and patterns. No surprises there.

Daily Wear: Aqua and brown

2009-12-27T13:07:00.002-05:00

Aqua and brown is such a comforting Martha Stewart color combination. I think I used lots of this at my wedding for some reason. I think it started when I wanted blue pop flowers on the invitations. I posted about this skirt before when I showed it mixed with a polka dotted blouse. In that post I highlighted the brown aspects of the skirt but here I focus on the Aqua tones.

I wore this Christmas day, all dressed up even though I never left my house. I think my husband stayed in his p.j.s all day. I'm not sure how I feel about these aqua pantyhose, yes not tights. They are so sheer and I don't think it's a good look for the leg, kinda ashen and dead. You can see my bruises through them.

A fellow blogger, you might know her, is running a contest where you can win a really pretty bow headband that she made. Go here and be her friend and I hope you win!

I'm actually going to be doing a post where I take inspiration from a fellow blogger instead of a typical fashion icon. I can't say who because she reads this from time to time and I hope she'll be flattered and not annoyed or weirded out.

Outfit details: Aqua/brown floral skirt (thrifted); aqua blouse (H&M); aqua tights (hue); tall brown boots (oh, I forget, but I wore them on this thing before. too lazy to go look for them but they are one of the rare pairs not from payless!)

Daily Wear: Amish Hipster

2009-12-25T16:42:00.002-05:00

Hope Everyone is having a Merry Christmas, or a nice day off for those who don't celebrate! I just didn't want to fall too far behind in my blogging so I thought I's post some outfit pics from last weekend.

This is what my husband calls my Amish Hipster look. I guess because of the floral print and the layering? I thought I looked more like Holly Hobby or a perhaps a Swede? Really I just bought the dress on clearance and didn't want to have to wait until to Spring to wear it.

So I treated it like a jumper and wore a navy ruffle blouse under it and my typical thick thigh highs over tights combo. I brought out my silver ruffle heels I haven't worn since summer.

Outfit details: burgundy/blue floral sundress (Kensie); Blue ruffle blouse (forever 21); cobalt tights (hue); thick grey thigh highs (forever 21); and silver ruffle heels (payless, of course)

So to what lengths have you gone to in order to wear out of season clothing? I think I may be a bit strange for layering on stockings so I can wear dresses in winter and then in the summer I bring out all my fall colors and thick plaid everythings!

What I'd wear but I probably wouldn't

2009-12-23T08:51:00.000-05:00

What is it: A navy blue cap sleeve sweater dress with cute little pockets! (The second thing I managed to score off my winter wishlist. I hope I can get at least five of ten before it's time for the spring wishlist)

What I'd wear with it: a thin three quarter sleeve turtleneck in white and a pair of red stack heeled loafers for an all-American mod look.

What it is: a pale yellow (like the inside of a banana almost) cashmere v-neck sweater.

What I'd wear it with: Tan pants with a leather cording around the pockets and a brown leather messenger bag for a cute collegiate/ teaching assistant look.

What it is: a navy and burgundy floral print sundress with back bow detail (picture is a backview but the bow does not present itself well on film--blame the print)

What I'd wear it with: A Khaki trench coat and a pair of navy espadrilles for my version of Parisian casual.

What it is: a vintage spring/mint green shell top.

What I'd wear with it: a tweed pencil skirt and a slouchy oversize black cardigan for trips to the library.

What it is: a bright red party dress

What I'd wear with it: a short black peacoat and a black and white checked thin knit scarf for my version of Parisian dress-up.

I'd actually like to see other people's fantasies of French chic. Casual or dress-up. I'm homesick for my vacation.

Daily Wear: I Clean Up Nice

2009-12-19T09:38:00.002-05:00

Last night I went to my friend's semi annual Hanukkah Party with a group of friends including my husband and my BFF. And I think, somehow the funnest part was getting there. There's something about a car full of people that makes me feel 16 again, all stuffed in like sardines trading one liners. We had to stop so my hubby could grab a six pack and we waited in a car goofily making fun of people on the street and got very animated and disgusted by the sight of a man peeing against the wall of a convenience store. This is my before, at home in my holiday pajamas.

I love how shapeless and comfortable people look in winter pajamas.

On the drive to our friends, which really wasn't far, we played another friends gift single CD on a loop. Actually two friends of ours wrote and recorded a two track single of holiday music. It was very retro indie pop. Pure sad blissness.

We had another mini adventure trying to find a place to park in a densely populated area with much nightlife and other searching party goers and I was struck with the paranoia that we might be showing up on the wrong day. Because I find something to be anxious about in anything. Like it even mattered. Like we wouldn't just go back to my house or stop at a bar to celebrate a holiday that wasn't even ours.

This is the front and back views of the dress I wore. I was completely overdressed by the way and the only one their dressed for cocktails with Andy Warhol. But as they say, everyday is Halloween.

Outfit details: Black lace shift dress(thrifted and a bit snug in the armpits, I need to get rid of this one); wine colored tights (Hue); black maryjanes with ivory piping (payless of course).

Do you tend to overdress for casual parties and other situations? If so, does it make you uncomfortable?

Daily Wear: Keeping up Appearances

2009-12-17T08:52:00.002-05:00

So as I've mentioned before I don't really celebrate Christmas or really any other holiday and I don't need to keep mentioning or hinting at why. The thing is, I can't say outright that I don't celebrate at all, I can only say I don't "really" celebrate. Because when something is as big as Christmas and you have friends and family, even just a few, who do find it important to celebrate, you end up swept up into the festivities. Sort of.

In my last post I talked about my best friend coming over and how much fun it was, and that was our Christmas. Her husband came too but left a bit after dinner to visit some friends nearby and also because no one really likes to be around us when we are together. No one seems to get us.

So we drank crappy box wine and laughed hysterically at this 1947 book I have on how to be glamorous. It contains crazy outdated information on skincare (I have my doubts that wrinkles are caused by constipation),and some advice that hasn't changed at all and is still in beauty magazines (Wash your face! Wear makeup!). But I think our favorite part was how your personality affects your ability to be glamorous. There was a little info on posture but mainly it was a brief section on the importance of liking everybody, not crossing your legs, and "cultivating the reading habit" so you don't appear stupid. I highly recommend it.

Then the next day, I had to entertain my mother and that was out Christmas. Yeah I know, early. We have crazy work schedules and other obligations and so it was this or waiting til January. We went to brunch at our favorite place (OMG raspberry jam and marcepone stuffed french toast) and exchanged gifts and my husband and I spent the rest of the day lazing about the house.

Outfit details: Black corduroy skirt (H&M); blue leopard print cardigan (Grass); teal tights (hue); grey thigh high socks (forever 21).

Daily Wear: Grunge Revival

2009-12-15T09:05:00.002-05:00

Well, I couldn't help but notice that Grunge is making it's little comeback in clothes. I think I saw a couple girls online and maybe one in real life that seemed to be reawakening this trend but it's hard to tell. Everybody I know makes fun of me when I try these looks, so I guess it hasn't caught on too well. Perfect!

This is my second and I think more successful attempt at recapturing that haphazard layering style. I found a super cute navy sweater dress (another one from my Winter wishlist!) but it has short cap sleeves so it needs a layer underneath it. I found a black and white striped top and my outfit just kinda came together naturally from there. I added yet another neutral in my grey thigh high socks. But you know how much I love color so I layered the socks over orange tights. I even dug out my OLD silver Dr. Martens to complete the look.

I wore this to our Handmade Arcade a flea- market style event with locally made art, soaps, jewelery and other goods. There were a few dozen tables set up and it was so crowded that even though I kept circling around I hardly got to see anything! I was really happy for the vendors and hope they were successful at getting exposure to their craft. I bought a couple of barrettes, and I'm wearing the yellow daisy one in my hair in these pictures.

That evening I had my best friend and her husband over and we ate a super yummy veg meal my friend made. And she gifted me some lovely pomegranates which are my favorite fruit/ anomaly. I played some records while I cleaned the house before their visit and couldn't resist getting a picture of me clutching my Ziggy Stardust record.

Ghost owl!

Grunge fashion/music is nostalgic for me but I realize for many in the blogging community who are too young to have "been" there may find it strange and blah. But just think, it was good enough for Kate Moss, right? Have you/would you wear this look? It's ok to say no.

Daily Wear: Black and Blue

2009-12-13T18:26:00.002-05:00

I think I've heard that black and blue are two colors that you aren't supposed to mix but I really like that combination. I think a bright electric blue looks smashing with classic staid black, the way any bright color pops with a neutral. and it doesn't get more neutral than black. Except maybe white of course.

Speaking of white, I like it paired with a preppy kelly green. I like red with brown. So often paired with black, people forget that red is actually a warm color. Especially a juicy tomato red. Orange is a difficult color for me, not one I've had much experience with but I'm trying. I think I would try to tame it's ferocious intensity with a calm tan.

Another favorite is mixing sunny yellow with stormy grey, the opposites in my personality. Or how about serious navy with a gregarious purple? Or olive green with magenta?

Outfit details: Black dress with white cuffs and collar (thrifted), blue tights (DKNY); black maryjanes with ivory piping (payless).

I went to Lush earlier in the week and they had a goodie bag of lovely retro holiday products. Here's my haul, including the things I bought...

Veganese conditioner; Soap Wall set; Fair Trade Foot Lotion; Sugar Babe scrub; Vanilla Fluff powder; Merry X-Mas massage bar; eggsnog lip balm; marzibain bubble bar; Christmas Kisses bubble bar; and Snow Showers bath bomb.

Daily Wear: blurry is better, really

2009-12-10T08:55:00.003-05:00

I've been blogging a lot lately despite not really having much to say. Seriously, it's like every day. Check the side bar, you may have missed one or ten of them! I guess it's a nice distraction from some of the things on my mind lately. Family stuff, seasonal depression stuff, work stuff, money stuff, friend stuff, etc and the list goes on. And of course none of it is anything I really want to get into on here. So instead I post my ugly face and blurry pictures of the same three things I wear over and over.

But I'm really starting to like my bad blurry photos and keep trying to find ways to make them more blurry. I just don't believe in photo shopping myself into some bizarre version of myself, I see no need to attempt perfection. So I say the blurrier the better! I don't mind so much being dark and mysterious.

I was really feeling very seventies, I guess, with my plaid pants flared out at the bottom. And my super warm cozy tunic cowl neck sweater.
Especially in the first pic. The blurry makes it look old. I could be my mom in that one. But by the time she was my age, she had me and I was old enough to be in school but not old enough to have my period. Haha, you do the math.

I'm sick of always taking pictures in my living room but it has the best light, I think because of the white walls. The dining room is very dark and not much else is finished. The bedroom, still very much in progress, is also very dark. I don't know why I picked so many dark colors. I guess because it was winter? I have dark teal, dark purple, dark grey.

Outfit details: brown/black plaid pants (H&M); black tunic cowl neck sweater (???had forever); brown tall boots (not really depicted ha!)

Punk X-Mas

2009-12-09T08:49:00.002-05:00

I really like playing with makeup. Really, really. And because of this, I need to get experimental and surely not all of my experiments work out. I can only pair a smoky eye with a red lip, or copper eyes with peach gloss so many times. So out with the crazy color combinations. To be fair they make work on someone, just not necessarily me.

So in honor of Christmas, for those that celebrate, I came up with a red and green color palette for my face and did my best to make it work. I used a gold-green eyeshadow all over the lid and up to and extending the crease. Then I used a sparkly black shadow as a contour shade in the outer corners as well as a lower lash eyeliner and the upper inner corner. To tone it down a bit ya know. The shadow was black but I used sparingly to create more of a charcoal grey effect.

I used a red tinged stain and matching balm on the lips. Then I used a bronze/ highlighter on the cheeks to warm it up a bit and act as a neutral.

Makeup details:

Face: Mac Studio fix fluid spf 15 in NC 15; Mac mineralize skinfinish Natural in Light; Benefit Powderflage undereye concealer; Benefit 10 highlighter/bronzer

Eyes:Mac eyeshadow in Rated R; Mac Pigment in Dark Soul; Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black; Benefit Browzing eyebrow kit

Lips: Benefit Benetint lip/cheek stain and Benefit Benetint lip balm w/ spf

Since using pigments can be tricky (messy) and I'm using such a dark one, I recommend doing your eyemakeup before your foundation so clean-up is easier.

Mini Reviews:

Benefit's Benetint lip and cheek stain

This is Benefit's oldest product whose original incarnation in the seventies was as a nipple reddener for strippers. yeah. But despite its seedy origins it remains one of their top selling products. I know it can be scary to work with a stain if you haven't before but the payoff is worth it. When I use this on my cheeks I put a drop on my fingers and blend it in quickly. Time is off the essence here. But once it's on it's on and you don't have to worry about tough ups. Especially good on the lips. The color is buildable so even though I'm very fair, warmer and darker skin toned look even lovelier with this. But while it adds color, it doesn't add shine or moisture and so....

Benefit's Benetint Lip Balm spf 15

They've made multiple formulas with this, both with and without the spf. So if you've tried it before and didn't like it you may still like this. It has the same rose red hue of the stain but it's in balm form. It can be used alone or over the stain and it's very moisturizing. The only downside is that I hate having to stick my finger in the little pot to get it out. Dirty and messy.

Benefit's 10 Powder

This was my first and remains my favorite Benefit powder. It had two stripes in the box, one a bronzer, one a highlighter. You can apply it this way as a quick two-in-one but I like to swirl them together before brushing across my cheek. It's just a beautiful warm, neutral but better, with just a hint of shimmer, more like a glow actually. Plus it lasts forever because the box is nearly indestructible. I've dropped in a million times and it's still in one piece. The only downside is that is can appear kinda muddy on very fair, cool toned skin.

So what about you? Doing anything special with holiday makeup?

How I Get dressed.

2009-12-08T08:56:00.002-05:00

Here's a quick little posty explaining how I get dressed. May be useful to you if you have difficulties getting dressed. The secret, as I'm sure you've guessed, is all about layering.

Step one: Wide leg denim jeans with a thin black tank top.

Step two: Lace flutter sleeve top. You could also try a vest here.

Step three: It's cold, put on a sweater, like this vintage pink cardigan.

Step Four through infinity--Accessorize!

Pearl necklace with flower.

Red buckle shoes with crazy heart patterned socks.

Mittens with pink hearts to continue the heart theme. These flip open to let me use my fingers when I need to!

The point of all this was my desire to wear pink (cardigan) and red (shoes).

How do you like to layer?

Mixing prints- plaid and floral

2009-12-06T16:49:00.002-05:00

I've been playing around again mixing prints, this time with a plaid and a floral. The funny thing is that I used to really fear mixing prints and I really hated florals but now I've learned to love florals and I especially love mixing them with other prints. In a previous post I mixed a floral skirt with a blouse with tiny polka dots.

I think this blouse works with my cropped plaid trousers for a few reasons. The first is that I played itsafe again sticking to a color palette. This time pink, white, and grey. The second is that from even across the room, my pants appear to be a solid grey. The third reason is the portion of the prints vary. The plaid is small and tight while the flowers are large and loose, like paint strokes.

I paired the outfit with my palest grey tights and my black heeled mary janes with the ivory piping.

Here's a close up of the way the prints play together.

Outift details: grey modesty tank-express; sheer floral blouse-Kensie; plaid cropped pants-hand me down; grey tights-Hue; maryjanes- payless, of course.

How do you mix prints? Have you ever tried mixing different plaids together?

Second Hand Delights

2009-12-05T19:14:00.002-05:00

I'm very excited because I've found the first item from my winter wishlist. I came across a long wool camel coat in a thrift store and had to have it. The one I found has a fur collar. That makes up for it being wool rather than cashmere.

What it is: Wool camel coat with fur collar (this season's "investment" piece)

What I'd wear it with: Well, everything all winter long but I'd love to get a pair of those leather gloves that have the cashmere inserts (to make them long sleeve gloves-convertible!) That way I still get a little cashmere. and they would be much classier than my mittens with the pink hearts on them.

Where I'd wear it: Everywhere all winter long of course! In my fantasy though, I'd be mistaken for a foreign starlet everywhere I went.

What it is: a long sleeve black lace mini-dress

What I'd wear with it: tall black flat boots and a pair of dangly geometric earrings.

Where I'd wear it to: Dancing at Soul Night.

What it is: a pink vintage cardigan with pink and cream grosgrain ribbon detailing

What I'd wear with it: Over a frothy silky grey and pink dress to make the dress more appropriate for day and a pair of those heels that tie with a bow. Very girly!

Where I'd wear it: To a proper grown up tea party.

What it is: a black jumper dress with front pockets.

What I'd wear it with: I'd wear a thin red t- shirt under it and a pair of red cork platform sandals.

Where I'd wear it: Spending the day in the Louvre, slowly trying to take it all in.

But I really want to know how YOU would wear it.

DailyWear: Wear it again, Sam

2009-12-04T08:42:00.003-05:00

I've been wearing a lot of the same pieces over and over again like my tan wool cardigan, my denim skirt, and the piece I'm wearing here again, my primary colored pop floral blouse. I shop a lot. A lot. But I do buy very cheaply (though it does add up I suppose) but time and time I go through phases where no matter what new lovelies I have all wrapped up in bags with tags dangling, I just want to wear versions of the same outfit or two over and over again.

Does this happen with you? Do you get into ruts or phases where you want to wear things over and over? I feel like everyone must at some point. Perhaps you get something new and you wear it til you're board with it. Or maybe you have something classic you turn to it times of doubt and passing trends. Sometimes you have a piece that's special because of the memories attached and you wear it so you can be in that place again.

Since clothing is undoubtedly a form of self-expression, isn't it impossible at times to throw something away even if it's not you anymore simply because it is part of who you have been?

Outfit details: primary floral blouse( forever 21); black pocketed jumper dress (thrifted); teal tights (Hue); red buckle flats (payless, of course)

Presenting the most belated thanksgiving post of all time

2009-12-03T08:49:00.002-05:00

My husband and I don't celebrate holidays. He doesn't because of the religion he was raised in, that he is no longer a part of, but he never celebrated so he just doesn't get it. He's an alien. I don't celebrate holidays because I associate them with some pretty heavy/negative childhood memories and they're all clumped together in winter, even my birthday, when I tend to feel SAD. And cold and blah.

I do however celebrate food and what with husband being a super cook and all, we had a little thanksgiving dinner for just the two of us. We did it last year too as i recall but perhaps never before then. When I tasted his homemade cranberry sauce last year, i knew this would be a holiday worth celebrating.

We had a wonderfully lazy day watching bad movies on tv (remember Little Monsters?) and just generally not moving very much. Followed by him doing much cooking/baking and me still not doing very much. Including putting on makeup or combing my hair.

But I knew I would want to take a photo of the little feast he made so I figured I might as well take a picture of my sloppy casual outfit and make a post of it.

He made tyrkey breast (no sense in a whole bird for just two people), candied yams, cranberry sauce (from real live cranberries!), mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie (which I normally hate but this I devoured).

Outfit details: Khaki pants w/ black pinstripe; Blue checked boy shirt (thrifted); tan cardigan (thrifted). I feel like I have been wearing the same few things over and over again but i wouldn't exactly call it remixing. It's more just laziness and wearing whatever just came out of the wash or off the floor.

Daily Wear: From the Floor Up

2009-12-01T15:33:00.003-05:00

How do you get dressed in the mornings? Do you pick your clothes out the night before, and lay them out, accessories and everything? Are you the super organized type that can prepare a week's worth in advance? do you just grab whatever's nearest and hope it all works out? Or do you have a strategy, say, picking out your top first and then working from there?

I tend to be that type. I'll pick out a shirt (if I'm not wearing a dress) and see what works with it. But the other day, while looking for a toaster in Wal-mart (didn't have any, can you believe it?), I found a pair of cheap knock-off Dr. Martens and just had to have them.

And so I decided to build an outfit around them, starting from the bottom up. Of course, you can see already I went for gray tights. Then I decided to put on my denim skirt that's been getting a lot of use recently. And then I chose a shirt, a light blue one with a navy pattern.

This is me in the little vintage store where I work. I liked this outfit even though it reminded me of being in high school.

It inspired this art photo, where I took a picture through a 1940s vanity mirror. The print on the shirt is weird. I wish I would have taken a close up of it. and then later that night I went to see a friend of a friend's band play and decided to throw on a wool cardigan (my husband's idea actually)

and this poor blurry pic was taken in my messy bedroom. And yes, I cropped some of the mess out of the picture. And no, I don't know what's playing on the tv.

Outfit details: denim skirt (Calvin Klein); grey tights (k-mart); Boots (wal-mart); print shirt(H&M); and tan wool cardigan (thrifted).

Daily Wear: Dress Blues

2009-11-29T20:22:00.002-05:00

What is your favorite color? How do you know? Is it because it's the color you reach for time and time again? The color you wear on your body, the color you paint and decorate your home, the color that makes you smile to see it?

If you asked me what my favorite color is, I'd probably say yellow. I find it cheerful and sunny and happy. It does make me smile. As a redhead, i think it's flattering to me. I have yellow painted trim in my bedroom, yellow stripes on my living room walls to match my yellow chairs.

But blue is like a dark horse closing in. I hardly seem to notice it's even there until I'm surrounded. without even realizing it, most of my wardrobe is blue. I painted my kitchen an aqua blue. I interpret the teal of the dining room as a shade of blue, not a shade of green. As I generate plans for the rest of the house, shades of blue keep coming to mind.

Even the favorite color I really tend to profess, grey, to me, is a shade of palest ashy blue.

Outfit details: blue/white checkered little boys shirt (thrifted); fake denim jumper dress (Macys); blue tights (DKNY); brown heeled maryjanes (???)

Style Icon: Emma Pilsbury

2009-11-27T08:47:00.003-05:00

Hurray for neurotic lovelorn guidance councilors! Ok, maybe just the ones that dress this sweet and stylish.

I love her unconventional beauty and being able to see a fellow redhead on tv. Plus I find her craziness cute and lovable.

Her look is so simple, a little vintage inspired, a little librarian chic, but it's the little things that make it so special.

I love the way she'll build an outfit using shades of the same color.

I love how she wears such vibrant colors despite her more timid personality.

She's always perfectly accessorized, not too little, not too much. But also just the perfect beaded necklace or broach.

Sweater sets and pencil skirts are classic and lovely.

And then there's the little details like a peter pan collar, contrast stitching, or delicate bow.

So deceptively simple, i think i could never quite manage this but I'll certainly try. It's perfect style in my opinion. individual, recognizable, iconic.

Wherein I try to make sense of the stuff I buy

2009-11-25T09:17:00.003-05:00

My main problem with clothing is nothing I own matches anything else I own. I'm drawn to bright colors and prints which are wonderful in dresses but a nightmare in separates. Which is why I did that whole post on wanting to stock up on winter basics, classics that will never go out of style, blah ,blah, blah. It hasn't happened yet. But I have picked up a few things. So now I'm forcing myself to make sense of the pieces and figure out how to wear them. Which of course just necessitates further purchases.

What it is: bright blue leopard print cardigan.

What I'll wear it with: I always associate leopard print with retro style despite this one's neon hue. I'd down play the rock and roll-ness of the color by pairing it with retro inspired black fitted capri pants. And then add a waist cinching belt (probably grey to pick out those tones in the sweater). Part pink lady from Grease, part Peg Bundy. well, at least it's an outfit.

Where I'd wear it: Rockabilly bowling, duh.

What it is: short sleeved ruffled white cardigan

What I'd wear it with: Speaking of leopard print, I'd sex up the sweetness of this top with a black/grey/white tone leopard print pencil skirt and patent leather high heeled mary janes.

Where I'd wear it: To the coffee shop where I intend to "bump into" a crush. (yeah, I know I'm married. This is fantasy).

What it is: vintage silver mink clip on collar

What i'd wear it with: right now I have a cream colored coat I wear it with. When it gets colder, I have a heavier black coat to wear with it. If I ever do get my hands on a long camel cashmere coat, the collar will have a permanent home there.

Where I would wear it: Attached to coats, all through mid fall to early spring, everyday, everywhere. Practical!

What it is: vintage brown tweed blazer with bright piping and buttons

What I'd wear it with: This menswear inspired jacket would look quite handsome with a fall floral dress, like brown and navy liberty print and brown lace up suede pumps.

Where I'd wear it: To shop the flea markets of London. What, a girl can dream!

What it is: sheer white diaphanous blouse with abstract pink/grey floral print

What I'd wear it with: low rise wide leg trousers to compliment the blousy fabric and a structured tuxedo jacket to temper it--both black.

Where I'd wear it: Opening night of Rent in cold (non dress) weather.

This was so much fun. If only i had the clothes to go a long with the pieces i bought. If only I had all those exciting events planned!

Daily wear: Neon 80s

2009-11-23T08:27:00.004-05:00

One surefire way to cure the winter doldrums is by wearing bright colors. It also helped that I spent a lot of time in a bright room this weekend. My husband and I worked in this room and it's almost finished. Eh, I know. It will never be finished. I'll just keep thinking up new ideas and changing my mind and buying things before i even know if I have a place to put them. But at least we got up the curtain box and curtains. Now if only i could get up the energy to get prints of our vacation to put in my picture frames. Nothing worse than picture-less frames, except hanging ones. I've moved with that frame and it's always been empty. UNmotivated.

of course I didn't do my chores dressed like this but I decided we should reward ourselves for anything we do manage to complete and off we went to Embury again, that speak-easy style bar I mentioned before. LOVE that place. Gorgeous. And the cocktails are pure artistry.

I brightened up the increasing dark day by wearing my neon 80s inspired kensie outfit. The dress is plain black on top but has a beautiful flared out skirt with geometric patterns in grey and brights. Paired with a matching cropped cardigan. It looks very yellow here but it's more of an acid green, like Chartreuse. I cinched it in with a black belt with a heart shaped buckle, and accessorized with orange tights and black maryjane heels. I think there's just enough black to temper all the neon.

And then my makeup! I used an acid green eyeshadow on my lids to just over the crease and in the inner corners. Then I used a bright teal shadow as a liner on top and bottom lashes. Bright coral cheeks and nearly orange lips. But I swear, it wasn't that bad!

Again, the green looks yellow here but really it's more of a green-gold. The teal didn't show up well either, I'm afraid. But see what I mean, the lips and cheeks aren't scary at all.

Eyeshadows: Strike a Pose, and R rated, both by MAC
Cheeks: Benefit Coralista
Lips: Luscious Spark lip gloss over Outrageous Orange (eyeliner used as lip liner), both by MAC

Mini-review:

Coralista powder by Benefit

This is the newest powder/blush in Benefit's line up. It looks very intimidating in the box because it's so bright orange-pink. But it really does look pretty on. It's a bit more user friendly than typical corals in that it looks good on a larger variety of people (not just silly little redheads like me--though it does look kinda ashy on darker skin). The trick is to go light handed with it. The brush that comes with it is too dense and you'll end up with a neon streak. Use a larger rounder fluff brush and start small, adding more if you feel you need it. Don't be afraid of bright colors!

Daily Wear: I match the living room(!)

2009-11-20T08:45:00.003-05:00

I've been so caught up in my love/hate relationship with Lush products that I've been even worse than usual about posting outfit pics anyway. I took these last Sunday and didn't do anything special as I recall. Just things like going to the grocery store and cleaning the house. But my husband really liked this outfit so it was almost like going someplace special, the way he kept tucking me into his arm.

I always think it's strange learning what (straight) men think of girls clothing and what they find sexy and what they don't. Will doesn't like sexy, things like cleavage and too short skirts. He likes cute, adorable even, things like fuzzy sweaters and sundresses. Flat shoes and bows in my hair.

He rarely ever comments about my makeup but on the few occasions I can recall,my eyes were surrounded by deep purple or fuchsia which I think is strange and a bit incongruous with what he likes in fashion. And I've know other guys thatwere transfixed by heavy, dark, or Gothic eye makeup.

When I was single, eons ago, in my early 20s I liked to go dancing a lot. My favorite place played 80s music on Thursday nights, all my favorite songs by The Smiths, New Order, The Cure, etc etc etc So of course I went every week. And boys would buy me drinks and i would talk with them while i drank it and met some interesting people and some boring people. even a few mean people. (I eventually met my best friend, when I was single again but in my late 20s and boys didn't offer drinks as much anymore).

But here's what i figured out in between all those free drinks and all those sweaty ecstatic plays of Dancing with Myself. I got way more attention from the opposite sex when I wore jeans and boots then when I wore a mini skirt and heels! I'm serious. I'd dress trashy when I wanted to be LEFT ALONE. hahahaha

And why? Because I wasn't intimidating in jeans and boots. i didn't look like a gold digger. i was the girl next door. i was laid back, easy going, the kinda girl you could match wits with as easily as you could deconstruct The Simpsons or pour your heart out to. Or so I would appear. But then again I was getting free drinks.

I think more importance should be attributed to the clothing we wear and the messages it sends about who we are. because people do judge a book by it's cover.

So what am I saying with this outfit? Well, "hug me" of course! and it worked.

What are your thoughts on how clothing defines us for others? Whathave the men in your life been attracted to?

Outfit details: blue v neck sweater-thrifted; white shirt with hook and eye closure--given to me by a near stranger in a night class in grad school for no apparent reason; Orange wool slash pocket skirt--The Gap (thrifted); grey tights--k-mart;silver flats--payless. I'm all about the savings.

Lush Face Wash Reviews

2009-11-18T08:59:00.009-05:00

A couple of posts ago, I included a mini review at the end in praise of Lush's Coalface. Shortly after i realized that I've tried nearly all of Lush's face washes and it might be more comprehensive for readers if I shared my thoughts on all before they chose to invest in one or not. And i don't work for this company, nor am I associated with them in any way except that I'm a customer and they have some products I really like (and some I don't like and some I'm indifferent to).

I have what i would consider normal skin. It gets to be a bit drier in winter. So my reviews tend to be focused on how they feel and how they are used as they are not always best for mu skin type. I try to just describe them best i can and if it sounds like it's for you, even if I hate it, go ahead and try it.

Here's the review i wrote for Coalface:

This is a black bar of facial soap with little bits of scrubby inside. It's meant for oily skin which I do not have but it is still my favorite Lush cleanser. and I've tried all but like one so I feel I can safely say that this one is the best for me. I like it because it does lather a bit but isn't harsh. i rub it between my palms and then wash my face with my hands. i feel like you would benefit from the scrubby bits better if you rubbed the bar directly on your face. After washing with this, my face is clean with no residue and it removes all but the heaviest of eye makeup. a 3.5 oz bar costs $10.95 and lasts a million years. i don't even keep mine safe in one of those tins and it lasts forever. I've been using a tiny sample sliver everyday since mid September and I'm only half way through it.

Fresh Farmacy

This is another bar style facial soap. This soap is recommended for those with sensitive skin. It contains calamine for this and I'm guessing that is why it left a film all over my face. I don't know if sensitive skin likes a film but I do not. I didn't feel clean at all afterward, just kinda sticky. My makeup remained intact, including, get this, my foundation. I consider this one of the worst. $8.95 for 3.5 oz bar

Angels on Bare skin

This is a crumbly textured face wash. It's kind of a cool concept. you just pinch a tiny bit off, and rub it in your hand with a little water til you have a cool cleansing paste. this is their most popular face wash, recommended for normal/combination skin. It's usually recommended for anyone really, as a good place to start in Lush's skincare line. My only problem with it is it doesn't really feel like a cleanser to me. It doesn't remove makeup, for instance. But it is wonderfully exfolient because it is made with ground almonds. I would definitely use this as a scrub and it's gently enough to use everyday if you wish. $9.95 for 3.5 oz "lump"

Dark Angels

This is the newest one to the line up, meant to be a counterpart to Angels on Bare skin. It's another crumbly textured face wash and it meant for those with oily skin or a dull rough texture. This scrub is made of charcoal and black sugar and is an intense exfoliant. You really need rough/thick skin to with stand this. Again, it's not much of a face wash in my opinion, but I might use this as a scrub--no more than once a week. I definitely wouldn't recommend this for sensitive skin. $10.95 for a 3.5 oz "lump"

Herbalism

Another crumbly one! This is for oily, acne prone skin and much like the coalface, i like it despite that not being my skin type. This one is my second favorite. It's the only crumbly one to remove makeup and my skin really felt clean afterward. This one is also gently exfoliating with ground almonds and calming with the added chamomile. Coalface is still my favorite but I would use this again "in a pinch". Sorry, couldn't help the pun. $10.75 for 3.5 oz "lump".

Aqua Marina

Wrapped in seaweed, this looks like a sushi roll. The contents of the seaweed are a pink paste different form the other soaps. This one is for dry, aged skin. It also contains calamine so I had a similar problem as with the Fresh Farmacy. This really didn't do anything other than smell kinda funky and make a mess. But I saved the worst for last. $9.75 for a 3.5 oz roll

Ultra Bland

Should be called ultra traumatic. This is a cream cleanser for dry skin. Made of peanut oil. It looks like Crisco and was worse than rubbing Vaseline into my face. It's sticky, thick, and really really really hard to get off. This should never be used for anything other than a makeup remover. But i'd still take anyt hat I've tried from Clinique, Lancome, and Estee lauder over this because theirs don't leave a residue. I really hate this product, most of any Lush product i've tried. $14.95 for a 1.5 oz pot; $29.95 for a 3.5 oz pot!

I have never tried babyface, mask of magnanimity, or Ocean Salt which are also listed as face washes on Lush's website. I'll let you know if i do. One's a butter bar, one a mask, one a scrub, if you are interested.

Have you tried any of Lush's face washes? what did you think?

Daily Wear:Pop Floral

2009-11-16T08:41:00.003-05:00

I know I've mentioned this on here before, but I'll say it again. i really love musical theater. I'm a total dork. what's worse is my husband enjoys it too so we try to go whenever we can. I think when we first started dating we went to huge shows all the time. In the last year I'd say we haven't been to many shows at all. I suspect all the work we've done on the house is to blame. Its sapped our time and money it seems.

And even though we've gone to big shows, you know, the kind that tour for years all over and visit your humble town for awhile, sometimes with C list actors in the roles, on giant stages in huge theaters and it costs a lot and you have to dress up? well, our favorite shows have actually taken place at the local college for performing arts. Those kids have so much talent and passion. and I think more work goes into sets and costuming on these shows because they aren't paid(being students) and don't have huge touring costs. And tickets are only twenty bucks.

So my husband and I (and dear old Mom, mine) went to see a college production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel. And after all that build up all I really have to say, not being a critic, that it was fun. I like fun. I want to go to a play again, after all the holidays blow over but before winter's through. It's good to have something to look forward to.

I wore a floral blouse (forever 21) that has bright primary colored flowers--reminds me of Andy Warhol. I especially like blue flowers. It's kinda shear so I wore a yellow t shirt(thrifted) underneath. Paired with a black cordouroy skirt(thrifted), teal blue tights(Hue), and my favorite shoes of all time--black heeled maryjanes with ivory piping and cute button (payless).

And I'm really frustrated with my Mac pigment sets. No, they really are great but I've been experimenting with the warm shades, all coppers, and bronzes and gold flecked olives. They're rich and shimmery and beautiful. but on camera, at least my camera, they all look kinda the same--metallic and shiny. so I've given up on doing a post on them, for now. I think they really need to be incorporated with other colors and formulas for best use. So I'll get to showing them off that way.

But here are my thoughts so far on the warm shades:

Best Highlighter: Jardin Aries (tan with gold pearl)--As the palest shade it works best on the browbone are as a highlighter. It's also a good starting point to build from.

Best used on the Lid: Copperized (olive green with gold pearl) Its the only shade thats a "color" and not a true mettallic so it works best as the base color.

Most Versatile: Rush Metal (rich copper sparkle)--I used this everywhere and for everything--as a liner for an evening look, just in the crease to ass richness, and even as the center dot for dimension.

Best Liner: Bronze Museum (rich taupe with gold pearl)--it's the darkest color and not overly shimmery

Best Accent: Reflects Gold(very fine particle white glitter that flashes gold). I used this is small doses nearly everywhere--inner corners, outer brow bone, and dotted on the center of the lid for a flash of gold.

Fuzzy sweaters, ramblings, and a wicked cool facewash

2009-11-13T08:55:00.004-05:00

My new hobby is lazing about on my new sofa. Pointless, sure. A complete waste of valuable time. But fun! I'm still a little girl at heart and I like to play dress up and I LOVE to play house. Even doing household chores can become a game if you look at it the right way. So yeah, I have vintage aprons that i don and I like to put a fun record on (usually Blondie, not exactly ancient but it gets me moving) and suddenly I'm not an under appreciated housewife silently doing my marital duty (the OTHER marital duty haha). I'm Sharon Tate cleaning up before party guests arrive. Ok, maybe a bad example. But you get my meaning. Housework is just more fun when you're dusting off princess telephones and sudsing up Fire King dishware.

And as per usual I'm not sure where I'm going with all this. i should plan my posts out in my head at least if not in concrete handwritten drafts. I think I was trying to justify laying on a sofa as a hobby by suggesting that I'm not merely resting but actively engaging in the sofa's symbolic and cultural meanings. Are you buying this?

Well, skip it then. here's what I'm wearing: One of my new blue sweaters; the looser fuzzy one with my denim skirt and brown boots. very casual. Oh wait! I just remembered i did have a post planned talking about everything i did this day and it was actually interesting and thoughtful but also last Sunday so I forget everything anyhow. I'm a loser.

Sweater-thrifted, denim skirt-Calvin Klein, brown boots-Franco Sarto, wool thigh highs that at first look grey until you see all the tan marbling-Forever 21.

Mini product review:

Lush's Coalface cleanser

This is a black bar of facial soap with little bits of scrubby inside. It's meant for oily skin which I do not have but it is still my favorite Lush cleanser. and I've tried all but like one so I feel I can safely say that this one is the best for me. I like it because it does lather a bit but isn't harsh. i rub it between my palms and then wash my face with my hands. i feel like you would benefit from the scrubby bits better if you rubbed the bar directly on your face. After washing with this, my face is clean with no residue and it removes all but the heaviest of eye makeup. a 3.5 oz bar costs $10.95 and lasts a million years. i don't even keep mine safe in one of those tins and it lasts forever. I've been using a tiny sample sliver everyday since mid September and I'm only half way through it.

What do you wash your face with?

Shopping can in fact cure the winter blues

2009-11-12T09:32:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited about the 1960s turquoise sofa I just bought. it took three weeks to pay it off and get it delivered to my house and it's just unbelievable. Obviously i like vintage things and I am renovating and decorating a house but I haven't been this excited about anything so far. I love this sofa so much I cried when I saw it. I just HAD to have it. I posted about the work I've done to the living room here and as you can see i really needed to replace my old sofa (also from the 60s but in poor condition and no personality).

I've also done a little thrift shopping to build up my winter wardrobe. The pics aren't too good but the sofa is really the star anyway. I bought two winter skirt. The first is a brown and red wool plaid, soft not itchy. This one is special to me because it still had the price tags on it and I enjoy getting a $108 skirt for three bucks. I also got a fine grain corduroy black skirt. it's high waisted like a pencil skirt but flairs out a bit. Very figure flattering.

I also bought two blue sweaters and a handbag. The sweaters are a similar color but I bet you can guess by now that blue is my favorite color. The first is paler and form fitting with a deep v neck. the second is a darker smurf blue, looser in fit and fuzzy. I'll take better pics of the purse so you can see the details but it's beaded with large (not seed) beads and has a handle meant to mimic bone (ivory?).

I haven't done any new purchase blogs in a while because I felt they were kinda braggy despite the positive response I got. I don't know. I like seeing what other girls are buying and loving so why not? so maybe I'll do these again more often.

Winter wishlist update: I haven't forgotten my list. I almost found several things from it at the same thrift store I bought the skirts and sweaters from but had numerous and varied sizing issues. Perfect shearing jacket=waaaaay too big. Perfect cream cable knit turtleneck= neck hole unbelievable small. i dont have a big head but couldn't get it through. Velvet trousers=I couldn't belive I found velvet pants in a trouser cut instead of velour track pants but i did it! They were more of a taupe than a black and had piping rather than tuxedo stripes thereby rendering them more eccentric posh British lady than rock and roll but i totally would have bought them if it weren't for the pronounced muffin top they gave me. I also found the lightweight suede skirt I was after but alas it was also much too big. But I'm more hopeful than ever of finding at least some of my list since I did see that the things I want exist in real life.

So what have you been buying lately?

MAC Holiday Pigment sets

2009-11-11T09:37:00.003-05:00

Well so yeah I'm obsessed with makeup, so what. It's fun! I like Mac's pigments because I feel like you get more for your money and it's easier to play with building intensity. I missed out last year on getting their pigment sets because I bought brushes, and some other non Mac stuff. but this year i was determined, only i couldn't decide between them. So I bought all three!

Here they are all lined up on my husband's old dresser (it had belonged to his mother). also a rare glimpse into my bedroom. It's usually way too cluttered for picture taking.

Haute Hi Jinks--The warm collection.
left to right: Copperized (olive green with gold pearl);Rushmetal (rich copper sparkle);Museum bronze (rich taupe with gold pearl); Jardin Ares (rich tan with gold pearl); reflects Gold (very fine particle white glitter that flashes gold).

Cool Capers--the cool collection
left to right: Deep Blue Green (rich deep bluish-green); Grape (deep purple with pink pearl); Fuchsia (bright fuchsia-pink);Kitchmas(shimmering pink/mauve pearl); reflects transparent teal (sparkling white with turquoise).

Sexpot smoky--the smoky eye collection
left to right: Dark Soul (charcoal black smoked with gold pearl); Chocolate brown (chocolate copper/bronze); Sunnydaze (taupe with silver pearl); Naked (fleshy beige with golden copper pearl); reflects antique gold (sparkling taupe).

I've already begun experimenting with the warm shades. i took some pictures but I'm not happy with them. For some reason my super sparkly gold New Years eve eye makeup looks nearly nude on film. I'll keep trying and post my results.

Mixing prints-dots and florals

2009-11-09T08:46:00.005-05:00

I tend to get stressed out very easily (veeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy easily, as in jumping out of bed panicking because my husband cleaned off his desk and now I'm not sure where my camera disk is). I also spend all week at a job I don't enjoy for all sorts of reasons (not the vintage shop I love that!) and so I tend to be crabby all week.

So I'm trying to really enjoy my weekends (when I don't have to work at the vintage shop--which I do love) because I don't get to see my husband very much during the week. he works 10-12 hour days, sometimes six days a week. and no he's not a doctor or a grad student, he's a cook in one of those fancy pants restaurants for rich people. Well, upwardly mobile upper middle class people. Not us.

So anyway....

We decided to go out Saturday night for a date. We don't go out much in a nightlife sorta way because we're old and tired and nobody likes us and we don't like anybody ;) But when we do it's usually to one of the local bars in our area. But i suggested we go to a new place I had remembered him telling me about called Embury. A fancy place.

I had heard it had a speak easy vibe but this place was gorgeous and amazing. It was small, probably no more than 20 capacity so it felt exclusive. It was all soft chandelier lighting and wood paneling. There were book shelves! And one of those shelves pulled out to reveal a bathroom. it kinda reminded me of the Anne Frank house, but, uh, not depressing.

the bartenders wore rolled up shirt sleeves, vests, and little caps. so cute.

We got there at nine and there were only a few people. In Pittsburgh people don't go for cocktails until at least eleven. I like it that the andy warhol vampires take so long to flat iron their hair. I like getting a chair to sit in and the bartender's attention.

So they have a list of cocktails on a giant gilt framed chalkboard. The drinks don't list what spirit is in them, just the flavor and style. such as the drinks I had "light and floral" and "crisp and spicy" --that one was made with muddled jalapeno! A girl ordered absinthe and I got to watch the long ritualistic process of the drink. very cool. I love this place!!!
I took these pictures in my living room before we left. I like mixing prints and this is one of my favorite outfits. I don't know how it hadn't made the blog yet. I think this experiment works because i stayed to two colors, brown and aqua. i also varied the scale of the prints, tiny dots and large flowers. then my tights and boots were just plain brown so as not to compete. people go nuts when I wear this; I should make it my uniform but the blouse buttons always pop open!

details: blouse-thrifted, skirt-thrifted, tights--Jessica Simpson, boots --Franco Sarto

Makeup Look: Gilded Plum

2009-11-06T09:13:00.003-05:00

I've decided to start doing more beauty posts, including some product reviews. I always get really excited when I find a good beauty blog, and while I know I can't compete with the best, i thought my readers might like to see more of that here. Plus, I haven't been very inspired with clothes lately like I have with makeup and I get bored just doing outfit posts. But if this is really boring for you let me know and I'll stop torturing you.

I'm beginning to see to see that not everyone is makeup obsessed or perhaps they just feel shy about trying new looks. Either way, i plan to continue a mix of natural everyday looks, wild evening looks, and everything in between.

I've made this disclaimer before, but I'll do it again in case you missed it. I used to work for Origins and Benefit cosmetics but I don't hold a bias for either one, excepting that I may just be most familiar with those lines and as I have many of their products, they show up a lot here. But i won't ever give something a favorable review just because of that. I use high end to drug store cosmetics and just because I wear something on this blog doesn't mean I endorse it. i like to experiement and will post my successes as well as my failures.

Today I'm experimenting with purples and golds. The look actually came off pretty subtle and not disco glitzy. i would recomend it for someone that wants to experiement a little with a day look without just reaching for the taupe. I got a lot of compliments from conservative older women at work so that's how I know it passes for day. haha

How to get the look:

First I applied foundation , under eye concealer, and filled in my brows--the basics for any of my makeup looks

Second, I used my finger to pat on a pale golden creme shadow, violet eyeliner, and black mascara.

Third, I stippled on a shimmery plum blush, subtle gold lip gloss, and finished with a setting powder.

Easy as that!

Products:

Foundation: Mac Studio fix spf15 in NC15
Cream concealer: Benefit Erase Paste
Powder concealer: Benefit Powderflage
Eyebrows: Benefit browzing kit

Creme Shadow: Estee Lauder Pure Pops in Golden Seduction
Eyeliner: NYC in Vampy Violet
Mascara: Clinique High Impact in Black

Blush: Mac Mineralize in Grand Duo
Lipgloss: Benefit 24k
Powder: Mac Skinfinish Natural in Light

The Mini-reviews:

Clinique High Impact mascara

I've never been a fan of Clinique's mascaras but I received a sample of this in one of their gift with purchases and was really impressed. It definitely makes a major difference in my lashes, making them fuller and longer. But I'm so fickle when it comes to mascara even though I know that statistically women tend to favor one mascara with a severe brand loyalty. Generally, I think any brand new mascara is pretty awesome. I would buy this no question but I doubt I can stop my product wanderlust.

Benefit Browzing Kit

This is a really good portable eyebrow kit. It has both a wax and a powder with little brushes. It has a mirror! It has mini tweezers! It's much easier to use than I thought it would be and it's great for filling in sparse brows. This is the only brow product I've tried that i really love. And best of all, it lasts an extremely long time. I use this everyday and hope they don't reformulate or stop making it.

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish natural in Light

I love a good pressed setting powder. My skin used to be really oily so I lived and died by my powder. I still like it to help set my makeup. I like this one's natural finish, not too matte. Applied with a brush, it's light and lovely. I wish it had a mirror so I could put it in my purse for touch ups but other than that it's fine. I tend to use a clinique powder in my purse. I like Mac's well enough to deal with the hassel of two powders.

Winter Wishlist-edited

2009-11-04T09:45:00.004-05:00

***Edited to change the picture of the camel coat. I posted the wrong one in the original!

I've been thinking about clothes a lot lately and trying to figure out why I've been so uninspired. and I think part of it is to do with, while having done a tone of work on this house, I don't really have a closet, so everything is still in boxes and garbage bags, anything that can't fit into my overstuffed dresser.

And part of it is to do with buying things that catch my eye only to have a wardrobe full of bright colors and prints and no good basics or solid separates with which to make outfits with.

So my winter wish list seeks to remedy that a bit and hopefully won't be so boring that i won't wear it.

The Investment Piece

--I have a tendency to buy things very cheaply so I can buy in larger quantities. but sometimes you just have to have something really good that lasts. i think a nice winter coat fits into that category. I would like a longer camel coat.

This is an example from etsy but anything similar would do. If I could get it in cashmere that would be perfection.

The Classic Pieces

--Something I never was drawn to before, but I think would come in handy for a complete wardrobe because of it's timelessness is a short shearling jacket.

--Another obvious classic winter piece is a turtleneck sweater. I want one with a slim fit, not too thick ribbing but not too thin, preferably in a cream color but any neutral will do.

The Transitional Pieces

--A knee length suede skirt. i can wear this in colder months with tights and a sweater, maybe even that turtle neck, and in the summer it will look wonderfully casual with a tank and sandals. Better make it a lightweight suede to play it safe.

--A long sleeved striped boatneck tee! I love these and have managed to never find the perfect one. I want navy and white stripes. This is an excellent layering piece. Kinda like this one from Forever 21 but navy and white.

The Fun/Trendy Pieces

--some very rock n roll black velvet trousers, hopefully with the satin tuxedo stripe. Warm, sexy and perfect as a non dress option for New Years Eve parties! Seen here as a suit by Victoria Secret.

--A mod style sweater dress. I like the ones with short sleeves (remember the stripe tee?) Grey is my favorite neutral but I'm open to whatever I can find.

The Accessories

--A vintage cameo ring.

--Suede ankle boots. Something with unique detailing and a high heel. In Emerald Green! I need some color, you know. Like these, maybe, but greener.

--A big metallic fancy hobo bag so I can carry simply everything all the time.

So what are you wishing for?

This old house. Part 2

2009-11-02T09:16:00.006-05:00

Some months ago, I posted about the renovations I've been making on the house I bought last December. I can't believe it's almost a year already! We've done so much yet have so much more to go.

Sometimes I get down and feel like we aren't making enough progress or that I'll be living in a house with quite a few eye sores forever. So I went through some old pictures from when we first started out last year and it really blew me away how much progress we really have gotten done. Especially since everything was done with our own two very amateurish hands. (with a little help from our friends).

So today I thought I'd share the work we've done on out dining room. You can find the report on the living room here.

We have little need for a formal dining room. There's just the two of us and we rarely have dinner parties. We like to eat in front of the tv. Perhaps not classy but true nonetheless. So we decided to make it more of a bar for friends to hang out in and where we could curl up to watch movies or play wii.

Here's the before.

Nasty. We had to tear out the carpet and scrape off several layers of paint and wallpaper. Looking back at this, I can't believe we bought this mess!

This sofa was left behind and I really fell in love with it. There's a matching chair but in poor condition so we have it in the computer room for now. No, I'm not sitting in it as I type. You may recognize it from blog posts.

This mantle area has appeared on posts before too. The fireplace was already sealed over so we just painted it and blocked it. Kinda yucky but it's livable. We don't have a coffee table in here so it's nice to have a little table to stack magazines or to sit your drink.

Speaking of which, here is the little built in cabinet used for barware and a 1950s cabinet that houses the liquor and extra glasses, etc. I just got this piece. The flower prints to the right are from the 60s. Just assume most things in the room are vintage. Ha Ha.

Mid century light fixture. I love bendy wood. I would like to get a floor lamp in here too. The light is on a dimmer for ambiance but we could use some brightness sometimes too.

Dinette set in the corner. Rarely used but adorable.

These are framed prints we bought along on the Seine during trips to Paris. They are alcohol advertisements and are hung above the sofa.

Not shown: Video game consoles and flat screen tv hung on wall opposite sofa. We still have a little patching to do from when we couldn't determine how high the tv should be. So no photo.

Style icon: Urban cowgirl

2009-10-29T09:12:00.005-04:00

Here is how all this started. I went to a yard sale some time over the summer and bought a western style shirt with opalescent snaps and blue flowers on a white background. I don't usually even like florals but I do like snap ups (on my husband....) but somehow I had to have this shirt. so I bought it and promptly forgot all about it.

Then i came across a Calvin Klein denim skirt. I have a long time hatred of denim skirts. they always seem to look cheap and trashy to me. even when they made some kind of a hipster comeback a few years ago I winced internally every time I saw them and declared i would never wear one. But this CK one sort of called out to me. it wasn't too short. It wasn't wide at the bottom. It looked sort of sleek and......fashiony. so I bought it and promptly forgot about it. Somehow both of these items ended up in the same bag together in my closet and I pulled them out while cleaning. Magic. I had to wear them together. I love them.

I paired them with dark brown tights that have pinstripes which are sheer brown and my beloved boots that I seen to wear with everything these days.

In a way, I'm channeling Uma Thurman in Even Cowgirls get the Blues and Ariel in Footloose and maybe even a little of Thelma and Louise. I'm looking forward to see what else I can do with this skirt. Any suggestions?

I wanted to go kinda natural on the makeup for this but still be feminine. Peach and reddish-brown on the eyes, a reddish bronzer blush and a sheer red lipstick. Part earthy, part sassy.

Makeup details: Shallow by Benefit on the browbone, Swiss Chocolate by MAC on the lid, Dallas by Benefit on the cheeks, and Tropical Kiss by origins on the lips.

Tangerine and Cobalt

2009-10-26T09:31:00.003-04:00

For some reason these two colors, particularly together, have really been appealing to me lately. I think it's because I'm attracted to bright colors and these are the delightfully bright versions of navy and orange that autumn brings about. In general, I've been experimenting with making my summer dresses and other warm weather clothes more appropriate for the descending chill in the air.

This is a very thin vintage dress, definitely made for summer but the color is just so amazing and perfect for right now. A better picture of the dress is here. I've been wearing this boots almost constantly lately. I keep meaning to buy some new ones because these are very old but I can never remember and honestly, I haven't see much that appeals to me this year.

here's a picture where I added my brown corduroy jacket but I think it ended up being too many layers. I like the vest though. It has orange and yellow flowers on it which helps to tame the brightness of the dress, really making it look like Fall. here's a closeup of the pattern....

The background is grey and the trim is brown. I accidentally bought it too big and had to pin it in the back.

I took these pictures at work, so that clutter you see is wonderful vintage clutter and not my dim dark clutter house.

What are your favorite colors to pair together?

Daily Wear: Deconstructed tuxedo

2009-10-23T08:52:00.003-04:00

I use to be more daring when it came to skirt lengths. I always wore those school girl style skirts, usually plaid, in high school and beyond and it took me a long time to out grown that look. I have a hard time with skirts in general, having a larger than average (judging by clothing dimensions) measurement difference between my waist and my hips/thighs. Classic pearshape drama. If a skirt fits in the waist, it is way too tight to move the rest of the way down, assuming I can actually pull it up over my thighs. I often have to put on skirts over my head and try to shimmy them down over my chest. But if I get a skirt to fit me in the thighs/hips, I have a huge gap around my waist. so these little a-line skirts were the best solution. They seemed to be the best style to ear for my body and I got getaway with wearing them low on my hips.

But not only is that completely boring, having basically the same skirt for years and years but then a funny thing happened. i got older. and I know, I know. Age is just a number. But tell me you've never seen a woman look inappropriate dressed as a teenager well beyond her teenage years.

So My skirts have to get longer. and they have been. They graze my knee now, sometimes a bit above, sometimes a bit below. Assuming I can find a skirt that even half way fits.

But, I digress. This tunic is way too short to wear out in public as a dress. But I've done that before. And I've done it without tights. I really had no idea the fine line between a bold 60s length hem and tacky white trash.

So now I know. But I couldn't help but love this look anyway. Hence the sunglasses to protect my identity.

Basically the same pose twice I know, but the other ones I took were all wrong.

Outfit details: Ivory tunic (I wear this endlessly), black tuxedo jacket, black tights, black/white spectator peeptoes) Do you care about brands? Should I list that info?

I'm feeling really old

2009-10-20T09:11:00.005-04:00

I have the ever popular SAD, self diagnosed of course. I think everyone thinks they have it because it is so difficult to remain upbeat and cheery when the weather is so cold and dreary (I'm so sorry that rhymed.) But I typically have a rather gloomy disposition to begin with. I guess i've never outgrown my teen angst and it's a shame, really, as I've long outgrown being an actual teenager.

Usually, my winter doldrums don't flare up until closer to Thanksgiving what with all the holidays (which have been marred beyond repair by my upbringing) and my birthday in January and the new year which is never new, etc, etc, etc followed by months more of black snow and ice and sleet.

I've been feeling really old lately. Partly I guess because the average girl blogger is 22, uniquely stunning, and about 115 pounds. I'm getting the inferiority complex from the blogs I read, which normally would be reserved for celebrities of some sort. It's so much worse to know real girls look like this, without stylists, personal trainers, permanant airbrushing.

these things have made me feel old.....

* I was talking to a co worker about movies and mentioned Natural Born Killers. Which she had never heard of. Because she was in kindergarten when it came out. We have a completely different set of cultural markers.

* Vanity. People have been guessing my age at 25 when only last year they put me at 20. this means I have aged 5 years in the last year. I blame the economy.

*The clothes that i wore in high school, for which I was tortured and ridiculed, have come back into style. Teen angst on runways.

* Someone asked me how I met my husband and I was deeply ashamed to admit it was on myspace. Not because we met on the internet, but because Myspace now seems especially juvenile and embarrassing to me. Not like facebook is any better. I guess it justfelt like a dated reference.

*I rented Sweeney Todd the other night and realized that I've had an ongoing school girl crush on Johnny depp for...21 years. How is that even possible?

Interspersed in this rant, are some pictures of sunny days, from my vacation, mostly Paris, because London and Amsterdam look a lot like here. I hope these pictures helped to keep your spirits high as you read through all this junk.

Fall can be wonderful, you know

2009-10-19T08:45:00.002-04:00

The temperatures are definitely dropping here in Pittsburgh. I'm really wimpy about cold weather, even though I grew up here. Every year I'm shocked and pained by how cold it gets. and when I here the weather man reporting that our temps are lower than average, i start to panic. I always feel like I can't stand it if it gets any colder and I fear this will be a particularly rough winter.

My little cream colored peacoat is cute but not very warm. My navy tights are also not as warm as i would want. It's ok for now but I fear that very soon I'll have to invest in one of those snuggies they advertise on tv.

So I'm trying to get excited and enjoy cooler weather activities. if I can trick myself into embracing a colder than average fall, maybe winter won't be so bad. I feel like people who celebrate holidays are lucky because it provides a distraction and the celebrations are to some extent weather related.

So i donned my thrifted sweater dress, which was warm as far as dresses go.....and pretty much stayed inside. I left to run some errands but mostly I spent the weekend working on my house and getting into Fall.

I'm not much of an activity person, so my fall fun (aside from going to a haunted house a couple of weeks ago) has been through food. My husband is a wonderful cook. He has been making amazing breakfasts. One day it was scrambled eggs and polenta with a side of those little multi colored tomatoes (I'm no gourmand. what are they called?) and the strangest yummiest weird consistency cheese stuff. I guess that doesn't sound too good. But trust me in was delicious. and then another day it was pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon apples on top and sprinkles of pomegranate seeds. This wonderful man HEATS my syrup for me.

We had a long talk about seasonal foods and vegetables and I look forward to eating upcoming meals. He can do almost anything with a butternut squash (last year it was cheesecake--hard to top!)

Oh, and here's a closeup of my collar. It sorta got lost under my hair in other pictures. I really like the colors of this dress. The fit could be better but that's what you get with thrifted clothes.

What do you love most about fall? For me it used to be the clothes but now it's definitely the food. What's the weather like where you live?

etsy furniture finds

2009-10-17T18:45:00.002-04:00

Killing time on etsy today, I decided to post a few pics of some cool vintage furniture. Enjoy sans my annoying commentary.

Mixing black and brown

2009-10-15T09:18:00.003-04:00

Mixing black and brown is not something I feel comfortable with despite having seen many many examples of this done well. I cannot do this well. In general I like to wear dresses because I don't have to worry about proportion or matching like I do with separates. But i live in a cold climate, rely on public transportation, etc and must wear pant in winter.

But when I shop, I have a search and destroy mentality. I grab anything that attracts my eye, size doesn't matter, and take it all to the dressing room. Inside, i try everything on, sometimes twice and slowly whittle down my selections to what I'm going to buy.

For some reason I'm unable to think it terms of what my wardrobe lacks, outfits I could make, etc and so I always end up buying weird random things. And since I grab whatever attracts my eye, i have a closet full of bright colors and patterns, not always very conducive to making outfits.

So behold....

This is my attempt to mix black and brown which I have done so very unsuccessfully. I've also managed to mix many textures and possibly patterns if you consider lace more of a pattern than a texture. Ugh.

As this unfortunate close up reveals, I am wearing black and tan check plaid pants (H&M how dare you!) , a cream lace blouse with black attached ribbon, and my brown corduroy vaguely military-esque jacket.

The worstthing is, I'msick of taking pictures in front of the white mantle in my living room but the teal walls of the dining room and the plum walls of the bedroom are murder on my poor pictures. they always turn out terrible and I don't think there is anything my poor digital crap camera can do about it. Suggestions?

sorry my bedroom is such a mess, another reason I prefer the white mantle.