Since last week, I:

Wore the new AllSaints top I bought in the sale.

I love wacky asymmetrical draping, but FriendBoy immediately said “You’re wearing Theo’s shirt!”

It is now officially known as my Gordon Gartrell.

Hit the Jodi Arnold event at The Limited.

Due to underestimating traffic (I don’t know how I did the rush hour thing every day), I missed the fashion show, but did manage to snag the tunic I wanted as well as one or ten of the little cake hors d’oeuvres that were being passed around. Win-win as far as I’m concerned.

Found another (?) gray hair.

I’ve had two gray hairs since I was about 8 years old, and I used to be able to pinpoint their location with GPS-like precision. Since I stopped straightening my hair, it’s not easy to find anything in there, so I’m not sure if it’s a new gray or one of the old ones. Hmm…

Tried the new butter tart at The Bistro.

Doesn’t the name just sound like a good idea? Butter. Tart. How can you go wrong? The tarte tatin used to be my fave, but the gooey caramely-ness of this new concoction has just earned its own place in my dessert-lovin’ heart.

Hemmed a pair of my own pants!

I got motivated and learned how to do a basic catch stitch from this YouTube video:

Now that I think about it, I can’t remember the last skill I learned that didn’t involve a YouTube tutorial–god forbid I pick up a book and get some learnin’ the old fashioned way.

I got out my tape measure, needle, thread, scissors, even a seam ripper ’cause I was serious about getting the job done! One leg at a time, I carefully measured, cut, ripped, and stitched by hand. This was the result:

Oops.

Seriously, one leg was a full inch  shorter than the other. Ha! There goes my career as a tailor…

Bought a hot glue gun.

Who knew they were so inexpensive? I’m feverishly searching for random items to glue together at this very moment. As soon as I can think of a good reason to add feathers to my plastic plants, it’s on.

What have you been up to?

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

This time of year, between, say 8:10 and 8:35-ish in the evening on a clear day, the sun turns everything a very lovely soft golden color–so I cajoled FriendBoy into taking some pictures.

Forever21 tank, vintage skirt and belt, Ash shoes, bracelets from street vendor

Note the skirt from the flowered Madea-wannabe set I picked up at the theater warehouse sale. I thought about shortening it, but I’m really enjoying it as a long skirt.

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

I finished another project! I bought this satin brocade suit at one of my favorite thrift haunts last year, and realized I hadn’t taken full advantage of it due to the ill-fitting skirt.

In a rare fit of domesticity, I decided to take it in myself instead of spending another 11 months pretending I’d take it to the tailor “someday.” Since I’m not clever enough to thread my sewing machine (the whole bobbin-catching-thread thing never works and the entire process stresses me out) I pinned it and took it in by hand! It was surprisingly relaxing, and took less than an hour.

Of course, I had to wear it the next day.

I enjoy these hands-on creative projects! I was inspired by Sanchez’s Challenge (where are you, girl?) and though I’m pretty sure I’m not disciplined enough to do a project every day, I think I’ll try to make it a point to do more projects that don’t involve using a computer. Sometimes it’s nice to get your hands dirty, you know?

Do you make things as a creative outlet? What do you make?

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

Since the weather is back to 172% humidity and 97 degrees in the shade*, I had to take matters into my own hands…and wear short shorts.

Vintage blouse, belt, and necklaces; Forever21 shorts; Stetson hat; Ann Taylor bracelet; Charles David shoes

*That may not be completely accurate reporting. My bad.

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

I found this dress at a random thrift store last year, but put off wearing it “until I get it altered.” Yeah, right. Like that was gonna happen.

Though I decided to forgo alterations, there are a few snags/holes in the crocheted bodice. Despite my amazing DIY skills,  I have no experience with needlework, so I did the next best thing: I covered the largest hole with a floral pin left over from my stash of “Sex and the City” relics. You remember the flower pin phase, right? Season 3-ish?

After that, it was just a matter of making the dress look more like a dress and less like Penny Lane’s maternity nightgown. To do that, add a belt and heels, et voila*!

Vintage dress, clutch, cuff bracelet. Steven heels, The Limited belt

Of course, FriendBoy asked if I was “planning to get married to Simon and/or Garfunkel in that getup,” but whatever. What does he know about style, anyway?

*I’ve seen several instances of people writing “wallah” or “wah-lah” in an attempt to convey this expression. Just FYI, my darlings, eet ees zee French word, non? So eet ees spelled “voila”, d’accord? Merci.

/pretentiousness

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

There comes a time in a woman’s life when she feels a certain…pull at her spirit, a tug on her psyche. It’s as inevitable as the changing of the seasons, and as natural as the sunset.

It’s time for Fall fashion.

As usual, around mid-July I start thinking about cultivating a “look” for  Fall. No, said “look” is never fully manifested; and yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds, especially since I’m wearing Daisy Dukes and a tank top as I type this–but it’s, like, nature and stuff. Totally out of my control.

This is what I’m thinking so far:

Images: Style.com

All of which is to say that not much has changed since last Fall. Designers and retailers aren’t stupid–they understand that consumers are tighter with their cash and aren’t interested in dropping copious amounts of dough on styles that will look outdated in a year.

As usual, black is the new black–but surprisingly, I’m no longer interested in the leather-clad powerbitch getups that have been stomping down the Autumn/Winter runways for the past few  years. Aww…maybe I’m growing up?

Nah.

When do you start to think about the upcoming season? Do you have a plan or do you just wing it?

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

These black and gray checked shorts used to be black and gray checked teacher pants, but at 97 degrees and 142.784% humidity, it’s just too hot for all that. I cut ‘em, cuffed ‘em, and went about my business!

Shorts, thrifted; top, Forever21; booties, Jeffrey Campbell; no-name bag & earrings

Do you switch things up when the weather is just too hot to bear?

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

For some reason, wearing black and navy together makes one feel very French, n’est-ce pas?  Really, I think that particular combination makes both (neutral, sometimes boring) colors more interesting. They’re both integral to my wardrobe palette.

These pants (a result of the lazy DIY, if you recall) are so cool and breezy–perfect for the hot and humid weather we’ve been having. I added some cognac-colored leather accessories and gold jewelry for interest.

Tank, H+M; pants, thrifted; shoes, Ash; belt, The Limited; bag, Coccinelle; leaf necklace, Forever21; tassel necklace, vintage.

Man, I love summer!

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a style rut? You know, skirt + blouse, pants + cardigan, jeans + tee, blahblahblah boring. I hate that.

When I do feel that way, I look elsewhere for style inspiration–usually to my fellow bloggers or recent designer collections. I was procrastinating doing research and checking out some of my favorite blogs, when I came across a photo from Dries Van Noten‘s Spring 2010 collection.

I immediately remembered a sarong I received as a souvenir from a friend’s trip to Thailand and thought, “I can do (something similar to) that!”

I just added my trusty gray sweatshirt and some “exotic” accessories:

Elaborate earrings purchased as a direct result of my ongoing obsession with Indian bridal jewelry.

A combination of beaded African bracelets and a few wooden bracelets I picked up at the hair store. No, the hair store–the place where they sell weaves and wigs. Don’t underestimate the selection in those glass cases in the front of the shop, okay?

A beaded bag and nude shoes (Attention apparel manufacturers: light beige doesn’t equal “nude” for everyone.) I love the little gold elephants marching across the sarong.

Sunglasses I got on sale years ago. I’m surprised I still have them–I usually lose sunglasses within, like, a month of purchasing them.

It’s not a difficult look to replicate. The idea is to take a bunch of varying cultural influences, toss them together, and see what happens. Don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit!

1. J. Crew sweatshirt  2. Bracelets, Ainamoja.com 3. Skirt, Milliana.com 4. Chloe sunglasses, Aloha Rag 5. Earrings, Kaneesha.com 6. Rosegold heels, Shopbop.com

Sweatshirt, American Apparel; skirt, souvenir; earrings, Bombay Jewelry; shoes, Steve Madden; bracelets, random; purse, Miss Selfridge; sunglasses, Gucci.

By the way, bellydancing costume boutiques are my new favorite places to shop online.

Where do you find inspiration when you’re in a style rut?

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

Watching Casablanca last weekend put me in the mood for a little suit action–but with a feminine touch.

The lacy blouse is was a Gunne Sax-ish Little House on the Prairie dress I picked up at a thrift store a while ago, which wound up hanging out in my trunk (aka “storage”) for the better part of a year. I finally dug it out and attacked the dress with a pair of scissors in a half-hearted attempt to create a skirt and top I could wear separately. Except I cut through the back zipper. Oops.

This is why I don’t DIY.

Vintage blouse, clutch, necklace and heels; thrifted trousers; VS blazer

Have a great weekend!

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post