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

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

Lately, I’ve been amused and amazed by:

CitID

CitID is a ambitious project aiming to gain global consciousness by giving a (type)face to every city worldwide. Logo design + typography from an international perspective? Hell yes!

Panoramic Daguerreotypes

Fascinated by this 1848 daguerreotype (haven’t seen those since high school art class) of the Cincinnati riverfront. There seem to have been an awful lot of clothing stores back then: The Cincinnati Clothing Store Exchange Office (?) is downstairs from the Wholesale Clothing Depot, and the United States Clothing Store–which sounds like a pretty ambitious undertaking–is just a few doors down.

The Twenties in Vogue

I like to flip through this book whenever I’m at the office (aka Iris Bookcafe). The Twenties in Vogue (with foreword by Gloria Swanson, no less) is part magazine, part historical narrative, and wholly entertaining. Not only are the images and illustrations inspiring, the narration reveals a glimpse of the decadent life of high society of the era. A quote from one 1929 society page:

Lady Ashley has altered her appearance from soft prettiness to polished chic, and looks remarkably well with her hair brushed to silk. Spotting each new diamond necklace she wears is one of the sports of the season.

 

Get it, Lady Ashley!

#browntwitterbird

Last but not least, Alicia‘s general craziness has manifested itself as a mini-meme on Twitter. Or should I say #blacktag? As soon as I figure out how to put a pair of snakeskin platform heels on this afrobird, it’s on!

Just realized it was Friday the 13th…now, where is my Chanel hockey mask and chainsaw set?

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

Last weekend, I:

Hung out at a friend’s birthday party:

There was beer, chocolate cake, and good food. Officially, I don’t like chocolate cake–I only like chocolate, not chocolate-flavored things–but I made an exception this time. You know, to be polite.

Completed a really simple DIY alteration I’ve been meaning to take care of for over a year:

I did something easy, removing the lace collar from a puff-sleeved linen blazer. I’m sort of (but only sort of) ashamed to admit that I usually just tuck the collar in and tape it down. So lazy.

All I really did was carefully remove the lace with a rotary cutter, which has been sitting in my dust-covered craft kit unused for, oh, 3 years?

Discovered the next Banksy-wannabe:

Someone’s seen Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Volunteered at Second Sunday in OTR:

I took pictures, played DJ for the Talent Show, gorged on vegan cinnamon rolls (um, vegan means no calories, right?), and bought a pair of earrings from a friend who makes jewelry.

They look a bit like daggers made from pearly seashells, like something a kickass mermaid would wear. Innocent, yet dangerous…Right up my alley!

When I got home, I fell asleep watching an episode of Poirot:

Does anyone else watch this? Most of the stories are set in the 1920′s – 1940′s, and the costumes and scenery are exquisite. Checking out costumes is probably 90% of the reason I watch television and movies in the first place.

How was your weekend?

Oh, and I’ll be announcing the winner of The Limited gift certificate Wednesday!

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

Last weekend, I hit the warehouse sale put on by The Drama Workshop (thanks to Kasmira for the heads up!) and managed to snag a few pieces, my favorite being the long tweed duster and matching trousers that make me feel like a cross between Sherlock Holmes and an Yves St. Laurent devotee circa 1987. I seriously cannot wait to rock this look when the weather cools off!

I picked up another set, too: a floral print top and skirt combo looks like something Madea would wear. I liked the print and it was only $2, so I figured what the heck. Initially, I considered shortening the skirt, but now I think I’ll keep it long. Maybe…

The last thing I got was a long plaid skirt–I will shorten this, though I’m trying to think of something awesomely Alexander McQueen/Vivienne Westwood-inspired to do to it. I’m not sure what, though–any suggestions?

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post

I planned on doing a video blog last year. The problem was, I was scared of looking silly on camera (inevitable, trust me) and hated that I didn’t have the ability to create a television-ready broadcast complete with studio lighting and zippy Flash intro. I was daunted by the fact that I had no clue how to get professional results using an amateur video editing program.

Really, how ridiculous is that? But because I was putting all this pressure on myself to create something perfect the first time around (I do this often, and it is often the source of my frustration), I was so afraid to tackle the project that it never got done.

Do you know how good you get or how much you learn from doing nothing? Mmm-hmm, you guessed it. Zero equals zero. Even I know that, and I got C’s in math. Except in geometry, which is the biz. Anyway.

I had to give myself permission to mess up. Not only did I give myself permission to mess up (because why do things halfway?), I made it mandatory.

I said to myself,

Self. You must make a big honkin’ mess of this whole thing. When you’re finished, it should be blatantly obvious to anyone who watches that you are a goofball and a complete amateur. The results should be so horrifically bad that you never want to show anyone for fear of public shaming by a mob of angry villagers wielding torches.

And then you’ll post it for all to see.

When I changed my mindset, screwing up became my goal. And guess how much I learned? A lot more than I did waiting to magically achieve newscaster-esque perfection on the first go-round using a program I’ve only used a few times.

Swap haul video

Note to self: face powder is a must. Sigh.

So, I’m passing on the assignment. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself and find something to really f*ck up. Create a really ugly website using tables(!); take blurry, grainy pictures of the weeds in your garden; make an ice cream and fried chicken casserole; wear white patent leather sandals with fishnets. DO IT. Own it. F*ck-ups lead to freedom.

Look, everybody messes up. Sometimes you have to just do it. It’s not a mistake if you learn from it, and if you learn something, you’re already moving forward.

You have my permission, so…what will you f*ck up?

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

Between hanging out with my family, acting as an all-you-can-eat buffet for mosquitoes, and perfecting my smoothie-making technique (I’m up to two per day. Seriously, it’s a problem), I spent most of the holiday weekend working on the new issue of Style Sample magazine. You can read the online version here, and order a copy of the print edition–which includes a pretty awesome bonus feature on personal styling–here.

I didn’t even get to see fireworks, and I love fireworks.  Ah, well. Maybe Labor Day…

How was your weekend?

Tweet This Post Facebook Stumble This Post