I'm Sailing Away...Styx Reference and Week 2 Outfit: popped collar included

Hello Darling,

         I hope your week has blossomed into a fabulous weekend and as much as the snow sparkles I am ready for spring to warm us all up...so, this week's outfit will be the first, but not the last of nautical, ralph lauren feeling, relaxed, clean colors, mixed patterns, water, good smells, fun time themed. Shew Whee!

This look just has a taste of the nautical sense but is something that I could see being worn primarily during the day, sunshine recommended. But, then I read what I just wrote and it makes me make a face...there aren't any rules. This is an outfit that I could envision taking you through a day of shopping, galavanting, boating...to throwing on some pumps maybe changing out the jacket to a slouched tux blazer or something fun!

I had originally paired this with some Juicy Couture, navy, burlap flats with white rope finish and some fun detailing (retail about $170 v. $38 at our store-Mosaic) but then I had an affair with these beauties...

    Also From Juicy Couture, these are just a fun beachy

combo of platforms and wedges all rolled together

with braided rope and one of my favorite colors-camel :)

PS: The skirt is a sweet little navy and white thick striped basic cotton skirt from XXI. The "shirt" tucked in is actually a red and white thin striped, sleeveless mini dress with roping laced in front- our's came from a little boutique but I have seen similiar fits and styles at H&M and Ralph Lauren. The denim jacket is a classic Levi Strauss lightwash mid-length style just with the sleeves rolled up a smidge 50s-esque. And, of course those silver chunks in the front :)...this is just one of those fun finds that makes your day. These were strands of probably thick plastic silver oblong beads linked together and had some hammered detailing on them. They are 80ish but have been so versatile in styling at the store and are a lot of fun! 

Restrictions: hahaha, none- if you don't live by water or it's yucky outside, make a beach playlist (I have ones actually entitled: 'Beach' and 'I Want it to be Warm Outside'), create some tropical smoothie recipes, rent Gidget (Sandra Dee or Sally Field versions both acceptable) and light a coconut lime verbena candle. Have a relaxed and sizzling weekend :) 

XOXO

Valentine's Day, Sugar!

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Sugar is Sweet

and so we get extra on Valentine's Day!

Whether you might enjoy this time with the love of your life by romance, watching Charlie Brown with family, sipping champagne and playing games with friends, or just having a sweet day (all of these are wonderful ideas and via experience, very successful)---everyone could use some extra sugar. I ran accross this recipe after baking with another that was very similiar. But, my recipe is more of a brownie texture and I was hoping for a sugar cookie feel to make cutouts. This delicious formula comes from the blog smittenkitchen (very fun-please check out!) and, as the author states, this recipe goes back to basics...and yumminess.

Ready? :)

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup lightly salted butter, softened (baker's note: use one stick salted, one stick unsalted)

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Mix dry flour, salt and baking powder in bowl and set aside. Combine butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cocoa in mixer. Gradually add flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least one hour. (My note :/ DO NOT chill for too long. I chilled the dough overnight and when I brought it to room temp and attempted to roll it, it cracked the whole time, learn from my silliness)

Roll out cookie dough on floured counter. Cut into desired shapes, brushing extra flour off the top. (It does disappear once baked, though, so don’t fret if they go into the oven looking white.) Bake on a parchment-lined or sprayed baking sheet for 7 to 10 minutes until the edges are firm and the centers are slightly soft and puffed.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Another little note: don't be afraid to roll these thick, they are tough cookies and can take it...ohhh my :)

And, more importantly-- have fun, spill some flour, turn on music that you can sing to when no one is home and consistently taste test while decorating.

Here are a few of mine:

 

 I hope you enjoy this recipe and the decorating that follows! Have a beautiful day :)

xOxO

Almost Spring...Please?

So technically this is week 2...but since it has been more than enough time since my last outfit of the week let's just start fresh :)

Here we have a Pendleton Heather Grey Long Sleeve Sweater (no itchies!) paired with... a Vintage Black and Grey Plaid Pleated Mid Length Skirt and...

a Retro Faux Fur Oversized Dark Chocolate Vest accessorized by...

a Simple Black Glass Beaded Flapper Necklace and...

Clear Crystal Collar Necklace...

For fun pair this with some Chunky Brown Ankle Booties such as these
Steve Maddens:

xOxO

I am sorry...

Bonjour! This is an apology and sort of an excuse, poo. I moved back to my home town from Dallas and took on a full load plus some at school. I still have that very fun job at the sweet boutique downtown so my schedule gets angry when I try and write relax or fun in my planner. I will do better at posting and I am going to start a fun little weekly outfit from those I dress at the store. I hope your year has already been very blessed!

x o x o

Outfit of (Last) Week...Oops!

So, I got a new job at this really sweet, little boutique downtown and for part of my interview I had to (got to!) put an outfit together using the resources in the shop. Here is a take on what I created and I just thought it was a fun getup, enjoy :)

INGREDIENTS:



Viyella navy and white striped top- $24.50

Forever 21 High-waisted Denim Shorts- About $16.50

Retro 80s Purple Button Up (Etsy.com)- $24.00

ASOS "Poppy" Shoes- $42.50

Bluefly Belt- $41.00

Urban Decay Revolution- $22.00

Directions: Tuck the Viyella top into your high-waisted sassy denim shorts (leave a bit bloused at the top). Proceed to put on the purple button up (leave it un buttoned). Go on and place the silver chain belt around your neck as a statement piece and let the chain fall in front. Slip on those beautiful ASOS mary jane's and last but not least...throw on some Urban Decay red lips, plump up those lashes and look gorgeous!

Vintage II

How to Spot Vintage Like a...

Professionista

Lesson 1. One of the first noticeable and easy details to find for inspection is the size. Vintage clothing WILL BE sized remarkably smaller than today's clothing. Two dresses with 25-inch waists vary in today's measurements; the vintage dress is marked as a size "4/6" while the current piece is marked as a "12." (These are estimations, every piece/designer will vary)

Lesson 2. Next, take a look at the fabric content. Today we have the luxury of stretch in our garments but the ladies of the 40s and 50s were not so comfortable. Polyester and spandex were not being used in these eras and most clothing was made from wool or cotton. Look at the waist, if there is stretch there be wary that this garment may come from the 80s or later. (Fun Fact: Lycra Spandex had its birth into the "professional" dance attire in the 1960s and helped bring to light stretchy, shiny and fabulous disco jeans-all the flare and none of the restrictions)

Lesson 3. Another easy giveaway is the zipper. Today's zippers are mostly plastic and coated to match the material of the garment. Vintage zippers are metal and the teeth are significantly larger; many are finished in gold or silver. An example of an authentic vintage zipper comes from the Crown Zipper Company made in the early 1950s:

Crown Zipper Used on a Military Bomber Jacket

  

acmedepot.com

Lesson 4. Labels within the Garment. Many nicer brands today have stiched labels-this coincide with vintage labels which were also stitched into the piece along with (usually) a paper sizing tag. Many vintage garments were made in the United States (I like that!) while today's clothes are manufactured in countries like China and the Philippines. 

                                                                                                         atomicredhead.com

Lesson 5. Trends are a fun indicator if you have a gem in your hands. Sillhouette was forever the focus for many designers. Pencil skirts, full skirts, raised hems, you could go on but all of these trends have something in common- a beautiful, slender, feminine shape that spanned several decades and is still appreciated today. 

  

contentmentfarmantiques.com

This is a silk gown that showcases the sillhouette that paved the way for women's fashion. Another beautiful example is this navy 2-piece faille (woven fabric of silk, cotton or rayon) suit.

coutureallurevintage.com

vintagefashionguild.org

Most of these tips are just small diddies to assist you...and myself in hunting for true picturesque vintage jewels. I hope it helped even a smidge and of course have fun treasure hunting!

PS: (Here are some more gorgeous vintage pieces for your ennjoyment and inspiration!)



1937 Chanel

1950 Karen Stark/Harvey Berin

1970s Halston jumpsuit (yes please!)

1960 Lanvin/Paris

1971 Zandra Rhodes

1967 Pierre Balmain

70's Chic and 60's Multitalented Minimalist

This season the 70s have come back with a surprising twist. In the past this era had been associated with glam and very shiny sequins; this time around there is still an adundance of beauty and shine but it is done with even more elegance sprinkled in.

fashionising.com

Here is a lightwash that still embraces the signature high-waisted bell bottom look while adding modern style with a loosely tucked in blouse. Notice the absence of bold colors for this day time ensemble. The color from the clutch is enough to break up the laid back tones and the leather belt is reassurance of the 70s vibe. At the boutique I buy for these big hats have been a hit; wearing your hair down in the all too wonderful 70s waves with a wide brimmed hat like this pull from several style eras all while giving a "feminine, stylish and hippie" feel, which is beauty in one of its most fun tudes.

For later this year Michael Kors has gone a slightly different route in his Pre-Fall 2011 Collection.

courtesy:Vogue

There were a lot of loose, laid back pieces in this collection. This included long blazers, trousers and bold color blocking (mostly red, blue, black and white). I am definitely a dress girl and this retro inspired simple black dress did it for me. Like all the ingredients in this collection Kors gives us the opportunity to wear these garments throughout the seasons. They can be layered as coverups or layered as coats, it's up to the weather and us what we do with these clean, pretty pieces. For example, this dress is lovely on its own with pumps and few accessories, but as the weather cools some sheen boots and one of his longer length black blazers will do the trick (and if it's really cold throw in some brown, gray or classic black tights!)

Here are some of my other favorites from the gorgeous (Pre) Fall 2011 collections:
Photos courtesy of Harper's Bazaar

Chloe

Derek Lam

Emilio Pucci

Tory Burch

Valentino

Versace

 Louis Vuitton

I hope you enjoyed all of this beauty as much as I did, now have fun with it!