It’s not always possible to post as many outfit pictures as I’d like, especially on uber busy weeks like this one. Other style bloggers will supplement clothing posts with recipes, advice, tutorials, and design ideas. Since one of my goals for this blog is to promote buying handmade and shopping locally, I think featuring some of my favorites from Etsy is a perfect way to achieve this. These are a few fresh pieces I’ve seen this spring. Hope y’all like ‘em!
1. Landscape Print Bandeau Top - Showboat Clothing, $55.00
2. Grey Feldspar and Gold Spike Necklace - Deuce Fashion, $30.00
3. Faux Leather Earrings - Love Sexton, $24.80
4. Summer Meadow Dress - Mrs. Pomeranz, $532.25
5. Aqua Chevron Earrings - Little Kiku, $9.00
6. Pastel Suede Clutch - Grace Design, $68.00
7. Flower Coasters - Decoy Lab, $30.00
8. Galaxy Skirt - Girl with a Serious Dream, $178.00
9. Hard Candy Lollipops - Andie’s Specialty Sweets, $32.00
Tee: American Apparel, Ume band tee
Cardigan: Express
Necklace: Ann Taylor
Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Steve Madden
A few notes about this outfit:
- This tee is for/from my favorite Austin band, Ume. I met and chatted it up with the lead singer/guitarist when I bought this shirt and found out that on top of making great music, the band members are really nice and all about their fans. When I told Lauren (lead singer/guitarist) I played guitar and appreciated she posted the tabs for one of their songs online, her response was, “awesome. Let us know if you’d like to see any other tabs posted.” So, yeah, check out this band if you haven’t already
- The color saturation on these shoe pics is turned up all the way. Sorry if it’s offensive to any of my photographer friends; it’s the only way the true colors of the shoes came through. When I originally bought these, I thought they were too loud, but I couldn’t resist the sparkle factor. They’re now one of my favorite pairs.
- I can’t decide if I like for tees paired with this skirt to be tucked in or not. The tucked in look is a little less flattering on me, but I think the black band nicely frames the outfit and makes the look more put together. Let me know what y’all think.
This post is a few days late because I have been crazy busy lately. I hope y’all enjoy these snaps though; I think Bridget busted out some great looks this week (they may be my new favorites). These were inspired by this past week’s outfits from Monday and Wednesday, respectively. I think the scalloped effect on the blue cloud mani is really sweet, and I’m mesmerized by the matte effect, glitter colors, and the overall floral print on the second set. Be sure to check out Bridget’s post for a more behind the scenes look at these fantastic manis.
The red and blue cloud mani used:
-Sally Hansen Insta-dry: Straw-ready
-Essie: Brooch the Subject
-OPI: My Boyfriend Scales Walls
-Zoya: Wednesday
The black and floral print set used:
-Sally Hansen: Black Out
-OPI: My Boyfriend Scales Walls
-Zoya: Blaze
-Zoya: Logan
-Zoya: Apple
Hard Candy: Matte-ly in Love
Nail art brushes
Rhinestones
Dress: Nanette Lepore
Jacket: I.N. San Francisco
Necklace: Ann Taylor
Purse: gift, purchased in Italy
Shoes: Melissa
Cupcakes and Cashmere is one of my favorite personal style blogs, and I think Emily has great taste and a good eye. Whenever her outfits incorporate a jacket, she’ll drape it over her shoulders instead of wearing it. The reasoning is that it shows off the outfit underneath better; I agree with this and add that it just looks better overall. Period. When you’re a hot shot blogger like Emily, thousands of people know about and pay attention to your content, trolls included.
Sometimes, some of those people make what I’m sure they think are snarky and clever comments that come off as mean-spirited and idiotic to me (and probably most sane people). They’ll ask questions like, “Do you ever actually wear your jacket or do you just drape it over your shoulders?” I mention this not only because I’m draping my jacket in this post but also because I want to have some say in who reads my small blog. If you’re one of the people who always has something negative to say about content other people create or if you ask inane questions like the one mentioned above, do not read this blog. It is not for you.
If this does not apply to you, I encourage you to keep reading because I have plenty of new outfits and cool pieces to show you. You should also check out Cupcakes and Cashmere to see what a really well put together blog looks like. /rant
Currently listening: Marry Me by St. Vincent
This past weekend, Austin Craft Riot hosted their first ever clothing swap. I was both delighted and mildly weary at the outset. I’d heard some ladies get carried away these events (plus, I’ve been to Le Garage Sale and witnessed this madness), that the selection can be mediocre, and the organization non-existent. That said, I’ve always wanted to check out a swap, and ACR knows how to throw a party, so I wasn’t too worried.
On top of what you might expect from a clothing swap, ACR lined up a Yeti Frozen Custard food truck for the event, taught attendees how to make reusable bags out of old t-shirts, and supplied crafting swapping goodies. I was really pleased with the organization and helpfulness of all the volunteers and walked away with a few great pieces including: my reusable bag made from a Hot Fuzz t-shirt, a black halter mandarin dress/cheongsam, a silver glitter knit top, khaki chords, a striped floral vintage top, and retro stickers. These will likely all appear on the blog before too long. Of course, I had to treat myself to custard too; it’s hot enough for daily frozen sweets to be mandatory.
Top: Gap
Scarf: Cloth & Ink
Purse: Saya Studio
Ring: Metal Sugar
Shorts: Target
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman, purchased at Spring Frost
This outfit is indicative of a few things: the weather is becoming too warm for me to dress in layers or pants, I am ready for a vacation, and I don’t like to iron. Not only does the red and teal color combination read relaxed to me, but the details of these pieces contribute to the effortless casual look that is ideal for trips. The scalloped edges are evocative of waves, and the scarf color and print softens up the whole look. On a side note, I’m really pleased with how the close-up of my cupcake ring turned out.
Jacket: Dress Shop Austin
Top: Gap
Necklace: Blackbird
Purse: Saya Studio
Jeans: Levi’s
Flats: Gap
Does anyone remember that Vera Wang dress Michelle Williams wore to the 2006 Oscars? It’s one of my favorite red carpet gowns, and I feel it had a big impact on the fashion world. Following that year’s Academy Awards, goldenrod (or canary yellow, according to Marie Claire) pieces seemed to pop up everywhere overnight. The blouse I’m wearing in today’s post is like my own homage to the iconic gown. Alec thinks the cinched tunic fit makes the piece look Jedi-inspired, but I think of it as my Michelle Williams-inspired top.
Earrings: Vinca
Tee: Mars Volta concert tee
Bag:Rory Skagen
Skirt:Custo Barcelona
Shoes: Doc Martens
I was definitely channeling my love of the 90s with this outfit. Despite all the tacky fashion trends and bad music that came out of the decade, I have a real nostalgia/affinity for the era that gave us Doc Martens, Clueless, and grunge (and happen to think the good outweighed the bad). So, it’s only fitting that an outfit inspired by one of my favorite (if not absolute favorite) decades incorporates several unique and well-loved pieces. This skirt is ten years old, if you can believe it. I don’t regret holding on to clothing for this much time, but I do wish I would have been smart enough to keep more of my treasures from the 90s.
Jacket: Old Navy
Dress: H&M
Necklace: Ann Taylor
Clutch: Dress Shop Austin
Shoes: Doc Martens
Currently Listening: Galaxy News Radio
This shoot was almost perfect. The lighting was great, I was pretty excited about the outfit (I’d never worn all the pieces together), and the end result pictures turned out well. Then, when I was copying the files to my computer, my cat jumped on my hand while it was on my mouse and bye bye photos. As you can see, there were a few survivors. It was one of the best sets of pictures we’ve ever taken, so I was disappointed that they couldn’t all make it. You win some, you lose some.
This week, Bridget from A Painted Nail designed a manicure based on the leaf print skirt I wore on Wednesday. Bridget and I are on the same page when it comes to eagerly awaiting summertime; it definitely shows in both looks. This set mimics a palm/fern pattern through abstract brushstroke technique and incorporates the following tools:
-OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls
-China Glaze - Sunday Funday
-Nail Art Brush
For more insight into this manicure set, head over to Bridget’s post. She’s also participating in a 31-day nail art challenge where she follows a road map of styles and colors to incorporate over the course of, you guessed it, 31 days. The first week involves a color spectrum and progresses through all the colors of the rainbow. My favorites so far are these and these. On a side note, I’m proud to announce that Bridget and I are ahead of the style/nail art blog team-up trend. I recently saw this post on What I Wore (big name in the personal fashion blogosphere).
