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).
Headband: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Blue Elephant
Cardigan: Betsey Johnson
Dress: BCBG Max Azria
Shoes: Nine West
I love this dress. I bought it a few years ago when paint splatter fabric and prints were a trend. Does anyone remember that besides me? Because of the color palette, this dress has a little bit of a 90s feel in my opinion. Even though its former trendiness and colors make it seem outdated, I wear this garment all the time. This dress is so comfy, and the way the fabric drapes is very flattering; it’s definitely one of my go-to pieces.
Necklace: Urban Outfitters
Cardigan: Express
Tank: Gap
Skirt: Target
Purse: purchased at MoMA
Shoes: Converse
Currently Listening: My Way by Frank Sinatra
I have a confession to make. I make a point of giving my friends a hard time for having all black and gray wardrobes, but the truth is I may be the biggest offender of this crime. For example, my first instinct was to pair this skirt with a black tank top. I realize the black cardigan doesn’t help my case, but I made an effort with the tee, purse, and necklace. Reform doesn’t happen overnight. This pairing was inspired by a recent post from Writes Like a Girl. Both of our outfits are colorful and a tad loud, but I think we make it work. Plus, soon it will be summer. If we can’t wear bright colors now, then when? What about you- are you a monochromatic dresser?
Earrings: Tarina Tarantino
Jacket: Dress Shop (local)
Halter: BCBG Max Azria
Bag: Betsey Johnson
Pants: Banana Republic
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Currently Listening: Sun by Cat Power
Like all creative endeavors, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes for style blogging. This marks day 1 of self photography for me, and it goes without saying that it was tough. I imagine it was pretty amusing for anyone who was watching though. Envision the already awkward act of taking pictures of your outfits while trying to nonchalantly pose while people watch you trying to do so…except you are your own photographer…and you’re hopelessly finagling with a tripod and centering the shot…all while wearing heels. That encapsulates this morning’s shoot pretty well.
So, even though this set isn’t perfect, I’m satisfied with how the snaps turned out all things considered (on top of everything else, I wasn’t feeling this outfit at first and the sun was starting to come out). I think the first photo looks especially characteristic of shots you’d see on a style blog. All this and cracking open my camera manual got me to thinking that it may be time for a new camera. I came across these tips a few weeks ago and after reading them realized EVERY style blogger sets their camera aperture wide…which my camera can’t do. If you have any tips for photography or camera shopping, I’d love to hear them!
Welcome to another edition of Mani Friday. This week, Bridget did an updated version of a classic manicure to go with Monday’s look. There is a really nice balance with this set between the sharpness of the black lines and the femininity of the sheeny pearl pink. The set inspired by Tuesday’s outfit look is part pop art, part watercolor. This floral nail art is really lovely and reminds me of some of my favorite contemporary painters.
The Pink and Black Mani tools include:
- Julep - Teresa
-Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Black Out
- Striping Tape
The Black and Floral Set tools include:
- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Black Out
- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - White On
- Revlon - Urban
- Nails Inc - Baker St
- Sephora by OPI Betsey Johnson mini - Too Too Turq
- Sephora by OPI Betsey Johnson mini - Yellow My Name is Betsey
- Sharpie Fine Point Marker
As always, be sure to check out Bridget’s post for more information on these manicures.
On a side note, here are a few handmade shopping events going on this weekend:
-Jewelry Jam at Wanderlust Yoga Austin (206 E. 4th St) on Sunday, April 7, 3-7pm
-Austin Nerd Cave Showcase at Tribe Comics & Games (2919 Manchaca Rd, Ste 102) on Sunday, April 7, 6-10pm
Hat: handmade, artist unknown
Dress: Zara
Coat: XOXO
Ring: Unrepeatables
Purse: BCBG Max Azria
Shoes: Melissa
Currently listening: Violator by Depeche Mode
Today’s outfit is another product of my retro inspiration. I bought this dress when I was shopping for something to wear to a 60s-themed dinner party. To me, the colorblocking combined with the print evoke a genuine vintage feel. This is what I think of when I envision southern California fashion from the Mad Men era.
Headband: Jen Hearts Art
Necklace: I’m Your Present
Sweater: Betsey Johnson
Top: Betsey Johnson
Skirt: Betsey Johnson
Clutch: Target
Shoes: Melissa
Currently Listening: Mars Audiac Quintet by Stereolab
Over the weekend, I had a surge of motivation for improving/working on the blog. The cloudy but relatively dry weather this weekend enabled us to take (what I consider) some great pictures. You’ll also notice few new perspective shots with this week’s posts that I really like. I’ve been playing with the different settings on my photo editor and think I’ve found a new balance that I’m happy with. The next step is to crack open my camera manual to figure out how to change the focus width (i.e. achieve an ultra-clear foreground with a blurry background).
Earrings: Vinca
Top: Banana Republic
Skirt: The Limited
Clutch: Dress Shop
Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo
Currently Listening: Louder than Bombs by The Smiths
Where do you look for inspiration when deciding what to wear? I’m usually indecisive and have been known to change outfits several times before heading out the door. When I’m not particularly drawn to any piece in my closet, I have a routine of scrolling through my favorite style blogs. Sometimes that does the trick, and sometimes I feel the need to turn to alternative muses.
This week, I ripped through the fifth season of Mad Men on Netflix and played the first few levels of Bioshock (for non-gamers, this is a first person shooter computer game set in late 50s/early 60s), so that’s put me in a retro mood, stylistically speaking. This is my very loose interpretation of that style, and even though the outfit is a little frou-frou, I think it works.
Turtleneck: Banana Republic
Coat: XOXO
Necklace: Toy Joy
Purse: Squid Ink Kollective
Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Melissa
Currently Listening: Bavarian Fruit Bread by Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions
For anyone unfamiliar with Texas weather, there’s usually a cold snap around this time of the year. It can make the simple task of dressing yourself seem impossible and downright aggravating. This outfit is a warmer weather variation (for yesterday’s highs in the 60s) on the original outfit I left the house wearing yesterday morning when the temperature was in the 30s. If you don’t have the luxury of being able to return home to change clothes at some point during the day, trying to dress for Texas spring weather is all the more frustrating (and I’ve had my fair share of sweat stains to prove it). The upshot of all this? If you live in Texas, don’t leave your house or apartment until midday when it’s no longer frigid outside. If you don’t have this option (which is most or all of you) and you’ve mastered dressing for Texas spring, be sure to let me know because I still haven’t figured it out.
