A Collar to Help Me Fly Away...

Dress: Macy's (Tiana B.); Jacket: Target; Boots: DSW

The exaggerated peter pan collar on this jacket is awesome. I LOVE it! The second I spied it on the rack I knew it was going to be mine. They didn't have my size so I looked online and there it was for about $7 less - SCORE! The dress was another score I found at Macy's Christmas clearance. It's comfortable, it fits like a dream and it's one of my favorite colors. Everyone always asks me where I got it - "Macy's" I reply with a huge smile, it was such a deal! Darn it! - those Macy's clearance sales - the ones where you "price check" it, it is like 50% of the already marked down price! - they are just like crack, you always want to find another deal just like it the next time. When you don't, it's such a disappointment (even if the price is pretty reasonable anyway.) Ahhh, the psychology of shopping...

The shadows in this pic is so cool - I think :)

These nylons suck. They are thigh high stockings that have no grip on their top lace so, basically, I was pulling them up ALL day. As I was walking to my car with my co-worker they were falling down and we thought it was just hilarious. They ended up at my knees. I had just had enough. These stupid things are for the lingerie drawer only and not for wearing out anywhere for chrissakes!

This whole resurgence of jewel tones is so great. The colors are brilliant and attractive on most people. Emerald green, Peacock blue, Fuscha, Amber, there are so many! It's just Aces!

Superbowl Sun = Romper + tights

(This is our friend's yard. It is so pretty and pristine, now it looks like fall in the middle of winter - that's our L.A. weather.)

Luckily it was a beautiful day for the Superbowl. I wasn't too excited about it this year. I am not really into football so much anymore. I used to appreciate it when I was a little younger, but now I don't have a team. The 49ers suck. They are getting better thanks to Singletary, but shoot, over a decade of a slump?! So annoying. Don't even get me started on the Raiders, my hubby's team. They are even worse than the Lions ever were which is positively horrific. Al Davis needs to kick the bucket if California will have a good team - the Chargers don't count for me...Don't tell my work that :) heheheh

Romper, Jacket & Tights: Target; Boots: Macy's; Sweater: Ross (Liz & Co.); Earrings & Bracelet: I made (taking apart stuff I found at H&M)

So my hubby and I went to a friend's party. It is quite possibly one of the most uncomfortable places to watch a game with oddly situated TVs and such, but they had a fantastic spread of food. Always something to look forward to on the festive NFL holiday. (It was amusing, we drove past a mall on the way to the party and my hubby exclaimed about how many cars were in the lot. "Is something going on at the Mall today?" to which I replied "Silly husband, what do you think people who don't watch the Superbowl do? They go shopping." hahahaha It's a pretty solid day for retailers.)

So any hoo, I put on my fabulous teased do and pulled out a romper I just purchased from Target's new spring/summer stuff...I love the colors. This print could have very well been a pair of curtains in someone's bathroom in the 70s - love it! One thing I have always done is find an ugly print, think about it for a minute then love it. Love it because it is awesomely ugly! That is what I should have named this blog "Awesomely Ugly" lol

Daily covet...

My shopittome alert this morning had some cute stuff as usual, but a couple of pieces jumped straight off the page and onto my cranium's wish list...

All items have a 60s/70s vibe that I am reall digging right now.

This dress by Free People is adorable. I was attracted to the Pucci-esque, bloused tank on the top at first. I love love love pink, coral and burgundy together. The darker color just makes the design pop.

I would probably pair this with burgundy or black tights with either black mary janes or black riding boots. Preferably one with wedge.

This purse by Michael Kors would just set it off!

Hair do: Maybe a some thing ala Jane Fonda or a ponytail with long fringed bang.

Jewelry: large gold!

This particular dress reminds me of one I found in high school at a thrift shop. It is long gone now... But this one by BCBGMAXAZRIA combines retro bits here and there, like the belt, the pleats at the waist and the smocked style top. I actually like how the stripes strobe.

It's a contemporary length that would look great for work!

This could be styled a couple of different ways. Neat colored tights like a hot purple would look cute, just so it won't look so serious. Black tights and black mary janes would be a great mod look as well.

Yellow earrings and a chunky bracelet or Gold accessories would work. But, honestly, this dress could take any kind of color. 

Note: BGBG has some of the most comfortable and stylish dresses for work. Whenever I go into Nordstrom Rack, that is the first thing I look for - marked down BCBG items (or Max & Cleo or MaxStudio.) I always have to edit my pile of goodies to fit my wallet of course, but there is always at least one Max Azria dress in there somewhere.

I feel like roller skating when I look at this dress. The jaunty red/orange that is so innately 70s with that navy accented belt! GOLD, GOLD, GOLD accessories and tan couldn't hurt. I could imagine this with braided jute wedges or a heeled sandal and a cognac colored hobo bag. This dress probably attracted me 'cause it looks like summer. I will probably look for something like this when spring rolls around. Its just the "dead" of winter and I can't justify purchasing a seasonal dress when I'm not even in that season. And yes, this is another BCBGMAXAZRIA! (For winter, I'm sure I could do black tights, black wedges/heels and a black headband. But, I think it would look best with Spring/Summer accessories.)

60s Jane Fonda style hair has been inspiring me lately. I really wish I gave myself enough time in the morning to do it. One day maybe.... probably not.

BumpIts can only do so much...

Thrifting weekend...

I LOVE THIS TOP! It's so 60s I just can't get enough of it! The huge Peter Pan collar and fabric covered buttons with the enbroidered detailing is just fabulous. (If I leave it loost without the belt and add some leggings, it's totally Mia Farrow.) I have been really into yellows this past year. Some of my favorite pieces are my yellow finds.

These burgundy tights are fantastic. They don't snag and they are comfy. I couldn't ask for anything more out of a pair of good tights. I have them in brown and black and when I saw they were in burgundy I had to grab them up. They look like a beautiful glass of merlot. 

Top & Bag: Salvation Army; Skirt: Express; Tights: Bare Necessities (Bare Assets); Wedges: DSW (Bandolino); Jewery: I made 

Salvation Army is just single handedly one of the funnest places ever! I had the best time going through rack after rack of terrible and fabulous shirts and sweaters. I went alone and chuckled to myself every couple of minutes once I came upon something particularly horrible/awesome, which was often. I had a blast. I limited myself to $20. I find that always helps when it's time to edit. I am super at editing when I have a budget. I don't bring home any items that have the potential not to work. Everything I brought home I love. 4 tops, a vintage purse and an Anne Rice book.

So far, every item works and the book is pretty good. Could I ask for anything more? Nah - great finds for $20 and I'm good for a while. :) Next week my girlfriend from work and I are going to the Pasadena flea market and we're really looking forward to it. We are also going to a store that gets all the items the studios get rid of. Clothing, accessories and stuff, that should be fun to pick through, too! (but, only if the goods are inexpensive. I am so over paying an arm and a leg for a decent dress...) 

I'm quite proud of my eye to find this handbag. It is the perfect 70s textured, mirror silver purse and the inside is not stained or marred in any way. Lucky, lucky! I adore it! It also came with a strap that I might actually use. Neato mosquito!

 But overall, I am super stoked on this ensemble. The sleeves on this blouse are great as is the detailing on the bottom. I had purchased more beads for the earrings and bracelet to match my necklace I made a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't too sprung on the pearls until I strung them with a little black pearl, now I am all about them. A best new creation. I didn't really have earrings to match so I made them along with a bracelet.... My do (hairdo) - what can I say? but, "BumpIts" all the way!

My hubby plays video games - I play dress up...

Faux Fur little 60s jackets like this always catch my eye. I love the cut. I just realized that 75% of the jackets I own are 60s style. A little crop, some have an empire seam, some don't. Most only button in first 8 inches of the placard. I complain about how I have to define my waist, then go purchase jackets that camoflage it, duh, but they are so cute. I guess that has been my deal for a while now. 

 

The dress kicks ass! I wanted a shorter dress with a good shape, but that wasn't a second skin. This is a BCBGeneration Dress that I found on Overstock.com of all places. (I also saw it on Bluefly.com for twice the amount.) I really like the way their designs fit, for the most part (I have a tough to fit top half, this dress has a good amount of stretch.) I have about 3 of their dresses and I dig each one. The color is fabulous and the piping adds a visable stucture element. I was afraid it was going to look too 90s (generally a decade I avoid - I already lived it.) However, it turned out to be one of my best online purchases. I am a big online shopper when I get bored. As you can deduct, I get bored a lot :) 

 

I'm really stoked with the way my hair came out. It's like a curl mohawk! lol When I took the back out, the front part looked awesome as is. It's a bit much to do before work, but to go out? No problem!

Dress: Overstock.com (BCBGeneration); Jacket: Forever21; Tights: Target; Stockings: Hot Sox; Heels: Chinese Laundry; Floral hairclips & Earrings: I made

It was a lazy Sunday and I was bored so I decide to play with my hair. It kind of snow balled into makeup then into a full on ensemble. I am not sure I would actually wear the striped socks with this outfit to go out in necessarily, but I thought I would be a neat effect. I bought the striped stockings in my 8th grade year of junior high. I found 'em in a neat little socks shop in my hometown. I just loved them and wore the heck out of them. As I moved through high school, they moved their way out of rotation. However, I kept them cause they are the bomb! I just love 'em. They might be a little young for a 29 year old, but who's got 2 thumbs and doesn't care? - This girl :)

The shoes are a neat find I purchased at DSW in the clearance section - the awesomest section in every store. I wanted to subscibe to the gladiator heel idea, but I didn't want to be pigeon holed there if I decided the look was tired, so I opted for a sandal with the least amount of straps. Luckily, I found these and they totally remind me of Michael Kors last season. Chinese Laundry has the best knock off designs!

The sunglasses made me feel badass! They are Betsy Johnson's that slip down my nose, but are the only large frame glasses that I have found that I like (I hate sunglasses that accentuate my nose.) The pink leopard print is fun too. I found them at Nordstrom Rack for $20! I was going to buy them out of the Victoria's Secret catalogue many months earlier, but thought $120 was way too much. (I think a lot of Betsy Johnson's accessories are overpriced for the quality of materials, but are indeed pretty cute for the most part.)

Grocery Day

This was a great one. I just really like the shadows and the sun lights up my face quite nicely - if I do say so myself. heh heh

The lighting of this day was so great. I love the glare off the window and the shadows. This is another one of my favorite pictures of the day. I think it came out just right.

 I noticed that lately I have been belting most everything. ("Cinch It!") I really dig the look. But I also think my waist needs definition. I'm an apple rather than a pear so I always try to create more of a waist. It gives me a silhouette I like and I'm pretty critical of myself so when I find something that works, I stick with it ;)

This is our amazing dog Harley, he is one of 2 awesome dogs and 2 cool cats. My hubby opened the door hoping he would run through the shot as he ran into the yard. He's such a stinker - both of them.

I mean shoot, just look at those heels - adorable. Can't wait to wear them with out tights or stockings. I really shouldn't though. It will be ridiculously hot soon enough. I swear we live on the sun, here in the L.A. Valley.

Shoes: Chinese Laundry; Jeans: Macy's (American Rag); Shirt & Belt: H&M; Necklace: Claire's: Earrings: I made

It's been a couple of days, but I've been gathering images. I've also been quite busy. This particular outfit I wore out grocery shopping with my hubby. I decided instead of my classic Vans high tops, I opted to break in my newest purchase, the FABULOUS SHOES!!! I just love 'em so much. They have such a retro vibe, but with a contemporary heel. My feet are really digging these babies. I have already worn them to work and they got the A-OK from my tootsies. These jeans are my absolute best pair. I wear them everywhere rolled up or they are actually long enough to hit all my shoes just right. I'm 5'9" so finding jeans that are long enough and that fit right everywhere else is difficult sometimes, but oh well, just means more reasons to keep trying for a perfect pair in all different washes. Somehow, I still find myself with about 10 pairs in my closet (after getting rid of about 6 that just didn't work anymore no matter how hard I tried,) if I encounter another great pair, they will come home and join the others... They all get some play, don't worry :)

The necklace is a neat recent find at Claire's. It is metal flowers in a deep teal. It's so 60's, I should have purchased the other one to pull apart and make some matching earrings and a brooch, but alas, I'm always quite genius way too late. Ah well, yet another reason to browse around for something else that matches :)

I am chomping at the bit to get my online purchases from Daddy-Os & Amazon... They are supposed to be delivered soon. I love getting packages in the mail. Is it sick I already have another pair of shoes I have had my eye on? - Yes, but it's ok. I'll make it through, looking fabulous.

Goodies to Covet...

This morning I am coveting little bits and goodies that would be pointless for me to purchase. Some of them are just so frickin' cute. ShopEstella has so many fun things, I just love the art work on these little gems...

 

The painting they used have an inate vintage feel, particularly the "Cultivated Hysteria" which is lacking in perspective, which was a popular style for signage or images for marketing products. I remember reading books that my mom had when she was a kid and the paintings of the animals in pastels in those stories had those large "Precious Moments" style eyes. Those scream the early 1950s to me.

Classic Hardware - Wallet Case - Cultivated Hysteria

Classic Hardware - Wallet Case - Dead of Night

Classic Hardware - Small Pill Box - Lamb

Classic Hardware - Small Pill Box - Baby Bird

Classic Hardware - Personal / Tampon Case - Beeheaded