shopping

fall fantasy wish-list

by Lara on August 26, 2010

in beauty,decor,fashion

I used to keep a journal full of cut out pictures of things I saw in magazines and I’ve shared a ton with you in the past. So, what does a grown woman do on a Wednesday night? Well this grown ass woman sat with her September issues spread out, a pair of scissors, a glue stick, paper and a pen. In all the magazines, I honestly didn’t see too many things that I fell in love with. I enjoyed concepts and styling ideas but not many individual items, except for these.

Oh, and I totally ordered the DKNY Pure perfume. I rubbed every last microbe of scent on my wrist off that magazine strip and couldn’t stop smelling myself. So cozy and comforting and sexy. The bf loves it. Part of the profit goes to a microfinance program for vanilla farmers in Uganda as well. I haven’t given up on my beloved Kenzo Amour… it just needs a little rest.

PS- I can’t spell Gabbana obviously

Click for the large version:

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+ & –

by Lara on August 24, 2010

in + & -

  • I finally watched The September Issue and if you get stupid excited about the 5 pound September fashion magazines like I do, you will love it! I have always enjoyed Vogue creative director Grace Coddington‘s luxe editorials but after seeing the struggle she goes through with editor Anna Wintour, I am in awe. You can watch it instantly on Netflix.

  • Ask and ye shall receive. I have slowly [finally grown up and] come to the realization that men are not mind readers. No way, right? It is soooo much easier to simply ask for what I want. Feeling overwhelmed with household duties? Ask him to wash the dishes.  Feeling frisky? Pounce. Need some alone time? Make it happen. Want a romantic evening out? Make the reservations. Instead of building up resentment and tension, living together has become a lot easier. Showing appreciation for all the little things instead of complaining, not asking him to help with chores when he’s in the middle of something, warning him ahead of time and not springing things/requests/moods on him… these little actions have made for quite the peaceful happy home. I’m getting it all in return as well! Funny how that works out. (PS – What’s with the commercials where the woman stands there holding a full trash bag while her man is watching a game? Take the damn trash out yourself!)
  • Sewing machine:
  • It’s all about good friends dude. Seriously. This post reminds me of when Jen’s dear cat Cleo died about 10 years ago and we buried her in a friend’s back yard. Jen and I (during the grunge days) used to say we wanted Mother Love Bone’s Chloe Dancer played at our funerals but instead we burst into CLEO Dancer as we stood by her little grave and everything was okay. (Oh and I totally started boohooing for Cleo when I heard that song again.)
  • Sometimes you need a visual to imagine putting different colors together. For your wardrobe, your home, projects, anything… this little tool is a lot of fun!

  • An enviable birthday gift haul. Good grief.
  • More reasons why I love TJ Maxx/Marshall’s – I got this glowing blue rocks glass for the bf (last one – we keep breaking all the cool glasses), an aqua Kuhn Rikon 12″ non-stick pan (the non-stick of our old pan died), and a Kenneth Cole wallet (my old one was soooo funky) for less than $30. (Oh and an extra pair of cute pink tweezers because I have plucking problems.)

  • Another great artist via My Love For You… this painting is by Kristine Moran. I have this weird habit of deconstructing everything beautiful I see to assess if I could do it myself. This is completely beyond me.

  • Alas, I won’t be making it to New York Fashion Week this September. I told myself last year that I would go this year but it’s not in the cards/budget. To rub salt in the wound, I actually got invited to a few things this time around and didn’t even register for a press pass! Argh! I don’t like to make promises I don’t know if I can keep but I really really want to try harder to make it next year!
  • We have been dragging ass with some weird bug for over a week now. I feel achy, slightly feverish, eyes burning, bronchial tightness. We’ve been going to bed before 10pm most nights and have wasted 2 free weekends that could’ve been filled with fun, instead laying around doing nothing. I saw this picture on Saturday when I was feeling like crap and started laughing hysterically then started sobbing uncontrollably. Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

  • Dear People Who Sell Shoes Online, Please quit it with only offering whole sizes. That is so weak! I am a true-to-size 6.5. I cannot squeeze into a 6 and a size 7 will fall off my feet. You are losing out on a huge customer base and I have yet to discover what you are gaining from this nonsense. Just knock it off! Thanks, Me.

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I refuse to look like a Hobbit

by Lara on August 16, 2010

in fashion

In February, I did my big Fall/Winter 2010 fashion post after all of the runway shows, sharing what tickled my fancy. Now that Fall items are starting to fill the stores and the September issues were starting to line the magazine racks the first week of August, you can begin to see what the buyers picked out and what trends will be prominent in stores. Nothing seems so out of the realm of what you might already have hiding in your closet, or you could pick up that missing piece easily and inexpensively to feel current.

All photos via Style.com.

  • If I see the word “classic” one more time, I’m going to scream. Classic styles are never not in style. Do we need to be told that they’re really really in style this season? White button ups, pencil skirts, blazers, trench coats, ladylike bags… got it.
  • Lace. I don’t do lace. Never have. It washes terribly. I wasn’t expecting to see so much of it (and really piled on) but I guess the pendulum always swings back after all the hard edgy stuff saturating the fashion world the past few years. The metal bracelets that look like lace are kinda neat though.
  • Leopard print! I really think it’s going to be the biggest trend for A/W 2010. I wore leopard so much during my punk rock years and even slept on leopard print sheets for about 10 years so I’m still taking a breather. It would be easy to add some leopard bangles, a little cardi, a belt, some flats… The only leopard things I have kept are heels. They may make an appearance, paired with a bright dress.
  • Fur. Everywhere. The vintage stuff doesn’t bother me so much. I mean, that game is over. (I do worry that it encourages new production though, since the vintage market can’t fill the demand.) I have a black fox fur muff that belonged to my grandmother. I’ve never used it but part of me is willing to hop on this furry bandwagon for at least one outing when it gets cold out. It’s a vintage muff for crying out loud! How glamorous is that? I also just like saying muff.
  • Capes. Get outta here. I’m not wearing a cape. Maybe if I were taller but, I feel like I would look like a Hobbit at 5’1″.
  • Proper trousers. Cropped, wide legged, straight leg… whatever. I may just pull out some of my old wider legged pants for the hell of it and feel chic.
  • Statement jewelry. The bigger the better.
  • Another thing that my height will be nixing – long body-con skirts. That was also part of my grunge days, with Doc Martens. My poor mom had to hem them. All of my velvet and long skirts are gone and I don’t miss it. Yeah, velvet is back in a big way too.
  • Ruffles! My god the ruffles! The only way a ruffle is getting on my body is if it’s part of a structured jacket or interesting cardigan. This is my kind of way to do ruffles:

  • I already have enough belts, blazers, coats, and I’m covered in the boot department now. (You’ll be seeing more of my boot shopping soon!)
  • Longer strapped bags – messenger or just your average bag with a longer strap. I’m going to admit, after using shoulder satchels for sooo long, I finally got one with a shoulder strap and long strap as well. That long strap across my body drove me insane! I got a neck cramp and It’s difficult to maneuver over boobs. I am glad to have it though because there are times when you simply need to have your shoulder free. So, I will use the cross-body strap for those times only. Maybe I just need to quit carrying 20 pounds of crap with me.
  • I’m dying to mix neutrals when it gets cooler. Greys and camels and creams and black all together. So soft and cozy!

  • I’ve only seen one editorial include the white tights. Dun dun dun dun! I am totally making that look happen this winter. I can’t get white tights out of my head! They were paired with graphic b&w looks, bright minis and with neutrals. We’ll see how this works out in real life, solid or textured. Maybe just some cream leggings worked into a layered look (which are impossible to find for dirt cheap and not at AA).

  • Sweaters, sweater knit skirts, sweater dresses (I have two chunky knit dresses I haven’t worn in 2 years and forgot all about! They’re coming out!)

What is your perfect Fall outfit that you have worked out in your mind?

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costume jewelry

by Lara on August 2, 2010

in fashion

Who doesn’t love junk jewelry? My collection has grown to mammoth proportions. I recently sold my jewelry armoire because it didn’t go with our decor (and was quite heavy and cumbersome) so, I had to empty and sort everything out. Thank god for those Sephora drawstring gift bags. I have a small box with daily things (overflowing) and a big bag full of little bags shoved on a shelf in my closet.

One major problem I have with cheap costume jewelry is how it doesn’t stand up to wear and time. Tarnishing is the worst offender. I’ve tried the jewelry cleaning solutions but it works most effectively on precious metals. Even if I’m only spending $5 on a bracelet, I don’t want to end up having to toss if after it’s become a staple in my wardrobe. Of course there are different levels of costume jewelry with longer lasting finishes but, I can’t bring myself to spend $100 on a cuff so, I’m just going to focus on the super cheap thrills in this post.

My strategy for the past few years has been to carefully avoid the shiny stuff. Shiny silver and gold finishes inevitably get this funky haze on it that nothing can get rid of (unless you know of a miracle cleaner out there, let me know).

I try to stick with wood, painted/enameled pieces (they chip though), antiqued finishes, beads, lucite, matte, and darker finishes. Pendant chains can easily be replaced if they start getting nastay. This bracelet here, I would totally avoid.

Also, junk jewelry with imbedded rhinestones and pearls aren’t going to last long either. I don’t know how many things I’ve bought that soon had missing stones before I learned my lesson about daily wear. This type of jewelry is off my radar now as well, unless I only wear it on special occassions.

This necklace from Charlotte Russe has a dark metal finish that won’t get compromised by age. I just bought this and love it!

This cuff, also from CR, has a dull antiqued finish that shouldn’t get that haze.

This enameled cuff is so much fun, but it has the shiny edges. I save those moisture-absorbing desiccant pouches that come in shoe boxes and keep them with my jewelry. There may be hope for this but I still didn’t get it. Also, no one sees the insides of bracelets.

What’s your favorite costume jewelry piece? Do you simply have to get the shiny and just toss after they start feeling the funk?

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hunter

by Lara on July 26, 2010

in fashion

Isn’t it great seeing things you love in a swanky shop then going home and finding it online for waaaay cheaper than the store price? The bf and I are the most ridiculous bargain hunters. If you had a $20 bill in your hand, would you flush it down the toilet? I didn’t think so. If you don’t comparison shop, that’s pretty much what you’re doing. Plus, with smart phones, it’s so easy to look up a brand and the style online while in the damn store to see if it competes. All that saving adds up and you end up being able to treat yourself a lil bit more.

While I love supporting local business, the mark-up can be ridiculous. I got this same bag I fell in love with at Pink from Moxsie instead with a 15% discount on their already much cheaper price + free shipping. 30% cheaper than the swanky store price. I can’t wait until it gets here! It reminds me of Natalia Brilli and her amazing leather work.

So, I checked out this handbag line Deux Lux. I had never heard of it until I saw that bag. They’re vegan (nice word for fake leather) but a really nice thick quality with a lot of heft.. It was started in 2005 by a mother and daughter team. They’re mainly sold in boutiques and Anthropologie. Urban Outfitters has some exclusive designs. I found this new without tags bag for UO on eBay and managed to score it for $18 and free shipping! I think I’m set for bags now.

 

Here’s the Urban Outfitters pic in black.

Here’s the one I got in mahogany.

It’s been so long since I’ve bid on anything on eBay. I was really inspired by Adrien (from Looks Good From the Back) who scored this Marc Jacobs bag for $50!!! I see other bloggers finding amazing stuff for crazy cheap and Wendy B is always reminding you to snipe to make sure you don’t get outbid at the last second.

Yeah, about sniping… I didn’t do it. I sat like a moron watching the clock tick down on the auction, with two other tabs open with two larger bids ready to confirm if I got outbid at the last second. Ridiculous. No one jacked my bid up though. I got really lucky. This time.

Speaking of hunting… I finally started using Shopstyle and I’m loving it hard! It takes a minute to register and you can search for anything under the sun, tag things for sale alerts in email, put things in a wish list, etc. The interface is really nice. You mouse over something you like to get more info and tag, and click on it to have a new window pop up of the actual place where it’s being sold. (This is how I also found that black bag up above. I never checked the brand at the store so, “covered studs” in bags was the winning search.)

My friend Jen fell hard for this pair of heels at Fab’rik this past Thursday. Unfortunately, they were too wide. She was crushed. So, I hunted for “woven heel” on Shopstyle and found a bunch of other options for her at different price points. (Oh, and I found Jen’s shoes cheaper online too so if you have a wider foot, have at ‘em!)

RIP hot shoes, RIP

 

I think I would make it okay in a hunter/gatherer society! How do you hunt?

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+ & -

by Lara on July 22, 2010

in + & -

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  • One of the coolest handmade gifts I’ve ever seen: Anabela from the blog Feildguided is starting a new feature of people’s homes called “Homebodies” and was allowed to take pics of Melinda Josie’s adorable home. Josie is the creator of this great kitty buds fabric (in addition to many other wonderful things). Anyhow, her fiance carved this as a Christmas present for her. It’s Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird in her ham costume. Amazing.

  • Today, I had a lady day with my dear bff Jen (have you checked out her new food blog yet?). I had a half day at work and met her in Carytown after she got her wig smoked. We ate a great lunch at Can Can, talked and talked, and then wandered around checking out a ton of shops we had never been to. We went to Roan. Holy hell! I didn’t know those brands were sold in Carytown! I pawed Lanvin, Chloe, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang (still not impressed), Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Jil Sander… all in all, we were dying in there.

sigh, Louboutin

At Need, Jen did her own version of Man Repeller in this sweet union suit.

I also spotted this Miu Miu knockoff. No bueno.

At Pink, I was sooo tempted to get this bag. I’m still thinking about it. A cross-body bag would be nice. We finished up with margaritas at Nacho Mama’s and called it a day. Phew! I’m worn out!

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  • I get the whole #firstworldproblem hashtag on twitter. Really I do. People like to complain so it’s a way of acknowledging that your bitching is really whining when there are so many bigger problems out there, but you’re going to whine anyways. (Example: “Why do I always manage to get the shopping cart with the bum wheel? #firstworldproblem”) These tweets get on my nerves like no other. Really? Are we starting to feel that damn guilty for the lives we lead? Feeling guilt for the only life we’ve ever known? No matter how many sad things you see in the news, you will never truly know how people in third world countries feel. Do all of them want to be like us? No. Get over yourself, and if you really want to make a difference, donate to a charity and move on.
  • I am half Serbian and I am so ashamed and disgusted with a new movie that has come out called Srpski Film (A Serbian Film). Here is a review by one of my most adored bloggers. I am so incredibly sick and tired of “art” being an excuse for depravity. Political statements can be made in so many ways other than this.
  • Everything I’ve added to wish lists or bookmarked for further contemplation ends up being sold out before I decide to purchase. Either it’s a sign that I need to quit shopping or I need to make up my mind faster.
  • No way in hell.

 

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Fall boots

by Lara on July 17, 2010

in fashion

It’s hit me. Fall fever. I’m stricken with an overwhelming desire to get some new boots. I have looked at thousands of pairs online and the new Fall designs are still coming out. I want some sleek flat brown leather boots that I can live in this winter.

Lets’s discuss this for a second. These are the boots I already have:

  • Knee-hi chocolate-brown suede 4″ heel, pointed toe, side zip
  • 2 pairs of the same knee-hi style in black and brown faux suede – pull-on, slouchy, rubbery wedge heel, thin straps and buckles wrap around 
  • black leather knee-hi lace-up, side zip, curved heel, rounded toe, I wrote about them 2 years ago here
  • rugged flat, slouchy, black suede mid-calf pull-ons that I lived in last winter
  • Square-ish toe, light brown suede, knee-hi lace-up, side-zip, with a thick rubbery slight wedge sole, furry inside that peeks out of the laces, very casual but heavy
  • plain black suede ankle boots with a 3″ heel and almond toe (they shouldn’t count as boots)
  • rainboots with owls on them

This is 8 pairs of boots. What the hell is wrong with me? You didn’t see any flat brown boots though did you? See! I do need them! Here’s what I have my eyes on, regardless:

These are my top choice. Love the distressed brown leather, side-zip.

This heel feels a wee bit too high for what I’m going for. Still sleek and pretty though.

Laces or no laces? I love the details.

 For good measure, here are my fantasy boots for Fall. They’re in the August issue of InStyle magazine and I can’t find them online yet, so I took a pic from the page. My god they’re gorgeous!

What’s on your Fall wishlist?

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+ & -

by Lara on July 13, 2010

in + & -

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  • City Kitty update: I saw her on Saturday and she’s gaining weight! She’s noticeably fatter and her spine and ribs aren’t as bony. I’ll be keeping an eye on her progress and hope that my note may have gotten her the attention she needed. Thanks for all the input! I was gearing myself up to grab her and go beat on their door… which I still may end up doing. We’ll have to wait and see.
  • I am loving this new blog Naked Without Lipstick. She is a 35 y/o lawyer in Chicago who has busted her ass to get where she is. Her blog isn’t fancy and full of pictures but I find her refreshing and love her take on things. Lately, my blog subscriptions have been focussing more on people I could actually see myself befriending, rather than simply appreciating their style.
  • So, I have a taxidermy chipmunk, a deer head wall decal, owl earings and a fox necklace. I am totally ready for gophers!

  • I got a $25 bamboo kitchen rug for in front of my sink for $5 at Marshalls. I love that place so hard.
  • I went to H&M on Saturday. I’ve noticed that hardly any of the things I’ve purchase there end up lasting in my closet for any length of time so I hadn’t been in over 6 months. Not much has changed but they were having a great sale and I got this all-season wool-blend dress for $15!! It fits perfectly, is made well and is lined oh-so-nicely! Honestly, I don’t need it. This is one of those tricky games I like to play with myself. It’s classic. It will never go out of style. I can wear it to any function under the sun at any time of year. So yeah, I bought it. Now something needs to go. I think I know what it will be.

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  • This is only going in the minuses because I’ll probably offend someone. I’m 31. I have given myself a breeding cutoff at 35 because I just don’t think it’s safe. The health risks for babies explode exponentially after the mother turns 35. Regardless… I am nowhere near being ready to have a child any time soon. The bf isn’t either. I can’t even imagine a day in the near future when we will be ready. I know it’s said that if you waited until you were ready, no one would have kids but; I am just not that blatantly irresponsible to quit taking my birth control. I have been caring for my disabled mother for over half my life. I feel like I’ve gotten that care-giving uber-responsible shit out of my system. There are a lot of things I haven’t been able to do because of all this responsibility. I want to do those things. The thing that gets me torn is that I think I would be a great mom. I don’t want to regret missing out on all of that but; being around more people with children lately, the bf and I have come home and curled up on the sofa only to realize we wouldn’t be able to relax like that if we had a kid. Holy crap life would be insane! I know you moms are enraptured by your little darlings… and I think they’re pretty magical as well, when I can give them back. This pretty much sums up my thoughts on the issue at the moment (and let’s not even talk about tweens and teens… because they can just kiss my ass):

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what I've learned

by Lara on July 5, 2010

in fashion

  • No plain black or white tee shirt is worth paying more than $10 for. No exceptions.
  • The clutter rule of throwing anything out that you haven’t worn in a year does not apply to formal wear. Also, things change, jobs change but classic cuts never go out of style. Hold onto it.  
  • Find a good shoe repair person and utilize them. Wrecked heel caps are trashy.
  • Forget about fancy label jeans. Try on everything. Buy what fits. I love my $10 F21 jeans more than my $150 JBrands.
  • Flat sandals and ballet flats are not worth going broke for.
  • Just because it’s on sale, doesn’t mean you need it.
  • Quit buying things you will never wear. Be realistic about your lifestyle and stop shopping for your fantasy life.
  • Forget about your weight. I know when I need to get more strict about my diet when my jeans aren’t as comfortable. I refuse to buy an entire new wardrobe because I’ve let myself go. Don’t worry about sizes or numbers.
  • Super trendy styles should be reflected in cheap fun accessories and cheap fun clothing. They will last as long as the trend does.
  • It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.
  • Keep your infrequently worn clothes in dust protecting garment bags.
  • Know your measurements.
  • Credit cards are for emergencies. Beautiful shoes are not an emergency. Needing clothes for a new job is – but purchase them slowly as your assumptions about the work environment and your duties may be wrong.
  • Try everything on.
  • Wear a correctly sized supportive bra. It will make all of your clothing fit better.
  • Jeans with a slightly higher waistband (not mom jeans) will take care of that muffin top.

What did I miss?

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+ & -

by Lara on June 28, 2010

in + & -

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  • The Seventeen Magazine Project is a blog just recently started by an 18 y/0 girl who is attempting to follow all of the advice offered in the magazine for 30 days. She only started a month ago and is all done with the project. She’s a smart young woman who seems to have her priorities straight and has a great sense of humor so, it’s a really interesting read.  I’ve gone back to the very first entry for you! Just scroll past the comments and click on ”newer post” to keep reading!
  • this:

  • Oh, The Daily Show… ridiculed as being the only news source for my vacuous generation. I have to hand it to Jon Stewart for telling it like it is in this hilarious yet sad segment on the bullshit ALL of our modern presidents have fed us. 
  • I don’t have a baby but if I did, this would be the mobile above the crib:

  • MyShape is a new site that’s customized to your taste and your measurements… like 29 measurements to be exact. So get out your tape measure and follow along with the little video that stops in between each until you enter a number. It’s fun! Your body type is accessed and clothing that should fit and flatter will be shown. I chose not to trust completely in the site’s size choices since I was curious to see the size and WOW do they differ from brands! Tips are also given for your body type. I’m an S and the picks for my type were pretty right on!
  • I usually like bright rooms but I adore this dark bedroom. (via)

  • We don’t have a back porch/enclosed yard Ringo the cat can enjoy like he could at my parents’ house. I wish he could have a catio.
  • My friend Marisa took an insanely brave leap and moved to Texas in oh… a few days… to land a job. (She got it!) She’s waiting for her apartment to be ready and in the meantime has been collecting amazing furniture from Craigslist. I love the look she’s going for!

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  • Realizing that I’ve done a better job at fixing things in this apartment than my landlord’s crappy repairmen.
  • I thought you were suposed to lose weight in the summer?
  • The stores are already getting Fall season clothing in.

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