spring

color

by Lara on June 1, 2010

In an attempt to inject more color to my summer wardrobe, I did a quick, cheap, but satisfying spree at F21 online last night, taking advantage of their free shipping for Memorial Day. I see the skirts paired with tucked-in white tanks and tees and that dress is going to get some serious belt action.

I’m not big on the tribal trends that always comes out for summer, let alone prints in general, but this is subtle and I need to shake it up a bit. It was less than $8!!!! Granted, I will have to hand wash it so it doesn’t fall apart, but it’s cute and I need some cute in my wardrobe right now.

I love mustards and bile greens. I have a feeling it will be brighter from the way it looks on the modeled pics. Either way, it’s great for summer!

How great is this dress? Love the shoulder detail! It can be dressed up and down… can be belted a million ways, has a comfy waist, and it’s lined.

Now, I’m crossing my fingers that it all fits. Their sizing is ridiculous.

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my hood

by Lara on May 29, 2010

in decor

I took a walk around my neighborhood today to play with the new camera and take some pictures of the old architecture that makes this area so distinct. I played with the pinhole effect on the camera a few times. The neat thing about the Fan District is that each walk you take brings you new discoveries. I could walk around a thousand times and it would always be exciting. I love this place. (Click on the Flickr link to the right to see all the pics!)

Each block has its own characteristic architecture that seems to run in groups.

Good ole Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue. This is the South.

The way people take care of their tiny yards and porches makes me smile. As the seasons change, so does the entire feel of the neighborhood. There are a lot of hidden gardens tucked around that I would love to climb over fences to see!

There are some of the cutest little houses ever here… and so many strange varieties of trees. My favorite is the ginkgo, one of the oldest trees in the world. You can see the distinctive branches peeking in the 2nd picture.

Even the alleys are inviting and magical to me but the bf is convinced that they are full of stranglers.

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dreamy

by Lara on May 29, 2010

in art,crafty,decor,fashion

For a while now, I’ve been escaping into this dreamy world of soft focus pictures and an ultra-feminine aesthetic. I love my clean minimal apartment with all my heart but; there is another side of me that would be just as happy in a little country cottage, growing my own vegetables and making art.

I posted about the image bookmarking site called We Heart It a while back. Every few days, I peruse the pics and add a few more to my collection of these fantasy images. This is my latest favorite picture:

Outdoor party in the country anyone?

Yesterday, shoppher tweeted about this post which ended up turning into one of those internet perusing explosions where I discovered a few new blogs I think I’m going to love. You might too!

Habit

Dreamcats – if you love dreamy cats. I submitted some pictures of Nibbles when she was a kitten. Here’s one:

The Snail and the Cyclops – love this girl’s style

Fieldguided – a nice little life

Any recommendations?

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maxed out

by Lara on April 14, 2010

in fashion

So, what’s new at Net-a-Porter? Spring is definitely in full effect. I’m in love with these long dresses. Sigh.

This silk chiffon tiered dress by Chloé is sold out at $7,755! So romantic!

Basketweave cotton maxi dress by ADAM for $395

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tank tops vs. bras

by Lara on April 13, 2010

in fashion

Warm weather! YES! Tank tops! YES! Bras straps showing! NOOOOO!

I’ve been asked before, “God Lara, don’t you have any shirts with sleeves?” I really love tank tops but being pretty busty makes wearing a strapless bra something I only save for emergency situations.

Also, a nude bra is NOT invisible and those clear straps are NOT invisible. Unless you’re going for the Gwen Stefani look of bright bras peeking out from under your tops, you’re going to look unkept and sloppy even if you think you’re being clever with a strap that seems like it would just blend in.

I’ve come up with a pretty reliable strategy that’s working well for me these days.

First off… if you have to wear a bra with straps, you have to avoid spaghetti straps. I don’t care if you have those straps aligned perfectly before you walk out the door, there will always be slippage and you will constantly be tugging and messing with your clothes. Not a good look. Plus, if you are well endowed, spaghetti straps make you look unbalanced.

The Mossimo tank tops at Target have been working really well for me. They have the “long and lean” styles and others with the wider straps in a ton of colors, plus racer back styles to layer.

Yes, layering. If you have a spaghetti strap tank, one of those super sheer knits, or a racer back style you love, just wear it on top of one of these basic strap-covering tanks, mixing colors and adding some interest.

And don’t forget to try things on. What looks good on a rack could have the slightest skew to it than what you were hoping for once you get it home. Sizing is always an issue as well. Sometimes I want a size larger, thinking it will have a different draping effect and then I have gaping at the arm holes with more than straps to worry about showing.

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pollen

by Lara on April 9, 2010

in photo friday

These kids have the right idea… the only way I’m going to make it out alive with two more weeks of Spring pollen season.

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don't do it!

by Lara on April 1, 2010

in fashion

Well, my last “don’t do it!” post angered the nameless faceless internet. Apparently I’m “a leeeetle bit too old” to have any criticisms against crop tops. Wow! Other than it being troubling to know that there are people out there who are quite passionate about their crop tops, I now realize that at 31 you may no longer have opinions about what is flattering on a woman. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

Now, if someone would help me to my rocking chair, Grandma Lara is going to dole out some sage advice cultivated from years and years of experience. Let’s see if hoping that women will give up their ratty flip flops goes out of the appropriate age range for having opinions…

Warmer weather is here and after being confined to closed-toe shoes for months, you’ve got a fancy spring pedicure (my toenails are white pearl at the moment) and your feet are ready for some air. Now, I don’t want to sound like some Oprah makeover specialist or like I’m from “What Not to Wear” but seriously ladies, we need to class it up a bit. We should make a pointed effort to avoid our beat up flip flops when we have to casually go out into the world. Believe me, I am guilty of it. In fact, I have my lime green Havaianas on right now and I feel like a slob. That’s the point. It’s time to quit looking like you’ve given up… to put in the tiniest bit more effort this warm weather season when you run to grab a loaf of bread.

I’m a t-shirt and jeans type of girl for the most part but when my hair and makeup looks presentable, I have on some big earings and a cuff bracelet, and I’m toting a hot bag, I can feel pretty cute in my jeans and deep V tee. Why ruin all that adorableness with your 2 year-old flip flops that have seen better days and are better left for the beach?

Here’s a selection of cute breezy flats and fancier sandals for diiiiirt cheap, so you don’t feel guilty wearing them out over Spring and Summer, with all the comfort of flip flops.

These are Alice + Olivia for Payless. I like silver because it pretty much goes with everything and it adds some sparkle to your outfit without being over the top.

Also at Payless, these peeptoe flats let you show off your pedicure and still look polished.

ruffles!

simple

cute little sneaker flats when you need a bit more grip – in a bunch of colors/patterns, on killer sale!

studded!

stone embellished

the current ankle bootie/sandal craze

Is it that hard to fasten a buckle, zip up a back zipper or slide on a pair of cute flats? I guess I’ll find out!

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+ & -

by Lara on March 9, 2010

in + & -

Camelias are blooming and there are buds on some trees in Richmond!

Warmer weather makes me want to eat like this every day.

Like spirograph designs, I am really digging this string work for a wall. It would take a bit of time to map out a perfect circle and place all the nails neatly but it is so flippin neat and you could do any type of design in any color.

via

I love wall decals and I love rodents. These are adorable!

via – buy them here

get these here! I just got 2!

Alzheimer’s. It sucks beyond anything I thought that sucked could suck. My mom is experiencing the beginning stages of it now. The double-edged sword of her already struggling with MS, is that it’s better that she’s immobile because she would probably wander off or set the house on fire. Right now, she gets fixated on things. For the past six months it’s been her checking account, which I manage. She can’t remember her balance, I have to tell her every day, she doesn’t believe me, we have to call the bank, she thinks there are mystery checks from unknown sources tucked away in drawers that I have to dig through every day to keep her from having a fit… all while trying very hard not to have a fit myself. Before the money stuff, there were mysterious things in the bed with her under the covers that I had to constantly show her weren’t there. There was the broken mirror she said she had cut herself with, the strange plastic bits, the wire wrapped around her finger, her thinking she had pulled her catheter out – all this and she knows intellectually that she can’t move but reality separates itself from her brain every day. This went on for 2 years until we figured out what was really going on. Like I said, it sucks.
Spring is coming! Can you feel it!? I have a few fashion requests for the general public. Can we all try to avoid wearing scarves when it’s hot outside and can everyone stay away from boat shoes? Oh, and dirty looking dudes in sleazy tank tops… stop the madness. Thanks guys.

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thanks eassa bunneh!

by Lara on March 5, 2010

in photo friday

I like Easter. I’m not religious but I sure like chocolate, bunnies, any excuse to wear bunny ears, and ham.

(photo credit unknown)

The bunny suit my mom made me.

Easter falls a bit early this year on April 4th so, if you want a cute little inexpensive treat to get you feeling festive, check out this adorable ring at F21-

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don't do it!

by Lara on February 22, 2010

in fashion

In the early 90s, I was in private school against my will and wanted so desperately to be different, with the dress code and all. Big clunky shoes were my thing. Giant stomping heels that managed to draw attention to my scrawny chicken legs. This lasted into my goth days in high school.

I don’t know why this shape trend is coming back for anything other than the goth scene. These are neither feminine nor flattering shoes. They make your feet look enormous and they’re heavy, cumbersome and awkward to walk in. Childish at one glance and wicked schoolmarm at another. For some reason, people in the fashion world are going nuts over these monstrosities, like this is the new shape of shoes to come. I sure hope not.

Miu Miu is doing them for Spring 2010 in god-awful dated and juvenile prints on delicate satin. Proenza Schouler for Fall 2010 is also embracing the chunk but they’re even worse in leather with that curved heel!

Spare yourself this passing fad but if you MUST, then I would just invest in some cheap clunkers from a goth store. Good grief they’re ugly!

Don’t do it!