Apr 10, 2010 | Fashion
Trenchcoat: Kenneth Cole New York (similar here)
Infinity Scarf: Steve Madden (similar here)
Black Bar Necklace: Forever21
Long-sleeved top: Forever21
Printed camisole: Marc Jacobs
Watch: Forever21
Rings: Forever21 and Icing by Claire’s
Vero Moda Casual Tailored Chinos: ASOS.com
Wedge-heel boots: Forever21 (similar here)
Excuse the grimace; it was crazy-bright in the beginning of shooting these.
I’m not sure at what age I should stop wearing this cute camisole. It’s got a pinafore back, which might make its expiration date somewhere in one’s 20’s. Ohdear.
I’ve been hankering after a pair of slouchy pants in a neutral color, so I ordered these from ASOS.com.
I ended up ordering them 2 sizes too big for me. (I always have trouble ordering pants without trying them on; my tuchus and thighs are a bit larger than what’s usually allowed in a size 4/6…which is what my hips work out to. If they fit on my hips, they usually will be too snug in the seat…so I ordered up a size…er, two. Woops. British sizing always confuses me. LOL) The pants are also very khaki; I thought they would be more silvery-bisque. (The color is called “aluminum grey” on the ASOS website for goodness’s sakes!!) But ohwell. I like them quite alot, tho I’m wondering if they look like I swiped Hub’s pants or something. Perhaps I shall alter them so they’re a little less baggy and more high-waisted. Thoughts?
(I’ve been fearful of the whole pegged-leg, pleated-front, highwaisted trouser ever since it came back into style this year…I have horrible memories of being stuffed into such pieces as a child during the 80’s, since these were the only type of cut my mother would buy for me when it came to pants or jeans. The legs never fully went down to my ankles!!! And the pants were turquoise in most cases, or light denim in the case of jeans. Eeeeek. Ensue hideous teasing from school-aged peers. Significant mental scarring has been accomplished, hehe.)
I think Spring is finally here! My Japanese maple is now covered in red, red leaves – and the Spring hail has begun. (Last year, it hailed every single day for three weeks straight during the month of March…from around 2 pm – 4pm. Every. Single. Day. I’ve never seen so much hail in my life…and it looks like this year is threatening to follow suit.) Better get inside before I get pelted!!
xoxox
Carly
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Apr 4, 2010 | Fashion
Handmade gold scarab beetle necklace
Flutter-sleeve vintage polyester dress
Gold wood-handle clutch (Accessorize.com; similar here)
Vintage watches, unknown gold cuff bangles
DIY coin bracelet
Gold cage heels (from Target like 5 years ago)
This dress was my mom’s from the 70’s or so. She gave it to me about ten years ago and I rotate it into my outfits now and again. Sometimes I feel the open circle below the bust is just showing too much skin for my liking; other times I’m okay with it. For some reason I keep returning to it since the silhouette is sexy without giving too much away. (except in that little circle 😉
I saw this scarab beetle pendant on Etsy awhile ago. Always being someone to try to make something for less than it costs to buy, I sourced the scarab beetle stamping online, and added a chain I had. I kind of like that it’s loose on the jumprings that slide back and forth on its forearms!
I also saw this coin bracelet by Yochi Design in Lucky magazine in 2003 or something. (sorry I can’t find the original clipping – it’s somewhere; I just don’t feel like going through all my mag clippings right now) I just had to make one of my own – from coin pendants from the bead supply store. (I had to weave thin wire around the coins to accommodate hanging a bead below the coins, since they weren’t double-drilled and I had no way of drilling them at home.) I was pretty pleased with the results.
Feeling disco fever, I tell ya!
xoxox
Carly
On another note, I’ve just finished stuffing all the Easter eggs for Lil Tot, setting up the baskets with goodies, chomping on the carrots we’ve left out for the Easter bunny, and placing an Easter sticker on the note Lil Tot left for our long-awaited visitor (to prove the Bunny dropped by). I’ll be getting up tomorrow morning before the sun is up to hide the eggs all around the backyard. Why go to all this trouble? The simple, sweet look of joy on Lil Tot’s face as he rushes downstairs to see if the Easter Bunny has visited. Such a wonderful moment – truly there is none like it.
(Tho, as a parent, I wonder if, a few years down the line, my elaborate attempts to infuse such a sense of wonder and magic into holidays may make Lil Tot resent me when he finds out the Easter Bunny never existed at all and his mother was just deluding him. I don’t remember realizing when the Easter Bunny/Santa Claus/the Tooth Fairy didn’t exist; so for me, there’s no memory of such a betrayal…but do any of you? Just curious.)
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Mar 28, 2010 | Fashion
Polyester Crinkle Jacket with Leopard Cuffs: from Japan
Earrings: thin silver hoops with star detail from Japan
Cotton Top: Love Stitch
Rings: handmade studded ring, rhinestone knuckle ring from Forever21, (similar
here)
silver and rhinestone twig ring from
Icing by Claire’s
Shoes: Metro7 black suede wedge boots
Studded Flap Bag: from Japan [XOXO brand]
What I wore last Saturday to that networking event I was so psyched about. (one of these days I’ll actually post an outfit on the day I wore it. Won’t that be something?!!)
The daffodils I planted last fall are about to bloom. They are supposed to be white, with a pink ruffled center. [They aren’t, as I found out once they did actually bloom. The centers are orangey-salmon, and the outer petals are cream. Pretty, but. Grrr.]
Hub says my runner’s watch is supremely unfashionable. Just the excuse I need to go shopping for a new one, he he!
This Love Stitch top is so unusual. It’s a sleeveless tunic top with a crochet faux outer layer at the neckline and upper back, and the front can be tied with a thin tie. It has flaps at the bust with button-detailing, and ruched sides anchored by more buttons.
It’s totally wrinkled from a long day of sitting and walking around…but it definitely looked nicer earlier in the day.:-)
Normally I don’t go for the more boho vibe most of Love Stitch’s stuff has, but I thought the detailing was superb (which made its $29 pricetag on Ideeli a real steal! Making all those flaps, sewing all those buttons…blech. Not something I want to invest my time in, so thus, Totally Worth The Money – TWTM for short haha!) BTW, if you’re not an Ideeli member, feel free to use my invite here…they have some great sales on the way, like Tarina Tarantino accessories, paper denim & cloth jeans, Indulgems jewelry, Elements5 hair tools, Tommy Hilfiger shoes, BCBG Generation handbags, French Connection separates, and Voom by Joy Han dresses, all coming up in the next 2 weeks. Whew!)
Some more photos:
My favorite studded-flap bag from Japan.
I got out of the event what I wanted to: met some cool people, got more of a grip on the local industry scene here, got some decent advice etc. No full-time job leads just yet – pretty much everyone said “just show up at the companies you want to work at and pitch them!” Just gotta work up the cojones (and portfolio of course!) to do that. I got some MAJOR drawing ahead of me, I suppose.
Hope you guys have a great weekend!
xoxoxo
Carly
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Mar 22, 2010 | DIY
*Forever21 coat (similar here)
*Forever21 DIY-studded cardigan
*Target striped 3/4-length sleeve shirt (similar here)
*silver horseshoe-stamped necklace I won from Lucky Magazine
*Forever21 rhinestone two-finger ring (similar here)
*Forever21 gold chain ring (similar here)
*H&M zipper skirt
*self-made leggings
*unknown wedge-heel booties (something kinda similar here)
So I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’ve been MIA for the last couple days, and what on earth I’ve been doing. In the meantime…
Spring has finally arrived here in Portland, and the weather has been beautiful.
It’s been time to break out the ol’ lawnmower…
Run for your life!
Find leprechaun gold on St. Patrick’s Day…
Walk the dog…
I refuse to be walked. Oh, and may the Force be with you.
And watch the plum blossoms fall, like light pink snow, on the front lawn.
I, meanwhile, have been sick.
We got off the plane 2 Mondays ago, and I felt a tickle in my throat. “I’m just dehydrated,” I thought…
And guzzled tons of water Tuesday, but felt increasingly worse. “I’m just jetlagged,” I thought, and endeavored to catch up on tons of sleep, guzzled more water…
But by Thursday it was evident I had a head cold. I sprung a 101-degree fever, had a runny nose, and unbelievable body aches and pains (and it wasn’t from dragging all our luggage around!)
By Sunday last week it felt like the cold was on its way out, so Monday morning I met up with a friend I hadn’t seen in awhile, and we hung out and talked for about 3 hours, me sucking on Halls and downing honeyed green tea the whole time.
I felt an annoying tickle in my throat again, but still had sinus pressure and a runny nose from the cold that was on its way out. So I drank TONS of water, tea, and guzzled probably half a honeybear of honey.
Last Tuesday came, and I had no voice.
No voice whatsoever.
I could only speak in a raspy whisper, and in a squeak here and there. At some points I couldn’t even whisper at all – my mouth was forming the words, but it was like there was no sound passing my lips.
I haven’t had laryngitis this bad in at least 15 years, so it was a shock to say the least.
I read on the Internet (that most reliable source of information) that the best cure for laryngitis is to let the virus run its course, get plenty of rest, and not use your voice. Easier said than done when you have a 4-year-old.;-) And salt gargles, which I’ve been doing.
So, since my blogging routine is usually wait for Lil Tot to fall asleep around 8:30 PM, then sneak out of bed so as not to wake him, head for my computer, and blog for the next 4 hours, this was totally ruined by the get plenty of rest suggestion, and I’ve been sleeping 10-12 hours per day (!) since Tuesday in a desperate attempt to get my voice back.
Friday I finally got a trim, since I’m growing my hair out it’s kind of in that shapeless, can’t-do-anything-with-it stage.
It really did feel like the First Day of Spring, with the warm weather, and the sunshine. So I broke out my fave blue coat, the one for some reason complete strangers like to complement me on when I wear it.
It has a lovely, striped satin lining. To think it was only $39 on sale at F21!
(no longer available, tho you can get something at Alloy where I’ve linked above.)
So these are my showing-off-my-new-hair-and-my-newfound-finally-not-just-a-whisper-voice (more like heavy-smoker, husky-phone-sex-old-lady-voice) photos.
Useful padlock bag from Aldo that was around $40. Waaay better than a Paddington!
I also wanted to share my studded cardi that I made a little while ago. A great way to dress up a regular black boyfriend lightweight cardigan, silver studs around the edge elevate it from casual to something much, much better. (And these cardigans been all over Vivi magazine for the past couple months if you happen to have caught a glimpse of them!) Interestingly enough, I couldn’t find any for sale in the U.S. and a reasonable price. (And Forever21 hasn’t done a knockoff, something I’m a little surprised at still. Doing a quick search for a studded cardi at ShopStyle will produce a couple similar ones…but at a couple hundred dollars each. I mean, come on.)
So a quick little DIY for ya:
———————–
How To Make a Studded Cardigan
You Need:
*boyfriend cardigan (like this one from Target)
*1 (gross) packet of 7mm Square Hotfix Nailheads (silver) from i-kandi.com
*Hotfix Applicator tool
*piece of scrap cardboard
Why heatset studs instead of pronged? Because they are far, far lighter…and easier to set on a lightweight knit such as this.
Place the cardboard directly underneath the front of your sweater. (You may have to shift the sweater placement as you affix studs around the neckline.) I just placed them about 1.5″ apart along the front edges of the cardigan, and along the top edges of the pockets. (You use the large flat attachment for the applicator tool, press down lightly onto the nailhead you have already placed on your sweater, and hold for about 15 seconds. Repeat for each stud, all the way around the neckline, and on the top of the pockets.) I love the finished effect!
Pretty simple, eh? (And yes, my cardboard is from an IKEA box. I do love IKEA.;-)
————————
I didn’t realize until after I’d received my cardigan in the mail that the particular one I’d ordered had a detachable scarf with the cardigan’s pockets on it. (Don’t ask why I didn’t realize this; I’m an idiot.) I sewed the scarf down onto the cardigan and added the studs; now faced with the problem of the cardigan no longer being able to button and the back of the neck rolling absurdly because of the extra material from the scarf…surgery on this cardigan needs to be attempted soon. I just haven’t bothered with it just yet.
Here you can see the little scarf-piece I haven’t dealt with yet.
I also can’t believe I found these boots last week at the Buffalo Exchange for $15. I’ve concluded that the person who sold them to the Buffalo Exchange must have been legally insane…because you’d have to be ker-azyto willingly give up this cute little pair. I was actually looking for a pair to DIY my own lace-up Ann Demuelemeesters…and I found these instead. They are adorable, right down to the little fold-over at the top, and surprisingly comfortable. The only clue to their origin is the stamping in the footbed…which could read “F21” or “F24” depending on how you look at them. Does anyone recognize them from a Forever21?
Friday I went to bed praying that I would not sound like a 3-packs-a-day-smoker for this networking event I was aching to go to on Saturday, since I am in the market for a full-time J-O-B and refuse to work at Burger King. (apologies all who work at Burger King.)
So I am currently massively behind on everything from housework to going through my mail to answering email (only 53 new messages this morning, thank god) to posting here to formspringing. Sorry, sorry, sorry.
Will get to everything slowly as my voice finally seems to be coming back, just as slowly, unfortunately…and now Lil Tot has now caught whatever I had.
Plus…okay, another reason I’ve been reticent to take/post outfit photos…or really do anything…is that I’ve gained 7 pounds while in Hawaii.
Can you see it in my face? (I put on weight in my face first, #$%@ing genetics.)
I honestly don’t know how it happened. I thought I was being careful, but obviously too much time spent with my computer while others were frolicking on the beach, too many giving in to decadent food and dinners and full buffet breakfasts….ugh. I’m pretty annoyed with myself since I usually only swing about 3 pounds above my usual set-point throughout the given month…but this…puts me right back where I was last year, before beginning the hell that was P90X.
Funny how a slightly higher number on the scale can totally defeat your willpower to do anything, isn’t it? Nevertheless, I am glad Spring is here! (even tho my garden obviously hasn’t realized it yet LOL)
Anyway, thank you all so much for commenting during my lapse, and asking questions and giving me feedback…as well as entering my Cold Plasma Giveaway…which I’ll be announcing the winner to tomorrow!
You guys are the best.:-)
xoxoxo
Carly
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Mar 9, 2010 | Fashion, Life
(Sauce tee, Bebe cardigan, Forever21 mirrored ribbon necklace and studded bangle bracelet, Hue footless tights, Rock & Republic destroyed denim shorts, Steve Madden flats, unknown skull-studded bag from Pineapple County)
Last day in Hawaii. I met up with some old friends and had a blast! It’s so wonderful to reconnect and find the odd little ways your lives have paralleled, even after years apart. If you have an old friend who you haven’t heard from lately, definitely drop her/him a line and say hi! New friends are dear, but old friends are dearest!
Edit: I just noticed that weird kid in the background grinning. He seems a lot more thrilled than I look to be photographed, he he.
I liked the design of this Sauce shirt and bought it with a gift card to Saks Fifth Avenue. The shirt is so cheaply constructed, though! Worse than the worst of Forever21.
Edit: I was actually taxiing down the runway to take off on the plane back to Portland as I was typing the above. I didn’t think I would actually get done with this post before they forced me to turn off my electronic device LOL! But I managed to bang out the above…and decided later to add some more info. The shirt’s side seams are overlocked with a simple double-needle; hems are raw. Collar, instead of being made with ribbing, is done with self-fabric, turned, and finished with twin-needle overlock, so it stretches out the more you wear it. The fabric is super-thin and 100% cotton – it feels and looks utterly cheap to the touch. (Unlike my beloved Kain label tee – which is a blend of silk – and truly feels luxurious.) This shirt feels like it will disintegrate in sunlight…or in the washing machine! Ugh. So not worth $70! (The only rationalization I can make for its price is that the oversized screenprint (thus requiring non-standard sizded screens) necessitates a higher screenprinting fee?? But I think this is one example of the consumer paying the jacked-up price of label luxury – i.e., the brand of the shirt is its cache, not the quality.) I think it’s funny how the skeleton’s pelvis is quite higher than the wearer’s. Hub calls it my “midget skeleton” shirt. In my mind it’s also an ironic commentary on the current INness of skinniness in the fashion industry…could this be the current ideal of the female body?? hehehe. It kind of reminds me of those shirts they sell at Spencer’s Gifts or in raunchy catalogs as beach cover-ups with an airbrushed hot chick’s bikini body on them….in sizes XL – XXXL only…except this is the other extreme.;-)
I haven’t been in the habit of wearing black tights under my shorts, but here in Hawaii after the earthquake in Chile it’s been super-, super-windy. Almost hurricane weather. Of course I didn’t anticipate this and didn’t bring any warm clothes or long pants; so I tried layering these tights under my shorts, doing the whole Japanese-tourist-in-Hawaii-outfit. If you’ve ever been to Honolulu, you’ve probably noticed that all the young Japanese girls are layering black leggings or tights under their jean minis or shorts. For warmth? To hide the non-tanned state of their legs? To hide other leg imperfections? To be more modest even in a tropical climate that almost necessitates the showing of skin? I suppose one will never know…it’s a sort of a micro-trend here on the islands amongst the tourists from Asian countries. And me haha!
Hope you guys all had a great weekend!
xoxox
Carly
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