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Friday, December 24, 2010

What I wore today 12/24/2010

Here's my outfit for the Christmas Eve party with Ryan's extended family. The skirt is another one that I made from mens' shirt sleeves. The shoes are the green velvet ones from Modcloth.com that I mentioned in the post about Christmas dresses. Hype it if you like it. Merry Christmas everyone!


More photos:



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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Sexy side slits: sexy or skanky?

First things first: this is my 100th blog post. I started the blog in July and since then it's been visited by over a thousand people from all over the world (just this week, I've had visitors from Bahrain, Croatia, and Finland, among other countries). I have to say I've been amazed at the following I've gained so far and I want to thanks all of you for reading. I hope you will continue to read and comment with your thoughts and suggestions. Now, onto discussing this latest controversial trend.

Sexy side slits (alliteration much?) have been cropping up on the red carpet lately, and not to my delight. I'm all for thigh-high slits in skirt. I think it's super sexy. For example, Angelina Jolie looked incredible in this Versace number she wore last week at a Tourist premiere.

However, when a slit slides down a woman's entire side, including her hip (showing explicitly her missing undergarments), the whole effect is just a little to obvious for me. Rather than looking sexy and confident, the woman in question just looks like a porn star.

Exhibit A: Jessica Stroup

Exhibit B: Gwyneth Paltro

And Gwyneth of all people usually looks so elegant and classy. What on earth convinced her that that dress would be a good idea?

Compare if you will Gwyneth's dress and Angelina's. Both are a lovely winter white, both sport seasonally-appropriate long sleeves, both have a sexy slit, but only one looks elegant and classy.


Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas Wrapping

Not only the title of my favorite Christmas song, Christmas wrapping is also one of my favorite ways to have a bit of artistic fun. My mom and I used to do it together, sorting through bits of lace and magazine clippings and wallpaper samples, trying to make each package a totally unique piece of crafty work. "Bohemian" is the word my cousin Michael used to describe our gift-wrap style "Anthropologie-esque" is the word we are found of using. (My mother is almost as obsessed with Anthropologie as I am.)

This year, I decided to create brown-paper packages tied up with strings (one of my favorite things) and decorated with bundles of cinnamon sticks and pinecones. I had a lot of fun, and I hope my packages will inspire you to have fun with your Christmas wrapping.

The whole big pile:

Details and bits:





Something special for my mum (The reindeer bag is from Starbucks and the juniper stamp came of a Christmas card I received.):

P.S. After running a few essential Christmas errands, I am enjoyed a calm snowy afternoon. I hope you all are getting the chance to do so as well. Mmmmmm... moose mug of hot cocoa and a book. What could be better?

Insane deal!

The other day, I was at the mall, picking up my computer, and I just popped into Ann Taylor to look around (I think their new Heidi Klum ad campaign got to me) and I found this dress on sale for $30. It had originally been $250! I didn't need it at all, but how can you turn that down? You can't. Guess what I'm wearing New Year's Eve?



Anthropologie at Christmas time

I went to Anthropologie the other day. It was my first time at the new location in Kenwood Towne Centre, and I had the excuse of getting lost there as I was accompanying Ryan to do his Christmas shopping and he needed me to get lost while he ordered my gift (something engraved, but that's all I know.) To say that Anthropologie is my favorite store is a gross understatement. "Anthropologie is my favorite thing" comes closer to encapsulating my feelings for the place. It is completely my aesthetic in every way, it inspires me always; when I walk through a store, I feel like I'm walking through my own mind, browsing through half-formed ideas I never got around to.

So, anyway, on this trip I was particularly taken with the decor, which is all done up for winter (my favorite season) and I took some photos. I didn't take photos of clothes actually, though I did fall completely head-over-heels in love with this nearly-$300 coat that I will never own. (It's sort of a cape shape and just lovely.


Here are the photos I took:

This chair appeared to be made from radiator pieces (how literally cozy)

I'm a sucker for deer (especially bucks) and this patchwork one is so in the opposite spirit of those awful hunting "trophies." It's antlers are made from wooden coat hangers.

This "fireplace" made from books was truly amazing. I had to photograph it in pieces, but hopefully you get the idea.



And on a totally different note, for fun (and in the spirit of anti-fashion), I thought I'd post some pictures of the geeky outfits Ryan and I wore to go sledding the other day. Geeky, but warm.


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Classic crisp white shirt

A classic crisp white shirt is one of those essential items that every woman needs to have in her closet. The perfect one can make you look pulled together and elegant with minimal effort. Here's one that I've just ordered from Banana Republic. I like the details that make it a little different from the typical white shirt, while still remaining classic.


Mmmmm, french-cuff tuxedo shirt. You will be mine soon.

Incredible Etsy designs

Check out this incredible Etsy designer/seller, annapopovich, and click here to read about the inspiration behind her designs.

For example, the muscle structure of the human body inspired this gorgeous bodice.


More awesome garments: (Click each image for a link to its listing.)