AKA: the Gatsby New Year’s Birthday Party of the Century…

Three days ago I turned 30. It doesn’t feel much different than any of my 20′s aside from the fact that I know more now than I did then. However, the milestone occasion called for an amazing celebration filled with beaded dresses, bubbles and vintage furs, beautiful people and the Sorrento hotel…

So that night, we said goodbye to my roaring twenties, danced to shout, and counted 2012 away.  2013, I can’t wait to see what you bring.

View the rest of the photos here…

If you and I are friends on Twitter, you’ll remember the INSANE amount of Instagram photos I posted (along with my friend David Hoang) from my east coast trips.  I tried to capture snaps from my favorite places and document as much as possible – so I remember where to go for my next trip!

Pineapple + Hicks – Brooklyn Heights

One thing I loved was people watching – either while wandering around, or while riding the Subway.  There are a lot of super super chic ladies who ride the subway – which means a lot of outfit inspiration (and also some Vice-worthy “Don’t's”.  Would it have been super creepy to snap photos?  We’re talking denim vest, no bra, hot pants + a garter belt, with sparkly high tops and a teeeeeeeeny backpack.  David will totally agree on the weirdness factor.) .

I felt like there was some truth in saying that in New York, you can really work a “look” – style is on display and if you ever want to try a look, NYC is the place to do it.  That said, I saw a lot of “Fashion for the rest of us”.  Easy, go-to outfits for when you’re sipping an iced Americano at Vineapple in Brooklyn.  In fact, Brooklyn is where I saw this look – a look I liked so much I had to go out and find the most colorful farmer shirt I could to recreate it.  Brooklyn girls are babes.

The recipe: one super colorful checked shirt (Old Navy. Not my usual, but this shirt was perfect), one pair of slim (black) trousers (Vivienne Tam), one pair of little white flats (Vintage from Sustalux), add jewelry and accessories as needed.

I’ve been lazy and my hair is long enough now to toss it up in a messy… something.

Add a couple funny faces, and light, summertime makeup (tinted moisturizer, a little eyeliner, a little lipgloss, mascara, and a peachy bronzer).

Voila!  I like the vintagey look of this top tucked into slim pants (it feels very mid-century to me).   I also love the white-white-white accessories.  White flats, white bag, white watch, white sunnies.  High contrast, low effort.

I know someone’s wondering “How the EFF  are you wearing that in the middle of summer?!”  Lucky us, it’s 65 degrees right now.  Our little secret is that Seattle summers mean temperatures anywhere from 65-93 on any given day.  Most of the time it’s between 75-80.   Of course, we only get sun for 3 months out of the year.  Hooray!  (I love it, but I know sun-lovers don’t.)

What do you think of this Brooklyn-inspired outfit?  I say, “Thank you random subway girl for showin’ me how it’s done.”

I realized this morning, that I have several folders of outfit photos that never quite made the cut onto my site.  I’m sure a lot of readers and bloggers have a backlog of decent, or even great outfits, that never see the internet.  Quelle travesty, right?  These images are from about a year ago, and it’s interesting to look at it and take note of how my style has evolved over the last year.  Also, it’s a reminder of which outfits worked – even though they never saw the internet.

This outfit is still super current, even though the photo was taken about a year ago.  In New York, I saw a ton of printed maxi dresses – the print is key -and for summer, they can be the easiest option to slip into when the temperature rises.  To make it a little less boob-a-licious, I tossed a little silk vest over the top – it added structure, without adding extra weight or layers.  It would also be great with a denim or chambray shirt.   I like to pair with flat sandals or wedges, and big statement jewelry like this Tarina Tarantino necklace.  To layer, I throw sweaters, little jackets, cardigans, and vests over this dress, as the weather dictates.

Looking back in time... A year ago, this was what I was wearing.

Details:

• Print maxi dress - Moda International
• Black silk vest – Amanda Uprichard
• Tarina Tarantino heart necklace
• Blue Lela Rose wedges from Payless

So, what were you wearing a year ago?  How do you wear it now?  Is it still current?

You know that moment when you’re a kid, and you realize your first movie hero?  Or Heroine, as it were…  This was definitely my movie.  I wanted to be a rollerskating muse so bad as a kid.  And strangely, I haven’t grown out of it; probably because as far as goofy fun goes, this is it.

What’s this foil thing about? Why is she so shiny?  What has she got on her head!??!

It’s kinda just fun to watch – to sit back and say “Oh wow, this is really, really silly, and I’m kind of into that.”  It’s one of the BEST worst films you’ve ever seen. (The soundtrack, which topped the charts totally makes up for the excess of camp and hilariously amazing musical numbers.)

Here’s to you, Photoshop glow tool.

You know what’s a little crazy about watching this movie?  How much the style they’re rockin’ resembles a lot of the street style I’m seeing today.  Batwing/dolman sweaters tucked into tulip skirts.  Harem-style, halter jumpsuits.  Harem pants in general!  Little flippy shorts and tailored tops.  Strong shoulders and swingy mid-length skirts.  STRIPES! Floaty dresses + slouchy boots and an over-load of fringe.  Big florals and fishnets.  Yellow and black dots.  CRAZY lycra jumpsuits.  The end montage shows off a wide array of animal print, and there’s even a tightrope walker that makes me think of all the hipster-y girls in their teeny, floral, micro print dresses and tights. All their 80′s-does-40′s (and just straight 80′s style) has been all-the-rage for the last year.

Maybe it’s because the 80′s just became vintage.  Because neon is cool, because we’re okay with tapered pants again, and because rollerskates are totally all the rage – right?  Well, aren’t they?

Okay, and there’s a Xanadu Marvel comic book?  Are you kidding me?

(Read the rest here)

As cheesy as this movie is, it’s definitely a cult classic and it’s one of MY favorites.

OH MY GOD. I found this via the Lovely Dolly Dahl and I CANNOT stop watching it. It’s 100 years of East London Style in 100 seconds…

If you haven’t checked out Dolly’s blog yet, get over and do so! She’s adorable and amazing!

Also, THIS cracks me up so much – Hot Feet!

I’ve been taken, recently, with delicate, beautiful charm bracelets.

Let’s face it – cuffs have been a huge thing for ages, and I’m ready to turn them all in, in exchange for something prettier, something lighter, and something a little less flashy.  Of course, I’m looking for uniqueness and substance, and I feel like there are a lot of really lovely options for arm candy, with these charming little charm bracelets.  After scouring the Topshop website, I found a few that caught my eye.

Or is it … my EVIL EYE?!?!?

House of Harlow 1960 - Evil Eye Charm Bracelets

Evil eye – you see what I did there?  I love the look of the delicate chain and the little evil eye, encrusted with gems. This little gem might be that spot-on finishing touch that perfects an ensemble – taking it from boring to brilliant in an instant.  And it’s a little bit of a trompe à l’oeil, don’t you think? The little stones don’t mean anything until you take a closer look – and that’s when you realize, it might be watching you…

Jennifer Zeuner Mini Serpent Bracelet with Diamond

There are so many reasons this is so good… fresh approach to organic contrast indeed!  The little serpent is punctuated by a tiny diamond eye.  Ever since I purchased my Cleves swan ring from Wendy Brandes, I’ve been obsessed with tiny animals with gem-eyes. I love how delicate the little chain is, and let’s face it, serpent jewelry has been cool since Cleopatra.  There’s something delicately seductive in a tiny gold chain around your tiny wrists with a little flash of sparkle…

Pretty!  Imagine getting one of these in your stockings (Are we too far away from Christmas for me to start my Christmas list?) from your loverboy.  I like the delicate cursive lettering. I LOVE the little ruby in the corner of the heart.  I love the rose-gold, which is almost more shocking (while still being much less shocking) than yellow gold.  They’re super chic – the new answer to the ol’ “tennis bracelet” gift.  Okay, let’s not kid ourselves – tennis bracelets are swanky chic.  But still!  Who can afford one?  Gentlemen, this is much more likely to garner a smooch without breaking your piggy bank.

And for that slightly mysterious witchy-poo… a delicate trinket with attitude and edge:

If there’s any model out there with effortless cool (Is it really effortless?  Well she sure looks like it!) it’s Erin Wasson.  This is definitely a piece I’d pick up for it’s cool attitude, and it still looks light, and delicate.  It’d look great with your boho arm-party (thanks Manrepeller!) – wait, isn’t an arm-party strictly boho anyhow?  Clichés aside, this crystal sh!t is unique and sort of mysteriously witchy. (Also thanks to Manrepeller – this skull bracelet is dainty, edgy and totally rad!)

I’m over the oversized bangles – which always end up wedged down around my thumbs, inabling the use of my hands.  I’m ready for some seriously pretty, dainty pieces, layer-over-layer, creating a chic, sleek, ultra-svelte look.

How ’bout you, readers?

My 10 year reunion just happened and though I did not attend (I was working.  OH! and it’s a 9 hour drive each way), I spent some time contemplating the reunion and thinking about what I’d wear if I went.

Reunions are complicated things.  On the one hand, you fear that you’ll need to impress people with how much better your life is than it was in High School.  (No brainer – it TOTALLY IS)  And you might feel the need to be able to say, “I’ve made something of myself!”  You also think to yourself, “Why would I want to go?  These people are just going to be as stuck up as they were in High School.”  But listen, it’s up to you a) to decide that you want to go and b) to decide that it’s going to be fun.  If you waltz in with an air of “you’re all assholes” superiority, you’re going to miss out on what makes these parties fun.

So, going into this, remember:  These people are just people, just like you, who’ve done wonderful things, who are loved by people, who have probably made mistakes and made up for them.  The first thing you need to put on when preparing for your reunion is a smile.  The second thing you’re going to do is put on your war face – You’re going to need to be a little brave, because I’m going to suggest you go and talk to everyone you can remember, and even some of the people you don’t remember!  The third thing I’m going to suggest is to maybe eat before hand, and don’t automatically bum-rush the bar (if there’s a bar).  Nobody wants to see you carried out to a taxi halfway through the party.  Be smart about your alcohol consumption.

Oh, and nobody wants to relive that humiliating junior prom – you remember, the one where you had a blemish the size of Vesuvius on your chin, after stressing about a gal-pal going with your ex-flame.  Take a breather, maybe book a facial a few weeks ahead of time.  It’s time to plan what to wear.

Add a lot of drama by mixing high contrast colors.  Toss in a pop of raspberry or coral to keep it fresh.  This look is great for both day-time and evening events, and you’ll totally turn heads…

Now that you’ve got your “what to wear”, take a minute to survey the room and put on a smile.

What did you wear to your reunion?  Got any tips for reunion-bound babes?

No matter how many trends sweep through the fashion world, the timeless looks of fashion’s most beloved icons are always in style. This week’s Links a la mode gives a nod to iconic visionaries and brands–both old, new and on the rise. Can you think of anyone else you’d rather hang out with… or have in your Google+ circle?

LINKS À LA MODE: AUGUST 4TH

• A Prettier Place: Jean Paul Gaultier • Retrospective
• An Old Story: The 90′s Are All That
• Best of Bklyn: Giving Back Fashionably
• Castle Fashion: Shoe profile for All Saints Heels
• Cosmolawlitan: The Kate Effect? Fashion Icons and Their Influence on Consumer Behavior
• DignityZine: Iconoclass: Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Get the modern day look for under $100!
• Dress Code: High Fashion: Inspiring fashion since over 50 years: Alfred Hitchcock`s blondes
• Dressful: It’s not WHAT you wear, it’s HOW you wear it
• Fashables: So… I think She’s a Model
• Fashion is Evolution: This new installment of my favorite feature (Fictional Fashion Icon) is all about Margot Tenenbaum.
• Fashioned by Love: Fashion legend: Jeanne Lanvin
• Fumiko Kawa: [inspiration] Alexander Wang F/W 2011 shoe
• Heather Fonseca: Balenciaga and Spain
• Her Majestys Glam: How to: Make-Up Like Marilyn
• IFB: Google+ for Fashion Bloggers
• Kyoto Maiko: The Absence of Ivy
• Lady In Lycra: Everybody Talks About My Blog. A tribute to my new fave t-shirt
• Simplyfrabulous: Shoes and art, when a heel become a “chef d’oeuvre”
• Sometimes Almost Always: LA DJ Fashion
• Style Ceviche: The beautiful Sasha Pivovarova

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Whether we realize it or not, we are all influenced by something, whether it be celebrities, trends or designs of the past. This week’s links a la mode celebrates influencers and the voices we create from our inspiration. As fashion bloggers, we have each other to look for when we are feeling uninspired and this community is something we should never take for granted!

Links à la Mode: July 28st

• 1972projects: WASTED
• a tout le monde: Simple & to the Point!
• Beyond Fabric: The Lost Art of Keeping it Simple
• Bespoke Baroque: The Challenge to Wear Less Black (and Grey and Beige)
• Bonnie Vie: Body Con(scious)
• Britt + Whit: Wall Art
• Chanel and Something Else: The Naked Back
• Dress With Courage: How do you define blogging success?
• Fashables: Forever 21 Dresses
• FASHSTASH: Redefining the Gender Boundaries in Fashion
• I Got Style and I’m Fab: A Reflection on Small-Town Fashion
• IFB: What Makes a Blogger Influential?
• Interrobangs Anonymous: Revolution Through Sweaty Apathy
• Kings Rule Together: A Kings Response: GQ 40 Worst-Dress Cities in America
• Lifestyles of the Thrifty and Shameless: Everybody, Everywear (again)
• Panache Offblast: Bring Out Your Inner Geek-Chic!
• Pretty Innovative: Geeked Out Over eCommerce
• Style Island: I’ll be on your side forever more..that’s what trends are for
• Styling You: 10 Ways to Dress for French Champagne on an Aussie Beer Budget
• The Loudmouth Lifestyle: Competing, Comparing Confessing

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Right now I need nothing.  Well, maybe a cup of coffee… and air.  And water, and a nap?  But as far as my pocketbook goes, I need nothing.  I’d like to want less.  No, scratch that – I do want less.  I want less stuff to move.  I want to spend less.  I want to throw less away.

Here’s the backstory:  I went backpacking this weekend.  4 miles in, 4 miles out.  It felt good to get out in the air, to have my home and my food and all my needs packed into one place. It was cool to be responsible for nothing but what I could carry.  The return to reality was strange though.  The parents are selling off cool junk that I always thought I’d eventually own (for example, they’d get tired of dusting the piano, and I need one, right?).  Part of it is the need to just get rid of stuff, and part of it is cashflow-related.  It was weird – just knowing that pieces of my childhood were being sold off.  Inside I was both irritated that they’d get rid of these precious thing-memories for cash, and that I couldn’t rescue these thing-memories from certain doom.

Talking to Mr Bird about it, he said something pretty thought provoking, “That’s why people should stop just buying stuff.  You buy all this stuff and eventually it just gets thrown away, or sold off.  Why even own it in the first place?  It’s money wasted.”  I thought about it.  How many times have I cycled crap out of my wardrobe that I’ve bought but never really worn?  How much junk just gets thrown away each time we move?  How many times have I thought “Oh this toaster/food processor/set of dishes/candle holder/shower curtain will make my life so much BETTER” only to find myself thinking about replacing it within a year?

I understand the minimalist culture’s push to get rid of extra things – of extra wants.  There’s also part of me that really likes being surrounded with the nice things I own.  I’m especially fond of beautiful vintage that I’m saving from certain doom!  But at what point does that become hoarding.  And at what point do you have to just let go of stuff?

So I guess it’s important to look at our attachment to stuff.  And look at how much it costs us, and how much we waste.  It makes me think of shopping bans like the 365 Fashion Rehab girls or like Fabulously Broke did.  I wonder just how much I can do without.  Just how important or consuming my attachment to stuff really is.  Or like my friend Scarlet – I wonder if I could get away with only buying US-made stuff.  Because setting certain criteria will raise consciousness about the stuff I buy.  But is that really the solution to the problem? Is throwing everything away going to make your life more fulfilling?  Or is it about just knowing when to shop and when to stop?

Have any of you done any of these shopping bans?  Have any of you felt the need to have less stuff?  How do you reconcile the two?    I kind of think I’d rather have money in the bank than more stuff I *might* use.  Really, I can’t think of anything I need besides textbooks (and if I can get them electronically, do I really NEED them?).  I’d like to own a backpack and a lighter tent by  next summer, but I don’t NEED to update my wardrobe for fall.  I do need books for school, but I don’t need a new bag for them.  I don’t need wedge heels.  I don’t need equestrian boots to look cute this winter.  I don’t *need* a new bike to get down to campus.  And what’s more, I don’t *want* to see the waste when I clean out my closet., knowing I’ve spent money on things I’ll just throw away.

I think we all need to start shopping smarter.  What do you think?

PS.  An interesting story on Glamping.  GLAMPING!?!  REALLY?