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.”

Guest Post By Kate Harrison founder of The Green Bride Guide

Smell is a potent sense, especially when it comes to memory.  Memories can be tied to a particular smell, whether it’s pecan pie and Thanksgiving dinner at your grandmother’s, or the smell of your father’s favorite cologne. Whatever the smell and memory, these two together can elicit some of your fondest times year after year.

Incorporating particular smells into your wedding celebration can form brand new scent associations for your friends and family. Just think about it. Whenever you smell thyme or lavender, you can remember sitting at the head table next to your new life partner or dancing with your father.

If you have a favorite herb, like mint or basil, you can make that the focus of your wedding. Otherwise, you can create an herb smorgasbord and relish the rich, fresh scent of the garden as you and your guests celebrate and remember the happiest day of your life. Here are a few ideas on how to make your wedding smell absolutely delicious:

In the Bouquet

Image Source:  Teemiesblooms.com

 Herbs are beautiful living plants and they work well in a bouquet, as an accent to the flowers, or as the main event. Consider incorporating a few tall lavender sprigs or some baby’s breath to add some color to the ensemble. The best part? After the wedding, your bouquet will bring its delicious fragrance to your home for weeks. You can even save the dried herbs to use in your favorite recipes

As Favors

Image Source: Eventstoatdc.com

 Give your guests potted herbs as favors that they can take home and plant, or use right away, straight from the pot. Include an instruction card if the herbs you choose are choosy (i.e. they need a specific amount of light, extra water, etc.). Many farms will sell sprouted herbs in bulk so you don’t have to start your seeds from scratch. 

In the Cocktails

Image source: Onereputation.com

 Unify your theme by using the same herbs in your cocktails that you give as favors. Mint is particularly delicious in alcoholic beverages. Mojitos are refreshing rum-based drinks with sugar, lime, and fresh muddled mint. These are perfect for a hot summer wedding!

In the Food

Image source: 3.bp.blogspot.com

 Incorporating your favorite herbs into your cuisine is easy—think rosemary chicken or pesto pasta. Ask your caterer about getting herbs from a local garden and make sure they’re organic.

 ♠

About the Author: Kate Harrison

GBG’s CEO, Kate L. Harrison, has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master’s from Yale in Environmental Policy. She planned her own green wedding in 2007 and wrote the bestselling green wedding book The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded www.greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change and supports the local green economy.

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?

Oh hey there, you doll, you!

You may have noticed the design change, ’round these parts.  I’m super excited to have cleaned up, cleared out and completely revamped my site.  Here’s une petite update in photos!  Voilà!

Denny Hall

As you  may know, I’ve been in school, so my blog has been pushed to the wayside – but as the 20111-2012 school year comes to a close, I’ve got a little more free time to blog and do the things I love to do!

Berry! Thanks to Scarlet at Radar Hair and Records!

This past 9 months has been an amazing journey, meeting awesome people, gettin’ my know on, and enjoying the student life!  I’ve also been doing a LOT of great work with the Rory Martin Web Design + Social  Media Marketing crew…

I painted the entire interior of our new house and then moved into it!, went on vacation (Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Reno), watched my little sister get married, I bought a Memento Mori ring from Wendy Brandes, I put together a good amount of Ikea furniture, helped Kimberlee of Deco Modiste age some Victorian-style dresses…

In that time I radically changed my hair color (I took the plunge to a full head of shocking raspberry locks).  I’ve changed my personal aesthetic.  I’ve been getting into shape – skiing, riding horses, and riding my bicycle!

Rex and I

I went to Alefest with my pretty friends and dressed up in dirndls!!

Alefest! Kitty, Birdie, Lola and Mitsy!

Here’s a photo of my trusty steed – after she had a new paint job and a full tune up!

Bicycle

I planted a garden, I read several books – including a novel in French!  I made Dean’s list for two quarters straight (and am crossing my fingers for a third).

Wonderland Caterpillar

And the fun’s not over.  This summer will be the best – trips to NYC, and Boston, weddings galore (love! celebrate!), camping and a trip to the hot springs!

What have you been up to?  Tell me, tell me!

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.

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?

A play on the chicken and the egg (and inspired by Ashe Mischief’s Finance and the Fashion Blogger posts)…

I got to talking with Ashe this morning about fashion bloggers and the money we’ll spend on the things we find worth spending on.  She mused, “… Do people get expensive tastes from being bloggers or have [expensive tastes] and then become bloggers?”

Ashe mentioned that her mom always bought the best she could for the best value – growing up with quality over quantity, she notes, is one of the reasons she has such a good eye.  Out of a lineup of 20 white oxfords, her “eye will like the most expensive pair best, without knowing the designers or cost”.

Thinking about it – part of being a fashion blogger, for me, came from an obsession with what I couldn’t have, while inspirational style images peered out at me through the pages of catalogues and magazines, not to mention MTV.  My parents didn’t buy name-brand clothing (with 3 kids, who can!?).  We thrifted – and with the idea that things would be worn by at least 2 girls, even our thrifted pieces needed to be quality.  I was also involved in theater and costuming (you know, Thespian Troupe President,  and my senior portraits were voted most theatrical since I had old-timey photos taken instead of the very-posed norm).  I learned to sew.  I read books on costume history, researched vintage clothes and was always, constantly inspired.

In our small town, there was no GAP or Express.  I remember receiving Delia’s catalogues, and I bought all the teen-appropriate fashion mags I could find, circling looks and outfit pieces in each one.  This might be why I still flip through the Vicki’s catalogues, circling things and drawing moustaches on the models.  These catalogues showed me the clothes that weren’t available to me and the styles that I coveted.  I became kind of.. enamored with branded stuff.  As I grew into my tastes, I was able to weed out the styles that didn’t suit me, but have always had a soft spot for the inspiration in a well curated editorial – whether or not it was “my style”.

I worked retail when I first moved to the big city.  Through that experience, I learned about thread count, different fabrics, and differences in quality.  I saw how once-coveted items fell apart at the seams – literally.  With new shops to explore on every corner, my tastes evolved along with my paychecks.  I was still buying a lot of stuff on the cheap (often, quantity over quality), but I got tired of having to repair everything I bought that wasn’t well-made.

I find that now, I have priorities that I’d gladly spend money on.  It’s been a lot of trial-and-error, but I also a labor of love.  As I see the glint of my Tiffany heart pendant in my monitor, I realize I’ve always liked having “nice things”, not just because of the quality, but also because of the status involved.  Did blogging give me more expensive tastes?  Maybe, but I also worked in retail for years and spent a lot of time repairing cheaply-bought items and coveting things that had a certain aesthetic.  I was also exposed to so much more because I was in a more metropolitan area.

It wasn’t till I started truly blogging that I started to fill out what I thought my style should be.  Again, exposure was a key part of my growth as a blogger.  I realized that style is something you can tailor and create.  I went back to fashion magazines for inspiration, and dug out all my vintage pieces and acquired tastes.  I looked to other bloggers around me, found pieces that appealed to me and wanted things I thought I’d never afford.  Over time, I began to make more money, and my tastes evolved towards the wider market available to me.  Blogging does influence what I think is fashionable – seeing girls carrying it-bags, looking ever so stylish is an inspiration to look for my own it-bag.  Of course, I’ll always do it in my own style, whether the bag is vintage, or merely it-bag inspired.

So what gives?  Does being a fashion or style blogger instantly mean you have expensive tastes?  Or do expensive tastes turn you into a fashion blogger?  Or do your tastes and your paychecks and your style all grow together.  Does the fashion blogging world push us to spend more?  Or do we spend more to keep up?

My answer – all of the above.  A little of everything.   I’d be interested in hearing your point of view, readers.  Did fashion blogging inspire you to have expensive tastes?  Or did having expensive tastes lend to becoming a fashion blogger.

For Bonus Points, read The Chicken or The Egg Debate Between Fashion and Art

"Why won't my suitcase close!?"

I know I’m not the only person who’s got travel plans for this summer, and with travel plans come great big bags and hefty baggage fees.  In order to avoid those fees, I’ve figured out a few tricks to packing light for any occasion and still look amazing.

1. Plan it out. Know where you’re going.  Know what you absolutely need.

Example: You’re going to Vegas for a weekend with the girlies.  I know this means you want to sport a different outfit every night, BUT consider this:  When you come home, everything is going to smell like the inside of a casino.  So pack accordingly.  Bring things you can mix and match, that easily go from day to night and you’ll have no problem.  Also, bring one extra outfit to travel in, so you don’t have to stew in that stink for the entire ride home.  Hell, you could even skip the day clothes for the most part because all you really need is a swimsuit and a light cover up, right?

Planning it out lets you figure out how many days/activities you need clothes for, and where you can pare down on one or two things.  And having a list of the outfits you’re going to pack means you can coordinate your kicks so that you pack the most optimal pair that you can wear all the time (or pairs, cos I often bring a pair of sandals too).

2. Keep it Simple.  Add pieces you can coordinate, like a couple lightweight solid tees.  They don’t necessarily need to be neutral, but they do need to be things that you can dress up or dress down according to your destination.

Example:  During my London trip, I had a stash of tees (a couple bright, a couple neutral) that could be worn with pants or skirts.  When we went to explore, I wore skinnies and tees with a blazer and flats.  When we went out dancing, I paired that same outfit with fun jewelry and outrageous shoes.  In the blog-world you hear so much about how you can dress up jeans and a tee, or dress down – I took that to heart when packing, knowing that staple items look good either way.  And since tees are knits, they’ll resist wrinkles and roll up nicely into your luggage.

Example 2:  A thing I read recently said bring along summery high-waisted skirts.  The author mentioned that she loved local t-shirts when traveling, and ended up wearing them tucked into skirts to make the tees less “tourist” and more like a fashion statement.  I kind of liked that idea – you get a souvenir and a stylish addition all in one.  Of course, pack accordingly if you plan to purchase local.

In the same vein, if you plan on going out, an easy “day to night” dress simplifies everything when packing. Opt for a dress you can put on for the beach or your daytime activities, then throw a blazer or cardigan over it to wear to dinner.  The same goes for your makeup – if I’m taking my makeup, I usually pick one eye palette, one eyeliner, foundation and a translucent powder (if it’s summer, maybe bronzer), and then I get creative with that combination.  One of the reasons I like buying pre-made eye palettes is that I can do that.  I can take one set, and run with it.  Think what will transition from day to night.

3.  If you want to get wild, go with accessories. Use pieces like headbands, scarves, necklaces and earrings to instantly change the mood of an outfit.  Accessories take up little space in your suitcase and when packed in zipper bags, can be stuffed into your extra pair of shoes.  They’re your key to dressing up outfits, and adding a little “flair”.  The great thing is – accessories are easy purchases wherever you are.  They’ll have awesome souvenir value, you’ll use them over and over, and they’re easy to pack into your luggage to take home.  I loooove the sunglasses I got in London (a late birthday present from my friend Sean) – I wear them all the time, and they were so easy to pack in and out.

Also, treat your bag like an accessory. I often pack a small purse inside a larger tote bag.  The small purse holds my wallet, glasses, keys, phone – and can be pulled out at a moment’s notice. It also doubles as a lightweight handbag/clutch when needed and the larger tote can be used as a beach bag or shopper.

4.  Shopping while you’re there:  If you’re going to do it, go unique.  My #1 rule of thumb is this: If I can buy it at home, why should I buy it in another country – UNLESS it is a necessary item that I cannot live without until I get home.

For example, say you forgot socks – go ahead and buy the cutest pair you find.  But say I walked by an H&M – I’m not going to shop there, because there’s one down the hill from my apartment.  When I shop, while I’m out, I will look for fun jewelry, goofy tourist tees to pair with cute outfits, etc.  And unless I’m in town only to shop, I’m not going to be making purchases that I could otherwise make at home.  Know why?  If you’re out of the country, you’ve got transaction fees and exchange rates to think about.  If I’m in the next state over – well, I don’t really need it that bad, do I?  Because it’s going to be a beast to bring back home in an already-stuffed suitcase.  I also have more money to do things (not own things) while I’m on vacation.  You know, they say people appreciate experience more than belongings.  Don’t get me wrong – I like belongings, but I can see the wisdom in saving my pennies for fun adventures.

Got any more summer travel tips – packing or otherwise?  Share ‘em here!

It feels like it’s not yet summer here in the Emerald City.  I woke up this morning to clouds and cold, and put on a staple long skirt, tee and sweater to work in.  My project has been putting together photo-albums for a family friend – this time, their Switzerland trip.  I was really feeling the chill, looking through all the photos of glaciers and gray skies.

Stepping outside about mid-project, I realized the sun had come out and the temperature had risen at least 10 degrees.  I strapped on a pair of shoes and prepared to run some errands -snapping a few photos first.

I don’t need the sweater anymore… apparently.

Also, let’s talk about this necklace.  I received a giant box of amazing granny jewelry from a friend as a gift.  I kind of love amazing granny jewelry – and this box had some real gems!  (HA!)  Of course, one of my favorite little pieces was this clip on earring, which posed 2 problems.  A) Clip on earrings hurt.  And B) I was missing the other half of the set.  Of course, you can be creative and clip them onto other things though – shoes, skirts, belts, tops…  But since there was only one earring, I looped the clip over a spare chain I had, and have been wearing it as a pendant.  A little JB Weld under the clip will hold the clip down, so the earring doesn’t slide off the clip.  Voila!  Instant jewel party.

The entire outfit feels very nautical.  For my trek outside, I paired it with this white Céline bag (from Rice and Beans Vintage – she does layaway so I can afford nice things) and a pair of silver Saltwater sandals.

What I wore:

• Striped Top – Forever 21
• Maxi Skirt – Nordstrom BP (Pre-anniversary sale.  There was a haul.  More on that later)
• Necklace – assembled by me!  Thrifty!
• Cleves Ring – Wendy Brandes (LOOOVE!)
• Sweater – Erin Brinié Online
• Bag – Céline from Rice and Beans Vintage

I love the maxi-skirts because they’re light for summer, but since our summers are so fickle they’re still warm enough to brave our cloudy mornings.  Also, I just love the silhouette of a long, slim skirt.   They’re one of my favorite summer pieces right now, along with this white bag, and Saltwater sandals.

Oh, by the way, Gustav says hi!

Hai!

What’s your current favorite summer piece?

PS – Tweet this for a chance to win a Honey Bronze set from the Body Shop (You have until Friday!)!    Help @birdiee and @thebodyshopusa stop Sex Trafficking! Sign the petition (& comment, to win a Honey Bronze set). http://bit.ly/j6VYsK