Tag Archives: H&M

Guest Post: H&M is a Godsend, by Monochroma~chic

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Today’s post comes from Kristy of Toronto Style Blog, Monochroma~chic. You already know that she is a good friend of mine (Blogger BFF, if you will), whom I have gotten to know through sweet comments over the last two years, emails, Twitter and in person a couple times. Not only is she absolutely fabulous as a person, she also has this Olivia Palermo-esque sort of vibe that I always dig. Like our fellow Canadian Comrade, Jen of Her Waise Choice, she has this knack for a fresh take on femininity by mixing up textures and prints with panache. On top of that, her blog name TOTALLY ROCKS.

I asked her to do post about her favorite item, but then she did a whole OOTD post just for me! OMG, I love you, Kris!

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When Mae asked me to write about my favorite item(s) in my closet, I was torn. I recently acquired new things, so obviously I’m still on a honeymoon phase with them (cue in my Sam Edelman leopard shoes). But people didn’t come up with the saying “oldie but goodie” for no reason.

Toronto Style, Toronto Fashion, Monochromachic

This pleated skirt is over two years old and it’s still one of my favorite skirts in the closet. Same goes for this bangle. Much older than the skirt, but it goes with everything :) The Michael by Michael Kors tote is also two years old. I love how it can give any outfit an elegant pop of color. Last but not least, the rope necklace is less than 6 months old, but I feel like I’ve owned it for much longer than that. Just like the bangle, this necklace goes with everything, especially anything nautical.

Toronto Style, Toronto Fashion, Monochromachic
Toronto Style, Toronto Fashion, Monochromachic

So I guess to answer Mae’s question “What are my favorite items in my closet?”, I would have to say anything from H&M. :)

Outfit details: Jacob shirt | H&M tank, skirt, necklace, bangle | Michael by Michael Kors tote | Sam Edelman shoes

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See? I wasn’t wrong. Her style is straight up LOVELY.
Thanks, Kristy!

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Outfit Architecture: What to Wear to the Theatre Bizarre Documentary Party

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I attended a party at The Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan to celebrate the trailer release of the documentary about a local cultural phenomenon, Theatre Bizarre, as well as kick off the fund-raising efforts to fund film distribution of the movie.

One of my best friends, Sarah/Sillygrrl performed in the showcase with her aerial circus troupe, The Weird Sisters. Of course, I had to support my girl. Plus, the three women can effing FLY.

More on The Weird Sisters and Theatre Bizarre tomorrow. It’ll make you pee your pants.

short pleated red shorts
short pleated red shorts
short pleated red shorts
short pleated red shorts
short pleated red shorts

Here’s what I wore. I likened it to a high class hooker outfit, while my husband dressed like a Yuppie from Cambridge (ie., plaid button down, pressed khaki shorts, and khaki, natural canvas Toms shoes).

When you go to the Circus, you gotta dress the part. Honestly… my husband and I were probably the most normally dressed there, amongst skanky fauns, Housewives from Hell, Hell fairies, industrial club kids and zombies. A 10 foot faun walked around the venue, towering above everyone, and banging on bongo drums to the beat of The Weird Sister’s accompaniment tracks. Only at a place like this is dressing for the occasion is art as much as that being exhibited on stage.

WATCH OUT FOR TOMORROW’S ARTICLE ABOUT the Theatre and the WEIRD SISTERS!

RE: GIVEAWAY– YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, I know! I need to get off my lazy ass and actually figure out who won the giveaway prizes… I will get there, but I’ve got TONS of entries to go through. I’ll keep you posted. Hopefully by this weekend?

{ Outfit Architecture }
H&M Tank
Causeway Mall circles bib necklace (my own sash as chain) [SIMILAR]
Turban, vintage sash
Red pleated shorts by Destrucked. [SIMILAR]
Sam Edelman Zoe Boots
Muji Circle velvet purse
Banana Republic fringe bracelet
Wendy Mink Cuff

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{ Architecture of an Outfit } Pale Yellow….Forever hollow, that’s worse than yellow // Piss is the color of tears

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{Lyrics from “Pale Yellow” by The Ditty Bops}

The lyrics kind of match my mood with the stupid weather, because I rather hate wet, hot sticky summers here in the Great Lakes Land. Yesterday was GREY. Grey and HOT. A rather abominable, loathsome way to spend an afternoon… even if only traversing from the car back to the house and vice versa, let me tell you.

Like I said yesterday, I dress around a singular element sometimes and build an outfit that way. Yesterday, it was the shoes because JELLY SHOES rock in the rain. Plus, they are yellow, which is a perfect way to combat the summer gloom. Um, and the bows. Yeah, bows.

I always feel like a total idiot in front of the camera, and I never know how to pose. So, while I’ve done the traditional Oh-So-Serious posing, and the absolutely bat-crazy Mae posing, I don’t think I’ve done super cute. So here we go. If you stop reading me, I think I might actually understand.



I wore grey because, naturally, I have about 3 other colors than yellow in my wardrobe, and everything else is grey. It’s kind of a go to, since the underlying color in the lace boho blouse is a dove grey. The pop of yellow was enough to bring in color to the ensemble, and the underlying palette is neutral.


{ What do you wear to combat June Gloom? }

{ Outfit Architecture }
Peasant boho lace top (wearing size L), Squash Blossom Boutique, Decatur, GA
Grey tank, H&M
Grey man trousers, Victoria’s Secret
Yellow Jelly bow heels, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania x Melissa Shoes
Braided vinyl leather belt, Target
Brass circles necklace, UO
Gold fringe bracelet, Banana Republic [GIFTED by ML of Twenty York Street. Thanks, Blogger BFF!]
Gold repurposed metal eco bracelets, Alex & Ani
Gold-tone boyfriend watch, Target

Don’t forget to enter my $300 GUCCI/NYX COSMETICS/THE BODY SHOP/BLUE LAGOON SKINCARE/ORIGINS/CLINIQUE/DR. HAUSCHKA/CHANEL GIVEAWAY BONANZA! [ends July 1]

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{ Building the Outfit Architecture } Summer Yellows

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When building an outfit architecture, I often construct the architecture around a singular element.

Today, with the gusty winds and torrential downpour, I decided that Vivienne Westwood Anglomania x Melissa jelly shoes’ combo of yellow and plastic would be perfect for the wet pavements drearily reflecting the dull grey expanses of sky [recently seen HERE, HERE, and HERE]. Such a saturated hue of shoe calls for similarly eye-catching hues in the same color family elsewhere in the outfit.



Instinctively, I reached for the yellow and grey lace top and then everything else kind of just fell into place. Gold/brass-ish buttons? Gold & brassy eco-friendly bracelets and boyfriend watch. Capiz shell earrings I found for $1 at H&M. Brass buckled “leather” belt. Grey lace? Grey pants. Bad hair? Big, big, messy Princess Bunhead top knot.

Different elements come together to combine for a sweet summer Outfit Architecture which just the right amount of girly and bright to combat the fatigue-inducing ugliness we call Great Lakes Weather [i.e., it not always "great"].

Full Architecture tomorrow.

{ What’s your Outfit Building style? }

Don’t forget to enter my $300 GUCCI/NYX COSMETICS/THE BODY SHOP/BLUE LAGOON SKINCARE/ORIGINS/CLINIQUE/DR. HAUSCHKA/CHANEL GIVEAWAY BONANZA! [ends July 1]

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{ Architecture of an Outfit } Color Blocking, can we try that again? With a Butt Illusion Trick?

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I’m not very good at color blocking, because my entire wardrobe consists of neutrals like beige/taupe/tan, grey, cream, navy and black, black and yet more black, or black with stripes. So when I used a $100 gift certificate I won from Rebecca @ The Clothes Horse to Shop Ruche, and I spotted this chartreuse pencil skirt with the weird “fin-like” and folded detail pockets, I snatched it up immediately. Being a petite (5’2″ & size xs/2 or s/3), I thought the skirt would be a perfect fit. Instead, it is probably one of the most skimpy skirts I own, simply based on the fact that the fit is unforgivingly snug. If you look closely in some of these photos, I have un-disguisable Muffin Top, only further “enhanced” [shall we say?] by the horizontal wide stripes of my H&M tissue tee. Not really sure if this counts as color blocking, but I’m trying!

But the color, oh god, the color! It reminds me of a washed out Lomo photograph of an early spring morning. Saturated and ready for hot weather.

And the stitching of the lines… The scallop shape of the fin pockets and the central panel give an illusion of curvature to my spindly legs. A direly needed deception I welcome wholeheartedly. The added benefit is that the lines and snugness give me the appearance of having an ass as well. For someone who has suffered the life-long syndrome of Ironing Board Backside, this is another welcome misapprehension. I would wear this skirt to death, if I didn’t actually need to eat whole meals two to three times a day.

I wore this with a newly acquired (shopping ban was lifted for the month of my birth, but it’s back on now, I’ll have you know) H&M tissue boxy tee. The sheerness and the nautical stripes make it perfect for the disgustingly sweltering, sticky summers here in Michigan. And the boxy cut of the shirt not only makes for good draping, but also provides the perfect curtain to cloak a full belly bloat after lunches. That is, unless you wear it this way as I did here, half tucked.

I did this because otherwise the fin pockets would have been concealed, and also, I would have lost a bit of my shape. So I tucked in more than I usually would to give more definition to my waist, and to lengthen my center line. With the nude heels, I look taller and more poised. In addition, the solid skirt gives more counterbalance to the white stripe contrast up top.

What are pieces that give you things you wish you had (ie., an ASS)?

Don’t forget to enter my $300 GUCCI/NYX COSMETICS/THE BODY SHOP/BLUE LAGOON SKINCARE/ORIGINS/CLINIQUE/DR. HAUSCHKA/CHANEL GIVEAWAY BONANZA! [ends July 1] So far, only, like 14 people have entered, and it’s making me sad!

{Outfit Architecture}
H&M Shirt & yellow tank (layering)
Shop Ruche fin pocket pencil skirt
Jeffrey Campbell ruffle T-strap platform nude heels
Marc by Marc Jacobs heart locket watch
Kenneth Cole waffle gold cuff
Madewell mixed metal fringe bib necklace
Alex & Ani recycled / repurposed gold and silver spike bangles

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{ Architecture of an Outfit } 80′s Nautical Boho Floral Water Color Feline

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Wore this on Friday…Been seeing stripes/nautical tops worn with leopard a lot lately. So glad I’m not the only one clashing this hard. Especially when I see hard hitting, popular bloggers doing it, I know I’m doing something right!




Some people question the sanity of contrasting prints, especially when “tried and true”, established rules of fashion usually dictate that fashion should match. But again and again, I say in this forum:

The rules of fashion are meant to be broken; Fashion is ever-changing.

Why mix, or why match…


… when you can clash?

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How awesome is this jean jacket with 2 back pockets? I got it a long time ago in a mall store dedicated to Korean fashion. Sadly, the place went out of business, but I made sure to snag quite a few items from there, and this is one of the last pieces I have from the lot, but I absolutely love it to death, despite it starting to fray at the sleeves. Because of the two cell-phone sized pockets on the back, it is so much more unique than other 80′s stone washed jean jackets. Win.

The peplum striped top is from Korea by a fashion label called Redopin, which is a great, edgy (with feminine styles, too) brand sold exclusively through Yes Style. As soon as I saw the tunic with such a different peplum silhouette, I knew I really wanted to wear it. There’s a lot of peplum out there, but not like this.

Previously, I’ve seen lots of water color skirts, but not like this either. Putting it together with the creme and black seemed like such a perfect idea.

The leopard scarf? I honestly don’t know how I’ve gone my entire life without one. I don’t think I could ever banish it from my closet. Ever.

Put it all together? And you have a nautical, watercolor boho feline living in the 80s. I love all the clashy-clashy goodness.



{ Outfit Architecture }
Jean Jacket (with back pockets), Moda something
Silk flounce watercolor skirt, Jacob (Canada brand, gifted by my blogger bestie MariLou of Twenty York Street, thanks ML! <3)
Striped Peplum tunic, Redopin (via Yes Style)
Leopard scarf, H&M
Faux patent gator belt, Forever21
Cognac leather scrunch boots, Bakers Shoes
Bracelets: Alex & Ani, gold Target watch, crystal and filigree bracelet (random boutique for my wedding).
Ring, Miss Selfridge UK.
Feather earring, UO.

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I will announce my one year anniversary giveaway tomorrow night! I’m giving away a lot of goodies I’ve accumulated for awhile now (won, given, or bought), that I’ve kept and waited to share with all of you! There will be two winners, a grand prize winner and a runner up. I’m so excited to give this away to you! Thanks again for continuing to support thereafterish.!

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Week in Pictures ~ May 16 – May 21, 2011

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I think this will be a weekly thing with me.

Being that I carry a nice 5MPX camera with me at all times (it’s nice, this iPhone, isn’t it?), I’ve been snapping a lot more photos than normal, even though I have a lovely 10.1MPX camera with a Leica lens (Panasonic Lumix LX5). It’s just easier to tote my iPhone around without the extra bulk of a HD/Semi-manual camera. You already know I’m a huge bag lady, but after almost a year of carrying 1 iPhone (3G 8GB), 1 iPod (80GB), a large notebook AND a half face of makeup for touch ups, it was time to de-bulk….

Having a phone that is also faster than the iPhone I was using for a year… I get a little trigger happy with the Lomo-esque camera apps. I think I now have 7 camera apps on my phone, including photo editing software. Ahhh. Joy.

No dog I have ever known is this “well-documented”. I take pictures of Bear[dog] whenever I can, because he’s always doing weird and/or cute things. I may not have a maternal instinct/inclination in my psyche toward children, but toward my own furry “child”, I could never be accused of negligence or being unloving.



After I gave him a corrective “hair cut” after he had come from the groomer (trimmed his “Snoopy Ears” down to the Bear-like short style).


Picked out a birthday card for my BFF Lily.

Why do 95% of all cards created specifically for females look like a cupcake bakery that threw up on a Crayola Box? I think greeting card designers are playing a joke on us. Thankfully I found 1 that didn’t make me yak, but only after I had scoured the racks for 15 straight minutes. *barf*

When I had work to do….

I doodled instead, about what I looked like…

…and how I felt.

Spent a LOT of time on the phone (at work).

Some of which I was on the phone with my friend CK, to whom I dedicated several Instagram/Tumblr picture posts since we’d spent SOOOO Much time emailing and phoning each other.


Lomo app crazy.


I cooked and ate lots of delicious, nutricious vegetarian or vegan food.


Thursday, my father-in-law took me out for sushi as a belated birthday lunch. (Yet moar food!)

Um… Sushi boat?? WHAT!

Bad weather. SICK of Bipolar weather in Lake Country. 86F/30C and sunny and humid one day, 58F/14.44C the next with thunderstorms & clouds. What happened to Spring? Oh, there it is! Wait, no, it’s summer. Wait no, it’s spring again. WTF. #Detroit.

Hair & Clothes (’cause I went shopping on Friday with my girl friend A, with whom I haven’t hung out in months).

(Yes, still wearing this T. I love its drapiness.)


Saturday woke up, feeling hung over from actually getting rest after a week of insomnia…. drowned myself in 3 mugs of Green Tea just to wake up…


…cleaned the kitchen, while entertained by The Voice [Hello, Mr. Adam Levine... you are so fine].

Joy riding to the lake.

Went to the Lake on Sunday, and saw my close friend E’s house for the first time. So charming I had to take pix on the tour.



I have a thing for Kitchens & Bathrooms–the two rooms in the house I use the most. Most brill vintage stove vent in their main kitchen.

Laid out by the lake for Girl Talk & cocktails in SPORTS BOTTLES with E. *Classiest broads on the Lake.*

Gave myself a facial & tried a new towel tying technique.

Project 808 Research (for our relocation to Hawaii in Jan), and the birthday card my MIL got me two weeks ago… reminds her of me when I was a little girl [oddly, very similar].

Cooking another new dish: Roasted Portobella mushroom steaks marinated in onion garlic balsamic vinegar sauce (also vegan), served with Roasted rosemary lemon potatoes with sea salt, lemon pepper & butter & herb salad. (I made enough potatoes to last us 3 days.)



…Max ate very, very precisely [he always does this] while Mummy cooked.

Finished product:

… I miscalculated the amount of time to prep the potatoes and mushrooms, and ended up taking 2h15m to cook the meal. We ended up eating around midnight.

So that was my week last week!

How was yours? What did you do? See? Or, most importantly, EAT?

I also hit my 1 year blog anniversary today. I’ll have a BIG giveaway coming up soon in appreciation, and I’ll be launching thereafterish’s namesake domain with a brand new website SOON! Yeay!

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{ Architecture of an Outfit } Bored and Bare

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No, I’m not a drunkard. I barely even drink. Drinking certain types of alcohol usually triggers a lupus flare or an inflammation attack in my joints, so for the most part, I tend to stay away from consumption. Every now and again, I conveniently “forget” I have lupus, and I’ll have a cocktail, and the next morning afternoon, I’ll feel like I’ve been strung through the wringer, and joints will be cracking in searing pain. Fun.

I digress… So, no, I’m not a drunkard, or a woman with an alcoholism streak. I’m just bored.

Loopy, strange poses born from boredom. When I’m bored, I get weirder.

See?

Skyped last night with one of my besties, Lily of Bleed For Fashion, and though I tried to illustrate to her the extent of my weirdness, she didn’t seem to see it and laughed it off. I ASSURE YOU, I’m kind of peculiar. Perverted jokes, finding flatulence and poop hilarious, and speak in weird voices and make new, strange vocabulary with Husby. Basically, I have the humor of a 12 year old boy. I swear a lot, and I occasionally revert to speaking like a cartoon. I’m also dramatic and slightly emo, but that’s a whole other monster in my closet.

I’m only telling you all now because you are bound to see it all some day.

On another note, though you likely wouldn’t assume so, I’m probably [book] smarter than most people you’d meet (ie., very, very high IQ, not that that means anything anymore), and I’m a pretty good listener/empathizer. So hopefully that redeems most of the crazy I tend to exhibit once I start to get to know a person better. If I start acting hyper and kind of strange around you, it’s because I’ve finally let you the f*ck* in. Call it a good thing.

Makeup: Actually wearing a whole lot, but the golden evening sun streaming through our sheer curtains washed out the pigments on my face. Technically, the most bare you’ve seen on me. Wearing Bobbi Brown, Pixi and Chanel makeup. Eyebrows are NYX.


{ Outfit Architecture }

Yellow crochet lace panel cardigan, Shop Ruche
Tank, H&M
Braided waist belt, The Limited
Slate grey pencil skirt, Banana Republic (gifted to me by blogger BFF, ML of Twenty York Street. THANKS, ML!)
Patent dove grey pumps, Boutique 9
Mixed metal necklace, Jessica Simpson (gifted by Lauryn of Laureality. Thanks, L!)

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{ Architecture of an Outfit/OOTD } Bows and Color For Her Waise Choice

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Jen T of Her Waise Choice is a constant inspiration for me with her very sophisticated blend of high street fashion and upscale “professional chic” taste. With structured, mature pieces, incredible statement jewelry, and a bold infusion of vivid color blocking, this girl is such an up and coming talent, a formidable force on the Vancouver fashion scene. Not only is she absolutely refined, her enviable style sense is further enhanced by her very young age (22).

With a sweet demeanor that brings smiles to even this staunch grouch, Jen is the fetching example of how I would like to dress (and behave).

So yeah, once I swallow my jealousy, and down a mug [or five] of coffee so that Mae, Raging Bitchface of Death, transforms into Mae, Slightly Decent Human Being, I then get inspired by Jen’s power Femme Fatale vibe, and try to infuse color and more femininity into my daily sartorial choices.

Jen is a big fan of Zara, and since we don’t have Zara here in Detroit, the next best thing are the amazing skirt choices from Club Monaco and tops from H&M. Inspired by her wardrobe, I put together my feminine best and paired it with yellow for a small pop of color, a la HWC. The bows on my Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes were an after thought, but also very reminiscent of some of the elements Jen puts into her stylings.

I found this gorgeous lace skirt at CM for a steal, so I snatched it up, because both lace and color are things I desperately need in my wardrobe. I probably have about… 16 pieces of Club Monaco in my closet, and they are some of the few items I get tons and tons of wear out of. Most of my clothing isn’t so heavily rotated.



Leave it to me to look confused, awkward, and as little feminine and demure as possible when posing.



Although this outfit is a bit more to the 4th point of my style square–Feminine With a Chip on its Shoulder style, it’s still essentially inspired by HWC while staying true to my more tomboyish, punky nature. The bold shoulder blazer, the very waist cinching belt, the single statement earring, the asinine poses: all Mae-isms.

{Outfit Architecture}
Bold shoulder blazer, statement acrylic jewel bib necklace & patent fake leather belt, Forever 21
Lace skirt, Club Monaco
Yellow tank top, H&M
Stockings, Target
Sterling silver Asian Fan earring (pair, worn singly), Victoria, BC Boutique
Woven envelope clutch, Waikiki, Hawaii boutique
Pearl flower ring, vintage.
Yellow bow shoes, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania x Melissa Shoes

{How do YOU infuse color and ladylike details into your wardrobe? (Unless you’re a dude, that is.)}

Jen photo via Her Waise Choice.

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{ Architecture of an Outfit/OOTD } Mixing Prints #25(?)- Zebra Sailor Panty Shot

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{Outfit Architecture: Black drape cardigan, H&M. Striped ruched shoulder gold button shirt, Anthropologie. Zebra print zipper skirt, Club Monaco. YSL knock off platform heels, Dolce Vita Aprils. Lace tights, Target. Purple bow waist belt, Go Jane.com. Necklace, Jessica Simpson (Gift from Laureality). Gold Antique Key ring, House of Harlow 1960 via Shopbop. Marc by Marc Jacobs locket heart watch. Twig & CZ earring, gold infinity earring, Sole Sisters, a Royal Oak, MI boutique… }




I’m not completely certain if my personality is accurately imbued in my content. When I write, I try to infuse as much of myself as I possibly can, because, more often than not, I’m posed like a total vain-glorious vag in my photos. More often than not, I feel awkward in front of the camera, much preferring to be behind it, snapping the photos myself. I pose in stiff postures, a small number of canned poses I rotate through regularly, because posing in anything other than Hand on the Hip, Slightly Cocked Hip, Slightly Pigeon Toed style is actually really, really difficult. Where do people come up with these different poses? I don’t know. I feel contrived if I try to get too creative with posing, as if I’m trying to be a living work of art like some of those full-time bloggers with beautifully captured photos by a live-in professional photographer boyfriend.

So, these stiffened, mannequin-like poses might actually belie the fact that I’m rather silly, over active, vivacious and loud. Ask anyone. I talk a mile a minute–drunken on my own verbosity, if you will; I can be rather explosive, extraordinarily coarse (I swear like a sailor), and prone to saying the words “like” and “so” much too often. I also tend to break into song spontaneously, sing along to most tracks whenever I play my music (much to the chagrine of my husband, who thinks the music is intolerable enough already), and am ready to talk about all things nerd related.

Luckily for me, I met my match when I met my husband on MySpace all those years ago, and we jived through letters over our mutual love of nerdery and all things quirk-ridden. Imagine my surprise when I found him to speak as fast as I do, if he tended to lapse into pensive, awkward silences every now and then when he needed time to formulate his thoughts properly, and someone who could break into random fits of giggles and hissing laughter and was riled with delight when he discovered I could play videogames for hours and hours and not bat an eyelash. So when I tell you N and I are rather giddy and absolutely childish with each other, I can’t emphasize it enough. Our humor is positively juvenile.

When coaxing him into taking photos of me, he usually does it with the condition that he can fart about with the camera… which results in attempted panty shots and photos of me mocking the weird faces he makes to get me to smile.

There’s nothing better than taking all the seriousness out of life, and as well with seemingly vain endeavors as taking five ga-jillion photos of yourself and your shoe collection.


Better view of the front.


Accessories. More mismatching earrings.


Art Directing the photos. (“Portrait… try attempting an angle… get the shoes!”)


Making faces.


Attempted Up Skirt. FAIL!

{Life is too short to take it seriously, and not collect shoes.}

Enter my $100 Shopbop gift card giveaway! FREE CLOTHES.

Open internationally. Entry closes Friday, March 11. GO GET IT. Tell your friends!

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{ Architecture of an Outfit/OOTD } Peppermint candy striper

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I’ll be brief today.

You know what I love about peppermint? How it immediately refreshes your mouth with a small little sugary circle or a small strip of chewy, minty goodness. I also love that it mixes two very contrasting colors, white (or cream) and red. Two powerful hues: the color of innocence, purity and all things new, and the color of passion, courage, love, energy and vitality–a perfect combination.

Know what else I love? Mixing prints. I’m good at it. I do it often.

I also love, love, love red.

Yea. (Ever notice how people don’t know how to spell yea? They always spell it “yay.” — Because of overusage, the incorrect use has created the actual word “yay,” but I’m still arguing for the original spelling.)




{Outfit Architecture: Tulip skirt, disco necklace, stud strap bracelet, Forever21. Peppermint drape cardigan, Spotted Moth. Striped long sleeve T, H&M. Thigh socks, Target. Speckle bracelet, Old Navy. Cage strap heels in the style of Jeffrey Campbell, GoJane. Red lips, Laura Mercier Lipstain in Mulberry. }

I love us.

Enter my $100 Shopbop gift card giveaway! FREE CLOTHES.

Open internationally. Entry closes Friday, March 11. GO GET IT. Tell your friends!

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{ Architecture of an Outfit / OOTD } Get On Your Rubbers

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(He likes watching us take photos.)

Baby, when it’s cold outside, and there’s inches and inches of snow outside (right now the snow is melting away, but it’s still there and icky), you sometimes must make a trade-off between chic and warm/dry. I thought I’d forever be bundling up in thick coats, looking like the Michelin Man in my puffer jacket and ugly-ass Timberland snow boots that make me look like the daughter of a Sherpa. That is, I thought so until I got my The North Face belted parka and remembered that Hunter Wellington boots are both waterproof and warm, and thereby all their more affordable knock-off sisters are thusly cozy as well! Before some of the craziest blizzards of Michigan February blew in with their sturm und drang, chaos and other general turmoil, I snagged a pair of rubbers from DSW.com and bought a pair of Steve Madden fleece boot liners, which keep my tooties toasty, whilst shielding me from having to purchase a pair of Uglies (Uggs).

(I still believe that, despite the vast array of abhorrent footwear out there, Uggs will always be epitomé of absolute lack of taste. I get that they’re comfy and warm, but they are ugly as fuck. If you want toasty warm and waterproof, get a pair of Merrill or North Face or Patagonia waterproof boots from REI.)

Harumph.

Anyway, another way to stay warm in winter while wearing skirts is to layer your tights. Wearing teal opaque tights under thick lace crocheted tights is just as warm, if not warmer, than work trousers, and you don’t have to worry about bunching or discomfort in the crotch due to long johns. Super easy, super chic. Wear two tanks, and a nice drapey sweater, and you’re good to go.



(I always feel silly when someone else takes my photo.)

Did I mention, these boots are awesome?

I highly recommend them.

PS. if your feet are small enough, you can buy Hunter Wellies at a fraction of the price by getting a pair in the Nordstrom kids’ shoes section. A boy’s size 4 is a woman’s size 6 or 6.5, size 6 is a women’s size 8, and they offer them in sizes 4, 5, and 6. Win.

{ Outfit architecture: Drape-front sweater, H&M. Tank, Belt, crochet scarf, earrings, Forever21. Skirt, American Apparel. Lace crochet tights, men’s style watch, Target. Teal opaque tights, J. Crew. Boots, Dirty Laundry via DSW with Steve Madden fleece boot liners. Studded Alexander Wang Rocco tote knock off, Spotted Moth. Studded bangles, Alex and Ani via Charlie and Lee. }

Enter my $100 Shopbop gift card giveaway! FREE CLOTHES.

Open internationally. Entry closes Friday, March 11. GO GET IT. Tell your friends!

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{ Architecture of an Outfit / OOTD } Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo

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Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it’s all right

~”Here Comes the Sun”, the Beatles

One of my favorite songs by my favorite band of all time, “Here Comes the Sun” pretty much sums up my feelings on this most stupid of winters. Winters in Michigan can be pretty tough. But this winter has been pretty bi-polar, as if the wind and sleet gods cannot decide which to inflict upon us. Last week it was -1F/-18.33C with a wind chill of -7F/-21.67C, and there was 16″ of snow sitting on the ground. Today it was 51F/10.56C. Next week it will get back down to freezing again. The endless, ruthless cycle of chill and warmth leaves slick patches of black ice on the ground, and my body has problems adapting to the constant weather changes.

I’ve been sick for a week. Let’s just say, I’m over it. I’m over being sick, and of the cold and constant flux between warm and cold. My body is shutting down. She can’t really take it.

Kind of makes me wish we were in Hawaii already. That the dream has come to fruition, and has transported Husby and me to the tropical, balmy climes of the Hawaiian shores. Contrary to what people here on the Mainland think, Hawaii does not get hotter in the summer months, just warm, breezy and lovely, whereas Michigan can get into the high 90s F/35C with 90% humidity, which, if you don’t know, is bloody miserable. Spring here in Michigan is literally non-existent. It comes in mid to late May, a few blooms come out for a couple of weeks, and then summer hits you like a blast in the face in early June.

Today I donned flowers around my neck, playful contrasting prints and bright saffron on my thin silk skirt, just to remind me that perhaps we may have an early spring this year. One with flowers that last for more than two weeks. Please, flower gods.




{Outfit Architecture} Victoria’s Secret camel bell sleeve coat + J. Crew lux wool cardigan + H&M polka dot ruched sleeve T + Club Monaco Bubble Print silk skirt + Target woven faux leather belt + J. Crew floral wreath sash belt worn as necklace + Dolce Vita Jade sandals in desert suede + Sillygrrl Esty vintage ring + Marc Jacobs heart locket watch + Shop Ruche wooden filigree earrings

For more on How to Mix Prints, see my other Mixing Prints posts, including my article “Rules on How to Mix Prints aka ‘How to Wear Opposing Prints Without Looking Like and Imbecile Who Can’t Match’“.

Check out my first feature/interview in popular Ottawa fashion blog, Twenty York Street!

Twenty York Street Loves thereafterish.!
Yeas!

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{ Architecture of an Outfit } Cinch it up and put a bow on it

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Work style. Worn sometime this winter… Outfit Architecture: Bow blouse & waist cinching belt, Forever 21. Striped long sleeve top, H&M. Wide Legged trousers, Victoria’s Secret. Lipstick: Revlon Raisin Rage.

This evening I was running errands, buying groceries, taking out our three week accumulation of recycling which had been crowding our severely overloaded utility closet–we’re talking OVERFLOWING here, to the point of using extra bags and containers to hold the overflow… And while I was listening to the Sunday evening broadcast of All Things Considered on National Public Radio, I heard several story snippets of beautiful, moving fiction. After the excerpts were read, they revealed they were part of a project NPR is running called Three Minute Fiction, and it gave me an idea to try something similar with some of my short stories. In particular, my favorite short story, “Constantine”. I don’t want to paste any of my stories online, because, well, I think I’m a pretty good writer (or I was when I was actively writing stories), and I fall victim to paranoia of stolen fiction, stolen words…

How brilliant is that, though? Three Minute Fiction.

It’s Flash Fiction, but for the ears, not for the eyes. Moving, entertaining, humorous, insightful, these little are gems of amazing writing, just long enough to bring us to tears, terror or trilling laughter during a stop at a red light. Immediate access to culture, to mind bogglingly good writing, several stories at a time, just in the course of a normal 10 minute drive! I love the idea of it.

I’m not big on pod casting. I tried a few Audblogs or verbal blog posts on my personal site a few years ago, and it was well received. Pod casting… that takes work. But a flash fiction here and there, I think, would be really, really cool. It would break up the monotony of beauty, style, and fashion stories, or perhaps give it a more fun spin.

I like the idea.
—

I’ve been drinking a lot of tea lately. Peppermint tea, Bed Time tea (Chamomile + Peppermint + other herbs). In addition to non-caffeinated teas, I’ve been pounding water. One warm cup with Airborne in it in the morning before I leave for work. 20 oz along with my coffee during the morning period before I leave for lunch around 2PM, and 20 more ounces between coming back from lunch and by the time I go home around 6PM. By the time I get home, I have consumed about 6-7 glasses of water, depending on how thirsty I am at work. Then when I’m home, I have a mug or two of tea before I go to bed around 1AM… I realized, all this water must be the reason my skin has been looking a lot more nourished, smooth and luminous!

I also took a look at the nutritional content of my Airborne and daily multivitamins, and there is an abundance of Vitamins A (wrinkles, skin tone, acne), C (skin tone, complexion, brightening), and E (firmness, wrinkles), as well as all the other beneficial vitamins and minerals. A couple of wonderful bloggers commented on how wonderful my skin looks lately, and I didn’t think anything was different, because I hadn’t been eating any differently, nor had I changed my makeup much. But I realized that all the water I’ve been drinking, in combination with my vitamin regimen, has really affected the quality of my skin!

Say "hi" to my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 w/ Leica lens!

If I don’t have the right amount of water or tea in the day (tea also contains anti-aging antioxidants that help keep you hydrated and healthy), I feel off balance, slightly off kilter. There could be such a thing as too much of a good thing, but I keep in mind that whatever my body doesn’t need, it expels. I never try to drown my body by drinking more than 7-8 glasses of water and tea, and I found that after awhile, the frequency of having to evacuate my bladder dramatically decreases, as if the body acclimates to the intake of fluids pretty well. No, that’s exactly what it is.

I’ve been trying to stay properly hydrated for over two months now.

I’ve said it before, I’m not big on resolutions… I’m always trying to make new goals for myself as I go along. And this is one that has stuck.

Maybe that’s not what it is, but my skin looks great and I feel better now than I have in a long time. So I’m just going to keep doing this.

Do you have any recommendations for looking glowy and luminous and healthy?

—

I’m hosting a giftcard giveaway to my sponsor, makeup/beauty/haircare/skincare retailer Apothica and it’s sister site SkincareRx.com. The giveaway ends February 8. Go enter now! And tell your friends.
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Good news! H&M USA going online (e-commerce) & ramps up Eco line

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Popular retailer H&M announced yesterday via Twitter that the company will be taking its business online by launching e-commerce on its website around the turn of the year.

While this is extraordinary news for North America, the unfortunate target date means eager US (and likely Canadian) shoppers, who have been anxiously awaiting the release of an online shopping experience from the Swedish company, will have to continue waiting before they can start flooding the blogosphere with pictures of their H&M web purchases. H&M and other popular European retailer, Zara, launched online shopping experiences with revamped websites for the UK and continental Europe last September.

Posted on the same day via Twitter, H&M ramped up its environmentally friendly offerings with an “eco-smart” collection, unveiled in its 5th Avenue NYC store. The collection is very much in line with spring’s frilly ruffles, nipped-in waists, and sweetheart neckline trends, manufactured in organic and recycled cotton fabrics with heart pattern and vivid floral prints.

My favorite piece is the heart print paper-bag tulip skirt.





The eco collection is available in most H&M stores now.

Sources: H&M USA (Tweet), H&M USA Tweet, HM.com

—
I’m hosting a giftcard giveaway to my sponsor, makeup/beauty/haircare/skincare retailer Apothica and it’s sister site SkincareRx.com. The giveaway ends February 8. Go enter now! And tell your friends.
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