narrowing it down

These ones are from Aldo - definite contenders, but they are nicer in black. I like the detail on the edges and the narrow contour. I tried them on today, and it's always hard to tell with leather shoes because they might stretch out, but I think they are pretty comfortable.

Orlando

Oh Tilda Swinton! Oh costumes! I have a list of movies to watch while Karl is out of town, all the ones he'd roll his eyes at, and I watched Orlando tonight and it's so good. It's a little bizarre, a little surreal, spanning centuries and genders, but it's wonderful to watch. I remember when it came out in 1992, because there was a beautiful feature in Vogue, but I could never find it in the video store. Thanks internet.

Next I'm looking forward to watching three movies about Coco Chanel!

Stacy Page

I love these pieces by Stacy Page! They give a fantastical new life to old photos, and the skill and imagination put into each one is magical. It's almost like the true personalities of the people in the photos are showing through. I wonder if the embroidery is done right onto the original pictures, or maybe they are transferred onto fabric, or backed with something more stable. Because there's a lot of thread happening in some of these pieces.

How to wear oxfords:

I'm still thinking about a fall shoe purchase. I went to the mall with a four year old on Sunday and she told me that they look like boy shoes, but maybe I'll just wear them when she's not around. Below are some examples of girls looking cute in boy shoes. If celebrities can pull them off, why not me?

Rosy Glow

What a great weekend! I took an extra day off so that I could fit in all the fun: concert, road trip, BBQ, visiting out of town friends, shopping, PNE, plus lots of chores and cleaning. It's summer; gotta cram it all in!

Fall Footwear

As much as I love the summer, my thoughts start turning to fall by the middle of August. What will I wear? Is there anything I should be saving up for? The other day I was thinking about what to do when I have to wear something other than sandals, and I don't feel like I have "real shoes". I have little garbage runners that I wear to work then try to remember to change out of before any customers see me, but they certainly aren't stylish or professional. I love the look of all these Oxfords, but I don't want anything that makes my feet look big, or have too masculine a vibe. Would these look good with jeans, pants, leggings? There are the lighters, almost jazz-shoes looking ones, but I definitely need something sturdy and waterproof-able. I might have to make a nuisance of myself and go to the mall after work every day for a week and try them on with a bunch of different outfits. And then, black or brown?

mustard and purple

We are finally getting some really wonderful sunny weather. Nice and warm and sunny but not swelteringly hot. I'm so happy that it looks like I'll have some more shorts weather, because I've found a few cute pairs at the thrift store lately, including these purple and mustard floral ones.

I have promised my husband that this clematis will be subjected to some drastic pruning this year. Our mail carrier is getting frightened.

Claws

Why can't I stop? I am surprised at how much I'm liking the snazzy nails; now it kind of feels like a waste of perfectly good creative real estate not to do something interesting with them!

neck-tivity

More beautiful neck details. And above, a hairnet detail. Hmm... I love the photos below of the stunning Jessica Stam. It's so nice to see that her distinctive face is still so in-demand among all the interchangeable clones.

Adorable! I want this whole outfit!

Making it Work?

I was at Superstore the other day, buying a new ten dollar cardigan to replace my old, holey ten dollar cardigan I bought there four years ago, and I kept being drawn to these pants. They were in the sleepwear section, so I fought the impulse several times, but I couldn't get out of my head how much they reminded me of some of my favorite Dries van Noten collections. But they're PJ's. But I eventually tried them on, attempting to talk myself out of them. I couldn't do it. For fifteen dollars, I figured I could find something to wear them with that would cancel out the lounge-y vibe. I puzzled it over for a while, because I knew I'd hate it if I wore them to work and was self-conscious all day that I looked like I had just rolled out of bed. The top can't be at all sloppy or too casual - no tee-shirt, tank-top - and has to be the opposite of sleepwear. So I went through my closet this evening trying on anything I thought might fit the bit. Some of the results were good, some not so much.

leather?

orange knit?

shearling?

cotton print?

big sequins?

drapey wrap?

cream button-down?

forest-green corduroy?

with massive sleeves?

Any opinions?

detail

Look at the amazing detail on these peices! I'd love to hunt this down in person just to take a good look at it. It's hard to tell how the fabric was made - woven like that, with different borders and panels? all done by hand?? I haven't been able to find out who the designer is either. It'll just have to haunt my dreams.

Time on my hands!

I was so inspired by my fabulous, professionally fancified nails, and I missed them so much when I eventually had to have them taken off, I got a little creative on my own. It was fun, but only to be attempted when I have lots of time - not to be rushed. We were watching a pretty bad movie, so I had plenty of time to be meticulous. It won't last a fraction of the time that the pro job did, because I don't have the fancy gel stuff, but it's cool to know that it's possible. The flowers are just little stickers from the dollar store, and the blue nail polish is For Audrey, by China Glaze.

neck action

Perhaps the detail for this fall will be interesting neckline detail - the evolution of the snazzy collar craze? I noticed these neck parties in an Aline Webber photoshoot. Maybe inset bib details and contrasting collars would be a good use for my bits of special fabrics. Chiffon? I got a beautiful but damaged scarf the other day... hmm...

Menagerie

Another sunny day; it feels so good to wear all the shorts that sit around in my closet getting lonely all year. Actually these ones are new, Escada, from the thrift store but I don't think they'd ever been worn.
And what's the print, you ask? Take a closer look... elephants, turtles, and four leaf clovers! If I wore these with the blouse from the last post, I could host a children's nature program!

summertime rolls

Nothing says summers like macaws and tropical greenery, right? In fact, with all of these vines on our front porch, a parrot or two might fit right in. I had to ponder this top at Value Village for a minute or two before I decided I loved the crazy print. One of those things that could go either way.