Hipster

Conversation with my mom (in regards to a previous outfit):

Me: I think I look like a hipster in this outfit.

Mom: Don't you have to be hip to be a hipster?  (Wow, burned by my mom.)

Me: No, you just have to think you are.

 

I feel like a hipster in this outfit, but it works for what I need today.  This is what I consider a practical, utilitarian outfit.

 

Faux suede blazer, thrifted; cobalt and turquoise tanks, thrifted; jeans, Target; boots, Younkers; necklace, handmade and gifted (Thanks Chenille!); earrings, Claire's.

The boots have a small wedge heel for style, and they're Clarks so you know they are comfortable.

 

I think (or at least I hope) that this outfit looks better in real life than it does in photos.  I know boxy silhouettes on my top half are not the most flattering look for me, but the cobalt blue tank is actually very gauzy.  In any case, this outfit is comfortable and good for a Friday.  If it's a fashion faux pas, it won't be my first or my last.  It's just one day.

Fave Five: Tips & Products for Beautiful Travel

Is it just me, or does looking great often involve a bunch of liquids, gels, and aerosols?  Unfortunately those are exactly the products that are limited when you plan on traveling by air

Image Credit: Amazon

• Facial Cleansing Towelettes: I was often too lazy tired to wash my face every night before I started using makeup removing towelettes.  They are great for the lazy busy person because they make it so easy to remove makeup and grime, and they are great for travelers because they are not liquids, gels, or aerosol.  You can get a small pack or just as many as you need in a Ziploc.
• Moisturizer in a Contact Case: Between dry airplane air and naturally dry skin, I need to bring moisturizer.  It just seems like a waste of space in my quart bag of liquids to bring the whole bottle when I'll only use a small amount each day.  Instead, I fill the wells of an old contact case with face moisturizer, and I have plenty to get me through a few days.
• Black Soap : You know I love my Shea Moisture Black Soap, but it is even more wonderful when traveling.  Once again, it is not a liquid, gel or aerosol, so it won't use up valuable space.  It is so moisturizing, I even used it for shaving while I was in the Dominican Republic.
• Single Dose Eye Drops: I don't use eye drops often, but I often need them while traveling.  I like the single dose variety because I don't have the worry about the bottle going bad between uses.  I can even give one to a friend in need without worrying about cross contamination.  These drops are more expensive than standard eye drops, but a single box lasts me a long time.

• 

  Image Credit: Just Wanna Melt
  Lotion bars can be
  pretty and functional.

  Lotion Bars:  My arms, legs, hands, and feet need moisture too, and a lotion bar provides that   
  in non-liquid, gel, or aerosol form.  There are a variety of brands and almost as many scents as you'd find in liquid lotion.  If you'd like to support a small business, try the lotion bars from Just Wanna Melt.  I bought some from her as gifts and some for myself at a festival this year, and it works and smells great.  Lotion bars work best when you use them right after you get out of the shower, when your skin is warm and the bar melts more easily.  

By using these products and strategies in your carry-on, you save space and still have the tools to look your best.  

Bon voyage!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Pack Rat: Stephen Understands Me

Image Credit: Exquisite_Finds
The perfect dress: red,
sequined, animal print.

I have been in a tizzy looking for the perfect sequined dress to wear in Las Vegas.  Actually, I've already found the perfect dress, but I don't have an extra three grand sitting around to buy it, and I'm not a size 6.

My mission for sequins lead to the following conversation with Stephen:

Me: This is serious. I need to find a sequined dress for our trip to Las Vegas. When else can I wear a sequined dress?

Stephen: Whenever the hell you want.
Touché. 

Stephen understands me.

Year One: Happy Blogoversary to Me

This was day one of "I Dream of..."

This blog was born one year ago today.  To the right you'll see what I wore on November 29, 2011.  That day I opted for a jacket, scarf, jewel tones, lace, and boots.

By the time I started this blog I had already been experimenting with my style for some months, but the experience of taking and posting photos changed the way I think about clothing.

I blog as encouragement to challenge myself, live beautifully, and love my life, and I feel like I succeeded at all three this year.  I did not accomplish every element every day, but I have made progress.

Today's outfit was inspired by my first OOTD.  I still have a jacket, scarf, jewel tones, lace, and boots, but this year's choice reflects the happiness and confidence I've found in the past twelve months.  I added an animal print belt, because I would be remiss in forgetting animal print in any retrospective outfit.

 

Trench coat, c/o eShakti.com; top, Younkers; scarf, Target; lace overlay skirt, Target; belt, Walmart; tights, Target; boots, Rack Room Shoes; necklace and earrings, purchased in Cozumel.

 

My style hasn't changed that much in the past year, but my confidence has skyrocketed.  I now wear many of the things I've been too scared to try.  It doesn't always work, but even when it doesn't it's okay.  It's just fashion.  It's not that serious.

 

I completed my blogoversary outfit with the topaz necklace and earrings I wore on my wedding day.  I had to pay tribute to Stephen.  He loves and supports me every day, even days I know he thinks I'm insane.  He really is the best.

 

Thank you for joining me on my journey.  Whether you've been reading from the beginning or found me for the first time today, I'm glad you're here.  Let's see where the next year takes us.

Ultimatum: It's Flora & Fauna

I've had this animal print tulip skirt for months, but I've never worn it before today.  It has escaped my Goodwill pile twice because I like it in theory, but it has made it into the Goodwill pile twice because I have a hard time styling it.

 

Chambray blouse, thrifted; belt, Mohair Pear; skirt, thirfted; tights, Walmart; shoes, Rack Room Shoes; earrings, Claire's.

I gave myself the ultimatum that I had to either wear this skirt or get rid of it.  I've worn it now, and I still may get rid of it.  I'll try it another way soon to decide whether it can stay in my closet for the long haul.

 

I added some more fauna with feather-pattern hoop earrings and a swallow belt.

 

I like the ankle-wrapping detail of these shoes, but they are harder to style because of it.  If I wear them without dark tights the straps make my legs look shorter and stumpier.

*It's flora and fauna because it's a tulip skirt, and it's animal print.  

Travel: No Passport Required Edition

I have two trips coming up in the next few weeks, and neither requires my passport.  I've been doing more international than domestic travel for the past few years, and I'll miss the free checked bag.   It's a good thing I've been practicing lightening my packing.

First Stephen and I are headed to Las Vegas where we will see Trans Siberian Orchestra.  Stephen arranged that trip as an anniversary present in September.  He's the best.  Just a few days after we return from Vegas my mom and I will head to Portland, Oregon to celebrate Christmas with my sister and her husband.  Stephen is going to have to take care of our dogs and my mom's dog while we're gone.  He really, really is the best.

Jumpsuit for joy!

I want my Vegas wardrobe to be a little over the top because it's Las Vegas!  I haven't found the perfect sequined dress, but I have a sparkly red one in case I can't find sequins.   I'll also be wearing my awesome leopard print jumpsuit while I'm there.  (The Kirna Zabete for Target jumpsuit is now on clearance at Target.com for just $17.48.  That's a lot of leopard print goodness for a small price.)

I like the animal and polka dot
combo.

My sister already called to warn me that I need to dress for cold in Portland right now.  She needn't worry.  I don't mess around with cold.  I'm planning on bringing lots of tights, a scarf, a hat, gloves, and my eShakti trench coat.  I'm toying with the idea of packing an all-spotted wardrobe for Portland with a mix of polka dots and leopard (take that, Kelly Osborne).  We'll see how that develops.

Of course both wardrobes will include some workout wear and my beloved running shoes.  I had a dream last night that I ordered five more pairs of those shoes because I love them so much.  Seriously.  When I woke up this morning I was a little disappointed that I only have one pair.

Have you been to Las Vegas?  Have you been to Portland?  What do you recommend I pack for the trips?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Don't Listen to Kelly Osborne

This morning on the Today Show Kelly Osborne said not to wear animal print this season.  Good thing I wear what makes me happy and not what Kelly Osborne says I should wear.  Half my wardrobe would be eliminated without animal print.

I'll be back later with some real posts.  Keep wearing what makes you happy.

Drama

This outfit turned out to be far more dramatic than I had intended or anticipated.  I find the combination of casual red maxi-dress, cardigan, and belt is rather striking.

It started raining on me while I was taking photos.

Cardigan, Younkers; belt, I don't remember; dress, handmade by me; tights, Target; shoes, Payless Shoes; earrings, Claire's; necklace, purchased in India.

 

Some days I look very tall and thin in photos.  I'm quite certain I don't look like that in real life, but I double checked and the photo isn't stretched.  I guess I'll take it.

 

These red flats are the same shoe as the leopard ones I wore yesterday, but they get far less wear because they aren't leopard.

Luckily my outfit was the most dramatic part of my day.. so far at least.

Animal MVPs

Gracey at Fashion for Giants recently observed that animal print is an easy way to mix black and brown in an outfit.  I agree with her, and further postulate that mixing black-and-white and colored versions of the same pattern is an easy way to mix animal prints.

 

For example, today I paired a grey leopard print body-con dress with brown leopard shoes and cuff.  The shoes and cuff are frequent additions to any outfit in need of a little rawr.  They are MVPs of my wardrobe, and probably have some of the lowest cost-per-wear of any item in my closet.  The shoes were originally $12.99 at Payless Shoes, and the cuff was $1 at Claire's.

 

Cardigan, Chicos, thrifted; dress, No Boundaries, Walmart; turtle neck, Merona, Target; tights, Target; shoes, American Eagle, Payless Shoes; earrings, necklace, and cuff, Claire's.

 

I found this body-con dress at Walmart for just $3 last week, and I balanced the short, tight dress with a turtleneck, long cardigan, and tights.  I balanced the size of the necklace with stud earrings.

I hope all my American readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week!

Shameless Promotion: Tell 'Em What They've Won!

I've made contact with all the winners of my last giveaway, and their prizes are in the mail.

Thank you to those who entered and those who promoted the contest through Facebook or other means.

Beth won a mixed-media memory wire bracelet
with glass, stone, and wood beads.

Barb won the dyed variscite necklace.

Emily won the tree of life necklace with
amazonite beads.

Watch out for future giveaways and shameless promotions for the So & So etsy site!

Thankful

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday had as wonderful a holiday as we did.

 

Dress, TJ Maxx; sequined cardigan, thrifted; both pairs of tights, Target; earrings, Christmas bazaar.


I didn't take photos until evening, after I had been cooking and eating all day.  Nonetheless, I still like this outfit.  It is comfortable, pretty, and figure-conscious enough that I felt less inclined to eat everything I saw.

 

We feasted on turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, apple salad, cranberries, green salad, roll, and five kinds of dessert.

Here's to the excesses of yesterday and the delicious leftovers today!