Garden Party

These shorts were originally capri pants, which I thought I'd never wear again and had bagged up for the thrift store, but the other day I was feeling rather productive and thought they might make nice shorts and so I lopped them off. I can't say I'm displeased with the results. I'm looking forward to fraying them a bit in the wash, too. Oh and the cardigan I uncovered recently at the thrift store and just about died that it hadn't been snapped up yet. Score!

vintage Brooks Brothers cardigan
Cherry Tee tank top
DIY shorts
Mellow Yellow shoes

Firefly

Sometimes I wish all nights could be summer nights. It's just so nice to be able to hang out outside all night, if one wanted to, and not freeze one's ass off. I've had this jean jacket for about a thousand years now and you can't see it in the picture, but it is slowly disintegrating. I have a problem getting rid of things that probably should be gotten rid of.

Seven For All Mankind jean jacket
vintage skirt
Nicole sandals

The September Issue

Since I am a lazy, bad blogger, I neglected to mention I was lucky enough to join K as her date for a screening of The September Issue as part of Discovery Channel's Silver Docs Documentary Film Festival about a week ago. Though it's gotten mixed reviews, I quite enjoyed it. I thought it portrayed the fashion business for what it is: competitive, beautiful, elitist, expensive, artistic, and frustrating at times. I thought R.J. Cutler did a fabulous job of pulling the real stories out of the people that dominate the fashion universe that is Vogue - Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour's love/hate relationship, insight into the origins of Anna's icy exterior, Grace's fierce creative vision, the almost frightening extent to which Anna's influence extends over the fashion industry, and various sartorial celebs' downright comical eccentricities (Andre Leon Talley and Mario Testino do not disappoint). I encourage you all to see it as soon as it comes out August 28!

spinal tap

I've had my eye on this Helmut Lang beauty for some time now (I actually featured it in my Helmut Newton-Inspired Outfits post) and jumped at the chance to have it in my hot little hands as soon as Net-a-Porter had it on sale. I must say my happiness in general has definitely increased now that it has arrived. The ventilated fabric is perfect for summer and much more durable than I would have thought. I'm starting to develop a penchant for spine-centric fashion, I believe.

Helmut Lang top
AA tank top
Abercrombie jean shorts
Forever 21 shoes
needlepoint turquoise necklace from B
white amber ring from R

for sporting purposes...

You know what I love about this whole sporty chic thing? Take some comfy shorts and a top, add heels and blazer, et voila, you're done! Now if I can just get my hands on a pair of fancy scalloped Chloe shorts, my life will be complete. Oh and this nifty little pin thing I found in my mother's old jewelry. I think it gets along nicely with my blazer.

thrifted blazer
vintage pin
Cherry Tee tank
Old Navy shorts
Forever 21 shoes
Chanel bag

thirst to be thirsty in Montego Bay

I'm loving summer now that it's finally acting like it. The weather seems to be back on track and hopefully I can put away my rain gear for a while. My mom got this dress for me in St. Lucia and the print makes me wish I was on a beach somewhere. *sigh!*

dress from St. Lucia
Urban Outfitters belt
Urban Outfitters bag
Nicole sandals

and the winner is...

With the help of random.org, I was able to pick a winner for the Current/Elliott Jeans Giveaway that so many of you entered. The winner was Hanoko66. Thanks again Chick Downtown for allowing me to give back to my lovely readers!

PS To be in the know on more Chick Downtown giveaways, follow them on chickdowntown.com on Twitter or chickdowntown.com on Facebook Fan page. Amy, founder of chickdowntown.com actually does giveaways on these two sites for Twitter followers & Facebook fans.

Rhinestone Cowboy

I haven't been much for the stud thing with the DIYs, and this is mostly out of laziness. So you can imagine my delight when I saw cocorosa's genius use of safety pins on a blazer. Then I thought this might be the DIY for me...







Forever 21 tank top
American Apparel bandeau top
DIY'd Hollister skirt
Zara boots
boot bling from some western store

PS Today's the last day to enter the Current/Elliot Jeans Giveaway! Don't forget to enter if you haven't already!

Funfetti Fringe

When I saw this tank, I fell in love, but unfortunately didn't have the $ to blow on it. Then I remembered a striped tank I bought from Target a while back and seldom wear and thought this might be a great DIY. Here's how it started out:



Overall, it's pretty quick and easy. The key is just cutting the seams off the bottom to make sure it curls properly. Did I mention this baby totally lends itself towards movement? Might be shredding a few more tops/dresses I believe...

DIY tank
Petit Bateau dresses
Theory sandals

PS I'm so incredibly flattered to be featured in HiFashion's style swap! I love checking out their blog whenever I'm online so make sure to take a look here!

Sparkle Pony

I'm pretty obsessed with my new Topshop blazer and intend to wear it constantly for the rest of the summer. My favorite thing about it is its muted navy color - kind of adds subtlety to the sequins.

A few other business items:

Check out StyleCaster, a new fashion networking site I've recently gotten into.

Read this great article about the resurgence of preppy fashion via (of all places) Japan.


Topshop blazer
Cherry Tee tank top
K-Mart belt
Mango jeans
Jeffrey Campbell shoes
vintage bracelet
Lauren Merkin clutch

anyone interested in stalking Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon or Owen Wilson better move quickly...

Just got this email from Ek:

Filming a "stunt" on 18th and Columbia. As far as I can tell the "stunt" is Paul Rudd running into traffic crossing the street from Wachovia to Adams Mill Bar & Grill. I do that "stunt" on a regular basis except there isn't a production team making sure the cars don't hit me when I run from the atm to a bar. Also spotted this morning when I went to McDonalds earlier for an egg McMuffin was Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson. I tell you Paul Rudd is super adorable in person, but this production team is a pain in my ass! This skinny bitch with super awesome motorcycle boots and leggings and her "hollywood" movie set and her walkie talkie and her headset...stand between me and my frozen yogurt. I'll teach you...let's dance bi-otch...let's dance. You wouldn't be so tough without those three DC police officers backing you up.

I'm guessing this is the movie they're filming.

new header!

How do you like it? This was a drawing a did a while ago and then painstakingly (painfully) edited in Illustrator. I never thought I'd finish this damn thing, but I like how it turned out...

pssst! here's the big version for those of you with readers :-)

Some Summer Fun...

Just a few things that are making me smile at the moment...










Ken Brown's creepily fantastic postcards (via Art Moco Meta)


Padma Lakshmi's swing in her living room (image from Harper's Bazaar)


Poppies - they always look like paper flowers to me.










These underwater photos by Bruce Mozert (via playmedesign)



This amusing Scrabble video (via playmedesign)

Kool-Aid

Just got back from a wonderfully relaxing weekend in the country and I'm looking forward to staying in one place for a few weeks. Highlights of my weekend included:

-pasta salad
-enjoying an outdoor concert in a beautiful setting
-impromptu dance parties with the girls
-delicious turkey and croissant sandwiches from an ever-so-slightly overpriced market

Lately, I've been rocking the leggings quite a bit, because I refuse to wear anything else on long car rides. This usually ends up making for some interesting color combinations when I precariously throw something comfy on top and hope for the best...

AA leggings
F21 vest
Sweet Life sandals
Ray Ban wayfarers
can't remember where the t-shirt came from...

Stoned at the Jukebox

This damn DC monsoon weather needs to stop! It's gorgeous all day while I'm cooped up in my office and as soon as I get in my car to go home, the heavens open up and shit all over me. Needless to say, I've spent a lot of time indoors this week and I'm looking forward to getting out of town for the weekend. I did manage to escape on Wednesday night, however, and put down a few drinks at a local bar to drown (zing!) my sorrows.







This top is kind of my go-to comfy top. I'm starting to realize I'm kind of obsessed with pajama-like fabrics in much the same way I'm obsessed with structured pieces and crazy-high heels... I'm a bi-polar dresser, I guess.

Gap top
70s bracelet from the Glover Flea Market
vintage pants
Report Signature shoes
Bally bag

Cut It Out

This Staerk tank is so sleek and sophisticated, I wish I had it just a little bit longer to pair it with some other things. Either way, it was nice to wear it out, even if only for one evening... *sigh!*

Staerk tank from the Weardrobe Closet
AA bandeau top
Reiss skirt
Pour la Victoire shoes
Lauren Merkin clutch
Hermes bangle

Current/Elliott Jeans Giveaway!

Chick Downtown was kind enough to let me give away one item from their amazing selection of goodies and I picked this pair of boyfriend jeans from their Current Elliot jeans - I'm kind of craving a pair for myself this summer, I'm not gonna lie. They also have designer dresses.

So here's the deal:
-You have until midnight, June 23 to enter.
-You have to be a US resident (sucks, I know, because I have so many lovely international readers, but the whole shipping deal ya know).
-You have to leave a comment with a valid email address! (If you've never commented before, please don't be shy! You don't have to say much to enter!)

If you want an extra entry, just mention this contest your blog, shoot me an email, and I'll enter you in the running again. At the end of the contest, I'll have a friend pick a random number et voila!

PS The winner can pick her size of course :-)

From Any Angle

I'm utterly exhausted after a long road trip and a little too fun much with some old friends, so sorry if this post is a little bland.

This Mary Meyer spine dress from the Weardrobe Closet is pretty much the softest, most comfy mini dress I've ever worn. And I love the skeletal print - makes it a little more special than the average LBD I feel. Did I mention how fun it is to play around in these big sleeves?

Mary Meyer spine dress from the Weardrobe Closet
Topshop heels

Green Grass

This past weekend, B and I checked out R's fantastic wall o' art at Artomatic...




two of R's gorgeous enamel pendants

DC people - if you're looking for something fun to do this weekend (or in the next few weeks), definitely check out Artomatic. It's free and there are all kinds of things to see: music and theater performances, visual art and installations, fashion, a tattoo parlor, and my personal favorite: the Washington Post's Peep diorama finalists. See below...


Thelma and Louise: Peeps on the Run


Peepsters Kill Room


Peep to the Right


Mrs. Peep-cock in the Conservatory with the Revolver


The Peep is Right


Goodnight Peep

Urban Outfitters top borrowed from the Weardrobe Closet
two layered Petit Bateau dresses
vintage bracelet
Sweet Life sandals