glam
Holiday party wearability
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One of the best parts about the holiday season is family and tradition. But a close second is dressing up for the parties and events. My friend Beka asked me what some good looks would be for a dress that was both office party appropriate, and work ready.
For this quest, I say you cannot go wrong investing in a nice sheath. Worn with a statement necklace and fabulous shoes, you are good for nighttime. Worn with a cardigan and pearls, you are good for daytime.
I scoured, and these are my unique faves. Nordstrom and Ann Taylor are staples too. But I liked these two for their uniqueness.
Grey waist tie dress, $49 from Dorothy Perkins. Though, I have to say that this dress might be a little short for the office, depending on how tall you are. Another alternative might be this one from Stop Staring.
It is the City Grey at $142. Though some of Stop Staring stuff seems too hoochie for my taste — it’s very “hello, look at my cleavage” — this dress seems like it might be OK. I like the length and the fact that the fabric looks comfortable for a long day at the office.
Though the best part of going with a sheath is that it is a staple you must have in your closet. And so you hopefully already do. If that is the case, then a holiday party is a great excuse to invest in accessories!
I am loving t&j designs right now. I think all of their designs are amaze — they have a lot of great everyday jewelry. This one is dressy — and at $58, not something that you are going to buy and forget about it, but not over-the-top for jewelry, you know? Confession: most of my jewelry is uber-cheap, and I am feeling like I’m ready to start investing in pieces that I can fall in love with and that don’t tarnish.
There’s always this steal at Nordstrom too. Stein & Blye Short Torsade Necklace for $33.90. It’s unavailable online, but this makes me want to go to my local store.
As for shoes — I love going for a pop of color when wearing grey or a neutral. It’s easy to do.
Is it worth it?
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I spied this bag over the weekend, and now it is all I can think of. It’s a sign of true love I tell you. Only, the problem is that the bag is $475. It would definitely cross into my threshold of “this is the most I’ve ever spent on a bag.” So dear, Internet, is it worth it? I know you’re going to tell me no, that a bright pink bag is a fad that should not be invested in. That it isn’t professional. That’s OK, that’s why I have you.
But look at it again. You’ll fall in love with the mix of pebble and patent leather. Anyone want to do a timeshare? You can have it after I spill something on it, which is also another reason I shouldn’t get it. Guaranteed to happen.
But then you look at it, and you imagine walking the streets of New York in a dark trench coat with the bag across your arm, and boom, you know it is worth every penny.
There’s a smaller version for $425, but that’s not much better. Might as well go big or go home (note: never say that before your roommate dies your hair). And while I can’t find the pink version sold anywhere online, there is a slightly more sophisticated version on Piperlime, though it also runs the risk of getting an ink stain. And — there’s a 20 percent off sale at Piperlime with code TREAT that ends today.
And I’m not getting black. Too practical.
What do you think?
I still get dressed
Posted by: | CommentsLet it be written, the lack of outfit posts doesn’t mean that I’ve given up on life. Instead I feel like I am living it.
In the past two months of not working, I’ve only completely stayed un-showered and un-maintained twice. And one of those days it was because I got into a total groove while writing a paper. So that really doesn’t count as a failure. I’m pretty sure I sprayed on some perfume before the husband got home.
I am loving being more casual. And playing with accessories and dressing up jeans. My go to look has been jeans and blazer — I have so many blazers it is a little unreal.
The issue with the photos is that I don’t get dressed for the day until I need to leave the house, and by then the sun is bright and horrible for pictures. So most days they are a no-go.
But on this day, I was wearing an outfit inspired by this fancier version that I posted. So many people commented saying it was their favorite so I wanted to recreate a casual version.
My hair is lightening to a pretty shade but I need to buy a color-saving shampoo. Reccommend anything good? I use Biolage right now, but I’m reading that sulphates and parabens just strip the color right off. Will someone tell me why we put this stuff in our shampoo if it takes the color out?
SDSU Farmers Market
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I got this great idea last week that the puppy and I would walk to the farmers market at San Diego State. It is about a mile walk and in my urban brain, I pictured the puppy and I starting a tradition of walking there every Thursday to pick up fresh produce.
I had secondary motivation too. Levis had sent me a news release about their denim event at the farmers market, and and since I am on a quest for adult denim, I was all “two birds, one stone!”
We grabbed our market bag and set out.
No such luck with the produce. There aren’t any vegetable stands or anything at the market. It is all eateries. Food establishments that aren’t allowed to sell beverages because of agreements with the school. I love food, don’t get me wrong, I snagged a lemon crepe and it was divine. But my puppy was thirsty and there was no way her unprepared mom could get her something to drink.
It wasn’t a total bust. The Levi jeans fit amazing. Now I want them. Is that silly — are Levi’s so not in style? I like the black skinnies — I really want a pair of black jeans now.
Levis has four fits — a slight, demi, bold and supreme. Based on a personality test and my hip and waist measurements they determined I was a slight or demi. Then, when I tried them on, I was deemed a “slight.”
I think that is a nice way of saying I don’t have any curves.
Oh, and if you do try them on, know that they run about a size too small. I couldn’t pull my regular size up! But a size up fit perfect. And no, the fact that most days my lunch consists of ice cream is not the reason I had to go a size up! It was a common problem.
And have you entered the giveaway for a $50 drugstore.com giftcard? Super savings.
This drives me crazy
Posted by: | CommentsWe all love Dove’s Real Beauty campaign right?
Unilever owns both Dove and Axe. And we’ve all seen how Axe ads play up the stereotype of men being mindless, sex-hungry pigs. Think I’m exaggerating? I found this link to the 10 worst Axe commercials.
So are we selling real beauty or are we selling to a demographic that cares about real beauty?
Dove may care about real beauty — they are launching serious initiatives and creating partnerships with organizations that don’t have motives like selling product. But you’d think if they really cared, they would work to stop perpetuating stereotypes too.
Isn’t it ads like Axe that narrow the definition of beauty that make us need campaigns like Dove to broaden it?
Another one. H&M partners with UNICEF to help educate children in impoverished countries. But pretty campaigns don’t hide that H&M’s clothes are made by women and children in horrible conditions. In December, 21 workers died in a fire at a factory making H&M clothing. There was no fire extinguisher available.
Their clothes are cheap for a reason.
Look how cute these ethnically-diverse-on-purpose kids look in their clothes made by other children. At least those children might get to go to school now.
There are many more double standards out there. It’s a conflict. I love H&M — and they are often awarded for their anti-pollution efforts and use of organic cotton. But every time I walk into a store these days, all I can think of is “what am I really being sold?”
Purchasing behavior is so much more than “see product, pick it up, buy it.” We are sold a brand, a cause, an element that pulls at our heart and elicits support. Even your yogurt will donate to charity — if you make the effort to mail the lid back to them. The Yoplait campaign kills me. They know you bought the yogurt, why not donate a portion of proceeds? Nope, please mail the dirty lid back. Cost of postage is .44, the amount donated by Yoplait is .10.
But what about when the company sells values that are really the result of a market research study that says “your customers like these charities, partner with them!” What’s next after that?
Life is scattered, like bobby pins in your bathroom drawer, no? Dance backwards in high heels with me. Let's talk clothes and news. I *love* clothes and news.
