sparkly nude

Three rounds of antibiotics and two shots in the butt, but I think the end of this sore throat is drawing near!  This calls for a festive neutral manicure to celebrate. 

feathers for a duck

Refinery 29 did an article about feather extensions back in january, but honestly it's Steven Tyler that's got me obsessing.  He's not someone I usually consider a fashion role model.  In fact, a few weeks ago he was wearing some sheer purple shirt unbuttoned almost all the way to his crotch and I thought, literally, dude looks like a lady.  Like a crazy old lady.  However, one thing he is rocking that I'm dying to try is feather extensions.

more after the jump...

pink and/or orange

I know I posted about the pants a while back, but this time it's for real people.  I went and tried them on today (shopping being a well-known cure for tonsilitis, right?) and now I am even closer to purchasing.  (For those of you who don't already know, shopping sometimes involves a long courtship process for me.)  Main question now is, pink or orange?

ash sunday

Oh ash, you make such wonderful things.

rider biker boot, crosby western boot

more wonderful things after the jump...

uo picks

Feeling better day by day.  But this damn sore throat won't go away.  And now another way to torture you, it seems that rhyming I must do, it's another symptom of the jersey flu!  Oh what, oh what's a girl to do?  (sorry, I literally can't help myself!)  Well, the doc is coming by in an hour or so so hopefully he can rid me of this madness.  Meanwhile, like any good sick girl, I'm shopping on line.   First store plundered (in my mind): Urban Outfitters.

 scuba tube top

I think this would be just perfect with my thai fisherman's pants (every time I write that I feel like I stole the pants off my thai fisherman.  You know what I mean though), or even with a black tee or tank underneath.  Fresh, summery, cute and sexy, without being slutty.  (right?  or do I still have Jersey Fever?)

more after the jump...

the jersey flu

I know I've been missing a while, but between all the rehearsals and the performance, I just barely made it through.  Sunday my body went on strike and I am sick.  Again.  And it's true what people say, the relapse is usually worse, so here I am, lymph nodes crazy swollen, throat inflamed beyond belief, and battling a fever that's been swinging between 100 and 104.  But there's another strange symptom this time around: New Jersey.  Yes, I think I have a Situation. 

 

more about jersey-itis after the jump

read my nails

I wanna try this.  Anyone else?

Nice to see that year of highschool french finally paying off too.

ps- sorry for the infrequent posting this week.  I've got a music video shoot tomorrow and the next day that I'm styling, and then a surprise performance on saturday that we're rehearsing for non-stop.  Living two parallel lives is complicated when things actually start happening.  Not complaining, just stating.

comptoir des really nice jackets

That's what I think they should really call themselves.  Comptoir des Cotonniers does a lot of stuff really well, but I think what they excel at is outerwear.  It's always elegant and classic and understated, but it just sneaks up on me and quietly rocks my world every season.  I will admit that I have two trench coats from them.  Yes, two.  But I swear, they have very different personalities.  As if I need to justify it.  Really though, one day I'll post photos so you can see.

Meanwhile, they're killing me with their spring blazers. 

Today I stopped in and touched them. They're impeccable.  And that grey and black one is especially stunning in person.  The body is a lightweight almost drapey wool with a slight sheen to it, and the black accents are done with a heavier wool that anchors it beautifully.  Maybe this week I'll actually slip them on.  I just worry that the temptation might be too much for me.

While I'm at it I should check out that hat too.  Just saying.

advanced style video

This video is so sweet, so inspiring, so uplifting, so soul-warming, and so just plain happy-making.  I love these ladies and they have truly inspired me.  I know, I'm repeating myself, but I was really blown away.

The video (which I found via ManRepeller ) was made by Lina Plioplyte and Ari Seth Cohen for The Nowness. Cohen also has a wonderful blog called Advanced Style, which is also a new discovery for me though maybe some of you are familiar with it.  Check it out if you haven't already.

Let's be more like these ladies, shall we?

love letter to a sweater

Hello perfect sweater.  You cost too much but I think I love you.

Michael Kors sweater @ net-a-porter

You look like a sweatshirt.  (I love sweatshirts.)  But you are made of a thick cashmere and cotton blend.  (I love that.)  You may look plain in that photo, but look at what you did on the runway.

photos from style.com

So smart the way you dress down that skirt and those sequin pants, while allowing them to dress you up a little.  You remind me of that sweater Taylor Tomasi Hill has worn so often, but without that strange cow detail.  Nothing against cows, I'm a good Wisconsin girl, I just don't really want a cartoon one on my perfect cashmere sweater.

photo from fashionologie.com

You are understated and casual in your slouchiness, but still so luxurious.  I could dress you up or just lounge around wrapped in your cozy hug.  I think it's a good thing we haven't met in person yet because if you feel as good as I think you do, I would be a goner.  Like I said, you cost too much, but I think I love you anyway.

boot evolution

These Rag & Bone boots are so lovely. Just the right blend of elegant yet tough, streamlined yet substantial. The color, the texture, the seaming, the heel, I just think they're perfect.

Interestingly enough, this version, from a previous season, seems so far from perfect to me.  And I find it fascinating how just changing a few details can have such an impact on the overall effect.

anthropologie spring shoes

pretty.  'nuff said.

 And the ones I really want (but are too high and would never get worn):

reverse tie-dye surprise

So, this is a little weird, because not only do I tend to not actually do stuff, just think about how cool it would be if I were to do it, but I also generally don't even like tie-dye.  But I was so inspired by these two posts, and so motivated by over 3 weeks of sitting around on my sick butt, that I magically sprang into action.  Full saga after the jump.

spicy nails

Still more or less housebound.  Suppose I have enough energy to go out, but the last thing I want is a recaída or a relapse, though in english it doesn't quite inspire as much fear and respect as I think it does in spanish.  They talk about it here like it could be the death 'o you. 

On the bright side, I have not yet gotten tired of doing all the things I never have time to do.  Like experimental manicures!  The half-moon endeavor was too much work for the sloppy pay-off, so I went with a simple yet joyful multi-colored look for this week.

Colors used: MAC Fireball, MAC Shirelle, and Rimmel Pro 318 Coral Queen

Be sure to make the color distribution random.  It's actually way harder than you would think. Or I am dumber than I think.  Whichever.

Ram's head ring by Elizabeth Cole, turquoise ring from covered bazaar in Istanbul, random brass ring, wedding & engagement rings, bracelets from H&M and the rastro (flea market)

In other news, the sun came out today.   I am thankful.

leathers

I have a great leather jacket, one that was an investment piece that I actually got right, I've had it for years and will have it for many more, and every time I look at it or put it on I think, man, I love this jacket.

But does one have to be monogamous with one's outerwear?  I think not.  Sometimes I wish I had one that was tougher, more rugged, more like a real motorcycle jacket. So today I started looking around. Here's some options I like, sorted by price from "not gonna happen" right down to "what a deal!".

Sandro $820 @ net-a-porter

S.W.O.R.D. $541 on sale@ Tobi

S.W.O.R.D. $467 on sale @ Tobi

Victoria's Secret $179 on sale

I know, I thought the same thing. Victoria's Secret?! But there you have it.  And to be honest, I think it looks pretty perfect.  Don't you think?

couldn't not share, sorry

Unfortunately (for me, and now for you too) yesterday I discovered Cute Overload.  I promise I will not fill this blog with adorable kittens, but just this once, just this once I couldn't resist.

Ok. Now it's out of my system, I swear I won't do that anymore.

One more thing though.

When Smart Husband told me it was obviously photoshopped and I defensively (in defense of what? cuteness?) asked how he knew, he said "Because raccoons don't walk around on two feet. And also, they don't carry kitties."

Excellent points.

to love somebody

Can't stop listening to:

bottom braids

I've been thinking about braids a lot lately.  I think braid-mania as we know it started with the A Wang spring 2010 show.  You know what I'm talking about, you've seen it a million times by now, and it's still going strong.  I'm not complaining; I'm a big fan.

But recently I saw this ad again in Vogue España.  It's from the Givenchy spring 2011 campaign.

 image from fashionista.com

It kind of blew me away.  They just braided the ends of the hair!  This is revolutionary stuff, how could I not have noticed it before?  And how come this didn't catch on like wildfire?  Why wasn't everyone doing this?

 On the runway the 'dos were a little more over the top, and actually I think all those old school glam waves around the face somehow detract from the gorgeousness of these bottom braids.  But still, the bottom braid (I just made that term up, don't go around saying it like anyone will understand you) is very appealing to me.

 Would it work in real life?  Will someone with less layers in their hair please try it out and tell me?

For those of us who do have tons of layers, both the side braid and the bottom braid are pretty much impossible to achieve in any meaningful way.  But then I found this at Rag&Bone FW 2011:

 

Random messy braiding joy.  And the other day it was even featured on Refinery 29 in a bit they did on easy new hairstyles.  They called them 'deconstructed braids'.

What do you think?  Pretty cool, right? And I think even with layered hair it would work well, maybe weaving in a few more small braids in with the larger ones.  Then again in real life it might just look too disheveled for anyone to believe you did it on purpose.  Then again, I might not care.

all runway images from style.com

look who came home with me

So far I see two dangers in my not dancing.  1) I'm gaining weight.  2) I'm shopping more.  I suppose I could eat less and shop less, but I ask you, where's the fun in that?  Plus, doc says I'd get my hearing back in 3 weeks, so how much damage could I really do in either of those areas?  (Don't answer that)

Yesterday I went out for a new notebook and went straight to Muji, which I absolutely LOVE.  After over an hour spent fondling everything in the store, I walked out with my notebook (mission accomplished!), slippers, and a book stand.

Did my feeling of victory at a job well done stop me from shopping more? Course not, silly!

On to H&M, where I picked up what I think is a super find.

 

 

It's slightly sheer, and very flowy, and I'm looking forward to wearing it as is or unbuttoned over a wife-beater when the weather warms up. 

Meanwhile, I think I'll be rocking it like this: 

Also making its way into my bag was this drapy fluid tank from Zara (tried on only 6 items, thank you very much).  I have no idea how or why I'm going to wear safety orange, but I can't resist the spring color-fever that's going around.

It may go back to the store if I can't find a way of wearing it without looking like I'm a) a pumpkin, b) gearing up for Halloween, c) going hunting, d) out of jail on a day pass, or e) directing traffic.