fashion gives back...archives dire straights

(photo courtesy of Archives)

Please check out Atlas’ story…

http://archivechicago.blogspot.com/2010/12/fashion-gives-back-dire-straights.html

Please support your local humane society or animal shelter!!

Have a Merry Christmas!!

 

girls day out...

It’s been difficult to get good blog photos…
(not that this is all that blog-worthy)

but I’ve been in my pjs…so this is a step up...

stuck at home with intermittent internet access…

 due to the snowy weather.

Spending all this time trapped in the house with the pooches…

I realized Bianca was in dire need of some pampering.

Well…what I consider pampering…she deems as absolute torture.

(And...no...I didn't color my hair to match theirs...

but it wouldn't surprise anyone who knows me if I did!?)

So I dressed us in girly & festive sparkles…

difficult to discern in these photos...there are silver sparkles

 in my sweater and hat and her Chanel-inspired jacket.

And we spent the afternoon at the "salon"…

(ok…it was her daddy’s vet clinic)

for an afternoon of hair and nails...hers, not mine...
not that he hasn't painted my nails occasionally!?
Yep...I put it out there!!

We left Binx at home...
but I didn't want him to feel left out…

So, I donned him in his finest faux-Burberry…

And I like to believe he is

wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!!

 

Hat…Kohls
Coat…unsure

Sweater…thrift store

Thermal t-shirt…Kohls

Skinny jeans…NY&Co

Boots…Curations (HSN)

Jewelry…Kohls ring

Binx & Bianca’s jackets…special ordered
through a seamstress (I don't even have a tailor!?)

Project Runway's Valerie Mayen in Cleveland...

 I had the absolute pleasure of meeting

 Valerie Mayen of Project Runway at

the Cleveland Women’s Show this year.

And now...you have the opportunity to meet her

this weekend at Beachwood Place!

If you are in the area…

please stop by Beachwood Place and meet

one of the sweetest, most talented fashion designers!

And it's a great place to pick up some

 last-minute Christmas gifts...

or in my case...get started!?

Information below:

Lifetime TV’s Project Runway star Valerie Mayen is bringing some holiday cheer–and her clothing line—to Beachwood Place. As part of a limited engagement, shoppers will have the opportunity to interact with Mayen and purchase signature pieces from her Yellowcake clothing line in time for holiday gifting.

On Friday, Dec. 17 from 4-9 p.m., the mall will host a special cocktail party with Mayen, offering shoppers a chance to pose for photos, secure autographs and get a sneak peak of her line. Confections will be available from "A Cookie & a Cupcake" and "Lilly Chocolates." A small fee will be charged for autographs and photos.

On Saturday, Dec. 18 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Mayen will sell her signature accessory pieces, including capelets, headpieces, scarves and hats, as well as T-shirts and sketches, which make for great gifts for any fashionista on the gift list. She also will perform custom fittings and take orders for custom outerwear, while interacting with shoppers throughout the day. "Downtown Cleveland is where my studio is, but it’s important to me to interact and share my line in all parts of Northeast Ohio" says Mayen. "Through this event, we hope to make new friends and bring Yellowcake’s designs to the fantastic shoppers of Beachwood Place."

Both day’s events will be held in a specially designed pop-up store located on the mall’s lower level across from BCBG near Nordstrom.

For more information, contact Beachwood Place at (216) 464-9460 or visit http://www.beachwoodplace.com/. To see the type of accessories and clothing available for sale, visit Mayen’s online store at http://www.yellowcakeshop.com/.

'tis the season...for animal-print...

Another occasion to get into the holiday spirit…

I was invited to attend a Christmas party by a

fabulous lady I met recently at the

Madigral Feaste (seen here).

It was a beautiful evening

 and I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful women.

And…nothing says Christmas like animal-print?!
(and apparently...big hair!?)

I love animals…both in life and print…

and purchased this skirt a few weeks ago…

hoping for the chance to wear it.
It's only one of many leopard/cheetah prints in my closet.

It worked out well…

The lady’s home was decorated not only for the holidays…

but splashes of animal-print throughout…

including some pieces she shared hanging in her closet!

Ahhh…a fellow cheetah-girl!!

I also love jewelry…

and used this as an opportunity to display some of my

recent jewelry creations. 

I hope everyone is getting into the holiday spirit…

either in festive red and green…

or your favorite "Christmas" prints!!

Coat…B.Moss

Sweater…JCPenney

Skirt…JCPenney

Belt…Ebay

Tights…Apt.9 (Kohls)

Boots…Apostrophe (Sears)

Bag…House of Dereon (TJMaxx)

Jewelry…self-designed bracelet & earrings,

 Target ring

green...is...good...

I’m definitely having a green moment…

always a lover of all shades of green…

but for some reason…army green is my current love.

I paired it along with my short, frilly skirt obsession…

And I was feeeelin’ fine…

For a night out…

with my husband’s parents??

Actually…

the only thing difficulty for me that night was the weather…

I would’ve preferred to be wearing my black booties with this outfit…

but the recent snowfall left very little footwear options.

As I look out the window…

it appears that you’ll be seeing me in boots for awhile…

oh…and I’m sure more army green!

Blazer…NY&CO

Cowlneck sweater…unsure

Belt…The Limited

Skirt…Charlotte Russe

Tights…Apt.9 (Kohls)

Boots…Curations (HSN)

Bag…Steve Madden

Jewelry…bracelet (gift from friend),

Modcloth earrings, Target ring

Are You a Stella McCartney Fan?

Are You a Stella McCartney Fan?: "Win a designer handbag from Stella McCartney…"

seasonably casual....

To help put me in the holiday spirit…

I accepted an invitation to attend

the Madigral Feaste at a local university

 with eleven fabulous ladies.

(It was dark & snowy...so we stayed indoors...
Bianca didn't miss the opportunity!)

It was a magnificent event filled with song, improv, and delicious food

 put on by the university’s theatre and music departments. 

Originally…I had planned a Jester-inspired dress…

as the evening was to be full of medieval-style entertainment...

then I re-read the invite shortly before leaving…

it read “seasonably casual”??

Knowing where I live and what that meant…

I thought “I don’t own a jingle bell sweater?!”

And was at an absolute loss of what

 “seasonably casual” would be in my closet??

Plus…I relish any opportunity I receive to put on a dress

 and feel all glamorous!?

I settled on this red and black plaid skirt…seasonably…check!

Added a denim jacket…casual...check! 

Christmas bulb-like necklace...totally seasonably...check!

Headed out the door…after kissing the “kids.”

Happy Holidays!!

Also...I was so happy I dug out the floral pins...they prompted a conversation

with a young lady that recently moved out here...she and her

sister enjoy designing stockings, pins, and hairbands.

I hope to feature their fabulous pieces on my blog!

Turtleneck sweater…Kohls

Denim jacket…Levis

Plaid skirt…small boutique in Florida(?)

Tights…Apt. 9 (Kohls)

Boots…Apostrophe (Sears)

Bag…vintage

Jewelry… Jus Jewelry necklace,

Target ring, NY&CO watch

currently obsessing over...short, frilly skirts

Inspired by a couple of my favorite bloggers…

my latest obsession has become

short, frilly skirts.

Formerly…I had a career in banking…

so I was accustomed to wearing skirts.

Typically…knee-length accompanied by a matching blazer.

 (Yawn…)

Don’t doubt that I tried to mix it up as often as possible

 with a brightly-colored cardigan and camisole…

much to my boss’ dismay.

Til now…I had not found a suitable, comfortable option

that would work within my new lifestyle…

until now!!

Along with the denim mini seen (here)…

My latest purchases have been short, frilly, floral skirts…

(even though it’s almost winter?!)

That I pair with layered tights (for extra warmth)…

wooly sweaters…comfy (snow-friendly) boots…

and I feel at ease…warm…yet chic!

Sweater vest…Forever 21

Turtleneck sweater…Kohls

Belt…The Limited

Skirt…Charlotte Russe

Tights…Apt.9 (Kohls)

Boots…Curations (HSN)

Bag…Kathy Van Zeeland

Jewelry…XOXO watch, Modcloth earrings,

Daisy Fuentes? (Kohls) bracelet, Target ring

(these earrings from Modcloth are an OCD moment as well)

cha...cha...changes...

Recently made the trip back home to get my hair done…

yes…I drive an hour-and-a-half for some highlights…

(as well as…the super-fast-internet…previously mentioned here)

Just recently did I start having my oil changed in town…

after my husband pointed out that “they offer that here too!”

I think I've been holding out...
like being out here isn't somewhat permanent?!

I’m not a fan of change…

well…unless it’s my hair color…

I’ve had them all…platinum to blackest-black.
(As I post this...I'm actually blonder)

I also enjoy changing my fashion style…

I can easily fall victim to a trend…

but ready to change to the next one...
as I bore easily also!?

This outfit represents some changes that I’m currently into…

shorter skirts…colored tights (gray is a color...working myself into it)
…mixing camel and gray…

oh…and blonde hair…

dye-ing to change it already though…

guess we’ll have to wait and see..

 what changes lie ahead!?

Cardigan sweater…NY&C0

Tee & tank…Kohls

Denim skirt…LC by Lauren Conrad (Kohls)

Tights…Gap

Boots…Curations (HSN)

Bag…Kathy Van Zeeland

Jewelry…XOXO watch, NY&CO necklace

 & earrings, Maurices necklace, Premier ring

sunday...casual sunday...

Every Sunday...my husband takes me to breakfast
 before beginning his day on the farm.

Prior to beginning this blog...I made a smaller attempt
to make myself "presentable" to the breakfast crowd...
well...for the most part...

casual for me...still entails big hair...

too-much eyeliner...and full-on jewelry.

But...now that I have you to dress for...
I thought I should take it up a notch...
so I returned to the part of my closet that I had
abandoned since moving out here...skirts!

I want to thank those of you that do check in on me and my blog…

leaving such nice comments…
and to those that inspire me through your own blogs...

you don’t know how much it means to me…
(and to my closet)

THANKS SO MUCH!!

 

Denim jacket…Levi

Scarf...The Limited

Skirt…thrifted

Boots…Apostrophe (Sears)*

Clutch…Jessica Simpson

Jewelry…XOXO watch,

Daisy Fuentes (Kohls) bracelets,

& Target ring

*Correction: boots are from Sears, not JCPenneys.

lacey days...

Ever since Sex and The City 2 when Carrie appeared

 in a long, full shirt with a short frilly skirt…

I have been in search of the very same.

It didn’t seem like it would take much effort…

I actually came across “onesies” at American Eagle and Kohls.

 Long sweaters with chiffon skirts attached…I purchased with delight!

I found that adult “onesies” are not a good thing…

at least not for my figure I guess…

these were made for women with less of a bottom half.

Any movement of the arms and people would be seeing a lot more of me…

you know…where the sun doesn’t shine!?

So…back to the stores they went…

yet I continued my search for this Carrie-esque ensemble.

 You see…I am a bit O.C.D…”a bit” may not begin to describe…

I do not let go of a want or desire very easily…

like waiting ten minutes for the urge to devour a cupcake goes away...

it...does...not...go...away...

I eat the cupcake and no one gets hurt.

Sorry...I digress...(yet another issue...)

I managed to come up with this combination from Kohls…

an LC by Lauren Conrad sweater and Vera Wang lacey skirt...

which quelled my obsession...at least this one!?

Sweater…LC by Lauren Conrad (Kohls)

Lace skirt…Vera Wang (Kohls)

Tights…Apt.9 (Kohls)

Heels…Miss Bisou (JCPenneys)

Bag…vintage

Jewelry…self-designed

a gift from lulus...

Here are a few of my favorite looks from

the "Down the Mountain" Lookbook at Lulus.com!

These are the perfect interpretation of what I am trying

bring to my own mountaintop…ok…so it’s more of a hilltop!?!

Either way…these looks offer such a feel of rustic glamour

 that I am even more inspired to bring style and sophistication

when I come down my little mountain!

And with that…Lulus.com is helping me…as well as…you!!

Whether you go down the mountain or down the street…

Please take advantage of 15% off now through November 29^th!!

Just use coupon code FARMGIRL* during

 checkout at Lulus.com.

*PLEASE NOTE: It is case sensitive and valid for customers

 in the US and Canada.  It is a one use per customer coupon and 

off the total purchase and is a site wide discount.

All images are from the lulus.com website.

Happy Shopping!!