One Red Dress, Seven Ways – Part Two!

Apologies for the long delay. I very very honestly intended to post this second part in the red dress series the week immediately following the first post, but... stuff. Lots of stuff. Sickness and stuff. Booooo! So, anywho, here's part two of making outfits out of a single red dress. How do you think I did?

Refresher!

First, the red dress in question:I purchased this dress on Amazon for under $30! It arrived in two days! It has pockets! It's machine washable! It's "Fun to Wear!" 

Refresher!

OUTFIT ONE: Never Again

This outfit reminds me of my ill-fated trip to Santa Fe. NEVER AGAIN.What I Added:

• Long bandana-print scarf –J.Crew
• dark denim military jacket – Lauren Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdales
• gold metallic booties – Tipe E Tacchi on Yoox

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OUTFIT TWO: Stop Trying to Make Spring Happen

It has been unseasonably (unreasonably?) cold in San Francisco. Do you think if I wear enough floral patterns I can make Spring come early? Fuck this weather, for reals.What I Added:

• pink floral print top - Zara
• pink faux suede trench – Zara
• yellow leather braided wrap belt – Ada
• red leather sock boots with little stud thingies – Topshop

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OUTFIT THREE: Once Again I Question Your Commitment to Sparkle Motion

I am fucking ecstatic about daytime sequins being a thing.What I Added:

• black and multicolor paillette dress – H&M
• black 3/4-sleeve blazer – Zara
• black suede booties – Taryn Rose on RueLaLa

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OUTFIT FOUR: Holiday Spirit

This outfit made more sense when I put it together back in December. I was going for "xmas tree." I think I more or less pulled it off. Meh.What I Added:

• green plaid silk shirt – Equipment at Nordstrom
• dark denim shell with frayed edges – Gap
• green suede boots – I can't remember the brand, but from Yoox

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OUTFIT FIVE: Leopard and Zippers and Mesh. Oh my!

This feels like a very uncharacteristic "tough" outfit for me. I think I'd have to get myself psyched up just to put it on. Maybe play the Peaky Blinders Spotify playlist. More specifically, The Baddest Man Alive from The Black Keys and RZA:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ8Gtx45FmcAlthough, now I think I should have put black motorcycle boots with this instead of those fairly tame grey suede ones. They are inadequately badass.What I Added:

• mesh dress – Universal Standard
• grey leopard vest – Jolt on Nordstrom Rack
• grey suede booties – Dolce Vita

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OUTFIT SIX: I Guess I Like Grey

I have a fondness for grey. What does that say about my personality? Anything? It's just a versatile color. Don't judge me.What I Added:

• grey heather tissue turtleneck – JCrew
• grey crepe sleeveless trench – River Island
• embroidered wrap belt – Gap
• grey suede booties – Dolce Vita

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OUTFIT SEVEN: Furry Fury

Not that kind of furry. The other one.What I Added:

• white thermal tee – Gap
• rabbit fur snood – Barneys
• brown faux leather jacket – Bagatelle on Nordstrom Rack
• leather swallow stick pin – Obey
• rabbit fur fingerless mittens – Adrienne Landau on Gilt
• brown combat boots – Dr. Martens

So, yeah. That's part two. Revisiting it now after a few months, I'm less sold on this set than I was the first. But, I think it wasn't half bad! Meh!I hope to get back to blogging more regularly. Fingers crossed.Hope you've been well. 

OOTD: Is It Spring Yet?

Because I would really like it to be Spring already.Here's what I wore out to brunch on this rainy San Francisco day.

Outfit Info

• pink floral dress with ruched sleeves (I should have taken a picture of the sleeves!) – ASOS
• faceted stud earrings – Adriana Orsini on Saks Off 5th
• blue leather wrap belt – ADA
• pink faux suede trench – Zara
• fuschia leather saddle bag – Coach (available on Amazon!)
• blue suede mary janes – Camper

Hope you're having a frank, productive, springlike day.... wherever you are.

One Red Dress, Seven Ways – Part One!

Remember that time I challenged myself to style one blue dress in seven different ways? People really responded positively to that post, and, as an individual who craves external validation, I thought I'd take another stab at that formula. In fact, I thought I'd take two stabs.So, this time, I challenged myself to style a single red dress – same make and model as the blue one – in not just seven, but 14 different ways. To make it even more difficult, I prohibited myself from using any of the items – shoes, accessories, jackets, etc. – from the previous challenge.How'd I do? You tell me! Here's Part One!The red dress in question:Like the previous example, I purchased this dress on Amazon for under $30! It arrived in two days! It has pockets! It's machine washable! It's "Fun to Wear!" To the outfits!

OUTFIT ONE: Tan–Talizing (No, I'm not a dad, but thanks for asking!)

For this outfit, I channeled my inner college student. Well, maybe not my inner college student, but an idealized version of a college student – one you might see in Lifetime movie. Maybe she gets her heartbroken by her high school boyfriend but finds strength, independence, and sisterhood after she reluctantly joins a sorority.  You go, girl!What I Added:

• grey sleeveless sweater vest – Gap
• tan cropped jacket – J.Crew
• red crossbody leather bag – Furla
• tan 5050 boots – Stuart Weitzman

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OUTFIT TWO: I'm Beginning to Question Your Commitment to Sparkle Motion

I LIKE SEQUINS. I just think they're neat. I especially enjoy these particular sequins that you can rub in different directions to change colors. It's like a sophisticated version of a hypercolor shirt. Sequins are terrific and we should all wear them all the time.What I Added:

• sequin top – River Island
• denim jacket – Gap
• red leather sock boots with little stud thingies – Topshop

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OUTFIT THREE: Cruise Director

Maybe cruises get a bad rap. I mean, yeah, there's all the crashing and the food-borne illnesses, the waste and pollution and the mindless tourism, but there's also shuffleboard! This is a terrific outfit in which to play shuffleboard!What I Added:

• maxi-twilly scarf – Hermes
• gold mors scarf ring – Hermes
• white cotton poplin wrap blouse – Gap
• gold metallic booties – Tipe E Tacchi on Yoox

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OUTFIT FOUR: Sport-o

You know what I don't do? Sports! But that doesn't mean I can't dress like I do. I can dress however the fuck I want. You don't know me.What I Added:

• black mesh mock-neck top – Forever 21
• blue cropped sweatshirt (I cut the neck off for reasons) – H&M
• "No Pants" enamel pin – PINTRILL
• "Valentine's Day" Insta-Pump Fury sneakers – Reebok

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OUTFIT FIVE: I Am Your Filipino Aunt

When I put this outfit together, I said to myself: "This looks like someone's Asian aunt." And then I realized that I am an Asian aunt. So, I'm pretty sure I can get away with wearing this.What I Added:

• floral print mesh top – Forever 21
• cream turtleneck tunic – Gap
• pearl drop earrings – Majorca via LastCall
• blue "Royale" flats – Free People

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OUTFIT SIX: I'm a Lumberjack and I'm Okay

Did you know I own a plaid shirt? Did you know I own Dr. Martens? These are unusual additions to my wardrobe and I'm pretty excited about them! I feel like I'm growing as a person!What I Added:

• plaid flannel shirt – Old Navy
• navy sleevless jacket – Halogen on Nordstrom
• hand-tooled leather clutch – vintage
• butterscotch "Leona" boots – Dr. Martens

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OUTFIT SEVEN: Red Dead

Not a ton to say about this outfit other than I am SO EXCITED for the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2. JUST GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY.What I Added:

• red turtleneck sweater – Old Navy
• tan suede should bag – AllSaints
• tan 5050 boots – Stuart Weitzman

Soooooo... whaddaya think?! I really tried to create variety and push myself to make new combinations while still being true to my personal tastes. The real test, of course, will be wearing these outfits IRL. I'll let you know how that goes in future posts.In the meantime, stay tuned for PART TWO! A whole new set of seven outfits built around one red dress is yet to come!Hope you've been having a frank and productive holiday.  

HOLIDAY DRESSING, PART 4: BIRTHDAY

The most important celebration of the holiday season is easily my birthday, December 15th. Pretty sure it's a federal holiday. So, go ahead and skip out on work tomorrow.To help you celebrate, I've put together a little list of Redbubble dresses that are appropriately birthday-themed. Enjoy!Hope you enjoy my birthday! May there be many crazy shenanigans! 

OOTD: Little Red Hearts

Thought I'd counter all that blue with some straight-up red. Bigger pics and outfit details after the cut.

Outfit Details

• red v-neck dress (with pockets!) – Gap
• red blazer with ruched sleeves – H&M
• red beaded necklace – Kenneth Jay Lane on RueLaLa
• sand suede tote – AllSaints
• red and cream, heart-print, d'orsay pumps – Marc Jacobs purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue at least 10 years ago. They're holding up alright because I never wear them. :/

I sure like red, you guys.

One Blue Dress, Seven Ways

I challenged myself to create seven days of outfits out of a single, super cheap blue dress I got on Amazon. How did I do?First, the dress in question:I purchased this dress on Amazon for about $25! It arrived in two days! It has pockets! It's machine washable! SO MANY EXCLAMATION POINTS. Bonus: As the product description so helpfully points out, it's "Fun to Wear!" And now... the outfits...

OUTFIT ONE: Go, Sailor!

(Pro-tip: It might help to listen to Go Sailor by Go Sailor while you look at this one.) This is what I would wear to commandeer a ship. Who would dare defy me in this getup? NO ONE.What I Added:

• navy boatneck sweater – J.Crew
• navy double-breasted jacket – Lauren Ralph Lauren at Bloomingdales
• handmade textile necklace – superlittlecute on Etsy
• white leather ballet flats – Avec Les Filles at Bloomingdales

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OUTFIT TWO: Almost Minimalist

I would love to be one of those super sleek, minimalist ladies who always look timeless and chic, but, omg, I LOVE stuff. Spangly, shiny, sparkly stuff! So, I added these fancy earrings for a little extra "me."What I Added:

• charcoal turtleneck sleeveless tunic – Gap
• grey, faux suede trench coat – Zara
• charcoal OTK wedge boots – Stuart Weitzman
• sparkly earrings – Kenneth Jay Lane on Net-a-Porter

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OUTFIT THREE: Outdoorsy

I don't care for camping, but I do enjoy a nice walk in the woods. Trees. Creeks. Maybe a nice squirrel to settle near me and share meaningful glances with. That sounds alright. Here is an outfit I would wear for such an occasion.What I Added:

• olive green button-down shirt – J.Crew
• woven belt – Gap
• cream faux-suede vest – Philosophy on NordstromRack
• cream strappy booties – Dolce Vita

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OUTFIT FOUR: Casual Day

Hey, look! Sneakers! They make me so sneaky. Sneaking here and there and everywhere. I put on these shoes and get up to nefarious doings.What I Added:

• blue scarf (BIG KITTIES!) – Hermes
• black belted sweatshirt – H&M
• embellished leather sneakers – Jeffrey Campbell

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OUTFIT FIVE: Sporty

I am dabbling in bold color combos lately, but find myself always bringing in a neutral because I am a coward. Womp womp.What I Added:

• fuschia turtleneck tee – J.Crew
• white silk organza jacket – Tahari on Ruelala
• white leather ballet flats – Avec Les Filles at Bloomingdales

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OUTFIT SIX: A L'il Bit Country

I am from Texas. I enjoy denim jackets and neckerchiefs. Don't judge me.What I Added:

• light pink scarf (a xmas gift from Ben!) – Hermes
• paladium scarf ring (a birthday gift from Ben!) – Hermes
• light pink denim jacket – H&M
• navy suede maryjanes – Camper

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OUTFIT SEVEN: Color & Texture

And, finally, I found that I had a jacket that was almost the same color as the dress. So, yeah... that. Plus, this awesome handmade scarf/necklace hybrid that is super convenient for someone like me, who is allergic to most metals. :(What I Added:

• handmade long layered necklace/scarf – birdienumnumshop on Etsy
• leather and tweed jacket – Bagatelle at Neiman Marcus
• those embellished leather sneakers again! – Jeffrey Campbell

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And just in case you're a glutton for punishment, here are all the individual images for these outfits:

Sooo... what do you think? How did I do?I must say, this was a great exercise to go through – fun and challenging and effective at making me reconsider my go-to outfit scenarios. Still, there's definitely room for improvement/innovation/experimentation. I'll keep working on it. ;) 

OOTD: Just Say No to Pants

I've said it before and I'll say it again: pants are for jerks. Don't let cold weather sway you from an anti-pants stance. Stay strong! Individual pics and outfit info behind the cut...

Outfit Info

• purple sweater dress – ASOS
• checked wool belted blazer – H&M
• charcoal wedge over-the-knee boots – Stuart Weitzman
• yellow leather clutch – Baggu
• "No Pants" pin – PINTRILL

Have a frank and productive day, friends.Follow my blog with Bloglovin

OOTD: Yarns

Wore another Redbubble dress and scarf combo out to lunch today. More pics and details behind the cut.

Outfit Details

• "Space" a-line dress and scarf by embroiderrred – Redbubble
• black, long-sleeved mesh t-shirt – H&M
• black denim moto jacket – Gap
• yellow leather saddle bag by Coach – available on Amazon (now 40% off!)
• black, suede, weatherproof boots by Teva – available on Amazon

Hope you're swell!

Holiday Dressing, Part 1: Christmas

Maybe you've noticed my love of Redbubble dresses (examples here, here, here, here, and here). Maybe you'd prefer to call it an obsession. Maybe you should stop judging and get off my back for once. Maybe you're kind of jerk. Maybe you can fuck right off.WAIT! WAIT! Don't go. I'm sorry. Look! I picked out a whole bunch of Christmas-print dresses for you. 12 of them, in fact, for the 12 days of Christmas. Isn't that cute? Forgive me and look at these awesome dresses!BEHOLD!Please send one of each to my home immediately.Anywho, as the title suggests, this is but the first in a series of posts with my picks for holiday dresses. Over the coming weeks, I'll cover Hanukkah, Festivus, Birthdays (because it's almost my birthday), and New Year's Eve! STAY TUNED AND LET'S NEVER FIGHT AGAIN!

OOTD: All For Moe

Well, now I'm just putting outfits together for the fun of it. Here's an outfit inspired by one of the greatest television shows of all time, The Simpsons.

Outfit Details

• Thames Fog long-sleeve mesh dress in "azure" – Universal Standard
• cream turtleneck sleeveless tunic – Gap
• yellow silk wrap belt – vintage, but here are similar in cotton and suede on Etsy.
• yellow zippered jacket – Lafayette 148 New York
• Moe Tassel Clutch – Skinnydip London
• Call Me Mr. Burns enamel pin – Skinnydip London
• Sam Edelman embellished mules – Amazon

There it is. Now take off and have a frank and productive holiday. 

OOTD: Thanksgiving Prep

If everything goes according to plan, I'll be spending most of the Thanksgiving holiday in some variation of jammies – jammies with a jacket to go get some coffee, jammies with some slippers to head to the fridge, jammies and a blanket to catch up on some Netflix. Jammies with some jammies to sit and think about jammies. Jammies.Anywho, I reckoned I should get a little dressing up in before jammies-gedon. I wore this yesterday to go pick up a turkey and gather provisions.Outfit info and a closer look at this awesome Redbubble print behind the cut. I want to go to there, but part of me suspects a demogorgon inhabits these woods. Only one way to find out...[gallery ids="7632,7631" type="rectangular"]

Outfit Details

• Forest Creek @ Sunrise in Fall dress – DyrkWyst on Redbubble
• Cream turtleneck sweater – (currently 40% off!) from Old Navy
• Green leather wrap belt – Ada Collection 
• Yellow leather saddle bag – Coach, but deeply discounted in other colors on Amazon
• Saddle leather campus boots – Frye

Side note: I've had these Frye boots of TEN (10!) years. They really hold up. 13/10 would recommend.How's your Tuesday going? Good? Good. 

DIY: Custom Printed Dresses

Maybe this is news to no one, but did you know you could have super cute dresses printed from your own photographs? I only found out over the weekend and it continues to blow my damn mind. Isn't technology amazing, you guys? WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?Needless to say, I've been very busy ripping up construction paper and taking pictures to create my own, one-of-a-kind prints. Look at me! I'm a textile designer!Pics and links behind the cut.All of these were created on Redbubble. It is incredibly easy to upload your own images and make any variety of objects – clothing items, prints, accessories, etc. – with your prints. Just makes sure your images are enormous. There's information about dimensions and formats right here.Anywho, just wanted to share what I think is an insanely awesome development in the world of on-demand, customized everything. The future is now!Oh, and I've also uploaded hella old photographs to make stuff out of. If you're curious, you can see my entire "portfolio" at this link.

Stretching Some Shoes

Over the weekend I chanced upon some wicked awesome shoes. They had so much going for them: They were bright orange! They were platform wedges! They were 60% off retail! But, as luck would have it, the last available pair was a half size smaller than my usual. Undeterred, I tried them on. The length of the footbed matched my foot just fine, but the shoes were so tight at the vamp that I could barely squeeze my toes in, leaving my heel dangling off the back. I bought them anyway. Hey, I figured this would make for an excellent opportunity to document how exactly I go about stretching some shoes. Also, omg they’re so cute and make me so tall.  First, I misted the underside of the vamp with several pumps of shoe stretch spray. Then, I inserted the shoe stretchers and adjusted them until they were just a few turns beyond taut. This is a bit difficult to explain, but while adjusting the stretchers, you’ll reach a point when you first begin to feel resistance. In my experience, you don’t want to do too much stretching beyond this point. Even an eighth of an inch can make quite a bit of difference in fit and leather shoes will naturally give and stretch with wear. Remember, you can always stretch shoes just a tiny bit more, but once they’re overstretched, there’s no going back. Anyway, I left the stretchers in the shoes overnight. And in the morning… …they fit! They’re still a bit snug here and there, but it’s nothing a little wear and extra shoe stretch spray can’t fix. I am so happy with them. WOOHOO! WOOHOO!