Links to Love: January 27th

by Ashe on January 27, 2012

Links to Love:

In a quick bit of Shameless Self Promotion: I’ve launched a sister site to Dramatis Personae, Ash in Fashion!  I like to think of the sites as two sides to the same girl– the thoughtful, questionable side and the side that goes OOH SHINY! So hop over to Ash in Fashion to find the things I’m coveting, thoughts on beauty products, and steals and deals around the web!

30 Things to Start Doing for Yourself: I’d love to print this list out and hang it where I can see it always. There are so many of these that I could work on in my life, like #3, #4, #6, #8, #9, #10-12, #14 and so on… and I think if we’re honest with ourselves, we all have a lot of things to work on. So why not start today?

The Fashion Confessional is Open at Already Pretty. My list would probably go something like, I don’t understand how to put on lipstick without looking like a clown 3 hours later. I’ll also never have ladylike nails.  I wear the same socks a week in a row, and I always re-wear my clothes before washing them (except panties & gym shirts).  My hair is so light, I ALWAYS forget to shave my legs. I just can’t see it, so I can go for months without doing it.  How about you?

Glitter Nail Polish Removal Made Simple at Pink Sith. I always love glitter polish and HATE removing it– so this could be a perfect solution.

No Signposts in the Sea: The Long Post on Shopping in 2011. I never tire of reading people observations on their shopping habits, and how it relates to their feelings on consumption, money, and more.  What if you realized you were  a bad shopper? And had purchased 90 items, costing over $2500, and could easily say, “These pieces weren’t worth it?”   You should read her following up, The Shopping Plan for 2012 and Five Shopping Rules.

5 {More} Ways to Immerse Yourself in Culture at The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower. And the original, 5 Ways to Immerse Yourself in Culture.  Both posts have such simple suggestions, but how many of us ACTUALLY take the time out to do those things regularly?

Also from Already Pretty (because this post? I’m TOTALLY going through this right now): Dressing the Body in Flux.  While I may also share my own tips soon, my biggest suggestion: buying elastic!  Shirt with an elastic gathering through the waist or ruching in back.  Skirts with elastic waists.  It may not be hip, it may not be sexy (these are both lies, 75% of ASOS skirts are elastic waist and they’re always hot), but by god–when you drop 20 pounds, your skirt still fits.

 Dear Customer Who Stuck Up for His Little Brother: The world needs more big brothers like this, and more strangers to say kind things.

Tasty Treats & Eats:

Food and cooking at home has become such a big, fun, and exciting part of our life that I wanted to share the food that excite me each month…

Thai Chicken Pizza on Naan — can’t WAIT to try these out, even if I may go the pineapple & green onions route she suggests above.

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup.  On an ambitious evening, the Beau & I made three batches of soup– this being one of them. Be careful not to add in a whole 1-2 TABLESPOONS of chipotle peppers (the recipe says TEASPOON). Ours is super smoky and hot, but delicious. We add in Greek yogurt to cut the heat.

Food for winter weather: it’s not cold in New Orleans, but golly! I’ll eat like it is.  (Other recipes we loved this month: Black Bean and Roasted Salsa Soup, Chicken Chili Verde, and Lentil and Sausage Stew.

Style Inspired:

This is a little roundup of the daily outfit posts that peek my curiosity and inspire me sartorially…

Girl Next Door Fashion: Fur & Lace  There’s something about the soft colors and the mixture of textures paired against a deep wine that really just thrills me in this outfit.

Love, Maegan: When It’s Love It’ll Last Forever.  This outfit has so much that I love–the 80s influence, the colored skinny jean against bold, plaid blazer, and the huge chunky accessories

Already Pretty:  Daily Outfit 11/22/11. Grown up 70s prep school? Why don’t mind if I do. I fancy that Sally would be English riding all afternoon before flirting with the prep school stable boys in the evening.

The Coveted: Casual That’s Not So Casual.  That jacket!!! MY GOD, THAT JACKET!!!

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(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman

by Ashe on January 25, 2012

The first time I did any kind of coloring to my hair, I was in seventh grade.  My mom let me put Sun-In in my hair to get a lighter, more golden blonde.  I’m not entirely sure it actually worked, as my hair was pretty light, but it spawned a little hair-coloring demon in me.  For most of the last 16-17 years, I haven’t seen my natural hair color.  I didn’t even known what it was.

Red. “Grape Jelly.” Hot pink. Bleach blonde. Dark brown. Medium Brown. Auburn. Copper.  A failed attempt at teal.

My hair color’s always been a reflection of how I feel.  Who I feel that I am.  How I want to present myself, and who I want people to see.  Since entering the working world, it’s always been a compromise between what I want and who I feel I am, and who I need to be for my job.  Which has sadly meant no hot pink streaks hidden away.  It’s also been a sign of how disconnected I feel from myself– the unending roots because I can’t figure out what color I want and reaching for the same color–because no other color could POSSIBLY feel right.

daily outfit featuring dorothy perkins, novica, jewelmint web lace ring, wendy brandes diana spike ring, a is for arsenic necklace, we love colors tights, and miz mooz heels

As you can see in this recent picture, my roots have gotten LONG since my last hair coloring.  It prompted the eternal (or at least eternal-for-the-last-five-years) dilemma in me– keep it that color or find out what my natural color is?

Once, while living in Indiana, I got close, as in 2 inch roots. My coworkers were SOOO excited to see the natural color. But the look of my roots just drove me insane.  Most of the time I get tired of having roots and color it whatever it was, whether that felt like my “color” at the time or not.

This time– I took the plunge. There was enough natural growth that the Beau helped me find a dye close to the color, and worst case scenario– if I hated it, it’d be easy to go back to strawberry blonde.

After I had finished & dried it, I went in to the living room to see the Beau. I was anxious, and a bit nervous.  I was excited by what I saw in the mirror, but I knew how much he loved my redder hair.

“This is it. This is what your girlfriend looks like naturally.  No make-up, no hair color.”   He goes, “It’s nice.”  I continue to give him the eye of “BUT…”  and he adds, “It’s plain.  It’s nice, but plain.”  Of course, the dude who loves my vibrant copper and strawberry blonde hair isn’t going to jump for joy over mousy dishwater blonde hair.

It’s not an entirely accurate color, since it has built in highlights and lowlights from the strawberry blonde.  And, of course, after a few weeks, it’s taken on a pinkish tone from the red starting to push it’s way through the dark blonde.

Oddly, I felt like “me” for the first time in a while with the strawberry blonde.  I feel like “me” now, too, with this dishwater hair.  I question how two different colors can feel like me, but realize that’s the nature of this girl-beast: always dueling with herself.  And at least I I have a few colors I can bounce between, at least until I don’t feel like myself again. ;)
Relate? Empathize? What’s your history with your hair color?

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The awards shows have begun, and Fashion Week is just around the corner.  This means we’ll soon be bombarded with images and posts of Best & Worst Dressed list and rundowns of the major collections.  While I’ve never posted recaps from these fashionable weeks (and don’t plan on starting!), you can guarantee I’m peeking through the photo galleries as they come up.

Most of the time, the red carpet and fashion shows just give me a little taste of “Things I Want But Can’t Have.”  Frankly, I don’t like spending my time going COVET COVET COVET when their unattainably and unbelievably out of reach.  (Michael Kors watch? Attainable with some savings & sale shopping.  Cartier vintage jewelry? Not even in my wildest dreams.)

When I’m not struck by a case of the covets, I use these sources as what they’re meant to be (for the average gal)–inspiration.  For those of us who don’t always know what our style is, who are looking to incorporate fresh flavor into our wardrobes, or who need a sartorial pick-me-up, the runway and red carpet are a great place to look!

alexander mcqueen rtw 2012, mila kunis red carpet, mila kunis golden globes 2012, christian dior haute couture 2011

Runway & Red Carpet Style Can Teach You About… Your Favorite Cuts & Fits

I’m gonna start with three VERY different outfits, but all three that I love– and feel are very me.  Christian Dior here, fun, playful, and whimsical.  Mila Kunis at the Golden Globes in a very classic, yet understated dress.  And Alexander McQueen–who need I say more?  Yet, at the heart of these outfits, we find similar structures: a fitted, structured bodice and, in the first two, fuller skirts.  The McQueen outfit provides a more streamlined silhouette, but you do begin to find weight towards the bottom of the skirt.

Look at your favorite picks each season– and what common elements are you finding? Are you drawn to the avant garde? The loose and elegant? Fitted skirts and plunging necklines?

betsey johnson rtw 2011, michelle williams red carpet, michelle williams golden globes 2012,

Runway & Red Carpet Style Can Teach You About… Your Favorite Colors & Prints

Hey– did you know I’m an avid fan of your wardrobe having a color palette?  Especially if, like me, you’re a color FIEND?

Sometimes a gal doesn’t know where to start though– where to narrow out colors, where to find the ones she truly wears.  I’m attracted to, and feel best in, jewel tones and vibrants.  I stay away from citrus-y oranges and yellows (though love to embrace a little chartreuse!) and pastels.  Not a surprise? I’m not attracted to those colors on the red carpet or the runway, unless it’s SPECK-TACULAR.  Same goes for prints.  I’m mad crazy for leopard print, polka dots, and stripes.  I don’t often buy florals or abstract prints.

Start hoarding those images in a folder, and figure out what colors you love– and which pretty prints!

betsey johnson rtw 2012, evan rachel woods red carpet, evan rachel woods golden globes 2012, evan rachel woods gucci, nicole kidman red carpet, nicole kidman golden globes 2012

Runway & Red Carpet Style Can Teach You About… Textures, Details & Accents That Attract You

Great outfits come from great details.

Great details can also bring to life the most basic pieces– the perfect studding on a top, the peplum on a skirt.  Details take the boring and ordinary to extraordinary.   Imagine Rachel Evan Woods dress if it were just a basic silk– beautiful, but ordinary.  Or Nicole Kidman’s without the intricate studding and channels.  Betsey Johnson shows us we can mix textures and a bit of pattern to create a look that’s over the top.

Runways and red carpets are great for figuring out what details you’re attracted to–whether ruffles, studs, sequins or feathers (all of which I love).  Then it’s a matter of integrating those in to YOUR personal closet.

emma stone red carpet, emma stone tom ford, emma stone golden globes 2012, emma stone lanvin,

Runway & Red Carpet Style Can Help Find You… A Style Icon

Crazy, no?  It’s hard to find a style icon if you’re not obsessively watching what celebs wear out on the street.  And those fab fashion shoots?  ARE ALL PUT TOGETHER BY A STYLIST.  Soooo…sheeetttt. How DO you find a style icon?

This is why I love the red carpet– it’s like seeing the best version of a performer.  While many have assistance by a stylist, the red carpet is often where you’re finding them representing themselves–best or worst dressed lists and all.  I love the red carpet because you can find out who are risk-takers, who always play it safe with pastel strapless dresses, and who uses each event as an opportunity to be share another side (Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone– I’m looking at you!).  If you search through each event as it happens, I’m sure you’re going to notice yourself attracted to the same performers over and over… and what do you know? You’ve got an icon.

I’m mad crazy about Emma Stone– and a quick look above probably shows why.  She picks amazing colors and simple silhouettes with a unique twist.  She realizes the details (the lace and shape in Tom Ford, her belt on the right, and the power of a hot pink lip against a black and white gown).

There’s no doubt in MAH MIND– if we were besties (which I think we could be), that I’d ALWAYS be going, OOOH GURL. WHERE’D YOU GET THAT?

 Do you use the red carpet or Fashion Week season to give your style a boost of inspiration? What are your tips for beginning the process (lawd knows I find all the designers at NYFW overwhelming!)?

All images via Elle.com.

 

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I have loads of wonderful girlfriends who I love to treat during the holidays.  But as with anyone, what do you get the gal who has everything (when you can’t buy them Fluevogs)?  This year I decided to try my hand at handmade fascinators, each one adorned, decorated, and bedazzled to suit the lady’s fab personality.

handmade fascinator, teardrop fascinator, saints hat, saints fascintaor, embroideried fascinator, vintage inspired hat, feather hat, feather fascinator

handmade fascinator, teardrop fascinator, saints hat, saints fascintaor, embroideried fascinator, vintage inspired hat, feather hat, feather fascinator

Keep Reading!

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One of the reasons the Beau and I headed up to Indiana for the holidays was for his sister’s wedding on December 23rd.  Tell a girl to dress for a high mass Catholic Christmas wedding, and she’ll balk.  Even more when the Beau goes, “Mmm, that dress doesn’t flatter you in X spot,” and you’ve suddenly got an outfit ruined.  An outfit you planned down to your nail color and jewelry.

I opted for this Dorothy Perkins Kimono dress, because I thought the cream background and the dark, but vibrant colors seemed right for a winter wedding.   This outfit ended up being one I received many compliments on– only to realize the dress photographs in the most unflattering way!

More importantly– the newly wedded couple are so happy and she looked stunning (her hair was AMAZING).  Though we do tease her now that she’ll never get to celebrate her wedding anniversary!

daily outfit featuring dorothy perkins, novica, jewelmint web lace ring, wendy brandes diana spike ring, a is for arsenic necklace, we love colors tights, and miz mooz heels

daily outfit featuring dorothy perkins, novica, jewelmint web lace ring, wendy brandes diana spike ring, a is for arsenic necklace, we love colors tights, and miz mooz heels

daily outfit featuring dorothy perkins, novica, jewelmint web lace ring, wendy brandes diana spike ring, a is for arsenic necklace, we love colors tights, and miz mooz heels

daily outfit featuring dorothy perkins, novica, jewelmint web lace ring, wendy brandes diana spike ring, a is for arsenic necklace, we love colors tights, and miz mooz heels

What I Wore:

Dorothy Perkins Kimono Dress
Black We Love Colors Tights
Miz Mooz Reverie Rendevous Mary Janes (from Hautelook)
Wendy Brandes Vampire Diana Ring
Jewelmint Web Lace Ring
A is for Arsenic Necklace
Beaded Bracelet c/o Novica
Hayden Harnett Colorblock Tart Tote

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