Portland Style (and Life) Lesson

Portland is officially one of my favorite cities.  This past Memorial Day Weekend the BF and I headed to Portland to enjoy our neighboring state and my birthplace and it did not fail to impress.  We walked, we talked, we ate, we drank, and we walked some more.

In terms of style, Portland seemed like a bit of an anomaly at first.  There were lots of tattoos, but not the stereotypical tattoos on the types of people you would expect.  People don't seem to dress up too much in general, but once I came to this conclusion a dapper man in his mid 20's walked into the taproom the BF and I were at (Bailey's Taproom - I highly recommend!) in a full on English 3-piece suit ensemble, complete with a pocket handkerchief.  Then I realized there was nothing anomalous about Portland style, there is something quite beautiful and distinctive about it.  Portland's diversity and laid back nature create the perfect backdrop for individuals to express themselves through their style in whatever way they desire - and no one seems to care or stare.  Marching to the beat of your own drum is the style in Portland and wearing what you want and what makes you feel good is just a given and judging is so Hollywood.

Here are a few pics from the weekend!

Me at the International Rose Test Garden.


Stopping to smell and stare at the roses.


I wish this screen was scratch and sniff for you.


Our urban hike from the rose garden to the Japanese Garden.

I can't think of a better way to spend a relaxing weekend than literally and figuratively stopping to smell the roses.  Next time you're looking for a relaxing and laid back vacation, I highly recommend Portland.  Oh, and wear whatever makes you feel good and you may just pass off for a local.

XX
C

p.s. Make sure to hit up Powell's while you're in town - best.bookstore.ever!

Images courtesy of the BF.

SIFF Style

Happy SIFF Season!  The Seattle International Film Festival is here once again with an eclectic array of films to broaden our world view, our understanding of the film genre (beyond Hollywood), and much much more.  There is something so Seattle and so artsy about the film festival it makes me want to honor the films by dressing artfully and uniquely.  Attending a SIFF film is special.  There is something so fleeting and funky and fantastic about watching a film that was born from the minds and hands and hearts of independent film makers.  And as a girl who uses any excuse to dress up, I am planning on taking full advantage.  

Tonight I'm headed to the Harvard Exit to see the French film A Better Life.  So I'm going to have a bit of fun with a Parisian inspired movie appropriate comfortable chic easy breezy look.  SIFF style take 1!

Donna Karan Oversized Ribbed Cashmere Sweater - Theaters tend to be chilly, so don a sweater for a pulled together look that melds fashion and function.  

Isabel Marant Fine Knit Scarf - In case the theater is extra chilly, wrap up in a scarf.

Banana Republic Dark Wash Roll-Up Skinny Jeans - Close fitting denim balances out the oversized cozy fabric look and adds some structure.

Seychelles Typewriter - Add some height and stature with some comfortable wedges.

Chanel CC Gold Stud Earrings - French, fabulous, and my fave everyday chic earrings.  Some simple studs are the only accessory necessary for this basic, minimalist look.

Now all I need to do is throw my hair in a messy bun, dab on some lip gloss, and voila, I am ready to be transported to Paris through the power of fashion and film.

That's a wrap!

XX
C

Images courtesy of Net-a-porter, Banana Republic, Seychelles, and Bag Borrow or Steal.

Flower Power

Flowers have entranced the hearts and minds of poets, musicians, painters, photographers, and fashion designers throughout the world.  They have the innate ability to allure and illuminate the senses with their scent and natural aesthetic beauty.  We present friends and family members with flowers to express our love, friendship, sympathy, remorse, and congratulations.  

If I had it my way my house would be full of flowers in every room all the time, but unfortunately flowers wilt and wither and their beauty, once plucked from the ground, is fleeting.  Luckily, we can capture and share the beauty of flowers in more ways than one and one of my favorite ways is in my attire.  From a young age I have been attracted to floral print ensembles and while fashions and trends will come and go, floral print, like our appreciation of flowers, is here to stay.

Harness some flower power in these darling duds.

Ashish Sequin T-shirt with Flower Vase - a walking piece of art.


Sister Jane Studded Floral Top - damsel in daisies.


Forever 21 Floral Tie Button Up - so adoring the tie button ups this season.



Forever 21 Floral French Terry Pullover - temper your flower power with some black (p)leather.


Motel Kimmy Skirt in Tie Dye Floral Print - date night chic and ready to wow.


ASOS Midi Skirt in Floral Print - 50s inspired and stunning.


Forever 21 Floral Combo Dress - primary palette perfection!


Minkpink 'Lollie Floral' Tie Back Dress - ready for an afternoon of site seeing and wine tasting.


Oasis Vintage Rose Dress - Charlotte would approve.


Current/Elliott Shorts - reminds me of a couch my parents had in the 80s...and I love it.


Forever 21 Flared Floral Shorts - get the glam gam effect with functional floral shorts.


NW3 by Hobbs Ditsy Floral Blazer and Shorts - bust out of boring business attire with this suit.


Johann Earl Floral Print Denim Pants - classic and preppy and a tiny bit precious.


Forever 21 Floral Drawstring PJ Pants - add some wedges and a cute tank and go from bed to brunch.

Not ready to go full on floral?  Infuse some flower fun into your look with these fab accessories.

Pieces Florissa Floral Snood - taking a basic tank and shorts from plain and boring to stylish status.


ASOS Big Flower and Leaf Cocktail Ring - floral finger fun!


ASOS Floral Print Turban - kiss your bad hair day doldrums bye bye.


Pieces Navi Floral Side Bow Alice Band - primary colored petals pretty up your tresses.

Fulton Soft Floral Umbrella - add some brightness to a rainy day with these precious umbrella.

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses...or at least wear some!

XX
C

Images courtesy of Net-a-porter, ASOS, and Forever 21.

Glam Gwen

The first concert I ever went to was a No Doubt concert at the Gorge.  I was in 8th grade and my grade school BFF Erin and I were absolutely obsessed with No Doubt and Gwen Stefani and had the lyrics to the entire album memorized.  Erin and I donned ourselves in Gwen Stefani inspired duds and streaked our hair with blue Christian Dior hair mascara.  The concert was spectacular.  At one point Gwen climbed the scaffolding of the stage and once she was a couple feet off the ground announced that she was getting nervous and afraid of heights and came down.  I loved that - she was proud and funky and passionate and famous, but still "just a girl in the world."  

While I am no longer streaking my hair blue with hair mascara, I am still completely in awe of Gwen Stefani and her style and versatility and have so enjoyed watching the evolution of her look since the No Doubt days (you can still see remnants of that 90s grunge, funk inspired look in her attire today).  Her look ranges from masculine inspired and androgynous to pin-up to rocker babe to classic beauty and you can tell she has a little bit of those characteristics wrapped up in her personality.  She is a mom, a wife (to a very hunky man), a fashion designer, a singer, a writer, and a model and she still takes the time and energy to put herself together before stepping out into the world.  And no one can quite pull off colored hair and red lips like Gwen...  

Gwen is totally tapped into her naturally stylish self, with her clothing line, L.A.M.B., and her everyday, street-style and her singing and writing, she expresses herself in all she does.

Thank you Gwen for your authentic sense of self and style!  You are truly a fashion inspiration!

XX
C

Images courtesy of last.fm and Just Jared.

Clybourne Park and 50's Fashion

The BF and a couple friends and I recently went to see Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park at the Seattle Repertory Theater and I was blown away by the story, the acting, the writing, and the costumes.  Clybourne Park is a response to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, with the first half of the play portraying fictional events (loosely based on real life) set before A Raisin in the Sun and the second half jumping ahead to more modern times.  Clybourne Park won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and there's no wondering why if you've seen the play (and if you haven't, please do!).  

Satire provides an entree into the world of 1959 race issues and property rights with a black family moving into an all white neighborhood in Chicago (to the chagrin of the neighbors) and then, jumping forward 50 years to 2009, it allows for a raw, yet entertaining and witty look at the flip-flop that occurs with gentrification when a white couple attempts to move into the very same house and tear it down to rebuild their modern dream home in what has now become a predominantly black neighborhood full of historic houses.  And while the issues pour out of this play line by line and look by look, the hilarious characters (most of whom appear to be more caricature than character) draw you through the story entranced and laughing and then making you think.

Oh and how could I forget the costumes?!  The attire in the first half of the play is incredible. I am so glad fashion is trending towards a more body conscious and elegant look once again, because I have to say the "dated" 50s fashions of Clybourne Park were the epitome of sartorial elegance while the modern day characters' attire was verging on sloppy (eek!).  Take a look!

1959 Fashion

2009 Fashion

Rarely do you see the juxtaposition of 50s fashion and modern day fashion all bundled into the same play and the contrast was eye-opening.  While I have no desire to go back in time to the 50s or the issues they faced then, I wouldn't mind bringing some 50s era fashion to today's world.  If you have a chance to see this play I highly recommend it - it makes you wonder what you will think is ridiculous about modern times in 50 years that we accept as the norm now.  Off to mull that over a bit (in a 50s inspired fitted pencil skirt and tailored blouse of course!).

Happy Friday lovelies, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

XX
C

Production photos by Alan Alabastro courtesy of the Seattle Repertory Theater.

Catch a Wave in Style in this Chic Swimwear

I have been getting a bit (gasp) bored with beachwear recently. Nothing has caught my eye in the swimsuit arena that I haven't seen before.  We've all seen the triangle bikini tops, the boy shorts, the ruffled bottoms, and the bandeau tops.  And many of the more trendy, cutting edge swimsuit styles can be a bit hard to pull off for those of us who aren't a size 000 (particularly the high waisted throwback bikini bottoms and super strappy cutout one-pieces).  Just as I was feeling the effects of swimsuit malaise setting in, I came across the Zimmerman lookbook and my faith in seaside fashion was instantly restored.

Zimmerman is based out of Australia (talk about a country with a long standing love affair with swimwear) and there are only a couple stores in the states - in LA and New York (thank goodness for the internet and shopbop!).

Beat the beach blahs with these phenomenal suits...

Zimmerman Rash Guard Top and Bottoms - funky and floral and comfy looking.

Zimmerman Cropped Rash Guard Top - my fave look, mix and match with floral and scuba style.

Zimmerman Avery Rash Guard Top - put a bird on it...or two or three or four....

Zimmerman Frill Rash Guard Top - print party.

These suits make me want to take up surfing asap (or at least adopt the surfer look).  Hopefully summer in Seattle is as sunny as it has been this past week, because if it is, you can bet I will be mixing up my swimsuit repertoire Zimmerman style.

Surf's up!

XX
C

Images courtesy of Zimmerman and Shopbop.

Jaw Dropping Jewelry - History + Industry

When I recently saw a friend adorned in Irene Wood's Bird of Paradise necklace (pictured below), I instantly fell in jewelry love.  Irene Wood is the artist and designer behind History + Industry, an innovative, bold, and color conscious (local!) jewelry line that I can't get enough of.  Her general aesthetic is inspired by a cross between the ancient world and function and utility.  

Wood's line, History + Industry is a contemporary homage to old world glamour and royalty.  She has a lovely artistic description of her "subtle statement necklaces" in this line as well as the woman who she pictures wearing them, stating that they "[...] are extensions of their owner's inner strength, confidence, power, and originality."  She explains that, "By creating a platform of self expression, it is my hope that whomever finds connection with a particular piece seeks to imbue it with her own personal mythology.  That the necklace in a sense carries the folklore of each woman.  I want her to put on a necklace, make it her own, and feel beautiful."  

And how could you not in these pieces?!

History + Industry Bird of Paradise Necklace - eye catching plumage for your decolletage!


History + Industry Isis Necklace - luminous, ethereal, and subtly powerful.


History + Industry Midas Necklace - this necklace definitely has the Midas touch.


History + Industry Once and Future Queen Necklace - statement of a necklace.

History + Industry Zelda Necklace - playful and precious, with a magical spark.


History + Industry Emerald Acres Necklace - cascading colors synchronized shape shifting.


History + Industry Eastern Bluebird - soft natural colors entrance the eye.


History + Industry Victoria Necklace - regal and demanding attention.


History + Industry Wilma's Rocks - Flintstone fancy.


History + Industry Pantomime Necklace - go bold and big and geometric.


History + Industry Sevilla Necklace - clean and tropical and beach babe glam.


History + Industry Yellow Brick Road Necklace - Dorothy and Elton would approve.

All I have to say is I hope I'm the type of woman Irene Wood had in mind, because I am starting to save my pennies immediately for one of these...I'm thinking the Isis, but also smitten with the Midas.

Which is your favorite?

XX
C

Images and quoted material courtesy of History + Industry.