All Wet

I’m inordinately proud of myself. This marks two days in a row of public self-portraits. Just me, the tripod, and curious onlookers.


Dress, Banana Republic (thrifted). Belt, thrifted. Tights, Hue. Shoes, American Eagle for Payless. Earrings, Ali’s Boutique. Coat, Lilli Allen (vintage*). Bag, Franco Sarto.

Not only did I endure a man photographing me photographing myself (a meta-picture?), but I got pretty wet running from the car to this amphitheater** in the rain. I got much wetter running back to the car, but pictures were completed, so who cares?


Because I usually ride the bus, I’m obsessive about checking the weather report and almost never leave the house unprepared for whatever the atmosphere might throw my way. This week, though, I rented a car for two days (to attend some work training) and somehow thought this would make me impervious to rain and cold. Not so. I’m just glad I remembered a coat!

*I scored this vintage coat from The Drama Workshop’s costume shop. Come to our sale on Saturday and look for your own vintage treasure!
**Can any Cincinnatians guess where I am? One more picture to help you out:

Speak

I'm not a big talker. I allow my outfits to announce my entrance, both metaphorically and literally. This outfit is one of my noisier creations. The dress rustles and the bracelets and heels clackety-clack.





Dress, Merona. Belt, Ozzy and Deena. Shoes, thrifted (no label). Bag, vintage. Cuff, Target. Watch, Raymond Weil. Bamboo bracelets, Garden of the Gods gift shop.









Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Blueberry

I worked picking berries one summer. I ate all the raspberries I could stand, even though I’d occasionally eat one a stinkbug had recently vacated. Yuck!



The blueberries ripened later in the season. I didn’t eat as many of those because I discovered that the inside of a blueberry looks an awful lot like guts. They do make excellent missiles to toss at your coworkers, though.



Thankfully, I left the job before we moved to the backbreaking work of picking strawberries.



Today, I resemble a giant blueberry. I can assure you that I am, also, full of guts.





Shirt, American Eagle (thrifted). Skirt, thrifted (no tag). Bag, Nicole Lee. Shoes, Colin Stuart. Bangles, The Bead Factory and Claire’s. Necklace, Zad. Ring, vintage.

Recovery

Sometimes, I’m really glad to go to work on Monday because it means an excuse to sit on my ass for eight hours. My weekends are always more active than my Monday through Friday. This weekend was more strenuous then most, with the Mudathlon on Saturday and some light demolition on Sunday.





Blouse, INC (cut from a swapped dress). Skirt, Talbot’s. Shoes, Mossimo. Bag, Nicole Lee. Bracelets, Forever 21 and Claire’s.









On Mondays, I recover from my weekend.





Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Play Pattern Play

As summer progresses, it gets tougher to layer pattern mixes, but I manage. It helps that I have so many sheer garments in my wardrobe. I can get double the pattern with half the weight!


Blouse, Forever 21. Dress, I Heart Ronson. Earrings, Style & Co. Bag, Nicole Lee. Shoes, Two Lips. Sunglasses, Betsey Johnson.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Summer Trends: Sparkles for Day

Believe it or not, there are a few office-wear taboos that I respect. I generally shy from exposing cleavage or a lot of thigh. I don’t wear shorts to work. And sequins have never made an appearance. Until today.


Jacket, Adrianna Pappel. Tee, The Limited. Pants, Moda International. Booties, Fioni. Belt, thrifted. Bangles, The Bead Factory and Claire's. Earrings, Aldo. Bag, Mossimo.

Today’s Summer Trends challenge is Sparkles for Day. I suppose I could have gone with something a bit more subtle, but I’ve been dying to get more use out of this olive, sequined jacket.

For office sparkles of any sort, I believe the trick to making it appropriate is pairing the sparkly item with an otherwise conservative ensemble. (Let’s just agree that my interpretation of “conservative” might be different than someone else’s and include things like peep-toe booties, a feathered belt, and giant earrings.)




Photos by Beefy Muchacho

My only other forays into Daytime Sparkles have been my attempts to wear an iridescent, skin-tight dress to work. I’ve topped it with a skirt and jacket or cardigan for a little office sparkle.

Tomorrow’s trend is Eclectic Prints. You know I’ve got that one all sewn up.

Milford

I’ve lived in Cincinnati for seven years and I’m still discovering new places to dine, shop, and just hang out. Today, I was introduced to Milford’s 20 Brix, Gayle’s Vintage Clothing, and Sugar Cupcakery. I need to drive out there more often.


Dress, Frederick’s of Hollywood. Belt, vintage and thrifted. Earrings, Ali’s Boutique. Oxfords, thrifted. Bag, Charming Charlie. Ring, Gayle’s Vintage!



Photos by Beefy Muchacho