Fashion Month's Highlight Reel - Highs & Lows

The Cut went above and beyond this fashion month with their coverage. Their staff photographers YoungJun Koo (still the best name ever) and friends put a lot of miles on those collective shutters capturing some pretty excellent-unbelievable-creepy-awesome things. I really love the street style coverage every time there are new fashion weeks. I prefer the street style to the runway (mostly) because it's real life fashion, outside, and in the world. 

Apparently it's become a "Hate Watching Sport" according to some of the writer's at The Cut (read the article here). I totally see how that is true, but mainly I think we are just all enthralled with people and their proclivities for weirdness. In the words of Oprah's Own Super Soul Sunday, "Their vulnerability resonates with our vulnerability and connects us all to the greater being." Ok, clearly that was not a direct-direct quote, but you catch the drift. People being weird makes the weirdness in us rejoice. Fashion week/month is like the fashion weirdness parade where we can all applaud each other's risk taking and brovado. I think it is great and have hand chosen my favorite images from the last several seasons (here, here and here). And that is exactly what I have done below too. 

The dress, the cut and those nails - how terrible in a wonderful way! The Blonds, New York

Can you name all of the people in this image? It's Kanye, Karl, that Italian lady for Vogue? Don't know the other guy. Very interesting image though. They all look like Madam Toussad's wax figurines. Just saying.
Carine Roitfeld, Stephan Gan, Kanye West, and Karl Lagerfeld at CR Fashion Book Issue 2 After Party, Paris

It's my boyfriend! House of Waris creator, Waris Ahluwalia and Johan Lindeberg at Purple Magazine and Bulgari Dinner, Paris. Remember when I wrote about him? You don't? Read that here.

Every season there is an iconic bright lipstick-backstage-application shot. And I love them every time. Especially this fuchsia color. Remember when I wrote about my mother's fuchsia lipstick? Oh, you don't? Read that here.

No words. This is just really, really amazing. Bare skin in a snow storm? Yes PLEASE.

Similar to the above: no words. Well two words actually: NIP SLIP. If 'nip' counts as a word. I love everything about this gentleman, especially his XXS shirt, his fake tats, and his many-many belts. Whoever  you are can we be friends? I just got those same glasses from my father's 1980s self! I am wearing them now. Ok, not now but when I get outside I will. Promise.

This cartoon style jacket doesn't scream rich so much to me as Kanye West? Is that you, Kanye? No reason to hide.

See the rest of The Cut's 50 Best Photos from Fashion Month here.

What else is new? Wedding lists are getting finalized. The numbers jumped quite a bit - so the wedding went from small to small-ish... Would you like a style board of me in all of the dresses I tried on? I am a little embarrassed  but think it would be good for a laugh. Clearly I will not be posting THE Dress because you-know-who is probably reading this right meow. Until then!

The Wedding Chronicles: PROLOGUE "Bridal Party Time"

Customized Cards on Etsy/ Handcuff Necklace/ Handcuff Bracelet/ Leigh Ann's Wedding on Style Me Pretty 

Hey there wedding friends! Wanted to keep you all in the loop about the latest with the wedding. Lot's has been happening in this last week:

1. I tried on about a million dresses (ahem, like 30) and found THE ONE. Shout out to Erin at Mia's Bridal - thanks for making the experience so easy! It's ordered and on it's way in 4 to 6 months. Don't ask me why it takes that long. It's seems like forever. Plus with only 7 months 'til our big day I might be cutting it close with the 4 to 8 weeks for alterations situation... Alas, that is a conniption for another day. 
2. My boo and I went to the Galleria and spent some major insurance money to get some stuff back. It was fun and crazy all at the same time. It was like we won the lotto in the saddest and most traumatizing way ever. Had to get my daily spending limit increased because my debit card has NEVER seen action like that... I actually got shopped out. Stop bragging? I know. Sorry.
3. I've started gathering addresses from everyone (good bye weekend free time) and boy is it going slower than expected. Some lady-genius at Google in her 20% free time clearly created a Google Wedding lab for her own wedding planning and it's helped me quite a lot too. Check it out here. 
4. We have officially put Figaro the cat on Prozac. Now we  lovingly refer to him as Prozac Cat. Apparently he has the cat version of PTSD from all the moving in his four year life. I feel for him, but come on. 

That is basically all for now. Dad has been hard at work negotiating with the Salamanders aka his favorite country club cover band. I was able to finally see some videos and they actually look great. Very relieved. Bach party planning underway (thanks, sis!). Watch out NOLA!! Hopefully this time next week I will have some Save the Date proofs to share. XO. 

The Wedding Chronicles: ACT TWO "Mood Board Edition"

It's all happening! The wedding planning has taken on a new level of speed with the final "all clear" from my father on final budget. We have meetings scheduled with a florist, negotiations with a band that my father swears by (who else has a dad that has such an opinion on bands?!) and I am looking at white dresses this weekend! Or as my friend, Kate and I have decided to call it, we are just going 'shopping'... This helps with the anxiety? I think. 

We also have a wedding planner secured that has planned dozens of events including many for the Sundance Film Festival (thanks, Pam!) and a photographer flying in from Dallas. I also recently placed an order with a custom stationery company here in Houston, the Seahorse Bend Press (check out their Etsy shop here). They are going to do all of our paper goods including save the dates, invites, monogram, and programs. This is the original suite that caught my eye. What do you think? I am going to do it in different colors and patterns (see above - the brighter, the better!), but am SO excited to see the final product. Also, have a tentative booking with the fabulous, super-talented Julie Soefer for bridal portraits for later this spring (once my body is banging, of course).

I am getting really, really excited and thanks to a long relaxing week in the BVIs I am just about ready to conquer anything. The love and support of the fiance, family and friends (wedding dress team! Brooke, the sister/wedding planner/father wrangler!) is the main thing propelling me forward. 

Promise to keep you posted on invite proofs and wedding dress selections! Stay tuned. XO.

Buh Bye Now

Adios for now, my friends

We are off bright and early this morning to the BVIs. This trip has been in the works for about a year and the fact that its finally here is pretty outstanding. 7 days on a chartered catamaran complete with captain and chef... It's heaven.

Please forgive the silence this week. I'll be gearing up to get back and get serious about wedding planning once and for all. Thanks for all the dress comments, ps, they made my day! Xo.

PPS. They caught our robbers! It's a very convoluted story but basically a federal agent for the post office caught them? I swear that's not made up. Plus they were junkies. Ew. Detes next week. I promise!

PPPS. Here are some shots of the sunrise from the airport, our travel must haves, my VD card (har har) and a lil something extra.

The Wedding Chronicles: ACT ONE "Search for the Illusive White Dress"

Some might say I have some reservations about wedding dress shopping. And that someone might be ME. Wedding shoes, on the other hand, are a totally different can-o-worms. Those are bought and sitting in my closet waiting to be worn. They are perfection and I knew it without even having to try them on.

buy them here.

Anyways, I digress. This post is about wedding dresses and how I am more or less intimidated by them. Our wedding is September 28 and I have done the very minimum as far as securing the dress is concerned. I don't want to go look for a lot of reasons. The main one being that I do not like wedding dresses, just kind of in general. My sister and friends have all looked stunning in theirs, but when I walk into a bridal salon I don't think "ah, now this is IT". I mostly think "arg, so much white, don't know where to stop start". It also does not help that I don't really know what I want. I know what I like (see above) but they are all so vastly different! How does one come to a consensus? I am thinking it may be best to just work with a seamstress and build my own version Frankenstein-like out of bits and pieces of the designs that you see above. That also intimidates the hell outta me because you are basically saying OK lady you can do this, right? and they say right and then you say I trust you... Too much control is lost on some stranger. Am I being crazy?

The party and the upcoming official marriage is a lot more under control. Venue is secured. Fiance is feeling involved but not too involved. Band is under negotiations, flower meeting scheduled, save the dates conceptualized... The list goes on. BUT the DRESS. So much is put into this decision. I really am invested in clothes (ahem, that's why I started this blog) and what they say about your image. Plus that this is something that will be immortalized forever. What am I gonna do?!?!

Fashion Film

GO BUY NOW: ASOS Edit & Updates + Musiccc

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Couple life updates: wedding planning is going well. My perpetually traveling father has finally settled down long enough to sign the contract at the Bellagio which is a huge relief. I have asked my wedding party and everyone's really excited. What else? Work wise things have been pretty meh this week, but we are getting back in the saddle. Moral of the story? See below... Happy Friday, homies! 

Some jimmy jams to start your weekend off right:

ROBERT DELONG -- GLOBAL CONCEPTS from WHITCHER on Vimeo.

I DON'T CARE! I LOVE IT!

The Latest News

Very Much Obsessing Over...

Some Music & Videos to Obsess Over

A little birdy, by the name of Kristina Wilson [read her blog, Wonders Will Never Cease, here], introduced me and some other pals to Grimes at our weekly Tuesday night dinner party. The videos make for some great watching and her ethereal voice makes for some great listening. Enjoy. 

Who is that dread locked, long talon-ed beauty? Brooke Candy! She's a female rapper from Brooklyn with that little something special... NSFW, ps.

What Not to Buy Me This Christmas: Flask Bangle

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I am the first person to tout the beauty and intrigue of the arm party. I love accessories more than the next person, but this interpretation is pretty literal. The Cynthia Rowley Flask Bangle is the "perfect gift for the party girl." Now, I don't know about you, BUT in this situation I am thinking party girl with alcohol compartment jewelry is a girl with a touch of a problem. Like this is the best gift for hot mess Lindsay Lohan? 

WhoWhatWear.com picked it as one of the objects they loved most for December. Here's what they had to say about that: 

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Cynthia Rowley Flask Bangle ($225)
As you may know, we love a unique fashion find, and this quirky bangle from Cynthia Rowley's S/S 13 collection certainly falls into that category. This chunky statement piece works overtime; not only is it a gorgeous bracelet but it's also a flask-a design detail that'll certainly claim the spotlight at your next bash.

Despite the fact that this screams alcoholics anonymous lets talk about the obvious drawbacks of this: 1) it is clearly going to be body temp, who wants vodka/whiskey/gin at 98 degrees? 2) It is probably weirdly heavy once it is full and on your wrist and not in that oh this? this is my new Hermes bangle set sort of way. 3) It looks smallish and those of you who know me know that these hands match this body aka they are meat hooks.

So, even if you have likened me to be the #partygirlwitheverything that def needs this please don't buy it for me. Thanks. 

 

Waris Ahluwalia is Amazing & Other Confessions

via sikhchic.com

Waris Ahluwalia is a total bad ass and I have been crushing on him and his wares for ages. His jewelry line aptly titled House of Waris first caught my eye way back in Vogue 2007. He also had made a cameo in Wes Anderson's Darjeeling Limited (probably my most favorite Wes Anderson movies of all time) and totally stole the show. 

His attention to detail and his eye for the unique yet timeless make all of his pieces instant heirloom material. It took the beauty of his creations to re-inspire my blogging. Forgive me for my absence, but I have been feeling generally unmotivated due to unforeseen stressers, both good and bad, in my life.

Let's just say at the beginning of each new season I always get really jazzed about the upcoming trends and new goodies to buy. But I undoubtedly run out of money and pizzazz for the entire lot and experience burn out in the form of writer's block. It also did not help that it has been in the 80s in Houston until today (ahem, Dec. 10!) and that my skinny-single girl frame has been replaced with the comfy-fatty frame of a girl settled into and monogamous, cohabiting relationship. There is no one to blame but myself and my love for foods and general lack of self discipline. It's a 2 year vicious cycle that is neither good for my moral or body. So, I am going to attempt to swing the pendelum back toward moderation and work out and eat healthy most days. Also, I have found tremendous motivation and too-easy-to-not-do workouts on the Muffin Top-Less blog (thanks for that little gift, Pinterest and the Universe). Thanks for letting me vent you are the best.

Without further ado, Waris Ahluwalia, the coolest man around.

via Design Boom

Design Boom writes:

the entitled punk-maharaja waris ahluwalia of house of waris at istanbul 74

ISTANBUL’74 hosts an exhibition of HOUSE OF WARIS, the fine jewelry collection designed by waris ahluwalia, on view until 9 th november in the ISTANBUL’74 gallery space in karakoy, istanbul. the punjab-born, brooklyn-raised waris ahluwalia (aka 'punk maharaja') creates fine jewelry pieces that are noted for their unique beauty and craftsmanship. coveted by fashion icons and sold at the most luxurious boutiques, they bring together old world techniques and marvelously modern designs. waris has spent the last seven years searching the world for the artisans (goldsmiths, stonecutters, ...) that approach their craft with passion and an innate understanding of raw materials. from rome to jaipur to bangkok to new york, he has worked with great talents, combining the old with the new.

'there should be meaning in jewellery for men. it should be -my significant other gave me this- or -my dad gave me this-
or you're in a band. if you're in a band, all bets are off. wear whatever you want.' he says in an interview with GQ magazine.

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Pants Made of Dreams & the Perfect Song for Fall

Meet the track pants of my dreams. Buy here.

Track pants. Something that would normally be considered the opposite of high fashion. That is until Phillip Lim got his hands on them and voila high fashion and sports collide into a not too ridiculous pant. That is, of course, if you have an affinity for sequins and quirky leg ware. I happen to have both. While these $1,500 pants are fun to dream and blog about the question is where would you wear them? The answer: anywhere your dreams can take you. Namely, Vegas, NYC... Roak? JK.

Now for the band I have on repeat right now: Alt-J. Which when you type into your keyboard is a delta sign (aka the sign for change)... I'd do it right here for you in blogger, but alas it is not allowed so you will just have to take my word for it.

Trend I Love: Moto-Butch Booties

L-to-R: Chloe/ Givenchy/ See by Chloe/ Marc Jacobs/ Golden Goose (ok, these are brown - who cares?)

Something about the winter (or what we call winter in Texas - it's going to be 79 degrees today) makes me get really moto-butch. Like I really cannot get enough of the color black especially on leather goods. One glance into my closet and you will see what I mean. Black flat knee boots, black over the knee boots, black wedge slouchy boots, black heeled booties... You name it - if it is a black boot I probably have it. OR SO I THOUGHT... Until I was browsing SSENSE.com (ps their site is amazing? the never ending scroll is my favorite.) and came across a plethora of little black leather booties. And low and behold I purchased some. I can't wait to wear them with skinny jeans or with a dress/skirt combo for work. My toes will be warm, my feet will be comfortable and my legs won't be sweating (did I mention it's going to be nearly 80 today??). I picked out some of my faves above, but this bad boy by Belle Sigerson Morrison caught my eye the most... I just really love the suede and leather combo and the slits in the back of the boots - very Peter Pan-ish with a moto-butch edge. Perfection.

Black Combo Kirk Pixie Boots. Don't mind if I do.

Jordan! So dreamy!

A word to the wise: This look gets literal real fast so choose your booties carefully. Black flat combo boots without feminine details look real bad real fast and not in a good way. They are just one step away from the '90s Doc Martins (that are supposedly back in: NOT to me) you wanted so bad after seeing that episode of My So Called Life.

Go Buy Right Meow

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New Vampire Weekend!

[via Noisey] So handsome, so preppy. Even in their adorable skeleton makeup. 

YSL Pumps + Lady Gaga Inspo = MAGIC

Did I mention that the mirrored heel is also to die for and that I would accept these at any point as a gift? Mother Monster (aka Neiman Marcus) says buy them here. 

Help Those Devastated by Sandy

Pic from NYmag.com detailing the devastation and the New Normal by Joe Coscarelli.

DONATE to the Red Cross TODAY! It's as easy as clicking here or texting REDCROSS to the number 90999.

Happy Halloween!

Since Halloween is on a Wednesday it is not going to be the same rager that it usually is. At least not in public, what happens in the privacy of your own home does not count.

Xtina is really really frightening here. Maybe you could go as her? I'm a genie in a bottle ba-bay.

My boo and I as goths at my sister's Halloween party in conservative Wichita Fall,  TX. Some of her older friends asked if we "dressed like this all the time?" We didn't know them and they didn't know us, but that classically Southern woman's way of insulting you softly never-ever-ever gets old. We quickly flashed iPhone pics of our regular selves. 

Still without a costume? This little ditty by Daily Candy is both funny and useful. Who needs fancy-schmancy store bought costumes?

GOLD BELTS FOR EVERYONE!

 

ASOS/ Nicholas/ ASOS/ DVF/ Mettle

I LOVE this look. Like love love love love can't get enough of it in pictures or on my body. Those of you that know my style know that it mainly consists of lots of gold jewelry, blacks and a few turquoise pieces (to throw back to my New Mexico roots, ya'll). The black and gold street style image is so legit - even the coral and gold image is perfect althrough prett-ay spring-ay. I think the secret on this is to get a gold belt that is both wide and shiny. The second ASOS belt above probably doesn't fit the bill but I included it anyway because it's an A for effort.

Enjoy my new favorite song:

So Many Wonderful Things

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[CLUTCH]in' on a Photograph - Grouplove, sort of.

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Nothing says fancy party more like a boxy little bag that holds very few belongings. These pretty little things are the perfect accessory to hold a) credit card, b) cell phone {notice how they are all iPhone friendly}, c) a single key. Lipstick may be and usually is pushing it. I have made the mistake many a times of squeezing as much as I can into my little sparkly bag only to have to wrestle it closed all night long. It's best just to avoid that if possible and stick to the essentials. Plus, that is what your boo's pockets were made for - lipstick! gum! keys! That's why he's  your boo after all. 

For those of you that love to have one of your hands occupied all night long you are in luck. This trend has crossed over to the day time variety. However, I tend to carry more than the above three items in my bag on any given day so, my chosen solution is to carry a giant bag stuffed with said belongings and then place my dainty clutch inside of it so that when I head to lunch I can fake that I actually carried it all day. Oh, look at me so fabulous and low maintenance! Ah-ah. Yeah right.

I purchased the Zara version and carry it often (did you hear they have a home collection - online? it's zamazing). It fancies up any ensemble and with that price tag what is there to lose! Major bonus: it has a little gold chain so that you can actually use that other hand of yours and sling that bad boy over your shoulder. 

Yes, I am still obsessin' over this group[love] - pun intended.

Bieber Fever: It Got ME!

My Drug Store Beauty Staples

It isn't every day that I can trek up to Neiman's to purchase one of my staples (thanks a lot traffic and full time job). So, I decided to test out some staples that are just as good and a million times more convenient (also, 1/10 of the cost?!) - and I am hooked! These are my daily go-to's and I am pumped to share them with you:
 
1. Essie polish in Wicked: Almost as good as Chanel Vamp. - $8
2. Pssssst! Dry Shampoo: I used Oscar Blondi for YEARS and this works just as well or better without that annoying lemon scent. - $3.99
3. Essie polish in Good as Gold: Almost as good as Chanel Gold Fiction. - $8
4. 24 Hour Body hairspray by Tresemme: The benefits of hairspray without the stickiness or weight. - $5.50
5. Avalon Organics daily moisture: Organic and oil free! - $21.49
6. Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Berry Smoothie: Light like Chapstick and just as cheap. - $6.49
7. Burt's Bees body lotion: Once they added the pump I was hooked. - $12.99
8. Revlon PhotoReady foundation: Spread on like face lotion for light all over coverage. - $14.49