Wednesday, February 29, 2012

February Purchases

I had leopard-mania in Feb!

Target

1. Vanilla star leopard print skinny denim in tan and gray, 2 x $22.99 = $45.98. Love!


These are out of stock on line, but if you purchase from the store - be sure to try on each color. I found that the gray colorway is a looser fit than tan.

2. Mossimo Paisley platform pumps in cheetah, $29.99.

I was looking for a pair of spotted cat print pumps this month and tried on a pair at Target. I wasn’t sure about the crazy high heel and platform, but Beefy convinced me to buy them. With bare feet, these wear well, but with tights, I had to use an insert to prevent my feet from sliding down in the shoes. I’m not too happy with the solution, since the insert doesn’t want to stay put, but I might like these more once I can go bare-legged again.


Keller’s Cheviot Cafe

Keller’s bar is across the street from The Drama Workshop’s new home in the former Glenmore Bowl. Beefy had a building committee meeting for TDW, so I killed time at Keller’s with beer and crossword puzzles (on my Nook). After two beers, I bought a shirt.

3. Keller’s Cheviot Cafe tee, $5


I’m not really a t-shirt person, but I love this one! The fit, color, and softness are so wonderful. I told Beefy I’m never washing it, so that it never loses its shape. He looked less than thrilled.

February total: $80.97

Total spending for the year: $255.98

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Purple and Green Make Awesome

In art class, they may have taught you that mixing purple and green gives you drab brown. They were totally wrong. Purple plus green equals awesome, not drab.


Blazer, The Limited. Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Tights, We Love Colors. Shoes, Colin Stuart. Earrings, Claire’s.


Photos by Beefy Muchacho with a Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35 mm 1:1.8G lens

Monday, February 27, 2012

Chambray Goes With Everything

And houndstooth goes with everything. And the colors coral and olive. And so do feathers. And owls, too. Isn’t that nice? Everything goes with everything nowadays.


Shirt, Old Navy. Belt, Deena and Ozzy. Skirt, Outlander (thrifted and gifted). Tights, Target. Shoes, Libby Edelman. Earrings, Into the Fray. Necklace, thrifted.





Photos by Beefy Muchacho with a Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35 mm 1:1.8G lens

Sunday, February 26, 2012

I Got the Whole World

It’s been observed that these leggings look a little like the earth from space. If that’s so, then I’ve got the whole world on my legs.


Sweater tunic, Wet Seal (thrifted). Shirt, Mossimo (thrifted). Leggings, We Love Colors. Booties, Dr. Scholl’s. Earrings, Ali’s Boutique. Bag, Mossimo. Jacket, Laundry by Shelli Segal.

I felt like I had the weight of the world on my legs, today. I ran 18 miles this morning and spent the rest of the day stiff-legged and listing. I'm surprised I didn't fall over during our photo shoot.





Photos by Beefy Muchacho with a Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35 mm 1:1.8G lens

Sporty Sunday: Lunchtime Workout Recovery

I started lunchtime workouts almost exactly ten years ago. I was in the Marines, at the time, and started using my lunch break to run and swim. My beauty routine was pretty low maintenance, so it was simple to recover from my workouts. I’d shower, slick my hair back into its regulation bun, reapply a little mascara, and be back to work. Once I started a civilian job and a more complex hair and makeup routine, recovering from a lunchtime workout was a little more involved, but I’ve got it down to 15 minutes.

Shower

I take a “navy shower” – get wet, hit the hot spots, and get out. I don’t wash my hair or even get wet above the neck.

Body

I apply lotion and antiperspirant and dress.

Face

I apply a little lotion under my eyes and anywhere else my makeup has become a little “crusty.” I recurl my eyelashes and apply mascara. I finish it off with pressed powder. I plan to share products that weather the gym well in a future post.

Hair

I think this is the most difficult part of recovering from a lunchtime workout for many women. Washing, drying, and styling my hair would take the full 15 minutes I’ve allotted to go from sweaty to presentable. While plenty of women at my gym take this time for their hair, I don’t choose to do so. I can’t afford the time or the stress on my somewhat delicate locks.

Sure, my head sweats and my hair is often damp when I finish workouts, but I don’t find this warrants washing. After all, how different is a little sweat from “surf spray?” If it’s really wet, I blowdry the sweaty bits. For the most part, though, I just let it be. The trick is a hairstyle that doesn’t depend on clean, dry strands.

I’m practiced with braids and updos, so it only takes me a few minutes to take my hair from its workout ponytail to a French twist, braid, or bun. Even quicker: wearing a ponytail for the rest of the day.

If I’m wearing my hair down or only half up, I usually dampen the ends in the shower to reactivate my natural waves.

I avoid hairstyles that require heat (like curling or flat irons). I love the look of more elaborate dos, but they don’t weather a lunchtime workout well.

Exercising at lunch is as much of a habit as a form of stress-release for me. It gives me a break from my day and a chance to work through any issues I’ve encountered in the morning. I’m willing to sacrifice a little polish for a runner’s high when I settle back into my desk after lunch.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Jeans and a Tee

This is something you don’t see me wear often: jeans and a t-shirt.


Jacket, H&M (thrifted). Tee, Keller’s Cheviot CafĂ©. Pendants, thrifted and Epcot Morocco. Jeggings, Vanilla Star. Boots, Style & Co (thrifted). Scarf, gift from Londyn. Bag, Mossimo. Sunglasses, Girlprops.




Photos by Beefy Muchacho with a Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35 mm 1:1.8G lens

Friday, February 24, 2012

Wardrobe Capsule Challenge Winter 2012: COMPLETE

This was my fifth wardrobe capsule challenge, but not my favorite. I missed having a little spontaneity. My current schedule is so regimented, that I need room for wardrobe creativity and frivolity each day. This week’s wear was a little too planned:


And this is how that terribly nerdy spreadsheet translated into five days of outfits:

Gainfully Employed

I had originally planned to wear the “homeless sweater” over this outfit, today. After Wednesday’s dud, though, I opted for the “gainfully employed jacket,” instead.


Jacket, Allen B. Black dress, Branna Studio San Francisco (thrifted). Green dress and shoes, Mossimo. Belt, thrifted. Tights, We Love Colors. Bag, D&G knockoff (thrifted). Brooch, thrifted.

Actually, I guess the "gainfully employed jacket" would be some sort of sharp, business-like blazer. I tried one of those on, but it looked too at odds with the playful vibe of the rest of the outfit. This topper might not be typical business wear, but it kept me warm and has interesting lines. I'm glad I had saved some room in my capsule!


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Crimson and Clover

You had to guess this one was coming. I wore this jacket on Monday and this dress on Tuesday. It was only a matter of days before I wore them together.


Jacket, thrifted. Dress, Mossimo. Tights, Anne Klein. Boots, Vince Camuto. Bag, D&G knockoff (thrifted). Earrings and necklace, vintage.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A Dud

This outfit was a dud. It didn’t seem so “blah” when I planned this week’s capsule, but it certainly didn’t impress me, today. I wouldn’t have even photographed it if it hadn’t been for the capsule challenge.


Sweater, Love By Design. Dress, Branna Studio San Francisco (thrifted). Shirt, FY2 (thrifted). Jeggings, Mossimo. Boots, Vince Camuto. Bag, D&G knockoff (thrifted). Earrings and necklace, vintage.


I didn’t really wear this outfit anywhere, so I can almost forget it happened at all. I worked from home and then went to rehearsal, where I donned a costume. Oh, well. You win some, you lose some. On the bright side, I was quite comfortable. And, hey, isn’t this mural interesting?


Photos by Beefy Muchacho with a Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G lens