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Archive for the ‘Kick ass wardrobe’ Category

fabulous friday: building a good foundation

Friday, July 26th, 2013

No matter how fabulous one may be, wouldn’t you agree that it is never possible to be too fabulous? I mean, until the moment she passed, I get the feeling that Elizabeth Taylor wasn’t content to rest on her laurels. She had looks. She had talent. She had money. However, she still went all out to be even more amazing and rocking with every breath she took. While you might think her fabulousness was innate, and locked to those stunning violet eyes and incredible bone structure, it was so much more than that. She worked wonder deep into her very being and millions adored her for it. You might think that you could never live up to that level of incredible, but you would be wrong.

Even if you aren’t looking to be adored by the many and have paparazzi following your every move, you have it in you to be fabulous. Not just okay. Not just above average. Deep down, knock out, drag out, all out fab-u-lous. Much like knowledge, there is always more fabulous to be had. In fact, a couple of years ago I realized this. That New Year’s Eve, I made just one resolution. To be more fabulous. I have made that same resolution every year, and unlike all the years past where at least one resolution would fall to the wayside and twelve months would pass and I would whine and moan about being a failure, and every year I have succeeded. The best part about it is that every day, around every corner, I find a little more. Things to do, to try, to share. Things that make life a little better and me a little better. I’ve been wanting to spread the fab to everyone, everywhere, but have been intimidated with where to start. Thus, it keeps getting pushed off. Then, I had an epiphany! Start with the foundation.

Every good structure has a good foundation. A building can be stunning. Ornate decor, sparkling trim, all the bells and whistles. However, if it is built without a proper foundation, all that beauty and wonder will crumble. A basic building on a strong foundation will last a lifetime or more, and bells and whistles can always come after. Your wardrobe is a lot like this. You can spend your life’s savings on a couture gown or tuxedo, worthy of an award show red carpet. However, if you are wearing ill fitting undergarments, that garment will will look sad. Even though no one can see them (with a few exceptions, ahem), you know they’re there. You know the elastic of your panties is about to give. You can feel that errant underwire stabbing your underarm. You might hope that the logo of that band you liked in high school doesn’t show through your shirt too much. You might even be mentally crossing your fingers all the fibers hold until you can get to the safety of your home.

I would like you to know that you deserve better! You deserve quality undergarments that are solid and fit you and are attractive! I know so many people (yes, people! Men are just as guilty of wearing any old thing, and it can be just as troubling!) who don’t think it’s worth it to spend very much time or money on their underpinnings. This is for any number of reasons. Some think it’s silly or wasteful to spend much on something they think no one will ever see. Some have fallen into a rut, and just buy the same old thing year after year even if their bodies, wallets, lifestyles have changed. Some would rather put all their pennies and minutes into their outer garments. However, like those aforementioned buildings, the most important investment you can make in your wardrobe is what goes against your skin and under those other garments. You can spend less on your other garments and they will look like a million bucks with the proper foundation!!

For example, the other day I put on a pair of pink and white panties. They were striped cotton with pink lace trim. I purchased them on a trip, because my last load of laundry didn’t dry when I was packing and I was short on undies. Since it was an emergency situation, I was hoping to not spend a bunch. However, the sale gods were not in my favor. I got a few pairs that were super cute, but more than I wanted to spend on emergency underpants. But, they are now in my drawer. When I put them on the other day, I was actually excited. I wasn’t thinking about whether they would be too tight or matronly or ugly. I was thinking about how cute they were, and that made me think about how cute my butt would look despite the fact that I am not a model. Then, I grabbed a pink bra. While not a set, they matched nicely. I felt like I could actually be proud of my undergarments! I still had to put on my work uniform, which isn’t something I would choose to wear. However, what I was wearing underneath was all me! And it was cute! It made me realize that I shouldn’t be hanging on to underthings that are a chore to put on. I am a firm believer in wearing the right undergarment for the job, but somehow I let that slip away in my everyday life and was only trotting it out on special occasions. I realized that feeling awesome isn’t something that should be put aside for a special event. It isn’t something that needs to be done for anyone else. Just be fabulous because you deserve it!

So, let’s get started on the road to fabulousness.

Clean out your underwear drawer or drawers. Go through each and every piece. Toss anything that is not in top condition. This means anything that is threadbare, has holes, is discolored or stained. Toss. It. If you were in an accident and a gorgeous EMT had to see you in it, would you be embarrassed? If the answer is yes, toss it. Is the elastic about to give way if you breathe too hard? I think you know what to do. In the case of bras, if underwires are poking through, hooks are about to give way, straps are broken, elastic is disintegrating, any or all of the above, it is time to send it to a better place. If the bra doesn’t fit properly, is uncomfortable, or looks like Madonna wore it on her Blonde Ambition tour, toss it. (Unless it is the actual bra she wore on the Blonde Ambition tour. That you are allowed to keep. Or send to me. Whichever.) For undershirts, if the underarms are a different color than the rest of the shirt (that means if it is a white shirt, and the underarms are any shade on the color wheel that is not white or a black shirt with purple or orange or blue underarms), there are holes or errant stains, or you would be embarrassed to be seen wearing it as an actual shirt…say it with me…toss it. Underpants—I am hoping you can tell what to keep and toss by now. However, lets go through it, just in case. If there are any stains, toss. Holes, toss. If any portion digs in (meaning if you wind up with muffin top, or look like you have an extra butt crack running horizontally, or they dig into your thighs making them look like sausage links), toss. If they itch or ride up, toss. Anything that falls into the category with swimsuit pieces that you would wear only if there were a laundry apocalypse and it was the only thing to protect your delicate skin from sandpaper pants–TOSS.

Whew. You already feel better, don’t you. Now, take stock of your drawers. Yes, those drawers, and the ones you just cleaned out. Where are you? Is there anything in there? If there is, it should only be things that make you feel good to wear. Things that will make your clothes look extra amazing. It makes me sad to think someone is wearing swim bottoms as underpants. Don’t let yourself get to that point. You are too fabulous to let that happen! What you are wearing under your clothes really does affect your attitude. If you are wearing threadbare, mismatched, discolored underthings, you will wind up with a little less spring in your step. However, if you are wearing underthings that are in great condition, that are comfortable and feel good against your skin, and that fit properly, it gives you an extra shot of confidence. You may not be aware of it, but subconsciously you brain will think about how amazing you look and feel. If you are wearing coordinated pieces, you get that confidence boost, squared! Plus, if everything fits correctly and is designed to go with what you are wearing over it, you will look fantastic! Just wearing the right undergarments can make you look more fit and your clothes more flattering! Often, what you think are body flaws aren’t even there! They’re created by sad undergarments. Has your mind been blown yet???

Now, think about these things when you are stocking your drawers of drawers. Don’t just buy some undies because they are on sale or marked down and how bad could they be for 99 cents. Buy things you love, and that love you back. Take care of them. Launder items when you are down to 25% of what you own left clean. Follow the instructions on the tag. You will never wind up wearing a swimsuit for non-beachy moments. You will be that much more fabulous. Trust.

I would love it if you gave this a try. Even if you aren’t ready to go on a tossing spree, pick out your favorite things from your drawers and wear them over the weekend. Think about how it feels, and how you feel. Do you feel fancy? Do you feel happy? Attractive? Comfortable? Let me know in the comments! If you have already found the joys of a good foundation, let me know! I am really excited to go on this fabulous journey with all of you, and will continue to cook up ways to bring the fab to your life.

covering all the bases

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Just gotta toot my own horn for a minute. I am now the Saint Paul Budget Fashion Examiner for Examiner.com. My first article went live today, and I am shooting to publish three a week. My planned articles include how-tos, tutorials, inside looks at local shops, and more!
Check out my first article here:
http://www.examiner.com/x-48637-St-Paul-Budget-Fashion-Examiner~y2010m5d10-Navigating-the-Thrift-Store-Jungle#
Feel free to comment, contact me, and please subscribe to get updates on all my fashion writing adventures!

grey gardens

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

For my last birthday, my rockin’ sis got me a great vintage coat. It is pink and red tweed with a very plushy fur collar. I hadn’t worn it until Valentine’s Day as a part of my red-n-black-rockstar ensemble (which is currently on top of my Flickr pics down right). I decided it is so lovely, it shouldn’t just sit in the closet until special occasions. Thus, I have been wearing it every day to work, occasionally with the red wool cloche I picked up in Philly.
The second day I wore it, a coworker remarked I looked very “depression era.” He liked it, and I thanked him. I realized later I should have replied, “Darn. I was going for eccentric elderly woman.”
I realized that I think that defines my look. Eccentric elderly woman. Maybe with a dash of rock star.

review

Saturday, April 19th, 2008

after rubber ball.jpg
One week ago, right about now, I was gussying myself up for Ground Zero’s Rubber Ball 2008. G had kindly gifted me this romper off my wishlist for Valentine’s day, which I had earmarked for the event. Based on this, I decided to go for an old-timey performer look. Somewhere between tightrope walker and saloon girl. I busted out the curling iron and hairpins, added some plumage, rhinestones and false eyelashes, and voila! I had rehearsal, so I went with myself done up from the neck up, and changed into my ADORABLE romper immediately after. G gussied up as well, and we went out, for the FOURTH Saturday night in a row, and had a pretty swell time.
Some things I would have changed about the event would include having the vendors upstairs/near the rear bar. Whilst I understand wanting to have the wares up front, it was totally in the way of dance floor access. It made for some unpleasant congestion. The “fashion” shows were anticlimactic. Maybe I am too used to the creation of items that are cutting edge, and look like something someone could/would wear, as opposed items looking like fabric remnants were taped onto models bodies. Also, sending out a model who obviously CANNOT walk in heels/platforms just makes me feel sorry for the poor girl, not thinking about how I really want what she is wearing. The two shows were awkward, at best. I love fashion, I love seeing what people create, however, these just made me feel embarrassed for these people. That is not really my idea of fun. Also, while I think the fetish shows are fun, I don’t like feeling forced to watch. We went to a club in Cali, that had the right idea. There were stages with shows going on throughout the night, but they didn’t cause every other activity to cease. IF it is one huge over the top piece, that is one thing. Otherwise, I want to be able to choose to keep dancing/chatting/whatever, not have everything stop for a show that I may or may not find interesting. I can’t imagine that every single person in the room has the exact same tastes, and I think the event should allow for that.
On the positive side, we got to see and hang with some peeps we don’t get to see as often as we would like. The people watching was fun, and we got to make a new friend, Morgan, a recent transplant to the area, who seems to be good stuff. I got some dancing in, and to top it all off, I looked awesome. I do not say this lightly, whilst I try to make myself look good when we go out, I usually have some reservations about my look. However, I can say pretty confidently, that I was the prettiest girl in the room. I felt pretty fucking badass. There were some photogs there, and I am hoping I can find the shots that were gleaned of me on the dance floor. Sadly, I forgot to grab the real camera, so the only shots that were grabbed by us, would be the above, on Gs camera phone. Overall, we had a good time, I just wish there was more dancing…the night went too fast!
However, this means the pressure is on. I have to look at least that good for the upcoming Goth Prom. I have a dress…I must accessorize, and determine the overall look I would like to style. Good thing I have a couple of weeks to pull it all together!!

for public record

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007

First, go to www.fredericks.com. Then, admire how lovely Dita Von Teese is. Maybe wait until you are home to do so, unless your place of employment tends to be lax on scantily clad ladies or you have your own office or relatively private cubicle.
Then, feel free to buy me anything that catches your eye, except for crotchless panties. Those are weird to me and I would never wear them.
Seriously, I want pretty much everything they’ve got right now, and I’m not shy. At all. Not even about accepting lingerie from strangers, acquaintances, relatives, well, anyone.
You could consider it a public service to supply a nice girl with pretty things.
There, I’ve said it.

call me crazy….

Tuesday, August 29th, 2006

So, I tend to obsess. The things I obsess about tend to consume me, and block out everything else. Everything else then takes twice as long to accomplish, because I can only think about the few things I obsess over.
Basically, there are three things that could fill my time, and I would be a happy girl.
Acting. Traveling. Holding costume parties.
There are of course branches of these things. Most of the branches, I just picture done in my head, so that I can get to the real meat. Other branches I obsess over.
Take today for instance. Right now, I all I can think about is my birthday/Halloween (and thus, a costume party) and our trip. We have a partially torn apart kitchen and I have a fat ass. I should be doing yoga right now, as I type. I should be ripping out the rest of the cabinets and hauling them to the garage. However, I like to imagine both of these things as done. That way, I can move on to packing for my trip and decorating for Halloween and making a costume.
I’ve pretty much got my list of what to pack made. I need to ponder a few items before adding them, but I am pretty much done. My main concerns are having enough room to bring back fabulous Euro-souveniers, and not looking like a tourist. Oh, and not getting gross blisters on my feet. So, I have some wish list items on my packing list. These include:
1) A perfect pair of black shoes, comfortable enough to walk for miles, that are roomy enough (or have removable insoles) to accomodate my orthotics (thus allowing me to walk for miles), good looking and hip such that I can wear them with jeans or skirts, dressy enough that we can pop in and grab a bite without me worrying that I should change, casual enough to wear biking…basically miracle shoes! I am picturing sleek and black, with a tapered, probably squared toe, possible a mary jane type strap to keep them on, flat or slightly wedged heel to accomodate the walking, non-slip sole, ALL black (no natural rubber or whatever to delineate the sole). Oh, and we are broke, so I can’t spend too much money on the miracle shoes, and if I get them, I need to be able to wear them to work, to make the per wearing more palatable.
2) A flattering pair of black trousers. I have a pair that I think may be getting past their prime. I still love them, but I don’t know that they are the perfect pants for me anymore. I bought them *gulp* 12 years ago, on clearance, at Mervyn’s. They are wide leg, perfect to balance my large thighs. They actually fit my curves (i.e. my tiny waist and large ass). They are a natural waisted pant, which is now in vogue again. However, part of why I’ve loved them is they work with all of my vintage tops, and have a very 1930’s sportswear look about them. The only drawback is that there are two pleats in the front. Now, because they fit so well, the pleats lie nicely, and I can forgive them. Now that I’ve said all that, I am thinking I need a new pair. Not to replace the first pair, but to supplement. I’m thinking wide leg again, because, well, I’ve got thighs…and nothing skinny will work for me, unless I want to look dumpy. Which, I do not. I wish to look tall and slender and elegant. I am also thinking flat front. Possibly with belt loops…possibly. Also, I am thinking cuffs. What do all you fashionistas think? Could I pull off a wide legged cuffed trouser??? Where can I find a pair to fit my ample rear, yet not gap at the waist such that I could keep a friend there? I also need them to be affordable, and I would love for them to last for years. I like to buy things that I love that I will have for a long time, because it is so difficult to find the perfect clothes. When I do, I get very attached…if something happens to the item, I mourn. I try to find a replacement, but everything I look at only screams to me how it will never be as perfect as what I had.
3) Here’s where I get crazy. (Yes, here. Not before.) The last item is a pair of fabulous dark jeans. The pair I’ve got is giving up the ghost. They are Express stretch jeans. I got them brand new for $1 at a thrift store. They fit me as though someone made them for me. They are dark, and because of the hint of stretch, they are flattering and slimming, not sausagey. However, thanks to my thighs….the inner seam is fraying. They didn’t have any ridiculous fading on them. They didn’t look like they had been worn in a sandbox before I got them. They were perfect. About a year after I bought them, I actually set foot into an Express store to see if I could get more. Well, heaven forbid they actually manufacture anything for more than a minute. All I could find were what they called an “editor” pant. Some of which were in denim. Most of which had the forementioned fading or dirt marks. Bah. The one time I am willing to fork over and buy something in a retail store at full price, and they don’t have anything.
So, I am still on the hunt. Today, I looked at The Sartorialist, who is covering his fashion week shopping. He was at APC in NYC, buying jeans. A big discussion about raw denim ensued. At first this sounded totally ridiculous. Buy the smallest size you can fit into, they will stretch. Don’t wash them for the first 6 months until they are broken in. The washing instructions were varied. Some said to dry clean once a year at most. Some said to wash them in the shower, while wearing them. Some sites that sell them say to wash them inside out, by themselves. Some go with the dry cleaning. Some go with the wear-a-day air-a-day approach. However, somewhere in all of this…they became an obsession. Supposedly, they are like old-timey jeans. You break them in yourself, because the denim is totally unlaundered, just like back in the day. Any fading or wear happens from you actually wearing them. They conform to your body. They last for a billionty years, because they start out so virginal and pure. I’ve actually looked at some of the sites. The APC jeans seem to run from 100-130 Euros. That’s a lot of damn money for a pair of jeans. However, if they really last for as long as all these devotees say….the per wearing price would wind up being less. However, all my friends tend to be broke like me….so I don’t personally know anyone who has purchased raw denim. If I can knock over a bank, I would love to be the first. Also, APC is French. What are the odds that they run any cheaper in one of their stores in France? Along with that, what are the odds that they won’t call me an American cow and boot me out of the store, as they only have jeans for Parisian girls who are seven feet tall and whose diets consist of cigarettes and coffee.
Hrmmph. I guess this brings me back to the yoga I should do to tighten some of my weak muscles, and the cabinets I should rip out. However, I will envision myself wearing the perfect pair of black shoes, and changing between the perfect black pants and the perfect jeans. I am actually considering making the black pants. However, I am not a cobbler, so no shoe-making for me anytime soon. Also, I don’t feel I have the tailoring skillz as yet to make a pair of jeans. Maybe this is why I wind up buying full skirts most of the time.

surprises rock….

Wednesday, August 9th, 2006

….good surprises, that is. I came home from my part time job this afternoon, dreading going in to the full time job. I checked the mail on my way in. There were two pieces of junk mail in our box, ready to go in the recycle bin. Then, I spied a package sitting under the box. I head into the house and call G, and tell him there’s a package with his name on it. He tells me not to be dissappointed, that it’s for him, but I can open it and tell him what I think. I open it, telling him I see vinyl….lots of it. He says that it wasn’t the package he thought it would be after all, and it is indeed for me. Hurrah!
The first thing I pulled out was the kicking the habit dress, that he bought me, we realized the size was wayyyyy off since it barely fit my size 0 sister, and he found another in a larger size! It looks like this, except that it’s candy apple red with black accents. It even has a cool multi strand necklacey/rosaryish thing that dangles down the open back….SWEET!
kicking the habit dress.jpg
Then, there was this skirt
achtung skirt.jpg
It fits, but doesn’t look great on me yet. I think by the time we go on vacay, if I manage to follow South Beach until then (I have been eating junk food nonstop, and this works for me to watch what I’m eating, and get back into not wanting junk anymore) and work out (I also need to get into shape so that my Halloween costume is believable and I can reward myself with my tattoo). I have a great top to wear with it (the candy apple cami top G preciously aquired for me) and a nice jacket.
I can’t find a picture anywhere, but G also found me an older Lip Service jacket. It’s funky black fur, with these barbell-looking toggle closures. It looks like it was made from a goth muppet….it rawks! I love autumn anyway….now I have a great jacket to greet it with!!!
Have I ever mentioned that my husband is the best????

i found it on ebay

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

So, G rocks. Due to his awesome ebay tracking ability combined with the power of PayPal, he has managed to find me some delightful treasures. Most of which I would not be able to afford, and would just have to drool over pictures of.
Most of the things he gets for me are from Lip Service. Recently, he found me a vinyl waist cincher, in deep purple (hurrah to expanding the color of my wardrobe), a color that is no longer available.
.waist cincher in red.jpg
I wore it dancing with a short black slip, black patent boots, a black fishnet dress, and black xes over my nips. I felt pretty hot, and anything that accents my small waist, I love. I felt pretty hot and curvy that night.
Slightly before that, he found me a cami in my favorite candy apple red pvc (I would post a pic, but it is no longer available on the site, in any color). I finally wore it this last weekend with some pants I got on clearance at Hot Topic. They are by Tripp, and are black with red stitching, wide leg, chains, red rubbery accents. very comfy.
Finally, he surprised me with a super hot dress. Usually, he gets things I request, or will run things by me. In this case, he got this for me, because he saw it and thought I would like it. It is a black spaghetti tank dress, with a red spaghetti tank fishnet dress that goes over it. It has detachable sleeves that are also red fishnet, and there are strappies with hooks that adjust the length of the dress. It is pretty wicked cool. I was amped to wear it out and about, but unfortunately chose the hottest weekend of the year. Again, I would post a pic, but it is no longer made by Lip Service.
One of these days, I will actually start taking pictures of me in these things….

it’s here! it’s here!!!

Saturday, November 26th, 2005

I have the bestest husband evar!!!!!!!!!!
So, G asked me several days ago what my wish list from Lip Service was…along with sizing and such. Well, he found my dream dress on Ebay, in my dream color no less. It is the Bride of Frankenstein dress (click for the picture)from Lip Service, which is discontinued. And he found one, tags and all. And got it for half retail. MEEEOWWW! It came today! A load of candy apple red strapaliciousness. I just finished making out with it, and once it gets to room temperature (the poor thing had to sit on the porch all day) I will try it on. According to the Lip Service size chart, the medium should fit me, but everything I own that is made by them is a small. I figure that all the buckles should be able to tighten it up if necessary. I can’t wait to wear it. I wanted to wear it to the club tonight, but we are going to a friend’s cocktail party instead…so maybe next week. I am even thinking that due to it’s festive color, maybe my new year’s outfit theme for this year will be bondage queen. (which will be a little switch up from last year’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme)
I am so freaking excited, which is a nice change of pace….which I’ll get to when the elation of the dress wears off. Maybe it won’t. Maybe instead of meds, I should just get kick ass clothing. If only I could get my insurance to cover that..hmmmm…