On Trend For Less - Loft vs. Equipment

Good morning friends.  A little unexpected post from me this morning, but I just wanted to share a cute top I came across this morning via my Facebook feed.

This long sleeve striped Equipment blouse has been popping up all over style blogs, most recently seen on Atlantic Pacific.  I love collarless silhouette and front pocket.  What I don't love is the $248 price, and chances are this pretty color combination will never make it to the sale racks in a couple of months, surely selling out to young girls that don't have college tuition to save for.

This cute Loft polo caught my eye though for a much more affordable price of $32 (on sale in stores and online today at 40% off).  Of course it's a completely different silhouette and it's made of polyester, not washed silk, but you still get the fun on-trend striped color combination as the Equipment blouse, at a much more affordable price. 

I wanted to share this with you because this is what I often do; I see an item that I love, but is often times out of my price range, and search for something that mimics it, at a more affordable price.  When I stumbled on the Loft top this morning I immediately thought of the Equipment blouse, and so I just had to let you in on how my styling mind works sometimes.

And now that I've done my good deed for the day, I shall go back to bed ;)  Have a great weekend
everyone!  Oh and apparently it's National Delurking Day, so please leave a comment below to say hi and let me know you're out there :)  I'd love to hear who you are, where you're from, and what posts you enjoy reading the most.  Commenting is such an important part of the blogging process and community, and it's a good way to let me know what I'm doing right/wrong and what you guys respond to.  So please say "hey, what's up lady?"  I'd love to hear from you. 

366 Days of Style

It's hard to believe that it's been two months since Camp Mighty, but it has.  I mentioned in one of my recap posts how inspired I was with ideas, and this my friends was one of them.  The idea of a daily year long photo challenge was not a new concept to me, but it was the way Lisa Congdon spoke about hers that clicked with me.  An avid collector, Lisa decided to begin a photo collection of all her collections.  It was so brilliant that it was later turned into a book titled A Collection a Day.  (Lisa also started a new challenge this year - 365 Days of Hand Lettering). 

It was this idea of shooting a specific subject, or category, that struck a chord with me.  See, the idea of taking a photo a day had always appealed to me, but to just take a photo, any photo seemed too overwhelming a task to have to choose.  But to narrow it down to a specific category, that I could accomplish.

And so of course my subject, or category of subjects would naturally be my closet, and maybe even closets of others.  I have always been intrigued by women's style choices, especially when they're things that I may have personally passed on, but when I see them on other women I fall in love with them.  It's seeing style through each women's own lens of uniqueness and creativity that always inspires and excites me.

So for my personal photo challenge I will be taking pictures of many of the items within my own closet; shoes, accessories, pants, jackets, shirts, and talk a little bit about each of them.  Why I chose them, why I love them, even why I hate them and regret making the purchase.  I originally intended to keep this project for my style blog back when I thought it would be launched by January 1st.  When that didn't happen I almost scrapped the idea, but I kept coming back to it and my excitement for the actual project didn't wane, so I'm continuing with it.  When the style blog does launch, I will transfer each entry over there and resume the challenge on the style site only.  In the mean time I'll post weekly recaps here.  I hope you enjoy this fun new project as much as I do.  The first week was fun to hunt through my closet and pick things to shoot.

Day 1 - Carolee Faceted Jet 72 inch necklace - purchased 5 years ago from Nordstrom, this is the best jewelry purchase I've ever made and it's a reminder to not be so cheap when it comes to classic statement pieces.  Last seen here.

Day 2 - St. John cropped boucle 3/4 sleeve jacket - I sold most of my old St. John clothes to consignment but I kept a few pieces including this one.  I remember all the girls in the office had it after Angelina Jolie wore it in an ad.  I think I need to work it back into my wardrobe soon.

Day 3 - Best purchase of the year, hands down.  Last seen here.

Day 4 - My favorite jacket.  Soft leather, beautiful coloring, basic enough to remain a classic, yet updated enough with gold zippers and quilting to still look very current.  Last seen here. 

Day 5 - If there were a competition this year to see who scored the best vintage deal at an estate sale, I would win in a landslide.  Now if only it would rain some more.

Day 6 - Given to me by the Blog Sugar speakers, this scarf quickly became my favorite go-to accessory for many looks, last spotted in the Grand Canyon.

Day 7 - My only regretful purchase of the year.  Things were going swell with me and my Old Navy red jeans until I forgot to not put them in the dryer and BAM!  They retaliated on me and shrunk six ways to Sunday, making me feel like a Vienna sausage trying to squeeze into them, and then once they were on, they made me look like I was waiting for a flood.  In 2012 I vow to not be so cheap and wait till I can buy the pair I want.  They sure were cute while they lasted though...   

Style Inspiration - Sorbet & Macaroon

{Alice & Olivia images via Style.Com, Polaroid borders created by me using Pugly Pixel extras}

In between editing images last night from our trip, I browsed around Style.com and began to get inspired by Spring 2012!  It's just around the corner, and the temps here in southern California this week tell me so; high 70's all week baby.  Of course we'll hit our usual cold spell come February, but until then I'm really enjoying these images from Alice & Olivia and J.Crew's spring 2012 collections.  Still lots of color, but more muted, softer, paler shades of sherbet, pistachio and lemon.  They remind me of pretty macaroons or ice cream flavors.  And I'm in love with all the capris and midi skirts.  I can't wait to use these images to inspire some of my own style posts in a couple of months.   

And I'm not sure what's come over me, but I've suddenly been hit with a bit of blogging inspiration myself and brainstormed some fun posts for the coming weeks; posts that are both helpful and interesting (I hope - maybe I shouldn't over promise anything).  At any rate, it's the new year and I'm feeling refreshed!  Helping to get me a little more motivated to have fun here are the Pugly Pixel extras I recently signed up for.  For $5 you get 30 day unlimited access to her fantastic Photoshop gadgets, like the tinsel brush I used to create the Happy New Year lettering in this post, and the Polaroid borders for this post.  Go check her out if you're interested in some top-notch, fun and quirky extras.  Have a great Tuesday folks!  Off to do a little Meals On Wheels delivering and then to finally return some things at the mall.  

{J. Crew images via Style.Com, Polaroid borders created by me using Pugly Pixel extras}

Which Glasses Should I Get?

It's about time for a new pair of prescription glasses for me, since mine are coming up on 5 years old now.  I've been wearing glasses since I was in 2nd grade.  I am as blind as a bat.  For those of you that wear glasses and are familiar with prescription strengths, my prescription is -6.25 on each eye.  I can't even see the alarm clock on my nightstand each morning if I don't have my eyes on.

When I turned 13 and I got braces, my mom allowed me to start wearing contact lenses so that I wasn't the kid with braces and glasses, although now a days I don't think it would even matter since 90% of kids wear braces.  Back then though if you wore both it was pretty much a death sentence to uncoolville, and I needed all the help I could get.  I've pretty much worn contacts exclusively ever since and only use my glasses at night and in the morning before I put my eyes in.  I think if I had a pair I loved though I'd wear them a lot more.  So I ordered 5 trial pairs from Warby Parker  ($95 for a pair of prescription glasses, yes please!) to try on at home and here's what I chose.  But I need HELP guys!  I can't decide which pair I like the most, so here's where you come in.  Can you please help me decide on a pair?  I'd be forever grateful :)  Art has been of little help, so I thought since you guys did such a good job helping me pick out my birthday outfit, you'd be just as helpful in this case.  So here we go...   

First up the Thatcher.  These frames are the biggest and boldest by far, but I kinda like the statement they make, plus they are really comfortable.  But are they too much?

 The Webb is a matte frame and much smaller in comparison.  More subtle, but are they too subtle?

 The Preston has a really nice matte frame color and I like that they resemble the classic shape of the Ray Ban Wayferer.

The Japhy is probably my least favorite just because it is very similar to a pair I had about 10 years ago.  They're nice, but maybe I'm playing it too safe here.  At $95 a pair I think I can afford to have a bit more fun?

And lastly, The Sinclair is really nice too.  A larger statement but not overpowering.  The frame color is nice too.

So what do you think?  Please help a girl out because I have to send these back on Monday!  Thanks in advance all you tasteful ladies and gents.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Camp Mighty Space Party

via Zara

The closing party on Saturday night for Camp Mighty is a space theme.  I've heard some are dressing up as aliens, astronauts, and 60's themed astronaut wives.  Pretty cool, but I know I wouldn't feel comfortable spending a night dressed like a space alien, or as Art suggested, Chewbacca.  So I chose this star printed blouse to wear.  Sort of has a celestial theme right? 

And I'm pairing it with these glitter leggings for a sort of sparkly outer space feel.  It may be a bit of a stretch, but I'm going with it.  I actually saw a girl in the mall wearing this blouse with a pair of blue jeans and it looked great, and the leggings will be fun for Christmas parties.  So I figure instead of spending money on an outfit or costume I'd never use after the party, I'd get something I'd be able to wear again.

 via Zara 

Now should I wear this look with heels or with flats? I tried it on with heels and it looked good, but I love how they look here pictured with flats.  My feet will probably thank me if I wear the flats I think ;)

Before I go, Nicole shared this post from Pugly Pixel, explaining why she turned comments off.  I have to admit I often feel the same exact way she does and it's a relief to know someone else feels the same way.  So what do you think, does turning off comments equal death for a smaller blogger?  Would you continue to read a blog if comments were turned off?

Threaded Rhinestone Bangle DIY Tutorial

Just about every store I stop into lately, from Ann Taylor Loft to Forever 21, has some version of these ribbon and rhinestone bracelets.  They look simple enough to make, so I thought I'd try a little DIY action.  While I'm not a huge rhinestone nut, I do like the somewhat subtle look of these and love that you can wear them stacked for a night out, or wear a single bangle for just a bit of added sparkle.  I personally think my camo jacket was screaming for a little glam and glitz today, so I added a pair of these for the first concert in the park of the season.

I bought both 1/8" and 1/16" ribbon just to see which one would work best, and it turns out I used them both.  The rhinestone size is 4mm and was all that was available at Joann's, using my 40% off coupon of course.  As far as bangles go, you can use just about any shape and size, as you can see above.  You will also of course need some scissors and a hot glue gun. 

To make a solid satin ribbon wrapped bangle, start by adding a small drop of hot glue to the underside of the bangle to hold the ribbon in place, and then start wrapping the bangle.  I used the 1/8" ribbon for this style.

Once completely wrapped in ribbon, glue the end of the ribbon down, and add another small dot of glue to the top of the satin covered bangle, and affix the rhinestone.  Add small drops of glue all the way around and repeat the process, being very careful not to add too much glue so that it spills over the backside of the rhinestone.

If you do get a glob of glue on the side of the rhinestone or on the ribbon, simply heat up with the tip of the glue gun and pick off the melted glue.

 Your finished product

To achieve the threaded look, start in reverse by affixing the rhinestone directly to the bangle with dots of hot glue.  Then add the ribbon in between the rhinestones by first gluing the ribbon to the underside of the bangle, and then wrapping the ribbon 2-3 times between each rhinestone, continuing all the way around.  I used the 1/16" ribbon for this look.  Add a drop of glue to the end of the ribbon and cut off the excess.

 Your finished product, side view

You could do all one colors, but I really like the way the different colors blend together, plus I have more color options for various outfits.  I also made a couple of just plain satin wrapped bracelets without the rhinestones to break the sparkle up a little.  Easy peasy right?  Let me forewarn you that the rhinestones on these do snag a bit so don't wear your most beloved silk top or delicate sweater, or risk some runs and pulls.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial, and please let me know if you try it!

I'm also linking up to Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog for the first time!

On A Trial Run - American Apparel Zippered Pouch

I was telling Jen today that I have abnormally small shoulders, so much so that I can't really even carry a handbag on them comfortably, as the straps are always falling down and off. Now that the constant need for diapers and wipes and snacks on hand is no longer a necessity, I often just grab my wallet and keys when heading out for a quick errand.

When I saw this chic little zip pouch from American Apparel a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a try. Made of leather and quite affordable at the standard price, I scored one at their second quality warehouse in Downtown LA for less than $30 (working in crappy Vernon does have its perks I guess).

 

Available in a rainbow of colors, I went with this gray-beige tone that I think can work back to both black and brown based outfits.

I'm still trying to decide if it's functional enough for a mom on the go.  I think it might annoy some, but could really be useful for many.  Stay tuned for my future report.  Happy Saturday friends!

p.s. if you are not familiar with American Apparel, when you visit their website you might be a little shocked with the almost nude clad models.  I think it's so strange, but the owner is a complete wackado and is often known for walking around the office in his underwear.  I have a wholesale account with them and have been to the showroom many times to order clothes when I had my baby clothing line.  It is always a trip to visit there.

How Am I Doing? An Update to Look Good Feel Good

                       If you'd like to read the post that started Look Good Feel Good, go here
Well, I'm coming along and although we had a little misplaced bun on top of head action going on yesterday, today I am back and took out the blow dryer to do my hair.  I also left the house with makeup on instead of putting it on in the car, and I made sure to slip on a belt and earrings.  Instead of putting on my ratty old cardigan that I've been wearing lately, I took out my cute leather jacket.  It's been a challenge considering the week and what's been going on, but I'm trying hard to practice what I preach, and am feeling better for it.

How about you?  Come back on Friday for another update and an opportunity to link up!

Outfit details:

Leather jacket: Nordstrom Savvy department

T-Shirt: From job (James Perse)

Belt: Gap 

Skinny pants: J. Crew 

Boots: Sam Edelman

For today I am linking up to the Pleated Poppy's WIWW.

You've Got Questions, I've Got Answers Part 3 - Fashion Edition

 {All clothes via Gap, All photos in this series via m.shanti photo}

Welcome to the final edition of You've Got Questions, I've Got Answers.  You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.  I wanted to dedicate this final edition to answering some of your fashion questions.

Annie and Laura had both asked about work appropriate wear, and although they both have very different jobs, I found some common ground in their need to both be casual, with the added necessity of Laura needing to be comfortable.  When I put some thought into their needs, I immediately thought of pants.

Spring is all about finding a pant alternative to the jean.  Jeans will always be important and a basic staple of every wardrobe, but after a few years of focusing on the world of denim, there is finally a shift to new and updated fabrications in interesting silhouettes.

The Ponte (also spelled Ponti) Knit pant has been around for a few seasons, and still doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.  I have had mine for almost 3 years now and I wear them all year round.  I love that they are thicker than a legging, so automatically feel more substantial and dressier, not like you're running around in workout wear.  Many styles have belt loops, ankle zippers and zip at the waist as opposed to just pull on waists.  You can wear them with ballet flats, heels, and flat riding boots so are extremely versatile.  And they are comfortable!  So Laura, you will feel great crawling around on the floor with the kids wearing these.  #1-#3 offer a few nice options.         

{Shop 1, Shop 2, Shop 3, Shop 4, Shop 5, Shop 6}

Classic cotton chinos are reinvented this season with cute capris or slouchy boyfriend silhouettes.  These styles can be worn with kitten heels, wedges, flats or a cute pair of TOMS, so Annie, you'll feel comfortable transitioning these pants from work wear to weekend wear.  And Laura, cotton is so easy to clean after a day spent with the kids.  I love Navy as a nice alternative to black as well.

Now onto Tops.  With skinnier silhouettes on the bottom, I tend to gravitate towards loose and long silhouettes on top.  Nautical stripes are big this year, and I think the sweater below is a great value for the price and is available in a Navy/Cream combo as well.  I love this loose weave sweater as well because I think it's a great year round piece.  Lightweight for spring over a tank top, or layer over a long sleeved tissue weight shirt for winter.  

{Shop 1, Shop 2, Shop 3, Shop 4}

These two blousy cotton tops speak casual comfort to me.  I love the subtle details of both of them that add a bit of interest without being too fussy. 

Next, I fell in love with these 3 printed tops and thought of you Annie.  I love prints and how they can instantly add a unique touch to any outfit.  I thought these might be a little too delicate for your work Laura, but I highly recommend prints in a lightweight cotton that can clean easily and doesn't show stains as easily as solids. 

{Shop 1, Shop 2, Shop 3}

A tip I recommend when shopping is if you find something you love but it's not within your budget, take note of the elements you love about the item, be it the fun print, the colors, the silhouette, and just try to find something similar in your price range.  I am constantly notating things I love, but then trying to figure out how I can work them into my budget at the price range I can afford.

Ashley asked what brands inspire me the most, and I have to say this question really got me thinking.  I love real-life brands that are attainable.  Of course it's easy to see how brands like YSL, Dior or Chanel inspire fashion, but those brands in no way translate to real life for me.  I love brands like Vince for their simple sweaters, Joie for their lovely prints and Michael Kors for his true Americana design aesthetic.  Oh, and I love his ad campaigns.  I rarely buy these brands though because I am too cheap!  I either wait for them to go on sale, or I try to emulate their collections with more affordable brands.

This was fun.  Thanks for reading along with this series.  If you ever have anymore qusetions, please feel free to ask me anything!

Stay tuned for tomorrow, as I announce my big February project for Buy Less Give More.  I'll give a hint, it's related to fashion...

Style Speak - Cashmere

One of the last positions I held at my previous employer was the Product Knowledge Coordinator.  Sounds kind of boring right?  Well, it was actually really fun.  I was in charge of translating designer speak to the masses, and educating the sales team on the latest collection.  I would view the line each season, and put together fun books that would detail the design team's inspiration, talk about the latest trends and fabrics, and basically give the sales team the tools they would need to help sell a high-end suit.  The above book became my best friend.   When one of our designers would say a term I had never heard before, I would quickly reference this book and then nod in agreement, like yes, of course I know what the new Ikat trend is all about.  Fooled them all!  HA!  Now, my brain is filled with more trivial fashion knowledge than I may ever need.  To read past issues of Style Speak, go here and here

Cashmere: A fine, soft, downy wool undergrowth produced by the cashmere goat, which is raised in the Kashmir region of India and Pakistan and parts of Northern India, Tibet, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, China, Iran and Iraq.  Similar goats can now be raised in the United States.

I've never owned a piece of cashmere before now.  And this piece I virtually got for free through my job (consider it a benefit for driving up and down the 710 freeway on a daily basis).    I have to say that while it's nice and soft, I don't know if I'd spend my own money to get another piece of cashmere.  I've always heard ladies talk longingly about cashmere sweaters and cashmere gloves and even cashmere socks.  And to own a piece of TSE, well that would be the dream of all dreams.  But for me it's always been meh, take it or leave it.  I guess I'm too much of a spend-thrift to ever have invested in a good quality sweater, and with the limited access to actually wear a cashmere sweater for long periods of time here in Southern California, it never seemed worth my investment.

With that being said, I can see why women would fall in love with cashmere.  It's a natural fiber, so it is breathable, even in warm weather.  If you get good quality cashmere, it is softer beyond belief, and again, because it is a natural fiber, it has the ability to hold onto dye extremely well, lending itself to a rich and saturated color palette that won't fade after multiple washings. 

In terms of quality, there is a difference.  Now is about the time you will find plenty of cashmere on sale at department stores that are trying to clear out old Christmas inventory.  Cashmere will vary in softness, density and some will be more prone to pilling than others.  Pilling happens when the shorter fibers separate from the longer fibers in the yarn, and is a natural component of all knits including cotton and wool.  However, quality cashmere is made with only the longest fibers, therefore pilling is minimum.  And then there is the whole issue of 2 ply cashmere versus 4 ply cashmere.  It can get your head spinning trying to decipher what is what. 

In terms of quality and price, with cashmere there is a direct correlation, so be aware up front that you get what you pay for and the clearance $39 cashmere sweater from your favorite department store may not stand the test of time.  Chances are if your salesperson can't speak to the quality, than you may want to move on.

While I cannot attest to the J. Crew cashmere quality, I'm hoping that at the price, there is some level of quality.  Here are a few cute pieces that I thought 'might' be worth the investment.  Or perhaps just waiting until they go on super duper final slashed price clearance (that is a term I just made up, not a real retail term).  I've got the budget to consider, right? 

I love the cowl neckline and the side button detail at the hip.

This is a fun and sporty boatneck sweater.  I love all the different necklines in fact.

This color has me intrigued more than anything.

So what TSE you, do you own any cashmere?  Would you invest in a piece or would you rather just save for your kid's college tuition, or payoff some of your own student loans?