daily outfit: date night

Look, I'm smiling in a picture!

Every Tuesday is date night for me and my husband. In order to keep date night feeling extra-ordinary, I use it as an excuse to do my hair and makeup. This means with a done-up face, I tend to keep my clothes on the more casual side. This was my outfit of choice for dinner and a movie.

The jeans are mavi, t-shirt club monoco, belt gap, shoes ninewest. These were all purhased new (but of course on sale).

Scarf: Thrift Store, Honolulu, $2
Loose Jacket: Vintage, Catherine's Closet, $25
Gold Cuff: Catherine's Closet, $16
Faux Chanel Purse: Red Light, $12 (trade)

Shopfrugality Tip: Inspiration

Plain and simple: Fashion is an expression of yourself therefore in order for your fashion to develop, you need to develop yourself. Here are the ways I find inspiration:

1) As often as possible I create "lists" on 1 sheet of legal-pad paper of words, images, ideas that pop in to my head (usually at night before I go to bed). For instance, my most recent list included: Bolero! with RUFfles!, Blue eyeliner-shadow lower lid-reverse cat eye, black lace, leather/lavender, The Perfect-T, octopus, fringe necklace, fish bones, and a few sketches of skirts and what I think a reverse cat-eye eyeliner should look like. Sometimes these things mean nothing, sometimes they inspire me to create/try new things. It's basically a daily exercise in being creative--tuning in to what I'm feeling day-to-day.

2) Magazine cut-outs. This is the oldest trick in the book. If you see a great pair of thigh-high Chanel patent stiletto boots that you LOVE, rip the picture out at put it on an "inspiration" board. Even though you could never afford the real thing, having the image close at hand trains your eye to be on the look out for similar styles.

3) pictures. I'm bad at this one, but really, carry a camera with you everywhere. A street sign might inspire you in a moment. It's beautiful that every moment is new and individual and if you don't have a camera to catch it...it will never be caught.

4) search the web! Seriously, it's lame but important to know what's going on: looking at what other people are wearing, knowing trends, knowing designers, knowing Ebay, knowing Gap/Old Navy/BR, knowing low and high, high and low...KNOWING KNOWING KNOWING. And that good ol' saying, knowing your body!

Afterword: This entry was not so much a tip, but rather information on one approach I take to the vast realm of fashion. I'm transforming this into a tip by saying this: INSPIRE yourself, constantly constantly constantly. Not only in fashion, in LIFE. If you find something that inspires you every day, every day is successful. Life is inspirational. Bring that inspiration to the stores. Every now and then buy things on a whim. That's the beauty of shopfrugality, you are spending relatively small amounts so there's no such thing as buyer's remorse; buy the magenta dress because it makes you happy, even though it's three sizes too small and will only hang in your closet. Fashion is art. Fashion is life. Fashion is inspiration.

a side note

If you've noticed in the last two "daily outfit" posts, I haven't followed my own rules of proportion. The blue dress is generally too large, and the hem hits at an awkward calf length which is no good since I'm short. Same idea with the leggings in the second outfit, the leggings short length exaggerate my short legs. Bad bad bad. But like I mentioned in my "proportions" post...rules are meant to be broken. Just be sure to break them at the right times...not when going for that super important job interview!

daily outfit: (back logged) many things wrong...makes it alright?

I have a bit of apprehension posting this outfit as I feel there are many things wrong with it. Let me point out a few of the fashion fumbles: #1 leggings as pants. In general a terrible idea, unless you have toothpick legs a la young hollywood. #2. borderline tacky blazer. Yes, it is even missing a button. #3. designer knock-off bag. This is the debut of my faux chanel which in general is very very wrong and something I am usually not attracted to (fakeness, that is), but for some reason I find this bag ADORABLE.

With all that said, I still somehow find comfort in this outfit. I figure you never develop your style without looking ridiculous in public at times. Go figure.

plain white tee and leggings: both from Island Fever, Honolulu (McCully Center)
blazer: Goodwill, Seattle, $3.99
bag: Red Light, Seattle (Broadway), $12 (trade)
platforms: Nine West Outlet, Waikele Outlets, HI, a GAZILLION years ago (don't you love it when you buy shoes that end up being a MAJOR trend years later?)

daily outfit: (back logged) bright prints for fall

I wore this while out on town searching for the resting place of my future boutique. Pretty self explanatory, a bright dress toned down with muted tights and basic accessories. I notice my face is pretty washed out in these photos...but I just bought BRIGHT red and great muted red-plum lipsticks (both from M.A.C) which I plan on using as my "winter/holiday" makeup trend. I always feel cold weather requires an over exaggerated mouth. It's all very Snow White.


dress: vintage, central union thrift, honolulu, $2.50
slip underneath: from my mom
tights: HUE (new), macy's
shoes: Steve Madden, practically new from Crossroads Trading Co, Seattle (Broadway), $18.00
scarf: Catherine's Closet, $20
belt: vintage, Classy Rack, $1.39
bag: vintage, Goodwill, Honolulu, $5 (I think...got a while ago)


p.s. do you notice as the weather gets colder, my outfit list gets longer?

daily outfit: necessity, trench coat

When in doubt, throw on a trench:

Spice it up with great accessories:

A trench coat is definitely on my list of "must-haves." It is instantly classy and classic. It is one of the few pieces that can be both casual and formal, depending on what else you pair with it. Go buy one immediately...and, I will admit, this is something to buy NEW. Yes, new. Even though it is a classic piece, there are "updated" versions with newer silhouettes.

When wearing such a classic piece, I'm always sure to let my style shine through with the accessories. I LOVE these gloves, which are more decorative than functional. It's hard to tell in the picture, but they are navy blue and cream stripes.

trench: banana republic (fall '07), NEW
pashmina: catherine's closet, honolulu, $20
gloves: catherine's closet, honolulu, $12
boots: louis vuitton

fall: vintage jackets and designer shoes

I woke up today and autumn was miraculously surrounding me. It's been a while since I've had to do any seasonal dressing, so it's taking me some time to get the hang of it. But one thing I know for sure...it is time to bust out some of my favorite vintage jackets which I had no chance of wearing in Hawai`i. And to top it off, what goes better with a vintage jacket than a great pair of shoes?

Hope you enjoy (I'm wearing black leggings, black AA tube dress, and a vintage belt, $1.39):

jacket: leather "patchwork," central union thrift, honolulu, $5 (yes, genuine leather for FIVE dollars!)
shoes: prada

jacket: 80s teal suede, Goodwill Outlet, Seattle, $1.39 (per pound)
shoes: christian louboutin

jacket: rabbit fur (don't get all huffy...there are way too many rabbits anyway...and besides, it's second-hand so it's recycled fur), Salvation Army, spokane, $15 (it was on sale from $30)

shoes: gucci

ps. honolulu is the BEST place to buy great outerwear for CHEAP (duh)