Something I was mulling over today... particularly something I thought a lot about during my year of mostly pantsless living. What the heck is my personal style? What fashion label do I fall under?
I've been told by various co workers that I look "quaint" "steam punk" "elegant" "accessorize perfectly"... etc. But what does all that even mean?
I love the structured dresses, cute shoes, and fascinators that go on in pin up style. But I'm not into pin-up culture, pin-up lifestyle, the rockabilly look, corsets or waist training... none of that. I took the whole steam punk think as a compliment, but I'm definitely not going for leather edged goggles, bomber jackets, or the overall quirky appearance that I usually associate with the style. I've dabbled in punk, but I don't think my body type lends itself to the best of punk fashion. And I'm a sucker for certain areas of vintage, but I present myself as a totally modern woman. To an extent.
So I guess it's the best of many worlds: a hint of pin-up sexiness, a touch of early 20th century femininity, loads of early Hollywood glam, just enough punk to keep an edge, and the ability to blend in with any number of fashionable modern day Londoners, despite living in Seattle (a city known for its crap fashion sense... I mean, c'mon, when Seattle was at its prime, we gave to the world ripped up jeans and plaid flannel button downs... REALLY????? Blame the 90s on Seattle...).
I feel my past years worth of outfits have even demonstrated a bit of all of that in a single outfit. I feel like I should come up with a word for this style of mine, but creativity escapes me at the moment.
January 31, 2012
January 21, 2012
Winter wonderland, or something
Snowy here in Seattle... and I got the brought idea that it would be ever so fun to do a photo shoot in a white dress in the snow.
So I got my mother to humor me, threw on this totally seasonally inappropriate outfit, and had a blast for about ten minutes (which was all I could stand without feeling overwhelmingly cold)
Here's the best of the shots:
I do not condone dressing like this without a coat in the winter. (No, seriously. Winter coats. They're important. Take it from someone who got trapped in a snowstorm without one once. WEAR A WINTER COAT!) However, with a little more layering up top, it is a totally doable outfit even in the winter. The trick to getting it as warm as I did (and therefore making this entire endeavor bearable) was layering the tights.
I actually have a regular pair of leggings AND decently thick socks on underneath the tights. The boots are tall enough that no one would notice the socks or the uneven seam, since the tights are a bit on the sheer side to begin with, all the black really does is make the color appear deeper and richer. So yes, it IS possible to wear dresses with tights in the snow. Just... layer.
So I got my mother to humor me, threw on this totally seasonally inappropriate outfit, and had a blast for about ten minutes (which was all I could stand without feeling overwhelmingly cold)
Here's the best of the shots:
I do not condone dressing like this without a coat in the winter. (No, seriously. Winter coats. They're important. Take it from someone who got trapped in a snowstorm without one once. WEAR A WINTER COAT!) However, with a little more layering up top, it is a totally doable outfit even in the winter. The trick to getting it as warm as I did (and therefore making this entire endeavor bearable) was layering the tights.
I actually have a regular pair of leggings AND decently thick socks on underneath the tights. The boots are tall enough that no one would notice the socks or the uneven seam, since the tights are a bit on the sheer side to begin with, all the black really does is make the color appear deeper and richer. So yes, it IS possible to wear dresses with tights in the snow. Just... layer.
I absolutely love burgundy. Really. What a shock.
Put this outfit on to hang out with a friend one day last week. Brand new Mossimo jeggings from Target... I tell you, better than regular "jeans" any day.
Of course, the jeggings sold at Target are NOT your average jeggings... most things advertised that way really are just leggings made out of denim, and look like it. The Mossimo ones I buy regularly at Target are NORMAL SKINNY JEANS but made with a lot of extra stretch through the crotch and waist area. The result is that they wear like normal jeans, no one is the wiser because they fit correctly everywhere up top (leggings tend to have the dreaded "cameltoe" effect or show off... well... everything you don't want shown off), but are much, MUCH more comfortable/wearable than tight, stiff skinny jeans made for girls with nothing in the hip range.
And, yes, I mixed different shades of burgundy. But I found the effect to be quite nice.
And, a closeup on my makeup, because I do get quite a lot of comments on this shade of eyeshadow and feel it deserves some explanation:
So, I've mentioned in the past that I'm a big fan of layering eyeshadow. Last year, my dear best friend Lara got me a box of 120 shades of eyeshadow for Christmas. This would be makeup heaven for me, because I pretty much ONLY do my eyes. So, I call this rose gold, and I've been getting loads of comments/compliments on it.
I do a wet base coat with a shade that's somewhere between rose pink and burgundy. I then slightly dry out the brush so it's still ever so slightly damp, and apply a mostly dry second coat of a shimmery but still light gold. I highlight the upper lid with a dry off white to bring out the color, and there you have it.
Of course, the jeggings sold at Target are NOT your average jeggings... most things advertised that way really are just leggings made out of denim, and look like it. The Mossimo ones I buy regularly at Target are NORMAL SKINNY JEANS but made with a lot of extra stretch through the crotch and waist area. The result is that they wear like normal jeans, no one is the wiser because they fit correctly everywhere up top (leggings tend to have the dreaded "cameltoe" effect or show off... well... everything you don't want shown off), but are much, MUCH more comfortable/wearable than tight, stiff skinny jeans made for girls with nothing in the hip range.
And, yes, I mixed different shades of burgundy. But I found the effect to be quite nice.
And, a closeup on my makeup, because I do get quite a lot of comments on this shade of eyeshadow and feel it deserves some explanation:
So, I've mentioned in the past that I'm a big fan of layering eyeshadow. Last year, my dear best friend Lara got me a box of 120 shades of eyeshadow for Christmas. This would be makeup heaven for me, because I pretty much ONLY do my eyes. So, I call this rose gold, and I've been getting loads of comments/compliments on it.
I do a wet base coat with a shade that's somewhere between rose pink and burgundy. I then slightly dry out the brush so it's still ever so slightly damp, and apply a mostly dry second coat of a shimmery but still light gold. I highlight the upper lid with a dry off white to bring out the color, and there you have it.
January 12, 2012
The Art of Wearing Heels
I started wearing heels when I was 14. I had no clue how to balance correctly in them, no clue how to walk at all, and probably looked like a complete and utter moron. 8 years and at least one major injury since then, I wear almost nothing else. Not always by choice... primarily because my major knee problems are exacerbated by wearing flat shoes for extended periods of time.
So, some thoughts on wearing heels, and doing it right:
1. BALLET FLATS ARE BAD FOR YOUR FEET
This is not to say all flat shoes are bad for your feet. But those trendy shoes with zero arch support? Yeah, you're actually BETTER OFF in heels. Two years of working at Famous Footwear taught me all of us who suffered from plantar fasciitis couldn't deal with wearing the "ballet flat" look.
Here's the deal: plantar fasciitis is becoming more and more common (or I'm just meeting more and more people who suffer from it)... and though the most commonly known symptom is heel pounding and subsequent heel pain, the true cause is fallen arches. Wearing ballet flats is NOT like walking on bare feet... when you're walking barefoot, you're using all your muscles correctly (most of the time. Some of us are unfortunately screwed up)... when you're wearing shoes with no arches, your feet are being stretched out, and if you're prone to fallen arches, you're actually hurting your feet.
On an average shopping trip, I find way more heeled shoes with arch support than flat shoes. Plus, simply by raising the heel higher than the toes, the shoe is forcing your foot to curve. I may stick by Converse when I need sneakers, but when I need to dress up, I will choose heels over flats ever time.
2. KNEE PROBLEMS? HEELS MAY BE MORE COMFORTABLE
The key here is testing every pair for comfort and correct height. I personally am missing a substantial amount of cartilage in one knee... though I can wear converse or really supportive flat boots in small doses, I can't wear anything flat for extended periods of time or for heavy duty use of my feet(this includes work.) Hell, even hiking and running shoes have a raised heel on them. For starters, pushing your knee forward can help prevent hyperextension, or if you're lacking as much cartilage as I am, the daily worry of having your kneecap sink back in on itself (which, while not as painful as hyperextension, can cause some really uncomfortable cramping and make walking quite difficult.)
In the case of sports shoes with a raised heel, this is actually to help absorb shock. Your heels do get a lot of impact from activity, and not only does it wear at your heels, it can also shoot up your legs to your knee. Ouch. I choose heels.
3. PICK THE RIGHT HEEL HEIGHT
A huge part of wearing heels effectively is knowing your height range. I personally won't go any higher than 3.5", and even that is pushing it (just one pair of shoes, and I don't wear them if I need to be walking a lot.)
Go any higher than your maximum heel height, and not only do you risk back problems, you look like an idiot.
No joke, I make fun of girls I see in bars teetering on way too high heels. If you can't walk without looking like a complete and utter moron, pick a lower pair. The end. If you don't? Well, you were warned. I am mocking you.
4. TEST FOR GIVE IN HEEL
Remember that bit about how much shock is absorbed by your heels? Lifting your heel off the ground won't help with that if the heel is hard as a rock. Avoid spiky stilettos (you're standing on a thin thing that's digging directly into your heel), and make sure the heel itself has give.
When trying on a pair in the store, rock back onto one heel and push your weight down (make sure your other foot is flat on the ground or you may fall over)... if there's give, you're ok. If there's not, try again.
5. START THICK, GO SMALLER GRADUALLY
I first started with thick, chunky, square shaped heels. I eventually gave up on these, largely because they make the shoe heavier and therefore more effort to walk in. Still, having a stable balance makes it way easier to learn to walk in heels. And never, ever go all the way to stilettos. I now do slightly thicker heels, kitten heels, anything I can balance in. But your balance will be so much better if you start by wearing heels where the heel itself spans the whole width of the heel of the shoe.
6. FIT IS EVERYTHING
I've fooled myself into buying horrid fitting heels before. And I have ALWAYS come to regret it.
Let's examine how terribly screwed up my feet are:
My left foot fits best into a 6.5 regular. My right foot fits best into a 6 wide. Most shoe stores will NOT mix sizes. I'm generally ok if I stick with 6.5s that run wide through the toes and narrow through the heels. Both my feet usually end up happy. It's when I've gone for 6.5s that are really wide through the heels, or unfortunately narrow through the toes, or even tried going up to 7s because it was the last pair, or it was wide enough, or whatever dumb reason I had.
Think about how much weight you're resting on your toes... then think about how important it is to avoid pressure points, having to grip extra hard to keep your shoes from falling off, etc. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't matter how cute it is... I'm never going to wear it again.
7. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
When I was 14, I was stumbling around like a moron in 1.5" chunky heels. At 22, I rock 3.5" heels like a pro. I get compliments on my shoes, people express surprise at my ease and comfort walking in heels, and I get to make up for my negative feelings about my short legs on a daily basis. No one knows how to walk in heels the first time they try. Or the first year after that. Just make sure you look balanced and poised while doing it, or you're better off staying low to the ground (but, you know, avoiding ballet flats at all costs)
So, some thoughts on wearing heels, and doing it right:
1. BALLET FLATS ARE BAD FOR YOUR FEET
This is not to say all flat shoes are bad for your feet. But those trendy shoes with zero arch support? Yeah, you're actually BETTER OFF in heels. Two years of working at Famous Footwear taught me all of us who suffered from plantar fasciitis couldn't deal with wearing the "ballet flat" look.
Here's the deal: plantar fasciitis is becoming more and more common (or I'm just meeting more and more people who suffer from it)... and though the most commonly known symptom is heel pounding and subsequent heel pain, the true cause is fallen arches. Wearing ballet flats is NOT like walking on bare feet... when you're walking barefoot, you're using all your muscles correctly (most of the time. Some of us are unfortunately screwed up)... when you're wearing shoes with no arches, your feet are being stretched out, and if you're prone to fallen arches, you're actually hurting your feet.
On an average shopping trip, I find way more heeled shoes with arch support than flat shoes. Plus, simply by raising the heel higher than the toes, the shoe is forcing your foot to curve. I may stick by Converse when I need sneakers, but when I need to dress up, I will choose heels over flats ever time.
2. KNEE PROBLEMS? HEELS MAY BE MORE COMFORTABLE
The key here is testing every pair for comfort and correct height. I personally am missing a substantial amount of cartilage in one knee... though I can wear converse or really supportive flat boots in small doses, I can't wear anything flat for extended periods of time or for heavy duty use of my feet(this includes work.) Hell, even hiking and running shoes have a raised heel on them. For starters, pushing your knee forward can help prevent hyperextension, or if you're lacking as much cartilage as I am, the daily worry of having your kneecap sink back in on itself (which, while not as painful as hyperextension, can cause some really uncomfortable cramping and make walking quite difficult.)
In the case of sports shoes with a raised heel, this is actually to help absorb shock. Your heels do get a lot of impact from activity, and not only does it wear at your heels, it can also shoot up your legs to your knee. Ouch. I choose heels.
3. PICK THE RIGHT HEEL HEIGHT
A huge part of wearing heels effectively is knowing your height range. I personally won't go any higher than 3.5", and even that is pushing it (just one pair of shoes, and I don't wear them if I need to be walking a lot.)
Go any higher than your maximum heel height, and not only do you risk back problems, you look like an idiot.
No joke, I make fun of girls I see in bars teetering on way too high heels. If you can't walk without looking like a complete and utter moron, pick a lower pair. The end. If you don't? Well, you were warned. I am mocking you.
4. TEST FOR GIVE IN HEEL
Remember that bit about how much shock is absorbed by your heels? Lifting your heel off the ground won't help with that if the heel is hard as a rock. Avoid spiky stilettos (you're standing on a thin thing that's digging directly into your heel), and make sure the heel itself has give.
When trying on a pair in the store, rock back onto one heel and push your weight down (make sure your other foot is flat on the ground or you may fall over)... if there's give, you're ok. If there's not, try again.
5. START THICK, GO SMALLER GRADUALLY
I first started with thick, chunky, square shaped heels. I eventually gave up on these, largely because they make the shoe heavier and therefore more effort to walk in. Still, having a stable balance makes it way easier to learn to walk in heels. And never, ever go all the way to stilettos. I now do slightly thicker heels, kitten heels, anything I can balance in. But your balance will be so much better if you start by wearing heels where the heel itself spans the whole width of the heel of the shoe.
6. FIT IS EVERYTHING
I've fooled myself into buying horrid fitting heels before. And I have ALWAYS come to regret it.
Let's examine how terribly screwed up my feet are:
My left foot fits best into a 6.5 regular. My right foot fits best into a 6 wide. Most shoe stores will NOT mix sizes. I'm generally ok if I stick with 6.5s that run wide through the toes and narrow through the heels. Both my feet usually end up happy. It's when I've gone for 6.5s that are really wide through the heels, or unfortunately narrow through the toes, or even tried going up to 7s because it was the last pair, or it was wide enough, or whatever dumb reason I had.
Think about how much weight you're resting on your toes... then think about how important it is to avoid pressure points, having to grip extra hard to keep your shoes from falling off, etc. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't matter how cute it is... I'm never going to wear it again.
7. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
When I was 14, I was stumbling around like a moron in 1.5" chunky heels. At 22, I rock 3.5" heels like a pro. I get compliments on my shoes, people express surprise at my ease and comfort walking in heels, and I get to make up for my negative feelings about my short legs on a daily basis. No one knows how to walk in heels the first time they try. Or the first year after that. Just make sure you look balanced and poised while doing it, or you're better off staying low to the ground (but, you know, avoiding ballet flats at all costs)
January 2, 2012
And with the new year, maybe more pants? Who knows
Well, mostly pantsless 2011 was a personal success but a blogging failure. I definitely spent more than 50% of the year going pantsless, and I'm happy I did it. While I have no specific goals for 2012 regarding a ratio of pants to non pants, I do have to say that my year of mostly pantsless living made me a lot more comfortable wearing skirts and dresses in situations I once would have always opted for pants in. Like work... it's not such a big deal to work in skirts... sometimes it's even easier!
Incidentally, today did end up being pantsless anyway, and I actually really love today's outfit:
Featuring my ever so often worn Kensie dress, a brand new Converse cardigan, those snazzy boots I've been showing off all winter, and the lovely glass necklace my mother got me for Christmas:
A close up of the boots, because they're awesome:
And a close up of the necklace, since it's really ever so pretty (I'm also really impressed with my eyes in this photo... usually, I have to edit red eye out of every photo so my eyes just look dull and their real color doesn't get captured at all. I'm really fond of my eye color though, so I was incredibly pleased that this picture actually... worked):
Incidentally, today did end up being pantsless anyway, and I actually really love today's outfit:
Featuring my ever so often worn Kensie dress, a brand new Converse cardigan, those snazzy boots I've been showing off all winter, and the lovely glass necklace my mother got me for Christmas:
A close up of the boots, because they're awesome:
And a close up of the necklace, since it's really ever so pretty (I'm also really impressed with my eyes in this photo... usually, I have to edit red eye out of every photo so my eyes just look dull and their real color doesn't get captured at all. I'm really fond of my eye color though, so I was incredibly pleased that this picture actually... worked):
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