February has completely flown by, and I don’t know where it went. I’ve been working on some major final projects for this quarter, that have been totally engrossing. Thank you so much for your encouragement on my digital class. It’s been like learning how to paint all over again using a tablet and stylus pen instead of brush and canvas. I’m the type of artist that likes to get dirty with her work, and really put my fingers in to smudge and blend colors. You just can’t do that with a computer.

Well, you can try, but you’ll just leave fingerprints on the screen and no colors will smudge.

Since I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been dressing up as much, so I haven’t been taking as many outfit photos. Here are some casual student outfits. They’re a mix of Anthropologie and J. Crew. I recently had my hair darkened, and I can’t wait to get some pictures up that show of my darker hair better.

I hope everyone had a great February, and I promise to show my face more in March.

Thursday, after my digital media class, Anthropologie hosted a semi-after-hours event. I saw a lot of blog readers there, and had an awesome time. Anthropologie showed the main trends they’ll be focusing on for Spring: ethnic prints, 70s-era Jade Jagger, and 1950s. I’ll have some more outfits that I’ve put together of both new and old of Anthropologie items in these themes in my next post.

Since it was a night out with a lot of lovely girls, I decided to wear my new Powdered Pigments Dress. On the hanger, this dress looks like one 1970s hot mess. It screams “Crazy Girl Disco Dress!” But once on, it’s one of the most figure-flattering dresses I’ve ever worn. This is coming from a girl who can not normally wear Tracey Reese, because Tracey Reese hates big boobs. This dress just fit, and made my waist seem super tiny. Now, I’m going to look like a crazy disco queen everywhere I go because I’m not going to be able to stop wearing this dress.

For reference, I’m wearing the size 12 in the photos.

Onto the mini-sale! This year, I have been losing weight and cleaning out my closet for the last several months. It’s coming down to the excruciatingly difficult items to get rid of that don’t fit me, I never wear, or just don’t look good on me. I present to you the following six heartbreaking items that need a good home.

EUC, Size 10, Leifsdottir, $60 plus whatever shipping costs

EUC, $30, plus whatever shipping costs

EUC, $30, plus whatever shipping costs

OK. So this last week has been … really strange. Not in any particular way; just strange things have happened. Nothing bad, just weird. It kinda sucked the life out of me.

School is already off and running at full speed, so I’m very involved in all my homework, but that’s normal. My part time job has been a little stressful since Christmas, so I think that the holidays kinda brought me down. Which is strange because I’m a very sunny person. I’ve just felt very quiet lately. But I’ve really missed my blog and reading new comments, so I’m giving myself a little kick in the rear to get going again.

This time of year always puts me in a rut. The clothing is slowly transitioning to spring, so nothing is very eye-catching. I’m not really into tribal/global prints, so there’s not a lot of eye candy right now. I think it just looks silly on me, because I am not exotic in any way and it just looks like I’m trying too hard. But those girls who can pull it off are amazing.

I’ve been taking a look at my life and trying to streamline and reduce. This means chucking everything in the closet that is too worn, too big/small, never worn or not my style. This is actually perking me up quite a bit. I feel very uncluttered. I’ve also been streamlining my makeup/skincare routine. I love makeup, but sometimes i don’t wear any, so there’s no need for tons of unused stuff. I almost took this too far and almost cut off my hair (I’ve been growing it out for years since a very bad pixie cut).

Please don’t read this and think I’m really sad; I’m just in a little slump and it felt good to write it out. Thanks for reading my rant As a thank you, here are a couple of cheery outfits.

Have a great day!

I can’t believe that it has taken this long to write about one of my favorite obsessions: makeup. How could I have ignored this subject so long? Time to make things right.

I adore makeup and always have. In fact, it’s something that I really should be banned from buying because I love it too much. I buy tons of makeup, but I don’t really wear that much. This realization has made me take inventory of my makeup case and decide what I really wear and what I need to toss.

I always wear mascara, blush and some type of lip something (balm, gloss or lipstick). So obviously I can have a variety of these things. However, I find myself buying lots of eyeshadow and not really wearing any. I think this goes back to my high school days where I fought against my glasses (didn’t wear them) and wore too much eye makeup. So I need to lay off the eye products. I’ve been watching what markup items I grab each day to track what are must haves and what are sometimes products. Here’s my list of everyday, gotta have them items:

Lip Smackers (any flavor)

I have a collection of (no joke) 40 tubes. That’s not as bad as it sounds, since each tube is around $1.00. My all-time favorite flavor is Dr Pepper, but it’s pretty safe to say that I have all the flavors.

Tarte Cheekstains

Oh how I love you, Tarte! Cruelty-free, natural and not too expensive. These stains are quick and last all day, so no need to carry them around. My current two favorites are Tickled and Blissful. Plus, Tarte is awesome about sending coupons out for 20 and 40% off three to four times a year. Hooray!!!

Nars lipliner in Rosebud

The perfect rosy pink to go under everything. I carry it everyday.

Smashbox Hyperlash mascara

Cruelty-free (see a pattern?) and it just works. My lashes are long and fluttery without a giant mess. Also, lots of natural ingredients in this baby.

Nars Pure Sheer Lip Treatment in Angelique

Works perfectly over the Rosebud liner. Also has SPF 15.

Laura Mericer Translucent Setting Powder

Even complexion, no shine.

Ok, so that’s the basic face. The fun part is adding lip color. Here are my favorites. These are not worn together, silly. It’s just a list a options

Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer in Thursday

A perfect rosy stain that doesn’t scream “makeup”!

Nars Dolce Vita Lipstick

The perfect rose-mauve-pink. Great for everyday.

Nars Flamenco Lipstick

A great strawberry red that can ease you into wearing bright reds.

Nars Manhunt Lipstick

Really red. Not for the shy.

Of course there are many other colors that I love, but these are my frequent appliers right now. Oh and before I forget, everything I use has to be cruelty-free. As a long time vegetarian and animal lover, I can’t bear to think that an animal suffered so I can be pretty. I am also trying to eliminate all unnatural ingredients and weird chemicals. This is hard. Drugstore makeup and beauty products are cheap, and a lot of them work really well. But I have to stick by my principles and if that means I have less makeup because it’s more expensive, so be it.

So, I’m dying to know. What products do you swear by? I love looking into other people’s makeup bags. I feel like I’m opening a secret door to a treasure chest. So, please share!!!!!

These are some outfits from my school week, including the Back Porch Blouse and Camera Obscura Chemise.

The weather’s turned quite chilly around these parts, causing this dress-loving girl to put on pants. School started this week. Since I have night classes, there’s no way I’m going to run around in the dark, freezing my tail off. I took advantage of the Anthropologie tag sale, and snagged some AG Stevie Coords at quite a bargain. They have rapidly become my favorite pair of pants, ever. For a curvy girl like myself, it’s so hard to find pants that actually fit, don’t look stupid, aren’t too tight, aren’t too saggy, etc. These Stevies not only look nice, but feel like pajama pants.

These two outfits are the ones I wore on the first two days of the new winter quarter. They’re a mix of a lot of older Anthro stuff from seasons past. I can’t wait for Spring. The January catalog was very disappointing, as there were no clothes in it. Hopefully, the February catalog will bring more cute Spring clothes. In the meantime, I’m going to stay bundled up in my Stevies, trying to keep warm.

The new Orla Kiley purse in the first photo is a gift from my partner in crime. What can I say? The boy knows me. Check out my partner in crime’s frigid but lovely pics of the Mt. Hood area at the bottom of the post.

Every year I like to look back over my clothing choices and see what hits and misses I made. As I get older, I am trying to follow some words of French wisdom that I once read. Make sure you love every thing in your closet, that way whatever you throw on is a favorite. Throw every thing else out. This logic goes against everything that I’ve ever learned from American culture where more is better.

So I thought that I would document this process so that I can help myself make better choices. The first step is realizing what are my top pieces that I can’t live without and that are without a doubt me. So here goes.

1. Mary Janes
This shoe style is my poison of choice. I can’t resist a Mary Jane, not matter what the color or heel height. My preferred heel is 2 1/2 inches, as it’s the most comfortable. I would say that 85% of my shoes are some type of Mary Jane, with the remainder being ballet flats or boots. To me, they are my signature shoes.

2. Cardigans
I adore a great cardi. I wear them over everything; tanks in the winter, dresses anytime, as the focus of an outfit or just something to keep me warm. I prefer lightweight cardigans, especially the ones from Sparrow or Karen Nicol.

3. Quirky dresses
I don’t think I own a solid colored dress. Everyone has some print or texture or something that makes it lean to the quirky side. The best dresses for me are definitely slightly a-line that stop just above my knees. I think that the fuller dresses just make me look… fuller. So maybe those are the ones that might get the boot. Maeve, Girls from Savoy and Floreat have all been good choice this year, while Moulinette Souers has been very difficult to fit into (hello no chest room).

4. Knee High Boots
This year I have been able to wear boots. This has never been the case. Usually my calves are a little too thick to fit boots, but anthro has really come through this year. Almost every boot I’ve tried has been a winner. So now, boots are back (for me) in a big way.

5. Costume Jewelry
Everyone loves the real stuff, but it can be expensive and even controversial (hello blood diamonds). So I prefer the fake stuff. The really fake stuff giant rings and animal shapes, huge chokers and heavy bracelets. No one does costume jewelry quite like Miss Betsey Johnson. At her semi-yearly sale (buy more, get more off) I racked up some new goodies that will last a long time. My favorites include the snake two finger ring, the French bulldog ring and rose drop earrings. Anthro is also a powerhouse with costume jewelry, but unfortunately so much of it is online only. I really like to see the pieces before I buy, and some my Anthro bus have been a little disappointing. I really hate the cheapness of adjustable rings. They always seems to get caught on something. And the alternative, the stretch band, is so uncomfortable.

So this is my off the top of my head lists of favorite things. I’m sure I’m forgetting something, and I’ll add to the list once I tear my closet apart. I promise that I am going to try EVERYTHING on and be very critical. I need to purge to welcome the new spring things that I know I’ll want. Plus, I really want to be able to open my closet and randomly pick things that work together. Darn it, I want to be French!!!

I’m really excited about this project, and I would love to hear suggestions from you guys. It will really help me get through this. I will post each step and progress made. Hooray!!!!

I hope everyone had the best holiday season ever!! I’d love to hear what you got this year!

The holidays are really getting out of control, aren’t they? Holiday mania is totally trying to sweep me under the rug. I feel like school just ended, now it’s holiday time, and before you know it, school will be starting again. I’m planning on not leaving the house around Christmas time, and keeping it very low key. I plan on a lot of relaxing and a little posting once things settle down.

In the meantime, I can’t give up on style. Here’s a fun outfit from my old standby favorites. The Dandelion Wish Dress is one of the best dresses I’ve ever bought. I can wear it in the summer, winter, over things, under things–it’s just great all-around.

Also, I just want to give thanks to Anthropologie this year for making boots that actually fit my (thicker) calves. I usually can’t wear boots because they don’t zip up, don’t feel right, or I just hate them. But every boot I’ve tried at Anthro this year has been an absolute winner. That’s great for style, bad for wallet. Boots have become my main-stay shoe as it gets colder. My legs stay warm, and I’m still able to wear dresses.

I hope everyone’s having a great holiday season! To celebrate the end of the season, and the continuation of my artistic career, I drew a little dandelion and had it tattooed on my wrist. I think it’s just girlie enough, and small enough, so that it’s cute and cool without overpowering my arm.

As usual, Cake did not disappoint this past weekend. It was a wonderful show. For anyone living in the Portland area, the Crystal Ballroom is a beautiful, if odd, venue. The one weird thing about the night was that an 80s club was downstairs. We could hear thumping 80s music constantly throughout the Cake show. My partner in crime didn’t care for the venue because it was so big. But no matter what you think of the location, the music was awesome. This is our third time seeing Cake, and they’re always a lot of fun (yes, he gave away a tree every time).

Here’s the set list:

• Sad Songs and Waltzes (one of my favs)
• Frank Sinatra
• Wheels
• Stick Shifts and Safety Belts
• (new song, don’t know the title)
• Friend is a Four-Letter Word
• Shadow Stabbing
• Guitar
• Sick of You
• Never There
• War Pigs
• Short Skirt Long Jacket
• The Distance

When I was looking through my photos, I noticed this outfit I forgot to post a while back when the trees were still green. Here’s a blast from the past outfit (earlier this Fall). I hope you had a good weekend!

As promised, here are a landslide of outfits I’ve worn in the past few days. I’ve been feeling particularly stylish lately, and I wanted to share. Now I’m off to go see Cake and I’ll have photos up of that crotchety-assed John McCrea tomorrow!

I have been utterly exhausted for the last week. I had to turn in final portfolios for each one of my classes, plus work every single day. That’s why you haven’t seen much of me around these parts lately.

However, I promise that I have remembered each outfit I wore (as I was on quite an outfit roll), and will get those up in the next few days.

In the meantime, here’s my outfit from today, and a photo of Peanut with one of my art project finals–an 8-pound jackalope clay sculpture.

Last week, I was lucky enough to meet Jen, a reader from Arizona, at my local Anthropologie. Jen, it was so nice to meet you. You are super sweet!

Lastly, I just have to get this off my chest. Has anyone else noticed the lack of craftsmanship in the Leifsdottir merchandise? I’ve ordered a top and a dress from them, and both came apart at the seams. The shirt was salvageable, but the dress was a total loss. This brand is not cheap by any means, and I expect a whole lot more for the money. I’ve never really had a quality problem with any of the other brands at Anthropologie, but it just seems like I can’t win with Leifsdottir.

I’ll be back tomorrow with more outfits, I promise!

In this outfit:

• Fluttering Obi Dress
• Loose Rein Boots
• Berry Vine Necklace