fashion evolution: the poncho

if there's one thing i will never understand or embrace, it's the poncho. poncho's have caused great consternation in my life and it's very heartening to me that they seem to have gone the way of the fashion dodo. so imagine my surprise at seeing- and LIKING- this knit cape from puma...

but you know what's going on with that cape that never is with ponchos?? proportion. proportion is key and here we see something that accents, instead of overwhelms. i like how it has been paired with a t-shirt and jeans in the pic and i can just as easily imagine it working in the work environment over slacks and blouse or cashmere sweater just as well. it serves a purpose in adding an extra layer for warmth- oh the times i've finagled my pashmina into just such a shape!- while also providing a view of the rest of the outfit in such a way that, dare i say it, creates an elongating effect. and don't even get me started on that flattering cowl neck!

so sorry ponchos, your frumpy lumpy days are over- you have evolved!

burger time!!

OMG while looking up info for local burger joint, stanich's, i stumbled across the portland hamburger blog which is exactly what the name suggests. i have spent so much time drooling over the local finds as well as the burgers from faraway lands like chicago and tokyo...

just look at all these gorgeous burgers!

so i totally ate at arctic circle all the time as a kid & thought they were all extinct but apparently not! i am predicting a visit very soon!

and now penelope's getting in on the burger actions!

and after she destroyed her toy, i turned it into a burger hat that she LOVES to wear! can't you tell??

oh and if you're in portland do check out stanich's for some old time college sports decor, trivia questions on every table and delicious burgers!

sneak peek: zac posen for target

via fashionista, here's a sneak peek of zac posen's upcoming collection for target, available april 25th...

elusive no more!

well it only took three years of not so patient searching but yesterday the universe decided to grant me my wish for the perfect boot. perhaps you remember my criteria? while out and about i stopped into ped-x shoe shagri-la on NE alberta street on a total whim, noticing as i entered, a sign proclaiming all boots to be 20% off. awesome!

and then, there they were, the perfect boots...

i nervously picked them up and flipped them over for the price tag. and seriously, was i dreaming?! they were under $200! what's more, after the 20% discount i got my lovelies for $148 which is totally under my $150 limit. i haven't actually worn them yet (besides trying them on, of course), i'm still enthralled by their perfection and am more want to just stare at them and stroke them at this point...

...annnnd research their maker, gee wawa shoes. at first i thought, what an odd name. then i said it aloud and realized it's a play on the word chihuahua, which is apt as it seems to be an offshoot brand from one of the rocket dog founders. and while rocket dog designs are usually a bit chunky-clunky for my tastes, gee wawa footwear is much more artisanal in design and craftsmanship. i definitely recommend checking them out!

and if you're in portland, be sure to check out ped-x, it sounds like their boot sale will be going on for at least another week!

no psychedelic cheeseburgers- yet!

earlier today i hit up michael's & bolt fabric boutique and got tons of ribbon. i'm currently playing with it to see what i can make for the shop while watching thu tran's psychedelically cuckoo bananas 'food party'....

'food party' is totally wacky & entertaining and is falling right in line with my current color inspirations- all of them & bright!

check it out!

designer spotlight: milly

it has come to my attention that local portland boutique, mabel & zora, is expecting a shipment of milly clothing this week!

milly was launched in 2000 by FIT graduate and former hermes intern, michelle smith. milly's aesthetic is an eclectic take on elegant classics, mixing it up with color and unique details.

don't live in portland? selected milly items are available online as well (click 'go shopping').

outfit review

romy sweater

gap shirt

paul & joe sister jeans

camper shoes

fugging it up??

i'm a huge go fug yourself fan and i nearly always agree with heather and jessica's assessments of outfits gone terribly, terribly awry. today however, i completely disagree with their opinion of musician hayley williams' people's choice award outfit.

being completely unfamiliar with hayley, a quick google search has taught me that she's the 22 year old front lady of band paramore (& all-mighty.net favorite). i think the above look is cute, quirky & totally appropriate for her age and station. sure the shape isn't common, but it's fits her well and is a great example of modern & vintage styles coming together. it probably doesn't help that i'm a sucker for bows but guess what else? no nip slips, no crotch dangerously close to all-out exposure and her hair is clean! top that off with a classic red lip, sculpted brows and subtle jewelry and you've got a winning look!

ending the holiday hiatus

it seems i've survived the holidays, i hope you have as well! i squeezed in a bit of jewelry making last month and have some new items that i'm going debut via etsy very soon... you may have noticed that my last batch of product photos were, well, awful. it's because my husband accidentally broke the bulb in one of my photo set-up lamps and i've had a bear of a time locating a replacement. i think i've cornered one though.

in the meantime, here's what i'm super excited about- the new UK based cosmetics range, illamasqua. i've never been a MAC girl, their products have always felt very poor in the quality department when i've tried them and i'm hoping illamasqua is able to meet my desire for fun, pigment rich cosmetics that wear well. i'm currently expecting a bottle of their nail varnish in 'MILF', "a vintage mint green".

photo via vampy varnish blog

the illamasqua range is currently available here and at sephora.

fascinating how-to

by now i hope you're all caught up on your holiday chores. this year we've decided to stick to stocking stuffers, so very little shopping & nearly zero wrapping have been required. awesome, right? right! for me, it meant that much more time could be devoted to handmade presents (which i will post pics of once the recipients have received them).

speaking of handmade, i love love love this how-to posted over on design*sponge today- make your own hair fascinators!

fascinators are fairly easy to make- all you need are a few supplies and a decent sense of placement.

personally, i would opt for using a hair comb in most cases over a ribbon as it's more secure but i do love that hyacinth headband!

happy holidays everyone- see you next week!

my current preoccupation

i heart jason segel

i don't admit to it often, but one of my favorite films is jason segel's 'forgetting sarah marshall'. sure, i regularly list my favorite films as 'dear wendy', 'being there' and 'the shining'- all of which truly are favorites!- it's just that i tend to omit things like 'forgetting...' as well as films like 'teen witch' and the newest addition to my favorites list, 'caddyshack'. (as an aside, i just watched 'caddyshack' last week for the first time ever and am shocked that i managed to live up until now without seeing it. why didn't anyone tell me how good it is?!)

anyhow, not having tv, and not one to stay up late, i never catch the late late show with craig ferguson but the interwebs was all a-twitter yesterday over his 1000th episode and the fact that jason segel would be performing 'dracula's lament' (from the film 'forgetting sarah marshall' no less). fortunately, i didn't have to look too hard to find a clip of said performance and watching it just drove home the fact that i love jason segel. don't tell my husband but i'd let his dracula puppet sing to me any day. (whoa! is it just me or does that sounds kinda dirty?!)