Etspiration!

Well I think the title says it all, that is if you can decipher my made-up word.
I don't know if any of you have ever checked out the links on my sidebar titled "Friends and Favorites" (if you haven't you should). Well let's say, hypothetically, you went over and clicked on The inspiration (of course don't do this till after you've read the whole post)... You'd be instantly transported to a magical site- one where handmade and vintage goodness abound.

Basically an indie ebay, Etsy is a host site for individual "boutiques" if you will - people's personal stores that feature either handmade, homemade or vintage goods. And good they are!

You could spend hours (and by you I mean I) browsing "suggested shops" in search for the perfect cardigan, painting, headband... well, you name it. Etsy's sure to have it! And everything (for the most part) is quite reasonably priced. So in the click of a mouse you could have an outfit that might easily be mistaken for one that came from The addiction, but that cost considerably less coin.

And since recently I've been stuck at home, due in part to snow and injury (not my injury but my sweet Momma who broke her foot), without homework to do I've found myself browsing quite a bit. Here are the things I'm salivating over...

Sigh.

Well, a girl can dream right?

Thank you Etsy and all the amazing virtual "shop keepers" that find and create all these beautiful works of art... Okay the Pelican t-shirt is hardly a work of art, but the Tranquility Band... now that's true craftsmanship! To find these items and much much more click on the links below. And I hope Etsy inspires you too!

From top to bottom, left to right: Anais School Girl Dress, 1960's Indigo Tweed Oversized Chain Handle Bag, Calliope Lace Earrings, 1950's Vintage Primitive Wool Cardigan, Vintage Ruff Hewn Chambray Cotton Puff Skirt, 1970's Pelican Shirt, Lollobrigita Vintage Sunglasses Smoke Grey and Petal Pink, Vintage 80's Cognac Brown Woven Leather Loafers, Vintage Crochet Lace Top, Vintage Navy Blue Jumper, Army Green with Cream Leather Bow Dress, Carved Ivory Peace Sign Necklace, Cushion/Oval Shape Rose Cut Diamond Ring, Vintage 60's Dress Silk Lace Sheer Floral Ivory, Vintage Star Shine Evening Bag, Vintage 80's Bandolino Victorian Ankle Lace up Boots, Tranquility Band.

Surprises

This week I've been surprised by receiving two packages in the mail - purchases I made online long ago that I'd forgotten about and then... SURPRISE! They're there sitting at my front door waiting to just pop out of their box. In general I'm not a fan of surprises. I'm a planner. I like to not only know what's coming, but have sufficient time to prepare for it as well ( a very realistic view/outlook on life...). Surprises annoy me. Well, that is, they did. I think I'm kind of warming up to surprises now - even if I'm the one surprising myself.

So here's surprise number one:

A beautiful chiffon dress by Mara Hoffman from Gilt.com

But with all these surprises I realize I need to do some Spring - wait... Fall closet cleaning. Particularly purging it of dresses. This tasks inspires the wretched feeling that accompanies actual retching/purging, akin to nails scratching a chalkboard, but it must be done. I'm running out of hangers.

Found!

So do you remember that outfit I told you about in Childhood Grown Up? The one Mary Lennox wore in The Secret Garden that I was swooning over... the jumper, black tights and oxfords?

Well I found it! The grown up version that is...
The only thing I wish is that the jumper were that great yellowish green. This one's more yellowy cream. Oh well... it's still cute.

The Jumper.

See by Chloé. Found at Gilt.com but I'm sorry to say it's sold out. Bummer.

The Blouse.

This one I found at the inspiration. It's an oh so sweet vintage version that's much more cost effective. Buy it here.

This one I found at the addiction. It too could work, although with the jumper straps, the neck line might pose a problem. Regardless, it's very cute and on sale too! Buy it here.

Otherwise you could really just go with the blouse the jumper's already paired with. Although that one is definitely not sale priced... But I guess if it's on Gilt.com it technically is...

The Shoes

I found both pairs at Urban Outfitters. Option A with a heel, Option B with a flat. Let your legs decide.

And of course this outfit would not be complete without a thick pair of black tights/leggings. But I think you can manage to find those on your own.

And I am happy. Inspiration come to life. I love it!

Childhood Grown Up

Well I still haven't downloaded my photos from Vail yet, so y'all will just have to wait a little longer for the Vail "Vacation" posts.

So today before I went to my doctors appointment I made a little stop at the store. Yes. I did leave with a beautiful red-handled bag in my hand. But miraculously I spent less than $35.00! And what did I buy? Take a guess...

August 1st has now come and gone. And this new month rolling full speed ahead brings with it not only the dreaded "Back to School" ads, but also Fall clothing lines. As I walked into Anthropologie today I spied beautiful sweaters, crocheted hats and it made me kind of sad. I'm not ready for summer to be over. Summer's just begun!
Having lived in Adultland for quite some time now, summer is relative. It doesn't mean the same thing as it did when I was a little kid. I don't have 3 months off to run wild in the sun. Nope. Regardless of the sunshine's status I still have to go to work. It just means that maybe I'll return a little browner on Monday, since in Adultland (unlike in Childhood) summer really only exists on the weekends.
But seeing these beautiful articles of clothing somewhat softened the blow of reality.
And glancing at the different styles and trends I was reminded of another tie back to Childhood.

The last couple weekends I've been out at my cabin I've watched the '93 film version of "The Secret Garden." I absolutely loved watching this movie when I was a kid, and I still love watching it now. But I have to say I was really inspired my Mary Lennox's attire.
In one scene she wears this amazingly sweet white blouse with a greenish-yellow jumper, black tights and oxford shoes. Somehow I want to try and translate this outfit from Childhood to Grown Up. I think between the store and the inspiration I can manage this... it'll just take some digging. And that red knit beret hat! Definitely a must have for Fall!
Below is a clip from this amazing movie - the jumper outfit's near the end of the clip. Watch it and be inspired.



The photo above was originally found here. The clip can be found here.

Style, Elegance and Grace

Some people like Marilyn Monroe. Others are more partial to Jackie O. And then there are those Hepburns- Katherine and Audrey! I definitely am an Audrey fan. I mean who could not love those big eyes, sweet pixie haircut and gladiator sandals in Roman Holiday? Or the unbelievable Givenchy masterpieces she wore in Funny Face and Sabrina? And she definitely brought a chicness (dare I say sexiness?) to pencil pants, ballerina flats, and tuxedo shirts - as sleepwear of course!

But over the past couple years I have come to find a new fashion muse. She her style was sophisticated and elegant, yet completely effortless. Always put together but never "dolled up," her beauty was natural and refined. And in all things she not only embodied, but exuded grace. Appropriate then that her name was Grace - Grace Kelly.

A Hitchcockian goddess, a patroness of the arts and a did I forget to mention a Princess, she made white the new "black," gloves and shades the go-to accessories, and is one of the only women I know who truly knew how to work a strand of pearls.
So below are some classic Grace Kelly looks and possible current day counterparts. I hope this inspires you as much as it inspires me, or at least brings you a deeper appreciation of a woman who was beautiful inside and out.

Work those shades Grace...

So I saw this picture and it almost inspired me to buy this bikini, but then I realized I would never look like that. Bummer.

Maybe Grace would wear this amazing floppy hat by Kokin. Maybe...

 Definitely summer wedding attire inspiration. All this dress needs is a classic double-strand of pearls.

Maybe if I wear this dress by Xeniya or that dress by sarahseven I could catch me a thief, or a Cary Grant. That would be nice...

I have this impulse to take one of these photos, go to the salon and say "Here. I want this." But me and platinum blonde could be fatal... At any rate, even if I can't look like Grace I certainly can most certainly imitate her style, presence and grace. 

Wedding Dresses

No... this is not what you think it is.

While one of my guilty pleasures is buying and pouring through Martha Stewart Wedding magazines (you should see my collection!), this post will not be about those beautiful immaculate dresses that every little girl (and old girl...) fantasizes about.

It will be about dresses, weddings and the non-color white.

That doesn't really sound much different. Let me explain...

So one of my best friends is getting married in a month and 2 days and I am so excited. This means 3 things:

1. One amazing PARTY!!!
2. One less friend I can hide behind during the bouquet toss.
3. One new dress!

You see, being a total dress freak (you should see my closet), it is customary that I purchase a new dress to celebrate the "sending off," if you will, of each of my good friends from land of "singlehood" to that of "wedded bliss."

Weddings are full of traditions and this is mine to add to the mix. Feel free to subscribe to it if you like - I won't mind.

There's only one drawback to this tradition of mine: My choice of dresses is slightly constrained.

You see this new tradition comes head-to-head with a very strict rule of wedding guest etiquette:

"Do NOT wear white to a wedding."

I have a problem with this because in summer, there are so many adorable white sun dresses that scream, "JESSIKA! Buy me!" It's almost as if some inexplicable magnetic force draws me to them. And yet, however cute or flattering they are, they must be axed from the list of potentials.

So here are this years rejects by default, courtesy of Anthropologie a.k.a. my wardrobe supplier.

Addiction? Inspiration!

Okay I have a confession to make.
I love beautiful clothes.
It's not like I'm a shopoholic... Borderline - yes. But I can still refrain myself.
I'm inspired by -and by "I'm" I mean my wallet- unique pieces I find in vintage shops and flea markets. I like my clothes to have character just like me. After all, what I wear on the outside should reflect the different facets of Me that remain hidden on the inside. Soft silhouettes of chiffon and a closet full of "twirl-factor" dresses pay homage to my cleverly disguised inner girly-girl, and muted slate blue tones reflect the deep-thinker that I am. Crisp whites and soft creams reveal my diminishing perfectionistic side.

But lately I've been inspired by kindergarten? Or is it my favorite condiment?

Well whatever it is, I find myself constantly buying clothing items in a marigold or mustard hue. I saw this photo of Diane Kruger on the red carpet at the SAG Awards and felt it tied it all together. Primary colors! But slightly more mature versions of the elementary school art class lesson: Marigold/mustard yellow, vibrant red and deep navy blue.

So here are some photos I found of things I swoon over -

(From top to bottom: , Semi-Matte Lipstick in Heat wave by NARS, All Seasons Shirtdress, Midnight Stroll Dress by sarahseven, Intermission Heels, Marigold Cocktail Dress by sarahseven, Sun Dot Dress, Red White-Vintage Hair Pin by Sumikoshop, The Petal Bag by sketchbook.)

Diane Kruger Photo date: 23 January 2010 Photo by Steve Granitz - © WireImage.com - Image courtesy WireImage.com