Teach Me Twiggy

Nighttime Dress Gets Daytime Treatment

Shirt- American Apparel; Dress- Some Boutique in San Clemente; Purse- Vintage (London); Belt- Vintage; Scarf- Vintage (Grandpa); Sunglasses- H&M 

We all know I'm a bit dress obsessed and one of my favorite things to do is re-purpose a fancier frock for daytime. This dress is super "here-are-my-boobs" on its own, but with a casual tank and scarf its suddenly daytime appropriate.

I've also been pretty obsessed with coral pouts for the past month and this Revlon "Kiss Me Coral" lipstick is one of my favorites.

I'm running out the door to Vegas with five girlfriends right now and I'm consumed with the fear of what I forgot to pack (as always). I might snap some pictures in the midst of the mischief making so stay tuned.

Wishing you a magical weekend. xx

Hey, I'm Not Going To Judge You...

1. If you set your cruise control on surface streets.

2. If you put perfume on before you go to bed... alone.

3. If you've ever tailored your outfit to fit the vibe of the cocktail you will be drinking that night.

4. If you're more of a chapstick chick than a lip gloss girl.

5. If you think few things could be worse than a wet doorknob.

6. If you feel rebellious parking in two spots at once.

7. If your face has felt the light of your laptop more than the light of the sun lately.

8. If driving with shoes on seems weird to you.


9. If you cried every time you saw the chubby kid on American Idol.

10. If you have such intense (undiagnosed) ADD that you have to switch cardio machines every 20 minutes to avoid dying of boredom.


PS, Well looky here my little cupcakes:

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image 1 via The NeoTraditionalist  

Things To Do (For the Sake of My Closet & Soul)

A closet and soul might be considered one in the same: they both house memories, good times (flattering party frocks), bad times (pleated, plaid, high waisted pants that make your ass look a mile wide...), and define us, for better or worse. Of course, a soul might be a little more timeless, but a vintage quilted Chanel handbag is a close second (alert: I possess soul but not yet Chanel...)

These things (which I plan to do) make my soul and closet warm and fuzzy:

1. Go completely nude (allegedly this dress is from H&M):

2. Make headband that resembles this one: 

 

 3. Sleep, Eat, Dream, Drink, Play, Wander in these colors: 

 

4. Get bangs (except, this is up for debate due to wavy hair and tendency to exhibit laziness in hair category...)

5. Get pet elephant (elephants... they're so hot right now)

If you're wondering who this amazing blond blogger that I'm clearly obsessed with at the moment is, her name is Coury and her blog is called Fancy Treehouse (of course it's a perfectly whimsical and adorable name...).

Image 1 via FashionToast; Image 2, 3, 4, via Fancy Treehouse

So, What Am I Doing With My Life?

Being a writer and all I thought it might be nice for me to spend some more time actually writing on this little blog of mine (in between my life altering musings on fashion week, of course). So, here we go... And, please be a dear and let me know your thoughts... I feel a little bit insane rambling on to no one in particular (not that this would be a rare occurrence...) 

So, lately I’ve been experiencing this little, nagging, hooded figure of an emotion that I like to call “life plan paranoia.” It’s a bit of a mood killer, this emotion, as it slips into my mind, drowning confidence and excitement, clasping its little E.T. like fingers around my throat whispering, “What are you doing with your life, Jessica?” “Don’t you know you’re going to end up old and wrinkly (the worst of all) having done none of the things you’d dreamed of?”

I’ve always been told that the twenties are supposed to be a great time: your boob’s are only gonna get saggier from here on out (which is quite depressing but apparently meant to make you enjoy them now... which, how do you “enjoy” them anyways? take nude pictures? wear slutty tops?), you’ve never heard of the word mortgage and your body can still withstand binge drinking Saturday nights. 

But amidst this revelry, your twenties are also the time that dreams suddenly deflate. Once you enter the “real” world dreams aren’t just fluffy, abstract things you ramble off when someone asks you what you’re passionate about, dreams are now concrete things to pursue. They’re no longer supposed to be pretty, now they’re supposed to pay the bills. They’re no longer supposed to be imaginative and romantic, now they’re supposed to have good hours and a 401k.

And so, to be frank, this is why I am pissed off at the twenties right now: they have single-handedly smashed and mangled dreams and processed them into what adulthood is all about: practicality, responsibility and anti-wrinkle eye creams.  

As someone who has always found comfort in following the logical steps of success (get good grades, get into a good college, pick your major, vomit licorice and vodka in the sorority foyer after a night at the college bar, graduate, watch your parents smile, get good job) I’m struggling with just where this phase of “what the hell am I doing and how do I avoid hating my life?” is supposed to fit in. 


I suppose its proper place is in between college graduation and finding your “dream job” but as I’ve been listening to friends and acquaintances it seems that some people never outgrow the phase at all. Some people land the job they’re supposed to, the job they’ve taken logical steps to get to, the job with dental and fun holiday parties, but they’re still left wondering to themselves: when does this start to feel like a realized dream?

It has me wondering: is it better to sit around and figure it out, or just start dancing and hope you pick the choreography up along the way? 

And, if you’re sitting out, what are you supposed to look for anyways? How will you realize that this job will lead to ultimate happiness and a salary that affords Chanel?

And lastly, how did I ever become entitled to following my "dreams?" What does it say about me, and some may argue my generation, that I feel obligated to only pursue a career that excites me, engages me, makes the most of my talents, and makes me feel sparkly inside? 

Of course, one can only sit around and watch the song and dance for so long before you get thrown into the musical mix, but what if you get thrown into the wrong song? the wrong dance? what if choosing that job, taking that easy route, following the prescribed routine, makes you feel good for now, but ultimately leaves you unhappy?

It feels, as I sit here with frozen toes tucked under my comforter and a hydrating mask on my face, that all of these questions have to be answered right this moment. It feels, as I sit here wondering if the diet soda I’m sipping will give me cancer (or worse, cellulite) like I am sitting in a room where the walls are spinning around me.

I know the optimistic phrases and pieces of advice I'm supposed to know: there's no set way to reach your goals, every one's path is different, do what you love and success will follow (unless, of course, you've chosen creative career paths like someone I know... cough), life's about the journey not the destination, save a horse ride a cowboy, yada yada... 

People keep telling me that things work out and opportunities arise. Not only is this the most annoying piece of encouragement to receive, it’s also pretty impossible to refute. Of course things will work out, life will march on, I will find some job that is good for me... but that’s not the principle concern. 

The real question is which path will be great; which path will only reshape the romantic and fluffy dreams I’ve always had instead of deflating them altogether? Because that, of course, is the path I’d like to take. 

Hey, I'm Not Going To Judge You...

1. If you think Christmas is more romantic than Valentine's day.

2. If chipped nail polish doesn't ruffle your feathers much.

3. If you cared more about what people wore to the Grammy's than how they sounded.

4. If your closet is color coded by sleeve length but there's also heaps of clothing on your floor.

5. If someone tells you you were in their dream and you wonder what your dream self was wearing...

6. If the thought of taking a couple's picture at a restaurant makes you incredibly uncomfortable.

7. If you've worn heels to a backyard BBQ.

8. If you think you look skinnier after one day of exercise.

9. If you bought the CVS knock off eye cream at the drugstore with the following internal dialogue: "well, I don't really have any eye wrinkles yet so I can get the cheap stuff... it's only preventitive." 

10. If your dog leaves the room when you sing to him.

Friday's Favorite Things

1. Favorite blog of the week: B Jones Style. She's been basing her looks this week off none other than Miss Bradshaw herself and it's making me all sorts of happy/nostalgic.

2. Favorite accessory of the week: Dayquil.

3. Favorite beauty product: Kiss Me Coral Lipstick by Revlon.

4. Favorite little moment: realizing driving through the car wash is just as fun at 22 as it was at 5 (close runner-up: having the Coral Tree valet compliment my music choice- Shakira's spanish album- ole!).

5. Favorite picture:

Illuminates just what I want to do this weekend (in between celebrating a best friend's birthday and feigning interest in the Super Bowl).



Image via Aubrey Rd

Daily Quote Dose

"Things are pretty, graceful, rich, elegant, handsome, but, until they speak to the imagination, not yet beautiful." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image via Fashion Canvas

Orange Picking

Top: Ancient Hardtail; Skirt- Thrifted (Goodwill); Belt- Vintage; Shoes (last seen here)- Stuart Weitzman

I haven't had a middle part since second grade. It's been something I've constantly coveted ever since I knew who Gwenyth Paltrow was but I have a stubborn side part that just wasn't into being persuaded.

This week I took action. I declared it middle part week, pinned down stubborn strands and took no prisoners. It's day two right now and I'm feeling a bit more in control. I will, naturally, let you know how this exhausting battle pans out.

In other news, I bought this skirt from a South Central Goodwill a few years ago. I like its ethnic print and think it's just a little bit ugly... in a good way. I threw it on recently with a Hardtail top from seventh grade (that makes it practically vintage... right?) that has 70's-esque fluttered sleeves.

My favorite thing about this outfit is the rustic hues which just remind me of the 70's. Any favorite ways you're channeling the decade at the moment?

An attempt at orange juggling:

The (clearly unamused) audience:

Daily Quote Dose

"A great social success is a pretty girl who plays her cards as carefully as if she were plain." - F Scott Fitzgerald 

Image via Everyday I Show

66 Things I Learned in 2010

Style
1. Certain things are worth splurging on (champagne, lipstick, hair dryers...).
2. Other things are not worth splurging on (mascara, trendy items, over the top gifts).
3. It's all about fit.
4. It's best to wait 15 minutes before applying your topcoat on your manicure because that allows the polish to set and avoids chipping.
5. Polyester isn't that scary.
6. Camel toes can happen to the loveliest of vaginas in the wrong pants (witnessed primarily at the gym).
7. There's nothing wrong with wearing your best jewels to run errands.
8. Ebay bidding wars produce high blood pressure and nightmares.
9. A scary Halloween costume and clubbing in Hollywood don't jive.
10. Lounging in fur and cashmere makes strep throat a bit better.
11. Screw regular trims... refusal to cut your hair also makes it grow.
12. The thrill of shopping can give you legitimate endorphins.
13. Middle parts are not for me (despite valiant efforts)...
14. Embrace what fits your body and duplicate the silhoutte in different patterns, fabrics, etc.
15. The best style is personal and unique.
16. Sequins and leopard print can always make you happy.

Relationships 
1. Boys can be sensitive too.
2. Mystery does not always beget coolness.
3. Boys gossip as much as girls (just in a different style).
4. Thank you notes are better with personal anecdotes.
5. Girls will judge you, get over it ahead of time.
6. True friends will give you the dress of their back when you like their outfit better than yours.
7. My Grandma had four fiances before my Granddad hitchiked in his military uniform from Texas to Hollywood to steal her away from her latest fiance. She "had a lot of fun."
8. No matter their age, most women are socially programmed to reject compliments.
9. Chivalry goes a long way.

 Random 
1. Good lighting is everything.
2. Kissy faces in photos always make you look drunk or fish-faced.
3. It is possible to feel incredibly old and wildly young simultaneously.
4. You absolutely must trust yourself.
5. You can't take tweets back.
6. Life moves dizzyingly fast.
7. Paparazzi are people too.
8. Taking your google search safety off moderate is one of the most disturbing things you can do.
9. It is not appropriate to high-five obese strangers at the gym.
10. Report cards and credit card statements are one in the same: how much damage have I done?
11. The only problem with being a writer is that you have to write.
12. Anonymity gives people the courage to be rude.

Food & Drink
1.You can order straight up coffee at Starbucks (there's a world outside of lattes!)... and ordering a grande coffee with room makes you feel badass in a corporate way.
2. Gin and tonics and productivity don't always mix.
3. Salads, baked potatoes and spaghetti are not good driving foods.
4. Green onions don't look like other onions.
5. French fries and tequila don't like me as much as I like them.
6. Coffee Bean is a Kosher establishment.
7. Bloody Mary's hold the key to a happy weekend.
8. "Chips Ahoy" is a pun on "Ships Ahoy"... woah!
9. Cheeseburgers and zumba class do not mix well...
10. You can train yourself to love cooking by opening a bottle of wine every time you make dinner.
11. Raisins can restore fizz to champagne. Drop a couple in the bottle a few minutes before serving.
12. Eating poppy seed bagels can show up as heroin on a drug test.
13. Ordering a salad but then eating all of your boyfriend's french fries does not count as dieting.
14. Absinthe at family gatherings can be iffy.
15. Wine tasting is my happy place.
16. Kraft mac and cheese beats fancy, four-gourmet-cheese mac and cheese.
17. It's not the best idea to buy fancy dinner packages off of Gilt group...
18. Consuming generous amounts of champagne the morning of your college graduation leads to napping during the graduation ceremony.

 Practicalities 
1. Credit card bills don't pay themselves.
2. Getting your car serviced isn't as optional as it seems.
3. Polyester cannot be dyed.
4. Cleaning out your friends list on facebook feels even better than cleaning out your closet!
5. You can make DMV appointments online.
6. There's a little arrow next to the gas icon on your dashboard that points to the side of the car your gas pump is on.

Travel 
1. Alcohol at the airport is always a good idea.
2. You can fit 17 people in one tiny house in Georgetown... as long as you throw six girls in a closet-like room with only one mattress.
3. After you've been waiting over 10 minutes for a public bathroom it is not worth it anymore. Time to walk away.
4. Brunch in Georgetown means an open bar and half a bagel...
5. It can snow in Vegas!


Image 1 via Belle Maison, Image 3 via Lula Magazine

Daily Quote Dose

"Beauty is not caused. It is." -Emily Dickinson

On My Mind

Listening To: The Eagles + Christmas music = guaranteed ear pleasure. 



Craving: Chocolate, like woah. I want to do this:

 

Or this... 

But NOT this: 

Or this: 

Is there a special relationship between asians and chocolate I should know about?

Coveting: the perfect party dress... Rebecca Taylor Strapless Silk Bustier Dress.

On My To Do List: Continue tackling Christmas shopping (what's on your list?), advise my Grandma on her purchases for my cousins (they can thank me later), make holiday crowns for my family to wear Christmas day... my brothers are so excited, spray paint pine cones gold for tabletop setting (among other crafty tasks), find vintage fur at rose bowl flea market this Sunday.


Watching: This gorgeous video by Radiolab. It shows how certain images depict specific words in different incarnations. I like it a lot.



Reading: According to this article, people are naming their babies after "16 and Pregnant" characters. Obviously, a classy idea.


Inspired By: Marie Claire's Style & Accessories Director, Taylor Tomasi Hill photographed by Citizen Couture.

     

On My Social Agenda: Well, as mentioned last week I've become quite the football game attendee. I even watched the entire game last Friday (minus sporadic check-ins with my blackberry and the snack shack... and a few conversations with the middle school girls that hang out in the bathroom and take pictures of each other). So, the point is I'll be at yet another high school football game this week since they... keep... winning. This particular game will have my heart torn up with conflicted emotion- my high school is pitted against my brother's for the CIF title! I'm loosing sleep over it! I also might go to this. 

Wondering: What ever happened to the people that were on Room Raiders? 

Hey, I'm Not Going To Judge You...

1. If you consider shopping cardio.

2. If you prefer books to kindle. It's the romance of the tangible thing.

3. If its ever taken you an entire song to realize you weren't listening to an english radio station.

4. If you've ever worn makeup from the night before to a family function.

5. If you thought you were a total zumba master until you looked in the mirror and realized what you thought you were doing looks a little different than what's actually happening.

6. If you're genuinely convinced that every lane on the freeway automatically slows down once you are in it.

7. If you've ever slept in a ball because there were mounds of clothes on your bed (sometimes a girl just can't be bothered to organize).

8. If you spend hours on jib jab making videos for your own viewing pleasure.

9. If you take off your waist belt before you even start the meal.

10. If you're horrible at beer pong but still believe you really could win this time around.

Other Things I Did This Week

I got a new computer. All the better to blog with my dearest.

This wasn't really a choice, more of a necessity, like going through puberty or getting your hair done... it was a non negotiable. Prior to the realization that I would be getting a new computer I spent a couple of hours in Apple with Oscar trying to fix my "situation." Its always a little nerve racking when they ask you "you don't mind if I look through your hard drive (or whatever it's called) do you?" Suddenly, even though you hadn't thought of it before, you feel like you have things to hide. Will he judge me for my drunken college pictures? Will he be astounded by my bizarre taste in music? Can he see that my recent pages on safari have been dedicated to facebook stalking the most random of victims?! Will he find my stash of shoe porn?

Oscar didn't mind. He felt so bad for me and my shaking stressed out self that he even offered me water. I declined but wondered if they served water bottles with the apple logo on the sleeve. Or Steve Jobs' face and turtleneck...

I did some fun things on the new computer. I learned how to use iMovie and made this video package with the specific purpose of showcasing just how badly I needed to get my hair done (do not fret I got my strands tended to today).

I also wrote about an obsession I have with sparkly things here in an article for The Budget Fashionista. If you have no budget and like sequins too you should peruse it.

And, unless you live in a nudist colony or are The Situation you might need to wear a top. These are nice... and majorly cheap.

And, as you all know about my obsession with the 70's, I wrote a piece on Boho fashion finds here.

Happy weekend to you. I'd like to get my hands on a glass of pinot noir asap. Cheers.

Why not?

Hey, I'm Not Going To Judge You...

1. If you consciously wear cuter pajamas to bed (in lieu of your usual retainer/underwear combination) when there's earthquake warnings.

2.  If you care about who won the world series as much as you care about your grandpa's bowel movements.

3. If you give yourself points for throwing on your exercise outfit... even though you never made it to the gym.

4. If you've ever shaved your legs before a pedicure just to avoid the mental preoccupation of "does this woman think my legs are disgustingly spiky?!"

5. If you frequently spoon your blackberry.

6. If your casual, messy bun actually takes about five attempts.

7. If the name of the nail polish is a huge factor in your decision when you "chooz yo cuh-la"

8. If you feel very uncomfortable when a guy recognizes your perfume because you know it means: A) his ex wore the same scent.  B) he is a creep.  C) he is a salesman giving out "free" perfume samples. D) he is a super creep.

9. If you liked Katherine Heigl better when she was in Disney's "Wish Upon A Star."

10. If you only sleep on one side of your bed because you saw a spider on the other side... three weeks ago.

Other Things I Did This Week...

I carved a really sad pumpkin... well if you want to know, this pumpkin started out as a "Missoni inspired pumpkin" with an intricate pattern wrapping around until it wrapped all the way around and I realized I cut it in half. I beheaded my pumpkin. They didn't even let me put it out with the rest.

I also wrote about the sad pumpkin and last minute costume ideas here in my first post for Patch! The pictures in the article are also extremely embarrassing, so that's nice.

I am a lover of belts so I wrote this for The Budget Fashionista on cute belts under ten dollars. Also, as previously mentioned, I have a crush on thigh-high socks right now. They inspired me to write this post on legwear under ten dollars. I'm wearing the ASOS Over the knee socks from that post this weekend.

Lastly, in the chance that you might happen to live in Agoura Hills and need something to do this weekend I came up with a weekend agenda for you here. My friends are going to murder me for including a picture I put there.

Have a spooky Halloween ghouls and guys (been waiting to use that one).

PS somewhere in the world this happened:

She took long lashes to a new level. 

PPS, this is what happened to me last Halloween in NYC.

I did not know that person, obviously.

Hey... I'm Not Going To Judge You

1. If you expect your girlfriends to be honest, but expect your boyfriend to always tell you your butt looks great in those jeans.

2. If you eat the cheese off the wrapping of your In N Out burger... it's that good.

3. If you have to change the font from blah Times New Roman in order to get your creative juices flowing.

4. If you feel slightly badass when you leave the gas station without pressing whether or not you want a receipt.

5. If you bought your Halloween candy a week in advance... but had to purchase more the day before Halloween... Halloween ghosts ate it...duh.

6. If you're team Swift no matter what the real situation was. I hate you John Mayer and Joe Jonas... I hate you!

7. If the only glue you own is false eyelash glue.

8. If you've ever searched for your cell phone when you were on it.

9. If you feel slightly connected to a car when you drive next to it for an extended period of time... that honda and I spent an hour together! I'll miss it!

10. If you're just a mean person without carbs.

Daily Quote Dose

“I will never be the woman with the perfect hair, who can wear white and not spill on it.”- Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Hey, I'm Not Going To Judge You...

1. If you're in your twenties but you spill food on yourself more than a kindergartner.

2.  If you miss trick or treating... when else do you get to parade around town having your outfit praised with candy?!

3. If your collection of vintage watches is purely for style's sake, not actual... time telling.

4. If you believe MTV's "Teen Mom" is a riveting social commentary that cannot be missed!

5. If 80 percent of your decision making process in the toiletries aisle is based on scent.

6. If you sometimes consider a hangover a sickness (you do feel horrible!).

7. If you get more nail polish on your cuticles than your actual nails when you give yourself a manicure (some things are better left to the professionals).

8. If you wear a new piece of clothing several days in a row when you first purchase it because you're so excited to have it in your wardrobe.

9. If you still think "that's what she said" is funny.

10. If the "Stars Without Make-up" and "Guess the Cellulite Butt" editions of the tabloids are your favorite (we all need a little pick me up from time to time). 

Image 1 via HappyHourMom.com, Image 2 via Ydblogz.com