Making it Lovely » Style

Sailaway Circle Skirt

Making it Lovely — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:10:56 +0000

This is why I’m not a model.

That skirt though? That’s the reason I posted the photo (another by Arnold Klein).

It’s on sale, about half off, and it’s amazing. It pairs well with a simple top, tucked in, and with heels (in brown, red, camel, black, whatever). Definitely my new favorite thing to wear.

Short Hair!

Making it Lovely — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:36:28 +0000

I chopped off all of my hair last week. I’d been considering it, but I hadn’t really decided until I just went for it. Susan at Sparrow did an awesome job.

Also, it appears I was channeling August. We wore the same foxy sweater that day — Brandon chose it for him while getting him dressed, not knowing I was going to wear mine. Then I went and got a little boy’s haircut. His haircut. Twinsies! I am not sure how I feel about that, but I guess we’re pretty cute together.

Also, looking at these pictures, I’m realizing that maybe I should be tucking the little ends behind my ears. (And probably also showering before taking and posting giant pictures of myself, but whatevs!)

Style: A Ladylike Coat and Bag

Making it Lovely — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:40:45 +0000

I’ve given up on waiting to see if the tweed coat I wanted makes it to clearance. Someone recommended this coat as an alternative (and as a spot-on match for Eleanor’s yellow tweed coat that I loved so much). I ordered it, and it’s fantastic. Then, when I was out last night shopping for a birthday present, I spotted a couple of beautiful green bags by Coach. They would both look so good with my yellow spring coat! I wanted both but left with none — so I’m living vicariously through today’s style post.

Pointy-Toed Sneakers

Making it Lovely — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:41:50 +0000

Three months ago, I pinned these Keds shoes by Kate Spade. Last week, I rejoiced when I realized they were finally available. I immediately picked up a pair of the pink pointy-toed sneakers for myself, even though it is a little ridiculous that they were $85, based (as far as I can tell) solely on the fact that they have the Kate Spade name attached.

I pulled out my old stack of red binders today. I joked and told Brandon that it was my physical Pinterest account. Each was filled with pages torn from the stacks of magazines that I used to have free access to, and time to read on a regular basis. These binders were made before Pinterest, yes, but also before I started blogging at all. I dated each, and they span from 2001-2004. That’s a lot of magazine reading and clipping.

Two binders in, I found it. The reason I pulled those binders out of my once-neat closet. The image I wanted to share with you.

It was in a separate binder — the one not labeled and sorted by date, but rather housing a collection of my very favorites. I never did much care for that bitty purse in that photo, and the turtleneck isn’t my thing. But those shoes? I still think about them.

The photo was from Mademoiselle, circa 2001, and the shoes are credited to Michael Kors, $148. There was no way I could afford those as an independent bookstore employee in my early twenties, making barely more than minimum wage. But I could slice those magazine pages with a razor like a pro, and archive them in little plastic sheets! I’m telling you — physical Pinterest.

I saved the entire spread, and I’d still like to dress like this (mostly). To live in a house like this (definitely). Looking at it again, I wonder if, subconsciously, it made such an impression on me then that I would later choose “lovely” as part of my blog name. I see that my dear pink and brown are in there, too.

The red stripe on those shoes with their perfect heel. The full printed skirt. Charm bracelets. Pencil skirts. Those bangs. That one fashion spread so neatly encapsulated and informed my style at the time, and still does. There are items in my closet that I have had forever and still wear regularly, and had I the wherewithal to buy them at the time, those pointed sneakers would be among them. They were more expensive than I think they ought to have been, but I have the means to buy them now, and so I did.

Maybe you’ll be the one pinning these images now. Or maybe you can’t stand them. I know that it’s silly to write about buying a pair of shoes like it’s the fulfillment of a dream, but dammit, it took more than 10 years to get them. And they’re pink and everything.

Little Style / Big Style: Coral Slingback Flats

Making it Lovely — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:41:58 +0000

I’ve already picked up a pair of these little shoes for Eleanor, and I just stumbled upon the ladies’ version. I’m tempted to pick them up for myself now, as I do have a thing for matching mama/daughter shoes.

That Dress I Wore to Alt Summit

Making it Lovely — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:27:42 +0000

I didn’t put together a full recap of everything I wore to Alt (just the sequins), but I’ve been asked so many times about the dress I wore during my panel that I figured I ought to post about it.

(That’s me and Vivian Mansour of Ish and Chi. She came all the way from Australia! I’ve read her for years and years and was so glad to finally meet her in person.)

I wore the Cameo Printed Dress by Ted Baker, and it is awesome. If you get close enough, you start to notice how random the print is. There are cowboys, horse-drawn carriages, pennyfarthings, and a rabbit exclaiming “AH!” when you find him.

I wore it with black tights and black suede heels (similar), along with my Warby Parker Mallory glasses, an oversized round hammered brass ring (similar), and vibrant coral lipstick.

My peachy pink bag and striped laptop case didn’t really match (close enough), but if I were to pair a bag with the dress, it would be this one.

Bonus: If you drop chocolate on your dress the second time you ever wear it and then it instantly melts and stains, the pattern is so busy you won’t even notice! Um, not that I did that or anything.

Coral, Floral, Pink, and Navy

Making it Lovely — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:14:24 +0000

I’m still loving pink (always), and my crazy floral pumps, but I’ve also been drawn to coral and navy a lot lately. Here’s what I’ve had my eye on for spring.

Button-Up Top
This is the top I’m wearing in yesterday’s post.
Wardour Dress
So me. I really want this one.
Crepe Scalloped Hem Top
I tried this on in yellow and didn’t realize it came in navy. Navy is far superior.
Vintage Glasses
I have a pair of peach glasses! If I didn’t, I’d be very tempted by these.
Fluid Henley Blouse
Fantastic color. I bought this in the floral print version (#8).
Ultra Skinny Printed Pants
I tend to have good luck with the fit of Gap pants, and these were no exception. Love the print.
Brass Chevron Necklace
I’m always a fan of pink and brass together, especially in simple, modern designs.
Floral Fluid Henley Blouse
My new favorite shirt. Looks fantastic over cropped skinnies or tucked into a pencil skirt.
Everly Liberty Art Fabric Pumps
I do like these more than mine, but mine were much less expensive (and I still like them a lot).
Striped Dress
I have too many striped dresses to add another, but if you’re looking, this is a good (and affordable) one.
Structured Crepe Pocket Blouse
Works better on a more boyish figure than mine, alas.
Sailor Skirt
Hey, sailor.

Sweet Tweed

Making it Lovely — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:17:50 +0000

Sweet Tweed

Eleanor has had some cute coats, but this tweedy yellow one (now outgrown) was my favorite. I bought it from Boden when she was still a baby, in the spring when it was on clearance, and then I saved it until it fit her. She wore it from fall to spring last year, and again this fall until it was too small.

Ladies would often compliment her on her coat, then follow up with “I wish it came in my size!” “Me too,” I would say, meaning it.

Today, I spotted the ladies’ version: Kate Spade’s Tweed Pierce Coat. No, it doesn’t come in that fantastic yellow color, but seeing as it is pink, I shall overlook that. It is spendy though. Maybe, like Eleanor’s coat, it will make it through to clearance time? (My guess is that it won’t.)

If I squint and imagine that the model wearing glasses, I can pretend it’s me. That’s totally normal, right?

p.s. Sometimes I like to play around with the formatting on these posts. It may look a little funny if you’re reading it via a feed (RSS) reader.

The Sequin Dress

Making it Lovely — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:35:22 +0000

There’s nothing like writing about feeling uncomfortable wearing a sequin dress to make you question wearing said type of dress to Alt Summit. This is so silly you guys, but I did it. And look! I was twinsies with Chelsea Costa, so clearly this was a lovely dress.

And while I was worried about the size of my whatever in a few sequins, some people (ahem, Stefan Sagmeister) are comfortable putting out full-frontal photos of themselves to the world. And they give good kisses.

Crazy Floral Pumps

Making it Lovely — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:13:44 +0000

I spotted these shoes yesterday, and quick like a bunny I ran to try them on. They’re just so loud, but I can’t help but love them. Aren’t they weirdly great? I bought a pair, and today I had a little fun virtual-window-shopping for what I’d pair with them.

I’m planning to pair them with solid skirts and striped tops too, or with my striped dresses. Basically, I still can’t get enough of the stripes and florals combo.

p.s. The shoes are available as flats, too.