Spring Sale @ d a c e
May 3, 2008
If you look over to the right you'll see links to some places I like to shop. One of these is dace - the clothes are classic with a little twist and I've loved them ever since my friend Christa introduced me.
Adele at dace just emailed me and let me know they are having a spring sale and offering 20% off everything even sale items. Thought I'd pass it along to all of you - do some spring cleaning in your closet and add some new items to fill in those holes!
Enter SPRING at checkout to receive the discount.
Posted by raya 11:18 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Link Love
Obsession: Chambray
March 25, 2008
Does anyone know where you can buy it? I would love to make a clutch or bag out of it. If any of you have a source I'd love to know.
Posted by raya 5:10 PM 6 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion
polyvore.com: GO
March 12, 2008
Well, it's a good thing it's 4:10pm because if you are someone with a 9-5 you only have 50 minutes left in your day to waste on this site. If it were 10am I think you'd be in trouble.
We are collage making girls (my sister has binders full) and this is like having all our fashion magazines at our finger tips without the scissors and glue! Next time I'm stumped for what to wear you know I will be heading here. The coolest thing is that you can make up an outfit, then buy the whole thing right afterward! My clothing budget never saw this coming. polyvore.com - go!
Posted by raya 4:10 PM 13 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Link Love
Checking In
February 25, 2008
Hi there! I'm still catching up on my 365 project posts...hopefully I'll get the rest up soon so that I can start just posting one a day. Coming up with an interesting photo every day is harder than I thought. I have to resist taking a million photos of his face 'cause it's so freakin' precious. But that would bore you all, so....
I'm trying to think of something else interesting to post today. I'm thinking it might be about fashion. All my mags arrived this week and for the first time in 9 months I'm actually excited to look at them because maybe I could wear something like what's in the photos. It's so weird to have my shirts hang loose again. I got so used to stretching them over my belly. I think this calls for a celebratory post about what I'd love to go out and buy.right.now.
Posted by raya 10:44 AM 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Nice to Meet You
Corinna Corinna
January 22, 2008
I've been looking for a good black handbag that I can fit all my junk in, but that is also easy to carry around all day (meaning it has a shoulder strap). If I was made of money I'd probably buy this one:
It's the Chain hobo bag by Gucci and it's beautiful. It also costs twice what I paid for my first car and since we don't have a money tree growing in our backyard it will probably never live in my closet.
At one time I had big dreams for this bag. My friend Amy went on Identity last Spring and I, along with her husband and our friend Mark, were there to appear on the show as her support team and help her win the cash - 100 grand to be exact. I told her all I wanted for spending two days in a 12 x 12 secluded dressing room was this bag (and a nice vacation to some exotic island), but that didn't quite pan out...I don't think that game show is coming back by the way, and for good reason - she was robbed, I tell you. Robbed!
Anyway, I spotted a version of this Anna Corinna bag in an issue of Real Simple while at the hair salon today and discovered that Blue Bee in Santa Barbara sells it in black. It's a nice leather bag, the same size as the Gooch and about 1/4 the price. You can fill it full and carry it by the hand straps, or fold it over and use the shoulder strap.
I could save up for this one and it wouldn't take me two years. Plus, for a bag I am going to use on a daily basis and have for a long time I think it's worth the investment. A handbag is one wardrobe piece where Quality, not Quantity applies for me. I'd rather have two nice handbags than 10 adding up to the same cost.
OR, maybe this could be my push present. I'm not really serious about that, but have you heard of this? Have you or any of your friends received a gift for carrying and delivering a child? This was complete news to me, but apparently it has become quite popular. Tell me your stories - I'm so curious!
Posted by raya 9:32 PM 12 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, With Child
September is Fat Magazine Month
August 29, 2007
Posted by raya 10:53 AM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion
I heart the 60's
August 17, 2007
I have a love affair with the years 1940 - 1970, especially the clothes and photography of those eras. Faith obviously knows this and sent me this fabulous book of fashion ads from the 60's. 
I eat this stuff up - every page is awesome, but here are some of my favorites:
Posted by raya 11:15 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found
Internet Shopping
August 1, 2007
On the Want List today. All from Forever 21...
Yellow Polka Dot Tunic
Red Striped Sweater Top
Posted by raya 3:48 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Link Love
Putting Some Things to Rest
July 25, 2007
Staring at my closet this morning from bed, as I do every morning since we have no closet doors, I made a decision to finally retire some shirts that I haven't worn in ages and probably won't wear again. I share a pretty small closet with Forest - divided right down the middle - so every hanger of space is valuable real estate.
These are all shirts that I love, but either don't fit like they used or are outdated. My favorite is the sequin bolero that I just HAD to have and couldn't wait for the 200 knock offs that would come two months later. I probably wore that thing 4 times.
When I was a cocktail waitress at a busy restaurant I had to dress up every night so I have a lot of leftovers in my closet from that dressier (and skinnier) time. It's amazing how many calories you burn running back and forth from the bar for 5 hours in heels.
I give most of my clothes away to friends or thrift stores, but for any special items I have a small "hope chest" that I've started for a future daughter or daughter-in-law. Any shoes, bags, clothes, accessories that are special to me or that might be valued again in 25 years are put in there. I remember looking at photos of my mom as a girl and wishing so badly she had saved her dresses from the 60's. Some of this may not appeal to them, just like I have to accept that as much as I love my wedding dress, nobody may want to want that either, but it will be a fun walk down memory lane someday...at least for me.
Posted by raya 9:21 AM 8 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Nice to Meet You
Vintage Handmade
July 9, 2007
I had quite a successful weekend at the antique/thrift shops in Ventura with my dear friend Amy who came up for a spontaneous shopping day. If you live in the So Cal area or are passing through, downtown Ventura has a great collection of not-too-expensive antique stores and great thrift stores.
One of my favorite finds is this dress found at Sassy Sally's. Sally said her grandma made this dress who knows how many years ago. She had just put it out on the racks that day, which was perfect timing because I had a wedding to attend in the afternoon and had completely spaced about finding something to wear.
I've always fancied the idea of having vintage dresses, but don't often find ones I can wear on a daily basis. Sally does a lot of reconstructing old clothes + carries all kinds of other vintage finds. I would love to do a full post about her shop because its super cute! Hopefully in the near future that will happen.
I'll post the rest of my finds tomorrow. Until then...
Posted by raya 12:22 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found
The Little Bridesmaid Dress That Could
April 30, 2007
Even when I think my friends have selected a nice bridesmaid dress that I can/will wear again, somehow it never happens. What is it about this genre of dress? There is the obvious bad rap they have of being hideous most of the time, but even the pretty ones inherit the curse of being a one hit wonder, it seems.
I vowed not to force my loved ones & friends to don a dress that would gather dust in their closets for years (because you know you can't get rid of them for at least 5-10), but like a good bride I think that's exactly what I did. I couldn't help it. I just saw this dress and it was perfect and went with the colors and a few days later I was ordering 8 of them to be sent to my house.
Leave it to my mom though to resurrect one of these dresses and make it Senior prom-worthy
for Little (my little sis Sarah, we call her Little because, well - she is). While Forest and I were working on the house this weekend, Sarah was off riding in limos and dancing in a new-but -old cute gold dress. You don't know how happy it made me that my mom was able to do something with that dress. I've said it before and I'll say it again - She is amazing! She even fashioned a clutch out of a bed skirt that matched the shoes.
Front
back
And here is the clutch + shoes...my mom has a cool collection of old costume jewelry that I'm sure that brooch is from.Sarah you looked beautiful as always! Can't believe you're graduating from high school in less than two months. Our little girl's all grown up...tear sniffle tear.
Posted by raya 8:17 AM 8 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, She's Crafty
Do you think?
April 26, 2007
Do you think it would be hard to vacuum in these?
Because that's what I need to do this weekend, among other chores around the house..But really I just want to wear these.
Another product of my impulsive buying streak I went on two weeks ago at Nordstrom Rack. Bought them at the same time as the yellow ones, and have no remorse whatsoever.
Posted by raya 11:57 AM 7 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion
Happy Feet
April 17, 2007
Added some spring time cheeriness to my wardrobe this weekend with the purchase of these sunny yellow flats. I've been craving yellow shoes for months...Steven by Steve Madden purchased at Nordstrom Rack.
And these chairs are also making me happy. I bought a pair of these on craigslist.com for $60. They belonged to a sweet Grandma & Grandpa who no longer needed them..My first thought was to have them re-upholstered in leather, but the general consensus from visitors thus far is that we like the golden-rod color if we incorporate it into artwork and other textiles in the room. Any thoughts? I am definitely taking off the wheels, though (hard to see in this photo..but completely office-chair cheesy).
Posted by raya 8:56 AM 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, My Home
This Month in Bazaar
April 13, 2007
There are some beautiful pieces in Harper's Bazaar this month. For your admiration:
Denim, flats, $25 rings from Nine West....
(click on the images to get a closer look)
Ahem, and onto couture. I love love love this yellow Valentino. and the Giorgio Armani. So Fabulous.
During my last year of school I interviewed for an internship in their New York office. Only my dream come true! It was a nice thought, but I was just married and when we really thought about me moving to NY for three months and finding a place to live, and most importantly being away from Forest - it just wasn't what I wanted. Instead I took a job in LA which was much closer to home and really was life changing for me and my career as a photographer.In the end it all worked out as it should, as it always does. Now if only I could figure out a way to get/wear some couture. Who's with me? Have a lovely weekend, everyone : )
Posted by raya 2:03 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion
Bangles & Baubles
April 12, 2007
Plastic bangles are where it's at. I wandered into my favorite store the other day looking for a present for a friend, and could not resist their piles and piles of bracelets. I had to buy some, even just for the pure fun of shooting them.
I have been coveting a few vintage Bakelite bracelets at a local antique store, but the prices are quite depressing. I think I would have to be a true collector to justify those, but these - these are easy. Like, don't even have to have the argument in my head between the practical me and the impulsive me easy. The practical one's like "oh yeah, those are a steal. It would be impractical not to buy them."
I'm not the best at accessorizing. Some of my friends are very very good at it - I'm trying to get better, more intent because the accessories really do make an outfit. Something Coco Chanel said once though really stuck with me. She said, "before you leave the house take off one piece of jewelry". I like that rule, and it keeps me from, you know, wearing all of these at once.
Posted by raya 10:56 AM 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found
Yellow Gold
March 23, 2007
I have been loving gold + yellow for some time now. Its kind of seventies glamour meets cheery spring day. I remember hating gold when I was a teen and being adamant that I only wore silver. Its too bad, but those were the nineties. Needless to say, I'm glad I grew out of that - gold rules and I hope it never goes out of style again. Actually, it probably never did...because let's face it what did I know when I was 15? I wore green jeans for crying out loud.
This is my new yellow quilted tote with reversible green apple print inside from none other than forever 21.
The rest of these photos are of my own collection of vintage clutches. Some of them have been purchased for me, others are finds from antiquing/thrifting.
For my bridesmaids gifts I gave each one a vintage clutch. Half the fun was searching for them and finding something that was unique to each one of the girls. I think my favorite is the one I gave to Faith - if I can remember correctly it was covered in buttons. Maybe I'll borrow it for a photo shoot sometime.
Posted by raya 9:24 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found
Let Heidi Merrick Dress You
March 22, 2007
It's true, it is so much easier to be kind when you feel beautiful.Posted by raya 4:23 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Link Love
Forever 21 is for nice girls, too
February 26, 2007
There are mixed opinions about the store Forever 21. I for one happen to love it. Especially for trendy items that I want right now, but might not want in a few months. If I spend 15 bucks on a shirt and it only lasts one season I'm not going to feel too badly about it.
On the other hand, I've found some pretty classic pieces there that look way more expensive than they are and have lasted me for years. My favorite is when someone asks where I got my jacket and I say Forever 21. The next response is a look of confusion/slight disgust. Yep : )
And recently I've found even more good stuff on their website. I especially like shopping on
their site because:
• You can look at everything in a neatly design web page, rather than having to trudge through the often over-crowded racks at the store.
• Online purchases can be returned for a full refund, where at the store you can only exchange items for store credit (except jewelry. I think that's always final sale).
• Rarely do the retail locations have sales, or if they have a sale rack its small and never very good. Online you can see what's on sale right away and there is more of it.
For instance, this sweater is on sale for 5.99. Now even if it is 55% acrylic that is not a bad deal.
Here's a jacket I found today on the site. It's so dang cute and comes in three colors. This kind of thing is less risky to purchase online because it's a jacket and most likely it will fit nicely if you get the right size. Price: $24.80. Not too shabby.
Posted by raya 9:11 AM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found
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