When All Else Fails Just Wear His Shirt

It's Tuesday night and I'm sitting here wrapped in a blanket listening to the new downstairs neighbors hammer and drill away at the walls at, oh, 10pm.  I just can't win.  Irony struck once again today when I hauled out the vacuum to get my clean on thinking I'd be all productive when, apparently, it blew out the pilot light on the heater.  California:  home of the annoying wall heater.  This is the price you pay if you want to live in a place that has character and doesn't resemble a human filing cabinet.

Note to self:  stock up on sweaters and blankets. Or just stay away from the vacuum?

Why am I not lighting the pilot myself, you ask?  Let's just say I could write a series of short stories on negative experiences with gas (and not the kind that comes from eating beans).  Suffice it to say I once witnessed a man from the gas company come flying out of the floor unit with his pant legs in flames after hearing a very loud bang.  Imagine me beating a stranger with a tea towel.  True story.  Shortly thereafter I discovered 18 months of lethargy was due to a lit-tle carbon monoxide drip that had slowly been killing me.  One of many I've got in my pocket, friends.

How did I get off on this rabbit trail? Can't remember and now have zero segue into an outfit.  Well I do have a coat on, so let's go with that.

On Sunday I hauled out a Mike & Chris (now defunct) leather hoodie I picked up a few years ago on HauteLook.  Prepare for screams from fashion diehards as I confess it's worn primarily with sweats and a t-shirt.  Another true story.  It's a uniform I can't live without:  James Perse sweats pulled up to the knee + one of his t's + the hoodie + flip flops = grocery store, post office, Home Goods, bank errands.  We keep it real over here at the bird.  This means we tell the truth about what we're really wearing daily. And by we I mean me.  *loses it*

For Sunday dinner I managed to amp it up (insert sarcasm) with Current/Elliott denim leggings, one of the Chef's t-shirts and my faithful Joie military boots.  You will note that Sunday's lid resembled a rat's nest.  All I could think about was getting to the Mexican place for margaritas.  My bad.

The whole purpose behind this thing was to say I've basically swiped this t-shirt from the Chef.  After pouring over the closet looking for a shirt I looked down and decided to just wear what I had on which, coincidentally, may or may not have been what I wore to bed the night before?  Can't quite recall, but it would help in carrying on with my whole pajama theme.  HAHAHA!!

ps--if you like the hoodie here's one the former CEO of Mike & Chris has out now. They're really great jackets.

Gotta jet! Chelsea Settles is on! New addiction.

Grecian Cowgirl

Bet you thought you were going to see Constantine, right? HAHA!! I kid, I kid!  That'll be tomorrow after he exits the show (the bachelorette for anyone out of the loop)...bets anyone?

Anyway, was it me or did yesterday just whoosh by in a blur?  Sundays are pretty much the best ever from start to finish:  an official "day of rest".  One of the things I'm trying to focus on this summer is living in the moment.  More often than not I'm thinking 3 steps ahead to what's coming next instead of simply being present.  So when the Chef suggested a quick brunch instead of going straight to work, I took him up on the offer despite knowing I'd have to pull myself together in only half an hour.  I'll confess:  I've been known to obsess about what to wear in the simplest of situations--and I blame it entirely on having too many options to choose from.  Rather than getting sucked into the vortex of throwing 450 things around the room in an indecisive frenzy I opened the closet, made a selection and forced myself to stick with it.  Worked out smashingly!  Dress I've owned for a year and never worn + bandeau + boots + jewelry.  Simple chic and met the timeline.  Miracle.

~Ever-Catania Dress, Brandy & Melville-Lace Bandeau, Foley+Corinna-Mid-City Tote, 

Joie-Booties, Spitfire-Sunnies, PANYC + Melinda Maria-Bracelets~

Note the Chef in the lenses of my sunglasses as he exercises his mad photography skills.

Despite owning the dress for a year, I've never worn it due to its low hanging sides.  

During wardrobe overhaul 2011 (ongoing) I came across this lace bandeau and took a chance layering 

it beneath.  Jackpot! The dress has officially moved into heavy rotation.

It's perfect with the booties and yes I did just wear these last week.  

Prepare to see them again next week.

And because I know you're all dying for a neighborhood update *she says dripping with sarcasm*

suffice it to say manners are dead as yet another newcomer parks their moving truck

smack in the middle of the back alley blocking us in.  Better yet?  Emerges, sees us, and 

doesn't bother to even make eye contact much less move resulting in ixnay on the brunch factor. 

As you can imagine I was thrilled...not.

Which resulted in me retreating back indoors to experiment with making boozy ice pops.  

Post to follow later this week...get ready to call a cab.

Military Goes to the Beach

Call it wardrobe schizophrenia, call it what you want - but be sure to know I realize the pendulum is in full swing here at the bird.  One minute I'm ordering a Navajo blanket and waxing on about pink platforms and hippies, and the next I'm dressed for a day at the academy.  All I can say is what the hockey stick (throw back to the Canadian parental units soon to be on arrival) is up with the weather?  Je ne sais pas.  As you recall merely 4 days ago I was standing on the beach soaking up every minute of the sun (read:  basking in the glory of maxi dress dreams) only to find myself less than 24 hours later in an overcast cold mess.  The wind started whipping around and I seriously thought there was going to be a remake of Dorothy twirling around in her house off to crash in Munchkinland - only instead of Toto it would be me and two cats.  Far more interesting me thinks, thank you very much. 

This is my least favorite part of this time of year.  One minute I'm riding high on boho dreams and the next minute I'm back in the closet, heat on 75 seeking out layers of some sort.  As of Sunday afternoon it turned to military.  Pardon bags beneath eyes.

I know what you're saying...wasn't that the same beach from Monday's post.  True dat.
What a difference a day makes.  Has my Navajo blanket arrived?  Do I smell the UPS truck?

~Outfit Details:  Zara Military Blazer (seen here), Ever Net Sweater (seen here), James Perse Ribbed Dress, 
American Apparel Leggings, Joie Refugee Boots (seen here and here) , Alexander Wang Coco.  

Even though I wasn't exactly in the mood for layers these are light and the mix of
texture has to be my favorite quality about putting the pieces together.

Case in point.  Net on sweater + rib on dress beneath + studs on bag +
gold buttons on jacket + brass on boots = all kinds of interesting.

Note wind whipping about little strands of hair and cold hands gripping each other.
Within moments I was racing off to fulfill warm weather shopping dreams
with the heat on blast.  Spring, spring wherefore art thou?

I'm on the countdown to Parents Visit 2011.  I've got bedding and draperies to launder, floors to wash, bathroom to scrub down and groceries to purchase.  My dad told me to take a chill pill.  I was all, "um dad? I need to distract you from the traffic" - seriously friends I grew up in a very remote area and it's going to be a lit-tle overwhelming.  Last time my mom leaned her seat back in the car and we busted up laughing.  I'm hoping the blinding white walls and sparkly tile will ease the trauma...that or the bags beneath my eyes.  Whatever works!

p.s.- I put the blog up on facebook - 'like' it here.  Someday I'll learn how to put up a facebook tab on the side.  Technology = enemy.


*Update Friday afternoon:  safe from Tsunami (live at beach in SoCal and evacuated, but back home and leaving again though warning has lifted).  Parents are still here and I think we're heading to Palm Springs....my dad has a hankering for dry land.  Imagine that?? hehe  See you next week if I don't sneak a post in sooner.  Thank you so much for all your kind words and checking in on me. xoxo - C*

Cast A Net

The Santa Ana winds are blowing and the weekend was sunny and warm, but somehow I just couldn't seem to get off the couch.  I guess days of sheer nothing are sometimes in order.  Thankfully Sunday remained bright and cheery, so I threw on a fave wide knit sweater over a simple tank dress to take in some rays (before returning back home to watch the first Sex and the City movie again).  The air is still a little brisk, but with a knee high boot I managed to take on the day successfully.  Now if I could just handle 5 days of work with the same optimistic attitude.

~Ever-Sweater, James Perse-Tank Dress, Free People-Pouchette & Fringe Leggings, 

Minnetonka-Hi Fringe Boots c/o Langston's, Anthropologie-Sunnies~

 ~Free People & Motif56 Bracelets, Melinda Maria-Link Oxidized Ring~

Is it me or does the knit on the sweater remind you of a fishing net?

 There was a point in time when I almost convinced myself 

I could live without it.

Thankfully common sense took over.

Same goes for the Fringe Leggings.  

By the time I snapped out of it I had to call 10 stores to locate them.

Frenzy much?

 Once again an early summer look peeks out of the closet.

I remain dutifully on wallet restriction 2011 and am rather enjoying it.  That being said I will make an exception for the odd item if it can be used for spring and summer, and/or if it is on steep sale.  I had watched this sweater since August or September.  I missed it at Shopbop and Bloomingdale's and tried to put it out of my mind.  Then a couple weeks ago took a chance and called Ever directly...they had one left in the warehouse and weren't even sure where it was.  It showed up two days later.  I guess some things are just meant to be and taking the risk to get them makes them all the more sweet. 

Here's to the week going by quickly and smoothly...Hope you had a great one!

p.s.-if you want a shot at winning a pair of those boots enter here!

Shredded

I have to say I've been procrastinating all evening over this post.  I'm conflicted.  Torn I guess you could say.  Hehe - couldn't resist.

Subject:  ripped up clothing.  To rip or not to rip?  To get ripped or not to get ripped?

Maybe I should categorize the following as the good, the bad, and the ugly (or just simply ridiculous).  Let us proceed with Category One:  The Good.

Let me begin by saying I've been in a tete-a-tete with this trend for over a year. About a month ago I was with the Chef in Ever.  He was grabbing something when I saw these ripped up jeans.  Now I should preface this by saying I am a huge Ever fan and have a bunch of their stuff.  It's California cool - denim included.  Anyway.  Seizing the moment I scampered off into the fitting room to give them a try just for curiosity's sake because I didn't think I'd actually like them, and basically wanted to see what the rips all down the front would look like. 

Famous last words because here they are on my body.  When I put them on in the fitting room I also considered that I might be caught up in the elation of something potentially new.  So I strolled out of the fitting room where the Chef had his back to me checking out a coat.  I said, "hey what do you think?".  He turned around and without hesitating responded, "you know I actually like them.  You're getting those right?"

And now here we are.  The Good.

And I do think they are good.  I didn't buy them too tight so my skin's not busting through the torn leg areas.  I've shown them here with a wedge, but to be honest I completely see myself wearing them rolled up just one more time to ankle level, paired with black rainbow flip-flops and a thin white t at a beach bonfire this summer.  Ideal pants for that type of occasion.  See?  Versatility.  Another reason for Category Good.

I am, however beginning to wonder if it's ever going to warm up.  This picture was taken 2 days ago when it was 55 degrees at 6pm.  For those of you in Celsius that is 12.5 degrees.  In late June. Shudder.  The wind was just brutal.

And now let us proceed cautiously to Category Two:  The Bad

Please help me to understand this because I must not have been there that day.  I mean I get it that Rihanna and the Kardashians can pull these off, but I just don't get it.  If there is even an ounce of extra flesh on one's leg and these things are tight it's a fat bulge between the shreds and, pardon me, but that is not attractive.

Don't get me wrong - David Lerner (item pictured here) makes a mean pair of leggings. And if I wasn't on a wallet fast over at American Apparel I might consider investing in a pair of his....but why not just get a cheap pair, grab the scissors and slice carefully and accordingly if you want to achieve this look?  So long as you don't get too close to the side seam and can cut in a straight line you might be able to pull it off and save, oh, a hundred bucks. (these are currently on sale at Shopbop with only 2 pairs left in this style - so someone out there is pulling it off with a sky high bootie)

And finally, buckle your seatbelts and get ready for Category 3:  The Ugly.

The Balmain Slashed Army T-Shirt.  I am referring to it as The Ugly because with a price tag of $1625 I just can't resist.  What.in.the.hell.is.going.on.in.the.land?  Now everyone knows about the Balmain boots.  They're sick, they're fantastic, they're beyond.  At this point their reputation goes before them.  Seriously - I saw the Buckled Suede Pair at Net-A-Porter yesterday and only one day later (at a price tag of $1605) they are gone.  But that still does not explain this ripped atrocity, that is coincidentally now on sale for a mere $1,137.50.  It looks like some acid got loose and ate a bunch of holes out of it.  Call me practical, and maybe my age is catching up to me (or all my mother's lectures on being responsible with money and, like, paying for rent), but if you want a ripped up t-shirt how about this one by LnA?  Or maybe just rip up your own? 

Anyway.  Thus ends my brief synopsis.  I do have mad love for my new jeans - rips and all.  And I do rock the Siwy Camilla shorts in wonder and snowstorm - both with minimal ripping and fray - but I've personally drawn the line at the leggings and the t's.

How about you?  Any takers on the $1K t-shirt??  I'd seriously like to know just out of pure curiosity.