Fashion Obsession since Forever Ago

I've been obsessed with fashion since. . . well, since as long as I can remember. But I was raised by parents with a very utilitarian take on getting dressed. They hardly consider fashion something worth wasting one's time on. Which, I completely understand. Over the years though, I have figured out what fashion is for me, how I value it, how I choose to pursue it. While I am the first one to admit that I love to flip through the most recent issue of Vogue or Elle, most of my influences come from my peers and those I see on the streets (and in street style blogs.) My style is fairly feminine, with a strong 60s-70s edge. I love long skirts, layers, big jewelry.

But lately (ahh, you knew there was gonna be a "but" didn't you?) I am finding that the way I love to dress is not exactly meeting my daily needs. I think my lifestyle has changed a bit while my preferred mode of dressing hasn't quite kept up. . . How shall I explain this? My weekdays are primarily spent working at my new studio space. My weekends are often spent either one: at a craft fair, two: catching up on un-glamorous chores and things like gardening or three: (but more rarely) traversing flea markets, hanging out with friends, but mostly, keeping it casual and comfortable.

Basically, I'm finding the distinct urge to scale back on the dressing drama. I want to be able to get up in the morning and get out of the house within an hour (that includes eating breakfast, watering any plants that are thirsty, taking care of my cats, packing a lunch, not an hour on my attire, just to be clear.) I found myself thinking this the other day: "The sexiest women I see on the streets are the ones who know how to dress to meet their life's needs and then dress as well as they can."

So, what am I saying? I'm saying that I'm finding myself more and more attracted to more practical things. Shoes with low and supportive heels, well made jeans that are made to last, practical purses that can carry a lot but aren't so large I'd loose things in it.

Like these clogs, discovered courtesy of Cali Vintage, from No.6. I love the color, I love that there's a sling back to keep them firmly on. And I love that the wedge isn't too high. I feel like these could easily be worn any time of the year (at least in the bay area).




My other recent obsession? Finding the perfect high-waisted, two piece bikini for summer swimming. Once again, I'm being patient and trying to find just what I want instead of the cheapest thing that'll probably fall apart after two summers (if not sooner.) There's so much to love about all of Mara Hoffman's styles. Especially this one:

For now tho, I'm saving my pennies and working with what I have. I wanna take a day or two to go through my wardrobe and pick out the things that are still really working and figure out where my "fashion" holes are. Most importantly tho, I think I'm moving more towards carefully selecting items that I feel strongly about. Doesn't mean I won't hop in my car, head out to the suburbs, and stock up on bags and bags of thrifted goodies every now and then. No, I just think I'm ready to invest a bit more in the pieces that really matter.

And hey, any suggestions from you guys on your most favorite brand of jeans? Leave a little note for me in the comments, if you have the time!

Fashion: also known as juggling vanity with real life? Maybe. . .

A Hodge Podge of Style Inspiration

I thought I'd share some things that have caught my eye, mostly over the weekend as I trolled the inter-webs. . . Sometimes I think it's both a blessing and a curse: to be able to see so many pretty things at the drop of a hat. So much fodder for inspiration! Or: so much fodder for financial frustration? Mostly depends on the mood I'm in. Mostly it's fun and frivolity. . .


The Decemberists are my favorite band for rainy weather music.

Castle, House, Hut Rings by Lynn Cobb

Gondwana Artisan Tribal Earrings by Sparrow Salvage ~ I love this lady's photography just as much as I do her jewelry. I want to dress like this!

desert colors found on Lily Unique Tumblr

lavish extravagance at Pandora

some hair inspiration (found on Spanish Moss)

a room to dress like (found on the Architecture Self tumblr)

flowers - one of my favorite colors this season (found at this blog)

I want this mask to wear for my birthday. . . or that masquerade ball I'm determined to have one of these days! Made by Sundries and Plunder on Etsy.

I hope everyone has a week full of inspiration and wonders around every corner!

Clothing Swap Success

On Saturday evening I hosted my first clothing swap and it was a rousing success! I made cocktails (sidecars) for all of the girls, we snacked, chatted, and most importantly, we swapped. Overall, I would say we all left with some great new goods. My favorite find of the evening is this dress. . .

It has the cutest tennis racket print. It's the perfect summery-weather dress.

I also found several cute tops, some new-to-me hand-knit goods from my friend, Alice, a new pair of gloves, some jewelry (a bracelet, a jasper pendant, some amber earrings), and a cute cardigan. I practically live in cardigans this time of the year, so this was a major score.

Also, of note, meeting new people! One of my invited friends, Kendra, brought along two of her friends. It was such a great way to meet new folks.

I'll definitely be having more of these swaps in the future. Fun, thrifty-ness, and fashion all rolled into one great evening!

Clothing Swaps

Later this week I'm hosting my first clothing swap! I'm pretty excited about it, as to me it seems like a thrift store brought to your very own front door. And it's a fun excuse to get together a bunch of my girlfriends, sip on some cocktails and just enjoy each other's company. 

Skirt worn as a dress - free box in Berkeley

I was inspired by Kendra, of Girl on Bike, to host this event. She's the perennial thrifty gal and hosts swaps for anything and everything under the sun from clothes to homemade food to gardening supplies and homegrown plants. 

I started this Style and Reason series back towards the end of last year when I decided to make a resolution with myself: I would purchase no new (as in new to me, meaning no thrift store purchases either) wearables for one whole year. While I have not been perfect, I have definitely reigned myself in. My reasons for my "challenge" were mainly two-fold: I needed to work on budgeting my spending in a more efficient way, and my closet was bursting at the seams form my years and years of thrifting and vintage shopping and what-not.

What I have missed the most tho is the hunt. The fun and excitement of walking into a thrift store and not knowing what I might find. I never knew and that was the best part. It made every trip an adventure. A clothing swap seemed like a great way to to have a "treasure" hunt of my own along with a bunch of wonderful ladies!

If you're interested in participating in my clothing swap shoot me an email at tangleweedsjewelry@gmail.com. I'm going to have an assortment of clothes, jewelry, shoes, bags, and accessories. It's on Saturday night from 6:30 'til whenever we all feel like we've had enough =). 

Have you ever hosted a swap of some sort? Tell me about it if you have!

Everything's Coming up Sapphire and Citrine

My obsession with blue and gold has taken a firm hold. I'm wearing this color combo,

it's showing up in my jewelry, 

and now I want to use it to decorate my home! I'm seriously considering painting my kitchen sunshiny-yellow walls, white cupboards, royal blue on the moldings. But that's if time, motivation, and money allow. . . For now, pink walls =).

daffodils in my kitchen

My sister and I went to the Alameda Point Antique's Fair on Sunday, and oh wow, was it a ton of fun. The time flew by! I felt super-uber-productive because I actually left with what I went looking for: a set of glassware for mixed drinks. They're a pretty ambery-rosey color. 

A few photographic snippets from my sister's and my adventure:

Going to the Antiques Faire seriously helped re-stock my creative juices. I've been floundering a bit creatively lately. It's not that I don't have ideas, it's more just that when I sit  down to my workbench, I feel like I always need to make the most of my time. . . And creative time, as all creatives know, is not always "productive" in the most literal form of the word.

But I know it is productive, and that's why I'm making sure to start "scheduling" in some creative play time more often. . . I'm getting more excited just thinking about it!

Welcome to a new week!

Style & Reason

A quick post, and then I've gotta get back to work. I'd forgotten just how much there is to catch up on on a Monday after a weekend craft fair! Sometimes it's more than easy to understand how and why some people don't have the time to put towards "fashion." If you saw what I was wearing today you'd seriously question if I was putting any time towards it. . .

To my point tho! I picked up a copy of the most recent Vogue and was awed by the patterns and fabrics in this style story:

Back to work for me!

Vacation Monday

Good afternoon! I don't know if most of you out there are enjoying a day off from work and obligations, mine is falling somewhere in the middle. Things to get done (photo-shoot for Tangleweeds especially, those new spring pieces are headed to my Etsy shop soon) but not too much, time to sit and relax as well. 

I'm a bit of a StyleLikeU hound, and recently discovered this lovely lady. The way she dresses reminds me of the way I used to dress, oh, seven, eight years ago: lots of really bright colors, really BIG jewelry. While my style has evolved, Fred reminds me to play with style and fashion a bit more than I do nowadays. Enjoy!

Fred Butler Closet Interview With StyleLikeU from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

Has your style evolved in a significant way over the years? And if so, why do you think that is? It's an interesting question to ask oneself (I think) and may be something I explore further in future Style and Reason posts.

Red White Pink and Hearts

Valentine's Day is tomorrow! While the holiday has never much excited me, for some reason this year I'm wanting to celebrate, to make heart shaped cookies, don a suitably festive outfit (something flirty and fun, pink and red with black perhaps), give valentines to my friends, not just my honey.

Jeff is dj-ing at Bar 355 in Oakland that night. It's his usual weekly gig at the bar, just so happens to fall on Valentine's day this week. . . We've been brainstorming ways to make it festive without spending a fortune. His job is with the music, mine will be with the decor, and possibly some sweet treats. While I'm feeling the itch to celebrate, I'm wanting to do so in a less conventional way.

And while I am absolutely tempted to rush out and purchase something new (new but thrifted most likely) to wear on Tuesday evening, I am remaining strong, attempting to push my creativity with my exisitng wardrobe. . .

From this inspiration. . .

The beautiful Ashley of Fancy Fine

a sweet little print from ExLibris Journals

snow queen form The Girl Who Married a Bear

red botanical photographic print from Catherine Jeltes of Gallery Zoo Art

these:

 

ruffles, pink, red, white
black velvet (the skirt is velvet)
pardon the i-phone photos. I was getting all geared up to take these photos with my camera fresh back from the repair shop when I realized my memory cards are all at my work studio, a half hour drive away in Berkeley. . . so, for now, the old i-phone will have to suffice.

And maybe this here jewelry artist will even paint her nails. Shocking. It will last approx. 24 hours before it starts to chip.

What will you be doing on Valentine's Day?

Style and Reason - (Almost) Three Month Update

So here we are, almost three months into my challenge to not buy any new-to-me wearables, unless they are absolutely necessary, for one whole year.

What have I learned so far? Well, I have learned that I am weak! I have already fallen off the wagon so to speak. I was visiting family over the holidays, in southern California, and had the oppurtunity to
check out some new-to-me thrift spots. Ugh. That was basically asking for trouble. The new shops combined with my desire to stave off some unwanted boredom led to me totally breaking my rules. I won't go into details. You'd never take me seriously again!

But! Right when I was thinking, "oh, phooey, why even try to get back on the wagon?" I read this article: The Truth About my Debt over at Daily Worth. A little voice went off in my head, hmmmm, I thought. I could relate to this idea of entitlement. The idea that yeah, I'm not rich, heck, money's really tight, but I do my best to save and get by, so I must be doing the best I can, right? Wrong!

I know when I have the money to buy something for myself and I know when it's simply a bad idea. The problem for me, with thrift shops, is I usually find at least ten great things at any one shop, and while each individual price is great, it quickly adds up to quite a bit more than I meant to allow myself to spend. One five dollar shirt can quickly become ten five dollar shits if I'm not careful. Spending fifty dollars at a thrift shop on five shirts I don't need is hardly budgeting.

With that said, I'm jumping back on the wagon! I'm still going to continue my weekly Style and Reason posts here, focusing on how I allow myself to have fun with fashion and styling and maintain my monetary commitment to myself. . .

Coming Back

Let's just be honest. The beginning of this year has gotten off to a bumpy start for me. I've been playing catch up on so many various facets of my life I sometimes feel as if I have no time to work. No good.

Needless to say, it's been quiet in these here parts. I'm back tho, and with a vengeance! Back to sharing what I love with you, back to sharing all that my hands make with you. And back with my Monday installment of Style & Reason.

I love these easy dresses and separates by Lauren Moffat, both for their seeming ease of wear and the flirty but slightly modest feel they all embody. 

I could see wearing the above dress to Sunday brunch and shopping with my gal friends. 

 this blue one (above) is my absolute favorite

and I'm a sucker for stripes

I hope everyone's week is off to a grand start!

December has Descended

And that means I'm crazy busy with craft fairs and all that goes along with that. With that said, I'm posting a very abbreviated addition of Style & Reason. Next week I'll be back with a much heartier post!

The following is one of my favorite blogs to read: a  bit of style mixed in with a lot of substance. Every post leaves you with a little something to think about.
Go check out: The Girl Who Married a Bear.

I promise you won't be disappointed!

Fall Colors/Autumn Bouquet

I'm in love with funky fall color combos right now. 

lilac, whiskey, and mustard at Cali Vintage

pumpkin wedge available at Modcloth

lush orange and greens at Fancy Fine

Have a lovely day!

Patterns

Ha! No sooner do I start this blog feature, Style and Reason, and I am swamped with work! It is Thanksgiving weekend, though, so it's not really a big surprise. But, even when life gets busy I do still have time to share something wonderful with all of you. 

Prints! I absolutely adore these. 

I originally saw these on Cali Vintage's blog, and was immediately smitten. They are from the 2012 spring collection for Charlotte Taylor. While these pieces are WAY beyond my budget, just seeing these quirky patterns and mixes encourages me to mix it up a bit more with my own wardrobe pairings. 

Back to filling jewelry orders. . . and trying to figure out what I want to wear for Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, however you may choose to celebrate it!

A New Feature: Style & Reason

Last week, as I was convalescing at home, I decided I wanted to start a new feature on my blog. A style inspiration feature. I regularly (and sometimes obsessively!) look at style and fashion blogs, websites, online journals, and what not. Last Monday I shared with you a video from the fantastic website, StyleLikeU. It is my personal fascination to step into someone else's wardrobe, which this wonderful site allows you to do via their short interview videos and photo galleries. I had meant to post expand on my thoughts about style and fashion then, but as I was not feeling well, it was put on the back burner 'til now.
(*all photos credited back to their source*)

Coury Combs of Fancy Treehouse

As I was saying I love to step into other's wardrobes. . . And that has led to some problems when it comes to stepping back into my own wardrobe. As a gal continually fascinated by clothes and all that we adorn ourselves with, I am in constant revision, assessment mode of my own apparel. What shoe do I need to make that dress look perfect? What color cardigan am I lacking? Do I need another three-quarter length skirt in just the right shade of oatmeal? 

Gypsy Den - From the Bell Jar's Darling Little Blog

And while I do love to shop, and I do love clothes, and I do love to put outfits together (so much!) I am not a rich girl. I am not even a "sort-of okay as far as money goes" girl. I am a girl who has decided to make a go at making a living off of her art and am subsequently dealing with the financial reality that my decisions have created. In other words: money is really really tight!

Kimi Recor for StyleLikeU.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

Looking at fashion blogs and all of the other gazillion fashion-related sites one can find on the web started out as a way for me to stay inspired, and encouraged my resourcefulness. I discovered handy little tricks that I could easily employ: Tuck a short dress into a skirt and Voila! A new blouse! And I was continually given the extra courage to try things that others might think a bit odd.

Marie Antoinette Gown

But as I said, that was simply how things started. Eventually I found myself sincerely craving certain "statement" pieces. Shoes, bags, coats. I found myself "window shopping" on certain sites I would have never even considered shopping from in the past, simply because I knew they were distinctly out of my budget. And while "window shopping" doesn't break the bank, the longing it created inside of me could not be tempered. I would attempt to save money for a $300 pair of boots only to realize, before buying those boots (luckily) that I needed that money for any one of a dozen other things. 

me!

My roots in fashion have been forged in thrifty soil. I do most of my shopping at thrift stores. I comb through free boxes in my city whenever the opportunity presents itself (which, in Berkeley and Oakland, is quite often.) I alter things I have that I love but don't fit quite right, I re-stitch hems and seams, and get my shoes re-soled, I love (love love love) to find ways to make "ugly" pieces wearable. Somewhere along the way I started craving more than I could afford. While I am already on my way towards a better balance again, one where the inter-webs are fodder for inspiration rather than frustration, I thought that this moment was the perfect one to kick-start a little challenge for myself.

My challenge: To go one whole year without purchasing any new (to me) "wearables." Meaning no clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses, coats, etc, etc. I am absolutely allowed to purchase genuine needs. And I am allowed to get my existing items repaired if I so desire. Also, trading is a-okay, given I am planning a clothing swap at my house in the near future. And, with Christmas on the horizon, gifts are fine too.

Honestly, I am genuinely excited by the prospects of my challenge. And yes, my challenge is "stolen" in a way from other bloggers who have committed themselves to a similar challenge. I am excited for many reasons. One, I think this is going to really make me realize what in my wardrobe works for me and what does not. Two, I am going to be much more motivated to work through my "alterations" pile. Three, I am going to save money, and hopefully, find that I don't want or need nearly as much as I have been lead to believe I want or need.

I may fall off the wagon now and then. I may throw my arms up in the air a month from now and say "I quit." But I am going to give this my best try. Here I go!