Pattern Recognition

Remember my post about ikat? Well I just stumbled upon this great, understated example of ikat in this outfit from Brian Reyes' Spring 2009 RTW collection:


It's ultra-subtle, and most might not even consider it ikat, but I think it's a great example of how this usually bold pattern can be seamlessly blended into an outfit. Love the belt. Love the draped shawl. Not so sure I could pull off those booty shorts, though...

Now, this isn't ikat, but it definitely echoes the look above, especially the gauzy, breezy feel (and it's easier to pull off because it's sans booty shorts):

I brought in some darker colors in the form of a tote and a wide, textured bracelet to add more contrast to the lighter belt and flats. It's too bad the replica isn't any less expensive! Next time, I'll do a chic for cheap...

*swoon*
Paige

Hanii Yi Cardigan - via Browns Fashion
Dress - via TopMax (I would probably remove the huge shoulder rosettes...)
Birds in Flight Bracelet - via ModCloth
Yellow Waist Belt - Dorothy Perkins
Tote - via Aldo
Flats - Marc Jacobs

Mellow Yellow

Just as the meteorologists predicted, the rains have returned to Seattle. And just as I had predicted, my mood has definitely been affected. Perhaps my pouting is just hormonal (sorry, gents), but I had really started to think that the constant sunshine the past week or so was a sign that summer was near. Sadly, this rain has washed away my optimism like sidewalk chalk.

Yesterday evening, while waiting for the bus, I tried to cope as best I could by taking in a good dose of color: standing under my bright yellow, duck-handled umbrella, savoring my last piece of yellow candied ginger (left over from my disaster-turned-delicious cupcakes last week), and hoping I would get just a peek of some yellow sun through the cracks in the clouds.

It helped a little, but I would have preferred to have looked down to find myself wearing these yellow lovelies. Yes, I know these would definitely cheer me up instantly:


*swoon*
Paige

1. Zac Posen sleeveless picot-trim dress
2. Diane Von Furstenberg Tasha tunic dress
3. Jason Wu silk embroidered shift dress
4. Twenty8Twelve Monette A-line silk dress
5. Catherine Malandrino cotton petal-detail dress

Rain, Rain, Go Away - Puddle Jumpers

Guess what... *sigh*

It's raining again. Typical Seattle drizzly mist. Ugh.

Rainy Day by Maka

And I have a hunch that this weather is going to stick around until late June. Those wonderful sunny days we had the past week were just a tease.

It's this kind of weather that makes me rethink a rubber boots purchase. I realize they were more popular for fall, but they're so practical; and with it being more of a trend now, it's easy to find adorable ones... but no matter the color or pattern, I think I would still feel like I was getting ready to haul manure from a barn. What are your thoughts? How have you successfully worn rubber boots? If you've chosen not to go the rubber boot route, how do you handle the springtime puddles?

Here are some cute boots (and yes, I meant to rhyme)!

(click to enlarge)

*swoon*
Paige

1. Green Hunter Wellington's
2. Stormy boot (via alloy.com)
3. City Scene Heart boots (via amazon.com)
4. Polka dot boots (via charlotterusse.com)
5. Nova Plaid rainboots (via target.com)
6. Celine with leather trim (via bluefly.com)
7. Chinese Laundry Swerve boots (via PiperLime)
8. Sporto Drizzle boot
9. Pink Hunter Wellington's
10. Burberry exploded check

Eley Kishimoto - Spring 2009

I'm obsessing over Eley Kishimoto's Spring 2009 collection! So wearable, so lovely!

(my personal favorite!)

*sigh*

I wish I were still living in Southern California so I could actually wear things like this now.

It poured yesterday. Oh, sunshine, where are you hiding? *sob*

Which dress is your favorite?

*swoon*
Paige

Seeing Spots

I find it interesting there were polka dots in both Spring 2008 (left) and Spring 2009 (right) lines of Valentino, just a bit of a size difference. He must be really determined to bring them back! It looks like this year just might be the season...


Polka dots were all over the runway at the Spring 2009 shows, both in the couture and ready-to-wear lines:

Balenciaga

Pollini

Rubin Slinger

Jaeger London (my personal favorite!)

Giles

Michael Kors

Louis Vuitton

Diane von Furstenberg

Maurizio Pecoraro

The look on the left below by Vivienne Westwood (which I personally would not don as an everyday dress) is translated fantastically in this totally wearable dress by Banana Republic on the right (now on sale for only $80!):


Henry Holland, lead designer for House of Holland, also tried the polka dot look for his Spring 2009 RTW line; however, I've decided not to include them here. Take a look at your own risk...

Lanvin, on the other hand, used polka dots in a perfectly lovely fashion as part of the Resort 2009 collection:


Below are some options for us "normal people" (click each collage to enlarge):

1. French Connection UK; 2. DKNY; 3. Via Glamour.com; 4. Forever21

1. Lanvin (no wonder I love this one...); 2. Zucca; 3. CJ Banks; 4. American Retro; 5. Via Oli.co.uk; 6. Marc by Marc Jacobs; 7. Alberta Ferretti; 8. Prada; 9. Paul & Joe

1. Chloe; 2. Via Monsoon; 3. Jessica Simpson; 4. Tomas Maier

And remember, to avoid the Minnie Mouse look, stay away from red, white, and black combos!

Which of the designer looks above do you prefer?
Do you have any favorite polka dot looks in your wardrobe already? How have you pulled them off?

*swoon*
Paige

Bedhead Brightened by Dresses

It's the end of the week and I am officially worn out. I'm sick in bed with a terribly rough sore throat and cough. Oh, and a scratchy man voice...

Let's just say I feel like this:

Carl Kleiner

But(!) I'm planning on resting all day today so I can have a fun weekend. The even worse news, however, is the weather...

Carl Kleiner

All that sunshine we had earlier in the week is officially gone, and the clouds have rolled in, creating a much darker sky than yesterday, even. The rain hasn't started yet, and I'm hoping it will stay far, far away.

On a different note, the image below is part of the above series by photographer Carl Kleiner, and I just couldn't leave it out because I love the texture of her dress:


It immediately reminded me of a slightly different (smaller) version in the J.Crew confetti wedding dress (they have the most stylish and affordable dresses!):

(click to enlarge)

Have a happy (and healthy!) weekend, everyone!

*swoon*

Paige

Spring Cleaning - a real "look from life" (and a little thank you...)

I hadn't made any plans for the evening yesterday and instead decided to start cleaning out my desk. I bought the desk a few years ago at Goodwill (yep, I've always been a thrifter!), and it had gone around from storage unit to storage unit in Seattle while I was living in Southern California... until now where it sits happily in a corner of my living room.

Well, it could be happier, really. It's problem is its terrible paint job. Because it was in storage for so long, and because of my lack of energy during my chemo treatments last year, it still hasn't been painted. The boyfriend bought me a fantastic orbital sander for the holidays (yes, I actually asked for it!), but the weather hasn't been nice enough to pull the desk outside to whip it into shape.

What I'm getting at, is that the least I could do was try to clean out the drawers as they had been accumulating bits and pieces since we moved into our place at the end of June. I haven't completely finished this organization project yet, but I'm so glad I at least started - not just because things are getting back in order after so many months, but because I came across so many different knick knacks, and I have been inspired to start creating again.

Now, four months after the fact, I have been realizing more and more how much my cancer battle affected me. I didn't just lose myself physically; I lost myself mentally, and lost my passion to create. Well, that creative drive is finally returning, and I'm excited to get back to the drawing board!

I wanted to thank you all for your lovely comments here. They encourage me to keep writing, keep creating, and keep finding inspiration in everyday life. Funny how digging through desk drawers triggered all these thoughts... I would highly suggest you all do a little spring cleaning, too.

You just might find yourself again.

A photo of me, March 2006, well before life got turned upside-down.

*swoon*
Paige

Save it for a Rainy Day

Rain has returned to the Pacific Northwest weather forecast and I cannot tell you how much it saddens me. I had gotten my hopes up that the sun would stick around until the end of summer, that I could officially pack away my fall/winter wardrobe for good (I put away my two wool work skirts yesterday, but I may have to dig them out again for the SNOW that's forecast for next week...).

I'm going to try to embrace this rain as much as possible by finding cute umbrella-inspired art & accessories. How's that for turning lemons into lemonade?


*swoon*
Paige

Clockwise from upper left-hand corner:
Raindrop silk-lined clutch
Brolly tote
Tiffany Teal umbrella
"Girl with Umbrella" print
Lady Parasol pendant
Big stripe umbrella

Looks from Life - Daffodils

I didn't get home until around 9pm last night, but as soon as I walked in the door, I noticed two daffodils in a vase of water on our coffee table.

The boyfriend had picked them for me on his way home from work (this is where you either awww or throw up a little).

They were the cheeriest yellow; so yellow that the color alone almost made me as happy as the fact that he had brought me flowers.

That yellow got me thinking...

Searching for more daffodils...

Like these, from Flickr photographer Monika Jansch.


I had forgotten how many different shades of daffodils there actually were, that the spectrum is far wider than simply yellow!

...which inspired me to make these various looks highlighted with the other colors of the famously yellow bloom:


Which is your favorite look?
Which is your favorite springtime flower?

*swoon*
Paige

Look #1:
J.Crew blouse
Yellow skirt (via Forever21)
Miu Miu heels

Look #2:
Lanvin t-shirt dress
Frye Fundamental flats (via Anthropologie)

Look #3:
Coral blouse
Woven cream tulip skirt
Yellow court shoes (via Debenhams)

Blossoming

This weekend's weather completely erased my bad mood from last week! Yesterday was in the upper 60s, a huge deal for Seattle right now (especially after we woke up to snow a few days ago). I spent a good while walking around the city, taking pictures of the cherry blossoms:


I bought a great pair of cute tennis shoes (I've been searching for some for so long!), as well as some beautiful ranunculuses which I clustered in a stemless wine glass (below). My friend, Eleni, and I also did a bit of thrifting on Saturday, and I found some fantastic pieces that I will share with you in this week's Thrifted Thursday post. I had a hard time not posting them today!


Yesterday evening involved the boyfriend and I walking all over our neighborhood swooning over all the gorgeous mansions we will never be able to afford. Oh, how I love daydreaming...

I hope everyone's weekend was just as lovely! I sure hope this weather stays around awhile longer. You can definitely look forward to some cheerier posts this week!

*swoon*
Paige

Blame it on the Rain

You may have noticed a lack of inspiring, creative posts this week. (I'm sorry, I really am.) I think this nasty weather is getting to me.

For example: This morning we woke up to snow. Not just little flakes that melt when they hit the ground. Like stuck-on-all-the-rooftops-and-cars-and-grass kind of snow. I can tell you one thing: This is not a safe environment for all the Easter bunnies that are said to emerge in a little over a week, that's for sure.

Anyway, I wanted to explain to you that the rain may have washed away my inspiration this week, but that next week will be different! I really hope the sun comes along this weekend to dry up this deluge of blah in my head.

However, don't expect me to just leave you with this mopey post for the weekend. I would never do that to you. Instead, I'm going to embrace this rain for a moment and talk about something that reminds me a little of rushing water, and how it can blend colors and dyes together.

Ikat has been exponentially creeping back onto the style scene since early 2007. To be honest, it didn't appeal to me at first. It reminded me too much of terrible hotel room wallpaper and duvet covers from the '80s and '90s. But it has grown on me, especially when used correctly in a room or outfit.

The following examples are some that I really enjoy - their clean lines & modern cuts don't have as much bulk, and the colors are updated to avoid that mauve-y hotel-room feel. (Do you know what I'm talking about? The hotel thing?)

Personally, I would avoid too much ikat in any one outfit. Instead, try to balance the strong pattern with black solids, or by identifying a highlight color in the ikat pattern you're wearing and wear pants or a skirt in that color. It will bring out the highlight color in your specific ikat.

Pair either of these tops with black pants and some colored flats for a second pop of color. Wear a different colored shoe than the top, but keep the tone within the same family.

Yellow top, Seafoam flats, Black pants, Fuschia top, Navy flats

Ikat accessories, like these totes and clutch, can really enhance a simple t-shirt-and-jeans look.

(Clockwise from top: Woven Ikat Tote (via Monsoon); Calvin Klein Tote; Felix Ray Clutch)

I absolutely love this skirt, especially with the belt & button detail. Once again, a simple white blouse would be an easy complement, but try to incorporate brighter colors in the form of a bright solid tote, or even a wide headband.

Blouse, Tote (Calvin Klein via Overstock), Skirt

This ikat-patterned slipper chair would be a great addition to any space. Perfect for my dream dressing room! (Unbelievably classy for Urban Outfitters! Has anyone had experience with UO furniture and knows how it holds up?)


And I couldn't leave out these dresses... Summer really needs to hurry up and get here so I have an excuse to wear things like this!

Left to Right: DKNY, Milly, DKNY

Do you have any ikat pieces of your own? How have you worn or displayed them?

*swoon*
Paige

I'm definitely pouting today...

Alright, Mother Nature, this is a terrible April Fool's joke.

It is SNOWING in Seattle. This is unacceptable.

It's April, for Pete's sake! I shouldn't be wearing a parka, I should be wearing this:

Anna Sui, Spring 2009 RTW

And this:

Fendi, Spring 2009 RTW

And this:

Lanvin, Spring 2009 RTW

And this:

Philosophy, Spring 2009 RTW

And definitely this (and that floral one walking away):

Oscar de la Renta, Spring 2009 RTW

I guess I'm just going to have to keep pouting for awhile...

*swoon*
Paige

Ruby Slippers

On Saturday evening I went to Seattle's McCaw Hall to see my friend perform in the Seattle Men's Chorus, "Singing... in the Rain" show, with special guest Debbie Reynolds. The performance showcased songs from the golden age of Hollywood musicals, and included some fantastic "choral-ography" and tap dancing!

One of my favorites was the classic tribute to Judy Garland, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," sung beautifully by Debbie, who, all the while, glamourously paraded around the stage in a floor-length red sparkly dress.

I hadn't thought back to her performance until today when a friend of mine mentioned that her next item she plans on buying will be some shiny red flats. The song immediately popped back into my head!

Take a look at these fun twists on the famous, magical slippers. Much more appropriate for everyday wear, I must say. They're a fantastic transitional piece from winter to spring. Also, the patent leather texture is perfect for sudden springtime downpours!

*swoon*
Paige

1. Dolce & Gabbana red patent leather flats
2. Marc by Marc Jacobs patent mouse flats
3. Seychelles Petticoat flats
4. Classified patent cut-out flats
5. Charlotte Russe belted patent flats
6. See by Chloe patent pumps with ID tag
7. Miss Selfridge red patent tassel loafer (via missselfridge.com)

Looks from Life - Red Peony

You may have noticed my slight obsession with peonies, but I really would have picked this photograph no matter what kind of flower sat sadly in that bowl of water. It's the beautiful red-orange that really caught my eye.

Spring had better be here soon, otherwise I'm going to get pouty, just like this little flower. Yesterday morning was filled with the most beautiful light we've had here in Seattle in quite a few weeks; but, unfortunately, the sun pulled the clouds over its sleepy head again and left us with the same cold gray. This flower, however, despite its mopey tone, energized me and made me optimistic for spring again.

"Not For Sale" by Petit Poney

Even though this gray is probably going to stay around awhile longer, I've made an outfit very much inspired by late-spring, moving into the warmer days of summer.

The t-shirt and shorts create a bit of a too-cutesy look, but the brown tones in the other pieces bring it back down to earth. A comfy, casual look, great for a flea market trip (and the bag is big enough to fit all of your great finds)!

*swoon*
Paige

Brown cardigan - J.Crew
Peach t-shirt - James Perse
Honor Roll tote - Kenneth Cole
Extra-long tigerwood beaded necklace - Via Nativa
Red button tab linen bow shorts - (via TopShop.com)
Huarache sandals - Blue Asphalt