What I wore today: 02/26/2013 (Rainy Day)

Recently, I asked Ryan, "What would you think if I started wearing overalls?" I'm glad he was game because I'd already set my heart on this pair that we'd just gotten in at work (not that objections from him would have stopped me).

This pair is special. I love their soft denim, drawstring waist, and eyelet-inlay detailing.

It's cold and rainy right now, so I have to pair them with boots, but, as soon as we get a sunny spring day, I'm going to wear them rolled up to my ankles with no shirt underneath.

I know that overalls are not everyone's cup of tea, and that's part of what I love about them. Neon, flatforms, high-low hems (or mullet skirts as people who dislike them are fond of calling them), and other controversial items tend to get my attention, and then, after a while, my love.

What can I say? Anything that's different is going to have a certain amount of appeal. That's the evolution of fashion. Trends swing one way and then another, and the most exciting things are the ones that push the envelope. 

So, how do you feel about overalls? 

 
 


Overalls - Holding Horses, Anthropologie
Rain boots - Target
Heather gray tee - Target

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DI(fr)Yday: How to make a horizontal-zipper coat

 

I've been into the horizontal zipper look since I saw Andy Torres and others rocking this coat and this blazer last year, but it only occurred to me recently what a simple and exciting DIY opportunity this would be.

You will need:
1 coat, thrifted or otherwise
2 separating zippers (each long enough to go halfway around the coat)
A sewing machine, needle, thread, pins, good fabric scissors

Step 01. Decide where on your coat you want the zipper to go, and cut the coat in half, taking care to cut a straight line.
02. Position the zippers along the top of the bottom half of the coat with the openings toward the ends and the zipper bottoms flesh together at the center of the coat. Pin in place, sandwiching the zippers between the coat's lining and outer shell as shown, folding over a bit of each salvage edge.
03. Sew along pin lines with the machine, leaving the edges to do by hand.
04. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the other edge of the zippers and the bottom edge of the top half of the coat.
05. Finish the edges by hand, tucking the excess zipper down between the lining and shell.

 

As you can see, this is a relatively simple way to add a lot a lot of interest to an otherwise unexceptional coat. I hope you have fun making one yourself. Don't forget to send me a link or photo. 

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What I wore today: 02/20/2013 (Horizontal)

I bought this coat at a thrift shop a couple days ago and added the horizontal zipper myself. (Stay tuned for a tutorial, coming Friday). 

One of my favorite unexpected color combinations is red and mint, and I like the way the flecks of red in this coat play off the mint stripes on my shirt. 

It's very cold today. I'm staying in and studying French. Hope your week is going well!

Vegan leather pants - Urban Outfitters

Brown leather boots - Journey's

Black, white, and mint striped marinière shirt - Anthropologie

Black cashmere pashmina - Nordstrom Rack

Horizontal-zipper coat - DIY

Bag - Lauren by Ralph Lauren 

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What I wore today: 02/14/13 (Be Mine)

 

 

Ryan and I had a wonderful Valentine's Day. We usually stay in and make dinner, but, this year, we decided to catch the Cincinnati Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet. I talked about about Ryan's recent enthusiasm for ballet here. I'm absolutely delighted that we can share this passion.

Other people are always surprised to learn that he loves ballet (and often times, straight up don't believe me). But, for me it seems natural for a man to love ballet, because my father and grandfather both do. In fact, they are both more enthusiastic about it than their wives. 

Of course, I also can't bring myself to find chest hair normal because the men in my family don't have much of it. What can I say? Maybe the men in my family are just a bunch of hairless, ballet-loving sissies, but I like them that way. 

Did you celebrate Valentine's Day with the one(s) you love? Did you wear any red or pink?

Red babydoll dress - H&M

Black opaque tights - Pure and Good

Face wedges - Nasty Gal

Arrow necklace - Valentine's Day gift from Ryan

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Be Mine Playlist

In case your day needs a playlist, you can stream mine below. And if you think included three Magnetic Fields songs is excessive, you should know that I used an incredible amount of restraint to narrow it down to three. 

Let it be known, I will not have so much restraint when picking songs for my wedding next year.

What can I say? They wrote the book on love. Or, at least, "The Book of Love"

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What I wore today: 02/13/2013 (Leather Layering)

You've already seen this look featuring the black lace shirt I found on my Prabal Gurung for Target mission. This blouse is my other find. The colors and mirror-image symmetry of this print are really special. I'll be able to show it off to its full potential when it gets warmer out and I don't have to layer a sweater over it.

As for the pants, I've wanted some leather pants for a while (or vegan leather, anyway), and that desire has become much more intense since pinning these Emmanuelle Alt looks and drooling over her effortless Parisian chic. 

I narrowed down my search to these two pairs on Urban Outfitters. I had trouble deciding which I liked better, but Ryan liked the ones with the biker zippers. I'm sure now that it was the best choice. The zippers make them look tougher, more like leather pants and less like wax-coated jeans.

How do you feel about leather pants? Rocker chic? Parisian chic? Not chic at all?

Vegan leather pants - Urban Outfitters 

Quilted-leather boots - Corso Como

Printed blouse - Prabal Gurung for Target

Black V-neck sweater - Target

Necklace - J.Crew Factory

Bracelet - J.Crew

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What I wore today: 02/11/2013 (Prabal Gurung for Target)

I checked out my local Target yesterday, and their supply of the new Prabal Gurung collection was already pretty slim, but I was able to scoop up the obvious stand-out piece that I'd loved since I first saw the collection as well as this surprise piece that I hadn't really noticed until I saw it in person. The leather collar really makes it. And, of course, I just couldn't resist changing into it immediately and layering my favorite necklace over the collar. Gotta love those tiny details that push a simple outfit over the edge into stylishville. 

 

Black shirt with lace accent and leather collar - Prabal Gurung for Taget

Skinny jeans - Pilcro and the Letterpress

Quilted black leather boots - Corso Como

Necklace - J.Crew Factory

Glasses - Urban Outfitters

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What I wore today: 02/06/2013 (Tulips & Turban)

Anthro "The Magazine" did quite a lovely profile of employees' favorite sweatshirts not long ago (see it here). There really is something particularly comforting about a really special sweatshirt. I think the very best ones are warm, comfortable, and stylish. 

I have a particular thing for classic heather gray ones with a twist, and my current favorite is this Proenza Schouler for Target one that I picked up while doing some holiday shopping. I have worn it countless times since then, and I particularly like to layer it over a magenta tank so that a little color pops out.

As for the turban? I became obsessed with this one recently and decided I had to make something similar. After scouring the web for patterns, nothing quite satisfied, so I decided to make a headband version instead with this simple idea.

Sweatshirt - Proenza Schouler for Target
Magenta tank - Target
Skinny jeans - Pilcro and the Letterpress
Sneaker wedges - Target
Knitter turban headband - Made by me

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Valentine's Day recipe: cotton-candy champagne cocktail

What could be more playfully romantic than dissolving a puff of pretty, pink cotton candy in a bubbling stream of chilled champagne?

When I saw this idea on the back page of Her Magazine's wedding issue, I knew I had to try it and share the results with you readers.

For me, ideal Valentine's Day foods are either romantic (fondue), punny (artichoke hearts), or visual on point (anything hear-shaped, red, pink, etc.) This easy and delightful cocktail ticks both the first and third box. And if you can think of a punny name for it, you can tick the second box as well. 

And since making it is so fun -- watching the bubbling champagne dissolve the puffs of candy before your eyes -- it makes a great signature cocktail for a party. I suggest creating a make-your-own cocktail bar with puffs of candy artfully displayed alongside individually sized bottles of champagne. Galentine's Day, anyone?

 

To see a quick video I made of the process, click here. Oh, and follow me on Vine!

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