Cost: $2.50 SPARKLY acrylic nails at Wal-Mart Halloween clearance, plus 98 cents for the glue.
Quick, cheap, dirty, fun.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Quickie: Bat nails!
Cost: $2.50 SPARKLY acrylic nails at Wal-Mart Halloween clearance, plus 98 cents for the glue.
Quick, cheap, dirty, fun.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Hot style on a cold night at IndyFringe
My friend Jared and I were enjoying the IDADA First Friday Art Walk, but it was a very cold December night. So we were drawn to a particular crowd outside IndyFringe, gathered around a cozy-looking little fire. The group was warm, inviting, and engaging, so we took a few moments to warm up.
It was around this time that we discovered Awesome Coat Girl conversing with Awesome Scarf Girl:
I zeroed in on Awesome Coat Girl first, a vision of streamlined style with her military-inspired double-breasted coat, French braid updo, and sleek leather gloves.
Name: Cris J.
Home: Downtown Indy
Occupation: Information Services
Where'd you get the coat? "Macy's at Glendale Mall on Keystone."
Now it's time to meet Awesome Scarf Girl. She kept it simple with a gray skirt, black coat, and black boots, but distinguished herself with the feathered headband, impeccable scarf, and patterned tights.
Name: Breena F.
Home: Downtown Indy
Occupation: Account manager at MediaSauce
Biggest fashion vice: "Scarves!"
Where'd you get your coat? "I can't remember -- TJ Maxx, maybe?"
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Inspiration International 1.0
It's common knowledge that I love Indianapolis, and while we aren't exactly the first place you'd point to on the map as a fashion Mecca, I believe in our little big city. I also believe in the glimmers of hope I keep seeing in the creative, arts, and fashion community.
Just the same, nobody's ever benefited from being too insular. With that in mind, I'm picking a few of my very favorite pictures from street-style blogs around the world. I went back several weeks to locate a selection that spoke to me. It was VERY difficult to narrow down only six! I hope you agree that these snaps inspire the onlooker to think about shape, color, pattern, texture, and attitude from a new angle.
Fall sunshine at Copenhagen StreetStyle
Volume FASHION STREET SNAP captures flair in a maxi skirt
The Sartorialist: On the Street....Viv, Milano
Stil in Berlin: Stil in New York: Alison
RID STREET SNAP - layered sweaters
THE STYLE SCOUT - London: Great Queen Street
If you enjoy and/or find inspiration in what you see, please take the time to visit these hardworking fashion bloggers from all over the world. Go join me in thanking them for their good work.
Love and beauty always,
Leah
Just the same, nobody's ever benefited from being too insular. With that in mind, I'm picking a few of my very favorite pictures from street-style blogs around the world. I went back several weeks to locate a selection that spoke to me. It was VERY difficult to narrow down only six! I hope you agree that these snaps inspire the onlooker to think about shape, color, pattern, texture, and attitude from a new angle.
Fall sunshine at Copenhagen StreetStyle
Volume FASHION STREET SNAP captures flair in a maxi skirt
The Sartorialist: On the Street....Viv, Milano
Stil in Berlin: Stil in New York: Alison
RID STREET SNAP - layered sweaters
THE STYLE SCOUT - London: Great Queen Street
If you enjoy and/or find inspiration in what you see, please take the time to visit these hardworking fashion bloggers from all over the world. Go join me in thanking them for their good work.
Love and beauty always,
Leah
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A crew with some serious style
[EDITED TO FIX SOME WHOOPSIES. Brandon is Qing's boyfriend. I incorrectly said that Nick was. Sorry, guys! That's what I get for not taking notes that are sufficiently legible. *blush*]
While looking to get some darker-styled snaps of the Revenge denizens this Thursday at Tru, I happened upon a most fascinating trio. They were all too happy to show off some moves during DJ Jin-XS's set.
The first member of this group I saw was Qing. Qing's got moves that'd make my idols, the Beatfreaks, proud -- and she's also got some sweet hip-hop style that I just had to get on film. Qing is a New York native, re-located to downtown Indianapolis. She dances in a student crew at IUPUI. She says her style is mostly influenced by her dancing.
This is Nick. Nick is Qing's (extremely photogenic) friend. He's also an IUPUI student, and the two dance in the same crew together. That's almost as sweet as his awesome headscarf is. I should have asked where he got his great skeleton-key necklace. He went so simple - just a black T-shirt, white hoodie, and jeans. Proof you don't have to over think it to look pulled-together.
Finally, we have Brandon, a.k.a. "Edge." Edge is lucky enough to be dating Qing. He dances professionally, touring the nation with his crew, Incognito. He paired huge, geeky black-framed glasses with a striped T and green jacket (He was doing some funky move incorporating said jacket, but he threw it to the floor right before I could get my shot in.)
"I have this quirky, dorky style that I like a lot," he said. "Other crews see me and, since I look like such a nerd, they think I won't be a threat. Then I blow them away."
While looking to get some darker-styled snaps of the Revenge denizens this Thursday at Tru, I happened upon a most fascinating trio. They were all too happy to show off some moves during DJ Jin-XS's set.
 | |
| They're so FAST -- one second they're in frame, the next I'm looking at a bunch of cut-off heads. :( |
The first member of this group I saw was Qing. Qing's got moves that'd make my idols, the Beatfreaks, proud -- and she's also got some sweet hip-hop style that I just had to get on film. Qing is a New York native, re-located to downtown Indianapolis. She dances in a student crew at IUPUI. She says her style is mostly influenced by her dancing.
This is Nick. Nick is Qing's (extremely photogenic) friend. He's also an IUPUI student, and the two dance in the same crew together. That's almost as sweet as his awesome headscarf is. I should have asked where he got his great skeleton-key necklace. He went so simple - just a black T-shirt, white hoodie, and jeans. Proof you don't have to over think it to look pulled-together.
Finally, we have Brandon, a.k.a. "Edge." Edge is lucky enough to be dating Qing. He dances professionally, touring the nation with his crew, Incognito. He paired huge, geeky black-framed glasses with a striped T and green jacket (He was doing some funky move incorporating said jacket, but he threw it to the floor right before I could get my shot in.)
"I have this quirky, dorky style that I like a lot," he said. "Other crews see me and, since I look like such a nerd, they think I won't be a threat. Then I blow them away."
You can catch Brandon's crew on Friday night, December 10th at the Vogue in Broad Ripple. Musicians that night include Twin Cats, Hyrider, UV Hippo, and Psynapse. Incognito takes the stage at midnight. Cover is $8.
Friday, December 3, 2010
DIY necklace project via The Fashionate Traveler
I love this woman. I've lurked on her blog for a lil' while. (*lurk lurk stalk stalk* Dun dun DUUUUN!)
This stylish Aussie trots all over the globe, so squares like you and I don't have to. She's always dressed to kill, and quick to share her secrets of fabulosity. And, it would appear that the necklace that intrigues her also intrigues me:
This is a Tom Binn exclusive that retails for over 600 pounds. Needless to say, the way our dollar has been dropping of late, this would be a HEFTY chunk of change for those of us stateside. But it's sooo dreamy. What's a gal to do?
Follow the FT's tutorial, of course! I'm not going to spill the beans here b/c I'm not a content-scraper like that, yo! You'll have to go to her own site for the goods. Her version starts out with more necklace-strands, fewer gemstones, and a lot more blinged-out skull charms. Enjoy, and I hope it inspires.
This stylish Aussie trots all over the globe, so squares like you and I don't have to. She's always dressed to kill, and quick to share her secrets of fabulosity. And, it would appear that the necklace that intrigues her also intrigues me:
This is a Tom Binn exclusive that retails for over 600 pounds. Needless to say, the way our dollar has been dropping of late, this would be a HEFTY chunk of change for those of us stateside. But it's sooo dreamy. What's a gal to do?
Follow the FT's tutorial, of course! I'm not going to spill the beans here b/c I'm not a content-scraper like that, yo! You'll have to go to her own site for the goods. Her version starts out with more necklace-strands, fewer gemstones, and a lot more blinged-out skull charms. Enjoy, and I hope it inspires.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
It's frikkin' freezing in here, Mr. Bigglesworth!
I always procrastinate when winter-boot buying time comes. It's so hard to find a pair that isn't, well, hideous. And I'm the type who'll just wear extra socks, hope for the best, and just shiver through it. The alternative when I lived in a smaller town with less options was to schlep around in those weird, Napoleon Dynamite-esque boots. Or, more recently, Ugg boots or their less-expensive knockoff cousins, which are all... well, ugg-ly as sin.
I have a goth streak about three miles wide, so I've generally been able to make do with Army Surplus combat boots, when I can actually find them small enough to get on my feet. Many a poor style maven out there, though, is probably not willing to rock anything you might see at a Siouxsie and the Banshees tribute show. (Pity, they're missing out on some great styles and music, but I digress.)
The search for acceptable alternatives has gone on for years.
This year, finally, some luck! If you've shared in my struggle, amazingness is nigh. I searched all over stores, both physical and online, and found a handful of winners. These selections are all both decently cozy, and decent to look at. And we just had our first snow today. So you'd better get serious if you haven't already picked up something to keep those feet of yours safe from the nasty mood-swings of a Midwest winter. Best part? Most of these can be picked up in-person at such humble stores as Sears and PayLess. So, both procrastinators and the broke, rejoice! It ain't Louboutin, but you're not going to look like you're suiting up for a moon landing.
First, here's the one I ended up buying. The Norda boot by Bearpaw. Awww, Norda. Such a practical, traction-keeping sole on a boot so pretty, suede-y and soft. (TREAT THAT SUEDE before you hit the snowbanks) So fuzzy and foot-pampering, with a sheepskin trim around the top, and full sheepy-fleece lining inside. They feel so nice, it's tempting to not wear socks. But please do. You don't want to smell up these darlings.
For about half the price, you can get a similar boot at Payless.
Meet the also-ran. This is the Cubby boot, by Demonia. She is the closest thing to a goth snow-boot I have ever seen. I love her. She is composed of vegan-friendly faux suede and faux fur. I pined over this shoe, but practicality won out. What was I going to do, wearing platforms in a snowstorm? They're beautiful, but I'm clumsy enough on solid, dry ground. Take these beauties out for a spin if you're more sure-footed, or if your winters are --SO not like in Indy-- cold but relatively dry.
Really furry boots are right on-trend this season. They're a far cry better than their Uggly cousins, but I have also seen some that make your feet look unfortunately similar to those of a Wookiee. Step up into something a little more subtle there, Chewy. This is another Bearpaw boot, the Sonjo. (Can you tell I'm a really big Bearpaw fan now?) Pictured is the sand color, but they also come in black and brown. They're less fashion-victim-y than some fur boots I've seen this season, and I can tell they'd be versatile for inclusion in a range of warm but stylish outfits.
The Rex by Airwalk is, again, suede-y. Quite the trend going on there. If you don't want anything furry, bauble-y, quilted, or un-streamlined in any other way, this is a decent and affordable option. With a tiny bit of slouch and an unobtrusive buckle, this boot is extra-versatile. It's faux-fur lined inside for extra warmth. A similar offering, a bit cheaper and in black, is the Dylan by Canyon River Blues.
The Alpine boot by Martino is a pricier option at about $170, but a versatile and high-quality one. You can wear it at mid-calf as a sleek leather boot, or cuff it to show off some shearling. It's lined in soft, warm, awesome sheepskin. The leather cross-ties help adjust for fit, and they look pretty cool, too.
This is the Ketchup boot by Jellypop. I think it's a little weird-looking, but I like it anyway. It's a nice change from all that suede and faux leather. It's made of the same nylon stuff as the Napoleon Dynamite crap, but it's a pleasant, non-bulky and quilted texture, with some furry trim, and those little furry pom-poms I've seen on quite a few boots this season. The nylon means water resistance, which is nice. They come in black and in white.
I'm not including those boots you're seeing everywhere that are basically made out of sweater-fabric. They're incredibly comfortable, and they are ADORABLE for sure. But I opted out, because they're so very impractical. You remember the way wind will blow right through a sweater unless you layer the right stuff both under *and* over it? And then there's the fact that if you have to walk through wet conditions, the knitted sweater-boots will protect your feet from the elements about as well as a pair of flip-flops. I know, I know, fashion isn't about being practical, it's about looking drop-dead fabulous. But the theme of this post is style *and* function. OK, OK, fine. Wear these cute creations proudly and often, but keep the clemency of the weather in mind. Otherwise, you'll look about as sexy as those women who line up outside bars in 15-degree weather, wearing nothing but spaghetti-strap minidresses. Yum, hypothermia. How attractive.
May your winter be beautiful, and your feet be happy!
I have a goth streak about three miles wide, so I've generally been able to make do with Army Surplus combat boots, when I can actually find them small enough to get on my feet. Many a poor style maven out there, though, is probably not willing to rock anything you might see at a Siouxsie and the Banshees tribute show. (Pity, they're missing out on some great styles and music, but I digress.)
The search for acceptable alternatives has gone on for years.
This year, finally, some luck! If you've shared in my struggle, amazingness is nigh. I searched all over stores, both physical and online, and found a handful of winners. These selections are all both decently cozy, and decent to look at. And we just had our first snow today. So you'd better get serious if you haven't already picked up something to keep those feet of yours safe from the nasty mood-swings of a Midwest winter. Best part? Most of these can be picked up in-person at such humble stores as Sears and PayLess. So, both procrastinators and the broke, rejoice! It ain't Louboutin, but you're not going to look like you're suiting up for a moon landing.
First, here's the one I ended up buying. The Norda boot by Bearpaw. Awww, Norda. Such a practical, traction-keeping sole on a boot so pretty, suede-y and soft. (TREAT THAT SUEDE before you hit the snowbanks) So fuzzy and foot-pampering, with a sheepskin trim around the top, and full sheepy-fleece lining inside. They feel so nice, it's tempting to not wear socks. But please do. You don't want to smell up these darlings.
For about half the price, you can get a similar boot at Payless.
Meet the also-ran. This is the Cubby boot, by Demonia. She is the closest thing to a goth snow-boot I have ever seen. I love her. She is composed of vegan-friendly faux suede and faux fur. I pined over this shoe, but practicality won out. What was I going to do, wearing platforms in a snowstorm? They're beautiful, but I'm clumsy enough on solid, dry ground. Take these beauties out for a spin if you're more sure-footed, or if your winters are --SO not like in Indy-- cold but relatively dry.
Really furry boots are right on-trend this season. They're a far cry better than their Uggly cousins, but I have also seen some that make your feet look unfortunately similar to those of a Wookiee. Step up into something a little more subtle there, Chewy. This is another Bearpaw boot, the Sonjo. (Can you tell I'm a really big Bearpaw fan now?) Pictured is the sand color, but they also come in black and brown. They're less fashion-victim-y than some fur boots I've seen this season, and I can tell they'd be versatile for inclusion in a range of warm but stylish outfits.
The Rex by Airwalk is, again, suede-y. Quite the trend going on there. If you don't want anything furry, bauble-y, quilted, or un-streamlined in any other way, this is a decent and affordable option. With a tiny bit of slouch and an unobtrusive buckle, this boot is extra-versatile. It's faux-fur lined inside for extra warmth. A similar offering, a bit cheaper and in black, is the Dylan by Canyon River Blues.
The Alpine boot by Martino is a pricier option at about $170, but a versatile and high-quality one. You can wear it at mid-calf as a sleek leather boot, or cuff it to show off some shearling. It's lined in soft, warm, awesome sheepskin. The leather cross-ties help adjust for fit, and they look pretty cool, too.
This is the Ketchup boot by Jellypop. I think it's a little weird-looking, but I like it anyway. It's a nice change from all that suede and faux leather. It's made of the same nylon stuff as the Napoleon Dynamite crap, but it's a pleasant, non-bulky and quilted texture, with some furry trim, and those little furry pom-poms I've seen on quite a few boots this season. The nylon means water resistance, which is nice. They come in black and in white.
I'm not including those boots you're seeing everywhere that are basically made out of sweater-fabric. They're incredibly comfortable, and they are ADORABLE for sure. But I opted out, because they're so very impractical. You remember the way wind will blow right through a sweater unless you layer the right stuff both under *and* over it? And then there's the fact that if you have to walk through wet conditions, the knitted sweater-boots will protect your feet from the elements about as well as a pair of flip-flops. I know, I know, fashion isn't about being practical, it's about looking drop-dead fabulous. But the theme of this post is style *and* function. OK, OK, fine. Wear these cute creations proudly and often, but keep the clemency of the weather in mind. Otherwise, you'll look about as sexy as those women who line up outside bars in 15-degree weather, wearing nothing but spaghetti-strap minidresses. Yum, hypothermia. How attractive.
May your winter be beautiful, and your feet be happy!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Check This Out: Project IMA fashion show
If you missed out on Project IMA this year, please accept my condolences, because you really missed out.
Fortunately, the museum has posted video of the whole show! Enjoy:
Fortunately, the museum has posted video of the whole show! Enjoy:
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