Thursday, September 29, 2011

Current Boutique



So I was happy as a clam to get a Current Boutique in Logan Circle this past summer. I had perused the one in Arlington before, but as I don't make it to Arlington for much shopping, I never got to take advantage of it much. It has quickly become one of my favorite places to drop some cash since opening up it's Logan Circle location. It's mostly upscale consignment with some new items toward the front of the store. It's a great place to get some great, inexpensive pieces for work and all sorts of occasions.





I tried to consign here at one point, but they didn't take any of my items because they were all too worn - the lady said they generally only buy stuff bought within the past two years and I'm pretty sure all the stuff in my bag was older than that. Also, the website notes items must be in "perfect condition," so it's probably a good idea to have items dry cleaned and on hangers going in for consignment.



I popped in to the store recently to hunt for a dress to wear for a September wedding. I tried on both these two numbers (both new items), but neither were quite right - I wore a pattern dress to the last wedding I went to and was kind of in the mood for a solid this time around.


I did find part of my wedding outfit here though; I scored these 2nd hand beauties for $16! They are very classic and I think I can wear them with many an outfit. They are the type of shoe that can be worn with occasion outfits or just with dresses and skirts out on Friday or Saturday nights. I was ecstatic that they fit and simply could not put them back on the rack after trying them on and seeing that price tag. They blended beautifully with the dress I ended up going with for the wedding, too. More on that to come! Happy Fall shopping everyone! Stop by Current if you're walking by-you are sure to find lots and lots!



Sunday, September 25, 2011

Transitioning summer brights into Fall




Ok, so I know I have featured this dress a half dozen times (here is the best), but it just works in so many ways! This was before I had it altered, I am in the Ginger Root Design boutique on U Street. The dress is vintage, the ankle boots are Anthropologie, the belt is from Filene's Basement & the tights are chocolate brown Nine West from Filene's.

Brights are having a huge moment right now and don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon judging by the recent Spring '12 runway shows. You can do them in EVERY season, trust me.




I didn't do a jacket here but I think I will probably wear this fitted jean jacket with it shown here & maybe buy a lighter shade of brown tights. The dress is more fitted and shorter now so it will probably have to be a weekend getup. Keep the styling minimal and clean though - a neon color and a pattern=plenty going on without over-extending the other details.

Sometimes I wear shirts and sweaters over dresses to transform them into skirts for work days. How do you take your summer dresses into Fall??

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Halloween costume - Daenerys Stormborn



So this is the character I have decided to don for Halloween this year. She is Daenerys Targaryen, or "Khaleesi" from Game of Thrones (HBO series and George R.R. Martin book series-check it out if you aren't addicted already, you will be!) She is the blood of the Dragon and a Princess before she becomes Queen, or "Khaleesi." She is wed to Khal Drogo at the age of 13 to merge forces with the Dothraki; a large, powerful, somewhat barbaric tribe. This is the look that I will try to recreate for my costume. It is her in a scene where she is dressed in typical Dothraki riding attire:



My sister Hannah is making me the costume - a long wrap skirt and cropped halter top. We bought different shades of burlap for the fabric and she's going to do her best to follow this photo in likeness and distress the material accordingly. I still need to try to find some brown leather gloves to cut off at the fingers and fashion as she has them here.




The hair will be a crucial part of the costume. The Targaryen hair is described in the book as "silver-gold or platinum white." I have hair that is long and literally this exact same texture & I always want to perfect my costumes with as much authenticity as possible, so originally I really wanted to just dye it. But I reluctantly decided to get a wig to avoid the somewhat risky business of bleaching my hair. I go through a tug-of-war with my hair stylist every year when I want to dye my hair for my Halloween costume (last year I was a vampire and wanted to look like the Queen from True Blood so I was begging him to dye my hair red)-he always advises me to just get a wig though if I don't want it to ruin my highlights. At least with a wig I will be able to practice this braiding though - looks detailed and time consuming, but I have an agile hand when I have a mind for it and my mind is already in it. I ordered this wig from Amazon, so should have plenty of time to get those braids right before wearing it. Here's a side look:


I would also like to try to make this necklace that she is always wearing with what I think are presumably supposed to be dragon teeth on either side -that's a good job for my other sister Aimee who designs jewelry.






I am still not quite sure what my prop is going to be since it could be any of a number of things. I am leaning toward a dragon egg since she is the blood of the dragon and the dragon eggs become increasingly vital to her character development as the story progresses. And they are cool as shit.


Spoiler Alert: The other thing I am contemplating is somehow making a bloody horse's heart, which she has to eat in this one nasty scene as a ritual to prove that she will birth a boy; "the Stallion who will mount the world"




The man is her sexy husband, Khal Drogo, who is a great warrior King of the Dothraki. This guy is a great character too-he's a primitive brute with a heart of gold and body of steel. Dothraki men must cut their hair when they lose a battle and his hair is so long because it's never been cut. Yes, if you connect the dots that means he's never lost a battle.



Spoiler Alert: this is her in the very last scene of the first season (and the very last scene in the first book-except in the book she ascends from the ashes full-on breastfeeding two dragons at the same time). She will be mother to 3 baby dragons that hatched from the eggs she was given as a bridegift at her wedding. What a character, right!?


God I can't wait to be her - Daenerys Stormborn, as she is called for being born amidst a time of chaos, slaughter & Doom for the rest of her family & bloodline - for Halloween!


Has anybody else started getting their costume together yet? Better get crackin, if you're costume is complicated it can take a while to get things together. I always get so obsessed with the details, not to mention taking on the personality of whatever/whoever I am dressing up as. Dressing up in costumes is so fun, I love Halloween!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

NYFW: Oscar De La Renta Spring 2012

So I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to post more on New York Fashion Week, I was super busy all week and out of town into the weekend so I had zero time for blogging :( I was following a lot of it through different websites, our trusty Twitter and my ever-expanding blogroll though and was excited & drooling over pretty much everything I saw. Without further ado, here are my favorites from the Oscar De La Renta Spring 2012 64-look collection...























These first couple of looks were jaw-droppers. Lots of drama and fantasy in them, which I always love. The mustard/gold color in the first look is so bold and seductive. The skirts are all so big I feel like a girl could get lost in them. But the more fitted lace tops provide the perfect juxtaposition to the Cinderalla silhouettes of the skirts.























These white looks are very flattering & flirty. There is really nothing like the details in Oscar De La Renta clothing. I absolutely love the imperfect lines of the lace layers on the one above-helps to transfrom the dress from dainty to edgy. And I see exposed socks will still be relevant into Spring :)



The citrus hues were dominating a lot of the runway shows and Oscar does them impeccably here. The lemon ruffled one on top is perfection & looks comfortable to wear and the lime green crochet number is an unexpected & brilliant color/texture combination.

























This number is hot! I think I'm gonna have to be a diva in head-to-toe lime green next spring

























These fur shrugs and vests are TO-DIE-FOR
























Feminine & flirty silhouettes





Yummy I LOVE this orange/red color it demands attention. I am digging the monochrome dress/belt combinations too






















I really love this look even though the harem pants are a little over the top, I-Dream-of-Genie-esque. Whenever his collections get borderline old-fashioned, throwing something like this in the mix reinfuses that youthful spirit and energy.


























And now we enter the evening gown portion of the show....


Every Oscar De La Renta gown is a work of art. I sincerely hope the lucky bitches who get to wear Oscar gowns appreciate that priveledge and love the gowns the way they deserve to be loved. Oscar's gown's are transformative-any woman who puts one on would instantly feel like a queen or a princess or a movie star.


That said, let's talk about these dresses specifically. The ones above have exquisite detail and such splendid movement. The champagne colors are gorgeous and that fur shrug on the right-side look adds the perfect edge to an ethereal dress-very Kate Moss



This chocolate brown number is stunning. I'm not sure if I really love that choker with it-I think the dress has enough severity without the harsh accessory. Love the sheer quality of the bottom layers-shows just enough leg to suggest and invite.






















These were two of my favorites-again the champagne colors. Both so delicate and radiant. Both showcase/frame the body in such a flawless and moving way





The crochet sweater is amazing! The updated Cinderella silhouette is reminiscient of a ballgown, but looks almost futuristic-fascinating effect






















Citrus!





I think we're going to see some of these gowns on our fave celebs come award season, not to mention Rachel Zoe fighting for them when we get to the fashion week episode of her show this season.






















Avante-garde perfection. They look like the types of dresses worn in that movie "Ever After" with Drew Barrymore, which I think is supposed to be Renaissance-era - seems like that era might have been the inspiration here.






She looks like Cotton Candy!




This blue dress is ravishing-I could see it on someone like Keira Knightly at the Globes?



























Fairy tale princess dreamlike quality...magnificent.




Images from Elle.com