Friday, September 30, 2011

A Glitch in the Matrix : September 2009 Style


helmut-lang-silk-romper-gold-gladiator-sandals

September 15, 2009


Last month I decided to rewind my blog clock for a minute and post my favorite outfits from August 2009 and since it went over so well, I thought I'd create a little Glitch in the Matrix Series at the end of each month to compare then and now. You can also find old outfit posts in my Style Archive though I haven't updated since December 2010.

In 2009 I was still using my Canon powershot camera & had just begun taking photos outside. I would get so frustrated that my little powershot wouldn't produce the photos I wanted to see but looking back now, they're not as bad and I remembered. Many times I would hand-blur out the background in photoshop to try and mimic the look I get now with my Nikon & Nikkor lenses. It took me FOREVER and hated that it still didn't look right but looking back, they're kind of fun and different. I have a feeling the powershots made me appear a bit thinner... or maybe I just was a few lbs lighter... or maybe it was just because I was so tan then that it was a great & magical thinning illusion, but I'd like it back please. Gone are the days of epic amounts of free time to lounge around in the sun as well.

Noticing my outfits then were a little more punchy, poppy, accessorized, and rarely with a bag, which I think was because I was in such a hurry all of the time I forgot it, but it's interesting to see how styles change even if very slightly. I used to take my photos before I left for the gallery or I'd pull over on the way or even outside once I got to the gallery... sleepy eyed and all. I'd try to get to work early and I'd edit and post all my outfit shots for that particular day, the same day. It would stress me out to no end every morning but there was something really fun about it too :)

* Click the date below each photo or the photo itself for original outfit post with details.



walter-floral-mini-dress-1
September 8, 2009


vintage-slip-black-blazer-3
September 25, 2009


vintage floral print cropped jacket, j brand jeans, Harajuku girls tank top, jeans-white-pumps-3
September 24, 2009


green-ruffle-blouse-2
September 4, 2009


black-sweater-dress-oxfords-2, gray cardigan, side braid in hair, alexander wang braid
September 18, 2009


thick braid in hair, aztec-dress-cut-out-platforms-11
September 22, 2009


flared jeans, j brand jeans, love story jeans, vintage versace like silk bomber jacket, studded belt, black-gold-lovestory-jeans-
September 10, 2009



tan, black dress with pastel jacket and shoes, mint-ungaro-blazer-3
September 1, 2009


teal-dress-gold-accessories-1
September 11, 2009


Happy Friday Lovecats



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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Well I'm Taking My Time... I'm Just Movin' Along


Navy blouse with vintage bag  -   old levis and jewelry


What I'm Wearing
* Navy crepe blouse from Jigsaw London ~ Green label ... I am IN LOVE with this blouse and kind of want it in every color!
* Vintage Levi's rolled up
* Vintage necklace with turquoise & blue stones was a gift from my friend AlisonPurple from The Sherman Oaks Antique Mall... and mixed vintage and new gold and brass bangles
* Vintage cognac Ralph Lauren bag found on Ebay
* Chloe Belladone sunglasses
* Mondern Vintage Iris open bootie

* Title: lyrics from Boston "Long Time"

* Thank you all so much for making my Mad Men inspired Joss & Main Curator's Collection sale a success! There are still a few items left in case you missed it... and USE THIS INVITATION LINK so you won't have to go on a wait list. I bought a few items for our home as well. I started collecting decanters in 2006 when the husband and I got married so I added a new one to my collection. I wanted the brass lamp as well but it sold out too quickly.

* Last night the husband and I, with the help of my mom and brother {thanks family!} went to the new spa to attempt to relocate some of the furniture and items that already lived there & spruce it up a bit with what we already had. It was really the initial stage of redecorating to sort of map out what needs to be done to get it where we want it. We have a long way to go but definitely changed the look and feel of a few areas throughout. I'm thinking I may post a few before photos tomorrow... we'll see.

* I really need to make time to go get my hair done...look at those roots! I have no free time lately. But omg they are HORRENDOUS!

Navy blouse with vintage bag  +  jewelry

vintage levi jeans - jigsaw london blouse-cognac bag and shoes

Jigsaw London Navy Blouse - vintage  necklace-bangles-cognac bag

vintage levis-ralph lauren bag- modern vintage heels

vintage levi's- navy blue blouse -vintae ralph lauren bag- long wavy hair

Navy blue bouse -vintage jewelry-vintage bag-wavy hair




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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

* Fun New Blog Business Cards *


blog business cards, new business cards -front and back


The fabulously talented Alexandra has custom designed new business cards for me {above} and I just LOVE them! They are so much fun I can't even stand it. {photo from this outfit post} That's the thing about blogging, you really can go in so many creative directions with your card design and since you're kind of selling yourself as a blogger, it's your chance to really say something about what a visitor may find when they log on.

I quickly designed my old business cards {below} to simply match the color scheme of my blog layout... and I don't mind them, I actually like the consistency, but they're so boring in comparison, don't you think? And I was in such a hurry to get them made I forgot to add my twitter handle. You live and you learn. Still, I like the option of having more than one style of card; given my mood, I can choose which one is appropriately describing the "me" of the moment.


business cards for my blog, business cards


* Check out Type A Calligraphy for all of Alexandra's fantastic designs! * CLICK HERE for my card!


And all this talk of business cards has got me thinking about the ultra-famous & unltr-hilarious business card scene in the movie American Psycho... "It's very cool baby, but that's nothing".



Happy Hump Day!




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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Old Hollywood Glamour ~ Lace Halter Bustier DIY


diy fashion blog, Lace Bustier Halter DIY - with bow


I love the idea of wearing a bustier on the outside rather than as an undergarment... I suppose Madonna gets all credit for such inspirations but with the added lace halter, it really feels more Old Hollywood Glamour than Like a Virgin. I ended up using a simple black satin bustier I had lying around found at a department store because it will look quite nice with a great pair of high waist pants or a pencil skirt. But the project would be equally great using a vintage bustier, & yet another excuse to go thrift store shopping! {Also note: Halloween is around the corner}


Maegans-DIYs-materials
Lace Bustier Halter DIY-materials

* Black Bustier
* Black Lace
* Black Satin Ribbon
* Needle/Thread/Scissors


steps
Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 1

* Line your lace up with your bustier cups... make sure the pretty edge of the lace in on the outside closest to your arms. Decide how much lace you need by measuring or just eyeballing it and make sure to leave a little extra so the panels can overlap in the center.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 2

* Cut two pieces of lace at least 12" long to be safe. One for each side.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 3

* Flip your bustier inside out. Lay your lace in one of the cups at an angle, lining up the pretty edge with the edge of your bustier.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 4

* Carefully hand-stitch the lace to the inside of your bustier cup, right below the seamed edge... or about 1/4" down. Don't let your needle pierce the front of the bustier.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 5

* It should look something like this lying flat.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 6

* Try your garment on. Cross one panel of lace over the other and taking your ribbon, mark with a safety pin where your neck is... or, where you want your ribbon to tie. Cut your ribbon extra long to give you the option of tying it in the back or crossing it back around to the front as pictured.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 7

* Readjust your lace to make sure it's crossed over neatly and with your needle and thread carefully hand-stitch the edges of your ribbon to your lace. You only need to stitch down the front -or from side to side. In my case, it was about 6 inches.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 8

* Trim off the extra lace at the top... this is a personal decision. If you want it longer, keep it longer. I cut mine down to about an inch and a half.


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 9

* Stitch your two panels together only at the center, not all the way up {though I suppose you can if you wish}


Lace Bustier Halter DIY - 10

* Trim the excess lace in the cups



Maegans-DIYs-voila
old hollywood lace bustier diy top
* show with a Leyendecker ballet skirt*

lace halter bustier with bow DIY



Have Fun!




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My Joss & Main Curator's Collection is Live!



Joss and Main Collection -1-

Joss and Main Collection -2-

Joss and Main Collection -3-


* Go to Sleek 60's Style to shop now!

* Get your Invite here!



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Monday, September 26, 2011

With an Impulse to Take Flight


mixing prints, flying, martha stewart, pan am, outfits, leopard print skirt-striped top-red leather bow belt


What I'm Wearing
* Vintage leopard slip {worn over another vintage slip} I found this little jagged edged slip in a thrift shop in my early 20's and have been wearing it as a skirt on and off through the years ever since. I never once thought of wearing it as a slip, why would I hide such a fun little gem?
* Forever 21 striped t-shirt from a few years ago... last seen here
* Red leather bow belt was my Grandma's... and one of my favorite pieces I have of hers {though there are so many}
* Victoria's Secret open cardigan... again, and again, and again. Apologies if I'm boring you by wearing these so often this past Spring and Summer but they are just so easy to wear with so many things & it's always FREEZING in the gallery & the outfits I post here are almost always of what I wear there. {and I promise VS has not paid me to wear them though they probably should be ;}
* Simple silver drop earrings and my Tiffany lock pendant necklace. This outfit was just so loud I thought I'd keep the accessories minimal, as well as the hair, which I just pulled back in simple low, messy twist.
* Tom Ford cat eye sunglasses
* Carlos Santana peep toe ankle wedges {my husband laughs at me every time I wear these but I'm loving them momentarily} - last seen here

* Still loving my gray/hematite nails I gave myself another manicure while watching the Jets lose to the Raiders yesterday.

* * * * *

Who watched the new show Pan Am on ABC last night? I was kind of excited to see it because the husband and I were invited to attend Sony Pictures TV dinner at BlogHer '11 back in August to watch the pilot {heh, pilot} and I really wanted to see if they had made any changes... which they did not as far as I could tell. And I have to say, I liked it just as much last night as I did in August. I mean any show that's set in the 60's now is going to obviously be compared to Mad Men but this is really so different. Well, I guess it's not completely different as it does focus on a "career" driven set of women... "A new breed of women" says the show. But I liked it nonetheless. What Pan Am has that Mad Men doesn't is that it's more focused on the women than the men but also includes espionage which gives it a little more of an edge. It has definitely left me intrigued and wanting to see more and I think the production value was high. I've already set the DVR to record the series and am looking forward to see where the show goes in upcoming episodes.

And speaking of flying... {read this} if you don't know this little bit of trivia about me, I haven't been on a plane since 9/11. I know, it's insane, but I'm a bit terrified, to say the least. Terrified because I had a major panic attack on a plane once & realized up in the air that I couldn't get off. It just coincided with 9/11. I've always been a timid flyer but was willing to endure the nerves because I wanted to travel. Though I haven't been to Europe or Australia, which I would actually like to visit some day, I've been to New York and Mexico a few times and a few other states as well. But since 9/11 - nothing. WELL... last week, a producer from The Martha Stewart Show contacted me asking if I'd like to submit ideas to possibly teach Martha on the show. Yes, it actually said to TEACH MARTHA ON THE SHOW. I had to reread it 100 times to make sure I was seeing it correctly and then after screaming it to the husband almost immediately realized the show is taped in New York... meaning, uh, I would have to get on a plane. So uh, yeah, I may be the only one in the world who would ever turn down an opportunity to be ON THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW to TEACH MARTHA something. I'm obviously an idiot. I submitted my ideas and disclosed my fear of flying which was warmly received but there is talk of Skyping in on the show for the coming season, which I am obviously more on board for {heh, on board}.... And now it's your turn to tell me just how big of an idiot I am ... go ahead, I'm ready for it ;)


mixing prints-leopard print and  stripes-red leather bow belt

leopard skirt and striped top-cat eye sunglasses

black peep toe wedges with ankle strap buckle

details-gray nails-red bow belt- rings-leopard print-stripes

Stripes and Leopard Print  with  red bow belt



And later that day... a more casual version of it, I removed the belt & untucked half of my shirt, lost the wedges and opted for my red chuck taylor converse all stars which I think I've had since I was 19. I've actually been wearing these everywhere lately. I love finding old classics in the back of my closet. They feel brand new again but already have that great worn in look, because they are.

stripes + leopard skirt + red converse


LeRoy came out to join us and the husband caught him in the middle of a shake!

leroy the french bulldog mid shake


Happy Monday!




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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Guest Bathroom Decor Details


dried pink peony


I kind of love our tiny fern-wallpapered 1/2 bathroom off the Laundry Room. It's kind of creepy in a silly way and it makes me laugh. I like things that make me laugh. The boys who come over seem to prefer this bathroom; they always choose it over the beachy brick one. I think they like the confined space... just a theory ;)

I realized I did a "before" post over a year ago and never did an "after" post. I guess I never felt like it was quite finished but nevertheless thought I'd share with you some of the details.


* You can see my inspiration for the guest bathroom and before photos HERE


antlers above the door

art-creepy art-james watkinson collage sculpture bos

monogrammed T towels in guest bathroom

Guest Bathroom vintage frames

guest bathroom mixed frames wall

dried roses-l'occitane soap-guest bathroom

guest bathroom shelves decor


* CLICK HERE for closeups and details on the art.


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