Barflies.net :: Style

Disco Party!

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:41:33 -0800

Every year at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, the show I work for, After MidNite, hosts a Disco Party on the last night of the seminar. From what I hear, that is THE event to go to. I've always wanted to attend CRS, but the one year I thought that maybe I could actually save up enough money to go, my boss at the time talked me out of it, saying, "It's kind of just a big drinking party," (Hel-loo?!?! Isn't that right up my allegy?!), and in the years after that, I became important enough to run the station and shows while everyone else went to CRS, but not important enough to get to go. THIS year, a trouble-making colleague suggested that I take one measly day off of work to fly out to Nashville and make a one-night-only appearance at the Disco Party. I found a cheap flight, my boss excitedly agreed (she's thinking, "Ha! Now I'll have someone else to help me work this thing!"), and plans were made. Except the most important question...What am I going to wear?! I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on an outfit that I'd only wear once, so my initial reaction was to create some sort of "My Little Pony" '80s look (the host of our show is going as Gene Simmons, so I didn't think MLP would be too out of place at a disco party), but that turned out to take too much preparation for lazy little ol' me. Instead, I found a bargain at the vintage clothing store called Someone Else's, within walking distance of my apartment. Here's the outfit: (Yes, these pics were taken in my fine My Little Pony bathroom.) Dress: $27. Platform shoes: $28 Pink Peace Sign Necklace: $5 Assorted other bracelets: Free. Did I mention that Someone Else's is going out of business, so everything was 30% off? I got the whole thing for less than $50. Here's a close-up of the dress: And the shoes: The dress I can pair with cowboy boots and wear to shows (in fact, I already have: at the Kelly Willis show. And I totally plan on wearing those shoes over the summer. But not in front of my mom. She thinks I'm too clumsy to wear crazy shoes like that. She's probably right, but that doesn't stop me. Pics from the actual party forthcoming!

2008 SAG Awards - Purple Reign

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:06:59 -0800

I love the color of Sara Ramirez's dress. I love the cut, the fabric, and the way she's put it together with sleek hair and accessories. Nicely done! photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

2008 SAG Awards - Old School

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:57:22 -0800

Clearly, Ellen Page (Juno) said to herself, "Self, we're only 20, so let's wear something that makes us look older. Really older. Let's get something out of Grandma's closet and wear that!" photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com - January 27, 2008

2008 SAG Awards - Foiled Again

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:50:41 -0800

I can't decide if Ellen Pompeo's Nina Ricci dress is made out of foil or Saran Wrap, but I think it's lovely. I do think she needs a necklace, and she might be too pale for the dress. Can't you see this shining on Halle Berry or Rihanna? photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com - January 27, 2008

2008 SAG Awards - Scraptastic

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:35:46 -0800

Listen, I love scrapbooking. I love buttons. I love hot glue guns. But I don't usually scrap my clothes. Clearly, Jane Krakowski sees it differently. Here she is at the 2008 Screen Actor's Guild Awards in a dress I can only call "embellished." And if things get boring, she can always pop the buttons off her dress and start working on her scrapbook layouts.

10 Fashion Trends You Can't Ignore

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:53:48 -0800

I don't usually get my fashion tips from Forbes, believe it or not. But the article below caught my eye, and is well worth reading. Many of the trends they predict make sense: a continued emphasis on punk and futuristic clothing, embracing alternative fabrics and organic materials, and a continued popularity of all things estate and vintage influenced. Some of the trends are dismaying - a return to neon and short shorts for men! - and one can only hope they are nothing more than predictions. 10 Fashion Trends You Can't Ignore Hitha Prabhakar, 08.28.07, 6:00 PM ET David Wolfe, creative director of The Doneger Group, a fashion-forecasting firm in New York City, is like a typical 20-something. He spends his time listening to the latest indie bands, hanging out with hipsters in the park, watching countless hours of MTV and browsing trendy boutiques, trying to spot the next fashion trend. But one thing sets Wolfe apart from his peers: He is almost 70 years old. Read the story here:

Best Eyelashes Ever!

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:13:01 -0800

NYE 2008 @ The Blogger Bungalow, originally uploaded by Scott Beale / Laughing Squid.

Shoe Fetish

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:26:51 -0800

Just when I get my Trophy Queen Streamliner handbag, and I think my life is complete, Jenny Parker goes and does this to me: Oh MY GOD! That bitch is designing shoes! Life just got a whole lot better! Now I can have shoes and handbag that match, and my life really WILL be complete. This is why God gave us credit cards, Wanda. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Small Things Design

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:40:56 -0800

Small Things Design is a company making the sweetest jewelry I've lusted over in a while. They are yet again proving that everything that comes out of Portland is pretty great: Viva Voce, K Records and a bunch of other stuff that really gets me excited about music and art. The story behind Small Things is pretty neat too. Teresa Robinson was studying art in Mexico, took a jewelry making class on a whim, moved back to Portland to just bust out hand-cut jewelry and make it her fulltime gig. Sigh. Maybe I'm just a little jealous, but her art is so sweet I just can't hate on her. Her old line entitled "Flora vs. Fauna" featured darling animals & plants cut out of silver and layered over colored glass. The stag and cherry are my personal favorites. The big news, however, is that each new line she creates becomes more and more adorable than the first which brings me to her newest line "Bits and Pieces". While the other lines give me more of a simple, clean, refined, Swedish-feel (Think Lotta Jansdotter), these pieces are strictly tongue-in-cheek for the young or young at heart. This collection has rings, bracelets and necklaces with hammered metal and cute pressed images like apples, diamonds and scissors. The umbrella style also steals my heart. All jewelry is made from .925 sterling silver and handmade - I know I've already said that but it sort of blows my mind. Yes, I would categorize Teresa as an "Indie" jeweler, but she retails and wholesales too and not just at tiny stores at big stores like Something Silver in California (though not on the web site). This must mean hours upon hours spent cutting tiny birds into metal and I can definitely respect that. Teresa's goods can be purchased at an array of California (and national) stores or at her web site. Give it a look!

I Enjoy Being a Girl: Reason #247

Sun, 06 May 2007 17:41:12 -0800

Here's another reason I enjoy being a girl: the retro, adorable stylings of Cece Marie! Frilly Aprons! Swingy skirts! All things girly, floral, and fun! I'm imagining what cute hostess gifts, bridal shower items, and Mother's Day gifts these will make. There are all types of aprons, headbands, and things for wee girlies too! You can find Cece Marie online at her web store, or at Etsy.

Cin-d-Lite Designs

Tue, 01 May 2007 20:04:01 -0800

Have you ever found yourself suddenly obsessing over first painting and then beads? Beads? Where did beads get into the painted picture? Big ones, medium ones, small ones, you name it...beads have taken over my life - well, almost! I juggle the paint tubes and bead tubes side by side. I use Folk Art Paint and Swarovski crystals, and have been making all kinds of pretty things - things most people are surprised that I have the patience to do. I work with copper, silver and gold fill, and all kinds of BEADS, BEADS, BEADS! Then, I work with canvas and glass, and wood too. Whatever it is, I have become my own jeweled and painted fashionista! One day, I sat down and pondered for two minutes and then decided to create Cin-d-Lite Designs. Yes, in case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm here to plug my own lil' company. I do a combination of floral/scenic painting crafts and jewelry designs, and love it! If you'd like to see my creations please contact me here at Barflies.net, or at cindesigns@gmail.com. Thanks! Here's a bit of a sneak peek. I love feedback and comments. Thanks for allowing me to introduce my creations to you! "The Country Music Necklace" Asian Persuasion bracelet! There's always room for a beautiful bouquet of flowers Turquoise Delight! What goes better together than copper and turquoise? Lavender Jade - the stone of longevity and mental clarity, or just pretty to look at? Lighthouse on the Seashore

My Obsession

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:30:35 -0800

I'm going to blame my stepsister Sari, because she gave me a Tarina Tarantino bracelet and started my obsession. Of course, back then, it was just a kind of "this is high end fashion jewelry that you'd see in Elle or Lucky" feeling, not an obsession; I felt really favored to to own something "nice" without paying Ben-Amun prices. Of course, later I appreciated the whimsey of the Pink Head designs without really feeling like I had to have any, the way I appreciate delicate candies made with marzipan, but seriously, I don't ever want to eat them. But then Tarina had to go and come out with the Queen Alice collection. And here I blame Sir John Tenniel, the original illustrator of Lewis Carroll's classic, the Downtown Disney Vault 28 store (honestly, people - "Kingdom Couture?" Designer Disney? that is an entirely 'nother post) for carrying the collection, and fashionistas everywhere. All of a sudden, I can't stop thinking about Tarina Tarantino. Not in a "please-be-my-best-friend, what-are-you-doing-right-now-can-I-come-over-too-late-I'm-already-outside" creepy kind of way, but in a "gosh, I'm in love with that necklace and I just know that if I were wearing it, my day would be better and my skin would be brighter, and I'd probably look thinner and sexier" kind of way. And then I started dropping in to the website every other day, just to "visit" my favorite pieces (still not on sale). And then I started seeing it everywhere, on models, in magazines, on people at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, for God's sake. And even Avril Levigne and Paris Hilton can't make me hate it. Of course, my obsession with punk couture started long ago, with Vivienne Westwood, and continues to this day, but not in a Forever 21 kind of way. No, in a seriously-scary-I-love-couture kind of way. And I'll never be able to affort that stuff, because, let's get real, people. I need to eat and pay the mortgage. So, I'm giving up. I'm taking all my cash (about $250, so no, I'm not getting that $600 necklace I've been dreaming about, or even the $325 Dia de Los Muertos Swarovski belt buckle) and going to visit Tarina Tarantino's boutique on Melrose. I'm leaving the credit cards behind and taking a friend known as The Voice of Reason. Wish me luck.

Thread Show San Diego

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:10:44 -0800

Check out this event in San Diego: http://www.threadshow.com/ This Sunday, April 15th from 11am-6pm Fashion, Music, Art and Lifestyle show! RSVP and get in for $7 instead of $10: http://www.threadshow.com/sandiego/rsvp.php

Just in Time for Spring....

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:12:37 -0800

...Bed, Bath, & Beyond has come out with these impossibly cute terry-cloth, baby-doll shower wraps that are not only adjustable, in three adorable colors, but also so-oo affordable. Even my grandmother, who is the Queen of Finding Cute Bathrobes, couldn't do any better than this.

Is that... waffle you're wearing??

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:49:37 -0800

Speaking of Pretty Darn Sweet, I have a feeling wearing Pancake Meow's adorable and scrumptiously scented (!) accessories might be more temptation than a chronic dieter like me can handle... but if you've got the willpower, check out their selection of tinier-than-life charms and pendants. Each item is a mere 3/4" inch to 1" in diameter and comes with your choice of fragrance. Drool......