Friday, October 29, 2010

Halloween is Almost Here

Orange cardi by Jones New York, v-neck sweater from Banana Republic, black pants from LOFT, Loeffler Randall skull flats, Nightmare Before Christmas pin


I love Halloween. I love watching scary movies, going to haunted houses, dressing up, going to parties, and making Halloween cupcakes and ghoul hand punch. One of my favorite Halloween movies is The Nightmare Before Christmas, starring the eternally elegant Jack Skellington. I have a Jack umbrella, gloves, t-shirt, pjs, calendar, lots of stuff. Enjoy the weekend and do something spooky!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Blue Cashmere

blue cashmere cardi from J. Crew, grey-and-white striped button up from Banana Republic, brown corderoy pants by Jones New York Signature, Franco Sarto suede booties, OPI Who Are You Wearing? nail polish


I never would have worn blue, grey and brown together if I hadn't read Dress Your Best by Clinton Kelly and Stacey London last year. They proposed interesting color combos that DO work, like black/navy and camel/grey. I still have a lot of style learning to do! (Sorry the photos are dark, I am wearing brown corderoy pants!)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Breaking Out the Boots

orange sweater from Ann Taylor, brown skirt from LOFT, V Italia boots, necklace from Express, OPI Who Are You Wearing? nail polish

Cooler temperatures are here and my favorite boots are emerging from the closet! I got these boots from Slithers in Lincoln Park about eight years ago. I keep getting them resoled and reheeled and they've held up great! Also the most Goth nail polish I own comes out for Halloween, it's an almost-black purple with a subtle glitter in it. Click for larger photos.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

T.J. Maxx Score

grey sweater dress by Calvin Klein, necklace from Express, Fitzwell shoes, silver cuff from Mexico, OPI Red-y To Strike! nail polish


Here it is, the sweater dress I scored during the WWWF Smackdown. So comfy and cosy...

Monday, October 25, 2010

Mystery Blazer

blazer by Sandra Angelozzi, white shirt by Splendid, skirt from Ann Taylor, Via Spiga patent heels, necklace from White House Black Market


I received this black Sandra Angelozzi blazer from a Chicago friend who was cleaning out her closet. It is pretty cool: it has lace-up grommets up either side of the front, and one going up the center of the back. Interesting to have corset/shoelace details on a blazer! Despite internet searches to find out more about Ms. Angelozzi, the most I can come up with is that she is a Canadian designer. My friend got it from her friend, so it's twice passed down and in perfect shape. I had to get the sleeves hemmed though (short arms).

Friday, October 22, 2010

A Little Leopard

grey leopard scarf from Express, maroon button-up shirt by Calvin Klein, grey pants from LOFT, Stuart Weitzman flannel flats

I love grey and maroon together! The leopard print scarf in grey is much more compatible with my wardrobe then traditional leopard camel-and-black. And these new Weitzman flats were a cheap score on eBay. They are so comfy and I love that they look like a popcorn sweater. Click for larger photos.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Flats and Cats



Now that I have a camera again, I thought I'd show some more Repetto flats photos. Our current stray kitten (whom we have found a home for), GG, wanted to be in the photos. He's a regular calendar kitty, isn't he? I haven't seen many grey and tan cats. Click on photos for a closer look!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Below the Knee Skirt, Orange Jacket

orange jacket by Jones New York, skirt from my Mom's closet (circa 1970s), white button-up tuxedo shirt by To The Max, necklace from Express, Fitzwell patent-and-suede pumps


Red-y To Strike! nail polish from OPI's 2008 mini-set for Halloween

This grey below-the-knee skirt one of the few items in my closet I can call Vintage, since it used to be my Mom's. I love this orange velour jacket, it has a high waist though and I'm not sure how flattering the cut is. Fitzwell is a Zappos brand, which I learned when my Mom and I visited their headquarters in Las Vegas in 2009.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

My Skinny Cargos

skinny cargos by Blank Denim, sweater by Guess, suede brown booties by Franco Sarto


I would not have these trendy skinny cargos if I had not won a $100 giftcard to Shopbop! These are from Blank Denim and were an inexpensive way for me to try the trend. They are great! My sweater has a zip front with snaps at the neck. It is a little big but also a winter favorite of mine.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Faith’s Favorite Heels




WHAT: Circa Joan & David patent brown pumps
WHEN: October 2006
WHERE: Las Vegas Macys

My friend and I went to Vegas for a weekend. It was amazingly fun, and was a screen capture of a life about to change.


Details:
• I had known my future husband for three months, and we were talking once a week on the phone.

• I was horribly, tragically sick the entire weekend, with a killer fever, sore throat, and sneezy nose. But I didn’t hold back or stay in the room. We did it all. (Note: if you’re going to get sick, do it on vacation, when you’ve got someone who cleans the room every day, and you don’t have to cook.)


• We spontaneously went to a Van Helsing’s Curse with Dee Snider punk rock concert at the Hard Rock Hotel (this was just before Halloween), which was one of the most beautiful and amazing concerts I’ve ever been to. And I don’t even listen to punk rock.

• My Aunt N. and Uncle D. have lived in Vegas my whole life, which is why I’ve been going there, um, for my whole life. So we got to see them, and that is always fun.

• Both my friend and I love to shop. And the shopping in Vegas is amazing. There we were in the Macy’s shoe department, and I saw them. The most beautiful shoes I had ever seen. I was in love. So much in love that I happily paid the $100, which at that time, was unimaginably expensive for me. But look at them. The shiny leather. The bronze buckle. The perfectly balanced shape. They are comfortable too, and, despite a few scratches over the years, remain my favorite heels. They are amazing. I will always love them, not just because they are beautiful, but because they represent a special time in my life.


Do you have a favorite pair of heels? Do tell!

Friday, October 15, 2010

I Love Wearing Brown in the Fall


button-up shirt by Calvin Klein, cropped plaid pants from LOFT, brown patent heels by Circa Joan & David, Death Star Debris necklace by Deka Ray




Yes, I have this shoe in two colors, black and brown. It has about a one inch block heel, and is perfect for the office. (My husband has suggested I put my business card in the square "slot" on the tops of these shoes. Very funny.)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

My Military Look

black jacket by Calvin Klein, skirt from Anthropologie, heather olive turtleneck by Vince, riding boots by Circa Joan & David, OPI You Don't Know Jacques nail polish



Feeling militant this morning! Wearing my new skirt and turtleneck and excited about wearing boots!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Dressing to Match My Nail Polish

burgandy button-up shirt by Calvin Klein, tweed plaid skirt from LOFT, patent shoes by Circa Joan & David, Zoya Kalista nail polish

Since I had done my nails a brownish dark red, I wanted to match. Found this shirt in my closet, and though not an exact match, was in the same family. Nothing I'm wearing is new, it is all a few years old. The skirt is black with a camel plaid pattern to it. Click for larger photo.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

High-Waisted

black shirt by Calvin Klein, high-waisted pants from Victoria's Secret, suede booties by Calvin Klein, heart onyx necklace by Tiffany & Co.


I didn't know if I could pull off the high-waisted trend, but I bought these purplish-grey cords from Victoria's Secret last fall and really like them. They are comfy. And here's a closeup of my new haircut and highlighting, putting the blonde back into Zealous Blonde.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Channeling Jessica Alba


purple cardi wrap by Splendid, scoopneck burnout t-shirt from J. Crew, Joe's Jeans in Cigarette cut, Botkier handbag, Loeffler Randall skull flats, Ray Ban aviators, necklace from Express


Have you ever seen a celebrity outfit and thought: I have something just like that? I am lacking the adorable child, and all my sandals are packed away, but this is my Jessica Alba outfit.
Click for larger photo.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

My Makeup Secret

Makeup is amazing. It can make you feel like a million. But there is a mind-blowing amount of it out there. Walking into a Sephora or approaching a department store makeup counter is overwhelming to me. How can I be sure I’m getting the good stuff? I used to spend a lot of money because I thought it ensured I was getting a good product.

Years ago, when I was unemployed in Chicago, I found a resource that helped me tremendously. I spent some time at the public library, and discovered a series of makeup books by author Paula Begoun, called The Cosmetics Cop. In these books, she and her team reviewed nearly every makeup and skin product on the U.S. market. They were reviewed for their ingredients, their advertising promises, their value, and how well the makeup worked. I was hooked, looking up everything in my makeup bag, and referring to the books when I needed to make a purchase.

I don’t know if the books are still in print today, but her enterprise has gone online. If you want some truth behind makeup purchases instead of looking to ads, magazine editorials (which are ads in disguise), and the subjective nature of sites like Makeup Alley, my friends, go to beautipedia.com.

The database of makeup and skin care reviews isn’t free - you need an annual subscription. And this is not a sponsored post, this is completely objective ME telling you a little makeup secret. I don’t currently have a subscription, but I did for the past two years. I’d check it out if you’re needing new blush/lipstick/foundation and want to see if there’s a less expensive, equally good drugstore brand out there. It’s kinda like Consumer Reports for beauty products.

Their reviewers will tell you which mascaras are the best value, which skin lotions are full of harsh or irritating ingredients, and which miracle potions really can’t deliver. It’s pretty cool. You can search by price range, brand, or category.

Let me know if this helps you, my friends. And if you have makeup secrets
, please share them!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Great Closet Switch

Autumn has arrived in the midwest.

High temps in the 60s + October = bring out the Fall clothes!

There are some girls who slowly Transition their clothing into fall, pairing summer prints, fabrics and cuts with longer warmer layers. Then there are some girls who just Switch. I am a Switcher. Everything summer and spring in my closet -- clothes, shoes, scarves -- is removed. The fall and winter clothing and shoes that has been in storage replaces it, in one fell swoop. I couldn't wear a pair of shorts now if I tried, because they're all in boxes in our storage closet.

So now I'm curling up in my browns, oranges, olives, tights, boots, corderoy, cashmere, and wool. Loving the closet change and planning my outfit posts for you, my friends, which I'll post as soon as we get a camera!

P.S. I played a part in the rescue of two friendly-but-skinny male cats in the past week! Why are people abandoning their pets?

Monday, October 4, 2010

Clothed with Christ

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:26-28

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. – Romans 13:13-14

What does “clothed with Christ” mean, and how can we practically apply it? We can learn some historical perspective of this term from Albert Barnes’ New Testament Commentary. “The phrase to put on a person, which seems a harsh expression in our language, was one not unfrequently used by Greek writers; and means, to imbibe his principles, to imitate his example, to copy his spirit, to become like him. Thus in Dionysius Halicarnassus the expression occurs, "having put on or clothed themselves with Tarquin;" i.e. they imitated the example and morals of Tarquin. So Lucian says, "having put on Pythagoras;" having received him as a teacher and guide. So the Greek writers speak of putting on Plato, Socrates, etc., meaning to take them as instructers, to follow them as disciples. (See Schleusner.) Thus, to put on the Lord Jesus means, to take him as a pattern and guide, to imitate his example, to obey his precepts, to become like him, etc.

Paul used the term “clothed” a few times in his writings. He used it as a metaphor for immortality, and even for heaven, in 1 Corinthians 15 and II Corinthians 5. Being clothed is becoming something else. Just like we put on clothing, we put on eternity.


For me, there is no piece of clothing I’d rather put on. Designers and styles come and go. The flutter cardi wrap I got last year will look horribly dated in a couple of years. My beautiful sweaters will get holes in them, I could lose my nicest earrings, and my suede booties, despite my caution, will probably get destroyed in the snow. But Jesus will always cover my sin, and he is my righteousness, whom I put all my trust in, and will obey until the end!