Too much J. Crew

I've been using J.Crew catalogs for a lot of my snowflakes and I think it's starting to get ingrained. I keep having this urge to wear layers of sweaters and baggy things, topped with gaudy jewelry. Sweatpants and heels keep coming to mind as well. You so crazy, J.Crew.

I wore this to my friend's birthday party. We had hors d'oeuvres and everyone brought wine, because after a while you realize it is the cheapest and quickest way to get drunk, while looking classy and grown up the whole time. Wine + Good People= Fantabulous time.



One thing I should point out: my outfit is not vegan. I think I am wearing four different kinds of animals. I just bought the cashmere (goat) hat at J.Crew for $20. Such a great color AND easily seen in the snow, just in case we have another blizzard. The rabbit fur stole has been featured before, as has the sheep's wool jumpsuit, and the leather Vince Camuto boots. Yup, that's four. Thanks Creatures, have a nice evening!

Hopefully, after all this borrowing of fur and hair (I plan to give it all back of course), I will be warm for once. The cold always finds its way under my layers.

In these photos:
Vince Camuto boots
Donna Karan jumpsuit
J.Crew hat
Forever21 skirt

CRAFT: Waxed Paper Snowflakes

I present to you, my favorite busy-work craft: paper snowflakes!!

I wax mine to help preserve them! This means they are stiffer, less likely to tear, and can either be taped to a window or hung in a tree.

To start, you will need the following:
1. Recycled or decorative paper. The thicker it is, the harder it is to fold, so I recommend notebook paper or equivalent weight. Catalog pages & origami paper work well!
2. Sharp, pointy scissors
3. A pencil
4. Some string or thread
5. Old candles
6. Old pan
7. Chopstick or other stick that is good for poking
8. Tin foil
9. Glitter, to taste


Then follow these steps:
Cut a square from your paper and fold it into a triangle 3 times. The picture shows four but that's because I fold one corner over and then the next so I get a good crease. It's still just three times.


Make sure the opening is at the top and cut the top into a rounded shape.

Draw a pattern onto one side and start cutting!


Voila!


(Next part of project is NOT KID FRIENDLY)
I really like my snowflakes and want them to be immortal, so I dip them in wax. This is obviously where the candle wax comes in. Start by melting the wax in the old pan on low heat. My stove's settings are 1 thru 10, so I usually put it on 2 or 3. Get a sheet of tin foil ready on the counter next to the stove. When the wax is completely melted, place your snowflake in the pan and push it down with your stick or pencil. Don't use something nice because it will be covered in wax.


When it is completely saturated, carefully take it out of the pan with your stick and gently shake it above the pan to remove excess wax. Now set it on the tin foil to cool. If it gets stuck, just carefully pry it off using your fingernails. You may need to change the tin foil from time to time.


After it is cool, I usually dip it a second time to make sure it's really well coated. At this point you can decide whether to add glitter or not. Fine glitter works best. Simply dip the snowflake like you did before, but sprinkle with glitter before it cools.


If you plan on hanging your snowflakes or tying them to gifts, you can add a bit of thread or ribbon. If taped to a window, the tape can be easily removed.

Happy Holidays!

Gather 'round class

It's time for sharing!

Time to rethink this ol' blog. As much as I love changing outfits and posting photos about my indecision, it's high time I share my other hobbies and thingies that I'm fond of. I wasn't sure exactly where this blog would go when I started it, but I definitely believed that, at some point, it would involve my craftiness.

I've been changing outfits since I figured out how to open a dresser door. The next things I learned to do were drawing and making. Again, thanks mom, for the things you subjected me to as a child. Subscriptions of Victorian Magazine and Martha Stewart cookbooks were always around. My mom made Croquembouche for my sister's baptism, which is a bit higher than I aim, but inspirational nonetheless. Anyhoo, Martha Stewart's beautiful creations are cemented deep in my memory (and of course, I have a subscription).



My point IS, I'm gonna start blogging about the stuff I make! I am more prolific in the Winter, so it makes sense. Fashion in the Spring, Summer, and early Fall, and crafts and as much fashion as I can fit in, during the dreary months.

A How-To post is coming very soon :)

No excuse

I've been busy. The light is terrible. They'll just turn out crappy. It's too cold. I'm too tired. Etcetera.


I need to get back on the ball, even if all the photos have to be taken in my bedroom with my shitty flash. I will just have to pretend I'm in an American Apparel photo shoot (look forward to my new section "Catie Exploited!" Joking). Also, lets not even mention the fact that I forgot about posting last weeks Covet. Oh, and the week before. Ok, so I guess I do have an excuse for last week, but not for any other weeks. I'm blathering.


Anyway, it's cold here still. Above freezing, but so damp and chilly. Layering is key. I decided I needed more long sleeves in my life so I went and found some deals at a local thrift store. I bought the featured GAP turtleneck and a Merino turtleneck from Express's Design Studio (or something) for a whopping $7 total. Pretty sweet deal. I bought new earrings (that you can't really see) from one of my favorite local jewelry designers. The company is called Crow&Iris and they have a table at the Fremont Sunday Market, although this is not where I originally discovered their goods. The first pair of Crow&Iris earrings were purchased at Meadow, which I've mentioned before. They are one of my favorite pairs of earrings, so I was really excited to meet the designers.

Hope everyone has had a good start to their Holiday Season!

In these photos:
GAP turtleneck
American Apparel dress
Vintage leggings
Vince Camuto boots
Crow&Iris earrings

Oh Lordy

Seattle has been hit by some VERY early winter weather. First, let me say that we rarely get any snow. Second, when we do, omigod, the panic! The entire city shuts down. Currently, my boyfriend is stranded downtown, because his bus never came. Luckily, we have a friend who lives about 2 blocks from the bus stop my boyfriend was at. Who know's when he, or anyone else will get home. We have dubbed it "Snowpocalypse 2: Snowmeggedon."

Did I mention that we have about two inches of snow?

Now down to business. One of fave songs inspired this post, "Head Over Heels" by Tears for Fears. I watched the video and was very inspired by the Eighties-ness of it. The "love interest" is this librarian who is impeccably styled. Crisp, structured blouse; full black skirt; brown frames; a haircut similar to the one I had when I was 5. The bangs go on for forever (thanks Mom, nice work with the bowl). Somehow the haircut works really well in combo with the huge glasses. I love the whole look and decided to share it with you all. Here's the "Literal Version" of the video, which is pretty well done.



AND here's my Polyvore version!

Head Over Heels by catiebeatty featuring plastic sunglasses

ANTM

This is it. We're down to two contestants on America's Next Top Model Cycle 15. This is the one show I watch religiously. Wednesdays are my night to completely dork out. "Sorry, can't tonight. It's ANTM," has come out of my mouth more times than I would like to admit. So the two finalist are Chelsey and Anne, which in the beginning, would have been surprising to know.


Chelsey is really a classic beauty. Blonde, fair, good bone structure, but she doesn't really stand out when it comes to looks. She's definitely improved though! She's getting stronger in her modeling, she knows the profession; she's confident, competitive, ethical and honest. She's not my favorite, though.

Anne is my favorite, and has been from the start. Like Mr. Talley said on the show, she has some sort of super natural force propelling her forwards. I watch her through the entire episode and she is shy and gawky and doesn't really look like a model and then you see her photos at panel and they are just magic! If you've been watching the show, you've been hearing this all season, so I will keep it short.



I must say though, I find her very relatable. I didn't realize how shy I was until I reached my twenties. I had no idea I was so quiet. To me, I'm always interacting with people, but come to find out observing people doesn't count as being social really! Anyway, it was kind of hard to hear the judges tell Anne and Jane they have no personality when that is not what it is at all. Their personalities are reserved, quiet, perceptive, and observant, but these are hard attributes to pick out when placed next to the attributes of an extrovert. Anne is still so young. She still has time to grow and her personality is still going to evolve regardless of what she is doing or where she is. I hope the judges can see that there is a real possibility of her evolving into a much more outgoing person and give her the title.



For those of you who have been watching, who do you want to win? Who do you wish were still in the running?

I wish Kayla was still on the show! Such a pretty girl! I don't think she's Top Model, but I think she's very good.

Finally!

So one hundred years ago I blogged about getting ready for a wedding in Texas. Now I am really old and have finally found pictures from that wedding. I would like to share them with you all :)

I decided on the dress Trevor's mom had given me. It used to belong to Trevor's grandmother, Letty. She has trouble getting around now, so the wedding photographer took some Prom-style pictures of me and my boyfriend, so she could see the dress. The reason I didn't post these sooner is that the photographer wanted $12 a print!! Luckily, the bride posted them on her Facebook, so I just saved them to my computer. That's all I really wanted to do anyway. I don't need hard copies. I have a nice print of me at the plantation, and that's all I need. It will probably be sent to my dad for Christmas.

Anyway, the dress. It's about 50 years old and was purchased in Bermuda. Letty decided she MUST have it when she noticed another navy wife eyeing it at the commissary. Mallory, Trevor's sister, used it for dress-up when she was little, and now it has been handed down to me. The lace bodice is the most perfect aged beige. I'm not totally sure it was ever perfectly white, though. I felt so classically feminine. I wore pearls and pink lipstick :)


This picture cracks me up. So far, the majority of people who have seen it immediately go "Douche." Even me. It's in the most loving of ways though! He looked pretty slick :) Got his hair cut and his beard shaved and topped it all off with those sweet Ray Bans and a skinny American Apparel tie.

In these photos:
Vintage dress
Vintage belt
New Look wedges
Michael Kors jacket
American Apparel tie & shirt
Ray Ban "Boyfriend" sun glasses

COVET.

"Tripod" is Numero Uno on my Christmas list: I need a tripod. BADLY. There is absolutely no natural light coming into my apartment anymore, so I'm going to have to venture outside. A tripod would be much easier to carry than the bookshelf I am currently using to prop up my camera.

Anyway, repeated apologies for my absence.

This week's COVET. is not horrendously priced, but I am so low on funds right now, it might as well be $1,200. In reality it's only $140 and is what experts like to call a "Comme des Garcons wallet." But that is just the technical term. The locals refer to it as "Oooh pretty!" This specimen features embossed leather, gold hardware, and a separate pocket for coins.



Let's face it, this is about as close as I can get to affording Comme des Garcons anything, but it is still not close enough. Really, I could have picked anything this week, and it would have been out of my reach, but I must remember another rule of COVET. is that it must be nice too! It must be something that other people might drool over as well, and from what I can tell, people like CdG. They make very nice high-quality leather goods in wonderful colors. What else could you want? ...Don't say vegan leather. That is just vinyl. It's like saying vegetarian hot dogs are good for you. You know what else is full of soy? Gas station food.

Annnyway. My point is, I am broke because I went to H&M like 5 times in a week.

If you are interested in seeing more wonderful Comme des Garcons products, I recommend visiting Blackbird's website. They're one of my favorite local boutiques here in Seattle. Nice guys, even nicer stuff!

Hope everyone is enjoying their November :)

Oh geez

I'm not dead, I swear! I lost count, but I'm pretty sure I worked like 14 days in a row. The only way someone can survive that is if the days are like 4 or 5 hours long. It always worked out that I was gone when there was good lighting. I've been shopping like crazy. I think it's the time of year (dark, cold, close to Christmas). I've found many treasures and had many adventures.

Anyway, I hope to have an actual post up soon. I miss it a lot.

Hope you have all been well :)

Always,
Catie

COVET.

Introducing Chloe's silk crepe de Chine shirt dress. This is the epitome of my taste in clothes. Simple, soft, understated, yet still luxe. (Not to say this always translates. Sometimes it comes off as just understated and mostly boring.) This dress is also the perfect example of why I love Chloe; the perfect balance of glamor and practicality. I just read Net-A-Porter's description of this dress and my statements are confirmed: "Perfect understated elegance..." Judging by the photos on Net-A-Porter, it looks even better on than when it's on the hanger.



There are two reasons I will never own this dress: 1. There are only size sixes left on Net-A-Porter. Oh, and 2. It costs $1,990. It comes with the little leather belt, so I guess it's like getting two items for, well, $1000 a piece.

I think I will try talking my dad into buying this as my wedding gown... I can already hear him laughing at me.

I guess I will be happy with Chloe Intense. At $98, it's a tad more affordable, and it smells the way I like to imagine the Chloe design firm does. If cashmere and silk had a smell, it would be this.


Chloe Intense is available at Nordstrom
The dress is available at Net-A-Porter

Humor

For my boyfriend, a fort made of Filsons...



If there is anything I love more than the stuff I love, it's when people who love similar stuff make fun of said stuff. In this case, it is fashion, specifically menswear.

Anyway, check out this hilarious blog:
Fuck Yeah Menswear

We've been laughing for too long and too loud. Our neighbors are probably a little peeved.

Rouge

I needed more red in my life, so I bought this sweater. It's thin, but I like sweaters that way. I like to think I will layer them one of these days, when it is extra cold outside.

Other colors I need more of:
Teal
Forrest green
Peachy-pinks
Beige
White

What colors do you feel are missing from your life?



I feel that the majority of my posts are about colors. They are the most obvious aspect of a piece of clothing, so it makes them easy to write about.

Lately, I've really been enjoying my brooches. Turns out I have quite a few; most of them never worn. I seem to be missing my favorite. It is a bug, but not a real bug. It's sterling silver with a green amber body. I got it for my 17th or 18th birthday. The one in the pictures is real, its exoskeleton being affixed to a gold body, and is of the genus Chrysochroa. I'm not sure which species though. We have similar beetles here that are in the same family, Buprestidae, but they are around 1/2 inch long, instead of 1 1/2 inches. I can't recall where exactly I find this pin; probably in my dad's things or at an estate sale.

In these photos:
GAP wool sweater
American Apparel Harem Pants
Rabbit Fur Stole
Madden Girl heels
MAC lipstick

Secret Party!

Success!

I threw a surprise party for my boyfriend this weekend. He would never agree to a party or birthday celebration, so his sister and I were forced to go behind his back. It was a lot of fun. A couple friends asked me the usual "What did you do today?" to which I replied "I worked at the cafe and lied to Trevor. A lot."

The theme was Trevor-themed, which meant everyone dressed up like him (denim, plaid, and denim) and we put cowboy decorations up and wore fake mustaches. Our friend Tara made him a cake based on his favorite cookies: molasses and ginger snaps. It was amazing and I'm sad I left the rest at the party.

I stole his Cheap Monday jeans (fit perfectly!) and a vintage Wrangler I bought for him a while back. I topped it off with my vintage cowboy boots and a belt he brought back from Texas for me.

As always, Trevor looked a little like a bum. A bum who is wearing $650 worth of Bum Brand clothing. He had on his Wings & Horn sweatshirt (which he gets a lot of comments on), A.P.C. jeans, and Lucchese horse-leather boots. Really, I don't think I would know about these brands if it weren't for my boyfriend. They seem to be brands that are real popular among guys, and not so much among the ladies. I have an appreciation for A.P.C., though. I'm always drawn to their stuff when I'm at Blackbird in Ballard.

New Feature: COVET.

Introducing my new, weekly feature: COVET. Every week (hopefully) I will feature a new lust-worthy item. Mostly I will focus on beautiful, high-quality items that I cannot afford, or won't ever own for some other reason (unless I steal them, hence the title!).

Now for my first Covet. item: Zip Leather Gloves by J. Crew. I've been thinking about these gloves since I saw them the store Downtown. They are not completely unaffordable, but I can't bring myself to spend $98 on them, and I would feel guilty if someone spent that much on them for say Christmas or something. I think it comes down to visuals, but I can't justify something that small costing $98.

Now that I've whined about the price enough, let me tell you how amazing they are! They are nice leather. Nice. The softest leather you have felt since you pawed at that Miu Miu bag in Barney's. Buttery soft, the way leather should be. The inside is lined with cashmere and the zipper is, get this, gold-plated. I am going to assume that means actual gold, but since gold-plated items usually aren't stamped there's no way I can guarantee they don't simply mean "fancy gold-colored metal plated." But it is J. Crew and they are $98, so it's probably real gold. Now I really want them. Maybe if I just keep telling myself "At least they are not $680 Hermes gloves!" then I will feel OK about $98.



Zip Leather Gloves by J. Crew, $98

Default

I think for everyone, there is a color palette that suits them best, but it's more about preference than anything. For me it's the primary colors, and then neutrals like black, brown, white and navy. I can't wear camel or most pastels. I know as a blond with a pale, rosy complexion I am suppose to wear blue and gray eye shadows and lipsticks from the cool palette (e.g. magenta). I don't know about you, but I look like a hooker circa 1992 if I try to wear those colors. Who came up with those rules?

I just Googled "Color Analysis" and now I'm pretty confused. I seem to be Spring, Summer, and possibly Winter too. Lord knows. I don't think it really works to put people in categories like that, when what it really comes down to is what you like and what you think looks good. I'm skeptical about "having your colors done" because when I look in each category there is a color that I'm told I should wear that I know for a fact makes me look washed out and/or pasty. Likewise, I am told to not wear colors that I know look stunning on me (black, for instance. It looks great on everyone!) I went to the website for the original "get your colors done" company (Color Me Beautiful), and they actually said "You should never dress in vivid or saturated colors..." Shame on anyone who would ever tell someone that!

Anyway, maybe there's a science behind personal colors, but they make it sound so strict. Sometimes the rules apply, but most of the time they don't. I think it has more to do with magnetism and instinct, and less to do with light absorption and reflection and how colors would look on you if you were a picture painted on a piece of paper. Human beings are not made of ink, our molecules reflect light to create color and the receptors in our eyes pick these up as either red, blue, or green. Not red, yellow, and blue. We were taught red, yellow, and blue in school, because that is how you make paint colors. It isn't, however, how you make the green of a pine needle or the orange of a parrot's feathers. Anyway, I think I'm getting in over my head. Color and color perception are quite complicated. There are the primaries that make paint, the primary lights, and the primary inks used in printing (cyan, magenta, yellow). My boyfriend and I started discussing it, but got stuck on perception and how all these areas interact with each other.

What do you all think? Are there certain colors that you tend to gravitate towards? have you ever had your colors done (I laugh a little every time I say that)? I would love to hear from anyone who has studied color further than I did in my Physics class for non-science majors, haha.



In this series:
American Apparel leotard
Vintage canvas belt
Vintage velvet skirt
Wool beret
Payless shoes

Time

Garnet, coral, and sterling silver. Hanging on a Vileroy & Boch herb pot.

I wish I had more time for art, but earrings are better than nothing! I've made two pairs in the past couple weeks and also repaired some things for a friend. I have plans to start on Christmas gifts. We'll see if anything actually happens, haha.



Vintage plastic from Czech Republic

Grumpy-pants

So I finally have stuff to post and it's been like a bazillion years, but does my internet want to cooperate? NOOOO SIR! Also, I am sooo grumpy, but it is because I'm stressed. My poor boyfriend. He came home last night and I just whined about money and then started crying because I hated my legs more than usual. Then I would just get mad when he would try to comfort me, because deep down I knew I was being ridiculous! Pity Parties really only have one guest, and that guest is yourself.

BUT I am a little bit more cheerful, because I finally had a chance to take pictures! I actually took pictures two days in a row! I will probably post again tonight, after I have dinner with my Dear Ashley. Going to one of my favorite places: Rosebud on Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill is probably Center Of The Universe #2. London is Center Of The Universe #1

About the outfit. I've been wearing this new tweed jacket like 3+ times a week. It fits so perfectly!! Found the shorts at a swap meet in Houston. They came with a jacket, but I decided it was too big, so I swapped it on Chictopia.com. Now I have to ship it to Japan :(

Wedding attire

I'm flying out to Texas for a wedding this weekend. When I asked what the color scheme was I was told "Teal and shrimpy." My first thought was "Eww." and I had this image in my head:



But I decided to go on Polyvore to see if I could make it work, and whaddya know? They're a great match!

teal/shrimp by catiebeatty featuring a double wrap belt

Now if only I had ANY of these pieces. The garments I do have in these colors are too warm for Texas :( It's going to be 82 degrees with 60% humidity. That means no fur stole for me *double sad face*

More maxi please

I was downtown with a friend.
Him: "Man, I can't wait till the maxi skirt thing is over."
Me: "Shut up."



In this post:
Vintage sweater
Thrifted cotton jersey skirt
Fairy Tales Are True shoes
Handmade earrings

And talk about the weather

Oh man, I have not been keeping up with things! Mostly, it's due to the fact that there hasn't been adequate lighting, but I've also been out and about during the time I usually takepictures. And did I mention my keyboardis fallingapart? As you can see, my space bar is on its last legs. I also just bought a new mouse that can plug into my computer as the one on my keyboard is nearly dead. I guess I must really pound when I'm typing!

The weather here is ca-razy. Cold and blustery one minute, sunny and 70 degrees the next! The humidity has been ridiculous. Believe it or not, we aren't really used to humidity here, at least not the warm kind. Anyway, it's been hard to dress appropriately. It's been so warm and balmy that you can't, or don't want to wear a coat or anything with long sleeves, but then it has also been raining a lot, which makes it hard to go out with exposed skin. Ok, I will stop complaining because today it lovely: sunny, warm, and not humid! I'm ready for scarf weather though!

I wrote this for a contest entry on Chictopia:
Color is one of the most important aspects of styling and design. It’s a building block and can set the whole mood for an outfit. It can communicate a message, a feeling, a position. It can transport you to another time and place. Humans are visual creatures and the information we take in through our eyes has a huge impact on what we think and feel. This is why color is my foundation. I prefer a balance of neutral shades and vibrant colors.The outfit in my photo is a perfect example. I wear dark neutrals from head to toe and then top it off with a bag that features rich jewel tones. The burgundies, golds, and emeralds really stand-out against the brown and black but they also relate. They’re lively, but have an earthiness to them, which connects to the brown.

In this post:
Wool-blend Cardigan by Harmonic
Thrifted oxford shirt
GAP stirrup pants
Nordstrom Comfort Construction shoes
Thrifted duffel bag

Fall Decorum by catiebeatty featuring suede shoes