Look of the Day: Dots & Denim

Life has been so busy! I accepted a small promotion at work and, even though I'll still be part time, the training is pretty extensive. It also means my job will be moving to one of the other neighborhoods in Seattle. I nannied there for 4 years, so I'm pretty excited to be back in the old 'hood. It's a nice one; lots of great coffee shops (like the rest of Seattle), upscale gift shops, yet very family-oriented. And I'll be right next to Trader Joe's! I'll never run out of their coffee again!

In other news, I watched like seven hours of X-Files on Friday. It was my one day off.

Oasap let me pick out a few things from their Summer line and I was very excited when this dotted blouse arrived in the mail. I love how random the spots are. It's very fun to wear. I also ordered this sparkly, green and gold bracelet, but I' have had a chance to style it yet.

Oasap Flounce Dotted Blouse - Thrifted St. John's Bay jeans (similar) - vintage purse (similar) - Arizona Sneakers - Vintage Nordstrom sunglasses (similar)

Things: Current Favorites

Who know's what my favorite things will be next week, but here are my current obsessions:

Arizona Skye Slingbacks:

I've just discovered JCPenney's shoe department. I'm impressed by both the selection and the ridiculously-low sale prices. These sandals are $13.99 right now! They're crazy comfortable, too.

Josie Maran Argan Oil:

Probably my biggest skin care splurge to date, but I've decided my beauty mantra is "Face and feet". I want to take good care of both, so while I have the money, I'm gonna do just that! Argan oil is kind of a miracle serum. It's soothed my itchy, irritated skin (too much make-up? Laundry detergent? Who knows). I use a drop on dry hair to enhance shine and tame flyaways, and it's also healed my split cuticles. Nuff said.

MAC Lipstick in Sushi Kiss:

This lipstick is almost neon in real life. It looks much more sensible in the picture. I love it either way.

 Champagne Drops:

From The Confectionery in University Village. Just slightly fruity, soft, but not super gummy like a gum drop. They're quite pleasant. I had them at my wedding reception and they're one of the few things I paid full price for.

Slice o' Amethyst:

I bought this necklace off Chictopia a couple months ago. I wasn't sure how to style it at first, mostly because I find jewelry to be overwhelming. Now I've decided to just wear it with everything. Why not, right? It's a total conversation starter.

♠

#4 orange/coral

Orange/Coral by catiebeatty featuring retro shades

Orange & Coral lips were seen on many of the runways this spring, including Marc Jacobs and Nanette Lepore.

This shade is great because it works on a lot of skin tones. Warm oranges and corals bring out warm tones in anyone's skin! Also, similarly to the bright pink, it stands out so much that a lot coloring rules don't count anymore.

Try MAC's Morange or Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren. Pair with liquid liner and mascara for a bold & bright vintage look.

#2 burgundy/maroon

burgundy/maroon by catiebeatty featuring bikini bathing suits

Maybe bright is the wrong word for this lipstick shade, but we can all agree, it is anything but dull! This bold look was seen at YSL's Spring 2011 show, as well as on the runways at Louis Vuitton.

Dark burgundy and maroon lips are harder to pull off, but can look amazing if done correctly. I think it looks best on very pale or very dark complexions. If you're pale and NOT a model (like me) try for a very simple eye. A little bit of eyeliner or mascara is all you need. I also use Clinique's Redness Reducing Powder to even out my skin tone and give me an even fairer complexion.

Try YSL's No. 151 "Sweet Dark" or MAC's "Velvet Teen". I own "Viva Glam" from MAC, but I'm not sure if it's still available in stores.

Side Note: OMG I'M GETTING MARRIED IN AN HOUR! WHY AM I BLOGGING?? Seriously, this is the most laid back wedding day ever. Thank you all for your warm wishes and kind words :) I'm glad I can share this day with such a great community!

#1: Pink/Fuchsia

This week I have a little series planned. I love all the lipstick colors that are out right now, so I've made Polyvore sets for four of my favorite shades and written little articles for each. Enjoy!

Pink/Fuchsia by catiebeatty featuring a zip handbag

Neon pink and fuchsia lips have been popping up all over the place lately! Everyone from the models at the Spring 2011 Jil Sander show to Emma Stone have been donning this vibrant yet wearable color.

This color is so bright that it kind of breaks all the skin tone rules out there. I'm pretty sure anybody can pull off this look! It looks lovely paired with soft pastels, but can also be worn with other bold colors.

Try MAC's Lipstick in "Quite Cute". If you can find it! It's been very popular and has sold out at many MAC counters. If you can't find it or prefer something cheaper, try Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipcolor in "Fuchsia Fever." I own this one and it is pretty much identical to the MAC shade. Pair with eyeliner and false lashes for a super flirty look.

Stuck in a rut

A soft, sexy rut. I can't stop wearing tights and stockings.


They're all I want to wear. Mostly I think it's because I have "image issues" when it comes to my legs, and I've found I really like my legs in all those cozy, sheer, gossamer layers.



I will try to limit myself to one posting a week featuring this combo.

On a side note, I'm also in love with my new vintage bracelet. Real costume jewelry! For only a dollar! For serious!



In these photos:
MAC lipstick
GAP cardigan
Forever21 Stockings
Cooperative wedges
Vintage hat
Thrifted scarf
H&M Lace Vest

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

Velvet

Here's another one of my recent finds. It's all sorts of awesome and I fall more in love with it every day. On top of having usable pockets, it also has leather shanks on the sleeves and as front closures. It' also fits me absolutely perfectly in the shoulders and the sleeve length is dead on. I'm not sure if it's my frame (I'm on the small and short side of sizes) or just the way American blazers are made now, but I have the hardest time find blazers, coats, jackets, etc. that will fit me properly. It's a little roomy in the waist, but shoulder and sleeve are crucial bits of tailoring when it comes to dress shirts and blazers. I would almost say that nothing else matters when it comes to jackets and blazers. Dress shirts also need to be fitted properly in the chest and waist because these have to be buttoned up, but blazers can be left open if they're not perfect in those areas.

I plan to live in this blazer come Fall.

In this picture:
Vintage velvet blazer
Danskin body suit
Forever21 skirt
Thrifted leather belt
MAC lipstick
Madden Girl Pumps

Enchilada Pie

For now, this vintage sweater has been put back in my closet. It was in a give-away bag for quite some time, but now I'm not sure whether I want to give it away or not. It has such a nice drape to it, but I'm not a fan of the thickness. Sometimes it adds too much bulk. The chambray romper is such a gem. My sister and I found it down in Phoenix. If you ever get down there, make sure you hit up a Goodwill or two. They all have an amazing selection of vintage treasures!

In this photo:
Vintage cardigan by BASICS
Romper by Dreams
Mattene Lipstick from MAC in "Orange Dare"
Shoes are super cheap, thrifted

Lips

All of a sudden I'm very into lipstick, glosses, especially stains. I never wear them on a regular basis, but when I'm buying them I like to pretend that I will. I recently bought this lipstick from MAC. My plan is to do a just-bitten look applied with a lip brush, but I think I need a good matte nude lipstick first to wear as a base.

Just this last Sunday I bought a Just Bitten lip stain by Revlon. I was disappointed that the color was nothing like what it showed on the tube. It goes by the name "Flame" and it is NOT a coral-red it is simply bright pink. My boyfriend liked it, but I am not a fan. I might exchange it for a different color. Lip stains are lovely because they don't make me talk funny. I get so worried that I will mess up my lipstick that I sometimes feel like I have paralyzed lips.

In this pic:
Lipstick by MAC in Viva La Glam
Top is vintage, found at a garage sale