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FBFF: What’s in My Bag

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A new visual thing is going on with FBFF these days, to be hosted by members on the Fridays that we don’t do questions any more. The first one is What’s in My Bag hosted by A Pretty Nest. 

I can’t remember ever doing a what’s in my bag before (I know, right? Have I been living under a rock?) so this one was super fun for me!

I’ve been carrying this bag a lot lately because the color feels bright and summery to me, and I like carrying a lighter bag during hot weather. I try not to carry around my computer or camera. Something about a heavy bag seems to weigh me down during the summer– especially on 103 degree days.

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FBFF: Jumpsuits, Cape Dresses & Other Nonsense

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Visit ModlyChic to read Katy’s answers and learn more about Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday!

1. Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?
Yes!  I’ve been looking at far more skirts and dresses, although I’m not sure if that’s because of blogging or leaving college and developing a more grown up style…

2. Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?
I most definitely dress differently than family and friends, and yes they do comment on it. I’m always more formally dressed (and likely to show up in a dress). I do see family and friends of the family most on holidays though, when I feel as if many people dress a little bit more formally.

3. What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?
I secretly like…. cape dresses! But yes, I am not bold enough to wear them. I have really broad shoulders and every time I try a cape dress on I feel like a crazed fashionable superhero. This Alex Wang is ridiculously stunning in person and I have no excuse for walking away from it (other than I felt like a crazed fashionable superhero at the time):

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(via examiner.com)

4. Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?
Okay. So. I would really like to have a 70s-inspired wide leg jumpsuit that’s super flowy and an awesome color. With a halter. But as much as I will wear just about anything, I do not know how I feel about wearing a jumpsuit. Pretty much my ideal jumpsuit (M Missoni, Net-a-Porter) is below, expect maybe I’d like it in a vibrant color:


5. Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?
One of my favorite fashion bloggers right now is Barbro Andersen. She doesn’t follow style rules, likes to play with sizing, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never not liked anything she ever wears.

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?

Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

Hairevolution: The Hairstyle Archives

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Fashion Beauty Friend Friday’s questions deal with hair care this week. I had a lot of fun looking through old photos to find some hairstyles to show you!  These photos span five years from 2006 to 2010.  I’ve fused fashion with this post too and challenged myself to name every visible piece I’m wearing in these photos.

1. How often do you get your hair cut? I’ve gone a year without a haircut before, and I’ve also had my hair cut every 8 weeks to the day.  I’m growing my hair out now, so the last time I had it cut was in February.  I’m thinking maybe end of June for my next cut?

Almost a year’s worth of growth and getting a little shaggy. Spring 2010. Francesca’s Collections shirt, Anthropologie skirt, J.Crew belt.

2. Do you go to the same stylist each time, try someone new, go to the cheap hair cutting chains or live it up in a salon? I have my hair cut by a friend who went to the Paul Mitchell School.  Before she was established she would drop by and cut my hair, but now I go to the salon.  I’d say it’s middle-of-the-road, not cheap or overly glamorous.  It’s fun and trendy and all the stylists have really cool hairstyles.

Beachy waves at the beach. Summer 2009? J.Crew shirt.

3. Do you color your hair? How often? What’s your natural color? Yes!  My natural hair color is brown, and I’m not currently having it highlighted (for the first time in more than ten years).  I go with red or brown when I do color my hair.

Super straight and tousled is my favorite hairstyle ever.  Also dyed red/brown in this photo. Summer 2008. White House Black Market dress, Forever 21 belt.

4. The one thing you always do to keep your hair looking great is: use my Solia flat iron.  Solia makes a great iron that won’t pull your hair.  It damages a lot less than CHI.  I like CHI but I also like versatility and I can curl with my Solia, although lately I’ve been using my old T3 curling iron. My hair’s a little short right now to curl with a 1 ¼ inch flat iron.

Loose waves helped along with a flat iron. Spring 2008. J.Crew sweater, Marc Jacobs bag.

5. What hair trend do you love and wish you could rock? Not that it’s really a trend, but I always wanted to try blonde hair when I was younger.  Blonde is always in style, right?  However, now that I’m seeing grey hair with more frequency I would like it if my hair went completely white at a young age, I think it would be so cool!

Formal style with a curling iron. Spring 2006. Oh no! I forget the name of the label but it’s a Canadian designer, not very well known… almost made it through all the photos too!

Whoaaa bangs!  Jan./Winter 2006. Gap scarf, Jones New York coat.

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?

Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

The Teal Room & FBFF

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So I really like the photos I’ve taken indoors lately and I’m glad I decided to give indoor photography a chance.  I like the dreamlike, softer focus of some of the photos I’ve taken.  My old little Sony takes terrible, flat photos indoors so I used to avoid indoor photography at all costs (even during snowstorms).

This week’s FBFF is about blog pet peeves and these are mine:  autoplay music, that prove-you’re-a-person-verification thing for comments (apparently it’s called CAPTCHA?), ads that have nothing to do with your blog/readership… and the last two are mostly just for style bloggers: too many photos of the same outfit (10+ is kind of excessive) and crazy huge really distracting watermarks.

And read the post that inspired this set of questions for FBFF, 10 Things about your Blog that Drive Me Crazy at Beautifully Invisible!

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?

Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

FBFF: These Lights Will Inspire You

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What inspires me aside from other fashion bloggers?  Most of my other inspiration comes from store displays, department store window displays, people I see on the street, and anything cool that I see anywhere.

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1.  What magazines do you subscribe to?
Ocean Drive is the only one, although I occasionally pick up Vogue, InStyle, Allure, V Magazine, etc. at Barnes and Noble.  I should really think about subscribing to a few magazines because the newsstand prices are so much now.  If you only buy a magazine twice in a year it’s pretty much worth it to get a subscription.

2.  Do you watch any fashion TV shows?
Does Gossip Girl count?  I actually don’t watch that any more.  No, I don’t watch any fashion TV shows (unless The Vampire Diaries counts too).

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3.  Beyond blogs, what websites do you frequent for fashion inspiration?
Chictopia and occasionally LOOKBOOK.nu, but I guess those are pretty much blogs aren’t they?  And Olsens Anonymous.  I also like clothing catalogs (online and paper).

4.  Advertisements play a huge role in forming public opinion about a product or brand… what ads do you like and why?
I’m actually a huge fan of the COCO MADEMOISELLE short films featuring Keira Knightley and the Audrey Tatou CHANEL Nº5 short film.  In general I tend to like perfume commercials because I like the cinematography.  I never buy the perfumes they actually advertise, I’ve been wearing LE LABO VETIVER 46 exclusively since I got it in December. 

5.  Do you own any fashion books?
Yes, far too many!  The Sartorialist, Shoe Love, The Selby Is In Your Place, Louis Vuitton, The Thoughtful Dresser (highly recommended), and The Little Black Book of Style.

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?

Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! xoxo

twenty. four. (and friend friday)

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Another year.  I first wore this dress one year ago.  Not much has changed except the hair and accessories.  I’m headed out of New York for a thoroughly boring weekend in the country… but if left to my own devices in New York I will go shopping.  And it will be bad (Bergdorf Goodman and Lanvin kind of bad, most likely).

This is what I wore to the bridal shower last Sunday, for the second of my friends in my immediate age group to marry.  I’ve been getting to wear my favorite shoes again now that the weather is turning– nude patent just doesn’t seem to work during Northeast winters.  And this week’s FBFF is about shoes!  A topic I’m sure is very near and dear to many of our hearts.

1. What is your go-to pair of shoes?
My nude patent leather platforms from Sofft.  I think I’ve worn them about 200 times in the past year.  Okay maybe not that many, but I wore them practically every day from April – October.  I’m considering buying this season’s updated model with a peep toe.
I don’t tend to spend a large proportion of my wardrobe money on shoes because more expensive shoes tend to be narrow and I just can’t wear them.  I was fortunate to go to a Manolo Blahnik sample sale a few years ago but I couldn’t get my feet into any of the shoes!

I apparently missed the memo about bright shoes for the bridal shower…

2. What goes into your shoe buying decisions?
Quality, price, and the balance.  I can’t wear any shoes that make you feel like you’re leaning forward, it’s just too uncomfortable for me.  My feet are a Disaster-with-a-capital-D from ballet and I have a very unstable left knee.  I’ve learned to spend a little bit more for quality shoes and it definitely helps me out.

3. The majority of the shoes in your closet are what color?
Black.  I even have a ton of black sandals, I guess it’s just a thing?

4. When it comes to design shoes what are your favorite brands and why?
I like Frye, which is pretty much the only brand I’ve stayed with from high school on.  They’re (generally) comfortable and well made.  Cole Haan has decent comfort as well, but I have the hardest time tracking down shoes in wide widths, even at the stores.  I like Sofft for casual, comfortable shoes and Ferragamo for classic shapes.  Dream shoe wardrobe-wise, I would want them all to be Cole Haan, Stuart Weitzman, and Salvatore Ferragamo (all make shoes in wide widths).

5. If price wasn’t an issue, you’d own which shoe?
Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Sandals or custom Sergio Rossi.  I was incredibly tempted by YSL platforms last year (not these Tribute sandals but similar) but the price of YSL shoes is kind of killer at $700+.  Maybe someday.  I’ll have to start filling a very large jar up with spare change for shoes…

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?

Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

FBFF: Fashion + Fitness = …Lululemon?

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1. Do you keep some kind of fitness routine? Why?
I definitely don’t have time for any of the sports I used to do when I was younger,  now I just play tennis in the summer and do a lot of yoga.  I try for Ashtanga yoga 2-3 times/week these days, I used to do 6 but that aggravates my tennis elbow too much.  Why so much yoga?  For the pursuit of stillness, peace, and strength (of both mind and body).

 

King Dancer (also called Lord of the Dance), a personal favorite.

 

2. Has working out, maybe training for a marathon or something of that nature, helped with your own perception of body image?
Going to the yoga studio in Pennsylvania is actually really good with that, even in the high level classes I take.  No one would ever judge anyone in those classes.  It helps that in Ashtanga we’re all internally focused and one of the main concepts is to move at your own pace and level.  In New York it’s not the same, yoga classes are totally cray cray.

3. When you are hitting the gym or just going out for a long walk what do you wear? Is it about functionality or fashion?
It’s definitely a bit of both.  Tennis outfits have been getting way more fashionable in the past few years and I definitely must admit to owning several matching skirts and shirts.  I would rather have looser clothing, actually, but I feel like most athletic wear isn’t made that way.  And it’s not good to wear things that are too loose in yoga because teachers can’t see to correct a form problem that could potentially cause an injury.

My favorite yoga shirt is definitely not a yoga shirt at all, but it was on sale for $8 at tobi.com (Alternative Apparel).

4. Do you feel there is a cultural perception of what you ‘should’ be doing for your own physical fitness?
That depends a lot on socioeconomic status and general lifestyle, I think.  In general, extremes tend to pervade in the U.S. with gluttony and extreme fitness at either end.  I don’t really feel like I “should” be doing anything, but then again I’ve always been an athletic type.

5.  Dream big… what would be your ultimate fitness goal.
I would just like to not be constantly fighting three injuries.  I don’t care about too much else.  I’d love to be able to get into one legged king pigeon (above) and king pigeon pose in yoga, but that’s for someday when (if) I’m not struggling with the limitations of my knee.

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{king pigeon, Yoga Journal}

P.S. I don’t have anything Lululemon.  Maybe one day, but it’s just not cost effective.

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?

Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

 

Brights and Neutrals + FBFF First Questions

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Have to be honest, this is not one of my favorite outfits.  You ever have a day when you just feel uncomfortable with what you’re wearing?  I felt really conspicuous the entire day.  It’s because I don’t think the skirt is neutral (light) enough to go with the punchy red shirt.  I felt kind of garish or something.

This scarf is a recent addition.  It’s Oscar de la Renta via Etsy, and yes, scarves totally have something to do with Pay It Forward.  I actually have one more spot available for that, email me if you’d like the last thing handmade by me (but you also have to pay it forward to five people on your blog).

The questions this week are the original ones that FBFF launched with.  I wasn’t part of FBFF at its beginning so they’re new to me!

1. Which celebrity (celebrities) do you look to for fashion inspiration?
Does Carolina Engman count?  She’s totally a blogging celebrity, right?  Lately she’s inspired me to shop for neon colors when so many of the stores in the U.S. are showing very oatmeal neutrals.  And Rumi Neely, although I wouldn’t necessarily wear the same things she does.

2. When it comes to your own personal style, what inspires you?
My fellow style bloggers inspire me much more than celebrities or blogging celebrities, actually.  Most of us don’t get gifted things all the time or attend Fashion Week.  I like to see everyday fashion more than anything else.  However, runway trends do inspire me (hello, neon and bright colors).

Anna Betty Caitlin Garance Hanh Jane Jessica Katy Kendi Lydia Shenneth Stephanie Terra Yeri


3. How do you hope to inspire your readers?
It’s nice that I sometimes inspire my readers but I don’t think it’s really necessary to inspire other people with my blog.  I just hope they like what I’m doing.  I think among style bloggers it’s often the case that we appreciate each others’ personal styles even if they aren’t our own.  Essentially we just want to see what we’re all wearing.

4. Outside the realm of fashion who/what inspires you?
The weather.  No, seriously.  Whenever it rains I want to wear neon in protest.  Also photography, especially nature and wildlife.  Almost every day I go around and take photos constantly with my iPhone or Fred or my old Sony, whatever I have.  And I don’t know if they’re for inspiration or if the photographer in me just sees beauty everywhere.  Usually I just forget about them until I’m browsing the camera roll on the train or something.  All the photos in this post are iPhone photos taken in the past few months (bonus points if you can figure out exact locations).

5. And since Idol is ending… Which songs inspire you?
…I have no idea what’s going on with American Idol right now, I totally haven’t watched that since Kelly Clarkson.  Right now Queen, Adele, Lissie, and Florence And The Machine feature heavily on my playlist.  Along with some Stevie Wonder, Soft Cell, Steely Dan, and Gin Blossoms sprinkled in.

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?
Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!


FBFF: Oh The Places You’ll Go

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Congratulations on the one year anniversary of FBFF, Katy! We wouldn’t be here without you! In honor of the anniversary, this week our questions are about gratitude.
 

1.  When it comes to be personally – I owe a lot of who I am to: my parents for enriching my experiences as much as they possibly were able throughout my early life.  I definitely don’t think I’d be the same person if I didn’t travel as much as I did when I was younger and to so many different places!

 

 

 

 

2. When it comes to be professionally – I owe a lot of who I am to: so… I don’t actually have a career, I just switched career tracks from international politics to fashion and fine jewelry.  But I expect to owe a lot to the companies I intern and work for.  Now to find that job…

 

{I wear cool things at work.}

 

3. When it comes to the art of blogging, I’m grateful to these people for helping me through some rough spots: I’m really grateful to have started out on Chictopia because I met some great blogger friends I’m still in contact with even if I don’t use Chictopia as much any more.  Chictopia gave me a really good foundation in photo style and blogging. Also, my early readers (hello, tumblrs), but really I’m just grateful to you all, the whole community is so wonderful.

 

4. One blogging challenge I’m grateful happened because it made me stronger was… I’ve never done 30 for 30, but I intend to one day!  Seriously though, I’ve never had an international magazine steal my photos, been stalked by trolls, infringe on my blog name or any other really serious blogging challenge so I’m not quite sure what to say.  I feel like I’ve never had to face anything big yet… maybe in the future?  I hope it goes over gracefully…

 

5. To my readers, I’d like to say… thank you!  For reading, commenting, anything, everything.  And especially for making me feel like I’m not just burping up stuff to fly off and be lost into cyberspace somewhere. It’s nice to have so many friends I otherwise would never have known.

 

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?
Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

 

P.S.  Sorry I didn’t reply to comments last week, I just figured that out.  Also, checked out those Payless platforms from last week, really uncomfortable across the toes if you have wide feet.  If your feet are N or M though then go for it!

 

I hope you all enjoy the weekend (especially if you’re lucky enough to be at Coachella)!