chicfaced

sunnies - ebay/dress- target/scarf - pucci/platforms - jessica simpson

yep, i did it. i finally got my hands on the jessica simpson dany platforms. and i love these bitches. i haven’t worn them out yet, but i have been practicing walking in them around the house and i gotta say, it’s not so much the height that takes getting used to (thanks to the platform); it’s the weight! kind of like wearing wooden blocks on your feet. which makes for some serious clomping wherever you walk. anyway, they really aren’t as scary as i thought they would be and i am loving the extra five inches.

just playin dress-up here, although this is an outfit i totally intend to wear at some point. and i’d been in the mood lately for the pucci scarf so i figured i’d just mod myself out while showing off the shoes.

till next time, xoxo,

laura

Well ya’ll, Friday was officially my last day working at the art gallery.  I am currently, 100%, fully self-employed.  Yikes!  Last week was sort of a whirlwind with multiple birthday celebrations, art openings, last days and an Easter Feaster.  It was a lovely week but now it’s crunch time, getting ready for an April 23rd Grand Opening!

This outfit is from last Thursday – the day of my very last art opening as a gallery employee!

urbn vest, f21 tank, bcbg skirt, dolce vita wedges, f21 earrings

I snagged this gray purple-ish vest at urban outfitters when we were in Georgetown a couple weekends ago and I l-o-v-e love it!  I’ve already worn it 3 times, with 3 different outfits, and I’ve been really happy with how versatile it is. It will def be in constant rotation.

ruffles!

Last Fall when I purged my closet of the undesirables and decided I’d only let back in the things I truly, really loved, I also decided to not buy any more black and to try to incorporate more textures and fabrics into the mix.  I’ve been doing very well with this new regime, though my rate of acquiring new pieces has slowed way down (which is a good thing, actually).  Anyway, I think this outfit is a good example of what I’ve been trying to accomplish with my closet.  Color, texture, proportion and PINK SHOES!

Guys! I am in love! These were a birthday present from Tom and they’re perfect.  Just the right height, the perfect shade of shocking pink and they’re actually quiet comfortable.  I can’t wait to wear these every day in the shop!

I hope everyone had a lovely, candy-coated Easter! Ohh that reminds me…chocolate cupcakes in the kitchen.

xoxo,

M

trench - ebay/dress - banana republic/boots - steve madden

ah, sunday. sad as i am to see you come to an end on any given week, i am even sadder when you mark an end to three days of sun and mid-seventies temps. i dropped the ball on picture taking, so i’m posting an outfit from a week or so ago. not the best photo quality here–i was having backlighting issues. but this was the first wearing of my semi-new OTK boots, so i wanted to snap some shots. i have loved the trend since it began, oh five years ago, but never found the right pair till now, so i am admittedly a little late on this one. these are actually made of faux suede, which made them affordable, and the heel is only three inches, so they are comfortable, and i feel less extreme walking around fredericksburg than i would in 4.5+ inchers. i noticed christine from my style pill also has the same ones–and rocks them with aplomb as usual. i hope to get a few more wearings out of them before the warm weather is here for good.

xoxo, laura

wellies and vogues

phaleonopsis, paint swatches and an unfinished bedside table

pretty drawer knobs from anthropologie

scarves on a ladder

The Bags

the shoe-drobe

here are some scenes from around the new house that make me really happy. my latest pride and joy (and labor of love) is the shoe-drobe, a jelly cupboard that i bought from an unfinished furniture store and painted over the weekend. i really didn’t have a system for my shoes in the old place so they were just haphazardly placed wherever they fit, on shelves or in cabinets, often on top of each other (poor things). now they finally have a home, where they can be safe from dust and dirt, and where i can close the doors to keep the room looking neat. now that my room (ie clothes, shoes and accessories) is unpacked and in order, i can finally begin to feel at home.

xoxo, laura

top -self made/tee - aa/skirt and boots - j.crew/coat - banana republic

this is an outfit that i snapped from last week. now that most of the snow has melted i have finally been able to wear these boots that i got a little while ago (as debated over in this post), and OMG I LOVE THEM. they have the foldover detail like the chloes, which i was looking for, and the heel isn’t ridiculous, which means i can wear them to work. they are also begging to be worn with 99% of my wardrobe.

oh, and look what i happened to find the next day on olsen’s anonymous: MK rockin the (real)  fringe wrap with her gigantic ponyhair balenciaga:

new snow boots…..after the snow is gone. awhoopsie.  I went into DSW the other day to do some reconnaissance on the new sandal selection and came across these bad boys……..in my size. in the clearance section.  What sandals?  I’m now in love with these boots and 1) refuse to wear any other footwear and 2) refuse to step in any snow/water/dirt in them.  Who needs practical snow boots?

Also, I have an iPhone now. That’s how I took this photo of my boots. At work.   Glory be, it is the most magical thing I’ve ever owned in my life.

cardigan and skirt- j.crew/tee- old navy/scarf- unknown/shoes- frye/bag- balenciaga

frye does it again: they seem to have hit on a formula for making shoes that look classic, but are also au courant. not to mention their quality and durability, two things you would expect from the brand that is famous for their cowboy boots. admittedly, they are pricey, but i find myself spending more on shoes lately and being pleased to discover that it is worth it in the long run because they last longer and are a lot less painful. these will require some breaking in just to soften the leather, but after a few wears, i can already tell that they will be a staple over the upcoming months (and hopefully upcoming years). i found these at anthropologie, but i believe they are also available on the frye website (not sure if they are on sale there, though). 

meanwhile, in addition to breaking in my new shoes, i have been enjoying the long weekend, though there is nothing very exciting to report. just been loving the chilly weather, and hanging out with friends and family. 

xoxo, laura

this weekend, i took a trip with the in-laws to pennsylvania to see mike’s sister and her fiance perform in their annual renassaince faire. and this is no measly group of tents in a field, you guys. this is a fully fledged functioning village with activities, vendors and shows going on all day throughout. i had never been to one until two years ago (when we came here for the first time), but it is so much fun, especially when you have family up on the stage to hoot and holler for. the general overtone to the shows can be very bawdy, and the ale and turkey legs are abundant, so it’s not just for the little ones. and i made sure to bring my camera, because this is a gold mine for photos of the fashionably-committed. besides the regular cast members, there are some attendees and local citizens that come completely decked out in their renaissance finest: corsets, swords, kilts, plumed hats, you name it–it is an awesome sight to behold (picture-heavy post to follow):

planning what to wear was kind of difficult, when you consider the various factors of temperature, comfort, and keeping with the spirit of the day. i didn’t go all out with my outfit, but did take the chance to break out (and break in) my new boots! when i found these jeffrey campbell chloe knock-offs during a random perusal of the free people website i just about died. and then immediately snatched them up. i am totally in love with them (and so were many of the faire-goers), and predict very heavy rotation in the fall and winter wardrobe.

mike and his bros

sis-in-law and fiance

urban outfitters hat and scarf and jeans, target sweater, jeffrey campbell boots, gucci bag

the end! hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

xoxo, laura

I think it’s safe to say that L and I have full-on, venti-size, gold and glittery girl crushes on Ms. Zoe.  She’s hilarious, seems like a great time, has a ba-nanas vocabulary , has an ah-mazing wardrobe and pretty much the best job ever.  

Last night was the Season 2 premiere and did not disappoint.  It was full of fabulous couture, zoe-isms, sweet Rodg, crazy Taylor, hilarious Brad and of course, Rachel flitting around, forever on the edge of a meltdown (I’m not dying for anything. Are you dying for anything?”)

Rachel is in Missoni (obvi).

And… can we just talk about her new studio for a second?

what!  look! shoes! vintage dresses! couture dresses!…..dresses!  

Out of control. seriously?! seriously! look at those effin shoes.  I mean…. 

Yes, the zoe-isms are back – and better than ever.  ”Shut.it.down. Iiiiiii ddiiiiiiiiiiie.  Bah-na-nas.  Another level” and my favorite, “I seriously feel like I carried that dress around in my womb for 9 months and birthed it for the Golden Globes.” 

Also, as per usual, Brad stole the spotlight, you know, being Brad.  ”Hey, Rachel, who am I? Like…either they e-mail or they don’t, like, whatever Rach. I hate the Golden Globes. Ew, like, god. Ugh. Am I pretty??”  oh lololol. The comedic timing on this show is so spot on.

So glad to have them back!

p.s Does Rachel make anyone else want to be swathed in chunky gold bracelets and long flowing vintage caftans, like…always? Cause she sure makes me want to. Just sayin is all.

the following is a list of things that i desire madly (madly, i tell you) but will be unlikely ever to possess, either because they were made in such limited quantities only a handful of people got their hands on them, or because the extreme cost puts them waaaay out of my reach. or both. unfortunately, it doesn’t help that ebay (my only real hope) is awash with fakes and replicas. nevertheless, i haven’t given up yet–maybe the fashion gods will come through in the end!

miu miu tie dye "camoscio" bag

gucci "hysteria" bag

chanel 5018 half-tints

chloe "susans"

ysl "trib too" double platform pumps