Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Bloop







Necklace: gift from parents | Dress: Gap Outlet | Belt: Target | Tights: Target | Boots: Off Broadway

My boyfriend downloaded the game The Unfinished Swan yesterday, and I spent some time playing it. (A rarity for me--I'm terrible at video games.) So today when I looked at this dress I thought I looked a little bit like I got hit by the paint gun in the game, but hey--looks good! I'll take it.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Leopard & lace









Sweater? Shrug? Whatever it is: Forever 21+, via Dani at DIYFATSHION | Top: Gap Outlet | Necklace: gift | Jeans: Target | Boots: Target | Lips: NARS Red Square

I have never worn leopard before. So what better time than the present? And it turns out I love it. I don't think I'll ever be a full-animal-print kind of gal, but you know what? A dab now and then isn't too bad after all.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Downgrade









Sweater: Boden | Skirt: Boden | Boots: Target

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know why these pictures look differently than my standard fare. My 50mm f/1.8 lens (the "nifty fifty", as it were) officially moved on to the great camera body in the sky, and I am back to using my kit lens for the time being. I've rented a lens until I can figure out my next step, but it won't arrive until Christmas eve. So for now: back to basics. It certainly makes me appreciate my 50mm a looooot more.

Also, an FYI: Style Imitating Art is taking a break for the holidays, and we will return in full force on January 5th, 2015!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Style Imitating Art: At the Piano



It's SIA time! As a reminder, this week's inspiration was the lovely At the Piano by James McNeill Whistler. Let's get started!

First up is Stephanie, who looks adorable--I love that even the chair matches the painting!



Next is Jen of Librarian for Life and Style, who went for the red in the carpet for her inspiration. Works for me, because she looks great!



Isabella of Adventures in HEL is too cute for words. I love it all, especially that skirt. Like whoa.



Next is Amber of Section 391 found a piano for her photos! Yessssss. I love it.



Kezzie of KezzieAG found a piano too! I'm starting to regret not trying harder to find a piano.




My SIA cocreator, Salazar, looks super cozy this week. I'm kind of jealous.



And lastly, me. I have new glasses and they match this week's inspiration almost perfectly!



Thanks for participating, ladies! Everyone looks fantastic!

Monday, December 8, 2014

SIA: PSA



At the Piano, by James McNeill Whistler
Oil on canvas, 1859

You may know Whistler better for this painting:



Or something similar to it. But Whistler was a prolific artist, and At the Piano was his first real masterpiece. Whistler advocated ars gratis artis, and sometimes you just have to look at a thing and accept it for what it is, rather than looking for some moral reasoning behind the work. Sometimes, it just is, and that's all there is. The isness of the object.

Send me your outfits inspired by this painting by the evening of Monday, December 15th. Enjoy this one!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Dryness









Shirt: Target | Camisole: Gap Outlet | Pants: Old Navy via Dani at DIYFATSHION | Boots: Off Broadway

When I was waking up after surgery, I was moaning. Apparently this is a thing that happens--the guy next to me in the post-op area was moaning too--so I guess it isn't that weird. I was so dry; my whole body was dry head to toe because I had to wash with antiseptic soap twice in the 12 hours before the surgery, and I wasn't allowed to put anything on my body after washing in the morning. No lotion, no moisturizer for my face, no Chapstick, no makeup, no nail polish. Nothing. And on top of that, I had had a breathing tube put in and an oxygen line in my nose, which dried my out further. I was like a raisin at that point. So it was no surprise when the nurse told me that while I was in the early stages of waking up, I wasn't just groaning, but I was asking for Chapstick.

I was desperate.

Monday, December 1, 2014

The return









Necklace: JCPenney | Sweater: Ann Taylor | Skirt: Target | Wedges: Target | Lips: Sonia Kashuk Poppy Nude

I'm baaaaaaaack! Today marks my very first outfit photos since surgery (not including the outfit I managed to pull on specifically for SIA a few weeks ago), and it feels good, even if my lens is busted and my remote is dying and my tripod crushed my finger. And perfect timing, too, since today is an SIA based on Parade, by Charles and Ray Eames. Jen is hosting SIA this week, so definitely check out her blog tomorrow to see all the inspired outfits!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

SIA: PSA



Lady Folding a Letter, by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun
1784, oil on canvas

That is one hell of a hat.

Send your interpretation of this week's Style Imitating Art inspiration to Salazar by Monday, November 17th to be included in the next roundup! There is some excellent texture in this piece of art, so enjoy it!

Monday, November 3, 2014

HGTV or bust







Cardigan: Target | Camisole: JCPenney | Skirt: made by me | Wedges: Target | Hospital nails: butter London All Hail the Queen & Wallis and China Glaze Choo Choo Choose You

I only wore this outfit for about long enough to take photos, I'm not going to lie. I've been almost exclusively in tee shirts and pajama pants since I got home from the hospital last week, and I'll probably continue to do so until the 10th, when my stitches come out. I'm really looking forward to Monday--I am SO itchy! I'm not even in pain anymore, but between the healing scar and the gauze tape on my back, I am practically rolling in my chair to scratch everything. Oof. My boyfriend helped me downstairs today so I could raid my closet for SIA, and when I got back upstairs I was huffing and puffing like I had just run a 5k. It sucks to feel THAT out of shape, but I know it's temporary. I've been keeping myself busy with lots of cross stitch and reading and watching HGTV, because that is my jam. I can't wait to get all better so I can break out my table saw and cut some wood. (Not a euphemism.)

Style Imitating Art: Canyon



HELLO, everyone! Thank you to all of you who have reached out to ask me how I'm doing or to offer support or just let me know that you're around. I'm going to post more in my individual outfit post, but suffice to say--I'm feeling really good for only being six days post-op! But anyway, way more important than that is this week's Style Imitating Art roundup! Just as a reminder, this week's piece is Canyon by Helen Frankenthaler. Let's get to it!

First is Stephanie, whose outfit is a perfect match for this week's inspiration. I absolutely love the heels and the pleating on the skirt! Adorable.



Next is Erin at Loop Looks, and she has a great classy casual look going. I especially love the scarf--it carries the idea of the canyon and nature even further!



The last time Jen of Librarian for Life and Style included this umbrella in an SIA roundup, I FORGOT to include her picture! Not this time though. I love that she added some pattern to her outfit--and it works with the painting, too! Yesssss.



Kezzie of KezzieAG looks adorable in her orange dress! And her boots match her cardigan perfectly. I love it.



I kind of feel like rust is Salazar's colour. It looks amazing on her! For more photos of her outfit, check out 14 Shades of Grey.



Isabella of Adventures in HEL has apparently only just started wearing orange and green together. WHAT? After all the famous duos that are orange and green, like green apples and oranges or clown fish and...uhhhh never mind. Either way, she looks awesome!



And then there's me--upright and wearing a skirt!



Thank you all for participating this week! It's always fascinating to see how differently we all interpret one piece of artwork. Well done, y'all!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The return



I'm home!

My trip to the hospital lasted from 6:00 in the morning on Tuesday to noon on Wednesday and involved a lot of awkward semi-sleeping, visits from sweet coworkers, watching bad TV with my boyfriend, many takings of my pulse, oxygen level & blood pressure, tons of drugs, and many very sweet nurses who loved having someone under the age of 60 on the floor. I apparently woke up from surgery moaning for Chapstick and putting on lotion for the first time after the surgery became one of the single most blissful feelings I've ever encountered. I painted my nails and started reading Serena by Ron Rash (my boss has challenged me to read 12 books while I'm out). I wore puffy leg wraps, which is a big upgrade from the puffy boots I had to wear last time. And now I can officially check "have a catheter placed" off my bucket list.

But most important, far more important than any of that: my surgery was a success, and my doctor is very pleased with how it went. Full recovery is highly likely, and after I have my one stitch (just one stitch!) out on November 10th, I'll start physical therapy. I was bedridden yesterday and nervous about getting up this morning, but once the physical therapist had me on my feet, I was so happy--I can sit and stand, walk and very carefully take steps if need be. I've been standing around a lot, just because it feels good. I mean...why not, right? The physical therapist thinks my biggest struggle will be remembering to take it easy; I'm moving pretty gingerly right now, but as my incision heals, I'm going to need to remind myself to take everything slow. I can't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk right now, and I can't bend over much further than to lift the toilet lid. (At least I can make that happen.) I'm really looking forward to being able to bend over and pet my dog again.

Thank you all for your well wishes and support here and on Instagram! It was actually a lot of fun to keep up with everything via IG and show off my sweet boots and sharing the whole process was actually rather cathartic. I'll keep sharing too, I'm sure--nothing like some photos of bandages and PT to pass the time, and I can't wait to start taking outfit photos again!

And in case you were wondering, I was the best dressed patient when I was discharged--I wore this dress out of the hospital. Who says comfort has to come before style?

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

It's that time



I'm having surgery right now, y'all! I'll post on Wednesday to let you know that I'm back home. Thank you everyone for your kind comments! You're all the best.