Banging: Advice Needed

Now that I've got your attention...

I'm really warming up to my new haircut--especially my bangs. They certainly help out when I'm wearing an otherwise boring ponytail. But although bangs provide the automatic accessory I've been missing, they can be a bit troublesome at times. I find that my bangs have a mind of their own. Right now, the problem is mostly static. my bangs get a hint of electricity in them and start sticking to my forehead. I've also noticed that when I wear the rest of my hair down, the bangs seem to be affected. They go sneaking off to the "mainland" and leave a few strays hanging around in the middle. I've tried to go with the flow and have been parting the bangs in the middle, hoping they will blend with the rest of my hair or stand out in the manner of Bridget Bardot. Unfortunately, they are too short, and the look tends to be more "Dwight Schrute" than Bardot vixen...sniff. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I am in need of advice. Specifically, I am searching for the best tools/products to manage my bangs. The straightening iron seems to cause more problems, and hairspray just isn't doing the trick. What tools/hair products do YOU use to tame your fringe?

Not Necessarily Ready for Spring

For some reason, I don't seem to be as incredibly sick of Winter as I usually am by this time of year. Perhaps it's the unusually long Indian Summer/Fall we had around these parts. Perhaps it's the fact that even our winter has been interspersed with warmish weeks. Maybe my soul has just become darker from living in the dark for so long :P

In any case, I'm really not feeling the usual impatience for the next season to begin...and that's despite the urging of every single fashion mag, store window, and advertisment I see.

As I see it cooler weather provides the opportunity for layering, a sartorial activity that rarely fails to add instant coolness to an otherwise boring outfit. Today, for example, I am wearing a sweaterdress with a long shawl cardigan, tights and boots. I almost wore over-the-knee socks, too, but I thought that might be a little overkill for work (I might still add them later though).

In the summer, I always feel a little naked. I find that the fashion rule employed by J. Crew store associates (thanks to Julia at Sparkle Cupcake for the insider tip) is applicable: always wear at least three pieces of clothing (not including accessories). Well, this rule is even harder to practice when it's warm outside.

Fun Little Fact: Did you know the modern "layered look" became popular in the U.S. during the first oil embargo in the 1970s? I learned in my Clothing History class that the higher oil prices made people more inclined to turn down the heat and turn up the layers.

As a general rule, I think people do tend to look more chic when they wear more clothes (hence the swimsuit ads with women wearing piles of necklaces and bracelets with their bikinis)

In other words, if I hear the words "spring into spring" one more time, I might gag.

TJ Maxx: Where Bargaining Fashionistas Unite

As I may have mentioned before, I absolutely adore the discount fashion super chain, TJ Maxx. It's the only store I've ever visited that provides such an array of fashionable items from fast, cheap and easy, to designer and refined. I love that I can go there and find a $20 dollar pair of trendy fashion boots or an elegant, uniquely designed sweater.

TJ Maxx is a place for women (I would include men but I'll admit I haven't browsed much in their section) who know what they like, but love to experiment with their wardrobe. When I go to TJ Maxx, I have a general idea in mind of what I'm looking for (i.e. a pair of Black boots), but also an open mind about the details (i.e. heel height, embellishments, etc.) With this frame of mind, I almost always find exactly what I didn't know I was looking for.

But there's more to shopping at TJ Maxx than the great clothes and the great bargains. There's something about the experience of shopping there that keeps drawing me back, time and again. I'll make it very clear right now (especially to those of you who have visited a TJ Maxx) that I am not referring to the lighting (fluorescent fantasy!), the aesthetic quality or cleanliness of the store (generally poor and filthy), the organization/arrangement of the products (can you say junior's sweater in the misses pants section?) or the service (fairly unreliable). No, what makes the experience of shopping at TJ's so wonderful for me is the interactions I have with other shoppers.

Now, I cannot say the same for every TJ Maxx in every area of the country, but the particular TJ Maxx I frequent seems to be a hot spot for friendly, sociable, outgoing fashionistas who love to provide encouragement, critique, and just general warmth to their fellow shoppers. I have a theory as to why this might be. Every interaction I can recall having at my local TJ Maxx was with an African American woman. There is a large African American population in my area, and TJ's seems to be a hub for fashion-loving women of the African American persuasion. This may be a gross over generalization (let's just call it an interesting cultural observation for now) but I have noticed a certain warmth and friendliness in this particular sub-culture of African American women (that is, African American fashionistas in the Flint, MI--there I said it, don't stalk me :P--area). In my TJ Maxx encounters, I feel an instant connection with these other women. Love of clothing, self-expression, and social interaction seem to unite us in these brief but heart-warming exchanges.

I tend to be very outgoing, so I'm frequently inclined to reach out to strangers (especially shopping strangers) but find that my friendliness is often rewarded with discomfort, awkwardness, and occasionally trips to the police station (just kidding!!). Not the case at TJ Maxx. I simply can't recall beginning an interaction that was not reciprocated with affability and openness at that store. NOW, I must confess that I cannot take credit for all (or even most) of these exchanges. In fact, they have most often been initiated by another shopper admiring my selection or encouraging me to purchase something I'm trying on (obviously this happens most frequently in the shoe section). After initial contact is made, the conversation often continues. We exchange advice and stories for several minutes, sometimes even moving away from clothes to chat about other topics (though all topics usually relate to the one at hand, we're women on a mission after all!)and then move along both (hopefully) feeling cheered and enlivened by the moment.

This type of social exchange, I believe, is the stuff that keeps life fresh. That's not to say that deeper friendships and relationships are not wonderful, but simply that interacting with a (former) stranger can be exhilarating and fun, especially when clothes are involved. Maybe I just really need to get a life, but it's this feeling, this wonderful (albeit brief) connection with others, that makes me brave the florescent lighting, the iffy service, and the disorganization of TJ Maxx every time.

Hair Cut

By all means, girl, forget about your giant cowlick until AFTER you get a frivolous little fringe!

Plums

We were talking about poetry at work...and I thought of this poem by William Carlos Williams...


I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold


And this delicious comeback:


www.marriedtothesea.com

by Drew & Natalie of Married to the Sea (my favorite webcomic!)

New Year, New Rampant Consumerism

I am choosing to ignore the fact that I have been MIA for months...

AND moving on...

Here are some things I have purchased (and or received as gifts) since I have last posted.

1. Down puffer jacket from the Gap (in true black, not brown, but black is now sold out)-$39.99



2. Charter Club Cashmere Cardigan...whew that's a mouthful! In purple (may no longer be available)- Gift

3. A bunch of stuff from IKEA...which brings me to this:

I am finally getting around to furnishing/decorating my apartment! Now that I am done with school (yes I graduated! yipee!!) I am a young working professional and I am determined to have my home project that image (rather than the hobo/backyard/garage sale look I was apparently going for previously...that is so 2009!)

Here's what we got at IKEA:

1. The Poäng Chair




...and matching footstool...so comfy!!

2. The Hagdeby (or Hagedby...I can't remember) Chair (could not find picture)

3. Vila sheets in a pretty purple color, plus Vila pillowcases in a yellow-green (all peices were under $10 each and they are 100% satin-woven cotton)

4. New bathmat (simple and white)

5. A little basket for our 30 different remote controls

6. Lill Curtains



Gauzy, white, beautiful...and cheap!!! (only $4.99 a pair)


p.s. isn't it cute how Ikea has names for every individual item...whether it's a sofa or a bath towel?

My living room is really starting to look good. We rearranged everything so that it actually seems like a nice place to sit and socialize, watch movies, etc. (rather than some kind of odd nomadic dwelling inhabited by giant cats).

The bedroom is also coming along quite nicely with the bed linen makeover (although a duvet cover is desperately needed...anyone know of one that will match with my purple/yellow-green combo?)

Now I just have to get started on the dining room...

Update: No McAllisters for me

Well, C was shopping on J. Crew's website, hoping to use the 25% off deal for my x-mas present and some pants for himself--and he found out that the McAllisters are back ordered! They wouldn't be shipped until next year! BooOOohh! So I guess he's decided not to get me those...I supposed I wouldn't want to wait until January anyway...

Forever 21 Sparklies

Last week, I returned an item to Best Buy (that I had paid for with a debit card) and found myself with 70 dollars cash, which I (of course) immediately took to the bank and deposited directly into my savings account...

NOT!!

I went straight to the mall of course! The big find was a beautiful pair of low rise, straight cut Levis. I bought them in the Juniors section, but (amazingly) they seem to fit very well. I tried on about 50 pairs of jeans and discovered that straight leg is actually a very good look for me. Since I've discovered skinny jeans, I've found myself unable to go back to wearing any kind of bootcut denim unless I'm doing something very outdoorsy (which I do NEVER) or just lazing around the house (which I do OFTEN, but usually in PJs). Anyway, the Levis are a perfect wash, perfect cut, and make me feel super chic in a laid-back but polished sort of way. Plus, they were only 30 dollars!! I think I may try to stick with Levis in the future...they're just so...classic! I mean, there's a reason they've been in business since the gold rush (remind me to tell you an interesting story I learned in my Clothing in Western Culture class).

ANYWAY...Now for the pretty sparklies I scored at F21:



These earrings are a little heavy...that's the problem with buying earrings at F21, you can't really know how they're gonna feel until you get them home and try them on...still, they're absolutely stunning and so big!! They definitely add a little holiday sparkle...I guess I'll just have to work out my earlobes by wearing them for a few hours a day and building up my strength :)--If anyone has any tips for wearing heavy earrings without permanently stretching out your earlobes/piercing holes, do let me know!

The next item was...



A pastiche-esque bracelet! (minus the pearls). Of course, I immediately started a DIY project to remove the long, dangly chains (which, IMO, made the bracelet look like an octopus trying to swallow my hand).

When I look at the final product, it really doesn't look too far from this:



...which, to be honest, I wasn't all that crazy about, until I found the look alike for $5.80!

I also purchased a gorgeous beaded headband in black faux satin and black beads...for some reason it is not on F21's website, but it is really cute/pretty/glamorous...I plan to wear it to my office Christmas party!

All I Want for Christmas...

This holiday season I have suggested to my boyfriend (let's call him "C")that we both provide Holiday wish lists for each other. We usually talk about the different things we want anyway, but I think it will be good to specify sizes, colors and other specifications for each other. It will still be a surprise as we won't know which gift from the list we are getting, but will be a little more neat an organized. Last year, we were a little too organized... C actually bought my gift (the J. Crew long down puffer) while I was sitting there making very non-subtle remarks about my size and color preferences. Basically, I knew exactly what I was getting...and I got it before Christmas too (our logic was, why wait??). I actually had C's gift sent to my parents house thinking that he would not see the box (it was a pair of driving mocs he had admired on Zappos). Unfortunately, Zappos' free shipping upgrade backfired and I stumbled across the package when I had C in tow (not realizing it would have arrived so quickly) and the surprise was ruined (but C was quite happy to have the shoes, so it all worked out).

Anyway, I have been compiling my wish list for this year, and so far this is what's on it:

1. Duchess Stone Bracelet from J. Crew (in Pumpkin)



2. Heirloom Flora Earrings from J. Crew



3. Suede Mcallister Boots from J. Crew (in Anchor Grey).



I think the jewelry is fairly self-explanatory: I want something beautiful that I have coveted but would never buy myself because it would be hard to justify. The boots however, are slightly different. I have both a superficial and practical desire for these babies. I imagine myself all decked out in my work gear and layered up for winter temps and then wearing big socks over my tights and these babies...I know it makes an odd picture, but for some reason, it strikes me as incredibly cute (probably because of the "Christmas in Chile" catalog where the model is wearing mens boots with her otherwise dainty ensembles. These boots are special though...they are classic and simple, slightly masculine, but not clunky. I think that pairing them with enough feminine details (like a fitted Peacoat and a pastel colored scarf)will make for a great look. Am I crazy?? What do you all think??

Anyway, time for me to stop fantasizing about boots and get to thinking about what to get for C!

January Jones as Grace Kelly on SNL

I laughed out loud for most of this video...Sorry if some of you find it crude!