August 23, 2011

Hitting the Concrete Catwalk

 

If you follow me on Twitter chances are you’ve seen me mention/freak out about attending New York Fashion Week next month. Now I love fashion as much as the next girl, but it takes a little something extra to be Bryant Park-ready. After one of my (only semi) kidding tweets about having someone style me, my friend Jessie of The Concrete Catwalk stepped up to the plate with her style & pepper services.

Jessie asked me a few questions, sussed out some preferences, checked if there were any pieces in my wardrobe I wanted to work around, and off she went to style me! Yesterday I received an amazing personalized Polyvore spread full of chic separates that will be really easy to mix and match. This outfit has to be my favorite – those pants! I love how Jessie told me what she sees me wearing each outfit to, it helped me picture the pieces in real life.

 

If you’d like Jessie to help you with some fashion woes or just want to spice up your wardrobe for fall you should check out her styling services!

Posted In blog love, wear it
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August 22, 2011

Project Runway Challenge #4

 

There is no greater design terror than being charged with creating something specifically for your boss’s personal use.

Enter the Nina Garcia Day-to-Night Challenge and my least favorite judge. The garment we were creating needed to be something that would easily transition from day to night wear.

Turns out Nina was a nightmare client (shocking) and started by immediately rambling off a long list of what she does not like – pattern, color, basically anything of interest. Luckily, each contestant was treated to a one-on-one consultation with Ms. Garcia after the sketch phase. To which she showed up wearing a bright orange blouse with patterned sweater vest. Oh, the hypocrisy! Nina then proceeded to lead each and every designer down a path of wrong direction.

After making notes and sketches while watching the episode, I got to work on the HP Touch Smart 610. This is the first week where my final garment ended up diverting from my sketch fairly drastically. I blame some of this on the overly opinionated eye of my naked assistant who was heavy with the over the shoulder critiques.

 

 

 

 

I started off with a sort of A-line shift, fitted on top and created out of heavy black canvas. A risqué and edgy choice of material perhaps, but I’ve played it fairly safe so far. I then lined the piece in gold silk and added a one inch wide zipper about four inches off-center to the entire length of the piece. When zipped the dress remains corporate, yet sassy. And when unzipped slightly the neckline folds over to reveal the gold lining and play up a little sex appeal.

I kept things neutral at the Piperlime accessories wall and choose Nine West Gracious booties in toasted taupe, Hive & Honey’s hammered metal cuff bracelet, and Juicy Couture’s antique openwork ring.

If you haven’t caught episode 4 you can watch it right here.

 

Full Disclosure: HP provided me with a TouchSmart 610 for use. All content and opinions are mine. I have not been financially compensated by HP or Project Runway.

Posted In collaboration/project, my design, Project Runway/HP Challenge, wear it
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August 19, 2011

Warby Parker

I’ve been meaning to order a pair of Warby Parker glasses since they came out. Then since they opened a showroom at Shop Good. Then when they debuted their line of sunglasses. You get the picture. So when my two year eye appointment rolled around this month I knew it was really time. Lucky for me, Oklahoma City is one of four locations in the U.S. that have physical showrooms – it’s located inside Shop Good. I swear I’d been in there trying on frames no fewer than three times over the past year. The owners, Justin and Audrey, are sweethearts who I’ve been lucky enough to know for about a year and a half. After about thirty minutes I settled on the Beckett frames and my order was complete in less than five minutes. Monday I got the email saying my glasses had shipped, and yesterday they were waiting on my doorstep when I got home from work. They showed up in the best box with a case lined in electric blue.  Oh! And a pair of their glasses went to someone in need when I purchased mine, all for a very affordable $95 total.

 

Then I immediately took my contacts out and tried them on. After ten hours at the office. Just for you.

PS: This is not a sponsored post, I’m just a big fan of the company and their products.

Posted In accessories, do good, oklahoma, wear it
18
August 16, 2011

im Strang

PHOTOS: Monologue Photography

 

It’s not even close to being fall in Oklahoma, but I’m already starting to daydream about wearing dresses with boots and these handmade knee-high socks from im Strang.

Posted In wear it
5
August 15, 2011

Project Runway Challenge #3

 

Three weeks into the Project Runway challenge and I feel like I’m getting the hang of this thing. I feel much more inspired if I sketch out ideas as I’m watching the show, and creating my design on the HP TouchScreen 610 is taking significantly less time. This week the contestants were tasked with creating a garment for a stiltwalker. I know. Not only were they fighting the shear height of the model, but they also had to take into consideration that it’s easy to get tripped up – literally – while walking in too much fabric. (The PR contestants were paired off for this challenge, I’m working solo.) After a brainstorming session everyone was off to Mood with a $500 budget.

Right off the bat I knew that I wanted something with movement and volume. Color blocking also seemed like a great idea. I started off by making a long strapless A-line dress in bright poppy red raw silk. With the dress form considerably more close-fitting than the volume I was about to create, I hoped to lessen the chance of the model falling. Once finished I started attaching tiers of gathered matching red netting from the waist down, then I proceeded to attach neon pink in the opposite direction from the waist up. No need for killer shoes with this outfit, so I finished everything off with a skinny snake belt from the Piperlime wall. Here’s the result:

 

 Thoughts? What would you have created?

 

Watch episode 3 here and see my designs from weeks 1 and 2 here.

Full Disclosure: HP provided me with a TouchSmart 610 for use. All content and opinions are mine. I have not been financially compensated by HP or Project Runway.

Posted In collaboration/project, my design, Project Runway/HP Challenge, wear it
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