It’s Jen again!  Eventually, Lindsay and I will create obnoxious headers for each other’s sites so you know the difference.  Until then…deal with it. 

You don’t know this about me yet, but you soon will: I’m kind of obsessed with Tobi.com.

They have an entire section dedicated to eco-friendly designers and products, their customer service is more impressive than Nordstrom in the early nineties (suburban kids, you know what I’m talking about), and they always have wicked sales going on.

And the coolest part about posting here (instead of Awakened Aesthetic) is that I can look at all the clothes…not just the organic, all natural, uber-ethical ones.

…needless to say, narrowing down this list to a respectable eight items took a long damn time.

Did I mention that, through the end of the day, everything in Tobi’s sale section is an extra 30% off when you use the code “EXTRA30″?

Insight Inky Halo Dress: $72 $43
$30.10 when you use code “EXTRA30″

For thirty dollars, I would take this dress into fall, easily.  Imagine a cropped jacket with fishnets or Cuban heel stockings, or bare legs with platform booties and leather on top.

Matt and Nat Varela Studded Messenger: $215 $161
$112.70 when y0u use code “EXTRA30″

Hey look, I snuck an eco-friendly item into the mix.  I have a wallet by Matt and Nat, and am hoping to add a purse soon.  Their recycled-plastic-as-leather shtick never forces them to sacrifice style, and the construction is impressively solid.

7 for All Mankind Gwenevere: $198 $99
$69.30 when you use code “EXTRA30″

The sex appeal on these is sky-high.  I love the idea of (a) being able to un-hook these to pull them on (and not being exhausted by the time I’ve done so) and (b) the little bit of swagger I’d feel wearing them.  They’re not gaudy, just…a little bad-ass.

Vena Cava Friendship Mask Print Chiffon Tank Dress: $335 $167
$116.90 when you use code “EXTRA30″

Feminine and pretty meets earthy and ancestral.  (Kids: just say no to tribal tattoos with butterflies.  Do this instead.)

Sam Edelman Daisy Stone Cabachon Gladiator Sandal: $119 $83
$58.10 when you use code “EXTRA30″

It’s possible that these are the only gladiator sandals I will ever covet.  Be warned.

Black Halo Alice Back Cutout Mini Dress: $375 $187
$130.90 when you use code “EXTRA30″

It would be amazing without the cut-outs, but adding them gives this dress a little extra genius.  Also, it’s over 65% off.

Blank Dark Blue Skinny Jeans in Beef Jerkey: $78 $58
$40.60 when you use code “EXTRA30″

I just added these because they’re called “Beef Jerky.”  (Yeah, okay, they’re a great shape, too.  But beef jerky. Come on.)

Frye Dara Campus Stitch Sandal: $188 $94
$68.50 when you use code “EXTRA30″

One day, I’ll own a pair of Frye sandals.  (Or boots.  Or something.)  This brand is fucking genius, and to see a sale this extreme on a sandal that will look good this year and next (easily) is a boon.

Remember: this sale only lasts through the end of the day (11:59PM PST) and offers an extra 30% off of all sale items when you use the code “EXTRA30″.  If you don’t get it today, it goes back up in price tomorrow.

[Also, someone convince me to spend money I don't have on that first dress.  The last one available is in my size.  Thanks.]

Technorati Tags: 7 for all mankind, black halo, blank, denim, dresses, frye, handbags, insight, jeans, matt and nat, sam edelman, sandals, vena cava

Then… I found Saint & Libertine, a blog written by a designer at Dolce Vita. Ivy Kirzhner is not just a designer on her beautiful blog, she is herself. She is a fashion-loving, stunningly gorgeous, bold, experimental vision… And she is inspiring. If you ask her what she is, she’ll likely tell you “Shoe Designer, Music Artist, Performer, Photographer and a Style Savant.” That’s what blogs are for, right? I can only be so inspired by a sale in your Etsy shop – show me something new!

Does she wear her own designs in almost every post? Sure… But nothing is ever the same. Dolce Vita isn’t in size 72 bold print. Besides – look at the girl – do you really care? She is a caricature of fashion, a ballsy broad with a taste for the loud – and I have to appreciate that.

Another beautiful component of this blog – her thoughts. It’s not just photo, photo, photo, outfit details – all throughout her blog are pieces of her style manifesto – her aesthetic ideologies. One of the ones that really stood out to me:

Hardly ever a lady.

Femininity has several classifications. None of which I specifically belong to. Balancing femininity and masculinity to me is key: A juxtaposition of being aggressive in the most delicate and subtle manner. And it’s about never being too obvious.

I feel the most feminine when I can speak up, stand for my thoughts, and convince.

To me, that’s allure.

I love her ability to execute thoughts in almost prose-like fashion, accompanied by visually striking images of personal style. The perfect blog? Maybe.

Technorati Tags: blog, bloggers, dolce vita, ivy kirzhner, shoe designer

—

It may be Lindsay’s move back to the Pacific Northwest, or my upcoming trip to Boston, or even just the summer sun making me antsy, but I’ve got a serious travel bug.

Traveling can be such a bitch.

After four hours in a car, nothing feels comfortable.  Six hours on a plane, and in coach?  Same thing.  And don’t even get me started on hot train rides, the bus, or an unexpected two-mile walk in stilettos.  (God, that sucked.)  So I’ve been drawn, lately, to fashions that can be both beautiful and functional…and affordable, of course.

This is my dream traveling arsenal. I’m in love with the first half of the twentieth century – the flowing fabrics, the ease of wear – and I’ll be damned if the ladies of the nineteen-forties didn’t know how to ride a train with style and grace.  (They could also make this “cropped” trend – which I hate – look classy.)

Like Lindsay, I liked nineties fashion, and I really, really love that it’s back…mostly. I would skip the destroyed jeans (you will get approximately six months wear out of them) and go for a dark wash skinny with boots instead. The stretch is comfortable for road-wear, and they can be paired with an insane amount of basic tops, as long as they’re a little loose and a little worn-down. (Please hold a moment while I bow my head in shame at the Twilight reference in that red shirt.  It was cute, okay?)

I would finish with an industrial bag – extra pockets are your friend on the road – and some sort of metal-or-black-with-stones-or-not-chunky-grrr jewelry.  And then I’d turn the radio up and pretend I’m a rock star.  (This is not required, but…well, okay, actually, it is.)

What do you wear while you’re traveling?  Do you attempt to look put-together, or say “screw it” and throw on pajamas?

Technorati Tags: 1940s, boots, metal, style, traveling

Dolce Vita for Target

Photo courtesy of Retro Gurl

Look at that price! The shape! I want and need. Wendy says they’re the only pair produced by Dolce Vita for Target, and they come in black and brown – we can’t wait to see them online!

What do you think of these bad boys?

UPDATE: There are also a delicious pair of studded oxfords! The boots above are the only pair of boots being produced by Dolce Vita for Target.

Additionally, here are the stats for the Dolce Vita Boots, pictured above:

Technorati Tags: boots, dolce vita, dolce vita for target, lace-ups

Steve Madden sort of known for their uncomfortable styles, and their maybe-too-high prices. At the same time, though, they hold a special place in my heart.

I think I was 15 at the time, which would make it the holy year of 2000… I was going to take a train for the first time, from Seattle to Vancouver, BC. It was a trip with my Dad, and those were so coveted (they still are), I was beyond excited. It wasn’t even an overnight trip – we were going to see a show (ahem, Riverdance, believe it or not) and would be returning after it ended.

The only thing that could possibly supersede the anticipation at this point (hey, Riverdance was awesome, so don’t even.) was one single sentence that every 15 year old girl loves, needs, craves to hear: Do you want to get a new outfit for the trip?

HECK YES I DO.

So I went out and got a dark grey, wool dress that had a matching bolero with feathered trim (but not around the sleeves, that’s just tacky), super black tights, and my first pair of heels. I’d been begging my parents to get me wedges (I called them “platforms”) for months and months… They finally gave in. Well, my Dad did – which was shocking in its own right. I remember them very, very clearly: a good 4″ heel, at a 1.5″ platform, strappy broads with two little, twisted leather cones on the toe. Little spikes. On the insole, towards the heel, a little white ribbon was attached reading: STEVE MADDEN.

I bought them the night we left (likely after some kind of fit, or hunger strike, as I was wont to do). On the walk up the stairs, back onto the street, I sure as hell slipped rigt off them and cascaded back onto the shoe sales floor, creating the all-too-familiar need for new tights, as I had put a gigantic run into my current black ones. Ah, memory lane. I wish you would bulldoze the housing of embarrassing memories.

Bit I digress. I will likely love Steve Madden until he is so sued out of his mind that he disappears onto the same island where Tupak Shakur and The 27 Club were exiled to.

Anyway, here are the new duds from Steve Madden for fall. As you can probably guess, I like them.

The Annton $129.95

Hi, instant new favorites. I love them in the cognac leather, but the black is quite nice, too.

The Heero $99.95

Love these in cognac, too. Also available in black, but I’d be afraid they’d look a little too military.

The Cammyy $129.95

These could be really interesting, but I want to see them on a human, first.

The Caryssag $139.95

Calling Gala and Poochie! I love that they’ve made these available in multi-color sparklies, too (that means, also, calling Annie Spandex!).

The Trouser $69.95

Awww. S’cute. And available in navy, cognac, and black, in addition to grey.

It appears that Steve Madden has been reading B&B, because the focus is really, really on lace-up boots. Thanks, Steve! Feel free to send me the entire line. Love you.

Technorati Tags: fall fashion, riverdance, shoes, steve madden

Step 1: Not pictured because I’m daft.

Step 2:

Step 3: Sleep for like 4 hours too long (oops). Whatever, it’s Sunday, I do what I want.

Step 4:

After I ran my fingers through the curls once (they literally looked like that right after I unrolled them…), they looked like this:

Sort of in love.

Thanks to my darling Hannah Metz for the idea!

Technorati Tags: curls, curly hair, hair, hair ragging, pin curls, rags

I love the felt-tip marker style that I previously had… I don’t like the feeling of lipstick on my lips. I don’t like sticky, I don’t like gloss. I have long hair that attaches itself to anything remotely viscous and therefore would much rather draw on a stain with a Mr. Sketch than use a wand to paint my color on.

I’ve tried the drugstore brands – Revlon’s Bitten and CoverGirl’s Lip Stain… But they just don’t have the color or the texture that I want. The Bitten lip stain had great color, but over time, the consistency of the color started to bother me. It was always difficult to get an even coloring – it literally looked like I just ate a popsicle, which is great for photoshoots and drama, but not for every day. CoverGirl’s lip stain pen was okay, but the colors were not optimal. I bought what looked like a serious red, and it turned my lips the most Lolita shade of pink… Not really my style.

I would love to get my old Bourjois Paris lip stain pen in Praline… But I cannot for the life of me find it for sale anywhere. It was sent to me as a sample from BeautyTicket (which is a fantastic discount cosmetics site, but they don’t currently have any in stock – sad. They update their inventory all the time to accommodate overstock and whatnot [which means super, super cheap, name brand stuff]), so now I turn to Sephora to googly-eye up the potential new lovers.

Please tell me if you’ve tried any of these and/or if you have a brand you love when it comes to stains.

Tarte Natural Lip Stain $24

That’s kind of a lot to pay for a lip stain… But at the same time, it’s natural and has no parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes or fragrances, GMOs, etc, etc. I like that. I’d probably get it in the deep berry color. Or Lust. Probably just because it’s called Lust, so when people ask when I’m wearing, I can throw a pose and say, “…Lust” and glance at someone all seductively while making them visibly uncomfortable, before they look the other way and/or make a Mr. Yuck face.

Oh. I just saw that Tarte also has a lip stain that doesn’t have something called “Lipsurgence” and is touted to be “matte“. What is the difference? Is Lipsurgence really that important? Oh, wait, they both have “Lipsurgence.” I have no idea what’s going on. (What I do know is that if your Tarte Natural Lipsurgence Staining Device is matte, what once was Lust is now just Fiery. Sounds like being matte is a little more lonely, no?)

Givenchy Printed Lips Lip Stainer $24.50

Whoooaaa, look at that piece of hi-tech cosmetic machinery. That thing looks serious! It loses points because it only comes in two, non-sexual-imagery-conducive colors, neither of which match my petty wants and needs. But look at that thing – it’s… Well, it’s hypnotizing, don’t you think?

Josie Maran Magic Marker $19

Why the hell are these so expensive? I mean, granted, they last forever and a good number are all natural and crap – but seriously? It’s a pen. With non-toxic, staining liquid inside of them. Seriously? This is making my head spin.

…Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t pay for it, though, if it was outstanding. This looks mediocre, though, honestly. I’d go for Tarte’s crazy sex stains before I’d buy this.

tokidoki Fantastico Lip Stain $15

Ah! Reasonable(-ish) price. I’ve never used this brand before, and haven’t really heard anything about them either. Despite the fact that my ideal shade of this product is called “Peperincino” (aren’t they green…?), it’s got that mammoth paint-brush-from-Fantastia pen tip that I loved in the Givenchy pen, and the colors – despite their ridiculous, nonsensical names – are pretty gorgeous. Don’t believe me? The “nude” color is called “Rainbow Cloud.” I can’t offer an explanation, can you?

Please help a sister out. I already took out my nose ring and replaced it with a stud – if I don’t have lip stain… Who am I?

Fill me in on your favorite brands and tell me if Peperincino is going to be my new best friend.

Technorati Tags: cosmetics, lip stain, lip stick

Not that the sandals are crappy, but that sandals with such a pretty, graphic, long dress is the easiest, most acceptable method of wear. I’ve considered the idea of heels with maxi dresses before, but always thought that it might look silly if the dress didn’t skim the ground with that added three to four inches added to the bottom of my body. After thinking about it for a few months… I can’t understand why I hesitated.

Frankie J. on Lookbook.nu

It’s a look that is a little oldschool (thinks 70s), but can be completely modernized with shoe choice. I, personally, love the look of wedges (big, gigantic, huge wedges) with a really simple dress. There’s something really easy, but still kind of edgy about it.

Ji S. on Lookbook.nu

One thing I will mention that I absolutely do not like when it comes to maxi dresses – the ultra-bohemian vest-over-maxi-dress idea. We like to look at the 70′s, but we do not want to be the 70′s – at least I don’t. I don’t want to be Stevie Nicks, and I don’t want to be Janis – bless them both as they are Gods, but I like to live in my own era with accents of the past instead of fully embodying an idea that has already died. I’m not about to wear the taxidermy equivalent of fashion, so sorry.

Dirty Hair Halo? on Lookbook.nu

Another combination that I love: boots and maxi dresses. I never thought I’d get into that idea because it’s just so much coverage, but by leaving your shoulders bare on top, simply crossing your legs and showing a mere 3″ of your legs completely balances the skin-to-fabric ratio. Again, putting a basic or simple dress with modernized wares looks completely current and amazing.

NinjaInTheRun K. on Lookbook.nu (WTF is up with these names?)

I admire anyone who does boots and tights and a shoulder/arm-covering jacket with a maxi dress and still manages to make it look not nun-like. Seeing this makes me feel like transitioning from the bastard heat of summer into the crispy chill of autumn without ditching the maxi dresses will be a lot easier than it seems in my imagination.

Here are some pairings that I plan to use wishes and dreams to get into my wardrobe:

ASOS Halter Maxi Dress $75.80; Naughty Monkey Underground Doll Boots $52.99

NJC Yogi Dress $68; Sam Edelman Kinley Wedges $108

I’m sort of obsessed with this dress in this color… So comfy and so pretty. So lovely, in general.

Just Female Striped Maxi Dress $57.27 (was $92.65); Jeffrey Campbell MaryRoks Wedges $125

The shoes were a little more expensive than I wanted, but they were seriously exactly what I wanted with this dress. Chunky, lace-up wedges in a suede or otherwise soft-finish fabric. Love the stripes so much!

Mossimo Kimono Sleeve Maxi Dress $24.99; Charles by Charles David Lyrical 2 $30 (were $50)

What do you think of this look? Would you wear it?

Technorati Tags: boots, fall, jeffrey campbell, lookbook, maxi dress, summer, wedges

It makes sense, being that my adoration for vertical enhancement knows no bounds, but at the same time, I love iconic things. When one garment or object can represent an entire era of culture, I swoon. It’s not only about the look of the object, it’s about paying respect to a bygone time. For instance, the most recognizable example for my generation:

Converse – Chuck Taylor All Star Vintage $30

The Chuck Taylor. “Chucks.” “Hi-tops.” Growing up, I had these in at least 3-4 different colors (mixing and matching, holler!). These, as of today, are the only athletic-resembling shoes that I wear. My last pair lasted me six full, long, healthy years before they disintegrated into this:

Finally, I got a new pair. This time, they’re black – I expect at least six more years of wear. Even that was a bit of a heartbreak, honestly. Losing a pair of well-worn sneakers is like losing a limb. You get a new pair – even the exact same kind – but they’re so new and unfamiliar. They’re like a new cousin, or something. You know that they’re probably going to be great once they age, but you’re not 100% sure because they’re not broken in yet. They haven’t been harassed and abused and hazed into the family – they could totally suck. They could be the black sheep of your footwear family, you just don’t know.

It makes me extremely self-conscious to get new Chucks. Anyone who has owned them on multiple occasions knows what I mean… The stark white rubber of a new pair of Converse is like wearing new clothes to school in the beginning of the year. People know that they’re new. Maybe I’m just fixated on the psychological effects of fashion in general, but it bugs me. It makes me feel naked. The first thing my dude said after I got them – “Wow, your shoes are really white.” Cue embarrassment.

I’ve considered other sneaker options, I admit it. I’ve never pulled the trigger on any, though, because when compared to my Chucks, they all pale. I’m not impressed by Velcro straps, ergonomic arch support, breathable, hi-tech robot fabrics… I’m not evolving with the world of athletic shoes, and I’m totally okay with that. To be quite honest, the only other pair of shoes I’ve been considering purchasing in this category are, no shock here, another iconic shoe from a previous era gone by:

PUMA G. Vilas 2 Sneaker $70

I can only find them in men’s sizes, which is fine. That’s how I purchased them the first time I owned this exact pair in my mid-teens. They are quite possibly the most comfortable shoes ever, and the style is completely timeless. I’ve been searching for these shoes for months and months, not being able to remember their model name… As Puma is constantly updating and changing their shoe models, I almost gave up on finding this now-retro style. The shape of the toe is so perfect, the soles are perfect, and the color options available make them literally perfect for anyone. I always favored the red and white combination, I was kind of a loud kid, fashion-wise. Even with such a bright color, it was never garish, though – it worked with everything.

I wouldn’t be surprised if these were the only two pairs of athletic-ish shoes I ever owned for the rest of my life. Being a creature of shoe-variety-love, this is out of character. Sometimes, though, you just have to stick with what works.

Do you have a headstrong, go-to when it comes to clothing? Something that you’d never veer away from?

Technorati Tags: athletic shoes, chuck taylors, converse, g. vilas, puma, sneakers, tennis shoes

I think I found this brand through Kingdom of Style… I can’t recall exactly, but I loved their Etsy shop so much that I not only added them to my “favorite sellers” – I subscribed to their store feed via RSS so I could see exactly when they added something new to their inventory.

My favorite piece, the Asymmetrical Hoodie ($80).

To me, Black Market Baby by Audrey Cantwell is the epitome of understated goth-meets-structural-fetishist-wear.  They’re a little dark, a little standoff-ish, but not remotely unwearable. I love the architecturally-modified basics they offer. Each piece is accompanied by as much edge as a glacier, but could still easily be made soft and feminine, if paired with the perfect counterparts.

The gorgeous Lithosphere Lace Maxi ($80).

Innovative and edgy Thigh High Leather Panel Leggings ($92).

Cantwell has an impressive list of blogger followers who wear her duds on a regular basis, which I’m eternally jealous of. Based out of Montreal, I have a feeling this one-girl brand will not be black-market-specific for long.

I adore this – so easy, yet so stunning – Lunar Hex Mini Dress ($80).

Absolutely coveting the Leather Band Tank ($80).

I also like how most of the inventory of Black Market Baby is a nice, clean $80… Not to much, but you know you’re getting quality. Visit Black Market Baby’s Etsy shop here.

Technorati Tags: asymmetrical, black market baby, canadian designers, dark, goth, indie designers, lace, leather leggings, montreal