clothes minded

Inside the makeup bag: summer beauty

2012-07-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where have I been?! This summer seems to have been totally consumed by wedding prep and work. On top of that I scored an amazing assistant to a designer position and am still settling into our new apartment. Really, it's all been such fun and I'm dreading the end of summer (my favorite season). Suddenly however, I've felt the itch to blog again so here are my current summer beauty staples:

1. Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond

2. Mac lipstick in Impassioned

3. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand

4. Bobbi Brown Cream Blush in Calypso Coral

5. Tom Ford for Estee Lauder Body Oil Spray (Bronze Goddess)

6-9. Essie Polishes from left :Tart Deco, Fiji, Absolutely Shore, Topless and Barefoot

10. Nars Blush in Deep Throat

11. Bobbi Brown Beach Eau de Parfum

12. Bobbi Brown Sand and Sea Eye Palette

13-14. Body Shop Mango Body Butter and Body Scrub

15. Nars Duo in Sin and Casino

16. Dior Eye Duo in Diorland

17. Chanel Lipgloss in Fluorescent

11th Annual Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence

2012-04-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Friday night I attended the 11th annual Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence. I placed last year and was super excited to see what was chosen for this years competition in particular what was picked from Columbia College's seniors (my alma mater). This year I brought my mother and couldn't wait to show her how great this show is. Overall, there was not one let down. There were so many great designers this year and more avant guard pieces were shown than in years past.

The host of the evening ABC 7's Linda Yu wore a jacket designed by yours truly and looked amazing. The look from my winning collection was also featured on the news a few days ago and was worn by Yu on the afternoon news on Thursday.

Link!

David Cantu

Gilda K. Hosseini

Andrew Cruz

brighten up

2012-04-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I attended a little cocktail party in honor of my friends' upcoming wedding. Being that we are well into April and it's quite chilly again I wanted a bright spring look while still staying warm. My solution? Some super bold color blocking. So bright in fact, that upon arrival I was introduced as a cast member from Designing Women (hopefully, not Delta Burke) haha. Either way I got to carry my new bag which I LOVE ! It's clearly a copy of the Celine version I've been lusting after form quite sometime. Here's what I wore:

Jacket: H&M, Blouse: Everly, Jeans: J. Crew Toothpick, Booties: H&M

Lipstick: Mac Impassioned

Clutch: Street Level, Bracelets (from left): Presence, Topshop, H&M Watch: Michael Kors

wedding weekend

2012-04-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Oh my my, it's been a bit since my last post. Very naughty blogger indeed. This weekend was packed with fun pre-wedding events as my good friends Kris and Allison were finally tying the knot! I had the honor of doing the brides makeup and in return I ate my fair share of wedding pie and danced until it was necessary to change into ballet flats. Here's a little peek into my weekend.

Dress and Belt: H&M, Bag: Topshop

Shoes: Payless

Driehaus Cocktail Reception

2012-03-30T19:14:00.001-07:00

Hello all! Pardon my absence, March has been insane with moving, unpacking and living without internet but alas, I am finally back into the modern age! This passed wednesday I was invited to a cocktail party at the Ransom R. Cable mansion to celebrate the 11th annual Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence. Overall the party was super fun, however the best part of the night was seeing my piece from my winning collection from last years competition. It had been donated to the Driehaus collection so I hadn't seen since last May. It was also great catching up with the other designers and meeting the judges for this years competition. Here's a little outfit of the evening:

Dress: Tibi, Shoes: Fioni, Purse: Marc Jacobs

Shoes: Fioni

Coat: Old Navy, Sunglasses: Presence

Ransom R. Cable Mansion

My Look

February Favorites

2012-02-29T20:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite things from the month of February:

Essie Nail Polish in Going Over Board: A unique dark shade a teal. It looks great alone or with a glittery topcoat.

Urban Outfitters Mirrored Flats: I've been giving more attention to ballet flats as spring approaches. I'm sick of all of my boots and these are more exciting than your basic black flats. They look great with black tights but will look cute with jeans or shorts as well.

Yankee Candle in Beach Party: I'm usually not interesting in candles. I can't stand the scent of most of them and they can be a bit overpriced. I happened to see this one in Target recently and the name drew me in. It smells like one of my favorite perfumes, Beach by Bobbi Brown. It's a mix of salt and sunscreen and I love it.

Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee: Everyone knows about these lip butters and they have been reviewed constantly. I finally decided to try one for myself. They are super moisturizing and impart a subtle sheen. These really lean towards lipstick rather than tinted lip balm and I love that. In short they are a very moisturizing lipstick. This shade is a great nude that is more brown than pink.

Downton Abbey: I finally decided to start watching this show from the very beginning after watching a few episodes here and there and it's awesome (obviously, everyone but me already knew this).

J.Crew School Boy Blazer: I have a few of these and have been wearing them for years. They are great quality and come in a variety of colors and fabrics. I've been reaching for them a lot lately as they can really dress up a basic out. Jeans, tee, flats and a blazer...easy chic!

Hold Tight by Dave Dee Dozy Mick and Titch: I just rediscovered this song again after being obsessed with it a few years ago.

best dressed.

2012-02-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, as much as I love movies and all the hoopla of a major event such as the Academy Awards, I'm tuning in for the dresses! I have a feeling that's why most of you watch in the first place as well. I even find myself looking at best dressed lists and watching Fashion Police afterwords to get every one else's opinion. So, here is my list of all time best dressed:

Acid Trip

2012-02-23T19:05:00.001-08:00

We are barley finishing up February and I'm already freaking out about summer...When will you get here!? This year, (like most years really) I am craving bold, neon hues. Highlighter yellows and hot pinks are my favorites. I love the look of mixing them together for bright color blocking or pairing them with neutrals for more of a classic look. These tones just don't sit right at this time of year, so I guess I will have to wait a few months. In the meantime, I'll just have to settle dull winter clothing. Here are some of my favorite neon items:

Acid Trip by jessicajude featuring satchel handbags

a wedge of beauty..

2012-02-22T18:06:00.000-08:00

I'm what you would call a little lady. When I am alone in my apartment or among my other little friends I feel as though I am an amazon, clearing 5'9"easily when in fact I am a mere 5'2" (on a good day). I have embraced my stature over the years, after all, us little ones can easily creep up to the front row at concerts, wear dresses that are deemed tastelessly short on tall girls, we gain great skills in climbing (ya know, to reach stuff) and can wear towering, sky high heels without making boyfriends feel like well...short.

It's no surprise though that a have a certain passion for shoes, big ones. Since my early teen years I have been collecting fun, summery wedges. They are completely comfortable, add oodles of height and make your legs look pretty great. My first pair were Bandolinos. They had red and white striped straps and massive cork heels. It strutted around in these summer after summer until eventually they fell apart. Little has changed as every year around this time I start seeking out new versions. This year I am seeking out bright, disco-esque versions. Acidic, citrusy hues are on the top of my list. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Lulus.com

2. Steve Madden

3. Jefferey Campbell

4. Kurt Gieger

5. Pierre Hardy

6. Christian Loubitan
7. River Island
8. Lulus.com

Leopard and Vinyl

2012-02-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

Today was my day off from work and the boyfriend and I decided to grab some lunch and stop by Shake, Rattle and Read. They are currently celebrating their 46th anniversary with a massive 46% off sale, and I was on the search for some Zombies on vinyl. I scoured through almost every record in the place and no Zombies to be found, but don't worry, I found plenty of other great records. The owner was playing the greatest 60's compilation and when I asked about it he told me it was his own mix and gave me his copy! How nice is that? If you haven't been into Shake Rattle and Read before, you must stop in sometime. It's a tiny shop FILLED with books, records, magazines and movies. The prices are really great and the people that work there are always super nice. I love looking through their old paperbacks and vintage Playboy covers.

Here's one of my all time favorites, a little ear candy for your Saturday night:

ootd: flowers and puppies

2012-02-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

The past few days here in Chicago have felt like spring. I've been walking instead of taking the bus, pulling out my sunglasses and reaching for brighter colors and prints. Today I wore what I refer to as the "Miami Vice" jacket. I picked this up a few years ago at the boutique I work at. With the vibrant print, rolled sleeves and shoulder pads, it screams 80's. I paired it with my puppy tee and new favorite necklace. I've also been carrying around my Jason Wu for Target bag. I absolutely love it as it really cheers up my winter coats. Now if only it would get warm enough to wear those dresses! Here's an outfit of the day.

Jacket: Akualani, Puppy Tee: Kersh, Necklace: Presence

Jeans: J. Crew, Boots: Target

Bag: Jason Wu for Target

Springy song of the day:

Retro Nails: Tutorial

2012-02-15T17:41:00.000-08:00

Recently my nail polish obsessed self is getting interested in more that just solid colors. What to do when I see two colors that look great together but can only choose one? I'm no professional so nail art is currently not an option. I did however see a nail tutorial ages ago on how to do a 1940's style manicure and have always wanted to try it. It's a different take on the french manicure, which I am not a fan of. Instead of painting the tips, you are painting at the bottom of the nail bed. Here is how I did it:

Happy Valentines Day

2012-02-14T15:51:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I hope you are having a splendid valentine's day. This year my valentine and I decided to forgo all the craziness and over the top gestures in leu of saving. We instead went out to run some errands and grabbed a quick lunch. But just because we decided on a low key, casual day doesn't mean that I didn't want to jazz up just a bit, so here's a little outfit of the vday!

Hat: Presence, Coat: Diane von Furstenberg, Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Revlon Color Burst Lipstick in True Red: The perfect shade of red. I brightens up your face and even makes you teeth look whiter. This is my go to shade when I want a little pizazz!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Bag: This was a valentine gift from my boyfriend a few years ago. It's one of those bags that only holds a credit card, ID and some lipgloss but I love it. This isn't however my favorite valentine gift I've ever received...This little guy is!

Harry "Winston" Churchill

Now here's a little Valentine's Day jam for you.

Apartment Haul

2012-02-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

I've been slowly acquiring new things for our new apartment and thought it would be nice share them with you. I love home design and seeing what great things people find to spruce up their space!

Marrimeko Comforter: Crate and Barrel

Marrimeko is my favorite textile designer and when I heard Crate and Barrel was having a bedding sale I headed down town to scoop this up! I love the Unikko print and it's in my all time favorite color combo, yellow and grey.

LINK!

Chickdee Plate: Crate and Barrel

I love hanging plates on my kitchen wall. I stole this idea from my mother who has an amazing assortment of cute little plates on her wall (most of them gifted from me).

LINK!

Chrome Table Lamp: Target

I got this amazing lamp for $12. It's short and modern and I love the mirrored finish

Rug: Ikea

My best friend and I took a little trip to Ikea over Christmas break and we both picked up this area rug for $20! It's super soft and would work great in any room.

LINK!

Andy Warhol Lip Print: Amazon.com

I love these prints by Warhol from the early 60s when he primarily did fashion illustrations, they are so simple and whimsical. I currently have my eye on his Chanel no.5 bottles!

Upholstery Fabric: Fabricguru.com

I love the color and print on this fabric. When I want to spruce up a room fabric is the first source I look to. It's so easy to make new pillows or drapes. Since I am not buying a new couch just yet, I wanted to buy loads of different colors and prints to make some chic new pillows!

LINK!

Black and Tan

2012-02-11T22:40:00.001-08:00

I'm currently loving shades of camel with black, it's all very Catherine Deneuve in Bell du Jour. Bold geometric shapes make this classic combo a bit more modern and fun. What color combos are you loving right now?

Black and Tan by jessicajude featuring a double breasted coat

the prettiest things.

2012-02-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

new boy

2012-02-09T11:40:00.001-08:00

new boy by jessicajude featuring a striped skirt

Steal the clothes off your boyfriends back! I love the look of boyish clothes, from Diane Keaton to Jane Birkin. It's way sexier than a bandage dress if you ask me.

Summer Dress

2012-02-08T18:23:00.000-08:00

Forgive the lacking of outfit of the days. We are in the process of packing for the big move (a whole 4 blocks away!), so most of my clothes are all packed up. In other words, it's been pretty bland this month. I recently however scooped up this summery dress from Target, I mean I need something to wear! Even though it's a bit tropical, it's nice wearing something so vibrant after months of black and navy. I paired it with my new favorite necklace, some boots and tights.

dress: Target, Belt: Forever 21, Tights: American Apparel, Boots: Mossimo Engineer Boots, Necklace: Presence

Dark Matter

2012-02-07T13:43:00.001-08:00

Dark Matter by jessicajude featuring silver bangles

It seemed for a while that spring was going to come a bit early this year, but once again we are in the throws of winter. Here's a little bit of glam to spice up those icy nights. I love mixing textures particularly in blacks. Pair with a silver accessories and simple makeup for a sleek look. I love this Theory dress. I tried it on a few months ago and it looked so amazing. Really ups your cool factor, leather and fur? yes and yes. Sadly, it was way out of my price range. Perhaps it'll show up in a spring sale. Here's to hoping!

next up: Marni for H&M

2012-02-05T21:27:00.000-08:00

Today was the launch of Jason Wu for Target and off course it was a huge success. I couldn't manage to haul myself out of bed this morning in order to score anything. I scooped up a bag and scarf last night online, but opted to shop the clothing in store. Mistake. By the time I got there nothing was left, just a blouse and skirt. Either way, I got the two things I wanted the most. Before I go on to Marni, can I just say how annoying it is that there are these trolls out there buying up all the goods and turning around and selling them on ebay for triple the price. All I can say is, Bad Fashion Karma.
Onto the Marni. The next big collaboration in the works is Marni for H&M. I have to mention that I have never been all that impressed with the H&M collaborations. The quality never matches the price. There are always a few pieces that appeal to me online initially, however, in person they look a bit cheap. Marni however, I am hoping is a different story. Afterall, I have a giftcard from Christmas burning a hole in my wallet! I am also hoping that because Marni isn't a giant name among the masses, mainly worshiped by the true devotees of fashion, that it won't be another rampage to snag items. But, if you love graphic prints, bold colors and quirk...you're going to love Marni. This Italian house always produces clean lined clothing that shows simplicity and pizazz at the same time. Here's the ad, done by another favorite, Sofia Coppola.

heart on your sleeve

2012-02-02T22:40:00.001-08:00

Wether you like Valentine's Day or completely disregard it, you gotta admit, there's some pretty cute v-day related stuff out there. So, wether you are going out with your valentine for a date or hitting the bars with your girlfriends like any other tuesday, you know you want to look cute! Here are my valentines day picks:

New Column: Franco-Files

2012-02-01T15:25:00.001-08:00

I suffer from a disease, and I know I am not the only one. It's called francophilia , and it's serious. An obsession with all things french. How do you know if you have contracted this bug? Do you have souvenir Eiffel Towers around you apartment? Collect anything with a cute french saying on it? Have an assortment of breton striped shirts? If you answered two of three yes, than you are a carrier. Don't worry, you are in good company. As a start of this new column in which I can expand on my obsessions I thought I would compile the perfect French outfit!

Striped top
€139 - jades24.com

Burberry short coat
£595 - flannelsfashion.com

Slim jeans
$130 - witchery.com.au

Givenchy low heels
€398 - jades24.com

BEAUTY IS LIFE Eye Contour Liner black
£11 - maryandpaul.com

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Shine Lipstick
$30 - bloomingdales.com

Benefit BADGal Waterproof Eye Pencil
$20 - bloomingdales.com

Rachel Rachel Roy Hair Pins, Glitter Lips Bobby Pins
$28 - macys.com

French Word Studs
£3.50 - topshop.com

january round up

2012-01-31T18:39:00.000-08:00

The things I've loved through the month of January:

Clarasonic Mia: Why? Because, now my face is so clean I don't know how to handle it! It's hot pink and I've wanted one FOREVER! I like to threaten to clarasonic my boyfriend daily. But seriously, this thing is great and definitely worth the money.

Interior Design Blogs: Now that I am FINALLY getting my new apartment, I've become more obsessed with reading these blogs. Anything that has great DIY ideas is a plus. Here are some good ones:

http://www.thedecorista.com/

http://www.ikeahackers.net/

http://www.cococozy.com/

http://www.chictip.com/

New Leopard Coat: I found this right before Christmas and have worn it almost daily ever since. Who knew my perfect leopard coat was at Forever 21!? See my OCDness over leopard:

http://the-clothes-minded.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-hunt.html

FabricGuru.com: I came across this while perusing an old issue of Elle Decor. They have great fabrics at even better prices. I bought yardage of this zig zag to make a slip cover for my chair...tutorial to come, maybe.

Lady Gaga Viva Glam: My bestie gave me the set for Christmas and while I love the nude (Viva Glam 2) the pink really has me hooked. It gives the perfect 1960's bubble gum pink!

Tom Hardy: Yea, he's a big piece of British eye candy, but he can act too! If you haven't checked out "The Take", do it! Quite disturbing, but good. Afterwords, cleanse your palette with his version of "Wuthering Heights". Oye Heathcliff!

Mossimo for Target Engineer boots: Picked these guys up a few months ago for $30! For real leather! I have to say, I kind of set them aside for a while in favor of other shoe options, but this month I have worn them almost everyday. So comfortable and they give you a little height as an added bonus. Unfortunately, they are back at full price. Why didn't I get the black ones too?!

pop of pink!

2012-01-30T20:46:00.001-08:00

I love bright colors, especially hot pink! The easiest and chicest way to incorporate brights into my wardrobe is to mix them with neutrals. Not only will it look a bit less jarring, but it will really let the color pop. I love this super graphic leather mini and pairing it with this pink chiffon blouse would really change up the look and add some softeness. Add a dash of hot pink lipstick, a bold silver and you're all set!

pop of pink! by jessicajude featuring high heels

Button down shirt
$275 - aliceandolivia.com

Balmain high waisted skirt
€5.694 - antonioli.eu

ZiGiny high heels
$120 - zappos.com

Proenza Schouler shoulder bag
€1.525 - colette.fr

MTWTFSS Weekday silver bangle
€20 - weekday.com

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick - Carthage
$25 - barneys.com

wooed by wu

2012-01-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

Just caught the ad for Jason Wu's collection for Target and I'm not ashamed to say it induced a little dance around my apartment. So adorable, so up my street! Immediately, I set out on a quest for the look book...more squealing. This collection debuts on February 5th, my day off from work no less and I can't wait to trot on down to my local Target to scoop up some of these pieces. I wonder if this will be another Missoni situation, you know, total global fashion meltdown. I have always shopped the Target collaborations from Luella to Zac Posen and they never disappoint. Here are some of my favorite looks, that bag is a must!

images via The Huffington Post