One Classy Broad

Little Updates

2012-09-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the absence friends!! A lot has been happening over here and some of that includes some wedding planning, yippee!! Just to give you guys a heads up, I'll be "out of the office" this week to take care of a few things I need to get done around here. One of my emails was hacked, so I am dealing with that and let me tell you it is a headache! So until all of my ducks are in a row, I'll be seeing you soon :)

xoxo,

Kate

Phone Life Lately...

2012-09-11T09:18:00.001-07:00

Wow, what an eventful few days I have had! Chris and I took a small getaway up to Sedona, which I recommend everyone do. It is so beautiful up there and something about the air is magical! There is so much to do, hiking the trails, shopping, jeep tours, helicopter tours, etc. It's amazing :)

Now, let's just get right to the meat of this story. Chris and I are engaged!! I know, I know! It's super exciting, he proposed while we were in Sedona and it was a total surprise. The best part, everyone knew it was going to happen except for me, which is how it's supposed to be. Let the wedding planning begin!

Bow Tie Alert!

2012-09-05T09:59:00.001-07:00

via Pinterest

via manrepeller.com

sunsas.blogspot.com

Think we're on to something ladies...again. This trend has been happening for quite some time guys, circa the 40's if I'm doing my math correctly. Who doesn't love dressing up girly then throwing that extra masculine touch of class in the mix? It's starting to surface again, by surface again I mean get more attention and I can't get enough. Ever since I saw the mannequin in a JCrew window donning a tie, I've been dying to get a bow tie. Perfect on a collared shirt or a scarf tied in a bow, there are so many ways to show of your own personal twist of this trend. Get out there, go shopping and grab a bow tie, trust me, this is one accessory you're going to want in your rotation!

Unofficially Fall

2012-09-04T09:35:00.001-07:00

Top: Odille
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Mrs Albright
Belt: Anthro
Earrings: Charlotte Russe

I love a great cap sleeve shirt with a cute collar. I don't normally wear this top by itself, usually I have it open over something, but I was dying to wear it tucked into this skirt. While we unofficially made our way into Fall with the start of September, it is still over 100 degrees here. Lately I've been super nostalgic and yearning for cool weather so I can wear cute layers. A girl can dream can't she?

Phone Life Lately!

2012-09-03T12:24:00.001-07:00

Happy Labor Day! I tried to celebrate it by doing some labor, like vacuuming, however the vacuum mysteriously disappeared. Take it for what you will but that my friends, is a blessing in disguise. Some good news of the day, Chris and I are going to check out what we hope is our future apartment! I have a few friends that live there and after visiting one of them during lunch I fell in love. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I'm really excited about this and it is all I can think about! Besides being closer to work, it will be nice to have a place of our own.

More to come soon!

1989 Covered Mint Julep

2012-08-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

Top: Anthro
Shirt: Forever 21
Necklaces: CC/Anthro
Clutch: Miss Albright's
Pants: Anthro (Pilcro and the Letterpress)
Shoes: Payless

Today I kept thinking, I look like 1989. I might not now, but that was before I took off my bright belt and pink flats.

There's something about bright colors that brightens your day. I mean come on, how can you not smile when you are practically a highlighter color? If you aren't much of an attention lover, these pants are not for you. My latest amazing deal of a purchase were these Pilcro crops. I actually rolled them up but there is a small slit on the side of the leg, which is fun, but I love a cuff. Paired with my bright blue peplum from Ganni and I'm set to go for the day.

Wooden "Shorty"

2012-08-28T20:28:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't love a good find? The best finds are those that kind of sneak up on us, just like this little guy I found at work! This piece was not my original choice, the other was unfortunately snagged by someone else, that's what I get for waiting, but it actually turned out to be really fun. I love the wood and how "antique" or old it feels, the small cracks in it and how it is worn, gives it such character. The canvas top is really awesome as well and if I want it seems like it would be a no brainer to re-upholster....

As you can see I just threw a few of my favorite things on here, jewelry, books, my spools of thread and a great candle that you can find at Anthro. I just love how my littles give it a small feminine touch. I got it at a great price and can't wait to find more like it!

Peter Pan Collars

2012-08-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.livecreatingyourself.com/2012/03/sick-and-headed-to-san-francisco.html

teenvogue.com

Okay, how sweet are these? Peter Pan collars are going to be one of the trends this Fall and I absolutely love this! Anywhere from shirts, sweaters to dresses, you're going to find these cuties popping up everywhere. They are so classic, retro with a modern twist on today's wardrobe. I love how it instantly takes a top/dress and makes it that much classier and feminine. You can even DIY them, like this Louis Vuitton collar from Honestly...WTF? So easy and fun to make, there are so many of different styles out there. So check em out!

Happy Monday!

xoxo!

Chambray Summer

2012-08-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Okay men, one of my favorite trends this summer has been the crazy explosion of Chambray. Chambray is a great denim like material that looks so summery and can really be dressed up or completely casual. The other day I paired my denim chambray from Gap with my newly purchased Pilcro Stet Slim Straight fit red denim from Anthropologie. Okay, I know what you're thinking, Anthro totally doesn't sell mens clothes and you're right! They don't. However, I've been fortunate enough to have been blessed with a small waist and small thighs so I can fit into most women's pants (size 27! HOLLA!). But anyway, love them. Colored pants are also a trend that has been around for a while, but I've been recently seeing it pop up everywhere these days. And let's be completely honest, any chance that I can get to be obnoxious as possible, I'm going to take it. Moving on to my shoes, oh my shoes. My Frye Wingtip Brogues are probably one of my best purchases. Ever. After breaking these bad boys in, these shoes have easily become my go-to pair of shoes for any outfit. Dressy and equally casual, these shoes honestly take any outfit one step higher and every man should invest in a quality pair of shoes. Per usual, my MK Rosegold is always on my wrist as well as my Skull bracelet by Brandy Melville. "Arm Parties" are all the rage these days and I'm been slowly cultivating mine into the perfect mix of masculine and feminine.

So tell me, what are your favorite trends? What are you go-to items in your wardrobe?

a fag & his hag

Phone Life Lately

2012-08-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

Fun week! Chris's step-sister/niece and nephew are in town visiting. It's so fun having little ones around! We've been playing, coloring, swimming and eating popcorn, not to mention watching Rugrats. Talk about a blast from the past! Love that show! Something about a three year old that re-lights your imagination and makes you feel even more like a kid again!

First for Fall

2012-08-14T21:43:00.002-07:00

1. Striped Peplum Top

2. Pilcro Stet Slim Rolled

3. Petunia Heels in Orange

4. Wooden Mustache Necklace

5. Large Floral Clutch

I can't wait for temperatures around here to drop below 80 degrees. Not for another few months though, but my mind is already on what I'm going to be wearing once it does! I can't wait for layers, cute jeans, great heels and the perfect clutch to go with all of my Fall wardrobe must haves. Until then, I'll be poolside dreaming of burnt orange leaves and crisp chilly air.

Life Lately

2012-08-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

The Vintage Tea Party Book...Tea Party Anyone?
Salvation aka Cinnamon Pretzel Bites
Cuddle Time with Daisy
Our Front Door
Little Feet
"I'm too tired to drive home in traffic" coffee.

Blueberry Blues

2012-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00


Top: Anthropologie Belt: Anthropologie Shorts: Thrifted Shoes: Anthropologie Scarf: Madewell

Lately, in my off time, I've been experimenting with color blocking. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, although going through these pictures I'm realizing that my shoes are too "heavy" for this outfit. Meaning, too chunky monkey...okay so next time "lighter" shoes...hmm. After I threw on the scarf, it made me feel semi like a stewardess, beverage for you ma'm?

By the way, I finally just got this in the mail today! It is beyond amazing!! I can honestly say, I can't wait for my very own vintage tea party!

Life Lately + Mini Goals

2012-08-06T21:14:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I had my first visit to In N Out burger. Apparently it's a West Coast must and it was pretty delicious!! By the way, can we please not pretend that we aren't surprised it's August already? I mean, come on. It's still 112-117 here, kill rat.

Some things I've been wanting to try and do consist of in no particular order:

Cross Stitching
Actually making more cards
Research going back to school
Yoga
Run more
Go thrifting at least once a week
Learn some really awesome DIY stuff, like making my own coffee mug

Cheers and here's to hoping I can accomplish my little goals

Guest Blogger: Carter on How To Be A Dapper Dan

2012-08-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Few men really know what types of products, either hair or facial care (or anything) to use and how to use them properly. I think that a good understanding of what products are and more specifically which products to use for your body and chemistry is necessary for the modern man to be successful. And let's be honest, if there's anything a fag knows it's how to look great every day.

Step one:

Facial care is really the most important thing for me to worry about on a daily basis. After all, your face is your most important asset. One of my most coveted secrets for keeping my golden skin perfect is using everything from my favorite cosmetic store ever, LUSH. I've been using LUSH products for 7+ years now and I will never put anything on my face besides these products from the vegan gods (and goddesses). Walking into a LUSH store can be overwhelming to your nose and mind so please don't be afraid to ask for help. These people are trained professionals and can seriously target down the perfect regimen for whatever skin type and qualms you have. With all natural, organic and vegan products these little black pots can be a little pricey but totes worth it. I promise.

My LUSH regimen is: Herbalism Face Wash (during the winter months), Dark Angels Face Wash (during the summer months), Tea Tree Water Toner and Vanishing Cream Moisturizer. Okay okay, if you clicked on all of those you can probs tell that I have super oily skin and I need to balance that extra oiliness with these products and this combination really does the trick! However, make sure to tell the people at LUSH exactly what skin you have and they will create a perfect combo for you.

Step two:

A mans best accessory is his hair and great hair starts with a great cut. Please do the world a favor and stop going to Supercuts and spend a little more money to get a great haircut to give your hair a strong starting point. Next come the products. once again, knowing your hair type and what kind of hair you want to have is key. I personally use Redken Body Full Shampoo (my hair is full of lots of secrets), 3 Minute Miracle once or twice a week to condition, and literally the greatest hair styling product I think I've ever encountered: Powder Grip 3. This little tube looks deceiving but after all, they say that size doesn't always matter. I personally like a super naturally messy look while maintaining a matte finish with touchability. This product adds insane volume and texture while still looking natural. Talk about perf! Like i've said before, don't be shy or ashamed to ask a salon specialist for help! They know what they're doing and will give you great advice and help on products and styling.

Always, ALWAYS add a spritz of cologne to finish off your man-accessorizing and you're ready for the day. I'm a firm believer of always dressing your best no matter what the occasion. Going to walmart? Put on your Louboutins. Going to the gym? Don't forget your MK watch. It all comes down to one simple concept: you never know who you're going to run into. And always make sure to look your best to make your ex-boyfriend jealous.

fag&hag

Beauty Review: NYC Skin Matching Foundation

2012-07-31T12:26:00.001-07:00

On a whim, I decided to try NYC's Skin Matching Foundation. It cost $3.74, which I bought at Wal-mart. The reason...I wanted to test out a cheaper skin matching foundation to see how well it did.

Day one of wearing it, I thought, wow this isn't too bad! I liked that it actually did even out my skin tone and blended fairly well! However, day two and day three, I became unimpressed. This foundation is not oil-free, which is something I look for in a foundation because I already have oily type skin. So by the end of the second day into the third day of wearing it, my skin ended up being so shiny/oily that I felt gross. If you have combination/oily skin, I would not recommend getting a foundation that isn't oil-free, however if you have fairly dry skin, this wouldn't be a bad match.

While it isn't a bad drug store version of some of the pricier skin matching foundations, it's definitely not my favorite and I won't be using it again, unless I run out of my usual and don't have time to get more.

Life Lately

2012-07-30T21:24:00.001-07:00

After reading a great post about food photography on A Beautiful Mess, that is all I have been taking photos of which is really fun and I'm getting the hang of it. Since I don't have a fancy DSLR, I've been using my Android, which not surprisingly takes better photos then my dinky point and shoot.

This week I plan on sorting my thoughts, getting my finances in order and a bunch of other adult stuff I don't really want to actually do, but have to, because I "have" to. Also, I'm going to be having a guest blogger join us every week...stay tuned!

Upstairs/Downstairs

2012-07-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Meet Upstairs/Downstairs! Part of what I get to do at work is what a lot of people don't really get to see when they walk into an Anthro and that is make our Home concepts come to life. This is Upstairs/Downstairs, an ode to the cafe woman, who LOVES coffee, vintage goodies and tiny/soulful/artistic living. For the past few days I have had the pleasure of helping make this concept come to life. All of the pics are an example of my merchandising! Pretty awesome huh? Downstairs is our cafe and upstairs is where "she" lives! This was my favorite because I identify most with who this person is and what kind of stuff she lives with.

I am beyond exhausted, but it was totally worth it! I learned a lot and so happy to see this finally come together!

Life Lately

2012-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Can you believe it is already July 23rd? I sure can't...time is for sure flying by and way to fast. Lately I've been really yearning to get back into things I used to do, especially photography, I hardly ever use my old Minolta and I miss her, film photography is slowing phasing out and digital(easy) is taking over. I also miss playing my guitar, my original one is in NC with all the rest of my things I moved with, so I've been dying to buy a new one. Then there is painting. Driving home some evenings from work I'm dying to paint the sunset, how beautiful Arizona sunsets are, I haven't seen anything like it.

It's hard to take those small opportunities to do all these things, but what is stopping me? Nothing

What are some things you guys are wanting to start doing again?

Zoo Life

2012-07-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

Magical! I love the zoo so much. Chris and I had the lovely pleasure of treating ourselves to the zoo last Saturday. I'm so glad that we did and even more happy it was pretty cloudy the entire day. Hot nonetheless, but a perfect day for the zoo. My favorite was the Squirrel Monkey enclosure and the Bobcat. Mostly the Bobcat because of how much it resembles my little darling! We had a great time and will definitely be going again, in the Fall of course when it is much, much cooler!

Zoo Life Lately

2012-07-17T09:10:00.001-07:00

I had a marvelous three day weekend, which was must needed. Saturday Chris and I both had the day off so we decided to go to the zoo! It was so much fun! They had a Monkey Village with Squirrel Monkeys that you walked through and they were jumping all around us, no barrier. So awesome! We had such a great day and made it home just in time because a monsoon blew through! I can't wait to plug up my camera and show you guys more! Have a great week!

Life Lately

2012-07-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Did you guys have a great 4th week? I sure did!! We kept it pretty low key on July 4th, most of the day it was raining anyway so there was not much to do and our small town cancelled it's firework show until the weekend. Bummer! The creative part of my brain woke me up at 3am last night and was exploding with some awesome DIY headboard craft ideas as well as home concept inspiration for my store...sigh, why does that have to happen at 3am? Either way, I'm really excited for everything to come!

I've also lately been thinking a ton about photography and the technique of it in general. I don't have a super duper amazing cam, but I read an article from Elsie at A Beautiful Mess regarding lifestyle photography and it sort of inspired me. It's awesome you guys should check it out!

Beauty DIY: Cleaning Make-Up Brushes!

2012-07-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Quick and efficient...Wet Ones/Equate Version!

Gather your make up brushes!

Rub brushes against facial cloth until rubs clean.

Lay flat your newly happy and clean make up brushes! Hooray :)

Something so simple and highly important but overlooked is cleaning your make-up brushes! Ask yourself, "when was the last time I cleaned my brushes?". If you can't remember, this is a simple, on the spot trick that I actually found from Jen at From Head to Toe. She's a make-up artist and I thought this was a brilliant easy quick cleaning trick that I thought I could pass along!

For a deeper clean I would suggest getting an antibacterial hand soap or dish soap as she uses, the facial cleaning wipes I got were antibacterial but sometimes our brushes need a deeper clean! Not only is it important, we are keeping those germs off our faces! I would recommend deep cleaning your brushes at least once a week and spot clean every other day!

Currently Loving...

2012-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth! Today is not only just the 4th, it is also my grandma's birthday! Happy Birthday grams! (Yes she does read this from time to time). Today Chris and I will be enjoying family, hanging out in the pool all day, having a few hot dogs and checking out the fireworks down the street at the community park. It's such a great time, everyone brings snacks and blankets to sprawl around the park to watch them when the sun goes down! Last year was my first Fourth of July here in AZ and there was a dust storm while we waited, which was pretty fun in itself! Hope everyone has a great holiday!!

1. Dixie Dot Dress
2. The Mockingjay
3. Peep Toe Flat(Red)
4. Kate Moss Lipstick from Rimmel London(Allure)

Seeing Dots

2012-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

There's a saying, "Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?". It's pretty much exactly what happened to me and this dress. It's got everything I love about a dress, comfort, classic polka dot print, perfect length and did I mention pockets? Oh yea, pockets. I'm not sure what it is about a dress with pockets but it is divine.

I'll probably just be living in this dress for as long as I can.

Dress: Dixie Dot Dress
Shoes: Seychelles
Necklace: Classic Pearl Necklace
Belt: Anthro