Kitty Cotten

BASEBALL CAP

2012-01-30T15:34:00.001-06:00

I'm lovin the baseball cap trend. It's cute meets sexy meets casual. I threw some hometown pride in there with my Twins cap and cracked myself up on my bedroom floor! I can't wait for spring for several reasons and outdoor baseball games are near the top of my list!

Wearing: shirt, Forever 21; jeans, Forever 21; scarf, vintage; heels, ALDO

NEW & OLD

2012-01-29T12:39:00.000-06:00

I've had this pencil skirt in my closet for almost 2 years and it's not until about a month ago that I fell for it. I'm now very glad during those spring cleaning/wardrobe cleansing sessions that I stuck with my gut and kept it. Those metallic pumps on the other hand are newbies! I scored them on sale at ALDO a couple of weeks ago. Aren't they purdie?

Wearing: sweater, Forever 21 (similar from ASOS); skirt, Forever 21 (I love this one!); belt, J. Crew; heels, ALDO (they have them in lots of colors!); bracelet, J. Crew (One of my favorite Christmas presents!)

MINNESOTA WINTER ESSENTIALS

2012-01-25T22:23:00.006-06:00

Left to right:
Bronx 'Snuggle Lee' -- My everyday foot attire, they just seem to go with everything.
Urban Outfitters Wellies -- Lately, Minnesnowda is more like Minneslusha. (Love These Babies...)
Minnetonka Moccasins -- Although kind of little ugg-ly, they keep my toes nice and toasty to-and-from yoga.

Where ever you're at, what are your winter essentials?

COZY SCARF TUTORIAL VIDEO

2012-01-24T12:32:00.002-06:00

This is my favorite way to wear winter scarves! It's perfect because it looks nice and full, yet you aren't being taken hostage by your scarf!More videos on my fashion and style channel!

ONE DAY

2012-01-23T20:22:00.000-06:00

What I wore to my birthday dinner last night.

Wearing: blouse, Forever 21; jeans, Forever 21; heels, Go Jane (similar); jewelry, vintage, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, American Eagle

BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!

2012-01-21T17:40:00.004-06:00

I'm a very lucky girl this birthday! Joel surprised me with a little jacket shopping spree at Macy's this morning! After trying on a bunch of cozy winter coats, I decided on this baby. Can you believe I don't own one??! I know, I think I'm the only Minnesotan without a black peacoat in my wardrobe -- but not anymore! Yesterday, I drove in the crappy weather to MOA to return a pair of heels to ALDO and left with this adorable bag -- happy birthday to me! Best part is was on sale. I'm a freak for sales, but I also hate them, because I have the ability to justify every purchase. It always starts like this in my head, "It's only..." -- damn that phrase!

Next, I stopped into Michael Kors to window/wishlist shop for a watch. The craziest thing happened... the girl helping me asked if I have a blog. My face went bright red and I laughed, "Yes." She was so sweet and told me she has it bookmarked! I laughed again and said how I'm surprised she even recognized me because I looked like a scrub with not a lick of makeup on and my glasses on. Again the sweetest girl ever, said I looked great. To say the least, she made my day! Actually, more like my month! Off to my b'day celebrations! My body is going to hate me tomorrow. My LP -- life partner, more commonly known as best friend -- has promised me 25 red-headed-sluts tonight in love/retaliation for the many nights at 1:30 I buy these for everyone.

p.s. I think I've fallen in love with a this baby! What do you think? Yay or nay??
p.s.s. A lesson learned: always wear makeup in public! haha

Wearing: jacket, Miss Sixty from Macy's; sequin top, J. Crew; boyfriend jeans, old (similar); heels, Sam Edelman c/o Lori's Shoes; bag, ALDO (similar); necklace, vintage; sunglasses, Forever 21

MAURICES MAIN STREET MODEL SEARCH

2012-01-18T22:01:00.001-06:00

Last month, I was invited to Christopher Straub's and maurices collaboration fashion show, which included the most adorable black party dress -- spot it in the bottom right photo, four gal from the left, it's so pretty! Maurices wanted to share with you all their Main Street Model Search! They're looking for 12 real girls who embody the maurices brand of fashion, fun and giving back! If I know my readers, and I think I do, I believe everyone of you have the chance of winning this model search! The 12 lucky girls chosen win a photo shoot at an iconic U.S. destination and $7,500 for a charity in their hometown! Amazing right? See the beautiful girls who won last year here. You have until February 13 to enter, so take a chance and drop your beautiful self into the running! Go ahead, click hur!

P.S. Christopher Straub is the most adorable and sweet guy! And he's also a guest judge for the Model Search!

INSTAGRAM MOMENTS

2012-01-17T21:47:00.000-06:00

@kittycotten

LET'S FLY AWAY

2012-01-15T17:45:00.002-06:00

My apartment is a disaster! It's just one of those days where you don't want to do anything but snuggle up on the couch with the kitten, munch on junk food and watch some mindless TV. I think I'll just enjoy this nonsense a little longer. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? JK, well sort of... I did join CorePower yoga last week, which I'm pretty pumped about. I don't want you all thinking I'm a total bum now! I'm going to be a lean, mean, yoga machine before you know it!!

Wearing: bird top, Forever 21 (similar); stripe top, J. Crew; jeans, Forever 21; scarf, Heartbreakers (similar); loafers, Go Jane (similar); bracelets, vintage

WORN & FADED

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-06:00

I may be thought of as a girly-girl more often then not, but I have a dear love for menswear -- cue the broken-in red flannel, oversized leather belt, and super dark indigo jeans. To keep from appearing as a long-haired 13-year-old boy, I zipped on a pair of chunky heeled booties and layered some sparkly and gold bracelets. Whoa, that was a close call! Last summer, a group of us spent an entire Saturday enjoying festivities at a Twins game -- a.k.a. beer, beer, jag bomb, beer, beer, pretzel and cheese... By the end of the game I was very happy, intoxicated, and dancing to the music either playing aloud or a track running in my head -- I'm still not sure on that one -- but a concerned mom unrelated to our group came up behind me and asked if I needed help finding my family, because I must have looked like a lost, potentially handicapped child in need of rescuing. Pretty sure I whipped my head back at around at the lady, gave her a serious stink-eye and told her a big, fat "NO!" I'm not sure exactly how that story relates to me smiling in my bedroom getting my lean on, but it's funny, therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to relive this moment in my life for your enjoyment! Wearing: flannel shirt, Forever 21; denim shirt, American Eagle; belt, borrowed from Joel; jeans, c/o Invista LYCRA

KELLY GREEN & LEOPARD

2012-01-10T14:30:00.000-06:00

I've been brainstorming all day for ideas of thing to do on my birthday. My list is pretty short right now... Eat Cake. So, I thought maybe you all might have some festivities birthday ideas?? Or maybe you did something really fun last year for your birthday? Fill me in!

P.S. Don't you just love the combo of Kelly Green and Leopard!! Me too! Remember this...

Wearing: pants, H&M (similar style); top, J. Crew (on sale right now!); scarf, ALDO (similar style); shoes, Missoni for Target

VINTAGE PHOTO TUTORIAL

2012-01-03T20:40:00.002-06:00

Here's a little tutorial on how I process my photos to have a vintage look using ToyCamera AnalogColor...

1. You will need the ToyCamera AnalogColor application -- available for PC and Mac -- and a simple photo editor or Photoshop.
2. Open ToyCamera AnalogColor. Drop and drag your photo onto the empty space.
3. Select PROCESS TYPE 2 and NORMAL LENS and NO FRAME.
4. Adjust your settings to about these amounts:

START: 211
AMOUNT: 47
BLUR: 31
NOIZE: 0
DODGE: 116
COLOR: 0
LEVEL: 1.04
X: 121

You can adjust these settings depending on the lighting of the original photo...

5. When you're happy with your image, click SAVEFILE. Usually the photo is saved under a different filename in the same location to original photo is stored.

6. Open you image in Photoshop or any simple photo editor. Rotate your photo to the proper layout. Save. Then resize as needed. That's it!

Play around with the presets, settings, process types, lens, and frames to get photo effect for your photos... Have fun!

WILDCAT

2011-12-28T19:52:00.000-06:00

Gosh, I love J. Crew. If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life it would be -- you guessed it! -- J. Crew. The colors, prints, silhouettes are timeless and they have a petites section! I have been obsessing over this leopard printed top and the matching dress at J. Crew stores since it arrived and apparently the word spread. As I was a lucky girl this Christmas, being gifted this coveted leopard blouse from Joel's parents! I couldn't help myself from jumping up off my chair and giving Joel's mom a big, huge in gratitude. I hope you all had wonderful holiday too!

Wearing: top, J. Crew; pants, J. Crew; heels, ALDO (similar); necklace, vintage; bag, vintage; sunglasses, Target (similar)

CAMEO

2011-12-21T13:05:00.002-06:00

I hope you all are enjoy the holidays! Tonight I'm going to be busy stocking up on yummy food, organizing and created lots of list, wrapping my last few presents and tucking them under the tree, and cleaning our little apartment before all the festivities start! I'll try and take some snapshots of my Christmas events and share them with you here and here :)

Wearing: sweater, Forever 21; blouse, (similar style); jeans, (similar style); belt, vintage; necklaces, vintage (similar style); bracelets, H&M, Forever 21, Target; heels, ALDO (similar style)

PEONIES

2011-12-19T21:15:00.000-06:00

Wearing: jacket, Forever 21; top, J. Crew (similar style); DIY ripped jeans, Forever 21; heels, Lori's Shoes; bag, Karma Boutique (similar style)

LOCAL CHRISTMAS SHOPPING GUIDE

2011-12-14T19:45:00.000-06:00

Christmas is less then two weeks away! I know, I'm excited too! There are so many traditions I love during the holidays -- Christmas jingles, wrapping pretty presents, holiday movie nights, homemade hot coco, and of course, present shopping! I've always taken present shopping a little too serious, because I'm always determined to find that perfect gift for everyone on my nice list. For those of you living in the Twin Cities, here are my top four local places to present shop during the holidays! Enjoy!

Mighty Swell Vintage Pop-up Shop
3109 East 42nd Street, Minneapolis, MN // Mightyswell.com
Mighty Swell is my favorite vintage shop! Not only do I love the girls, Meghan and Rae, who founded the adorable little pop-up shop, but the vintage selection is amazing! The amount of love and effort these gals have put into their vintage shop dream makes me weak at the knees. They have thought of everything -- cute holiday mix, holiday recipe booklets, stuffed full grab bags! It's the perfect stop for the fashion girl on your gift list!

Cooks on Crocus Hill

877 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN // Cooksofcrocushill.com

If you know someone who loves to spend time in the kitchen, cooking, baking, experimenting, any item off the shelves at Cooks of Crocus Hill would delight your Betty Crocker friend! Their finely chosen selection of kitchen goodies is breathtaking. They have the prettiest colors of cookware!

Juut

Edina, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Wayzata, Woodbury, Roseville, Palo Alto // Juut.com

If you watched any of my beauty videos, you know I'm obsessed, obsessed with Aveda products! It's the combination of their luscious smell and perfect performance keeps me coming back for more! Juut is a full-service salon, so you can treat your beauty loving gal on your list to wonderful products, salon service, or spa package.

Patina

Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Golden Valley (See All) // Patinastores.com

I'm going out on a limb here and saying this the most beautiful boutique in the Twin Cities! Sometimes after work I will stop in the Snelling and Selby shop just to see their new merchandising. Patina is the perfect one-stop stocking stuff boutique for everyone on your list!

Merry Christmas! Happy Shopping!

THE NEW BASIC BOOT

2011-12-04T12:00:00.000-06:00

A fall tradition and a winter necessity, the riding boot seems to be a hot trend year after year. The tall, classic boot has become a staple in every gals wardrobe. A riding boot's wearability makes it the ideal footwear during these chilly months. I adore my new Bronx boots in Elephant! The gray color is a fresh change from my usual cognac-colored pair. The soft suede texture is luxurious to the touch and will be very cozy for the frosty winter weather approaching. I have already received a dozen compliments on my charming new pair of riding boots and seem to be the base to every outfit lately! I love that every boot has it's own personality and so does the girl wearing them. There are boots with buckles, studs, and zippers for the Rough-and-Tough Girl or two-tone leather English riding boots for the Classic Gal or a soft, suede knee-highs for the Hopeless Romantic. By choosing a boot based on your personality you'll be sure to find your perfect boot match this season!

Wearing: jacket, H&M (similar style); blazer, Forever 21; blouse, Macy's (similar style); pants, J. Crew; boots, c/o Lori's Shoes; bag, Karma Boutique; scarf, vintage

GRATITUDE JOURNAL

2011-12-02T18:17:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday I started a Gratitude Journal. I hadn't heard of such a thing until last week during a segment on NPR talk radio station -- I'm a nerd and love talk radio. Their topic of the hours was about giving thanks and specifically keeping a journal of your thoughts and how it affected your emotions and life. Since I was pretty young, I've kept a journal to write down my life's adventures and I'm a huge list person! The concept is simple -- write down a few things you're thankful for once a week. It seems a little funny that by simply jotting down a few pieces of your life you are truly grateful can help reduce stress, change your mood and overall outlook on life in an upward direction, but at the same time it makes sense -- gratitude is a positive emotion. I'm only five days into my new gratitude journal and I wouldn't says it's changed my life, yet, but I do find myself being more aware of things I'm grateful for while they happen.

NOVEMBER MOMENTS

2011-12-02T15:47:00.001-06:00

Follow me on instagram @kittycotten

LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK

2011-11-28T09:59:00.000-06:00

My new starfish ring atop my favorite little saying. When I was younger -- well actually he still does this today -- my Dad would always sign my birthday cards "Love you to the moon and back." The little saying stuck and when I stumbled upon this at Patina in St. Paul I knew I had to have it!

VIBRANT FLAME

2011-11-26T17:02:00.001-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Here are a few snaps of my turkey day ensemble.

Wearing: sweater, J. Crew (similar style); top, American Eagle (similar style); pants, J. Crew; shoes, Matty's; bag, Karma Boutique; belt, Gap; bracelets, Forever 21, H&M, Target

OMG IT'S SNOWING!

2011-11-20T19:41:00.001-06:00

It was a huge, crazy, over-the-top event here in Minnesota last Saturday -- it snowed! I didn't even need to look outside to know it was snowing, just logged into Facebook and my news feed was blowin' up with mobile uploads of everyone's pretty feet standing in, you guessed it, snow! Who needs the weather channel when you have social media.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Wearing: jacket, Abercombie & Fitch; sweatshirt, J. Crew; pants, J. Crew: scarf, vintage; booties, GoJane; bag, Mighty Swell

JOYNOELLE // CAGED BIRD

2011-11-17T15:50:00.001-06:00

Last Monday night, I attended the Joynoelle show alongside Mary, Ellen, Amy and Kara. Joynoelle's line was filled with pretty, frilly dresses perfect for the fashionable bride and her ladies. I loved how the show started with bold contrasting stripes in classic silhouettes and transitions into very deconstructed romantic pieces. Thank you Mary for invite! After the show, we all journeyed to the Joynoelle Studio for some bubbly where I had the best chocolate chip cookie for dinner -- so yummy! I have a love for studio's or maybe its envy to have a space filled with creativity and ample amount of work space to do, well, whatever comes to mind that day, is a dream of mine! You can see more photos of her space on Amy's blog...

WEARING -- jacket, Forever 21; blouse, Brooke Tassol; pants, J. Crew; heels, Jeffrey Campbell c/o Lori's Shoes; bag, Karma Boutique

BASEBALL BRACELET // DIY

2011-11-13T21:14:00.001-06:00

No. 1 -- Find a worn in baseball either hiding in your garage or I found mine at a thrift shop for 69 cents.
No. 2 -- With a sharp exact-o knife cut around stitching.
No. 3 -- Pull all leather off of the ball's core.
No. 4 -- Find where the stitching point ends and slice the leather at that point.
No. 5 -- Begin unraveling the red stitching until it is the desired bracelet length, about 5 to 6 inches depending on your wrist size.
No. 6 -- Cut off excess leather, making sure not to cut the red stings.
No. 7 -- Begin braiding your red stitching to the length of about 2-1/2 inches and tie-off the ends. I added a cute little red button to one side, making tying the bracelet simple. Enjoy!

+ I have to confess I was not the genius who thought this adorable little diy project up, I stumbled upon it via Pinterest! Didn't it turn out cute?! It's the perfect addition to any arm party.

TAKE ME SOMEWHERE

2011-11-07T20:38:00.001-06:00

I think my subconscious was relaxing on the beach last Saturday. It's not exactly shorts weather any longer in Minnesota, but I knew I'd be spending the day inside and I couldn't resist walking around in short and bare legs one more time before I packed up my summer wardrobe for storage.

Wearing: blouse, J. Crew; necklace, Lori's Shoes; sweater, Forever 21; shorts, Forever 21; ring, H&M