rumors of my demise

my outfit - moto jacket :: forever 21 (old, but I think I need an update) | white sweater :: maurice's (similar) | camisole :: maurice's | scarf :: gift shop @ Capitol Theatre | owl necklace :: vanity | dia de los muertos earrings :: Tooele Art Festival | heels :: qupid | jeans :: rock & republic (get a pair here)

...have been only slightly exaggerated.

Uninspired and unmotivated do not even begin to describe the lethargy that has held a vice grip on my productivity over the last month. Despite the variety of really good things that have happened within the context of the last 30 days (a promotion, a raise, Thanksgiving, a modeling gig, a visit from my favorite cousin - to name just a few), I feel this massive but ghostly weight dragging me down. I blame the disgustingly nice weather. I wish it would snow.

The Grantsville Christmas parade with my nephew, sister and Aunt/Uncle/grand-cousins was absolutely the highlight of my Thanksgiving weekend. The parade itself was actually kind of pathetic (a handful of fire trucks, cheerleaders on four wheelers and my friend Virginia with her cart and pony), but the kid was pretty stoked about the lights and sirens on the fire trucks... so it wasn't a total loss. When he saw me taking pictures of my shoes, he insisted on taking the camera and snapping a few of his own.

I also learned that nothing looks better with a pixie cut than a badass moto jacket, and I am now hellbent upon procuring something a little chicer than this ancient Forever 21 incarnation. It's functional, but I wouldn't mind finding something that fits a little better and has a lot more spunk. Naturally, this new obsession has led to the scouring of fashion blogs and online window shopping in an effort to dream up my ideal motorcycle jacket. I've yet to find The One, but I have stumbled across a number of beautiful possibilities, ranging from Considerable Option to Heartbreaking Fantasy.

Aside from my search for The Perfect Moto Jacket, I've recently taken a keen interest in adding to my accessory collection. My general distaste for cheap jewelry stems from its commonality; however, last week I was introduced to the indie gem, Bevel. Bevel has taken the traditional trunk show concept (where new, independent designers were only able to reach a small number of people in a particular geographical area) and brought it to the internet. Designers are still new and independent, and collections are still unique and limited, but the online trunk show provides greater access and greater exposure, benefiting everyone involved, from the artisan who finds a new following, to the fashionistas who have the chance to acquire their handcrafted pieces.

The concept of "buying local" has had the potential to take on a whole new meaning since the invention of e-commerce, and Bevel emulates that idea perfectly. I'm excited to partner with them as they launch their first round of shows tomorrow at 12pm EST (that's 10am for us Mountain peeps), featuring designs by:

Peppercotton

Dorus Mhor

Sabi Collection

& Nettie Kent

Each designer's show is limited to only 200 pieces, made-to-order by the designer. An access code is required to access the first round of shows - lucky for you, I happen to have one that I will post before it opens tomorrow morning.

If, like me, you're dying to know what might pop up in tomorrow's shop, take a moment to scan Bevel's Facebook page for photos from their live launch events. Check back here after 9 in the AM (MST) for the code to access Bevel's first online trunk show, then be sure to drop back by afterward to let me know what you thought and if you were lucky enough to snag something awesome!

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style guide: how to dress with a pixie cut

lime yellow blouse :: H&M (previously worn here; similar here) | yellow & gray floral skirt :: H&M (dying over this one) | wedges :: charlotte russe | messenger bag :: francesca's collections | floral cuff :: vintage | earrings :: wal-mart | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | pocket watch necklace :: nine via urban wear (similar)

While my affinity for dresses and skirts has always been transparently apparent on the blog, my collection has rather suddenly and exponentially multiplied since my transition to a pixie cut (at least four skirts and three dresses in the first three weeks). The short crop certainly took some getting used to, but now that it's grown a bit (almost two inches - my sister measured my roots) I love the shape, messy look and complete lack of blow drying time. A long list of pros usually evens out with an equally weighted list of cons, however, and the boyish cut has definitely required a major style adjustment to avoid looking boyish. Most of the advice I've found online I've deemed complete rubbish, as it generally seems bent upon preventing me from wearing some of my favorite pieces - enter, therefore, my own list of tips and tricks for dressing with a pixie cut:

how to dress with a pixie cut:

11 tips for your 5 favorite pieces

A. The Collar
Traditional style wisdom dictates that the oxford collar is menswear inspired, and therefore off limits to a woman trying to avoid any hint of masculinity in her appearance. What I have found, however, is that a sharp, crisp collar frames my face and highlights more feminine features.
1-What to look for: Straight lines, crisp angles, clean palettes
2-What to avoid: Floppy, sloppy and dirty

B. The Blazer
Another piece stolen from the boys, the blazer can be a tricky one for a freshly pixie cut gal to navigate. Structured silhouettes with a nipped in waist are a relatively safe bet, while boyfriendy cuts are a bit more difficult - just remember: the looser the blazer, the skinnier the pant. When possible, go cropped.
3-What to look for: Structure, nipped waists, cropped lengths
4-What to avoid: Anything too 80s

C. Oversized/Boyfriend Silhouettes
On the tails of the boyfriend blazer, we tackle oversized silhouettes in general. Like calories in ice cream, anything that conceals the natural shape of your body is going to add points to the boy column when sporting a pixie cut. Achieve balance by belting your waist and/or opting for an extremely well-fitted or feminine opposing piece (like super skinny jeans with an oversize sweater, or your BF's shirt with your favorite mini skirt).
5-What to look for: Interest. Balance. Slightly rumpled perfection.
6-What to avoid: Anything that looks like came off of your brother's floor.

D. Shift Dresses (or any loosely fitting dress)
Shift dresses, once a staple in the closet, may seem like a shapeless enemy to a girl fighting to prove she's a woman. A simple answer? Belt the waist, shorten the length, and wear the skinniest, sexiest stilettos you can find. Let your legs do the talking
7-What to look for: Side panels and shorter lengths
8-What to avoid: Midi length and uninteresting fabrics/patterns/colors

E. Trousers
I've yet to don my favorite tuxedo trousers since chopping off my locks, but I may have finally figured out how to style them with my new pixie do: a perfectly fitted black v-neck tee. As with oversized silhouettes, the key here is striking a balance between highlighting feminine features and sporting androgynous duds.
9-What to look for: A high-waisted fit that gives your feminine figure definition
10-What to avoid: Baggy, ill fitting/too long cuts that look frumpy

But my #1 tip for dressing with a pixie cut?

figure it out your own damn self.

When I lopped off my hair, I Googled myself silly - and nothing I found was particularly useful. Everyone has their own opinions on what looks good with what and on who, so while it's great to get some tips, the best thing you can possibly do is go to the mall/Goodwill/your favorite locally owned boutique and try everything on. And I'm serious - EVERYTHING. Try on things you hate, things you would never wear, cuts and shapes and fabrics and colors that you never thought would flatter you. Try on things that didn't work pre-cut and things you don't think will work post-cut. When Google and the fashion interwebs failed me in my hunt for a pixie style bible, I spent hours at the mall, doing exactly this, and I was wildly surprised by my results.

The bottom line is, different things are going to work for different people. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to style, and the only way to find yours is to go search for it. Not look. Search. So get going already.


P.S. Don't miss my recap of Salt Lake City's Fashion Night Out + photos from #MohawkFriday in yesterday's post.

P.P.S. Be sure to check out this post on the Lucky community!

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