pretty in pleats

gray & blue pleated dress :: kling, from q clothing boutique (buy kling @ q here) | wedges :: charlotte russe (love these ones) | clutch :: vintage (similar) | collar necklace :: forever 21 (love this feather version) | cuff :: forever 21 (try this tribal one) | earrings :: forever 21 | sunglasses :: charlotte russe

This dress is one of three acquired at Q Clothing's Kling sample sale Thursday night; the pleated gray chiffon and navy blue suede-like accents make this dress perfect for the last hazy days of summer. Come fall, layers will include tights and an elbow-patched cardigan from Zara that's been anxiously awaiting a soulmate for its own blog debut. The navy clutch with orange embroidery was encountered by chance on my way out the door Friday afternoon - laying atop a dresser, forgotten, until my fingers happened upon it while hunting for something else. Kismet. It belonged to my mother, when she was younger than I am now. A child of the 70s, perfect for a late afternoon outing in a canyon above a reservoir.

My momentary excitement over summer has faded; I desperately want it to be winter, though I'll settle for fall. The oppressive heat and lack of storms is depressing... I feel worn down by the dripping sunshine and ominously blue sky. Despite Weather Channel app promises of mid-80 degree temps, the thermometers still read 90+ most evenings as I drive home from work. Disappointing.

I used to be a summer child; I'm not sure exactly when I changed so much that I now find summer almost unbearable, but sometimes even the prospect of yet another long, sun-drenched day threatens a panic attack. Call me dramatic, if you will, but there's got to be more to it than that. Seasonal Affective Disorder, in reverse.

Despite my impatience for the arrival of autumn, its impending arrival brings with it a sense of loss for this summer in particular... The last few months years have been rife with emotional turbulence and life upending pronouncements, and I'm not sure that I've accomplished much in the way of actually living my life. My list of Epic Shit To Do has been a way to partially combat this sometimes overwhelming feeling of stagnation, but summer's imminent death means drastic measures must be taken to truly relish what's left of the warmth. Enter:

epic shit to do :: sudden death

september 2012

an odd assortment and varied collection of random challenges to be completed before the official commencement of fall.

1. Go stargazing.

2. Watch the sunrise on my roof with a cup of tea.

3. Road trip.

4. Discover someplace new.

5. Find a new restaurant.

6. Ride a rollar coaster.

7. Go for a walk on the beach.

8. Go swimming.

9. Go hiking.

10. Have an adventure.

What adventures are you going to accomplish before the end of summer?

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trend analysis: fall 2012 color palette

rainbow maxi dress :: heart/soul (love this ROYGBIV version) | cobalt blue kimono sweater :: maurice's (love this button up dress as a kimono-cardigan) | gold cuff :: charlotte russe | blue and gold beaded cuff :: pacsun | hot pink satchel :: nila anthony (lusting after this one) | taupe braided sandals :: forever 21 (sold out but similar here) | sunglasses :: charlotte russe

My boss told me today that I have quite the "eclectic wardrobe." Apparently, I dress "like a different city every day." Today, he said, was Portland, though I usually lean towards New York (meaning black and other dark colors). I've never put it in terms of cities, but I do enjoy exploring myself in a sartorial sense. My outfit defines my outlook for the day, and this dress allows me to pretend I'm at the beach when the humidity is so oppressive I feel as though I'm swimming through the air. I'm convinced there is no better way to survive the sweltering summer heat than in a maxi dress; add a light cardigan to ward off the office AC and some flat sandals, and you've got a look that can go from the office to the beach in the amount of time it takes for you to remove the aforementioned cardigan.

Portland apparently translates into an outfit that takes advantage of the remainder of summer by wearing as many bright, offensive colors at once as possible. Despite having railed against it since its inception, this summer has finally wormed its way into my heart and my closet, and I find myself oddly regretful to let it go. I realize that it's only mid-July, so it may seem a bit early yet to eulogize summer, but fall collections are already flooding the racks, and the beginning of school only a month away marks the unofficial beginning of autumn. The forthcoming onset of cooler weather promises to bring both a turn of the color wheel and a shift in the way we view fall hues in the years to come.

Traditional fall and winter palettes combine jewel tones with dark neutrals to create a panorama of deep colors, but as fashion progresses out from beneath the rules of yore, I think fashion lovers will be hard pressed to give up their brights so easily, at the mere whim of some archaic fashion law.

Instead, though the general hues of jewels will remain the fall/winter standard, the colors will lighten to more vibrant shades of amethyst, emerald and teal as opposed to traditionally deeper shades of each. We'll also see the muted influence of the neons and pastels from earlier in the year through an influx of not-so-basic primary colors like canary, cobalt and blood red alongside the fall classics of mustard, navy and brick. Be prepared for a continued mermaid influx in the form of gold flecks and deep sea blues, and pastels will remain evident, though with a slightly grayer hue (think lavender gray, dusty mauve and a stoney mint).

There also seemed to be an unspoken consensus among many of the designers - with one or two pops of bold neons making a statement in many of the collections, it appears that a dash of hot hues (generally covered in black brocade or crochet) is just the right amount of daring. Think of it not as coloring outside the lines, but as coloring your Santa hot pink instead of jolly red.

A few suggestions, via highfashionmagazine.com

You may notice a decisive lack of discussion regarding winter whites in this analysis of fall and winter 2012 color schematics; that is a conversation wholly its own and will be covered as such in an upcoming post as part of an ongoing series on trend analysis and prediction. What do you think so far? Am I spot on, or color blind? Leave your thoughts (and your own predictions) in the comments, and check out my Pinterest board, Fall 2012 Coloring Book, for inspiration straight from the runways and hot off the streets.

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mood board :: free spirits on the open road

Photos collected via Pinterest. Click on each photo for its source.

A glimpse of a few of the things that have been inspiring me this summer.

A little neon, a dash of pastel, a hint of beach babe and a few sparkles, sprinkled over a free spirit and overlooking a wide open road. Summer might finally be growing on me.

Check out my mood board on Pinterest for more summery inspiration, and I'd love to see some of what's been catching your sartorial eye this season. Leave your thoughts in the comments - or, better yet, a link to your own mood board or inspiration post.

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contradicting rainbows: 5 steps to gorgeously windblown hair

slouchy mint tee :: forever 21 (sold out, but similar here) | white denim flares :: city streets (get your own white flares here, or try this skinny version) | pink lace bandeau bra :: maurice's | studded black leather criss cross sandals :: c/o kork-ease | black satchel bag :: ebay (lusting after this Cambridge Satchel bag) | gold, leopard & black bangles :: maurice's (love this set) | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | twisted gold collar necklace :: forever 21 (this spike version is pretty cool too)

My first instinct was to pair this loose, airy palette with some dainty gold jewelry... so naturally, I opted for burnished, clunky and leopard. I find the opposite end of the spectrum to be the best place to find inspiration for pairings; the pot at the end of the rainbow may not always be full of gold, but you're certain to pick up at least a few new ideas along the way.

I wandered up the canyon this evening in the hopes of finding an interesting backdrop for tonight's photos, and was rewarded with the perfect amount of light leaking over the mountain as I set up my tripod. I tend to gravitate towards scenery that conflicts with my chosen persona wardrobe for the day, and naturally, today that meant hiking in white jeans and five inch heels.

The above was my second choice for backdrop; my first impulse was to climb down into a man made, dried out stream bed to lean casually against the timber lined walls. Once down there, however, I realized there was something (or someone) up the other side of the mountain. This may seem paranoid, but Middle Canyon is known as a favorite business spot for local thugs and has its own scattered populace of displaced citizens. A couple of fallen rocks and snapped twigs later, I decided it would be best to scramble out of the stream bed as quickly as possible to avoid any unwanted encounters. This led to me climbing up the aforementioned timber and digging my hands and camera tripod into the dirt to pull myself out.

I'm beginning to rethink my method of choosing scenery for style photos.

5 steps to perfectly windblown hair :: a guide for the epicly unskilled

1. Spritz Suave Volumizing Root Lifter liberally all over wet hair, from roots through mid-shaft.
2. Flip hair over; blow dry bottom layer using your fingers.
3. Flip hair back over and blow dry just the roots, pulling small sections straight up.
4. Leave main body of hair wet. Get in car; roll windows down. Drive to work at 50+ MPH.
5. Spray hair with Suave Touchable Finish Hair Spray. Tousle appropriately.

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warning :: prepare for some epic shiz

white & orange striped tee :: H&M (love this version) | cutoff denim shorts :: L.E.I. (similar) | braided taupe sandals :: forever 21 (similar) | straw fedora :: maurice's (similar) | bangles :: my sister's | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | straw purse :: vintage (similar) | silver arrowhead necklace :: forever 21 (sold out, but I love this one) | dia de las muertos skull bead earrings :: Tooele Arts Festival vendor (similar coming soon to the shop) | yellow scarf :: wet seal (old, but similar here)

Celebrated Independence Day with a family BBQ and a very basic look; white tees and cutoff denim shorts define iconic American style.

Tonight's post started out as a lecture on flag etiquette, then moved into some lengthy, existential explanation as to why the blog has been so conspicuously silent over the last week, but upon revision of the finished text, I determined it was just too damn whiny. What it amounts to, friends, is that I've wasted the last two years under the guise of putting my life back together, and I'm ready to move on and bring it on. Enter:

26 before 27

Prepare for some epic shiz.

1. Buy a car.
2. Find my writing voice.
3. Top Secret. (This one will only be revealed upon completion. Intrigued? Stay tuned.)
4. Reach 300 blog followers.
5. Rock red lipstick (in public and in a style post).
6. Impress myself. Twice.
7. Meet some new people. Make some new friends.
8. Go for a walk...
     -In the rain
     -In the sunshine
     -In the snow
     -In the middle of the night
     -Somewhere I've never been
     -In the middle of nowhere
     -In the middle of somewhere
     -To clear my head
     -On the beach
     -With Annie
9. Write a book.
10. Write a letter (by hand) to someone I admire. Send it.
11. Go somewhere I've never been before... by myself.
12. Take a random road trip.
13. Learn to sew.
14. Design, create and wear five items of clothing.
15. Open an Etsy shop.
16. Move out of my parents' house.
17. Get healthy.
18. Try a new (nice) restaurant.
19. Have a glass of expensive (>$150) wine.
20. Go ice skating.
21. Start taking classes.
22. Go to the beach.
23. Challenge myself. Daily.
24. Make a difference.
25. Find and implement a new blogging vantage point.
26. Publish three articles.
27. Write, every day, every word, every dream, every feeling, however fleeting. Write like no one is reading. Write to remember. Write to forget. Write to let it go and write to keep it in. Write, until my heart bleeds all over the pages and the words run together and one moment becomes indistinguishable from the next. Write, because no one will ever be me again [and I'm damn well worth remembering].

I invite you to hate. To judge. To pass by. To join in. To become wrapped up in. To write your own list, and to accomplish it. We'll do it together. Leave a link to your list of epicness in the comments so I can check it out.

Also :: Tune in tomorrow night for the secret to applying tanning lotion + the scoop on how I achieved split end-less hair in less than three weeks - without giving up daily heat styling.

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summer leathers

red plaid button up shirt :: zara | gray oversize tank :: zara (dig the texture on this one) | black tank :: charlotte russe | faux black leather pants :: divided by h&m (similar) | combat boots :: charlotte russe (love this buckled version too) | red faux croc skin clutch :: unlisted (check out this killer envelope one) | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | pewter cuff bracelet :: forever 21 |  cocktail ring :: vintage | tassel necklace :: 2bravegirls

Breaking the laws of fashion, one bogus rule at a time.

So what if it was 90-something degrees last Thursday? My office is freezing year round, and these faux leather skinny pants are lined anyway. Pretty sure I could care less if some archaic law of fashion etiquette states that leather garments are a faux pas come the warmer months; I've never claimed to be anything more or less than a walking jumble of contradictions.

Entirely too sleep deprived to write a proper post, but as I was getting a little behind on posting, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep soundly until I put this anti-summer ensemble up. The sociality of the last few days has taken precedence over my online life, as has my rapidly increasing need for sleep. I've read about the effects of prolonged sleep deprivation, but I have developed a deeper understanding of the gravity of these effects now that I am experiencing them firsthand. My memory is shot, attention span almost non-existent (though, to be honest, there wasn't much there to begin with), and I can feel my overall mental capacity diminishing more and more. I've even started hallucinating, on an alarmingly regular basis.

What I'm trying to say, kids, is say no to drugs - stay home and get some sleep.

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beach babes and electrified lions

embellished maxi dress :: heart/soul (similar) | electric blue scarf :: wet seal (old) | sandals :: charlotte russe (last year) | tribal earrings :: c/o con-fused arts | neon pink satchel :: nila anthony, lulus.com (love this version) | sunglasses, park photos :: charlotte russe | sunglasses, festival photos :: my dad's | black studded wrist wrap :: charlotte russe | asst. friendship bracelets :: 2bravegirls, maurice's (get customized ones here) | gold starfish cuff bracelet :: c/o shopcalico (here; & in silver)

The previously promised closer up photograph of my handmade Kenyan earrings (c/o Con-fused Arts). I love their simple, unassuming, tribal vibe - perfect with anything, but especially a vibrant maxi at a summer festival. Enter: this electrified beach-worth beauty. Anything but simple, the embellished bodice and rad color scheme mean that all it requires are some pretty earrings, killer sunglasses and a starfish cuff to complete the mermaid-inspired motif. Add an arm party, and I like to think this is what Ariel would wear to Coachella: Under the Sea.

In that vein, I attempted to beach-ify my hair into some tousled waves, but as you can see, the wind had other ideas. Caught a weather report last night, and the nice lady informed me we hit gusts of up to 48 MPH. I ended up looking more like a lion who had stuck his paw in an electric socket than a beach babe, but whatevs. I rocked it anyway, and the Tooele Arts Festival was awesome, wind be damned.

Now let's address the aforementioned starfish that seems perpetually latched on to my wrist; I developed an obsession with gold cuffs early this year, and when this beauty came up for redemption as a Chic Reward on Chictopia, I clicked the button the quickest. Its seamless blendage of two of this summer's hottest trends make it the perfect way to update the aging items in my closet, and its unique, quirky appeal (and heavy duty construction) mean it's a piece I'll be wearing every summer henceforth. Many thanks to ShopCalico for your kind and generous nature - as well as for your exquisite taste.

Seriously depressed about the end of the weekend - significantly more so than usual. I love the chill vibe of Sunday afternoons, but I'm usually a tightened, fetal-position ball of anxiety by Sunday night. I love my job and I have great coworkers, but the office has been causing me intense amounts of stress recently. I think I need a vacay, and tomorrow needs to not be Monday.

How was your weekend? Does the prospect of yet another week of nose-to-the-grindstone set your stomach into knots too? Or is that just me?

Also: A spider just dropped onto my arm. It's dead now.

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