Lessons from Carrie Bradshaw : BUNS

As we grow up, people come into our lives that influence and give us important instruction: our parents, teachers, role models, etc. We look to them for wisdom and understanding. If we are struggling with a situation or question we go to them to hear their voice of reason. They pass on their Life Lessons.

The same is true as we develop and enhance our ever changing style. There are people that come into our lives that train, sculpt and expand our knowledge. As I have said before, the character of Carrie Bradshaw has played this role in my life. Her "stylish life lessons" are one that I have kept with me through the years.

One in particular we should all observe is her no-holding-back BUNS. They are not the typical bun at the nape of the neck or even on the back of the head, she liked to throw those things way up to the tippy-top of the head. She always mixed it up with an accessory, a mohacian flare, or even split down the middle to create two of those things!

Let's take this life lesson from Miss Carrie Bradshaw and embrace the BUN!

SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

I have always been a girl who loves to pick up a magazine and peruse the pages looking for inspiration. Every month I anticipate the few that I religiously read, but I have found myself wanting more.. more inspiration daily.. not just once a month.

Then I discovered the wonderful world of fashion blogs. Instead of once a month I can now be inspired by multiple sources every single day. One in particular that I have stumbled on is Style Bytes, and its writer Agathe! Her sense of style is so interesting and eye catching.

There are a few things that she could teach lessons on: How to wear a scarf, How to rock the 80’s, and How to properly layer necklace upon necklace.

In recent days she has been trekking over mountains and fishing on the lake – all the while looking every bit of a SOCIETY GIRL.

That is why "Miss Style Bytes" is our Society Girl of the Week!

To be Annie!

Now I know I said I have been enamored with the “Frosting Side of Fashion” with all its ruffles and romance.. but I also have to say I am drawn to the menswear inspired clothes popping up in the fall season.

I love hunting through the little boys section of a thrift store looking for the perfect clip-on tie, bow tie or suspenders to dress up an outfit.

Every ten years this look seems to resurface. I remember the good (or bad) old days of middle school when I had a zip-on black tie with pearls (eeek!), and I will probably have the same reaction when I look back to this outfit.

BUT, then I recall this classic movie and I have a sense of relief, maybe one day it will be as timeless as Diane Keaton's in Annie Hall.

Style Consultation: Madelyn

This weekend was the much anticipated shopping excursion with Madelyn. With her style statement (Classic Feminine) in place there was a sense of confidence and knowing as we headed out into the great big world of RETAIL.

We decided on our objectives: Find some updated basics (skinny jeans, summer shorts, etc) and casual comfortable mom-friendly clothes that were still stylish.

Our first stop, my tried and true FASHION GAL. The mecca of cheap skinny jeans. To our good fortune, Madelyn walked out of the dressing room looking smokin hot in a pair of perfect dark blue SKINNY jeans! Some great cuffed knee length shorts were purchased as well - SUCCESS!

Our next stop was FOREVER 21, the mecca of "classic feminine" darn cute clothing. Madelyn expressed feeling a bit overwhelmed by the masses of choices inside the store. I let her in on my F21 secret, just grab anything that looks interesting (in your size) and take it to the dressing room. If you try to figure out only one or two things that you like in the store, it is too much and the frustration sets in. Just give it all a chance. And she did! We found exactly what we came for - Classic Feminine casual basics!




So to sum it all up, it was a successful buying trip. Take a look at Madelyn's new updated look!

Society Challenge : Target

So here we are again! The day has finally arrived for the second installment of Society Challenges, where my girl Sara and I take on TARGET!




I realized the first time around that I didn't lay out all the rules for you Society readers out there. To make everything a little more clear, these are the challenge details:

1. We choose ONE store for each challenge.
2. Once inside the store, I choose one item that we both have to build an outfit around.
3. We split up to grab everything interesting in sight.
4. No peaking!
5. Outfit has to consist of all items from chosen store, with the exception of shoes and accessories that we are already wearing.
6. We enter the dressing room and seperately begin to create.
7. No peaking!

Finally, when all has been decided and we both feel confident in our choices we step out and REVEAL the masterpiece.... it is always amazing to me how we come up with our own unique look!

Target is a fun choice because of the new designers that are featured every few months. This time around we had Patrick Robinson to work with.

This shirt was our centerpiece.



This is what we each came up with. (Again, everything is from Target with the exception of shoes and accessories)





We had a blast and we can't wait for next month!

Mix and Match

Hard at work here in my little cottage. My husband's office has recently been overtaken.

Take a peak inside...

I have started a gallery of art deco, vintage posters, and anything that looks like it walked out of a crayola box. Many of the peices are from garage sale and thrift store excursions and I love how they all scream COLOR!!!

Oh yes... and that is our little pup.. Dudley!

THE SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

Ok, so here goes.. another Society Girl of The Week.

I have to say that this former child star knows how to work the glam look. I am always inspired by her choices – though most are designer duds she has a vintage flare. Ohh.. and she knows how to rock the bright red lipstick, which I happen to love! She has a stylin sister, who is also inspirational - but I chose to single her out.

So here she is... our Society Girl... Ashley Olsen.

Looking for the One!

Do you ever have those days where you are on the hunt for something in particular? You are not setting out to scour your favorite thrift store looking for whatever meets your fancy. You are on a mission! You have one thing in mind that you want to find. Most often this mission is a failure, you don't find what you are looking for and you walk out with ten items you don't need. Yes, they might be ten great items.. but they still aren't IT! BUT, there are times you hit the jack pot! You find IT and your find IT in multitudes!

I had this rare fantastic miracle happen to me. I was on the prowl for some high-waisted shorts (yes, I know I go on and on and on about high-waisted.. .I just can't help it), and I had twenty minutes to look through my favorite Salvation Army Thrift Store.

I went straight for the shorts section. No.. No.. No.. and there they were YES! those are it.. and then No… No.. ohhh… yes, those are cute too.. and on it went. I walked out with four new pairs!

Boy, I love when that happens!

The Straw Hat

My EBAY treasure arrived! Oh how excited I was! I ripped open the box and to my delight pulled out this perfect summer hat. I couldn't wait to put it together with a whole ensemble.

Finally, Monday night arrived and as we often do, my husband and I were headed off to another Angel's baseball game. Perfect! A straw hat is just what you need when your cheering on your team.

I paired the hat with the team's colors - red and white. These shorts were just purchased at my local Salvation Army (more about them later) and the red victorian styled shirt came from an estate sale, ohhh and I can't forget my new favorite brown shoes - also from the Salvation Army.

The straw hat has officially had its debut!

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got word from my girl, SARA (our guest columnist) that according to this ARTICLE one of my favorite designers, Erin Fetherston, will be making designs for TARGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to hit it up!

Workin the Trends: Vintage Style Part 3

With the wedding flurries and the sunshine of summer burning bright, I forgot to finish up my challege of working the current trends with a vintage flare. So I am back at it...

Out of all the trends, I would probably say that my favorite is "Pin Up Girl". What could be more fun than embracing that girly figure? So, with no holding back.. I pulled out the high waisted shorts and stepped out - ready for my pin up moment!

"Pin-Up Girl"

The Mailbox

Summer hats! I am all about the hat thing.. as mentioned in this week's Society Girl column.

I just purchased this one from EBAY!

One of my most favorite things in the world is getting the mail. My husband knows this, and though he gets home before me, he always leaves the mail in the mailbox so that I can revel in the pleasure of looking to see what "treasure" I might have received.

AND ebay brings me these little treasures every now and then. I can't wait till I see this hat sitting in a box on my front door step! ohhhhh!

Of course I will keep you posted on how I wear this treasure.

Urban Renewal: Part Two

Eeeeehhhh! It's off. I sent in my Urban Renewal submission - The Mu Mu Redu! My design is simple, but I am proud of it. If nothing comes from this I am just excited to sell these in THE VINTAGE SOCIETY.

These dresses stand out! They are different from every other girl's at the party - I mean seriously, you are wearing a HOT Mu Mu and no one can compete with that!

So, my lovely society girls.. if Urban Outfitters decides against carrying these in their store, don't worry The Vintage Society will have a whole section of them, and they will be sold online!

Introducing the Mu Mu Redu...