looking back: oct-dec 2010

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

looking back: july-sept 2010

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

the key to 2011

This well may be my last outfit post of 2010! K and I are leaving for Portland (ME) tomorrow morning for a low-key destination NYE. I'm delighted to be getting out of town--we'll probably just check out some of the festivities, have some delicious Indian food for dinner and retire back to the hotel for champagne by our in-room fireplace!

(necklace: gift from K; headband: DIY; shirt: Old Navy; skirt/scarf: vintage; tights: HUE; socks: TJMaxx; boots: Seychelles)

K gave this necklace to me for Christmas--he works with a woman who repurposes antique skeleton keys (among other things) to make jewelry, and of course he immediately thought of me. I like a man who knows what I like! Anyway, I think it is quite lovely. The designer has a blog and etsy shop with some really beautiful and creative pieces, many of which seem inspired by nature--petite pearls in a nest play at unhatched eggs, little honeybees chase beads of nectar down a chain and kitschy antique pendants wax reminiscent of a rose garden--and all are playfully pretty and totally worth checking out!

As for the headpiece: my childhood girlfriends and I have been exchanging gifts since we first started receiving an allowance, and this year I really wanted to make something for them. I had the idea to make headpieces out of doilies a long time ago but never actually got around to doing it, so when I unearthed a heaping stash of pretty doilies while perusing JoAnn Fabrics, I knew I had struck gold. I had originally intended to attach them to barrettes, but after sewing the doilies onto sheets of felt in camel, baby blue, royal blue and black I decided I wanted the pieces to contour to the head and it just didn't look right on a barrette. Luckily, I had some supplies in my craft drawer (because of course I was doing this super-last-minute)--I started out with black velvet ribbon, which disappointed me by running out after three headpieces, so I had to improvise once again. I had some sheer lace-like material (purchased last halloween for a never-worn owl costume), which I cut into strips, and Voilà! I had also intended to make the headpieces a little bit more elaborate by adding buttons or lace or feathers or all of the above, but I think I prefer the understated simplicity of the stand-alone doily. And it kind of looks like a snowflake, which is totally winter-appropriate!

Happy New Year, everyone!

I can't wait to spend it with each and every one of you :)

looking back: apr-june 2010

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

my christmas wrapping

As promised, here are the photos of my Christmas Eve ensemble! I wore this to the annual party at my parents' house, where I filled myself with food and wine and caroled myself hoarse.

(dress: Bargain Boutique; tights: Ralph Lauren; shoes: Payless)

I found this perfect little plaid number at Bargain Boutique for $2 and couldn't wait to wear it for the holiday celebration. Trouble was, it only looked adorable in my mind. In real life, it looked like this:

Do not underestimate the power of a blind hem and basic alteration skills. The dress didn't come out quite as form-fitting as I had hoped (after several failed attempts at bringing in the side seams, I cut open the back and restitched it, eliminating several inches from the bodice but leaving the arms somewhat saggy), but as long as I keep my arms down nobody is the wiser. Slowly but surely I am experimenting with more complex alteration!

And now, just because:

(Christmas Dinner)

(A goat--inexplicably with a fish tail--sculpted out of [you guessed it] goat cheese; by the illustrious Casey Lussier for last night's dinner party)

looking back: jan-mar 2010

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Hello all! I hope you had marvelously long, luxurious holiday weekends (I sure did). After all the stress that December dumped on my head (along with several feet of snow), I had a truly marvelous Christmas. And then I got sick and I'm still recovering. I had intended to post my Christmas Eve outfit photos today (I know, I know, Christmas is totally last week and everyone is probably over it and then some but I really liked my dress and it's too Holiday to wear on any other occasion), but forgot my camera and tripod at home after bringing them inside while running from nosy neighborly eyes. No matter, they'll be up tomorrow. In the meantime, I thought I would take a cue from some of my fellow bloggers, who are dedicating the last week of 2010 to a little "what I wore" round-up. I'll follow up with April-December in the coming days.