oscar night favorites

So, no outfit post today. I took photos (and even took some this weekend as well!), but forgot my camera cord in my other bag (since I got a new one in the mail!) so have no way to upload. What else did I expect from a Monday? Luckily for me I did watch the Academy Awards last night and took note of a few of my favorite dresses, so I have something to share with you today. I'm terribly sorry to be so lame and simply regurgitate photos that are already all over the interweb, but tomorrow I'll be more original, I promise :)

I loved Scarlett Johansson's wine-colored Dolce and Gabbana and her sultry bedroom eyes, but Mila Kunis wore my favorite of the evening--a lovely lavendar Elie Saab gown (who also made the amazing Monet-inspired dress that I swore I would have worn to last year's Oscars if given the opportunity).

My other favorite of the evening (if not even more favorite than Mila's Elie Saab) was Florence Welch in buttery yellow Valentino Couture, but Halle Berry also looked amazing in Marchesa.

I absolutely love that cobalt blue is trendy this season (it's a great color for blue-eyed brunettes). As it turns out, it's also a great color for redheads (although actually this dress is more purple than blue)--Amy Adams looked amazing in sparkly L'Wren Scott (though I would have taken the jewelry in a different direction)--and saccharine-soft-pop songstress Mandy Moore shone onstage in Monique Lhuillier (despite the fact that the song was sensationally silly, as most of Ms. Moore's ballads tend to be).

Who were your favorites?

saturday style icon(s): ziegfeld follies

From 1907-1931, Florenz Ziegfeld's Follies reigned supreme on the Broadway stage, and his chorus girls were notoriously eligible and adored young bachelorettes. Inspired by the Parisien Folies Bergère, the Ziegfeld Follies was a theatrical revue that combined vaudeville and what we consider musical theatre on Broadway today. Not only were these women known for their beauty, but they were decked in elaborate costumes designed by the great sartorial minds of the early twentieth century. These were the original showgirls, and the sense of fun and excitement in their merry lives is something that I don't think will ever be recaptured in contemporary entertainment. Sure, their sex appeal was exploited (most of the photos I found of these girls were [tasteful] full nudes), but there was an energy and vivacity in their eyes that I find enormously inspiring. And the fashion?? Fantastic.

(most images found here)

vintage cutout flats

(via MyGmasCloset)

Last week was all about the oxfords, but I'm also adoring the idea of a classic flat with a similar weave effect. If I close my eyes I can see myself on a porch somewhere in Georgia, with a glass of lemonade (or, let's be realistic, a mojito) and a pretty pair of airy shoes on my feet, or riding my beautiful blue Schwinn Tourister down a country lane with a basket of bread and cheese and (let's be realistic) champagne :)

(via heightofvintage)

(via allencompanyinc)

(via rosegoldaline)

(via purevintageclothing)

(via shopgoodgrace)

(via blessthatdress)

(via HuckleberryVintage)

big bad braid

This outfit was a complete deviation from the plan for today (I'm a rebel). I've been choosing outfits in advance recently because it's nice to grab&go in the morning (showering at night has also helped my morning routine less miserable). However, last night I had a moment of divine inspiration while watching Funny Girl (Netflix Watch Instantly = awesome). Barbra's amazing beehive-and-braid hairdo reminded me a bit of the amazing thick braids at Erin Fetherston for Fall, but my hair isn't long enough (boo) to recreate the look organically:

Ta-da! I decided to braid three of my longest scarves together to (sort of) achieve the desired effect.

(dress: h&m; skirt: goodwill; blouse/belt: bargain boutique; necklace: uo; boots: aldo; scarves: various)

Also, I apologize for my death stare in the majority of these photos--I have a very serious problem with squinting. My eyes are incredibly sensitive to light (I even squint on cloudy days) and today the sun was shining brightly so instead of screwing my face up in all kinds of wacky ways, I just look mean.

So my federal tax return came through yesterday and even though I was supposed to save it all for emergencies, I also happened to find out about Modcloth's Cabin Fever Sale that afternoon. Oh, dear. I went on a bit of a rampage, and although I did eventually narrow my cart down to five (very lovely) little dresses it was still a bit of bad behavior on my part. Especially after the little UO sale shopping spree my state tax return inspired. Anyway, I feel like I deserve a little treat after the stress induced by figuring out how to file the damn things (I swear they try to perplex me with their roundabout phrasing). Soon to be mine:

leaning toward the weekend

I am like the Leaning Tower of Pisa today because it was too cold to spend a long time adjusting my ancient tripod (seriously, it's made of wood, I got it at an antique shop) to hold my camera straight. Close enough, I say :)

(cardigan: h&m; scarf/belt: bargain boutique; tunic: tjmaxx??; tights: vera wang for kohl's; shoes: seychelles; glasses: f21)

So, I know it's only Wednesday, but I have definitely been working for the weekend these past couple of days. I've been staying up long beyond midnight (not my norm on worknights) doing nothing in particular. Last night I was semi-productive and got five very rough pages of my pilot script down, which felt excellent, but after that I just kind of piddled around online until the wee hours. I have a very full weekend coming up, which I'm sort of excited and simultaneously sort of anxious about. I don't like feeling "locked in" to a plan, but my Saturday is almost entirely full of have-tos (which I do want to do, but it still feels like yet another obligation), so I'm trying to adjust my frame of reference. In addition, I was a bit worried that my bank account was going to go overthelimit because my gym auto-draft went through yesterday instead of the first of the month (when i assume i make an ass out of... well, just me), but my federal refund came through this morning and saved the day!

Annnnnnywayyyyyy those are the boringboringboring details of my life at the moment. Here are a few things I'm hoping to make happen this weekend:

*eat waffles*

*go to the movies*

*visit goodwill*

*watch sopranos*

*sing songs*

*play yahtzee*

*write five pages*

*start a new book*

*drink champagne...

...while watching the oscars*

*cheat sleep*

Here's to getting over the Hump!