Wednesday, March 31, 2010

When you are sick,

…it is awful! Your hair has gone limp, your skin is yellowish and shallow. Your nose is like Rudolph’s and your lips are chipped. Well at least make sure you are wearing something pretty and comfy!



…and to feel better drink as much juice and tea and soup as you can! Don’t forget to use your face cream, moisturizer and lip balm.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

What to wear with olive pants

Say you did it! After three months of looking, you finally found the perfect olive cargo pants. It doesn’t make your butt look big. It is slim and doesn’t make you look like a dwarf. It is 100% cotton and finally after half an hour with a pair of scissors, tread and needle, it is the perfect length.
Now, do you think you are done? That everything is perfect and you can relax? Not so fast! It is just the beginning! Ask yourself what you’re gonna match the pants with and your troubles start!
Despite all the hoopla about utilitarian and army looks this spring, olive is an autumnal color. I have been trying to come up with a color scheme that makes olive fresh and springy. Here is what I found, taking Fall color combos and reworking them for Spring:
- Olive and khaki: this is the color combo featured in most fashion magazines. But going head-to-toe olive or mixing it with khaki makes the wearer look like an army private on her hourly leave out on the town. Definitely not the look for me!
For Spring: Instead of Khaki, use cream and light beige and ivory, fabric should be delicate and airy like chiffon as far away from army twill as possible.
- Olive and mustard: these two go great together despite the fact that I hate mustard!
For Spring: mixing olive and yellow, from bright saturated yellows to cool lemony ones. They work great with olive and brighten it up.
- Olive and plum: all purple hues work well olive. The problem is plums and purples are strictly for Fall.
For Spring: using muted lavender and lilac colors with olive. Pastels are always "In" for spring and we all have at least one lavender top in our closets, don’t we?
- Olive and orange: orange is the most associated color with autumn. Remember the Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations?
For Spring: going for brighter lighter shades of orange, like coral and blush. Having a neutral third color helps tie these two together.
- Olive and wine: pour a glass of red wine and put a couple of olives beside it. You have the perfect still-life model for a painting.
For Spring: wearing lighter shades of burgundy like rose and light pinks with olive. This color combo reminds me of delicate blooms between fresh shoots and new branches. The ultimate picture of spring.

Let me know what other color you think looks good with olive.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Happy Persian New Year!

…and yes, I am four days late but who cares really! Between my spring cleaning, trips to dentist and taking pain killers, cooking and entertaining a couple of out of towners, I have been busy.
Admittedly not as busy as those of my friends living back home (in Iran) but more than usual. So be happy with my belated New Year greetings and start a good year!
Here is one of my rare appearances in honor of New Year.



Best wishes for the New Year!

Monday, March 15, 2010

My Top Ten or How to be a Minimalist

This post of Garance had me thinking about my top 10 basics and minimum pieces for a capsule wardrobe the whole morning. I thought hard on my favorite items and on my most stylish and practical ones. Did you know they are not the same?! I have worn my favorites only a few times but the work horses of my wardrobe are down to free cost per wear and still going unappreciated.
So let’s dedicate this post to those little heroes in my wardrobe. I am going to change the rules here and go with ten items of clothing and five accessories.
Top Ten basics:
1- A white button down or an ivory blouse
2- My slim fit dark jeans
3- My slim fit white jeans
4- A cotton black cardigan
5- A thin cream cashmere or lamb wool V-neck sweater
6- A navy corduroy or denim blazer
7- My nylon trench coat with its quilted lining
8- My high waisted denim skirt
9- A sleeveless A-line black dress
10- My gray cotton sheath dress


Accessories:
1- Tan strappy sandals (preferably my Michael Kors ones)
2- Black or navy flats
3- A cognac colored pair of boots
4- My tan Cole Haan Hobo bag
5- My black structured Dooney and Bourke tote/briefcase

I can live on this capsule wardrobe year round happily if I get to add unlimited colorful $3.00 camies and tank tops and unlimited number of scarves.
Now that I have all this in black and white in front of me, my conscience is asking me why I have to buy a new item of clothing every week! This list making stuff is bad for a person’s peace of mind! Despite everything I know I love variety. I would get bored with a capsule wardrobe fast. Going “Minimalista” is not for me.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

What I loved this week:

…our gorgeous weather, sunny, crisp, a little chilly, just perfect for spring. The sky was the bluest blue, the hills green and the trees blooming.



… light trench coats. To keep the chill out, to look pulled together and stylish and spring-ready nothing is better than light cotton trench coats. Cream, light khaki and light gray are classic but a little color makes you happier.



…pink nailpolish. I have been wearing dark purple and dark red for the last six months but today I started wearing my nice rose pink polish and strappy platform shoes. Hooray for spring! It is finally here! These are the colors I’m loving right now:

Monday, March 8, 2010

How I got my first bag

I remember it, buying my first handbag. What I couldn’t imagine then was that innocent shopping trip would start a life long obsession with handbags.
I was not quite five as I remember going to the store with my mother to buy a new pair of shoes. When Mom was looking at different shoes I was attracted to a sweet little bag made of cream corduroy. It had a golden chain strap, a golden frame and a little gold and red embroidery design in front. All those gold triggered some serious magpie reaction in my young brain and I couldn’t let go of the bag. My mom easily agreed to buy it but then I wanted to choose the matching shoes. I remember insisting on a pair of ill-fitting cream patent leather ones just because I thought chic grown-up ladies wear cream shoes (and have matching bags!). I recall hating the shoes afterward, they were pinching my feet every time I wore them. I wouldn’t complain, though. It was my own choice and I didn’t want to lose face in front of Mom, stubborn little five year old that I was.
I remember Mom throwing away the shoes relatively new and unworn. (Maybe she knew!) But I loved my little chic bag to tatters. She finally convinced me to let go of it three years later when the embroidery pattern was unraveling, the cord fabric worn and the strap and frame were tarnished!

Friday, March 5, 2010

What I loved this week:

Continuing my search for the perfect floral ruffled skirt I found this dress in Forever 21. Although the floral print is adorable, the colors lovely and the ruffles don’t make my back look big, the dress is too short for me. Nothing is perfect in this world. Sigh!

…ruffley cardigans. Cardigans with floral details or ruffles are so feminine and look really delicate. What transitional piece works with this crazy weather of ours better than a cardigan and layering?! And while you are looking for cardigans, go for bright and colorful ones. Spring is here!


… striped scarves. I am becoming obsessed with nautical theme and light neutral scarves are such great accessories. I am looking for a light filmy striped scarf in cream (or blush) and white to match all my cream and khaki and light neutral this spring.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Love is Blue

I fell in love with the multi-strand turquoise necklaces in spring fashion pictures and had to have one. A whole afternoon (3:00-12:00 PM) playing with my beads got me something similar to these beauties.