Orange clash and going all white

When your significant other remembers an urgent appointment 30 minutes before hand, you usually don’t get a chance to pick the best outfit. If it’s not working you just have to go with it.  There is an enormous color clash happening in this outfit since the shorts are more red than orange in real life.

Taking advantage of last days before Memorial Day to get at least one wearing out of my new white shirtdress and paying a couple of visits to friends. 

Red accents

The problem with a patterned dress is that you are limited to its color scheme or neutrals when accessorizing. In the case of this dress, aside from blue and navy, the only other color I could work with was red. Et voila!

Black and beige

This Lela Rose for Target top has become iconic! I bought it in winter and mixed it in tan or black outfits. But never thought it would go with my baggy print pants as well. I guess the mixing of black and tan (or beige) is a no-brainer although a bit boring.

Emeralds and Ikat sands

Sunday is the day of rest, isn’t it? Mine was so full of to-do lists and meet ups that the only thing I didn’t get to was resting!

Morning to afternoon was spent running errands and trekking from one side of the city to the other to get things done, having lunch and an appointment with a few people. My emerald dress gave the illusion of being pulled together. It was comfortable enough for all the running I had to do and nice enough for meeting new people. I wasn’t much creative with accessories. I just piled up every emerald green I had, from bag to necklace to a bow for my ponytail!

Got home and started cleaning up the house and organizing and getting ready for an impromptu dinner party. Maxi skirt and a nice top is my favorite “Hostess” outfit. Food stains are usually unavoidable if you are cooking and serving, so good thing I went with the Ikat print. I also got lucky and my skirt survived the evening unscratched!

Linen and chambray

…and an ode to black maxi.

For visiting Phoenix Botanical Garden, I needed something cool which could protect me from the sun. Also comfortable to walk in for a couple of hours. Afterward we planned to explore a new shopping mall, so the outfit should have looked pulled together and not sloppy. A very tall order. It was achieved by matching my new chambray shirt with linen shorts, comfortable sandals and a hat!

Some clothes look very versatile and easy to mix and match in theory but not in real life. I still haven’t figured out what else I can wear with this shorts aside from blue or navy tops.

A fuss-free outfit for dinner was necessary after walking around all day. Something comfortable that deviously looked formal. Do you wonder why I adore this black maxi dress? Pretty effortless to style up!

What I liked this week:

-Printed pants. I’ve put my fears aside and acquired a few form fitting ones this spring but for fall I’m thinking of subtle plaid ones. Yes or no, what do you think?

-White bags. These pretties have been in vogue from spring this year but I couldn't decide if it is just a trend or has lasting powers. Since they’ll be still around for fall, I’m thinking a bit more about them. The important question; satchel or top handle.

-Colorful cushions. Thinking about furnishing my family room and adding some fun to the overall muted color scheme.

Copycatting

The inspiration for today’s outfit came from August issue of “In Style”. I substituted railroad striped shorts for the skirt* and went with tan shoes.

*weird! I don’t own a vertical striped skirt in my vast collection of clothes. Why don’t I?!!

Orange and hot pink

I used to wear this top with white jeans this spring back in CA.For me, it symbolized being carefree despite the fact that I was anything but carefree this spring. Here in AZ though, the thought of wearing jeans feels monumental. You know me, I am not one for monumental efforts. So… I wore the top with orange polka dot shorts, tucked in the front of the top and called it a night!

Easy breezy

An outfit for a quick errand run and fast food dinner while the high 110⁰ weather turned into a sandstorm and air pressure dropped. I have simplified my life to a bare minimum!

Chambray and silk

A mixing of high and low textiles which added the feel of self-indulgence of silk chiffon to the solace of light chambray. Took the texture mixing farther by adding the smoothness of leather shoes to the bristling texture of my vintage python bag. It felt perfect for  a Sunday evening.

Viva la weekend

It was over 110 degrees and my plans were for a leisurely lunch, strolling in an AC-ed mall and window shopping my heart out. I needed something cool, comfy and relaxed. White shirtdress to the rescue and what better than navy stripes and polka dots for accents?

An informal dinner party required the right balance of relaxed and dressed up. I thought this striped tee-dress hit the right note. Added the more formal patent leather shoes and clutch to make it evening appropriate.  

What I loved this week:

-stack heel shoes. My red and nude Tahari sandals are getting a lot of wear and I am trying to find others in the same style with only 2” heels.

-Perfumes. I am looking for a new one since my DKNY “Be Delicious” is very mild and almost nonexistence in the heat and low humidity of AZ. I apply it and before I start my car, it’s gone! I need something cool and light with staying power. I am interviewing the following: Versace Bright crystal, Dior Miss Cherie, Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude, and a few others.

-Stash teas in “Ginger Peach green tea” and “Coconut mango Oolong tea”. The coconut mango flavored tea has become my favorite breakfast tea and ginger peach is delicious with a rice muffin in the afternoon. I buy mine from Sprouts. Bon appetite!

Cranberry and cognac

This old dress of mine is a dark red (almost cranberry) in person. It begs to be adorned and I usually have a hard time resisting and not adding a sparkly necklace to it. This time however, I stood firm and let the only adornment to be from the cognac leather. Subdued with a hint of Fall.

Fall colors

Does it show that I am fed up with summer and its heat and ready for fall?

I thought the semi-peplum style of this top disguised the bagginess of the pants pretty well. And a dark red top? Why not! No one said dark red has to be worn only in fall.

Jacquard and peplum

A mixing of black and white to get another wear out of this peplum top. I agree, not very inspired but what are you expecting at 8:00 pm?!

Lifestyle changes: dealing with depression

So you’re depressed, now what?!

If you like me self-diagnosed your mood as depressed, you have two choices; enjoy depression (yes, sometimes a bit of downtime feels good. It can also help if you are in a creative field like writing or painting) or change your mood.

There it is, change. I’ll be the first one to admit that changing is not easy. It takes effort, it could be scary and it requires tenacity and persistence. It takes energy, physical, mental and emotional. More often than not, instead of making changes in their lives, people are willing to stick to their unhappy situation forever but since they are unhappy, they complain. Have you met those people? Those who are stubborn, who complain about their jobs, their weights, their lifestyles; sometimes for years and years but don’t take any steps toward improving their situation? These people are afraid of change and the effort it takes to invest in their happiness. A person needs to make a conscious choice toward happiness.

The next step would be the evaluation of your abilities: can you make the necessary changes by yourself or do you need a coach or a therapist? It is a personal evaluation and decision and all I can say is; be honest with yourself. If you have been trying to make changes for years and haven’t achieved the success level you were expecting, maybe it’s time to consult with a professional.

Whatever your decision, to work by yourself or seek help and guidance, do not procrastinate. Do not make excuses. I confess to be guilty of this. My go-to excuses are: “I’ll work on it when I have time… or when I feel better… or when I get back from vacation… or when I finish this urgent project”, “I am researching the issue or I am reading books about it”… and the last one is: “oh, yes, I’m OK, I’m no getting worse, I can figure it out tomorrow or next week, or next month”. All of which as you can assume doesn’t solve the problem, doesn’t make me happy and doesn’t start the change for the better.

What I need is a conscious decision to overcome my depression. I also need to make that decision into reality by changing my daily routine and activities. 

Ikat and polka dots

Due to the bright and wonderful sunlight here in Arizona, my skin has turned an unflattering shade of ecru. (No! I don’t tan beautifully. I turn yellowish!) My friend recommended wearing shorts and skirts at night and full length pants during the day. Sounds reasonable!

So I matched my mango polka dot shorts with my navy and orange Ikat top for a subtle pattern mixing. Since the dots are tiny, their color goes with everything from pink to orange which is a blessing if you ask me! 

Day tripping in khaki

We set out yesterday (Sunday) to explore the sights closest to us. A gold mine, its ghost town and surrounding wilderness parks and lakes were only 30 minute drive away which made the whole daytrip very convenient.

Taking the bright sun into consideration, I went with breezy linen pants and long-sleeved cotton top and a floppy sun hat. Of course I got many weird looks but my skin thanked me at the end of the day.

Sights: Apache Junction museum, Goldfield ghost town, Lost Dutchman Wilderness park and Canyon lake:

  

Chambray and polka dots

After a full day of adventuring, a light chambray shirt was a breath of fresh air. I paired it with navy polka dot shorts, tied the front and added blue shoes.

My search for a chambray shirt is finally over as I found this Bella Dahl split back shirt. It is made of Tencel which is very soft to the touch and feels cool and summery. The front is long enough to tuck in as well as looking good untucked.

 

8/12/13, 9:33 PM, Edited  to add: Tencel (Lyocell) is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly fabric made of wood pupl which is cool, drapes well, is wrinkle resistant, durable, breathable and moisture wicking. It is great for sensitive skins. Highly recommend it!

What I loved this week:

-White shirtdresses. A white dress is the epitome of summer chic, in a cool breezy fabric, a flattering silhouette  and perfect fit, nothing would look better on a woman. It embodies nonchalant and carefree. In lace it is a reminiscent of boho lifestyle. In cotton it’s cool and practical. In silk it is understated luxury. Whatever your favorite style or fabric, snatch one before summer is over.

- Zodiac or horoscope bracelet /bangles. I’m not a big fan of charm bracelets since I can’t stand the jingle bell effect but having just one personalized charm in the form of my birth sign is very appealing.

-The TV series “New Girl”. I have watched both seasons and can’t wait for season three to start. The plots and characters are rather simple but well worth watching since the dialogues are very funny. Also Jess’s wardrobe is drool worthy!

Khaki and orange Ikat

Call it variation on a theme: linen pants and a comfy Ikat top. An outfit that doesn’t require any effort but is cool and pulled together and perfect for a lazy Saturday evening.

Peplum top

The peplum trend has been going strong for the last couple of years, however, it won’t be that visible this coming fall. Although I own a few peplum tops, I haven’t documented any of those outfits. I better get to it before peplum becomes totally passé.

Fashion colors for Fall-Winter 2013/2014

Are you getting ready for the fall, taking inventory of your winter clothes or hitting the sales in search of a versatile piece to wear now and later?

Let’s take a look at the most popular colors for this fall and keep them in mind when shopping:

 Sources: here and here.

Pajama dressing

One of those instances that you need a pajama-like outfit which would offer you as much comfort as it can is when you feel depressed and rejected and also have a summer head cold. My version includes my breezy linen pants and a cool top from Anthro.

No wonder this pajama trend doesn’t die, it’s awfully cozy!

Crop top and baggy pants

...and block heeled shoes.  Is it too juvenile? Is it too fashion victim-y, wearing three trends together?  Yes,…maybe! However, none of these trends are going away (and I was feeling a bit down) so I went ahead and wore them all at once. I think my saving grace was in keeping everything neutral and black, so the outfit looked pretty subdued and didn’t draw much attention.

These pants are so light and cool and breezy. Just perfect for today’s high humidity.

Nirvana

Matching the chambray shirtdress with white and mint and blue accessories. It shouldn’t have worked because of all the colors but it did!

 On the opposite side of the retail spectrum from yesterday’s “hangout” was “Fashion Square” in Scottsdale. Call it a shopping nirvana! No, I won’t miss South Coast Plaza anymore!

Exploring

I should remember to avoid anywhere with the word “hangout” in its online review and description. It usually means a mishmash of stores and diners which invites a colorful group of characters. Me? I usually don’t fit in! That was the case when we visited “Arizona Mills” today. I doubt I’ll ever go back there!

Hot pink and gold

This 50’s style cotton dress had enough “hostess with the mostest” appeal to give me confidence for my first set of guests tonight. I’m starting to think that gold accents go with any color. Life is short, simplify!

What I loved this week:

-I’m becoming obsessed with Rebecca Minkoff mini M.A.C bags. What has attracted me is not their immense popularity, but rather their ingenious design and the variety of colors and finishes they come in. Also that’s where the problem lays: which color should I buy?!!!

-Lip crayons that are both lipsticks and lip balms. For the last couple of years I have abandoned my lipsticks and am using these balm/color combos. They deposit just the right amount of color and they are moisturizing, a win-win! My current favorites are: Clinique Chubby sticks, Neutrogena color sticks and Revlon balm stains.

-Calla lilies in dark red or burgundy. Yes I know, calla lilies are overplayed but in a dark red they are just uncommon enough to add a bit of interest. Displayed either by themselves or with very delicate white blooms, I think I can live with their overdone use!

Blue and gold

I am not one for pouch clutches, I need something with hand or shoulder straps but this gold pouch clutch was the only evening bag I had that worked with my blue dress, nude shoes and dangly earrings. (and yes, it is gold or rather dark gold. The lighting is to blame for the nude-ish hue!) It was meant to be although I had to reduce my carryon items to a lipstick, phone, credit card and ID!

Fashion colors for Spring-summer 2013

Are you running out of outfit inspiration? Are you bored with your summer clothes?

Looking back at spring and summer trendy colors may not be a bad idea since we still have another month of summer ahead of us until being able to switch to fall colors and wardrobe. So, you want to shop you closet or add a new piece to your existing wardrobe (summer sales, hurrah!) if you have worn all your summery clothes and are bored with what you got. Or if you are running out of outfits ideas and the heat of August is drying up your creative juice.

Here it goes:

Sources: here and here.

Lifestyle changes

My life has gone through a lot of up and downs and changes in the last year: research, teaching, professional training, exams, writing a dissertation and defending it, graduating from school, living alone for 6-7 months for the first time in my life, moving to another state and city and job searching. None of these phases has been easy, none of them peaceful. It is fair to say I am dealing with a lot of anxiety and shock since everything happened in such a short time and it feels as if I am dealing with all these changes all at once.

In addition I have been forced to make some personal changes too: changing my diet due to some new allergies, change in personal style and trying to get used to AZ’s weather, change in my social environment and being away from my friends…

To be honest, I feel depressed and lost. I am trying to figure out my new self and get over the shock and depression. I have promised myself to sort everything and get on with my life by the end of August. I will be documenting my efforts here but you don’t have to read it!

Minty white

This lace top is an ideal layering piece. Wearing it un-tucked with white shorts and layering a thin cotton cardigan over it, allowed me to show off the mint collar and lace trim pretty well. It was a great outfit to spend a few hours in an AC-freezing interior.

My Naya sandals and this top earned me a lot of complements today!