...in Paris

As someone without a passport, I spend lots of my time contemplating where I'll go first once the time and money align. Admittedly, I never had the sort of love affair with Paris that most girls have, particularly those with a similar affection for fashion. I prefer the allure of the whitewashed shores and hillside homes of Mykonos, Greece. Or navigating the crowds of a Chinese fish market. Possibly trading heels for flats for Rome, Milan, and Venice during a visit to Italy.

The main draw to France for me would be the architecture. And I will walk the Louvre before I'm too senile to fly.

Aside from that though, the women of France, specifically Paris (but of course!), are so effortlessly pulled together that people-watching is of Olympic level. I'd be awarded with gold assuredly thanks to my constant perusal of blogs and books that focus on the chic and offbeat of the French. My favorite designer Alexander McQueen always invoked the flair of France in his lines' designs following a five-year stint at Givenchy.

I recently read somewhere that French women tend to have style that relies on curated closets devoid of trends and plump with personality. They look at their closets and see a dress they wore earlier in the week and think how great it looked then and how great it would look today. Americans don't even want to be tagged on Facebook wearing the same tee if it's worn on separate occasions. As I surveyed my own wardrobe, it just felt... CLUTTERED. Even with a walk-in I still have enough clothes to almost fill three dressers. Taking inspiration from those European muses, I used a critical eye and purged seven grocery bags of clothes and shoes, ready for donation to my colleague's daughters. Soon, I'll explain how I did just that, but for now, know that you have lots of sartorial repetition to look forward to on this blog :-) I'd encourage the same for you. It's not just frugal -- it's French! Which is an acceptable excuse for just about anything.

Have fun!

~Kristen


Check out some of my favorite French reads below:

http://www.leblogdebetty.com/en/ - French Fashion Blog where writer Betty consistently infuses charm into her ensembles. Her street shots are typically my favorites.

http://makingmagique.com/category/style/ - French Fashion Blog with tons of photography images from around Europe. Love the mix of rocker, street, and girly style. The blogger is a professional photographer, hence the cool layout, dynamic images, and clever pairings.

http://www.etpourquoipascoline.fr/ - from her hair to her smirk to her name, everything about this blogger is unique and poetic. Even her name - Coline - rolls on the tongue like a full-bodied red wine. I love how her photographs of the most seemingly banal items -- a shower rack, miniature bottles cuddled in the corner of her tub - are suitable for mounting boards and heavy ebony or cherrywood frames.

Fashion Fast 2013

I'm not a shopaholic. I'm not a hoarder. I'm not addicted to shopping.

But I do have a clothing habit! And no, I'm not trying to be euphemistic and prettify any problem I may have. After watching "My Shopping Addiction" and reading numerous articles and psychology texts, I can safely say that "addiction" would be a stretch.

But for some people, shopping, whether it's for clothes, shoes, beauty products, food, technology, trinkets, etc. is a way of feeling powerful again. It's a way of feeling in control. It's a dangerous counseling tool (retail therapy, anyone?) that we sometimes use as an excuse for remedying a bad day. The latter has been my issue before.

With a demanding job, several moves, personal life changes, and emotionally-paralyzing tragedies in the last few years, I simply couldn't find the energy to invest in anything that made me feel better. I would work out, but not stick to it. I started writing again, but it was all depressing and self-deprecating. I attempted to lose myself in the worlds of fiction, but found it overwhelming to read at work (as a teacher), read my students' assignments, read books for class, and then read recreationally.

 

So I shopped.

At H&M September 2012 (bought the dress: $20)

 

And usually I felt better. Coming from a family of fashionistas, I always strived to look nice. I enjoyed (and still enjoy) being put together and trying out new looks. I got a fashion design kit from my Aunt Kim in sixth grade and haven't been the same since. My mom went to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) and always looked like a perfectly coiffed woman suitable for the cover of Elle or InStyle (my personal favorites as a teen and a now near-thirty-something). Looking good wasn't a priority. It was a passion. I can't draw or sculpt or sew or paint, but I love art. And this was the only way I knew how to make any that I was proud of. Color combinations. Mixing prints. Multiple textures. I love all of it.

December 2012 - Sweater: Target ($15); Pants: H&M ($12.95); Patent Loafers: Express ($6.99 on sale); Black Wool Coat: H&M ($30 on sale - they still have outerwear for $30 and under!)

 

 Dress: Xhilaration by Target (old); Shoes: Enzo Angiolini ($60 on sale at Nordstrom); Earrings: Target ($3.49 on clearance)

 

Hooded Brown Vegan Leather Jacket: TJ Maxx ($24.99); Orange and Brown Leopard/Zebra Scarf: TJ Maxx ($12.99)

Dress: H&M ($20 on sale); White tank: Forever21 ($2.50); Tweed Open Collarless Blazer: H&M ($34.95); Nude Patent Pumps: Target ($29.99) 

But when is it enough? I have Pinterest boards filled with outfit ideas. A photo album of favorite looks. A notebook of potential wardrobe combinations. I even have a list posted of things that still have the tags on them so I can force myself to wear them. But as I near that "something" age I parenthetically referred to earlier, I feel a pull to spend (or save) my money elsewhere. I want a house. I want to travel. I want a laptop that was not provided by the State Board of Education (well, I quite like the one they are letting me use, but a personal one is preferable, yes). I want to not work during the summer so I can concentrate on writing my novel.

And so the Fashion Fast was created. Last year I didn't shop for six months (December 2011 - May 2012) and it was a revealing time. I changed a lot in my life --- moved to a new apartment outside of the city, got a dog (Munki HarleyQuinn Morgendorfer, below), got rid of TV (Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, baby!), cut some people out of my life, started writing again, and went outdoors more. I got clinically diagnosed with ADHD and my doctor urged me to start a diet, lifestyle, and meditation plan that has worked WONDERS for me.

And, alas, it's that time of year again. Many people make New Years resolutions that are hard to keep. "Lose 50 pounds." "Exercise 3-4 times per week." "Travel to 'insert international destination.'" "Become a rock star." "Stop blaming my parents, ex-boyfriends, and employers for all of my problems. We know it's society's bias against single women that's holding me back anyway! This year I will be a WOMAN: hear me ROAR!" But the Fashion Fast isn't really a resolution. It's more of a goal to restructure where my money goes. Will I still shop? Yes, most likely. But it will be a lot more carefully and with this fact in mind: "The average person spends 4% of their net salary on their wardrobe." If you net $40k a year, that means you're probably spending around $1500-1600 on clothes (though let's be honest, it's probably closer to $2000 when you factor in beauty products and hair care, INCLUDING trips to the salon!).

Cut that in half to $750. What would you do with an extra $750? You'd at least be able to afford that international flight. You could invest in a dream you've always had. And maybe you won't be a rock star, but you could pretend on your new Xbox360 Rock Band game.


Let's not have the "revelation" of one of pop culture's favorite spenders: Carrie Bradshaw.

 

 

I'll update regularly with outfits, money spent on clothes/shoes/accessories/beauty/hair, and trends in the new year. Let's just hope I'm also telling you all how much I love not working this upcoming summer as well :)

 

 

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT net $40,000 a year :-) I'm a 3rd year public school teacher. 'Nuff said. 





Last Days of Casual

With the new school year quickly approaching, I have been running out of casual options to wear without doing a new load of laundry. When work resumes on Monday I'll be back to more structured, but still fun, attire but snapped shots of my "outfits" from Sunday and Monday. I'll try to snap a pic or two of today's outfit as well (if it warrants a photo in the first place). 

Dress: H&M $12.95

Hat: H&M $7.95

Sandals (old): Gap

The ultimate in casual: hat and pigtails

Shirt (old): Express

Shorts: H&M $24.95

Belt: Betsey Johnson at Marshalls $12.99

Bag: Deux Lux at TJ Maxx $39.99

Wedges (old): Nine West

On Monday I went into school to meet the new principal and make sure I'm still in my same classroom as last year. I wanted to look professional but still able to climb on tables, move furniture, and put up materials if need be. 

This is my first time wearing this belt. It's a bit big on me, which is why it's sitting outside of my belt loops, but I love the metal ladybugs so much!

One of my favorite pairs of wedges! I got them at Nine West about 4 years ago and wear them all the time every summer.

Polka Dots and Prints

Top: Express (old); Skirt: H&M for $24.95; Jacket: Express (old); Belt: from an Express dress; Heels: Steve Madden (old); Purse: H&M for $24.95; Sunnies: purchased at TJ Maxx for $7.99; Earrings: Target for $4.99

So my car decided to be AWESOME and have a flat tire. Apparently running over screws in your parking lot results in deflation. After DIY attempts with said-tire, I decided that like with most things that malfunction in my life, it was best to seek the assistance of a professional. Of course I did not realize my handiwork was defunct until after I'd already gotten ready to attend my teaching workshop for the day. The result above is what colleagues would have seen had I not thought that I was a master grease monkey the night before. At least I was able to snap a couple of pics before slipping back into shorts and a tee.

The night before I went to show my support for OKC (and DC native Kevin Durant) with my friend Andrea at a local bar. Here, we do the ever-classy pose of "fish face."

I had a love affair with Andrea's earrings until I realize that, as with men, that love was unrequited and they chose to stay with Andrea (who gets "all da menz" anyway :-P)

How I used my "brain" for this outfit: 

I love OKC's colors because they are opposites on the color wheel and shows a definitive contrast, which is pleasing to the eye. A warm color (such as my orange) is paired with a cool color (my blue) and communicates balance. It also communicates anti-LeBron. :-)

Dress: Pink Crayon, purchased at TJ Maxx for $20; Wedge Sandals: Express (on sale for $13.99!!!); Purse: Deux Lux purchased at Marshall's for $40; Sunnies: Franco Sarto, purchased at TJ Maxx for $10

Now, because I'm not a huge OKC fan nor a crazed face-painting man who shouts obscenities for every play of the game, I tried to think of a way to communicate my team preference in a subdued manner. Hence the blue with orange polka dots dress. Throw in a blue bag, heels, and sunglasses that I didn't even realize were the same color (don't you love when that happens?) and you get that you shouldn't ask me what I think of the Heat's #6. 

Hope everyone's enjoying the Playoffs!

WATERCOLOR

 Outside of the party

When I was 19 I fell in love with the diluted world of Claude Monet. His seemingly haphazard brush strokes created beautiful images of nature on previously blank canvases. That's what I love about this dress. The mix of purples, dark pinks, greys, and even the faintest tint of green are a soft cascade of color across an on-trend hi-lo hemline. The shoes were a last minute addition. Originally opting for nude strappies, I took a chance and slid on these Enzo Angiolini pumps I recently scored at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly. My favorite sales girl dropped her mouth into a surprised "O" when she saw me ask for the mate from the sales rack. Someone had JUST returned them, they were the only pair, and, at $44.90, they were 50% off of the original price. Throw in my Forever 21 clutch from four years ago ($9 price tag) and it was the ideal balance of shine and chic.

Dress: Necessary Objects at Marshall's for $24.99 (similar feel here and here)

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini 'Mistle' pump at Nordstrom Half-Yearly for $44.90

Clutch: Forever 21, old, for $8.90 (similar here and here; and Jimmy Choo here)

Before the party

After the party

Cinderella's slippers (Prince Charming sold separately)