Fringe Alert

Patient Zero is still fighting the plague. Or possibly Laryngitis, we're not sure yet. Since my brain is fully full of phlegm (sexy visual), the apex of my mental acuity will manifest itself in pretty photos of Freja Beha Erichsen from the Jan issue of British Vogue.

Please take special note of those bangs. THOSE BANGS!

  

Figured I already have the length and general fuzziness down-pat. Next stop, full fringe?

Photos via.

Den Um?

TGITuesday! That's something people say, right? It's not? It's not.

Recently, I purged my closet of all most of my long-unworn clothing. The process was shamefully overdue, largely because I create irrational and unnecessary sentimental attachments to my wardrobe. Plenty of folks do the same. (Weirdly seems like lady-only, or lady-mostly, behavior.) If you're worried you'll regret parting with that top you wore five years ago, on your second date with your now-husband, or you'll miss the dress you wore, once, to your best friend's birthday, and it hasn't fit you since, or something along those lines, let me tell you that I FEEL YOU but YOU WON'T REGRET A DAMN THING. It felt GOOD to bring bags of still very wearable clothes to a nearby women's shelter -- way better than hanging onto items I hadn't glanced at in... who even knows how long. (Pro tip, gleaned from this book: Memories can and will survive in your head, with or without the associative object.)

Whoa boy. Quelle long & borderline preachy way to introduce a considerably superficial subject. SHOPPING! As in, I might have been a tad gung-ho when clearing the closet. The few jeans I kept are now, unfortunately, in dire need of replacement (or, at the very least, short-term sabbatical).

Something you should know: I hate shopping for jeans. And pants. Any garment, really, that requires leg separation + confinement. Not to mention the ordeal of Saving Private Ryan-ing a size that fits both my waist and my ass -- body parts which, like my boobs (tmi?), either never got the message their sizes should be harmonious, or the feedback was received but unwelcome, so now they are being spiteful. Whatever. At almost every turn, I have avoided the dreaded Shopping For Denim experience by (A) honing in on that *one* good jean that fits and buying a pair in every color, or (B) wearing skirts. Until today. Today, the job can be avoided no more.

In an effort to reduce store-level frustration and anxiety, I poked around online for viable options.

Hence:

Topshop, why is all your denim cropped? Wait, I forgot, I don't care. I'm 5'3". Nothing is cropped. As a person who already owns three pairs of Jamie, I'm thinking it's time to branch out. Or not -- the ripped option is still a Jamie cut. The first style is Leigh and I'm digging the mid-rise. 

Is American Eagle Outfitters still a place to buy denim? I mean, years ago, all my jeans were from there. I was also eighteen, living in suburbia, and AEO just arrived at the local mall. But I remember the quality being good! Right? I think so! Anyway, I'm enjoying the cut and wash on this pair, dubbed the Hi-Rise Skinny Jeans (round of applause for name originality). Worth a peruse, at minimum.

 

And then there was Zara. Simple, cute, probably affordable. But will there be anything on the shelves? To be confirmed this afternoon.

Movie-going: A Most Violent Year

Squished somewhere in the middle of a jam-packed weekend, I corralled a few folks into watching A Most Violent Year. The movie itself was pretty solid -- good story, great performances, sumptuous (ten-point word alert) color palette, maybe a touch too slow. But I'm not here to talk cinema (clearly). My big takeaway? CHASTAIN'S COSTUMES. Would you take a look at them.

And these are just the promo stills you find online! J-Chas kills it. I've never been partial to an 80s silhouette (I could still leave some of her shoulder pads behind, tbh), but Chastain looked so insanely glamorous, frame after frame, that I might have to reconsider my position. I find myself hankering for shiny bangs and a white, full-length coat. Totally practical for a Montreal metro-rider with combination skin.

 

Better add to the list: at least one push-up bra with a good work ethic. Holy boobies!

Maybe I'll start by wearing some power-red lipstick during daylight hours, then see where the look takes me.

A Most Violent Year just started playing at the Forum. Tomorrow happens to be Cheapy Tuesday. Get your behind to the movie theatre and give this one a shot. You might leave with some wardrobe inspiration (plus or minus a crush on Oscar Isaac) (did you know he speaks Spanish!) (I digress).

Happy Monday, lovelies!

Can we talk about this sweater?

Hey Zara, thanks for continuing to feed the addiction.

I hear the collective ZZZs coming from the internet. Does the sweater look plain-ish? Sure. Boxy shape. Scoop neck. Drop shoulder. Not much else going on, really.

DID I MENTION IT COSTS $18? And is made of cotton? AND comes in oodles of colors??

Surely you don't need to go out and buy ALL of them. Maybe just one (but probably two). Or, maybe, I'm being swayed by the insane price tag. Ultimately, everything will boil down to a shopper, a sweater, and the unforgiving glare of fitting room lighting. If you so venture, please come back & let me know how it went! (I'm presently on self-imposed Zara furlough, otherwise I'd go try it myself.)

Rooooxanne! (to red dress or not to red dress)

Last week, while hunting for a (wildly unnecessary) new dress to wear to a family event, I very nearly brought this baby home.

Very bright, very red. While it didn't make the cut because of some styling & workmanship issues (typical H&M crapshoot), I keep thinking back to it, now days later. Mama wants a red dress!

What are the rules for sporting such a KAPOW! garment? Can you wear it during the holidays without sparking a Santa Claus association? Can such a dress ever pass as even vaguely casual? So many questions!

Image via H&M

Chloé Spring 2015

Excusez-moi while I fuss over these looks from the Chloé S15 runway.

WANT.

Clearly, these dresses are for the faintly-chested, what with all the teensy shoulder straps and cut-outs and general bra-unfriendliness. But still, there's inspiration to be drawn. Those colors! All that breezy fabric! Delicate styling details like pleating, lace, unusual necklines, strappy sandals, etc! How long until it's warm again? (Answer: Forever times a fucking million, that's how long.)

Also, those models have the prettiest, shiniest hair ever. But I'm not jealous or anything.

Now off I go. Back to drooling over clothes I'm absolutely 100% not even rich enough to look at. I'm allowing myself to keep browsing runway photos until my coffee is done. Then, off to more productive pastures (i.e. READING THE NEW LENA DUNHAM BOOK YEEAAA BUDDY). See ya!

Photos c/o style.com

14 // Hair dye etc

Something happened this past weekend. After a seven year hiatus, I dyed my hair! Still not sure what prompted me, but I bet a therapist can find some reasons.

The "before" looked like this:

The middle -- aka time spent letting my hair cook while I was slowly poisoned by the sharp stink of peroxide -- found me feeling very confident I'd soon look like this:

Coolest fucken kid in school, right? That girl (Future Me) has her shit together, never repeats her footwear in a given week, and always carries enough cash to buy an ice cream at Kem Coba.

The grand finale:

Ombré? Nombré (ha ha lame). My hair basically looks the same. Which is okay, really, because I'm still getting used to the sliiiightly noticeable difference. Also, nothing's stopping me from keeping that $4 in my wallet, with or without kick ass multi-toned hair.

(Unrelated side note: My right eye looks wonky in the last photo because I'd just been rubbing it like crazy. What a small torture, getting something in your eye. Nothing helps! On the bright side, my left eye is looking Disney princess-esque by comparison. What up, new Make Up For Ever mascara!)

04 // Black & White

I was (very irresponsibly) browsing the French Connecrion summer sale. Eventually, I found myself in a changing room with my seemingly absent-minded selection of things to try.

Do you think I have a "look"?