Blue Collar Red Lipstick

30
Aug
2014

The Fringe

categories: Life, style

DVF Racing Leaf Kye wrap dress; old navy clog sandals; rebecca minkoff Mini MAC pink iris — Dress, DVF (via consignment); tank, Kirkland; shoes, Old Navy; bag, Rebecca Minkoff (via eBay); necklace, RW&Co.

Every year, one of the biggest events of the summer is The Fringe (official name, The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival), and I love that about our so-called blue collar town. Because the kids are still little, we don’t get to really enjoy the full experience, but we always make our way down to the grounds, at least once or twice, to soak up the atmosphere, and catch some street performances. This year’s theme was Fringed and Confused, so I fully embraced the 70s vibe with a DVF wrap dress and my trusty clogs.

Luka got into the performing spirit with a sidewalk piano. (Only at The Fringe.) He’s becoming a little bit obsessed with pianos, to the point that we are seriously considering trying to find a secondhand upright for him. Is it just another passing toddler whim, or the beginning of a lifelong passion? Who knows. We may have to spend a couple hundred dollars to find out.

Miss Téa was not as taken with the street performers as her brother (probably because of her stroller-bound vantage point), but she did develop an instant appreciation for deep-fried elephant ears. Not being afraid to try new things pays off – a lesson her brother may never find out, alas.

With that said, Luka is willing to try anything … as long as it involves ice cream. His peanut-butter-chocolate mustache attests to that.

As for my outfit … eh, it was ok. I’m not sure if my Pepto pink purse really screams 70s disco queen, but it does have fringes, so … Points for being on point, yes?

29
Aug
2014

Put a Chambray Shirt On It

categories: style

Gap maxi dress; Old navy chambray shirt; anthropologie jewel belt; maxi dress worn as skirt — Dress, Gap Factory; shirt, Old Navy; belt, Anthropologie; shoes, J. Crew Factory; bag, MbMJ (via eBay)

I’ve been wearing this dress a lot this month, and one day I got the idea to try it as a “skirt”. Mostly, I was just looking for an excuse to wear this pretty jeweled belt. Something this sparkly is kind of de trop for 90% of my current daily activities, but paired with a chambray shirt it’s acceptable for a brunch date. Maybe? I kept other accessories to a minimum, so let’s go with yes.

My main concern, whenever I try one of these styling “tricks”, is whether or not I’m going to be comfortable, or spend the entire time adjusting various bits and bobs. Good news: I didn’t have to do that this time. My shirt stayed put, tucked (sort of) into the belt, which also stayed put. I attribute that success to the fact that the belt is wide and made from a grippy, elastic material. Or, you know, magic.

Successful deployment of style trickery, hooray!

28
Aug
2014

Formal Shorts (With a Side of Florals)

categories: Favourite things, Flowers, style

J. Crew chino shorts; LOFT floral cardigan; Marc Jacobs Mag bag fools gold — Shorts, J. Crew; tee, Old Navy; cardigan, LOFT (via consignment); belt & shoes, J. Crew Factory; bag, MbMJ (via eBay)

With my return-to-work date looming, I’ve been itching to do the big closet switcheroo: putting ~~all~~ 80% of my casual clothes in the basement closet, and bringing up all my work (and fall, sigh) clothes upstairs. But I’ve been forcing myself to wait, the better to enjoy my last remaining ~~weeks~~ days of ~~freedom~~ maternity leave. Still, I couldn’t entirely resist the urge to start dressing up a little. Shorts and cardigan it is, then.

One thing I am definitely not excited to dig out again is the pantyhose. Ugh, that word. When I think about having to double down on the control top business, I get even more depressed. And do you know how hard it is to find “nude for me” pantyhose? I’ll have you note that I am just as pasty today, 10+ weeks into the summer, as I was back in June. Whomp, whomp, sad trombone.

On a slightly more positive note … I think my hair is starting to calm down a bit. It’s still not 100% back to the mermaid hair of my dreams, but it’s getting there. Slowly. (Side note: I did finally figure out the whole where-did-this-ombré-come-from situation. Perms can change the texture of hair and, apparently, one of the changes can be a lightening of the natural colour; this, combined with extra time spent outdoors this summer, likely accounts for my lighter ends. The darker roots were my re-growth since my December perm, showing my true colour. Of course, ombré hair is now totally passé. Where’s that damn sad trombone again?)