Wear No Black Week: Day 1 - Easy Peasy!

You all know how much I love the color black as a wardrobe staple.  Although I can recall many outfits that don't feature black, I'm well aware that it is a dominant color in my closet.  I've entered a challenge with Urban Darling's Facebook page to not wear black for one full week (August 1 - 7). 

I figured that taking part in this challenge might help me get out of my "black and white" rut I've been in for the past few weeks.  I'm feeling pretty confident that this week will go by quickly and without too much pain.  I just hope my black clothes don't get to feeling too lonely. 

The options seem limitless with this geometric skirt.  It takes on a different look depending on the color I pair with it.  Thankfully I'm a fan of all of the colors on the skirt so it makes choosing a top fairly simple... see how I styled it here.

Do you see these new gladiator sandals?  I found these at Target this weekend for $7.98.  That's right... less than a ten spot! I couldn't pass up a sale that good... especially on a sandal that feels a little trendier than what I would normally buy.  For the most part they are pretty comfortable, however, the top of the sandal was rubbing pretty decently by the end of the day.  I found that unzipping the back an inch or so relieved a little bit of the discomfort. 

When the boyfriend is deeply involved in Fake Fantasy Football, I can make whatever face I want and he doesn't notice!

Outfit Details
Blue Ribbed Tank: Old Navy
Geometric Skirt: Merona via FreeStyle Consignment
Brown Gladiator Sandals: Mossimo via Target
Cream Belt - NY&Co via Ross

Another Black and White Number

It's not too late to enter the Bed Head Foxy Curls giveaway.

You have until Saturday, July 30 at 11:59 PM.  Good Luck!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Hi, I'm Tiffany, and I love black and white... *Hi Tiffany* 

Oh, but wait... I put on red too.  Really stepping outside of the box on that choice!  This picture was taken on my first day back to work after returning from Cabo.  Half of my clothes were in the hamper and I needed something comfortable and simple. Check and Check.

Boyfriend and I picked up the bracelet in Cabo from a beach vendor.  If you've never been to Cabo, here is how the exchange goes...

I walk over to a vendor with a jewelry case and peruse for something I like.  I knew I wanted a piece of hammered silver so I just needed something to catch my eye.  Once I find the piece I like, I do a little bargaining myself to see how much the vendor will budge.  I NEVER carry the money with me while looking.  Then I call the boyfriend over and let the vendor know that HE (now pointing to boyfriend) is the one calling the jewelry purchasing shots.  Boyfriend barters with the jewelry vendor until we reach a prediscussed price OR we walk away... there will always be another vendor to come along.  On this particular day we scored the cuff for $20 and I was happy with the price we reached.

Boyfriend is the ultimate bargainer.  I'm pretty sure the vendors tell tales of the loud Italian that walks the beaches of Cabo nearly stealing the items by driving such a hard bargain.  I think I actually heard a mariachi band sing a song about the Italian Bargainer of Cabo... then again the song was in Spanish and I don't always understand all of the lyrics.

Outfit Details
White Sweater Top: Old Navy
Red Ribbed Tank: Merona via Target
Black Cropped Pants: The Loft
Black Sandals: Bass Outlet
Mixed Metals Necklace: Cookie Lee
Silver Cuff Bracelet: Beach Vendor in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Flower Power

There is still time to enter the Bed Head Foxy Curls giveaway.

Be sure to leave your email address so I have a way to let you know you won!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This title may be a little deceiving... because this outfit didn't make me feel powerful at all - I felt a little like a wall flower.  The floral pattern feels so feminine and girly but I was having a hard time pairing it with anything this morning.  The brown capri pants didn't clash so on they went.  Truth is, I really need to clean and organize my closet so I can find things in the morning.  The look was unoffensive but I'm not dying to recreate this look anytime soon.

The whole outfit felt a little blah so I put on the bronze and pearl necklace in an attempt to dress up the outfit a little. It seemed to at least finish off the look. 



Thankfully the boys liked the look.  Then again, aren't dogs color blind? 

Either way, I enjoyed their enthusiasm over the ensemble!

Outfit Details

Floral Flowy Top: Jovovich Hawk for Target via FreeStyle Consignment

Brown Capri Pants: Gap Outlet

Brown Wooden Flip-Flops: Candies

Pearl and Bronze Necklace: Cookie Lee

I Made It! -- Black Skirt with Yellow Detail

The Bed Head Foxy Curls giveaway is open until Saturday, July 30 at midnight... have you entered yet? 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two weekends ago I taught my cousin and a friend how to make a skirt from the pattern above. I chose an "easy-to-sew" pattern because I was helping people sew that were beginners. I also knew this would be a project we could start a finish in a day... and to be honest, I have project a.d.d. If I can't finish it pretty quickly, I lose interest!



I was so busy going back and forth between the two gals that I didn't have a chance to work on a skirt for myself.  So last Friday night I taught my boyfriend's daughter how to sew and I worked on a skirt for myself at the same time.  When I picked out my fabric I chose a fabric with a subtle yellow detail so I could expand the amount of things I have to wear with my favorite yellow shoes. Surprised?

Here are a few of the steps along the way...

 

Look closely and you can see the start of a pocket on the side panel.



Pinning the front panel to the side panel.



A better picture of the pocket after the side panel was attached to the front panel.

 

Doing a top stitch along the side seam and a close-up of the fabric.



I'm really happy with the finished product.  I think I may add a button in the middle of each of the pockets to hold them closed.  It would also help the skirt to look a little less bulky on the sides.  I like this pattern for the most part and will use it again.  It is easy enough for me to alter and was great as a quick project. 

While I've been sewing since I was in 5th grade, I don't usually prefer sewing clothes.  Most of my projects are blankets, bags, whimsical purses and other little projects.  I can't tell you how many clothing projects I've started and walked away from more than half way through. I either get overly ambitious with my pattern choices or I find that the size I picked is WAY too small a good ways into the project

My biggest advice to any beginning seamstresses (or even forgetful people like myself) is to go by your measurements and NOT your size.  Case in point - when I took my measurements, I fit in to a size 22 on the pattern and typically when I go shopping I buy anywhere from a size 12-16.

Something about a poofy skirt makes me want to spin like a little girl and jump around... and I took pictures to prove it! 

By the way, hair today is compliments of the Bed Head Deep Waver... I'm a fan! It heats up in 30 seconds, provided nice waves, and was really easy to use.  Thank you Bed Head for sending the Deep Waver!

Outfit Details
Skirt Pattern: Simplicity 2224
Skirt: I Made It!
White T-Shirt: Old Navy
Black Elastic Belt: New York & Company
Yellow Flower Wedges: Steve Madden via Off Broadway Shoes
Yellow Beaded Necklace: Macy's 

Review: Bed Head Foxy Curls Iron and Giveaway!

About a month ago while doing my hair, my curling iron just stopped working... and of course I'd only done about one half of my head.  I'm sure I'm not the only person to have this frustrating experience.

I'd been looking at conical curling irons for a while but I was a little intimidated by the fact that few of them have a clamp. Most offer a heat resistant glove in order to wrap the hair. I'm too lazy to deal with a glove while doing my hair and feel like I have a little more control with the clamp.

Enter the lovely people from Bed Head - They provided the Foxy Curls iron for me to test drive and review.  They were also kind enough to send the Twisted 1/2" Ribbon Iron, and the Bed Head Deep Waverfor me to try out.

After not having a working curling iron for well over 3 weeks, I was excited to open the package and try out the Foxy Curls iron - and check out the color?  I think my heart just skipped a beat! 

I love the curls the Foxy Curls iron produce.  They are soft and natural looking versus the Shirley Temple curls I would get with my previous iron.  The iron features an on/off button on the top and a rotating low through high heat control on the side.  It took way less than a minute to heat up to the temperature I wanted - bravo!

This iron features ceramic technology which is fantastic for preserving the moisture in your hair and keeping the frizz to a minimum. 

The thing that is really great about the curls is that they held up all day even after I rode around most of the day with my car window down... my hair just looked a little more naturally tousled but the curls were still there!

NOW, onto the fun part:  My very fist giveaway!

Would you like your very own Bed Head Foxy Curls Tourmaline Ceramic Styling Iron?  Well, then this is your lucky day!  The awesome folks at Bed Head are providing a Foxy Curls Iron to one lucky follower of The Clothed Commuter!

Here are the rules... To enter you must:

1. Follow The Clothed Commuter and leave me a commenting telling me how you follow. Be sure to include your email address so I'll have a way of contacting you!

Would you like extra entries???

If so, then please leave an extra comment for each of the following:

2. Like Tigi Bed Head on Facebook 

3. Like The Clothed Commuter on Facebook and tell me your username.


4. Follow @clothedcommuter on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, "I entered to win a Foxy Curls Iron from Bed Head at @clothedcommuter!"

This giveaway is open until 11:59 PM on Saturday, July 30, 2011.  Sorry to all of the folks in locations far and away, the Bed Head Foxy Curls giveaway is open to US residents only.

Best of luck!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congrats Kelly - you are the winner of the Foxy Curls Iron by Bead Head giveaway.  I hope you enjoy this curling iron just as much as I do!

Not on a School Night

On Wednesday night I went out with a bunch of my girlfriends for some too many drinks and dancing. Who's bright idea was it to go out on a weeknight? 

Do you rember my good friend - hairstylist I've mentioned previously? This is her!  In September I'm meeting up with Erika in Europe - more to come on that trip. 
I'm thrilled about it.

F.A.R.T.

We jumped on the little yellow bus and cruised downtown to K Street where we hit up Dive Bar and District 30.

Foothill Area Rapid Transit... I love the accronym!

We had a great time but I can no longer go out on a school night.  I overslept and was totally late for work Thursday morning.  I'm too old to be that irresponsible!

Instant Sleeves (and a pesky hair)

I checked the mail after vacation and found a white envelope package with my name on it.  I don't do a lot of online shopping for clothing so I couldn't think of what it might be.  When I opened it up, I found LucieLu Instant Sleeves in taupe.  I entered the online giveaway hosted by Jessica at Surely Sonsy and I WON!  It was such a fantastic little surprise to find in the mail.

I know we've seen a very similar outfit just recently but the taupe in the instant sleeves matched the taupe in the design and I had to take the skirt out for a spin again.  These little sleeves are great.  I was able to keep the slim silhouette of the camisole and I was able to make it work appropriate.  Some of the details that are hard to see are the pucker at the shoulder and the slight gathering that run the length of the sleeves. LOVE.

I'm now debating what color to pick up next!  Thank you Jessica and Lucie Lu!!!

This stupid hair would not behave.  I must have redone my "poof" a half dozen times to try to get that little sucker to behave... but to no avail.  A coworker even came by to try to help with that little devil horn.  Guess what?  It popped right back up!  Oh well...

Outfit Details
Instant Sleeves - Lucie Lu via Surely Sonsy giveaway
Black Camisole with Lace Detail - Express
Floral Skirt - Apt 9 via Goodwill
Black Flats - Nicole via Ross
Necklace - Cookie Lee