My #FashioNXT Experience: Part 1

Posted on October 11, 2013 by cemnashville

Status report: I am having a ball this week as a VIP Host at FashioNXT.

(For those of you who are just checking in, FashioNXT is the #1 fashion week outside NYC as ranked by Time Mag, and it takes place here in PDX!)

These past few days between school classes, I’ve been figuring out WTF to wear, lending my intern hands to help Michelle get ready for her big show tonight, and even finishing up a few stitches on my own designs just for the personal satisfaction of wearing something 100% unique! It has been validating and refreshing. I feel like I’ve made it to level 2, you know? No more am I just a chick with a wordpress account and homemade pajama pants.. It is go time, people!

Let me break it down:

*eee uhhreeeeeee!!*

(^^side note: I googled ‘vinyl scratch’ so I could put in a little image to illustrate that typed sound effect, and I only found pages of pictures of this cartoon, “DJ Pony”, called Vinyl Scratch…apparently it is some DJ’s avatar or something… idk I get less cool every day…)

3:30 Start getting ready, which yesterday involved completely scrapping a piece I had been working on for a while to make a last minute miniskirt… it ended up working out– a giant relief after a failed attempt at this other thing I’d been working on… sigh. Still calling it a win, though.

Here is the outfit I wore with the skirt I made! Didn’t have time to do a “trenndayyy” pic feature, but still wanted to document the progress. I tried to crop out my dirty laundry…….

5:30ish- Arrive at the Vigor Industrial Shipyard, which is sort of an obscure location out in North Portland. The first time I went I was just sure that I was lost, but the venue is big and industrial and totally trendacious. I park, walk in, get the lay of the land and start the greeting process.

6:00- guests are allowed to start arriving. They saunter around the various vendor booths such as Lexus, Intel, and Delta (to name a few) as they make their way back to the bar (which, let’s be honest is the real reason 80% of anyone is there- am I right?) As the “VIP’s” stroll in, I start in on the hand shaking, small talking, and smiling. Working events like this is one of my favorite things. You never know whose day you will make just by talking to them or who you will meet. It could be the mayor of Portland or it could be a super-friendly person who just won tickets and is pleased as peaches to be there! It’s great for me because I just need to make sure people feel cared for and important.. who doesn’t want to be told they are very important?

7:00- Usually at this point I’ve given a few backstage tours. I love that it is a sneak preview of what the show is going to be like. The detailing with shell beads on Francis Libiran’s looks were exquisite up close. If I had just seen them on the runway I may have thought they were plastic, but lucky for me I got to snoop and was all the more dazzled when the models hit the runway.

Here is a pic I snagged from FashionNXT’s Facebook that was taken backstage with those dresses!

7:30- Pretty much everyone is enjoying their cocktails by this point, so I just go around the VIP lounge and say hi, thank people for coming, and tell them I’m at their service as I filter a couple dirty old man comments and then proceed back to the front. The VIP lounge looks great. It is funky and mod with a black, white, and red theme. There is a telephone booth covered in flowers for photo ops, exclusive bar access, and white leather couches surrounding a zebra step-like seating platform. I can’t think of what to call it, but it looks clubby and cosmopolitan. The people watching is the best- women wearing actual high-heels (which is rare in this town), sparkles galore (which I’m a sucker for), and sharp dressed men (a.k.a. kryptonite). It is a window into the lifestyle of the refined Portlander that is seldom seen in herds, such as it is at FashioNXT.

7:45- Take an Advil for my poor little feet in heels. Totally worth it.

8:00- Start politely hearding people to the gates and cross fingers that everything is running smoothly. It has been fashionably late to start the past couple nights, but I think anticipation is the most fun part anyways. At this point I usually get a handful of women coming up to me and complaining, which, for the record, is so very pointless. I do not have a headset on, I do not have a clipboard in hand, and I am nowhere near the ushers who are in charge of letting people in. I’d really like to tell them to save their snarls so that they can conserve saliva in the event that the apocalypse happens because they stood too long. End rant.

8:??- Everybody sits, the show starts, and magic happens. The music is loud and the setting is intimate. Five rows on each side hold a captive audience. I love to watch the way people tilt their heads and squint their eyes like they are making serious judgements. They are, and I do too, although as a baby seamstress myself I know to do it with a grain of salt. Some of these designers churn out 20+ looks and I can only imagine the amount of curse words and coffee that went into getting their visions just right. Selfishly as a learning tool, it has been marvelous to compare different design styles so quickly. It helps me decide what values I place on certain skill sets and how I hope to see my own designs evolve. I’m finding that showmanship is most important to me, followed by cohesion, and followed by construction. I’ve determined that I want to be dazzled by something, then I want it to match the others in a collection so I can get a clearer understanding of the designer’s aesthetic, and then I of course want the models to look good in it. Not good- impeccable. If a string bean model with a gorgeous face and professional hair + makeup is not flattered by the clothing, then I have a hard time imagining that it would enhance anyone else… I digress… ANYWAYS.. Last night Project Runway star Michael Costello was one of the designers who showed off some hard work, and I was loving it.. Just check out this neon number that epitomizes his collection..

10:00ish- show is over, people are invited to after party, and everyone files out because their cocktails have worn off. I may swing by the AP this weekend, but so far have been a little more than stressed out this week simply because of my inability to get all 40 things done at once that I want to. I’m to the point where “this too shall pass” seems to be the best motto, and I’m ready to just enjoy the ride of the rest of the weekend. Hopefully I’ll be able to turn some acquaintances into friends, will continue to get inspired to one day have my looks on that catwalk, and get a few more good stories…

….like the time I took some male VIP’s on a backstage tour and the models (most of which are under 18, mind you) didn’t get enough warning and were in the buff, much to the pleasure of the guests. Pervs.

…or that time when I was sitting waiting for everyone to take their seats and a man waiting for his wife wanted to make smalltalk and I mentioned I was resting my weary feet. This turned into him making note that he is increasingly fond of women’s footwear. I quote, “I think I may actually be getting a foot fetish!” I laughed heartily/nervously as what I observed as a joke, and he proceeded to say something about how “it’s okay” and everybody likes something different……

Uh yeah… I guess you are right? Wait, what??

Ohhh memories…. haha

Tonight I’m excited to see Michelle’s vision come to life. In the few short weeks I have been interning, I already feel like I’ve absorbed an invaluable amount of information. I even got to help with some finishing on the looks so it will be really validating to know I got to help be a facilitator, even though only a little, for someone’s vision and expression. After all, that is what it is all about.

So cheers! To fashion……. and perverts.

Shows are tonight and tomorrow at the Vigor Shipyard at 8. Doors open at 7. Come play!

BLOGRESS REPORT: What I’ve been doing this month!

Posted on October 5, 2013 by cemnashville

Today I had my annual pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese and autumn roast coffee as I sat in the sun on my porch on a sewing break. It was magical, and nice to take a breather. I’m living coffee to coffee, but getting a lot done along the way. Here are some pics and links that give a snapshot of what Fall 2013 is looking like so far.

High-profile journalism: For my first fashion article for the year click here!

Laboring of love : check out this spoiler on the dress I’ve been making with the brocade (that’s the greenish fabric) that I got at Mood NYC! Not quite done, and will post more as soon as it is done!

Intern Extraordinaire:

As some of you know, I’ve recently acquired a new gig interning for an awesome local designer, so awesome, in fact, that she has dazzled the likes of Zac Posen and Heidi Klum!

Meet Michelle Lesniak!

She was the winner of Season 11 for Project Runway, and now she is back in Portland doin’ her thing and being a local fashion rockstar. A couple weeks ago I got to be an extra set of hands on her promo shoot for an upcoming website revamp, and I’ve been getting to spend some time seeing what life is really like for an independent designer. So far I am absolutely loving it! Not only am I getting to spend a few hours a week breathing some designer lifestyle into my lungs, but the ladies are a great team to work with and get to know. I’ve recently being doing a little documenting as a good intern should, so to share, here are a couple Vines from the past couple weeks!

Here is Michelle giving the camera a little love in her own design at the shoot:

https://vine.co/v/hvwzBL5m95j

This is a VERY small little sneak peek into what Michelle is busy working on for FashioNxt– NEXT WEEK! Exciting times.

https://vine.co/v/hgIZVeExhZ0

Oh yeah, and on top of all this I still gotta pay rent… SO I’m off to work! This next week will be a ball with FashioNXT Fashion week and I am excited to report back! Have an awesome rest of your weekend, friends, and enjoy those beautiful falling leaves!!

TTFN- ta ta for now!

NEW WAYS TO WEAR JEANS!! Style exclusive!!

Posted on September 24, 2013 by cemnashville

Fall = jeans season. An American wardrobe staple, the industry couldn’t be more ready for the cooler-weather-meets-back-to-school explosion. The fashion industry can’t seem to break away from these two-legged garments, and so has no choice but to capitalize on their wardrobe staying-power with BS articles like “New Ways to Wear Jeans”…

These magazines are wrong.

The Skinny, the Boyfriend, the High-waist, the Crop, etc. are different ways of wearing the same damn pants. Just because someone’s jeans are particularly baggy or dangerously muffin-toppy doesn’t mean it is different or new! It just means it is more expensive for once uncool people to wear their jeans!

LIES, I TELL YOU! LIES!

Fortunately for you, darling readers, I have been working with my elite style team [of one] to put together what are, in fact, new ways to wear your jeans.

The J’Scarf: Perfect for the autumn chill

The Urban Un-turban: For a quick disguise…

The “PSYCH!” : Because who doesn’t want to look like they are running mid-air in the opposite direction

The No Quarters? No Problem: All your shirts are in the wash? Well that is what jeans are for.

InStyle or IN DENIAL??

*facepalm* I know, I know.

😉

Nothing wrong with a little silliness on a Tuesday night, right? Thank you to InStyle for showing up at my door every month, I promise I actually love you. Apologies to Olivia Wilde for writing on her face with white-out, I know it wasn’t comfortable. Now go out there and be stylish, you!

Now that I’ve repurposed all my jeans, what to do about pants…..?

Dorky Chick Diaries: Somebody ate skittles and threw up on my iCal.

Posted on September 18, 2013 by cemnashville

*Exhale*

I’ve just popped yet another dark chocolate covered mint from TJ’s and am staring at spinach that needs to be put in the refrigerator. It is about 9 p.m. on a Wednesday and I’ve recently returned from some mid-week grocery replenishing. I’ve opted out of music as background noise partially because I’ve been overdosing on Top 40 lately, and partially because it sort of sounds like Fall outside. It smells like Fall. I can tell. A sullen moisture is collecting around old buildings again and the cooler evening temperature isn’t cooking the earth enough to expel the familiar fragrances of warm weather anymore. My laundry is whispering to me from the basement, but my fingers are tingling on this keyboard as I unzip my chest and begin to let words splatter onto my e-diary.

September has ignited me. If you’ve followed any of my past blogs you may have noticed that over the past few months I have grown from being eager, to steady, to scattered, and, at times, defeated. I guess that is what being a 20 something is supposed to be though. Just as things started to get foggy, though, I was reminded of this promise to myself to stay motivated. This silly little blog was the reminder for that promise. So I’ve made some moves, and suddenly my iCal looks like it went on the Color Run or somebody spewed Skittles on September. I have 2 intern positions, both fashion related (more on that in a later post), 3 sources of income (my beloved restaurant, tuppins for my PSU fashion articles, and now extra support from a little daytime receptionist gig), and in 3 weeks I will again be a full time student (a light, yet still full credit load at PSU this term and also a light load at Portland Sewing).

Sounds farking crazy, I know.

I may risk speaking too soon, but now there is a stomach-butterfly inducing feeling I get when I breath deeply. I’ve piled so much on my plate, yet, I feel like I’ve never felt so privileged to have such little free time. I love everything I’m filling my days with. It feels balanced. It is all work, but with the right state of mind, it is all play.

I’m playing grown-up, and my Subaru is much more fun to drive than that Playskool thing.

To report on my fashion pursuits, here are the headlines!

Miss OR and Miss RI 2011 take NYC by Storm, Stop at Mood Designer Fabrics Before Breaking Hearts

😉

Portland Fashion Week: Gen. Admission Doesn’t Include Champagne, Still Buys a Good Time

Croquis Improve for McGowan, Hope Exists

Croquis Come to Life, as Designer McGowan Takes it to the Next Level

^^obviously we’re not quite done 🙂

Serger Changes Life: Thanks, Gram

If you sew, you understand this to be the most exciting of all of the above things. Thank you to my Gram for my years-late follow up on a high school graduation gift 🙂

I wish I could tell you everything, but I know I’m lucky if you made it this far. The bad news, is that my sheets are still in the dryer and it is past my bedtime. The good news is, being busy means things are happening, and I really want to thank you for reading this blog. Every time you click to read, it’s sort of like passing a stranger who smiles instead of looks dead faced. It’s encouraging in the best way.

The bedtime police are going to arrest me, so toodeloo my friends!

If you were wondering, the spinach did get put away a while ago, because I’m grown-up like that 😉

Time to get TRRRENNNNDAAYYYYYYY 9.6 + exciting news!!

Posted on September 6, 2013 by cemnashville

With the onset of autumn, I’m feeling the winds of change turn from tropical breeze to hairdryer-in-face. There is no more excuse to procrastinate the next steps, and I’m going to have to start acting like a big girl. I’m great at playing grown-up, don’t get me wrong. I’ve put on my share of business suits and I pay my bills, but rising to the occasion isn’t enough! It is time to embrace adulthood while I’m still wrinkle-free.

Cue this fantastic Facebook quote my friend Steph shared yesterday:

YES!

Forget half-assery! It is time for full-on assery!

Both cheeks.

With equally distributed badness.

So I woke up early on this drizzly morning, did my TIU workout, made my veggie egg scramble and coffee, and got dressed for a seminar on campus. It was such a grey day, I had to pull out the fall duds, and actually, I got as excited as a solar-powered chick can get about the cozy seasons to come.

^ rain boots = closest thing to amphibian-like superpowers

^ the coffee cup BEFORE the coffee traveler… If you are what you eat, I will soon be a hot black woman.

For anyone who doesn’t read backwards, that says:

“why yes, I am overqualified”

Teehee 🙂 Those are sticky notes, and I actually bought myself some a few years ago, used them up, and found more a while back that I just HAD to nab. I don’t know if implied narcissism is what motivates me or if I’m just threatened by the Cleaver-esque woman staring me down with that coy “my-floors-are-cleaner-than-yours” look.

Either way, it’s working. I solidified my class schedule this week, landed a PT office gig for my days between classes (which will be a styling endeavor- stay tuned!), and I also- WAIT FOR IT—

got a little position—-

WAIT FOR IT!!!!….

…at FashioNXT’s Portland Fashion Week in October!

Yep! That’s right! I’ve confirmed with the FashionNXT folks that I will be an extra set of hands behind-the-scenes as a VIP host. That means making sure the distinguished guests get a first-rate experience. My not-so-inner hostess is thinking this is right up my ally. I’m pretty ecstatic about this opportunity to meet some fashion-minded people, get some hands-on knowledge, and mostly just that I will get to be a contributor to something I am so excited about!

No, I can’t get you tickets, nor do I have any other “mad hook-ups”, but I’m really pumped to announce this stepping stone in my fashion journey. 6 months ago when I started this blog, it was with the promise of future unknown milestones, and if this doesn’t count, I don’t know what does.

Mark your calendars Oct. 9-12, Portlanders, because it is going to be amaaaaze!

🙂

So cheers, guys! To the turning of many new leaves- the metaphorical ones and the literal fall leaves that are pending descenscion onto our rubber galoshes.

Japanese fashion exhibit A.K.A. stuff I’d never wear

Posted on August 30, 2013 by cemnashville

Roughly twice a week, I open my mailbox to find envelopes filled with articles clipped from the Des Moines Register and Wallstreet Journal from my dad. A daily newspaper reader, he is famous for sitting and reading with a pair of scissors for cutting, folding, and mailing to loved ones he thinks may take interest in the material. My mailbox usually gets articles on former classmates and WHS happenings, wine, golf, and, of course, fashion.

Gossip, booze, leisure sports, and clothes.

Can you blame me?

While all of the articles are fantastic, one stood out to me recently and led me to a fantastic afternoon adventure. It was an article featuring different fashion exhibits around the world, one of which was in Seattle, called “Future Beauty”. So when I realized that I had a trip north planned in just a couple weeks, I marked my calendar and got the deets.

To set the scene: it was a sunny Thursday with smooth sailing on the interstate, I got a free ice cream cone at DQ because corporate didn’t pass the memo about Miracle Treat Day, I got the king spot in the parking garage when they were at max capacity, AND I found a red sequin dress that was made for mischief on super-sale. So I had a feeling this trip to the Seattle Art Museum was going to be great, and I was right.

Behold:

Essentially, this exhibit showcases pieces of couture fashion from Japanese designers over the past 30 years. This is the stuff that design dreams are made of.

The ornate details! The unusual silhouettes! The innovative construction! Oh how my heart was singing!!

For those who are not familiar with Japanese fashion (it’s okay- I’m still learning myself), it is an important distinction to make from the rest of the world. Boundaries are unclear and tradition is void. Appropriately named “Future Beauty” the overwhelming takeaway for any non-fashion-minded individual would be that Japanese designers see fashion as limitless and with the ability to transcend time. Much of the world’s clothing is still governed by function, but in Japan the fashion on the streets can sometime be more obscure than what is on the couture runways. The exhibit included both couture and street wear. Some of the labels on the displayed looks even said “street fashion” as opposed to being from a designer. Crazy right? Mostly, the exhibit consisted of a sizable collection of runway pieces and included names like Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons), Yohji Yamamoto, and a smattering of other noteworthy people I will let you research 😉 but let’s get to the goods– pictures!

Just LOOK at this stuff!

I had to snag pics for you online because while I was in the exhibition I felt like it was a sacred ground. The hushed whispers of the patrons made footsteps seem to echo louder. I think music would have caused sensory overload because the lights and the angles and the intrigue of each piece had a visual decibel level high enough to wake the neighbors.

My favorite piece came from Yohji Yamamoto and was made of a thick, woolen felt. I was dazzled by so many pieces, but this one wasn’t the most flashy or jaw dropping. This piece was was austere and sober, yet remarkably regal. I’d costume it for a futuristic action movie. It seems fit for a doe-eyed, stoic villain in a modern-day castle somewhere in a snowy part of the world. Don’t you think?

Though many designers have influenced the state of fashion to date, there is something about the philosophy of these Japanese designs that was cohesive. This perceived commonality was the reminder of the importance of play in design. Each design appeared to have intent to reveal the expanse of the muse, like a child who colors outside the lines and makes purple hair because that is what inspires them. Instead of saying “no” that isn’t how it’s done, the designers took their pencils a bit further to create new shapes, surpassed conventional fabrics for avant-garde materials, and selected colors based on doing whatever the heck they wanted to do. The designers said yes to thoughtful innovation and yes to unabashed play.

I thought about picking up one the luxuriously clothed mannequins and taking it with me, but then I didn’t want to take it away from it’s mannequin friends. So I left with my appetite for culture fully satiated and swirling ideas for future projects. Bring on the playtime.

🙂

To anyone who is in the Seattle area: I believe that the exhibit will be up for another week or so, so scurry over there and check it out- definitely worth a trip.

Dorky Chick #TBT: ummm WHY wasn’t I invited to the VMA’s?

Posted on August 29, 2013 by cemnashville

Listen. I don’t f*&%ing get it. All week I have to hear about stinking celebrities and their “fabulous” fashion statements and I have basically been red carpet ready for years and nobody has paid any attention to me. It’s not fair!

Just take a look at Gaga in this trash bag dress….

C’mon, financially-savvy-college-freshman Caroline was rocking that years ago…

Obviously red carpet worthy.

Then Allison Williams shows up in Valentino and everybody is like “ooohhhh”

Um excuse me but HOW could you forget that I basically wore the same thing to my junior year voice recital?

I friggin’ nailed “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” from Sweeney Todd that night.

Nailed. it.

But what really chaps my hide is Katy Perry and her– wait, what’s that they call it?- oh yeah— her “grill”.

Katy, Katy, Katy. Let me show you how it’s done. Fake forest background.

Casual knuckles under chin.

So whimsical…yet, so fierce.

All I’m saying is, fashion legends like myself deserve some recognition.

I’ll be waiting on my invitation to 2014’s VMA’s, MTV.

I’ll. Be. Waiting.

😉

READER FEATURE: Meet Laura!

Posted on August 26, 2013 by cemnashville

I designed this blog to be a digital bulletin board/keepsake box/public diary of all things that keep me inspired. This includes learning hurdles cleared, industry knowledge acquired, fashion fantasies explored, and officially, now, recognizing those who live fabulously, fearlessly, and fashionably. I want to dedicate a new monthly installment to readers who have kept me motivated and exemplify what it means to DREAM and DO.

Introducing….

Meet Laura.

One of my oldest friends, I couldn’t think of a better person to kick off this segment with. I can just remember sitting in our middle school homeroom class and chit chatting like we were millionaire shoppers. Drooling over Louis Vuitton logos, daydreaming about Betsey Johnson shoes, and always being “in the know” about what was acceptable 8th grade attire…we’ve come quite a ways 🙂 Why I chose Laura is because she is not only is she a loyal reader of my little blog, she is also an integral part of my fashion history. Knowing my love of fashion, she invited me one spring day in 2007 to watch the Central Campus Fashion Show. This fashion show was the end-of-the-year showcase for the Fashion Design and Merchandising students at the downtown, college-level tech school for high school students, which I would after become a part of. (You may remember me mentioning this school before in one of my earliest blogs- click here. ) This experience catapulted me into exploring my creative side, allowed me to take a road less traveled, and ultimately has played a part in what has caused me to sit in this chair and type on this blog.

My appreciation for her goes far beyond that invitation, however, and I would say she is one of the more inspirational people I know. Laura is one of those people I would describe as “tightly wrapped”. She is organized, she is accomplished, she makes friends everywhere she goes, and she somehow makes time for it all and then some. She makes life fun while still working really hard and looking extra fabulous. OH and she can kick your ass.

But I’ll let her do the talking. I had a chance to ask her some questions so you can get to know her, we can learn about her style, and maybe some of her can rub off on us!

C: Alright Laura, gimme the basics.

L: I live in the fabulous Scottsdale, Arizona! It’s very much the stereotype that everyone imagines. Eclectic cars and women in 100% matching Lululemon outfits at the gym protecting their new manicures. Sometimes I wonder if these people have jobs or are really doing that well being sugar mamas. If the latter, I need to switch careers. Besides it turning into an oven for 4 months out of the year, I can’t complain about the sunshine and the great tan that I can therefore maintain. You [learn to] deal with the 120 degree hot season for 8 months of 80 degree weather just by thinking of friends at home [in Iowa] crossing treacherous black ice. I am currently a pediatric intensive care nurse at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. It’s amazing, I know. It’s also sad, I know. I get to be the one there for families when their child is in the worst possible state they could imagine. I’m there for the happy times when we’re leaving the ICU, and I’m there for the sad times when that departure wasn’t as positive. All in all, I love what I do! I’m also a Crossfit coach. Nothing about that one is ever sad. I see people improve every day and lift heavy stuff. All in sometimes coordinated Lululemon outfits. I also have a little side job of making homemade almond butter – aptly named after my Crossfit enthusiasm “Nasty Girls Nut Butter.” If you haven’t heard of the Crossfit “Nasty Girls”, Google it. Then try one of my nut butters. You’ll realize after about 30 seconds why they’re appropriately named. The nut butter started as something I just did for myself and has now evolved into something people are bringing me jars back for refills! Check me out on Facebook- I ship!

**side note- Laura was actually on a team that competed at CrossFit regionals. Um.. watch out!!!!!!

C: How would you describe your style?

L: My style is either scrubs or workout apparel, so pretty darn comfy. I literally have a closet of clothes that I select from for an occasion about every 3 months. However, when these such occasions arise, I’m choosing from a closet of low-maintenance, trendy pieces. I’m usually the one wearing a statement piece of jewelry with a black on black ensemble or the red pants with a basic tee. Standout, but easy. Done.

C: What inspires you?

L: My grandmother instilled in me the love of Coco Chanel. I’ve read three biographies and still have a Chanel-inspired password after five years. The mantra of not taking no for an answer and doing what you feel and not what society dictates is what I strive to achieve as well.

C: Who is a style icon that influences you?

L: Cliché, I know she’s been in the press a lot lately, but I’ve loved Kate Middelton (Dutches of Cambridge, allofherotherreallylongtitles), from the get go. She’s like me, effortless, comfy, and stylish. I also like Reese Witherspoon for her casual day to day outfits and then looking bombshell on the red carpet. Every time.

C: What is your favorite piece in your wardrobe?

L: My favorite piece (such a hard choice) would be a pair of 7 for all Mankind jeans that I have that literally feel like yoga pants. Who likes constricting jeans? Not I. These fit like a dream! I also love my swim covers – because that typically means I’m also wearing a bikini and going to the sun. …..Also, I buy Charles David heels. They’re my one and only. We go pretty steady these days.

C: If you could give one piece of fashion advice, what would that be?

L: My fashion advice would come from my inspiration, Coco Chanel.

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

I love this quote because I don’t ever go for the most avant garde outfit selections. I like things simple, some cleavage if deemed the right event, little jewelry, subtle makeup and fun shoes. Classy. Fabulous.

True to Dorky Chick form, I had to have Laura prove herself in pictures of a “TRRRENNNDAAYYY” outfit… Check it out!

Laura says: Sooo here’s my outfit! It’s a dress I recently found at My Sister’s Closet, a designer consignment shop. It is Lotta Stensson. This dress still had tags on it that it retails for $350. I got it at the ripe dime of $58. It is also quite risque aka translucent, so I purchased a $28 white Free People slip to throw underneath. $86 investment worth $378; I’ll take it!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, can I get a round of applause for Laura????

She is caring for families in their darkest hours, achieving fitness goals and helping others do so as well, starting her own business on the side of ridiculously delicious nut butters, and is still getting out there and loving life. We see that beer in your picture, girl! What can be learned through Laura is that no matter the circumstance, you can keep on “doin’ you”. For someone who spends most of her time in purpose-driven duds, she does an excellent job of keeping a her attitude stylish. Scrubs at work and spandex at the gym? No matter, because she knows she has fab looks waiting in the wings. Catch her teaching a class and you won’t know what is more impressive- her ability to keep up with the guys, or her adorbs outfit!

Thank you Laura! For letting us get to know how you take the day to day and make it fabulous- and for even getting your “dorky” on for some excellent pics of your Lotta Stensson dress.

Check her out on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/NastyGirlsNutButter

Until next time readers! Thanks for being patient as I travel across the country. So much exciting stuff to write about!!!!

Are you a fashionista or fashionisto who lives each day with inspiration? Or do you know someone who is? You or someone you know could be next month’s reader feature! Send in your name, the name of the person you are nominating, and a mini bio to dorkychickinlipstick@gmail.com !

Real men dress like baby girls

Posted on August 17, 2013 by cemnashville

Handshakes are pretty powerful thing. The un-inked agreement between two hands attached to separate bodies is what has made the world what it is today. Business deals, grand ceremonies, formal greetings, and, of course, bets all require handshakes to solidify an idea becoming an event. My friends, Dan and Roxanne, shook hands a couple months ago on a particular bet that I got to facilitate… and oh boy was it fun! *insert enthusiastically villian-esque evil laugh here*

*still cackling*

(eh hem) Anyhoo, so to give you some backstory: Kyle and Rama are an awesome couple with an awesome 4 year old boy named Jaden. One night while a group of us were at their house for our Monday night gathering for “The Voice” it was revealed that come December, Jaden was going to become a big brother! Obviously the room was filled with enthusiasm at the idea of Rama having a little bun in the oven, but the question was would it be a boy or a girl?!?!

Roxanne said it would be a girl, Dan thought it would be a boy, and somewhere along the line a bet was formed. The stakes: Loser, who incorrectly guesses the sex of the baby, has to wear a grown-up sized baby costume of the for the duration of the baby gender reveal party. Said costume must be gender stereotype specific to baby being born. Winner gets to cackle.

Either way, I was in charge of making the costume!

A few days before the party, the parents got the results in a sealed envelope, which they gave to me, and I had the heart pounding experience of opening it to see the results! The only people to know were myself, the cake decorator, and the doctors–everyone else would find out at the party. I was extremely nervous to know, because I knew how badly they wanted a little girl, and I had to keep a straight face in the days leading up to the reveal.

I opened up the envelope and inside was the ultrasound picture and a note that said

It’s a GIRL

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naturally I had a mini freakout and car-danced about it as I drove to the fabric store to buy pink fabric.

Finding out that this incredible family is going to expand in the way they had dreamed was so exciting, but the only thing that made it better was realizing that Dan has to wear a baby girl costume all. night. long.

*more over-enthusastic cackling*

I couldn’t laugh forever though- I was headed to Seattle until the day of the party and I only had 24 hours to buy materials, create the pattern, and put it all together! I needed a plan. I knew I’d need a bonnet, a skirt, and a top. There would need to be lace, it had to be pink, and there was a special request for polka-dots. Teehee! What was more important, is that I needed a fabric that was cheap, easy to work with, and would be forgiving since I knew I was going to have to whip up this outfit like a bat out of hell.

Here’s what I ended up with:

– Felt. This is perfect fabric for short term costumes. It comes in all colors, doesn’t stretch so is easy to work with, is a breeze to cut, and is definitely affordable. Shout out to homegirl JoAnn for coupons! I bought pink and white and wasn’t really sure how much I would need, but ended up being okay. It is always better to have an extra yard. Always.

– Elastic. I didn’t have Dan’s measurements, but knew I could guess about how much give I would need to get it around his waist.

– Lace. Obviously. Making Dan a pretty baby girl was going to take extra measures. Dan, if you are reading this, I mean that in the nicest way….lol

–Velcro. I ain’t got tiiiiime for no zippers! Velcro sticks right to felt and takes minimal application time.

I started with the bonnet. I looked up ideas online and ended up measuring my own head to get it just right. There are a lot of elaborate designs out there but the quick and dirty 2 piece seemed to look just fine.

From there I went to the shirt. I mostly eyeballed the pattern piece from memory of shirt pattern pieces I had seen in the past. This ended up coming up a little short on the back, and I later had to add a panel. The sleeves, on the other hand, were something I would definitely put in the “win” category. I’ve always been intimidated by sleeves, but was able to cut out, gather, and sew in without puckers or mishaps on the first try!!! Wahoo!!

After that I made the skirt. I ended up having to cut 4 separate pieces to make sure I had enough of the pink, but ultimately I was fine and attached an elastic waistband. If I would have had time, I would have made a dress, but instead figured that a shirt tucked into the skirt would give a similar enough effect.

Surprisingly, the polka dots were the biggest challenge. I didn’t want to hand sew, but the felt was so thick I was nervous about trying to maneuver my machine to sew them on, and I had gotten a little overeager to put the sleeves on before the dots. I decided to go for it, and one by one used a close zig-zag stitch around each dot, all while an objectively horrible Hillary Duff movie played in the background. They weren’t perfect, but they were there in all their feminine glory!

I got a chance to finish it up before the party, and I added the extra back panel for the inches of fabric that I underestimated, slapped some velcro on that bad boy, and it was party time!

I kept a poker face for a solid hour at the party people analyzed my eye movements with hungry eyes! Na na na boo boo- I totally knew! We ate some delicious dinner and then it was time to cut the cake! Mama Rama found the pink shoe baked in the cake and tears and hugs followed. Dan was dismissed to go find the costume that awaited him, and returned in my creation!

Ay bay bay!!

*still cackling*

There’s Roxanne smiling ear to ear knowing that she won the bet 😉

It fit! Which was an exciting moment for me, and I think that pink really goes well with his skin tone, don’t you?

Check out some precious moments:

Awww

First family photo with their baby girl……. lol

I even got a pic in with my creation!

By the end of the night Dan’s inner Jersey baby came out….

You lookin’ at me? Can’t a baby get a drink around hea?????

As you can tell, it was a great time and I was so grateful to get to add to the fun of the evening and celebrate with Rama, Kyle, and Jaden as they look forward to welcoming a new family member to the planet!!!

Thanks, guys!! And of course, thanks to Dan for being such a good sport.

As far as sewing goes, this was like a fun challenge to race against the clock and get to make something all my own. It felt really good to go into a project confidently, and to come out on the other side having accomplished what needed to get accomplished.

Who knows, maybe my claim to fame will one day be a high end line of baby style menswear!

And on THAT disturbing thought, I wish you a happy Saturday…

😉

P.S. Rama has a phenomenal website called Freshly Grown! When you get a chance, give her page a “like” on Facebook and check out her great website. She has a really personal testimony that has led her to a healthy lifestyle and it is incredibly inspirational! www.freshly-grown.com

Such a tease: what to expect this week @ DorkyChickinLipstick!

Posted on August 15, 2013 by cemnashville

Hi friends!!

PDX livin’ is treating this red head well, and I have some great blogs I cannot wait to unveil!! This is an extremely exciting time of the year where the winds of change seem to breeze through just as life is feeling stuffy. If there were a video montage of my summer it would definitely involve Hall & Oates music, the whirring of the sewing machine, scenes of me clumsily trying out my new bike, and copious amounts of laughter amidst a large star-studded cast. (AKA my fantastic friends- you know who you are!)

That being said, I’ve had a lot of awesome things to say, but nearly no time to let my fingers do the talking! I’ve finally got a window of sweet, sweet freedom and with that I’ve got a lot of blogging to do. Here’s what you can expect in the next week:

– a few words on my industrial machines intensive… 6,500 stitches per minute? SAY WHAAA?

– the final product of my leatherworking class! It is one cute tote I’m proud to say I made.

– the biggest baby outfit you ever did see. (And yes, this baby is bigger than those two record breaking babies over in Europe….)

– Future Beauty: the fashion exhibit I visited in Seattle. 30 years of Japanese couture. Thank goodness for ropes or I would have drooled all over that stuff….

AAaaaAAaaaaND our. first. ever. READER FEATURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is about time we celebrated progress over here at DCiL, and after reaching 300 “Likes” on Facebook, I think we are overdue. My friend Laura is one of the coolest, most “together”, and fashion-loving people I know, and she led me to a part of my life story that changed my path forever. I can’t think of a better reader to kick things off with!!!

Needless to say, I’m ecstatic. This goofy little blog is bringing me so much joy and I hope that it is continuing to bring it all to you! So stay tuned for the usual fashion follies, new features, and cyberpositivity.

xo!

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Dorky Chick in Lipstick

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