DorkyChick Diaries: Just a taquito with a dream and a pickle joke

Posted on May 9, 2013 by cemnashville

The good news: it’s been unusually beautiful here in Portland, with clear, blue skies and temps in the 70s and 80s.

More good news: my in-home sauna is included in my rent, and it’s on all the time.

This phenomenon is also known as no air conditioning, which means I am roasting like a Cinco de Mayo taquito. Real talk, though, my apartment is toasty as all hell and that means less time for creative sewing projects and drawing practice. Right now, I’m doing what I can to be an observer of the fashion world outside of the house. I admit, I have really saturated myself and I think I’m seeing metaphorical grey hairs. My house is scattered with magazines, my twitter is filled with style blogs and celebrities, and I’ve been creepily admiring stylish outfits around town. A few times I’ve popped my head in clothing shops and thought to myself “oh, I’ll take a peek and look for some summer stuff” but in these huntings for warm weather fancies, I’ve found that I’m wanting to smack my head against a brick wall. I’m on sensory overload! There is seemingly no limit to color, shape, size, style, and price point. Gone are the days of simple tops and bottoms, forgotten are the days of the gender specified garments, and one-trend-fits-all mentality.

It’s evident that mainstream fashion has really reached the 21st century, because conformity isn’t the norm any longer. Why would I settle for pants and a shirt when I could have a silky see-through tunic, a patterned camisole, pleather leggings, and boots that are also sandals!? And nobody would even think me strange for rocking that in a grocery store! On the other hand, it would be just as sensible for me to go find a standard shorts/sandals/tank look, but therein lies the struggle as I have to sift through manufactured frays, patterns, fabrics, prices, and lengths before I can even get to the dressing room! *gasp for air*

Sure there are trends! The high-low skirt, the printed pant, and the summer scarf are practically everywhere. However, I would suggest a case for the disintegration of trends as being boxes to check for of-the-moment wardrobe relevance. Variety appears to me as the biggest trend. I think it’s going to be more difficult than ever to say “oh that is such a 2010’s trend”. We’ve made such a habit of recycling the past 100 years of design, that truly “new” hardly exists anymore. Those who claim to be independents are really going to find themselves in a pickle if they think that clothing is truly the answer to deflecting conformity. Or they could just wear this.. then they’d really be in a pickle.

I hope a ticklish person buys this.

tee hee.

Perhaps it’s unrealistic to consider fashion to have a future as something it isn’t already. But let’s not turn this into a philosophy blog 🙂

My time spent these past few beautiful weeks of observation have led me to put down the magazines to attempt a handful of dressing rooms where I found less that suited me than I’d hoped. This led me to Target for some fingers-crossed budget hunting that ended in 4 grey and white tanks and tees.

*snore*

I was looking for trends, but the problem is, trends seemed to evade me! The magazines say they are there, the stores put them in their windows, but with so many stores and so many window and so many “trends” I started to shake my head. Were I relegated to a specific demographic, I’d be set, but I’m not! Specificity doesn’t seem to appeal to me or my peers quite as much as it once did, such as in decades past when standards were more arguably uniform. Today, you can look like a punk-princess/safari-mailman/businesswoman, but then how to differentiate or express oneself next to the nautical-femme/boho-rainforest-clubdancer? Both are a mishmosh of inspirations, ideas, and repeated shapes and colors. Both are so hot right now.

It’s a style trap, with no style map.

I hit a turning point when doing some troubleshooting on Google. I had searched “wardrobe checklist” and up came list after list of must-haves for each season, lifestyle, and every which way in between. No two lists were alike. The bottom line was to just not be naked, I guess, and the only clear pattern was that there was no pattern. You can’t express yourself on a checklist, and I’m more sure than ever that all I really care to do is express myself. If I do that, then I can’t lose. This doesn’t mean I have to reject all the trends, this doesn’t mean I don’t wish to faun over designers, nor does it mean that the fashion industry has lost it’s ability to captivate me. It just means that we’re in a new era. Which may be a “duh” factor to you, but it really seemed to sink in with me this week as I shook my head at wardrobe lists telling me I needed 4 different kinds of panty-hose and only 3 casual (a.k.a. not spelled out for me) outfits.

I think that’s why I want to be a designer. I know I’m not a punk-princess/safari-mailman/businesswoman or a fraction of it, but I know myself, and I have to express that. I won’t always find what I’m looking for at the mall, and if I can create what I can’t find, then it can become part of my ability to communicate. Each garment can be a word in my fashion language, meant to share with any and all who want in on the conversation.

I came up with a new checklist for Summer 2013

Wardrobe Checklist: Dorky Chick in Lipstick Style

Outfits for kicking ass

Outfits for laughing really hard in

Outfits for living it up

Outfits for feeling like $1,000,000,000 (yes, billion)

Outfits for matching your outside to your inside ❤

This could mean owning half the merch in this month’s InStyle, or this might mean that pantyhose and pantsuits are still key players behind your closet doors. What’s important in 2013 is that we recognize that we’ve hit a privileged sweet spot of more fashion freedom than ever before. As long as we’re expressing our hearts as our sleeves, we can’t go wrong.

This week I learned a lot, but I know I need to get back to my art supplies. I’m glad I got to take a break, get some sun, and let that vitamin D reinvigorate my spirits. Right now, I’m a sleepy lady with an early morning. And I can think of a perfect outfit that will check the one-billion-dollar box 🙂

….my PJ’s, of course.

Goodnight readers new and old.

Met-matics: Beyonce + Miley =

Posted on May 7, 2013 by cemnashville

You want a “best/worst” dressed list? They got plenty of blogs for that. Best/worst lists are fun, but seriously- who cares? All of those outfits took some serious TLC to create, are made of luxury fabrics, and showcased the personality of the wearer (which is the most important). So much of an outfit presentation is experienced through first-person eyes. The camera adds 10 lbs, different fabrics catch light different ways, and head-turning only happens when you aren’t looking dead-on at a screen. I positively loved some of the looks at the Met Gala last night, but I also thought some stylists got an extra shot of espresso on the day they went shopping…. Let’s take a look at a couple of my favorite looks, and how they “add up” on my terms….

and this

met-gala-2013-models-5

These women all look amazing in their own right…..

they also just happen to look amazingly like other things that make me laugh 😉

Drawing Practice: Grocery Gown!

Posted on May 4, 2013 by cemnashville

It has been awhile since I pulled out my beloved Prismacolor markers and pencils for a little drawing practice. Turns out, I think I need more of it… (as if that wasn’t blatantly obvious) . I decided that today I would try designing something that I would wear myself and that would suit my lifestyle. I wanted to incorporate design elements that I love from my wardrobe with trends I’m loving right now. Most importantly, I wanted to design something I thought would be wearable. So often I get excited to draw funky furs and intricate lace, that I wanted to think inside the box. Realistically speaking, we dress “inside the box”, (i.e., I’m not going to wear this to the grocery store…)

or this….

If I wore that, the people at the grocery store would probably think I had just done an embarrassingly bad job of stealing from the meat counter.

You get the point. The thing about fashion is that there needs to be a certain amount of digestibility (no pun intended…). I’m not going to wear something weird or over-the-top, so I need to think about how I become a more versatile designer also- one that clothes people who go to the grocery store.

I’m absolutely in love with the maxi-dress and maxi-skirt takeover. I think that every woman deserves to wear gowns, even if that means they are just going to Trader Joe’s. Maybe that’s my inner pageant girl. Keeping this in mind, I decided to design a “grocery gown” suited to my tastes!

This summer white jersey knit has a cowl neckline and stops just above the ankles! I wanted to incorporate the black & white stripe trend and the graphic tee trend, but I gave it a twist by making the stripes silver. Balancing with fabric and graphics is a good way of eluding to that hourglass shape, especially since many women are smaller on top.

Also, I wanted to make sure that it was short enough to be worn with any shoes, so you can show off when you find cute ones like these that I found on Polyvore!

Charlotte Russe $43

I had a difficult time trying to mix the colored pencils and the markers in the drawing. You can tell especially by the shotty shading on the skirt and semi-contorted foot. I never said I was the best drawer. I’ve determined that for the time being I should stick to one medium until I’ve honed my skills. I definitely see where I can improve, but was having so much fun putting this one together that I couldn’t be bothered with creating a masterpiece. I’m happy with the mind exercise I was able to get from the experiment, and it is definitely therapeutic to spend some time engrossed in a coloring project!

It’s funny, I realized if I was going to draw myself I needed to use a bright red marker for my hair… something I’d not yet done. One of my wonderful readers has suggested a caricature superhero for Dorky Chick in Lipstick so stay tuned, more red-marker hair to come 🙂 Maybe this guy will have some pointers for me….

Ba da ba ba ba I’m ~~lovin’~~ terrified.

Anyways, another drawing done and just in time to get ready for work. They say “practice makes perfect” but I say practice makes me hungry.

I’m off to fix that. xo

Pics of my trrrrrrrendayyyy outfit 5.02

Posted on May 3, 2013 by cemnashville

May is here and it has brought some deeeelightful weather along with it! I’m resurrecting my summer scarves, tanks, and beloved maxi skirts for some chillaxication! I’m all about maxi skirts and think this trend has serious staying power. Comfort, versatility, and flair factor make me think I need to do some stocking up for the summer. I’ll do some research and report back! In the mean time, feel free to waste some of your time checking out how I wore it.

Eyyyyyy!

Here’s me practicing frolicking:

My upside down watch says it’s time to go play.

That means you too 😉

xo have a great weekend 🙂

Blearning Blog: Today’s Episode Brought to You by the Letter B!

Posted on May 1, 2013 by cemnashville

For those who missed it, I’m working on a new regular blog feature called “Blearning Blogs” and I’m highlighting a designer A-Z that I’ve never heard of before. Clearly if they have an established career I’m behind the times, but I take comfort in accepting there is a first time for everything.

So how’s about a proper introduction to today’s letter? Hit it Beetles!

Haha, I hope you watched the whole video, because I sure didn’t. Enough of my trickery! Today’s letter is B and I am highlighting designer Brandon Sun.

According to his website, the designer graduated from Parsons in NYC and was named “Designer of the Year” amongst a handful of other awards. He went on to work with J. Mendel and Oscar de la Renta. His work is noted especially for his incorporation of furs, which you can tell even still a place in his 2013 Spring ready-to-wear line. He’s moved on to become more independent, and you can find a high-end fur accessories line at luxury retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, BoontheShop, and Savannah. Others were mentioned, but, admittedly, none of which I’d heard of.

So check it out! Here are some pics of my favorites from his recent Spring 2013 independent collection. There are some beautiful styles here and it’s clear that construction is both innovative and mindful for Sun.

Check out those furrrrocious furs!

What’s super cool is that Brandon Sun actually designed a mink collection exclusively for Janet Jackson which she used in a promotional campaign for Blackglama called “What Becomes a Legend Most?” (Blackglama is an extremely high-end mink fashion retailer that boasts it’s exclusivity by deeming less than 2% of the world’s mink worthy of their designs. Also, Blackglama starts with the letter “B”….. Booyah.)

Check out this vid I nabbed from his site!

Make sure to do a Google search first if you are wanting to look up Brandon Sun. If you go to http://www.brandonsun.com, like I did, then you’ll find yourself on the newspaper website of the 2nd largest town in Manitoba, Canada. You guessed it — Brandon.

Dorky Chick Diaries: a Long @$$ Look at E-culture

Posted on April 29, 2013 by cemnashville

Guys, this social media thing is driving me crazy. As some of you know, it was part of my new years resolution to become more literate in social media, and I slated 2013 to be the year where I embrace the privilege of mass communication. After all, it’s already dominating the way the world works. E-communication has broken the legs of business and then handed it crutches. It’s where the money is, but what’s of more interest to me, is that it is where our culture is!

I’m perplexed by social media because it’s such a magnitudinal influence on what I would consider as “my” culture, yet I know so little about it. I’m embarrassed of my American stereo-typicalness, for the first things I think of when evaluating the word “culture” are Moroccan food, ballet, and plane tickets. And how I want some…badly! I reflexively deem travel to be the easiest means of cultural experience, such as if I’m somewhere new I like to eat the local fare, talk to local people, and transport as the locals do. It can involve eating funky mystery meats or getting scoffs for snapping photos from passers-by, but it’s all worth it as I feel washed with humility and elation as the world becomes more interesting; more filled with potential. The shows and sights and sounds of different dialects have clouded my perception as to what culture is by definition:

The largest collective of human intellect? The internet.

Having come to this conclusion, it’s time I live consciously in the culture, or should I say “e-culture” of which I’m already a part. This means recognizing the resources of inspiration, connectivity, and self-expression that are out there and becoming part of them myself. This also means coming to understand what parts of this culture aren’t worth my time and efforts. I want to be able to establish identity for myself and support the identity establishing of others. We all have voices and ideas, and this is friggin’ exciting!

While enthused about new perspective, I’ve historically been plagued with apathy as I don’t respond to snapchats, can take days or weeks to reply to Facebook comments, and only update Twitter because it’s linked to my WordPress account. Truth is, I’m torn when it comes to social media. I want to jump in with both feet, but I’ve grown up with a corn-fed moral code and I see a conflict there. I don’t want to be seen as one who boasts, who is ungrateful, or who is stricken with vanity. With the internet as a sea of self-promotion, I ask myself: how can someone truly reflect their values and still find ways to stand out in the cyberworld of today?

As I try and develop a plan for myself to further explore social media and e-culture, I feel that the only way I can move forward with an unweighted conscious is by exercising my online voice honestly. This involves taking a long look at what my goals are and why I want to achieve them, because there is no doubt in my mind that social media will be instrumental in the way my future unfolds. Here I am, a former “beauty queen”, hobbyist model/actress, who says she wants a career in fashion and, yet, I claim to dismiss ownership of the internet plagues: vanity, boastfulness, and self-promotion?

I’ve got to be kidding me.

But I know that’s not who I am, and quite frankly, I’m reliant on honesty to execute my e-dentity the way that paves my future for successes thats are rewarding beyond the superficial. If I want to take part in the visual world of fashion and art around me, and do this in the culture of 2013, I’m going to have to it in a way that is shameless.

Okay so not shameless like Snooki… but shameless in the sense of the word that I’m going to work really hard. Part of working really hard means showing the dedication of time, effort, and energy put forth towards a passion.

Success comes from knowing one’s strengths, and I know I’ll have no control over the perceptions of others as I litter their news feeds. (and hopefully yours ;)) I have to know within myself that I’m not vain or boastful. I’m just friggin’ excited! I’m finally old enough to wear big-girl clothes and put on lipstick and go out there and make my mark. I’ve found out that I can be a woman of influence with a voice simply because I, like everyone else, am part of the human population. Aside from that, enthusiasm and vital signs are really all you need to get started. I’m going to tweet like a ticklish bird! I’m going to update my Facebook like a preteen who drank too much Mountain Dew! I’m going to Instagram with the fortitude of a US weekly paparazzi! Because this, my friends, is culture. It’s not as tasty as Moroccan food, but it’s just as relevant to our lives. We are so lucky to be able to record the crazy ride that is life in a way that is more thorough and raw than ever before.

I’m cyber-jumping in…with both feet.

Which are likely in cyber-heels.

And are likely cyber-adorable. 😉

Thanks for reading my diary. Happy almost-Tuesday.

WEEoooWEEoo: Project alert!… and a follow up on fabric!

Posted on April 27, 2013 by cemnashville

So these past couple weeks have brought new excitement with the beginning of my intermediate dresses class. Each woman is given a different dress pattern of her choosing and over the next weeks we will complete it thoroughly!

“Uhh so you’re getting a pattern and making it? That’s it?” Yes. And also, no! This dress class incorporates pattern fittings, instruction on lining, new skills, and close supervision. So when I’m all done I’m going to have a dress that doesn’t just reflect skills I have, it will also be a showcase of new ones!

Here’s the pattern I chose:

This wrap dress is an exclusive pattern of my sewing studio, but is clearly inspired by the classic design of Diane Von Furstenburg in the 1970’s as a way for women to look professional and also stylish in the workplace. It still holds that purpose today, but can be worn on any occasion that suits you!

My venture to Fabric Depot the other day was to scavenge through the myriad of cloth choices to find something that I would want to wear, that fit the criteria, and, most importantly, matched my hair (which is still difficult….)

I found a 100% cotton print that is sturdy, but has just a little give and is lightweight enough to wear in summer, but not too lightweight that it wrinkles easily! Some pretty fabrics didn’t stand up to the wrinkle test. (Tip: next time you are thinking about buying a clothing item or fabric, take a bit of the material and bunch it up in your hand. Release it, and see if the wrinkles stay. The more wrinkles, means the harder the garment is to maintain it’s original shape, and is something to take into consideration.)

This stuff passed the wrinkle test with flying colors, and I found a grey lining for a reasonable price that should hang nicely with it.

As you can see, it’s not really wearable yet…

But if Portland keeps having such nice weather I may never need it!

teehee!

Time to go and soak up that vitamin D! Have a great Saturday, and thank you so much for reading! You may think I’m just saying that, but I’m not. It means a lot 🙂

xo!

Fabric De-whoa ! Adventures in fabric shopping!

Posted on April 26, 2013 by cemnashville

Fabric buying is an essential part of the sewing process.

If you don’t have fabric, you like can’t sew like anything.

duh.

My experience has been very limited in fabric shopping; a fairly routine task. Go to Joann’s. Find something that doesn’t look like an old lady would quilt. Go home and sew. Back when I lived in Iowa, I’d mix it up and to Walmart occasionally. Tsk tsk. But the time has come to graduate from that mentality! Living in a bigger city means more resources. I now have different stores to choose from, both independent and large chain! Usually between activities, I had been jetting out to Joann’s to stick in my safe routine, but this week I decided it was time to branch out for my new project.

I’d heard of Fabric Depot but I hadn’t yet been, so on a sunny Monday I set out to the other side of town to see what all the hubbub was about. This 1.5 acre sales floor boasts the largest selection of fabric in the nation, and I think I drooled all over the bolts out of excitement. For anyone who actually sews and designs their own fashions, they are probably shaking their heads and throwing their hands up and saying

where the hell have you been!?!

I’ve been living under here:

(Har har)

I was shaking my head in dismay but had to forgive myself and remember that this is fun! I frolicked amongst the different knits and weaves and silks and satins and chiffons and taffetas and broadcloths and linens and poplins and wools and linings and buttons and threads and zippers and clippers and it looked a lot like this:

Okay so maybe I didn’t, but that is exactly what I wanted to do! So many amazing things to see and feel.

Naturally there was a greater price range, but I was still able to find something unique that I needed for a decent price. Constructing garments isn’t necessarily the most cost effective method anymore. In fact, it’s probably more expensive– stay tuned and we will cover that topic another day. But like I always say, you never have to shop on a budget! As long as you buy on one! And as soon as I saw the “special occasion” section, I did just that.

OOh la la!!

Cha cha cha!!

Ay carumba!!! It’s a good thing I’m on a budget….

I’d been there so long people were starting to look at me funny….

So I called it a win and headed for the checkout!

There is a first time for everything, and I am pretty excited that at Fabric Depot this won’t be the last. I’ll tell you all about my fabrics and project next time. Thanks for staying tuned! I’ve been up to a lot of projects this week, but unfortunately that leaves me less time for typing.Also, it’s been sunny and beautiful, and vitamin D and cold beverages are really important of the creative process… Be prepared for an explosion of Dorky Chick in Lipstick shrapnel on your newsfeed in the coming days!

Have you “liked” dorkychickinlipstick.com on Facebook yet? Yes, you who is reading this right now! Sneak on over to www.facebook.com/dorkychickinlipstick and brighten my day, eh?

xo!

Not too shabs: Lurneen sumfingz

Posted on April 20, 2013 by cemnashville

I was enjoying some crummy gas station coffee (which I secretly love), listening to some afrobeat on Songza, and reading the May issue of Marie Claire (one of my faves) and while ogling at the Moroccan-inspired fashion spread, I came across two pages of photos with items I’d featured in my blog! On the left is from the Gucci 2013 Spring line, as featured in one of my earliest blogs Gravity and Gucci and on the right are those signature Louis Vuitton checks that popped off the runway and into my blog Pineapple Eye Massage !

You’d think by the time I hit higher education that I wouldn’t be so surprised to find real-world application of something I’m learning, but maybe I’m still scarred from long division…

*cough cough*

I think you get the point.

So thanks Marie Claire for giving me another reason to stay optimistic. Turns out this little project really is teaching me a thing or two 🙂

Did you miss the entries on Gucci and LV?

Check ’em out here:

Gravity and Gucci

Pineapple Eye Massage

More to come! Thanks for reading!

What I’ll do 20 years from now when I find this dress in Goodwill Bins

Posted on April 19, 2013 by cemnashville

I present the Dorky Chick in Lipstick Decree:

You can always shop on an unlimited budget, as long as you spend within yours. 🙂

(And, yes, smiley faces are totally appropriate in decrees.)

Today’s budget for this girl was 2 bucks for clean clothes, 4 bucks for Numi Toasted Rice Tea and a Clif Bar, and a free seat on my couch with my laptop. Ahh a perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon of luxury shopping (on budget!)

My latest crush is on this midi-length, soldier-print dress by Dolce & Gabbana. It is part of their 2013 Spring collection, so it is no wonder that it has my trend-dar going berserk! The vibrant hues make it a head-turner, while the print makes it interesting, yet, surprisingly not overwhelming. Like all of my favorite things to shop for, it is way out of my price range, but there is always hope that 20 years from now I can buy it at a vintage consignment store…right? *tear* Fortunately for both of us, this dress comes with free inspiration! That’s right! It didn’t cost me a darn thing to get my imagination churning when I saw it. And free is definitely in my budget 🙂

So here is the piece I was talking about!

The Dolce & Gabbana printed silk organza dress on the runway:

And here is the dress as I would style it! I chose two different looks that really speak to me and my personal style.

I love clean and classic, and thought that simple sophistication would be a great way of showing off the chicness of the garment. Gold detailing and nude, uncompromising heels give the dress a polished look, while the chunky black shades are an affirmation of confidence. Natural makeup and a sleek bun round out what this look, which is everything I love about being a woman; it is refined, yet has a certain amount of prowess that makes it sexy without being revealing.

I want to see this dress break some rules with it’s bold reds and contrasting blues. I love the idea of toning the dress down by bulking up with shameless accessories. The studs on the boots suddenly take the dress from high-tea to high-octane, and the layered necklace reinforces that the its not about the dress, but the woman in the dress. I also wanted to find another pattern to play with the print, and thought this Marc Jacobs was so crazy it just might work. Of course she needs some of that crazy-wave hair and sunnies to keep it bold from head to toe.

A downside to falling in love with this dress is that it will be hard to go out and find a comparable version unless this style of fabric printing can become part of mainstream trends. I know that if I wanted to recreate this by just going to a fabric store and looking for fabric, I’d be hard pressed to find just what I’m looking for, and it would definitely be a challenge to make it original. That is probably good for Dolce & Gabbana, though, because intellectual property doesn’t exist in the fashion world. How do you think I find such good knockoffs? But, that’s another blog for another day. For now, I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that prints like these start trickling down the fashion chain.

Well happy Friday to all! I hope you can get in some luxury shopping this weekend 🙂

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