Month in Review: January 2013

With the new year comes a feelings for fresh starts. I'm not sure whether I really succeeded in a whole new start for 2014, but here are some "New" things from the blog to I sure have tried!

New Outfits

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Black Outfit | Blush Dress | Owl Sweater

New Mail

Have you been keeping your post office busy this month? Why not send off some mail with items from this month's animal themed Stationary Wishlist? Or you and a friend could start a game of Correspondence Chess! And if you're thinking of indulging in a subscription package for you or someone else, don't forget to look at my review of Popsugar's Must-Have box.

New (Old) Movies

We popped the popcorn to watch  the political thriller The Manchurian Candidate. For this month's Cinema Style, we took our fashion cues from Bogie and Becall film Key Largo, and Charlie Chaplin's masterpiece City Lights.

New Plans

We kicked this year off on the right start with this list of fun ideas you should try. With this month's Q+A, several other bloggers shared the last thing they tried for the first time, some of whom included new New Year's traditions! Speaking of, the Boy and I have tried several new things recently, including going snow shoeing for the first time and by doing a photoshoot or two with one of  my best friends about one of our favorite brands, Popbasic. In addition to sharing a few new ways to get rid of old clothing, I also gave a closet tour and drew a new design on our chalkboard closet doors.

When it came to reading, I shared a very dogeared page from a favorite book, Jeeves, and talked about some good books on personal style. I also started the year off by getting back into the reading groove, working my way through both Where'd You Go Bernadette? and the Pride and Prejudice companion novel Longbourn. Did you read some good books this month?

All this was probably good to try and keep motivated; this month has not been an easy one with bad weather and the loss of a friend. How have you been keeping upbeat this January?

New Finds

What happens when a language loses it's last monolingual speaker?
Confessions of a former vintage addict
How to throw a frock party
Screenwriters talk about the toughest scene they had to write.
What are your Must-Read Books?
Become an art expert in less than a minute.  Plus, Italy votes what art to preserve.
Could Marlen of Messages on a Napkin get anymore stylish? Yeah, didn't think so.
An artist colors his children's drawings. 
I want this book.
Holy bat-mobile! Contacts to help diabetics monitor glucose levels?! 
Five ways to wear a flower
Love new words? Try out these. Or these.
Twitter Rec: Follow the Girl Scouts  to be empowered and uplifted about women.
List of "Made in USA" brands
This is pretty much exactly what it is like to live in Wyoming. Exactly.

What I Wore: Sherwood Days

What I Wore: Green Dress (via Hannah of Braided Bandit; Similar Here) Boots (Old; Similar Here), Cami (Forever 21), Coat (Etsy; Similar Here), Necklace (Similar Here),  Scarf (Similar Here), Bracelet (Popbasic; Similar Here), Watch (Modcloth, Similar Here)

Something about deep green has me always thinking about Robin Hood and his merry band. We probably wore out our VHS copy of Disney's foxy reincarnation of the story, played it out with dolls, and read books about the romanticized story. But, hey, you got to give Robin Hood fashion credit- green looks great. And thanks to another bandit- The Braided Bandit- I got to enjoy my own Sherwood Day. Pop on over to Flock Together for more!

Popsugar January 2014 Review

I've talked about Popsugar Must-Haves subscription before, and, thanks to my mother, have finally been able to try this fun service out for myself! She gifted me a three month subscription for Christmas. Thanks Mom!

Popsugar Must-Haves are like those lists in women's magazines talking about the "must-have" items of the month. Only, instead of just talking about them, they send them to you.  Boxes are about forty dollars a month, but the price goes down if you buy multiple month's subscription at once. This box, their January 2014 box, is actually the second of my three. I loved December's, though it got here in January (understandably due to the overload our UPS and FedEx people had over the holidays). January's box shipped around the 13th and arrived here around the 20th. For some reason, several other people got their boxes earlier, and I spoiled myself for the surprises that were inside. But knowing what was in the box did not diminish the fun of getting a box, especially after a long day!

January's box was clearly aimed at helping people keep some of the more common New Year Resolution goals. Here's what was inside:

The Juice Generation- Out of all the items, this one was probably the one I was the least happy with. A cookbook is a great idea idea for box like this, but many people don't have the equipment to make things. I'm not really into juicing in the first place, but since we have the book, maybe we can either make some of the recipes with our Bullet, or we can pass the book onto a friend who likes juicing.  Also in the box was a coupon for a discount towards juice purchases.

Jack and Lucy Tech Gloves- I actually just got not one but two pairs of "tech" gloves over the holidays. Still, seems like one is always misplacing gloves, so this will be good, or maybe it can help warm a friend's hands instead! The brand is very nice; I could handle my iPhone with them on fine.

Malin + Goetz Detox Face Mask- In the winter weather my skin always needs help, so I was super excited for this! don't know about you, but fancy skin care is always one of those things that seems expensive to indulge in, but I do love such products, so what a nice treat!

Pipcorn White Truffle Popcorn- December's box also had edibles, which went fast, so I was really curious about this new snack item. I think some people might really like it, but it was a bit of a dud at our house. Pipcorn is very small popcorn bits, which was fine. The flavor of this bag was a bit odd. To The Boy and I it tasted like normal bagged popcorn, but left an odd aftertaste in one's mouth. Those with more discerning palettes might find their milage varies from our expeirnce.

Revlon by Marchesa Box O' Files- Tiny, pretty nail files that are the perfect size to stash away in an emergency kit or purse.

Rifle Paper Co. 2014 Flip Around the World Desk Calendar- I saved the best for last! This was most definitely the highlight of the box for me. I love Rifle Paper Co.'s goods and was tickled by all the maps, especially the one of Paris, which is where we honeymooned. Whether you are just dreaming of travelling or remembering good times, this would be a fun calendar to decorate a desk. As an added bonus, the company also sent along a discount for your next purchanse at their store.


January's box was a little underwhelming. There were some items I loved and some I didn't, but  I think is bound to happen with this type of subscription. And who knows? In December's box, there were several items I wasn't sure I'd like or use that I have, in fact, come to quite enjoy, so perhaps January's box will be the same way. At any rate, the value of the box contents still exceeded what was paid for it (which is always guaranteed by Popsugar Must-Haves).

I'm excited to get my third Popsugar box; it might help me decide whether I ought to continue the subscription or not!

Have you gotten a Popsugar box? Would (or do you) subscribe now?

What I Wore: Puppy Love

What I Wore: Sweater (Joules), Jeans (Gap), Shoes (Old Navy), Belt (Old; Similar Here), Watch (Modcloth; Similar Here), Pearl Necklace (Old; Similar Here)

Joules is a British company making its way across the pond; to help celebrate the expansion, they kindly let me pick something from their wares to talk about with you all. Their aesthetic is definitely esquarian and very classic, so I was thrilled at the number of basic, wardrobe staples available (you could check off a lot of items from this list of 20 basics every woman needs)... buuuut, in the end, I picked out this Fox Terrier Sweater. Though I've already got a list of other things I'm going to be saving my pennies for from Joules, it was impossible to pass up this sweater.

Not only is this sweater soft and fitting with just the right amount of drape, but... nothing ever has Wired Fox Terriers on it! Fox Terriers are not always the easiest of breeds to have- I would definitely caution anyone who has never had a dog before or people without time or energy to devote to your dog away from this breed. But once you go Fox Terrier, you never go back! This joke print comparing dogs to font types is pretty hilariously accurate- Fox Terriers are Condensed BOLD. They are fearless, clever and smart, alert and easily bored. Bred for hunting burrowing vermin (like foxes and badgers), those instincts can lead a bored terrier to dig or hunt down smaller animals, so they need a strong hand and lots of exercise for both the body and mind. But you have never seen anything better than a Fox Terrier do its distinctive head-cock when something intrigues it, or how delightfully smart they can be.

I grew up with this breed and can't imagine life without our Terrier girl. Stella makes life a delightful adventure- sometimes too adventurous for our lazybones dachshund, Max (who had to wait in the car a few extra minutes while Stella got photographed- a fate worse than death, he thought!), but we all love it deep down. And now, I have a sweater to show off my puppy love of this breed too!

Personal Style Book Recommendations

Photo of Mme. Gadski from the Library of Congress

Tim Gunn's Guide to Quality, Taste & Style by Tim Gunn
Written in an engaging, conversational style, Tim Gunn guides you through finding your own taste in clothes without falling into the trap of copying another person's. He gives good, solid advice (a personal favorite is the chapter on having style inspiration instead of icons) told in a very kind manner. He makes you feel like you've gained a new friend, one who is so knowledgable because he's been there himself, going from someone who knew very little about fashion to someone who taught all about in schools.

Vintage Hairstyles by Lauren Rennells
If you are at all into vintage styles or fashion this book is a must have. beautifully illustrated with full color photos on every page, this book can be divided into three parts. The first focuses on the tools and basic skills needed to make most vintage hairstyles (i.g. how to make rag curls, finger waves and more. The second and most extensive section shows step by step instructions on how to make different vintage hairstyles. Each step is carefully written out, but each step also is illustrated in a well done photo. Every hairstyle shows a before and after- all using real women in real life rather than models. There is also quite a variety of hair length and hair texture, showing that anyone can wear vintage hairstyles. The author also provides a little bit of background  about each look, which is both entertaining and informative. The last section spends some time on different hair accessories that can be used to complete a vintage look- complete with DIYS on how to make many of them.

On a personal note, I let the hairstylist for my wedding borrow this book, and she went out to buy her own. As you can see, all my wedding party ladies were rocking their vintage hair-dos!

Paris Street Style by Isabelle Thomas
This is not your usual style book and it is my favorite for that very reason. Even the vocabulary used in the book is different than your average style book. The language is varied and complex and assumes you are an intelligent person because it assumes fashion and style is an intelligent subject on which to be writing. There are sections of great advice- general advice about clothing and on ideas of how to wear specific types of clothes, and even on where to shop (if one is in Paris). My favorite parts though are not these chapters, but the interviews in between chapters. The author interviews a stagger variety of people who are in some way connected to Paris and to style, whether they are designers, shop owners, textile makers or magazine editors. They even interview a perfumist. Above all what this book encourages is that to care about fashion can be an intelligent and creative passion and even a way of life.

Stacy London's Truth About Style
Also not your usual book about fashion or style, in this book Stacy London focuses on helping nine women find a personal style that fits them and their lifestyle, by looking at the emotional fears and past traumas that have been holding them back. The women- are varied- in age, in body shape, in past experiences. Yet, I think the advice given many can follow; and even if not, it is uplifting to see how a person's self-perception can change and be used to conquer the past. It is not just these nine women opening up about their pasts either- Stacy London gives very raw and personal accounts of dealing with  many of these same or similar issues herself. I really liked this book for showing how clothes- and self perception with them- can help mold us into the people we want to be.

Before You Put That One: 365 Daily Tips for Her
As the title indicates, this large book is not meant to be read in one sitting, but rather as bits of information parceled out through the year. Since this was a book I'd borrowed from the library, I did not read it in this manner, and perhaps some of the charm was not the same. The format of the book was that you got one tip- told over a paragraph or two- a day. The tips built upon one another, of course, allowing a cohesive theme to come through. Still, while some tips were fantastic and practical, some might seem like a bit of filler or advice that is perhaps better shared with a woman older or younger than yourself. But it is still worth a read for the advice you do like from the book.

Want more books? Why not looked at: 

Q+A: Five Books Every Woman Should Own 

The Dogeared Page

Cinema Style: Key Largo

Key Largo (full review here) remains one of my favorite Bogie and Becall pictures, though many consider it a distant third to To Have and Have Not and The Big Sleep. Part of what draws me in every time is the fashion. Logically, it shouldn't. Each actress sports only one outfit a piece, and they are every day clothing, but maybe it is the every day that is the draw. One can actually wear outfits inspired by the film. In fact, I've already worn a Key Largo inspired outfit, and now you can too.

Shirt, Belt, Necklace (Popbasic; Similar Here), Bracelets (Popbasic; Similar Here), Skirt, Sandal

Lauren Becall's character dons a classic look with a full skirt, understated jewelry, and fresh, white button-up. Since she's working at a resort in Key Largo, she's sporting some practical espadrille shoes. Update the look by making them espadrille sandals. Since the film is in black and white, I'd never thought about the colors, but stills show Becall in a gorgeous green color. Take a page out of her book, and get a full, colorful skirt. Finally, top off the look with some jewelry. Both the necklace and bracelets shown here are from Popbasic and therefore no longer available, but with such classic looks, you can find similar items.

The key to this next look is all about the accessories. Claire Trevor won Best Supporting Actress for her role as a singer past her hey-day and is stuck living out the sad story of her trademark song, "Moaning Low." This dress is casual, but has fun details at the sleeves. Likewise, the high neckline isn't showy, but is perfect for showing off gads of pearls. Add some costume jewelry to give it that proper vintage touch, and you're ready to go!

Dress, Broach, Earrings (Popbasic; Similar Here),  Pearl Necklace, Second Pearl Necklace, Purse, Shoes

What I Wore: The Sound of Silence

What I Wore: Dress (Gift; Similar Here), Sweater (Stitch Fix; Similar Here), Boots (Similar Here), Socks (Similar Here), Necklace (Popbasic; Similar Here), Bracelet (Popbasic; Similar Here)

I love the Simon and Garfunkel song and especially its place in The Graduate, but here, something else makes itself known in the silence- The Ice groans! The sound itself is not unlike that of whales singing to each other, I think.

We had a few days of a warm spell. It was warm enough in fact, for certain parts of the reservoir to melt and for me to wear something with a skirt. This particular combination is something I've been wearing on and off all winter. It is comfy yet makes me feel elegant. It makes me think of roses in a vase and of childhood dance lessons and the scent of Irish Breakfast Tea. Do you have certain items in your closet that always evoke a specific  thought or memory? 

Letter Writing: Correspondence Chess and Play by Mail Games

Getting mail is a ton of fun, but in an increasingly digital world, writing it can sometimes be hard. This blog post series about Letter Writing aims to make it easier. For more tips on writing letters look at my previous posts on writing Thank You Notes, Personal Correspondence, Love Letters, Sympathy Letters, Congratulatory Letters, Postcards,  Letters of Appreciation, Get Well Cards, Invitations, Holiday Letters and Letters of Recommendation.

Photo Credit: Evind Barstad Waaler

When you're seven it seems that nothing is quite so spectacular as being better at something than your older sister. Or, at least, that's how it seemed to me when my sister would get so excited about playing (and beating me) at chess. But unmitigated success can really only last so long; our grandfather was a brilliant chess player who would have offered much more challenge, but he was far away! He came up with a creative solution to help him play chess with my sister through the miles- Correspondence Chess, otherwise known as a Play-by-Mail Game. 

The basic idea of any Play By Mail Game, is that the players mail each other their move each time it is their turn, and then must wait for their opponent's move to be mailed back to them. In today's digital age this can seem a bit archaic- or, at least, something that might more efficiently (and, arguably more cost effectively) be done by email, chatrooms or even apps. But I'd argue there is something special about the time and dedication that such Play By Mail Games require. It can also really help to foster a relationship by sharing interests, as in the case of my sister and grandfather. 

As with anything involving chess, Correspondence Chess has a large number of devotees, and therefore large organizations you can join to find new opponents and read up on rules. However, the basic premise is pretty simple. With Correspondence Chess (or any play by mail game), the regular rules of the game are followed, excepting some rules about time regulations. 

To play Correspondence Chess, you and your fellow player must decide several things before hand- mainly who will  play the white pieces and who will play the black ones (this also decides who will send  off the first move, since in chess the white pieces have the first move), and how long each person can have per move or number of moves (for example, most people allow for "thirty days of reflection time per ever ten moves" mean you've got to make ten moves within thirty days. You will also need to decide if "reflection time" counts the time your mail takes to travel or if it only counts the days from when you got your opponent's latest move to when you mailed back your latest counter-play). Also make sure to be clear that you are using the same terminology to explain your move, so that the other person does not get confused about where your pieces should be on the board. Many people will also use special postcards to show moves, such as this one for international Correspondence Chess, or the one used by the U.S. Chess Federation.

Because Correspondence Chess is a game playing out over weeks if not months, it is important to be able to record past moves. Most people will also set up physical board in some quite place in the house. You could also keep a log or illustrated game. 

Besides correspondence chess, there are a whole other bevy of possible games to play by mail. Backgammon, Checkers, Battleship, Stratego, and Tic-Tac-Toe immediately come to mind as ones that would be easy manage long distance. However, there is a wide range of games commonly played through the mail, including ones with multiple players. Those often require one person to work as a coordinator, so it might be best to look up a group to join. What games would you want to try playing through the mail? 

For more information:

Save the U.S. Postal Service: Play Correspondence Chess

Correspondence Chess League of America

United States Chess Federation

Play by Mail Games

LETTER WRITING SERIES: THANK YOU NOTES | PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE | LOVE LETTERS | SYMPATHY LETTERS | CONGRATULATORY LETTERS | POSTCARDS | LETTERS OF APPRECIATION | CORRESPONDENCE CHESS | GET WELL CARDS | LETTERS TO SICK CHILDREN | INVITATIONS | HOLIDAY LETTERS | LETTERS TO SANTA| LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | CIRCLE LETTERS | LETTERS TO POLITICIANS | WRITING TO ADVICE COLUMNS | THE LETTER WRITING GAME | PENPAL LETTERS | LETTER OF COMPLAINT | COVER LETTERS | LETTERS TO PRISONERS | OPEN LETTERS | LETTERS TO FUTURE YOURSELF | LETTERS OF APOLOGY | "OPEN WHEN" LETTERS | FAN MAIL | GOOD BYE LETTER |

What I Wore: Say Good Bye

What I Wore: Shirt (Similar Here), Sweater (J.C. Penny; Similar Here), Pearls (Similar Here), Pants (59th Street; Similar Here), Shoes (Modcloth), Socks (Target)

Over the weekend, we attended a memorial service, a sombre yet in it's own way celebratory event, and this was what I wore (Our friend loved fashion, so I like to think she'd have liked this). It was unexpected, and she was one of those people who was very effervescent- drew you in and yet never made you feel overwhelmed. She always very positive herself, and full of joie de vivre. 
It makes me want to live my life with more of that- more joy, more grace, more deliberate gratitude and laughter. They read an email she had written not long ago talking about how she was trying to remember more often of all the very good things in her life (except, she teased her correspondent, the coming cold. She would complain of that!). The day was full of friends supporting one another, of food and dancing, of poetry. I am full of gratitude for of those things.

Dogeared Page: The Inimitable Jeeves

"Good morning, sir," said Jeeves.

He put the good old cup of tea softly on the table by my bed, and I took a refreshing sip. Just right, as usual. Not too hot, not too sweet, not too weak, not too strong, not too much milk, and not a  drop spilled in the saucer. A most amazing cove, Jeeves. So dashed competent in every respect. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I mean to say, take just one small instance. Every other valet I've ever had used to barge into my room in the morning while I was still asleep, causing much misery: but Jeeves seems to know when I'm awake by a sort of telepathy. He always floats in with the cup exactly two minutes after I come to life. Makes a deuce of a lot of difference to a fellows day.  

"How's the weather, Jeeves?"

"Exceptionally clement, sir."

"Anything in the papers?" 

"Some slight friction threatening in the Balkans, sir. Otherwise, nothing."

"I say, Jeeves, a man I met at the club last night told me to put my shirt on Privateer for the two o'clock race this afternoon. How about it?"

"I should not advocate it, sir. The stable is not sanguine."

That was enough for me. Jeeves knows. How, I couldn't say, but he knows. There was  a time when I would laugh lightly, and go ahead, and lose my little all against his advice, but not now.

"Talking of shirts," I said. "Have those mauve ones I ordered arrived yet?"

"Yes, sir. I sent them back."

"Sent them back?"

"Yes, sir. They would not have become you."

Well, I must say I'd thought fairly highly of those shirtings, but I bowed to superior knowledge. Weak? I dont know. Most fellows, no doubt, are all for having their valets confine their activities to creasing trousers and what not without trying to run the home; but it's different with Jeeves. Right from the first day he came to me, I have looked on him as a sort of guide, philosopher, and friend.

- Imitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

Warby Parker: Palm Canyon Collection

As you may have guessed from my logo, I'm a girl who loves glasses. That's why I'm so excited to be able to share with you Warby Parker's latest collection- The Palm Canyon Collection. Like many online eyewear retailers, Warby Parker aims to get eyewear to people who want and need it at reasonable prices; their most expensive glasses are only ninety five dollars- and that's including the anti-scratch and anti-glare coatings all their pieces come with! What makes Warby Parker different from other online eyewear companies isn't (just) their reasonable prices.

 It is who they are- and are always striving to be- as a company that I really like. All of their designs are made in-house and are exclusive just to them. They like to take blend together a modern and vintage aesthetic, and this latest collections draws on wood and tortoise designs that are just my cup of tea! Below is one of my favorite designs from the new collection. 
There is are some unique features to the company that rock. Like many other online eyewear retailers, Warby Parker has a virtual try-on feature, allowing you to upload a photo of yourself and "try" on frames. What this company does that no other one seems to is you can get frames shipped to your house and try them on in person. For free. Yeah, you read that correctly. They have an option for you to pick up to five different frames, which they will send you free of charge to try on. You can keep them for five days and get a feel for the frames as well as others' opinions before shipping them back (free of charge). You can them email with with which pair of frames you want from there. Just one of many customer-friendly features.

The other thing that, to me, really sets Warby Parker apart is that not only is it striving to take care of and listen to costumers, but it wants to Do Good. Did you know that almost a billion people need glasses but don't have access to get them? Or that having good vision can increase your productivity by twenty percent? Having a pair of glasses when you need it makes a big difference.  For every pair of glasses purchased with them, they donate another pair of glasses to those in need through one of their partner charities, the main partner being Vision Springs. Vision Springs and the other partner charities give these glasses- and training- to low-income entrepreneurs around the world. I love that it is giving back, and that it is sustainable by helping people to start businesses!

P.S. Looking for other companies that Do Good? Look at this post here and here.

Stationery Wishlist: Party Animal

1. Cat Stationary | 2. Cool Cat Card (Rifle Card Co.) |3. Penguin Paper Clips (Modcloth)  |  4. Foxtrot Card (Maemae Paperie) | 5. Stickers (etsy) | 6. Rabbit Mailing Label (Etsy)

1. Cat Stationary- Okay, okay. Can we focus a moment on how cool these are? They fold up like a normal letter, but when opened are in the shape of a cat. How unexpected! How fun!

2. Cool Cat Card- I know so many people who need to be told they Cool Cats. Can you dig, daddy-o?

3. Penguin Paper Clips-This would make for the most cheerful desk ever.

4. Foxtrot Card- I love to Foxtrot (and it is easy, despite how the diagram looks here). I can see why these diagrams are not often used when teaching dance, but their aesthetic is something I love almost as much as foxtrotting.

5. Stickers- These round face-stickers would be fun to use when sealing an envelope shut, and, hey, why not draw in a speech bubble with something clever for the faces to say. and make things even more fun?

6. Rabbit Mailing Label- How darling would this look, especially with all the packages Flock Together bloggers send one another!

What I Wore: Mod Mode

What I Wore: Dress ( Chicwish), Tights (Target), Socks (Old; Similar Here), Black Sweater (J.C. Penny; Similar Here), Necklace (Popbasic; Similar Here)

Something about this look just felt, very instantly, Modish. Maybe it's the short skirt, the bold colors and color blocking, or even the way the sweater makes it feel like a dropped waistline. Maybe it's just me and not mod at all. Whatever it was though, I felt swinging in this. The other thing I loved about the outfit was the socks, whose print mimics my header pretty well, don't you think?

And you know, sometimes in the midst of those January Doldrums, a quirky pair of socks and a modish vibe might be what's needed to help pick ourselves back up and continue on with a little more bounce in our step. What are you cures for the winter blues?

Q+A: First Times

Over the holidays, my sister invited The Boy and I out for a day of snowshoeing. Now, I'd never been and, being a creature of habit (and not very sporty besides), this was an offer that made me a little nervous. But I put on my big girl pants and said "Sure!" Boy, am I glad I did! Turns out snow shoeing can be very fun- you are basically tramping about in beautiful scenery. It got me thinking though- as we become adults, we have less "First Times." Some of this is because we've already done more, but sometimes, like me, it is the result of not looking for those new opportunties. So, for this month's Q+A, I asked these ladies- what was the last thing you did for the very first time? From gaining new skills to trying new events, I'm sure you'll love their answers. Don't forget to share your own in the comments below too!


Marlen of Messages on a Napkin shared: 
Using a sewing machine! Before, I used to hem all my dresses and pants using a needle and thread (like some pilgrim) and, oh, it would take ages! Then as luck would have it, our neighbor dropped off a sewing machine she no longer wanted and I felt like it was high time I crossed over into the twenty-first century. Figuring out the bobbin, and the threading, and the whole "sewing in a straight line" thing was really frustrating (I may have thrown the manual on the floor a few times and stomped away), but in the end it was well worth it. I'm a modern woman now! ;)

Priya of Perfectly Priya confesses: 

The last thing I did for the first time was probably spend New Year's Eve in Nashville, my home for the past 4 years. Previously I'd been in school, and always spent the holiday in California as part of my Christmas break. I was excited to finally start the New Year in the city where I'll be spending most of the year, also with my boyfriend, Hunter. Still, I was in the middle of a move, so although I had grand plans with silver confetti downtown, I went to two house parties at my friend's parent's houses. It was a really low-key, fun, and cozy way to start the year, with some of my closest friends. I also participated in two international NYE traditions: 12 grapes with 12 wishes at midnight (Latin America), and writing a wish on a tiny piece of napkin that I burned, dropped in champagne, and drank (Russia). So that was neat!

Dus from Cuddly Cacti wrote:

The last thing I did for the very first time was: drive a road trip! Did you notice I used the word “drive” instead of “take”? That’s because, while I haven’t taken a ton of road trips in my life, I have been on several, most often to California. Those were fairly long drives, about eight hours usually, but never had driven so far before. This time, we drove from Phoenix to Austin, and ended up taking two days for the trip. I haven’t completely disregarded it, but I’m certainly not so sure whether I ever want to make such a long drive again. I’m glad we had the experience though, and my hubs and I certainly had plenty of time to chat about life. Also, we saw some interesting sites on the way, and most importantly, I realized that I probably don’t want to do a cross-country camping trip. Driving in new places really stresses me out, I’ve come to accept, and I’m also coming to accept that it’s OK if I don’t find something fun that “should be.” This might also mean that for the first time I’m absolutely turning into my old parents… 


Jessi of Haircut and General Attitude also had a New Year's First: 

The last "first" I had was ringing in the New Year out on the town! It may sound silly, but it was a first for both me and my Hubby since we usually spend the evening home with family watching the ball drop on TV, eating junk food and toasting with sparkling cider. Which is always fun, but we wanted to try something new this year! We headed out to the biggest celebration in Salt Lake for a night involving dancing, beach balls, glow-in-the-dark hoola hooping, black light wall-signing, concerting and fireworks. It was definitely exciting to be surrounded by so many people in celebration of that very first moment of a fresh new year. And nothing beats a good New Year's kiss from my one and only :)

P.S. Want to be featured on a future Q+A? Comment below, get ahold of me via social media or shoot me an email. I'd love to work with you!

Cinema Style: City Lights

City Lights (full review here) is a film might get overlooked because it is black and white and because it is (mostly) a silent film. But to do so would be a mistake. Considered one of Charlie Chaplin's best works, it features his iconic character "The Little Tramp"  falling in love with a poor, blind girl. It is at turns poetic, hilarious and heart-breaking all at once.

w Bowler Hat, Blazer, Shirt, Vest, Bowtie, Pants (Similar Here), Shoes, and Cane

A modern day clown, the Tramp's costume is built for laughs but it can still inspire a fashion forward outfit. The tramp's look is based on mismatched portions- pants too baggy and jacket too tight. Inverse that look with on-trend cropped pants and an oversized blazer, and you've got a fabulous menswear- inspired look.

The Tramp's lady love might be blind, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know how to dress well, despite the Depression! Here is an updated version of her style. The dress has a drop-waist, which can be seen on several ladies in this film, but it's shorter hem gives it a more modern feeling. The stockings are not silk but tights and the shoe- though very thirties in style- is purely a reproduction shoe. A floral purse pays homage to the character's role of selling flowers. Add a velvet blazer and scarf just as this lovely flower seller has and you'll have her complete (but modern!) look.

Blazer, Dress, Purse, Tights, Shoes

What I Wore: Popbasic Remix Redux

What I Wore: Shirt (Popbasic; Beta Collection), Tank Top (Forever 21), Skirt (Brag Vintage; Similar Here), Necklace (Popbasic; Salut Collection), Belt (Popbasic; Rubi Collection), Watch (Modcloth), Shoes (Old Navy)

What She Wore: Shirt (Popbasic; Salut), Jeans (Kohls), Boots (Similar Here), Necklace (Popbasic; Rubi Collection), Earrings (Similar Here), Charm Bracelet (Vintage; Similar Here), Bracelet (Popbasic; Serendipity Collection)

Because with pretty clothes and silly women one photo shoot is never enough-its the Popbasic Remix REDUX! 

See the ORIGINAL Popbasic Remix here!

There is really just something about how polka dots and stripes just seem to fit together. Almost like how a color combo or red, white and black go together. Perfect on their own and perfect together. 

Popbasic wants to help women build their wardrobe with a mix of "basic" or staple items that one always needs- a grey dress, a button up shirt- and "pop" or on-trend items- a pair of costume jewelry earrings or statement necklace perhaps. Each micro collection tells a story, or shares a mood, and all the items, of course, can be paired together or work on their own. Doing this project, what we  discovered was, all of Popbasic's items work not only with their own collections but mix together well for a cohesive (but not too matchy-matchy) feel. Both of our outfits sport at items from at least three different collections. When picking out what to wear, we'd had all our Popbasic goodies sprawled out on my bed, and the other thing I'd noticed, was what good quality everything was. I mean, I was already a fan of the company, but there were several collections I hadn't gotten, usually because I wasn't totally in love with an item. There are a few micro collections I now wish had been purchased; the items look even better in real life than but enjoyed getting to see and play with nonetheless (Thanks Shannon!) Definitely something to keep in mind as future boxes come out... 

On the bright side, it looks like a few items will be making their own appearances in either some sort of permeant line or in up-coming boxes. So keep those eyes peeled. 

P.S. Not a sponsored post. We just like the company. 

Donate and Resell Clothes by Mail

With January and 2014 now underway, you're probably looking at how to keep those new year resolutions. If one of those resolutions was to donate more or to clean out your closets, keep reading! This post is highlighting some companies aimed at motivating your to clean out closet. Each of these four companies want you to mail them your old clothes that they will either donate or resale. You in turn are paid- either in cash or store credit, depending on which company you work with. Read on to find out which is the best fit for you! 

Twice

Twice  is a company that will buy your used women's clothing for resale at their online store. Here's the skinny: You can can download a per-paid shipping label or request a shipping bag with a prepaid label from them. You can then fill the bag  (or your own shipping container) with undamaged, good-condition clothes from your closet. They only accept clothes from certain brands (see their list of accepted brands here), and clothes that are less than five years old. They only take women's clothing- no men's or children's clothing nor maternity or wedding clothes. You are paid upfront for the clothes; this is not a consignment where you get part of the proceeds when the item sells. For clothes that are not accepted by Twice, you can either have those items shipped back to you for a five dollar fee (the cost of a flat rate shipping), or the company will donate them in your name. You will be able to get information on those donated items, which can be used in taxes season.

Thred-Up

Thred-Up is a similar company where you can clean out your closet, be sent a prepaid shipping bag, and mail your used clothing to them. They pay you for the clothes up-front, and resale it on their online site. You can even use a nifty calculator tool to estimate how much money you stand to make off of your old items!  Clothes do need to be freshly laundered when sent, in good condition, and from a "top brand." Though they do not currently specify which brands they accept, a full list of brands not currently accepted can be found here. They currently take both women's and children's clothing as well as shoes and accessories, but not men's clothing, baby clothes (12 mo. or younger), or "special event" clothing such as costumes or wedding attire. If clothes are accepted, credit is applied towards you account. For the first fourteen days, that credit is in-store credit only and can be used towards purchasing clothes on their site. After fourteen days, that credit can be transferred to you via a Paypal account. For clothing that is not accepted by Thred-up, it entered into their "100% Re-Use Program," which partners with national textile distributors and recyclers to ensure that none of it ends up in landfills. Any money the company gets through their reuse program goes to paying for the company's shipping costs or gets donated to the charity Teach for America. You would not receive any of that.

Thread Flip and the White Glove Service 

Thread Flip is an online service that allows users to post their own listings of used women's clothes and accessories to sell. Users are responsible both for the photographing of items for sale, and for the shipping of items. For those who are less ambitious and do not want to commit the kind of time that would take, they also offer the White Glove Service. Like Thred-Up and Twice, you will be sending this company items for resale. The process is a little different though. When signing up to receive a shipping bag with a prepaid label, you fill out a forming stating what items you are planning to send as well as what designer or label the items have. The White Glove Service gears itself for slightly more high-end retail items and  currently accepts only designers on this list. After being approved, you are sent a bag to fill only with the items you had mentioned. The company then goes through the bag of your item, prices the items and photographs them for resale on their site. Once you are sent a bag, you simply fill it with the items you wanted to send and mail it back. The company will then check the items for quality; they will contact you about any items that they do no accept. You can have such items shipped back to you or have them donated to a charity. Unlike Thred-Up or Twice, you are not paid up-front. You are paid a portion of profit when an item sells. You receive a summary of sales at the beginning of each month.

Cuyana 

Cuyana is a unique business. Their company's mission is two-fold. First, to bring to women beautiful, timeless pieces that will last, and secondly to promote what they call a "lean closet." They achieve these goals by selling well made items made by artisans from high quality goods, and by providing you with incentive to clean out your closets. As they put it, their "Lean Closet movement challenges us to collect fewer, better things and to donate the pieces in our wardrobe that are merely taking up space to those who need them. Sometimes when things aren't adding up in your life or closet, it's time to start subtracting." This company sends a shipping bag with a prepaid label to you with every purchase you make. You can fill up the bag and send it back to Cuyana. They in turn will pass it on to one of their non-profit partners who will make sure the clothing gets to those who can use it, and Cuyana will add to your account ten dollars worth of store credit for ever bag sent.

Will you be cleaning out the closet and testing any of these programs out? 

What I Wore: Popbasic Remix

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What I Wore: Shirt (Popbasic; Lost Collection), Sweater (Forever 21; Similar Here), Pants (59th St via Yesstyle.com; Similar Here), Shoes (Modcloth), Necklace (Popbasic; Beta Collection), Rope Bracelets (Popbasic; Lost Collection and Serendipity Collection); Silver Charm Bracelet (Gift; Similar Here), Lulu Frost Bracelet (Lulu Frost via Popsugar)

What She Wore: Boots (Sierra Trading Post; Similar Here), Leggings (Similar Here), Dress  and Belt (Popbasic; Rubi Collection), Cardigan, Gwyn Necklace worn as Bracelet (Popbasic; Sherwood Collection), Rope Bracelet (Popbasic; Serendipity Collection), Earrings (Similar Here), Clutch (Popbasic; Salut Collection)

When my friend Shannon mentioned maybe doing a photo shoot together, we knew it had to be something special. After all, Shannon's the person I obsess out with over Jane Austen and letters and pets and Doctor Who (and life) with. That sort of friendship deserves something extra special. As it so happens, we also obsess (just the tiniest bit) over a new box company, Popbasic. If you follow along with me at Never Fully Dressed, you've probably seen them mentioned before. They are a company that monthly comes out with a limited edition of a "micro-collection" of two or three items. Between us, we'd gotten most of their mirco-collections (though only one, the Lost Collection, we both got). So why not, we'd decided, make a photo shoot a chance to show off our favorite new company? 

The premise of Popbasic is that many of the items are "basic" or closet staples that any woman will always need. Despite knowing that though, it was still one of the best parts of the day to see how the pieces adapted themselves to different women's styles. Shannon is a cardigan and scarves girl who lives in a town at 7200 ft. (with that altitude, you can bet there will be a heck of a lot of snow), while I tend towards a classic and even preppy look. Yet, we could both rock these items. Plus, this gave us a chance to bounce some remixing ideas off of one another (for example, why have I not been layering this shirt under a sweater before? I do this all the time to other button ups; thank goodness Shannon pointed that one out!), and it gave us look at how to use items in different ways (why not wrap a necklace around your wrist over and over to make it a gorgeous bracelet ready for an arm party of its very own?). 

Both of our outfits are ones we could wear out to work (we both work in schools. Sadly not the same school, but coincidently  the jobs have a lot of the same responsibilities), or for a day out to a bookstore or cafe. So, does this make you want to go hang out with your best friend? Or failing that, why not send them a Popbasic package of their very own? 

P.S. No, this isn't a sponsored post. We just like this company and having fun together taking photos. The Boy is a very patient photographer.