Black Out

[Similar look: Jacket, Dress, Shoes]

I am a huge advocate of the all black outfit. I work in the fashion industry so there is a bit of pressure to being on trend all the time... all black always saves the day.

However...

You have to add a bit of glitz if you are going to go completely dark.

For Shaya, it is her shoes. Find that piece that tells a story.

Tips & Tricks:
Although Shaya isn't wearing the Gibson blazer, it is one of the best blazers I have seen. It fits a range of sizes and shapes and at a cost of around $90 it won't break the bank. [For those that think $90 is too expensive, remember a well fitting blazer can last you for years.]

Peace, Love, & Stinky's

February 25th.

I had just completed my 14th straight day of work... might I add, two weeks of high intensity/stressful work.

Even though the previous night turned out to be so much fun, I was still irritated that it was different than what I had spent all week hoping for.

On top of that, I couldn't remember the last time I had a good nights rest and I hadn't gone for a run in nearly 3 weeks. (So much for my NYE resolution.)

There was no way around it: I was a grump. A frazzled grump.

After walking home from work and coming into my apartment I was met with two huge packages from my best friend in Florida.

It couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

 

 

 

It has been exactly a year since I last saw her when I cashed in my SXSWi ticket and went straight to Florida instead. A week with my best friend, her adorable family (my second family), and the most sun I saw all year long.

I don't know how I have been so blessed to have such an amazing family and a lifetime best friend. By all standards, I've hit the jackpot.

While the roommate is out...

After living in Seattle for four months, I decided to get more comfortable and expand my sense of home to outside of just my bedroom.

This meant taking over a wall.

I have been hesitant in the past because Megan, my flat mate, and I have different styles. She is more traditional and feminine (read: loves pink) and I am more modern eclectic (read: quirky).

I gave her a little bit of warning and then while she was out on a day date, I went for it.

The post it notes are items that are changing... either coming from PDX or from one of my compulsive shopping trips.

I still need to find a place to put up my favorite photographs of my college roommate / ho cho. They used to be above my ridiculously awesome refurbished turquoise kitchen table in SF... apparently it was creepy. Disagree!

Introducing: Shaya

Shaya is one of my dearest friends in Portland. I met her when I was visiting my family during a weekend getaway (I lived in San Francisco at the time) and became friends after moving to Portland two years ago.

You cannot help but love Shaya. She exudes kindness and positive energy... and it doesn't hurt that she has the biggest smile on her face at all times.

Because of her work, she has to be unassuming in how she dresses. (Flashy doesn't fly when the pianist upstages the singer.) She wants to look good and be comfortable at a low cost which is why she loves shopping at Nordstrom Rack, Ross, and Macy's.

My goal with Shaya is to incorporate a bit of glam.

Rule of thumb: If you are going for simple and understated add on one piece that tells a story.

Canon

 

 

 

 

Growing up, whenever my parents would have a date night or anniversary or special-occasion-leave-the-kids-at-home night, the conversation would typically go like this:

Parents: Tonight we are going out for our anniversary so the babysitter will be here at 7.
Kids: Ok great, where are we going to dinner?

I know when I was little, I was baffled that they didn't want me to come. I couldn't comprehend it. Then, as I got older and wiser, my assumption that I was joining them became a family joke.

Ashley and Vik were going to celebrate their 6 month anniversary of marriage. (Apparently, during the newlywed stage you celebrate every month you survive.) True to form, I asked where and what time we should meet.

I was joking.

Sort of.

But the joke was on me when I got a call inviting me to join them for drinks at Canon (a place I have been begging to try with them since the day they wed).

Canon was fantastic. Very much like Bathtub Gin & Co; the drinks were strong and custom and the atmosphere intimate, comfortable and eclectic. While Bathtub plays off of being down an alley and through an unmarked door, Canon is very easy to find. It was 6:30pm on a Monday night and every seat was full. Although it doesn't hold many people, I can imagine on weekend getting in can be near impossible.


I should have been an artist...
I wrote a note of congratulations to Ashley and Vik and felt like I needed to draw something on the front of the blank card. Initially, it was going to be 6 flowers. Then I realized how rubbish it looked so why not just go with it and make it outlandishly terrible. Surprisingly, it was a hit!

Color

[Halogen cardigan, Gap striped T, TOMS wedges]

My schedule for the past month has been crazy.

So crazy that I walked away from this gem for a few weeks.

This past weekend was the first one in many that I had no obligations and I intended to make the most of every second. Unfortunately, I peaked on Friday night and was forced to recover for most of Saturday.

Saturday just so happened to be the day Seattle was hit with fantastic weather. A high bun and bright colors were forced to cover the remnants of the night before. Well, the remnants I wasn't repeating to everyone over dinner the next night... I do love a good story.

See yourself the way I do.

I hate saying, "I love fashion." It sounds so frivolous and conceited. I would also never call myself a fashionable person.

What I do love is discovering a person's unique style.

How we dress is like a thumbprint. Even if we copy celebrities or magazine covers, we cannot change being uniquely us. No two people are alike.

A photographer, who I often use her cartoons on this site, says it best, "See yourself the way I do."

I was born an optimist, I find beauty in most things, and I am passionate about bringing the best out of a person.


Over the last month, I have been working with eight beautiful women, both inside and out, to bring a new feature to AndBubblegum. I have sat down with each woman, pouring over their closets, taking pictures and videos, finding out how they view themselves, and how they wish to look.

I did not set out to change anyone's style. In fact, I often asked them to show me their favorite pieces and then I added to it. In the end, their outfits may be something new they never would have thought of or just a typical look.

I am excited to bring to AndBubblegum:
Eight different styles.
Eight different personalities.
Eight different jobs... lives... women.
And maybe add on more.