Outfit Of The Day (Bi-Stretch Wool Minnies + A Diverse Density Tank)

I swear that I don't mean to keep wandering off this blog as much as I have been doing lately, but if there is any good time to get a little lazy with blogging it's probably in the summertime.  It's nice outside! There's so much to do!  There are things are going on!  You know--things that don't involve me standing next to an stinging cold, foggy window telling the (prettily! falling!) snow to oh-shut-the-fuck-up in a high, squeaky voice.

Pictures are worth a thousands words, so here are some snaps I've taken recently of a few things I've been enjoying this summer:

The "Ellsworth" - Denver Biscuit Company.
It was good. Spicy!

The crowd @ Fleet Foxes - Thursday July 21st, Fillmore Auditorium
It was also good, but maybe not quite as spicy.

A McDonald's mix up during a quick lunch
I accidentally got someone else's very quirky order for a cheeseless cheeseburger (and it really didn't have any cheese on it, ew!)

 Strike a pose.
Doing some...shopping something with friends at a vintage clothing store off of Broadway. Um. I may or may not have been wearing a coonskin hat as I snapped this picture?

 Baby birds, day 1.
A surprise in my cheap Target wreath I found a few weeks ago. TAKE THAT MOTHERFUCKER MARTHA STEWART, TAKE THAT!

Baby birds, day 2. 
Oh! Oh damn. I think one is alive.  And...wants me to feed it?

Baby birds, day 3.
Fuzzy baby bird time!

Baby birds, day 5
If a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, how much...is a lot of a bird poop worth? Because there was a lot.  It almost took away from the fuzzy baby birdie cuteness.

 Baby birds, day 7
So this is Mo, Mo Hawk. His siblings Faux, Kitty, and Ad were all still snoozing when I snapped this.  One might even say Mo is a bit of an early bird, and also a charmer--he wanted me to go catch the worm for him. Watch out ladies, watch out.

Baby birds, day 7
Aw.

Aw again.

HEY. FAKER.

Here I'm talking to Petunia while she's pretending to snooze, and once she realized there wasn't cheese + crackers involved she gave me her extremely fuzzy, fluffy cold shoulder.

Hellooo, my pretty.

 Surprise sparkly, fun bracelets in the mail from a great bloggy friend, Rosa!

An afternoon storm rolling in.

In fashion news, retailers have already begun to jam their racks full of fall goodies and ohhhh, I am so excited!  While I will always be a warmer weather girl myself, we were just getting started last fall with the REAL GOODS (capes!  camel hues!  midi lengths! silk blouses! leopard prints!  lady-like satchels! faux fur! 70's chic!) and it looks like this fall is going to pick up right where it left off with even more capes, camel hues, midi lengths, silk blouses, leopard prints, lady-like satchels, faux furs, and...70's chic. This summer has just been kind of a blip-of-blah in between the goodness; like the mandatory tart green, pine-sol tasting skittles we accidentally grab while trying to dig out the reds, purples, oranges, and yellows. It is okay for something different, I suppose, but you most certainly do not want an entire bag of it. Unless you're totally weird.

J Crew's newest arrivals also have me excited for the first time in a few years (is it really that good, or have I just now, like most tired 30-year olds, lowered my standards?), and the Minnie pants in "warm redwood" were my first purchase from the collection. They get five stars from me--they are comfy, light enough to wear right now in spite of being wool, and a  great hue if you want to rock some red pants but want something a bit more muted and easier to wear. Bravo, J Crew, bravo. I think they run pretty true to size, but if you want a tighter fit like how the model is wearing them consider sizing down.  Like, um, five sizes.

The Diverse Density tank by PIlcro from Anthropologie was my next pick. Colorblocking is one of those little trends that I dreaded at first (too simple! so androgynous! how can I over-accessorize  the living daylights out of it?),but like most trends, I have slowly warmed up to it as time has gone on (zombiezombiezombie). This tank is exactly what I was looking for, with a sweet bow for a bit of a feminine twist. Hooray?

Not quite. It is absolutely huge in person; here it is on me in an XS:

 (this is my universal symbol for "it's huge"; it's also the pose I immediately strike whenever Husband says, "fancy a date night at smashburger?" and/or how I look when trying to ungracefully get my shoes off the tippy-top shelves.)

I was hesitant to belt this top because hey, it is supposed to be clean looking and color blocked and blah-blah-blah-leave-it-alone-for-once-Chloe-GEEZ...but I finally gave in, slapped a black skinny belt around the waist, and never took it back off.  It gives the top just the right shape without ruining the look too much, I think. It really is a pretty top, made out of a soft swingy jersey, and one of the first times I have ever been at Anthropologie and thought something was priced oddly "cheap". I kept looking for the 1 that they forgot to put in front of the $48, but no worries--the Persian Floral Blouse has an extra that this top could kindly borrow.


Quick! Before Anthropologie figures it out!

Top: Diverse Density Tank by Pilcro (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here) (and here) (and here) (and here at ASOS, too!)
Belt: J Crew (similar style here)
Pants: J Crew Minnie in Bi-Stretch Wool in Warm Redwood (buy them here) (similar style here for $20) (and here at ASOS) (and another option at ASOS in a flare leg)
Shoes: J Crew Mona Pumps (buy them here) (similar style here under $100) (and here under $100) (and here)
Watch: Michael Michael Kors Large Runway Watch (buy it here) (similar style here for $115) (or a cuff for under $50)
Bracelet: Forever 21 (buy it here) (similar style here)
Bag: J Crew Galaxy Sequin Crossbody (similar style here) (and here on sale for $36) (and here by Rebecca Minkoff!)

(Currently playing in the hizzouse)

Outfit Of The Day (Yeah, We Up Up Up In The Clouds)

Did everyone have a good 4th? I sure did! Lots of goofing around, eating, relaxing, and listening to good music, mmhm.

I often get emails from readers requesting that I do a "Closet Must-Have" post. While I haven't yet had time to sit down and draw up such a post (but I do have  a crumpled, 13-month old post-it note full of ideas to write about collecting dust sitting next to me, of course!), one of the top things for me is matching accessories. I have posted about it before, but I really like having similar-hued items because it makes pulling together an outfit quick and easy. Think belts, shoes, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and bags. 

J Crew is actually one of the best places to find these piece at, I've found, as they often produce belts and shoes in similar colors for every season. They are also great at bringing back old colors, and so I was super duper happy to find that the new Plume necklace matched my 3-year old dusty rose Perfect Patent pumps quite nicely. I am not sure if it's the identical twin in me, or if it's the Libra in me, or if it's just the little bit of boring-and-lazy in me...but I always like to have a little bit of matchy-matchy-balance in outfits.

And it seems like every time that I go to snap these pics it's around the exact same time for the super prompt and punctual 10-Minute Colorado Afternoon Thunderstorm to kick off ...hence the flash/no flash weirdness happening here.  YOU GET THE IDEA:

 

 Top: ASOS Henley (similar style here) (and here) (and here for under $50!)

Belt: Urban Outfitters (similar style here) (and here) (and here for under $10)

Necklace: J Crew Pluma Pendant Necklace (similar style here) (and here for under $15) (and here)

Brown Bracelet Cuff: Forever 21 (similar style here)

Black Bracelet (not shown on arm w/ cuff): Gorjana Graham Bracelet (buy it here + take 20% off with code "toutie")

Skirt: J Crew (similar style here in harvest gold + on sale for $35!) (and here)

Pumps: J Crew Perfect Patent Pumps in Dusty Rose (similar style here at J Crew) (and here, on sale!) (and here + take 30% off with code "EXTRA30") (and here at Nine West)

Purse: Chloe Metallic Marcie in Gunmetal (similar style here) (and here)

(currently playing in the hizzouse)

Outfit Of The Friday Night (Call It What You Want)

Oh why hello there, blog. How do you do?

Every once in awhile it's good (even important, I suppose) to take a step back from the fashion-blog-world to focus on some other things. Nice things, like friends.  Family.  Mile High Orange Crushes.  Eating a whole container of strawberries in one sitting.  The sizzling hot, clear blue skies of summer that gently fade into delightfully  pretty sunsets every night; lingering lazily across the horizon until the sun is swallowed up by the jagged, bumpy mountain peaks to the west.

And walks. And talks.  And laughing.  And crying.  And laughing, crying, laughing.

And snoozy naps caused by a somnolent afternoon sun:

Our two newest family members, Gazelle Bundchen and Richard Dere:

{martha-stewarting the shit out of my martha-stewarting here}

And riding with my top down, and my jewelry on, hey! I'm just gettin' my hood on:

(or as I thought the lyrics were until  I googled it .02 seconds ago: riding with my top down, and my Journey on, hey! I'm just getting my hood...off) (because it's hard getting a car hood off sometimes, DAD, HELLLLP.)

'Cuz I'm just, I'm just doing my thing:

{you know, all out of focus per usual}

We went to a little show a few Friday nights ago called 'Rock of Ages', which is the first time I have ever been thoroughly confused during a play.  I'm always up for a challenge when it comes to these things, I think--boys dancing around that want to do ballet?  No problem! Actors shrieking about depression and their dead son that they still think is alive? Okay! Teens documenting the highly-competitive and cutthroat world of cheer-leading? BRING IT ON (ha ha ha oh, um, next year). Shakespearean lingo delivered in a (bad) (fake) British accent? Hie thee hence, motherfuckers!

But Rock of Ages had me baffled. Baaaaffled. It was like they were speaking an entire different language, these singers and dancers oddly acting out a barrage of hair-metal songs from the 80's on stage, a language that I was a little too young to remember the first time around and a little too embarrassed to embrace the second.  It was just so cheesy to me back when I was in high school in the mid-to-late 90's, this heavy metal glam-rock music, and besides--I had better things to listen to back then, more sophisticated things like grown men dressed in latex suits with painted on mustaches.

"I can't fight this feeling anymore," I thought to myself as I sat amongst the crowd at the Buell Theater, thoroughly lost to the plot as everyone else was shrieking and clapping and having a great time, "Every rose has its thorn, I suppose, but gahh! Seriously. This is like bad medicine."

And so we decided that we weren't going to take it, oh no, and we quietly left during the intermission to go stumble around and people-watch on the 16th Street Mall instead.

Ah, just like paradise.  And nothing but a good time.  (Thank you! Thank you! I'll be here all night!)

Here's what  I wore:

 

Blazer: H&M (similar style here for $29.99) (and here) (and here) (and a cool leather version on sale at ASOS)

Dress: Plenty by Tracy Reese (buy it here) similar style here) (and here)

Belt: J Crew (buy it here) (similar style here + take $25 off of $75 with code "SUMMERMADNESS")

Watch: Michael Michael Kors Rosegold Large Runway Men's Watch (buy it here + take 10% off with code "TULIP") (similar style here for $115)

Bracelet: Gorjana Graham Studded Wrap Bracelet (buy it here) (similar style here at GAP)

Ring: Kenneth Jay Lane (buy it here)

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Uliepe Pumps (buy them here) (similar style here) (and here for $49.95) (and a cute yellow sandal here for $39.95)

Bag: Chloe Paraty in Rosewood (similar style here) (and here) (and here) (and here for under $100)

 (Currently Playing in the Hizzouse)

Outfit Of The Day (Ooh I Got A Back Up Plan To The Back Up Plan To Back Up My Back Up Plan)

Oh, more remodeling stuff.  We're finally ready to get the big stuff done, and so we had some flooring people come out on Wednesday to measure and give estimates.  Wood floors!  New tile! It's a comin'!  

Husband and I are also heading out this weekend to see if we can get some furniture shopping done, and so with that I decided to make a list.  You see, I am a very "list type" of person. If I don't have a list, I careen violently out of control and bad things happen.  If I don't have a list, we end up with items like soy ice cream bars, artificial nail glue, and 10 boxes of Hot Tamales that I then have to eat for breakfast for two weeks straight only because the massive cereal aisle is too overwhelming and I can't make up my mind and/or remember what I need and when that happens Hot tamales are always the answer.  Always.

I am so list-orientated I have this book sitting on my coffee table and I don't read it 'cuz it's funny, I read it for the tips.  My handwriting is so awful that I can't even read what I write on the list (which I assure you, readers--is only sign of my secret, secret genius), mind you, but it still helps to organize all of my flighty and fortuitous thoughts. 

And it's  also why I probably sound drunk here on this blog half the time 

SO!  I decided to sit down and make a list of things we "need" for this remodel.  So far it includes:

1. black (modern, comfy) leather sectional for living room 
2. so--seafoam-green-it-hurts chairs from z gallerie
3. gold light of some sort for kitchen table
4. Or a silver light of some sort for the kitchen table
5. Um. A gold and silver light for the kitchen table?
6. Cool laser light and music show for the master bath shower
7. Hot pink!  Hot pink light for the kitchen table! That spins! 
8. bed frame that isn't over $1,000 because IT'S A FUCKING BED FRAME.  UNLESS I CAN EAT IT, DRIVE IT, AND/OR CARRY IT ON MY SHOULDER (and preferably all at the same time), under $1,000 it is.
9. Punching bag to use for when the bedframe situation makes me angry.
10. contact UPS and/or the American Furniture Warehouse tiger guy to see how much bubble wrap is needed for our bubble wrap room
11. Ball pit to jump into off the top railing of the stairs
12. Princess Bed for Petunia
13. Race Car bed for Kitty
14. Princess Bed for me 'cuz I always wanted one when I was little and never got one.
15. a pretty dining room table
16. bottle of advil. the big one.

So!  It looks like we're off to a great start here. I will keep ya'll updated.

Happy Friday!

Top: Lover Tilly Blouse (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here + take 30% off, discount applied on last page of check out) (and similar style here under $50) (and here under $25!)

Skirt: Suuuper old Odille from Anthropologie (similar style here) (and here) (and here in "persimmon")

Shoes: Valentino Studded Kitten heels (similar style here) (and here) (and love these in brown!)

Necklace: Banana Republic Secret Charms Arrow Necklace (buy it here)

Bag: Chloé Saskia Satchel (similar style here + take 10% off with code "0215SWSRII") (and here)

Nail polish: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Black Pearl (buy it here w/ free shipping)

(currently stuck in my head)