Cold Shoulders and Shuffleboard

Hmmmm how about when your hair is the color of the fall foliage?  Ha.  Right?  But really how about this fall foliage, we have had the most stunning fall.  It's been gloriously rain free so the leaves have had days and days and days to show off their glorious colors. 

And I've had days and days and days to wear whatever shoes I care to wear, with no care of rain ruining them.

So white booties it is.

And hands up if you love off the shoulder tops.  Well this can be a bit tricky in off the shoulder tops, but you should just do it anyway.  They are just the right amount of sexy, and a universally flattering style.

The perfect outfit for a casual date night out.

And that is just what we did....a little shuffleboard with friends, a giant plate of house made chili waffles fries, and fun cocktails.  If you caught any of my instastories over the weekend, we definitely had quite the laugh working on our shuffleboard technique, and quite the plate of fries.  I can't even tell you who won but I can tell you someone definitely claimed the last waffle fry.   

A casual fun setting with great service and over 50 beers on tap, thank you Henry's for a great double date night.  If you live in the Seattle or Bellevue area, head on over this weekend and mention code "KRSTYFLS" to your server for a buy one get one free appetizer (good through Oct 31st.)

Check out Jenn's blog for the other half of our double date, maybe she remembers who won the game.

thank you for reading,

Kirsty

This post was done in partnership with Henry's Tavern.  

The Outfit That Makes The Best Date. Denim w/ Fitcode.

This outfit to me is the quintessential I feel like a woman outfit.  That classic tailored button up, this time with a sleek one piece popped collar and exaggerated cuffs, paired with a great pair of denim and a rocking pair of shoes.  This is one of my husbands favorite looks.  And it makes sense.  It's easy and comfortable, flattering and fun yet somehow it has subtle sex appeal.  It's that night out look I reach for when all I want to wear is sweats, yes that does happen, and I will be at total ease in this look and confident.  That speaks volumes, and makes the best date.  

Recently I had the opportunity to shoot in studio with Fitcode.  It was so much fun, if you can't tell by the photos, there were a lot of laughs, and I tried my hardest to make some serious faces too.  That may need more work.  

What I love about Fitcode is their celebration of Women (and Men's) figures, all shapes and sizes, and their commitment to helping everyone find their true fitting jean.  You can read more about Fitcode here.

These particular jeans are by Silver and I was pleasantly surprised when I put them on, no more overly embellished back pockets, which my back side does not need.  I love the wash and the distressing.  My shirt if from Sarah Alexandra, a local designer who is nailing the modern tailored shirt.  

 

jeans - Silver (I sized up for a baggier fit)

shirt - Sarah Alexandra

shoes - Target, old.  similar

photos by Tawnie.

best,

Kirsty

DIY and Dash. Tassel Shoes

find my shoes here.

Tassel Shoe DIY.  Well consider this less of an actual DIY and more of an inspiration to get those creative juices flowing...


Most of the time motivation comes to me at the last minute.  I will have actually be thinking about said action well before, but I don't seem to take action until game time.

Which is why a hot glue gun always comes in handy.

20 mins till we need to leave and my entire look was centered on tasseled shoes that hadn't happened yet.  Which is why there was no time for DIY documentation you see?

Couple things about embellishing shoes

1.  Do it!  Right now there is so much fun to be had with fur, tassels, ribbons, leather, flowers...  I like to keep a fun glass container on my desk filled with all of my favorite notions I have gathered.  Sometimes it's a piece of an old purse (Goodwill is a treasure trove!) or a strip of lace, obviously lots of ribbon and tassels.  That way inspiration can strike at any time.  Finding the right trim is often the hardest part.

2.  This is the best way to jazz up old shoes, or new shoes.  Find inspiration in of the moment designer shoe trends.  But start with a price tag from Target, or Nordstrom Rack or Sole Society.

3.  Hot glue on leather (not suede) is the best way to go bc it sticks but it's also reversible.  Otherwise sewing is necessary, and get your toughness on because your fingers are going to have to push hard.

4.  Make sure that when you are adding embellishments it's not load bearing (or is it baring?)  In this case with my strappy shoes, I simply added an extra strap a bit higher than the toe strap.  And I kept it a tad loose because you don't want blisters.  This way the original straps are doing their job, the one I added is just for show.

5.  If you really want the DIY details, send me an email.  And to get your creative juices flowing...

Here is a tassel DIY to get you inspired.

Here are loads of good Pompom DIYs

Some great basic shoes to start with (click on image for shopping details)...

more inspo, I LOVE the rainbow grosgrain heels on those espadrilles, and in case you want to just want to buy a party for your feet, here you go...

Happy Tuesday Shoes.

Summer Soiree to Winter Cocktails

Well I am in full swing of Christmas break, you can follow along on my instagram - I think the stories are the best, so much more a snap shot of real life in the moment.

In the meantime a quick share on an outfit I put together that I was pretty proud of.  All I have is Iphone photos to show for it.  I had resisted the temptation to buy a new dress, and succeeded - which is not always the case.  I love an excuse to shop.  But those darn budgets, and wanting to spend my money on more practical items - like velvet shoes and furry coats.  Makes sense right?

So I had received this skirt from Eshakti, if you don't know them you should check them out.  It's pretty cool what they are doing - you can customize their pieces, like adding pockets, or changing the hem length or fabric, as well as using your own measurements to have the piece custom fit. 

The original design of this skirt was ankle length, I had them shorten it to just above the knee.

And then I just started trying on tops with it.  Then I got the idea to try on dresses underneath.  Being a full skirt I figured it could handle a short dress and bonus, stay tucked in better.  I landed on my favorite piece from Silvae.  I love the way the exaggerated sleeves of the dress look with the high flared waist of the skirt.

And I love getting some winter wear out of my favorite summer dress.

So it's worth looking at your closet and trying new combinations.  A summer dress with a skirt is a great way to mix things up. 

Our shoes were on point for this event.

Lisa of West Fulton Street and What Jenn Wore.

skirt - Eshakti c/o.  no longer avail

top (dress) - Silvae, here in blue.  similar in white.

thanks for reading.  Hope you all are enjoying your week.

best,

Kirsty

My Favorite Chunky Sweater Gone Twirling.

Let's talk about Christmas Sweaters.  The statement sweater kind.  Not the ugly sweater kind.  Although you can drink eggnog in either.  Or champagne.  Or coffee.

I am smitten with this sweater.  It's soft and cozy.  It has awesome long cuffs on the sleeves.  It's just a little bit undone and it laces up with velvet ribbon.  It's easy to wear - would be perfect with jeans and boots.  Just perfect.  What's not to love?

But what I want to share is the dressier side.  I love a great sweater with a statement skirt.  Sequin, velvet, pleather, lace, full or pencil...  Because it's not the holidays without tulle, I brought out this old girl.

And twirled through an alley.  Just for the record, I'd do this anyways, even if I wasn't taking photos.

I love mixing a fancier statement skirt with this chunky sweater, it's a happy mixup.  Like breakfast and lunch making brunch.  Plus it gives more mileage to the pieces I already have in my closet.  Introducing two long lost friends right?

When pairing a chunky sweater and statement skirt - just try it.  I do like the mullet tucking of the sweater to keep the volume under control - full skirt and full sweater can be a lot.  And I like a ladylike heel.  But really do whatcha like kid.  Ooh ooooh.  (can you name that tune?)

Then because this cold winter day was gloriously sunny and this sweater is warm and cozy - all I needed to add was a fur scarf.  Ready set go.  Isn't this scarf amazing?  

sweater - Gypsy 05 c/o.  find here on sale, also at QAD.

tulle skirt - oldie but goodie!  similar.

ring, earrings and scarf - Queen Anne Frame  Come visit!

Still working out the bangs situation.  Thanks for your patience.  *eye roll emoji*  Or pretending to care.   *wink wink*   Honestly though!

Time for bed.

Happy Friday.

best,
Kirsty

Ps - a few of my favorite statement skirts.  That velvet ruffle one, ugh!!  And it's 35% off with code Friday. 

My Coffee To Dinner Date Dress

This dress is from Gypsy 05, they specialize in casual wear for women, but I think their dresses are just as killer.  I recently discovered them when I found this  tie-dyed blue velvet crazy good dress at my favorite local clothing boutique, I wore it with my beloved Rag & Bone heel booties.  You can see all their maxi dress with heels here.  

Besides their awesome attention to details, what I also love about Gypsy 05 is their commitment to being environmentally focused.  Finding their inspiration globally, their brand is located in LA, the brother/sister duo ethically source their goods through their Global Village Initiative providing fair wages to textile workers.  Their corporate headquarters is also the first completely solar-powered dying, printing and manufacturing facility in Los Angeles.  Hello Sunshine.

This outfit is equally perfect for a coffee date or dinner date.  I love an outfit that can be this versatile because it means that I will reach for it over and over.  When I am being very careful with my purchases and how I am spending my money, I want pieces that can work in many ways.  That go-to piece when you are in a rush but want to feel pretty and put together.  This dress will be just as awesome with booties and a fur vest or sneakers and a cardigan - which you will for surely see me in while I'm working at my shop.  

I also adore the ruffles, anytime I can add ruffles I'm a fan.  I thought pairing ruffly lace edged socks with this dress picked up the fluttery details of the dress nicely.  Pairing a sock the same color as your shoe together - voila! sock booty.  A trend that is so popular right now but so hard to find - a sock bootie that's not to loose, not too tight....just right!  This hack gives you more wear out of what you may already own.  And I love socks with heels, always have.  As long as I can find the matching mates.  Ugh.

dress - Gypsy 05 c/o.  find here, also at Queen Anne Dispatch.

shoes - Louise Et Cie.  similar

socks - Free People

thanks for reading.

best,

Kirsty