Coming sooooooon...

Hello friends!  If you follow me on instagram, you know that I've been editing through my insanely stocked wardrobe and amassing a pretttty impressive pile.  I go through these feng shui fits about once a year and make a nice healthy donation to the Mission Thrift store.  But this time I've really been ruthless deciding what gets to stay and what must be on its way... This time around I'm getting rid of a lot of old favorites and some very special pieces that just don't hold their weight in the inventory.  Many never worn, or worn once.  

This time it's serious.  

So this is like... a garage sale?  Ummm, no.  Can I be totally honest?  I've got clothes issues.  

I like to shop, I like the hunt, and I've collected some incredible pieces over my *eeeeek* 20 years in the fashion industry.  Some of those incredible pieces have made it into this sale.   Yes, you will find lots o vintage, some Marc Jacobs, some Chloe, and possibly some Chanel too (still weighing that one).  Prices will range from $1- $60 per item.  And yes, this gives me anxiety- because I really enjoy having a lot to pull from when putting myself together, but I've made peace with the parting, and I'm excited to see these pieces find new homes.  I'm also super excited to lighten my load, and simplify my life a bit.  

Jeff's going to laugh at that remark, because the edited version is still pretty cuh-ray-zee.  If you saw it you'd be all...

Ok, but seriously... This is the kind of clothing sale I would actually get my butt up early for.  

And that's saying a lot.   

This sale will run on Saturday, December 1st from 10am in Jeff's art space, 

upstairs at 774 Marsh St. in Suite D. 

Stop by for a cookie.  :)

xo, 

Ruby Rose love...

My goodness, you guys... look at what those Ruby Rosies are up to this weekend.  I think Stephanie and Co. snuck into my brain and brought all my dreamy camping fantasies to life.  We're so lucky to have a place like this in SLO.  I'm just constantly in awe.  Thanks for being so amazing, RR.

P.S.

Remembering our summer adventure.

+ Moonrise Magic.

{Photo via Ruby Rose}

Camping... the countdown.

You guys, Jeff bought a tent.  This camping thing is legit.  

No, it's not the totally unrealistic, totally darling Cath Kidston teepee I had my heart set on...  

No.

It's this beast:

The water-proof/weather-proof, 10-bazillion person, last-forever, Elliott poo-colored, smart person tent from Coleman.  Sure, if you're into that whole practical/rational/normal thing.  I'm not gonna lie...  seeing the tent made this whole thing feel much more real, and I almost cried.  ALMOST.  But I am keeping it together, accepting it, and preparing myself for the inevitable.  "Preparing" in this case - means outfits.  Scoff all you want, Claassen family, outfitting myself is how I deal with difficult situations.  Properly outfitted, I can be/do/accomplish/conquer ANYTHING.  Even camping.  

*gulp*

How I imagine camping-me will look...

Dudes!  I have that expression MASTERED!  Elliott even does a great impression of it:

And the boots... I will be wearing the boots.  Not in green, in "Midnight Sparkle".  Duh.

How camping-me will actually look:

1. Madewell fedora, with pheasant feather band

2. Vintage polka dot cotton shell tank

3. Charlotte Tarantola cardigan blazer

4. J Crew Tomboy shorts

5. H&M Leopard flats

Ok, don't laugh!  This is how I do "outdoors-y", people (and yes, I fully acknowledge that this is ridiculous).   But home is my happy place, and camping is like... the opposite of that.  Kay, at Picking Daisies described it as follows:  "...having to do all the things you regularly do daily, but under the worst of circumstances".  Truth, Kay.  Truth...  Honestly though, I've found that putting these camping ensembles together is my niche!  It might be my secret to embracing camping.  I'd even venture to say that I'm teetering on enthusiasm!  Ok, let's not go crazy, Coral - maybe uhhh... interest is a better word for it.  Yeah.  

Camping?  Pfft...  I got this.  :)

*Next up... gear.  I'm trying to convince myself that "gear" does not mean tent decor.  I'm alllllmost there, Sahnzy!  Looove youuu!

Girl about... the love!

A Valentine in your hair? Absolutely!

My Pre-V-Day favorites...

Ruffled tunic, Free People

Beaded cardigan, Charlotte Tarantola

DIY'd jeans, Current Elliott

Butter London in "Come To Bed Red"

Greeting Card, "Lovesick Sea Creatures" by Jeff Claassen

Bag, Vintage (from my grandma)

Heels, Prada

Books: Love Poems" by Pablo Neruda and "Tranquilista" by Kimberly Wilson

Candle in "Macaron", Voluspa

Aaand... a humongous heart ring complete with flashing lights. :)

girl about... glitz!

If it looks like Spring, and feels like Spring...

I know we're still technically in the throes of Winter- I'm reminded of this every morning when I look out the window and see that my poor little flowers have struggled through another cold night. But the days are bright, warm, and glowing. What does this have to do with the outfit post? Well, we've had the most unbelievably beautiful weather this week, that I find myself in a very Spring-y mindset! Kinda sorta. It's a hybrid... let me explain. Remember all the glitter, sequins and bedazzle we saw through the Holidays? Well, I'm secretly really excited about it still! There's that quote about glitter being the herpes of the art world- and yeah, I guess that extends to fashion, but... I can't help it.

I'm infected with sparkles!

The color Gods at Pantone tells us that Tangerine Tango is the it color for 2012, but I'm not on board with that just yet. Outside of my Rhodia notebooks, anyway...

However, I do find myself really attracted to the saturated jewel tones we normally reserve for Holiday... pops of garnet, sapphire, amethyst, emerald, chalcedony, and a little turquoise. We typically see these hues with darker pairings of satin, wool, or (that ubiquitous Holiday fabric...) velvet. For Spring I like these colors lightened up and paired with creams, cotton lace, and eyelet.

For the time being, I'm still in jeans almost every day, but I'm pairing them with sparkly shoes, lots of baubles, and overly-embellished hair accessories (like the headband and sequined barrettes seen here, by Ban.do). As the weather warms up, I'll be moving into full skirts with quirky little sweaters- like the one in this post, but I'll stick with my sparkly shoes and girly accessories at least until Summer time.

Ok, let's talk about this skirt... Dost thou eyes deceive thee? No. That, my friends, is gold lamé. Poor lamé got a really bad rap back in the 80's when it became de rigueur for horrendous ruffled, one-shouldered, Prom dresses. I know you know what I'm talking about, ladies... But I'm liberating it! I bought this vintage Esprit skirt specifically for a Holiday party- but it's just way too fabulous to be a one trick pony! Toned down for daytime with flats, a fitted sweater, and a cotton tote, the gold borders on neutral. In fact, I'm coining a new phrase right now... are you listening, Pantone? The neutral statement piece. YES! Fluorescent neutral! I actually championed for Fluorescent Neutral a couple of years ago when I solicited (unsuccessfully) for Montana Paint to rename one of their spraypaints that color. They totally missed out.

What about you... still knee-deep in Winter wear, or are you fast fowarding to Spring? The only thing I'm knee deep in right now is glitter.

*surrenders cool card* : /

In this post...

Sweater: Charlotte Tarantola

Skirt: vintage, Esprit

Sequin Barrettes: Ban.do

Beaded headband: Ban.do

Cotton laundry tote: vintage, France

Embellished eyeglasses: Betsey Johnson

Jeweled Mouse flats: Marc Jacobs

Leopard/glittered Brogues: Zara T.R.F.

Acrylic heels: vintage, from Jeff's grandma

Nail Polish: Butter London (Gold: Tart With A Heart, Blue: Knackered, Pink: Rosie Lee)

Books: "Girls Fashion Style Paris" & "Paris Brocante", edition Paumes, Japan

Perfume bottle: Tocca (Brigitte)

Glitter: Martha Stewart (Aquamarine & Rose Quartz)

Sequin/Rhinestone cuff: vintage, LACMA

Listening to: "The Only Living Boy in New York", Simon & Garfunkel

Fridge make-over...

The refrigerator... that household vessel of yummy.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, family meals, special occasions, and midnight snacks. Under-appreciated, oft ignored... My poor little fridge was in dire need of some TLC.

Here's something you should know about me- I hate cleaning, and anything that can make the job a little easier, a little more fun, or even slightly *gasp* enjoyable, is worth it! This has resulted in my becoming a bit of a household-product junkie. Sparkly scrubbies and a Hello Kitty sponge with Meyers, Method, Voluspa and Caldrea make the dirty jobs just a little less... well... icky.

Voila! A few quick and easy fixes for the fashionable fridge: Porcelain egg tray in robin's egg blue, vintage pyrex for leftovers (much cuter than tupperware), pretty wire baskets from Ruby Rose lined with Picking Daisies' napkins for fresh fruits and veg.

Just-snipped basil, lavender and mint look and smell terrific in the fridge. Like a surprise bouquet every time you open the door!

♥