It never should have come to this...

Late last night, I joked about scrapping 90% of my current wardrobe and starting over from scratch. Ever since then, I cannot stop thinking about it.

This is, perhaps, the most embarrassing post I've ever done or ever will do. All joking aside, people, I have a very serious problem. Internet, meet my closet:
It didn't always look this way (proof 1 and 2), but ever since I had Jude, my closet has become overwhelmingly messy. My clothes have taken over. Truly, I'm cringing about posting this photo, but I can feel that I've lost control. I honestly feel like I should be on the tv Hoarders! My laundry room looks the same, and my closet is spilling over into my bedroom now. I even have clothes stashed in my guest room closet, my office, and our fall coat closet. Most of these are clothes from thrift stores or things I've had since college and have kept them thinking, "Oh, it still fits and it's still in great condition, so I'll just hang on to it."

I am very scared. I can't find matching shoes, I've lost my favorite belt, and I haven't seen my short, black slip in ages. So I'm doing it. I've posted this photo as a BEFORE. I'm purging and I'm making a solemn promise to myself, my husband, and my readers that I will never, ever let this happen again.

Now someone send in the bulldozer and excavation team! This time next week, expect me to show you a completely different photo. I'm using Kendi's guides to get things done. [see purging, assessing, and organizing]. Afterward, I'll do one trip to Buffalo Exchange and donate the rest to Savers. From here on out, I will let things go.

You cannot even believe how nervous I am.

Wolf Ring vs. Trench Coat: FIGHT!

So remember yesterday when I said I'd have no trouble at all spending the $50 Lulu's gift certificate that I won? Yeah. I was wrong.

Can someone PLEASE tell me that the trench coat is a much better buy than the wolf ring? But c'mon! It's a wolf! I have an affinity for wolves after this audition back in the day. Gah! Plus y'all know I have a weakness for animal jewelry. But, gosh! I have plenty of animal jewelry. I do not have plenty of coats!

Sorry for the lack of posting today. I was running around like crazy today, and then I started feeling a little under the weather, so I'll be going to the doctor tomorrow to see what's up. A wolf ring would probably make me feel better, though. Right? Right? Don't answer that. Someone be the voice of reason! Someone tell me to go for the coat, instead.

Quandary: Can this dress become modest?

I bought this Kate Moss Top Shop frock at Buffalo Exchange after doing a small sell there last week. I took the store credit and only had to pay $2.00 out of pocket for it. Yes! I had every intention of wearing it to Saturday's Rock 'n' Swap, but yowzers! I tried it on again today, and I realized it is waaaaaay too scandalous for me to wear in public! The cut and fit of the dress is fantastic, and I love that it's made of crispy organza (one of my favorite fabrics), so I'd like your opinions on what I can wear with the dress to make it, well... less slutty.

Y'all are really fashionable and have great opinions, so please leave your suggestions below! Capcoon-kah (that's how girls say "thank you" in Thai).

Stop slouching!

"Stand up straight!"
I'm tall and hated being tall when I was a kid, so I pretty much heard this all the time. Now I'm saying it constantly to my dream boots who finally came in the mail yesterday. I keep telling these boots to stop slouching or they're going back to the store. They look so awesome when I first put them on, but if I do things like, say, walking or moving, they get all slouchy-like.

Dear Dream Boots, before I met you in person, I was enamored of you, but now that we've met, our relationship has become one of those possessing the dichotomy of love/ hate. You are driving me crazy!

What shall I do? At $119 they are the most expensive shoes I have ever bought for myself, and maybe they don't look so bad in slouch position. Besides, I checked UO, Vics, 6pm, ModCloth, Lulus, Nordstrom Rack, and Zappos, and I still haven't found flat, grey, above the knee boots for under $119. These may be my only option. And I do rather like the cute little buttons on the top...

Poll: should I keep these pearls?

Hubs got me this amazingly long strand of pearls for my birthday. They're beautiful, and kudos to him for knowing that I love long necklaces. However, I think the exception may be pearls. Are these too long? Should I exchange them for a shorter set? He has to know today since he has a limited return time on 'em:

Help: virtual photography lessons, please

I have four hours to go to the bank, go to the gas station, get my cell phone fixed, find and buy new Tweezermans (I lost mine in Indiana), get costumes for Hubs and me for Halloween and my Golden Girls themed birthday party (this Friday!), order my birthday cake, buy extra silverware, and pick up some new foundation. My shopping prowess is going to be put to the test today!

Because of these ridiculous time constraints, I do not have time to do a do-over of today's style photos. Jessica from WhatiWore recently mentioned that for every 10 photos she takes, she only uses one. Wow! That must be nice! Because I am absolutely clueless when it comes to my camera and Photoshop, and because I'm usually taking my photos myself via a tripod and a 10 second timer (one photo at a time!), I would say that I only use one photo of every 25 or even 30!

For instance, today I had trouble with framing:

And lighting:

And focusing:

I did not, however, have any trouble using a chain belt as a necklace:

date: 27 October 2009
occasion: running errands at the speed of light
jacket: vintage (Goodwill)
shirt: INC
skirt: American Apparel
belt (as necklace, per usual): Target
sheer black tights: Macys
shoes: Isaac Mizrahi for Target

I shoot on an Olympus Evolt e300, with the stock lens with both a UV filter and a polarized filter. Confession: I usually just shoot in macro mode (hahaha!) because I like the shallow depth of field. That's why my accessories photos usually rock while my outfit photos are so-so. Some of you have amazing photography on your blogs, so any photography hints you have for me would be greatly appreciated!

Comment of the Day: Ummmmm...GOLDEN GIRLS THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTY?? That's the best thing I've heard all day! - Erin

Help: Photoshoot tomorrow!

Man, oh, man, oh, man, oh, man! I need help, my fellow fashion bloggers and friends! I am being photographed tomorrow morning by the lovely and talented Annie Ray for a local publication. The shoot will be in my backyard in the rain (she's bringing me an umbrella), and she's asked me to "put together the most colorful, textured, patterned outfits you own." She'd like to see three different looks:

I can mix and match items, but where do I begin? Check out my photos on Weardrobe or Flickr and let me know what you think. I am so excited about being photographed by Annie Ray, and I really, really want to look fashionable but whimsical. I need people who see the photograph to get an idea of my quirky sense of humor.

DIY gone awry!

Inspired by Stella McCartney's 2010 Resort line, I wanted to get my grubby little hands on a black lace jacket, like the one recently seen on Rumor Willis, Stella (herself), and Rachel McAdams:

A few weeks ago, during tax free weekend, I found a dowdy white Victor Costa bridal jacket on the 50% off rack at Buffalo Exchange. For $4, I figured why not try to dye this black?

Pambamboo sent me a link to iDye, which is a dye specially formulated for nylon and polyester. I told Hubs about it, and he picked up a pack for me at Joann Fabric. Cost= $3.75.

I had some extra time on my hands before tonight's dinner party, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I followed the instructions to a tee.

Two hours later, the dryer sang its finishing song, and the process was done. I was so excited... but then, oh noes! The top threads in the lace of my jacket didn't retain the dye!

One one hand, this looks visually interesting, but on the other hand, while I, for sure, like the jacket better than when it was white, I think I would have preferred it to have dyed all the way. What do you think? Should I attempt to dye it again? Or should I try to work this jacket just the way it turned out?

A little ruffled

Thanks so much for all your nice comments and well wishes yesterday when I was feeling a little under the weather. Y'all are so nice! Good news: I'm feeling a little better today. So good that I got my lazy butt out of bed (mainly due to the allure of checking out a thrift store I had not yet been to), and I got outside and took a style photo today:

date: 20 August 2009
occasion: thrifting and doctor's appointment
shirt: estate sale
shorts: F21
bracelets: Claire's (circa 1999)
shoes: Groove (DSW)

Do you remember that time I had to shut down my overalls poll because I got word Adored Austin had been featured on a men's forum called "Girls in Overalls"? Well, I just had a quick question, kind of regarding something in that same vein. I got these two messages from two different dudes in my Flickr mail recently:

Am I being spammed? Is this a strange joke? Or do people actually get these kind of messages once they start doing their self-style snapshots?

I don't plan on responding, but I do plan on keeping the messages in my inbox so I can laugh at them. Awkward!

Help: Time to clean out the closet

It's that time of year again. These are some of the items of clothing in my "to sell to Buffalo Exchange or give to Goodwill" pile. Is there anything I should consider keeping for another season? Or should I go ahead and give all of these up? Watch the video and let me know which pieces I should consider hanging onto for little bit more.

[music "The Swtich" by Hey Mercedes]

Help: complimentary paint colors

Confession: it took me TWO YEARS to finally pick the colors we recently painted the living room and kitchen. This is sad because one of the reasons why I couldn't wait to have a house was because we would finally, finally, finally be able to paint any color we wanted.

Next week my mother is coming to visit me in Texas for the first time. This is the first time she's seen my house! Before she gets here, I would like to paint the downstairs room (which will become Husband's music room/ office), but I just can't commit to a color! I don't have two years to get this done-- she'll be here next Tuesday! Dear readers, I need your help!

Below are the colors that we already have in our downstairs.

I would like the music room to be a complimentary color since it's right off the living room. It also has a guest bathroom attached to it (the most used guest bathroom, since it's the only bathroom we have downstairs). Any suggestions for one or two complimentary colors? I'm in quite a pickle, as the Husband isn't a fan of pastels or earth tones. My trim and ceilings are off white, and the color can't be girly because I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to start referring to the music room as the Man Cave, since Husband and his man friends will be spending quite a bit of time in there. They so would not appreciate a nice, bright fuchsia.

Help: Jellyfish t-shirt

One of the best things about the Sanctuary anniversary party last night was the Studio 3 screen printing station that was set up outside. Carmen and I brought t-shirts we had purchased at Target, and we each picked out a design and got our print on.
Carmen did an awesome feather print and I did a hilarious jellyfish. Why a jellyfish, you ask? Well, because 1- jellyfish are funny, and 2- when Husband was just Boyfriend, he and I went on a date to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and we bonded over our mutual awe of jellyfish.

date: 24 June 2009
occasion: just trying on the t-shirt that I made last night
shirt: Mossimo with Studio 3 jellyfish print
jeans: Tommy
shoes: Toms
bag: thrifted via Buffalo Exchange
earrings: made with the help of Megan Fenno of FENNOfashion during Austin Fashion Week

Perhaps you can help with this quandary: I don't usually wear t-shirts. And on the rare occasion that I do don a t-shirt, it's not usually with jeans. The jellyfish print is so low that I can't tuck the shirt into a skirt or high waisted shorts, and quite frankly, I just don't know what else I can wear with it. Do y'all have any suggestions on how I can make this shirt more fashion-y? I would love to wear it more often.