Video: Date Night

I love making videos! I'm still getting the hang of this new camera, but here's a little project Adams and I worked on yesterday for the Wanted Shoes video contest that we were invited to participate in:

Wanted let me choose any of their shoes to feature in a "Date Night" themed video. I knew instantly that I wanted a pair of gray high heeled oxfords. They actually had more than one choice, so I ended up getting the Bedford Heels, which are now nearly all sold out. I love that oxfords are so popular this season!

Wanted has launched a new YouTube channel and they invited 10 bloggers to make a video for it (see also: my YouTube link). Cutest video will win a prize! I don't think the winner is based on number of votes (thank goodness! I always feel awkward asking my readers to vote!), so I hope the folks who decide the winner likes this. We had a lot of fun making it. Wish us luck!

P.S.
Don't you just love the song in the video? Please check out my dear friends' band Trees of Lyres on Facebook. Matt was so nice to let me use their song. Trees of Lyres are, like, the cutest couple, ever (click that link for proof). Like what you hear? You're in luck! MP3's are for sale here.

[shoes c/o Wanted specifically for this video contest]

Sound the alarm: Austin's TIKKR watches blowing up big time

I first saw TIKKR Watches at Austin Fashion Week. They adorned the wrists of a model in one of the mash- up competition photos:

Then, a few weeks later, when my friend Nicole posted a Facebook status proclaiming her TIKKR love, I knew it was time to investigate. What I found were the coolest watches, ever. Big and bold and designed right here in Austin, these are incredibly awesome. The biggest draw? Since the band is made to be interchangeable, it's something you can easily sport every day.

A few days ago I interviewed Cory Stout, the chief time keeper and founder of TIKKR Watches:


Me: How'd you come up with such a cool idea?
Cory: In a way, it chose me. I visited my best friend in China last year. On my last day, I went to this underground mall to grab some gifts. One of the items was this clean, simple watch. I wore it around for a few weeks and I got 10 compliments a day, it was unreal. So I got back with my friend to have them made, I put my own touch on the design, my mom came up with the brand name, and the concept just grew from there. Like the back of some of the watches say, "Start Today", and that phrase means a lot to me. When opportunity knocks, go get it. Start Today. That is what TIKKR is all about.

Me: What color combo Tikkr best represents you- Cory Stout?
Cory: Grey Matter band with a black face. It's a subtle, clean look that still gets noticed.

Cory (L) with UT Football coach Mack Brown (R), proudly showing off their TIKKR watches.

Me: What would you say to someone who says "We don't need watches anymore because we all have phones"?
Cory: I say you're right! TIKKR keeps great time, but I find myself checking my phone to see what time it is (and to check TIKKR customer service e-mails 24/7). But precision time-keeping isn't what TIKKR is all about. TIKKR is about having fun, matching your color combo to your outfit or mood. I see the TIKKR color choices as a great way to express yourself visually.

First choose either a white face or a black face. Then deliberate over the twenty different band choices.

Me: What color combo sells best in Austin?
White on white is the cleanest look of all and sells the best. I was hoping the Longhorn-inspired, all Burnt Orange watch would sell well this season, but Garrett Gilbert kept throwing the ball to the other team!

Me: What is your favorite time of day?
Cory: 5:00pm. Any time zone. Also, I really enjoyed 10:10:10 October 10, 2010

Me: If you could give any person in history or any character a TIKKR watch, who would it be?
Cory: Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell.
Hahaha! I think Zack Morris would take two. They would have went so well with his giant cell phone.

I just picked up my TIKKR watch yesterday and I can't stop staring at it. I love it so much. I went for a white face with two bands: white and Adored Austin pink (also know as razzmatazz). I'm planning to get bright yellow, mint green, and red bands after the new year.

My favorite part about TIKKR watches? They have clever sayings engraved on the back, and you don't know what you're getting until you open your watch. Mine says "Sorry for Partying".

If you like what you see here, right now until Saturday, TIKKR is offering Adored Austin readers 15% off with the code ADOREDAUSTIN. What are you doing? Get on it! This watch is big (like, literally) but I'm sure they're about to be the next big thing nationally. Plus how adorable is Cory? I mean... hello! His sweet mom helped him name his company! I'd probably support TIKKR just for the cuteness factor of that story alone. Wouldn't you?

Check out TIKKR here.

[note: at the time of the interview TIKKR was not yet an Adored Austin partner]

No Nike shorts! No Nike shorts!

People, we have a serious fashion emergency on our hands. As many of you are well aware, our fellow females are falling victim to the Great Style Annihilator: The Nike Tempo Shorts.

These shorts first appeared harmless. Their natural habitats are environments where athletics and cardiovascular activities are abound. We initially only saw them in or around gymnasiums, work out facilities, or clad around women who were running or biking.

This, however, is no longer the case. These Nike shorts have invaded nearly every crevasse of day-to-day society and have become extremely invasive and hostile in their take-over. They are now seen at the theater, in class, and even in nice restaurants where servers come to your table. We had hoped that they would not be able to survive the winter weather as they were biologically structured for temperatures in excess of 70º Fahrenheit, however, they have formed a symbiotic relationship with two other fashion anomalies known as The Ugg boot and the black, cotton, leggings to ensure their survival and proliferation.

Various blogs and Facebook groups have joined forces to fight off the Nike shorts invasion. I, myself- Mrs. Indiana E. Adams, have turned this very post into a petition for women everywhere to declare that we will stave off the mass popularity of these shorts outside of gyms. I hope these shorts become a thing of the past: much like the Umbro fad of 1993. Diaper butt and built-in underpants, we abolish you!

By leaving a comment on this post, you agree to the following:

We, the undersigned, agree that wearing Nike shorts in situations that do not involve working out or athletics is a fashion tyranny that must be stopped. We shall not wear Nike shorts with Uggs. We shall not wear Nike shorts with leggings and flip flops. We shall not wear Nike shorts to nice restaurants, and we shall encourage our female friends to do likewise. We endeavor to stop the insanity and to spread our credo of "Just DON'T do it".

Trend Alert: faux fur vests

I did not find a fur vest during my thrifting excursion yesterday, but after seeing Krystal rock hers, I am determined to get one for myself, thrifted or not. But, oh no! Last night Hubs informed me that I've exhausted my clothing budget for this month. I'm so sad because there's still two more weeks left of September. How could this be? I neeeeeeed a faux fur vest nooooooooooowwwwww!

Here are my top picks, one of which will be mine come October first:

Top row (L- R):
Anik Batik, $665 on net-a-porter.com: I love the two tone detail, the cut of the neck, and the ribbon tie, but $665? This vest will only be mine in my dreams!
BB Dakota, $60 at Fred Flare: I love the collar on this. It's also at ModCloth for a wee bit more (this is the vest that was seen on Krystal).
Rachel Roy, $119 Macys: I like how this one looks as if the fur went through a crimper. So interesting!
Bottom row (L- R):
Top Shop, $120: The zipper closure makes this one a little more different than all the others, and the fur on it is so long!
Forever 21, $28.50: this particular one is sold old. Noooooooo! I love how fluffy it was, and the price was unbeatable.
Rachel Zoe, $79.80 via QVC: In her own words, I die! But no animals had to die for it, since it's faux. The reviews all say that this is the best looking faux fur, ever. This, too, is sold out, but it's still on the QVC wesbite which makes me believe that it will be back in stock shortly. This one is my top pick. I love it and want to curl up in it and wear it and never take it off.

Update: Forever 21 may be sold out of the vest above, but they are full-up on the vest below. Priced at $27.80, I am kicking myself for having spent all my clothing money for this month! If the Zoe vest isn't restocked at QVC, this one will become mine all mine all mine all mine.

Trend Alert: Doc Martens are back!

Just because Melrose Place and Beverly Hills, 90210 have been revamped in 2009 does not mean that all things 90's should be allowed to come back.

The exception, of course, is Doc Martens. I still have my low, brown Docs from high school, bit I'm in the market for a tall pair of metallic or floral Docs for fall, though.

Speaking of the 90's and Doc Martens and come-backs and television, can someone please make sure that since we're re-doing things that were near and dear to my heart more than a decade ago that My So-Called Life and Daria can jump on board this come-back boat, too? That would pretty much make me happy for like ever.

To see more present-day Doc Martens looks see:
Lookbook.nu's Doc Martens page

Trend Alert: Cat Shirts

I don't know how old I'll be when I finally decide that I'm going to give up ironic t-shirts for good. But that day is not today! And after seeing a whimsical cat t-shirt on LuLu*s and an incredibly hilarious kitten sweater on Lookbook.nu today, I'm convinced that these feline tees are the cat's meow!

1. pink baby panther tee: Wild Fox Couture, $64
2. hand sewn cat tee: Meow4ever on Etsy, $32
3. oversized cat tee with rhinestone eyes t-shirt: Beth Ditto for Evans, £24 GBP
4. upcycled cat tunic: Paramount Vintage on Etsy, $29.80
5. Ezekiel v-neck cat shirt: LuLu*s, $25
6. (vintage sweater not for sale) photograph from Lookbook.nu today.

So, what do you think? Which of these cat shirts is the pick of the litter? Would you buy one if you had extra money in the kitty? Or do these make you want to go catatonic? Are these shirts a fashion catastrophe? Or would you purr if you saw one in your next fall catalog?

[ba-da-DING!] Thanks, folks. I'll be here all night. Don't forget to tip your bartenders and waitresses.

Trend alert: giant bows

I saw on Style Bitches are Vicious that giant head bows were spotted on every single model at the Diane von Furstenburg 2010 Resort show, so it's only a matter of time before we start seeing these wonderfully floppy things on the heads of the common girl come fall.

I LOVE IT. I have been known to rock a medium sized bow in my hair from time to time, so I may just have to place an Etsy order for a giant hair bow for the fall. I'd like to have one navy blue one and one red one. Fab Frocks is already way ahead of us on the bow ordering epidemic. We better hurry before she buys up every hair bow in the world! :0)

Who started this trend? Blair Waldorf? Lady Gaga? The Juicy Couture ads? Minnie Mouse?

If you, too, are feeling brave and fashion silly, get in on this trend:

1. Yellow Big Silk Bow by LidDesigns $24
2. Blair II Bow by Astraea $20
3. Puff Bow by Tour De Force (on sale)$97 (£59 GBP)

Tell me: Is this a look you're willing to try? If Aretha can do it, can't you?

Trend Alert: Overalls

Since rompers are such a hit this summer, it only seems natural that overalls have hit the fashion radar for the fall.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. I kind of associate overalls with laziness, and here's why:

My freshman year of college, I started out as a pre-med major. (Go ahead. Laugh now. It's funny. I know). To weed out the slackers, pre-med biology was at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I am one of those people who likes to sleep in until the very last possible minute, and this killer first semester of college was a prime example of that. I had two pairs of overalls, and I would wear one of the two pairs EVERY SINGLE CLASS. I would sleep in a t-shirt, roll of out bed, throw on the overalls with flip flops and drudge to class. One day, toward the end of the semester, I actually woke up early and decided to wear regular jeans. I think I may have even brushed my hair. I kid you not: in complete seriousness, the dude I had sat next to the entire semester looked at me that morning and asked me if I was new to class that day!

Nonetheless, after seeing these new looks, I'm willing to give overalls another try. Maybe this time without the ill fitting t-shirt underneath and shower shoes. Inspired by Bug's recent trip to Goodwill, I think I'll jaunt on over to Savers today to see if I can find a nice pair of overalls from the 70's. No reason to shell out $325 on the Betsy Johnson pair (on the left), if I can find a pair for under $10... right?
EDIT [5 Aug 2009, 8:45 p.m.]: This is hilarious! I had to remove the poll from this post because some dudes at a Girls in Overalls forum (yes, an entire forum) found this and thought it would be in their best interest to skew the poll results heavily in favor of more girls in overalls. Can I just say that I had no idea that there is a men's forum out there that is solely dedicated to women in overalls... and that the forum is active?