New Year's Nails (On a Budget!)

As New Year's Eve draws closer, I thought I'd give myself a spiffy at-home manicure for the event. Personally, I find the holiday to be a little disappointing when it comes down to it, but at least I'll have pretty nails when I'm sitting on the couch contemplating which celebrities will divorce in the new year. 

I borrowed this colored french tip tutorial from Studs & Pearls, who does awesome DIY projects. So check it!

(What I used: Paper reinforcing stickers, Revlon in Minted, OPI Nail Envy topcoat, and Hard Candy in Trailer Trash.)

(Apply basecoat and bottom coat of polish. Allow it to dry WELL, if you apply the tip color too soon the stickers will ruin it.)

(Place stickers so that you've got a couple centimeters to paint. You can cut the stickers in half or use the whole thing if you're lazy, like me. Apply your tip color and remove the sticker once it's dried a little bit.)

(Sorry, Instagram made my hand look gnarly.)

Apply topcoat and ta-da! You'll look real classy when the ball drops, and hopefully thereafter... lawl. Be safe and have fun!

-B

P.S. The best colors for the tips of your nails are better if they're darker than your base polish or metallic. It'll show up better.

Women Tattoos Trend Look Miley Cyrus Tattoos 2012

Feather Tattoos its Designs use only Between the Girls in United States

Feather Tattoos its Designs use only Between the Girls in United States

Kicks With A Cause: Civic Duty

Ladies and gents, I would like you to meet Civic Duty, an up-and-coming shoe company that has begun manufacturing shoes with some serious steez. 

They have the appearance of rumpled paper bags because they're made from Tyvek®, a durable, breathable material used to wrap houses and make FedEx envelopes. Civic Duty uses environmentally friendly dyes and glues on the shoes and packages them in recycled materials. 

"In 2009, I lost my job due to the massive economic downturn. Like many Americans, I was concerned about my prospects for a new job when so many were unemployed. I was infuriated watching the Government bail out big corporations who were largely responsible for creating our country's bleak economic climate while everyday folk were left to fend for themselves... I am determined to prove that we can be successful and still be socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible."

-Steven Reinweb, Founder

Civic Duty has also pledged to create one unique style per year, donating 100% of the profits to a social cause. Not only do Steven's sentiments ring true to how a lot of us are feeling about our country right now, but he had the guts to start a compassionate company in the middle of a recession. And he did it in style. 

In a consumerist, capitalistic culture where greenwashing or "having a heart" is often used as just a marketing tool, it causes unfortunate suspicion and places even more pressure on the consumer to buy responsibly. Civic Duty's origins and aims, however, hold a lot of potential in my opinion.

What do you think?

-B

P.S. Although Civic Duty doesn't manufacture their shoes in the U.S. (though the material they're made of is), Reinweb, who responded personally to my e-mail, relayed his hopes that once the company grows, domestic manufacturing will be possible. In an era where Levi's Jeans can only afford to make one style of jeans domestically, it's unfortunately understandable. However, I think there's a difference between manufacturing abroad in order to stay afloat versus doing it to turn the biggest possible profit. End tangent.

Band of Outsiders Pre-Fall 2012

Band of Outsider's Pre-Fall collection for 2012 is one of my favorites to date. Perfectly tailored blazers, pencil skirts and pants with feminine colors and subtle touches of leather and stripes galore. They may not be show stoppers, but they sure are classy as hell. 

Plus they have cutie models. (Donald Glover, Dave Franco, and James Marsden)

Check out Band of Outsider's full collection here and other Pre-Fall 2012 collections here. 

-B

A Day in San Francisco

Today I got to spend the day in San Francisco with my mom and older brother. We did some major exploring and got to enjoy the beautiful weather.

An intricate arch at the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco- it's modeled after the Legion Hall of Honor in Paris. 

A late lunch at B-Star Bar in Inner Richmond, an incredible spot with a unique Asian fusion menu. Chicken and shrimp biryani and butternut squash soup. 

LEOPARD PRINT LOAFERS!!!! ARE BELONG TO ME!!!!

What have you all been up to with your post-holiday free time?

-B

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things: Chunky, Loose-Fitting Sweaters

Today I'm going to talk about something very near and dear to my heart: the sweater. It's been a wardrobe staple of mine for as long as Seattle has been a miserable place to live, and there's a few reasons why I love them: They come in every color, shape, style, material, etc. etc. etc. Furthermore, they're incredible easy to find for cheap- the 20 or so thrifted sweaters in my closet are a testament to that. 

One particular style begs for digression, however. Chunky or loose-fitting sweaters are incredibly versatile and often offer a chicness and comfort that only your grandpa's cable-knit can achieve. There are more ways, however, to wear them other than with jeans and unwashed hair (okay, maybe that's more of a personal anecdote), and here's how!

Untitled #3 by raincitystylistas2 featuring striped pants

                              

(From left to right: Thakoon P/F 2012, Rag & Bone P/F 2012)

                                                            
                                                              

(Sweater: J Crew, thrifted; silk wrap skirt: vintage, bag: knockoff, Ebay)

And there you have it, folks. The frumpy sweater isn't actually so frumpy, is it?

-B

Pre-Holiday Outfit Post (With a special guest!)

Hey everyone! I've once again neglected posting for which I have no excuse (besides having marvelous adventures in LA), so I won't make any... besides the one in parentheses. Lots o' shit has happened in the past few months.*

Living in LA was educational and transformational in a lot of a ways. I ended up doing some serious people-watching, and picked up a few tips regarding urban style, one being the ease and casuality of Angeleno fashion. I saw some ladies and gents rock casual shapes and styles while maintaining a fresh, chic, and edgy air. Second, they really know how to wear neutrals in terms of color, cut, and outfit palette.

While my first impulse is to wear teal, brights and lightweight fabrics, I've been really digging a more androgynous style as of late, mixing muted colors and more structured shapes that just make me feel... snazzy.

Claire came to visit the past few days, which was totally kickass. Reuniting always gets out creative juices flowing, so expect more from us in the coming weeks! Here's what I wore on an adventure day to Santa Cruz:

(Top: Gap, thrifted; blazer: vintage, thrifted; scarf: Eugene, OR; pants: BDG, thrifted; belt: thrifted; SHUZ: Plenty by Tracy Reece, sample sale)

(If you didn't notice, these shoes are UNGODLY AWESOME. I snagged 'em for $30 bucks at a sample sale in San Francisco over Thanksgiving. They feel like a dream after a whole day of walking and can we talk about how crushed velvet and menswear shoes are a match made in heaven?)

I apologize for the unintentional hiatus. Hopefully you all still enjoy our inconsistent yet enthusiastic tirades. Much love to you and yours this holiday season! May your eating binges taste like holiday cheer!

Love,

B

*I spent the fall semester living in inner-city Los Angeles, my parents relocated from Seattle to San Jose, and I've been trying to figure out where I'll spend five months abroad beginning in June.

christmas trees

happy new year 2012