I Want to Be Meryl Streep Circa the 1980's

I as recently looking through a Meryl Streep lookbook on The Cut and I couldn't help but fall in love with her even more than I already am, especially with her really awesome looks from the 80's. I mean we can talk about her lasting beauty, poise and of course all the amazing movies she has made (She-Devil anyone?) but in this post, I want to talk about how I wish I was Meryl Streep from 1980-1989.

Shorts Suit, Where Can I Get One?

I may be late to the shorts suit party, but I am really thinking that I need to get one, right away. I am not usually a gal who sports shorts but I recently saw someone in Boston totally making this look her own and I wanted to join in the fun as well...only now, I don't know where to find an affordable set! (sadface) Of course, there are extremely expensive designer sets at Bergdorf's or Neiman Marcus but where does a regular girl find her shorts suit that doesn't break the bank?

Source

Perhaps it is because I am late to the party, that I am having such a hard time finding a suit in stock on some of my favorite online sites (Dorothy Perkins, Asos, Topshop etc). I checked Ebay, because you know, I am classy like that and the closest I am able to find in my price range and size is a skirt suit. While skirt suits are good for work (zzzzzzzz), I wanted something fierce for Fall! Am I not using the correct search terms? Do I have to search for the blazer and the shorts separately? Does anyone have any inkling of what I should do? 

Help me find a Shorts Suit!

Boston Bloggers Meet Up August 2012

Last night was the August Boston Blogger meetup for all those special bloggers out there, who, well, live in and near Boston. I happen to be a big fan of these types of meet ups because as a blogger, we can all appreciate the hard work, effort and love that our blogs require for upkeep. Because of that, we can be a support system as well as a good place to swap and cultivate ideas, being that we are all bloggers. Bloggers meeting up... it's just neat, OK? Last night's event was held at the Mass Ave Tavern in the Back Bay and was just the right amount of cool for us bloggers to get down and dirtay on a sassy Monday night. They also had a bartender that Mama had a big ol' crush on (sorry future husband!)

Faded Flannel, a DIY

I have been watching Project Runway this season and no, I have not felt like reviewing it. That being said, I did notice one contestant's very interesting flannel shirt. Christopher Palu, one of the better designers in my opinion, has rocked this bleach faded red and while plaid flannel in a couple episodes. I am sure we will see it more but in the interim, I wanted to try it out for myself. You may recall my foray into bleaching denim (which I found to be quite fun) and this had to be the same thing, just strategically placing the bleach to create the desired effect.... and yes, I know this is a man's shirt.

via LifetimeTV.com

Obsession Alert: Ben-Amun Amazon.com Collection

I think I have mentioned before how much I love Ben-Amun jewelry before. Seen on the runway and on celebs alike, it's no surprise that Isaac Manevitz's designs have been a popular pick for those in the "style" know for years now. Also, you know that I am also a supporter of all designers that support the Made in USA movement. All of the Ben-Amun pieces are made by craftsmen at his factory in the NYC garment district, so there is that tasty tidbit.

Anyhoo, recently, the gals over at Ben-Amun shared with me an upcoming launch of a capsule collection inspired by one of their more baubly, bubbly cuffs. On May 25, 1989, in the midst of the costume jewelry craze Ben-Amun helped pioneer, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was photographed wearing a bright gold cuff designed by Ben-Amun to a dinner at the Kennedy Library.  The cuff was later sold in the auction of her estate by Sotheby's for $29,900.

Now, in 2012, Ben-Amun founder and designer, Isaac Manevitz, has created a capsule collection inspired by this bracelet. Ben-Amun’s “Gold Ball Collection” for Fall 2012 will be sold exclusively on Amazon.com during the month of September. To honor Ms. Onassis’ iconic sense of style and charity work, from September 1st through September 30th, Ben-Amun will donate twenty percent of the wholesale cost of each piece purchased to Robin Hood, the New York City charity for which John F. Kennedy Jr. served as a board member from 1991 to 1999.

Fashion Illustration Class, Race to the Finish

It's a race to the finish. My last fashion illustration class is this coming Thursday and of course I have a final project that is due. We are to design a cohesive collection and include fashion flats (basically a flat drawing of just the garment) with at least 10 looks although, I swear our professor hinted at twice as many for good measure. I am sure you are all thinking that this is probably not that hard a project, right? I mean, all it is is drawing and coloring. Well, I am here to tell you that this is not the case. Being that this is an accelerated course, I have been hoofing it to Boston every Tuesday and Thursday since the beginning of July. We have crammed a lot of learning in and a lot of practicing as well. In order to design and illustrate a successful collection, we have to use all the tools we have learned, including up to what we learned last week. As you can imagine, I am feeling a little frantic because I want these to be perfect and I am 100% they won't be. Wish me luck as I make a mad dash for the fashion illustration finish line, which is sure to be a photo finish.

Find the Shoes You Love at the Price You Love

The old Amanda would have seen a pair of shoes that needed to be on her feet and buy them impulsively, wherever it was that she saw them. The new Amanda, however, is more frugal and wise with her sweet moola (see how I waited for my dream wedding shoes...er or how my man convinced me to wait) so when I embarked on finding shoes my my girl Nathalie's wedding (of which I am a bridesmaid) I wanted the shoes I wanted but I looked for the best price, hands down.

Our only requirements were silver and glittery. There was not a heel height, no shoe style, no nothing... the shoes were a free choice as long as they were silvery and glittery. All the bridesmaids have a different version of the same J.Crew dress in a bright turquoise-teal-cobalty blue. The maid of honor has already chosen a pair of gun metal colored peep toed heels with chunky rhinestones. The other bridemaid is wearing her Jimmy Choo's circa her wedding in April, which are most definitely glittery. My goal was to find something that complimented the two of them... and that is what the Notty from DV by Dolce Vita's (in Titanium Glitter) came into my life.

Sew Cool Brother Sewing Machine Giveaway and More!

Do you guys remember how I kept bugging you guys to check out my Skinnyscoop list this past July? Well it was for a reason. I was working my darndest to be on of Skinnyscoop's Fantastic Four for July and guess what?! Thanks to all of your help, it worked! I hit 1,000 views on my list (along with four other folks) and was awarded a top spot in the "List Making Hall of Fame" (no, this is not a real place). Anyhoo, that contest had a prize and guess what?! I am sharing it with you guys via, what I deem, a pretty awesome giveaway! So what do you guys have the opp to win? Well, take a  look see.

One lucky winner will get not one but two awesome prizes! First, for even the novice sewer, the Brother XL2600I Sew Advance 25-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine is a great, trustworthy machine that can be used for multiple crafty, fashionable projects! It has great user reviews so I am sure you guys won't be disappointed. I happen to think that even if you want to learn to sew, having your own machine is the best motivator to keep practicing! Not only will the winner receive the Brother sewing machine but they will also win a copy of my new favorite sewing book, The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook: packed with easy-to-follow tutorials, five adaptable sewing patterns for a skirt, blouse, dress, coat, and bag, and fifteen step-by-step sewing projects, this book gives you the basic building blocks to begin sewing and the tools you need to move beyond the basics to designing and customizing your own wardrobe. Be your own fashion designer! This prize retails for over $175 so that's a nice chunk of change xoxo

So what do you do to win?

 a Rafflecopter giveaway  

*This giveaway is sponsored by me and only me. Skinnyscoop provided me with a prize that I am sharing with you. Giveaway is open to all US Residents and runs from Wednesday August 15th until midnight Thursday August 30th. If you have any questions about this giveaway please shoot me an email!

What Makes for a Good Accessory?

What makes for a good accessory? I am not an expert, by any stretch of the imagination (as learned by my short stint watching Project Accessory) but I do know what I like and what makes me feel good. Isn’t that what accessories are supposed to do? Make you feel good? 

ac·ces·so·ry [ak-ses-uh-ree] noun, plural ac·ces·so·ries,

1. a subordinate or supplementary part, object, or the like, used mainly for convenience, attractiveness, safety, etc., as a spotlight on an automobile or a lens cover on a camera.

2. an article or set of articles of dress, as gloves, earrings, or a scarf, that adds completeness, convenience, attractiveness, etc., to one's basic outfit.

Bootcamp Style

At the urging at some of my good friends (who I also happened to play Rugby with), I joined their fitness bootcamp class, started by one of their trainer friends. I will tell you that I need to have my booty forced into major cardio and weights so this was mostly a good decision for me (except for those days when I just feel lazy haha) and my future wedding fitness.

I have been going for about a month now and have done some decent work toning and losing some weight. So I am going to keep on going and will sign up for the next bootcamp session, which starts in a couple week. That being said, I really thought that I needed some new clothes, so that, you know, I would keep motivated. As with anything that I do, I always want to look my best... and that includes working out.  Wanna see what I pulled together for bootcamp style?

Bachelorette Weekend Fun, Chicago Style

This past weekend I was lucky enough to jet off to Chicago for my girl Nathalie's bachelorette weekend extravaganza. There was food... a whole lot of food. There was pampering, like majorly relaxing pampering and lots of productivity. We made Chicago our biotch and were able to experience some of the best the city had to offer. We hit up some fantastic restaurants (hello S'more pancakes), we dressed up and drank from questionable straws and we hit up Lollapalooza, only to be evacuated, only to return to watch Calvin Harris and "young" people make out. Oh, and we can't forget the Oreos and watching the Olympics. Overall, it was one of those weekends that makes you smile to think about.

My Dream Wedding Shoes... and How I Changed my Mind

You guys can probably remember me talking about some special Valentino shoes. Last time I talked to you guys about them, I told you that I wasn't going to get them. The time before that, I basically expressed my obsession and how I had to have the shoes, no ifs ands or buts about it. Needless to say, it has been a tumultuous ride for me and these Valentino dream machines. So I know what you are thinking... well? Did you get the stupid shoes? Well, yes I did.