This is why we can't have nice things...

The thought of having to use what I already own to actually get dressed up was something I was half dreading, and half looking forward to. I have a whole bunch of fancy crap in my closet that almost never gets worn, and some certain items I've literally never worn. I just always revert back into whatever outfit makes me most comfortable, and even though I like getting fancy, I would always rather feel underdressed than overdressed.

So when my friend Kate invited me to a semi-formal event for her boyfriends gaming company, I was super excited to try and find something original in my closet. I was only slightly tempted to raid my fabulous roommate's collection of nice things, but thought I ought to play dress up on my own for this.

Part of the reason I have SO much stuff is because I buy so much CHEAP stuff. One of my jobs is as a nanny, so I'm constantly getting marker, sauce, and bodily functions of all kinds on my things. I also can't really afford nicer things on a poor starving art student income, and thus I am the antithesis of a [former] fashion student shopping at Forever 21. I've also had in my possession my mom's Gap credit card (thanks mom!) (sorry mom!) with a seemingly flexible limit.


After a little while playing dress up (my FAVORITE pastime) I decided to go with a sleek and sophisticated look. A black pencil skirt and a black top that I modified a little to make it a tiny bit sexier. It was not too flashy, and I still felt like myself, ready to take on the Nerd Convention with my tall, leggy, blonde counterpart.

About 2 and a half drinks into the open-bar event, Kate and I excused ourselves to the ladies room. The skirt I was wearing was tight enough to keep me feeling skinny as I continued to imbibe, and let's face it I was really pushing it trying to fit in to it in the first place. I remained as calm as possible when I realized that getting me back into my skirt would be a two person job.

Kate was awfully determined to fix this skirt, and we laughed as passersby watched us struggle. Ultimately, it was a fancy outfit fail, but I'd consumed enough wine that I played it off like nothing was wrong. The best part about it was the extra inch or so it gave me to enjoy a piece of cake.

I don't have nice things because I don't take enough care or attention to the details, and then this happens. When I start buying clothes again, if anything I'll be more considerate of my purchasing, and I'll definitely check the zippers more than once.

Moral of the story, always have a friend on hand to get you back in your clothes and back out to the party. Sadly, Kate is leaving me and San Francisco behind to follow her dreams in Texas, and I suddenly feel like I didn't take full advantage of having a friend taller than me while we were here together. I'll miss you Kate!

Make Up your mind

This week I learned that the impulse shopper in me isn't dead. Neither is the fiscally irresponsible persona I'm trying desperately to shake. I decided to stop shopping for clothing, accessories, and bags, but I didn't put a limit on things like make up and essential items like socks, underwear, etc. But the line of necessity is thin and when you start to think that new leggings are an "essential" item, it is a slippery slope. 

As for make up,  well I'm not going to live like a total barbarian in 2012. Having no limits with my make up allows me to dress up the boring stuff. I'm a big fan of brightly painted lips with a really basic outfit. But herein lies my financial issue, my make up habit is not cheap. I am all about drug store stuff for some things, but for others, department store quality is just non-negotiable. And that can get expensive.

So this week I was in need of new concealer and I waited patiently until payday to go to the MAC counter and grab a couple of things. I wasn't going to splurge, but I decided to pick up a new lipgloss because I'm a sucker and I'm easily sold sometimes. I tricked myself to think I deserved a little treat. That's why I have so much stupid clothing. It was all a reward for something I never really did. 

I had that lipgloss in my possession for no more than 3 hours before it was gone. History. Escaped from my purse and sacrificed to the wild streets of San Francisco. Twenty precious pay day dollars metaphorically ripped to shreds. My heart actually hurt a little bit when I realized it was gone. I had applied it just moments before I frantically ran myself to the bus stop. 

The truthful words of a coworker didn't help the sting "that's what you get for spending twenty dollars on lipgloss". He was right, but as a straight male, he doesn't get it so he doesn't get to say things like that.

I didn't think before I shopped. I was impulsive, and I was punished. And I'm so mad about it.

Pinspiration

If you haven't at least heard of Pinterest yet, you've probably been living under a rock or you are a dumb boy, and in that case I am wondering why you are reading about my shopping woes. But never mind that. Pinterest has sucked me in and there is simply no looking back now. It satisfies palettes of all kinds. Whether you are looking to share DIY tricks, trendy outfits you like, or ideas for decorating your dream home, there is just something about Pinterest that everyone can appreciate.  It's a mecca for all things visually appealing, it is indulging my inner blogger, and it's sort of changing my life a little bit.

The concept of an online dream/mood/vision board (whatever you choose to call it) is exactly what I needed to make this blog project work. It's such a process to get myself involved and focused, and Pinterest helps me take those baby steps of getting my thoughts organized. The just-right combination of clean lines and easy to read font, paired with a plethora of beautiful photos stimulates my creative brain, and things just work. My main goal when I'm perusing the selected boards I am following is to find outfit inspiration based on items I have in my closet, or might be able to recreate using something else. 


Making do with what I have, and getting creative with my wardrobe are what all this is about in 2012. Pinterest helps me decide how to pair certain things in ways I didn't think of before. This is great because lately, at any given moment, you could find me in my room staring at the floor with my hands in my face repeating "I hate my clothes. I hate my clothes. I hate my clothes." 

And I really mean it. I hate my clothes.


So, I've been making it a point to try and recreate a look at least once a week, and this happens to coincide superbly with my goal to wear heels more often. If you pay any attention to the best looks on Pinterest you understand that outfits just look better when paired with heels. It's a fact. I'm all about looking my best these days. So I will now formally declare a once a week Pinspiration post. I can't promise to be all that creative, but I do hope you enjoy it.

You can follow me on Pinterest here.

Check out my Steal This Look board and leave a comment on a look you'd like to see me try and pull off!