everybody is ugly

5 comments

Jan 06, 2009

Ok, confession time. However big a fan I am of looking sharp and manicured and stomping out the house in four inch stilettos and sculptural jackets—sometimes you’ve just got to chill out and do like Shontelle and just curl up with some Hanes.

In my case, I’m curling up this evening with my favorite Uniqlo tee with a print of Keith Haring and an evening of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. I’m sure these two men weren’t the dudes that Shontelle has in mind in that T-shirt song she sings (I’ll find it to post below), but whatever. It’s just ME DOIN ME.

Also, these lyrics are basically the story of my life:

Gonna be late, gonna be late but,
All my girls gonna have to wait cause,
I don’t know if i like my outfit.
i tried everything in my closet.

Sigh.

Embedding’s been disabled, but watch it here

And her new album? Get this: Shontelligence (SUCH A GOOD PUN).

34 comments

Dec 28, 2008

If you’re a thrifty shopper like me, then you’ll definitely appreciate the crazy sales that are going on right now. If you’re going to these sales at your local mall or shopping center, be sure to allocate enough time to shop because you’re going to have to dig if you want to get the good stuff.

I just bought the black sweater cape in the picture from H&M for only FIFTEEN DOLLARS! I saw a few coats and a bunch of sweaters on sale 70%. Zara also has a pretty good sale going on and it seems like most of the store is discounted. Their selection of sale coats (and a few capes!) is quite impressive and I’d suggest checking out their boots as well.

As for online shopping, a lot of the big department store sites (Saks, Barneys, Bergdorfs, etc.) are also carrying designer items that are 60%-70% so if you’re looking to splurge, now’s the time! I definitely took advantage of that and am currently waiting for a special little package to arrive from Barneys (I’m keeping what it is a surprise for now). If you have the time, look thoroughly through everything that’s on sale and maybe you’ll find something you’ve been coveting for a while. I know I just did ;D

I am currently in the LA area which means I’m at Old Town Pasadena almost every day. If anyone wants to go shopping with me, don’t hesitate to ask! I love dressing people up :)

xoxo,
annabel

p.s.
Ignore the fact that I can’t keep my eyes open in the pictures _

4 comments

Dec 08, 2008

A cursory look around style sites brings about one inescapable conclusion – the tuxedo is said to be back. The Sartorialist advocates wearing the jacket tight and small over a t-shirt with jeans, but that got me to thinking that the tuxedo jacket is a far too versatile piece for only one look. Over the next few weeks I’ll post a few more ways you can wear one.

This week is the crazy old man, and I use crazy here in the most affectionate way. Ever notice how effortlessly layered most old men are, while the younger folk seem utterly bamboozled by the concept? Here I throw a slouchy Lacoste cardigan under it, and pair that again with a wool striped tie. Textured, chunky, and warm – clearly I like my drinks straight and my politics sensible.

26 comments

Dec 15, 2008

Queuing for fashion is a peculiar business but it’s also a great leveller. For once, money can’t guarantee access to the best stuff. You have to wait in line, in the cold, with a hangover.

Sometimes – like at the Angels Vintage Sale – a three hour wait can result in nothing better than you’d find in the local thrift store. But sometimes getting up a little early can be worth it. At the Comme des Garcons for H&M launch a 8:30am arrival meant I had some choice out what was on offer. But it wasn’t completely civilized.

When shopping at events like these, the fact is you need to grab. But grab politely and with digity. Whilst others were elbowing each other violently to find the prize pieces I went about calmly picking up any of the jackets in a smallish size then editing it down later. And before long I had a armful of stuff and was met with a much quieter shop floor. Most people seemed to get in and out extremely quickly, presumably heading off to work afterwards after as I did myself.

Walking away with two jackets and a shirt, I was happy that the die-hards and eBay sellers had prevented me from even catching a glimpse of the £199 frock coat. I spent that money in a sample sale the following week.

Did anyone else strike it lucky at CDGxH&M? I’d love to see…

10 comments

Dec 02, 2008

Hey Uglies,
I’m super excited to introduce our newest TeenUgly contributing writer and one of my favorite Chictopians, QueenElizabeth. Not only is she super cute but she’s got beauty and brains and that in itself is pretty damn chic. So anyway, here’s her guide to raiding your parents closet…and the fact that she lives at home makes her practically a pro.
xoJuliana
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Being a teenager means living with your parents – a fact that sets us apart from (the majority of) adults, and sometimes has an influence on the way we dress. Living at home can mean having less freedom, but it also has an unexpected benefit: the ability to borrow clothing from your parents. You’d be surprised at some of the things they have lying in the back of their closets, and borrowing clothes from your mom or dad can be a great way to add to your wardrobe. Here are some tips on adapting your parents’ old clothes to your own style.

What To Expect

Simply asking “Hey Mom/Dad, do you have any clothing you don’t wear anymore that I could have?” can yield some unexpected results. Even if your parents wear bland, boring office-wear every day, you can probably still find some interesting pieces that they’ll lend you. As an example of what you might find, I’ve borrowed silk blouses, printed scarves, and big, crazy earrings from my mom, most of which were from when she was younger. A trip to your dad’s closet (with permission, of course!) might lead to finds such as oversized sweaters, plaid shirts, and even neckties if you feel like going for a menswear-ish look. And you never know what kind of gems your parents might have lying around. In my case, those gems include a purple Christian Dior coat and a mink bow tie!

Keeping It Modern

A lot of the things I’ve gotten from my parents are from the 80’s, and it’s really easy to look dated in these clothes if you’re not careful. To make these pieces look more modern, try wearing them in different pairings or in different ways than they were meant to be worn. This shoulder-padded blouse can look cool and relaxed with jeans and tons of necklaces, or Victorian when worn backwards with a high-waisted skirt. Neither one of these outfits screams “80’s”, while wearing the top with a pencil skirt, big earrings and pearls practically begs for turquoise eyeshadow and a bad perm. (What not to do, picture 3.)

Make it more youthful

Along those lines, it’s possible to look frumpy in your parents’ clothes, since (obviously) they were made for adults. Although this purple dress has a great 40’s shape, leaving it at its current length would have made it too old-looking for everyday wear. An easy way to fix this is to belt dresses and hike up skirts to make them shorter, or (if your parents let you) hem them for a neater look.

And remember, ask nicely!

There might be some things your parents might not want you to wear – in which case, be respectful and acknowledge that. (After all, you are still living under their roof.) But in all likelihood, your parents have clothing that they’ve stopped wearing long ago and would be more than happy to give to you. So good luck, and happy closet-raiding!

3 comments

Jan 06, 2009

Remember Taghrid? One of our first style icons here at Chictopia, and the designer of the fabulous line Nashua, has offered this beautiful pin to one lucky Chictopian.

This brooch is handmade of fine gold bullion thread and luscious red velvet. It easily adds a personal touch to any outfit. Attaches with a butterfly clutch pin back.

Here is a photo of Taghrid modeling her own work.

 

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