Frumpy Chic

I am all for a less "put together" look, but there are days where I feel down-right Frumpy, with a capital F. The other day I wore slippers and jeans to work, no hair do, no make up. I was so ill, and Mr. R, bless his heart said I looked cute... "Frumpy chic". Which led me down the fashion imagination path. Is there such a thing? Would it indeed include slippers and a hoodie? Probably not... But I found some "frumpy chic" looks I thought I'd share.

Kate Hudson in a very layered hippie look I adore it, would have been better with a looser hair style...

Eva Mendes in a dress that would have looked good if she didn't have such a magnificent chest... great print and great heels, bad neckline? The guys behind her still look pleased :)

This is my favorite! I want this dress and the height to be able to wear it! Some one said that it looked like she had two saddle bags on her hips, I think the drape of this dress is grand!

This is Lily Cole, she was a model for Rimmel for a long time and then she was "Scrumpy" in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. She was honestly my first thought when I heard frumpy chic only because I am in love with gypsy hippie fashion and that movie was visually and fashionably amazing and, well... her character's nickname rhymes with frumpy. Any way, I love this dress, loose and flowy and a great print. I would have gone for a different shoe. It really does make all the difference.

This is not the kind of frumpy we were going for. Nicole Kidman in The Hours... stringy hair, flour sack dress, and a cigarette... not chic. (I bet she's even got slippers on)

So what do you think? Can there be a frumpy chic?

Looking forward to spring already?

I am hoping the weather in New Mexico holds out like it has been so I can don these looks now instead of waiting until April...

I love these brown pants...

Flowey dress and big chunky sweaters are my fall uniform.

Socks and peep toes. I'm still not sure how to wear this. This is some inspiration.

Add some tights and a sweater and its winter wear!

...See!

This is my personal favorite.

I love the mix of floral print and different size stripes.

All photos: Club Monaco Cali-Spring lookbook via refinery29

Monday Rant....

I have to start the week off with a rant about a certain frustration I found this weekend.

Now you all know my love for Mary Kate and Ashley and their high end line Elizabeth and James. This weekend I came across a video of their appearance on Good Morning America promoting their new line called Olsenboye that is available at JCPenney's. I know... I know... what a name, right? And then... they brought out the models.... it was awful. AWFUL I tell you! I know it is a juniors line, but cripes! it was like a bad day at the lake from when I was fifteen. And what is with the 'boyfriend' clothes? Gertie brought my attention to another article concerning that, but I digress.

Now in the video I watched there was only four outfits and I did find the little blazer to be nice if only in shape. The color really leaves something to be desired and the little crest is a cheap little pin that looked like it was about to fall off...




So I went to do a little research of my own. I drug my hubby to the local mall too see if the line was already available and I had just been living under a rock (which I had..). Low and behold there it was... in all of its teen-agey glory. It was so awful I wanted to cry... bright pink bubble dresses, ripped 'boyfriend' jeans and shorts, faded jean jackets, cropped graphic tees...



All of this from girls, nay, women with more creativity and taste (let us not forget connections also) than I could hope to have in a life time.

Now I know I'm trashing on this line, when honestly this is quite fashionable and accessible to young teen girls. I will say that the shoes were something I would consider wearing...




but they were made by Steve Madden... (cheaters) Now, I just wish they would make an affordable line more accessible to the twenty something women who need to look fashionable at the work place and don't have the nine hundred dollars to be spending on a fitted blazer or three hundred dollars for a cardigan. Give me Elizabeth and James for a fraction of the cost, I guess is what I'm asking. I will even sail the sea of sale racks at my local JCP to do it...



oh MKA... Why have you forsaken me!?!?

I dream in high fashion…

Dior. That is all ladies and gentlemen… Love in one word.


I was looking over the Spring 2010 slide show and as always Galliano delivers the most opulent and drool worthy couture. The first set, in my humble opinion, was by far and away the best. Equestrienne, meets dominatrix… sigh.







AMAZING!

I will say the second set was a little to whimsical for my tastes. Frills and lace are all well and good, but this is too much for me to swallow.



This yellow dress is so cute though, with the little ankle booties. It makes me want to sip tea and ride down a river boat… See? Whimsy.







But I will tell you that when I saw the last set of gowns that undoubtedly weigh a metric ton, I audibly gasped. This gown is what I dreamed of for my wedding. If I had millions I would buy this dress and get married to my husband over and over wearing it…






Dior. That is all ladies and gentlemen.

Pillow Talk

Hi all! Broke Girl here, with a blog that is not about sewing! Although it is mildly related to fashion and definitely related to vintage.

Since my mother-in-law no longer has a VCR, she gave us a box of VHS movies she had taking up space in her closet. Yay! For free entertainment! So as we were going through them I noticed that most of them were cheesy rom/coms from the 80s and 90s, but there were a select few that were from the 50s (the movies, not the tapes, obviously) and I have been watching and rewinding one every weekend since. That wonderful movie my friends is Pillow Talk with Dorris Day and Rock Hudson ::swoon::



In the delightful romantic comedy "Day is an uptight interior decorator forced to share a party line with an amorous playboy who ties up the line with his exploits while she is trying to conduct business."



I can't even imagine having to share a phone line with a neighbor! I don't even share one with my husband!



Anyway, they accidentally meet and he is taken with her beauty, but has to pretend to be someone else, other than the other half of her intolerable party line. And let the hilarity and romance ensue!



There is something about classic movies that just makes me feel like I don't want to live in this day and age. The humor of these movies is the best example of why that is. These movies are clever and they are humorous with out having to be crass or rude. While others may feel that they are cheesy and out dated, I feel they are just wonderful. Not to mention, they are just amazing to watch if only for the fashions of the day.









Pillow Talk "features Miss Day in twenty-four ultra-chic ensembles from Jean Louis and over $500,000 in jewelry borrowed from Laykin et Cie." Which makes this movies one of my new all time favorites! I mean, who couldn't love pretty clothes, clever humor, and six foot six of one of the most handsome men ever to grace the silver screen. My hubby's grandmother refused to believe he was gay until the day she died. And I think I too shall live with this delusion! He's dead so it's not like I even have a chance anyway… If only more men and fashion were like they were in 1950's movies...

The Broke Girl's Guide

More time at home has prompted me to start thinking a little more creatively. And remember I have a blog for that very purpose....

So this summer's agenda: The Broke Girl's Guide to Looking Like She's Not.

Today's tip:

- Learn to sew.


Go to the fabric store and riffle through the pattern books, find one you like, look at it very closely. If it seems easy, (i.e. it doesn't have 23 pattern pieces, lapels, buttons, lots of detail) buy it. Patterns are sometimes on sale for $1 each! Just make sure you get the right size so measure yourself first because they aren't returnable. Keep in mind sewing sizes are not store bought sizes. Next go to the clearance fabric section and pick a fabric. You can get some fabrics as cheap as two dollars a yard.

Learning to sew takes time and the first ten things you make you may or may not want to wear outside your house, but practice and you'll be making wonderful pieces in no time.

Being a self taught seamstress I will tell you that you must follow all directions on a pattern to the letter, even if they make absolutely no sense to you. Once they start making sense and all your items are turning out great, you can move on to design your own pieces.

It feels amazing to get a compliment on something you made and then see the look of amazement on that person's face when you say, "Oh thank you! I made this!" And to know that no one else has that exact piece and you probably spent way less money on it.

The great thing about sewing is you get so much more out of it than just an article of clothing. You get clothing that you love everything about because you chose everything AND you get a hobby.