Tall City Chick

I love food.  I mean, this tall girl can eat!  I wouldn't call myself a foodie because I don't really know the names, technicalities or composition of food.  I just know that if it tastes good, I love it and consume a lot of it.

With that said, anytime I get a chance to go to brunch, I sprint.  The other day was no different.  My girls called me up and before they could even get the 'b' of brunch out, I was in this outfit and on my way.  You see how fast I am walking across that city street?  It's not because of the cars. No. It's because I know an all you can eat brunch is waiting for me on the other side.

Now, I know me, so I wore a comfy very forgiving dress to the brunch (it's also a very versatile dress that you can dress up or down).  I didn't want it to be too dressy but I also didn't want to look frumpy so I chose to give it a little edge with my Mom's denim vest from the 60's (her closet is one of my favorite places to shop), my go-to peep toe booties and rockeresque accessories.  But honestly, above all, I chose this because it was easy to pick out, put on and would get me to the food faster.

Brunch was delish and I felt cute while I was stuffing my face. Winning!

Dress - Long Tall Sally (It's on sale for $49 right now). Denim vest - Free99 from Mom's closet. Sunglasses - Forever 21. Clutch - Candies. Shoes - Nine West. Bracelets - H&M

Photo credit: Doug-Ho (HkoPhoto)

Tall Adventures in Sewing: part dos

So I love my sewing class.  I am actually shocked because it's WAY more tedious than I thought and takes patience.  I really don't have that (work in progress), so the fact that I am still enamoured with the action of sewing is a big deal for me (patting myself on the back).

I picked out a pattern and fabric, both of which I love.  What I didn't love was the $28 ticket the parking police gave me in front of the fabric store for not having a license plate on the front of my car. Needless to say the Berkeley parking department is on my list of people to throw eggs at.

THE PATTERN. I went easy, less than 6 pieces and threw in a little 'peplumesk' flare just because.THE FABRIC. I opted for polka dots. One of my timeless favs. S/O to the lady at the fabric store who told me polka dots were 'so out.' Even though I really don't remember a time in life when polka dots were out, you are a fashion genius (sarcastic.com). Next time keep your unsolicited comment to yourself. Please and thank you.Now, back to the task as hand. After selecting the pattern and the fabric, you cut out the appropriate pieces for the style you are going to make.  Highlight your size, iron the fabric and the pattern (make sure you lower the setting for the fabric pieces. Burnt pattern pieces are no bueno), pin it and cut the pieces out.

FIND THEM. Cut the pieces out that are appropriate to your piece. No, you don't have to guess. Your directions tell you which ones to cut out silly.

LAY IT OUT. This is also shown in the directions as well as by the little arrows on the pieces themselves. Word to the wise. Make sure you lay all of your pieces out before you pin them. That way you know if you have enough fabric.

PIN AND CUT. No explanation. Just do it:)Well, after class 2, that is where I'm at. Next class, SEWING!!! I can't wait to put it together. I forecast a little cursing and maybe sewing some things backwards.  Of course I will share the good, bad and the ugly (ugly is going a little far, but I would mess up the saying if I left it out).

Any tips before my next class?

High 5

I woke up this morning to chilly weather.  What!?! It's not time. But then I stopped. Thought for a second (which is always hard for me to do in the morning) and realized that really, it's not that far away. 

I immediately went into fanic mode (aka fashion, panic mode).  What if I already missed out on key items for the season? OK...so I overreacted (as I often do).  A lot of places haven't released their full fall lines yet however there are five inspirations that I'm diggin right now and will be picking up soon.

Wanna hear it, here it go...

1.  KEEP IT ON POINT.  The pointy heel is a must have this fall.  Personally, I have a ton of these in my closet already however I just might have to purchase one of these beauties (or all 3. It's a sickness).

From top to bottom. NINE WEST MARTINA at NineWest. $89. Up to size 12. AURORA CAP TOE PUMP at Payless. $54.99. Up to size 13. NINE WEST BLONSKY at PiperLime. $85. Up to size 12.

 2. PEP IT UP. If I didn't love shoes so much, the peplum would be my number one pick for fall.  So feminine, so flattering, so fun.  Whenever I wear a peplum I just want to frolic.  Not always appropriate, especially when in a business meeting, but sometimes you just have to frolic no matter what is going on.

From left to right (by the way NEVER wear two peplums together. Thank you for that). TALL PEPLUM JERSEY TOP at Long Tall Sally. $69. Sizes 6-18. TALL SCUBA PEPLUM SKIRT at TopShop. $68. Sizes 4-10.

3. RUFF EDGES. Ruffles and high collars will be everywhere this fall.  I love me a good ruffle.  I actually used to wear too many ruffles.  I was walking around looking like a decorated cake.  I'm happy to report that I have harnessed how to properly wear them and will do so this fall.

From left to right. ELEGANT RUFFLE BLOUSE at Long Elegant Legs. $79. Sizes S-XXL. FITTED BOYFRIEND CHAMBRAY RUFFLE SHIRT at Gap. $54.95. Sizes M-XL.

4.  LACE EM UP. I heart boots and I am so excited that boots with laces are on the radar for fall.  High, low, bootie or over the knee, no matter what type...get em with laces.

Top to bottom. KELSI DAGGER MATE BOOT at Barefoot Tess. $181. Sizes 11-14. TOMS DESERT BOOTIE at Nordstrom. $88.95. Sizes 5-12.

5. LEGGY AND LOUD. This season you will see all kinds of loud legs.  Pants in color and pattern will be worn everywhere.  Remember, with a loud pant you can make everything else simple. Don't be a victim of too many trends going on at once.

From left to right. HEATHER SKINNY JEAN IN MAGENTA at Height Goddess. $129. Sizes 26-33. Inseams 37" and 39". TALL MARISA DOT PRINT STRAIGHT LEG PANTS at LOFT. $69.50. Sizes 2-18. 34.5" inseam. TALL MODERN SKINNY COURUROYS IN FLORAL SCROLLS PRINT at LOFT. $69.50. Sizes 25-34 in a 34" inseam.

Tall Adventures in Sewing

I started my sewing classes at Better Living Through Sewing and they are SEW fun:)  Now that I got that corny line out of my system, let me tell you about my first Tall Adventure in Sewing...

There are so many points of inspiration throughout the room where the classes are held. Love this!Picture it, a room full of people, sewing machines, lots of thread and absolutely no clue of what to do with it all. Well, at least I didn't.  After learning the technical terms of sewing (which has enhanced my viewing pleasure of Project Runway ten fold), I was fumbling with all of the sewing machine parts, needles and bobbins the moment I sat in my chair. 

This is the instructor Diana. Also known as the 'amazing Diana'. She's been sewing since she was 9 and is on team tall. She's my sewing hero. Although wide eyed and eager to get my creative on, my hands just couldn't thread the machine!  Let me tell you, getting that machiene threaded is half the battle.  Thanks to the amazing Diana and a great classmate (who might I add gets the Amazing Dad award because he is in the class to learn how to sew clothes for his kids), I got the machine threaded and was on my way to sewing my first seam.

Meet Betty White. She's what I'm learning on. She's been through a lot (her foot and base kept falling off) BUT her year's of knowledge can only make my experience better:)We started off with something simple (thank goodness).  A folded piece of muslin (a light cotton generally used to test fit a garment before making it) was placed in front of us.  We were shown how to properly pin and press it and then it was time for what I like to call THE FIRST BIG SEW.  So I lined it up with the amazing marks already provided (very important) and was off.  I pushed that foot pedal down and held my breath for all of the 20 seconds it took me to sew my first seam....wait for it...wait for it...

She's absolutely amazing isn't she!?!  I am so proud and have been continually patting myself on the back ever since.  OK, so she's no couture gown or anything BUT she's the first step to what I hope is a long sewing journey.

Now for the bad news. Let me introduce you to this terrible book...

This thing had the nerve to tell me that I am a size 18.  The audacity!  Excuse me book, but I have always been a 10-12 so I reject your size 18 assessment.  But again, the amazing Diana saved the day and explained that although sizes have changed in the stores over the years, pattern sizes have not.  Thus, the 18's of yesteryear are our 10-12's of today.  It made me feel better, but I'm still a little salty at the book.  I might have some words with it at the next class.

At the end of the first class, I emerged with my first sew, a ton of knowledge and a mission for some fabric, a freakin SIZE 18 pattern and the notions to go with it (Notions: A variety of small objects or accessories. Notions can include items that are sewn or otherwise attached to a finished article, such as buttons, snaps and/or collar stays. Thanks Wikipedia).

So, the next Tall Adventure in Sewing will be cutting the garment.  What did I pick?  Wouldn't you like to know. Stay tuned.  I for one can't wait to get my sew on.  It's going to be SEW fab (I started with one and thought I might as well end with one too:)!

Neon Summer

I love fashion.  Certain garments just do something to me.  You fellow fashion mavens know exactly what I mean. BUT there are some days where it is so unbelievably hot, that I don't want to wear anything. HOWEVER I would be arrested walking around in public in the buff.  I can just see the headline, "Tall Girl Naked and Cuffed." I think we can all agree that this is something we would never want to see published about ourselves or others.

Thus, I take a smarter approach and find clothes that breathe.  That's why, when I found this asymmetrical, sheer, neon tank, buying it was a no brainer.  It's a simple piece, that makes a statement (gotta love a garment that contradicts itself). Also, it's shape yields to wear just a bandeau top underneath which further makes a hot girl, cool. Score.

I paired it with some cut off denim shorts (made by moi), some tribal inspired frosting, silver sandals from Payless and a handbag turned clutch (I just snipped off the strap) that I found at the Salvation Army for $3.99.

There you have it.  My 'stay cool when it's hot without running around naked' look.  How do you stay cool on a hot day?

Yes. My toes are long. I accept and embrace my tall piggies. Without them, I would be the tall girl with really small feet who falls down all the time. Not a good look.

Shirt/Bandeau top/Bracelet - Collage Clothing Lounge. Shorts - Free99 Cutoffs. Earrings - Charlotte Russe. Clutch - Thrifted. Sandals - Payless.

Photo credit: Doug-Ho (HkoPhoto)

Wedding Bells

For some reason I have become a professional wedding guest.  I go to so many weddings that I have the standard vows memorized, I know which caterers you should and should not use and every pastor knows me by my first name. I also know which songs get the crowd going and am considering a side job as a wedding DJ. DJ TallSWAG sounds amazing.  Of course, most of this isn’t true but you get my point. I go to a lot of freakin weddings. 

This is my most recent wedding guest ensemble.  It was an outdoor/indoor wedding.  I searched forever for an asymmetrical dress that didn’t creep up so high in the front that I would pull a Britney. You will never guess where I found it…TARGET! I got the earrings there too. You gotta love a place where you can pick-up bananas, eye shadow, pillow cases and a dress that is actually fashionable in the same spot. Score.

I threw my hair in a messy side bun (not a pony, but I still think Andy Cohen would be proud), put on some neutral payless sandals, a Forever21 cuff, threw my keys, lip gloss and ID into my H&M clutch and was off to my 1,047^th wedding (again, not true but certainly reiterates my point).

What did you rock to your last wedding?

*Please excuse the mini afro puff at the nape of my neck. Somehow it made it past the flat iron.

Dress and earrings - Target/Cuff - H&M/Shoes - Payless (size 12)/Clutch - H&M

Photo credit: Kate Bowyer (YBowyer Photography)