December 2009
37 posts
4 tags
SWF seeks... brunch.
Our pals are in Pittsburgh for NYE festivities. This is actually the first NYE that my husband and I have stayed in Pittsburgh since we moved here 3 years ago. We’re really excited to be so close to home. We decided to go to brunch this morning, figuring most places would be closed tomorrow. After tossing around some walkable options, I suggested we hop in the car and head to...
4 tags
SWF seeks... errands.
This morning I partook in a little P90X (EXTREME) workout with my gal pal, Kim. “Two words: Recovery. Drink.” Seriously. The commentary alone is worth the strain. “Hold on to something. Couch. Stool. Chair. Brother. Sister. UNCLE.” Lots of guttural grunts and breathing. Comic genius. After the workout Kim thrust the Twilight dvd into my hands. THRUST I SAY! So I had to...
3 tags
SWF seeks... vintage.
When I was chatting with Nami Ogawa, we talked briefly about vintage stores in Pittsburgh. She suggested I visit Eons in Shadyside for some of the best vintage selection in the city. Boy oh boy she was right. The moment I walked in I was all smiles. I had no idea where to begin. So I went to the jewelry and worked my way around from there. I found two vintage Diane von Furstenberg dresses....
4 tags
SWF seeks... Steff.
I’m not typically a big fan of pink. It’s not that I hate it, it’s just simply not the color I tend to gravitate toward. But on occasion, I find something that I must have. Something that makes me want to watch Pretty In Pink, imagining myself as Andie in that record store or in that stable or at PROM. My stomach gets all fluttery just at the thought of this movie. I truly adored...
SWF seeks... consumerism.
My husband seized the opportunity he was offered to go to today’s Steelers game (and requisite pre-game) which left me to my own devices starting at 7:00 am. I spent the entire morning watching Arrested Development on Hulu, since I missed the series when it originally aired. After nine episodes, I figured it was time to knock the stink off and do some post-holiday shopping. I wanted to wear...
SWF seeks... QT with family.
The holidays were wonderful! I trust you enjoyed the time with your loved ones too. This was yesterday morning on our way to brunch with my family. YEAH Meadville Tribune! Trench: Banana Republic Leggings and socks: Hue from Macy’s Boots: BCBG Hat: Need Supply (Thanks to my parents-in-law!) Bag: Coach
6 tags
SWF seeks... untourists' tour.
Most people in my age bracket and younger only know South Side for one thing - its seemingly endless array of bars. While that’s all well and good, South Side has so much more to offer. It was a beautiful day so I walked about and took some shots of my favorite spots. While this post isn’t focused on clothes, it is focused on a couple of the things that contribute to South...
3 tags
SWF seeks... day off.
JUST LOOK!! Hello sun. How I’ve missed you. Thank you for choosing to come out on my day off. *muwah* I’m going to clean up this house of mine and then I’m off to capture some of my neighborhood’s beauty so stop back! Cardi: Banana Republic (Early Christmas gift from my husband. He has impeccable taste!) T-shirt: Marshall’s ($6) Jeans: Target ($22) Scarf &...
3 tags
SWF seeks... biz.
I’m going to lunch with a SWF reader to get to know each other and talk a little shop. That’s as good a time as any to look sharp. These are some of my favorite classic wardrobe pieces. I just got these tights last week and I’ve been dying to wear them. Aren’t they precious? The jacket is from a suit. I find myself wearing it without the pants more often than with. I...
4 tags
SWF seeks... mix up.
From far away it might look like I’m wearing all black. But get a little closer and you can see that is not quite the case. I wanted to try my hand at mixing up patterns. Remember how Mom always told you to never wear stripes with polka dots with florals with plaids? Believe it or not, all of those notions are antiquated. If you want to modernize your wardrobe, take a stab at mixing things...
7 tags
SWF seeks... Apartment.
I had walked by this sign several times on my way to yoga. I noticed how cool the graphics were and I peeked into the shop on the second floor, immediately deciding that there was no way I could afford the items within. They looked so intricate and unique and whenever you see one or two of something on a rack, it has to be expensive, right? I’m a dummy.
Apartment is the flagship store for...
3 tags
3 tags
SWF seeks... bunker.
The weatherman told me that we will be blanketed with 2-3 inches of cottony goodness this evening. Granted, he didn’t put it quite so delicately. I think it was more like, “We are so effed guys. Stock up on canned goods and water because winter’s wrath is about to reign down upon us.” Heh. I imagine the truth lies somewhere in between. It’s the perfect day for a...
4 tags
SWF seeks... no jive turkey.
I love this dress. It was my first and only purchase from Filene’s Basement at the Waterfront before it closed (RIP). The material falls nicely. I can also ball this thing up, throw it in a corner, and wear it 3 weeks later without ironing. GENIUS. I think the print whispers of a 70s vibe. I can dig that. Oh and… Look ma! No roots! I heart you Jay! Dress: BCBG from...
4 tags
SWF seeks... festivities.
First, let me apologize for the exceptionally bad lighting on these images. It’s so dark in the morning (not to mention SO COLD) that going outside is no good. And our house doesn’t exactly have studio quality lighting. But whatever. You get the idea! Our university holiday party was today. I wanted to be festive but to be honest, I didn’t feel like anything hanging in my closet...
5 tags
SWF seeks... secretary.
As in sexy secretary. Today’s outfit was inspired by one of my favorite love stories of all time, The Secretary. If you have not seen this movie, be warned. My idea of a love story and yours might not jive so well. This movie is a little demented. But at it’s core, it truly is about love. All I know is I would type James Spader’s memos ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. I guess you could also...
4 tags
SWF seeks... handmade.
Saturday was a fun day. I got to experience Pittsburgh’s Handmade Arcade for the first time. It was held at the Hunt Armory in Shadyside, which in and of itself was interesting. You see all of these amazing creations with huge military vehicles setting the scene behind them. The vendors themselves were brilliant. I tried to find one of my favorite tweeters, @suburose (Subu, Inc.) but...
4 tags
SWF seeks... a good start.
You know just as well as I do it’s Monday. It’s inevitable that Monday will always come after Sunday. And yet somehow every week I end up cursing Monday, as though I’m shocked at its arrival. So I started the day looking like this. When I saw the series of pictures that made me look so serious and sad, I thought back to Thursday. I was all shimmy shimmy for SWF seeks…...
9 tags
SWF seeks... Burgher.
Everything I do with my fashion is ripped off from something or someone else I’ve seen. Pittsburgh has a ton of chic women strutting around. I simply copy what they wear. Seeing how their style journey is a huge part of mine, I am planning to feature as many Burghers as I can find (who won’t be weirded out by a stranger asking about their clothes). Since I haven’t built up the...
4 tags
SWF seeks... photog.
Meet Beth. She usually looks like this… But this is what she really looks like.
Beth is my friend and she also happens to take photos. Really good photos. Beth was itching to practice and I was getting tired of the self-timer so we got together at 8 am in Lawrenceville yesterday for some fun “urban gritty” shots. It. Was. Cold. But it was a really good time too. Here is...
4 tags
SWF seeks... a sunny side.
Today I visited my dear friend and uber chic neighbor Kim who also happens to own a very stylish little business called Blue Tomato Design. I love the sign hanging on her house! Kim and I help each other with our respective South Side volunteer groups. Today, she and I were discussing ways to build out the Green N’at website. So our get-together was a little business but really it was...
3 tags
SWF seeks... floating holiday.
I took a random day off from work. That day is tomorrow. Which means today is not only Thursday, it’s my very own Super Special It’s Basically Friday Thursday. Ergo… I shimmy. I love weekends so much it hurts! Smoochie smoochie. Sweater & scarf: H&M Skirt: BCBG Tights: Macy’s Shoes: Nine West Belt: Free with another dress Headband: Jupe Boutique (PGH)...
4 tags
SWF seeks... no Thing.
Every girl has that Thing they hate about themselves. We do everything we can to conceal (what is oftentimes an imaginary) Thing, skipping over certain styles because we just know they will call attention to (what is oftentimes an imaginary) Thing. I always thought I would look horrible in high-waisted bottoms because I knew, without even trying them on, that they would accentuate my Thing. One...
3 tags
SWF seeks... feature. OH MY!
Oh the power of Facebook. Perusing Facebook this evening, as I normally do while winding down from the day, I see a new blog post from Jupe Boutique. “NEW BLOGS!!!!! CHECK THEM OUT! YOU MAY HAVE BEEN FEATURED…” You may have noticed in my daily outfits that I kinda have a style crush on Jupe. So I’m always curious to see who Jupe thinks is fancy. So imagine my surprise when...
5 tags
SWF seeks... Endor?
Come on, ENDOR! Remember the speeder bike scene with Luke and Leia chasing storm troopers, trying to keep the Rebel Alliance presence on Endor a secret? How about Ewoks? Do you remember Ewoks? Yeah. You do. Soak in Leia’s outfit for a minute. Photo courtesy of The Padawan’s Guide I purchased this big sweater on Sunday thinking I could belt it, giving it all sorts of interesting shape...
3 tags
SWF seeks... new deal.
Ever go shopping and find that one piece that you’re all giddy to wear. So giddy that you want to put it on immediately with every clothing combination tumbling around in your head? That was me yesterday. My innocent trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics for elastic, patches, and buttons turned into a holiday/personal shopping extravaganza. I hadn’t been to my favorite discount stores in a while and...
“You do not create a style. You work, and develop yourself; your style is an...”
– Katherine Anne Porter
3 tags
SWF seeks... cup o' tea.
This morning I had a little meeting for a volunteer group in the South Side (Green N’at). We decided to meet at a local coffee shop called Big Dog Coffee, which is absolutely adorable. They even have a place to tie up your dog outside. Just look!
The meeting was informal and when I stepped out the front door I was greeted with the first snowfall of the year. I’m not a fan of...
3 tags
SWF seeks... D2.
The first Friday of every month is D2, a very special day for me. D2 = Denim Day in the office. Denim is probably one of the greatest neutrals ever created. Quoting a 1969 writer for American Fabrics magazine, Levi Strauss & Co. Historian Lynn Downey says, “Denim is one of the world’s oldest fabrics, yet it remains eternally young.” The way you wear your denim could make you an...
5 tags
SWF seeks... virtual gal pal.
When I sent @fashionista0921 a direct message on Twitter, I was reaching out to a fellow blogger for whom I have much respect, to find out what she thought of my new endeavor. Outside of a couple of tweets, I had never spoken to Sarah before. Her response was so heart-warming and reassuring that I really felt good about the chance I was taking. Not only did Sarah offer me words of encouragement,...
3 tags
SWF seeks... blue skies.
It’s a dreary day in Pittsburgh, which is unintentionally reflected in my clothes. Maybe I can thrust my bejeweled fist in the air and demand the blue skies reveal themselves. Or maybe I can just take solace in knowing the weekend is forthcoming. Happy Thursday! Dress & Sweater: Fig Leaf (PGH) Belt: Express Scarf, Ring and Bracelet: Jupe Boutique (PGH) Tights: Hue from Macy’s...
1 tag
SWF seeks... revenge.
Lex Luthor to Superman. The Joker to Batman. Gargamel to The Smurfs. We all have our nemeses. Mine just happens to be poorly-laid Brick. Usually, Brick reaches out and grabs my feet, wrenching me from my thoughts and more often than not gnashing my defenseless heels to shreds. Brick never brings that fight to me directly. No sir. Because Brick knows what would happen. Like a sledgehammer to the...
3 tags
SWF seeks... project.
I had the pleasure of exploring the great city of Chicago with some very dear friends last November. The quantity and quality of vintage stores there is overwhelming. If it hadn’t been so close to Christmas, (you know, that time of year when you are supposed to take great joy in giving to others) I would have gone a little bonkers. Instead, I stayed conservative and promised to purchase just...
4 tags
SWF seeks... silver.
Some days I just do not want to think about what I’m wearing. Thankfully, black, white and grey always come to my rescue. Fun cuts (like the swing in this jacket) and unexpected details (like buttons down the back of your cotton tee) can be just enough. And if someone asks if you’re bringing Kris Kross back, just give them a coy smirk and let ‘em watch your backwards shirt walk...
“Oh, never mind the fashion. When one has a style of one’s own, it is...”
– Margaret Oliphant
SWF seeks... project.
I’ve been sewing since I was 6 years old but my talents ended abruptly at hemming, scrunchies and pillows. HEY. Scrunchies were NERDars really cool back then! Regardless, I’ve been itching to expand upon my basic abilities so I asked my mentor/mother for my very own sewing machine. Enter the Brother CS-6000. Oh, Brother has been very good to me. In return, I will use him more. Thanks...
2 tags
SWF seeks... color.
I work in higher ed so I can have a little fun with color. But I’m still a professional and I need to keep the goods relatively modest. I picked up this amazing dress over the summer at an adorable store in Shady Side called Francesca’s. The price-point is more than reasonable. There is just enough funk to push the boundaries and enough class to make it last. Plus, there are so many...