style # 2 : winter braids

I really love it when the weather starts to turn cold, and there's reason to wrap up in scarves and cozy coats.  I don't love the more complicated part of that outfit equation, when your long hair goes crazy in that tangle of fabric.  If I wear my hair down in the winter it more often than not turns into a kind of static-y mess, so you'll likely see it woven up in a braid.  These are a few of my favorites - i.e. ones I've actually managed to accomplish.  Braids are such a pretty way to frame your face, and as you can see in the top left picture they compliment the season's burgundy lip as a Russian inspired nod to opulence for everyday.  

I fully plan to do a few tutorial videos on some of these when I get around to it!  Most of them are less complicated than they look - much faster than a usual blowout.  

the happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything

Whoa - an outfit post? Yeah, I know, you had probably all completely forgotten this used to be a personal style blog. Due to our recent move I've only spent money on things for the house lately (plus I've lost quite a bit of weight...and buying clothes that will only fit you for a few weeks is no fun). But yesterday I got the itch to make a few additions to my wardrobe.

Darrell's new job has him working some funny hours, which is sometimes fantastic, and other times leaves me to my own devices for hours. At first I was a little at a loss with what to do, but lately I've been channeling some of that restless energy into yoga & my summer reading list (maybe next post?)

It's too hot to wear my hair down at this point, so I'm trying to get creative with ways to put it up, and I managed an upside-down french braided bun today. Not the best picture - it's courtesy of my iPhone camera - but I think I'll be wearing my hair like this a LOT. It adds a little interest to my standard topknot.

all clothes: forever21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

small.victories

So, today is a big day for me. I completed a personal goal today. You see...I love braids. Yes, prepare yourselves, all guy friends reading this - I'm about to get incredibly girly.

I grew my hair out so that I could wear more braids. French braids, Heidi braids, braided buns, my own hair braided and pinned across as a headband, long side braids, you name it. I must've braided ten strangers' hair at Bonnaroo (music festival) this past year, and I literally plan to hang a sign offering to braid hair for $5 on my tent his year. But try as I might, I could not make a damn fishtail braid. My hair would end up a tangled mess after 10 or so tries and I would storm out of the bathroom with a topknot bun. So today, when I was reading the Free People blog and they were gushing over Sasha Pivarova's pretty fishtail braid from their April catalog, I was just irritated by it - until I watched their video tutorial, in which a woman completes a long fishtail braid with only two hands! And here I thought you needed five.

It's like magic. Here's to small victories.

i'm wearing: top-forever21, jeans-gap1969, moccasins-minnetonka, jewelry-lowluv&forever21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse