Adrien: Better Last Year.

I've worn this Old Navy dress several times on the blog and it's starting to look a little sad in person. I think my favorite striped-dress outfit was this one last August. I didn't really do much with it this day, but it was hot as balls, so I didn't care:

 

Stella loves a good photo-bomb:

dress: Old Navy (similar)

shoes: Frye Iris (similar)

bag: Louis Vuitton (similar)

Marianne: Shiny.

Honestly, I was going to skip posting this one. Or I was going to crop my head out of it. Because frankly, I am having Head Issues. But then I had camera problems last week and lost almost a week's worth of outfits and FINE. Here is my shiny, shiny head. The very head that spurred me to buy some new makeup this weekend.

The outfit is unremarkable. nothing new (though nothing I've worn together as of yet, either). Your basic pretty dress + denim jacket + clogs. And a shiny, shiny face.
jacket: Gap (similar cut here)

dress: LOFT (another cute LOFT floral dress here)

shoes: Miz Mooz Rain Clogs

face: so shiny

Girlfriend Chinos.

A: It's my Special Rage Time and this just made me laugh and laugh:

source: The Sartorialist

M: Adrien, be nice to my new boyfriend. He's very sensitive.

A: Right, but he's wearing your Cropped Boyfriend Chinos. The name is confusing him.

M: Wearing my clothes helps him feel closer to me. At least that's what he tells me when I catch him wearing my underwear.

A: What did he tell you when you caught him with that bowl on his head? You could've stopped that haircut, dude.

M: I don't want to make him cry again. God, with the crying.

A: Maybe he's crying because you let him go out of the house like that?

M: I couldn't wait for him to leave. It gives me a chance to pack. Did I mention the crying?

A: So, what does he have in that briefcase? Not briefs, I'm guessing.

M: Barbies.

A: Oh, does he have a play date with the rest of the Little Rascals?

M: He and Harness Goth have challenged Anna Della Russo to a game of Stickball.

A: Are they going to use a Birkin instead of a ball?

M:

A: OH COME ON THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

M: ?

M: Sorry, I have fallen into a luxury sporting goods wormhole.

A: How filthy rich do you have to be to even consider Chanel tennis balls a good purchase?

M: God, I don't know. I picture P. Diddy throwing them to his dogs or something.

A: Oh. Wow. Yeah. Crying.

M: Which leads me to this:

Which makes me need to go lie down for a nice long rest. FOREVER.

A: I think we need to break up.

M: I'm sorry.

A: Please leave.

Adrien: Out of Words.

It's been summertime-hot this week so I've been riding that fine line between "Is it work appropriate?" and "Will I perish in the heat?" I thought this worked on both levels. And I am out of words. Here you go:

top: Merona (similar)
skirt: Banana Republic (similar)
shoes: Miz Mooz Hype
bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo

Writ of Habeas Shortus.

M: Snort.


A: Oh God! I'm breathless. The ass shot is priceless:

M: Her ass should sue for breach of asscrack or something. I don't even know what that means, but it isn't good.

M: I am not a lawyer. Also, I've had some wine.

A: It makes complete sense to me, which shouldn't be comforting.

M: You should probably get your head checked. I think there are torts involved. Habeas shortus?

A: Snort.

M: I am just saying. I think the Geneva Convention comes in to play. That was a fashion thing, right?

A: I think you're thinking of the G8 Summit.

M: Does that have to do with extra long leather shorts butts? Then yes.

A: This year's G8 Summit is going to be on the following topic: Remember Those Awful Saggy Pocket Shirts? What Was That?

M: I am really itching to hear Silvio Burlesconi's thoughts on the matter.

A: HOW AM I JUST NOTICING THE BAGGY LONG ASS LEATHER SHORTS ARE NEARLY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AUIHTAWEBNQIAEGTK;JSDBHk

M: I KNOW RIGHT WHAT THE HELL

A: It's a joke, right? A terrible terrible joke ON HUMANITY. Fortunately, I know a criminal defense lawyer on Twitter. He refused to represent the shorts, but was happy to give an opinion, pro bono:

@amblus @gregorysheldon Can you please weigh in on what/how many laws are being broken here? 

@gregorysheldon From a legal standpoint, this is larceny by false pretenses. They are trying to convince you these are cool and get your money. 

@gregorysheldon From a fashion standpoint, the pleats, the price, the name of the color, the material, use of the word exquisite... 

@mariannecanada HOW did I miss the name of the color? Spiced Olive sounds like something you're forced to eat as punishment. 

@amblus DON'T MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR. FINE, SPICED OLIVE TIME. 

@gregorysheldon No, no, no! Not the spiced olives again. I'll be good, I promise! 

@mariannecanada "Little Jimmy is constipated again, so I had to force feed him spiced olives last night." 

@gregorysheldon I just... wow. 

@amblus Gagging. 

@mariannecanada Thank you, thank you.

M: Maybe the Rapture really DID happen? Because those shorts would definitely be Left Behind. Kirk Cameron would see to that.

A: I'm pretty sure Kirk Cameron wore those shorts on Growing Pains.

M: Dude, no way. It was totally Boner in the shorts.

A: You know what? I was going to go there and then I thought, NO DO NOT GO THERE.

And you went there.

M: I kind of live to go there.

M: Also, don't Google "Boner Growing Pains Shorts".

A: OH. YEAH.

M: I would like to take this time to welcome all of our new, perverted readers. Mazel tov!

A: Welcome, perverts! We will mock you! And challenge you via email, so make sure you don't use your WORK EMAIL ADDRESS!

A: PS. Yes, kids, that happened.

M: Take heed! We have no problem publishing the creepazoid emails you send us!

M: P.P.S. The email was about my feet.

Adrien: It's That Weird Anthro Dress.

I like this dress but I wish the swag would stop moving around. I swear I spent the entire day messing with it - Above the boob? Below the boob? Hey, it's my bra! Damn it. But it's cute as long as you don't move:

Because I like to ruin everything with a cardigan and then look weirdly off to the side:

dress: Plenty by Tracy Reese/Anthropologie (similar)
sandals: Ann Taylor (similar)
cardigan: Talbots
bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAM

Really.

A: Really?

source: The Sartorialist

M: Really. REALLY?

A: REALLY.

M: With the Kelly bag? REALLY.

A: On the handlebars? REALLY.

M: When a car hits her and splits her pretty little head open, I'll make a Twibbon in support of her. Wait, no I won't. REALLY.

A: Or, when that dangly strap of Hermès leather goodness gets tangled in her wheel and flips the bike over? I will not cry for her Argentina. REALLY.

M: I think that flowy skirt might take her out first. Or the streetcar that runs on those tracks. She's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, is she?

A: She's really not. I mean, PUT THE GD HERMES IN THE BASKET AT LEAST.

M: She's got...another bag in the basket? And do you spy the Hermès box in the shopping bag? I might hate her.

A: OH MY GOD. REALLY. I am angry now. Because in my head she popped into Hermès, bought that Kelly on a whim, put all her stuff in it and slung it across her handlebars after putting her old bag in the basket.

Or, the whole thing is fake.

M: I am starting to think nothing is real. The Shobbit is on Hermès bankroll or something.

A: It's like you're trying to make me ugly-cry.

M: I'm sorry. This is worse than finding out there's no Santa Claus.

A: Actually, I don't want that dummy to have that Kelly bag, so it makes me feel a little better to think it's just a loaner.

M: This is true.

Marianne: Dolla (no holla).

I can't be the only one out there. Come on, how many of you, when complimented on something in your wardrobe, can't help but blurt out "I got it for a crazy deal!"

Well.

I got this dress for $.99 on eBay. You read that right. It's BCBG and looks like it's never been worn. I think it's pretty old, based on the BCBG Paris label, but I don't care. It is super comfortable and the print is fun. I bought it on a complete whim. A One Dollar Whim.

I wore it during last weeks cold spell with boots and a sweater, but it has a cute sleeve detail I can't wait to show you in another post.

It's a little shapeless through the waist, but for $.99, I'll take it. RIGHT?

dress: BCBG (vintage, but BCBG makes lots of fun printed dresses)

wrap sweater: Product (similar here)

boots: Frye Lisa (similar here)

Adrien: Smoke and Mirrors

I got in a blog-related conversation (with blog rock stars!) at a party last weekend and I talked (too much) about what it's like to pose for outfit photos every single day. In a nutshell: YOU LEARN FAST. I am not photogenic and require approximately 11 billion photos to be taken from which I can pick out the three that don't make me look like Jabba the Hut.

Also, I do this thing where I think my head is on straight but I actually have it all cranked over to one side, like that's cute. (It's not.) Here is a dramatic reenactment of what my early photos looked like:

And here is that same photo after some extensive spinal adjustment and Photoshop:

I also sometimes have, um, attitude problems:

But, Kenny started lobbing peanut M&Ms at me and I straightened up pretty quick:

So really, all it takes is:

• food rewards
• a large memory card
• spinal surgery
• Photoshop (the kind you pay $$ for)
• fear of looking like a slug-alien on the Internets.

Anyone can do it!

dress: Target (similar)
shoes: Chie Mihara (similar)
necklace: Ann Taylor (similar)
bag: Andrea Brueckner (similar)
cardigan: J Crew (similar)
watch: La Mer
bracelet: Stella & Dot 

In Case of Rapture, This Blog... will still be manned.

A: Apparently Saturday is Judgement Day? Nina just sent me this email:

Can you and Marianne do a “Rapture Edition” of your blog for Saturday? Not sure if she expects to be staying or going but I’m guessing you’ll probably sticking around here with me, right? Might be a nice way to highlight some travel outfits, or, alternately, comfortable clothes for the end of the world.

M: HAHAHA. I love Nina. Yeah, some folks think May 21st is the end of the world. But yes, we could pick some things in light, breathable non flammable fabrics for us sinners.

A: I told Nina the magic Target dress is pretty much perfect since we're all doomed anyway. I mean, most of us are staying right? And it's not the end of the world until October! May 21 is just the Rapture.

M: Ah! Shows what I know. We might be getting into some trouble.

A: My middle name is Trouble! (Not really.)

M: Adrien "Trouble" Hamilt0n sounds like a prospector or saloon owner or something. Well, maybe not the Adrien part. Too Frenchy.

M: Ooh, can I wear this?



It looks so breezy. Plus it will cover my legs, which will no doubt be hairy and unwashed.

M: Miley already knows what she is wearing:

A: Aw yeah, girlfriend knows how to stay on earth! I was thinking it would be the perfect opportunity to wear these:




M: You are smart to think in terms of self defense. I will be a goner with my long dress all tangled in my hairy appendages.

A: Well, and have you seen my hair? I can't get any kind of prairie pouf going AT ALL.

M: Yeah, with your Frenchy name and edgy hair, you'll be battling it out in the city while I escape to the hinterlands with my toddler and my beagle and all of this hair.

A: I never stood a chance, really. I mean, I have cats.

M: You know at the first threat of world's end, Stella is going to try and eat you. Right? Right.

A: I swear to you, and I am not lying, when I was all insomniac-y the other night Fuzz came to hang out with me and I thanked her and said, 'You know Stella is just waiting for me to die so she can eat me, right?"

M: That kind of breaks my heart because it's so true. Watch your back.

A: It's especially annoying because I PICKED HER OUT. She's a black cat though, so no way will she make the rapture. She's basically the devil's cat.

M: Stella will probably be in charge when shit goes down. I'm a little nervous.

A: She's kind of like Pouty though, so I think as long as I have a bunch of Smiths CDs on hand I can keep her in line.

M: How are you going to play those CDs with no electricity?

A: My iPod battery will last a day or two if I'm careful (and don't try to pointlessly check my email over and over again.) Wait...WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON ANYWAY WITH YOUR LONG PRAIRIE HAIR?

M: I just don't think you are taking this very seriously.

 I'll be safe from your cat, is all.

A: Maybe Fuzz will protect me? She can be quite a little spitfire when she wants to be.

M: Well let's just hope.

Marianne: I really AM a copycat.

Okay, maybe I have a problem. I joked earlier about not having a mind of my own, but here I am in yet another item of clothing that I saw on someone else and immediately bought for myself. When I saw this dress on Mich I started plotting to go try it on. Mich is so petite that I was worried that the size Medium wouldn't fit, but it was perfect. Room to spare, even.

I only regret not blogging about it sooner, because it's sold out online now. I highly recommend checking your local Target to see if they still have it. It's super lightweight and more comfortable than my jammies.
I switched out the fabric belt for something wider, and I have plans to change the buttons as well. You'll just have to stay tuned for that craftiness.
Here I am trying to explain to my husband that I REALLY NEED TO LEAVE FOR WORK. Ahem.

dress: Merona Woman's Elbow-Sleeve Chambray Shirt Dress

shoes: Miz Mooz Rain clogs

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Stella

belt: LOFT

It's Good To Have Hobbies.

M: ...Alexander Skarsgård might be my Daniel Craig. He makes me feel funny.

A: OH HELLO.

M: Tell me you watch True Blood. I have only seen the first two seasons but he is the only reason I watch.

A: We tried. I think we made it two episodes in before Kenny pretended the DVD player remote was broken.

M: Oh, Chris is just horrified by it. HORRIFIED.

A: Kenny kept looking at me with this sad face all, "Lady? Why."

M: But there are boobs! Boobs? No? Come back, Kenny!

A: I know! Apparently really terrible southern accents override boob action.

M: Well, you should watch it. Because DANG:

A: I think maybe my husband can find something else to do for an hour YOU ARE RIGHT.

M: I am just SAYING. It's good for you to have separate interests. My interests are apparently underneath his shirt.

A: My interests are as follows: Pretty Things I Can't Afford, Daniel Craig in Speedos. Everything else falls under, "other stuff."

M: Don't forget ponies! And David Bowie.

A: Oh, David Bowie is definitely a top-level interest. Ponies get filed under "other stuff."

I think your vampire fellow is pretty interesting, as well.

M: His character is so bad that I end up with Stockholm Syndrome and I love him.

A: Sometimes it's easiest to just give in.

Marianne: Rainbow Party.

As I mentioned yesterday, it was my birthday last week. Which means it was also Lulu's birthday (did you know we have the same birthday?). Which meant throwing a Rainbow Party for my favorite two-year-old. What did I wear? I'll give you one guess.

Want a closer look at Lulu's rainbow outfit? Come on, you know you do.
On Marianne: Calypso for Target dress, Gap jean jacket (it was cold!)

On Lulu: Etsy tutu, Babylegs, Old Navy onesie, glitter Keds

Adrien: The Thing About Wrap Dresses

Okay, you know that thing where fashion people claim the wrap dress is the most universally flattering perfect wardrobe staple thing? I don't think this is true because there is no such thing as an item of clothing that looks good on EVERY SINGLE PERSON EVER OMG.  I know I've tried on a few that looked horrific on me but I've also had a few that looks pretty darn good and one that ended up being a fantastic investment.

I bought this dress at Nordstrom maybe six or seven years ago and at the time it seemed pretty expensive to me, so I agonized over it, put it on hold twice, dragged Kate out to the store for a second opinion and finally bit the bullet and just bought the damn thing. And it's been great. A workhorse of a dress that always gets compliments.

Dress: Lily (similar)
shoes: Frye (similar)
bag: Louis Vuitton (similar)

Marianne: Summer of Green Shoes

Okay, I just....I know, okay? I no longer have a mind of my own. But my husband asked me what I would like for my birthday and before I could stop myself I blurted out Miz Mooz Hype size 7.5 in greeeeeeen! Forget neutral. Bah.

He takes direction well.

Why yes, I am standing in a parking lot next to our neighborhood park. And that day it was already 80 degrees and I am starting to puddle.
Sweet moving van in the back, too.
Happy birthday to meeeee!
dress: Orla Keily

shoes: Miz Mooz Hype

crystal necklace: vintage

sunglasses: anthropologie