Category Archives: Fashion Forward

Hand Knit

Once upon a time, I learned how to knit. Sara, one of my dearest friends, was knitting like a bandit a few years ago.  She made me a couple of scarves, and I absolutely fell in love with them.  As a gift, she bought me the book “Stitch ‘N Bitch” as a tribute to my getting started, and off I went. I think I knitted 20 scarves that year for Christmas or birthday gifts. I vowed to move on from there to start knitting hats, arm warmers, blankets and sweaters (eek)!

I never moved past the scarves.

I recently wore a pair of knitted arm warmers I bought from Topshop around five years ago, and someone asked me if I made them. Sadly, I had to admit that I didn’t, but now I feel like I should know how to make them!  I’ve also been seeing the “Infinity” scarves everywhere in all kinds of incredible knits, and I know in my knitting heart of hearts that I can make those.  I’m going to practice my stitches again, starting with a garter stitch scarf (because that is the easiest stitch), just to get back into the groove of knitting again.  Once I get the hang of it, I’ll be able to really let my creativity flow.

This really isn’t a true “How To” in that I’m not showing you how to knit anything.  However, here are some pictures of a couple of scarves I made a few years ago.  I’ll also start posting pictures of knitted things that I like and aspire to make someday.  I’m also starting some new projects that I’ll share with you all in the next few weeks (not all knitting, but just as creative). 

Photos by Deon Chen

Warm Up With A Whooga Boot Contest & Discount!

I’m sure many people out there have some kind of form of ugg boot (I have a couple of pairs myself).  If you want to keep warm for the winter and stay stylish, there is a great contest at Whooga Ugg Boots to win a pair every month when you sign up for their VIP newsletter.  The great thing about the contest is that it is open to any country.  Click here to sign up and win your pair!

If the chilly weather is just too much for you to take and can’t wait to see if you won, Any Second Now readers also have a special discount.  Enter 8592ndnow at check out to get 10% off your purchase (for 1 week only).  They ship to a variety of countries and provide prices in Euros, Dollars and Pounds Sterling.   Click the picture to get to the main site. 

Whooga Ugg Boots are ranked consistently as the most comfortable ugg boots around due to their ThermoFleece lining, which makes them more plush.  The only way to find out is to enter the contest or try a pair yourself with the discount code.  If you do, let me know what you think by leaving a comment. 

Good luck to those entering the contest and have a warm and wonderful weekend!

(FTC disclosure:  While all opinions belong fully to Any Second Now, I did receive compensation for its publication.)

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup for November 11, 2010

(Thanks again IFB for featuring my blog in this week’s Links a la Mode!)

Behind the clothes

Edited by: Florrie Clarke of Intrinsically Florrie

It’s war of the underwear this week! What can lingerie do for our figures, what does body shaping underwear say about our feminist principles and how does our choice actually affect our health?

The post that will stay with me this week is The Button Owl’s, which broke my heart. Fashion isn’t just about vanity, but how we present ourselves to the world and this is all the more important when you have troubles to hide.

Links à la Mode: November 11th

  • Any Second Now: Is it really practical financially to buy high-end clothing for children? Parents can be creative and frugal with wardrobe for their kids.
  • Bachman’s Sparrow: Heels usually get all the glory when it comes to fashion, but in this post I want to show you a few ways to kick the heel habit.
  • Be Fabulous Daily: Why I’m throwing away my Spanx (and what I replaced them with… it’s not entirely self-love).
  • Fashezine: 4 ways to wear a basic American Apparel shirt, illustrated photography included.
  • Forever Amber: Channeling Joan Holloway.
  • Haute World: Deliciously fashionable: edible couture & more at Salon du Chocolat in Paris.
  • Independent Fashion Bloggers: The Copywriting Scorecard for Fashion Bloggers
  • Intrinsically Florrie: Dress success and another reason why I love the online fashion community.
  • Love of Lace: A Lesson In Style From Europe: A comparison between ‘Secrets of French Girls’ and North American style.
  • Modly Chic: How to read your google analytics and make blogging decisions based on your findings.
  • Out of Order: Do-It-Yourself pom-pom headbands.
  • Perfectly Indecisive: Pushing your fashion boundaries in summer (for those just heading into Summer not Winter)
  • Retro Chick: Lingerie Love – Retro Shapewear from Gok Wan.
  • Seamstress Stories: Can I wear a corset and still be a feminist?
  • Simple Subtle Style: The Art of Layering for Winter.
  • Style Every Day: How to travel with your jewelry.
  • Style Geek: Interview with Dallas-Based Designer Sarah Jones of STATUS Talking about her line, how she started & the Dallas fashion scene.
  • Style Symmetry: How To Purge & Pare Down Your Closet.
  • Sweet Faced Style: Translating art into a look: An ode to Flaming June in an orange dress.
  • The Button Owl: My best friend began dying when she was eleven years old as a result of kinder failure; “clothes are my defense”.
  • The Demoiselles There’s talk of creating a “Photoshop Law” for fashion adverts. What do you think?

SPONSOR:

Shopbop Dresses: Thayer, Milly,Rory Beca, Theory, Spanx, Shopstyle, Veda, Thakoon, Ports1961, Ella Moss

PLEASE READ IF YOU’D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE:

If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine

Black & Velvet

Velvet during the day is something that I’ve been wearing for a while, so I’m embracing the current trend and diving in.  I bought this jacket at H&M 6 years ago in Toronto, long before we had any available in San Diego.  It’s held up so well over the years, and I’ve worn it casual as seen here, and dressed up with shiny skirts and sequined dresses.  Today, I matched with stripes, dark denim leggings, and a nice big patent leather purse.  The weather has officially cooled, so now is the time to take advantage of layering with jewel tones and lush textures.

Outfit:  H&M velvet jacket; Express striped shirt; Miss Selfridge necklace (bought in London); Forever 21 ring; American Rag denim leggings; Mixx booties; Perlina purse

Photos by Deon Chen

Burberry for Babies? Try an Affordable Alternative

I get asked quite a bit where I do my shopping for my son.  I bought the cute little Burberry shirt at Bloomies over a year ago (on sale, not for the price pictured).  I nearly bought him Diesel jeans that same day (also on sale), then changed my mind.  At the time, I thought, “How CUTE!  I love Burberry and the prices are a slightly less expensive than clothing for me, so I can dress him in brand names all the time!”

Now that I’ve been a mother for over a year, I see how prices add up quickly for my little one.

So really, how practical is getting high-end brand names for kids?  Yes, the clothing is very well made and the styles emulate that of the adults, so the allure to dress your child in the higher end fashions is too tempting.  I’ve always said that if I had a daughter that I would have to take on another job just to supplement our wardrobes. 

With the way kids grow in these early years, it’s impossible for me to justify purchasing something that is so high cost because it is also something that comes at such a high turnover.  Believe me, with the awesome styles out there, I would love to dress my son the way Brad and Angelina dress their kids.  But Dominic has already gone through 3 pairs of Converse in his 21 months of existence, not to mention dress shoes and flip-flops or sandals.  If he’s going through five pairs of shoes every three months, the cost adds up.  And for any family of modest to medium means, it’s just not practical.

Parents should understand and know that there is plenty of great affordable fashion out there for our little ones.  The second picture is a recent one from my great aunt’s birthday party.  Both outfits for my son and my niece were from H&M and both outfits (including shoes, socks and tights) were a total of $65.  Both kids looked fantastic and stylish at a fraction of the cost.

Just as I’m creative with my wardrobe, I’m also as creative with my son’s clothing.  I even had to go so far to get him a custom-made Joy Division shirt (seen here, it was only $12 and so worth it).  For the clothes that he wears every day, I shop at places like Old Navy, Crazy 8, H&M, A Children’s Place, Gymboree and Pumpkin Patch, but I make sure to be smart about it. 

One of my favorite places to get kids clothing is at Target.  They have the coolest little t-shirts at prices from $5 to $10.  Dominic wears a Run DMC t-shirt from Target and I always get stopped by people asking where did I get that cute little shirt (which was only $5.99).  My son is growing at a seemingly exponential rate (he’s predicted to be 6’1″ as an adult because my husband is 6’4″), so the price range is completely pocket-book friendly. 

Just to give you an idea of how often Dominic goes through clothing, this is a list of how many times I had to make a sweep of his clothing (which I’m always donating): 

  • Newborn to 3 month clothing, purged after he was 2 months old
  • 3 to 6 month clothing, purged after he was 4 months old
  • 6-9 month clothing, purged after he was 6 months old
  • 9-12 month clothing, purged when he was 10 months old
  • 12-18 month clothing, purged when he was a year old
  • He is currently wearing 24 months to 3T clothing

I purged a total of a year’s worth of clothing because I was trying to keep up with his growth spurts.  Kids are also not the cleanest during those early months, so I tried to have as many onesies available to keep the washings down to one time per week, rather than several times weekly.  When you have to purge clothing so often, it really does feel better to give up $5 shirts than $40 ones every 2 to 3 months.

I want my son to have the best of everything that my husband and I have to offer.   I’m realizing and learning all the time as a new mother, that cute and stylish things can be found everywhere, that won’t break the bank.  I am a self-proclaimed fashionista and I love clothing.  As I make smart investments in the things I buy for myself, I will always make smart investments in my son, where it counts the most.  So I need to be practical and realize that I need to rely on my creativity when it comes to dressing him.  My true investment for him will be the time I spend with him and my unconditional love.

Little Flights of Fancy

I wore my little swallow dress from Cotton On today with these platform sandals because it was unusually warm for November here in San Diego.  But I added little touches that made the outfit more fitting for fall:  a cardigan, a wool hat, and dark tights.  I’m also wearing one of my new cameos, too.  Along with the little bits of tan and brass, the cameo made the outfit feel very vintage, even though the dress was brand new (as of yesterday!).

Outfit:  Cotton On Karoline swallow dress; H&M belt; Urban Outfitters mens cardigan; Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes; Rafe purse; Poppie Jones wool hat; vintage cameo; Target tights; Burberry sunglasses

Photos by Deon Chen

Pretty Patterns


I did a little bit of shopping, both in person and online in the last week: I used the discount code given to my readers by Lulus.com to pick up a few items before the code expired; my cameos came in from my recent eBay purchase; and I went to my local mall to pick up some really cute affordable dresses from Cotton On. Oh, and I did throw in a pair of shoes (of course!).

I’m gravitating towards easy sweaters and simple dresses in cute patterns (I’m in love with the bird print dress from Cotton On). Keeping things simple will allow me to do the layering that I want, it makes it less bulky under any of the coats and jackets that I’ll be sporting all through the fall and winter, and it will make it easier to accessorize.

(Click on the pictures for links to the items, except for the Chung dress and the Sasha Bootie.)

Coat of the Week: Mad for Plaid

My husband bought me this cute little jacket a couple of years ago.  Now that it’s finally a bit colder, I’m starting to layer a bit more.  He bought it when I was pregnant, so it’s got a little bit of a swing to it.  Because of this and because it’s lighter than it looks, it makes for a great layering piece.  I’m going to stock up on more tights and lighter long and short sleeve solid t-shirts to fit snugly under some of my dresses and cardigans.

I also just recently found my iPod and started listening to it again (it was lost in all of the shuffling of items in our bedroom).  I also let my son take a listen, too and I think he may want his own little music listening device!  I bought a very cool pair of retro-looking headphones that look a bit like my husband’s that he uses as a professional DJ (except mine are smaller and come in three interchangeable colors).  As a tribute to my find, I’ve also included a list of artists of one of my favorite iPod playlists called “Electronic”.

ATB
Bedrock
Blancmange
Blank & Jones
Book of Love
Camouflage
Cruxshadows
Depeche Mode
Einsturzende Neubuten
Erasure
Fad Gadget
Heaven 17
Human League
Kraftwerk
Leather Strip
New Order
Nizer Ebb
OMD
Paul Van Dyk
Pet Shop Boys
The Beloved
Yaz

Standout favorites (that aren’t Depeche Mode):

“Tainted Love (2XS Remix) by Soft Cell – I consider it a drum and bass version of the song, maybe even speed garage.  Either way, it’s a fantastic version of the song.

“I Want Candy (Razed in Black Mix)” by Bow Wow Wow – If you like Razed in Black, you will absolutely love this version.  It’s got a heavier, driving beat that puts of the otherwise usually poppy version of this song on it’s ear.

“Lie to Me” by Depeche Mode, but re-done by Razed in Black – It’s always interesting to hear how another artist would interpret your favorite artist, and this does not disappoint.

“The Great Commandment” by Camouflage – When I heard this track for the first time, I was surprised at how much it sounded like Depeche Mode.  “That Smiling Face” is my all time favorite by Camouflage, but a little too slow for this playlist.

I was obsessed with making playlists when I first got my iPod and iTunes.  I know my iPod is a bit old, but it has all of my honeymoon pictures from Europe from our computer that crashed two years ago and quite of bit of music that I ripped from my CD collection.  I haven’t figured out how to download them without completely wiping out the iPod and losing them all.  Hopefully I can find a good program transfer them.  The downside is that I can’t upload anything new either.  I may just have to buy a new iPod to keep making the kinds of playlists I want.

(Jacket, Full Tilt; Retro Stereo Headphones with decorative plates in three colors, Auvio)

True Calling: Major Art

I entered this great contest by The Natori Company that I received today in my email.   Click on the picture for the Facebook link to enter the contest (you can also enter on Twitter).  My entry is in the quote below.  Good luck to those who enter!

Major Art

Choosing to have an art major was a difficult decision for me because as the daughter of Filipino immigrant parents, it was expected that I choose a different path, preferably something in the medical field like a nurse or doctor.  But luckily my parents understood that my calling was to choose a path less travelled by my friends and relatives and to choose a major of visual arts.  I’ve always been very creative, both musically and visually, so choosing an art major was natural for me. 

As a result, my time in college was one of the most enjoyable experiences in my life.  I was at my most creative, working with film,  video and music (I also became a choir director at my church).  It afforded me some incredible opportunities that I will never forget, like the many shows I got to work on for MTV; working with Toni Braxton on a made for TV movie for VH1 (“Play’d”); and most notably, working with Denzel Washington on a major motion picture (“Antwone Fisher”).

I’m currently in a different career that allows me to have time for a family (which was difficult when I was a free lancer for film and video production), but I do not regret at all the decision to have the chances and opportunities that I did as an art major.

Two Day Warning

I’m a big fan of indie-record stores and M-Theory Music is as indie as they come.  I love their selection of older vinyl records and CD’s mixed in with new and independent artists.  They even have 45’s, which is a rare find these days.  Located in Mission Hills, this award-winning store has listening stations which makes it a great place to listen before you purchase.  Since it’s near Hillcrest, one can head on over to grab a bite to eat or get a cup of coffee close by after a little music shopping. 

It’s Thursday and the Alan Wilder signing will be in two more days.  My husband and I went to M-Theory Music to scope out the area and see how this highly anticipated signing may play out.  I got a chance to chat with Rick, the manager at M-Theory, who stated that this is going to be a very popular event, with people coming down from LA and elsewhere (I know someone coming from Riverside).  There’s even going to be a dance off to win Recoil tickets.  Overall, it sounds like they are going to do what they can to make this a fun event for everyone.

I’ve already called my friend Eileen and my sister to let them know that we may have to get to the signing a bit earlier due to the size of the store and the location.  Either way, my excitement is starting to grow.  Friday will be spent thinking about what I’m going to bring for Alan to sign and what I’m going to wear.  Although I want to bring practically my whole collection, I’m going to have to narrow it down.  I’m taking lots of deep breaths for the next two days…*sigh*

Outfit:  Trilogy jacket; Tucker for Target dress; Zac Posen for Target belt; Jessica Simpson suede boots; Louis Vuitton Palermo PM purse; vintage cameo necklace, Old Navy tights

Photos by Deon Chen

(Note:  The title of this post is a play on the song entitled “Two Minute Warning” written by Alan Wilder when he was with Depeche Mode.  I’m sure some of you new that, right?)