This Bird realizes fall is in the air, but the Pacific Northwest is getting the rare treat of a lingering summer, with pleasant weather and clear skies (knock on wood). It puts a relaxed step into our normally hurried workaday gait, so let's slow down and take some time to soak up the lovely autumn colors appearing in the trees, and wear some of our favorite comfortable, slouchy summer clothes for at least a few more days. Digging through the Jaunty Wardrobe, this home-shopped look of layered ruffles (Express) and a light cardigan (LaRedoute), paired with a velvet-embellished cargo pant (Express), and finished with vintage jewelry and gold peeptoe heels (Steve Madden)* was Inspired both by the elegant styles of the J. Crew October catalog, and a Pacific NW-appropriate (love the coffee!) runway look from Dsquared2's 2009 fall ready to wear collection.

* Readers have asked about the clothes featured on Inspired posts. I don't list things, only because many of the pieces are several years' old and the stores don't carry them anymore or I've had them for so long, I don't even remember where I got them! If no one minds my bird-brained memory, I'll list stores when I can. The original intent behind Inspired posts is to show that one's own closet can be as good as any store, so be creative, be jaunty, and don't be afraid to pair things together and take a fashionable risk!

This Bird was rummaging through the Jaunty Wardrobe recently, setting up the next collection of Inspired outfits and shooting photos. I realized how funny it was, my little "home studio," and all the little tricks that I need to rely on to get these posts done. As I've said before, I don't use online collage software and the items being photographed are actual pieces I own and regularly wear. That means you see things show up multiple times, but hopefully worn in different ways. Taking cues from magazines who put together outfits on their pages, I wanted to do the same, but with a working wardrobe and a very limited budget (I hardly clothes shop anymore -- criminal, isn't it?), and because all these articles of clothing come from different sources, there's no way to use the internet to find existing photographs of pieces, so I knew I'd have to shoot every piece either individually or layered as an outfit. I've been doing this now for almost two years, and luckily I've been able to reuse photos of individual pieces when creating Inspired-themed posts, but I'm always reshooting or re-layering things in different ways, so I'm constantly reshooting items.

I thought for the last round of outfit shots, I'd take a few of my glamorous "studio." When I say "studio" I mean "bathroom." Why the bathroom? Because the lighting is bright and easy to control, and I have a row of hooks normally used for our bathrobes, but it's the perfect height to hang items on a curved suit coathanger. I don't have a dress model which would give the clothing proper dimension (but if anyone wants to donate one to the Jaunty cause, give me a holler!). For now, I use a curved-shoulder suit jacket hanger works pretty well to at least get the upper structure of a shirt or blouse, and putting the clothing on backwards on the hanger actually gives it better volume for photos. If something's too flowy, I use hairclips to pinch back excess fabric from behind. For pants or skirts, I can usually put them on wide hangers to mimic the stretching of hips. For the most part, the pieces are shown flat and it doesn't have to show volume. And the most helpful tool of all is, of course, Photoshop. It helps even out lighting issues, balance colors, and get rid of the background that clearly shows I shot everything against a bathroom door. I'm also a big fan of the tools that let you push and pull the shape of items; sometimes you don't realize a shirt was shot in an uneven way, so it's nice to have a hefty post-production tool to really fix up an image. You can see in the above "before" and "after" work on a striped Eiffel Tower t-shirt I just got ($4 find!) -- from bathroom photo to potential Inspired post. Voila -- like magic!

What about you, when you're styling an outfit to be shot for your blog, what are your tricks and tips for making it look magazine-ready?

Jaunty Fine Print:  photographs by Denise Sakaki

Another year nearly come and gone, but what a Jaunty year it's been! Fortune has shined brightly upon this Birdie, having been given the privilege of witnessing some fashion firsts in the area, and continuing to be inspired by all the pretty shiny things swirling around. While it would be far too long a list to have in one post, some of the Magpie highlights of 2009 include:

1) The opening of the Neiman Marcus at The Bravern in Bellevue
2) The fact that we have The Bravern, a very sparkly place to wander about
3) Being Inspired by the world at large, and translating it via the Jaunty Wardrobe
4) Along with Inspired looks, being blessed with lovely gifts from good friends - merci !
5) Fashion Week in Bellevue, at the Nordstrom Fall 2009 Runway Show 
6) Being able to meet RJ Cutler, director of The September Issue, and view an early screening
7) Exploring the fanciful and beautiful world of indie artists, like Secret Jewellz on Etsy
8) Never being too serious about anything, and able to have a bit of fun
9) Aside from getting another Anthropologie store, pretty florals are all the Jaunty rage
10) Always keeping a sparkle in one's Jaunty step! 

The Jaunty Magpie will continue its flight, second star from the right and straight on 'till morning -- straight through into the new year. Thank you for joining the adventure, and here's to many more things to come! *Cheers*

 

This Bird had to re-upload this little Inspired post because strange post-Halloween happenings are clearly afoot. The post showed up on Nov 2, and then it disappeared! Clearly, the ghosts of bad fashion choices have somehow come back to haunt me. Or perhaps it's just the gremlins of the internet at work.

Either way, crisis averted, I wanted to at least have the image of the Inspired look, even if I can't remember what the heck I wrote. And really, who reads this stuff -- admit it, you just want the pretty, pretty pictures, right?? I know you're nodding your head.


Jaunty Fine Print:   wardrobe photos by Denise Sakaki, photo of Sarah Jessica Parker from InStyle Magazine

 

The Bird is all about dressing-up the dressing-down, and vice-versa. Take a really basic, casual set of everyday clothing and throw in a wild card, like some metallic gold heels. Cargo pants and heels are one of my favorite pairings and the theme of today's Inspired post. It instantly elevates something rumpled and slouchy and the heels make the outfit look intentional. It's not a barrier-breaking fashion pairing, but something I consider one of the new Modern Classics. You won't be embarassed or look behind the times for wearing this look from season to season, and for more casual-friendly offices, it's a way to mix things up.  

These days I'm more interested in relaxed, everyday wear. I think it's sometimes the most difficult thing to dress for, avoiding the "weekday uniform" look, where you're wearing the same t-shirt and jeans every day. This is something I'd wear out for a relaxed lunch with friends -- no muss, no fuss, but still put-together. Pulled from the Jaunty Wardrobe: jeweled cardigan from Ann Taylor, purple cotton shirt from JCPenney, cargo pants from Express, gold metallic peep-toe heels from Steve Madden, slouchy brown shoulder bag from La Redoute, silver heart pendant from Tiffany and Co.

Jaunty Fine Print: Inspired image from J.Crew, Jaunty Wardrobe photo by Denise Sakaki

A-ten HUT! Who doesn't appreciate a dapper filly or a dandy fellow in uniform -- or a sentence that managed to fit "dapper" and "dandy" together? Genius. A structured military jacket with touch-me velvet and decorative stitching can bring an outfit together and feel truly Inspired. Feminine ruffles, a belted waist, bright tights, and a graphic printed skirt make for a fun combination of texture and punches of color to keep the look from being too buttoned-up and stodgy. When in doubt, wear bright-colored tights. This Bird is thankful that fall is here.

Inspired pieces from the Jaunty Wardrobe include a jacket from Tar-jhay (OK, Target), black ruffle top and orange tights from Forever 21, booties from The Bay (O Canada!), flower necklace from Anthropologie, skirt is handmade, bag and brooch are vintage, obi belt from Smoking Lily (amazing shop in again, O Canada). The runway/magazine pieces that started this inspiration are Chanel, fall/winter 2009 collection, and Emma Watson wearing a Gryphon jacket, featured in Teen Vogue. Not that I read Teen Vogue regularly, but you have to admit, she was styled pretty fierce for that photo shoot; like how Punky Brewster would dress for the prom.

Before there was Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, there was the true original rivalry, one whose regal cattiness defied all prepubescent hormones. Team Alexis vs. Team Krystle from TV's 1980s-a-licious Dynasty. Boys, step aside, as biotches with sequins and shoulder pads totally rule.

Not totally languishing in Lady of Leisure status, this Bird has been keeping the television on while puttering about the homestead doing holiday tasks like baking and cooking. Daytime television becomes like a treasure trove of random finds like Danielle Steele miniseries, and yes, a little bit of Dynasty luxe. I was never a huge fan of the series when it was on; I thought the physical fights between Alexis and Krystle were awesomely ridiculous, but all the drama in between seemed boring. I'm still uninterested in the petty squabbles, but watching those old episodes now, one can't help but feel inspired by the boldness of the costuming on those shows!

Granted, this Bird isn't going off to any soiree that would require a full-length slinky gown covered in sequins and shoulders a mile high, but the 80s definitely inspired this outfit pulled from the Jaunty Wardrobe. Bold printed strapless dress and wide snakeskin belt from Express, rad bright pink tights (Forever 21), black sports jacket from Benneton, and black suede booties from The Bay. The 80s were all about piling on the accessories, so throw on some vintage jewelry, silk scarf (a gift), chain strap bag (vintage), and little silver glovelets (Nordstrom).

This Birdie was spellbound by these Jackie Kennedy-inspired photos by Swedish photographer Kalle Gustafsson. I originally found them on Design Sigh's post, which shows several more stunning photos -- I especially like the brocade strapless dress photo, if you take a peek at the original post. I love the warm tones that wash over some of the color photos, much like the way prints of that time have aged. They remind me of my own parents' wedding photos that had a bit of that pinkish hue. There's a sense of internalized emotion and loneliness in the images, very much evocative of Mrs. Kennedy's quiet composure in her actual photos.

While this Bird would never compare her humble wardrobe to that of the immortal Jackie, an Inspired outfit came out of gazing at these photos. From the Jaunty Wardrobe comes forth a red coral print tie jacket that this Birdie made herself (out of upholstery fabric!), a blue turtleneck shirt underneath (Macys), grey pencil skirt (Banana Republic), nude heels (BCBG), white scarf (a gift), purple satin clutch (Nine West), brown aviators (Banana Republic) and silver glovelets (Nordstrom).

Jaunty Fine Print: Photos by Kalle Gustafsson, c/o Design Sigh; wardrobe photos by Denise Sakaki

 

You can just hear Madonna's song, Vogue, playing in your head when you think of the Front Row Fashion runway show, presented by Vogue Magazine. It's the show that sells out the quickest, given its Vogue pedigree, it's a trend-driven vs designer runway show, it has the widest array of clothing from different shops throughout The Bellevue Collection, and of course, there's the marvelous goodie bag they have for each attendee. Front Row Fashion is like the big Saturday night fashion party, where people get inspired by the runway and immediately head out to "shop the show" with new ideas over how to give their wardrobe a refreshing hit of style. 

Vogue's Anne Vincent was back to introduce the show, as well as talk trends with style expert and television host, Lawrence Zarian, who was a Fashion Week special guest. As always, there can be no style without substance, and this year's tickets went to benefit The Moyer Foundation, a favorite local charity that reaches out to families in need and provides them the support they need during difficult times.     

As always, this is the most crowd-excited show. It's a Saturday night, you see groups of girlfriends in their highest heels and most favorite new outfit, getting together to get excited about style. It's the night I have the most fun for Fashion Week, as I usually get together with a group of friends and we wander the stores and make an evening of it. I kept the merriment to a minimum this year, but still had a great time with runway photos. The show selects wearable trends and it's meant to make fashion feel accessible. I think sometimes high fashion becomes almost too theatrical, which makes it feel unattainable to most people who just want to feel put-together. I love edgy looks and high-concept ideas, but I do agree that at the end of the day, we live in the clothes we wear, and sometimes five-inch platform heels studded with jewels and spikes might be a bit much for a quick trip to the grocery store. So let's appreciate fashion for its wearable quality, as much as its innovation, shall we? 

These are some of the favorite photos from Front Row Fashion. There were many more outfits, but these looks had the most impact, interest or best represented the trend themes the show was divided into. I hope you feel inspired to give some of these looks a try!

Layer Logic: fall-ready combinations that mix textures, materials and lengths to create interesting layered looks. L to R: Talbots, Eileen Fisher, Vince


Sport Chic: active wear mixed with everyday casual; making fitness fashionable and giving an everyday look a sporty, urban feel. L to R: Lucy, Hugo Boss, Lucy


Power Play - Suiting: traditional suit styles don't have to be boring. Use unusual layering, accessories and material/color choices for interest. L to R: Banana Republic, Hugo Boss, Banana Republic 


Power Play - Dresses: the daytime dress can be as strong as a power suit. Colors and materials ensure a dress means business. L to R: Nordstrom (Cynthia Steffe), Hugo Boss, Nordstrom (Robert Rodriguez)


Bold and Beautiful: a monochromatic or neutral look is a perfect canvas to showcase bold accessories. L to R: Nordstrom (Kristen Blake, Vince Camuto), Nordstrom (June, J Brand, Marc Jacobs), Nordstrom (Haute Hippie, Michael Kors)


Urban Mix: don't fear mixing prints and patterns! Use them as you would color blocking,  making sure one print is clearly dominant over the other, and that they compliment each other in color or pattern. L to R: Ann Taylor, Aritzia, 7 for All Mankind 


Coat Crusade - bold colors and shapes: say goodbye to the all-black overcoat; embrace different silhouettes and colors/materials. L to R: Ann Taylor, Hugo Boss, Hugo Boss 


Coat Crusade - outerwear as a statement: let your outerwear be as fierce as your outfit with leather or fur (faux is fine). L to R: Hugo Boss, Vince, Hugo Boss


Show Stoppers - color and texture: use an all-over jewel-toned color or a luxe-textured material to light up a room for your next special occasion. L to R: Hugo Boss, Hugo Boss, Nordstrom (Abi Ferrin)  


Show Stoppers - classic shapes with sparkle and detail: never let a cocktail dress or LBD be "basic." Seek out dazzling details to be the hit of the party. L to R: Macy's (Xcape), Nordstrom (Sean Collection), Nordstrom (Sean Collection)


Jaunty Fine Print: photography by Denise Sakaki, shops/designers listed above

Say what you will about Facebook and social media, but I was so very inspired by the outpouring of visual support for equal marriage rights on people's profile photos over the last week. Who would have thought a little square could say such volumes? And more than anything else, I was inspired by the creativity people took in not only showing support, but personalizing their support, whether it's through pop culture memes, bacon and booze and the symbols of love. Cheers to you, everyone!  

Sometimes a Bird just can't decide what to wear... so she'll throw everything on at once. Such a Drama Queen -- hence the brooch. Thank heavens for the Inspired looks from Anthropologie's website to help justify this lack of impulse control! I know Anthro's getting a lot of play in recent posts -- it's true, I likey them to the max. More to the point, I likey their Pinwheel Tights to the super-duper max, so this Inspired look took a cue from their textured stems. I like how both outfits manage to combine textures, a raised and flirty hemline, but the covered legs help keep everything demure. And warmer, since baby, it's cold outside!

I've had this pair of textured/spotted tights for a few years, and I love them to bits. I especially love how tights are staying in the style headlines and getting featured in wide-scale campaigns, like the recent J. Crew catalog, featuring a pair of fabulous herringbone tights.

I believe these tights were purchased from Victoria's Secret many moons ago. The satin burgundy dress and brown belt were from JC Penney (You down with JCP? Yeah, you know me!), brown lace cap sleeve blouse was Macys, the white sweater was from The Limited, suede/satin flats are Nine West, and the scarf and jeweled pin were gifts.

It's funny how movies speak to us in different ways. For all the glitz, glamour and sparkle of the recent release, Nine, this Birdie couldn't be swooned -- and it was a pretty darn shiny movie! But on a random Saturday morning, I caught the 1998 romantic comedy, You've Got Mail on television, and was reminded what a charming movie it is. Granted, the story is nothing new -- even borderline creepy, as Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan email their way to anonymous romance. Boy meets girl, boy makes girl lose business, emails are exchanged, hearts are mended, love conquers all, blah, blah, blah. Honestly, I don't even care about the half-baked story, as I think Hanks and Ryan are simply a joy to watch, even as far back as Joe Versus the Volcano -- way before Sleepless in Seattle came out.

The main reason I find You've Got Mail so delightful, is the children's bookstore that Meg Ryan's character owns. It's amazing in its fairytale New York City, Nora Ephron-ization way, with its perfect vintage interiors and lovingly-stocked shelves. Even the name is adorable: The Shop Around the Corner. Ryan exudes her signature adorableness as her character rattles off encyclopedic knowledge of childrens' book authors and characters, she bedecks her fabulous shop for every season, and lists off twee loves like bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils and happy handfuls of fresh-picked daisies. Also, Jean Stapleton's marvelously batty character is named Birdie, so that's just icing on the red velvet cupcake, as far as I'm concerned.

I was inspired to rediscover some charming treasures inspired by childhood, as well as appreciate the kind gestures of others. A glitzy glass (OK, acrylic) slipper on a pillow, a French-speaking birdie note of thanks from a thoughtful friend, and of course a momentary visit down memory lane, through a much-beloved book, Goodnight Moon. Even if the movie isn't much on its own, You've Got Mail is a pleasant reminder of how enchanting a mailed note of thanks can be.

 

Not everything has to be cutting-edge or with a wild and crazy look. Fashion can still be functional and there's nothing wrong with celebrating casual looks. I think about this when I look through my favorite magazines -- it's all glamorous times on red carpets or swanky parties, but let's face it, neither the celebrities nor us mere mortals live like that 100% of the time. How does one navigate through the day looking casual, fashionable and (gasp) comfortable?

The Magpie doesn't care that this Inspired photo is from Ye Olde Year of 2009. I ripped this photo from the pages of InStyle and kept it in my Crazy Hoarder Scrapbook, I loved it so much! I look back on it now and I still fawn over the feminine-sweet pairing of basics that actress Keri Russell is wearing. Of course Felicity would wear this!! (Team  Ben, by the way.) I liked the combination of thin, layered separates and oh-those-shiny-Oxfords! It was one of the early photos that convinced me I needed to have a pair for myself.

And so, even a couple of years later, the Bird remains Inspired by an everyday, casual outfit, which honestly is so comfortable, you could just live in it. It's nowhere near as grubby as being in a slouchy tracksuit all day, wouldn't you agree? We don't have to be dressed like we're going to meet the Queen, just be presentable, with a little bit of fun. From the Jaunty Wardrobe: jeans from Old Navy, striped button shirt from Express, pink argyle cardigan from Forever 21, pink sleeveless undershirt worn beneath all that (not shown), brown Oxfords from Steve Madden, Champagne cork necklace made by the Magpie.

Jaunty Fine Print: Items from the Jaunty Wardrobe photographed by Denise Sakaki, Keri Russell image from InStyle

This Bird is calling it -- it's official: Fall is Here. At least in the Pacific Northwest. But there's no reason one can't combine the punchy prints of summer with the midseason textures of fall. Whoever said mixing prints and textures was a bad thing? They clearly didn't see the works of Tuleh's fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear collection, nor did they browse Anthropologie's rotating collections of outfit stylings. The Inspired results from the Jaunty Wardrobe procured a printed jersey top with a very Jaunty zipper in the back (Macys), a tweedy pencil skirt (Express), and a plummy quarter-length button-up cardigan (New York & Co). A collection of colorful, tribal-inspired jewelry, all given as lovely gifts over the years, and a bright clutch (JCPenney) for pop, and a simple nude heel (BCBG) finishes off this mix of color and texture as we roll into the "liquid sunshine" season of Seattle.

So one can either give credit to or put the blame firmly upon the shoulders of InStyle magazine for putting the Inspired idea in this Birdie's head to paint an old bookshelf bright red. More specifically, it was InStyle's April issue focusing on bright colors. Apparently shiny-shiny sparkle isn't all that catches the Magpie's eye. I blame you, Gwen Stefani, with your brightly colored ensemble and subliminal suggestion using the power of your bright lipstick hue!

To be fair, I had an old particle board bookshelf that was begging to be a guinea pig and I was curious about the Krylon spray paint that makes the boast of not needing to prime the surface and that it was specially made for being applied to plastic. All these claims seem true enough; the paint went on fine and didn't peel off (yet). The only blunder was spraying a can of clear sealant over the finished paint. It was raining, I was spraying the shelf in the garage, and there was enough moisture in the air to make the sealant cloudy, so a couple of hasty trips to the hardware store were necessary to pick up extra cans to fix everything.

I go through odd phases of home improvement, but instead of buying new things, I'm trying to work on updating and changing what we already have. The newly-painted red bookshelf has given rise to inspire new projects, and if all goes well, they may show up as an Inspired post as well!

Jaunty Fine Print: Bookshelf photos by Denise Sakaki; magazine cover taken from InStyle.com

 

Here are some shiny things that have caught the Magpie's eye.

:: life + style ::
Alexandra Hedin Design - beautiful ideas from a local lifestyle expert
Alix Rose - a daily dose of trends, editorials, and designer finds
Amy Atlas Events - party planner and designer; makes me want to have a party right now
The Clothes Horse - see the world through Rebecca's amazing, stylish vision
Cup of JO - writer and all-around style superwoman, Joanna Goddard knows what's good
Darrah's Dresser - observations and photography through the style looking glass
The Emerald Dandy - exploring Seattle as the new style hidden gem
I Am Style-ish - photographer and Seattle gal-about-town, this is a great collection of creativity
It's My Darlin - a daily dose of Seattle street style and some yummy local eats
J Crew Afficionada - a prepster's delight, in blog form
Needle + Thread - capturing Seattle street style - the Northwest Sartorialist
One Must Shock the Bourgeois - invigorating the people with creativity and inspiration every day
The Sartorialist - the Magpie's daily dose of urban eye candy
Seattle Fashion TV - Seattle's fashion news network
Superbetch - You bettah work that fierce style, betches!
Vue Society - Life and times of Bellevue's fashion expert

:: home + garden ::
Matte White - fresh and clean home decor exploring Scandinavian design
South Sound Garden - Ms. SSG, how does your garden grow? A PacNW gardenening blog.

:: keen artistry ::
GB Tran/Vietnamerica - the totally true story of a wily comic book illustrator
Joannarchy - burlesque, macabre, and funhouse fabulosity art by Joanna Mulder.
Maira Kalman & the Pursuit of Happiness - an illustrated intellectual journey through America
Monologue Photography - Seattle photographer Jeff Krahenbuhl knows how to make people look good!
Seeds and Fruit - be inspired by others' inspirations
Sweet Paul - food stylist Paul Lowe's blog of gorgeous edibles and crafty Fridays
Wil Freeborn - designer/illustrator in Scotland with lovely drawings and watercolors
Youa Kong Photography - a Seattle photographer with a keen eye for fashion

:: hand craft ::
Betz White - unique felted crafts and green-friendly projects
Poppytalk - for the love of all things well-designed, with an emphasis on handcrafted items

:: retail therapy ::
The Beautiful Life Blog - Ruth Harsham's blog featuring vintage and romantic-styled items
Frou Frou Fashionista - blog/shop featuring delicates and unnmentionables that deserve mentioning
NOTCOUTURE - a virtual bulletin board of stylish finds from all over the internet
Paper Source - my favorite paper store has a crafty blog full of sweet and charming ideas
Smoking Lily - smart, unique products from a lovely little shop in Canada

:: charming pastiche ::
All Things Lovely - the title covers it all, but you should see it for yourself!
Bedlam of Beefy - a blog too wonderful to put under any one category - thanks Uncle Beefy!
English Muse - fanciful loveliness ready to inspire your heart
Last Days of Light - photography, fashion and art - dare you not to feel inspired
Lobster and Swan - a daily dose of handcrafted art and creativity
Lost in the Forest - Beautiful thoughts and objects to decorate your day
Made By Girl - Jennifer Ramos is a creative force of nature
Radish and Rosé - movies, food, interiors and Clive Owen - what's not to love?
Style Just Be - Ms. SJBe's got a variety of things to share, from movies, to sports, to fashion.
What's Your Tale, Nightingale? - a blog as lovely and precious as tea and scones with Jane Austen

One of the things this Bird always remembers about the holidays was in the days between Christmas and New Year's, her Jaunty Mother always pressed upon her the need to write out thank-you notes to all the kind and generous souls who gave gifts. What felt like a chore as a wee chicklet, now feels like a vital rite of etiquette, especially with all the rapid-fire communication avenues available to woefully send a fast, but lackluster, "THANK U. Catch U L8R!" Call this Bird ye olde-fashioned, but there's something pleasantly civilized about sending a note in the mail, showing thanks and appreciation for a genuine sentiment of generosity. Plus, one can't deny the joy of getting a letter. It's something an email or text message can never replace, the tactile sensation of opening an envelope, unfolding a note, and seeing something written by hand and sent with affection.

Continuing this sentiment of thanks, and to honor my Jaunty Mother's sage wisdom, I wish to write out an open letter of gratitude to everyone who has visited The Jaunty Magpie in its first year as a fashion, art, and personal style blog:

Dearest Readers and Visitors,

I wish to extend my most sincere thanks to you all for taking the time to visit this Bird online to peer through the posts, to leave such thoughtful comments, and chatting over Twitter. It has been an extra special treat to be able to meet fellow bloggers in the area, and make new friends -- truly the greatest gift of all! This Birdie feels truly blessed and humbled by the kindness shown.

It has been barely a year since the Jaunty Magpie perched itself online to share her thoughts, musings and periodic peeks into her rumpled wardrobe. Your kindness is most appreciated and something that has thoroughly imbued this blog with the inspiration to continue searching for lovely and thoughtful discoveries. Really and truly, this blog would not be anything without the support of you -- readers and friends -- who have been so generous with encouragement and praise.  

In the new year, this Bird resolves to continue exploring the world of fanciful things. I will carry on the browsing of whimsical finds for Fancy posts, keep creating collages of inspired Moods, as well as singular treasures and thoughts full of J'adore. The Jaunty Magpie has always been about being a resourceful Bird, and the Inspired posts showing items photographed from her own wardrobe will march onward, remaining a Polyvore-free site (not that I don't like it; I'm just weird and stubborn).

So please accept my utmost Jaunty Thanks for your supportive kindness, and I wish you all the very best in the new year!

With love and affection,
denise the magpie

 

This Bird has really done it now... Just booked a flight out to Sin City at the most insane time of year, the ridiculous heat of August! But it's for a good reason -- meeting up with family who will be there for a weekend and visiting my best friend who lives in the area. Less party, more of a weekend to unplug from the world. I've been out to Las Vegas before, on trips with friends to live it up for a weekend and have an excuse to wear sparkly, exciting things that would just never fly in the casual, relaxed land of the Northwest. And even though I'm not much of a high-roller, what with local gambling spots and internet casinos available wherever you have a computer, nothing beats the excitement of such a bling-bling city like Las Vegas.

This trip put me in a bit of a glitzy, bedazzled Mood, challenging my Jaunty eye to find some of the most sparkly, Sin City-glamorous things, but keeping in mind not to go overboard and dress like a showgirl. Let's face it, when people go to Vegas, aside from it being the most rowdy and obnoxious plane ride over, it's like someone pressed the "overexcessive" button and couldn't stop. Vegas does not have to mean tacky. Go for a bit of shimmer or bronzing powder for an evening sheen -- don't look like you went overboard in the tanning salon and rolled in glitter afterwards. All the sparkly baubles shown above certainly caught my eye, but this in no way constitutes a Jaunty Outfit -- pick one thing! A menswear-inspired tuxedo suit with the peekaboo surprise of shorts, paired with heels surrounded by feathers is a great play on masculine/feminine details. If one thing is outrageously sparkly, then the Bird gives her nod of Jaunty approval and says, "You're good, now get out there and strut your stuff."

Of course this is a fantasy dream, were I to have an endless bank account or a big casino bonus win at my disposal, but a Magpie with a sparkle in her eye can always dream, can't she? These were the goodies I couldn't help but share for my Vegas-inspired Mood board: {1} Make the First Mauve, Only Gold for Me, Sparkle Me Silver nail colors by OPI from Sephora, {2} Habibi minaudiere by Judith Leiber, {3} Two-tone beaded dress by Mandalay from Neiman Marcus, {4} Black feather strap shoes by Givenchy on StyleCaster, {5} Tuxedo suit by Yves Saint Laurent on Elle, {6} Glitters body shimmer by Make Up For Ever from Sephora, {7} Jewel-tone one-shoulder draped dress by Ali Ro from Neiman Marcus, {8} Gold plated ring with crystal detail from Kate Spade New York on Elle, {9} Humbee II in light gold glitter by Badgley Mischka from Piperlime, {10} Sparklicity gold shimmer dust by Tarina Tarantino from Sephora


Jaunty Fine Print:  images from shops/designers listed above

 

Fancy posts seek to profile shops and designers, both local and abroad, as well as feature unique finds that this bird has stumbled across. All objects of desire are celebrated, whether it's from Saville Row or independently crafted by hand. Why not peruse some of these Fancy posts?




Feel Inspired by outfits or trends shown in magazines, but feeling like you need to buy something new to capture that look? Put your pocketbook away and look no further than your own closet. This bird finds stylish inspirations and shops her closet, creating fashionable and wearable looks photographed from her own wardrobe. Take a look and get Inspired by your own treasures!




Sometimes a certain Mood strikes a jaunty bird, whether it's a song, a color, a place, or a state of mind. In a magpie-flurry of energy, treasures are collected and the many magpie Moods are created.



J'adore is in the air! And this bird isn't afraid to tell the world. These posts are art, music, objects or ideas of the moment. Anything caught in the mad flurry of passion, so it's anyone's guess over which of Cupid's Arrows will strike this bird's heart next!

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Who is the Jaunty Magpie? If you scrolled down this far to find out, then you deserve to know I'm Denise, and I'm pleased to meet you down here at the bottom of the page. Here is a link to my Google profile page. Feel free to drop me a line at dsakaki at gmail dot com.

As wary as I am of clutter and the accumulation of junk, I admit to being a paper and ribbon hoarder.  It's my weakness, the siren song of collected ephemera. When I'm the recipient of a beautifully-wrapped gift, I don't tear into the gift, I gingerly separate the taped parts and keep the paper. The same with long scraps of ribbon. The voices of my mother and grandmother ring in my head: No, no, don't throw it away, it's still good!! And despite all logical arguments to the contrary, it's worth it when the holidays roll around.