wardrobe therapy

Ever look into your closet and just wonder, "What the heck is going on in here?" The Magpie had one of those moments, staring into the abyss of a somewhat cluttered, borderline neglected closet and realized it was long overdue for a review. It was made all the more apparent when I was very honored to be included in 425 Magazine's Voices of Fashion article, featuring several a-mazing local fashion and style experts. I just felt very lucky and extremely fortunate to be included, and I keep waiting for a voice to bellow down from the heavens: What the heck are you doing on this list, you Old Bird?! But talking about trends, both fleeting and forever golden, got me looking into what's sitting on my hangers at home. I realized, good gravy, this closet needs a serious look-over!

The Birdy can credit Pinterest for helping me find this lovely blogger, Glamor Guru -- I loved this outfit, from the red boots to the schoolboy blazer. I have a blazer very similar from J. Crew and I was looking to be Inspired over how to wear it and not look like a stewardess -- inspiration found! I love what a total mix-tape of looks this is, total preppy-rocker-cowgirl in all the best ways. Especially with the boots and jeans; usually I wear these short foldover boots with shorts or a skirt, but a tall cuff on a slim pant totally works. I'm also using this as an open letter to the Pacific Northwest's summer weather to make. up. its. damn. mind. For reals!! I'm picking out fall-appropriate outfits in June!

Anyways, weather gripes aside, at least I have something fun to wear. From the Jaunty Wardrobe: schoolboy blazer from J. Crew, printed top from Macys, jeans from Old Navy, foldover short boots from JC Penney, black satin handbag was a gift.

Jaunty Fine Print: photo from Glamor Guru, Jaunty Wardrobe photos by Denise Sakaki

It's no surprise that shoes can tell a lot about a person. They can be formal, practical, flamboyant, well-worn -- all descriptors that could go with the person wearing them. They're the way we navigate the world and I started thinking about shoes and blogs. I was at the food/blogger/networking event, Foodportunity, put on by Keren Brown, a well-connected Seattleite food celeb who holds these events regularly to help connect the very nebulous food-wine-social media-freelance everything community. I like attending, I can catch up with people I haven't seen in a while and I meet new folks. It always feels like a high school reunion, or rather, what I would think a high school reunion would be like, if I'd ever bothered to attend any of mine.

One of the folks I caught up with was wine expert and blogger, Jameson Fink, who is always fun to talk to and if you're lucky to meet him, he'll give you a great tip about a wine you gotta try. He's got a beautiful blog, Wine Without Worry, and he incorporates food and travel to learn all there is to know about whatever grape has captured his interest -- most of all, he make wine approachable. His blog joins the esteemed ranks of many gorgeous blogs out there offering all this marvelous information that's driven by pure passion, the center of J'adore. At Foodportunity, Jameson was wearing these fantastic bright green and yellow-striped sneakers that were getting compliments. They were some wicked kicks, yo! That's what started me thinking about walking in one's shoes, and how they are like following and reading a blog. You're not reading the Wall Street Journal, where writers have to pull the shades down over their personal voice to get the facts on the page -- which has its place, absolutely. But if you're reading this right now, you're probably like me, wanting to explore another heart's delight and in many cases, you'll learn something new. 

Blogs remain as another method of exploring the world through genuine experience, and I was reminded of this after seeing so many familiar and new faces at Foodportunity and hearing so many stories. So thank Jameson and his Jaunty shoes for inspiring this post, plus it helps that he kept joking that they should be on the blog. So there, Jameson -- you're Jaunty, deal with it! ;)

Jaunty Fine Print: illustration by Denise Sakaki

It's exciting when bloggers take their passions and blogs to the next level, which can mean any number of things. Blogs are just virtual extensions of ourselves and our best intentions to remedy a world that can seem laden with same-ness. So it's inspiring when someone like Rachel Kim takes her popular fashion blog VueSociety, and reworks it as a unique resource for style advice, trend reports as well as the fashion itself! She recently launched her new site with an online shop full of designers like Boulee, Again and StyleStalker, that are a little tougher to find in the States. The overall style is modern, urban chic. There are fun and edgy statement pieces mixed with everyday staples. She carefully curates her collection, changing them out regularly, so it's good to check back often to see what's new. She's an example of the entrepreneurial spirit that ultimately drives bloggers towards personal success and satisfaction, because really, isn't it everyone's dream to just do what we love? 

Rachel is also making sure her online store is fashion with a purpose -- she's partnered with the Bellevue non-profit organization, Washington Women In Need, donating a proceed of her sales. It's a way of being involved in the community at home while being a stylish force in the virtual world. 

If you're in the area, mark your calendars, as VueSociety will be involved in the Thread Show on Oct 23rd and the Holiday Bazaar at the Bellevue Club on Nov 5th.  

If you just want to go shopping (and who doesn't?), head over to VueSociety and start browsing! I really liked these pieces in particular, but bear in mind, it's like your favorite little boutique shop around the corner, so if you like something, get it now, as it may not be there in a few days! Items featured: {1} dress by Ashby Again Apparel, {2} Staircase Print Leggings, {3} Black Bubble Top, {4} Street Again Apparel, {5} Glam Bangles Set 

Jaunty Fine Print:  photos from VueSociety online store

What a grand night to be a blogger on Friday, November 20th! If you live in or around the Seattle area, perhaps you had heard about Blog Meet Blog, a party organized by two fabulous local bloggers, Kam of Needle + Thread, and Rebecca of The Clothes Horse. This event created a festive and friendly atmosphere to bring a blogger's online presence into the physical realm, and mingle with fellow creatives for a night!

People gathered at the very stylish BoConcept store in downtown Seattle. This is a great place to let inspiration run wild; they have a beautiful showroom of modern ecclectic pieces that totally speak to the Pacific Northwest sensibilities. It was like going to a party at the friend who lives in the impossibly cool loft downtown, filled with cozy sitting areas and tasty treats. Some of the sponsors for the event included Qdoba, Mike's Hard Lemonade, Dry Soda and local darling Trophy Cupcakes. Sitting on a beautiful sofa with a cider in one hand and a s'mores cupcake in the other isn't a bad way to finish off a long week, this Bird has to admit.

Glitter, glam, and yummy treats aside, the real treat was the opportunity to meet so many bloggers. This Bird has been to different social events where one has the opportunity to chat with entrepreneurial minds and talk business, but Blog Meet Blog felt like a true act of kindness. And that's something that is not thrown about lightly -- it's easy enough to be pleasant or nice, but this event had the rare sense of kindness, which is to say, everyone could just share their creative experiences, no sales pitch required, and breathe easy in the knowledge that you were surrounded by like-minded individuals. And people could chat like old friends because we finally got to put faces to blogger/twitter names. The easygoing banter amongst the crowd made me feel like I was back in college, in the art department, where even if you didn't know someone, you felt like you still had a shared connection for imagination and an appreciation for unique beauty. Smiles were exchanged freely, introductions felt natural and enthusiastic. My only regret for the night was being so bird-brained late, and not being able to talk to every amazing person in the room. I know I missed out on seeing people I've talked with over Twitter or via blog comments, and for that I send my regrets, and hope we cross paths again soon! That goes double for the Emerald Dandy and Shock the Bourgeois -- I'm so sorry I missed a proper introduction!

Both Kam and Rebecca are truly kind, creative souls -- if you haven't had a chance to visit their blogs and get to know their imaginative minds, please do so. I can't thank them enough for putting together this meet-up opportunity, having it at such a stylish and smart location like BoConcept, and getting all the great sponsors involved. It was also totally Supercalifragalisticexpicalidocious to once again see the fashionably familiar likes of Seattle Fashion TV, Darrah's Dresser, VueSociety, and Photograph by Youa Kong. This Bird was also just as tickled pink to meet the fabulous likes of Superbetch, Last Days of Light, It's My Darlin', Alix Rose, Urban Fashion Network, and Beauty Revolution Magazine.

Oh, regret number two -- I didn't take nearly enough photos as I should have! But fear not, please peruse those blogs for their Blog Meet Blog posts, where you can find more photos and thoughts on the event. Urban Fashion Network's event post has a link to a ton of great photos by Mike Adams. Sweet thanks to The Clothes Horse's Rebecca for snapping a pic of my crazy ode to Seattle's affinity for sandals and socks, and Anna of Last Days of Light for a picture of Superbetch's Eddie and myself standing against those awesome textile swatches! I look forward to seeing local bloggers again soon, whether it's an event or just being out and about the area!

So, as you can tell, it's no big surprise where this Bird will be this Friday eve. (Hint, if you're not planning on going to BlogMeetBlog, CHANGE YOUR PLANS) I've had the lovely opportunity to meet event coordinator, Kam of Needle + Thread fame, during a recent Bellevue Fashion Week event, as well as many other AMAZING local bloggers and creative supergeniuses (peek-a-boo at the Magpie's links page). I'm also a fan of fellow event coordinatrix, The Clothes Horse's Rebecca, who is a fantastic source of wardrobe and cultural inspiration, and so it's no minor sentiment to say how totally jazzed this Bird is to have an opportunity meet and mingle amongst the fabulous bloggers of the Pacific Northwest!

I think BlogMeetBlog will be a really unique event. I often feel like the little outsider peering in at the fabulousness of the surrounding bloggeristas, as I'm always amazed at the influence behind singular, imaginative voices. The power of so many independent sources is both astounding and fascinating, so I strive to feel as much of a participant as I am an observer of this phenomenon. I look forward to meeting as many local bloggers/writers/artists as possible. The only challenge I'm faced with at the moment is WHAT TO WEAR. Knowing the stylish diversity and fierce fabulosity showing up at BoConcept this Friday, this Bird has her work cut out for her! Wish me luck and I can't wait to meet all you fab bloggers!