Throwback: Year of the Eye

In 2012, I had a goal: do 365 different eye looks. Here are some of my favorites from the year:

I miss working at Sephora because my uniform ("costume" in Sephora-speak) was a simple black suit, so I could literally do anything with my eyes.

Top left: Apollo homecoming! I had started working as a teacher by this point in the year.
Top right: Sunset... this was done with a Charlotte Ronson palette that I fell in love with.
Middle left: Dory from Finding Nemo :) I did these on a day off. I didn't wear this look out of the house.
Middle right: One of the first ones I did! I just loved the blending effect.

Bottom left: Space... the final frontier...
Bottom right: Black Widow. I didn't wear this out of the house, but I did it during my week-long tribute to the Avengers. :)

I feel like I should be more creative more often. I miss fun eye looks like this!

Retail Therapy

Wow, I really have been neglecting this!

Yesterday is basically the worst day of the year for me, and so I engaged in some retail therapy to help get my mind in a different place. Here's what I bought:

They're all from Chiara, a UK retailer with crazy low prices. My little splurge cost just about $40, which isn't bad at all. I've ordered from them before... if you've ever seen me in my yellow and black colorblock dress, it's one of my favorites, and very well made. No complaints about the quality of the clothes.

I'm so excited for that floral dress to get here. Time to plan some outfits!

Outfit Post

 

Not much for you today... just tomorrow's outfit. I'll have to tote those wedges to work... we got a couple of inches of snow last night!

My Turn To Play Fashion Police!

Without any ado... here are my favorite Golden Globes dresses in order!

Julianna Margulies in Andrew GN

10. Julianna Margulies
I love the black and gold combination, and I love how simple yet elegant it is. And now I want to do this design on my fingernails.

Lupita Nyong'o in Ralph Lauren

9. Lupita Nyong'o

That dress has a cape. I really don't need to say more than that. She's a superhero.

Zosia Mamet in Reem Acra

 8. Zosia Mamet

This dress makes me want to write poetry. She is in the arms of vines; she is belted by dark flowers, a living column adorned with shadow maples and daisies of ink... (I didn't say it would be good poetry).

Emma Thompson in Lanvin

7. Emma Thompson

I've been researching Renaissance fashion lately, so this inverted "V" shape really threw me for a loop! I love it, though. This is the sort of thing I'd wear if I were a famous actress. And then Joan Rivers would get down on me for being "matronly" and say I should "dress my age," and I would probably make some snarky Twitter comment about how not all of us are so desperate to look young that we butcher our faces... yeah, it's a good thing I'm not a celebrity. (I also can't help but look at her Louboutins... they don't look like they're for human beings to stand in. No wonder why they were in her hand on stage!)

Elisabeth Moss in J. Mendel

6. Elisabeth Moss

Again, this has the armor-like feel to it... though this one is more artistic. It's like a mosaic. Without the sheer parts, this may have moved up a few spots.

Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive

5. Cate Blanchett

*Chandler Bing voice* Is Cate Blanchett ever not flawless? They cast the perfect actress as Galadriel, let me tell you. Anyway, I adore this dress... I like flouncy, and I like regal, and I like lace... and this is all three of those put together.

Amber Heard in Versace

4. Amber Heard

Oh, this is so basic. So, so basic. But it works. It's a great example of being sexy without showing an overabundance of skin all over. Alluring, I'm going to call it. It's sleek and beautiful.

Mila Kunis in Emilio Pucci

3. Mila Kunis

I wish this was a straight-on shot of her gown, because the details are gorgeous. I also like the transition from bodice to skirt... how the sequins gradually get sparse. They remind me of rain on a windowpane.

Olivia Wilde in Gucci

2. Olivia Wilde

Green is my absolute favorite color, and I love how shimmery and shiny this is. I also love that she didn't try to hide her pregnant belly. She is stunning. Back to the dress-- I would have liked this a little more had it maintained its sleekness, but it looks a little too sequin-encrusted at the top.

Kate Beckinsale in Zuhair Murad

1. Kate Beckinsale

I love a dress that looks like I can wear it as armor. This is a perfect balance: it's elegant, curve-hugging, and glamorous, but it wouldn't look out of place if I donned this with a helmet and a sword... and I'd feel like Lady Sif.

And the Golden Globe Goes To...

...who cares? It's a night for dresses! I'll be watching the red carpet as I correct a stack of poetry portfolios... hopefully I can post my favorite dresses before the night's over. :)

I Promise I Don't Live In My Parents' Basement

No, really! I don't! I'm a functioning adult who works a full-time job, is married to a wonderful man, pays her bills, and lives in her own apartment.

The above disclaimer is necessary because I have just decided to join the Society for Creative Anachronism! Contrary to what you might think about those crazy men and women who dress up in Renaissance garb, cook authentic foods, and go fight in their own medieval tournaments, we're actually pretty normal human beings.

I just discovered that the SCA is active in my area, and I'm pretty excited! For those of you who aren't familiar with what it is, here's the description straight from the website:

The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our “Known World” consists of 19 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes & workshops, and more.

I'm most excited about the costumes, the feasts, and the tournaments. Since I started researching my family history back in 2004, I have learned a lot about European history, and am fascinated by some of the things my ancestors lived through, achieved, and fought for. I will never be a Viking shieldmaiden, but I can emulate my "fiery" ancestor Joanna of Flanders by learning to fight. I will never be a real duchess or queen like my royal forebears, but I can honor my lineage by earning a title.

How does this fit into a fashion blog, you might wonder? Well, I'll be making my own costumes! I have to decide where my persona will be from and when she would have lived, and then begin to research. I'm leaning toward the late 1400s/early 1500s in France or England, so I can wear a hennin and enjoy the decadent dresses of the Elizabethan era.

Hennin

Portrait of Catherine Parr, 1545

I'm really excited about all of this! Now, not only do I get to research history, I get to immerse myself in it. And dress like that! :)

Renaissance Lady

I completed my belt... at the cost of sleep. I spent all of last night working on it and watching hockey. When I closed the last ring and looked at the clock, it was near midnight! Then I was starving, and there was really nothing in the house, so my husband and I drove to the nearest open restaurant for a little midnight meal. Bedtime last night was near 2 am.

But it's so worth it... check this out! This is the finished product; the Renaissance jeweled belt I was talking about yesterday.

The whole thing... 40" long and fits over a hoop skirt

The flower... I made the floral medallion. It took the better part of Return of the King to make this. :)

Closer view of the belt

And now, after this long day, I think I'm going to take a nap. :)