Seeing Thing Differently

When I met my now husband, then boyfriend, we moved from California to Seattle less than 4 months after dating. We were fresh out of college, had no job experience, and we were broke. Our first year was spent living in a studio apartment the size of box. Understandably so, we had a terrible time finding jobs in the first months. Our days were spent at a coffee shop, browsing the free internet and checking craigslist every two minutes.

Our luck changed after 4 months. TJ landed a job as the web producer for the Seattle Opera. He was in so far over his head, it now seems hilarious to think of all the things he didn’t know. Of course, he busted his butt and figured it out. Now four years later, he’s running the website ship.

Anyways, to my point . . .

One of the perks of his job is getting to go to the opera. As a girl I never thought I would get to go to such a performance. You see, rich people go to the opera. Older folks go to the opera. TJ and I, young studs straight out of school, we don’t do opera. And we didn’t.

It has taken 4 years of TJ working for the opera, and finally tonight, for the first time, I sat through the entire performance of The Marriage of Figaro. When I walked out the door I felt a sense of gratitude. I have taken for granted the 4 years that I have had access to such art. I have overlooked the benefit to seeing such performances. And because of my, “I have cooler things to do”attitude, I’ve missed out on La Boheme, Don Giovanni, Tosca, Carmen, Aida, and I could go on.

If you love opera, you want to smack me right now. And for the first time, I walked out of the opera and wanted to smack myself.

Point being, it’s never too late to change your mind. Learn to see things differently. And appreciate the things you've got.

A+ Ankles

I need your thoughts on the subject...

You see I love ankle boots. I LOVE them! Every time I see them I think, "I want a pair of those!" And then, just when I am about to purchase a pair, I see some awful photo of someone with "softball calves," as my husband likes to call them, wearing them and they don't look so hot.

So share your thoughts here... do you need to be 5'7 with legs to wear ankle boots? Or can us average girls, as in 5'5, work these boots out?

Wearing What Works

As you know by now, I work for a women's clothing boutique. Every day I walk into what would be the ultimate closet. ACNE, Vanessa Bruno, Isabel Marant, Zero + Maria Cornejo, you name it - we have it.

In my first weeks there I was somewhat overwhelmed by all the beautiful things. There is an unspoken standard for how one dresses when selling $400 dollar scarves. Me being me, I don't wear funky, crazy, or wildly unique clothing. Honestly, give me my black jeans and a white tee and I'm set. But as the work days passed, and as I saw all the other workers hip shoes, funky jewelry and big bags, pressure mounted and I could feel uncertainty and insecurity setting in. I know, I know, I shouldn't feel such a way, but I am a girl. Feelings like mine come with the territory.

And perhaps it is because I have recently felt this way, that Emmanuel Alt's words struck a chord with me. Jak + Jil found the following quote by Emmanuelle Alt in the recent Vogue Hommes International.

“FORGET TRENDY DESIGNER LABELS. JEANS, A SWEATER OR A T-SHIRT WORN UNDER A JACKET THAT SEEMS WELDED TO YOU. WHEN IT’S JUST RIGHT, WHEN YOU DON’T SEE THE EFFORT, IT’S IRRESISTIBLE.”

What can I say...I am irresistible in jeans and a tee. So I think I'm just going to stick with what works.

photo source

Do or Die for Coco + Kelley

Cassandra from Coco + Kelley is my girl. Aside from that fact that she accompanies me to numerous Seattle fashion events, her blog keeps me fresh with ideas how to redesign my apartment and set the table for a dinner party. Cassandra's blog provides inspiration for thousands of readers, so here is a little look at what Cassandra cannot live without.

Cassandra's Do or Die List:

1. Kiehls lip balm. love.

2. Amazing photography of pretty things, preferably in a glossy mag.

3. Music to provide the soundtrack to my life.

4. Black coffee in the morning and red wine at night.

5. Travel - because seeing new places is so essential to inspiration.

6. Love (duh).

7. The ocean, preferably with sunshine.

8. GPS. I honestly have zero sense of direction and being lost gives me panic attacks.

9. Vintage stores. I adore a good treasure hunt.

10. Fresh flowers!!! They make me smile every time.

i like this

I'm keeping this brief... I love this photo.

wiped-out

This is how I feel this week. Wiped-out. It's only Wednesday but I could got for it being Friday. I haven't been on vacation since August last year; however, I am going to San Francisco this weekend. I'm so dying to get out of town, relax, walk around, visit the chocolate store, and just hang out.

Back to reality. It's Wednesday and I've got to go to work.

Do or Die for Pia Jane Bijkerk

Pia Jane Bijkerk is one of my favorite blogs, and Pia is one of the most inspirational people I've come across. Her photos are stellar. Her writing is honest. And I know the when I leave her blog I will feel inspired. Honestly, I wish I could just hang out with her for a day and see all the cool things she gets to do. So here is just a small look at Pia and what she needs to make her world wonderful. I recommend checking out her blog after you read her do or die list.

Pia's Do or Die List:

1. Bing surrounded by nature.

2. Sunshine on my face.

3. A bath. (although i don't actually have one here on the boat, so whenever i go away on holidays, i make sure there is a beautiful bathtub to soak in!).

4. Paper and a pencil (does that count as two? :-) )

5. A book! I need to read, reading is like food to me.

6. Food! more specifically, chocolate. ;-)

7. My camera. or just "a" camera. I take at least one camera with me wherever I go.

8. My piano. its a little awkward to take with me everywhere, but I try none-the-less.

9. Great friends. without them, i'd go loopy I'm sure - they let me "let it all out".

10. Water: to drink. to soak in, to float in, and dive in. I'm a water baby!

Seattle Fashion Week Review

Cassandra of Coco + Kelley and I went to Seattle Fashion Week this past weekend. You can check out some of my photos below and you can read my review of the event here.

Winner

Thanks to everyone for entering the Marc By Marc Jacobs Giveaway. The lucky winner is Sidney Ann. Thanks again to everyone who entered. The feedback and insight was helpful. Be sure and check back soon, as I promise to have another awesome giveaway.

yes, yes, oh yea!

I'm jumping up and down with excitement. Not really, but maybe a little on the inside. You see, I’ve waited, and waited and waited but finally Net-a-Porter's designer outlet site, The Outnet launched this morning. Brands like Chloe, Jill Stuart, Marni, and over 200 more brands are marked up to 60 percent off. That means I'd only have to save 4 months to purchase the Chloe Ines box clutch at $690 bucks rather than the full priced $1,380. Which of course will never happen, me, save? Yea right. But it's nice to dream.

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Marc By Marc Jacobs Giveaway. Tomorrow is your last day to do so.

do or die list series

I'm starting a new series called the do or die list, as in "I DO need it or I will DIE." Bloggers we know or should get to know will give us a peek inside what they value by providing a list of ten things they cannot live without. Where possible, I will add links so that you can see more photos or learn even more about the person. I'm starting with myself and will post other bloggers do or die lists weekly. If you would like to participate, email me at laboudoirblog (at) gmail (dot) com and I will send you all the details.

Stacy's Do or Die List:

1. My Chihuahua-dog Nacho


2. Bubble baths with Cote Bastide orange blossom


3. Pete’s iced coffee in the mornings


4. Magazines, especially French Vogue, ELLE UK, and Lula


5. Saturdays and Sundays walking around with TJ


6. Oakland A’s baseball


7. Traveling to New York, San Francisco, Europe


8. Disco music


9. Dermalogica face products


10. The color black
    

natures blessing

Recently there has been a rush of beautiful babes who have been retouched to look even better than what nature already gave them. Like this recent photo of Madonna and this over air brushed Bazaar cover of Halle Berry. But this new French ELLE blew my mind. Eva Herzigova, Inès de la Fressange, and actresses Monica Bellucci, Sophie Marceau, Anne Parillaud, Karin Viard, Charlotte Rampling, and Chiara Mastroianni all appear without any makeup or retouching. Yes, that's right, what you are looking at is all-natural.

See more photos here.

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Marc Jacobs giveaway.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Giveaway

Yes, you read the title and you are thinking, "hell yes, give it to me!" Aside from the fact that it is Marc by Marc Jacobs, the "totally turnlock key pouch" is super cute. And it looks like this:

The reason behind giving away an awesome present, is because you, my readers are loyal, caring, and fabulously awesome. So what do you have to do to win? It's easy. First, if you aren't already a follower, become one. You can simply opt to follow La Boudoir by clicking the "follow" button in the right sidebar. Second, leave a comment telling me what on the blog you want more of, less of, or just love as is. Deadline: Friday, April 17.

I'm off to enjoy the weekend. Until Monday . . .

photo source

busy week

Forgive me, I will be away today. I spent all last week wrapping up my previous job, and I am starting my new job today. Of course this means lots of thing to learn, information to gain, and lots of my brain working harder than normal.

If you have some free time, I recommend checking me out over here. I've got a new freelance gig writing fashion tips for the Examiner Seattle, and perhaps you might find some inspiration for the fast-approaching spring season.

Come back Friday, I am posting the Giveaway for April and you won't want to miss it.

look-a-like

Does this guy (Werner Schreyer) look like Brad Pitt or what?

an endearing easter story

I got home from work yesterday and went to check my mailbox for junk mail and magazines as usual. Unlocking the bronze box, inside was a lonely pink envelope from my grandmother. I grabbed the card, closed the box, unlocked the door to my apartment, dropped my belongs down in my closet, and hoped up on my desk, ready to open my card.

I sliced open the envelope and found a card covered with Easter eggs. My grandmother sends cards for every holiday; Valentines, St. Patrick's, Earth day, you name it - she sends it. But unlike all the others, when I opened the card a photocopied slip of paper and a $50 dollar check slid out.

I looked to the check memo for a hint about why my grandmother was sending me money, and in the small space read the words "Easter bonnet." But why, I thought. You see, as a child my grandfather annually bought my two sisters and myself Easter bonnets. Every year it was some what of an exciting event to see what fabulous hat we would be wearing to the Easter egg hunt. But we hadn't worn an Easter bonnet in years, so what was with the money for an Easter bonnet? The photocopied paper provided the answer to my question.

My grandfather past away last January and in his will he specified that every year each of us, the grand daugthers, were to receive $50 dollars for the "purpose of defraying the cost of purchasing an Easter bonnet." My grandfather, an 89 year old man who fought in WWII, lived through the depression, saw nearly all the world, tolerated my grandmothers nagging, and spent over the last decade of his life confined to a wheelchair, he found it so important that I be able to purchase an Easter bonnet, that he put it in Section 3.04 of his will. I grin.

My grandfather may have been a hard-ass, but I guess every man has his soft side.

a book to buy

Believe it or not, I am a die-hard fashion book collector. Yes, they can cost a pretty penny but they are oh so worth it. The collection of images and insight make each book worth every cent spent. And unlike a new pair of shoes which will last me a good year at the office, my books will last a life time. That being said, I am super excited about Mademoiselle - Coco Chanel / Summer 62.

The book is a collection of photographs of Coco Chanel taken by Douglas Kirkland in 1962 . Kirkland was on assignment in Paris for the magazine Look when he captured some fabulous photos. The 104 page book gives a glimpse into her life - time spent working at her studio, leaving her suite at the Ritz Hotel and some images of her apartment. Even better, Karl Lagerfeld conceived and designed the book, providing the introduction and captions to the photos.

The book is due out this month and good luck getting your hands on it. It appears it's pre-sold out just about everywhere.

absent

Forgive me for my absence, I was attending Silhouettes of Style, a luncheon and fashion show to benefit PACE, an arts organization here in the Pacific Northwest. I'm not fabulous photographer, but you can check out some of my photos from the event.

Until Monday...

follow-up

A follow-up to yesterday's post about taking care of our bodies. I found another Rick Owens interview at Vice Magazine. I'm liking this guy with every new interview I read. He's "fierce" like Christian Soriano "fierce." More like Ozzy when he took a bite out of a bat on stage.

Vice interviewer asks, "Most important question first. You are fantastically ripped. I mean, you’re shredded. Cut. Sculptural. What’s the deal?"

Owens say, "I’m not really into clothes. I wear one outfit like a uniform, and I have for years."

Not into clothes? You freaking make clothes! Read it. It's worth it.

not fashion related but still awesome

Check out these photos from earth hour this past Friday. You click the photo and the lights fade. Click here. Way too cool.

photo source

body image

Body image is a never ending struggle for us ladies. I don't care who you are, how much you weight, or how much money you spend on clothes. We all have "fat days". You can tell me different, but I won't believe you. It's just a fact of life. Umm, PMS days??? Yes, PMS days a.k.a. "fat days".

I can honestly say I have worked long and hard to become confident in who I am and what I look like. And yet there are still days I want to throw on sweats and crawl back into bed. Or pull my hair out and flat-iron my face. And on those days it is a struggle to restrain myself from running out and spending big bucks on better clothes to make myself feel better.

I am not old by any means, but in my time I have learned that no matter how good I feel when wearing my Isabel Marant jacket, I feel my best when I am taking care of me. That means eating well so I don't get stomach aches, spending time in the bath tub relaxing, making time to read a book, and most importantly spending time sweating. Yes, sweating.

Personally I have gone to the gym for a year now and haven't lost a pound or a pant size. In fact, I've gain 4lbs. But, when I am exercising I am sweating which is releasing toxins from my body. I am also allowing my mind to take a break from all the worries and work-related issues of the day. And in turn, I know I am physically and mentally taking care of myself and that makes me walk taller and feel better.

I recently read an interview with Paris-based designer Rick Owens. One of Rick Owens Rules of Style nailed it on the head for me. Owens said, "No outfit is going to make you look or feel as good as having a fit body. Buy less clothing and go to the gym instead."

Needless to say, I couldn't agree more. If you are taking care of your body, you could wear $11,410 Balmain jacket or a $90 pair of Topshop jeans and still look great.