Style Graduate

Delicious cookies

2006-12-14T12:57:00.000-05:00

Thumbprint cookies made with raspberry jam are delicious. I use this recipe for traditional Swedish Rosenmunnar from Allrecipes. They refrigerate well too!

Does anyone else have favorite cookie recipes?

You'll need:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup any flavor fruit jam

Then you'll have to:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add sifted flour, and mix well. Shape dough into 1 inch diameter balls and place on cookie sheets. Imprint your thumb in the center to make a 1/2 inch indentation. Fill with your favorite preserves.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown at the edges.

Weekly health tip #7 - Keep it up!

2006-12-10T21:01:00.000-05:00

This is somewhat of an ironic post, as what I have not been doing is keeping up with this blog, but in defense, I have kept up with my exercise plan!

It is hard to get into the habit of exercising daily. It generally takes at least two weeks. But getting out of the habit of exercising? Now, that's easy, just takes a day or two, and there are always good excuses - stress at work, a cold, travel. But don't let those things derail you, especially the stress (exercise helps relieve stress, so if you stop because you have a lot on your mind, you're just feeding the cycle). If you do need a break, try a lighter workout, but give yourself a definite time to get back on track. Specific goals are harder to break than ambiguous ones, so be specific, and keep working out!

Hold on to your cash...

2006-12-07T14:41:00.000-05:00

...in one of these lovely fabric wallets from Uplifting Arts. There are three designs available, and each is only $9.99. My favorite is the "Breeze" wallet in turquoise and gray.

Earrings from ap4c

2006-12-04T23:08:00.000-05:00

Check out these two new earring designs from a planet for creation: quan yin earrings and these lovely fan-shaped zodiac earrings. Both are only $6 a pair. Make sure to check out the rest of the site too, because just about everything there is wonderful! (ETA: I took the image down because my hotlinking was causing trouble for ap4c, but you should still head over to the website to check out these super-chic earrings!)

Tutus and weddings

2006-11-30T18:28:00.000-05:00

New on the greeting card scene is Prima Creative, with a shop over at CafePress. I'm digging all the different holiday dress/tutu cards, and the all-pupose wedding cards would be great for shower invitations or as thank you cards. My favorite design is the Lavendar Sparkle Tutu (left) - I love it!

Prices are $14.99 for packages of 6 cards, or $8.99 for packs of 8 postcards. That's a steal for such chic cards!

P.S. I'm doubling up on posts today because I have a paper deadline coming up, and I won't have time to post this weekend. Sorry!

Round and round...

2006-11-30T14:23:00.000-05:00

Shoshona Snow's etsy shop has incredible pottery - the pieces are beautifully made and beautifully glazed. The designs are so chic too, and can fit in almost any decor. I love her modern vase ($25), this gorgeous blue and white pitcher ($28, see image), and the adorable porcelain earrings (various styles, $5.95 and up). The artist makes all her own glazes too - pretty incredible!

I'm back again!

2006-11-29T18:09:00.000-05:00

Hello, trusty readers! I apologize for the long hiatus. Between my last health tip and the tryptophan from a delicious Thanksgiving turkey, it seems I took a lot more sleep then usual this past week.

I'm back with a really awesome site, though - Elsewares! This place has great jewelry (baseball cuffs!), housewares (ticket bowls!), toys (whatever this thing is!), and more. Some favorites:

pearls for $50, shown below
record bowls for $26
telegram cards for $12
these sweet purses for $50, $60, and $95, respectively

Happy hunting!

Weekly health tip #6 - Sleep in!

2006-11-19T17:13:00.000-05:00

If you aren't getting 6-8 hours of sleep each night, your immune system doesn't work as well, you won't have as much energy, and you won't be as mentally sharp as you should be. So make sure to leave yourself enough time each night to become fully rested. If you are having trouble falling or staying asleep, try some of the following:

Exercise every day, but always more than 3 hours before you go to bed. Daily exercise will help regulate your neurochemistry, but the endorphin rush can keep you up if it's too close to bedtime.
Don't watch TV or stay in rooms with bright lights for 30-60 minutes before you hit the sack - the lights will make your brain think it is earlier in the day than it really is.
Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and the right temperature.

Dishtowels

2006-11-17T09:42:00.000-05:00

To go with the lovely apron a penguin featured recently, how about a wonderful set of retro dishtowels? These towels are $12 for a set of two at Sweet Pea Handcrafts. Each set becomes ready for gift-giving in a takeout style box, and the holiday designs come with a mitten cookie cutter too. How sweet!

There are 10 designs to choose from. Sadly, the KitchenAid stand mixer is not included, but matching aprons are available for $27, if that makes you feel any better

Word verification

2006-11-15T11:37:00.000-05:00

We've had a few bots come around to spam the comments sections of some of the posts here, so I've enabled word verification for comments. I know it's a pain, but I think it is better than the alternative. Sorry!

Delicious!

2006-11-15T11:29:00.000-05:00

Anne recommends this pumpkin pie recipe from epicurious.com. I tried it myself this weekend, and I have to say, it's truly delicious! Like her, I skipped the homemade crust in favor of a store bought one (thank you, Pillsbury dough boy!) even though I'm sure Tanya Patrice could write a book on how bad those crusts really are for you. So next time I will make my own pie crust, from scratch, and also probably add a teaspoon of ground cloves to the recipe.

But now I should eat something really good for me to make up for the pie. Any suggestions?

Weekly health tip #5 - Pair up!

2006-11-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

If you have trouble with motivation, either in terms of sticking to a food plan or an exercise plan, get yourself a partner. Being accountable to someone else will help you reach your goals. So recruit a friend so you can both make sure you stick to your plans, or find an exercise partner who matches your level of athleticism and your exercise interests, at a website like ExerciseFriends.com, or by posting an ad on your local Craigslist (of course, be careful when meeting anyone over the internet).

So get a partner (or two, or three) and see how much it helps you to get, or stay, fit.

Awww...

2006-11-10T18:35:00.000-05:00

Okay, Ashley Peldon looks so adorable in this photo! She looks fresh and bright and pretty, and I love her dress even if the Fug Girls don't. (I do want that dress, so if anyone knows where to get a reasonable approximation, 'fess up!)

Evidently Ashley has started her own perfume line, and while I can't vouch for the quality of the products, I do think the whole Hollywood theme is pretty cute. (By the way, she looks really cute in that photo too, except for the mildly excessive cleavage. Maybe I should get bangs.)

Clearly Ashley's degree in psychology is warranted, because now I totally want to buy her perfumes. So here's the deal - if I hear from my readers that the perfumes are a good deal, I'll buy one and review it here.

smitten

2006-11-05T02:57:00.000-05:00

It's getting late. Takeout is too expensive (also, often it is the unhealthy choice), so you have to cook, but you're already dolled up. What you need is the perfect apron.

Smitten has the most gorgeous, frilly aprons. I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but look at this pink one! Gorgeous!

Sprout cocktail earrings!

2006-11-02T14:18:00.000-05:00

Okay, I know the title of this post looks like a spam subject line, where several random words are strung together, like "Cardigan jar six-pack" or "leftover cliche heaven" or even "aborigine certified mail". But no, I am referring to the earrings currently on sale over at sprout studios; each is named after a different cocktail drink, and they are all lovely! My favorites are the bird of paradise pair ($14.50, shown left) and the bellevue pair (sold out - oh no!). Snap up a pair, for yourself or a friend, before they are all gone!

Weekly health tip #4 - Drink up!

2006-10-30T10:37:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows you should drink six to eight glasses of water a day, right? Well, if those are 8 oz. glasses, that's only good enough for those under about 130 lbs. You should drink 1/2 oz. of water daily for every pound you weigh. So a linebacker weighing in at 230 lbs. needs 115 oz. of water a day, which is about 14 glasses!

I keep a pitcher of filtered water by my desk, and have a glass of water every hour or so. My coworkers might think I'm weird, but who cares?

Win free stuff!

2006-10-27T13:05:00.000-05:00

While we here at SG don't have any giveaway contest schedules now (we're working on it though!) we wanted to clue you in to giveaways at other blogs.

Head over to Holland Cox to enter the Happily Handmade giveaway, and you could win a gift basket valued over $200, plus you'll be entered into a second contest for one of Valerie's gorgeous handmade handbags! Once you've entered at Holland Cox, you can visit the other sponsors, and enter at their sites too. But hurry, the contest is only open through Oct. 29.

Done? Great, now visit the Lingerie Post - by joining their newletter you'll be entered into their quarterly lingerie giveaway. All prizes will be shipped through major vendors, so you will be able to pick the colors and sizes you prefer.

Alright kids, one more: the awesome indie blog Modish has a monthly giveaway; you can see this month's incredible gift basket here. Just subscribe to the newsletter and all that stuff could be yours!

Good luck!

Pumpkins!

2006-10-24T16:33:00.000-05:00

It's autumn here in the Northern hemisphere, which means we get to eat pumpkin pie [1], and carve Jack-o-Lanterns, and drink spiced apple cider, and go trick-or-treating (okay, maybe some of us are a little too old for trick-or-treating, which is why some long-forgotten genius invented the Halloween party!), and those of us far enough North get gorgeous autumn leaves.

I know that plenty of people dislike Martha Stewart, but there is no denying that these lace patterned Jack-o-Lanterns are pretty incredible. I live in an apartment, so I don't have a front porch on which to display my carved pumpkins, but that won't stop me!

[1] Speaking of pumpkin pie, does anyone have a favorite recipe? I generally use the one on the back of the can of pureed pumpkin, but I'd like to branch out.

Weekly health tip #3

2006-10-22T08:39:00.000-05:00

Over at IateApie.net, visitors were asked to "Share a low calorie food that is a part of your diet!" It's a great idea to substitute lower calorie foods instead of depriving yourself, and people started sharing their 'secrets.' Mine was drinking hot tea and lots of it. It helps cut out late night cravings, but I even drink tea in the mid afternoon too! Here are some more responses:

- Hot green or jasmine tea (unsweetened).
- Sandwiches using Trader Joe's low-cal whole wheat bread.
- Kashi's GoLean cereal.
- Fage Total Greek Yogurt 0%.
- Cottage cheese
- Fish (poached or broiled)
- Homemade veggie soups
- Fat free/sugar free creamsicles and fudgsicles
- Fresh veggies ... carrots, grape tomatoes, cucumbers
- Non Fat yogurt
- Tofu Shirataki noodles.
- Boca and Gardenburger's soy burgers.

I haven't tried everything on the list, but I am working my way through it! Here is the link to the discussion at IateApie [here].

Update

2006-10-19T09:48:00.000-05:00

An update to this post: U.S. customers can get this knife block set on sale for $59.99 and up, depending on the color you want. Unfortunately Overstock.com will only ship within the U.S., but try Froogle to find vendors in other countries. (Edited to give a valid link.)

Bargain bags

2006-10-19T09:34:00.000-05:00

I love the tie-silk bags at J. Crew, and they aren't badly priced either. This wristlet is $29.50, and this makeup bag is $24.50. But if you look in the "crewcuts" section (crewcuts is their children's line) you'll find this handbag (left) on sale for only $14.99, in 4 different patterns. What a steal! You can stock up now and always have one on hand as a last-minute birthday gift.

viceversa

2006-10-15T05:43:00.000-05:00

How awesome is this knife block from Viceversa? I think it would make the most awesome housewarming gift.

Except it's terribly bad form to give knives as gifts, which is a shame, because I think it would be fantastic.

I can't locate the price on the site, but I saw one in person this afternoon, and it wasn't very cheap. I don't really think this is affordable on a student budget anyway, unless you do what I always do, which is put in money to a group gift. It is a strategy which has served me well these last few years, and one that shall continue.

Weekly health tip #2 - Cut it out!

2006-10-14T23:00:00.000-05:00

Trans fats (aka hydrogenated fats, or partially hydrogenated fats) are among the worst things you can eat; if you want to develop coronary artery disease, these are the fats to eat. And unfortunately, trans fats are in a lot of prepared foods: cookies, margarine, fried foods, fast foods, etc. But fortunately regulations in many countries either eliminate trans fats, or require that foods containing them list the amounts. You can avoid trans fats by checking nutrition labels - look for "trans fats", "trans fatty acids", "hydrogenated", or "vegetable shortening", and don't buyt those foods, or limit your intake. You can instead eat foods richer in good fats, such as walnuts, and use olive or almond oil in your cooking. Photo credit: http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/shortening3.jpg

Bernoulli biscotti!

2006-10-14T12:19:00.000-05:00

The Bernoulli Cafe offers (secretly nerdy ... shhh!) delicious homemade biscotti ($10 for a 3/4 lb. package). My favorite is the traditional almond, made with real orange zest and lemon zest. In fact, all of the Bernoulli Cafe's biscotti is made with real stuff, which is part of why it is so tasty. Pick up some coffee too, so you can enjoy your biscotti the way it was meant to be enjoyed!

Win free cool stuff!

2006-10-12T17:42:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't like winning stuff? And wouldn't it be even better if that stuff was all handmade by stylish, independent artists and designers? Well friends, let me tell you about the Happily Handmade Giveaway...

The Happily Handmade Giveaway is a simple drawing-style contest where you can win hundreds of dollars of handmade goodness. Entering is super-simple: visit any of the 70 participating shops (including mine!) and follow directions to enter. The cool thing is you can enter through *every* participating shop and get 70 chances to win! Check the official site for pictures of the giftbaskets, which are sure to be chock full of handmade coolness. October 29 is the last day to enter so act fast!

Not the only ones!

2006-10-11T20:49:00.000-05:00

We at Style Graduate are not the only ones blogging about fashion on a budget; check out these other blogs on the same topic:

The Budget Fashionista even has her own book on the subject!
Cheap Chica is such a fun blog, and I love all the photos.
Hot Off the Sales Rack has a lot of financial advice in addition to great fashion blogging.

And if you thought Knickers was the only great lingerie blog around, you must not have heard about The Lingerie Post, which is new and awesome (and not just because they wrote a post about Style Graduate!). I love that there are people out there dedicated to doing lingerie research!

Not being the only blog in your field is not a bad thing; all kinds of synergy takes place when lots of people are working towards finding cool stuff.

I'll end this post with a picture of a beautiful babydoll featured recently on The Lingerie Post; go there for the purchase details. :)

Boot it up!

2006-10-10T19:12:00.000-05:00

Tanya Patrice recently blogged about making your look a little more professional, and suggested wearing slacks instead of jeans. I'm all for that, but if you really love your jeans, and still want to dress things up, a great pair of boots might be the way to go. I know that if I wear a sweater, dark-rinse jeans, and tennies I look like your standard student, but if I switch out the shoes for a slick pair of boots I'll instantly look more capable and grown-up, and the added height doesn't hurt! (Tanya talked about making sure inseams on her pants are long enough - let's just say that I do not have that problem. At all.)

I love these gorgeous Ann Taylor Loft "Phoebe" boots; the contrast detail on the brown pair is especially nice. They're on sale for only $59.99 US, and still available in the full range of sizes. I have a few other pairs of ATL boots, and can vouch for their quality and comfort. So order a pair and give your casual look the boot! (Sorry, I couldn't resist one little pun... :)

Weekly health tip #1 - Mix it up!

2006-10-08T15:37:00.000-05:00

Today is the first installment in a new feature here at SG, a weekly fitness tip! Every week we'll bring you a quick tip on exercise, eating, or just generally healthy living.

This week's tip is about exercise plateaux. Often after weeks or months of the same exercise routine, your performance, weightloss, or enjoyment will drop off or come up against a wall. To avoid this, mix up your exercise regimen. By working different muscle groups and challenging your body in new ways you'll be able to push yourself to a new level of fitness, and by staving off boredom you'll be better able to meet your exercise goals.

Suggested changes - switch your cardio machine (treadmill, elliptical, bike), and add interval training. Also try adding a new activity (volleyball, yoga, tennis) to really mix things up!

tsumami kanzashi (a wedding style post)

2006-10-06T06:55:00.000-05:00

Just to let you know, when I joined the stylegraduate crew, it was under the assumption that I'd occasionally blog about wedding related style. This is one such post!

I recently encountered tsumami kanzashi, a Japanese hair ornament. I apologise for the blurriness of this photograph, but it was stealth photography. You can, however, still clearly see what I love about this particular kanzashi, that is, the gorgeous flowers at the top and my favourite element, the long cords flowing to the little bells at the bottom. This (but in red) is now the hair piece that I want to wear, not only at my own wedding but all the time.

Options are two: make my own (I'm industrious, but terrible at sewing) or buy them (this site looks expensive but beautiful). For those of you not looking for red hair pieces, etsy has a number of white and cream pieces.

(Almost) Free Popcorn!

2006-10-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

It's "Free Popcorn Month" at Dale & Thomas; you can get one or two bags of their delicious popcorn, and you only have to pay shipping (US$2.95 per bag, a reduced rate). They will pick the flavors for you, but since all their popcorn is delicious, that shouldn't be a problem! Go here to order your (almost) free popcorn!

Sadly, this offer is restricted to the U.S., but we hope to bring our international readers similar offers in the future.

taylor and khoo

2006-10-04T07:21:00.000-05:00

Taylor and Khoo is a store based in Sydney, and 100% of their profits go to supporting an orphanage in Cambodia. Their products are made by independent designers and seamstresses (not factories) in Cambodia, and their products are relatively cheap and I think they're lovely. I especially like this jewellery wrap (AU$35), and I love the Adam Hill 'go you big red fire engine' tee (which I suspect is only funny if you're Australian). You can order their products here, and they ship internationally to NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, HK, USA and Canada.

You'll look fabulous, and you'll (possibly) feel good about yourself. Bonus.

Style Graduate goes international!

2006-10-02T10:45:00.000-05:00

We have a new team member here at Style Graduate, a penguin (that's her blogger name, not her species!), who hails from Australia. She runs a delightful blog on her shopping adventures, and makes her own penguin shirts! I'm jealous - I can't do that! I'm very excited to have her on board, and can't wait to see her posts!

Photo credit: http://www.emperor-penguin.com/emp-chick.jpg

Museum day - for free!

2006-09-28T15:35:00.000-05:00

The Smithsonian Magazine is sponsoring Museum Day this Saturday, September 30. Hundreds of museums around the U.S. are giving free admission with a Museum Day pass. Print out your pass here, and find a participating museum near you here.

I am doubtlessly exposing myself as a big dork, but I love museums, and I think a museum visit is one of the best date ideas ever. I've been on several museum dates, and I've absolutely loved every one!

iPods!

2006-09-26T18:03:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe, but evidently not everyone has heard about the new iPods yet! I think the new shuffle is the greatest, hands down. It costs just $79, holds a whole gig, is really tiny, looks super-slick, and if you buy directly from the Apple Store you can get it engraved for free! Plus it has a clip, and the new earphones are supposed to be much better than the old ones!

The new models of the regular iPod and the Nano are also supposed to be great, but if you don't want to shell out that much cash, go for a refurbished player: Apple sells them for as little as $99 for a Nano or Mini.

But really, everyone should buy the new shuffle. And if someone wants to buy me one, all the better!

More Optimus Prime!

2006-09-25T20:07:00.000-05:00

Reader coupon riot fondly remembers the time when little children would proudly declare "I am Optimus Prime!" I wanted to find a t-shirt with this slogan, but I couldn't find one. I did, however, find a pretty co0l design available at Cafepress, "I cried when Prime died":

This is available on a range of shirts and various accessories, and prices start at just $3.49 for the bumper sticker.

Ditch those jeans: Guide to buying pants

2006-09-24T22:03:00.000-05:00

As a graduate student, it can be awkward to be both a student and a teacher (many of us double as teaching assistants). I was the typical 'roll out of bed', put on whatever is clean or handy or didn't require ironing girl. But as I started teaching more, I wanted a more 'grown up' style that was still trendy, comfortable, casual and fit my very limited BUDGET.

The only major change I made was to give up jeans - at least some of the time! Wearing pants instead of jeans instantly dresses up any outfit, yet can also be very casual depending on the type of pants and what you wear it with. I have had quite some experience in choosing the right pants, so I thought I would share what I have learned:

* I tend to stay away from cheap styles and polyester fabrics because I can guarantee that they will not last long and they will shrink after washing. This has happened to me countless times before I stopped wasting my money. Aim for quality (good fabrics like cotton or linnen), and in this case, quality WILL cost a little more.

* If you are tall - and I'm speaking from personal experience - then buy pants according to inseam measurements and NOT BY SIZE. Forget about buying a size 4, 6 or 8 etc. because they will probably end up too short. Figure out what your inseam length is and buy only pants that specify this (not all do). Don't even waste your time with the rest - I am no longer taking 10 pairs of pants in the dressing room (knowing better) and finding that none of them fit!

* If you have fit issues, like an ample derrier - again, personal experience with that too - then when you find a store or brand that fits you well - never forget it and always try to buy there - sale or not! I stick to The Limite offline and Victoria's Secret online store, both of which sell quality pants with different inseam lengths.

* When you are trying on pants - stand on your tip toes, or wear heels becaue your pants being the right length while you are barefooted is entirely different from the length when you have to wear heels or boots.

just can't let go?

2006-09-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

Even though the end of September is *quickly* approaching, I am still having a hard time saying goodbye to summer. Luckily, the gulf stream (? something like that) keeps the DC area more or less warm until around Halloween. In fact, I was *just* outside and felt a tad too warm in jeans and a top with 3/4 sleeves.

It's times like these when I am frantically trying to wear all of my sandals and open-toed shoes before it's too late! Which made me think that I need to share Mohop Shoes with you all. A lovely husband-and-wife team from Chicago are responsible for these gorgeous creations. These sandals are completely handcrafted and are infinitely customizable, just by changing the shoe's ribbon!

This is one of my favorites from the gallery. You start by picking the heel you like (always the highest for me, of course!), and then the handpainted sole that speaks to you the most. Then, pick your ribbon and you're ready to go! You'll see from the gallery that customers have sent in pictures with their own customizations...buttons like the picture shown, various trims from the fabric store, their own vintage ribbons, and more!

These shoes are definitely a splurge, but at around $150 are waayyy more affordable than any handmade shoes I've ever heard of. Sometimes you need a little bit of luxury!

Optimus Prime wants YOU to vote!

2006-09-22T09:35:00.000-05:00

So here in the U.S., mid-term elections are approaching - they're less than 2 months away. If you haven't registered to vote yet, you can do that at govote.org. If you've registered, but need an absentee ballot, you should request one ASAP. Don't know how? Google "absentee ballot yourstatename" to get the info.

Voting is great because you can write in candidates if nobody good is running (which is all-too common, sadly), so go out and make that county clerk mark that there was a vote for Optimus Prime* for State Senator.

* Optimus Prime regularly does well as a write-in candidate in student elections at CMU, I figure we can spread the Transformers love!

Scooped!

2006-09-20T09:51:00.000-05:00

I was going to tell you all about the Kashi giveaway and cardboard challenge, but I've been scooped! Go read about it on iateapie.net. :)

Space Blog!

2006-09-18T19:50:00.000-05:00

This is incredibly cool: Anousheh Ansari (yes, Ansari as in the Ansari X-Prize) is in space right now as a private citizen, and she is blogging about it. Go check out the first ever space blog! I can't express how jealous I am right now!

Etsy

2006-09-18T08:09:00.000-05:00

Etsy.com is one of my favorite places to find gorgeous, handmade items by independent designers and crafsters - all at very reasonable prices! I featured these teardrop earrings by citizonejane's Etsy shop on around20.com, and I thought the earrings were so cute that they needed to be here too. They are only $10.00 and there is only 1 pair left.

I also love the laptop sleeves by rockinggear's Etsy shop. Most laptop bags I have found are really heavy, not stylish, or very expensive. I love laptop sleeves because they protect my laptop, and I can drop them in any bag of my choice. I like the ones by rockinggear, because this is gorgeous and only $29.00.

Pixelgirl Shop discount

2006-09-16T21:19:00.000-05:00

I haven't featured Pixelgirl Shop yet, but it's not for lack of good stuff to buy! Now the perfect opportunity to feature some awesome indie wares has come up - from now until September 23, you can get 10% off your Pixelgirl order by using the code "shopdeal" at checkout. And what might be in your shopping bag? Why, I'm glad you asked!

Gorgeous sparrow earrings: $12.00 (without the discount).
Chic fabric belt: $19.00.
Rockabilly dice cufflinks: $14.00.
Sudsy sushi soap set: $18.95 (shown below).

So much love...

2006-09-16T12:08:00.000-05:00

Maybe it isn't proper blogging etiquette to promote Valerie's work, seeing as she's a contributor here at SG, but I am so in love with this Shop for the Cure accessory pouch set over at Holland Cox that I don't care. Breast cancer runs in my family, so supporting cancer research and awareness is really important to me. So the fact that Valerie is donating 50% of the purchase price of each set to breast cancer awareness charities is really touching. Get this gorgeous set of three zipper pouches for just $38.00, half of which will go to charity. Don't like pink yourself? Get it as a gift for someone else. This is a good thing, folks. (Photo credit: hollandcox.com)

SCADs of good stuff

2006-09-13T11:44:00.000-05:00

Via Modish I've found the online shop of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Shop SCAD features jewelry, books, housewares, stationery, fine art, and much more. My picks, after only the briefest perusal of ths site:

Piggy in my Pocket - a delightful children's book by Hui-Mei Pan, only $5.95 for an autographed copy.
Les Fleurs Art Card Set - gorgeous photography turns these cards luxurious. $20.00 for a set of 20 cards. Other designs available.
iPod armour - the best iPod covers I've seen yet! $20.00

Give it up!

2006-09-11T12:53:00.000-05:00

Here at SG we mostly focus on acquisitions - what you can buy to make your life a little better, a little more chic. But just as important it what you can get rid of to improve your life and your style. Everyone has too much stuff, it's a universal problem, but it's one that can be addressed. Here are some tips on cleaning out stuff you don't need.

For clothes, clean out your closet using the "box method" detailed at StylePhyle. Give your "charity" clothes to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or Vietnam Veterans of America, who in some areas will come to pick up your donations.

For knick-knacks, remember that just because it was a gift doesn't mean you have to keep it. Wedding favors are not particularly meaningful gifts, so that salt and pepper shaker pair can go, as can the porcelain flower. That really ugly platter your aunt gave you for Christmas six years ago shouldn't stick around either. If items do have real meaning to you, decide how to display them to their best advantage, or pack them carefully away until you have the space to do so.

Take a good look at your furniture and see if any of your old pieces need to go. Leftovers from college dorm roms often fall into this category. If you are keeping furniture, keep it because you like it and you use it. If it doesn't fit both categories, you shouldn't keep it around, unless it's a family heirloom you just don't have space for yet. Sell or give away your furniture on Craigslist.

And books. I have a lot of books, and I find it very hard to part with them. But if you haven't read a book in years, and have no plans to read it again, it should go. Donate used books to your local library, and sell your old textbooks or give them to a local high school.

Old sports equipment, old computers, and mismatched dishes kitchenware should also be dealt with ruthlessly.

When you're done, you'll have a much less cluttered place, more cash, and some tax credits. Isn't that worth it?

Ahh - now that's a clean closet!
Photo credit: http://somdthisisliving.somd.com/vol4num1/closets.jpg

Project Runway Recap: Episode 9

2006-09-08T09:23:00.000-05:00

This is my first post on the Style Graduate and I'm happy that I get to join the two wonderful fashionistas already blogging here. So for my first blog, I NEED to talk about Project Runway Episode 9: The Couture Challenge. The challenge was to design a couture gown, and by 'couture' they meant that much of the gown needed to be sewn by hand. The picture to the left is the winning gown by Jeff. I'm definitely not a high fashion kind of girl having just lived through quite a few 'poor grad student' years, but this gown just looks ugly to me. Plaid? Couture? Granted it was edgy, and I like edgy and unique clothes, but couture it was not! The picture was obtained from the Blogging Project Runway blog. There are probably a zillion comments on this episode, both for and against Jeff's gown.

Vincent got the boot and I think he really had to go. Not only were his designs just plain bad, but is it me or does he use some very perverted terms? His gown "got him off." His designs "turns him on?" See ya Vince!

Welcome Tanya Patrice!

2006-09-08T09:19:00.000-05:00

We have another new blog member - Tanya Patrice recently joined us! I first came across Tanya as the author of afexion.com; she also runs iateapie.net, which has food reviews. She just finished graduate school and has great style; I can't wait to see what she contributes to SG!

Busy busy!

2006-09-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

This is a really busy week for me, which is why I haven't been posting much. Go ahead and check out these other sites, and I'll be back in the swing of things soon!

Can this site really tell you how to make the best paper-airplane in the world?
Generate some awesome complaint letters!
Check out this cool coffee-cup tower.

Have fun, you crazy kids!

FCD

2006-09-02T11:47:00.000-05:00

So graduate school takes a while. It takes upwards of a year to get letters like MS, MFA, MSE, etc. after your name, and upwards of three years to get those coveted JD, MD, or (my personal favorite) PhD titles. While you are slogging towards these alphabetic accolades, you can enjoy being FCD - a Friend of Charles Darwin. That's right, by declaring that Charlie is your Darwin, you can publicly support evolution and gain some precious letters to tack on to the end of your name. And it's free.

This public service announcement was brought to you by Style Graduate, FCD.

My "It" Bag

2006-08-30T18:08:00.000-05:00

Oh, this is my first time doing Carnivale of the Couture! When I saw the question - what would your #1 big-name designer "it" bag be - I didn't even have to think about it!

In general I'm not one for "it" bags, mostly because I don't have thousands of dollars to spend on accessories, and even if I did, I'm pretty sure shoes would come first, then the fancy handbags. But I can still easily answer the question...my one and only has always been the Fendi Baguette from the mid 90s:

Soooo pretty! Where to begin emoting about the baguette? First, it's very small, which I love (which I'm sure you can tell by the handbags I design myself). Secondly, I would definitely get a baguette like the one pictured, one of the hand-stitched ones with rare silks, feathers and crystals embroidered on it, not one of the standard logo-embossed leather ones. It's like a little piece of jewelry for your arm!

The great thing about the baguette is that when they debuted in '97, ALL of them were limited edition - a whole new collection came out every six months. And given that the most popular bags of the time were the devastatingly dull black nylon boxes from Kate Spade and the equally boring black nylon Prada backpacks, these little darlings stood out from the pack!

A little Googling shows that the original retail price on these little guys hovered in the $2,500 + range, which in the grand scheme of "it" bags isn't too bad, I guess.

Dream Bag Carnival

2006-08-29T17:18:00.000-05:00

Designer Ella over at Pursed Lips poses two questions for the Carnivale of the Couture; I'm going to answer question #2:

If you were given $10,000 (ooookayyyyyy, $20,000 if you’re a superdiva) to buy only ‘IT’ Big Name designer bags, which dream ones would you buy (or just one perhaps)? (You can save some of the cash left over for something else not to be mentioned.) Yes, please do try to keep track of general prices, and authentic and real-life eBay prices count if you would opt for auctions (although if you can’t tell authentic, skip the lower-priced ones, natch!).

Yikes! That's tough, because the idea of spending $10,000 (yes, that's ten thousand dollars!) on a bag, or even several, seems crazy to me. But I'll try!

I like bags from Coach, although nothing with that big logo print - tacky! There's a Coach store near me, and when I walk by I always ogle the purses in the display. Let's start with this commuter bag, which looks big enough to hold my laptop. $428. Then I would get this purse (top left) for my mom; it's just the size she likes. It's $328, but I'd get her one in black, and in brown, so $656. Then I'd get myself this hobo bag, it's not too big, and looks classy. $178. I also like this flap-closure bag, because I like the big buckle. $218. My big splurge would be this pony hair satchel (bottom left). $798. I don't know when I would use it, but it looks nice. Maybe it would be a good carryon? So that's $428 + $656 + $178 + $218 + $798 = $2278, leaving me with $7,722 to sink into investments. If you were wondering, that comes out to an average of just under $380 per bag. That price is antithetical to the entire spirit of this blog! Even if all the bags were 1/2 off, it would still be too much! I guess it's a good thing this money is all imaginary!

P.S. Interested in being a member blogger here at SG? Say so in a comment to this post, and I'll get in touch with you!

Teacups of love

2006-08-28T11:20:00.000-05:00

I love these sweetheart teacups, found via weddingbee. You can buy them (or similar ones) at keith + lottie, for $29.00 AU a pair; at The Paragon, for $12.99 each or $9.99 each for two or more; or at WeddingThings, $48.00 for a set of six (with heart-shaped saucers!). These make great engagement or wedding shower gifts, and would be wonderful at a bridal shower tea party. They are also lovely anniversary, birthday, or Valentine's Day gifts for die-hard romantics.

Letters in one piece

2006-08-26T14:34:00.000-05:00

I write a lot of letters. A lot. You do not want to know what my monthly postage bill is, believe me. But I have never written a letterfu letter, although that is about to change. Letterfu is a folding technique that lets you write your letter on a single piece of paper, fold it up, seal it with just the postage stamp, and post it. You can print out pre-made designs, or, if you've got some mad photoshop skillz, make your own. In fact, if someone wanted to make a Style Graduate letterfu design, that would be awesome, and we'd feature you in a future post! As long as you keep the fold lines where they should be, you're set. I recommend a heavier paperstock than normal.

Much more on envelope and letter folding can be found here.

Holland Cox sale!

2006-08-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

From now until 4:59 PM you can get 35% off at Holland Cox. Details are available here. My choice would be this gorgeous "la princesa" evening clutch, which is just $39 with the voucher!

I'm so glad to have such a talented designer blogging here at SG!

Etsy favorites

2006-08-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

Etsy.com is an online marketplace featuring all handmade items. Each seller has their own store, and their search functions let you look for items based on color, material, location, or type of product. Here are some of my recent favorite items available; note that these are generally sold in limited quantities, being handmade.

Animal postcards from ohmycavalier's shop, $6.63 for a set of nine, including shipping. These are delightfully unusual designs for postcards, and a cheap way to stay in touch with friends.
Maple and birch ring from craftsman's shop, $34.00 including shipping. This is a lovely ring, a great conversation piece, and wood feels so smooth and comfortable! The item is listed as sold, but you can still order it in whatever size you want.
Monkey doll from joom's shop, $10.00 including shipping. This is one crazy looking moneky, and a great gift for a relative, a friend's kid, or yourself.

Underoos on sale

2006-08-22T11:15:00.000-05:00

Do you remember calling underwear "underoos"? It seems to me that that was big in the 80s. Nowadays I refer to women's underwear as "panties", which is what Bare Necessities does as well; their current promotion is called "Get your panties in a bunch", which is appropriately cute, escept that it applies to men's underwear as well. Hmm. The sale is a buy 3 get 1 free event, and it incudes a wide range of styles and prices.

Ladies can start with these J. Lo thongs , a steal at $2.99 (down from $18.00), or just $8.97 for four, and go all the way up to these Versace bikinis at $150.00, or $450.00 for 4. Yikes! My favorites are these Rampage hipsters, shown left, which are $7.50 each or 4 for $22.50.

Gentlemen can choose from boxeris, briefs, boxerbriefs, and thongs, among others, but I don't think their selection is as good, nor are the prices as nice. But look around, and see what you like.

Substance is style

2006-08-21T22:30:00.000-05:00

Even though August is winding down, it is still summer, and you still need some fun stuff to read. If you haven't read the Harry Potter books yet, they make good bedtime reading. I think the series is overhyped, and I like the earlier books better, but they're fun. You can buy them on the cheap at amazon, but I never did. Libraries all have a billion copies, and and some of your friends certainly have copies they could lend you.

Another good choice is The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, which is intriguingly written and a delightful story. I don't know of anyone who read it and didn't like it. This one is definitely worth investing in!

let there be light

2006-08-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

I've always had this thing for lamps. I have this urge to collect light fixtures, but there's really no practical way to do that, unless you have a gigantic house, or can devote a whole room into a showroom-like homage to your collection.

Right now I'm looking for some stylish lamps to upgrade from my dorm-like halogen lamps that I've had for way too long. Surfing along at some of my favorite mod-but-affordable online shops, I've come up with three options, one splurge and two steals.

I love the squat little shape and the slightly oversized shade on both of these, but the West Elm version in silver is $199, while the CB2 (Crate & Barrell's secondary line) version is a wonderful $19.95! That's cheaper than Target! Plus, I think I like the gentle slope of its base better anyway. And since my living room couch is slipcovered in black, it would match better too (it looks sort of brownish, but the online catalogue says is black, so I believe them).

Finally, we have this cute little blue number from Ikea. It shares the same squat shape (and also comes in white), but the shade and body are a single peice, and is a ridiculous $12.99.

You usually can't beat Ikea for a deal!

I believe in miracles...

2006-08-16T15:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, you clearly need some hot chocolate to go in those wonderful Ikea mugs. Despite the title of this post, I'm not talking about funky 80s music, but instead about actual, delicious, chocolatey goodness. My favorite brand is Ghirardelli, but I don't begrudge anyone a different favorite, so if Hershey's is your thing, go for it.

Two things will make your hot chocolate way, way better: peppermint extract and cayenne pepper powder. Just don't mix them.

You can get delicious hot cocoa mix at your local grocery store, or from amazon's gourmet food section.

Ikea mugs

2006-08-14T20:46:00.000-05:00

I'm back on my Ikea kick - I just wish more of their stuff was available for online purchase!

I love this six piece mug set - two ceramic mugs with wooden spoons and coasters ($7.99). It comes in a floral pattern (shown left) or in plain white. This would make a great housewarming or hostess gift, but I'd much rather get a set for myself. They can't be purchased online; if you don't have an Ikea near you can order by phone or catalog.

New Member!

2006-08-11T11:49:00.000-05:00

Valerie has joined the Style Graduate team! Valerie designs and makes wonderful handbags, which she sells over at Holland Cox, and she has a great fashion blog of her own as well. I'm so very happy that she has decided to contribute to SG, and can't wait to see what she has to say!

2006-08-09T11:25:00.000-05:00

Casting Call!

Style Graduate is looking for some more bloggers to join the site! If you are interested, and can commit to at least one post a week, comment on this entry, or email stylegraduate@gmail.com.

EtA: You don't need to be a student, or even have a restricted budget of your own. I'm just looking for bloggers to write about affordable style. Your posts can focus on home decor, clothes, jewelery, paper products, finances, or whatever!

2006-08-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

Contact info

I hate the fact that I don't have business cards; it makes it so tedious to exchange contact information with colleagues at conferences. Networking should not be hard! In many departments, graduate students typically do not get business cards, but I got around this by ordering free ones from Vistaprint. I only had to pay shipping, and now I have hundreds of cards! Enough to last through more conferences than I even want to think about, and certainly enough to make it to graduation and a real academic job, where I will get real business cards! There are plenty of designs to choose from; I chose one that looks fairly official and staid, but that's just me. Go get some cards!

P.S. Vistaprint has several other free offers, and they regularly post deals and discounts on lots of other products, so it's a good site to keep an eye on!

2006-08-05T10:39:00.000-05:00

Worth it or not (no.5 )

A pair of great, stylish, versatile pants is not strictly necessary, but certainly recommended. For a really fabulous and all-around useful piece, investments are generally warranted. So if you can get it (whatever it is) for $20, wonderful, but you should be prepared to shell out a bit more.

Here are two pairs of blue pants, both around $125. Which is appropriate only for a deranged colorblind $cientologist, and which is wearable by a regular person?

If you guessed that the top pair of pants is utterly inappropriate wear for anyone over the age of 6, you appear to have not lost all vestiges of common sense. And if you feel the bottom pair is suitable only for muppets, you too appear to be in command of your faculties. It turns out that neither atrocity is worth even $1.25, nevermind 100 times that. Instead, you should go for a gorgeous pair of pants like these blue and green lovelies:

$93.49 is a bit much for a pair of pants, but these are great pants.

2006-07-31T09:14:00.000-05:00

Black wallets

These two ladies' wallets are both made of black nylon with a silver clasp. They are both approximately 7" by 4". They both feature card slots, a zippered coin pocket, and bill compartments. However, one is $14.50 with shipping, and the other is $159.89, on sale. That's what the name "Prada" will get you: a 1000% markup. Go with Old Navy; I think their wallet is better looking anyway!

[Sorry - no photos for now, the server is misbehaving.]

2006-07-30T19:28:00.000-05:00

Great shoes for school

I always like to have a good pair of loafers and a good pair of sneakers when the fall semester rolls around. My picks for this autumn are these Aerosole wedge loafers in suede; Aerosoles are super-comfortable! $53.95 (with free shipping) at Shoebuy via Amazon. And for sneakers, these Rocket Dog Androids from Zappos. They are $45.95 for the tan and pink pair, and prices vary for the other colors.

2006-07-21T11:04:00.000-05:00

Off to Cali!

I'm headed to (hopefully) sunny California for a week, so no updates for a while. Have a great week!

:)
SG

2006-07-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

Not-just-for-the-beach totes

I'm headed to the beach next week, and I'm bringing along one of these great tote bags, made from recycled plastic and on sale at Koko Trends. You can choose from a variety of colors, two handle styles, and two sizes. A 15" x 13" tote is only $15, while a 20" x 18" tote will run you only three dollars more. They're sturdy and easy to clean, and so cheap that you won't feel bad about mistreating them. Snap one up. :)

2006-07-19T07:41:00.000-05:00

Nordstrom weddings part II: The Bride

The fact that my friend is getting married, and not me, has not stopped me from ogling dresses for her. The funny thing is, I'm not even sure I want to wear a wedding gown when I get married. But I do like looking at them!

Again, I don't like bridal salons. I think often the more "affordable" dresses (i.e. those costing under $600 or so) are poorly made, and not worth the money. I also don't like the big, froufrou gowns. So I think a well-made cocktail or evening dress in white or ivory is an excellent alternative, especially since many of these can be worn again at fancy dress events. Here are some I've been eyeing (on my friend's behalf, of course!) at Nordstrom.

strapless organza dress, $148.00
strapless gown with sash, $178.00
lace halter gown, $178.00, shown below
silk cross-back gown, $188.00 ($242.00 for plus sizes)
silk chiffon dress with illusion bodice, $184.00

I want that last one for myself, just to wear to the ballet or the symphony. It's so youthfully elegant!

2006-07-18T01:23:00.000-05:00

Uncommonly fun

Uncommon Goods is another site where I hate to pay full price; they definitely overcharge on a lot of their items. However, I do love this recylced circuitboard lamp, even at $48. It would make a great gift, and unlike a lot of things made from used computer parts, still has a classy and classic look to it. I also love these zipper bags, which at $10 are a definite steal.

2006-07-15T23:26:00.000-05:00

Nordstrom weddings part I: The Bridesmaid

I'm not a big fan of getting bridesmaid dresses from bridal shops; they tend to need alterations, and they're not really useable afterwards. A good friend of mind is getting married this winter, and she is looking for bridesmaid dresses in a wine/claret/burgundy color, so I looked up some options at Nordstrom. Some of these are in their Anniversary Sale section, which has new items on sale until the end of the month, when the prices will all jump up. I've chosen mostly knee-length dresses, because I prefer them, but there are plenty of longer choices if you look around.

3/4 sleeve matte jersey dress in ruby, $78.90
gathered-waist silk dress in wine, $98.90
silk halter dress in cranberry, $78.00, shown below
V-neck jersey dress in ruby, $108.00
empire waist lace gown in black and red, $98.00

2006-07-14T10:16:00.000-05:00

A.T. Accessories

I love Ann Taylor, but I don't love their prices. They're generally too expensive for me, so I don't buy things full price there. Clearance, though, is another story. Here are two great items currently marked way down: a woven fabric wristlet, $12.88 (was $55.00), and a kimono sleeve coverup, $16.99 (was $68.00). And right now shipping on any order is only $5.00. So poke around the sale pages and see what else catches your eye.

2006-07-12T16:48:00.000-05:00

Cooking quickly

I am a big fan of Rachael Ray. I don't watch her show, being cable-free, but I have several of her cookbooks, and they are great for so many reasons...

1) Her recipes leave room for error; mis-measuring that olive oil won't result in a ruined meal.
2) She doesn't use any specialty equipment or ingredients, so it is easy and affordable to buy the ingredients you need.
3) Her "30 minute meals" really do take only half an hour to make!

My favorite cookbook of hers is Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats, which is only $11.77 at Amazon. It's eligible for free shipping with orders over $25, so throw it in next time you need to push your order price up.

2006-07-08T11:32:00.000-05:00

Urban Outfitters' dancing duds

Urban Outfitters is having a sale, and they have some great pieces that you could wear out dancing; these skirts will flare out when you spin, and they are all super comfortable. You can throw on this tank dress ($19.99) and head out the door, or wear a cute top with flowy wideleg shorts ($14.99) or pants ($19.99); these will let you do dips and flips without showing everyone your skivvies. If you prefer skirts to pants, try this Kimchi & Blue tiered skirt (a steal at $14.99) or this asymmetric striped skirt ($29.99). After an evening of dancing, you'll want to get out of your shoes and get into some comfortable sandals; try these cute and casual criss-cross sandals ($9.99).

2006-07-06T13:30:00.000-05:00

RedEnvelope deals: $5.99 and up

here are a few more awesome deals from RedEnvelope's sale page:

Shaded glass oil lamp: $5.99 ($13.99 with oil)
Emergency & adventure lamp: $6.99
Emergency kit in sardine tin: $7.99 ($12.99 for a double kit)
Striped piggy bank: $9.99

2006-07-05T08:35:00.000-05:00

Artifactual jewelery

Pick up some gorgeous jewelery at artifactual creations, which makes its pieces out of feathers, screws, pills, flowers, or other odds and ends encased in polymer. For a touch of glamour, choose one of their feather pieces; to make a political statement, buy one of their birth control pieces and support Planned Parenthood. Whatever you do, you'll look smashing for just $20 per item, including shipping and handling!

"Shatter" oval earrings.

2006-07-03T22:14:00.000-05:00

Small change in a red envelope: $4.99 edition

I love the RedEnvelope sale page, because they always have wonderful stuff for great prices (the normal prices tend to run a bit high). Right now they have a few items for only $4.99; even after shipping, these are great deals:

Leather money clip
Silk & lace eye mask - look great while you nap on the plane!
I.O.U. "night out" gift package

2006-06-30T16:35:00.000-05:00

Unclaimed luggage

It is remarkable how much luggage is left unclaimed at airports every year. Airlines sell the stuff off, and many buyers snap it up sight unseen. One such buyer is the Unclaimed Baggage Center, which then sells everything at a megastore in Alabama, with a small selection available online. Many items are actually unclaimed cargo, so you can get factory sealed items at steep discounts. Because they sell whatever they get, it can be hit or miss if you need something in particular. But you can still find some great bargains, like iPods and digital cameras. Browse around and see what you can find!

This brand new Kate Spade organizer is $90 off retail.

2006-06-28T21:52:00.000-05:00

More fun blogs

Here are some non-fashion blogs, because substance is stylish!

tomatonation.com is a long-time favorite of mine; I love the weekly essays and the advice column by the fabulous Sarah Bunting. Go read my favorite essay.
afexion.com documents the life of Jazz, who is about to get her graduate degree. It's full of interesting stuff and useful information.
debutaunt.com is a remarkably powerful blog, written by a woman who recently underwent a stem-cell transplant. We're rooting for you, Debu.

2006-06-26T11:56:00.000-05:00

Worth it or not (no. 4)

Both of these pairs of shoes cost right around $70.00. Both are from Macy's. However, one is suitable for wear by a beach bum who sleeps under the rundown boardwalk on a nondescript New Jersey beach, while the other is suitable for wear by a cute master's student on a second date. Which is which? More importantly, which kind of person would you rather be?
If you thought the top one, by Timberland, was more appropriate for people with an actual abode, complete with doors and a mailbox, good job, you've passed the test. If, however, you thought the bottom pair, by Ben Sherman, was suitable footwear for someone with more than one pair of pants, you need to reread your "Style for Dummies" handbook.

2006-06-26T02:01:00.000-05:00

Wedding bargains

According to CostofWedding.com, the average wedding in the U.S. today costs over $26,000. The range, however, is very broad, from $25 for a wedding license and a visit to the courthouse, up to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for some exclusive, swanky affairs (which, for hundreds of thousands of dollars, had better have some good food!). C.o.W. lets you search for the average price in your zipcode, which, for Pittsburgh at least, shows that weddings in the university section of town are significantly cheaper ($15,544 in zipcode 15213, as compared to $32,964 in 15217, right next door).

So how do you plan your wedding on a graduate school budget? Many couples choose to do a lot of D.I.Y. projects, hold weddings at unconventional locations, bargain shop, and cut out unnecessary details. And really, just about everything is an unnecessary detail; if, at the end of the day, you are married to your beloved, the wedding was a complete success. Everything else is icing on the wedding cake.

So for the brides, here is a great bargain dress resource: Alycin makes the dresses which are photographed for some of the McCalls bridal patterns; if the pattern is discontinued she often gets the dress back, and then sells it at or below the cost of materials. Selection is limited, and all the dresses are the same size, so if you aren't between a 6 and a 10, they won't fit, although smaller sizes could likely have some of the dresses altered down. But these gowns are hand-made with high quality materials, and they are all under $300, a definite steal. New dresses are added as they come in. The gorgeous ballgown style dress below is $295 + s/h; if I were engaged I would snap it right up.

There are also some wonderful bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, so you can (in theory) outfit the female part of your wedding party in one fell swoop!

Also check the evening dress sections of department stores; this lovely t-strap gown is only $227.99 at Macy's, and this beautiful strapless gown in ivory is just $194.99

2006-06-22T20:37:00.000-05:00

Jewelry sale

Get some funky, one-of-kind pieces from eclectica finch, who is currently holding a buy-one-get-one-free sale. These handmade pieces are made of wood, glass, semiprecious stones, and even corn, living up to the line's name. Best of all, they are very reasonably priced; earrings start at $6.00, and you can get matching sets for as little as $16.00. With the sale, you can do twice as well! My favorite is this gorgeous amythest necklace, made from a vintage piece. It'll run you $25.00.

2006-06-21T12:46:00.000-05:00

Fun fashion blogs

Here are some fashion blogs I've been enjoying recently; if you have any you think I'd like, put them in the comments!

Watch Design - a newer blog featuring all kinds of fashion accessories, but especially timepieces.
Godawful Wedding Crap - the name rather says it all, doesn't it?
Counterfeit Chic - news about counterfeits and copyright issues in the world of fashion and style.
Shoewawa - the good, the bad, and the ugly of the shoe world.

Have fun reading!

2006-06-21T12:32:00.000-05:00

The ideal couch

Norwalk Furniture lets you order custom couches (and chairs and ottomans); you get the choose the overall shape, the arm, back and base details, and the fabric; you can even send them your own fabric if you don't like any of their choices (although they have over 1000 options). Prices start around $1,100, which for the exact couch you want is quite a steal! Go ahead and start designing!

2006-06-17T17:45:00.000-05:00

More modest clothes: bottoms

As one of my commentors pointed out, it's not just hard to find stylish, modest dresses, but everyday clothes as well. As a graduate student, you don't want to dress provocatively, but you still want to be comfortable. Complicating the issue is that most of us dont wear business attire, so we have to find appropriate casual clothes, without being boring. Here are some general guidelines for the lab or office:

no short shorts
no halter or tube tops
no spaghetti straps
no deep v-necks
nothing tight or clingy
no midriff baring tops

You might think this leaves you with few options besides t-shirts and jeans, but this isn't so! Take a look at these pieces from Gap (which is currently having its summer sale) and see. For bottoms, go for interesting or unusual colors and patterns, instead of wearing regular blue jeans every day. For summer, you can wear cropped pants or bermuda shorts to stay cool without showing too much skin. Skirts that hit at the knee or below are also great options.

Corduroy pants for $12.99
Beach jeans for $29.99
Khakis for $29.99
Capri khakis for $19.99 - $29.99
Frayed bermuda shorts for $24.99
Garden print skirt for $29.99

Remember that modest doesn't mean shapeless; if your clothes are well cut, a good figure will show through without clingy or tight pieces.

2006-06-14T12:19:00.000-05:00

Modest Clothing

Many women don't like the fact that it is hard to get stylish dresses with sleeves, or that cover the whole back. It can be hard to find these clothes, especially in the spring and summer with so many halter dresses and spaghetti straps dominating the clothing racks.

Here are two websites that sell modest clothing. One of them provides really cute dresses that fall below the knee and cover the shoulder. The other is a very scary site; I recommend not viewing it too close to bedtime, lest you suffer from nightmares.

Mikarose has a small selection of dresses, but they are all lovely. You can probably find some similar pieces at Macy's. I especially like this dress, and would love to wear it swing dancing!

Lydia of Purple sells "Modest Apparel Clothing sewn by a truly modest Christian Seamstress", including denim bathing costumes. This site is doing a great job promoting the myth that modest = ugly, and a somewhat less successful job marrying off young women. Frighteningly, the authors of the website offer a website design service.

Stick with Mikarose, folks.

2006-06-11T16:01:00.000-05:00

Worth it or not (no. 3)

Having done two previous posts about clothes, I feel it is only proper that I should pay some attention to shoes as well. Which of these pairs of high heels is worth thirty-some dollars, and which is only worth thirty-some dollars to a blind drag queen?

The top pair is $39.95 at Zappos.com, and while rabbits feet are supposed to be lucky, somehow I don't think these will bring you any good fortune. For some reason, Zappos is not planning on restocking these beauties.

The bottom pair is $34.99 at Ann Taylor Loft; unlike the furry monstrosities above, these lovely ones are perfect for going out at night.

2006-06-09T15:01:00.000-05:00

More graduation gifts.

The almost-graduate Jazz likes my picks for graduation presents, but says graduates would prefer cash. Thinking ahead to my own not-too-distant graduation (with only that pesky doctoral thesis standing in front of it) I see the wisdom in this. But there's not too much style involved in giving a fistful of greenbacks, is there?

Fortunately there can be. You can give a memorable, fashionable gift of cash with very little effort on your part. You'll need to give a token gift as well, and package everything beautifully, but it's not so hard.

Start with a lovely, personalized card. American Greetings has some wonderful choices, or you can make your own using quality paper from Crane's. Write a meaningful, but not overly sentimental, message, expressing your pride and pleasure in the graduate's acheivements. Add a small gift; a pen or a pen and pencil set makes a good choice, a cheaper option is a good bar of chocolate.

Put everything in a classy gift box, and you're done! You've given the graduate everything they want, and more.

2006-06-07T18:57:00.000-05:00

Worth it or not (no. 2)

Another bebe vs. Bluefly matchup. Which of these is worth almost $80 for just one piece of clothing? The $79 silk blend blouse on top, or the $75 wine colored jersey on the bottom?

If you voted for the culotte jumpsuit, you clearly haven't learned your lesson: jumpsuits are never acceptable. Go to your room! But if you picked the lovely feminine blouse, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. For extra credit, you can buy the blouse for me; I'm a size
small.

2006-06-06T09:33:00.000-05:00

Cooking and serving

Cooking.com has a great clearance section. I love this set of copper-bottomed mixing bowls; they're great for mixing up cakes, cookies, or breads, and pretty enough to serve salads in. They're half-off too, only $14.99.

A more specialized item is this sushi set with service for four. It's ceramic and dishwasher safe, and you can use it as regular tableware too. This also is $14.99 and 50% off.

For wine and cheese parties, pull out this cheese board and cheese knives; storage for the knives is built into the lower section of the board. This is $30.00 at Bluefly.com.

2006-06-04T13:17:00.000-05:00

The Carnivale Between My Peers

The lovely Rebecca is hosting the Carnivale of the Couture this week, and she wants to know "Suppose you stepped off a plane in your neighborhood, city, or country. Could you tell you were home by how people were dressed? Is there a Regional Casual Uniform? What do people (and you may narrow down to a specific segment of the population if you like) wear when they are going out, during the day, going to be seen, but not needing to dress up?"

The short answer is resoundingly affirmative; you can indeed tell where you. Let me take you on a tour from the airport to my apartment. Pittsburgh International Airport is a major hub, so the terminals are teeming with people from all over, dressed in all different styles. Even those returning home to Pittsburgh are hard to identify, since so many people dress differently to travel than in their day-to-day lives. You would be hard-pressed to figure out where you were just using your highly-tuned sartorial sense. However, as you start driving towards my home, things change. You head down the highway and through a mountain, emerging to view a beautiful skyline just beyond the river. Head over the bridge to downtown, and you'll see: youths in baggy jeans, financial workers in business suits, shoppers in high-end jeans and fancy sweaters. But mostly you will see regular people, dressed casually, and even sloppily by the standards of other Eastern cities. The single most common element, however, is Steelers gear. That is because Pittsburgh is not just a city, it is a nation: Steeler nation. T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, hats, polo shirts, ties, and jackets everywhere are black and gold, emblazoned with the Steeler's hypocycloid logo. There is no doubt that you are in the home city of the current Super Bowl champions.

Head through downtown to Oakland, and the scene changes a bit. You'll see lots of students in jeans and t-shirts, many celebrating Pitt or CMU. In the summer, a lot of the college women wear skirts or dresses, but the guys won't dress up as much. Oakland is very much a student part of town, and it shows.

When you arrive at my apartment building, you'll see old people. Lots of them. My building is mostly peopled by those old enough to be my grandparents. Unfortunately, not many of them are as stylish as my grandparents were. Lavender pantsuits and pastel patchwork sweaters are the rage among the blue-haired women, while the balding men prefer suspenders clipped to slacks dating from the 1980s, over shirts that would be vintage if young hipsters wore them, but on these men are simply old and worn. Despite this geriatric lack of fashion, however, they are all very nice people. When I see those patchwork sweaters and support hose, I know I'm home.

Unfortunately, not all scantily clad Steelers fans are hot.

2006-06-04T13:12:00.000-05:00

Worth it or not?

A great outfit is sometimes worth going a little bit out of your normal price range. Sometimes, however, you'll run across an outfit that isn't worth it at twice the price. Let's compare two outfits with the same price, and see which goes into which category.

The one on top is $179 at bebe.com:

The bottom one is by Catherine Malandrino, and is $165.99 at Bluefly.com:
So which one is worth the price? If you guessed the lovely lavender frock, give yourself a cookie. If you picked the "glamour satin jumpsuit", however, you'll have to stand in the corner and think about your fashion choices.

2006-06-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

Warm Wood

Give your living room or entry way a clean edge with this mission-style bench, a steal at $99.95, which is 65% off. If you'd like a modern look, try this pedestal table in one of four colors (I love the chestnut). It's $69.99 (51% off) and shipping from Overstock.com is only $2.95 per order.

2006-05-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

Celadon & Silk

Freshen up your living room with some light and summery pieces from Satinbox. Cover your couch's throw pillows with these beautiful raw silk covers. Raw silk has a soft, nubbly feel, and stays cool, so it's perfect for the summer. Keep this celadon vase ($18-25) around for cut flowers from a garden (if you don't have one, hit up some friends for extra blossoms from theirs). Satinbox has $6.50 flat rate shipping, and orders over $150 ship for free.

2006-05-30T00:21:00.000-05:00

Grad gifts

Unsure what to get a recent graduate? Check the sale section at RedEnvelope. I like this trio of good luck paperweights ($18.99) or this chess and checkers travel set ($10.99). If your graduate merits a bigger outlay of cash, go for this lovely Buddha necklace ($68) or money-clip with built in watch ($44, engraveable).

Look at the lovely freshwater pearls on the necklace:

2006-05-30T00:08:00.000-05:00

Figleaves on sale

If I wore a size 10, and looked great in yellow, I would buy this suit. At $117.50 it is on the richer end of my price range, but it would certainly be worth it. Snap it up if you are the right size and can pull off the color. Otherwise, check the other great suits on sale at Figleaves.

2006-05-28T19:42:00.000-05:00

There's a method here!

I love Method brand products; they smell great, they're biodegrable, and they work really, really well. The fact they they are good for the environment is really just a bonus. The smelling great thing is good; when did it become normal to feel like things are only clean if they smell toxic?

They're sold at amazon.com, but when you look there, note that the pricing is often for cases of six or eight. For an individual item, Method isn't any more expensive than other cleaners.

My favorites are the super-concentrated laundry detergent (there is baby laundry detergent too) and the cucumber household cleaner (it also comes in lavender and pink grapefruit). Go forth and be green.

2006-05-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

Carnivale of the Movie Don'ts

Fashion is a Verb wants to know: What movie do you credit with being responsible for the biggest Fashion Don'ts? In other words- Which movie started off clothing trends that never should have been.

Well, this is an easy question to answer! Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) started a number of unfortunately long-lived fashion trends. Rotwang's strange overcoat was bad enough, but his wild hairdo was even worse, but his most heinous contribution was the raccoon eye makeup, still championed today by Rachel Zoe.

The real Maria's shapeless dress started off a trend topped only by the false Maria, i.e. the robot. Her full body armor with mask was an instant hit, and Vogue even released patterns for housewife/blacksmiths. This fad was ended only by the shortage of metal caused by World War II. Here in the U.S., many women tearfully donated their suits of armor to Lady Liberty, thankfully ending one of the most heinous fashions ever to conquer the world.

2006-05-24T16:08:00.000-05:00

Light hiking - footwear

Serious hiking require serious equipment, but light to moderate hiking requires only
comfortable shoes and socks, a water bottle, and some energy. Here are some good footwear options for the family:

Women: New Balance WW603 ($63.95) or WW625 ($43.95). Both are rugged, supportive shoes, and New Balance makes a wide range of sizes and widths. Women can also go for the Tiger listed below for men.
Men: Onitsuka Tiger ($40.95) by Asics. This shoe is comfortable for both men and women, and versatile enough for everyday use. Other colors are availabe at higher prices.
Boys: Gap terrain sneakers, on sale for $19.99. Sizes run big, and in fact I often wear shoes from Gap Kids.
Girls: Gap cross trainers, also $19.99, or the terrain sneakers above. I'm big on the unisex thing today.
Babies: A Maya wrap or a Hotsling. Many slings can hold children up to 40 pounds, if the adult is willing to tote a child that big around. My personal preference is for hotslings, but I know women who swear by Maya wraps or other baby slings. Find one that works for you.

2006-05-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

Poor directions to the Carnivale....

Evidently I didn't give clear enough directions to my place, because a few people got lost on the way. If you are lost, or late, just let me know. We'll be partying all day and all night!

I can forgive Ali of Papierblog for coming late, though, seeing as she brought food!

Susan over at Counterfeit Chic is that awesome partygoer (there is one at every party) who knows something about everything, so she fills us in while surrounded by handsome bamboo toting men.