The Braided scarf

Here's the next in the scarf tutorials! "The Braid"

It's kind of weird watching myself in the videos. It looks a little goofy to me. But I have to say, I am pretty proud of my new-found tutorial talent! I still haven't decided which is "my good side." 

. Z .

Scarves!

Look what I did at work yesterday...

This was fun... And we made a few more for later!

I am a true scarf fanatic and I love getting creative with tying them. Any scarf can easily be the statement piece in your outfit. Add a bright solid for a pop of color, or mix prints for a more eclectic look. 

. Z .

Some of my everyday favorites:

• The twisted slip knot
• The zig-zag
• The "european"

Halloween: The Aftermath

After almost two weeks of patterning, cutting, sewing... and glueing, the Hot Chewbacca costume was a huge success! 

I also made Obi Wan Kenobi's under robe and recruited a Luke Skywalker and C-3PO (with R2-D2).

There were so many great costumes that night! Including a crazy Transformer who reported that his "Mom made it." Good to hear that even with a 20-something son, a mother still takes pride in making his Halloween costumes! 

Now, what am I going to make next year!?

. Z .

Tips for next year:

• Pick a costume that has a light laber or other noise-making weapon. Always a good time.
• Be ambitious! The extra effort always pays off.
• The internet can help you make anything! I found tips on making boot covers and cuffs from a raver-friendly website!

All Hallows Eve. . . Costume Time!

Halloween is just around the corner! It might have to do with my birthday being three days before Halloween, but it's one of my favorite times of the year!

The thing I've realized is that it's not really about the holiday or the candy, it's all about the costume. Every year I try and come up with the absolute best costume idea and every year I am dying to get creative! This year I'm super excited to be making my Chewbacca costume!

I love taking something well known and making it my own.

It's not going to be easy, but I'm attempting to make the furry Star Wars character cute and girly. So far I've patterned a hooded vest from super shaggy fur and I'm almost done sewing it. I might have to make a few adjustments along the way, but so far it's lookin' good! Can't wait to show you the finished product.

Love my Bernina. And, yes, that is a comb next to my shears. Sewing with shaggy fur can get messy.

Cheers to the creations of All Hallows Eve!

. Z .

Costumes from the past:

• 2001 - The year of the Dead Cheerleader- complete with gory make-up (I was going through a wannabe punk-rocker stage)
• 2006 - The year of Wonder Woman- strapless sweetheart top and mini circle skirt. HOT. (1st semester in fashion school)
• 2008 - The year of the Sexy Dinosaur- complete with hot-pink patent pleather cuffs, spikes, and tail (along with help on 5 of my friend's costumes including a Darth Vader)

Sisterhood Of The Traveling [insert garment here]

My take on the sisterhood of the traveling garment is not that one pair of pants can magically fit every girl's figure. It's that sometimes clothes, shoes, or even perfume can make instant connections for women. I have this one pair of white sandals that were $15 at Target, but I ended up practically living in them all summer long. I'm not ashamed at ALL that my favorite sandals are from Target. Target makes some really fashionable stuff. 

The point is, all summer I would see girls wearing those same sandals (whether they were white or one of the other color varieties) and for a moment I would feel this fashionista-to-fashionista connection. "Oh my gosh, we have the same shoes! Where did you get yours?!" ...And instantly we're connected as trendy Target shoppers. I wore these sandals everywhere and found "the Sisterhood" in a few different places, so these sandals made my Sisterhood of the Traveling [Sandals].

Everyone has had those moments, and it might be embarrassing to be "twinsies," but you have to admit that it's kind of nice to see someone sharing the same interest. 

Now that it's fall, I will say that I once ran into a girl while out one night with the same Cathy Jean boots from last winter. As my favorite boots ever, they provided a particularly satisfying Sisterhood connection.

To all my Sisters out there . . .

. Z .

Common Sisterhood Connections:

• "You got that at Forever 21, right? I have the same one!"
• "Are you wearing Marc Jacobs's Daisy?"
• "I have that same top in white! Where did you get yours?"

Game Day Rituals

Everybody has their own rituals. Including their own way of getting pumped for a big date, an interview, or a special occasion. 

Getting ready for your own "game day" means something different for everyone. 

Some people wear lucky underwear, or do their hair a special way. Maybe you take a candle-lit bath the night before or talk to yourself in the mirror before leaving home... For me, it's the nails. 

Since Junior High, when I went to my first school dance, I have always done my nails special the night before a big day. Once in a while, I'll go for a mani-pedi, but it's painting my own nails that really gets me excited for something big. Hey, it might just be green for St.Patty's Day, but it makes the day that much more exciting for me.

Sunday, I went to opening day for the San Diego Chargers. I'm not quite ready to be a major football fan, but sporting events are always a good time. Painting my nails blue with lightning bolts the night before helped me get pumped about the football game. 

And with the little interest in football that I have, my boyfriend was more than pleased to see me get so into it (and relieved that this isn't like my daily ritual of trying on an average of 3 outfits before leaving the house).

It's these little rituals that make everybody's "game day" that much more special for them. For me it just happens to be about fashion (duh!). Completely adorning my body with everything spirited for the occasion. In my playbook, matching nails make it all happen.

. Z .

Some famous Game Day Rituals:

• The Dodgers play "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey between the top and bottom of the 8th inning
• Michigan's Wolverines jump to touch their banner to "The Victors" played by the marching band
• Virginia Tech's game entrance to "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
• At Clemson University, players touch a rock (Howard's Rock) and sprint down a hill to start off a game

FNO South Coast

On september 8th, Fashion's Night Out did an event at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. 

Over 100 stores participated in the event. 

Most of these stores had champagne catered, Miu Miu had high-heel and purse shaped cookies, Tiffany's had hors d'oeuvre from Capital Grille, Marni gave away logo printed balloons, Chanel was giving manicures with their latest nail color, Saks and Anqi at Bloomingdales hosted fashion shows. There were DJ's throughout the mall and in several stores including Ted Baker, where some of their handsome waiters served margaritas. Every store had its own little party.

There was booz, food, fashion, and many many women bonding at this event. 

It was every girl's shopping dream come true. Champagne and designer stores--What could be better than that? 

It was true love. 

. Z .

Labor Day Weekend

There's something about the end of summer with the smell of BBQs and fun in the air that make me think of that oh so perfect summer-in-the-Hamptons look. 

Tan wedges, red coral, skinny belts, and hot shades. 

The holiday weekend signals the end of summer. 

With the end of summer comes the nostalgia for summer fashions and the thought of pristine beach-house looks. 

Style.com features a trend they call: Capri Chic that gives you that same holiday vibe. 

And, of course, my favorite show, Royal Pains, hits it right on the nose given that it's set in Summer in the Hamptons. They have a "Hamptons Must Haves" webpage and they even sponsored the "Hamptons Summer Style Guide" on the New York Post's website. LOVE.

Does anyone else feel this same Labor Day fashion nostalgia?

. Z .

Summer of Travel

This summer has been the traveling summer for me. 

. . Oahu, HI. Mammoth Lakes, CA. Seattle,WA. Port Ludlow,WA. Laughlin, NV. .

. . Countless days at the beach, concerts, Disneyland days, Dodger games, and other day trips . .

I was thinking about how travel can be inspirational in so many ways. 

Of course, travel can inspire creativity. . .  with new experiences and imagery to put in your creative memory bank for later use in art, fashion, cooking, or whatever your outlet may be. But it also can be inspiring for your soul. To be happy and live well. Travel gives you a chance to enjoy 

places, things, people, and time.

Live Well. Travel.

.Z.