VALENTINE ON THE SIDE

k is off to the big apple, people!

2009-08-08T19:46:00.005-06:00

hi friends, kendall here, the lazier half of valentine on the side. just wanted to write a quick post on my own to let you know why we've been m.i.a. from the blog world. besides the fact that this summer denver has been too hot to do anything, including thinking of new blog ideas, going shopping/scouting/researching, and even sitting in front of a computer to type said blog, the absence is mostly my fault, because my mind has admittedly been elsewhere: i'm about to move to the big apple!!

that's right, three weeks from now i will officially be an aas fashion design student at parsons the new school for design! high fives all around??

we don't know what will happen to the blog in all honesty, but we will surely keep you updated if we decide to branch off into new blog territory. truth be told, i'm going to miss romping around denver with el, drinking san pellegrino, typing in courier font, discovering both the surprising coolness and numbing lameness of the city. surely there's much more to be discovered.

you might be saying: k, are you fashionable enough for parsons, the school that hosts the beloved show project runway? the answer is no, not even kind of.

...but i think i will do okay as my old, unfashionable self. until next time!

cheers!

xoxo k

hiatus for july

2009-07-24T14:17:00.003-06:00

oops!

you may have noticed our absence this month from your favorite fashion blogs and well, all we can say is that we meant to post something earlier about our july hiatus and we only got around to it just now! we are on hiatus for a reason. but fear not, we will be back in august with more irreverent commentary on the world of high heels and jackets and dresses.

fashionisto of the month: gabe covarrubias

2009-06-30T09:10:00.010-06:00

alright, so let us again state that we realize "fashionisto" isn't an actual word per se, but if it was it would certainly apply to this months featured style whiz, the man with the sexiest name (and hair!) in denver, mr. gabe covarrubias.

we managed to snag gabe away from his busy schedule of being a most highly sought after coiffeur, m.cing for the denver roller dolls (in elvis costume nonetheless), staying tight on his star wars/wes anderson trivia skills and generally just making sure everyone is down to party, and got him to answer our famous five questions about fashion.

1. why do you think you're so fashionable?

The benefit of what I do for a living is that I see a constant flow of fashion from my co-workers and clients. I feel like I keep it pretty simple most of the time, but my style definitely reflects my personality. I have always been drawn to the surf, skate and punk scenes. Within these cultures, styles have been influenced from so many different places, a good example is the hip-hop skate thing. A variety of different cultures combine to create great things in fashion.

2. what is the least fashionable thing about you?

My least fashionable trait would be a tendency to play it safe with colors. I saw a guy in a really great dark suit with a loud as hell pink shirt and thought it rocked! I felt like I could never pull it off. Maybe I play it a little too safe.

3. what is a secret fashion vice of yours?

My no doubt fashion vice is a way too expensive, well fitting suit. Life is too short. Any great Elvis man should have at least one incredible suit. The suit that you wear should make you feel like a million bucks. The suit will create reasons to dress up and hit the town as a better version of you.

4. what trend or trends do you hate most right now?

Trends I hate? That’s easy! Ed Hardy Shit. It might be in a close hate race with Crocs, or even worse, Crocs with socks! And you can guarantee you're going to hear about how comfortable those Crocs are, because people always feel the need to tell you that.

5. who or what is a fashion inspiration to you?

I have a few favorites but my fashion hero is hands down David Bowie. Ziggy Stardust Bowie was outrageous and brave for the time. Bowie can also kill it on the red carpet in a sharp suit. Why do you think he was in Zoolander? Because he is fashion icon. I also dig Bjork, Peaches (The Musician) and Andre 3000 for their forward-thinking fashion sense.

JUNE BONUS QUESTION:
being that you are such a connoisseur of beautiful women (through your job, through roller girls, through your hot girlfriend) and have such an eye for style, what is the main tip you would offer our fashion forward lady readers out there?

For those about to rock ladies, we salute your favorite hair person. That's right, good hair can do a lot for a shitty day, and it can make a good day even better. Hair is the beginning of the endless possibilities of how you can express your style. Cut it, color it, curl it, pin it, straighten it, wear it up or wear it down. Find a stylist that you trust and you can add so much to your individual style.

you, yes you, loyal reader can have a private audience with gabe by making an appointment to get your hairs cut at the parlour highlands---303.433.4448

or by supporting and cheering for our lovely denver roller dolls at any of their games---www.denverrollerdolls.org

thanks so much gabe!

cheers!

k&e

a brief but hopefully informative blog entry

2009-06-27T18:18:00.004-06:00

so we decided to go check out the sweet william market at 29th and quebec today. this market is held out by the old airport the last saturday of every month. we found it a pretty pleasant place to converge and shop on a grassy green knoll with a good variety of things to buy for body, house, garden, what have you. the prices were reasonable as well and there were some cute clothes for way cheap as well as adorable jewelry. We snapped a few pics for your approval. you can get more info on it here: http://sweetwilliammarket.com/

cheers!

k&e

defining moments in your closet

2009-06-18T12:47:00.009-06:00

this week we take a gander at a signature pieces of clothing from our own wardrobes and talk about what we see as defining fashion in the other person's wardrobe.

a signature piece, a defining fashion moment, can come in any form...dress, jeans, a ring, scarf, shoes or coat. you may not even wear it that often but when you think of what really nails down your style in a single item, it is what pops to mind. it's something you would never get rid of unless forced by disaster.

doing this "fashion exercise" in your own wardrobe may help you figure out what your look is outside of trends. it also never hurts to ask a friend what they think really brings out the rita hayworth or sarah jessica parker in you. in these economically dicey times, where we may wish we could hop on the latest fashion bandwagon but simply can't afford to, this might help you figure out where a dollar spent is a dollar you'll keep wearing for many years to come!

el's take on el: most defining piece

my most defining piece is a simple black diesel dress i got when i was 21 years old (i am almost 28!) from my favorite fort collins boutique kansas city kitty. if you have known me for longer than 6 months, you have seen me in this dress. it's a low v neck front with a few embroidered details around the v, like the diesel 9 in red. the back has a really cute detail of an inverted triangle with black and white stripes. it hits just below the knees and is a strait cut. i have worn this dress for years, with everything i own. i've dressed it up, down and sideways. i've worn it just as a dress with heels, with boots, with flats, with sneakers. i've worn it over jeans with a cardigan, i've worn it with long shawls, i've worn it with pearls. i've taken it to berlin, prague, switzerland, minneapolis, all around colorado, i've taken it on dates, to birthday parties, to get drinks at the corner bar. my 20's would not have been my 20's without this dress! it's getting kind of threadbare these days so i hardly bust it out at all for fear it will one day rip. i don't know how i'll ever find it's equal. i think i love it so much because it is just your basic black dress, it makes me feel a little like audrey hepburn. plus it's totally versatile and you can rock any accessory you want with it. long live the dress! here is (a little more inky black then it is these days) back when we first met:

el on kendall: most defining piece

this is a hard one because kendall is so hot! but in all seriousness, i think what defines kendall as the fashionista i know and love is color, especially BLUE. kendall is not afraid to wear 17 shades of blue at once and pulls it off like it's nothing! i was always afraid to wear more then one color of blue at a time but kendall has helped me break free of my blue shyness. i think she does it especially well when she wears her big blue scarf, it really makes her face and skin look healthy and bright and it always makes her lipstick pop! so do as kendall does and bust out your blue loud and proud. remember, color doesn't cost a dime.

k's take on k: most defining piece

sifting through a closet full of stuff i don't really care about (I just counted and i have 23 dresses!), stuff i shouldn't even own anymore (there was a hot pink guess tube top i finally put in the goodwill pile) and stuff that i love but never wear (a whole row of heels that are lucky if they've seen daylight once), i'm thinking my most defining piece, or pieces rather, are my killer camel-colored leather boots. now, i am a big animal lover, and i refuse to buy leather brand new, so you can imagine my delight when i found these at a thrift store for $16. they're not waterproof, so i have to be careful in bad weather (even though i was wearing them when el and i got caught in this horrible rainstorm--i thought they were going to shrivel up and die!) i love them because they are stylish, the lining is torn and they are well-worn which makes them all the more comfy, and they go with everything (i think). i wear them with skinny jeans or leggings when its cold, knee-high socks and dresses when its warm, and when i move to new york in a couple months i can imagine them sashaying down the street like they own the place. versatility is something that i really love, which is why i think they are my most defining piece.

k on el: most defining piece

ok, so i'm a little shoe-obsessed lately, but i'm going to have to go with el's frye boots! i still remember the day she found these boots--i think she called to tell me about it. since then i've seen her wear them pretty much....yep, everyday. with rolled-up jeans, with casual dresses, with nicer dresses, and she looks like a badass every single time. it just goes to show, when you find your soul mate, you just know it.

until next time...

cheers!

expensive shit you can actually make yourself--vol 2.

2009-06-09T15:29:00.008-06:00

we have been thinking about trying to make feathered headbands ourselves for awhile now, and were inspired to finally give it a go last week when we hopped into common era and saw some simple ones for sale for around $20. we're not hating on common era or anything...in fact we just love a good challenge, especially if it means we can be thrifty!!

turns out, they are just as easy and fun to make as we'd imagined. all you need to get started are:

--a plain mono-colored headband that is flat and relatively thin
--feathers of your choice
--a small amount of felt and/or thicker fabric
--something circular (you'll see)
--fabric scissors
--hot glue gun (you should have one anyway; they are a must -have for arts and crafts lovers)

here are all the supplies we got. we bought cheap feathers at michael's and $1.50 headbands at forever 21 that we just took the bows off of.

first, trace a circle on a piece of felt and/or fabric and cut them out. you'll need two circles.

second, glue the felt (or one piece of fabric) to the underside of the headband. glue the second piece of fabric on the top side and make sure the edges are secured together. now you have the perfect base for gluing feathers.

third, start at the top and keep gluing rows of feathers until the fabric is covered with them. we both chose to have all our feathers match, but you can mix it up if you like.

done and done!! all in all these cost about $4 a piece for the headband and feathers, and they look just as snazzy as more expensive ones---plus, you get to choose feathers that coordinate well with your haircolor, outfits, etc.

until next week!
cheers!

better know a local biz: common era

2009-05-27T18:46:00.006-06:00

we hadn't really been shopping much on south platte street in denver, dismissing it as the home of a pre twenty-one yesteryear when nothing meant more then finding a coffee shop open all night that you could smoke cigarettes in (at least for one of us!). but it turns out that angsty coffee shop on south platte is all grown up now and so is the area. one of the most pleasant perks? boulder clothing staple, common era.

1543 platte street is common era's new stomping ground. although it still has its spot on boulder's famous pearl street mall, it has happily graced denver with its fashion-savvy presence and can't-be-beat prices...something not always common in small clothing boutiques. here is a place where you can find unique pieces from dresses to jeans, well organized racks (hello color-blocking), shoes, earrings, and a bag to match.

here are some adorable high-waisted jeans with double buttons that went home with the model. we saw them featured on the mannequin out front and couldn't wait to see them on. nice to see it looks cute on human bodies too!

highlighting of some amazing accessories. k & e particularly love the 1920's head pieces.

denver fashionistas, if you are looking for a cute, reasonably-priced outfit on the fly, forget forever 21 and spend your bucks at common era instead--you'll be helping out the economy where it counts: at home, looking fly, and you won't have to venture into *barf* the mall (added non-mall bonus: this place played morrissey while we shopped, not mind-numbing techno).

p.s.

we heard they are planning on starting how-to classes soon, excellent for those of us who are up on fashion trends but are feeling a little light in the wallet! go to www.mycommonera.com to vote for what classes you think you would attend.

happy local shopping!

cheers!

fashionista of the month: miss beth martin

2009-05-19T14:40:00.012-06:00

k's longtime friend, former roommate, and fellow fashion enthusiast beth martin was an obvious pick for our fashion interviewee sooner or later. beth was born and raised around the denver area, and we're always impressed by her ability to stand out and not only be fashion-forward, but unique, and also just fucking adorable and sassy. don't even get me started on her halloween costumes. yay for may!

1. why do you think you're so fashionable?
I guess maybe its the fact i don't take myself seriously. I like to have fun with my style and do silly things. Keeping people guessing always seems really fashionable to me. Plus I have an uncanny ability to wear way too many accessories.

2. what's the least fashionable thing about you?
My bags are normally hideous. I cant be bothered to hold things so I put my purses down everywhere and they end up getting pretty grimy .

3. what's a secret fashion vice of yours?
I'm the type of person who likes to re-invent myself very frequently or i get board, so right now my current vice is changing my hair. I wanted it short a month ago and now I want it long again so i may have developed a slight addiction to hair extensions...on only one side.

4. what trend or trends do you hate the most right now?
Not so sure how i feel about jumpers. I somehow have one in my closet though. How i ended up thinking "yeah this is cute", going all the way to the counter, getting my money out and purchasing it without a little red flag coming up I have no idea.

5. who or what is a fashion inspiration to you?
People who are elegant and classy no matter what they are wearing always baffle and amaze me. I am inspired by people who are effortlessly glamorous, probably because it is so different than how I feel myself. Also my friends inspire me; we feed off each other. Who knows what i would end up wearing if i didn't have fashionable friends?

bonus beth question!!: as a longtime denver-area resident, what are some tips you have for us about vintage store shopping or places to shop?

For me the most important thing right now is versatility, because i'm quite broke. So i need to find things i can wear lots of different ways. The great thing about vintage stores is that you can have versatility without being boring. I love the unique shapes that you can find. I really enjoy common era over on platte street as well; they are reasonably priced and they have a lot of jewelery that they make themselves and is one-of-a-kind.

imaginary clothing friends

2009-05-13T12:33:00.007-06:00

we're jealous of clothing make over shows that give you $5,000 to spend on anything you want. so maybe we're not the worst dressers in the world, does that mean we should be denied this amazing opportunity? according to popular television, probably. so instead we decided to take ourselves on an imaginary shopping spree and see what we would spend other people's money on.

kendall's picks

stella mccartney embroidered mini dress for $3,945.

kate spade owl bag. price is unknown as it is not available until august 2009 but estimated at around $500.

alexander wang carrington woven boots for around $1,000.

scalloped jacket from chloe's spring 2009 collection for $2,495.

kenneth jay lane octopus ring for $150.

grand total: estimated at $8,090. k only went $3000 over budget for these 5 items!! yay!

el's picks

dolce v by mimi holliday silk and lace bra and panty set because every girl wants to feel a little like marie antoinette under her clothes. bra for $88, briefs (not pictured) $59.

paige premium denim blue heights mckinley jeans for $179.

fall 2008 ann demeulemeester lace up boots $1800.

vanessa bruno ruffled top. no idea what season it's from, just love it. estimated cost $500.

vivianne westwood distressed linen "worthmore" jacket for $865. again, no idea what season it's from.

ashley watson dunlin bag for $440. this is being currently sold at composition, our favorite denver store!

jennifer behr victorian crystal and silk stain head wrap for $264. not sure about the season yet again.

grand total: estimated at $4195! leaving el an extra $805 to go to town with. she would probably at least get another pair of jeans and a couple of these...

crazy expensive ($81!)but super cute harlow cropped sweat pants from ella moss because she loves to lay around in her pj's so much and no fashion make over show would ever break her of this habit

just remember folks, you are never too poor to shop with your imagination. cheers!

dress for the resesh: exploring denver thrift stores

2009-05-05T13:24:00.003-06:00

we hate talking about the recession just as much as the next gal, but there is no denying the fact that it is time to start thinking about shopping on a tighter budget (not that we don't already!) so today we went on a quest to explore some of denver's more reputable thrift stores. we really only had the time to get down to the south broadway area, but that's where most of the good ones are anyway. here are the four that we hit and what we thought about them:

south broadway ARC--1515 s. broadway. denver, CO.

this arc is interesting. it hovers on the thin line between the hip baker neighborhood and one of the more ghetto areas of denver (close to south federal, santa fe, etc), so the items in the arc can range from amazing finds to disgusting t-shirts that smell faintly like pee. but it is worth the trip, as we both have found some real gems there. this arc is pretty large, so you have to be committed to searching a bit. don't count on the tiny dressing rooms being available.

k found these hot ankle boots by rampage for $3.99

regal vintage--1866 s. broadway. denver, CO

we were thrilled to happen upon regal vintage (previously called rare bird vintage) at its new, rather unfortunate location (it used to be on 13th ave in the capitol hill area). this vintage store is a real treasure. its spendier of course than your typical thrift store, but its got high quality clothes and accessories as well as vintage furniture, ashtrays, new kids on the block pillows, etc. if you love vintage stores, be sure to make the trip down to south broadway to check this out. judging from the location, they probably don't get a ton of foot traffic. the staff seemed knowledgeable and friendly, and they also buy vintage items so try taking your high quality goods down there if you'd rather be making some cash than spending it.

regal vintage is a colorful oasis on south broadway. check out that cool old luggage in the window!

our favorite find: a fun faux fur collar with a chartreuse tie for $15

flossy mcgrews--1824 s. broadway. denver, CO

this store is best known for being THE spot for halloween costumes, so we weren't sure what to expect on a tuesday afternoon in may. turns out its chock full of all sorts of vintage clothes, accessories, jewelry, hats, and of course, random costumes for that ugly sweater party you rsvp'ed to. we found it a bit off-putting, though, because it was so dirty, unorganized, and cluttered. it looked like no one had taken a broom to the floor since last halloween's busy season, so if you're a vintage clothing lover, be sure to block out a chunk of time to do some serious digging. some of the hats, for instance, looked too dirty and wrinkled for anyone to actually want to wear them, but there are no doubt some gems hidden in flossy's.

you're going to need to dedicate some serious time to digging through this wall of costume jewelry

safari seconds--422 broadway. denver, CO

there is one word for this store: gnarly.

we traveled here at the behest of the westword's 2009 best of denver edition (westword is our local alternative newspaper) which had this to say about what they called, "the best thrift store deal in denver":

We already like Safari Seconds enough to have raved about it here in 2006 and 2008, but the place, a dirt-cheap, refugee-run thrift store that helps African immigrants get on their feet, just keeps on giving. Since moving last summer to a more visible space on Broadway, the shop has hosted clothing giveaways every last Friday of the month, sometimes with a bit of fanfare and African food and music, but always offering secondhand specials at the best price of all: free. Spring cleaning was never so much fun.

while that's all well and good, it doesn't change the fact that safari seconds is seriously thread bare and has an overall unhygienic smell that makes shopping there unpleasant. after scanning the few racks we didn't even find anything to snap a pic of. so maybe donate money to these folks, but don't spend it there.

overall we are slightly disappointed in denver's thrift store selection. compared to other cities we've been to, there just doesn't exist that same culture of upper echelon thrift. but maybe because of the good ole recession the denver thrift store scene will perk up soon and surprise us all. here's to hoping! let us know if you have any special places in denver you go for great deals, we'd love to hear about it.

cheers!

design tip of the month: altar your space!!

2009-04-27T15:55:00.005-06:00

one of the coolest little tricks we have found for not only filling up a random empty corner, shelf, or bookcase while making your living space that much more personal is to create your own altar. there are a billion variations to be explored with altar-making. its a great way to gather together the random stuff you have laying around that is too meaningful to get rid of, and its a creative and potentially thrifty way to increase the design-savvy look of your personal space.

when putting together an altar for the first time, think about what you have the most of already. religious paraphernalia? old family photos? how about those 99 cent lady of guadeloupe candles you bought at the king soopers when you were in college? since el had a dia de los muertos theme at her wedding, she already had a ton of fabulous day of the dead knick-knacks, which became the main theme of her altar. k had a plethora of hindu murtis, seashells, and crystals that look so magical when grouped together in an old bookcase she cleared out and painted.

el built her altar in an awkward empty living room closet

layered tibetan prayer flags or papel picado banners are a must for colorful altars. try your local tibetan store or mexicansugarskull.com for the banners.

we can all agree that altars look more amazing when they have an overall theme. this is where you get to start collecting and thrift-store hunting. most traditional altars are religiously-themed, but this does not have to be the case. you can theme around a color, superhero, artist, or special person in your life.

mexican blankets and fake fruit and flowers all create an authentic day of the dead altar.

here an antique cabinet was transformed into a altar to remember ancestors.

our personal favorite: this altar was made in an old radio cabinet complete with a found bird's nest and "book branches." this is a perfect example of how creative and unique you can get with the design and theme of your altar.

enjoy altaring your space!!

cheers!

fashionisto of the month: magic cyclops

2009-04-18T14:21:00.002-06:00

okay, so we made up the word "fashionisto," but we are thrilled to have our favorite denver/fort collins dj magic cyclops as our april fashion interviewee! AND we admit its high time we included some dudes in our estrogen-driven blog. as you can see from the above pic, he has that creative, low-budg style that we love. take it away, magic....

1. why do you think you're so fashionable? wal-mart

2. what's the least fashionable thing about you? my socks

3. what's a secret fashion vice of yours? a custom headband with my name on it

4. what current trend or trends do you hate right now? z cavaricci and tight-rolled jean pants.

5. who or what is a fashion inspiration to you? basically my budget. if my band was better i could afford to dress for success.

APRIL BONUS QUESTION:
what fashion advice do you have for denver's male population?

the magic cyclops t- shirt! what a great way to tell people you're
"with it" and display great fashion sense all at the same time! this 4-color print shirt is professionally silk screened on a black gildan shirt to compliment any ensemble. available on my myspace page (address below), plus for a limited time get my first compact disc free w/ purchase !(while supplies last) $10 includes postage.
simply visit : www.myspace.com/themilehighmadman and look for the
magic shop widget.

short. sweet. to the point. :)

until next week...cheers!

on hiatus until the weekend of 4/18

2009-04-14T10:07:00.003-06:00

el has been really sick and kendall had to jet off to san fran so this week we are without fashion advise to spare. we had a plan for this post but it fell through yesterday, so please check back next weekend when we will be back in action!

top trends to watch out for this spring...and we mean that in a good way (mostly)

2009-04-04T14:39:00.011-06:00

as denver residents, we realize that we may be anywhere from 6 months to 2 years behind the rest of the world where fashion is concerned, but even from our somewhat fashionless island in middle america we can from time to time glimpse what's coming around the bend. this week we wanted to give our beloved VOTS readers our thoughts about what you might see on the streets or in magazines (more likely) this spring. enjoy the 6 top trends of spring 2009!

1. embellished boho

this season is full of bohemian looks like this anna sui number with a modern, slightly blinged-out twist (looking poor AND rich at the same time!). what's popular is mixed prints and patterns paired with shiny or embellished fabrics, metallics, jewels or sequins.

classic looks can be enhanced with funky jewels and prints like this fabulous matthew williamson dress.

even though sequins are a more modern touch, this sexy number still includes soft bohemian colors and a classic flowy boho style. personal thoughts: el is dubious about this look. kendall of course loves sequins so she's excited for this trend.

2. colorful, over-sized statement jewelry

amy adams' fabulous necklace she wore at the oscars has already made an appearance on this blog, but as it is such an fantastic example of statement jewels we couldn't help but feature it again.

...and the same goes for angie jo. the jewels aren't huge but the color is over the top and therefore fits perfectly into the statement jewelry category.

3. ugly is the new black: a salute to the 80s

we are aware these harem (hammer?) pants were heavy on the 2008 runway but they just started making their way into our everyday lives, and they make us throw up in our mouths a little.

carrot pants (or pants with ankle zippers???) are the slightly less ugly cousin of harem pants. we are sad to see the trend in ill-fitting pants continue full steam ahead into 2009.

believe it or not, folks, you are looking at an image from fashion week 2009. we had to double check. balenciaga saluted the worst of the 80s with big shoulders and ugly, unflattering draping. avoid looking like this at all costs.

4. ultra-feminine: nudes, pastels and sheer fabrics

with the exception of herman munster there on the end, these pieces look feminine and delicate with very floral touches and a light, flesh-colored palate.

we love these pieces from the erdem spring 2009 collection: very soft with a hint of the 1920's--especially the long lacy piece on the end (minus the queen elizabeth jacket).

5. boyfriend jeans

check out vicki in her non-skin tight jeans! she makes the baggier jeans femme with a sleek, well-fitted jacket. we are happy to see this trend arise, as it is more accomodating to all body types (although i guess victoria beckham is technically a bad rep for "all body types").

katie holmes caught a lot of shit when she debuted this look last summer but now we are suddenly seeing it pop up all over. ever-popular with bike hipsters, it gives older jeans that may be a little too long or short (but still fit well in the waist/thighs) a second shot at life.

6. the 1920's flapper returns (and we couldn't be happier): fringe and feathers

these roberto cavalli fringe sandals for spring are totally hot. we like the modern take on fringe with the chunky jewels added.

these beautiful pieces are reminiscent of daisy from the great gatsby updated to 2009. el would totally give a toe (or something) for the dress on the left. wouldn't you?

the look is complete with a jaunty feather in your hair! via hat or hair clip it all looks amazing.

we hope you've enjoyed our look at ladies' fashion for spring 2009, we'll try to get something up here for the gentleman soon!

cheers!

k&e

expensive shit you can actually just make yourself, vol. 1

2009-03-30T13:53:00.008-06:00

this edition of "expensive shit you can actually just make yourself" is all about our favorite piece: the scarf. while perusing the free people website one day we came across the plaid scarf pictured below. its a decent scarf. plaid is pretty awesome most of the time and these colors are interesting. but in the end, the truth is that this is a tiny scrap of flannel that you will be paying $32 to own when you can easily DIY. we thought we could do better! turns out, we did...

the free people menswear stripe skinny scarf

step 1. we found an xl men's flannel at a thrift store for $2.99. note: it has to be flannel! any synthetic fabrics won't rip the right way.

step 2: make a tiny cut at the bottom and rip straight up the grain of the fabric. we made three equal-length sections to put together, and even included a pocket on one.

step 3: sew pieces together with contrast zig-zag stitching to complete the well-worn/rough edges effect. we used a bright turquoise thread.

the end result is a soft, funky, hip plaid scarf that cost $2.99 and took a total of fifteen minutes to make. the best part is that by DingIY you can choose the fabric, width and length you like.

all-in-all, making this was literally easier than going to the store and paying money for the free people scarf, even if we would've been okay with spending the $32 (which we wouldn't have been). happy sewing!

cheers!

rockin' the suburbs

2009-03-21T14:55:00.006-06:00

although at valentine on the side we love to be thrifty, we recognize that sometimes you need to spend money on quality products. we also know that, as much as you may dislike it, you may sometimes need to go to the suburbs (like, maybe that's where your dentist is or something). if these two events happen to collide, the best place to go is compostion at belmar. belmar is a city within a city type of weird alien shopping complex located in lakewood, about a 15 minute drive from downtown denver.

composition is a design heavy boutique, with books, paper products, organizational supplies, bags, laptop accessories and jewelry. they also carry the more kooky items on the high style spectrum like baby sea turtle onesies and earrings made from recycled skateboards. they try to carry as many green products as possible which is why it's a pricer store. it's the type of store you wouldn't blink at to find in new york or berlin or london but it's shocking to find such a place located in denver. composition is also very travel friendly so they have an amazing selection of travel books (including the incredible color-blocked phadon travel series) and books about foreign cities, inciting your travel lust even further while visting this oasis of high style.

it was a delight to visit and here are our favorite bits:

walls and tables abound filled with everything from graphic design and archetecture books, super cool smart magazines for creative thinkers, travel guides, crafting and general hip hilarity.

composition is maybe best known for having the coolest bags in the denver area. they run pretty pricy but they're high quality and the staff is super helpful when it comes to finding the right one for you.

el's favorite bag is a sleek japaneese design, the allen foldover by RO. ken's favorite bag is an oversized felt number by Carga.

and here we are, at the baby gorilla pillow at last. how amazing is that? we also have featured above the incredible not quite edible egg pants (don't you just have to have them?) and the two thing el couldn't leave behind at the store, a lovely deer card and a new toothbrush holder.

if you dare venture into the suburbs, you have to stop by composition. we love it so much here is all their contact info (they have an online store for those of you not in colorado):

composition

7180 w. alaska drive

lakewood, co 80226

www.shopcomposition.com

cheers!

fashionista of the month: miss carrie lindberg

2009-03-15T13:22:00.009-06:00

every month we ask the same 5 questions of our fellow fashion-loving coloradoans who have enough style and sass to stand out against the sea of northface jackets, beanies, and ratty tshirts we so commonly encounter. now, that being said, carrie b. lindberg doesn't live here in denver and never has. but seeing how this blog is so new and she's been mentioned twice in it already, we thought it fine to break the rules we set for ourselves and interview miss CB lindberg for the march edition. when was CB lindberg mentioned in the blog you ask? remember when elinor referenced huge glasses, saying she only knew one girl who could pull off that look? that girl is carrie lindberg (yes, she IS very special). and the blog previous to this one when el talked about how going to a co-worker's fabulously decorated home inspired her to color-block her bookshelf? that co-worker was none other than carrie lindberg. carrie currently lives, shops, and organizes things by color in seoul, korea. hailing from the wonderous city of minneapolis, she will surely bring the heat this week to valentine on the side. give it to us carrie!

1. why do you think you're so fashionable?

CBL: i think i'm fashionable because, well, to be honest, i don't think i'm fashionable. i like clothes and i like looking nice, but for the most part, i toss on jeans and a tshirt, and possibly a sweater vest and cardigan. i tend to wear standard pieces and add some flair with scarves. prints and patterns are really appealing to me, and that could very well be something that makes me seem more fashionable and put-together than i actually am. i can pick out a great scarf from a mile away.

2. what's the LEAST fashionable thing about you?

CBL: i'm a sucker for irony. i buy clothing that is funny more often than i buy clothing that will work for me or last for a long time. for example, i am sitting here typing in a peach shirt that says "lovers" in cooper black (the font). i also have a navy blue sweater with an intarsia ghost. i also love giant, stupid glasses like no one else you will ever meet.

3. what current trend or trends do you hate the most right now?

CBL: brand names. logos emblazoned on any and every item that someone is sporting is such a huge visual turn-off to me. there are definitely things that a lot of people i know are into (chuck taylors, vans, chrome bags---mostly shoes and bags now that i think of it) that are obvious whether the tag is clear and easy to see or not. there is something about paying an insane amount of money to advertise a brand to the world that is so counter-intuitive to me. being brand-loyal because of durability and ease: that's a whole different animal.

4. what is your secret fashion vice?

CBL: its not really a secret, and i'm totally jumping on the bandwagon with this one, but as i've mentioned i'm really into scarves. in fact i fear this vice may bankrupt me. i bought three scarves yesterday alone!

5. who or what is a fashion inspiration to you?

CBL: colors are what really get me going. i find a color or color combination i love and will follow it hard. i went through a serious yellow and gray stage that i'm just now coming out of, and am transitioning to red oranges and corals with ashy blacks and slate blue grays. color combos that kill me usually involve something citrusy and something very neutral. oddly, i am also really into grey and khaki together. it is delicious in the most boring way possible, i guess. cannot get enough.

undercover fashion correspondent cb lindberg

as a BONUS, we asked carrie to give us a little dirt on what the scene is like over there in seoul, a.k.a. to be our VOTS asian fashion correspondent. here's what she noted....

CBL: fashion in seoul is conservative in a really strange way. everyone here wears tops that cover pretty much everything. turtlenecks, scoop-necks, layers, scarves, etc. its a big deal, even in the summer, to keep covered in that way. buuuuuuuuttttt, they also wear really insanely short shorts and skirts. even in the winter you'll see girls tromping around in barely-there skirts with either nylons or colored tights (adorable). high high heels are another thing that i can't seem to wrap my head around, because in korea you are forever walking and/or climbing flights of stairs. but girls here are like robots when it comes to this. they will rock 4 or 5-inch heels every day of the week, no matter what.

fashion for guys is pretty typical and similar to what's popular in the west i think. men here are generally quite thin, tall, and gorgeous. the majority of men wear thick-framed glasses, have shaggy haircuts, wear skinny jeans, blazers, scarves, and man purses. in fact i have seen a few really spectacular man purses which are much more feminine than anything the girls i know would have. but that, i presume, has more to do with culture and gender roles/gender identity than anything else.

thanks carrie!

until next time...

cheers!

DESIGN TIP OF THE MONTH: COLOR-BLOCKING!!!!

2009-03-09T14:50:00.010-06:00

turns out that arranging your books by author is so 2008. one way to really jazz up your living space (and what's more stylish than having a cool pad?) without spending a dime is to color-block...well, everything....but let's start with your bookshelf. below is an example of a non-color-blocked bookshelf: messy, disorganized (perhaps a little familiar looking??) but with lots of potential.

does your bookshelf look like this? gross. its a good thing we came along.

so how much of a difference can one color-blocked bookshelf make? check out kendall's color-blocked books below. it cost $0 and took about ten minutes......

much better!!! as you can see, color-blocking adds a certain je ne sais quoi. you not only look semi-organized, but design-savvy as well. and once you start color-blocking books, the obsession only grows... it eventually expands to include cd's, movies (which is really hard), clothes, trinkets, picture frames...oh my god...it goes on and on...

el became a fan of color-blocking back in her early days of boutique retail in fort collins, she then honed this admiration during her time at paper source in mpls--the chapel of color-blocking (check it for yourself www.paper-source.com). after visiting the home of a paper source co-worker who had everything on her walls not only situated in little old fashioned type writer boxes (adorable) but also color blocked, she knew she needed to apply color organization to her home. her book shelf (hard to photo as it is over 6') remains her favorite color-blocked home addition and the one that gets the most attention from visitors. el likes it when she sees other's color-blocked book shelves as she enjoys seeing what color of books people buy the most of. el has more red books than any other color, ken has more black. how about you?

what amazing heights can you reach with color-blocking you ask? we will leave you with a photo we found on the web that made us both gasp with delight, and not just because there is a small dog in the picture. who is the amazing princess who took the time to organize this precious bookshelf? we may never know. but we are in awe.

the holy grail of color-blocking

until next time, cheers!

something you can have an opinion on no matter where you are: oscar fashion

2009-03-01T15:29:00.026-07:00

kendall and el could not be together this week (single tear) to bring you the best in local and worldwide fashion so they are doing their posts separately about fashion's biggest show pony night: the oscars! ms. ken will post first followed by ms. el. enjoy!

kendall's 2009 FAVES!:::

first up, and most controversal (at least between el and i: exciting!!), is amy adams. el hates this dress but i think its Fabulous --and i even gave it a capital F-- i love the dress but more so i love the dress paired with the bold, colorful (but mainly turquoise) necklace. she looks like a saucy cleopatra.

you know how i love sequins, so i had to put miss anne hathaway on my faves list. the dress is stunning and eye-catching against her darker coloring. i love that this number is classy and sexy without being over-the-top poofy like an enormous, crazy wedding dress (see p. cruz, at the bottom). the PERFECT oscar dress, i'd say. well done.

there is nothing better than the tried but true sexy black dress, diane lane. it hugs in all the right places. an honorable mention goes to angelina jolie, who paired her LBD with green earrings (see el's post).

el and i tried to pick different do's and don't's for this post, but we both just had to mention evan rachel wood. evan rachel, i heard you are dating mickey rourke, which is confusing and kind of gross, but you couldn't look more sensible and fashionable right now in this greek goddessesque cream-colored number. just when america thinks you're all innocent, you slap on the naughty black nail polish to remind us that not only are you dating mickey rourke, who played your father in the wrestler, but you also once dated marilyn mansion. i'm beyond impressed.

guilina rancic has the right idea with the jewel-toned burgundy that goes so well with her complexion, the one-shoulder thing that i love and el hates, and the sexy sweetheart neckline. so precious.

gray dresses can be hit or miss (ahem, kate winslet) but this is a fabulous gray that maria menousnous is sporting. i am loving the sheer, curve-hugging bodice with the full, flowy skirt. very unique and fabulous.

this is another double both el and i just had to post. marisa tomei, could you look any more amazing? she is 45 years old, people, 45!! i used to be scared of getting older, but now i am not. marisa tomei's fabulousness have given me supreme hope.

SJP, one of my all-time favorite fashion icons, made me appreciate the poofy fairy dress this year with her modern belt and casual flowing hair additions. also, she wanders the red carpet apparently unafraid that her boobs will pop out, which is the most impressive part. well done!

NON-FAVES!

so...i love tilda swinton, but we have here a classic example of dressing for you body type and coloring being a huge factor... taupes are great, but on her pale complexion i think it washes her out in a big way, and that bright orangey-red lipstick and slicked-back hair doesn't help. also this super skinny skirt and loose, flowing top doesn't look so great on her tall, lean figure. better luck next year tilda.

amanda seyfried is just so precious you have to love her, but i do not love her in this dress. what's going on with this draping at the bottom? had the dress been long and flowing, it may have merely made it to my "on the fence" category, but this weird hem makes her look like a tiny little person (what's the correct term?).

bridgit fonda, some people tell me i look like you, and right now i'm kind of hoping its not true. everything about this outfit is a throwback to the early 90's, which is a time that's not exactly in again yet...sorry.. the shapeless dress, the shiny fabric, the sash (worst part!!!) and the chunky gold necklace?? ugh. wait... i just noticed the tiny purse!! what is going on?! is this photo from the archives of oscars past?

on anybody else: maybe. but on heidi klum? the model? she is just wasting the gloriousness that is her perfect figure by throwing this hideous, neon thing on top of it.

ON THE FENCE.......................

penelope cruz, i love you and you always look amazing, but big poofy white dresses look a little too much like wedding dresses for my tastes.

what is the appeal in this weird, satiny, shapeless, china-doll look? lose the ugly oversized bow, j. biel, and it might be okay.

kate winslet, i love you sooo much that i really really wanted you to end up in the best of category, but i just cant get down this this bland, gray metallic dress. i usually am a fan of gray, but this somehow is about the most boring color you could pick for an oscar dress. it does nothing for you.

people have been giving Beyonce a lot of shit about this dress, but what is really so bad about it? yes, she looks a little like she needed some baby oil to squeeze into it, but i think the black and gold is keepin it pretty classy. when i think back to some of the crazy shit she's worn, i kinda like it.. but i am on the fence about the mermaid thing.

i would have LOVED this dress when i was about nine. but i'm all grown up, and a little confused about it.

ONWARD AND UPWARD!!! ELINOR'S PICKS........
(el also added a special category: hot men of the oscars)

elinor's FAVES!:::

why not start with angie jo? hottest of the hot. i think her brilliant emerald earrings really made the outfit pop and i love the sheer overlay showing a bit of leg. sexy and elegant. well played, angie, you've come a long way from that girl, interrupted outfit (shutter). this outfit also showcases one of my favorite trends of the night, the sweetheart neckline. splendid example.

viola davis was totally stunning in this gown. god, who on earth can pull off that color? it made her skin look delicious. the draping was beautiful and stood out among the nights creams and topes. i liked the funk of the color with the classic cut of the dress.

i read a funny thing in the onion that was like "meryl streep spends 260 days of the year being honored"...well, hate to add another day of meryl revelry to your repertoire but seriously! i don't even know how old this lady is, i just know that she wears her age like a classy god damn dame in this flattering,feminine dress that doesn't try to be too showy, matronly or immature--three blocks that older ladies sometimes stumble over (did you see sophia loren?).

though i think evan rachel wood (despite being really talented, but that's not what this blog is about) usually looks like a bad dita von tesse knock off...tonight she really pulled off something unique. the neck is to die for, i love the little black nails reminding us that it is 2009, because with the milky skin and art deco gown ERW could be strait from a 1930 movie premiere. and vintage looks on the red carpet always score high points with me.

natalie portman and alycia keys are my two pretty ladies in lilac of the night. what an awesome color, first of all and i like that they are showcased on two totally different figures and skin tones and it still looks rad. i hope lilac sticks around. natalie is as per usual cute as a stinkin' button and alycia is sexy and glam in a way beyonce could never touch in 1,000 years (addressed later)

oh darling, p. cruz. it's like the sweetheart neckline was made for you. i don't know how you went from vicky christina barcelona super siren sex pot hotness to looking like the debutante that everyone envies at the ball, but good job.

dear marisa tomei,

in your incredible gown with detailing that makes me want to cry, worn confidently with beautiful hair and emphasising your spun sugar like delicacy means you are the ONLY PERSON who escapes my fashion gavel of doom when it comes to my most hated trend, the single shoulder sling.

congrats,

save the best for last...

anne hathaway, holy moly! she could not have looked more beautiful, everything from the hair to the beading on the gown are just perfect for her face and frame.

NON-FAVES!!

reece witherspoon. damn, girl. what happened to you? you were all sexy post ryan hotness and then....blue black patchy plaid with some weird shoulder drapery? i don't like this dress because if it makes a hollywood lady who is paid to be sexy look frumpy and figureless, it ain't gonna work for the average gal.

vanessa hudgens, one of the many, many casualties of mermaid dress. this disease had a horrible outbreak among hollywood this award season, is there no cure? and ps, what the fuck is growing off your chest?

yes, she's 40 and a naked GQ cover girl. does that mean she can wear a clingy dress with lines going in 1,000 directions and have it not look weird and unflattering? no, no it doesn't. sorry jen aniston.

i don't want to say anything bad about melissa leo being that she is so new on scene and got an oscar nod for a movie no one even heard of...but she's made that impossible. what would possess you to wear a dress that's the same color as your hair, one. and two, did no stylist talk to her, none? not a single stylist? the length, draping and neckline on that dress would give a 1950's vintage thrift store pause. they'd be like "this dress is really wrinkled and shapeless...i'll give you $5."

beyonce. why did you do it, beyonce?

kate winslet. this is hard for me because i love katie w. and want to support everything she does, i even watched the holiday. yeah, you heard me, the holiday. and it's weird because every best dressed list i look at she's on there and i'm like "does no one see what i see????". it's the dreaded, hated shoulder strap of doom. what is that? it makes her look like her dress has been critically wounded on the battlefield and patched up for quick repair. also, i hate her hair. i think if it weren't for the shoulder strap i could over look the hair and weird lace and just ignore this dress but all together...trainwreck.

i like amy adams, she's so beautiful. she's the true return to the hollywood red head that lindsay lohan failed to nail. so, i like amy adams. and i also like comic books. but that doesn't mean i want to see amy adams going to the oscars as spiderman.

virginia madsen. i don't know, i'm not crazy about the red on the red carpet and also doesn't this dress look like it would be in like a showtime movie about someone who went to the oscars? like "what's a cheap dress we can slap on this actress for this next oscar scene? can someone run to jessica mclintock and grab something in a primary color please?"

i want to make some kind of "you're either in or your out" project runway joke. but heidi klum, there is nothing funny about this dress. it makes me wonder if she kept an orphan project runway kid from a past season slaving away making shitty gowns in her basement, thinking they're unique and failing miserably.

worst for last!

jessica biel, a fellow colorado girl. sorry, sister. you look like you're wearing a table cloth with your hair thrown back in a quick half pony tail. is that dress easy to transform into a snow suit? you going to hit the slopes later? did anyone tell you that look wasn't going to make it outside of veil? where's justin? where o where is justin? is he mad at you? why didn't he help you?

ON THE FENCE......

yes, it's a mermaid gown. but it's a little more subtle and it's halle berry. i don't know. i'm confused.

i really like this combo, but i understand why other people hate it. i think tilda swinton can take huge fashion risks and i applaud her for her, but is it the prettiest thing i've ever seen? no. and i think for the oscars we expect pretty.

this dress has one sleeve and a shoulder strap, so by my own rules i should hate it. but like halle berry, i think freida pinto is super georgous, so i'm confused about what looks good and what doesn't. i also am a sucker for blue. this oscar was so white and nutral, i was happy when i saw punchy, brave colors. i also thought it was very nuvo bollywood.

sjp. it's a little boring, it's not un-pretty. i couldn't quite ignore it nor could i hate it. something was amiss with the boobs and it's a shade too prom...but it's also very prima ballerina and i can't decide if the ballerina shit is sjp's staple and i love her for it or if i'm sick of looking at it.

miley cyrus is catching a lot of shit for this dress. but how old is she, 16? if you were 16 and going to the oscars and probably didn't have a lot of normal things in your future like senior prom, you might pick this dress. it's very, very girly princess dress but i'm ok with that. not crazy about, but ok with.

amada seyfried is just such a doll...seriously, look at her, she is a living doll! i love her to bits and think the orangish hints of this dress were very pretty and love the big bow and hollywood hair, she's like a pin-up girl. but then there's something about the cut that's not quite making it happen. i can't decide. maybe i just watch too much veronica mars.

THE HOT MEN OF THE OSCARS

mickey rourke's sloppy cool white jeans with old timey black vest combo looked casual but still respectful of the event. he stayed really true to himself and looked handsome and fun. where was his date? he could have taken me!

i have no idea who john legend is. who is he? well, i do know he is a man who wears bomb ass chocolate colored 1960's throw back suits with tie tacks. HOT STUFF. also the "peach" on his arm speaks pretty well of him.

how does RDJ manage to still look like a spry 25 year old hottie? how old is he for real? it's like he took all of the tony stark charisma and just applied it to his life. his suit is so classy, love the lapels.

sean penn looking very elegant for his oscar win (and you never know with sean penn homo loving commie that he is) with some equally elegant arm candy in black (giving the angie/brad combo a decent run for their money, i think)

josh brolin just looked like the hot cowboy all scrubbed up. and i am always a fan of that. and can i pretty please just age like diane lane? please?

i close my post with the woman who would have been my winner for "fave dress" (in her stunning, stunning, everything an oscar dress should be, christian dior gown) marion cotillard but who couldn't win because i have to blame her for the 2009 mermaid dress outbreak as her 2008 mermaid dress looked so god damn amazing on her it made beyonce knowles think she could pull it off too. below are both gowns 2008/2009.

we hope you enjoyed our ruthless jugementalness as much as we did! see you next week!

cheers,
k and el

precious, but not too precious

2009-02-21T16:36:00.013-07:00

this week at valentine on the side we wanted to venture to places neither of us had ever gone before. as long as it didn't mean going to the suburbs, we were ready to head to any little neighborhood unexplored by us that denver had to offer. as per usual we only had one afternoon to come up with several fresh little boutiques so we didn't get to go everywhere we wanted. and sometimes the places we did want to go ended up being places we didn't care for. here was what we were looking for on our little adventure:

*locally owned *unique *off the beaten path *works with all budgets *good customer service *precious but not too precious

here's what we were not looking for:

*"cougar" wear *unfriendly staff *trend followers not trend setters *catered only to high end budgets *crowded with unfriendly hipster models waiting to get their hair done *bejeweled flip flops

out of the 5 neighborhoods we visited, here is the best of the best, along with their price range, location, and our favorite item we would have bought if either of us had any money.

OLD SOUTH GAYLORD

pome

locale: 1018 south gaylord denver, co 80209

the tiny pome boutique is nestled in between old south gaylord's little strip of restaurants, bakeries and shops. it has everything from amazing kid's section (which we both love--we tend to like kid stuff that translates well in the adult world) to bath and body and even cool paintings. the owner kate is super sweet and told us about how traveling to other cities and finding their hidden nooks inspires her to create incredible displays!

price range: good for everybody, spendier stuff and totally affordable

favorite item: kendall-circus kit for kids

el-large selection of amazing kids flash cards

UPTOWN

talulah jones

locale: 1122 east 17th denver, co 80218

this was cheating a little for el because she's been there before but kendall had not and el is always, always looking for reasons to go back. this store is amazing with just about everything adorable or awesome set up in creative displays. one half of the store is for kids (but just like pome, kids stuff that translates well into enjoyable gifts for grown ups) and one half is for adults--mostly adorable gifts and things for the home. talulah jones has some of the best paper and ribbons in denver--and good paper in denver is hard to find.

price range: kind of spendy but worth it. they had these tiny mushroom clips for $1.50 that were heart breaking, we don't know what you'd use them for but we're sure it's totally worth it.

favorite item: kendall-stuffed flying squirrel

el-tiny photo album with cross stitched cover

in closing we enjoyed spending time finding these tiny treasures in our beloved denver. however, i would like to say that there were 2 places we visited (that will remain nameless) that would probably be filed under LAME.

if we were to start ranking denver on a coolness scale of 1-10 (1 being warrensburg, missouri and 10 being paris) denver has so far, via the two outings this blog has documented, reached a 3. here's hoping for one day reaching a 10--you can do it denver!

cheers!

fourteen things to <3 this valentine's day

2009-02-14T15:28:00.020-07:00

What better way to celebrate v-day than with things that warm the heart? For Valentine on the Side, that could only mean our very favorite fashions. We've put together fourteen of our all-time favorite styles, looks, and pieces. No matter where you live, Denver or beyond, THESE THINGS ARE FUCKING AWESOME.

Bustiers. Alot of designers are making dresses with fitted, feminine bodices. They look especially great, we think, if you have smaller boobs. Although if you are more busty, you will certainly be making a statement. Holla!

an amazing bustier by D&G

Black and white. Forever a powerful combo.

how classy is this Burburry number?

Eco-conscious fabrics. We love that green design is becoming more of a standard. Stella McCartney often uses organic fabric (like the jacket below), H&M recently came out with a whole organic cotton line, and bamboo is becoming quite popular as a fabric that is both amazingly soft and sustainable. Yay!

Huge Scarves. They give any outfit bonus points, in our opinion.

The Modern Cowboy Boot. Kendall is not talking about your grandpa's dirty clunky cowboy boots---she's loving the ultra feminine cowboy boots that make any dress or skinny jeans look ultra modern and sexy. However El loves the cross between clunky and sexy found in the expensive but amazing Frye boot collection. Pick your poison.

Frye dream boot a la el
Jessica Simpson dream boot a la Kendall (don't judge J. Simp makes some rad shoes)

Cobalt Blue. This color is our new favorite and looks great with so many skin tones.

Fingerless Gloves. Long or short, they add a certain femininity to an outfit, and leave your fingers free for things.

chanel and valentino

Knee-high stockings and socks. You may remember these from their brief popularity circa Clueless. We love that they keep white, pasty legs looking great and slim, and you can pair them with flats, heels, or boots.

SJP has the right idea

Mixed Prints. Anyone who is a bit of a Bohemian at heart will love this new trend.

from china's 2009 fashion week

Accessories in Primary Colors. There is no better way to make a drab outfit a hit than with a shockingly bright pair of shoes, chunky necklace or bracelets, earrings, bag or scarf. You can wear black every day of the year and always look unique if you have bold colors to highlight with.

Big collars. An old friend once told me that wearing a big collar is like putting your face on a shelf. Nothing could be more true. It highlights the most unique thing about you whilst being both stylish and cozy.

Beautiful high collar jackets by Anna Cohen

Tiny Vests. With a nod to style icon Annie Hall, these vests are both classic and totally unexpected. It takes a certain confidence to pull off a fashion piece that is this eccentric but if you can do it with confidence, you will turn the heads of everyone in the room.

Vest by Alexis Lamontanga

Clutches. Weather you are a lover of big, dramatic over sized bags or petite purses, a good clutch is a fashion staple. If you are going out for a night at the opera or just trying to jazz up your friday night post work get-up, a clutch is an elegant must have.

Clutch by local Denver designer Ollie Sang using recycled fabrics www.olliesang.com

High Style Jackets. Throwing away a good chunk of a pay check on a killer jacket is an occasional absolute. A truly great jacket can take jeans and a t-shirt and make it stunning, it also does every lady (and fella) good to have a unique piece that will follow you through many seasons and trends. Skip the price tag and listen to your heart if you find a truly great jacket, they pay for themselves (not to say you can't find amazing vintage and thrift jackets for less dough).

a few on the street examples of eye catching jackets

we hope your valentine's day was filled with love and if not that, then we hope this blog post gave you a few ideas about true fashion love in the near future. <3

cheers!

get to know us

2009-02-14T14:15:00.010-07:00

To know us is to Love us.

Each month we're going to interview a local celeb, or a friend or stranger of a special fashionable status on their general opinions on the subject---and we'll always ask the same five questions. To kick things off, we're going to interview each other!

#1. Why do you think you're so fashionable?

EL: I think I'm fashionable because in my life I've had to be really versatile and accept change and not just stick with one style or look. A lot of things in my life have gone through flux; everything from location to body size to what I'm into and to stay stuck in a rigid fashion pattern would have been unfortunate---I would have missed so many fashion opps. And the times I completely fell off the fashion wagon were really indicative of times when I shut down because I thought I had to look a certain way. The best thing about fashion is that it allows you to express who you are in the moment, and that can be anything.

K: I think I'm fashionable because I don't get too obsessed with one current trend or style. Nothing's worse than locking yourself into one specific look or identity, only to have it kind of go out of style after awhile. I think knowing your own personal style--what you genuinely love wearing--allows you to have a sort of consistent undercurrent, and from that you're able to just keep updating your look. I'd say I'm neutral-fashionable. I wear what I really like and confidence is definitely a big part of being fashionable.

#2. What is the LEAST fashionable thing about you?

EL: The least fashionable thing abut me is that when I come home from work, I just live in these ratty old sweat pants with a wife-beater and ill-fitting hoodie. I usually throw my hair up in a half ponytail and just check out on fashion for the night, which is fine sometimes, but seriously, my poor husband.

K: The least fashionable thing about me is probably my weird fear of being overdressed, which means I usually end up looking way too casual. My closet is stacked full of dresses and heels that I never wear. Its a dumb fear because I always notice other people who are too dressed up and they usually look amazing and fun.

#3. What is a secret fashion vice of yours?

EL: My secret fashion vice is that I will be looking at my various nerd-related websites, like stuff about Harry Potter, or A Song of Ice and Fire, or the Joss Wheadon show Firefly, or Veronica Mars, and there will always be a t-shirt or sweatshirt with the logo for sale (or in the case of Harry Potter a series of scarves) and I will always have like a moment where I seriously think about buying it. And as cool as it is to support things you love with your cash, a Harry Potter t-shirt is never cool.

K: Mine is sequins. I'm forever drawn to things involving sequins---stilettos, dresses, jackets, clutches. I think it comes from when I was little and my mom had this amazing black sequin dress that she wore when she and my dad went to their high school reunion. I remember being so in love with that dress. She eventually gave it to me, but it has shoulder pads so I'm not sure what to do with it. I don't own any sequin items because even though I am secretly obsessed with sequins, I have no real idea if they are actually fashionable or its just some hideous, weird ugly thing only I think is cool.

#4. What current trend or trends do you hate the most right now?

EL: I absolutely hate those big glasses I keep seeing hipster kids wearing. HATE! I just want to rip them off their faces. I like big sunglasses because they give this old school Hollywood air of glamour but big prescription glasses just look you're a dork 9-year old whose mom picked out sale glasses for you at Lens Crafters. There is no reason to deliberately look that way. See-through frames are the worst of the worst. I know only one human on earth who can pull off crazy glasses like that and the trend really should have stopped with her.

even with the giant scarf, the outfit is ruined by the glasses

K: The Mary-Kate Olson/Mischa Barton headband, lamé leggings, HAREM PANTS (ew! what?), and people with the wrong body type wearing really tight skinny jeans, i.e. girls that are too short and stocky (they look like little turtles) or boys with skinny chicken legs (they look like they would lose in a fight with the weakest person on Earth).

#5. Who or what is a fashion inspiration to you?

EL: This has remained the same for many years: Tank Girl and Audrey Hepburn. Tank Girl (though a comic book character) is the perfect example of just not giving a shit and still looking amazing. Also, she was an early trend-setter with all her crazy layers. Audrey Hepburn because she was just given the gift of absolute high style, even though she would have looked pretty and chic in a potato sack. She wore clothes that were both elegant and accessible. Even in her older years she was high fashion.

K: I always loved Diane Keaton's characters in Manhattan and Annie Hall--timeless and forever casual yet sexy in button down shirts, scarves, jeans, and high-heeled boots. Maybe I just like the 70's. As for celebs, I like Kate Hudson's style a lot. I like women who can consistently keep it ultra-classy while being a little bit of a free spirit.

Kate in In-Style magazine.

Remember to watch out for our March fashion interview where we will ask these same five questions to a special Denver local in hopes of figuring out how fashionable people make it happen in the queen city of the plains.

Cheers!

the denver is in the details

2009-02-08T15:39:00.030-07:00

at www.denver.org you are greeted with an insistence that denver is a "perfect blend of outdoor adventure and urban satisfaction", as is illustrated by a sprawling mountain meadow header and a charming snap shot of 16th street mall. there is also a clickable caption in cheerful green reading "denver is in the details".

ignoring that this denver.org colloquialism makes no sense, what are these details in which you can find denver? according to the website, denver is "found" in a bunch of shockingly lame factoids such as:

"denver is one of the few cities in history that was not built on a road, railroad or lake, navigable river or body of water when it was founded. it just happened to be where the first few flakes of gold were found in 1858."

and as if to further illustrate the lack luster of a city with nothing to hold it in place but gold digger dreams comes this fact:

"one of the best sports towns in the country, denver is home to eight professional sports teams including the Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies and Avalanche. denver is the only city in the country to open three new stadiums in ten years."

shari caudron in her excellent article for the december 08 issue of 5280 appropriately titled "desperately seeking denver" was quoted as saying this about the city in which she's inhabited for 15 years:

"if i want to find places where denver asserts it's identity i should start with the things that make denver a leader. but i'm not sure what that is because the city doesn't sit on the cutting edge of anything--not art, not music, not politics. we possess few corporate headquarters, we're not a technology hub and by the time fashion trends work their way here from the coasts, the same clothes are found languishing on the clearance racks in new york and los angles."

which brings us back to that chipper denver.org quote. if denver is in the details, what details are there (not counting sports stadium after sports stadium)? what can you find in denver if you don't just want a north face jacket, a husky named dakota and a season lift ticket? what about those of us denverites who want the queen city of the plains to have all that art, music, politics, technology and fashion we are so not on the cutting edge of? is it here to be found?

will denver always be a highway attraction where you pick up flecks of fools gold and move on to bigger and better things?

k and i went out one saturday to explore what cool things might be going on in a city in which we constantly bemoan the lack of cool things. both of us being fashion nerds, we approached the project with a stylistic eye--namely, where are the people sans expensive outdoor apparel and where do they shop?

here's what we found:

the museum of contemporary art on 15th street, light, airy, luxurious black and white space filled with thoughtful curations and featuring high profile artists (like damien hirst)

MCA denver is also on it's way to becoming a LEED gold certified building which means it is clean and green to the max. high style and highly conscious of the good ol' enviro.

the design of the building is stunning. this picture was taken up top by the rooftop cafe/bar (watch out for the $15 olive plate). it is very easy to forget you're in denver. it reminds me a lot of modern euopean architecture and was built by british architect david adjaye.

the first saturday of every month is "penny saturday" at MCA and they have events going on throughout the day to promote it. we had the fortune of catching the saturday where the denver chapter of hip hop congress preformed (www.hiphopcongress.com). MCA's basement became the sight of an awesome b-boy battle that made k and i both super sad we'd never undertaken break dancing.

off to the south broadway shops! now south broadway is the locale of many, many great shops and this blog will definitely be revisiting this gem of neighborhood. but this saturday we had time to go to three mutually adored shops that we knew would add panache to the high brow big city vibe of MCA.

decade, the charming boutique whose product spans the range from vintage furniture (they score some phenomenal pieces) to eberjey lingerie to free people sweaters and an actual cool maternity section, was our first stop. i cannot say enough good things about decade. with their beautiful merchandising and high attention to detail, it would be easy to lose a pay check to them.

the coolness of decade is vast

just a great example of the color blocking in decade, something i (el) am a huge, huge dork about

next on the stop was fancy tiger (www.fancytiger.com), an all around great place with two locations, a clothing store on the east side of the street (with a really great selection of high quality letter press and paper craft) and a craft store on the south. run by husband and wife team matthew and jamie, the place could not be more sincere or unique. they love local designers and the locals love fancy tiger because of it.

we only had time to stop in the boutique and snap a few quick shots because it was very busy in there. matthew was mending the loose buttons on a coat a customer was about to purchase (great customer service touch) and there were donuts and tea out for all to enjoy.

our last, but far from least, visit was boss unlimited vintage clothing. locally owned and operated for 25 years, the owners ron and cynthia could not be more willing to help you find what you need. and you may need help because their selection is so huge!

k is the big vintage/thrift store shopper of us two and she was excited to show me their vintage fabric collection, which i had never seen (i usually get lost looking at the vintage shoes and hats). one of the owners, ron, came back to offer us refreshments and told us that off site they have a warehouse full of vintage fabric available for view by appointment only. here's k with a pattern she liked.

so, i guess as we come to the close of the post, the question is did we find "denver in the details"? and my reply to that is, no way, dude. it was only one saturday afternoon of looking, first of all. and we went to places we already knew were cool--which is kind of cheating--of which we visited 4. all the above mentioned places deserve tons of patronage but as cool as they are, they can't be held accountable for an entire city.

as this blog continues, we will continue to explore this concept (among others) in hopes of making our homes more than just a stopping point along the way.

cheers!