WHAT I'M DIGGING NOW ... TURQUOISE

Turquoise is one of my all-time favorite colors. It's cheerful, dramatic but not overbearing, and flatters pretty much any skin tone, from the palest to the darkest.

I'm excited to see this color everywhere these days. For years, you couldn't find it anywhere. I remember its 1980s heyday, when it was in everything from Southwestern style clothes and jewelry to Miami Vice. Then it just ... disappeared. Completely!

Until a few years ago, when it reappeared with a vengeance. I was jumping for joy. ^_^ Turquoise is one of the most singular and eye-catching colors around, one that lifts my spirits whenever I see it!

Here are some lovely turquoise clothes and accessories that I've seen online:

This stunning Southwestern-style leather-and-grommets belt, at Free People


I adore this dramatic Trina Turk "Mayreau" blouse, available at McAuley's Unique Boutique.
I think this style of blouse looks easy to make or get made, if you can find a good sewing pattern. I'm going to look for one!

This beautiful turquoise straw tote by Straw Studios, at Amazon, reminds me of the colors of the tropical ocean!


This brown-and-turquoise print "shell necklace" halter dress by Milly, at ShopBop, is made of silk chiffon and incredibly pretty! It's too pricey for me, but I find it very inspirational: I think it's another style that would be very simple to make or get made.


I got this adorable Shibori-print Free People skirt for cheap on eBay. It's got subtle silver stitching around the hem! I'd wanted this skirt since last year, when I saw it on the Free People website, but it was too expensive. I never thought it would reappear on eBay, but there it was. Pounce!

It's still available there in different sizes, by the way. :o) The waistband is stretchy material, so it's both comfortable and very adjustable to different body types.


This quirky, pretty Merona bracelet is available at Target. I just love its little shell-and-seacreature charms!

Though turquoise seems more like a "warm-weather" color, I think it can be worn year-round, in everything from formal gowns to ultra-casual clothes. This shade brings back a lot of memories for me, as everything from my Junior High graduation dress to my first sari were turquoise. I wore a turquoise blouse the first time I met my husband ... it's a "lucky" color for me, I think! ;o)

All in all, you just can't go wrong with this joyous and gorgeous shade!

I HAVE A DREAM TODAY

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- all day I wondered, what would he have thought of today? I mean ... today?! It's his birthday and the first African-American president is about to be inaugurated! Wow.

How utterly wonderful that we have come from here:


To here:

(everyone's in D.C. for the Inauguration!)

... in the space of 40 years!

I also loved this shot of Dr. King marching for Civil Rights with others:


And since this is a blog about style and superficial stuff, for the most part, the above photo got me thinking: why don't people dress as well as this for marches these days? I mean, what better time to look fabulous than when you're working to change history? :o)

I hope you all had as great a day honoring this great American hero as I did. Happy MLK Day!

CHIC ON THE CHEAP ... RECENT GOODIES

Thought I'd share some recent deals I found at after-Christmas sales. All were under $50, and many were under $25! I know these are hard times for us all, spending-wise, so I wanted to show some fabulous, guilt-free finds that won't break the bank:


This cotton wrap blouse from H&M is incredibly flattering! It's totally adjustable and fits superbly. It's also available in quite a few different colors. I got a red-orange hue that reminds me of a sunset and cheers me up every time I see it. Plus, it's only $25! Can't beat that, folks. ;o)


This lovely, ladylike flat from Dolce Vita, called "Marley", is now clearanced out on their website for $37! This is one of my all-time favorite shoe brands ... their quality is really good and you can always find them on sale for low prices, often for under $25 on Amazon but sometimes elsewhere. (The "Marley" is available only on the DV website.)


I got this stunning silk DKNY blouse on clearance at Macy's for $45. It's an amazing deal because the blouse is embellished with embroidery and thin pewter discs sewn in an intricate pattern down the front. Be warned: it runs big! You might still be able to find one at a Macy's store. I can't wait to wear this to a dress-up occasion with my silver-gray skinny jeans!


I adore this funky tie-dye Lucky Brand blouse, which I got on clearance at Macy's for $19! It looks a lot nicer in real life than in the picture. I took out the elastic around the bust because I'm top heavy, which made it perfect. It's also delicately embroidered at the neckline and sleeves. It looks good with both skinny and flared faded jeans.


This lace-up sandal by Samanta is on clearance at Amazon for only $20! It's all-leather, and the subtle sheen of the bronze ties looks gorgeous against the skin! It works with both daytime and evening outfits, but is best with knee-length skirts or pants that'll show off the laces! A perfect summer sandal.

RECIPE: EASY EGGPLANT TOFU STIR-FRY

This is my own variation of a recipe I got from a back issue of Sunset magazine ... which I read in the waiting room of my doctor's office, lol! In any case, it's very easy to make but delicious. You can adjust the amount of sauce, etc., to your taste without altering the flavor. It's fab!

You'll need:

• vegetable oil (I use sesame oil for its Asian flavor) for sauteeing
  
• 1 package (18 oz.) tofu (regular or firm; I prefer regular), drained, cut into 1" chunks
  
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb. eggplant, diced (I just use 1 medium/large-sized eggplant)
  
• 1 bellpepper, cut into 1" strips (I prefer red bellpepper, for the look and flavor)
• 1/4 cup (or less, to your taste) soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp. raw brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. dry basil leaves (or 1/4 cup fresh)

Heat a bit of oil (about 1-2 tbsp.) in a large nonstick frying pan. Add tofu and gently cook, turning tofu occasionally until browned a bit; this will take about 10-20 minutes.

In another large pan, heat a bit more oil and cook garlic, eggplant and bellpepper until softened, turning occasionally; this will take about 10-15 minutes. Add soy sauce, sugar, and oyster sauce and cook until heated through, about 2 more minutes. Return tofu to pan and gently stir to coat with sauces. Turn off heat. Stir in basil leaves. Serve with rice.

A LOOK AT MY WISH LIST

A list of some things I'd love to get, if I could afford to! Well, hopefully I might get something from here for my birthday next month ... ;o)

1.

Matt Bernson's "Barracuda" sandal (available at ShopBop)

2.

This pretty crocheted afghan ... I just love the colors! (at Urban Outfitters)

3.

This wonderful photo-essay book, Yes We Can, about President Barack Obama's historic campaign, by photographer Scout Tufankjian (at Amazon). Click on the link to Scout's website to see some of the images from the book. They're amazing!

4.

This fab "Corfu" bag, by Hobo International (at 6pm) ... I saw this last year at Nordstrom Rack but didn't get it. Wish I did! It goes with most of my clothes.

5.

Batman: The Dark Knight 2-disc special edition (at Amazon). I own the first film too! Love this series!

So, what's on your wish list? :o)

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE ... BLOG LOVE!

Another wonderful award by the wonderful Africana! Thank you soooo much!

PEACE, BABY

After getting my Thakoon dress from Target, I really started noticing how much tie-dye is out there -- often under different names ("Shibori", "Ombre", etc.), but still a variation of age-old fabric dyeing techniques found all over the world. "Batik" is another such technique, though a bit different as it involves the use of wax. "Ikat" is yet another variation, though it's also a weaving techique.

Whatever it's called, I love it all! Fabric dyeing is part of the artistic heritage of many Asian countries, including my homeland of Sri Lanka, and also Indonesia, Thailand, India, Japan, etc. It's a very respected craft, not a holdover from the hippie era as it's often thought of here in the U.S. The colors used are usually more subdued (indigo, browns, burgundy, etc., are favored) than the cheery neons you find in tie-dyed t-shirts in America.

However, this is changing, as more bright and pastel colors are being incorporated into traditional dyeing techniques. This makes for some gorgeous garments! In Sri Lanka, one of the best design houses for clothes like this is Buddhi Batiks. Their styles are wonderful! I particularly love their saris and swimsuit coverups (the latter can also be worn as tops). Here's one of my favorites:


(from: The Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka)

Tie-dyed fashions are now found everywhere, most notably in Thakoon Panichgul's collections but also in all kinds of shops, from high-end to the high street! Among my favorites:

This amazing dress by Anna Sui, at Nordstrom


This cutie-pie Merona dress, available at both Target and Amazon


This dreamy ombre eyelet blouse from Style & Co., at Macy's

I have an I.N.C. blouse very much like this, in the same blues, and it's one of my favorites! The colors remind me of how the sky meets the ocean at the horizon of a tropical lagoon.


This elegant ombre evening gown by Marc Bouwer GlamIt!, available on sale at Bluefly

Of course, if you want to go all-out with the Peace/Love/Hippie thang, then this (on clearance at Target) is a fab choice:



I love the soft, watercolor-effect design and muted hues. Pair it with faded denim (jeans are the "traditional" choice, but a jeans-skirt would be more unique and interesting). Don't forget the Love Beads!

All joking aside, I'm ecstatic that fabric dyeing techniques have made it into the fashion mainstream, and are now given the respect they deserve. I absolutely adore tie-dye, and hope it's around for a long, long time to come!