OUTFIT DU JOUR: THAKOONING

The weather is promising to warm up enough to finally wear my much-loved shibori-print dress from Thakoon for Target. Here's the first photo of me in it:


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I fell in love with this dress as soon as I saw it at our local Target!

It wasn't an easy dress to accesorize, but I love how these two handmade bracelets look with it:


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On the left is a traditional "evil eye" bead bracelet my aunt got for me from Greece, and on the right is one given to me as a birthday gift by a dear family friend who's an acclaimed stained-glass artisan.

Dress: Thakoon for Target
Shoes: Steve Madden (Ross)

I'll show more photos of what I got from the Thakoon collection soon!

PIX

(an anonymous self-portait from the fascinating collection at Self-Portrait Gallery!)

I haven't posted photos of myself wearing different outfits on this blog, mainly because I don't yet have a camera. But a family member just found the battery for hers and offered to take photos of me (and hopefully different people on the street) to post.

I'm very excited about this, as I've been enjoying everyone's photos this past year, but also I'm a bit nervous because I'm not exactly, er ... thin. Or slim. Or athletic. Or even that well-proportioned. You know what I mean.

But I've decided to do it anyway because I think it will help me love and accept myself more, and also it will show what outfits really work on me and what don't!

So, I'm going to take a deep breath and jump right in. Stay tuned!

OFF THE CUFF

One of my all-time favorite denim looks is a "cuffed" jean, but not the trendy new "boyfriend jeans" kind where baggy jeans are slightly rolled up, but a silhouette where straight, narrow (not too-skinny) jeans are folded in a 4-6 inch deep cuff, like these, the "Stone Fox Skinny" by Dittos, available at Amazon:



I just adore the kind of funky, retro silhouette and wonder why this look isn't more widespread! I think it's a bit of a "cult" look, but I just love it because it resembles the way jeans were worn in the '40s and '50s by both men and women. I think the deep cuff balances the figure, so it's flattering for different body types.

What I'm talking about is not so much like cuffed capris, although I think it can work when it's slightly above the ankle, like these "Kicker" jeans by Joe's Jeans, available at Nordstrom:



You could also wear them like this '50s image, with a collared shirt and little bobby socks and loafers:


A unique and adorable take on cuffed jeans!

For a more farmgirl look, I love these "lover" jeans by Loomstate, available at Tobi:



Wouldn't these look cool with a cute little gingham blouse and flats? They're like the kind of jeans you'd wear to run through a sunlit meadow to a picnic under a big old Oak tree!

But cuffed jeans can also be streamlined and chic, like these "Iconic" jeans by Levi's:



These would look super with a little polo shirt, the way this real girl from the '50s wears them:


And you can find fabulous rockabilly '50s-style jeans at Sivletto! My favorite pair is this one, the Pace Hi-Rider:



Now that's what I'm talking about!

The only way I can get this look is with a pair of straight-leg jeans I fold myself, but the silhouette and line of the jeans has to be just right for the cuff to look like it's meant to be there, and not a clumsy afterthought. The only jeans I've ever been able to do this with are my "Edie" straightleg jeans by 7 For All Mankind:



I got mine on clearance at Nordstrom Rack, but you can find them online at different websites. I just love how easy it is to cuff them for a vintage look!

I hope this look catch on, so that there can be more of a selection at different price ranges. I think a pair of jeans you can cuff yourself, or are already made that way, would be a wonderful addition to any wardrobe!

COLORLUST -- SPRING

Do you find yourself mysteriously craving certain colors every time the weather changes, even slightly, ushering in a new season? I do this every year, and it's kind of weird and funny and interesting! I don't know why this happens. It just does. At the turn-of-a-season I find myself wanting to look at, wear, surround myself with certain colors, and every year they tend to be the same ones!

I thought it would be fun to really think about and make a list of these shades. Starting with Spring:

PINK


It's my favorite color (I know, not a cliche or anything!), and I love to wear it year-round, but I prefer the deeper colors like fuschia for colder months and the rose-y lighter pinks when it gets warmer. Pretty much most aspects of my wedding were dominated by different shades of pink. Oy vey.

PALE YELLOW



I'm weird about yellow. I either hate certain shades like taxicab/schoolbus yellow, or adore others, particularly the paler versions from cream to lemon. I now have a few tops in these shades, and I think you can only really wear it in the warmer months.


CHARTREUSE



This is not a flattering color on most skin tones (mine included!), but for some strange reason I love to wear it when it starts to warm up after days of dreary gray weather. I totally get why First Lady Michelle Obama chose to wear a soft, beautiful variation of this shade for the Innauguration. It's so totally Spring ... symbolizing the return of the sun and new beginnings.

TURQUOISE


This array of paint chips shows different shades of this gorgeous color, which is an instant mood-lifter for me!

I think it's because whenever it gets warm, I automatically think of the tropical ocean and tropical lagoons, which I long to return to just like birds long to fly south in the winter:



PERIWINKLE



Okay, why aren't there loads more clothes in this color everywhere? It's flattering, unusual, utterly gorgeous. But I really don't have anything in periwinkle except some earrings. You'd think this would be huge the way turquoise is, but it's nearly impossible for me to find in clothes. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places? I don't know. Just wish there was more of it around. I love the periwinkle flowers (Irises, Hydrangea) that pop up out of the ground every Spring!

TRADER JOE'S RECIPE -- QUICK AND EASY SOUP

Since the closest grocery store to me is our local Trader Joe's, I do most of my daily food shopping there. I love the lively, friendly atmosphere in our store, and have improvised several quick and easy dinner recipes using their products. Here's one for a soup that can work as a meal, especially on a sweltering hot day when you don't feel like cooking but don't want to eat fast food either. I've made both meat and vegetarian/vegan versions of this soup.

You'll need:

• 2 boxes of Trader Joe's organic vegetable or chicken broth (Free Range chicken broth is the best, I think, as is Hearty Vegetable)
  

• 1 bag Trader Joe's organic foursome frozen vegetables (I've experimented with different frozen veggies, including the stir-fry version, but like this the best)
  

• 2 boxes Trader Joe's frozen vegetable or chicken shu mai

• oil for sauteeing (I use a mix of olive and sesame)
  
• salt or soy sauce (optional)
• Trader Joe's wasabi sesame drizzling sauce
• (optional) Trader Joe's Chinese-style barbecued pork, thinly sliced and lightly sauteed
  

Here's what to do:

Heat oil in a medium to large-size pot on medium heat. Add organic foursome frozen vegetables and sautee till heated through, about 3-4 minutes. Add broth (both boxes). Increase heat if needed and bring to a boil. Lower heat (or leave at medium if you did not increase it), and add shu mai. *Cover pot*. Let simmer for another 6-8 minutes to steam-cook shu mai. When shu mai are puffed up and cooked, the soup is done! You can add salt or soy sauce if preferred, but I don't like a lot of sodium so I leave it out.

You can also sautee the barbecued pork to heat it up and add it to the soup. Drizzle a bit of wasabi sesame drizzling sauce over each individual bowl of hot soup before serving. This sauce is hot and can clear out your sinuses, so use sparingly! I like about 1 tablespoon of it in my soup, but you can use less. I think it gives the soup its distinct flavor, though, so it should not be omitted.

For a vegetarian/vegan version, omit the pork and use only veggie versions of the broth and shu mai. Both meat and non-meat versions are delicious!

MEME-O-RIES AND WISHES

The fabulous Kayleigh of Fashionably Later tagged me to do this fun meme! I love memes, so here goes ...

1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.

2. Tag eight other un-tagged people. (I'm going to revise this to: tag whomever!)

What is your current obsession?

Built By Wendy -- the clothes, the look, everything. For all my love of boho clothes, I also love a certain clean, quirky, reto/ladylike style that I think defines the "look" of my generation of women who grew up in the late '70s and '80s. I think Built By Wendy epitomizes that look. Some wonderful pieces from her Spring '09 collection:





You can also find Built By Wendy brand sewing patterns on her website and also at the Simplicity website, as well as at your local Joann fabric and craft stores! This jacket pattern is particularly fabulous, and there are other really cool patterns too:


Good fika place? (That would be coffee to us non-Swedes)

Being Sri Lankan I prefer tea to coffee, but when in Sri Lanka I really love the Nescafe coffee they make there. It's either very hot or ice-cold (and called "ice coffee") and very sweet ... it's the best!

Do you nap a lot?

Very, very rarely and if I do it's because I'm either sick or jetlagged. In Sri Lanka naps after lunch are almost mandatory, but even there I can't do it!

Who was the last person you hugged?

Our friend Joan, after the dinner we gave for her birthday at my mother's place, last weekend. We made Sri Lankan and Thai dishes (as she and her husband spent time in Thailand teaching English to Buddhist monks), and later we were joined by a Mongolian family we all know, who also brought food. It was like an international feast, and we all had a blast! The best part was that Joan really loved it. Yay!

The Mongolian family brought these, traditional dumplings called "Buuz", which were incredibly yummy! I'm looking all over for recipes:



What’s for dinner?

Last night it was an In-and-Out cheeseburger, a few fries (I just can't eat the whole thing) and a chocolate shake ... there's only one time every month I get a craving for and can consume this type of meal, if you know what I mean, so I take advantage of it! ;o)

What was the last thing you bought?

This denim skirt from Macy's, because I've been eyeing it and wanting it since last year and it finally went on clearance:



I was thrilled to discover how well it went with pretty much all my "difficult" tops, i.e. those embroidered, shorter tops I love but have a hard time finding bottoms for. Score!

What are you listening to right now?

The washing machine. I'm doing laundry. Teh joy.

What is your favourite weather?

Tropical weather! With ocean breezes and the scent of flowers like jasmine and frangipani in the air ... Sri Lanka weather, in other words.


(a scene from the drive along the southern coast towards the cities of Galle and Matara; this is probably my favorite drive in all of Sri Lanka)

What’s on your bedside table?

A lamp, the TV remote, and a glass of water with a little dish with one thyroid medicine tablet, which I take whenever I wake up at night. I think this is the best time to take it as my stomach's empty and I can wake up and have breakfast too.

Say something to the person/s who tagged you.

Hi Kayleigh! I really love reading your blog and find your writing to be very interesting and just an all-around great read, and of course I love seeing the outfits you put together!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?

In Galle, Sri Lanka, where my great-grandfather is from. It's right by the ocean and just gorgeous, but also quiet and peaceful. If not there, I would like to live in a house within walking distance of the beach, somewhere along the Indian Ocean. That is my ultimate dream.


(A view from the famous Galle Fort, a 17th century Dutch fort built at the edge of the city. There's a self-contained little village inside the confines of the Fort!)

Favorite vacation spot?

A beach on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, or somewhere really interesting, unique and out-of-the-way like Tibet or Bhutan. I am determined to visit both the latter countries one day!


(A mountaintop monastery in Bhutan!)

Name the things you can’t live without.

Okay, I take "things" to mean objects, because obviously I could not live without the people I love! But when it comes to things, I literally could not live without my thyroid medication, lol! I mean, I could, but I'd get very sick and end up in a miserable and uncomfortable life, probably with a goiter on my neck or something bizarre like that (my great-aunt had one). I'd also find it really hard to live without good reading material (be it books or magazines or blogs).

What would you like to have in your hands right now?

A box with these sandals by Rosa Mosa, which are waaay too expensive for me to be able to buy, but if they ever go on clearance at a price I could afford (or even save up for), they will be mine, because they are so utterly unique and beautiful:



What is your favourite tea flavour?

Good, strong (preferably organically-grown) Sri Lankan tea, commonly known as Ceylon tea ... the best tea in the world!


What would you like to get rid of?

Several inches off my waistline!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

If only just for an hour, I'd like to be at Topshop in London so I can check out the new styles!


(Topshop, Oxford Circus!)

What did you want to become as a child?

I wanted to be an archaeologist, but before that I just wanted to be working in an office with cool office supplies.

What are you reading right now?

Two fabulous books, a Scottish suspense novel by the rockin' Denise Mina, "Slip of the Knife", and a beautifully written novel by the Indian author Amitav Ghosh, "The Hungry Tide." I highly recommend both!





What do you fear the most? (Andrea’s question)

I'm terrified of spiders but also of enclosed spaces ... I have really bad claustrophobia

This is the one I (Kayleigh) changed: What piece of clothing would you most like to own that you don’t have?

I really want a pair of Current/Elliott flares, especially these "Horseshoe" jeans:

(the front ... check out the superbad flare!)


(the back -- I'm thinking this "U"-shaped detail might do my small bum some good!)

Admit one thing you feel awful about. Once you have written it down, you are no longer allowed to feel bad. My (Mervat's) question

I have always felt bad about the way I more or less rejected a guy who really wanted to marry me, thinking that we just didn't fit. I think it really broke his heart. I wish I could resolve that, somehow. He's still not married and I'm hoping he'll find a wonderful wife soon. I wish I could go back in the past and apologize or somehow make things right.

Here’s my (Kayleigh’s) added question: What have you let go of?

The horrible memories of growing up, being endlessly and often viciously teased and put down in school because we were immigrants from a country no-one had even heard of, and we didn't have the money for cool clothes and all those kinds of things that everyone else in school seemed to have. Since my life is so different now, I think I've finally gotten over those terrible times.

Here's my (Anusha's) question: If you had an extra room of your very own in your living space, what would you do with it?

I would love to have a little "studio" where I can keep all my books, craft supplies and maybe a sewing machine for one day when I learn how to sew! Something like this:



Sigh! Now wouldn't that just be blissful ?

Whom do I tag? Anyone who'd like to do this meme. Anyone at all! And please let me know if you did it, as I love reading these!

SALE-A-BRATION!

I've been finding some amazing deals at clearance sales around town lately. I've been able to fill gaps in my wardrobe and also get some really cute pieces for cheap, which always makes me happy! Here are some of my finds:

UNDER $50
I found these at the Macy's One Day sale



I got this silver lame silk/metallic Ralph Lauren top for my mother, as it's very much her style and a really unique piece. It was marked down from $130 to $35!

And for myself:

This gorgeous watercolor-effect silk chiffon DKNYC top was marked down from $130 to $47, and there was only one left in my size. I tried it on, thinking it wouldn't look good on me because of the drawstring under the bust, but it was actually very flattering and artsy-looking, so I just couldn't resist!

Those were the only more "pricey" buys, though they're ridiculous bargains when you look at what they originally cost! But the majority of what I found was a lot cheaper.

Under $25

All of the following styles cost under $25! I just couldn't believe that. Here's a peek:


These rad BCBGeneration skinny pants were marked down from $109 to $23!! I need a pair of black straight-leg/skinny pants, but since my legs are so thin to begin with I stayed away from them. But these have a couple of cool flaps and zippers down the legline, which adds "heft" and balances my figure. They also have a kind of "rocker" edge which I love!


I got this adorable ivory chiffon Mossimo blouse on clearance at Target for only $10!! I love the subtle black embroidery down the front.



I can't resist an embroidered peasant blouse. It's one of my all-time favorite styles, and I found this Style&Co cotton blouse on sale for $21!

I desperately need a new wallet, one that's smaller than my slightly-too-big one, and this was perfect! It's by the Charter Club brand at Macy's, and cost only $8! I love the kelly green color.


This 100% cotton checkered skirt is cuteness personified, and it's from the Norma Kamali line at Wal-Mart. It's very early '60s casual, and very comfortable as well. But the best thing is the price: $15! You just can't beat that.


Speaking of all-things-gingham, this pretty red check blouse with its subtle ruffles down the front is also very Retro Picnic, and perfect with a pair of folded-cuff jeans and sandals. It's from the George line at Wal-Mart and cost $14. I'm really impressed with the unique stylishness of Wal-Mart clothes. Very cool!





This "Yuki" blouse by Roxy is all-cotton and has a rainbow of delicate embroidered stripes down the front. I found it on sale at Ross for $12! It's perfect for travel and very flattering.

So there's a look at some of the deals-and-steals I've been coming across lately. I'll post photos of myself wearing what I found when my husband gets here, as he still has the camera. Stay tuned!

PAINTERLY

(photo: Getty Images)

So I spent my Spring Break housecleaning like a madwoman, and also painting my room from the single-girl peachy-coral-pink shade it was to a more suitable married-lady neutral. I got help from the sweetest young friend, Jessi, who does handyman work, gardening, and educating folks about recycling and green living, among other things, all around this town. I wish I had even half her knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for life when I was 20 years old! To say she rocks would be an understatement. ^__^

She was the biggest help in painting, which is something I dislike doing on my own but had no other choice as the cheapest professional painting bid we got was $300. For what, I have no idea. Anyway, I picked the paint shade with the help of my mother: Aged Parchment by Kelly-Moore paints, a warm yet soft cream color that's beautiful in sunlight (which my bedroom gets a lot of):



I got the tip for a hue like this from an artist friend, whom I asked about a good neutral wall color that was warm yet unobtrusive and a good background for all different shades of linens, curtains, etc. -- I like to change my room decor! She suggested a warm ivory/cream, so with that in mind I saw this color on the wall of the Kelly-Moore shop and really liked it!

It came out beautifully on my own walls, as well. I only needed one coat, I think because the peach tone underneath gave it a unique glow that I love. I'm really pleased with the results and highly recommend this color as a great background neutral.

OUT OF THE CLOSET

So this morning, in anticipation of my husband's arrival here in California soon, I cleaned out my entire closet, getting rid of years of piled-up junk! I can't believe I just had all that for so long. No wonder I felt so stuck-in-a-rut, sometimes.

I threw out all kinds of stuff, from paperwork for various grad school programs I never got into, to old videotapes and birthday cards given to me by people I've never met again, in my life.

I kept only the most precious, irreplaceable things, like letters from my grandfather who passed away in 2007, family photos from long ago, essays from college that were some of the best things I ever wrote, etc. I ended up with a neat closet with my husband's half completely empty, free, and awaiting his possessions!

I ended up with five trash bags filled with junk, and a bag of things like books and knick-knacks to be given to the thrift store. Why I kept so much useless stuff is beyond me. Probably because it was mostly out-of-sight, out-of-mind. But, I think all this accumulated clutter can actually weigh down a person on a subconscious level, because it feels so liberating to get rid of it!

And now, on to the kitchen cupboards! ^__^

SPRING BLUSH

When out and about these days, I've been seeing a lot of reds, corals and pinks in both clothes and accessories, which thrills me since I love these shades, and nothing says Spring Is Here! like these warm, vibrant hues. In Asia, reds, pinks, orange, coral, etc. are very auspicious, symbolizing love, luck and new beginnings. These are the traditional bridal colors among both Buddhists and Hindus.

I wore several of these shades at my wedding, and also for a recent service at the Koyasan Buddhist temple in Sacramento, where the priest did a special blessing for love and marriage -- all the attendees had to wear something red. It was such a happy event!

Here are some red styles I've come across at various stores.

First up, this cotton blouse by George at Wal-Mart:


This has a row of delicate ruffles down the front, and is reeeeally pretty in person! Plus, it costs only $14! You can even get some versions of it online for $10 ... a fantastic deal! I bought a red-and-white striped one this weekend. :o)

Next, this feminine trench, at H&M:

It's cotton, fitted and flows out -- a very ladylike, retro shape! It looks almost like a dress, in fact. Perfect for those romantic Spring evenings!

I saw this very pretty skirt at The Gap today:


It's new for Spring and costs $45, but will no doubt go on sale soon enough. The print really stands out on the cotton fabric, and the pull-on style is fab.

I saw this stunning Lucky Brand patchwork suede and leather bag at both their boutique in the mall and at Macy's:


It looks even more gorgeous in real life, if you can believe that! The price is not cheap, but I'd say it's a great Dream Bag!

Last but not least, this Xhilaration "Simone" stretch ballet flat, at Target:

This is a style from last year, which is when I bought a pair, but its popularity is such that they've kept it around this year too, and I can see why. It's hands-down one of the most versatile, comfortable and beautiful pairs of flats I've ever owned, and it costs only $14! I saw a few at a local Target, and if you can find some too I'd highly recommend buying them! The burgundy color makes them unusually versatile ... I found myself wearing these with pretty much everything I own. Even after walking on the dusty, muddy streets of Sri Lanka, which can wreck havoc on shoes, these hardly showed any wear-and-tear. It's a perfect travel shoe!

They're only available in whole sizes, so if you're an in-between size you should get half-a-size up.

I hope the prevalence of these colors this season is a sign of a happy and fortunate year ahead for everyone!