style battle attire

last night i teamed up with my blogging partners in crime [tieka + kayley] for grand rapids style battle, a fashion competition between local clothing boutiques. let's just say it was a crazy, exciting, whirlwind of an evening. event photos soon to come!

now like all good bloggers, we wined/dined and shot photos prior to the event - just a gaggle of girls running about in alleyways, snapping photos. it was certainly a sight to behold.

i felt quite a bit brighter than normal donning the neon top AND color-block clutch. you know me, i love my darker hues. perhaps i have a complex about wearing vibrant pieces. considering i already loom over everyone, sporting hot pink might potentially scare people somehow. or maybe i'd scare myself. either way, i don't think i'd look right as the jolly pink giant!

[below] kayley, me and tieka at style battle! i love these cuties!!

happy friday loves! off to another event tonight. where's my caffeine? ;)

xoxo, blair. 

[top: h&m // tulip skirt: american apparel // clutch: francesca's collection // bib necklace: mstyle lab @ macys // booties: aldo shoes]

outfit photos by kayley

fall uniform

introducing my fall uniform!

i wore this number over the weekend to ross' birthday shindigs. yes, plural... he had three parties in total! one included a foam dance party [don't ask] and the other two were peaceful dinners with family/friends. just today he reminded me that technically it's still his "birth week"... oh boy...   

i suppose i'll let him continue the "birth week" celebrations [wink wink] considering it is his 25th birthday and all. i'm also trying to convince him to grace us with his presence on the blog with a little guy style post. perhaps a "birthday themed" post would do the trick! hmm... party hats anyone? ;)

but back to the outfit - i'm totally loving cutout sweaters this season + graphic print sweatshirts. i found a galactic horses [aka. unicorns] sweatshirt the other day and am totally snatching that up. 

it's all about being cozy as the weather begins to change. and of course... with my signature cup of chaider [chai + cider] in hand. happy first week of autumn!

xoxo, blair

[shoulder cutout sweater: forever 21 // pants: forever 21 // fringe boots: c/o minnetonka moccasins // tri-spike necklace: c/o indie twenty jewelry by rachel]

artprize fancy pants

today is the calm before the storm. tomorrow marks the beginning of artprize, the world's largest open art competition, happening just outside my door in downtown grand rapids.

now think "zoo", and you've got an accurate description of what the city will be like for the next 3+ weeks. don't get me wrong, i love meandering through the streets, "ooing" and "ahhing" over the beautiful, bizarre and brilliant pieces of artwork. but for you grand rapidians [or west michiganders], who want to enjoy the exhibits in peace, the trick is to come downtown late at night or in the middle of a work day. trust me, I KNOW. hmm... i might even hop on my bike for an early bird preview today! 

 although artprize was moderately scoffed at by GQ magazine earlier this month [it's a thought-provoking read nonetheless], i do consider myself fortunate to be living in a city that celebrates all forms of art. there are even fashion and music competitions happening in the upcoming weeks! for a brief moment i thought about tickling the ivories in one of the music comps, but nah, i'll observe and critique from afar... :)

and for those of you not in grand rapids, i'll be sure to bring snip-its of artprize to you here on the blog! or follow me on twitter for realtime updates...

xoxo, blair.

[bdg mid-rise jeans: c/o urban outfitters // top: forever 21 // necklace: h&m // reeba wedges: c/o mia shoes]

thakoon hair

like any good fashion/beauty junkie, last week i was glued to coverage on NYFW's spring 2013 presentations. now, i rarely style my scraggly tresses beside the daily "flip-n-go" (i.e. tousle the ends with Bumble and bumble's brilliantine, flip and run out the door) - but thakoon's spring 2013 crimped-do inspired me to give my hair some extra TLC today. so here's my layman's version of their runway style...

what you'll need: flexible hold hairspray. i swear by TIGI's masterpiece hairspray . bobby pins. 3 barrel waver or a mini flatiron.

steps: crimp hair from the ears down (or create a wave with your flatiron - get my video tutorial here). spray crown section with hairspray and push backwards - think "wind blown" during this step. gently smooth the crown section from your forehead to the back of the head. secure hair with two bobby pins in the middle back section. pull hair from either side and haphazardly insert pins to hold. now, be sure to double check in the mirror to make sure your pins are laying horizontally. fill in any obvious gaps with additional bobby pins. 

lightly comb the crown section to smooth out any unwanted bumps. hairspray to set style and tousle the bottom if you prefer my "undone/hipster-chic" look! 

[structured shirt: zara // horn earrings: h&m]

happy friday lovelies!

xoxo, blair. 

800.

90s grunge happening today.

personally, i'd rather forget the 1990s. wasn't exactly my best decade considering i fell prey to severe teen awkwardness, braces and acne. i remember it like it was yesterday - jamming to boyz II men sporting my old navy olive tech vest and ill-fitted flares from kohls. ah, the good 'ole days!

[white tee: trouve // leather skirt: forever 21 // flannel: urban outfitters // shoes: high-top converse]

anyone else have 90s horror stories? :)

xoxo, blair. 

cleaning house.

totally gutted the closet this weekend. it was a major purge of literally 50% of my clothes. fifty-freaking-percent! shocker, but ross definitely didn't oppose to me cleaning house. 

quite honestly, i'm finding it easier to select outfits without being overloaded by pieces from a coons age ago. even had items that i purchased while living in hungary 6 years ago! yeesh, yeah, definitely time to get rid of those.

discovered some pieces i've never worn too. for instance, these chic black leather shorts! eek! girls, i totally suggest doing this [unless you're a clothes pack-rat or horder] to maximize your preferred pieces and ditch the items that are clogging valueable space! just sayin'...

[top: love culture // shorts: rampage // bag: asos // wedges: zara // necklace: h&m]

makeup recap: lipstick for today was a blend of aura skincare & cosmetics "casablanca" and MAC's "so chaud". spruced up the eyelids too with aura's deep red shadow, "lava" -- totally going to be rocking the richer colors for autumn!

xoxo, blair

sheer palazzos.

obsessing over the new palazzo pants! i wore these sheer palazzos the other weekend to a local electronic/techno fest -- city lights festival. unfortunately there were too many strobe lights to take proper outfit photos so although this is delayed... here they are! breezy, eh?

[pants: forever 21 // top: bdg @ urban outfitters // shoes: aldo // accessories: h&m]

heading out tomorrow for our anniversary excursion! one year married to my sweet husband. hands down the best year of my life... i love you ross.

xoxo, blair.