What did I do during Fashion Week?

Why all the pomp and circumstance for this specific post? What exotic location did I sweep off to during Fashion Week? Have I built up your curiosity quite yet? I should hope so! Well, now would be the time for the big reveal...

I spent the last week in L.A.!

Why you might ask? Well...I was at Gallifrey One...

Right now, I expect you to be staring at your computer screens in relative confusion. Don't worry, you're in the majority. You see, the one side of me you all get to view on this blog is my fashion forward/loudly creative/strangely daring side. The other side of me is less apparent. Today, you will all be privy to my glaringly geeky side.

I'm a little bit of a pop culture buff in my "other life". This includes being a unhealthily enthusiastic fan of a British sci-fi show called Doctor Who. Feel free to click on the link for a better explanation than I could possibly give on this blog. Okay, so you know what Doctor Who is, but what about Gallifrey One? Gallifrey One (or Gally - as goers affectionately call it) is a huge gathering of fans of this show. There we socialize, find ourselves in intellectual discussions, sing karaoke, and even costume. Yes, costume!

What does this have to do with fashion? Beside one of the websites on my Blogroll doing not one, but two, of their own posts on looks inspired by the show, there are an incredible amount of fans who wish to recreate and design costumes from the series to wear for their own benefit. As much as it is not focused on, costuming is a significant building block in the game of fashion. I'll draw the parallels for you.

1) Sketches

Every person who wants a well-executed costume or wants to launch a collection knows the importance of sketching. It's the first step of transferring the vision of your creation from the internal to the external. There, you get to express your color schemes, fabrics, cuts, and anything else necessary to the construction of your piece. For the costumer, it might be most important to transfer the necessary details of the original along with a bit of personal flare. For the designer, it's all about getting their personal vision across. Whatever the purpose, the endgame is the same - the artist displaying their work for the public. Whether your medium is the catwalk or convention hallway, there is a desire to make yourself known as a creator.

2) Labels

Because of the influx of "younger" companions to the Doctor coupled with a brilliant costume department at the BBC, many major clothing labels have been worn by characters on the show in the last six years. Brands such as Topshop, Free People, All Saints, American Apparel, and Uniqlo can be see on the main players.

(From left to right): American Apparel Dolman Hoodie, Free People Multicolored Scarf ,

All Saints Ovid Heels

(Left to right): Rose Tyler wearing the scarf, River Song sporting the heels, and Amy Pond modeling the sweatshirt.

In addition to costumers and collectors alike wanting the pieces seen in the show, they are also very happy with look-a-likes. Forever 21, Wet Seal, Miss Selfridge, Charlotte Russe, ASOS, and even department stores are only some of the places avid searchers have located pieces that resemble their favorites from the series.

Even men (Yes men!) can take a lesson in fashion from this series. The Tenth and Eleventh Doctors have clean, tailored looks with eye-catching details. The Tenth Doctor wears a suit and Converse while the Eleventh Doctor almost always sports a bow tie.

Ten's Chucks


Inspired by Eleven's bow ties

3) The Thrifting Connection

I'm sure you haven't failed to notice as my readers that I include quite a few thrifting pieces in my everyday wardrobe. When costumers, for an event like this, search for pieces they want to spend the least amount of money. Thrifting is your best option to do it on the cheap. The most ideal way for you to thrift for costume pieces is to also look for the items you can incorporate into your everyday wardrobe. It is possible, it just requires a little forethought. Whether it's a belt, jacket, or pair of pants - this is achievable! Planning out what your looking for ahead of time is not a bad idea, nor is carrying reference pictures around with you. I've heard it all!

I hope I've been able to successfully tie the world of fandom costuming (Or cosplaying - there I said it!) to fashion, and immerse you a bit into the world of Doctor Who.

Feel free to comment here or send pictures of cosplaying you've done that might tie into your everyday ensemble!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

P.S. - Welcome to all of my new readers due to last week's convention! I'm so glad to have you.

Outfit Post of the Day - Winter + Spring

I've just returned from L.A. where the weather was sunny and 70 degrees for each and every four days of my vacation. I'll get to my purpose for my California visit in an upcoming post, but for now we'll focus on the season that's fast approaching - Spring.

I couldn't tell you how many fashion blogs I follow which had comprehensive featurettes on how to bridge Summer to Fall looks back in September. Transitioning seasons while re-purposing clothes never fails to be a hot issue. It's also a technique that really encompasses the main idea of my blog - low prices and great looks.

I'm becoming alarmingly aware of the seasonal transition which is probably going to happen a lot sooner than later. I'm already finding myself wearing a lighter jacket and it's nearly March. For the sake of all of our wardrobes and budgets, I wanted to give you an example of a successful "bridging the gap" outfit for Winter to Spring.

Sweater - $4.99 (Thrifted)

Dress - $12.99 (Thrifted)
Belt - $8.00 (Ebay)
Tights - $5.00 (Target)

Boots - $11.00 (Wet Seal)
Earrings - $3.00 (Forever 21)
Bracelet - Gifted

Now, I'll admit that I cheated a bit on this outfit as I was wearing it in early February, but we have had a mild Winter for Chicago. It hasn't been hard to get a taste of the fast approaching Spring weather.

There are a few key things that you must pay attention to in this outfit in order to get your transitioning practice down...

1) Incorporate colors associated with the upcoming season

Again with the colors? Yes, yes, I know. Really, though, fashion's focal point truly is color scheme. I can only ever begin to tell you how important having a handle on colors this will be the second year in recent memory when pastels are a big deal for Spring. We're also going to be seeing neon accents if my sources are correct. In order to not make one overwhelmed by the "brighter" details of this look, I decided on my accessories as an appropriate display of the Spring color palette. You can choose any color that seems to compliment. Aquamarine just happened to match...

2) Patterns

I know you can't quite see it in this picture, but underneath that knit sweater I'm wearing a dusky rose colored dress that has lace and floral detail. These are essential touches in a Spring piece as I'm finding florals are also due to be "in" again this year. Find a "lighter" pattern which reflects the mood of the upcoming season to mix with your current wardrobe norm.

3) Don't forget about the season at hand

Make sure your base reflects the current season for which your outfit is appropriate. The fur lined winter boots, knit sweater, and dark green tights serve as my "grounding" element in the outfit.

In the coming days, I'll be detailing my wild ride of a trip to Los Angeles. Keep checking back!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Outfit Post of the Day - Your party girl is showing...

What happens when someone who dresses up every day has to "dress up" for a formal event? Do you up the ante or just maintain your standards? I like to throw together a little bit of both.

I had the recent opportunity to don "formal wear" of sorts for my friends' wedding in early January. They have an interesting sense of humor and decided to hold their reception complete with a bad senior prom backdrop against which you could take a picture that would "last a lifetime". Thanks to my boyfriend and his well-developed sense of humor, the above picture came about.

Here's my choice for this outfit post...

Sweater - Old Navy ($15.00)
Dress - Forever 21 ($13.50)
Get it here in blue/black and white/black!
Cami - Old Navy (Gift)
Belt - Thrifted ($1.99)
Tights - Target ($10.00)
Shoes - Forever 21 ($17.50)
Bracelets - Forever 21 ($8.80) Get them here!
See? It's a little less "high school dance". I'll confess that while looking for this dress I was in a panic. This wedding was going to be one of the best I've been to in a while (about 8 over the last 2 1/2 years), and I absolutely had to look the part! Forever 21 is my fallback in cases such as these. After an afternoon of rooting through the racks of dresses so short you could see what I ate for breakfast, I came up with this one. It's classy, and there's a pop of color - qualities of an outfit in which I put a strong belief.

When I "turn it up to 11", I like to focus on my detailing and styling more so than in my everyday dress. Accent colors (the pink, blue and green) are a must as well as varying textures (the lace cami, the Chevron patterned tights). I also feel compelled to add a personal touch to each formal outfit I throw together. This keeps it "mine" and also allows the look to fall in line with most of my everyday dress. The belt and shoes are my personal accent; they stand out and set me apart.

Eye catching details are the key to dressing formally. Even the most basic formal looks (i.e. prom dresses/tuxedos) implore this trick by having rhinestone adorned gowns and waistcoats which sport colors no guy would be seen wearing on the street! How you decide to make those details known is up to you...

Have a unique idea to spice up your formal wear? Share it with us in the comments or send examples/techniques that you've used to stand out in the crowd!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Blogroll Love - Couponjackie

Getting your name out into the ether of the web isn't easy, especially for bloggers. On occasion, I like to give a little love and attention to some of my friends that run some really amazing blogs. Couponjackie is one of these.

Her motto is: "We don't pay full price for anything!" Rightly so. Couponjackie tells you how to coupon with the best of them - guiding you through grocery deals and, importantly for all of you fashion-minded readers, discounts and sales from major retailers.

This week, she's sharing a Kohl's coupon with us...

Right now you can get 15% off anything in store and online with this deal. Not too bad... It gets better! At many stores, there is also a HUGE clearance of socks and tights up for grabs. At my local Kohl's, the deal is 60% off!

(Photo courtesy of Couponjackie)
For all of you fanatics out there (and I'm among you), this means you'd be scoring 75% off of those gorgeous tights that you see on the rack! Use this coupon ASAP because it expires on February 5th.
Visit Couponjackie, sign up for deals, and score amazing retail steals! Do you see what I did there?
Until next time.
~ they seek her there

Our friend, the Color Wheel - Part 2

About a month ago, I addressed how to dress in complimentary colors in my first color wheel post. If you missed that post, I encourage you to click here and read that article first! For those of you who have already read the first post, your very long wait is over. Welcome to part two!

We'll start off (as usual) with the example outfit...

Shirt - JCPenney ($14.99)Scarf - Old Navy (Gift)Belt - Ebay ($8.00)Skirt - Wet Seal ($5.00)Tights - Forever 21 ($4.00)Shoes - Forever 21 ($15.00)
As you might guess, the skirt is the focal point of the colors in this look. My shirt, scarf, and tights are some of the colors in the skirt that stood out to me upon first glance. Take a look at the pattern and see what colors jump out to you.


As you can see, there are many to choose from; so many that it's hard to pick just a few. I could have done sky blue, cobalt, mint green, pale yellow, light brown, even a near olive shade! The fact that I picked a vibrant red, purple, and mustard yellow to take from this skirt is just a testament to how much I adore bright colors and the fact that this was the last rare 50 degree day in Chicago (at least for a few months)! It's up to you, your personality, and the season that you wear this pattern in which will determine the colors you choose to highlight. This brings me to the next bullet point on the list.
4) Seasons determine the colors that you sport.
Point number two (Pick whatever accent color speaks to you) also goes hand in hand with your surroundings. Yes, it's January in Chicago, but up until a few days ago, we were experiencing Spring-like weather. In my opinion, this skirt transcends the seasonal color suggestion. That may not be the truth for some of you out there. Fashion commonly dictates that certain color options accompany the change of the seasons. Usually, these are common sense changes - bright colors for Spring and Summer; browns, yellows, oranges, dark reds for Fall; and paler, more washed out colors for Winter. In between the seasons, colors that are trending may slowly transition. It's up to you to determine if you want to follow the seasonal color suggestions exactly, or if you want to throw in a little bit of your own interpretation as I've done here. Feel free to experiment. It's always up to you.
5) Patterns are the friendliest complimentary color palette.
If you look back at the last Color Wheel post and examine my focal point for this outfit, you will notice a glaring similarity - both of my "main" pieces sport colorful patterns. If you are going for complimentary colors (especially in accessorizing), it is easiest to work with multicolored patterned clothing. For me, I like going a bit outside the box with my accessories (i.e. not perfectly matching the colors), but for this outfit, I've put together some accessories that draw out those colors that really caught my eye in order to give you a "jumping off point" of sorts.

Necklace - Forever 21 ($3.80)
Bracelets - Forever 21 ($6.80)Earrings - Thrifted ($1.99)
We discussed in the last color post about gold being a neutral. I've also decided to highlight the greens, blues, and reds in the skirt with the set of bracelets and earrings. These, too, have gold accents to tie them back in with the necklace.
Once you are more comfortable with picking out colors from your focal point in the outfit, you can start picking more avant garde looking accessories.
6) Have fun, and don't be afraid to take the next step!
Learning how to match and compliment colors does not happen overnight. It takes practice and many outfits. Don't ever be afraid to think outside the box when you have reached your comfort zone. That is how fashion is made!
Have any of my steps helped you out in your daily dressing excursions? Do you have tips for drawing out complimentary colors? Comment on this post to tell me all about it!
Until next time.
~ they seek her there

Snow Day Links!

I don't know about the rest of you, but right now we are getting HAMMERED with snow in Chicago. I've been able to do nothing this afternoon but sit in my office and just stare at the inches and inches of powdery stuff coming down and covering everything.

While in contemplation, I wanted to give something back to those of you who are stuck inside on this snowy day.

~ Over at my Pinterest, I've assembled some awesome links to vintage DIYs and fashion that some of you might like to check out.

~ Rookie Mag has an article for tips on looking glam (with a vintage twist) in your everyday life!

~ Pop over to A Beautiful Mess for a simple wall art DIY that will waste a little time and allow you to get your creativity on.

~ Like The Hunger Games? A Tumblr has been launched entitled Capitol Couture. Sign up using the password #lookyourbest, and you can receive updates from the site.

~ Now, something for the guys! Visit The Effortless Gent for tips on classy dressing that won't have you reeling in confusion.

~ Finally, something for everyone. Cracked is my favorite internet time waster. Try The 5 Most Insane Original Uses for Famous Products on for size.

How are you celebrating this unexpected snow day? Comment and feel free to link me to some of your favorite time wasting websites.

Until next time.

~ they seek her there

(Image courtesy of bliss-of-seasons on Tumblr)

Pinterest - Everyone's newest addiction

It's the board where you can post your latest addictions, pictures, and eye candy. It's Pinterest, and it's taking the internet by storm. Not familiar with Pinterest? Right now, the site is invitation only, but it's easy to secure your own invite. Just ask a fellow member for a recommendation, or you can slip into Pinterest's queue for acceptance. It's easy!

Why am I talking to you about this site? Well, I (they seek her there) have my own Pinterest, and I'd like to share all of my amazing links and pictures with you. Today, I've put up my predictions for hot Spring looks which seem to be popping up everywhere! If you'd like to check out my updates, please visit they seek her there on Pinterest for daily insights, outfits, and links to my favorite things.

Do you have a Pinterest? If so, comment here. I'd like to know what you're up to!

Until next time.

~ they seek her there