Advancing the Style Envelope

Old is the NEW Awesome. Mainstream may have just gotten the memo.

2013 is having a senior moment. "Grampa style" is in, (just ask Macklemore) and recently,  a number of women "of a certain age" are  being celebrated for bold style and actively influencing the wardrobes of youngsters,  an unusual direction of fashion influence, seldom before seen in the fashion world. See Iris Apfel, see Linda Rodin, Tziporah Salomon, Madonna, Helen Mirren, etc, etc.

Box It

Whatever the reason for your season, we're wishing you a knock-out holiday.

Knock 10% off your next purchase. Use coupon code ROSEBUD at check-out.

Joyeaux Know-elle

Know, first, who you are and then adorn yourself accordingly - Epictetus

Fresh Picks: Catie Styles the Holidays

Seattle Stylist + Fashion Blogger, Catie of Fleur d'Elise styles Citizen Rosebud's fresh picks for the holidays

Recently, I had the chance to spend some time with Seattle fashion blogger and stylist, Catie B of the popular blog, Fleur D'Elise. Catie styled up some great winter holiday outfits, culled from the Citizens-of-Rosebud fresh picked vintage collection. We managed a quick photo session of some of our favorite winter holiday stylings, as she shared her style tips for dressing for the season.

This is the time of year to incorporate sparkles and fun into your wardrobe. A good question to ask yourself when putting together a festive outfit is "What would 6-year-old me want to wear?" For myself, it was shoes with bows. Velvet, another cozy option, looks rich and luxurious and photographs gorgeously. Velvet blazers are pretty easy to find, and finish off an outfit perfectly.

Outfit Post: Purple Plaid Pendleton

Eye SPY: outfit of the day inspired by the intrepid "Spy Girl," aka Anne Bray who hosts a weekly blog event designed to get you out of your clothing rut. She calls it 52 PICK-ME-UP, and every Wednesday there's a different prompt- last week was purple- the week before plaid mixing, and me, day late, dollar short, have put the two together and am last minute joining in the #purple #plaid party.

 #SHOPSECONDHANDFIRST: Pantone + Pendleton+ Plaid+ Purple = Pick-Me-Up

Not terribly impressed with my make-shift indoor studio- which consists of a white sheet in front of a wall and a couple of photo-lamps staring at me, but it will have to to for now. I have to gear up my online listings- making a go of full time vintage seller has its challenges! So forgive the goofy folds of the background and just focus on the spectacular mix of purples! This coat is such a beautiful beast- a rare bright pink/purple Harris Tweed from the 1950s, in perfect condition. The pink looks very much like the Pantone color of the year: Radiant Orchid. Also impressive is this skirt- another minty fresh, fresh pick- a perfect Pendleton in plum. Booyah! I'm feeling pretty radiant in my get up.

Marketplace: Handwork of India, and the Highs + Lows of Etho-Fashion

It's not always black and white: searching for fashion labels that fit both politics and personal style

Last year, and again recently, Marketplace: Handworks of India approached more than a handful of fashion bloggers, myself included, and invited us to participate in a social media blitz, including product reviews and giveaways. Many of these women, who aren't normally inclined to work with brands, quickly accepted the invite- and many bloggers I follow and respect, dressed up their given piece and talked about this not-for-profit "fashion" company. (You can view my post about them last year HERE.) And, why? Why did so many of my fashionable +40 blogger pals jump at the chance to model for this little known brand?

Because Marketplace: Handworks of India is  a "fashion" brand with a mission.

"MarketPlace: Handwork of India is an innovative fair trade, not-for-profit organization which combines the experience of running a business with a variety of support programs designed to effect real, meaningful, and lasting change in the lives of low-income women in India."

#CITIZENBLOOM: 3 Ways to Bloom Madly for Winter

Baby, it’s cold outside! Right now, you need to be bundled up to stay warm, and often times that means you've reduced your outfit to  a drab ensemble consisting of  a lumpy layer of sweaters, black socks, with black boots and some practical no-nonsence outerwear.  Presently, I'm very  guilty of this, and in dire need of some bright #citizenbloom! I need to keep warm, but have got to add some more colorful bloom to my dress. So while you're all bundled up in that tasteful 2 ply cashmere sweater set, and a bulky yet functional pair of lined wool slacks, here are three ways you can add color and character to your winter wardrobe. 

Glitter Grunge: Christmas Plaid, Seattle Style

Glitter + Grunge = keeping it real for the Christmas holidays.
This California girl is freezing her ass off, over here. So thank-you to Gracey for coining the term, and thank-you to Pendleton for providing the plaid. I'm now warm, and ready for a Seattle Christmas. I present to you: GLITTER GRUNGE. 

And, just in time for #BloggersSharingStyle.

Shoe Shine: Glitterati

December's Shoe Shine is brought to you by Tooth Brights™ from Marvelous Tooth Care™

 Use Toothbrights with activated charcoal for a super-natural smile made with all natural ingredients.

 

Glitterati:(n.) Social elites. Famed, fashionable, adorable and learnéd. The beautiful people.(Urban Dictionary)

I have been obsessed with the idea of red glitter shoes since I first saw The Wizard of Oz at age 7. This is my grown-up glitter pair, that I wear as an homage to the heroine of the Emerald City.  Red + sparkle also = grand entrance into the month of December. I mean what says GLITTERATI SPARKLE for the HOLI-DAZE quite like glittery shoes in a spicy hot, holiday red?

Lately, I haven't many grand social events requiring a holiday bling fest, so there hasn't been whole lot of need for me to get my glitter on. That is, UNTIL, I stumbled across this brilliant term, coined by Gracey, of Fashion for Giants: GLITTER GRUNGE. 

Which triggered an opportunity to dress warmly, AND break out my pair of Red Glitter Shoes. And frolick around my very warm house, posing for you lovelies. As my impending "Glitterati" ensemble is Christmas-y of sorts, I will be posting it this Friday, and linking up to a #BloggersSharingStyle post over at Mis Papelicos. So, enjoy the shoes now, and check out my GLITTER GRUNGE outfit on Friday!

Ok. Now YOUR turn. What gets your heart light to shine when it comes to stellar kicks? Do share your look with a SHOE SHINE link! 

Picture Perfect: Fleur D'Elise

Blonde Ambitions: Fashion Blogger/ Stylist Catie lights up Seattle with her innate sense of cool.

Recently, I've had the opportunity to work with one of my favorite (ok, MY FAVORITE!) Seattle fashion blogger. She's got tremendous charm, and has an "all-ages" style, garnering the attention of many national folks including Redbook, Victoria's Secret, Forever 21, American Apparel, Chictopia, etc, etc. Meet Catie Beatty, the blogger and stylist behind Fleur D'Elise, who possesses a wonderful warmth, backed by her great innate sense of cool.

This image sort of sums up Catie's mojo-  a champagne bubbly meets a cocktail of savvy street style, and classic style moves. She's the girl next door, only with much better shoes, and a mad vintage coat collection.  Mark my words, world: you'll be seeing A LOT more of Catie B. Meanwhile, take a peek at her blog Fleur D'Elise and style services.

Right Said, Red

I won't pretend that I'm not already a BIG FAN OF RED. But after visiting the power duo of Adrienne and Jill's How I Wear My- style event of the month, I am definitely crushing out even harder of this spicy, Christmas-ready color.

Season's Feetings!

Winter has found me. 

It's cold here. And while I hide out in my warm little nest, my hands and feets are like beige-y icicles. I am dressed like a homeless person- willy nilly, whatever layers are warm, matching and clever pattern mixing be damned. Wearing my worsted wool cap($12, Wigwam Mills, made in the USA) my head is warm, but so very not fashion-able! All I could do to make myself feel worth of the "fashion blogger" moniker, was slip on these sandy suede beauties, a secondhand find from Seychelles (and now available on eBay,) with my angora cherry red fuzzy Christmas socks and shuffle around for a while. Memo to self: buy more warm and fuzzysocks!)

I hope my style can survive the season. Seriously, I'm in need of some better winter gear, here. 

Season's Feetings! Warming up the feet with some fab suede stacked heels and spicy socks

Shoe Shine for this month is next Wednesday! 
December 11th, make sure you've got on your best and brightest for the season, snap a photo of you in your favorite shoes of the season, and share it with us! Link-up will start 6 am, December 11th, and stay up until Friday, midnight. I look forward in seeing your kicky holiday spirit! 

Magical, Mystery, Sure: It's Modcloth

Magical mystery, sure.

That ol' black magic has put a spell on me. 
And this season it's spelled: L-B-D. 

Eternally enchanting- a Little Black Dress, oh yes. But the allure is no magical mystery- nothing squeeks chic or sophistication like a classic L.B.D.

Ta-dah!

"Dare"

"Jazz shouldn't have any mandates. Jazz is not supposed to be something that's required to sound like jazz. For me, the word 'jazz' means, 'I dare you.' The effort to break out of something is worth more than getting an A in syncopation. This music, it's dealing with the unexpected. No one really knows how to deal with the unexpected. How do you rehearse the unknown?"
                                                                                                                                                                  -Wayne Shorter

I dare you to step outside your comfort zone and try on something you've always liked, but maybe felt it wasn't "you." 

I dare you to find a good song in a genre of music you've said in the past that you've hated. Serve yourself up some good top 40, electronica, disco, dancehall, doom metal, smooth jazz, blues or country- whatever category you've previously steered away from.

I dare you to look a homeless man or woman in the eye when you cross paths, and offer up a smile normally reserved for a loved one. 

I dare you. I double dog dare you: to forgive yourself that one thing that wakes you up at night. To laugh off the burnt casserole, the coffee stained $200 cashmere sweater, the misplaced book, the forgotten anniversary, the sat upon designer sunglasses. 

I dare you to finish this day with the mind set that whatever happened during it, is OK by you. That you will survive. Thrive. And know it's good to be alive. 

I dare you to flirt with yourself. To fall passionately in love with your own crooked smile, profile, and personal style. 

Life comes without any dress rehearsals. It's all jazz, baby. 

You can sing it, in any key.  
So, go ahead, and dare.

Human vs Cyber Monday

I am no machine. Waking up today was hard- after a night of insomnia, my eyes opened to a morning, filled with anxiety. It's Cyber Monday and I have hardly a thing in my online shop. I've been busy, offline, setting up my little space inside Beats and Bohos, in Phinney, getting it freshly stocked and ready for the holidays, that I ran out of time to list online. As one person, I can only do so much in day, and when my head hits the pillow at night, there's always a long queue of "To Do" waiting for me when I wake up. 

On the day where record breaking online shopping gets done, I've got the smallest amount to offer. I'm no Cyborg, so Cyber Monday is best left to the machines and their attached increasingly large corporations.  Instead of waking up and freaking out (as I admittedly am wont to do!) I am making a conscious decision to stay calm and soldier on. After all, I'm only human.

Case in point: 

This charming photo. Taken in the shower. This budding entrepreneur works out of her home, and doesn't have a proper photo-studio, so when I need some good light- I get creative. And I've found the window light in the shower works in a pinch. 

Winning.

I am stuffed to the gills with Thanksgiving dinners. Yes, plural. I was a glutton for pumpkin-ment/punishment, only it was pretty much a mountain of mashed potatoes and gravy, and various side dishes, including my boyfriend's nearly world famous green bean casserole. Oh, and I've learned that CIDER is what the pilgrims probably drank on Thanksgiving, so that too, became my bevvy of choice. ALL DAY LONG. I had quite a fun day- sans family drama, just me and the boyfriend, squirreled up in our nest watching a marathon run of House of Cards. Eating, lounging and laughing make for quite a good time. Hope your T-day was a good one, too. 

#ShopSmall and Sparkle Big

#SHOPSMALL: Beats and Bohos has big plans for your holiday shopping.

This holiday season, you're gonna want to #ShopSmall, but SPARKLE BIG. Think outside the box (as in big box stores) and support your local and friendly small businesses in your area. As you're digesting your Thanksgiving meal, you're going to want make your battle plan for your impending holiday gift giving, so this season, please pledge to #ShopSmall, and support your peeps.

This Black Friday, seek out GREEN. Search for eco-friendly businesses and product options while you "get your shop on." How about some clever up-cycled record bowls for your cousin who loves all things vinyl? Uncommon Goods sells a few, and there are probably a few Etsy-ians who are busy spinning old Cheap Trick and Herb Albert albums into the perfect vehicle for your Auntie Ethel's famous onion dip. Topping my personal Xmas wishlist is this "Clean Coffee" travel bag made from recycled coffee bean bags and leather by designer Alfonso Velasquez.  I adore the shape and the clean modern lines- this chic and savvy green bean deserves an extra buzz. Also,  a little local shout-out to Seattle Sundries, for making the perfect stocking stuffer, a "Happy Hands" Lotion Bar Sampler Gift Set(available on Amazon) offering up a handful of cute tins of solid lotions, utilizing my favorite beauty ingredients: beeswax and shea butter. Eco. Friendly. And awesome. 

Speaking of awesome and BLACK FRIDAY, and local, we've got a BIG, BLACK sale a brewin' for Beats and Bohos. This Friday, November 29th, step right up to our Escalating Sale! The more you buy, the more you're going to save. Store wide, it's 10% off when you buy any item. However when you buy two items, you get 15% off, three items are 20% off, up to 25% off. You can do some serious damage to that holiday shopping list, save a pile of moolah, AND feel good about supporting small businesses, all in one fell swoop. Talk about elevation- this is Black Friday shopping at its peak. 

Get FIRST DIBS on our best holiday sparklers this Saturday at Beats and Bohos.

Nipping at the heels of viernes negro, is Small Business Saturday, the American Express way of supporting the little people that make this country great: small business and shop owners. You can take the pledge to #ShopSmall here. Beats and Bohos are hosting a very special trunk show that day, so you can #ShopSmall and sparkle big! We're pulling out our most special holiday vintage for a sneak peek and first dibs to the creme de la cream of Seattle vintage. 

Special vintage pieces ranging from the 1930s to the late 1980s will be presented, including the launch of Beats and Bohos own Black Label vintage. It's the best of the best- and specially curated for your holiday social season.  If it's sparkly and phenomenal- we'll have it. I'll personally be offering up some of my favorite holiday sparklers, including my some fantastic sequin tops, sparkling lurex and velvety dresses. I will be also milling about, sipping a hot bevy, and offering up my opinion to any who listen about whether or not tartan plaid makes your butt look big. (And, for the record: NO.) For more details on the event, click here. 

Oh, and I LOVE what Trove Vintage is doing for Black Friday and Small Biz Saturday- they will be linking up with Ballard Food Bank, and offering a discount to all their shoppers who donate goods. You can read their fine print here. You just can't go wrong with shopping vintage in a gorgeous shop for worthy cause!

PLEASE take a moment to enter my Shabby Apple dress giveaway. The contest ends this Friday, and I will be announcing the winner in a special post on Saturday, November 30th. Be sure to LIKE Shabby Apple on Facebook and follow them on Instagram to be eligible to win. Contest open to US residents only.

Enter to win to a vintage inspired dress by Shabby Apple now