$20 Thrift: Irving Thrift

I love to thrift. Being thrifty, in general, yes; but particularly being thrifty by means of shopping for clothes at a thrift store. Over time I've gone to many, many thrift stores, bouncing from one to another, steadily adding pieces to my wardrobe. A thought continued to pop into my head, though, and I couldn't help but wonder, "Could I create a whole outfit, shoes to shoulders, with just $20?" It only makes since that a true test of a good thrifting spot is the ability to find pieces that, together, create a unique look at a low cost. Plus I now had this fantastic hypothesis, and all hypotheses require experimentation... no? So, it got in my head that I wanted to test thrift stores, thereby inventing "$20 Thrift" A game of sorts, one used to see who could put together a whole outfit and get as close to twenty bucks, without going over. Could it be done? Well, yes of course, but could it be done well? We shall see...

Now to find a companion. Hmm? Well, fortunately, the perfect person fell into my life by means of work and happy circumstance. Justin is by no means a stranger to the thrifting world, making him a formidable match... plus, he was willing.

LOCATION: IRVING THRIFT

I loved it all. I woke up early to spend the morning at a thrift store, where I was then able to flitter through racks of clothes, putting together a perfectly individualized outfit. As I slowly saw my disjointed pieces come together; a pair of young men's trousers, a brightly colored silk top, woven boots and an olive blazer once belonging to one "Jim Parker"; my heart literally skipped beats. Totaling out at $16.65, I must admit I could have upped my game a bit. If I'd only know my counterpart was going to be so wholly on par... Justin completely beat me, hitting his mark at exactly $19.97!! It can be done. Two complete ensembles, neither going a penny over twenty, and I must say we do look rather dashing don't you think?

Ha! It's such fun when you have this silly idea... and then act upon it.

Love.

C

Listening To GOS.

So, I worked on a monumentally exciting project last year. Literally, it was one year ago that a group of talented writers, directors, actors, designers and all around artists descended upon the unsuspecting town of Shreveport, with nothing more than unadulterated ambition in hand (well we also had a script, camera, lighting/sound equipment and a spaceship on the way). Evan Falbaum, writer/director, has cinematic vision that pours from his heart; Daniel Lachman, lighting designer and resident photographer, can create beauty out of even trivial moments and can truly paint with light ;) ... and now I've heard the work of musical genius composer, Ben Clancy. OH MY GOSH. Listening to what comprises of mere outtakes and ideas has my head spinning!! I can actually hear Getting Outer Space. Please click to listen to Ben's Amazing Work

                                         

Moments like today make me so proud to do what I do. I love it so much, it hurts inside. The good, wonderful, even whimsical, kind of hurt. You, know? To put everything into someone other than yourself, someone who is an extension of you in every way but isn't you at all, it's so truly magical... beautiful. Acting seems to be quite a lot like love. I loved Tara and I cannot wait to fall in love again, and again and again. It's what I was made to do. Yes, I'm quite sure of it.

Love Always.

C

1.1.11

This is going to be a lovely and wonderful year.

Love Always.

C

Moxie is a must.

Red lips, one of my favorite fashion accessories. The dewy contrast between rouge and pearl highlighting your best feature, that telling smile, moxie showcased at it's best. I know red is loud, but it's also playful, whimsical and rather lovely. A playful nature has the ability to intoxicate the world with happiness, and that is exactly what was shared with Miu Miu's 2011 Resort Collection. Hues of hot pink and celadon jumped out from a backdrop of nudes and navies, all presented with complete unabashed fortitude. The accessories were as stacked as my magazine piles and, of course, the make up was very perfectly turned up. At Lanvin for H&M the colors were turned down, but the attitude was all moxie. Tulled tees and show stopping tights mingled in among deep plum dresses and faux fur jackets. Green lips replaced my shade of choice, but with this quirky collection it truly was the perfect pucker.

Miu Miu 2011 Resort Collection; Granace Doré

Lanvin for H&M

Needless to say, moxie fills many runways during fashion weeks around the world, but it's also a complete necessity in everyday life. Make moxie a must in yours. Smile, won't you?

Love,

C

Simply Awkward.

I do try to seem composed, put together like the many others I see milling about, but the truth is I like unicorns. I don't think you can prevent awkwardness if you like unicorns. I don't necessarily try to be different, but rather always try to be myself. However, the "myself" that I'm made of likes wearing high-waisted trousers with ivy print, gets nervous in front of guys she likes, sings showtunes at the gym, and always finds herself believing in things that are, to most, merely fanciful. So, I'm simply awkward. I guess I just never learned how to contain my imagination, but honestly, I never wanted to. I know that being the girl who trips... a lot... and says things without thinking may sound like an arduous life to lead, but really it's quite wonderful.

I guess some of these imaginative wonderings have found their way into my wardrobe, but with inspiration from designers like Alice + Olivia, Erin Fetherston, and Marc Jacobs who wouldn't want a bit of awkward filling their dresser drawers?

I'm completely head over heals for these looks... literally :/

Love.

C

I Love The Selby.

I love this photographer. We just met, but I'm filled with wonder when I look at these precious moments captured in the blink of a shutter.

Albert Maysles, filmmaker, and Gillian Walker, therapist, at their home - Harlem

Photographer, Todd Selby, photographs creative people in their homes. Actors, writers, stylists, directors, editors... if you're right brained and successful, chances are you're on his list. These are some of my favorites, but please do check out this fantastic site for much, much more: The Selby

Pamela Love, jewelry designer, and Jordan Sullivan, photographer and musician,

at their home - Brooklyn

Lyndsay Caleo, goldsmith and interior designer, and Fitzhugh Karol, woodworker and interior designer,

at their home - Brooklyn

Jamie Campbell Bower, actor, at home

Jamie Isaia, photographer, and Anthony Malat, clothing designer,
at their home - Brooklyn

Keith Abrahamsson, music label director, and Kate Young, stylist,
at their home - NYC

There is something so beautiful about the way we are, when in our homes. The people we share that time with and the things we do, this defines our character in a way that our bustling outside lives cannot contain. Thank you for the beauty, Selby. Enjoy!

Love,

C

Good Morning, Starshine.

I'm finally back to my sweet little blog, so bleak last month. Sad, really. Clearly THAT just will not do! To start, a singular welcome home entry.

Over the past few months, and particularly this last month, I've grown so much. I look out into the world through new eyes, and although I am still unable to make out what is destined to come, I love that I am now able to look around and see the beauty that surrounds me. I don't know where this path will lead, but at least I'm able to see where my feet are landing as I go!

I cannot and will not regret anything that has happened. This life is too precious to look back, when everything ahead of me looks so lovely. All of it has brought me to this exact place of complete joy, and that is a wonderful thing. I love what I'm doing, where I'm going and every single person that fills my world. Ha! I promise I'm not all peonies and unicorns, however these two things are quite wonderful. Days are hard, work gets difficult, time isn't nearly enough; yet I'm doing what I love, with those I want to be around and it is truly fantastic. I honestly believe that we are all born with these innate gifts, and when we nourish what we've been given and constantly feed that with which we've been entrusted, we find our place in life. It is what allows us to become beyond ordinary. I know where I want to be and I love that I'm there.

Love.

C