February 3, 2012

See Chloe Shop (Happening Today.....)





Good Friday afternoon, shoppers! Retailers are celebrating the Superbowl this weekend, and I've added 9 new deals so far today for retailers like ASOS (20% off on full-priced items + 70% off on sale items), Banana Republic (25% off on full-priced items), Endless.com (40% off on select jewelry, today only), J Crew (extra 30% off on sale items), The Limited (free shipping, today only!), Lulu Frost Jewelry (25% off sitewide), Skin Store (20% off sitewide), Smashbox (free eyeliner with purchase, this weekend only), Topshop (new markdowns up to 50% off), and lots more...







February 1, 2012

Outfits Of The Yesterdays (Trastevere, Leopard, Stripes, and Shady Love)

♫: Shady Love - Scissor Sisters w/ Azealia Banks



Oh hello again, readers.  I am still sick, and it still sucks. Having no immune system due to Lupus makes for all sorts of entertaining things when I get a cold, usually because it seems to also trigger a flare. And a severe addiction to the syrupy, sugary blue raspberry slushies from the corner gas station.

Or in other words: poor husband; my poor, poor, poor husband.

Anyway!  Bleh. Let's talk about something else. There are lots of exciting things happening in Denver this year as far as fashion goes, with two coming up in the next two months. First up: Goodwill is hosting their annual Good Exchange Clothing Swap & Fashion Show on February 8th at the EXDO Event Center.  I went last year and had a blast--Mondo Guerra will be there again, with a fashion show put on by the kids participating in Goodwill's youth programs and if you bring 10 clothing items, you can participate in a fashion swap and leave with some "new" items of your own!  There will also be some auctions, door prizes, and appetizers and cocktails too. Tickets start at $25 and go towards a fantastic cause--you can get more info right here. Love.

And of course, as I have yabbered about incessantly on Twitter and Facebook, DAM will be featuring Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective March 25th - July 8th.  Did you know Denver is the only city in the United States that will get this exhibit?  It is! I have no idea why! But it's so exciting! There will be over 200 garments (and lots of drawings, photographs, and films) featuring the "full arc" of Saint Laurent's career.

Even better? On March 30th there will be a fashion show featuring eight ex-Project Runway contestants and their YSL-inspired designs. You can get tickets to view the exhibit here and tickets to the March 30th event/runway show here (although I think they are quickly selling out--but I will definitely be there, so if you see me say hi!).

Aaaand that's it. Outfit time? I think J Crew's Trastevere Print from a few years past will go down in history as my all-time favorite. I just love it, and you'll have to pry it away from my (weak) (arthritic) (little) dead hands:

Cape: Anthropologie, old (similar here) (similar here) (and by Mackage, 50% off)
Skirt: J Crew, old (similar here) (and a fun print at F21)
Shoes: J Crew Mona Oxford Pumps (buy them here) (a lower-heel style here)
Bag: DVF (similar here) (similar here for less + on sale)
Nail polish: Butter London in Macbeth (buy it here


I have discussed my obsession with hats before, and I firmly believe everyone needs a good one for those Husband-is-dragging-you-out-of-the-house-even-though-you're-so-sicky-sick days. Hence my fedora below. I think I scared the people at the grocery store during our hot Friday date night in the cold medicine aisle but THAT'S OKAY.

I also finally joined the year 2010 and received an iPad as a gift this year from Husband for Christmas. Every iPad needs a case, of course, and the Marc Jacobs Quilted iPad Case fits the bill plus does double-duty as a regular handbag. The strap is also removable, in case you want to wear use it as a clutch.  I like it when my accessories multitask, and I really like how the coral looks mixed with camel and a super light, gray foggy blue:

Hat: Eugenia Kim (similar here by Eugenia Kim) (similar here by Eric Javitz) (similar at Zappos, under $60)
Gray-Blue Scarf: Ann Taylor (similar at Zappos) (similar here)
Camel Jacket: Rachel Zoe (similar here)  (similar for $99) (& similar here for $60)
Jeans: GAP (similar, on sale) (similar here for under $50)
Flats: J Crew Lula Leopard Flats (buy them here, on sale)
Coral Bag: Marc Jacobs Quilted iPad Case in Coral (buy it here) (similar at Topshop) (similar at ASOS, under $50)
Nail polish: Butter London in Macbeth (buy it here
Lipcolor: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square (buy it here)


And last but not least, I had to watch my nephew play b-ball on Saturday (+ run errands) so I decided to give props to those burly referees by wearing a striped blouse.

It is entertaining, by the way, how I married into an extremely sports-centric family. I am personally about as non-athletic as it gets. In fact, unless the Olympic Committee ever gets around to answering my letters requesting that things like  "Dancing To The Scissor Sisters While Vacuuming" or "Gracefully Getting Hit In The Back Of The Head With A Flying Ball Whenever I Walk Across A Gymnasium" or "Bug Punching Those Stupid Bugs In The Summer" be made into bona fide Olympic activities, I will never have a competitive bone in my body.

(It is harder than it looks, okay? Coordination! And being short. I'm talking about the flying balls.)

Anyway. The Polly Popover from J Crew was the only thing from the spring new arrivals that I felt would really make a good fit in my closet; sometimes those polka-dots, floral prints, and leopard spots get a 'tude and need some non-fussy stripes to straighten them back out, you know?

This popover runs huuuuge, though. I have been wearing a 2 petite in blouses lately at J Crew; this is a regular size 0. I could probably have sized down to a 00, but...sometimes I'm lazy. I like it! It works:



And a big thanks to the girls at David Yurman for the new sunnies! I tend to be a straight-laced tortoise shell connoisseur when it comes to face frames, so I was tickled when I opened the super pretty Signature Cable Round Sunglasses. The frame is a mix of flecks off purples, pinks, and browns, making them colorful without being over the top. They are also a nice diversion from my standard cat-eyes and (most importantly) they are light and comfortable. I have an abnormally huge head, and therefore an endless collection of pinchy, hurty sunglasses. No pinching with these sunnies, no-no-no. I love them--thank you!

Jacket: Rachel Zoe (similar here)  (similar for $99) (& similar for $60)
Shirt: J Crew Polly Popover (buy it here)  (and an option at Modcloth) (and a cheap, t-shirt option at F21)
Pants: AG Stevie Ankle Jeans (buy them here) (similar at GAP in rose) (similar by Siwy Denim, on sale)
Belt: J Crew (buy here in 'neon peach') (similar at ASOS for $8)
Purple Necklace: ALDO (similar here for $14) (& still available at ALDO in teal)
Watch: Michael Kors Oversized Rosegold Watch (buy it here) (similar by Fossil)
Shoes: Lanvin Metallic Python Flats (similar here) (similar here, under $100) (& similar by Steve Madden)
Bag: Lanvin Metallic Python Min Pop (similar here by Lanvin) (similar here) (similar in 'pale gold') (and a fun option at Ann Taylor)
Lipcolor: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square (buy it here)
Nail polish: Butter London in Macbeth (buy it here)
Sunglasses: David Yurman Signature Cable Round Sunglasses, c/o (see them here)




January 24, 2012

Outfits Of The Yesterdays (The Blues)

♫: Don't Stop (Color On The Walls) - Foster The People
 


Not too much of an update for today, mostly because I have been so, so sick; and if you could somehow make this horrible webcam photo of a totally deranged person into an internets emoticon:

Tank: American Eagle Outfitters. Or GAP. Or Banana Republic.  Or whatever. 
Tissue: Kleenex, old (buy them here)  (similar for less here) (and if you're really desperate - a total knock off here, shhh!)


...it'd be me! Wait, that is me.

(Oh it huuuurts.)

So here are some outfits from a few past healthier days, when I decided to take a shower like a normal person and pick the kleenex and cinnamon bears (sick food!) out of my hair like a normal person, too.

And, while I think this goes mostly without saying, any weird faces in the pictures below are just me trying desperately to not sneeze and accidentally blow my brains out of my nose. I kind of feel like it just might happen, and we have enough Kardashians-Khloe-Not-Inkluded in this world (and pure nonsense happening here on this blog) as it is:

Jacket: Nordstrom's, old (similar here) (similar at Forever 21)
Belt: J Crew, old (similar at Ann Taylor)
Yellow bracelet: Kendra Scott, c/o (similar here) (similar here)
Watch: Michael Kors Oversized Rosegold Watch (buy it here) (similar by Fossil)
Shoes: Christian Louboutin Piou PIou Pumps (buy them here) (similar at Ann Taylor)


One of my favorite patterns to wear is leopard. Not only is it versatile (it goes with brown! it goes with black! and gray! and ivory!  and polka dots!) (okay! maybe not polka dots!), but it can lend a bit of fun to any outfit that needs it.

Despite its color-matching versatility it can be easy to cross the line from sweet to slop-tart when wearing leopard, so I like to stick with animal-print tops that have higher-cuts and animal-print skirts/dresses that have longer lengths. I also try to keep jewelry extreeemely minimal.  Animal prints already have enough  going on--they don't need lots of bangles or heavy necklaces to add to the crazy-crazy.

And if you like the look of leopard but still have reservations wearing it full bore, try wearing it in smaller doses.  There are a lot of great belts, shoes, bags, and bracelets out there right now!  Have fun with it.

Easy-peasy:

Blouse: Forever 21, old (similar here) (similar here) (similar for under $50)
Skirt: ASOS, old (similar here) (similar here)
Belt: J Crew, old (similar at Ann Taylor)
Ring: Forever 21 (buy it here) (similar here)
Bag: Lanvin Sweet Dora Crossbody, old (similar here) (similar by Madewell) (and here in 'camel' by Fossil)
Shoes: J Crew Mona Pumps in Pale Peacock, no longer available (similar here) (and at ASOS) (and at Piperlime)




January 18, 2012

Outfits Of The Yesterdays (Winter Whites, Prints, and Pumps)

 ♫: Don't Worry, We'll Be Watching You - Gotye





I left Sioux Falls, South Dakota one really cold, windy day in December of 2002. I still remember following the drifting U-Haul trailer pulled behind my parent's van, swinging in the wind on I-90 and splashing cold ice pellets of snow back at me as it went. I was full of feelings of joy and wonder and excitement and, and, and.   

And fear.  

Fear feels a lot like the stinging, cold bitterness of a South Dakota winter, I discovered on that one-way trip. It has no taste, smell, or even sound really; yet you still somehow know it's there. It freaking hurts your nose all of your body parts nonetheless, it numbs.

I had spent my entire life in Sioux Falls; my entire life in the exact same small house save for a quick stay on a concrete-bench-cleverly-disguised-as-a-cheap-canvas-sofa-from-IKEA in my sister's apartment right before I moved. My parents had sold that house, you see, sold 20 years worth of memories in mere minutes to a neighbor as soon as the FOR SALE sign had hit the lawn on a late summer day. He was a big, tan burly man with a black beard, a quiet voice, a small white maltese, a loud motorcycle, and a yippy-yappy red-headed wife.

"YOU'VE MADE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL!" I had heard him yell at his wife one day, several years prior. This was followed by a violent slam of the door as he stomped outside, holding the maltese. It is hard to look adequately angry when holding a small, fuzzy dog; it was the first time that I had ever heard him speak.

"We've always liked your house." he said softly that day in September of 2002, emphasized with a quick shrug as he pointed to the FOR SALE sign. He was still holding the maltese, had it wedged under his armpit in its usual spot, and I wasn't quite sure if he was speaking for him and his wife or for him and the dog. I will never know; it was both the second and the last time that I had ever heard him speak.

"Well. I guess I can't really charge you much in realtor fees for...this." the realtor said to my parents, followed with a nervous laugh.

So we packed our bags, had a quick wedding for my sister in the garden my parents spent 20 years carefully constructing (which is still there just as we left it, by the way--the pond, the gazebo, and the row of colorful birdhouses my dad built), and that was it. We left.

"Ah, so. Um. Where...are you going to go?" my mom then asked awkwardly, giving me a side-eye. It was a pretty excellent question.

"Colorado." I finally told her a few weeks later. Also awkwardly, but it was a pretty excellent answer.

Which is how I ended up on I-90 in that December of '02, 21-years old and scared out of my mind, trying desperately not to show it. 21-year olds aren't supposed to be scared, after all; they are supposed to be daft and foolhardy and brave. Even in moments of complete discomposure--I had been in enough bars, attended enough college parties, and seen enough MTV's Real World at that point in my life to know it.

But I was driving towards a new city, driving towards (perhaps) a new life. It isn't every day that a young girl does this, you know--makes a move! Does something nervy. Packs her bags, leaves her lifelong friends and family, and moves to a big city!

A city with opportunity!  A city with adventure! A city that is pretty much just like her old one except a bit bigger, and not quite so flat (mountains blah blah blah), has a longer wait to get into the Olive Garden on a Friday night, and, according to Facebook, is also home to just about half of her graduating class.

(Brrrrrrave!)

But while Denver might have a lot of cozy Midwesternisms about it, it has some important differences too: better restaurants, better shopping, better skiing (sorry Great Bear), bona fide state income taxes (ouch!), sterile Targets that boastfully deem themselves 'super', and the most important thing of all: culture. 

Culture that goes beyond corn fields, churches, legalized video lottery, and arguing over which way a naked David statue should face on a busy downtown street. Culture like the DAM (YSL in March!). Culture like Adele Arakawa's never-changing hairdo (I bumped into it her on a flight last year and it's just as amazing in person). Culture like the fun hippies of Boulder, culture like toasty-hot summer shows at Red Rocks, culture like being stuck on I-70 near Georgetown with the rest of the entire state on a snowy Sunday in January, beep-beep-beep-beep-beep.

And culture like BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, oh yesss. Fabulous, fabulous culture.

So this is what I wore last Friday, first to a super tasty dinner at The Capital Grille and then while being surrounded by shrieking 10-year old girls at the DCPA--an easy take on winter whites.

(My apologies for these looking a lil' odd - it was cloudy out, so I had to throw on some flash!)


Coat: J Crew Townhouse Trench in Sea Salt (buy it here) (similar here) (style for spring here)
Belt: J Crew, old (similar here in "soft pink")
Pants: Madewell, old (similar here) (similar here) (similar here)
Rosegold Bangles: Seasonal Whispers Crystal & Metal Bracelets in Rosegold (buy them here) (similar by Vince Camuto) (similar under $20)
Watch: Michael Kors Oversized Watch in Rosegold (buy it here) (similar for $195) (similar for $115)
Shoes: J Crew Mona Pumps in Pale Peacock (buy them here) (similar here + take 20% off w/ code "NEWYOU")
Bag: Chloe Marcie Crossbody in 'bone', old (similar here) (similar by Fossil) (similar by Michael Kors)



And some fun with prints:

Dress: Forever 21, old (similar here) (similar here) (similar here) (and a more subdued option at ASOS)
Belt: Forever 21, old (similar at Ann Taylor)
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Uliepe (similar here) (similar for under $25)
Bag: Chloe Paraty in Rosewood (similar here) (similar here) (similar by Miu Miu





And I finally added a pair of 'basic' black pumps to my artillery, hoorah:

Coat: Old Navy (similar here) (similar here for under $50)
Sweater: Madewell, old (similar here) (and at F21)
Pants: Urban Outfitters (buy them here) (a non-cord option here)
Belt: The Limited, old (similar at Ann Taylor) (similar at ASOS)
Shoes: Christian Louboutin Piou Piou Patent Pumps (buy them here) (similar at Ann Taylor)
Bag: Reed Krakoff Inside Out Satchel, old (similar here) (similar here) (similar at DSW)



♥ Follow Along

♥ About...

Chloe, Colorful Colorado. 5'8" (only) when teetering in her highest 6 inch Miu Miu platform heels. Likes fashion, broccoli, ice cream, clarifying that she does not eat ice cream with her broccoli as to not cause worldwide panic, hoarding beauty products & pretty shoes, tickle fights with her husband (he would like to clarify that he does not like them back, OKAY?), anything covered in sprinkles, any alcoholic beverage made with Tang, live music, clicking the camera, sarcasm fonts, vases stuffed full of pretty flowers, and laughing hard until her belly hurts. Wants an adventurous life, lots of puppies, to never obtusely wander around with her fly down, and to be an iconic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress with a bright, festive print when she grows up. This is where she bravely documents it all. (oh you really want more, do you?)