She's A Betty

Currently Enjoying...

The Weepies:We've got their newest album playing at work. It's magical folk-pop, with endearing vocals and smart lyrics. Also on rotation & recommended: Morrissey's Greatest Hits (even if it's sort of ridiculous) and the new Gnarls Barkley. The Donny Osmond, though, melts my brain.

The Encyclopedia of Sushi Rolls: A coworker discovered this book. It covers the basic of sushi roll making, then goes on to show you how to make ingenious rolls like the turtle, car, and cherry tree ones above. The explanations are clear and accompanied by step-by-step photo tutorials.

Tecktonik: I. Love. Tecktonik. My roommates and I have been reduced to hysterics trying to imitate these guys, while getting a nice workout at the same time.

Budget-O-Rama: 05/13/08

From left to right: Tie Back Pleated Sweater, $78.00, Arden B.; Linen Flat (also in yellow), $29.00, Delia's; Converse One Star Shirred Wrap Dress, $29.99, Target.

Etsy Finds: Gears & Ruffles

Left to right, top to bottom: Custom Recycled French Picnic Skirt, $68.00, KT Jean Designs; Industrial Earrings, $15.00, KieutiePie; Steampunk Men's Ring, $75.00, Rivkasmom; Lolita Peach Dress, $38.00, Good Grace Vintage.

I like the juxtaposition of the organic ruffle with the mechanical gears. Aside from the feminine/masculine contrast, it's interesting how two things that are similar in form (both feature waves) can be so different in nature. Both are lovely, however.

Fashion Feed Finds: 05/06/08

Time for another round:

The Rogan for GO International preview is up, and...eh. From a design angle, it's a flop. Mostly basics with some tarty animal prints (the styling doesn't help--it's overkill to pair that mini with a braless tank & heels). The good news is the line's 100% organic, which means we'll get organic basics for Target prices.

Also up is the preview for alice + olivia's FW08 Payless line, and I love it. Shiny monster booties! I'd buy these just to wear them around the house and stand over my roommates (I am 5'4" and bitter). The price is nice, too.

Sources: I am Fashion (YSL SS08); fashionologie (Rinko Kikuchi); Kingdom of Style (Vika Gazinskaya).

Alas, I sort of love the helmet haircut, aka "the Moe." Not on my head, but I admire those that can pull it off. It's simple yet aggressive. I especially love Rinko Kikuchi (middle) in it; she has an impish approach to fashion that I find inspiringly brave (considering the Fug Girls and Ryan Seacrests of the world).

Finally, Trendinista has a lovely feature on the "drip" trend. My favorite find were these Anna ter Haar "dripping tar" sunglasses.

Also:

• The New York Times says thrifting is on the upswing...
• ...even among teens.
• I am Fashion tries out clip-on bangs.
• Rei Kawakubo's will design an H&M collection.
• Specialist Auctions' Marge has an interview with the daughter of knitwear designer Robert Goldworm.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten sexy.
• The four worst home acne treatments (I do two of these, how about you?).
• An inspiring mix of prints on the Sartorialist.
• Vogue Italia's July issue will feature only black models.
• How often do you wash your hair? Every other day or every three days works for me; daily washings turn it into straw.
• I agree with 1 & 3.

Vintage Finds: Bold Florals

If you're interested in participating in SS08's bold florals trend, I have two words for you: shop vintage. Vintage clothing stores offer an unmatchable variety of floral prints, and the prices are pretty sweet. To get you started, here are 9 chic pieces (left to right, top to bottom):

• Crimson Silk Floral Print Dress (scroll down), $165.00, Woodland Farms Vintage.
• 1950s Pink Full Skirted Dress, current bid $29.00, Violetville Vintage.
• Gucci SS06 Blue Silk Chiffon Dress, $1,250.00, Vintage Martini.

• 1950s Ceil Chapman Cocktail Dress, not yet for sale, Hemlock Vintage.
• 1950s Blue Floral Dress, approx.  $93.00, Mint & Vintage. No direct link, under Vintage Dresses.
• 1950s Gigi Young Red Orange Dress, $125.00, Vintage Martini (click through--the back is beautiful).

• 1960s Floral Canvas Purse, $45.00, Vintage Martini.
• Handmade Flower Print Dress, $24.00, Reware Vintage.
• 1950s Strapless Pink & Green Dress, sold for $300.00, SickThrift. This sold after I found it, but the coloring & the petal detail on the bustier deserved a link (click through for close-ups). Just gorgeous.

Three other dresses to consider: a shawl-collared dinner dress, another Ceil Chapman cocktail dress, a royal blue sun dress, & a pink and green sculpted Monet dress. For more vintage finds, check out our Online Vintage Clothing Directory.

Soy Steak with Cucumber Tomato Salad

Dinner last night was unexpectedly good, so I thought I'd share. The cucumber tomato salad comes from Elle's New England Kitchen (via Tastespotting). It tastes like a Greek deli (i.e. spot on), although I might use a finer dice. As for the steak, it was improvised from an old family recipe. I winged it, hence the loose instructions/quantities.

Soy Scallion Steak

Serves 4-5

Ingredients:

12 sirloin tipside steaks, sliced thin*
sesame oil
soy sauce (I use Kikkoman's, here's why)
one bunch scallions, sliced thin

Preparation:

Cover the bottom of an enameled cast iron pan with sesame oil, over high heat. When warm, add steaks, scallions, and soy sauce. Make sure the steaks do not overlap (I did it in batches). Cook steaks, flipping once, until brown on both sides. Continue simmering steaks & sauce until sauce has a gravy-like consistency. Serve with French or Cuban bread.

*These steaks are tiny--1/2 inch thick and no larger than my palm.

D.I.Y. Project: Painted Ladies

Left to right: YSL Resort 08; Jason Wu for Teen Vogue; Hilary Laing.

Another popular fashion DIY project right now is the painted dress. You've got plenty of options: the abstract expressionist approach of YSL's Resort 08 collection, the impressionist style of Jason Wu & Susie Bubble, or the crayon scribbles of Hilary Laing & Lacquer.

Lee Min Ki in Dal Ja's Spring.

Two other styles occurred to me, however: metallic paint on something dark & textured (like the above sweater ), and reverse painting with bleach. For the former, just buy some metallic fabric paint. If you're interested in the latter, Threads has an awesome guide to decorating with bleach; for something more controlled, you could get a bleach pen and do something like this Bluelines dress revamp.

For more D.I.Y. inspiration, check out the archives.

Vintage Finds: 04/30/08

I'm still working on a set of floral print vintage finds, but before these expire:

• 1970s Cream Lace Bustier Dress, current bid $51.00, Thriftwares. I like light, confectionary pieces like this one (think lace, chiffon, pastels & creams) for spring. It's also very "Like a Virgin"-era Madonna, which can be awesome.
• 1980s Sequin Checkerboard Skirt, current bid $16.49, Kuku Vintage. An unusual mix of punk & Vegas style.
• 1950s 2-Piece Taffeta Dress, current bid $62.00, Violetville Vintage.

For more great vintage sellers, check out the Online Vintage Clothing Directory.

Sesame Shrimp Salad

Last night I tried Cooking Light's Sesame Shrimp Salad, and it was a resounding success. It's light & easy to make, and the flavor's fantastic (there were no leftovers). You've got citrus (lime & orange) notes, mixed with chili garlic sauce (I've never used it before--it's the best. thing. ever.), and the peppery sweetness of fresh mint. I'm also in love with Napa cabbage right now, for its texture and sweet, buttery taste.

The only change I made was omitting the fish sauce. Fish sauce has been banned from our house ever since I made this Food & Wine recipe; no one liked the dish and one particularly sensitive roommate scrubbed down the entire kitchen to get rid of the smell.

I'm amazed that there's an "I Hate Cilantro" website, but nothing for fish sauce. During a school trip to Vietnam, a friend went on hunger strike because he can't stand the stuff; even I--a great lover of smelly foods--have trouble with the smell. But since it's a global staple, I wonder--did I just buy the wrong brand? Or is fish sauce a sort of Asian Marmite?

One more note: since shrimp's expensive, in the future I may serve the salad with a light soup or chicken stir-fry. Two possible substitutions: tonkatsu or this hot & sour soup.

Etsy Finds: 04/26/08

Some Etsy finds for Saturday:

Left to right: Peach Water Tower, $48.00; Gold Lip Dish, $18.00, Gold Vessel, $25.00.

Upintheairsomewhere sells pottery and paper bowls that look like small paintings. I love the slight, intentional imperfections, the beautiful photos and the delicate coloring--just super.

Left to right: Vintage Lotus Comb, $39.99; Japanese Maple Leaf Hair Pin, $275.00; Wisteria Hair Pin, $260.00.

Another seller to check out is Atelier Kanawa (a recent Etsy featured seller). Owner Kuniko Kanawa is a certified kimono consultant and trained tsumami kanzashi artisan, so you know you're getting the real deal.

For more great Etsy sellers, check out the archives.

Music Finds: The Jazz Age

Image via Vintage Lulu, found in Flappers & the Jazz Era photo pool.

Jazz Era music is fun. A little goes a long way (some songs were only meant for dog's ears), but when it's good, it's really good--and the lyrics can be v. amusing (e.g. "You Gonna Look Like a Monkey When You Get Old"). Four online sources for Jazz Age swing:

1. One good bet is the WFUV's The Big Broadcast, a weekly radio show featuring music from the '20s & '30s. Hosted by Rich Conaty, the show plays every Sunday from 8 pm to midnight; the last two broadcasts are available online as streaming audio. Conaty also has a nice set of web recommendations (via getTRIO).
2. One commenter recommended the similar WAMU 88.5's Hot Jazz Saturday Night, which features jazz from the 1920s through '40s.
3. Fans of Bertie Wooster's singing will appreciate this set of links. Unfortunately, the official Jeeves & Wooster soundtrack has been removed, but you can still catch some of the songs on YouTube (e.g. "47 Ginger Headed Sailors").
4. Metafilter also has a good set of pre-1950s music links.

Finally, here's a YouTube clip of Josephine Baker's "Don't Touch Me Tomatoes." It's not quite the right decade, but I love her voice and the silly lyrics:

D.I.Y. Project: Dip It High

After Nina Ricci's Resort 2008 show and Christian Lacroix SS08 Couture show, dip-dyed tights have become the project du jour for fashion blogs.

Both Jenine at THE COVETED (left) & Brett at Fashionista (right) pulled off homemade versions, with slightly different techniques. Not possessing the thighs of a baby giraffe, though, I always thought it made more sense to make the thigh area darker. Witness:

The shots come from Ostwald Helgason's FW08 collection, via Style Bubble (visit the original post for more/larger photos). Though if you have the legs for it, these faux knee-highs (scroll down, also via THE COVETED) are pretty sexy too.

Want more D.I.Y. inspiration? Check out the archives.

Budget-O-Rama: Skull Tee Face Off

One of these is $14.50, the other is $270.00 . For real, y'all.

Spicy Shrimp Bruschetta

Shrimp bruschetta is delicious and easy to make. The following is a modified recipe from Jamie Oliver's Happy Days with the Naked Chef; I'd also recommend making Shrimp Bruschetta with Limoncello, another recent hit (add crushed red pepper if you like more heat).

Spicy Shrimp Bruschetta

Serves 3 if served as a meal, 4 or more if served as an appetizer.

Ingredients

about 1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 heaping tbsps ginger, peeled & julienned
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled & sliced thin
2 jalapeños, deseeded & sliced thin
16-20 large shrimp, peeled with tails left on
1 to 2 lemons
1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley, or to taste
salt & pepper, to taste
1 French baguette, sliced & lightly toasted

Preparation

Heat a frying pan over high heat. When hot, add 1/4 cup oil, ginger, garlic, jalapeños and shrimp. Cook until shrimp turns bright pink, about 3-4 minutes. Turn heat down to low and add the juice of one lemon, parsley, and the rest of the olive oil. Remove from heat, toss, and taste. Add more lemon juice or olive oil as needed, then season with salt and pepper. Serve over bread.

Vintage Finds: 04/15/08

Two dainty finds for spring:

• 1960s cropped yellow jacket, current bid $26.00, Liebemarlene Vintage.
• Handmade snake skin pumps (size 6, no direct link), approx. $140.00, Mint & Vintage.

Budget Finds: 04/14/08

Left to right: Twin Set Cardigan, $26.50, Old Navy; Gathered Jersey Dress, $24.50, Old Navy; Nine West Dtucks, $93.00, Zappos.

First, the sneakers (via Fops & Dandies) are Dries van Noten SS07 knock-offs; you can also get similarly styled white wedge sneakers at YesStyle for $50 plus shipping. I'd never wear that high of a heel, but I love the style.

Second, Old Navy's put out some great pieces lately (for the price point, anyway). They started spring off with trendy tribal prints & bright jewel-tones; their summer preview doesn't look bad either. It's a refreshing shift for a company that once relied on polo shirts and board shorts; I only wish it would pay off for them financially.

Old Navy has been one of Gap Inc's weakest performers for years (March posted a whopping 27% decrease in sales, unfortunately due to the fashion forward designs), to the extent that some analysts think the chain will disappear by 2010. While Old Navy has its flaws, I'd hate to see it disappear--it's a reliable source for accessories & basics, has more reasonable prices than the Gap, and is one of very few sources for budget plus size clothing. What do you guys think? Do you like Old Navy's new look, and do you think the store will close in the next two or three years? More importantly, would you miss the chain if it went belly-up?

Music Finds: 04/11/08

Lately, my radio's been alternating between rap hits & soul singers. It's the artists from the latter category that need more exposure; presumably you don't need any help finding Flo Rida's "Elevator," etc. Some nice discoveries:

1. Madeleine Peyroux, "Don't Wait Too Long."

2. Betty Lavette, "Let Me Down Easy." Actually found this several months ago. It's a song where as soon as she opens her mouth, you know it's going to be great. 

Other recommended artists/songs (YouTube links): Adele's "Right As Rain", John Legend's "Slow Dance", India Arie's "There's Hope."

Vintage Finds: Violetville Vintage

Left to right: 1960s empire dress, 1920s blue silk dress, 1920s black lace dress.

I just discovered eBay store Violetville Vintage (via Popgloss). They have some sweet vintage dresses, good buyer feedback, and reasonable prices (bids start at $25). Has anyone bought from them before?

Currently Enjoying...

Bleeding heart cupcakes: I made these for my coworkers as a Valentine's Day prank, but my roommates and I ate them all before they could be decorated.

Nodame Cantabile: One of my favorite Asian dramas. Set in a music academy, the series features plenty of eccentric characters & classical music performances; what really makes the series for me, however, is lead actor Tamaki Hiroshi. He is the sexiest man I've ever seen.

Baking: I'm working on a manga script, with a baking prodigy as the protagonist. Consequently, I've been researching kitchens and baking. Some titles I've found useful: Kitchen Confidential (esp. the chapter on Adam Real-Last-Name-Unknown), Heat, Down & Out in Paris and London, The Bread Baker's Apprentice, & Good Bread is Back .

V-Beam: I had my first laser surgery for rosacea three weeks ago. Rosacea is a facial vascular disorder that causes blushing, redness, and bumps. In my case, it's hereditary (my mom and grandparents have it).

I paid $250 for surgery on my cheeks, nose, and chin. The procedure took 10 minutes at most; the only side effects were some stinging, redness, and a few heat blisters that resolved within three days (I had subpupuric treatment). I still need a few more treatments, but I've already noticed a significant improvement in my skin. Highly recommended.

Pandora: Everyone knows about Pandora (even my dad), so this is more of a rediscovery. Two new songs I enjoyed: Alice Smith's "Woodstock," which is very chill, and Thomas Cunningham's "Swell." I rolled my eyes a bit at the latter's lyrics (they aren't subtle), but it's a good song.

Budget Finds: Deep V Tunics

Left to right: Miso Draped Cap Sleeve Top, £14.99, Republic; Layering Twist Front Tunic, $28, Victoria's Secret; Sleeveless Faux Wrap Tunic, $52, Tulle.

It may be just my delusion, but these seem very comfortable & slimming. Yea or nay?

She's A Zombie

RAAWWR! We're back from the dead. Sorry to vanish like that, and thank you to those still reading.

After working on this blog for 2 years, I wore myself out. I read over 100 feeds (some of them updated more than 10X a day), and with my new part-time job and writing work, I had no personal time at all. So I took a week off, and I enjoyed it so much that a week turned into a several-month hiatus.

I never intended to drop the blog or even take this much time off, so I never wrote a post explaining my absence. Sorry, y'all!  I'll try not to do it again.

Currently Enjoying...

I'm doing this on the fly, because I need to post something (it's Thursday already?). I'll come clean it up later, promise!

Scott Pilgrim: A funny indie comic about the title character's quest to win over a girl by defeating her seven ex-boyfriends. The website's super, with plenty of excerpts and extras. The series has been optioned by Universal Pictures.

Finding new music on Aurgasm.us, the blog that discovered Yael Naim. The integrated mp3 player is a nifty bit of engineering.

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (link takes you to streaming video excerpts): I'm totally into Korean TV dramas right now--first My Lovely Sam-Soon and now Coffee Prince. A super-short Coffee Prince plot summary: straight boy falls in love with a girl who he mistakes for a boy. Unbearable sexual tension ensues. It is awesome.

Street style, particularly that of Piksi & dreamecho (love this outfit).

Exploding whale stories: One explosion was intentional, the other accidental.

The tail end of a nasty cold: Since Friday, it's been nothing but sleep, orange juice, and sleep. And some internet, of course. 

Budget-O-Rama: Jovovich-Hawk for Target

It's inevitable. As soon as I swear off a category (in this case, Budget Finds), I start finding all sorts of things to post. First up is the preview for Jovovich-Hawk's GO International collection, out March 2nd. It's very cute and boho, but you can find similar clothes in thrift stores for less money and possibly in better fabrics. The only piece I'm considering is the chevron-striped scoop neck at left ($17.99)--trendy graphic print, slimming diagonal lines, and it fits in with my current stripes obsession. Check out the collection and let me know what you think!

Vintage Finds: 02/04/08

Some cool vintage finds:

• 1980s Leather Zip Jacket, current bid $20.50, Lullie Vintage.
• Red Leather Aigner Boots (size 6B), $60.00, Frecklewonder.
• Vinyl Metallic Mini Dress, current bid $20.00, MakiMaki Vintage.
• Also worth a look: a mermaid sequin dress, an eye-assaulting plaid mini dress (since everyone keeps talking about clown chic), a chic drop-waist cream dress, and a neon color block bag .
  

Now for some bad news: Vintage Amore's closing after 2 years due to schedule conflicts. Everything's on 40% off clearance, so check it out.

And, some good news: Specialist Auctions is having a Vintage Blow Off Ebay (VBOE) sale starting February 14th (enlarge flyer at right for details). For those unfamiliar, vintage sellers have a Vintage Blow Out (VBO) sale four times a year on eBay, where all items marked VBO are $19.99 or less; with eBay's new fee changes, however, VBO sellers will make even less than before. The VBOE sale, then, is a great opportunity for bargain hunters and especially sellers, since Specialist Auctions charges no up-front fees, and only 3% of the final sale price. I'll try to mention the sale again closer to the date (thanks, Marge!).

Etsy Finds: 02/03/08

Two Etsy Finds for Sunday:

• Ice Lady & Her Red Shoes Print, $20.00, Lucia Johnson (via decor8 ).
• Ancient Peruvian Style Earrings, $35.00, India y La Luna (via Rare Bird Finds).

For more great Etsy sellers, check out the archives.