Happy Bling Bling

(Shirt- J Crew, Sequined Shirt- Joe Fresh, Necklace- Anthropologie)

Happy New Year everyone! I have been the worst blogger ever, but rest assured I will be back. In the meantime I'm posting a quick image to let you know that I'm not just using this time to sit around in my man's old shirts and saggy-bottom sweatpants. I'm also wearing those things with sequins!!

Merry Holidays!

Hey Folks! So Skirtmas wasn't cancelled, just postponed due to a nasty cold and Christmas travel- don't you love it when those two things are combined? But I've packed my paints and my sketchbook and I'm hoping to Skirtmas the crap out of this blog next week.

In the meantime, have a lovely holiday everyone and eat lots and lots of sweets!

The Skirtmas Rush

(Faux Fur Scarf- Joe Fresh, Polka Dot Tee- Madewell, Black Tee- Gap,

Belt- Anthropologie, Skirt- Jacob, Boots- Miz Mooz)

As I am sure most of you are these days, I am doing everything in a mad rush. Seems I have fairly unrealistic expectations about what I can accomplish during the holiday season. This includes putting together and then, subsequently, drawing my outfits. Time is of the essence so having a finished drawing is the goal- small feet, horrendously foreshortened hand et al. 

Stay- Puff Skirtmas

(Blue Sweater- Lands End Canvas, Yellow Sweater/ Jumper/ Hairband- Anthropologie,

Belt- J Crew, Tights- Gap, Socks- Joe Fresh, Boots- Indigo)

I admit that I made myself look a little less poofy in the drawn version than I looked in real life. I loved the colour combo and the cozy warmth of the two sweater thing, but I looked a little stay-puff for my taste. It being Christmas time though, maybe I do look a little stay-puff with or without the double sweater action. In any case, this is what I wore.

Oh, and I know what you are thinking- isn't that the jumper that Rory Gilmore wore in the final season of Gilmore Girls? Yes. Yes it is. 

Sticking with Skirtmas

(T-Shirt, Sweater- Anthropologie, Belt- J Crew, 

Skirt- Gap, Tights- Winners, Boots- Steve Madden)

This skirt thing is harder than I thought. Everyday I come up with something I'd love to wear but it always hinges on the wearing of pants. I'm going to stick to my goal though- even if the outfits end up less than perfect. 

Second Day of Skirtmas

(Sweater- Gap, Turtleneck- Anthropologie, Skirt- J Crew

Tights- Winners, Boots- Steppin' Out in Steveston, BC)

Right on cue, as I initiated the Skirtmas goal, the weather dipped to -17C with wind chill. But I promised myself, and both of you readers, that I was going to do this. So here I am dolled up to go my printmaking class, which was, thankfully, indoors.

Oh, and here's a shameless plug, feel free to tell your friends about the blog and have them follow. You don't actually have to do anything, just click a little button to make me happy.  (Plus, I'm superstitious about 13, and since that's my current number of followers,  the first person to up that to fourteen gets a prize- a big ol' thumbs up from this gal!)

Work In Progress

Just thought I'd show how the desk looks and how I'm ignoring Binky for the morning in order to keep the Skirtmas dream alive. New post will be coming soon!

12 Days of Skirtmas

(Dress, Sweater, Necklace- Anthropologie, Boots- Miz Mooz)

Every year around now it gets far too cold to even think about wearing a skirt. Unless I'm going to something fancy, my lovely winter skirts and dresses go wildly ignored as soon as the minus temperatures hit. To a gal who works at home, a skirt seems somewhat impractical when the only outside experience she gets in a day is a dog walk.

Not this year, blog fans! This year I am undertaking the Skirtmas challenge. No more will my tweeds, cords and wool frocks go neglected. I'm going to wear them, damn it, or freeze trying. So from now until the 25th I will be styling my girly winter wear in the true spirit of Skirtmas.

Cute and Sweaty

(Toque, Jacket, Turtleneck, Necklace- Anthropologie, Cords- AG,

Sweater- Dots, Boots- Josef Seibel)

Trying to paint plaid is much more challenging than I previously thought. I think I did okay. Just remember folks I'm not trying to make an photographic reproduction- I'm not capable of that anyway. If I wanted it to be perfect then I'd post a photo, and you would all have to see my massive nose and short legs. Trust me, drawing is better for everyone.

I wore this last week when I attempted a bit of Christmas shopping/ errands/ stupidity. Really comfortable when getting into your cold car, but when you are sixth in line at Zellers, holding massive boxes of toys in addition to your previous purchases it's pretty much the sweatiest outfit ever. The lesson here? Only shop online.

Old Girl, er, Dress New Again

(Sweater- Anthropologie, Dress- Urban Rack [900 years ago], Belt- J Crew,

Earrings- Era Style Loft, Tights- Steve Madden, Boots- Indigo)

My man had the courtesy of having a birthday so that I could get fancy for a day. Sure, I pulled out an ancient dress, and one I actually wore on our first real grown-up date, but I restyled and made it new again. Something that this blog was supposed to encourage me to do- remix, NOT purchase more. Then came Black Friday. Sigh. Curbing those kinds of bad habits takes time I suppose.

And on a side note, I've finally figured out a few things about this wacky technology stuff and I've enabled anyone to leave comments. But please keep it PG folks.

And on another side note, please follow my blog and add to my sad little numbers on the side there. It would be a lovely thing to do for a gal this holiday season.

With A Little Help From Ativan

(Sweater/ Pants/ Necklace- Anthropologie, Shoes- Pink)

The lesson here folks, don't draw while under the warm hug, er, influence of Ativan. I'm not the best flyer so I medicate my way through it. I attempted to do some drawing while I was on the plane and this deformity was the result. Short arms, wonky hands, Angelina Jolie lips. I blame the drugs.

And sorry that this is all you get, once again the paying work is taking my attention away from the fun stuff right now. But it's the thought that counts write?

It Got Cold

(Jacket/ Boots- Lands End Canvas, Sweater- Gap,

Scarf/ Pants- J Crew, Toque/Mittens- Artizia)

It gets cold here on the prairies. Like REALLY cold. It isn't quite as awful as it's going to get, but for a few days last week it was chilly. Some sensible folk might just remain indoors when it gets like this but when you have a dog, staying indoors isn't an option. Thus the Snow Bunny Style. I admit, not my most stylish ensemble, but considering the factors- cold, walking a dog, cold- not a bad effort.

Negligent Blogger

(Shirt/ Pants- J Crew, Sweater- Gap, Slippers- American Eagle)

Yup, I'm the worst blogger ever. It's been a whole week since my last post. In all fairness, I have been totally starkers the last seven days, so, really, there wasn't anything to blog about. But now that my bail has been posted, I'm back on board with the wearing of the clothes.

This is my most common "work wear." The third floor of my house is normally business casual, but on this day I opted for something with an elastic waist.

Damn Stripes

(Dress, Belt, Necklace, Headband- Anthroplogie, Sweater- Winners, Shoes- Aldo)

It turns out that stripes are a lot harder than they look. Not to wear, just to draw. My quick sketch turned into hours of painting the damn things. Anyway, I almost represented the dress properly. I've decided to minimize the "me" portion of the drawings for two reasons. One: because I'm running way behind on my book, and two: because I'm really not important! It's about the clothes not my demented representations of myself.

PS Long dresses are fantastic. Like wearing a nightie all day. Which I've been known to do. Working at home is great.

Hair Rock

(Sweater- Gap, Striped Sweater- Banana Republic Outlet, Jeans- Marshall's,

Boots- Steppin' Out in Steveston, Necklace- Gift from Mom)

I decided to celebrate my first-in-a-long-time non-Anthro touched outfit by making myself look like a male member of a 1980's hair band. I always knew that I had a masculine jawline, but this is really taking it quite far.

My pictures may not be daily after this. Binky calls, I'm afraid. But I'll still try to do three a week. So please Don't Stop Believing in my blog. (Get it??)

Thick Legs And Anthro Worship

(Sweater- J Crew Factory, Dress/ Scarf/ Boots/ Bracelet- Anthropologie)

Okay, I realize that this blog is becoming an advertisement for Anthropologie. It's no secret to those who know me that I'm mildly obsessed with that store. I do my best to switch it up but after years of worship, my closet could be titled: "Anthro, a stroll through the seasons."

And I seem to have thick legs in this one. (How's that for a non-sequitur.) In my sketchbook where I do all these drawings the final result looks one way then pop her up on the computer screen and- BLAMO!- she has thick legs. Mind you, I kind of do too, so maybe I'm just getting really good at this.

So Long Warmth.

(Sweater- Anthropologie, Jeans- AG, Loafers- Seychelles, Shirt- J Crew)

This was the last thing I wore during my time in BC. I managed to score these jeans that I had been coveting for sometime in the sale section. Sadly, that will be the only day that I wear them this year since it decided to snow out here on the prairies. No more exposed ankles. No more exposed anything for that matter. Not that I routinely expose my parts. Wow, this got off topic.

Thank You Seattle!

(Sweater- Madewell, Shoes- Miss Mooz,

Blazer, Wool Pants, Earrings and Scarf- Anthropologie)

As promised, the first of my unabashedly excessive shopping spree to Seattle. As a gal who lives in a small city in the middle of Canada, going down to the States gives me an unrestrained kid in a candy store rush. I'm not proud of myself for that. But, fortunately, being without pride in no way interferes with dressing up pretty. Whew.

Geek Chic

(t-shirt- Gap, Belt- Anthropologie, Skirt- J Crew,

Boots- Steve Madden, Scarf/ socks- Winners)

I finally got my parent's scanner going! And just in time to show off my new super geek chic glasses. It's amazing how a great pair of glasses can change a whole outfit. Thank the heavens my eyes suck.

I'm having a smashing time out here on the West Coast, and, more importantly, I managed to shop my brains out in Seattle. Never has my suitcase capacity been so challenged. Never you mind though, just focus on all those fantastic new outfits to come...

Flying Away

Okay, so this isn't exactly an outfit, but it has birds and since I'm flying back home (Vancouver) for a few days, I figured it was appropriate. I'll try to keep up on my outfit posts while I'm away- especially since a Seattle shopping excursion is on the agenda- but you know how vacations can get. Plus, work on the next Binky book is about to kick in again, so daily posts may be a thing of the past for a while. But I'm enjoying drawing these way too much to stop altogether.

In any case, please stay tuned.

P.S. I made the above image with Fimo and Sculpey. That stuff is so fun to use, I may abandon painting entirely!

For Real!

(Skirt, Shirt, Boots, Belt, Scarf- Anthroplogie, Tights- Hue)

I left the house today! For realsies! As someone who works from home, leaving the house is a good excuse to wear one of the adorable skirts that get overlooked daily for ever more practical pants. I actually did wear this to walk the dog around the block (before I went on a glamourous Safeway run), and yes, now that you asked, I did freeze my butt off. Totally worth it.

Staples (not the store.)

(Sweater- American Eagle, Jeans- AG, Shoes- Miss Mooz,

Blouse/Hat/Bangles/Belt- Anthropologie)

This was a pretty easy staple outfit. None too fancy, but then I'm not so fancy either. What I did omit was the long underwear that I had to wear to take my dog for a walk. It's getting to be that time again and not all practical winter clothing can be as cute at this hat. (Which is on my, once again, large head. Maybe I really do just have a freakishly large cranium.)

Pencilly

(Sweater- Aritzia, Skirt- Jacob, Shoes/Belt/Tights- Anthropologie, Pins- Vintage)

I got up today, tossed on a pencil skirt, a headband that for some reason ALWAYS hurts after five minutes and heels that make stairs treacherous before settling in my third floor studio to get some drawing done. That, my friends, is what they call a big fat lie. I did, however, wear this for the ten minutes it took to take the photo. That counts right? Most the outfits so far have been things that I wore that day. But I wanted to draw a skirt this time, so I faked it. Judge me if you must.

Cable Knit

(Striped Sweater- Artizia, everything else- Anthropologie)

Who knew drawing cable knit would be so rewarding. I sure as heck didn't! I messed around with some photoshop effects on this one. Watercolour doesn't always scan the best. I think I traded in the big head for short arms, but hey, it's coming along. I'm realizing now why all my life drawing teachers gave up on me. Still a rad outfit though.

Big Head Ashley

So clearly I spend too much time drawing anthropomorphized animals and not enough time drawing gals in pretty clothes. I sit down with my photo of myself and suddenly I am Big Head Ashley. The leg lengthening was on purpose. The massive melon, not so much. This blog was meant to be practice, and obviously I need it.

Oh, and not that this is a totally accurate representation or anything, but all good style blogs credit the clothing items. Here's hoping they don't sue.

Sunday Cozies

A lazy Sunday morning with a magazine, some tea, bed head and pull-on pants. I wish every day was Sunday. Sigh.

A feather headband from my friend Julia. It's only the second post and I'm already thinking that drawing myself may get boring. Is it weird if I dress up my cats and dog in my clothes and then draw them? No? Good.

Let's Give it a Whirl

So, I've been pretty inspired by fashion blogs that are out there but cameras and I are like oil and water if oil slept with water's husband causing water to burn oil's house down. But I like drawing, so I figured I'd give drawing my outfits a whirl. And sometimes I might just put other stuff too. It's my blog right?