Painfully Hip » About.com

Shoe-gasm of the Day! Deep-Cut Ankle Cowboy Boots from MustHaveShoes.com (40% DISCOUNT, yo!)

amber — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:03:02 +0000

Cowboy boots are a beautiful thing. They lend a rugged, devil-may-care air to almost any frivolous frock. But finding the perfect pair of cowboy boots is like searching for perfectly worn-in denim jeans for your feet. It’s an intensely personal task and one that it took me 15 years to complete.

Well, it turns out that my perfect cowboy boots are simple, modern, ankle height and have an alluring low-cut front. These boots are so versatile, and go so perfectly with my fringed leather hobo bag, that they even work with this sailor style mini dress. In fact, they seem to go with almost anything. Thank the good lord, they’re über comfortable to boot (sorry, that was bound to happen)…

Sunglasses – vintage, $10
Vintage sailor minidress – altered thrift store purchase, $1 (plus 20 minutes labor)
The perfect ankle-height cowboy boots, $135
Fringed Hobo Bag – a gift from my friend Marnie Bugs.

At a regular price of $135, these boots are a worthy investment. However, the kind folks at MustHaveShoes feel your need. From April 30th-May 7th, my readers get an exclusive 40% off these cowboy boots by Nicole with coupon code PASSIONATE.

You’re welcome!

How to Mix Prints Without Looking Like A Crazy Person

amber — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:47:12 +0000

Keeping your springtime florals fresh by combining them with simple stripes can be as delicious and indulgent as topping fruit pie with ice cream. This bright hawaiian floral works with these light pink striped shorts because simple pattern does not compete, but still color-coordinates.

The most foolproof way to combine patterns is to choose them from the simple two-color variety. Make sure both patterns share at least one color and are different enough to appear deliberately clashy.

Subtle prints like houndstooth and pinstripes can be as versatile as textures like corduroy and velvet, so go ahead and pair small, muted patterns with large-scale ones, like this hand-painted batik crop top. Repeat the understated color scheme again in your accessories to enhance the mingling.

Neutral patterns tend to get along best with other neutrals. We even threw in a leopard print belt to nudge this ensemble even further to the wild side. The smaller the pattern, the easier it is to mix.

Photography – Kailas
Model – Cristina Irimiciuc
Wardrobe Styling – Amber Mortensen
Hair – Jenny Strebe
Makeup – Jordan Dudgeon
Jewelry Designed by Laura Kepner-Adney, Wingflash Designs

Painfully Hip Design Collective – Vintage Bike Fashion

amber — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:51:16 +0000

Our friends Omer Kreso and Chrissy Piper (celebrity photographer extraordinaire – she’s shot two icons of female rock – Karen O and Cat Power) had the idea to do a bicycle-themed shoot. I got together my closest fashion partners in crime – my roommates Jamaica Cole of Sapphire Cordial and Diana Deaver of Seven Bells (and WellWornRoad.com) and the ladies of Preen Vintage in Tucson, Erin Bradley and Emilie Marchand to show off our bike-friendly style in our own ways… with a our interpretation of “road warrior chic.”

After that, we were recruited by Tucson Bike Beautiful to promote their upcoming bike fashion procession with another shoot of more ladylike leanings, where we attempted to match our outfits to the era of bike we were riding. These shots were taken by Adam Kizanis and are featured in local glossy, Zocalo Magazine for the month of April. Thanks all!

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Check Me Out: At the Painfully Hip Vintage Booth

amber — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:47:28 +0000

Day one of Tucson’s Fourth Avenue Street Fair was a bust, after gusty winds blew our tent into the Jamaican jerk chicken booth’s Barbeque next to us, almost killing the adorable family running it. Day two was also a debacle which started out with both of my roommates/business partners waking up too sick to help (thank you to my dear friend Abraham for standing in)! Day three, however, made it all worth it. We had a blast hanging out in the gorgeous sunshine, sewing stuffed birds for our little girl neighbors and hanging out with friends and getting a wicked burntan (we were too traumatized to set up our tent again, so we ended up braving the elements). My outfits of choice both involved short shorts, nude shoes, and lots of color.

scalloped shorts by Neeenee!

Straw Hat – Thrift Store, $2
Striped Tank – Thrift Store, $2
Pearl Multi-Strand Chain Necklace – Thrift Store, $2
Floral Scalloped Shorts with Bow Sash- gift from the peerless Neneee (Oh and Valerie, there was no way I was actually going to sell that polka dot dress behind me, I just put it there to make my racks look more legit).
Nude Pumps – Thrift Store, $2

This outfit cost me a grand total of $8. More details at About Budget Style! I have been obsessed with high-waisted flutter shorts since last year. Check out my article on How to Dress for a Pool Party or Beach. Yes, I realize I’m getting a little ahead of myself with that one, but there’s a reason I recently moved to southern Arizona.

EDIT: Yay, our friend John just sent a capture of the three of us! Lookit.

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About.com Links Plus Painfully Hip at the Fourth Avenue Street Fair

amber — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:23:17 +0000

We have been, and will be, slaving away for the Fourth Avenue Street Fair:

If you’re in or near Tucson, please come see us! Click the flyer to check out the bootie we will be hawking! If you’re not in the vicinity, here are some more delicious links from my About Budget Style site. Enjoy!

How To Shop At Thrift Stores

Top Five Shoe Trends For Spring

Top 5 Cheap-As-Free Beauty Tips

How To Pack Light and Chic

How to Adopt Spring 2010 Runway Trends for Less

Fair Trade Tribal Accessories (Indulge in the Tribal Trend Whilst Helping Independant Artisans)

Why Shop Off-Price Stores… or How I Bought My Brand New Designer Outfit For $35.

Fresh Saint Patrick’s Day Style Under $40

Ghetto Beauty Tips and Drugstore Product Reviews

Check Me Out: Impersonating Edie (…or attempting to)

amber — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:15:32 +0000

Last weekend was… as surreal as it gets. Describable in one made-up word: WARHOLMANIA.

The Tuscon Museum of Art is now showing an amazing collection of original Andy Warhol screenprints so they wanted to do something special for their opening. And special always means dead people impersonation, right? So Friday the museum invited Drew Krewer and I to come in full costume and full character as Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick, making a surprise appearance directly from that “Factory in the Sky.” We were even featured on the Six O’Clock News!

While Drew could easily sashay into the room with only his charm, his usual styling finesse and a spritz of silver hairspray, it took an entire team to get me in fighting Edie form. First off? The fabled dress by my beloved roommate and besty, Jamaica Cole of Sapphire Cordial (pictured in the previous post).

photo by Jessica Castillo

photo by Omer Kreso

(Hair by Addam Moreno, Makeup by Lynette at Toni & Guy, Tucson – Thank you!!)

And, of course, the ever-important jewels, designed by my dearest Laura of Wingflash Designs!

Paula Taylor and Amber Mortensen - photo by Tucson John

Necklace by Wingflash, Whipped Cream by Diana

While Edie managed to last about 27 years, I lasted exactly 10 hours – through the epic POP! Afterparty at the Rialto, complete with a Velvet Underground cover band, mylar photo booth, gallons of whipped cream, a Warhol Death Reenactment, endless dancing, and a good slathering of Tomato Soup. SPENT.

But no rest for the weary, because the next day we had a request to transform into go go dancers at the Eric Firestone Gallery. They had THE most amazing exhibit, including some never-before-seen Andy Warhol photographs. Unbelievable.

Jamaica Cole photo by Tucson John

Danielle Theriault Sit-Down Dancing photo by Tucson John

The gogo dancing lasted for 5 hours straight with no less than 4 costume changes each. So it goes without saying, I spent the last three days in bed. Sick as a dog. Like Edie coming down from a multitude of barbiturates.

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Check Me Out: Transitioning to Spring

amber — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:46:22 +0000

“woodland creatures, plaid, houndstooth, zigzags and argyle” by Painfully Hip.

About Budget Style (click for more details!)

About Budget Style – February 15, 2010

amber — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:21:34 +0000

Hello kidlings! Woah! How February has been flying by!
Here are the latest links for About Budget Style.

Be still my heart! My Top Picks for Zac Posen for Target (and the best bang for your buck).

Vintage Loafer Scoregasm!

Hair Powder – Save Money on the Most Miraculous Hair Product You’ve Never Tried.

Smell Fresh-Baked! – Booth’s Walnut Body Scrub and Cleanser Review

American Heart Association’s Wear Red Month – Top 10 Little Red Dresses for Under $50