Painfully Hip » check me out

2012. Year of the Pants.

amber — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:36:51 +0000

Suddenly breaking my recent skirt habit, PANTS! Ah, the miracle of pants. Pants this beautiful, however, are a rarity – whipped up from a just-sheer-enough chiffon-like substance with a mesmerizingly fluid pattern. Liquid pants! With pockets and pleats! Whoever designed these was a genius, namely Elin of Stylein in Sweden. Her latest collection was very “Lykke Li Goes to Saudi Arabia” in the most perfect way (I’m just swoony over this leather scarf)!

It would be possible to remain inert with the way this fabric moves.

I may or may not have worn these for a week straight.
Blast Pants from Stylein (thank you, Elin!)
Shoes – vintage 9West, thrifted in Tucson
Earrings – H&M, LA

photos by Rian Flynn

WISHing you a Bouyant New Year!

amber — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:55:49 +0000

I have landed in Los Angeles. Specifically, my boyfriend and I are moving into a new place tomorrow, a few blocks from the beach. Needless to say, all this summer-chasing has left much to be desired in the form of “free time,” now that I’m dating a photographer. We met, caught our stride and now we are constantly “working” in some form or another. Just the way I like it – so far it feels like an all-out life collaboration. 2012 is about to be my busiest year yet!

This utilitarian trench coat from WISH has not left my body since it arrived. Unexpected satin sheen and gargantuan pockets… It is just. So. Good. And don’t even get me started on the rest of their jackets!
Purple suede shoes by Anna Sui for Hush Puppies! Completely addicted. If you don’t believe me, the jacket and the shoes are about to be all over Rian’s latest surrealist CD cover design (available in Russia).
Floral fishnets – UO Clearance
Bowler and dress – Thrift store

Rian Flynn nails nerd chic in his H&M Jeans and specs, thrifted shirt and vest, SCIENCE button from The New Tough, and buttery Hush Puppies’ desert boots!

Check Me Out: Sans MSG

amber — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:00:50 +0000

Anyone who has been to San Francisco knows how impossible it is to dress appropriately for the weather. By the time the sun dissolves into its oil-slicked finalé, I’ve got so many indiscriminately practical layers on I look like I’ve been dumpster-diving. Except in glorious October. If you haven’t been to SF in October, you’ve never been to SF.

60s knit beaded beret, $2 – thrifted somewhere in NorCal
lattice-back navy leotard, $2 – thrifted in Honolulu
70s periwinkle skirt, $1 – thrifted in Tucson
red platforms, $15 – Barrio Vintage, Honolulu
mock crock messenger bag, Cuffs, Sacramento
growler of IPA, Magnolia Brewery

vintage gold bangle, a gift
1930s chinese gold/enamel story bracelet, $4 – Barrio Vintage, Honolulu
Black and Rose Gold Skagen Watch from Skagen Watches, UK- Probably the most beautiful and functional object I own. It has a grey mother-of-pearl face with Swarovski “digits,” an incredibly low-profile mesh band, and a clasp with the most satisfyingly tactile “click.” I’ve always wanted a slick watch, but now I’ve got one reminiscent of an opalescent oil-slick. J’adore!

photos by Rian Flynn

Check Me Out: In My New Jeans

amber — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:17:20 +0000

This post brought to you by Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

I apologize for the lame title. But if you knew what I originally wanted to title it (Check Me Out: My Bootie Expresses Itself Again), you’d thank me.

Express jeans sent me a gift certificate for me to try out some of their denim. When I first I walked into the women’s jeans section, I was a bit worried, because all I saw were boot cut. And while I know boot cut jeans are definitely creeping back into style, my brain refuses to embrace them just yet. The late 90s’ corpse is sometimes a little too warm for my taste. Plus I’d probably pledge my firstborn to whomever invented skinny jeans.

I’ll come around.

So when I laid eyes on these faded grey denim masterpieces, I went straight for the fitting room. They were a bit snug (they’d sold out of my size), but I loved them so much, I couldn’t stand to leave them to a less deserving butt. The salesgirl told me they’d break in.

Grey Express Jeans – $80

Sheer Black Tank – thrifted in Tucson, AZ for $2

Grey Felt Hat – thrifted in Fayetteville, AR for $4

Gold Chains – thrifted in Phoenix, AZ for $2

photos by Rian Flynn

I love the color of the denim, but the best part is the ankle detail, whose snaps allow me my baby steps to boot cut! Perfecto.

Get your own pair by entering the denim giveaway on their Facebook page!

Check Me Out: Egyptian Wedding

amber — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:49:09 +0000

Exactly one month ago, two of my dearest friends on the planet earth got married. But this wasn’t just any wedding. It was held at the Isis Oasis Retreat Center, who’s grounds boast all manner of Egyptian-themed kitsch, a truly groovy pool and spa, a huge shrine to the Goddess, a temple/debaucherous dance hall, a menagerie of rare birds, and one awfully smelly ocelot. Oh, it is also run by a self-appointed physical incarnation of the goddess Isis, who calls herself Lady Loreon and was deeply reminiscent of a character from the Dark Crystal.

This is what I wore. I danced so hard the slit on the back of my dress was ripped up to my tailbone by the end of the night. No idea how long it was like that, but perhaps the ocelot got an awful eyeful.

Leopard Mini Dress – Painfully Hip Clothing Swap!
Gold Chains – Thrifted in Phoenix, $2
Scarab Ring – JewelMint Sample
Tiger Pumps – Thrifted in Tucson, $2

Photos by the wonderful Rian Flynn!

Levi’s® + Painfully Hip = Unconditional Curve Love

amber — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:40:46 +0000

So I recently scored myself a buh-dunk-a-dunk (sp?)! Maybe it was all the cheap cheese pizza and beach bumming I’ve been indulging in since I moved to Honolulu, but blessed has been my derrier with girth. Praise Cheezus.

As it turns out, no one has made me feel better about said newly-acquired girth than Levi’s®. Instead of upgrading my assets to a larger size, they assigned my ample trunk junk something called a Curve ID (take their quiz to find your own!), and then sent me some jeans that I’m pretty sure are 84% responsible for getting an incredibly non-douche-y male to profess to me his undying love. Perhaps I should retract my previous statement and thank the male, but that’s a conversation best saved friends who owe me something.

Long story short: these jeans are miraculous. I can style these bad boys any way I like, from monochrome androgyny to vibrant femininity.

vintage chambray top – Goodwill, Honolulu
braided leather belt – Barrio Vintage, Honolulu
woven platform sandals – eBay
scarab ring – JewelMint
mock-crock satchel – Cuffs, Sacramento
***
mix pattern top – Barrio Vintage, Honolulu
yellow seed bead bib necklace – Gem Show, Tucson
Nine West T-strap Platforms – Ross, Phoenix

photos by Bradley Rhea

Get your custom fitting at Levi’s® Stores and Levi.com!

A free pair of Levi’s® CURVE ID jeans was supplied to each blogger for the program courtesy of Glam Media and Levi’s.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Levi’s® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LEVI’S.

Ooh Daddy! Sweet Shades of Glory!

amber — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:52:31 +0000

And now, if you’ll allow me, I must talk about my new Ray-Bans.

Sale Price $96.75
Aren’t they just made of butterscotch?? Well, velvet smooth (seemingly unbreakable) plastic and tortoiseshell. Somehow both timeless and shamelessly modern.
Never before have I allowed my eyewear-abusing-self such quality, but the nice folks at ShadesDaddy somehow knew that I’d misplaced my $6 sunnies with a premature desert summer and an imminent move to Hawaii encroaching. From now on, I am a reformed sunglass-loser/abuser. My new mantra: “On my face or in the case! If you lose these, Amber, you deserve a firm noogying.” Try it! It’s catchy.

Sunglasses also come in handy for sneaking sideways glances at things you’re not supposed to.

And look! They even look good on future supermodels!

Color me in love.

Photos by Jon Saupe and Abraham Cooper
Model is Rachel Ann Yampolsky (Good Luck at FORD, hun! You’re a shoo-in.)
There is also a super cute collection of sunglasses to be found at www.very.co.uk. Go ahead, check ‘em out.

Check ‘Er Out: It’s Me Time [CONTEST!]

amber — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 01:50:02 +0000

To say this month so far has left me over-stimulated would be a massive understatement. It’s gotten to the point where if a unicorn waltzed up to me in a pair of vintage YSL pumps and started doing a shockingly accurate Philip Seymour Hoffman impression, I would say, “Yeah, that looks about right” and then take a nap. So woosh, just like that, my friend Nico invites me to his ‘rents empty beach house in San Diego for some R&R. “I am so there, I’m already there,” I say. I’m in desperate need of some ME time.

CONTINUE READING for a chance to win $100 worth of Mary Kay Cosmetics!

Do I look well-rested? I’m not (I can nap when I’m NOT on the beach, thankyouverymuch). What’s doing a sincere approximation of “naturally glowing” is my new Mary Kay compact. Not just for your aunt anymore! I am obsessed.
I’m wearing:
• Mineral Eye Shadow Kit for Hazel Eyes
• Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush
• Tinted Lip Balm
• Ultimate Mascara
I’m also wearing a touch of liquid eyeliner, a little brow pencil, and some mineral foundation.
This compact has cut my makeup necessities in half! I feel polished yet natural, youthful and sophisticated, and the colors work perfectly together. I also feel complete knowing that I don’t have to wrestle four different compacts into my makeup bag in order to look human whenever I get The Wanderlust. It came with three shadows: a perfect putty that gives just the right definition, a deep, almost eggplanty brown that brings out the green in my eyes and adds a just a pinch of drama (perfect for day-to-night ease), and a champagne shimmer perfect for the inside corners and for highlighting the brow bone.
Of all the colors, the Shy Blush is my favorite. It leaves a peachy glow with a smart golden shimmer that somehow knows exactly where my cheekbones live. It’s crazy. This stuff makes my cheeks look like they belong to a pregnant teenager who just spent a week in Såo Paulo on a Beach Yoga and Hydration Retreat. I could pretty much survive without my entire makeup kit with this blush at the ready.
Long story short? Treat yourself. Do your aunt proud and grab this compact. Who knows? Perhaps you can help your sister-in-law’s daughter’s babysitter earn her first bubblegum pink Mary Kay car! CUTE.

In the meantime, you may want to enter this contest to win a a gift basket of Mary Kay® products worth about $100! Visit the Promotions & Prizes section at BlogHer or visit the official site. Contest ends June 30th, 2011.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER TO WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Mary Kay® Sweepstakes Official Rules: Sponsored by BlogHer, Inc.
Four ways to enter:
1) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post;
2) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post;
3) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post;
4) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules and follow instructions for an alternate form of entry.

No duplicate comments. Limit to 2 entries per household. Begins June 1, 2011 at 9 AM PST and end ends June 30, 20011 at 5 PM PST. 10 Winners (one from each participating blog) will receive a gift basket of Mary Kay® products (ARV $100 per basket). Odds of winning will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. Initial Winners will be notified by email and will have 72 hours to claim prize before it is awarded to the Alternate Winner. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, including D.C. who are 18 years or older. For complete official rules, click here.

Check Me Out: Making My 8 Year Old Self Proud

amber — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:24:29 +0000

For reasons unknown, my eight-year-old self did not like Kmart. When her mom shopped there, she stayed in the car and listened to Tiffany with her twin sister, who also did not like Kmart. We liked the ICEEs they sold there, the large selection of 99¢ cassingles, that titillating Blue Light Special… But some ambiguous stigma prevented us from realizing that whoever catches you buying questionable pants at Kmart, probably also buys his pants there too.

My eight-year-old self also thought that gluing plastic spiders to white denim cut-offs was fashionable.

I’m never one to turn down a challenge, so when Lucky Magazine offered me a pretty darn cute lookbook and a Kmart gift card, I went. Boom. Before my platforms even crossed the threshold I found this little ditty of a skirt on the sidewalk sale rack for $2.99. Not bad at all!

I’ve gotten myriad compliments on it, even from straight men.

Tank – Kmart, $4.99
Skirt – Kmart, $2.99
Tribal Earrings by Laura Kepner-Adney of Wingflash Designs
New hairs by the one, the only, the genius, Addam B Moreno.

Check Me Out: I Can Leave the Desert.

amber — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:27:38 +0000

Have you ever purchased a garment that managed to change your entire outlook on life? A garment so wearable, functional, comfortable and versatile, you can barely bring yourself to remove it? I went from moving myself to the desert, in denial that temperatures below 40F exist, to hanging out in Iceland and Lithuania in late fall for fun and not even bothering to complain about the weather.
This little coat by Merrell is responsible.

This is me after being stranded overnight in a heinous snowstorm in a convertible with no heater. I am not even kidding. Yes, I may look a tad bit FRAZZLED, but I am miraculously ALIVE.

It’s not just the cute toggle buttons that make this coat amazing. It is the warmest thing I’ve ever sported, but it is also breathable, and compact enough to fit in my backpack or drape over my bag while shopping. It has deep, numerous and hidden pockets for passports, bicycle keys, train tickets and stolen pub coasters. It even looked chic with the $14 mall dress I bought at the mall to meet a Lithuanian president in.

Berlin

Reykjavik

I am in love. Copenhageners say that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. I am starting to believe them.

Know what else I was a genius for bringing to Europe? These little numbers from MustHaveShoes:

Supplemented with some amazing arch supports (from Foot Petals), these boots were perfect for miles and miles of walking. They were warm, but low profile in the suitcase, gave me jusssst enough height to feel slightly more Giselle-like but still be comfortable, and melded seamlessly with every outfit I brought.

What is the best thing you ever packed for a delightfully impractical vacation?