When sensational Sarah of Yes and Yes (two of my favorite words and definitely one of my favorite reads), approached me to guest post on Painfully Hip, I nearly pooped myself… it felt almost akin to Angelina Jolie asking politely if she could guest host on The Bonnie Hunt Show.
I thought I had the subject of packing light covered, but now she’s gone ahead and one-upped me like I’m, well, Bonnie Hunt.
Thanks so much, Sarah (I think)!
Do you guys actively fantasize about The Type Of Woman you want to be? My imaginary best self usually boasts a wardrobe of carefully selected vintage gear, makes witty commentary about current events (“Oh that Kim Jung Ill is just rapacious!”), owns a boxer named Steve and never, ever has to check her luggage.
While I may never accomplish the dog-ownership (my apartment’s too small) or the witty commentary (unless you count thinking of a clever comeback in the car two hours later) I think I can manage the luggage component of that fantasy. In fact, I’ve got this bit so down pat, I successfully packed for a weekend in Chicago using only my purse.
What? Yes.
Now, I grant you that my purse? Well, it’s rather large. But within its confines I managed to fit my netbook, camera, makeup bag, pajamas and two outfits. If you’re keen to try this madness yourself – a few tips:
Dresses are Best
Dresses are fantastic even when you’re not trying to pack in your purse – one thing! outfit complete! You can bring one cute dress and a few things to layer with it and viola – several outfits, you genius, you!
Accessories = Totally Different Outfit
Yes, I’m now applying for a job with the Obvious Committee. But it bears repeating – headbands/necklaces/leggings completely change the look of your ensemble, right? I brought a cute navy dress that I thrifted to wear on its own with a funky necklace as I poked around Millennium Park and shopped. The next day, I wore it with a little button-up and a different necklace when I met Winona of DaddyLikey fame for lunch and gossip.
The All Important Big Scarf
The big scarf. It elevates most any outfit, makes you look like you miiiight be European (or at least from New York) and it can double as a pillow/wrap/towel/blanket. When I got off the bus in Chicago at 6 am, I wandered around the city in my pajamas taking photos. When I stopped at a coffee shop for breakfast, I asked the barista if it was painfully obvious that I was wearing my pajamas and she assured me that it wasn’t. I credit my big scarf for this answer. And her desire for a tip.
Skimp on the Toiletries
If you’re staying with friends or at a hotel there’s really no need to bring shampoo/conditioner/lotion and the like, eh? They take up heaps of room, weigh your bag down and might spill all over that cute satin lining. Besides, I’m always partial to trying out my friends’ products to see if I’m missing out on anything.
The Patented Roll-Packing Technique
Any experienced packer will corner you to sing the praises of roll-packing. Rolling your clothes will keep them (relatively) wrinkle free and take up exponentially less space. If you want to up the level of anal retentiveness just a bit, you can put your rolled clothing in a separate bag inside your purse so they don’t come unrolled and mingle with everything else. You will also be less likely to pull out your black thong at Panera when you’re digging through your purse looking for change.
Would you ever pack in your purse? What are your packing tips?
funny you ask, because i happen to be a bit of an expert in that field.
let’s not waste any time on small-talk – we’ve got some Serious Money-Saving Hair Business to get down to!
1. you know that thing they do every time you leave the hair salon? the one where they say, “so we’ll see you in 4-6 weeks, right? how about we just book that next appointment right now, since we fill up so fast…”
well, that’s a lie. (usually.) i worked in a pretty upscale salon for a year when i was still in nyc, and even there, under most circumstances it was possible to book an appointment with your favorite stylist about a week in advance. (i mean, if this is your wedding day hair style were talking about you might want to call more than a day ahead, but otherwise… hold your ground, soldier! don’t let them bully you into committing to shelling out another $30, $60, $150, or whatever it is your stylist charges every four weeks.)
2. (this ties in with #1…) take some time to find a stylist you love.
someone you trust, who really “gets” not only your look, but also the texture of your hair. this is super-important. and unfortunately, most often found at the higher-priced salons. the up-side of this though, is that with the right cut, you can easily go two, 3, even 6 months between visits. hair doesn’t grow that fast, and in most cases it takes a few weeks to stop looking “freshly butchered” and grow into it’s full potential.
3. experiment with hair accessories.
even when you know you’ve pushed it way past “acceptable,” you can usually get a few more weeks, (ahem… months? stop staring at me.) out of a ragged ‘do by clipping it up, pinning it back, twisting it around something, knotting it, braiding it – and if all else fails, i heard the turban is making a comeback.
what if – like me – you are morally opposed to bling in the weave?
pick an accessory that’s small, tasteful, and similar to your hair color. check it:
this is a fine example of what i like to call a ‘totally classy hair-piece.’
it also happens to be holding some Very Angry Bangs back while i procrastinate getting a trim.
you can find more totally classy hair pieces by clicking on the picture. or here. i dare you.
bonus: they’re a total bargain, and made by the sweetest etsy-er ever.
4. ask about (free!) fringe-trims between visits.
most salons at the mid-to-nice end of the spectrum offer complimentary bang trims between visits. (of course you still want to slip your stylist a little “thank you” cash, but that’s nothing compared to the standard 20% on a full-priced haircut.) getting your fringe trimmed between cuts will do wonders for hairs that seem like they’ve grown past the point of acceptable. unless you’re doing something drastically short or super-shaped, no one’s going to notice if your sides are half an inch longer than they normally are. this leads me to #5:
5. trim it yourself!
i’m serious. i’m also serious that there are some pretty big rules that go along with this advice. such as:
take time. this is not something you want to tackle when you’ve got 5 minutes to get out the door for work.
don’t cut more than 1/4″ in one snip. you can always keep trimming. unfortunately, (i’ve learned) you can’t glue that stuff back on once it’s landed in the sink.
cut it dry. never EVER trim when it’s wet. hair “shrinks” up once the water-weight isn’t weighing it down. i’m not kidding. don’t do it.
do not combine this activity with wine consumption, tequila shots, beer-bongs, or any other methods of alcohol ingestion. ”hair-cutting” and “party atmosphere” do not belong in the same bathroom. even if it’s just a party of one…
same goes for “emotional turmoil.” if you and the boyf just exchanged a few unfriendly words, this is not the time to pick up the scissors. turn to the beer bong instead, ok?
oh, and use hair scissors. they don’t have to be expensive ones, but come on, we’re classy ladies (and lads.) do we really want to trim our hair with the same scissors we just pruned the ficus with? no.
6. preventative maintenance.
don’t shampoo every day. this is incredibly damaging and entirely unnecessary. trust me, i have that lucky combo of baby-fine locks and hyperactive grease glands – (is that what they’re called?) i will be retiring the day they develop a car that runs off of sebum. but in the meantime, i’ve learned that my hair is much much healthier when i rinse it every day in the shower (and even use a vigorous scrubbing motion, which helps distribute the oils more evenly,) but only shampoo every 3-4 days. same goes for using heat tools – if you must blow dry, aim at the roots and spray the ends with a heat-protecting product. combining these two will almost entirely eradicate split-ends from your life, which means, “hair cut what?!”
(throwing in a little deep-conditioning treatment every once in a while doesn’t hurt either…)
see? i just saved you a ton on your hair expenses. that’s more than that geico lizard can say…
Over the years I’ve learned a few beauty tricks that don’t necessarily come from Sephora. Your wallet (and your boyfriend) will thank me.
Cheap as free:
Vitamin E capsules.
Take one, poke a hole in it with a stick pin and glide it onto chapped lips. Not only is it soothing, but you’ll look as though you’re right and ready to be kissed. Smooth it onto bruises as well and they’ll be gone in half the time!
Egg yolk.
Ah, the great skin equalizer. Don’t you hate it when your skin gets all schizo on you with dry patches and acne? Its a little messy and slimy, but one week of egg yolk on yo’ face before bed will fix you right up. No kidding.
Cornstarch.
Having a greasy hair day? Take a teaspoonful (or more if your hair is thick/long), rub it in your hands and comb through your hair. It removes excess oil and gives fine hair body and holding power. For serious!! Best hair product ever and at about $2 per pound, it’s the cheapest too. If you are a brunette you’ll want to be careful not to use too much or you’ll end up looking grey. At some drug stores you can sometimes find a spray-on version called “dry shampoo” in all colors of the hair rainbow for about $5.
Kombucha.
More of a health than a beauty tip, this carbonated fermented tea makes me feel healthy and full of energy. Another quirk? It totally helps prevent yeast infections if used on a regular basis. Although undeniably gross, brewing it yourself is ridiculously easy – if you have a friend who brews it, its almost certain they’ll have an extra SCOBY on hand.
NYC Browser.
This stuff RULES. For about $4 you get eyebrow color, tweezers and wax. Pretty much all you need for amazing brows, although I would highly recommend initially getting them shaped professionally. It makes ALL the difference.
Maybelline Lash Stiletto.
The packaging makes me giggle every time I reach for it (it’s in the shape of a stiletto heel) but there are even more reasons to give this a try: The brush is great for separation and pretty much does for you lashes what stilettos do for your legs.
Worth the dough:
Nippies Natural ($24).
I LOVE these things. I was born with a inert hatred of bras, especially when the straps show. These fix me up when wearing something white, slightly sheer or backless. They’re comfortable, washable, and barely there to give you endless styling options. Also touted as “paparazzi-proof” for when your girls are at attention and there is a powerful flash a-lurking.
Benetint Blush ($28).
Hungover? With this cheek and lip stain you’ll look like you just woke up in a dewy meadow after a mysterious fawn granted your wish to look 4 years younger. The color lasts all day and the bottle will last for months.
Kryolan High-Def Makeup ($21-48).
This stuff was invented by a theatrical makeup company for starlets who are suddenly faced with the daunting reality of High Def television. But this ain’t no pancake makeup! It feels light and breathable and stays put in dreaded humidity.
In other news, packing for New York and Chicago (including two semi-formal events, rain, heat, lots of walking, and a business meeting) in a carry-on bag is going to be a science that I’m pretty sure I’m going to need a bunsen burner for. Wish me luck! Expect photos of blogging soulmates we’re pretty sure were separated at birth, outfits in front of famous landmarks and our Moroccan-themed hotel, and our very own Mary Catherine in her authentic 30s costume for her Broadway play!
It’s funny how times like these can spawn a rainstorm of buzzwords (is anyone else already sick of the word “recessionista?”). “Shop your closet” is a recession-triggered slogan which alludes to making do with what you already have. So I’d like to resurrect the following classic post which, although over a year old, can be even more useful today.
Do you have an over-flowing closet, but nothing to wear? End up wearing the same boring things over and over? Or maybe you get really confused and have no focus when you go shopping. Think you know what you like, but fear you can’t pull it off? Well then sweetie, you need to keep reading…
1. Figure out what you love.
Take out the top pieces in your closet that you love, not neccessarily things that you wear all the time. I’m talking about your most special, going-out pieces. Like the overtly impractical cocktail dress that you spent too much on because you had to have it. The over-sized peacock pendant that you shouldn’t wear dancing cause it hits you in the face when you pogo, but sometimes you can’t resist anyway. Your favorite uncomfortable shoes, your grandma’s silk Pucci scarf from the 60s and that hat you sometimes wear even on good hair days. Whatever it is, if your heart goes pitter-pat when you put it on, pull it out. But be selective and forget about trends. Try to lean more toward things you’ve had and loved for a while, not just your newest and trendiest acquisitions.
2. Take a look at your favorite go-to staple pieces.
Pull out your perfectly worn out indigo skinnies. Your Audrey-est little black dress. Your comfy leather shoes, slouchy grey cardigan, colorful vintage sneakers, well-tailored black jacket and very versatile pair of flats. Choose the things you wear the most, while thinking mostly of their aesthetic value; how good you think they look on you, not how comfortable they are. You’re trying to figure out your personal style, not what to wear whilst hungover on your couch watching the 3rd season of Arrested Development.
3. Assess your tendencies.
Ponder your choices and think of a few words that describe your aesthetic. According to my picks, I tend to gravitate more toward 60′s styling and feminine details combined with edgier, more casual pieces. Next time you go shopping, think about these 20 pieces and try to choose things that enhance them and round out a strong aesthetic. But don’t be too strict for too long. Always allow room for your style to evolve. Choose your trends carefully and don’t let them rule your style.
4. Learn to sew.
As you are going through your closet, start setting aside the pieces you’ve held on to for a while but never wear. Consider why this is. Is it too dressy, too frilly, too girly, fits weird? All of these things would be fixable if you just bite the bullet and learn just a few simple sewing skills. Removing a superfluous ruffle, replacing buttons and hemming jeans are a few things that take mere minutes to complete and can turn something “blah” into something a little more “oh hell yes!”
Start by reading 6 Sewing Tips for Beginners from The Closet Seamstress.
5. Confidence, confidence, confidence…
Do you really want to live the rest of your life worrying about what people think? Those rare pieces that give you more confidence are few and far between. I hate it when people say, “I’d love to wear that, but I’d never be able to pull it off.” Pshaw, my friends, pshaw. With the right amount of confidence, you could pull off zebra-striped overalls, even if you’re not M.I.A. Once you’ve figured out what you truly love, the only thing left to do is rock it like wee Stella…
When in doubt sneer, strut or just grin and no one will ever doubt your style choices ever again. Besides, who gives a poop if they do, they call it personal style for a reason.
Hallelujah! This is Painfully Hip’s 500th post! And what are we going to do? Well, seeing that we already had our millionth visitor and 2 year anniversary landmarks this month, we thought we’d mix it up.
Awesome All Day is the funniest pop culture blog you’ve never read. That is until you read this guest post on vintage tees from an irish man with a big heart, a magnificent beard and a great collection. Before you know it, you’ll be getting a foam finger tattooed on your neck.
Thanks, Rory!
by Rory
I was born with a torso.
It’s not the biggest or the greatest torso in the world, but it’s mine and I love it. If you’ve got one of these things you know how difficult it can be to keep them covered (I’m looking at you Girls Gone Wild). Fortunately, over the years I’ve become pretty good at wearing shirts. Amber just noticed this and asked me to do a guest post sharing my phenomenal t-shirt know how.
Vintage t-shirt hunting is a lot like hunting in real life except with less needless animal slaughter. If you’re going to try to find shirts from local thrift stores, fashion boutiques, and parental closets the best strategy is to scour the racks frequently and to keep in mind three simple factors.
The Fit: By far the most important facet of a solid vintage top. No amount of ironic graphics, non-sequitur slogans, or awesome album artwork can make a t-shirt that fits like a muumuu or upper body prophylactic look cool. Great shirts are shirts that fit great, that’s what makes them attractive, not the logo or comedic value.
The Condition: Does the shirt have pit stains (before you put it on)? Are there holes around the collar/ base/ or underneath the arms? Some vintage shirts can be more expensive than a mail-order bride who knows how to cook and loves to wrestle, so it’s key to make sure that you can use them again and again without worrying about them decomposing into nothingness (the shirt, not the bride). Softee shirts seem to be the standard nowadays, but a thick cotton shirt from the late 70′s early 80′s is going to hold its shape and be a lot more durable and flattering.
The Cost: Don’t let your kids starve to death because you NEEDED that epic Metallica shirt (honestly, there are plenty of other reasons to let them starve). Shopping locally is a good way to avoid paying too much for your sartorial cravings but, if you just can’t seem to find exactly what you want, you should check out these two Ebay stores. Their prices are usually decent and you get the added bonus of outbidding suckers at the last minute.
-Smith and Pooter: I don’t know which one is Smith and which one is Pooter… I think it might be like one of those things that just sounds better when you say it together, like Starsky and Hutch or Sodom and Gomorrah.
-Hattrick Vintage: This is really great Ebay store that has a wide variety of t-shirt, jackets, and vintage hockey apparel (which Amber keeps trying to convince me is a real sport… Maybe a real Canadian sport).
also
There is also this truly massive t-shirt database called Teenormous where you can search for over 62,292 shirts (and counting) If you really want to find a particular image to adorn yourself with. Think Google but, with less porn and fashion blogs.
It’s vital that before you go online and try to restart the economy with your debit card, get yourself measured. Vintage shirts tend to run smaller then their tags let on (that or I have an eating problem and refuse to acknowledge that it affects my girth). Fortunately any online store worth its salt will give you the measurements of what they’re trying to sell. Most tailors will measure you and tell you your size for free, so go ahead and take advantage of them.
In conclusion I’ve created a short video to express the joy that my t-shirt collection has brought me.
All images were either created by the Painfully Hip Design Collective, used with permission, or found on the web and believed to be in the public domain. If any images that appear are in violation of copyright law, please let me know and i will remove them immediately.
Thanks for reading,
Amber
painfullyhip at gmail.com
