:: a fashion blog by your average fashion fanatic ::

Love the title, and the fact that it’s courtesy of Art, who is WAY into my return to the blogosphere…he’s such a trip!

I apologize for my indefinite leave from the site, but when I left off, we were getting pretty deep into the wedding planning process, starting to house-hunt, and dealing with a majorly psycho landlord.  To say we’ve been busy would be to say that Danny Gokey on American Idol has an “okay” voice (Milwaukee, represent!) – we’ve been swamped!

Since last I wrote, we’ve planned the wedding, bought a house, decoarated said house, got married, honeymoon, added a puppy, “Dillon,” to the fam, and made it through the holidays (they last through march in our family, with my birthday in January, Valentine’s Day in February, and Art’s birthday in March) – whew!

Before I commit to the changes I’ve got in mind for the site by actually typing them out…the next post, maybe (?)…although I’ll admit I may be slightly biased, I’ll “critique”…

10.04.08 – the wedding!  actually, since the critique will surely be a long one, we’ll start with the pre-wedding-ness!

Our wedding weekend began with the rehearsal and dinner at Milwaukee’s Public Market, which Art and I chose not only because it opened just after we started dating, but because it’s also one of our ways (these days, with puppy in tow) to spend a Saturday afternoon, and because it’s so “Milwaukee,” the city where we met and fell in love.  I know that to most people, Milwaukee is nothing but beer, brats, bikes, and cheese, but it’s my hometown and the city that Art’s also adopted as his own.*

The food was delectible, the company was incomparable, and the love was tangible; in the absence of all the pics, here’s the happy couple (in a less than ideal shot – c’est la vie!)

Wearing: chocolate velvet halter w/ gold polka dots (Steve Madden? – awesome deal, purchased prior day!), brown/olive patent belt (JCrew), streamlined gold wedges (same as bridemaids wore for the wedding), my sister’s earrings b/c I completely forgot to wear any, and the bracelet Art bought right after we were engaged, for the wedding (finally!)

Following a quick run-through the ceremony, we dined on an eclectic meal consisting of a collection of Market offerings; everything from fresh sushi, to the best pulled pork, to fresh bread…to the deserts (!) – AMAZING.  Then, we disbursed gifts to the party (chocolate cashmere pasminas and funky enamel bracelets for the bridesmaids, plus a pearl bracelet for the MOH; engraved flasks and ties for the wedding for the guys; initial necklaces for the flower girls; the cutest tie-stay for the ringbearer!  Everyone love-love-loved their gifts!). 

After staying for longer than anyone expected, Art and I parted ways for the night, with me headed off to my parents’ for a sleepover with my siblings, a couple of cousins, and some family visiting from Washington.

We played a wicked round of Dream Phone once we got it working after not having played it in 10+ years – the boys DID NOT win:

The next morning, we were up bright, but not too early (we had a 4:00 ceremony for a reason!) to prettify – notice the (blurry) thumbs-ups!  -and the plate of cucumber slices for my eyes (wine indulgences the night before wedding = not the wisest decision of the night).

Up next: leading up to the nuptials/aka: Getting Our Hair Did & Hating on Flowers

*Stay tuned for a critique of the city (ooh, I’m just intriguing you, aren’t I?  hehe…)

Newest reason to win the lottery ASAP – just got J Crew’s September catalog and just had to look at it, and now just spent a 1/2 hour drooling over it

Rehashing my newest loves:

• Page 5 – Lia Blouses…green polka dots or plaid (hmm…I am mad about plaid…)???

• Page 6 – “Library Print” ANYTHING!  …gorgeous, bookish, and all in silk – it’s too much!

• Page 12 – New Dream Argyle Sweater Dress -have I mentioned my love of argyle?  – ‘Cause I adore it…!

• Page 14 – Bridget Shirtdress – me + shirtdresses = love; me + shirtdress + plaid + ruffles and fitted waist = poor me!

• Page 20 – Rafaella Dress – I have an affinity for velvet that I’m not ashamed of – it’s always rich looking, but J Crew has elevated it further here

• Page 28 – Double-face Bella Coat – Hopefully this one will go on sale, as I do love my (sale-begotten) wool coats from here, and this one looks especially great; love the puckered high collar and buttons to the waist!

• Page 28 – Satin Mary Janes – a perrenial fav – so happy to see them in a dressier fabric and fun colors!

• Page 36 – Harper Wide-Leg Pant – I’ve already sung the praises of the wide leg on a bottom-heavy gal and these look especially delicious

• Page 56 – Pinwale-cord Linda Dress – I tried this on in-store in the Brick color, but they didn’t have my size – too bad because it’s adorable,and especially so with suede tall boots!

• Pages 84 – 85 – Cotton Cady Dresses – My ideal bridesmaid dresses – if only they had extended sizes…how perefect (and wearable!) in espresso!

• Page 88 – Silk Organza Daphne Gown – Ugh!  Another front-runner for my wedding dress?!  It might be a little too “me” though, and not fancy enough for the fanciest day of my life…?  I showed Art and he didn’t love it…Oh well – I DO!

too bad I just got the catalog today and it’s already SOLD OUT though!

• I even found great wedding shoes (possibly) while on the site – although they don’t really go with this dress, I don’t think…?

Today I observed an all-day training session that I will be assuming when my coworker ditches me on maternity leave in…2-ish months…(eek!)  I wore:

• pale blue button-down (Gap)
• white cableknit sweater vest (Gap)
• navy pinstriped, wide-legged, cuffed pants (Gap)

• brown peep-toed platform slingback – left foot
• black peep-toed platform slingback – right foot
  • yes – I am that big a dork…but they’re the same shoe!

Afterward, Art and I hit Pizzeria Piccola in ‘Tosa for some charity eats – all proceeds went to the American Lung Association tonight!

• I took off the vest, tucked in the oxford, and unbuttoned a couple more buttons
• I removed my standard work-attire nude knee-highs
• I swapped out the mismatched shoes for my new kicks!

I thought it was an appropriate after work/pizza/gelato outing outfit – and best of all, I got the Arthur seal of approval (aka: “You’re so hot…”)

What a cutie!

I love love love me some plaid – and have for a while – so I am not only looking forward to this fall because I get to return to my sweaters/jeans/jacket/boots uniform, but also because plaid is everywhere!

I recently found a dress I’ve been stalking for some time, a plaid Nine West dress for work (or play, without a cami underneath), and bought it on ebay:

While I adore the dress, it (sadly) doesn’t fit (although I sized it from another great Nine West dress I’ve got, which fits perfectly, but whatever…) – BOO!

So now I’m back at square 1, hunting for my perfect plaid dress…initially, I wanted something in a silk or tafetta tartan for the holiday festivities, but then I really liked the prospect of being able to pull double-duty and wear it to work as well…Lo and behold – my new find:

I need it!  – But I since I am currently in between sizes, apparently, I dont know which to order, and am alway suspicious of VS clothing because I’ve had only one successful experience with it thus far:

- Which I wore to my aunt’s wedding three years ago, and in retrospect, wasn’t even that great then, as my “girls” were definitely on the exposed side…

I will definitely have to consider this purchase carefully…

Today is just another day at work…wearing a new dress…yay!

• black and gray striped, short-sleeved, v-neck sweater dress with belt (new – from H&M!) – lots of compliments on it already today!
• black cami underneath (Banana)
• black peeptoed, platform slingbacks
• my watch (Bulova) and engagement ring again – Yay!

…my life is so sad, when the only thing that gets me through the workweek is getting dressed/picking out my outfits…SAD…

Highs:

• Brunette at DMB Concert; early 20s; slender
  • well-fitting mig-wash jeans
  • white short-sleeved tee
  • brown patchwork crochet tank – not too hippyish
  • flip flops
  • Why it works: super cute; occassion-appropriate; slightly hippy, but not stink-super-hippy
• Mom shopping with fam at Forever 21; late 30s; gorgeous black woman with super-short/buzzed hair
  • lemon/lime green button-down; tucked in
  • charcoal gray pencil skirt
  • super high heeled black peeptoed slingbacks
  • designer bag (Dooney & Burke)
  • Why it works: super glam, but not unapproachable; heels on a Sunday, while out with 3 kids and hubby – insane hot! v. figure flattering

Lows:

• Overly dressed-up girls at DMB
  • Seen: huge earrings, clubby tube tops, tight jeans, heels, cutesy sandals and wedges, “done” hair, loads of makeup (esp. eyeliner)
  • Why it doesn’t work: extremely occassion-inappropriate; not weather-compliant
• Stanky hippies
  • Rant: OK – SO – if you’re trying your best to be “individual,” why would you choose to dress like every one of your friends?  The same goes for “goths” these days!  Initially, it was super unique, but by now, it’s just conceeding to the norms of a group, instead of truly being different…

 All in all, DMB was amazing people-watching!  Especially because the amphitheater was crazy muddy and we had prime biff-watching seats…LOVE IT!

Last Thursday night, after dinner and a movie with Art (at the Fox Bay Cinema and Grill, the cutest place ever – where they serve dinner during the movie!), we passed the T-Mobile store, and, seeing as our contract is up, decided to stop in.

I’ve had my eve on the Dolce and Gabbana RAZR, but they were not selling it in-store, so I would have had to get it online, for $200!  …umm…no, especially since I currently have the magenta RAZR and it sucks in lots of ways…I’m still sad about it though…

Since my phone criteria is as follows:

1. Is cute

2. Has a camera, with flash

3. Can text message,

I ended up trying to choose between the Blackberry Pearl in white ($150), or the Motorola RIZR in blue ($100)…and was convinced to go with the Blackberry on the grounds that it was cuter and, should I ever get into doing PR, would be uber-useful…

After a couple of days, I realized that no, this phone was not for me.  Although I know I could have figured all of it out and been very impressive with my exclusive new technology, I knew I didn’t have the time or energy to spend “learning” it all.

Yesterday, we went back, and I got the RIRZ, which is a Motorola, like my old phone, so there’s less of a learning curve, and is more basic, which I really do prefer – plus, there was an additional rebate, so it will only be $50 (and considering that Art will eBay my old phone for about $40, it will really only only cost me $10 – I am still amazed at my frugality!)!

I am VERY pleased with my choice so far!

So this weekend was scheduled to be very jam-packed with fun, self-assigned outings and tasks (as opposed to the rest of this summer, which was mostly assigned by others), but we ended up taking it pretty easy.  Friday we were supposed to see the Muppets Take Manhattan for free outside at Pere Marquette Park, but we didn’t, so here’s what I spent Saturday and Sunday in:

Saturday: Dave Matthews concert at Alpine Valley – it was SO MUDDY, but my outfit fared well!

• white beater, previously owned by my little bro, so it was super long
• long navy layering tank, X-ed in back w/ safety pin b/c the straps were too long (Old Navy, spring ’06)
• darkish, but not too dark Long and Lean jeans (the greatest consistently cute jeans ever, from Gap – but make sure you get the ones with some stretch!)

• my new Havaiianas!

• slim-fit, cute grey hoodie for when it got cold (Gap)

Sunday – lunch, shopping, and dinner with Arthur

• same jeans, even though they were a bit muddy
• white stretch tank (Banana)
• heathered grey henley, with buttons all the way to the bottom (my last American Eagle purchase, as I am now too old to shop there…from fall ’06)
• the Havaiianas again!

Another day, another outfit planned around a new pair of shoes…!  My mom actually didn’t like today’s outfir because it doesn’t match-match:

• dark brown wrap sweater (Gap outlet, ’05)
• light blue button down (Gap)
• brown tweed full/circle skirt (Target/Merona)
• gold double-chain watch
• new flats!  like the ones below, but instead of solid gold, they’re green snake skin, with the gold link detailing – I LOVE!  (Crown Vintage, from DSW this weekend; gift from Arthur!)

I personally liked the non-matchy, but still goes together-ness of the look…!

So, as I’ve alluded to before, I am presently engaged to my one true love, Arthur.  Art and I have been together for just over 2 years, and have been inseperable ever since our first “date.”  Our relationship progressed quite quickly, and we were living together after 11 months, which naturally led to marriage talk…

Since we’ve been doing things at our own pace, in our own way since the beginning, I told Art right away that I’d like every aspect of our nuptuals to be personal and done the “AP” way…Arthur felt the same and has complied with my request regarding the (perfect) ring:

…to the engagement itself, documented on our webpage (yes – Penelope and Arthur are psuedonyms, although this will be the only time I ever admit it on here!)

- Which brings me to my critique – of the usual “wedding.”  While Art and I are having a large wedding (250 guests), we will be taking care to do everything as we want it – NOT the way “things are done” typically.  For example:

The Ceremony:

• Art and I will not be getting married in a church – because we aren’t religious people.  I have known numerous couples who have done so anyway, but that just seems insincere to me, and I would rather NOT begin our life together on that note…

• No “Love is…” reading!  We will pick out readings that are meaningful to us and they will be read my family members who have been especially important in our lives.

The Bridal Party

• We are not having a huge bridal party for several reasons:

  1. We aren’t having an ornate church wedding, so what would the need be?

  2. We don’t have tons of siblings to accomodate.

  3. We don’t have tons friends that we have to try to accomodate – we are fortunate that by now everyone seems to understand that we’re doing what works for us.

• Art’s “Best Man” may very well be a “Best Woman” (or we might call her another “Maid of Honor”) because his best friend is a girl.  Art still feels somewhat uncomfortable with the scoff at traditional male/female expectations though, so she still may end up on the bride’s “side.”

• Our party may not be comprised of evenly matched boy-girl “couples” because most of Art’s friends are female and I refuse to “make him pick some guys” as one of my recently-married girlfriends suggested.

• My “maids” will not be matchy-matchy, in terrible, pastel-colored, ill-fitting gowns.  I am actually on the hunt for multiple knee or tea-length designs available in the same fabrics and colors.  Ideally, I’d pick 3 or 4 choices and the girls can pick what they feel most comfortable in.  The dresses will be chocolate brown, which looks good on everyone, in the hopes that they really, honestly will be able to wear them again (and will even WANT to do so).

  • BRIDEZILLA MOMENT: I made them buy matching shoes already – I know, we’ve got over a year to go!  In my defense though, they were on clearance for $15, are cute, and are walkable!



• No tacky accessories or gifts!  The girls will all recieve Tiffany necklaces that will compliment their dresses, strapless or not, and the guys will recieve engraved cufflinks.

The Wedding Dress

• I don’t like pouf and I’m not going to be pretending to be a princess for the day.  I want to look like the best possible version of ME  on OUR day (i.e. not “my” day).  To this end, I don’t want anything strapless as I never normally wear strapless, and I don’t want anything overly glitzy.  The dress I’ve decided on is unique, slightly antiquey, but also modern (I’ll be removing the bow and belt and replacing with a light brown sash, I think…)

Hair & Jewelry

• No stuffy updo for me!  I want it long, wavy, and down or half-up since I very rarely wear my hair up – and NO TIARA!

• No matchy-matchy rhinestone madness!  I think I’ll go for more ornate earrings than I usually wear, and then a great bracelet – definitely NOT matching, big, earrings-necklace-bracelet set…

The Reception

• No lame, basic decorations – i.e. tealights on mirrors or floating candles in a bowl (on a mirror); I’d much rather have a simple flower situation, or do something with paper lanterns…?

• No cheesy, useless, wasteful favors!  We actually hope to rent an old school photo booth and then the favors would be glass photo coasters for the pics – how cute!  Since the coasters come in sets of 2, the top one will have a piece of paper in the frame saying, “Have a drink on us!” and the bottom will have a picture of us in it!

• The music will be completely chosen by us!  Our first dance will be something meaningful, not “Lost in the Moment” by Big & Rich; no “Butterfly Kisses” for the Daddy/Daughter dance, etc.  So far, our picks for first dance are:

  1. Gold to me – Ben Harper

  2. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

  3. At Last – Etta James

  4. Everlong – Fu Fighters

 Food

• Buffet all the way!  I hate hate hate that people think buffets are either low-class or not as nice as sit-down service – I LOVE buffets!  As a non-meat eater, I appreciate the ability to pick and choose what and how much I want.

• We’re also customizing our menu to allow for food we like – i.e. pasta for me, and good food in general for Art!

Cake

• No huge, nasty monstrosity for us, but we haven’t decided yet what we’d like in its place – maybe one smaller decorated cake and sheet cakes behind the scenes, maybe cupcakes, maybe no cake!

- Everyone keeps telling us that it’s our day and we can do whatever we want, so I’m really hoping that they all keep this in mind as it approaches…