What I Wore: Creatives on Call Happy Hour

Nebula is located at 3407 S. Jefferson Ave.

So, last week I went to another holiday party-yay! It was fun for several reasons. One, I got to wear a cute outfit. (Not that I don't always do that, but party-mode brings my style to a new level!) Two, I sipped on spiked holiday punch from the Fortune Teller Bar in a cool color-changing mug. Three, I got to network with a lively bunch of St. Louis artists.

The Holiday Happy Hour was hosted by Creatives on Call at the innovative work space, Nebula. Creatives on Call is the first placement agency in St. Louis specifically for creative professionals-like graphic designers, marketing gurus, writers, and web designers. The company matches talented workers with agencies in need of temporary or long-term employees. (And, not that it matters, but the lead recruiter is a woman. Always a plus for me!) DJ MAKossa kept a funky, festive vibe with his tunes as I chatted and swapped business cards with other partygoers. I even convinced a friendly photographer to pose with me for this animated photo from Smilebooth:

I'm pictured with photographer Brishen of Brishen Lee Photography
The Smilebooth team recommended that we look kinda mean at first and then "explode" in a smile.

Fun, right? (Try not to look at it the photo too long, though-it may hypnotize you.) In honor of the party, I opted to wear a skirt that embodies one of my professional and personal passions.

It's not always easy to match your tattoo to your outfit - this skirt had Carmen written all over it!

Velvet Crop-top: Nordstrom; Skirt: Rung & Sprung; Shoes: Steve Madden

Silver the Cat, AKA Photobomber

Interested in getting placed for a temporary or permanent job? Connect with Creatives on Call via their web site, Twitter, or Facebook! And don't worry if you missed this event - Nebula has monthly happy hours and Creatives on Call has several exciting happenings planned for 2015. Stay tuned!

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Recently, the hubby had a BIG birthday. A milestone. (He's 30 with 10 years experience. LOL). We both got a gift for the night, though: an evening sans Ruby. She is the cutest lil' thang in the world, so her grandparents were more than happy to let her board at their house for the evening. It's rare that Brian and I get to go out together, and even more rare for us to stay out past 10pm when we do have a "date night." We more than made up for lost time with an evening that went well past 3am!

We started the night with a few pals and spicy Mexican food at Las Palmas. Next, we held an impromptu party in the parking lot jamming to Bone Thugs N' Harmony, watching Brian and his friend attempt to drink a 40 ounce. (40 ounces for 40 years, get it?) Despite a valiant effort, most of the drink wound up being poured out, and passersby just looked at us like we were nuts. Actually, one guy looked interested, but his date made it clear that they weren't joining the party.

Our third and main stop was Saratoga Lanes. I love the old-school flavor of Saratoga - you have to score by hand, so my high school bowling classes came in handy. . .at least in terms of scoring. After trying out practically every ball in the place, I must concede that at bowling, I'm, well, terrible. Luckily, our friends are sweet and were too busy having fun to notice. Eventually we were forced to leave the bar (can you believe they wanted to close around 1:30am?), but many of us weren't ready to go home. Going to the "East Side" was discussed (local St. Louisans know what kind of debauchery that usually entails) and quickly scrapped. Instead, we capped off the night with breakfast at Uncle Bill's Pancake House. Yum. We all had a blast!

The party was billed as a low-key, come-as-you-are kind of night, so I planned my outfit accordingly. I started with a rock tee that was free, thanks to a gift card from Target for my bulk purchase of baby food. I added my sister's blazer to dress it up a bit. Socks (necessary for bowling) and booties added finishing touches.

What would you wear for a night on the town with friends?

Jacket: Urban Outfitters; Tee & Socks: Target; Shoes: Gianni Bini; Jeans: Old Navy (with DIY distressing); Ring: Rung & Sprung

I read somewhere that wearing fun socks and exposing them is "hipster."

Blogger Holiday Party at NCJW The Resale Shop

NCJW The Resale Shop is located at 295 N. Lindbergh Blvd. 63141

'Tis the season for holiday parties! (Yay!) My first official winter holiday party for 2014 was at NCJW's The Resale Shop. Hosted by blogger babe Jill of Stilettos on Sunday Morning, the special blogger happy hour had light bites and more importantly, the chance to scope out the store, after-hours at our leisure. I'd been there last year and was eager to see what new, affordable goodies they had in store. (That would be lots.) While I restrained myself from buying clothing-shocking, I know-I still scored a few brooches, buttons, earrings, and a couple of ties for the hubbie. And, I saw the most amazing purse EVER!

Due to its upscale, unique beading, the designer purse is $125. Santa will (hopefully) put this under my tree!

I wore a thrifted vintage sweater dress to the shindig that cost an absurd $0.79. For another buried treasure from the "by-the-pound" outlet and helpful hints on shopping there, click here. Unlike the smartly laid-out Resale Shop, the Goodwill Outlet has no organization whatsoever.

Dress: Goodwill Outlet; Tights: Macy's; Booties: DSW

Rrrrr! Another lady at the thrift store gave this dress serious consideration, but as soon as she set it down, I poached it. :)

2 comments outfits, stl-style

Fur-ocious Vest

I find most of my unusual or exceptional garments at thrift or resale stores, like the flowerpot skirt I'm desperately trying to figure out how to winterize. Around 2007, however, I found a total gem at H&M: a leopard-print faux fur vest that has now become a winter holiday tradition. I discovered it on a shopping trip with my mom and much to my delight, it wound up under our Christmas tree. (Thanks, Santa! You know me so well.) I proudly wore it on New Year's Eve that year and sometime in December every year after that. Notably, I also wore this vest on my first date with my husband - before I learned that he, inexplicably, has no appreciation for leopard print. (Good thing my sparkling personality won out!) Its most recent trip outside my closet was to a tasty VIP Happy Hour at the newly opened Mexican restaurant, Cantina Lareda. Check it out:

Which styling do you like better - with the red shoes & black pants (worn in 2011) or with destroyed jeans and a studded blouse? I think I like it with jeans better. . .On a side note, I am definitely losing points for originality with the photo location. Forgive me- it was 30 degrees!

Vest & Blouse: H&M; Jeans: Material Girl; Shoes: Gift; Earrings: Rung & Sprung Boutique

Clearly, I'm not alone in my fur-ociousness:

Victoria Beckham, Rachel Zoe, Ciara

Dressed up with a dress or dressed down with jeans, the fierce factor of fur vests is off the charts! How would you wear a faux fur vest?

Chairish the Love of Vintage

Whether it's the history, the designs, or the unique, "I'm-the-only-one-wearing-this" aspect, I love all things vintage. (You probably know that by now.) At times it can be hard to know how to wear vintage without looking costume-y or too kitschy (if there is such a thing). The easiest way to give your look a cool vintage flair is to use accessories! Scouring through antique stores and flea markets is one way to score sweet pieces, but I was recently contacted by an online marketplace that has streamlined the process. Chairish allows design-lovers to buy and sell "curator-approved treasures" including vintage furniture, decor, jewelry, and accessories. The team at Chairish asked me to look through their catalog of vintage accessories and create styleboards for holiday looks. (Um, OK, if you insist.)

Here are 3 festive looks featuring accessories from Chairish. You can also check them out on Instagram and Twitter!

Golden Girl

Classy with a hint of sass, a Jackie-O-inspired dress with gold accents is perfect for a daytime holiday shindig. The colorful 1960s carpet bag is super-versatile, and pairs nicely with the gold coin-drop earrings and vintage band.

Patchwork dress / Merona opaque hosiery / Therapy black high heel booties / Velvet purse / Yellow gold jewelry / Coin earrings

Shine On

If your New Year's Resolution is to shine in a crowd, sparkling vintage accessories is a surefire way to stand out. The vintage bling, clear glasses, and miniaudiere (don't you love that name?) are blindingly cool. When paired with edgy garments like a ripped jeans and moto jacket, you've got a daring alternative to a little black dress for a hot date.

Moschino crew neck t shirt / Zipper jacket / Current/Elliott distressing jeans / Valentino patent leather flat / Crystal evening bag / Enamel jewelry / Floral ring / BLACK eyewear

Something Old, Something New

You don't have to go full-on vintage; mixing older pieces in with your existing wardrobe actually makes your modern-day pieces look more. . .modern. Take a warm sweater in your closet and instead of adding a standard necklace, pin on some quirky vintage brooches. A boho-chic leather clutch and vintage earrings create a fun, flirty look!

Pinko cream sweater / Pleated a line skirt / Madden Girl high heel ankle booties / Shoulder bag / Chanel pre owned jewelry / Vintage broach / Brooch / Floral home decor / Vintage broach

Meet Brittany Kellerman, Freelance Makeup Artist

Colorful makeup creation by Brittany Kellerman
Photo c/o One Moment in Time Photography

For my makeup routine, I typically stick to the basics: foundation, lipstick, eyeliner, and mascara. So, I'm always impressed when I meet people who have actual skill with makeup. Through the wonders of Facebook, I met the talented Brittany Kellerman, a St. Louis-based freelance makeup artist who specializes in creating dramatic, whimsical looks. I'm so excited to share her work with you!

Brittany always knew she wanted to be an artist, but wasn't sure which direction to take until she studied Cosmetology at Regency Beauty Institute. After creating an awesome "Mad Hatter-meets-Queen of Hearts" design for a school salon fair, this avid reader found her niche in Fantasy and Beauty makeup. She continued to excel at school, winning two of her school's salon fairs and receiving an honorable mention at Regency's America's Beauty Show Competition. She was also named Makeup Artist of the Week on the popular site Model Mahem.

Although Brittany's personal style tends to be in the jeans-and-sweaters realm, she expresses herself through her makeup creations. She channeled her dark, mood side into pretty macabre looks, such as her Day of the Dead collection. Brittany's fun, carefree spirit is clearly conveyed in the model's makeup for a recent promotional shoot for ProPrintStudio. Brittany also draws inspiration for her designs from artwork, random ideas that pop into her mind, and trusted advice from her mother, a photographer.

As an aspiring, independent artist, Brittany admits that she can be her own worst critic. "I am always second-guessing myself," she shares. However, she has learned that practice, reading makeup books, and taking coursework helps hone her craft. Her ultimate professional dream is to do makeup artistry for film, television, high-end magazines, and a major Fashion Week. "Never, ever give up!" she advises other emerging makeup artists. Brittany's talent is undeniable, so I hope she takes her own advice!