BELOVED GARMENT: Old mint green dress

Beloved old dress #9: Mint green floral button down... The pure simplicity of this dress is why i love it so much. It is cotton, so it's very comfortable. With a touch of belt, it is a great outfit for a daytime. 

Every time i wear this dress, I get compliments. Women think it is chic, and men think it's cute. Hey, I can totally live with that. (Planning on rocking this dress until I can't fit into it) 

AHHH... SHIRLEY MANSON

My fascination with Shirley Manson (lead singer of the 90s rock band Garbage) started when I first watched the music video for their song "The world is not enough"... She was a hot redhead robot and I was sold! I find her ridiculously attractive.

I started listening to Garbage since I was a teenager. To this day, I still listen to their old songs... Garbage recently came together after 10 years of break. Their new record 'Not Your Kind of People' is fucking amazing! I went to see them live in May. It was such a dream come true. She's as gorgeous in real life as she is on magazine covers. Despite her distinct voice, she has this amazing style. I'd call it grunge-punk chic... She's so funky in a goth kind of way, but super chic! Oh, i love you Shirley! Here are some of my favorite outfits she rocked over the years.

These few images are captured via my camera... I was fortunate enough to be very close to the stage.
She rocked simple black outfit, but the accessories were the ones that made her outfit complete. She is sooo energetic on stage, I don't know how she wears heels...

FIRST DATE vs. CLOSET DRAMA

My reader Anna asked me about first date outfits... What's appropriate to wear on first dates?  First impression is critical. There's a saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."

Let me tell you about my first date with my husband. It was anything but glamorous. He called me two hours prior to ask me if i had any plans that evening. I said no, and he asked if we can have a dinner. Despite the fact that I just had a huge dinner, I said "Sure, let's do it!"The task was to look somewhat presentable to this man I had the hots for. As I stood in front of my closet to choose a decent outfit for the evening, I was telling myself "I have nothing to wear!!!"

It was a cold February evening after 8PM. I wore a denim mini skirt, hot pink hoodie, windbreaker with knee-length boots. Yep, nothing fancy or fashionable. (Did I mention I carried a green tote bag?)  We ate at this falafel cafe, and walked for hours afterwards. It was freezing! Overall, our first date went very well, and it was the beginning of our romance. To this day, he says I looked very cute that evening :)

What I learned from this date? Wear something comfortable... outfit you can move around easily and walk around without feeling out of place. Of course, impressing your date is highly important, so pick something that complements your body type. Don't show too much skin. Ha! Leave something for the imagination, girls! That being said, please don't be a nun either. Never wear new shoes on a first date! In fact, never wear new clothes on a first date. If you're wearing heels, be sure to wear the ones you're comfortable.

At the end of the day, if he really likes you*, what you wore won't play a big role in deciding whether he wants to see you again or not. My husband liked my personality way more than my outfit (obviously!)

Lastly, this is what I would wear if I was going on a date tonight. Over size tank with jeans. What's not pictured here is a little black jacket I would wear on top... 

Vintage?

My grandma wore this shirt when she was a young lady. The shirt is easily 50 years old (a real vintage), but it still looks brand new. She gave it to me when I was a teenager... At the time I didn't understand the significance of the situation. I finally get it now and I cherish this garment. In a way, it is my lucky shirt. Every time I wear it, I think of her... I think about her youth. I wonder about what kind of a young lady she must've been. And I feel so fortunate that I am her grandchild. Words can't express the way I feel about this woman. She is so elegant, yet so tough... She has always been my rock. Always in my side, no matter what. I love her so much... I love writing about her, so forgive me if I'm completely off-the-subject.  

Anyway, I wore this for a presentation today... for a little good luck charm. Its silk fabric and ethnic pattern is absolutely gorgeous. To show the beautiful pattern, I specifically wore a jet black pencil skirt. Thin leather belt is there to give the skirt a little something something... I wore my pearl necklace, along with stud earrings and pearl David Yurman ring. 

MY FAVORITE OH-RANJJ TANK

It was a hot day in the nation's capital today. I decided to wear this simple number. Nothing that special, but in the summer, I love showing some skin and rocking some colors. Orange is such a unique and happy color... I think it says a lot about me that my favorite color is orange.

WARDROBE RAID: Guest Fashionista Pamela

Today's guest fashionista happens to be my bestie Pamela. We've been best friends since high school, so I've seen her style development over the years... I remember the first day I saw Pamela. She was rocking a colorful tight tee and jeans. That was her thing back in the day. Although I admit that we both had our fair share of preppy days, we ultimately ended that phase at some point after high school. Pamela's favorite color is green, and she always stayed true to that color. Then college happened! She was no longer a prep, but more punk-ish. She started debuting black nail polish, colorful highlights, and skinny jeans. Today, I'd describe her style as hobo chic... and I call her a "Hippy tree-hugger" sometimes. I absolutely love this girl and her chameleon-like style. I wanted you all to take a look at her world of fashion...

This is what she has to say about her style...
1) Describe your sense of style in 3 words
     - Simple, artsy, and chic
2) Your celebrity style twin?
     - Chloe Sevigny
3) Fashion designer or fashion line you like
     - Lucky Brand. I like their almost ethnic-like artsy style
4) Favorite accessories
     - Interesting earrings and big scarves
5) Signature fashion
     - I love tote bags with different shapes and sizes. I always choose the artsy kind.
6) Fashion tip for my readers
     - Comfort is crucial.
7) What inspires you when you're working on a look
    - Textures, patterns, and different cultural elements
8) Biggest fashion pet peeve
    - I tend to dislike bows very much! They give me the impression of being a gift...
9) Beloved garment
    - My old green denim skirt