Playing in the Closet -- September Photos

I made a little album of some fashion photos of us.  Check it out if you want to see some of the weird fun things I've been wearing.  I haven't done many of these since September because I feel silly and vain.  But I don't get to dress up and show off to friends these days, so I'm blogging it instead.  Go ahead and think less of me.

Here are some highlights:

 

My going to the spa outfit.  

I look like such a snot, but check out my waist!  Woohoo!  

Baby scrubs.  

Not my fave combo, but love the shirt and pants separately.  

Love the light in this photo too.

 

It's all about the pose baby!  I look serious, but I busted up laughing right after the shutter went off.  The America's Next Top Model judges would tell me that it looks like I only have one arm.  I'm trying different ways to work my Malaysian fisherman pants.  They are these huge pants and you tie them around from the back and the excess leg fabric makes a fold that runs all the way down your leg (if you do it right -- still learning).  They were RM25 ($7!!).  They're usually just my lounge pants and they are super comfy.  I think I can make them look ok from the front, but they look like heck on my rear.  Plus they work themselves out of the tying and folding I do if I walk a lot, so I'm not exactly sure about wearing these out yet.

And this is how much weight I've lost!!!

-couldn't resist the fat-pants photo.  

This what they look like when not folded/tied.

 

Regin trying on Mamma's shoes.  He's obsessed with shoes and hats.  

A little fashionisto in the works, huh? 

He copies me posing too.  

This is his little prince outfit.  

It says "little prince" in a bunch of different languages down the left side.  

He hates it, I love it.  He's already torn off that top button.

Us ready to go out dancing.  

Had to include Regin in the photo because he was standing behind us bawling 

-- he knew we were leaving.

New Taste and Tiny Tot Fashion

I'm in total fashion mode.

I guess I'm a little more inspired here with fashion. Yeah, I've mentioned that they dress here the same way as they do in the States (sort of), but the truth is, some of them dress way better. Way better than Coloradans anyway. Between that and my weight-loss and need for a new wardrobe, I'm a little fashion obsessed. I swear, sometimes I think I totally should have studied fashion.

When George told me that he wasn't exactly averse to a fashion upgrade/update I got even more excited.  I love shopping for clothes for other people.

I'm going through some sort of a taste shift too.  When we first moved here, I was eager for decor ideas. I picked up every magazine I could find. No Domino, sadly, but I found and IMMEDIATELY fell in love with Vogue Living, the Australian edition. Oh my gosh. It's like interior design as true art. And it's so artsy that it actually satisfied an immense craving I had for seeing art.

Then something else happened.

A couple of weeks ago, I found an imported copy of Lucky magazine. I was so excited. I bought it and was careful not to open it until I was fully ready to sit and savor and be completely absorbed in its awesomeness. And when I finally cracked it open... I was so disappointed.

First of all I couldn't believe how much it SCREAMED "American." I mean, that was so weird to me given that I'd thought that things weren't that different here. And it wasn't just American, but blah, middle-American. Same tired hairstyles, same boring clothes, same sexualized ads. It just wasn't fashiony. So I thought, maybe it's time I look for a new magazine. I never really cared for Vogue, but I've read that the American Vogue really stinks, and others are so much better.

I tried Australian Vogue, thinking it would be awesome like Australian Vogue Living. Nah. Not much better than the Vogue I'm used to. I tried British Vogue, and I've found it! I'm totally hooked. I have been flicking through the same (September) issue over and over.

I've also been checking out some new fashion blogs and websites. I was so inspired at first.  (Can I please have this girl's clothes -- and face and body -- for a day?)  Then after seeing Lookbook.nu, I was a little discouraged. All these (young) people out there are so creative with their clothes (and photography), and I still look like I style myself by the Old Navy ads. What is wrong with me? Aren't I supposed to be this creative person and fashion fiend? Why am I not showing it?

I wonder if it's because I'm here that I'm feeling this now.

George says that he's a little self-conscious being all-out stylish in Colorado, because people just don't do that there and he'd really stand out. I guess I have probably kept it down a notch myself. Well, not anymore! I am hereby making a new resolution to live my life with style. Style at home, style in my clothes.  And not just style, but my style. I can't believe I haven't been expressing myself truly in my clothes. And it's such a silly thing and easy way to let yourself out. I think that's why I obsess over costume opportunities (Halloween, Mardi Gras, opening nights of movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars): I am aching to brake out of my fashion box.

So with that in mind, I did a little shopping yesterday. I don't have my stuff to show off yet, but here is what I got for Regin:

We already had the pants and shoes, but the shirt is new. It's embroidered with some very arty little fishes which I totally loved. Details:

My fashion philosophy is that clothes should express, be sleek, grown up, but also creative, arty, and FUN. When it comes to children, I believe that they have their own fashion. Although it can be cute as heck, I don't believe in dressing them like mini adults. So, it's going to be hard, but I'm going to try and keep that in mind from now on when I shop for Regin. No more buying a bunch of stuff just because that's what's available. And this was my first step. In all the mall yesterday, this (and another shirt with cows instead of fish) was the only thing I found that worked with my criteria. Poor Regin. He's going to have a very small wardrobe for a while!

I know that for most of you who are reading this, clothing is little more than the barrier between your nakedness and the world, and even if you can't ever get the kick out of it I do, I think everyone should at least consider how they project themselves. Is the image you're creating the image you want people to see? Because no matter what you or your personality says, your clothes will always be doing some SERIOUS talking.

A couple of fashion-viewing staples, in case you're interested are:
The Sartorialist
Altamira NYC

I have been following the Sart for AGES now.  Love his photos.

A New Me

Got a new 'do on Sunday. I didn't know what I wanted, so I just asked for a big change and something very stylish. This is what I got:

(clothes just for fun)

Story will probably follow in the travel log.

Tried to get some better/closer shots today, but all I got were these:

I guess I should have waited a little longer post-hairdrying. That last one shows my hair the best, but the 'do ain't nearly that poofy.  Another bummer: it's hard to believe, looking at these pictures, that I tried on (and made it into) a US size 4 this weekend!  It's hard to believe mainly (I think) because my baby belly and my mom arms are still visible here.  Ah well.

Yay! A package!

Sometimes I get indecisive about whether I should post things like this in the time line of my travel journal, or if I should just post as it happens. Today I'm opting for the latter.

We received a package!!! We've been waiting on the new diapers for a while. JoAnn kindly went and bought me a new batch of my favorite diapers from Tiny Birds Organics in Austin, Texas! (They no longer sell their diapers online). I don't know if the diapers got stuck in customs or at Agilent, but there was a fair bit of a delay between shipping and receipt. Also in there was a knitted diaper cover, yay! Thanks SO much JoAnn! Muah!

Agilent combined my mom's package with JoAnn's so we were also excited to meet "Ducky" who was traveling along with the new diaper stash. Ducky is referred to by name already and has received numerous kisses.

How about some fashion/babywearing photos? I'm wearing one of my new hand-embroidered tops from Sam's Batik (post to follow), skinny jeans, and of course, Regin. He was so adamant about taking a nap that he went and found this wrap and dragged into my office saying, "Back! Back!" (He wanted to go on Mamma's back.)

If this were a fashion blog...

I stumbled upon the "boyfriend jean" concept a couple of days ago.  Just when I was excited that I could fit reasonably well into pseudo skinny jeans, apparently they're out and voluminous pants are in.  Pshhh.  It'll take a couple of years for that to hit the mainstream, so I think I can get away with my pseudo-skinnies I bought a few weeks ago.  Anyway, upon first glance I thought the boyfriend jean was hideous.  Then I saw that sometimes it was tolerable and sometimes hideous.  I joked with George that evening that it was only a matter of time before I thought it was totally hot.  So yesterday I decided, if I am going to eventually love it anyway, why not embrace it now?  I raided George's closet and modeled my new look after this photo.  What do you think?

I think I need a more stylish 'do to really pull off the look.

I think the best version of the look is this photo.  Ahh Katie Holmes, how did you become such a style goddess?  I think I will build a shrine to you and give you daily offerings so that you may bestow upon me some of your sublime stylishness.  Or maybe if you could just lend me your stylist for a couple of days, that would work too.

Today I'm in my skinnies.  They don't look as skinny in the photos.  And remember the formula:  camera = you + 10lbs.

I'm such a ham when I have an audience that thinks I'm funny (Regin).

He wanted in on the fashion shoot too.

P.S.  Pretending you have a fashion blog is one of the many ways you can entertain yourself when you're home alone with a toddler all day.