jeanofalltrades

June 17, 2013 · 10:40 am

Polka Dots for a Picnic

When the weather’s nice, people in Seattle take advantage of it–you never know how long the sun will stay out. On a recent sunny day, hubby and I packed a picnic basket full of goodies and headed over to Gasworks Park.

T-shirt: Tahari via consignment
Dress (worn as skirt): Swapped
Shoes: Payless
Sunglasses: Old Navy
Purse: Crystalyn Kae
Basket: Santa Fe Farmers Market

Gasworks is a great location. From there you can see South Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. The Space Needle is visible behind me on the right. Everywhere we looked, people were kayaking, playing Frisbee, flying kites–it was really fun to watch the world go by.

We set up our picnic on a hill near a guy with an easel. He was painting landscape of the Seattle skyline. From this spot, we could take in the scenery (natural and otherwise–I like the urban feel of the gasworks. If you don’t, a simple turn to the left or right will have you looking at water, trees and hills).

I cheated a bit because I went to Whole Foods and bought prepackaged goodies instead of making everything myself. We even sneaked a bottle of wine with us. We’re adults! Besides, it was a rosé and looked like juice.

I bought vegan potato salad (made with egg-free nayonaise), a quinoa salad, avocado rolls, diced fresh fruit, and the best wrap ever! It was made with faux chicken strips by a company called Beyond Meat. Delicious, healthy, and good for the chickens!

We actually ate too much. So we loafed around for a bit (I had on sunscreen–don’t worry) before wandering back to our car. On the way, I found a neat mosaic. Each of the metal designs was fabricated from kids’ drawings. How cool would it have been to see your childhood drawings permanently installed in a floor mosaic?

I’ve joined Not Dead Yet for Visible Monday and Color Blind for Thrifters Anonymous. Check out what all the others are wearing today!

15 Comments

Filed under Ethical, Fashion, Healthy Living, Thrifty

Tagged as beyond meat, fashion, Gasworks Park, maxi dress, picnic, polka dots, Seattle, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

June 13, 2013 · 9:28 pm

Street Style: Gala for the Chimps

One of the highlights of Vida Vegan Con was the gala and silent auction many of us attended on the Saturday evening, smack in the middle of the conference. The gala was an even that raised money for Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, a home for chimps saved from the biomedical industry.

One of the highlights of the gala was seeing everyone dressed so stylishly. I snapped a few pictures. It’s just a sampling of the people in attendance. I wish I could have documented them all.

First I stopped this lovely couple on their way into the event. They aren’t bloggers but they’re friends of bloggers and supporters of the chimp sanctuary. I love her strapless dress, sparkly shoes, and the adorable bow on her belt. His shirt and tie combo is fantastic (nice pattern mixing), and so are his slim-cut trousers and low-profile shoes. Next I stopped Taylor from Tacoma who writes Hot Piece of Class. She also had sparkly shoes and a skinny gold belt (I see a theme) but her look was completely different. She looked great throughout the conference and I wish I’d gotten more pictures of her. Rebecca, the next woman I stopped, was just as stylish. Her neutral outfit set off with wine colored tights and a blue cardigan. You can tell by people’s outfits that spring evenings in Portland are cool. Luckily the people are cooler! I was so enamored with those gray booties that I snapped a close-up of them, along with a yellow pair of heels someone had on. Both are wedges but they’re nothing alike. Proof that there’s a huge variety of wedges out there. They both look comfortable, stable, and stylish. The person wearing those cute yellow wedges was looking stylish from the ankles up too. She had on a great faux-leather jacket and skinnies. After I took her picture she pointed out that her collar isn’t part of a shirt, but rather a collar necklace. What a great way to change up an outfit! Meet Joe and Sadie, the stars of The Intrepid Herbivores, a vegan TV show about travel and food. Their show is fun and funny and is a great way to learn about how to travel vegan-style. Check out their site, “like” them on Facebook, and look for them on TV in the near future. I just saw a screening of their pilot and I can’t wait for more.

Oh, and don’t they look great? Sadie managed to match her scarf to her hair (possibly a coincidence). If I had a utility belt purse like hers it would have saved me from juggling my clutch, camera and glass of wine. Joe made his look unique with a utilikilt and combat boots. Intrepid Herbivores I approached Staci and Justin as they basked in the warm glow of a heat lamp. They’re another example of two people who look fabulous on their own but together really turn heads. I love the statement necklace Staci chose and her bold combination of gray and orange. Justin has a monochromatic look with a great tie. He let his style shine through with the checkered Vans. Staci was nice enough to get in touch with me after the gala. She sent me a couple of other pictures that really show off her look. She’s not a blogger, but she could be. She knows how bloggers like to list brands so she sent me a list. Her dress is H&M, her shoes are Madden Girl, and the necklace is from Nordstrom. Justin is wearing a Van Heusen shirt and tie, Dockers, and Vans. Both of them prove that you can look like a million without spending it. I stopped one last group at the gala. They all had such great style! I need to find the blog for the woman on the left in the elegant halter dress. Next to her, in the slinky, one-shouldered dress, is Sarah of Bentoriffic. Sharon, in the tomato-red and black ensemble is half of Big City Vegan, a site she runs with her sister. Finally, with the amazing purple flower in her hair and black lace overlay dress, is the one and only Super Diva (AKA Dawn). They all have great stories to share and I encourage you to check out their blogs.

They also were nice enough to remind me that no one had taken my picture. Dawn offered. Thank you Dawn! I’ve had this dress for a few years but it hasn’t made it to my blog until now. I got it at Fashion Crimes in Toronto. My Shoes are by Hot Lips and my empty cage necklace (perfect for the occasion) is from The Sapphire Bee.

After that last photo, I hit the bar, the vegan sundae line, and the dance floor. Even bloggers need to clock out sometimes and just have some fun.

7 Comments

Filed under Ethical, Events, Fashion, Street Style, Thrifty

Tagged as blogger conference, fashion, street style, style, thrifty fashion, vegan, VVC

June 13, 2013 · 6:58 am

Shorts for Cooler Days

I actually took these photos a couple of months ago, but on cooler spring nights, the shorts-and-tights combo comes in handy so I thought I’d share this unused set of photos.

Velvet jacket: Forever 21
Shirt: Old Navy
Belt: Goodwill
Shorts: Goodwill
Tights: Target
Shoes: John Fluevog
Purse: Shiraleah

When I put this outfit together, it reminded me of something the ever-stylish Sarah Hulbert would wear. I love her use of texture, layering and belts.

There’s only one problem with this outfit: My shoes. Don’t get me wrong, I love the style, and they’re really comfortable. However, to fall in line with my eating habits (vegan), I’ve stopped wearing leather shoes. So at the time of this post, the shoes are up on eBay. I’m raising funds to buy some vegan replacements.

I had fun mixing colors and textures with this outfit and I’ll try something similar with a summer twist. Oh, one least thing–posting “old” photos is a great way to see that my hair is actually growing! The trouble is, I see this bob and sort of want to get a haircut. Do you have a go-to haircut or are you always trying something new?

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, John Fluevog, shorts, style, thrifty fashion, tights

June 10, 2013 · 10:59 pm

Dressing Down a Pencil Skirt

I love this lacy, blue pencil skirt but so far, I’ve only worn it in a slinky, evening-out sort of way. This time, I wanted to make it work for work so I added a chambray shirt over a tank and got playful with the colors.

Tank: Wet Seal
Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Aerosoles
Tote: Crystalyn Kae
Bangle: The Base Project

I thought the yellow shoes were fun, and complimented the outfit despite not really matching it. This next shot would normally be in the throwaway pile but I kind of liked the misty, moody haze of the morning.

You might notice the bag I’m carrying. It’s handmade by Crystalyn Kae. I love her purses and totes. Worth every penny. They’re glazed fabric, look like leather, and are machine washable! I use this one to lug around my laptop.

And the bracelet might look like horn or bone but it’s actually discarded PVC pipe! Artisans in Namibia hand cut and carve them. The project helps artists thrive in their communities and gives them a living wage while learning finance, marketing and communication skills.

I’m enjoying the sun we’ve had lately. Spring in Seattle can feel like fall and winter in Seattle. I just hope I don’t pay the price with a rainy summer!

How do you dress up or dress down certain items in your closet?

I’ve joined the Anything and Everything blog hop at My Thrifty Chic. Be sure to check out everyone else!

7 Comments

Filed under Dress Up Dress Down, Ethical, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as chambray shirt, fashion, lace, pencil skirt, skirt, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

June 8, 2013 · 8:58 pm

Trying out the Arbonne RE9 Line

Have you heard of Arbonne? It’s a line of Swiss-developed skin care, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements. They’ve been in the US since 1980 and they’ve been green before green was popular. All products are 100% plant-based (vegan certified) and never tested on animals.

I was contacted recently by an Arbonne rep and I jumped on the chance to try the products in the RE9 Advanced line, specifically formulated for anti-aging. I got to sample the cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, night cream, and two types of day creams. I love them! They smell wonderfully citrus-y and are so gentle on my skin.

I know it sounds weird, but in just a couple of days I swear my skin looked firmer. It didn’t feel tight though, which can be a problem with some skin firming products. The moisturizers gave me a nice glow and provide SPF 20–perfect for daily protection.

I also tried some samples of the Arbonne cosmetics and I really liked them. The tinted moisturizer had just enough coverage to not look makeup-y, and the translucent powder was really silky.

Needless to say, I placed an order. I want to keep using these products and reap the full benefits. I ordered a couple of masks, and a Vitamin D+B12 spray that apparently tastes like candy! That’s going to be a great thing to use in the gray Pacific Northwest.

Arbonne has other lines too. The FC5 and Calm lines are great for sensitive skin and for those with rosacea. I gave some samples of their baby care line to a friend of mine with an infant. I’ll let you know how baby likes her new products! They carry a men’s line too, as well as body- and hair care.

Sapha, my Arbonne consultant, helped set me up as a preferred client so I can get 20% off my purchases, points toward future orders, freebies, and other goodies. She can help you too if you’re interested in trying Arbonne. She can ship all over the US, Canada, and other places and she’s more than willing to help you find out what your skin needs. You can reach her at (281)748-7943 or saphaariasyoga@yahoo.com or you can log onto Arbonne and sign up with the code 13728752.

One more thing I liked but haven’t tried is their line of makeup brushes. As a vegan, it’s hard to find high-quality synthetic brushes. Arbonne has them!

If you use Arbonne, I’d be interested in hearing what products you’ve tried.

6 Comments

Filed under Beauty, Ethical, Product Reviews

Tagged as anti-aging, Arbonne, beauty, moisturizer, style, vegan

June 4, 2013 · 11:23 pm

Street Style: Vegan Blogger Conference

I had a lot of fun at Vida Vegan Con, the vegan blogger conference I attended last week. Most bloggers had food blogs, some had lifestyle blogs, and a few had style blogs. Everywhere I turned I saw fashionable bloggers! It was hard to get photos though–we were all so busy. I managed to get a few shots at least.

I stopped Ky Lee Fournier because I loved her casual style. I’m a huge fan of fedoras and skinny jeans and I like how she threw a denim jacket into the mix. The faux leather booties add a bit of toughness and the cotton floral bag is a great soft spring piece. Ky Lee is a vegan sports nutritionist from British Columbia and she’s as fit as she is stylish!

When Londoner Kip told her friends she’s had her photo taken for a style blog, they laughed. Kip runs The Messy Vegetarian Cook blog and is known for her recipes, not her outfits. But who’s laughing now? From the red tights and adorable polka-dots to the cute cardi, this is a great look. I think I need a pair of 8-hole vegan Dr. Martens now too!

I was thrilled to meet Jesse Anne O in person. I’ve been reading her blog for a couple of years and was thrilled when I found out she was going to VVC. She runs a smashing style blog with a focus on ethical attire. I love following her New York adventures and seeing what she’s thrifted. She’s also got her pulse on vegan designers and local shops.

As proof that we met, here I am with Jesse.

I saw a few people donning stripes over the three-day conference. Case in point: Anika of Vegan Score and Dawn of Vegan Moxie. I know these two lovelies from Seattle and it was great to reconnect with them in Portland.

I love Anika’s black, white and red look. She shows how to “dress down” with a denim jacket. And you’d never know it, but those cute ballet flats are Crocs! Waterproof shoes for temperamental spring days–genius! Dawns tights and cardi are a great way to wear a summery dress when it’s a bit cool out. I love how she chose green tights and caramel faux-leather flats. Adorable!

Helen and Molly are also from Seattle. They are the voices behind Vegtastic and Vegan Princess in an Omni Kingdom, respectively. I paired them up for my impromptu shoot because they both had on dots. Helen’s top has a subtle Swiss dot and Molly’s dress is a whimsical circle print. I like how they show how to layer with cardigans and how to rock flats. I think Helen might be wearing Cri de Coeur (and Jesse, above, might have on the same style. Great minds…).

Speaking of great minds, meet Megan and Megan. Megan on the left, runs The Opinioness of the World, an awesome blog filled with info about film, food, and feminism (among other things). I almost bought the very scarf she’s wearing but I left it at Herbivore Clothing. Moments later, unbeknownst to me, Megan popped in and got it. Good call! It looks great and it’s super soft.

Both Megans got their shirts at Herbivore, which is why I thought they looked so good together in this post. It’s a black and fuchsia theme! The shirts read “Love life: no matter whose.” A terrific message! I like how these women took the same shirt and created completely different outfits. Megan on the right is on twitter and YouTube and has tons of adorable cat stories and photos because she fosters kittens. Awesome!

Finally, it’s me again. But only because I bumped into Lulu. We’d been carrying around the same bag all weekend and had a couple of photo ops together. Lulu looked fantastic all weekend long. I wish I’d gotten pictures of her every day. Her wardrobe is all about color and texture and she makes it seem effortless. She doesn’t have a blog–yet. Here’s hoping to that happening soon. No pressure, Lulu!

There you have it. I did snap a bunch of photos at the vegan gala, so look for that post next!

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion, Street Style

Tagged as fashion, street style, style, vegan

June 2, 2013 · 8:07 pm

Red, White, and Blue

I should have worn this last Monday, Memorial Day. My outfit here is quite patriotic: red, white, and blue.

Cardigan: Prada via consigned
Tank: Wet Seal
Jeans: Jessica Simpson via swapped
Faux suede booties: Crossroads Trading Company

It’s also very thrifty. I found the cardigan at a consignment shop. My Shoes are from a second-hand shop and the jeans were swapped. I probably never would have tried on a pair of Jessica Simpson pants in the store, but I took a chance on a freebie. I’m glad I did. they’re soft and comfortable and fit well. They’re the perfect length for a mid-height heel.

I read about Jessica Simpson and her namesake line and I was impressed. Unlike a lot of celebrities who lend only their names and have little to do with the line, Simpson is very involved in the creative process. I watched her on Fashion Star and really admired her. She’s come a long way since her reality TV days.

Do you have a brand that you never thought you’d wear?

Oh, be sure to check out the visible women at Not Dead Yet and the thrifters anonymous at Colorblind. I’ve joined those two group posts again today!

14 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as boots, cardigan, fashion, jeans, style, thrifty fashion

May 27, 2013 · 10:07 pm

Red Wedges for the Conference

I’m usually a light packer. Carry-on restrictions force me to edit my travel wardrobe. But this past weekend I didn’t have as many limitations. I drove to Portland for a vegan bloggers conference. I might have packed five pair of shoes but I’m not admitting to anything!

Top: Swapped
Pants: Swapped
Shoes: Payless
Necklace: The Vegan Woman
Bracelets: Boutique on Bainbridge Island
Tote: NARN

Part of my wardrobe dilemma was weather. Rain, sun, warm days, cool nights. It’s hard to pack for all that. I packed heels for a gala, flats to go with my capris, boots for rainy days and well, the wedges were not at all necessary, but I like them.

In the end, instead of packing “outfits,” I packed various items that all went together so I could assemble them on the day of, depending on the weather. A tank top, t-shirt, cardigan, and light sweater covered the bases for my tops. Jeans capris, cargo pants, and a maxi skirt gave me variety for the bottoms. A denim jacket was the perfect evening piece and worked with everything but my jeans (that’s just too much denim!).

I wore my new “vegan” necklace too (and packed a cute empty cage necklace by The Sapphire Bee). I thought they were a good fit for the theme of the conference.

You can read about the pre-conference (my first day in Portland) on my other blog. I had great luck with airbnb, and I found cute shops and vegan bars. What’s not to love?

4 Comments

Filed under Dress Up Dress Down, Events, Fashion, Thrifty, Travel

Tagged as cargo pants, fashion, red shoes, stripes, style, thrifty fashion, vegan, wedges

May 23, 2013 · 8:41 am

Off to a Blogger Conference

I’m ecstatic! I’m going to my first ever blogger conference and I can’t wait! I’m a style blogger with a vegan twist and I recently started a vegan blog as well so Vida Vegan Con is the perfect venue for me! It’s this weekend in Portland.

Jacket: Swapped
Scarf: Gifted
Jeans: Goodwill
Tank: Old Navy
Pleather boots: MIA
Tote: NARN

I’ll be joining 400 like-minded bloggers for a series of workshops, talks, lectures and presentations, with plenty of time to network, eat, and party. There are a couple of receptions, a silent auction and gala, all-you-can-eat vegan brunches, and at least one vegan ice cream bar. So yeah, it’s like Christmas!

I have my business cards ready, my tote bag for all the swag I’m going to pick up, and in idea of the sessions I’d like to attend. I rented a room in a woman’s home through airbnb, so I’ll let you know how that goes. I figure I’d skip the expense of a hotel because I won’t be doing much sleeping anyway.

Now that my other blog, Sunshine and Slaughter, has been up and running for a couple of months, I thought this post would be a good time to introduce it. I’d love to know what you think (whether you’re vegan or not). I keep this blog light and fun and I use the other one for writing about animal issues, health, vegan restaurants and products, and updating people on things I’m working on.

See you on the other side (of the conference)!

10 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as boots, fashion, scarf, skinny jeans, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

May 21, 2013 · 1:23 pm

Sweater and a Wrap Skirt

I’m wearing one of my Erin McLeod wrap skirts again, this time on a cool day with tights. Last time I featured this skirt it was a summery look.

Sweater: Goodwill
Skirt: Erin McLeod
Tights: Target
Boots: MIA
Necklace: eBay

I paired the skirt with a boxy sweater, which I thought was a nice contrast to the fitted nature of the skirt. The sweater is really comfy but the outside is almost rubberized. It feels very strange but I don’t notice when I’m wearing it, fortunately.

I love my faux leather boots but I’ve never had boots with the zipper on the outside before. I like how the zipper detailing is visible, but when I cross my legs the zipper pull digs in to my leg a bit. All the more reason to sit up straight with both feet on the ground, I guess!

A wrap skirt is a versatile piece and in a knit, it’s great for packing. My mention of packing is a hint of future posts. I just came back from a girls’ weekend in Savannah, Georgia, so I’ll be showing off the city’s architecture soon.