back to business

Hello all! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. After all this Christmas crazy it's nice to finally relax and start getting back to real life. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and the day after is always a bit sad but at the same time, it's like now that the buying, giving, cooking and cleaning is all done, we can all finally just chill out! Today, I decided to suit up and take my self to the book store for some free internet, yes, my mother's house is internet free oddly enough and get some work and blogging done. Unfortunately, no holiday ootd pics as my mother also possesses the talent of taking the most awful and unflattering photos in all the world! But, she tries! One interesting thing about being back home is looking through all of my old clothes. Every time I come back here I find something that used to be my favorite, or even something I don't remember at all! I re discovered this Issac Mizrahi blouse and Benneton sweater vest that I bought in Rome years ago! I also found these super cute vintage earrings in my old jewelry box. These are surely coming back to Chicago with me!  Here's a little post-holiday ootd:

Earrings: Vintage, Sweatshirt: Proenza Schouler

Blouse: Issac Mizrahi, Vest: United Colors of Benneton, Jeans: J. Crew

Blazer: J. Crew

another day, another DVF dress.

The angels are singing as I have finally finished college up and it's time for some Christmas break relaxation.  Last night I had a little birthday/graduation celebration complete with burgers, cocktails and karaoke. All in all a pretty fabulous evening. I also finally purchased a new camera battery! I mean really, what's the point of getting dressed anymore if I can't document it, right? I wore one of my new favorite dresses, a silk DVF number I got at the Saks sale. I just love the deep cowl and the fitted skirt. It seems quite appropriate for any season really. I paired it with shades of brown and wore on of those lipsticks that so dark and dramatic, it's only really appropriate on special occasions...oh, who am I kidding? I wore it grocery shopping this morning. Here's an outfit of the evening:

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg

Booties: Marc Jacobs, Tights: Kate Spade

Fur: H&M, Coat: United Colors of Benneton

Last days..

So, I am quickly approaching the end on my college career..four more days!! I'm actually going to miss school. I like being in fashion classes among my people, you know, the other lunatics who understand the importance of a swatch and a good design. I am exciting to finally start putting all of this fashion business into motion. But for now, it's just finishing up with exams and final projects. It doesn't help that I have had an abnormally social weekend. I hung out with friends, played a show with my band and even went to the puppy store (no, I didn't buy). I also managed to drop my camera battery behind the stove never to be seen again! Yep, that happened. Now I am left stressed and struggling to get everything all finished up by thursday. Today was spent running all over town gathering swatches and other materials for my menswear final and making up a yoga sequence for a presentation. Here are some of my current ins and outs for my final days as a stressed college student:

In:

-Philosophy Fresh Vanilla Frost Bubble Bath: The best thing after a long day of schlepping around horridly cold Chicago.

-My new DVF Wrap: I scored this little number in the Saks after Thanksgiving sales and finally got to wear it this weekend. No OOTD due to that little mishap with the camera battery :(

-Chanel Rouge Noir Nail Polish: Dark, sexy, vampy, classy. You know, it's just all that good stuff.

-Sweater tights: So much warmer than pants! I've been wearing a different pair everyday with wool skirts and shift dresses.

-My birthday: Knowing that I have an evening of guilt free partying ahead of me is always incentive to just buckle down and get my work done!

-Absolutely Fabulous: My all time favorite show! This is what I like to watch at the end of a crazy day...I just think, one day I will be some crazy fashion lady with too much time and money on her hands...no?

Out:
-Hives: I'm breaking out in hives constantly due to an allergic reaction...trying to ignore it as to not make it worse.
                                  (no pic needed!)

- Chicago weather: it's "I might die right now" cold! What's worse is that it's going to be WORSE!

-Winston: Everyday I come home and this little guy is right where I left him, in bed. I'm starting to resent his laissez faire lifestyle.

Biba Fever

I've just been kind of rediscovering my love for 1960's British fashion and I can't stop thinking about Barbara Hulanicki and her line Biba. I recently reread From A to Biba, a great little book I found at my college book store about Hulanicki and how her little shop took off and became a major staple for the youth of London. It's really an interesting read and another good source for aspiring designers.  I also want to check out Biba: The Biba Experience as I have heard other Biba devotees rave about it. What isn't there to love about Biba? From her great print ads featuring psychedelic art nouveau designs, to her 1930's inspired makeup to the amazing prints and silhouettes of her clothes. It's all just so 60's and so fun! 

Monday Distractions

As I'm sure I have mentioned before, this spring I will be moving to a new apartment! I'm so excited and am constantly thinking about what I want it to look like, even creating an inspiration folder chock full of spreads from Elle Decor and dream pieces that I could never afford.  If you spent 6 years in a studio with another person, you'd be excited too! In an effort to distract myself from doing all of my final projects (2 more weeks of school yay!) I went ahead and compiled a short list of some of my favorite pieces. In doing so, I've realized how my style has changed so much over the last few years. Sick if being in a cluttered, tiny space, I am dreaming of a clean, modern yet vintage apartment. 

1. Ikea  Couch

2. Cb2 Arm Chair

3. Ikea Tulip Table

4. Anthropologie Marie Antoinette Plates

5. Jonathan Adler Pillow

6. Pier One Hayworth Vanity

7. Alessi Heart Spoons

8. Etsy Norwegian Print

9. Phillipe Starck Ghost Chair

10. Ikea Coffee Table

11. West Elm Shag Carpet

12. DVF Bedding

Oh, the flash of it all.

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! I spent some wonderful lazy days in Richmond with my parents and best friend, it was a great and much needed mini break. I did score some amazing finds at the Sak's Fifth Avenue after Thanksgiving sale, more on that later as I left my camera behind. But fear not, it is in transit back to me. Let's just say there is some DVF in there! Anyways, I love coming back to Chicago after Thanksgiving break because it seems like it's instantly Christmas time. All the lights and wreaths are up and it's that final countdown for school to end (forever!!). Here's a little collage of some of my favorite christmas things:

Hello Kitty Ornaments: I'm determined to have a Hello Kitty tree this year!

Barbie Christmas Plates: Love these! They would be perfect for parties.

Panettone: This Italian Christmas treat is a must at my house, always served warm with loads of butter!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Strips: I've had these awesome plaid nails since Halloween as I've been saving them for the holidays.

Tacky Light Tours: Is there anything more fun than running around strangers' lawns?

Chanel Red Lipstick: Perfect with any party dress.

Sofia Coppola Champagne: Such a pretty bottle and would be great for making Belinis and Mimosas

Metallic Pink Tree: The tacky girl within wants nothing more than this flash!

little old lovelies.

Lately, I've been collecting images of quirky, fashionable old ladies...Why you say? Because I've always been obsessed with the older crowd. They have just sort of grown into to themselves and really don't give a damn about what other people think. In many ways they are much freer than the rest of us. Nothing makes me happier than seeing this particular lady in my neighborhood with magenta hair! She is just so striking and she must be about 80!  My best friend and I always talk about when we are old ladies living it up in Boca. We fully intend to become the quirky old ladies we love, with too much jewelry, makeup and hair dye! I personally cannot wait! I'm thinking I might design my next collection based on some of my favorite little old ladies, it could be an interesting little challenge! 

                            

wishin' and hopin'

When we were kids they told us to dream big, BIG MISTAKE! Here's a modest little wish list, in no order of importance:

This little guy (I'm looking at you boyfriend!)

NARS All About Cheeks Palette

This Apartment

J. Crew Hacking Jacket in Turquoise

Chanel Maxi Bag in Caviar

Valentino Rock Stud Flats

My Designs on the cover of Vogue! This is what it would look like, pretty awesome!

JessicaJudeDesigns.com

Blue Velvet.

It's friday and you know what that means, my day off and a trip to Vogue Fabrics. Now, before you think I'm just some hoarder of fine fabrics...true...I'm usually there getting swatches for school projects. While I couldn't find any of what I was looking for for said project, I did hit the jackpot for myself. I ended up purchasing heaps of turquoise velvet! Sounds weird, but I could instantly see a gorgeous, Halston inspired, grecian dress. In others words, disco, my constant inspiration.  I also purchased about two yards of gold chain to possibly use as trim or if that fails to make some necklaces with. I wanted to get some sort of glitzy buckles but couldn't find any that were right. This will probably turn into some over the top birthday dress. I tend to dress like I'm headed to Studio 54 on my birthday and then just meet my friends at a dive bar. What would a bright blue velvet dress with gold details call for? Bowling? Roller skating?
Here's an outfit of the day and my purchases:

Jacket: My Beloved via Presence, Shirt: Truly, Madly, Deeply via Urban Outfitters, Jeans: J. Crew

 Bracelets: Vintage, Forever 21 Bag: Gucci-vintage Watch: Michael Kors

 Boots: Steve Madden "Hoodlum"

Goes well with....