The Tiny Closet

In anticipation of my move to California, I picked a few new thrifted items that might be perfect for all the warm weather I'd be living in.  One of them was this

slinky, maxi jumper.  

Of course, my romantic notions of 80-degree Winters here were silly and naive so I breaking it out of my Tiny Closet couldn't come soon enough.  I need to settle down, I know.  

Ah, but I am incredibly impatient you see so I had to improvise.

As dynamite as this jumper will look sans under top, it's still gorgeously dramatic with a fitted long sleeve scoop neck underneath :)  And booties!

jumper: thrift / top: Zara / booties: Jessica Simpson / earrings from a friend / bangles: Chamak by Priya Kakkar

I'm excited to show a bit more skin when the time is right.  But for now I suppose I will settle for some fun layering with the few seasonal wears that I have.  Aaaaand

Wanna keep up with the latest in Tiny Closet adventures?  

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maxi top: All Saints / waterfall skirt: Forever21

I am a huge fan of frontal side slits a la Jessica Rabbit.  That's actually the only reason I entertain waterfall skirt - so that I can wear them sideways for some drama!

I love wearing drapey, loose clothing while at home.  Doesn't everybody though?  But also, lounging at home can be so...luxurious and sexy!  

So clothing with drape just adds to the sumptuous emotion of it all.

While I draft and re-draft, I am excited to show the semi-finished products of my labor.  Really, I'm working toward a lil collection.  Perhaps a Tiny Collection??  hmmm.  Haha :)  

Until then!

and thank you for visiting!!

I love this nautical number from StyleMint.  Love it!  I am actually working on sewing several more myself of the same design just because these little dress/tunics are so versatile.  And mama likes versatile.

And speaking of versatile, I wore this same outfit golfing months ago here....  Instead of the red lips, I wore red Tom's and an awesome cult denim jacket.   

tunic/dress:  StyleMint / denim: GAP / sandals: Nordstrom / glasses: Fremont Vintage Mall

It's Monday!  

Let's werq, shall we?

:)

While I've been taking a turn for the worse (I do tend to get dramatic about these sort of things...) the weather has seemed to be taking a turn for the better.  The sun has been shining without a cloud in the sky for the past couple days so Thursday, I decided to go out for second and enjoy it.

I went to a local market to do some craving-driven shopping.  You know, the essentials:  polenta, coconut water, Justin's organic peanut butter cups and almond milk.  Yeah.

I was pretty layered as I didn't know just how warm it was outside.  Nonetheless, I just wanted to be comfortable with no fuss.  As you probably have noticed, I've been digging mens shirts lately and I've been wearing them nonstop.  Yesterday was no exception.  This one I'm wearing is from Zara Man and it's got a much narrower torso.
If you're looking for a more "fitted" mens shirt, Zara Man caters to smaller sizes.

I love this light weight wool jumper!!!  I wore it here as well with heels.  I learned fast that its open design is hospitable to a lot of different combinations and pairings...
Like denim and an oversize sweater.

I wore the tap shoes to lighten the layers.  And my mood :)

Hope you enjoyed the week!  

See ya back here on Monday!

...But sometimes I like to dress like one.

You know, the classic dancer instructor look.   Super thin black leggings, tap-like heels, of course, the mini skirt/tunic to go over aaand lastly to give a bit of age, a men's shirt.  

So fresh and simple!  And yes, aerobic.

Yeah, definitely not a dancer.  But a girl can dream :)

I've been feeling under the weather these past few days so I won't be posting for Thursday.  It took a lot just to get my butt in some heels even today!  

Boo.  I can't stand being sick.  On the upside though, that's when I eat the healthiest... 

Soooo I think I need to take a break and catch up with you Friday.  

Hope you're week is going well so far!

One of my favorite duos to wear is a cropped jacket with high-waist pants.  And even though it's been quite cold lately (soooo deceptive with all this sun), I still wore my super comfy platform sandals.  I didn't really have a choice, the pants are way too long for anything else.

pants: Value Village / top: Original Gangster / denim jacket: American Eagle / necklace: Philippines / bangles: Forever21 / sandals: Nordstrom 

On another note, I've been juicing lately and it's actually pretty incredible.  Since moving to another state, I haven't really had the extra funds to buy my weekly face masks from Lush so I decided to get the magical potions I need for my skin by drinking them.  It's cheaper but it works like, Whoa.  Like Blossom's brother "Whoa".

Thank you for visiting!!

Exploring our new hood on a walk on Sunday, I didn't feel like wearing my usual jacket or sweater or blazer or or or...  So many options that I've worked to death it seems, and I was completely uninterested in all of them.  I try my hardest not to let that negative feeling of the there's-nothing-in-my-closet syndrome get to me, but when I open my Tiny Closet and it comes over me, it's the worst.  Talk about closet interruptus.  heehee!

Thank goodness my attention has recently landed to rest for a moment on men's fashion!  Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken me to leave the house that morning, omg.  Drama drama, right?  Anyway, the things boys have been doing with clothing and textures lately is pretty inspiring and snapped me right out of my funk.  I was inspired in fact, to try out a bit of their handsome styling tricks myself by taking something I've been seeing a lot in the boy mags: 

layering a denim jacket with a tweed blazer.  Handsome!  

And as it turned out, I just so happened to have those same ingredients in my Tiny Closet to brew up the very same look for myself :)

 I also wore Theo's socks 80s aerobic style, bunched over my skinny denims.  And of course, my favorite Bass brogues were right as rain for the look.  I love these girls!  The suede bow ties make the shoe and never get old.

denim jacket: American Eagle / tweed blazer: Value Village / tee: James Perse / denim: Zara / socks: Happy Socks / brogues: Bass

 Looking forward to the sun this week so I can use my pool!!  Okay okay, all you Californians go ahead, roll your eyes and chuckle at my enthusiasm, I don't care!  Just because every single apartment/condo/complex in L.A. has a pool or two doesn't make it any less amazing to this Seattleite.  

I might as well be J.Lo right now, y'all.  Hahaaa!  Hope you have a wonderful week!

Natalie Out.

I've been focusing inward lately.  Like on my new home, specifically :)  Focusing on decor, colors, fabrics, new furniture, whoooo!  My head is spinning with inspiration!

So Thursday, I took a break from going out and stayed in to marinate in all my ideas.  And possibly watch Goonies. 

But these days, I'm living in the middle of everything as soon as I walk out of my front door.  And since I like to always feel my best (and feeling my best means looking my best), even when I was cozied down inside, the couple times I needed to escort my doggie outside for a tinkle, I quickly transformed my house wear into an ensemble that was more than doable for a quick outing.

From staying in to stepping out, all I needed was a crisp business shirt and earrings.  Nothing more.

And while inside, I kept it even more simple.  

For the record, I didn't wear my earrings inside but kept them on for the shoot cus I'm fancy like that.

I also took some photos of things that have been taking up my idle attention lately: 

 our Stendig calendar newly hung in our living room....  Some mags and my favorite interior decorating book, Domino...   And my artsy husband put our kitchen chalkboard to use that morning.  Not for groceries.  It's been raining lately so of course he felt poetic.  As he does :)

The day was also spent avoiding dealing with my not so Tiny Closet.  Ugghhhh :(  But I've got some ideas that I'm excited to share that may alleviate the stress... 

More on that later!

For one, I will be in technicolor.  Like all the time.   

Not just when I take a vacation to the tropics.  

Secondly, I will have to shave my legs.  Like all the time.   

Not just for funerals and picnics in the Summer time.

Ladies and gentleman...  

I am now a permanent resident of the state of California!  Los Angeles to be exact.

And it's been a while, huh?  Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, the same president and now I'm back!  Are you as excited as I am?  No?  Well, let me just show you this new ensemble before you go:

gray tank: FIDM Selvage / black tank: H&M / shorts: Forever21 / booties: Buffalo Exchange / necklace: Swarovski

 

And like TC style, I've worn most of this before.  Take a look!

heels here

necklace here

Soooo, as we break down the boxes one by one, and my heels stand tall and organized, I am slowly making a home for myself.  My new Tiny Closet, while different and unfamiliar still holds all the cool, quirky, creative ensembles I've worn before and will wear again but in newer, cooler, different ways.   

Visit me tomorrow and see!

 

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

"Husband:  California?

Me:  I thought you'd never ask."

picture by The Short & The Sweet of It

Guess where I'm moving??

Yes, during that one week in California it was decided that a small piece of it would be ours to call home.

Funny that my entire family on both sides comes from this golden state of dreamers and yet I was the only one born somewhere else entirely different - and swore I'd never live in such a place.  It's funny because in one month, I will be packing up my house and home to make a new start, ironically where everything first began... Uncanny!

Perfect how things work out sometimes.  

So my Tiny Closet and I are heading south (specifically Los Angeles) to the land of the coatless!  The land of perpetual Summer!  But more importantly, the land of dreams :)  

Theo's right.  It's time we start chasing ours.  Besides, I'd follow that man anywhere.