The Tiny Closet

There's been a lot going on lately as I'm bringing more designs together for Spring.  I took a break from  all the sewing and planning to see a dear friend perform at a Bobby McFerrin concert last night at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  The concert was amazing and truly special because for one, I absolutely adore Bobby McFerrin and two, my friend played drums and sang backgrounds.  Singing backgrounds for Bobby of all people!  I died.

Before our evening stroll to the concert hall, we took some shots of my highly improvised outfit.  Leggings, a waterfall skirt worn to the side and a maxi tee.
Casual with a bit of modern evening formality...  But mainly casual.

top: Tiny Closet Collection / leggings: F&F / skirt: Forver21 / heels: Zara / cuff: RiaRia

Thanks for visiting!

There's something about a crisp white tee with jeans on a woman.  So American.  Classic American.  Jeans and a white tee is one of the few American fashions I favor and feel great wearing.  There's an effortless, rugged, natural beauty about this style.  So I guess it's no surprise that I love it.

I snatched up these Dr. Suess-like sandals instantly while in Zara last Summer.  I don't think I'll ever let them go.  These sandals are such a nice surprise to any ensemble and I also wore them with a denim dress here.

And a side note...

I've been getting a lot of questions on how I style my hair.  Some of you already know my thoughts on natural hair: 

I wash it, I dry it, I go.  Nothing more really.  It's hair, you know?  I let it do its thing.  I don't twist, braid, set or do anything to my hair other than wash it.  But I do make sure to detangle it every other day while washing.   

On that note, I do want to say, my hair had recently become near to impossible to detangle and felt overall, rough and stiff.  Yikes!  As I scrambled to figure out the problem, I quickly realized my Tangle Teezer brush that I'd been using for months was wreaking major havoc on my curls.  I stopped using it immediately, picked a restructuring conditioner by Dove at Target and literally, in a day, my hair was back to normal.

So, while I don't have the most involved hair routine, I have discovered some pretty cool secrets:

1.    Do not use the Tangle Teezer 

I guarantee it works for no kind of curly hair

&
2.    Dove Hair Therapy: Intensive Repair Conditioner works.like.magic.
on the bottle it says "95% fewer split ends" and "hair renewal within first use".... they are frickin right.  All the heaping damage my Tangle Teezer caused (as well as my neglect) was practically reversed within one wash.  Now my hair is shinier and more curly than it was originally.



So now that my hair is healthy and back to it usual tricks, I can get back to what really matters... clothes!  Ahhhhhhh.

And these pink voluminous pants I got for $3 at Value Village - they have managed to stay refreshingly relevant in my Tiny Closet and shine particularly bright every Spring.  

This Spring though, I'm pairing them with a bandeau and showing a little skin!

While mid-drift baring is a sport in which my participation has always been minimal, I think this year I'm going to be joining all those flashy L.A. girls and showing off a bit more of that sexy lower rib area... yeah!

Over the weekend, while trying to figure out what artsy craftsy things I wanted to do for Easter Sunday, I fell into a heavy case of whimsy.  During a trip to the fabric store, 

I forgot everything I had planned to get and returned home with a tutu.  

Yes, a tutu.

Amidst all the pastel silk ribbon and dupioni and frou frou eyelet, I just exploded with inspiration and joy and snatched this thing up.  

I had been eyeing tutus for a some time and finally, I just got one.

I then proceeded to paint my nails a cool pastel green color, leaving one finger on each hand a sequiny pink.

I decided it was best to dress the tutu down.  Way down.  I planned my top to be a polar opposite.  Since I'd thrown out my old Metallica tee years ago, 

I threw on a comfy heather gray long sleeve tee from my Tiny Closet Collection instead and.... 

as I was putting on my oxfords and denim jacket, preparing to go out, I got super nervous and self conscious (am I really about to go out wearing a frickin tutu??)  aaaaand opted to stay in.

Grumble, grumble, grumble.

why did I have to feel like that?

When I began chronicling my Tiny Closet affairs, the first lesson I had to learn in rebuilding my closet into a collection that I would adore was focusing completely and only on things I love.  Surprisingly, it was very difficult.  You've got hundreds of professionals in magazines, tv shows, and blogs saying "do" and "don't" and "every woman should own.." not to mention friends, boyfriends, and family saying, "really? you're going to wear that?"  For me, it was easier to follow the rules and just buy what people told me to buy.   

If you've never had this problem, you're my hero.  I'm only recently in the last year getting the courage to wear what I really really love.  And you know what? I love this tutu.

And you know what else?  

I'm gonna wearrrrrr this tutu!  

So while I had a blast wearing it around my apartment, I do plan to wear it out soon.  And when I do, I'll remember why I got it in the first place:
because it's funny and cool, it makes me smile and it's me.

Happy Monday :)

 dress: Tiny Closet Collection / shoes: CMG / earrings: thrifted

Until yesterday when I was feeling severely unmotivated after eating an entire block of Beechers cheese that morning and then passing out for six hours.  Waking up again around 3pm from my cheese coma, I asked if there was any more cheese left Theo to pick out my outfit for the day.  Of course he took full advantage of the task and put me in this.

90s camp counselor meets hip hop rockstar.  But I did feel a retro cool coming over me.  It's surprising how much you can turn your clothes around to make
a wardrobe fit for someone else completely.

Yes, The Tiny Closet did it again with it's versatility.  Having someone else look at your closet for a change is very interesting.  This look is signature Kanye and yes, the waist-tied jacket is a borrowed fad, as well as the multiple necklaces, the draping tee, the blazers stint and leather pants but who taught me how to put this craziness together?

Yeezy taught me.

Monochrome.... I have a tendency to do this if I'm not paying attention while dressing.  I don't know what it is but, I automatically choose the same colors subconsciously when putting things together (specifically when in a hurry) and it comes out kind of amusing.  

This four-shades-of-grey number was what I came up with yesterday morning when nothing but a pale blanket of clouds covered the sky and I had no good plans.  Ah, wait!  I totally know what it is now, I realize I tend to go monochrome when I'm bored or uninspired - yes, that's it.  

But that's the bad kind of monochrome.  That's the inevitable end result of dressing while bored.  What's the good kind?  I guess I'll have to show you this all again later.  I can't let this be my only say on monochrome because when deliberate, it can be dramatic and regal!  It can be posh and eccentric.  I'll have to work on this and return here with a better example of monochrome.  

A better example than this:

sweater: All Saints Mens / top: Tiny Closet Collection / pants: Zara / wedges: Castaner / necklace: thrifted

My sister and I used to have this funny saying when one of us would try to be cool or glamorous...

I laughed to myself yesterday remembering that old saying as I put this outfit together.  Sunday was pretty chilly and I was prepared with one of my favorite Tiny Closet Collection pieces: a cobalt wool poncho with a gigantic, fabulous collar and tail

And just like Tiny Closet style, I have worn this all before :) 

Check it out:

mary-jane heels with black leggings

gypsy pants with army boots

poncho with belt and jeans

Working with a new hairstyle.... we'll see what the survey says - it might just be my new do!

Anyway, HAPPY MONDAY!!

I never wrap my hair at night so by morning, my curls tend to mold into a Huey-esque style, dense and tall.  Yesterday morning, I decided to just go with it.  I put in some bobby pins, smoothed the sides and threw on some wayfarers.  Not gonna lie - the new do felt pretty fresh!

To compliment my architectural hairstyle, I wore a streamlined jumper and a simple white tube dress.  Minimal just how I like it.  

**sidenote: the applique Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn kissing is amazing.**

So I think, all together, this new updo is pretty awesome.  

Sometimes I forget just how much a hairstyle can change and influence clothing.  

It has revved me up to experiment some more this weekend!

This Nutella tee I got from an old neighborhood cafe in Seattle.  Nutella is such a nostalgic childhood favorite for me, and with the cropped top and colored wayfarers,
I felt like a kid :)

top: Faire Gallery / skirt: The Tiny Closet Collection / brogues: CMG

And like true Tiny Closet style, I have worn these pieces before!  This skirt in particular, I wore in a Fall ensemble and here with a muscle tee.
It's very versatile so you know, it's perfect for me because I like to be able to wear my closet all year round.


I've been feeling kinda bored with my hair lately....  Thinking of trying something different these days.  Hopefully I won't be too lazy this weekend to experiment and show you on Monday!  This girl needs a bit of a change!