Author: Jessica Holmes

Man Cheep with Dan, Sept. 22, 2011

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The story of Dan‘s girlfriend-enforced (that’s me) wardrobe transformation odyssey is too harrowing and cliff-hangery to go into now, but suffice it to say, whew. Man Cheep is not easy. But now, I do nothing. Dan is, at heart, admit it goddammit, an instinctual, skillful and playful dresser. I sometimes think it’s useful to define a sum-up phrase for yourself to help you easily sort through a wide array of styles and options. Dan’s phrase, after much deliberation, is “rockstar sophisticate.” It’s done us well. So, as the ladies shopped at the Idaho Youth Ranch this weekend, Dan found some steals of his own, perfect for his rockstar lifestyle. Outfit breakdown: J. Rent Ltd.  jacket: $3.75 (Idaho Youth Ranch-Chinden, half-off orange tag sale. Custom tailored for Philip E. Batt according to the stiching. Dahmmmmn.) Pyke Ltd. shirt: $3.75 (Idaho Youth Ranch-Chinden) Natural Issue pants: $3.75 (Idaho Youth Ranch-Chinden. Doesn’t that brand sound like a bowel movement?) Some sort of shoes that are probably straight-up Cheep. Total cost: $11.25 Secret #1 to Man Cheep: Fit, not …

Outfit of the day: Sept. 20, 2011

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Like yesterday’s vision in blue, this dress comes from the weekend’s Youth Ranch run. Still bearing the original tags from 20-30 years ago, this dress was made by the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union in the USA. Damn ladies. Nice work. I feel like I’m on the set of Mad Men, which is what I aim for (at least in my head) most days. I am Peggy Olsen redux, copywriter for the 21st century. Outfit breakdown: Connections dress (new! but vintage): $5.75 (Idaho Youth Ranch-Chinden) Banana Republic belt: sale $18, MSRP $80 Accessories breakdown:  Steve Madden bondage sandles: $12 (Ross Dress for Less) Total cost: $35.75 Cheep! Now carry on.

Outfit of the Day: Sept. 19, 2011

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I have an epic busy Monday, one week to go to the premiere of Story Story Night at our new venue, the Rose Room, at which I’m telling a story that I still need to pull together, but first I’ll teach the Story Story Studio tonight, but not before I execute a few rush projects for my copywriting business. But first, I Cheep. I wanted to show you another blue silk beauty. I got this yesterday while shopping for Story Story Night stage design. Fall is going to be bad ass. Outfit breakdown: Jorie 100% silk blue dress: $3.75 (Idaho Youth Ranch-Chinden) Accessories breakdown: United Colors of Benetton green suede belt: $0.99 (ReStyle-Orchard + Overland) Steve Madden green suede kitten heels: $20 (Ross Dress for Less) Armor Bijoux epic necklace: undisclosed peacock bracelet: $5 (Buffalo Exchange-Albuquerque, NM) Total cost: $29.74 Yes, I cut the shoulder pads out of this one too. Easy, breezy, current girl.

Outfit of the day: Sept. 2, 2011

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Today, I signed the lease for my first legit office space in the Union Block building downtown. I am calling this phase in my life the rose period. (Like Picasso’s rose period, I am hoping for an uptick in circus people.) Story Story Night is moving to the Rose Room. And I am ready to bloom. And I’m bringing Cheep with me. The previous phase in my life was dubbed the blue period on the occasion of my 27th birthday. As a send off to these last 4 years, I give you this vision in blue. Outfit Breakdown: Liz Claiborne 100% silk two-piece blue suit w/ shorts: $7.50 (Idaho Youth Ranch-250 N. Orchard Boise, ID 83706) Tess Studio silk cami: $1.99 (ReStyle-5326 Overland Road, Boise, Idaho 83705) Total outfit cost: $9.49 Accessories Breakdown: Agate (or whatever stone this is) necklace: $8 million Turkish lira (circa 2004, so about $6) RipCurl watch: $36, original MSRP $109 (from Whiskey Militia) Silver/gold/bronze bracelet: FREE as permanently borrowed gift from sister (Cheep!) Bandolino blue pumps: $19 (Ross Dress for Less-mall area) Total …

Outfit of the Day: May 12, 2011

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Too legit to quit? Indeed. Because this year, I am one of Idaho Business Review’s 40 Accomplished Under 40. I love it because my business name is “Jessica Holmes Copywriting” so it’s double billing. Cheap, Cheep! So, they do this special color insert for the accomplished young guns. This year with both a headshot and full body pose. But fear not. Cheep is here. My shoot was yesterday at the Knitting Factory. When I take photos for Cheep, I usually get about 20 to 30 complete ass-faced idiot looks to every 1 that will suffice I guess. So I’m hoping the photographer maintains a better click rate. Outfit Breakdown: Anna and Frank silk blouse $2 (from Restyle-10243 W Fairview Ave, Boise, ID 83704) Morgan Taylor Studio Italian merino wool skirt $10 (from Saver’s-10475 West Fairview Avenue Boise, ID 83704) Leg Impressions tights, 2 for $2 (from Grocery Outlet-5544 West Fairview Avenue, Boise) Outfit total: $13 Accessories Breakdown: Armor Bijoux necklace: undisclosed Tattoo: $100 (from Chalice Tattoo) Jeffrey Cambell shoes: $60 (MSRP $120 from Piece Unique & Shoez) …

The epic Rockies’ dress + lightsaber duel

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My industry, which is advertising (I am an independent copywriter), holds one epic, no-holds-barred awards show every year. Called the Rockies, the event serves as Idaho’s first stage in the national Addy competition, and also as a forum for the 350+ ad peeps in the state to get completely blotto en masse in as little as 20 minutes. In true Oscar’s style, the organizers pair up presenters to introduce each category and announce the winners. Magically, and probably because I host  Story Story Night monthly without having vomited once, I was asked to be a presenter along with the elites of the agencies. I persuaded my independent designer friend and Armor Bijoux dealer (tagline: “Jewelry for the fashion war.” «We wrote that together. Brilliant.) Bethany Walter to join me on stage. Rarely do we get these sort of epic dress-up opportunities. I knew I needed something dynamite. And, three weeks ago at Repeat Boutique (500 South Vista Avenue, Boise, ID 83705), I found a vision of wearable vintage art. The craftsmanship and thought that went into this dress is unbelievable. I modestly refer …

LUX 50% off everything Friday and Saturday

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Unfortunately, this is not a paid advertisement, so heed my words without your inbred capitalist cynicism. LUX (785 W. Idaho) is by far my favorite place to Cheep shop in Boise. It’s locally-owned and amazingly affordable, and they collect all the boutique cast-offs and sell them new for ridiculous discounts. Anyhoo…Friday, February 11th and Saturday February 12th is the biggest sale of the year at LUX. 50% off every-f*cking-thing. Halle-freakin-luia. Cheep glory. Get something haute for V-day, for practically nothing. I’ll see you there first.

Story-time: Cezanne in Russia

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I’m a story addict. Seriously. I dope myself up on the stuff until I just can’t take anymore and then I take some more. I especially like when people read stories aloud. I listen to David Sedaris and Anthony Bourdain (my current out-loud favorites) books on tape over and over and over again until their petulant yet hilarious voices permanently seep into the drywall, emitting the odor of sarcasm. It’s a reason I am a co-founder of Story Story Night. Free, unfiltered access to stories every month? Yes, please. So today, I’m introducing a new feature called Cheep Story-time. This will feature original non-fiction and fiction stories by yours truly, Jessica Holmes (or as Dan points out I say on Story Story Night podcasts “Jess-ka Holmes,” or as once known to my then toddler sister “Ca Ca”), a self-acclaimed serious bad ass writer. And they won’t be boring, promise. They will be good stories, read loud. Cheep-tainment, baby! AUDIO: Cheep Story-time by Jessica Holmes: Cezanne in Russia The above story recounts my move, as a naive, …

4 basics of Cheep fashion

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My body is wholly unremarkable. When young, this seemed a great hardship. I never grew taller than 5’ 4”. I never developed svelte little muscles to replace my baby fat. And even if I did, I never could develop a tan, so the poor, hard-working dears would be lost in a blinding glare of white. Nevertheless, I somehow look good, almost everyday. There’s a bros-tale passed around by perplexed men: “Women dress for each other, not for us.” Though so simple to be supposed true, their theory sideswipes the main point. People dress to feel good. Nothing changes the way you walk, the way you carry yourself, they way you interact with strangers and others, more than the choices you make in the closet. But don’t fear. Fashion is not serious like calculus. It is frivolous and playful. Big-ticket fashion—in which you pay the actual prices listed in captions to photo shoots—must be a ball. If you can fork over $550 for a brocaded tank top, and you have taste, of course you’ll look good. …

Outfit of the Day: January Story Story Night

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Just in time for dieting, resolutions and self-improvement projects, Story Story Night held HOOKED: Stories of Cravings and Compulsions on Jan. 31, 2011, with three incredible featured storytellers (including the inimitable Al Blank) followed by an open story slam. For Story Story Night (I’m the co-founder, host, copywriter and marketing director of this wildly popular monthly live storytelling program), I try to dress to fit (however obliquely) the theme. I also always try to photograph my outfit for Cheep right before, but never fail to run completely out of time. Fortunately, our photographer Will Jones snapped some stellar stage shots of this stellar dress. Because my dieting, resolutions and self-improvement projects fizzled out, I did not wear the amazing blue sequin mini-dress I bought at The Youth Ranch for $6.50. Maybe in 20 pounds. Instead, I wore one of my most fabulous Cheep deals. Outfit Breakdown: Red Calvin Klein dress: $22, original MSRP $200 (new from LUX) Accessories Breakdown: Necklace: $7.50 (from Antique World Mall) Armor Bijoux bracelet: Gift (from Bethany Walter, designer and jewelry diva) RipCurl …