All posts filed under: Fashion

Tax Day

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Sometimes, bombs go off, and you don’t even realize the impact they’ll have through all the smoke and chaos and initial “WTF happened?”. Meaning sometimes, it’s not the Apocalypse but the Aftermath that really stings, that lingers in the air—often invisible but still noxious, clouding your senses.Vinyl of the day: “So runs the world away” by Josh Ritter. The fallout feels like fog. I owe(d) thousands to the IRS. To me, numbers are painful realizations that make self-employment feel like Sisyphus-style self-immolation. Fortunately, there’s food. And silk. And vintage “pearl” neckties. And Dan Costello. Even, and especially, on tax day. I don’t even know how he does it. He took the scraps of haphazard, neglected and wilting vegetables and over-exposed-to-the-air tortillas and made magic happen. We got this cast iron dutch oven somewhere for some such cheapness (Dan will remember and I’ll ask him later and then delete this part with just a cheap-ass number and you will forget this sentence ever existed. Poof. Like magic). All this became Black bean & radish fried tortilla pie.Then …

FASHION: Velvet Jumpsuit + Cat Man

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I bought this Carreau Sport black velour zip-up jumpsuit ($4, Restyle thrift store) on a thrifting adventure with Bethany. It achieves a Forever Lazy adult -footed fleece pajama comfort level, but makes less of a sad commentary on the state of American society. Instead, I felt perfectly zhizam! and vavavoom on a quick run out to catch the tail end of Dan’s gig last weekend. Lauren by Ralph Lauren black suede, studded wood mules ($5, Good Samaritan; approximate MSRP, $100). Practically never worn, these shoes kick ass and I can just barely walk normal in them even. Score! The rad is in the details. A gold star for a zipper. Yes, please. A Tibetan turquoise, coral and beaded breastplate ($140, Armor Bijoux, an ethnic and vintage jewelry collection by Bethany Walter). Done, now blowing minds. Whoop, there it is. This is what Dan wore to his gig, but with an awesome beat-up leather cowboy hat. Up close, the shirt has lovely details, a little flare and good tailoring with pearl buttons. Another thing about Dan, he is the “cat whisperer.” Especially …

FASHION: Independence Day

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Dan and I spent July 4 playing with fire. Starting with misfires, as the bike-to-a-party plans faded into a flat. Instead we grilled up locally-sourced burgers and sweet potato fries, toasted champagne, and fired up our new portable steel fire pit recently acquired from Grocery Outlet ($70). Then, a photo session devolved into a fiery dorkdom. En guarde. Jessica Outfit Breakdown: Scarlett red silk dress: FREE (gift from Kelly Lynae) pale pink undershirt: $1 (Restyle thrift store) Total outfit cost: $1 Jessica Accessories Breakdown: Tibetan turquoise, coral and beaded breastplate: $140 (Armor Bijoux) Silver and turquoise dangly earrings: FREE (gift from Anna D.) Etienne Aigner pale pink shoes: $10 (Ross Dress for Less) Total accessories cost: $155 Thankfully, dorks are often quite adorable. Paired with totally sci-fi awesome. Beam me up, Cheep.

FASHION: Pale Sun

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Dan had a gig in McCall at Alpine Village a few weeks ago. The sky, white and hazy with fire smoke, matched our pale outfits, also skin. Jessica Outfit Breakdown: Izod pale pink shorts: $2 (Restyle thrift store) H Bar C ruffle top: $2 (thrift store) Pale pink camisole undershirt: $1 (Restyle thrift store) Jessica Accessories Breakdown: White molded plastic cowboy hat: $1.25 (River City Dry Goods) Etienne Aigner pale pink flats: $10 (Ross Dress for Less) Jessica Total cost: $16.25

Adventure fashion on Frivolous Universe

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Fashion is a frivolous universe. Go on. Wear it out. Bethany Walter, my dear friend and Armor Bijoux jewelry dealer, had the idea for a collective fashion blog. Dubbed “Frivolous Universe” by Kelly Lynae (inspired by a line in this post), we launched just 2 weeks ago, and have been having wickedly good times. So, I’m lady Thursday on Frivolous Universe. I’ll be using this platform for fancier pictures and more detail shots. But the cheap, Cheep vibe will run right through. Check it out.

Outfit of the Day: Sept. 23, 2011

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I love me a jumpsuit on a Friday. This gem (I mean check out those cufflinks), magically, is from the same Idaho Youth Ranch run we’ve been highlighting all week. Today Dan and I were on Thomas Paul‘s exquise Radio Boise show for Story Story Night. I also need to ride my bike to work my ass off, quite literally. And then attend a birthday cocktail hour at the Gamekeeper. Then the grand opening of Pengilly’s with Jeremiah James. And then work my ass off again. But you know what? A good jumpsuit makes it all happen, baby. Outfit breakdown: JR Nites by Caliendo jumpsuit: $3.75 (Idaho Youth Ranch-Chinden. I love these old brand names) Accessories breakdown: Black clutch: $10 (Renewal) 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 Total cost: $34.74 Cheep sauce. 2 Quick Tips: 1-Renewal has a rack of clutches by their cash register they sell for about $10-$12 or less. They are typically …

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 …