Lust List

Okay, so it's been a LONG time.

I guess that's what happens to you during senior year--between classes (only 12 hours!), committees, clubs, and 2 other fashion blogs I write for, it's been tough to squeeze time in for myself. Okay, I take that back. I've always been great at carving out time for myself--I've never been one of those people who can go without sleep and without a little personal time.

I'm going through that weird stage of senior year everyone goes through, where half the time I'm ecstatic and filled with wonder and excitement for what life after college will be like, and the other half of the time I'm absolutely horrified. I mean, life's pretty great now. I'm cruising through classes and only have to take 6 hours next semester--I'm actually going to take an extra Beatles colloquium class just for fun. Film Series takes up a lot of my time, but its way more fun that taxing. I'm a little obsessed with everyone I recruited for my committee, and we've had such a successful year. Check out the rad video we made here. Writing for CollegeFashion and OU's newspaper hardly feels like work, so next year will be a bit of a 180. I know I made the right decision declining Goldman's offer, and I'm sooo stoked to help build my parent's business next year.

A few new things in my life that I've GOT to sing praises about...

Cupcakes and Cashmere

 

I've always been a fan of style blogs, but this girl is my new obsession!! Her style is a bit more colorful/wearable than my all time favorite FashionToast, and she always has the more gorgeous photos and great tutorials on hair, home decor, and recipes.

Jeffrey Campbell Lita Boots

 

I'm in love. Seriously. These things are splendid and exactly what I need to fill in gaps in my wardrobe. They would look awesome with casual dress in my closet, stockings, leggings, dressy shorts, skinny cargos, any pair of jeans, the list goes on and on. They're a bit pricey ($150) but hey, who needs to eat?

Odwalla Mango Tango Juice

This is my favorite stuff in the entire world!! My parents take to to grocery shop every time they visit me or I go home, and I buy this stuff in bundles. At any given time, there will always be 4 or 5 bottles of it in my fridge (because the worst thing ever would be to not have it when you need it). My old fashioned gas stove is pretty inconsistent, so rather than healthy meals I'm used to, my diet now mainly is made up of this, chocolate pudding, ramen noodles, and takeout.

Skinny Cargo Pants

I'm crazy about my pair of  skinny cargo pants! I have a pair in olive green, and a pair in khaki. Actually, I'm loving every military piece I've collected this season--a cropped cotton jacket, a white jacket reminiscent of a marching band drum major, an olive green utility parka. My favorite way to style these is to pair them with the most unexpected things, like floral print, lace, and sequins.

Boogie Nights and Goodfellas

This movie blows my mind. Yes, it's about porn stars, but more so it's a statement about the human condition, finding a place where you belong, self worth, and creating a family. Mark Walberg half naked is pretty sweet also.

This is one of my all time favorites, and I rediscovered it a month or so ago. Genuinely it never gets old. This year marks its 20 year anniversary, so GQ published a retrospective interview with Scorsese, DeNiro, Ray Liotta, casting directors, and many other staff members. It was incredible! Many of the extras in the movie were actual gangsters, and Robert DeNiro used to call the real life guy his character was based on in jail to find out small mannerisms, like how he held his cigarettes and how he would say certain phrases. Astounding.

My Dirty Little Secret...Dry Shampoo to the Rescue

So, I've been a little MIA...that's senior year of college for you!

Ok, this is probably disgusting, but I do not particularly enjoy washing my hair. Showering, yes--if I was a boy and didn't have to de-tangle, blow dry, straighten, style, etc, I'd take 3 showers a day! I have very thin hair that tangles so easily, and gets oily fast. So pretty much, I need to wash my hair everyday, but due to hair loss and pure laziness, it doesn't end up happening.

Only a year ago did I discover the solution to all of my hair problems...dry shampoo. This beacon of volume, delicious scents, and automatic oil absorption is an absolute lifesaver! Instead of having flat, nasty second day hair, my hair now looks better the day after a shower than the day it gets washed!

Over the last year I've tried tons of different products, so I thought it'd be appropriate to write a little bit about what I thought of them...

Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder

Maybe it's because its the first dry shampoo I ever tried, but I LOVE this stuff! The spray is pretty thick, lasts for a couple days and gives your hair SO much volume. The downside is that it's a small bottle and really expensive. It comes in a few different shades (hair powder typically sprays out white, so if you don't brush it through it looks funny) but I borrowed my roommate's blonde spray in my brown hair and it looked fine.

T3 Dry Shampoo

Ah, the first dry shampoo I bought for myself after discovering my roommate's precious gem. This stuff comes out a bit sticky, and when you run your hands through your hair the brown dye gets all over. Maybe lighter shades work out better, but I was not impressed.

Ojon Hair Refresher

So this stuff was awesome...the ONE time I got to use it! The $25 dollar bottle clogged before I got to use it a second time, and when I took it to Sephora they told me that it was a problem with the brand and that there way no way to fix it. DON'T buy this stuff, unless you plan on spending $25 on a one time use. That being said, they make travel sized bottles so if you're in a pinch (like me in Vegas a month ago without any hair tools) then the $8 mini bottle is the one to splurge on.

Frederick Fekkai Dry Shampoo

Hands down my favorite dry shampoo. Its essentially a white powder mix in a point bottle rather than an aerosol like every other dry shampoo I've tried, so learning how to apply it can be tricky. I've found that sprinking some on my hands and finger tips and rubbing it on my scalp works the best.I can put it on thick the way I like it, and it gives my hair SO much volume. Plus, my hair stays looking great for days--this summer i went 5 days without washing my hair (I shower capped it though, don't worry). Its pretty expensive, but well worth the splurge in my opinion.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

So, I'm pretty sure this is the stuff little old ladies who get their hair done once a week at the salon use throughout the week to keep their beehive hairdos looking so stiff and perfect. At $8 a can, this stuff is a great buy! It sprays on a bit thinner than what I prefer, but since it's cheap you can afford to be generous with the amount you're spraying on your head. Be sure to comb it through!

Rockaholic by TIGI

I just tried this out a couple days ago--the local Ulta decided to bump the price of Frederick Fekkai dry shampoo up by $10 dollars more than usual, so I picked this up to tide my over until I go home and visit Sephora. This stuff sprays on pretty thick, and SMELLS SO GOOD. By far my second favorite dry shampoo I've tried. Not to mention, the aerosol can it comes in is super cute.

Anyone else a fan of unwashed hair? haha...

Last Night In Town

It's been 3 days since I've left Salt Lake City and I miss my job and my friends beyond belief! I certainly went out with a bang though...

Karaoke bar. Singing Santeria and getting waaaaaay too into it.

Wearing the t-shirt dress from American Apparel. Its basically a pillowcase with slits cut in it for your neck and arms. I LOVE IT. Own it in 5 different colors actually. It clings to all the right places, and you can adjust the top to show some shoulder.

SOOO glad I met Cameron! I have a new BFF at OU!

Girlfrans. We're working at GS, of course majority of us are asian :)

Two of my favorite people

Rush starts in T minus 2 days...so excited for my sister Blake to become at tri delt!

Love, Chelsea

Summer Debauchery...the Vegas

This weekend was awesome.

I've been to Vegas probably a dozen times, but not since I've turned 21...

Holy Shit. 

I stayed at the Venetian. I've been to a lot of places out here and the Venetian is always my favorite.

First night: Played A LOT of black jack...until 3 am to be precise. Enjoyed the free drinks. Window shopped. Almost fainted when I walked into Barney's.

Went to Tao the second night for dinner. DEEEEELISH! Because we ate there, we got VIP passes for later than night. Skipped the line. Tao is a blast, I wanted to stay all night. Fist pump for sure :)

Almost fell asleep out here after Tao. That place wore me out! It was like 2 in the morning though, so the lights were so pretty.

Girlfriends! Dress from Express.

Looking like a hot mess after Tao. Had to stop and take a scenic picture though.

Dress by Rumi Neely for RVCA

The first night, before playing the tables alllll night. Wearing the Machinery dress by Rumi Neely for RVCA. Got lots of compliments.

My friends are cuuuuties.

Less than a week left at Goldman/Salt Lake City. I'm going to miss it, its been incredible.

Chelsea

Always On My Mind

The hiatus is over. I'm ba-a-a-a-ck :)

Here's a few things that have been on my mind lately...

Ellen Page's outfits in Inception were awesome. So wearable and practical. The way she layer button downs, little jackets, scarves, and cardigans were truly inspiring. Her business suit was pretty killer as well. Props to the costume designer, to me this perfectly embodies an Ivy league student at the top of her class. Wait, they weren't in America were they? That movie was information overload, I can't recall where it was supposed to take place.

Clogs. I've been a little iffy on this trend, but then I realized how diving a high heeled pair looked. Any suggestions for reasonably priced ones? Or how to wear them? Wearing them with jeans seems obvious, but would they look weird with shorts? Or too revealing with a skirt? I'll have to do a little more research before making a purchase.

My dear roommate Mimi is FINALLY turning 21 this week...to celebrate, the crew of interns we love are all going to the Vegas for the weekend! I'm soooo stoked, I was there over new year's eve to see John Mayer and couldn't be more thrilled to go again now that I've turned 21. I'll be sure to post pictures, its going to get crazy. I have the perfect gold sequins and black sheer dress I plan on wearing one of the nights. Excellent.

So here's some great news! The editor of the Oklahoma Daily's life and style section saw some articles I've been writing for my internship with CollegeFashion.net and asked if I would like to start writing for the OU Daily as well! I couldn't be more excited, it will be neat to write for a more narrow audience in addition to CF! I can't believe how many doors have been opening lately--I'm really blessed and very grateful for all the opportunities that have been thrown at me :) Not sure what to call the column yet though...Sooner Sartorialist? Sooner Style? Crimson Couture? In addition to writing OU targeted fashion articles, I'm also going to take pictures of people on campus with great style. Senior year is going to be incredible!

2 weeks left at Goldman Sachs,
2 and a half weeks until rush (and my little sister becomes a sorority sister too!!)
3 weeks until Film Series stuff begins
4 weeks until school starts!!!!

Yay!

Icon Inspiration--Kurt Cobain

I don't know about you all, but I'm a huge Kurt Cobain fan. Yes, I was a little young during their heyday, and I don't remember the day he died, but still, good music is good music. Not only did he drastically alter the popular music atmosphere of the 90's, but he also played a hand in fashion. In fact, Marc Jacobs based a runway collection based on grunge culture. I've broken down some of Kurt's style elements:

Layers

Kurt Cobain was all about layering his button down shirts over t shirts and underneath cardigans. This added some dimension and interest to his outfits, two of the last things Kurt would probably consider while getting dressed (haha).

Grunge Staples- Ripped Pants, Flannel, and Stripes

Nirvana is often credited to bringing Grunge to mainstream America. Converse, ripped jeans and khaki pants, oversized flannel shirts, dirty cardigans, stripes, and unwashed hair became all the rage.


Crazy Sunglasses

Kurt loved him some red, white, or black Wayfarers, Lolita sunglasses, huge plastic frames, and any pair that a rock star is the least likely to wear. He liked being different, doing his own thing.

Outfits

Although jean shorts and a flannel shirt are pretty common place, adding the high heeled Dr. Martens with a belt and white sunglasses will reflect the Kurt Cobain vibe you're going for.

For a chilly night, layer a work shirt over a tank top and cardigan and pair it with shorts. Channel Kurt by throwing on a dog tag necklace and some red Converse. This outfit is all About a Girl

This is my favorite outfit I've created in honor of Kurt Cobain!! Take ripped up boyfriend jeans and belt it with a boyish industrial canvas belt. Pair it with a black and white striped t-shirt, red Wayfarers, a rope bracelet, and a comfy pair of Toms. Yes friends, Come As You Are.

Enjoy :)

Chelsea

An Open Letter to Taylor Momsen

Dear Taylor,

We've all had our days of being embarassing, too cool for school, bratty 16 year olds, but you've taken it too far.

We get it. You like to smoke. And wear garters. And curse like a sailor. And cover your eyes with rings of thick black goo. And talk shit on other girls your age who want to express themselves. And have a knife collection. We understand, you've made it very clear both verbally and implicitly that you do not want well, ANYONE to like you.

You recently quoted:

"I’m not looking to be Miley fucking Cyrus...I’m not dissing Miley personally. However, I do think the Disney bubblegum shit that the world is living right now is pathetic. I thought we passed that repression...I get that there is this blonde thing from Gossip Girl and they're expecting pop shit, but it’s a rock band and its heavy. Our record is a life record. It confronts everything head on. It’s death, love, drugs, sex, religion, politics"

First off, no one has any interest in hearing a song about sex or drugs from a 16-17 year old.Frankly, I'm a little frightened and intimidated by a teenager who knows enough about these topics to write songs about them. Slow down Little J, childhood and your teenage years are great things.

Secondly, no need to pull Miley Cyrus, or Disney into this. I remember back when I was in middle school when it was "cool" to hate country music. Now that I've wised up, I've realized that everyone is different and entitled to their own tastes. If several people enjoy one thing, its not called "repression." Save that term for women forced to wear burkas or have their bodies mutilated. If people aren't just like you its okay, diversity is what makes the world an amazing place. A diverse world is not "pathetic," its living in harmony with the hundreds of thousand of parents who yes, would prefer their child to look up to Miley rather than you. But that's how you wanted it, right?? At least that's what you've said in every interview you've ever had since your "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" days.

Lastly, and the thing that makes me the most crazy, is LAY OFF THE CIGS!! I don't understand why someone, especially someone with as many resources as you, would start smoking! We all know the negative effects it has on our health, appearance, and hello, you're UNDERAGE.Most teen that choose to partake in illegal activities out in the open streets (hey, I'm not hating on a frat party or two) get written a ticket. Just cause you're famous doesn't make that okay.

Taylor Momsen, please, for your own sake, please lighten up and act like a human.

Chelsea Cawood

Splurge

After over a month of working at Goldman, I decided it was time to S-P-L-U-R-G-E

Does anyone know anything about christianlouboutinzone.com?? It seems too good to be true...dozens of pairs of dreamy shoes for less that $150?? I really hope I'm not being scammed, because I just dropped a good chunk of last week's paycheck on these babies:


Oh so Carrie Bradshaw. Maybe I'll even be sneaky and wear them next "Jeans Day" at work when dress code is less strict. Shoes like these need to be seen!!



Yes, yes, they're black heel pretty similar to the ones I already own...BUT these are suede. and have a 2 inch shorter heel. These are even more wearable!

So tell me...what have you been splurging on lately??

Icon Inspiration--the Beatles

So, I'm home from work on sick leave--although I feel fine, I've been diagnosed with Strep. Awesome. Anyways, I made these polyvores awhile ago and didn't want them to go to waste. This group needs no introduction.

Ringo

Paul

George

John

Each Beatle. Different styles. So much to learn from them.

CLC

Must-Have of the Week: RVCA Machinery Dress by Rumi Neely

The day (hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday) my first paycheck gets deposited I'm immediately getting online and buying Rumi Neely's Machinery dress!!! She's been pushing this item like crazy on her website for the last year, and its finally here. Since the dress is pretty interesting on its own, I'll make it the focus by pairing it with diamond studs, a high, poofy ponytail, and peep toe leopard heels for some extra spice. Can't wait to get my hands on this dress!!!

Update: Review
So...this dress is SOOOOO TIGHT!!! I'm 5'2 and 110 lbs and ordered a small, and the stretchy cotton blend clings to my stomach and is hard to fit my arms into. The sleeves are extremely long too--I would suggest to buy this a size up, but I'm afraid the sleeves would be 3-4 inches past your fingertips! I haven't worn this dress out yet, but thus far I have mixed feelings...