Rock the Trend: how to wear black and white this Spring

Since I'm still home, laying about, I have spent a lot of time engaged in the glorified window shopping that is 'putting outfits together'. It mostly makes me realize that I am capable of being stylish, if only I had the funds.

One thing that is abundantly clear to me about this Spring: black and white is in. There are so many patterns and designs available in black and white right now, which is fine with me because you can really dress those items up any way you want. I've dressed up some of my favorite things for six different occasions below.


First, this gorgeous illusion dress with lots of gold accessories for a night on the town. I haven't really been able to get into the toe-cap shoes as a whole, but I do like these ones that add just a little glitz, while remaining comfortable (and flat) enough to dance the night away. I'm also really enjoying all of the insect-themed jewelry available right now, especially honeycomb necklaces and these earrings.

dress- ELOQUII, necklace- Etsy, cuff- Nordstrom, shoes- Overstock

This is a pretty typical weekend outfit for myself, comfortable and practical, and these monochromatic giraffe-print leggings just set it off. Paired up with your favorite chambray shirt and leather jacket, plus these awesome ribbon-laced docs, you'll be ready to kick some serious ass.

leggings- ASOS, sunglasses- Romwe, boots- Zappos, jacket- Dorothy Perkins, shirt- Modcloth

Nothing quite makes going to work bearable like knowing that you look awesome. I'm in love with so many parts of this outfit, and the top is already on my to-purchase-when-your-size-is-back-in-stock list. I added a cardigan, though I hate them just a little bit (I can't make them fit right), because it seems so much more practical for an ice-cold office. It's a fact known only go Gu that I'm obsessed with blue footwear (see above), so these velvet flats tickled my fancy AND are work appropriate. Incidentally, I adore these earrings, because they accurately reflect my feelings while at work, acting as a small way to stick it to the man without getting fired.

skirt- ASOS, shirt- Modcloth, sweater- H&M, earrings- Etsy, shoes- Heavenly Couture

I always have a hard time getting dressed up for a hot date with my fella, because I can never decide where on the spectrum of fun to fancy I want to end up. Black and white makes it easy though, because a simple geometric dress like this, while a little on the fancy side alone, can have bright and quirky accessories added to pull it over to the fun side. Seriously how cute are these bobby pins? Throw your hair up into a bun and put a few in the back for extra colour. I find that you can never go wrong with dress+boots because dress+boots=perfect outfit, without fail.

dress- Modcloth, purse- Topshop, tights- Silkies, hairpins- Jane Tran, boots- Modcloth, ring- Forever 21

The outfit is also the hardest part of my job interview prep routine. I always like to keep it professional, but I'm not going to hide my personality. I love the swirl on this dress, and the pop of red will still show through an open moto-cut blazer. I waffled between black and red shoes for this outfit for a while, but decided that I'd probably go for colour in my real life, so why not in my window-shopping life. These earrings are very playful, but can hide beneath your hair if necessary. And look at this bag: you could fit your tablet, copies of your resume, your wallet, AND your lunch in it, thus preventing you from becoming a bag lady (with purse, lunchbag, computer bag, etc in tow).

dress- Modcloth, blazer- Dorothy Perkins, shoes- Modcloth, tote- Dorothy Perkins, earrings- Forever 21, watch- Etsy

Lastly, a cute outfit for a casual dinner with friends. Comfortable and easy to wear, a nice flowy tank with a fitted skirt is an option that I always keep available in my closet. I also paired this with sandals because I am ready for the rain to stop and the weather to warm up enough to bare my toes all over the sound.

shirt- ASOS, necklace- Romwe, skirt- ELOQUII, sandals-Lulu*s

What do you think of all the black and white options out there this spring? Let us know what ones are your favorites so we can check them out! 

you fool, it's only moonlight,

Cait

Friday's Awesome Five (on Saturday, but still awesome!)

Hi there luscious Lushies! I apologize for my absence as of late. I've been fighting a pretty terrible back injury that has me in physical therapy several times a week. This Sunday, when sitting down to enjoy some soup (Szechuan pork soup, as it were), something crunched in my back and it left me screaming, unable to walk, and being taken to the hospital by paramedics. I'm in much better shape now after some good medications, one Harry Potter movie marathon, and lots of TLC from my Mom, so I intend on resuming my posts (especially since I have another week in which the doctor has forbidden me to work and there is only so many times I can watch 6 episodes of True Detective). So without further ado...

1. Wait, you might be saying to yourself, I am already well aware that Lush Scouts love donuts! However, these aren't just any old donuts; these are micro-bead donut pillows! They're 16" in diameter and less than 25$. If you are a blasphemer who likes ice-cream sandwiches, cupcakes, or ice-cream cones better than donuts, there are even options for you.

2. This video has been on repeat in my life this week (and everyone else's if you're judging based on the 4.5 million views). It takes on special meaning when you have a basic understanding of German, in that geil means both 'awesome' and 'horny'. There are a couple of other amusing jokes in there, involving cats and the like.

3. This handy little infographic (click to embiggen) is going to be helping me out with a little bit of spring cleaning, which I hope to do this week (I promise I won't over-do it Mom). Thank you unfuckyourhabitat!

4. BEHOLD! The Teggings tubetop. This baby, from what I can tell, is essentially a functioning bandeau top for ladies with big tatas! Right now it's almost out of stock, but when black is back, you can bet your sweet bippy I'm going to buy one. A bandeau that would work for me would be a MIRACLE. It's like Re/Dress can see into my soul.

5. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: I love looking in other peoples' houses. Now it isn't strictly because I'm nosy. It's more because I like to see how other people decorate. This is why sites liked Apartment Therapy etc are such an epic time-suck for me. This is why I can watch HGTV nonstop when I am somewhere with cable TV. This is also why I thoroughly enjoy the Young House Love 'House Crashing' series. In the most recent installment they took a look at the home of Kimberly (a stylish American living in Manchester). Just check out those colours, that bright and airy kitchen, and that amazing gallery wall that gives this poster-junkie hope for her own future.

Tired of waiting, tired of waiting for you,

Cait

Friday's Awesome Five

Salut Lush Scouts! I have a roundup of my faves from this week, and there are some really great things, if I do say so myself, so read on!


1. I had a great birthday this year! My parents sent me a package of cool things (including a neat bulletin magnet board my mom hand crafted), Gu got me a couple vinyls, my niece made me a card and sent me a picture of a rainbow unicorn, I went to a concert with Gu and some rad dudes, Gu brought me a donut cake (yes, those are giant donuts sculpted in the shape of a hamburger and fries, and yes, it did have real bacon on it), and she also accompanied me to Von Trapp's to drink Austrian beer and eat Käsespätzle!

I even got to partake in the sharing of a boot of Radler! (I have been informed by my uncle that I have betrayed my German ancestors by drinking without the toe up. My bad!)

Which brings me to my next point...


2. While living in Austria, I discovered the most refreshing beverage on the planet: Radler. It is a beer based, mixed 50/50 with soda, drink that comes in a variety of flavors from lemon to lime to grapefruit to berry and in Austria you can even get an Almdudler mix (if you know where to look). It comes in bottles, it comes in cans, it comes branded, and it comes generic. Similar to the British 'Shandy,' but better, I'm always shocked that it hasn't caught on in America. There is nothing like carrying your groceries from the store to the streetcar, to your apartment, and up several flights of stairs, just knowing there is an ice cold Radler to cheer you when you get to the top.

3. On an unrelated note, I recently ran across Fashion to Figure on Pinterest and I'm a big big fan! It's affordable, on-trend clothes for me! There are already many things in my cart to purchase. I've been wanting a galaxy dress for a while and I really like the colour and the style (especially the sleeves) of the one below. I'm just kind of in love with the striped illusion dress, and that skirt is so so so intriguing. The skirt is sheer, but there are boyshorts inside of it. It's just so crazy! Also interesting fact, the founders are the great grandsons of the Lane Bryant and the store is named after something she said in Glamour: You should never ask women to conform their figures to fashion, but rather bring fashion to the figure.

4. I made Gu this little craft project quite a while ago. It's a canvas with raised letters, all painted the same colour. I was making frames for my niece and nephew to keep pictures of themself with their brand new baby brother and had leftovers so I made one for Gu. It took us all of 6 seconds to decide that it should say 'LESS MOPE MORE DOPE' because that's her favorite slogan after 'Life's A Beach'.  I've been trying to figure out what I want to do with mine, but I think I've finally decided and I'll maybe do a quick little DIY when I get around to making mine this weekend.

5. I am considering putting myself on the market for a rug to brighten up the floor of my room/protect my carpet and thus far I'm finding a few things that draw my eye over at Urban Outfitters. I really like the split rugs that they are offering. I like the idea of getting two prints for the price of one. I'm also always a sucker for bright bright florals. I really like the half polka-dot/half floral rug pictured below and I've included a bonus, because I just really like that mat!

She Moves In Mysterious Ways,

Cait!

A Labor of Love: How to DIY a Crappy Vintage Tee into an AWESOME Tank Top

I don't know if you've heard the news Lush Scouts, but I may be a little bit obsessed with Paul Simon.

Because of this, I've long been in the market for a Paul Simon shirt, but nothing meets my many requirements (the right print, the right colour, the right price). But my hours spent trolling ebay have not been for naught! After finishing my nightstand I was in need of a project and this shirt miraculously appeared on my radar!

The first thing that caught my eye was the price! Less than 10 dollars.

Second, I am a girl who is fond of RIT dye, so I can appreciate the blank canvas of a white shirt.

The most important thing I noticed was this massive stain across the upper shoulder!

As someone with the utmost reverence for Paul Simon memorabilia, I could tell it hadn't been treated with the respect that it deserved.

So I adopted the shirt as my new pet project.

The first step was much much bleaching. I used a toothbrush to specifically scrub the stains with bleach. This both worked really well and totally backfired. The stains disappeared, but the part that I had scrubbed was much brighter than the rest of the shirt! So the whole thing got a bath in some extremely diluted bleach. 

At this point I decided that lavender was the correct colour for the shirt. I gave it a bath in a little bit of purple dye and then a quick dip in some navy in order to get the colour I wanted. 

The colour is even lighted now after a good washing-machine wash and a couple of wears. It is very nice. 

The other important step I needed to take was to make it a tank top. Pro-tip for ladies with big tatas: cutting the sleeves off of a slightly-too-tight teeshirt and sewing back up the sides a little will make the shirt fit better than it had with the sleeves. I don't know why this works, but it always always does. It also allows you to stretch the shoulders out and make it a little longer.

So that is what happened next and now this shirt is my child. It goes to parties and work with me. It even went to the beach. Just another labor of love in honor of Paul Simon, and now treated with all the love and adoration it deserves.

Still Crazy After All These Years

Cait

Friday's Awesome Five

Hola Lush Scouts! After a slightly less horrifying than usual week at work (because it included free mexican food and margaritas), I'm here with the Friday five.

1.  The most exciting development of my week is MY BED! I finally bought a bed. I've been sleeping on a mattress on the floor which is fine, but it is difficult to go from dead asleep on the floor to completely upright at five in the morning, which is why this is so great. I bought the cheaper bed below from IKEA (obvi) and have plans with a bookshelf to make myself a fake alcove bed.

2. I've been on a bit of a summer-wardrobe-buying-spree because it is getting so so nice here in Tacoma and also because I had a 3 week paycheck this week. One of my favorite purchases is this triangle necklace from Forever 21. I've been obsessed with pennants and bunting for a while so finding this necklace was perfect!

3. To continue with the theme of my spring wardrobe, I've been completely obsessed with this dress for a while now, so I finally bought it, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it will fit when it arrives. (lord knows modcloth plus sizing is super inconsistent). I also got a couple of other things.

4. You may not know this about me, but I really really really like dogs. A lot. I would rather spend my time online on Petfinder than trying to online date. I basically make all of my life choices around what will let me get a dog sooner. Right now, being out of the house for 12 hours every day and basically making a pittance is putting a serious damper on my dog-having abilities, but that doesn't stop me from looking and pining and following basically every local rescue group on Facebook. I am currently really interested in Salty Dog Rescue here in Seattle. They rescue Formosan Mountain Dogs from Taiwan and bring them stateside to enjoy much more lush lives. They do great work and these particular dogs are apparently really loyal and affectionate and socially awkward, which pretty much sounds like me in dog form. They're also pretty small without being little dogs and they have the most adorable ears known to man. I cannot wait until I can adopt! Look at this sweet baby below, brought in on their most recent transport. You can check them out at their website above and definitely follow them on Facebook!

5. Gu and I are having an egg dying party. Sadly it isn't going to be as fancy as this INCREDIBLE one  from Real Simple. I mean, I can't. I can't even. Seriously Real Simple. You need to stop right meow. But, there will be eggs. There will be dye. There will be joy. Keep your eyes open for pictures of the party later! I don't think they'll be as fancy as eggs I saw in Austria below, but a girl can dream.

Hakuna some vodka,

Cait

Friday's Awesome Five

Hey Lush Scouts! It's Friday again, praise be! And that means a wrap up of all my favorite things about this week. Besides it ending, here are the best parts of my week:

1. This super inspiring TEDxtalk by Amanda Palmer. She has some great things to say about life and asking for help, but more than anything, she says some stuff about the changes the music industry may have to consider to stay relevent; things I've considered myself in fact.

2. I love Essie Tart Deco so much that after buying it last year I used the entire bottle over the course of the summer. Now it's spring again and this lady wanted her tart! So using the $2 off Essie coupon Target is offering right now, I got a new bottle. It immediately went on my fingers. I feel springier already.

3. One of my favorite places for on-trend, sometimes over-the-top, and always sexy plus-size clothes right now is Posh Shoppe. I own a couple things from them already and love them all! As if I didn't already want this top aaaand also this one, they just released a new Colorblock Crossback Dress and I'm in loooove.

4. My sister sent these tea-cup lights to me on Pinterest from Apartment Therapy. They are the Electric Mavis lighting collection from Greg Bonasera. It may or may not be pretty obvious to those around me that I love teacups and this is such a brilliant way to use them! I may have to figure out how to wire a few of these for my own apartment!

5. Besides the other eighty-seven-thousand items I covet over at Modcloth, the Lilac Festival Top has been tickling the hell out of my fancy lately. Much to Gu's chagrin, I love ombre and this shirt fits the bill. Also, I'm not normally a fan of purple but something about this has convinced me to put my predjudice aside.

* Bonus: I am watching the HELL out of X-files on Netflix Instant Stream. Can I get an amen?

Bring out the tiger in you,

Cait

Anything get your goat this week Lush Scouts? Let us know!