cool never fades target shoes now for sale!

Those shoes from Targets' Cool Never Fades campaign, which everyone has been talking about, are now being sold online for $29.99 USD!

Check them out here!

how to apply lipstain: tracy's learning experience with maybelline's feelin' rosy

G from Nouveau Cheap is always raving about lipstains (Goodness, I constantly refer to her, don't I? She's awesome, though. Honest.). So when I recently decided to take the plunge into lip cosmetics, I couldn't help but think of her reviews.

Preface that really deserves its own post: I don't wear anything on my lips, ever, except for lip balm. Lip gloss is a disaster with girls who wear their hair long (you know what I'm talking about!), and though lip stick is a tiny bit better as far as stickiness is concerned, I happen to posses fairly big lips with naturally dark coloring. If I wear any color on my lips, it is in an attempt to subdue my mouth, not highlight it. Until now. Dun dun dun.

(Purchased at Target for $6.99 USD)

Meet Maybelline's Colorsensational lipstain in Feelin' Rosy. It's like a marker for your lips... in a good way.

scarves. lots of scarves.

Constantly inspired by the fashion & beauty blogosphere, and in preparation for Kendi's Thirty Days, Thirty Outfits challenge (at my own pace and interpretation, of course. But, more later!), I took a look at the weak spots in my wardrobe in an attempt to mold my personal guidelines for the challenge. Here is what I came up with:

1. I own a spaghetti-ton of black. Holy meatballs.
2. I don't wear accessories.
3. Work-appropriate clothes, Tracy! It's important.

And I remembered this video, which is awe-inspiringly beautiful as far as accessory-creativity is concerned! It's just not right to hide this gem from the world.

folkin' around

It's a late Sunday afternoon, where Nick and I lounge on the couches, eating Hawaiian pizza and watching the Browns' game while I work on the multiple essays due this week (actually, due tomorrow, but who's counting the days?). I'm suffering from... well, something (flu? cold? whatever it is, it makes my bones ache and creak. I hope I never ever develop arthritis.), but the pizza and cuddly puppy are making things easier.

This weekend, we made our way into Kent to partake in the festivities that is the Kent Folk Festival. Specifically, my boyfriend and I went to see The Speedbumps, a local band that we always try to see when they come into town.

So, my apologies for the schoolwork and cold. The musical genius that is The Speedbumps will more than make up for it, I promise.

rings, and the intimate things

What can I say? I'm from the Midwest. We love our Target apparel, accessories and shoes!

Yesterday, deciding to pick up some of the usual necessities -- milk, bread, nail polish -- from the Target that is practically across the street from my apartment, I decided to take a look at the damage done from the new Missoni collection. Unlike some, I wasn't all too impressed with the fall collection (except for one particular sweater that isn't available for adult women), but it was kind of hysterical to see entire displays completely empty.

After having seen Budget Babe's review of Target accessories, particularly this ring, I thought I'd take the time -- I mean, what the heck, why not?!--  and browse the entire store.

(click to enlarge)

kohl's

1. Relic Carrie Satchel, $37.80 USD (sale price)

2. Simply Vera Vera Wang Floral Watercolor Tee,  $15.00 USD (sale price)

3. Simply Vera Vera Wang Wedge Boots, $66.99 (sale price)

4. Simply Vera Vera Wang Faux-Fur Trapper Hat, $33.60 USD (sale price)

When my roommate offered a Friends & Family coupon for 20% off an entire purchase for this weekend at Kohl's, I wasn't terribly excited. These coupons aren't exactly a new idea, are they? And to be honest, I've never considered Kohl's a top priority when clothes' shopping -- a lot of their clothes just aren't my particular style, or aren't in my price range. But I couldn't help but check out the Kohl's website the other day, to see what they had to offer. These were my favorite items; can't say I'm surprised that they're mostly from the Simply Vera collection!

Anyways, I just wanted to throw a little love out to Kohl's -- it definitely shows me that any store can begin to carry quality fashion. Next stop: Kmart.

new name, new game

This weekend, after having spent less than thirty-six hours reading the entire Hunger Games trilogy for my Children's Lit class (and for pleasure, they are the best first-person series I have read in a lonng time), my boyfriend and I decided to attend the Arts & Cultural festival in Cleveland. Today, we took Bingley (my canine child) to the Paws Fest  at our local dog park, before visiting the boyfriend's parents. Which was where I began rethinking the theme of my site.

You see, after discovering the true meaning behind 'au rabais',

(Yes, it does mean 'on the cheap' as I had previously thought, but not in the diy/thrifting/stalking sale racks sense; instead, it implies the idea of reduced prices, through either a sale, coupon or otherwise. Close, but no cigar.)

I've decided to rename my blog Poor Man's Closet. For lack of a better name. I shouldn't have to explain the gender neutrality in 'man', right?

More importantly, I've redesigned the website! My goodness, I never remember my thirteen year-old self having such difficulty with css. Regardless, I'm happy with the watercolors theme. :D

In the mean time, here are some cute, inspiring book 'sculptures' that have been mysteriously appearing in libraries across Scotland. Read the article, it's fascinating!

katharine hepburn

Hepburn, known for her independence and feisty spunk, was a famous actress who won four Academy Awards over an acting (in both Broadway and Hollywood) career spanning some sixty years. I know her for The Philadelphia Story, a movie that cemented her success in Hollywood; I was named after the character.  You may know her from The African Queen, On Golden Pond, or Bringing Up Baby.

So when I heard there was an exhibit showcasing some of Hepburns' costumes from over the years, I leapt at the chance to go see it. Dragging my boyfriend along, naturally.

An illustrated scene from The Philadelphia Story

my weekend in the c-bus

Before my parents moved to Florida, I would come 'home' from university to a suburb of Columbus; home was a small, colonial-themed town to the north east of the city. And though I am not one who is rooted exclusively to Ohio (if anything, I want out!), there are certain charms to Columbus that one simply cannot escape. The Short North district, for example, sits right in the heart of downtown, and I make a ritual of grabbing some pearl milk bubble tea from Zen Cha or wildberry lavender ice cream from Jeni's (yes, you really can taste the lavender!) and strolling down High street, admiring a new mural or some sidewalk chalk art or even a band playing in the street. This sort of artistic back alley, unique to Columbus, isn't something you would expect from a sports-crazed, mid-sized, midwestern city. And maybe that's part of its hold over me: the unexpected charm and magic of North High.

But it wasn't until this weekend that I was able to attend my first Ohio State University football game; people in this city tend to take the football team with exaggerated zeal, but the atmosphere is fun, none the less. My boyfriend and I drove down especially for this game, and I was able to stop by Easton (a mall I had worked, and practically lived in, as a teenager, and one I had taken for granted until moving up north) to shop at their gigantic Forever 21.

inspiration station

Photo from Stina Persson

This fall and winter, in order to alleviate the inevitable seasonal depression that comes from living in Northeast Ohio, I plan to use bright, cheerful colors paired with neutrals to combat cool temperatures. Looking at Stina Persson's awesome watercolors, I can't help but be inspired!

chanel no. 529

Previously, I had mentioned my new obsession with nail polish, and my particular love for Chanel's nail polish color, Graphite. It's a shimmery 'griege' shade that, according to The Ultimate Makeup, "goes from a metallic gunmetal with shimmer, to a dark tarnished gold shimmer, to a flashy silver color", and is incredibly versatile.

Unfortunately, I cannot justify $25 for a bottle of nail polish, and immediately set out to find a close dupe.

Ladies and gentleman, I have found that nail polish. And no, it is not Revlon's Carbonite.

personal challenge: accessories

Taking a cue from Vyqué at Fasshonaburu, I've taken a long, mostly-objective look at the problems with my wardrobe, hoping to minimize confusion on a splurge-filled day (i.e., buying a black dress when I honestly already own fifteen or so) and add some complexity to my closet.

The two main problems I noticed right away haven't exactly been a secret: My lack of jewelry (all accessories for that matter, excluding scarves), and only a few clothing pieces that transition well into a traditional office environment.

The main problem with my clothes is the length of my skirts; having shorter legs means I shy away from dresses that graze the knees, as I have an unhealthy fear of looking 'stumpy' and 'short'. And really, I realize that this fear is irrational -- I'm 5'3, there will never be a day in my life where I'll be confused for 'tall' -- but I can't help it!

So, on to accessories.

Little Miss Momma's Mustard Bloom pendant necklace, $16.00 USD

Forever 21 Beaded Shield Ring, $4.80 USD; Forever 21 Tribal Arrows Bracelet, $5.80 USD

haphazard update

I have not forgotten about my blog, friends. I have actually managed three drafts for this week (I have found my Chanel Graphite dupe! And it is not the illusive Revlon shade!), but two of these require permission from other fashion blogs to use their pictures, and another requires my scanner.

My last year of school also started for me this week, and taking all upper division classes and a writing intensive English course (which means it'll make life extra crispy) will not make my schedule... casual. That said, I'm super excited for my courses. Who even knew such a thing as Creative Nonfiction ever existed?!

I also made a trip to the Fashion Museum on campus (with my half-willing boyfriend) this week to see an exhibit on Katharine Hepburn's stage & movie costumes. One of my posts -- the one that requires a scanner -- is dedicated solely to that visit.

And now, on to black nail polish.

From Chloe of Chloe's Nails