Stylish life in a college town?

All black today, and the focal point of my outfit is really my Tiffany Key. (It’s the mini silver heart topped one. I want to buy the bigger one, maybe for myself for Christmas.)

A-line skirt, black sweater tee, and satin Converse One Stars again.

And my hair is one of those artistically arranged messes that’s trying very hard not to scream “I have bed head and decided that trying to tame you with rubber bands was my only option.”

I need a hair cut. Which means finding a place to get a hair cut. You would think in a town full of college girls, finding a salon I could build a relationship with wouldn’t be that hard, but so far I’ve had one haircut since I moved, and it was at the mall.

The things in life I want are pretty simple. A salon, a real mall, and a multi-plex that shows the occasional art film. All things you’d think I’d find in a college town. Why can’t I?

Style Thoughts: Pre-written

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I wrote this a while ago, but felt it should probably go up, so...here it is.]

It’s been a night for blog maintenance. I’d like to get in the habit of keeping this thing regularly, since I have a lot of style, fashion, makeup, lifestyle, and sartorial thoughts. I didn’t keep up with daily outfits (and I predict I probably won’t between work and the semester) but I’m going to actually try to get off my ass and get something written up here every day.

So. Today I am thinking about a couple of things. I quit smoking earlier this week (as long as you don’t count the occasional cigar, because there’s something in a good cigar and a glass of expensive liquor to celebrate a victory) and I’m trying not to respond to that by biting my nails more so… They’ve been a couple colors.

Earlier this week they were the combination I will always think of as “Devil Wears Prada,” a coat of Essie’s Ballet Slippers under Essie’s Marshmallow. Tonight I went with Cerise Noir, by Sally Hansen, a clear knock off of Chanel’s Rogue Noir. It’s definitely a more adult color, dark red. Between that and my super bright red hair (I dyed it again yesterday with the help of one of my best friends) I’m feeling like this is a kick some butt, get some things done week.

I also bought some fishnets yesterday. Two pair of nude, and one of dark brown. I’m not really sure I can rock black fishnet anywhere except a bar (which I don’t really go to any more) or a club (see previous) but I think I can rock nude fishnet at work. It’s part of my whole self-redefinition.

I wrote some before about how I wore the ill-fitting sweaters of goth, and punk, and grunge. But ultimately as I’ve grown up I’ve realized that I’m much more high-maintenance princess, femme-fatale. Give me my shocking red hair, and my shiny sleek nails, and my perfectly tailored pencil skirt. A dirty martini and a pair of dangerously high heels. (Make them tweed for day and sleek black patent for night.) A spritz of perfume, something girly and floral and a little dark on the undernote. Something that whispers long after you’ve left my desk.

I fantasize about being this woman, who swings a well toned leg out of the passenger’s side door of a sleek car, something a bit curvy and classy grey or dangerous red.

Daily Outfit and Style Thoughts: 10.19.09

Today’s outfit is “hipster casual pretending to be business Monday.” Grey scoop neck t-shirt, black small-wale corduroys, red satin Converse One-Star ballet slippers. Two black satin headbands, Tiffany key and bejeweled gun-metal angel wing necklaces, and heavy men’s watch.

And of course, the hammered silver ring I never take off that I ordered from One of a Kind in Israel. (Yes mine is the Gam Ze Yaavor ring, which makes a lot of sense if you know me.)

My fingernails are Essie’s “Marshmallow” although it’s taken on a pink tint from my hair, which really irritates me, and I keep thinking there must be a way to prevent that.

I’m wearing BPAL’s Creepy, the original version, which has mellowed nicely into an adult foody scent that isn’t anything like the pre-25 of myself wearing it before that I remember.

So, all this sartorial contemplating is mostly for the benefit of the fact that I have a conference on Friday and Saturday. I’m support staff, which means I need to blend into the background, look professional, and somehow maintain my own personality in my clothes. It feels like a huge challenge.

In part because it’s been a very long time since I’ve really had to do that. The law firm had a dress code, which was pretty easy (if boring) to adhere to. Generally it meant a black skirt and some sort of collared shirt. The university has its own sort of dress-code, for which I am generally vastly overdressed (I prefer dresses to khakis in general).

So…I’m thinking black skirt and funky shoes…