Skippy Says: Up To Date (OOTD)

So now that I've admitted I watch America's Next Top Model, I can go ahead and admit I watch Project Runway too. It's much more redeemable, largely because, let's be honest, Heidi Klum > Tyra Banks. Once I was watching Project Runway with my dad, who I love dearly but who is entirely oblivious to anything American pop-culture, when he suddenly looked at Heidi, looked at me, and goes "well, she's pretty." Um, yes papa, she's very pretty.

For those of you not keeping up with Project Runway this season: First of all, shame on you! Second, the challenge this week is for the designers to create a seventies inspired look but modernize it. Oh, and this week (ok, fine, most weeks) there's lots of juicy drama! DRAMA! I must have had a premonition about this week's challenge because my outfit was a bit 1950's/ Stepford Wives inspired. Not sure how great I did with the modernizing it part, but I still really loved wearing it.

Shop:
- Banana Republic blouse (bought on sale, no longer available online but may still be in stores. Buy an amazing albeit very pricey version here)
- Gap white cami under blouse (bought on sale, buy similar here)
- San Francisco vintage expo skirt ($13!)
- San Francisco vintage expo scarf ($10!)
- Anthropologie shoes (bough on sale, no longer available)
- Treasure Island flea market purse

Skippy Says: If At First You Don't Succeed (OOTD)

I had grand plan for this past Saturday-- a chili cookoff in beautiful Sausalito. I got up, dressed, had Ryan take photos of my little outfit, and off we went.

Just one little problem stood in our way. Turns out the cookoff was Sunday, not Saturday. Ryan consoled me by taking me out to a yummy Thai place for lunch, and undefeated I went home ready to try again the next day. Except since we live in the Bay Area where the weather is slightly bipolar, the warm and sunny Saturday turned to a gray and rainy Sunday. So I kept the top I was going to wear, but changed the rest.

I look super mysterious because I'm hiding a surprise inside my trenchcoat. Tada!

The cookoff was a lot of fun even though I couldn't eat almost anything there-- most all the chilis were made with either beef or pork, and I don't eat either. There was one vegetarian option though, so I didn't leave totally empty-bellied.

I also did some spying around on the competition, since I plan to enter next year with my (soon to be) famous pulled chicken white bean chili. Plus, there was a fun band with a very stylish lead singer. Clearly he knew capes were going to be big this fall.

Shop:
- Banana Republic Factory store petite jeans (bought on sale circa 2009, no longer available. Buy similar here)
- Anthropologie trenchcoat (circa 2010, no longer available. Gift from my mother-in-law. Buy similar here)
- Top (Cotton On outlet store, scored for $7! Not available online)
- H&M belt
- Necklace from random little airport store
- Earrings gift from my grandmother
- Naturalizer outlet boots (bought on sale circa 2010, no longer available. Buy similar here or here)

Skippy Says: It's A Girl! (OOTD)

I'm the only girl on my dad's side of the family. You see, my dad is the youngest of two boys. When his brother got married, he had a son, then my dad had my brother, and then his brother had another son. Then, I was born, the first girl in that family in generations. My grandparents were overjoyed-- my grandma loves to tell the story of how my grandpa ran 5 miles through the snow in the dead of winter in Russia to deliver the news to her. She worked in a factory, and when my grandpa told her my mom and dad had a girl she grabbed a random co-worker standing next to her and gave her a kiss.

I remember vividly when my grandparents would visit us. My grandma would sit on a chair in the corner of the living room clapping her hands and singing a Russian song about gentlemen asking the ladies to dance. My favorite line of the song translates to "ladies, don't shake your butt, it's not a propeller and you are not an airplane." I would stand in the middle of the room, twirling in my dress, shaking my butt as hard as I could whenever that line was coming up. And here's where Ryan would interject and say that explains a lot about my personality. And then I'd shoot him a dirty look and try to think of a witty comeback. But honesty I'd fail because I'm no good at comebacks so I'd just call him an asshole. We have a very loving relationship.

There are days when I think life would be so much easier if I were a boy, particularly with respect to balancing career and family. And then there are days like today, where I relish in being a girl-- floral skirts, lace tops, bright red lipstick, and all.

           

Shop:
- Banana Republic blouse (bought on sale, buy on sale here. Or buy similar here or an amazing but pricier version here)
- Gap camisole worn under blouse (bought on sale, buy similar here)
- Anthropologie skirt (bought on sale, no longer available)
- Anthropologie shoes (bought on sale, no longer available)

Skippy Says: Gifted (OOTD)

I have a very special gift, a talent of epic proportions. I can take any situation, big or small, and find a way to stress out about it. It doesn't matter how fun the situation actually is, I WILL find a way to worry. Family coming over for dinner? I'm scared they won't like what I cooked. A barbecue with friends? I'm stressed about the dynamics of how different friend groups will get along. Guests visiting from out of town? I'm terrified I won't show them a good enough time. Catch my drift? I truly feel sorry for my unborn children. Good lord, I'm going to be one annoying nag of a mom. Hopefully I can distract them and deflect with my green jeans and bright tops. If they take after me, they'll be easily distracted by bright and shiny things.

Shop:

- Forever 21 blouse (no longer available)

- Urban Outfitters jeans

- Banana Republic petites blazer (thrifted from Crossroads Trading Co for $15! Buy similar here)

- H&M belt

- Clark Indigo shoes (gift from my mom, buy on sale here)

- Turtle necklace gift from my sister-in-law

- Earrings gift from my best friend from a trip she took to Italy when we were in high school (can't believe I still have them!)

Skippy Says: Showin' A Little Leg (OOTD)

When I was little, though older than I'd care to publicly admit so I'll keep it vague, my cousin and I used to play a game called "CC." We were sisters, both named Kelly, since we both wanted to be Kelly Kapowski from Saved By The Bell. Who didn't, right? That hair, those cute little outfits, and that hunky Zack Morris for a boyfriend. Except we didn't know Kelly was spelled with a "K" and not a "C." Hence, "CC" for "Celly Celly." Brilliant, I know.

We'd most often play "CC" at my grandma and grandpa's house. Every Saturday morning after going to the synagogue, my brother, cousins, and I would walk the few blocks down to my grandma's house for brunch. And while I'd be lying if I said she was a good cook, I can honestly say I loved the food she made those Saturday mornings: boiled potatoes with butter and dill, Russian style tuna salad with cheese and walnuts, sliced Russian cheese, and tons of veggies. I know it doesn't sound glamorous, but the nostalgia for those tastes seriously still makes my mouth water.

When my grandma was alive, she often told me that I dressed too conservatively. "It doesn't ever hurt a lady to show a little more leg," she told me, and insisted that she managed to get her job because her boss "did not look uninterested in her legs." Grandma, I'm showin' a little leg just for you.

           

Shop:
- Target dress (paired with a different belt)
- Anthropologie belt (circa 2008 or early 2009? No longer available. Buy similar here and here)
- Vince Camuto shoes (bought on sale, buy on sale here)
- Vintage scarf (from San Francisco vintage expo, $10)
- Treasure Island flea market purse
- Earrings gift from my parents from a trip they took to Mexico

Skippy Says: Classy Lady (OOTD)

True story: I felt like a classy lady in the outfit below. While watching America's Next Top Model, as only the classiest of ladies do, I googled "classy lady" and stumbled upon this gem that tells you how to identify a classy lady. It's hard to choose just one favorite, but some great tidbits of advice include: "There is no classier woman than a woman who spends time with herself for grooming purposes" and "the lady should have a smooth and flowing gait."I had to look up gait, which I think means I'm not classy. But at least my outfit will deceive others into thinking I am.


Two of the pieces in my outfit were scored from the vintage expo show that my mom and I attended this past weekend. Guys, there were so.many.beautiful.things. And given my (self-diagnosed) OCD we had to go booth by booth, left side to right side, so as to make sure not to miss any goodies. Good thing I have such a nice, patient mom because if I weren't me, I would have killed me. Hell, half of me was ready to kill me. But the OCD half is stronger and more determined so it won. Good thing too, because thanks to it I tried on many beautiful pieces and came out with some great finds. I came really close to walking out with a perfectly fitting genuine 1850s victorian jacket, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay the asking price given recent expenses. I got tons of other great stuff though, and could not be more excited to wear it all. And since I felt like such a classy lady in this outfit, I thought it was only fitting to do the whole shebang and cook Ryan an extravagant dinner to come home to: wine-braised beef short ribs, mashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus. When he walked in the door, he told me I should bottle that smell and sell it as perfume :)

         

 

Shop:
- Banana Republic Factory store top (bought on sale circa 2010, no longer available. Buy similar here or here)
- Vintage skirt (from vintage expo show, only $13!)
- Anthropologie belt (circa 2008 or early 2009? No longer available. Buy similar here and here)
- Shoes from random little store in Germany
- Vintage scarf (from vintage expo show, $10)