Category Archives: Best of Fashion, Style & Aesthetics

Dangerous.

January 17, 2011

How could something so basic and practical transform into something so sinister? It all started out innocently enough.

A few months back, Osborn offered to send me a pair of plain canvas lace-up shoes to D.I.Y. in any way I wanted. I fully admit to not being very hands-on with these types of projects but Joey had an idea. Soon after, on his recommendation, I ordered a bag of spikes and he got to work, painting and studding these standard-issues.

Armor for my feet? Why not! Over the last year, I’d eyed studded Miu Miu flats in New York and tiny spiked Louboutin lace-ups in Vegas but they were still very prim and polished. I wanted these to look like they were ready for battle.

What better to wear with mega studs than mega sequins? What can I say, it’s the Michael Jackson in me. Tough & feminine, my favorite fashion combination. Speaking of the King of Pop, he always loved wearing things that reflected light when he danced. These would have been perfect for that purpose…or for his leisurely tree climbing.

Practicing my moves. You never know when you’ll be challenged to a dance-off.

Take a walk on the wild side.

Sometimes you just need a pair of casual lace-ups for laid back evenings of television watching. Something unassuming and cozy.

A huge thanks goes out to Joey for coming up with the concept and then studding these baby armadillos for two days. His thumb is still sore, but my feet are happy. Needless to say, these are fairly heavy and not super comfortable. I love them, though. Thanks to Osborn as well. It’s been fun. Okay, I’m off to sashay through the streets of Portland!

Haus Beautiful: Decor Inspiration

December 8, 2010

As I slowly but surely make progress with redoing my house, Wolfgang Monor, the more enamored I become with interior design and decor. I realized that it wouldn’t be entirely fair to keep all of my inspirations hidden away. So, without delay, here’s what’s exciting me at the moment!

1. Panton Chairs. The shiny black one is a reproduction, of which I own two (though I can’t recall the source). Next is an authentic Panton Chair in a DWR shoot. 2. Le Klint 172B Pendant Lights. Adding a bit of whimsy to living spaces and originally crafted in 1971, these are so space age and fun to stare at. I just bought a reproduction off Ebay for my bedroom (which you’ll see on Friday!) 3. Minimal Desktops. (Source unknown). Preferably topped with a Mac and cute coffee mug. 4. White Rooms with Black Accents. This living room is really inspirational in its clean, austere stylings. 5. Black Walls. (Source unknown). My bedroom walls are black — nothing like a little drama! 6. IKEA Kassett Boxes. Inexpensive and way better looking than a mishmash of shoe boxes, these storage boxes are perfect for organizing a closet’s clutter.

1. Black Bedrooms. Always and forever. Image from Living Etc. 2. Woods Wallpaper by Cole & Son. We’re doing one of our dining room walls in this timeless pattern. I just have to get my dad to focus long enough to help me hang it! 3. White Workspaces. This shot from DWR manages to perfectly sum up my aesthetic. 4. Crucifixes. In unexpected forms. 5. Marais A Chairs. Our dining room chairs of choice, these originally gained popularity in French cafés. 6. Antler Chandeliers. (Source unknown). If I had a cabin, this would be perfection. 7. Minimal White Rooms. (Source unknown). 8. Square Dishes. These are the dishes that I use and a nice change from typically round offerings.

1. Black & White + Type. (Source unknown). Really, you can’t go wrong. 2. Inspiring Work Spaces. Image from Convoy, an amazing source for interior imagery. 3. Repetition via Framed Photos. What a great way to add some drama to a minimal office! 4. Chandeliers in Unexpected Places. Like the kitchen. Why not? 5. Shelves Above Desks. I added one from IKEA a few months back and not only does it break up an empty wall, but it also holds my overflow of shoes and magazines. 6. Fancy Bathrooms. (Source unknown). Someday! 7. Regal Headboards. I’m totally in love with this look. Still on the hunt for a suitable headboard to dress up my minimal, black-walled room.

Thanks for following me down my path of interior inspiration! I have much more to share in this area in upcoming posts. Oh, and did I mention that my brother and I started painting our all black living room all white over the weekend?! Yep. stay tuned!

Style & Organization

November 29, 2010

To me, style and organization are interrelated. I don’t know about you, but I find that when my clothing is organized, easy to access and whittled down to what’s most loved, getting dressed and pulling together a look becomes so much more enjoyable. Getting dressed should be an adventure — never a battle!

Though I rely on solid, tried and true basics for most days, I always try to dress things up with great accessories. A simple t-shirt and black skinny jeans can be elevated with a unique pair of shoes, a well constructed jacket and a favorite bag.

When I am investing in my wardrobe, I tend to buy shoes, jackets and bags. My theory is that I can use them every single day and get a better cost per wear. For instance, I would never buy yellow jeans because they’d be so recognizable that I wouldn’t want to wear them more than once a week. But yellow shoes? I could wear the yellow shoes on a daily basis and add a pop of color to any outfit, no matter how casual.

One of my biggest pet peeves is having to buy the same item over and over again because it was poorly made and wore out. Give some thought to what you use the most and buy the best you can afford whether it’s a white t-shirt or a black cardigan.

Back to the topic of organization. I have a strange closet set-up. When I moved into my house over a year ago, I had no closet space (typical of most older homes) but oddly enough, a ridiculously huge bathroom with an abundance of empty space. My two oversized IKEA wardrobes were a perfect match for the wall space but the tops were cluttered with a mish-mash of irregular-sized shoe boxes. Over the weekend, I picked up a bunch of Kassett boxes which now hold everything from shoe bags to hats and spare purses to childhood costumes. They add that look of polished uniformity that random shoe boxes just can’t equal!

Another thing that my closet was sorely lacking were nice quality hangers. At almost 30, it was time for me to trade in cheapo plastic hangers for sturdy, beautifully minimal Erling steel hangers. They make every piece of clothing feel worthy of display!

Everyone has their own method for organization but arranging clothing by color works well for me. I have two IKEA wardrobes that hold all of my clothing. The first consists of all coats, skirts and dresses while the second is all shirts and sweaters (above).

Of course, I have a sizable amount of black clothing (as you can probably tell from my outfit posts). Looking up, there are still some lingering plastic hangers that will eventually be replaced. And, though I recycled a number of shoe boxes, I kept a handful of the Dries ones, tucked away at the very end.

This is the ‘other side’ of my closet, half of which is stuffed with jackets and blazers. Dresses are at the very end, mostly in black. I keep items that are more costume-related and not for every day wear (including fancy dresses and lederhosen) tucked away in the spare closet in my office (also organized by color).

A true Virgo doesn’t stop at just organizing their clothes. My tights (above) and socks (not shown) are both sorted by color and stored in clear plastic trays that I found at Target.

Every mouse needs a place to rest their ears. And, a full length mirror to check out their daily costume. This is the wall next to my IKEA wardrobes.

The jewelry that I reach for most is stored in a plastic container on my windowsill that I found at Target.

Longer necklaces have began to take over the door knob to my office. Some day, I’ll come up with a better solution. Until then, I like the decoration!

I’m a big fan of treating my favorite clothing and accessories like art. If you have something that’s beautiful, let it sit out and become a decoration instead of lurking in a dark closet. I have a love of shoes so I have my favorite pairs organized by color on a book shelf in my office. It’s nice to see them every day and a way to remind myself of what I already own so I can rotate them instead of lazily reaching for the same tired pair of black boots. Since I have fairly small feet, the sale racks and Ebay have been incredibly generous over the years! Fashion may change but well made, unique shoes never go out of style.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my mini sartorial journey and in the process, discovered your own passion to get organized. Show your closet some love and appreciation and return, your personal style will shine through!

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Style Direction: Fall // Winter 2010

November 15, 2010

Yesterday afternoon, in my dining room.

Lately, I’ve been thinking more about defining my style and developing a strong, unified look for each season (remember Gala’s Psychedelic Ladies Who Lunch?) I’m still very much drawn to black but I want the silhouettes to be sleek and European-inspired. And, I want the dark palette to be offset with a dash of metallic detailing. Body-conscious but not showing too much skin. Tall shoes but with chunky, stable platforms. Major monotone accessories. Space-age and super mod. Slight Michael Jackson-inspired flashes of androgyny. Silver, sequins and studs. What should I call this look?

Current Fashion Inspiration: United Nude Stealth Boots, ModCloth Midnight Foil skirt, Herve Leger dress, Miu Miu Crepe Turn-Lock belt, AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones, Shoes, unknown and ModCloth Shake Things Up dress.

I also created a little mood board with some stylistic influences. I don’t have all of the image sources but I love the top editorial featuring Jessica Stam, Leigh Lezark’s consistently sleek all-black looks, any 60′s space age influences, smooth and shiny bluntly cut hair, the oversized Miu Miu turn-locks, edgy yet comfortable black silhouettes, major treads and statement jewelry with a twist.

Though I don’t actually have anywhere to dress up and go to in Portland at the moment, this would be my ideal seasonal look. I’m wearing an H&M dress, Zana Bayne Leather 4-Buckle belt, Wolford Bondage tights and Sam Edelman Zoe boots.

Readers: Have you ever thought about defining your look and developing a regular style direction?

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SUPER FEMME! A Collaboration with GeeWaWa and Solestruck

September 1, 2010

The GeeWaWa Femme (a.k.a. THE CLAW) is definitely not for the faint of heart. Equal parts Gene Simmons and Minnie Mouse, it’s a monstrous powerhouse that screams, “I mean business!” when you enter the room. The gnarliest mary jane on the planet, the Femme allows you to look cute while kicking ass.

I had never owned a pair of GeeWaWa shoes but the first thing I noticed when pulling these babies out of the box was the attention to detail and craftsmanship. Super soft leather uppers, leather outsoles and no nasty synthetics lining the inside prove this point — and the box is lined in a cute damask pattern.

I have small feet that are on the narrow side and tiny ankles so I found the fit to be a bit roomy and the ankle strap to be a little loose. If you’re the owner of an average to wide sized foot, these will fit perfectly. Also, the cushion is crazily thick. Stay fierce yet comfortable while prowling the city streets! Did I mention that I am short and these make me super tall? I’ll take any help I can get! Praise the Femme!

When Solestruck.com chose me as the U.S. representation for their new blogger promotion, I was super excited — their headquarters is also right here in Portland and they are hands-down the absolute nicest people. Plus, they have such a good selection of all the hardest to find brands, with even more on the way for Fall.

Since I wasn’t exactly sure what would be needed for the collaboration with Solestruck and GeeWaWa, I made a variety of different sized images with varying lock-ups. I think that I see everything in my mind as an advertisement anyway since that’s what I toil my days away doing for a living. I never have the time to design anything for myself these days so it was fun to do my ‘personal style’ on a project — minimal, stark and graphic. Some of these images are a bit repetitive but I wanted to show the different ad combos I came up with.

My brother shot these photos of me last week in our dining room (a.k.a. ‘The White Room.’). I didn’t have a strict set of guidelines — it was 11 pm and all I could think of was urban goth (and that I really wanted to go to bed). Very….scientific, huh? The sequined ears are of course from Disneyland, the Avant Garde necklace is by Plastique and I picked up the tank top in LA from a tiny boutique on Melrose.

EDIT: Ty of Solestruck just posted an accompanying interview over at their blog:

Ty: Nubby, it seems like the fit between yourself and solestruck is an obvious one….SHOES? Who are your TOP three favorite shoe brands/designers?

NT: Ooh, good question! My all-time number one favorite brand is Dries van Noten. Right now, I am up to 7 pairs and wear them all religiously. Second would have to be Chloe. Their styles are edgy but still super well made. I know that I will still easily be wearing the styles I own in 10 years. Lastly, I would include Jeffrey Campbell. Anyone who thinks up something as wonderous as the Clinics is a god in my book. And, his affordable prices make the shoes more accessible to everyone. I am a big fan of good design for all!

Ty: We love your take on goth/glam dark styling, with a touch of irony and whimsy, in short, what is your look for Fall 2010?

NT: Space Android! I want to look like I stepped off The Mothership. Or, like I am on my way to a goth club in 2050. In short, my look calls for extreme black layers with lots of draping and zippers, a dash of sequins, some Rick Owens and the JC Clinics, of course.

Ty: Which of the following is your least favorite: The term JEGGINGS? TWILIGHT THE MOVIE? or Late night texts from an ex who is still kinda cute?

NT: Oh, Jeggings by far. That term sends shivers up my spine. I don’t understand the Twilight phenomenon but then again, I don’t read fiction or watch movies.

Ty: You hail from Portland Oregon, same as SOLESTRUCK, what is your favorite Portland spot?

NT: Probably the Doug Fir. Of course I’ve been there a million times but during the summer, listening to drunk people’s conversations by the fire pit out back is beyond entertaining. And, instead of the typical gross bar food, you can order garlic mashed potatoes off the happy hour menu. Sold!

Ty: What is your actual Job? Blogger? Graphic designer? Stylista? Journalist? Who is Nubby Twiglet!

NT: I am a full-time graphic designer and blogger. My days are spent at ad agencies around town, knocking out campaigns and my lunch hours and evenings are spent blogging. There aren’t enough hours in a day. I am a total cliché Virgo Workaholic™.

Ty: If you could sum up your love for solestruck.com in five words or less what would they be?

NT: Shoe-a-holic. Fierce. Fashionable. Accessible. Friendly.

Ty: And finally!!! The question we have all been waiting for….who is your current celeb crush?

Well, all-time celeb crush would be Michael Jackson. Those moves and costumes — need I say more?!! But a living crush would have to be Bill Clinton. Power and charisma win me over every time.

A huge thank you to the Solestruck team, GeeWaWashoes and photographer Carey Haider for making this collaboration possible!

Beauty Products: 2010 Edition

August 23, 2010

One of the most common questions I get asked on a regular basis is which beauty products I use. Though I’m not obsessive with trying out new products, I do keep a regular routine and have quite a few favorites from a handful of brands.

Lip Products

First off, I discovered M•A•C makeup in middle school, back in the mid 90s. I remember getting my first ever lipstick in 7th or 8th grade and using it religiously until it ran out. I’ve always loved the faint vanilla smell and though I’ve gone through color shakeups (purple and later red in high school), I tend to use a few neutrals from M•A•C exclusively on an every day basis.

My days are very busy and there’s not much time for touch-ups; bright colors that can bleed or smear just aren’t practical. I like creamy, warm neutral lipsticks that aren’t too brown and don’t look too overdone with a smokey eye. And, I love gloss. A big Lipglass fan for many years, last December I discovered my new favorite lip gloss — Dazzleglass. It smells great, adds some amazing dimension to lips and lasts for hours. And, the shimmer is unparalleled.

I barely ever use lip liner but when I want a more finished look, I use M•A•C Subculture because it’s a neutral pink tone that blends and avoids the dreaded visibly lined look.

I used to wear red lipstick fairly often and still have L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in British Red, which is warm and really flattering. Whenever you see me wearing red lipstick in photos, this is it.

Not shown, but worth a mention: Vanilla Birthday Cake Lip Shine by Philosophy. The best smelling clear lip gloss I have ever tried. I am a huge vanilla lover and this totally delivers.

The Face: Eyes, Cheeks, Skin

Let’s start with blush. Too much and you look like a clown. Too little and you may appear….dead. I have really pale skin so I like a bit of warmth but I don’t want to look overdone. For a long time, I used M•A•C Sincere blush, but a few months ago, Margin was recommended and I like it even better. It’s more neutral, has a ton of shimmer and is highly pigmented — just a little goes a long way.

I’ve been using M•A•C eye shadows for about 15 years now. I own probably 20 shades but I have a few long time favorites. For the smokey eye I usually wear, I start with a no-name shimmery neutral shadow as a base. For the crease, I use Scene (deep gray) with Black Tied (a beautiful shimmery black) in the corners and finish it off with a Kohl eyeliner (M•A•C Smolder) or Prestige black liquid liner with a slight wing at the edge. And, when I want even more of an impact, I add a light dusting of Tiara loose eye shadow by Sugarpill onto my lids. It’s like liquid silver and everyone notices it because the pigment is really amazing.

Though, sometimes I just want a bit more impact on my eyes. I love M•A•C Atlantic Blue because it’s so much fun! But, my hands-down favorite for the last two weeks has been Poison Plum pressed eyeshadow by Sugarpill (which, in all honesty, has way more pigment than M•A•C). I went through a major purple eye shadow phase around 10 years ago and it’s back once again. I can’t get enough of it!

Not shown but worth a mention: I have a few limited edition M•A•C Mineralize eye shadows that I use all the time. They are amazingly shimmery and blend super well. Do you remember the Black collection from last year? I picked up Cinderfella (super shimmery black — even better than Black Tied) and Blue Flame (a multifaceted deep blue) that are beautiful.

For eyebrows, I use an angled brush and a tiny dab of M•A•C Mystery eye shadow (a dark brown) to add a dash of impact.

I’m not much of a liquid foundation fan. After applying moisturizer (I’ve been using Lancome lately), I put on concealer (I’ve used Studio Finish Concealer for about five years but recently got a sample of Studio Sculpt which I am liking even more) and then apply Studio Fix, which is a powder and foundation in one. Though it has a powdery finish, it covers nearly everything and makes skin appear silky smooth. Best of all, it can be applied lightly for a more natural look or layered slightly heavier for late nights and photos. Though I like Studio Sculpt, Gala swears by Make Up Forever concealer and I am considering giving it a try next. Have any of you tried it?

Though, like many of you, I’ve tried a number of mascaras including Maybelline Great Lash, I really do like M•A•C Zoom Black mascara because it builds up remarkably fast. And, it’s much less expensive than many of the other department store brands. It might be a bit heavy for some people, but I like a very mod, defined eye so it works for me.

Skincare

Up until I was 28, I did very little to my skin and it stayed almost perfectly clear. Then, something changed about six months ago. Breakouts became more frequent and my skin became slightly more oily. And, my skin is very fair and sensitive, so I wasn’t sure where to turn. I finally decided to go back to my teenage skin routine — the simple, affordable and effective 3 Step Skincare system by Clinique. Though, it’s not quite three steps for me because I prefer to use a different moisturizer by Lancome.

When I’m too tired to wash my face, I reach for Comodynes Makeup Remover for Sensitive Skin wipes, which I first discovered at Trader Joe’s on a whim. If you have sensitive skin like I do, these are amazing. I’ve tried a few other brands and nothing ever works as well as these.

I am sure I’m probably leaving a few things out, but feel free to ask me any questions in the comments!

Readers: What are some of your favorite beauty products? What can you not live without? Do you have any recommendations for new products I should try?

*Header image by M•A•C

Nixon Time Teller P Watch

February 24, 2010

It must be Watch Week around here. On Monday, I was waxing poetic about Swatch and today, it’s Nixon!

Last month, I was standing around at Nemo when I looked down at one of the producer’s arms (Hi, Megan!) and noticed this watch. Quite dramatically, I reached for it and demanded to know where she got it. I was immediately drawn to the solid white exterior and frankly, the shape (which to me resembles a Swatch on steroids). The Time Teller P comes in a whopping 19 colors. I’ve been wearing the Nixon Chalet in black for the last two years and figured this stark white watch would be perfect for Spring. So far, so good.

Readers: Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind?

The Flat Iron Diaries

January 11, 2010

I am one of those people with fairly straight hair, but sometimes, fairly straight just won’t cut it. There are times where I want my hair to look perfectly sleek and in those moments, I reach for my flat iron.

Unfortunately, while I was vacationing in Florida back in November, my flat iron died quite suddenly. It’s not something that I would call an absolute necessity so I put off purchasing a new one when I returned home. But, the universe has an odd way of coming through when we are in need.

After being home for about a week, my phone rang one morning and since it wasn’t a number that I recognized, I almost didn’t answer. But, I am so glad I did. Turns out that it was one of my long-time advertisers, Misikko. The owner had just checked out my blog and noticed that I had really long hair. He wondered if I would be interested in trying out one of their professional flat irons and I immediately obliged.

I was super excited at the prospect because I had already tried out one of the Misikko flat irons over the summer while staying with Gala in New York. I already knew that they were compact, of nice quality and worked well so I was glad to finally have one of my own.

Misikko sent me the Hana model, which is 1 inch, black and works super fast. It literally takes a minute or less to heat up and is the best straightening iron I’ve tried to date, due in part to the high quality ceramic plates. One of the best features on this model are the 8 foot long cord (!!) and the accompanying heat proof silicone mat. The mat is nice, especially if you set your iron on a counter or floor to heat up. The heat on the iron is adjustable from 140 – 450° F and I usually keep it pretty high since I have fairly healthy hair.

Though I don’t use an iron every day, it’s a great tool to have around when you want that extra polished edge. I am by no means a flat iron expert, but I’ve tried quite a few and I prefer the compact size, looks and power of the Hana over other models I’ve tried. Thanks, Misikko!