Harem Pants & Elvis

The King has some words of wisdom for us, chickens. Look at Priscilla, ladies. Take a page outta her book. She's some kinda woman. Don't hate your hips, don't hide 'em. Love 'em tender!
These words are imaginary, and I made them up, but still. He'd probably say that.   

So, harem pants are one of my favorite things. I love them. I started wearing them a few years ago when I was taking yoga lessons (on an island, in a sun-filled room tucked away above the Atlantic... my college campus was unbelievable) from this dread-locked goddess who seemed to move with an impossible fluidity. Shoulders to the ground, feet to the sky, heart wide open, and the most lively excess of fabric in the crotch of her pants. I found the style enchanting. She called them by a name I can't remember, had picked them up by the armful in India, and carried them off with the perfect balance of exotic comfort and daring charm.

They've been peppering my wardrobe since then, which was maybe 4 years ago. Never at work, and often poorly received by the general public and my grandparents in specific. But this has meant, for the love of harem pants, finding fun and different ways to style them.

Elvis also approves of my blue suede shoes. I love the pop of color they add to these pants.

The other day, sunshine and beefcake fiancé in tow, I had fun pairing them with a white cami, gold belt, blue suede shoes and a blue bag. Add delicious pearl earrings, and done.

Oh, how I love them. Instant elevators. 

The greatest thing about this: the shape! I believe in curves, I believe in celebrating what I've got. And what you've got. And having finally reached a place in my life where I'm pretty happy about and comfortable with actually having hips, I'm excited to look at an image like this and think, GIRL, WORK IT, instead of, YEAH, LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN HIDE THOSE. It's liberating (so is wearing harem pants, in general). I like feeling like there's a touch of bombshell/ absence of camouflage. 

Guys, I really love these shoes. So I stare at them longingly. And everybody loves a metallic belt. Jewelry for your waist! I'm also really curious about this sidewalk, if we're being real. I can only hope this is a sign that Ninja Turtles really do exist. 

I actually wore this pair to work last week, high-waisted over a black tank, and my boss was into it (it should be mentioned that she is more stylish and fabulous than the average bear). I am super happy to be able to work them into a professional wardrobe. I'm still experimenting. And later in the day, when we realized that sitting at my desk all day with my legs bent had stretched the knees of my pants out to reveal a flappy bulge mid-leg when I stood, I discovered my new favorite faux pas: KNEE NIPPLES. It looked like my legs had sprouted udders. I proceeded to play at milking them, because why not, and I'm still laughing about it. Gross. Ha.

Apparently I can only stand in this exact pose while wearing this oufit. Later in the evening, we stumbled across a stretch of a kid's sidewalk chalk art. Good job kid. keep on coloring the world. This snake was actually kind of awesome and went on forever. And this makes me think of MC Hammer. Everybody wins!

I'll let you know if I ever figure out how to combat Knee Nipples or discover the black-tie appropriate harem pant. Anything is possible.

Work it, chickadees.

Xx.

-Ash

Mint is the new everything.

Random cut-offs I made... Like these
Cami
Sandals with Wings
Bobbi Brown Art Stick -- Harlow Red

People close to me will tell you that I am crazysauce for Mint green. From its pale sage beginnings to its seafoam heights, the spectrum is one of my very favorites. I'm all up in that spectrum. ALL up in it. I wore mint to not one, but two proms. I've been nursing a pair of mint Cindy Says kitten heels for like 10 years (BRING 'EM BACK!) that are starting to lose very relevant parts of their bodies. I consider it a neutral. Like denim. Or leopard. Or gold. And also I guess black.

I'm even marinating on the idea of a mint wedding gown. Gown or not, I'm sure the wedding will be mint-y. M. approves.

Maybe that's the reason I've always been so taken with the city of New Orleans? There is a mint detail in just about every corner. I'm totally on board. I love.

Walls...

Courtyards...

Facades...

Even the Fiats were mint :)

Doors...

The ceiling of Cathedral - Basilica St. Louis...

Details...

Ornate Entryways...

***

Let me come clean, for a minute: I am a sunglasses addict. I feel that the sellers of beautiful eyewear should have a hotline posted on every wall (...like those plastered about at the casino my grandparents like to take me to, sometimes, just for a quick go after breakfast on a Tuesday. For the record, my grandparents are the coolest people ever. Inarguably.). "If you suspect that you may have a problem, please call..."

But... I probably would not call. That's no fun. Then I'd have to get into it with the shoe problem, the entomology fascination, the soul-stirring book thing, et cetera. Not to mention jewelry. Who has the time?

Have you ever searched for an item, and found yourself on a personal fashion odyssey? Since I was a kid, I've thumbed through vintage images like these...

Hello, delicious glasses. Let's be friends. 

I'm into it. Even the wacky, unibrow flamingo thing glasses on the left.
I don't get it, but I still approve. 

...and fallen deeply in love with (the currently super trendy, which, awesome, because yay for options) cateye sunnie.

Noteworthy: I was always super into the idea of wearing poodle skirts as a kiddo, too. I watched Grease a lot.

Also, John Travolta's hair. 

Last week, in New Orleans, I stumbled upon an adorable boutique in the French Quarter (with equally adorable, helpful, and totally unpretentious sales associates, which is how ALL sales folk should be, just saying...) called Hemline (apparently there are a few in the South, but we Yanks are sorely missing their existence).  I was in search of my current fashion white whale (a whole different animal, and a blog post to come, involving the GREATEST BOOTIES EVER), having nearly forgotten about my longing for mint cateyes altogether. For the moment, at least. The lovely Laura greeted me with a bright smile, we talked NOLA fashion a bit, and then OH MY GOD there they were.

Krewe Monroe Glasses in Matte Seafoam

So this is all well and good, but now I am in love with these, too. THANKS A LOT, KREWE.

Here is the literal play by play:
I'm standing in the corner of this store, browsing adorable tops which I felt way too summer-gross to try on, and then all of a sudden the roof was torn away by some sort of otherworldly beings, which proceeded to shine a light upon a small display of glinting, angular objects. And I'm sure there was music playing, and the original cast of Brigadoon was wrapping the showroom in a soft serenade of "Till There Was You." And then I saw them. BAM. That is almost definitely the way it went down.

OH HAI GREATEST SUNGLASSES EVER!

I love them. I love them. I love them!

Also, they are designed in New Orleans (by Krewe). And they are (I am told...?) made in New Orleans. And locally inspired and manufactured ANYTHING is my complete and utter JAM.

Does it make sense to wear them at work? I might. And then I'll just tell all of my clients that I have to, because the diamonds are blinding me.

(I work with the jewelries.)

So, I put them on, and could not leave the store without them, and there ya go. One white whale down, one to go (I will find you, booties!). Who am I kidding. There are like... 700 to go. But, hey, "One day at a time," my lovely mother always says.

Then, as M. and I explored the city that day, I got all hammy for the cammy. (Yes. I really just said that... I know.)

Loving the fact that my shirt isn't touching me, and my glasses are the bees knees. 

Really into my shoes, at this moment. 

Working my corner, bahahaha... Dear God I love this city. 

Delirious and hot and acting a fool. 

Sometimes you find that one little something, be it a pair of shoes or a perfect whiskey or a painting, and it makes the puzzle of life feel a bit more properly put together. And even though that one little something is just a thing at its bones, it means worlds within worlds within a box/a bottle/a vision to you. That's what counts. No shame in chasing something that makes you feel like Ryan Gosling is at the finish line.

There is always a thrill in the chase... But, oh, what you find in the catch! :)

Hugs and Kisses and Minty Fresh Goodness.

-Ash