Katie Curates: The Art of Kelly Reemtsen

Pinterest is a wonderful thing. My husband likes to kid me and joke about how I am addicted to looking at pictures on the Internet. As you can imagine, Pinterest is paradise for a visual person such as myself. I look for everything from recipe and outfit ideas to art

This week while on Pinterest I discovered the paintings of Kelly Reemtsen from her series Striving for Perfection and was instantly drawn to the juxtaposition of feminine looking women (at least from the waist down) holding masculine objects. Many of the dresses and skirts seemed very kate spade inspired with bright colorful hues and stripes, garb from straight out of Hello Katie Girl's closet. Just check out the similarities below for yourself:

As you can see, there is a slight similarity, save for the fact that I'll take a handbag or clutch for a night out instead of opting for a chainsaw, axe or shovel. Yes, it would make an artistic statement, but no, it wouldn't be too practical.

Last week my friend sent me a link to a fashion illustrator who you can commission to do your own stylish portrait. We joked about having this done and perhaps me using it for my blog icon. Maybe I could commission Kelly Reemtsen? But what would be my tool or "weapon" of choice?

Worth the Wait

You know the saying, "Good thing come to those who wait"?  It's true, but sometimes it's just so hard to follow. As a rule I try to wait to purchase things on sale, unless I feel like it's something I absolutely can't live without. (I know, I know... clothing and accessories are not a matter a life or death, but you know what I mean!) However, it's always frustrating when you play the waiting game too long and then miss out on something you later regret.

For months I had a wish list of things that I wanted at Zara from their Spring collection. I really like Zara because you can buy some pretty high-end looking items, many which are made in Spain, and the retail prices are reasonable. Trying to be good, I figured I didn't need anything off my wishlist right away and if I waited a few months everything would go on sale. During Zara's first sale cut I  refrained from getting anything. During their second cut, pretty much everything I wanted was sold out online. C'est la vie!

Lucky for me I got a second chance on a recent trip to Zara last weekend. They had everything I wanted on my wish list in my size, including this blue and white floral top that I've been lusting after. When I was in the dressing room trying it on I thought I should buy some white pants to go with the top. I ventured next door to J. Crew and found a pair on sale for $14! My ensemble was officially complete. I guess good things really do come to those who wait!

Top: Zara

Pants: J. Crew Campbell Capri Pants here

Shoes: J. Crew Valentina Mirror Metallic Pumps here

Bag: Louis Vuitton Epi Alma in Citron 

Sunglasses: Prada Baroque

Scallops and Cactus

At one point I had this crazy idea to have people guess my location in various blog posts through a combination of clues, architectural details and rummaging through previous posts of mine. (Sort of like a scavenger hunt.) Do you remember the computer game and TV show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Well, my version would be Where in the World is Hello Katie Girl? I thought it was a novel idea, but like many of my crazy ideas this one will probably not come to fruition anytime soon. So I am just going to tell you where I am: Pio Pico State Park. If you are so inclined to visit this destination or if you just want a little history lesson you can visit my previous post on the location: Don Katie at the Pio Pico Ranchito. Did I go here just to sight see again? Or take blog photos? No. It happens to be near a restaurant that serves the best cheese bread and baked potatoes with cheese sauce ever. So, yeah, that's why I'm here!

Anyway, like the location, my outfit is also somewhat "recycled." I have worn this scalloped dress from J. Crew before and I've blogged about it too, but I thought I would style it up a little differently. I realized that some of my favorite blogs are ones that keep reinventing new ways to wear things that I might already have in my closet, even when the pieces aren't brand new, just released items. Today I am wearing my scalloped dress with some blue and white check, my fan necklace and just a hint of leopard from my clutch.  Now, it's off to get some cheese bread!

 

Joining Tara and phiphi today for Summer Style Link Up! 
 Stylin in St. Louis Spotlight of the Week
Simple Sequins Fashion Item Friday
Passion4Fashion  

Dress: J. Crew Scallop Dress here

Shirt: Ralph Lauren  (from Marshall's and on clearance now!)
Shoes: J. Crew Evie Metallic Mid-heel Sandal here (on sale now for $50 or less at J. Crew)
Bag: Claire Vivier Leopard Fold-Over Clutch here
Necklace: Groopdealz (Similar to the J. Crew Fan Fringe Necklace  
Bracelets: J. Crew and ASOS

Cheap Thrills

I get a little thrill from deals. Okay, a big thrill. It's sort of an addiction. My blouse and skirt are both from the J. Crew Factory. The button down pinstripe shirt was $10 and the skirt came to $15. I love looking at the price on the receipt and feeling like I some how got a steal or in gambling terms "cheated the house." Yes, they are still making money off of me, but when you look at the retail price it does get your adrenaline pumping just a tad.

Neon and leopard are perhaps an unlikely pair, but I think it can work, which is why I paired my J. Crew bargains with my Claire Vivier Leopard clutch. Speaking of neon, I think there are certain colors that are just too much for the camera to handle. Maybe it's just my camera which isn't exactly state of the art, or maybe it's the neon pigment in this skirt, but it is very hard to photograph neon colors without feeling blinded. My father-in-law told me I could go hunting in this skirt. (As you can tell, both my husband and father-in-law like to make clever quips about my clothing.) Well, it was a great deal and I am, after all, a hunter of bargains! Perhaps I will wear this on my next bargain-hunting safari!

Linking up today with Walking in Memphis in High Heels Trend Spin

A mostly J. Crew outfit today too!
Shirt: J. Crew Factory Printed Classic Button Down Shirt in French Blue here

Skirt: J. Crew Factory Neon Embroidered Floral Mini here

Shoes: J. Crew Lillian Metallic Low Wedge in Silver here

Bag: Claire Vivier Leopard Fold-Over Clutch here

The Artistic Temperament

The "Urban Light" sculpture which guards the entrance to LACMA draws people to it like a magnet. Kids stop and play, some sit down to people watch, while others, such as myself, take photos amidst the towering street lamps from the 20s and 30s. I guess the ability to draw the attention and fascination of spectators should be the mark of a successful pubic art work, if this is the case then "Urban Lights" is a resounding success.

This week my husband and I ventured to the Westside of Los Angeles to take a gander at some of the new exhibits at LACMA. I thought such an occasion should call for an artistically inspired skirt, such as this midi skirt from H&M featuring broad, bold brushstrokes. I like any article of clothing with paint splatters, brushstrokes or some sort of art influence, so this skirt definitely caught my eye. In fact, I liked it so much that when they didn't have it in my size I had my tailor make it just right for me. I guess for many reasons you can say I have some of the "artistic temperament" in me.

 

This winter I also visited the LACMA and its Diane von Furstenberg exhibit in my Museum Leftovers and Journey of the Dress posts. Below you will find a few more fun tidbits from my summer adventure at the LACMA. There are all sorts of fun geometrical structures on which to "play". The newest addition to the LACMA is the "Levitated Mass" sculpture which is essentially a boulder suspended over a trench/walkway. It's certainly fun to walk under, but I wouldn't want to be there when the next big earthquake hits!

Shirt: H&M "Brushstroke" Midi Skirt

T-Shirt: Merona/Target

Shoes: kate spade "Chris" 

Necklace: Forever 21

Bag: Chanel Jumbo Flap 

Glasses: Prada Baroque