Fashion’s Night Out (or One Night in Crazytown)

Posted on September 9, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

I was perusing some of these photos from Fashion’s Night Out in NYC last night and some of them made me take a step back and say to myself, “Are these real people? Like really real? Are you f@%#ing with me, New York Magazine??” (I only swear in my mind. Plus, this is family-friendly blog. Meaning my relatives are the only ones who read it.)

Are you giggling right now? Me too. I think Whitney Port also finds it hilarious that Hank Azaria drank an entire bottle of Benadryl and showed up dressed like a Harry Caray impersonator who also happens to be an Oompa-Loompa. Thank God he has her bosom upon which to rest his seemingly 100 lb. head. (No, this isn’t actually Hank Azaria. It’s Guiseppe Zanotti. Yeah, I’ve never heard of him either.)

Again we have the wayward Mr. Zanotti who seems to think that “self-consciously wistful” is the appropriate facial expression for the moment. I love him. But when did Jessica Rabbit become a brunette and start wearing pants? Or is that a blow-up doll?

STOP it. This is obviously an alien. That or David Bowie is on his death bed, in which case I apologize for my insensitivity.

Found ’em!

Posted on September 8, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

Ask and ye shall receive!

(See this post if you’re wondering what this is all about.)

Jeans are from Guess and boots are Michael Kors from Marshall’s. And I… am happy. 🙂

All I want right now

Posted on September 8, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

… is a cute pair of skinny red jeans that don’t make my legs look like sausages and new cognac-colored boots for fall.

Also, I really want neither of these things to cost me multiple hundreds of dollars. After looking online and visiting countless stores, apparently this is too much to ask?

Not being rich sucks.

(Yes, my problems are trivial. And I like them that way.)

Images from fantabulouslyfrugal.com and madewell.com.

Parisian chic

Posted on September 7, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

A couple months ago, I picked up a copy of Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange. I had read about it on some of the style blogs I follow and thought it might be interesting, because let’s face it – when it comes to clothes, French women have it going on. Just like American women when it comes to obesity. (Kidding!) (Sort of.) (Not really.)

It turns out Ms. de la Fressange has some really good advice, in my non-fashion-forward opinion. I’m particularly inspired by her list of seven wardrobe basics that every woman should have, especially because I already have most of them!

1. A man’s blazer (I’ll be raiding Will’s closet for this one)

2. Trench coat (check!)

3. Navy sweater (will be purchasing soon)

4. Tank top (check!)

5. Little black dress (check!)

6. Jeans (check!)

7. Leather jacket (does pleather count?)

It’s kind of crazy how many polished-looking outfits you can put together with just these seven items and some cool accessories. Once I get that navy sweater, hopefully I’ll be well on my way to chic-ness.

“Who me? Nooo, I’m not from Paris, I just look like it…”

Image from France Today.

Happy feet

Posted on September 7, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

My bus this morning smelled like a convention of mouth-breathers with severe halitosis.

Also, the driver let me off right into a large running sprinkler.

BUT, I’m still in good mood! I think it’s because I’m wearing my gold sparkly shoes today.

BEHOLD the power of footwear.

(Will, please remember this important message when the new boots I’m planning to buy show up on the credit card statement next week. Thank you.)

Gold glitter ballet flats from Gap, last season. You can get similar ones here.

Image from PageDaily.com.

Good news(paper)!

Posted on August 26, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

There’s a Design*Sponge newspaper? Available in Chicago? For FREE??

I’m so picking this up on my way home from work today… if there are any left!

Don’t follow Design*Sponge? Well, A) you should, and B) you’re missing out on fun fashion, decorating and design ideas and a lot of pretty pictures, and going back to A), you really just should follow this blog.

More on the newspaper and where you can find it in Chicago and other cities here.

Image from Design*Sponge. Where else?

Chateau Irwin…in my dreams

Posted on June 17, 2010 by carlieblissirwin

Man, I am so over renting. Our shower rod has turned into a big stick of rust, only half of our windows open, the lady above us wears bricks for shoes, I’m forced to squish all my clothes into HALF of a closet, and there’s not much I can do about any of it.

We would have bought our own place by now, but due to life circumstances (not bad ones – don’t worry!), that hasn’t been the best option for us.

The bad news: it might possibly be another couple of years before we actually buy a place.

The good news: we’ll have one heck of a down payment saved up by then!

So for now, I’m stuck daydreaming about decorating and homeownership and living vicariously through the people on HGTV.

As if I felt the need to prove to you how much of my free time is spent thinking about our future dwelling, I’ve put together a nice little dream house in my mind inspired by photos from fun blogs and websites like Apartmenttherapy, Coco & Kelly, Destined to Design, and Dress Design Décor.

I know, I need a hobby. Another hobby.

Anyway, since I can’t invite all of you over to my current home (yes, I have enough readers that trying to fit them into our five-room apartment would most definitely be a fire hazard – yay me!), I’d like to invite you to my future dream home.

Welcome to Chateau Irwin. Come on in and stay awhile…

(and please take off your shoes unless you want to wear those dorky model home booties)

For some reason, I’ve always imagined myself living in an urban townhouse. I don’t know how practical that will be for family life and having kids (nor do I care right now!), but I expect I will find out.

Ahh…the living room…

It is in this bright and airy space that you will find me eating ice cream, watching reality TV (yes, there’s a TV in there somewhere…maybe hidden behind that painting), taking naps, and practicing general slothfulness. And loving those striped shades.

Turn the corner and we have…

The dining room. I want to marry those floor-to-ceiling windows and have like ten thousand of their babies.

Moving on…

My office!

So fun and cheery! Like me! Sometimes.

Here’s where I get my creative juices flowing and slave for hours over this damn blog because I know my mom readers would be sorely disappointed if I ever stopped writing new posts.

And now…

The kitchen. Where we eat pizza and takeout while I gaze fondly at all of the pretty cookware I bought and have no idea how to use, but boy does it look great in those glass cabinets.

Don’t look now, but we’re about to enter my favorite part of the house…

The deck! I pretty much live out here as long as the weather and the endurance of my citronella candles cooperate.

And when I want to relax inside and wash off the layers of bug spray (I swear, I must be a veritable mosquito buffet, complete with unlimited bloody marys…get it??), I hit up this awesome bathtub.