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CONFESSION: I’ve been really feeling Wear Palettes lately. As ever, I’m probably a late bloomer on this but it’s such a great, lazy way to get motivated with your wardrobe and figure out ways to hit all the tones in the daily palettes through creative means like lipstick, actual metals in jewelry, etc. In addition to actual clothes and footwear and bigger, less subtle accessories. I like that they’ve broken out the palettes between street wear, plants and celebs, but I do wish that they created palettes from other sources.

We were walking around the other day and something caught M’s eye, for example, and she exclaimed “That! That should be on one of your palette thingees!” It was food-related, I think. (Super lesbian, I know. Shut up!) When I saw this one I loved it for the strong earthiness, hence the title of this post!

Tell me what you think in the comments:

CONFESSION: I know the rainbow heart print is a bit twee, but the button-up backline sold me on this dress. It’s a fairly well-made H&M number that I scored at a local thrift store for $5. It’s sweet and comfortable, and I love that it can be belted or not, paired with sky high heels and a skinny, studded, layered belt to punk it up a bit. Or not. (In fact, I’ve got a pair of killer moto-chic heels headed my way that I can’t wait to pair with this dress.)

SCENT: ARE WE READY FOR THE LAST OF THE LAST? I can’t say how pleased I am to be done with this sad, trashy collection of Victoria’s Secret fragrances, I honestly can’t. A friend of mine tweeted today about the arduous task of finishing a book she disliked. She started reading it in March. I think she read a bit of it each day. That’s torture. It’s exactly how I feel about this little scent experiment. Thank heavens it’s over with and I can now return to reviewing sniffs worth their salt.

Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy: I spritzed a bit on, turned to M and said, “Sweet, sharp floral…” and she added “…with citrus!” and sure enough, it’s described as a “sultry blend of sensual vanilla orchid, sparkling clementine and juicy blackberry.” It still smells like shitty potpourri and continues to on the drydown. I fail to comprehend why all of their scents are pitched as hyper sexy, alluring, come-fuck-me irresistible when they couldn’t be further from it. It’s so bad I can scarcely take satisfaction in the fact that I was right – and I love being right – the quality and caliber of their fragrances parallel the quality and caliber of their lingerie. I was open to being proven wrong or humbled, alas.

In summary, it’s all very black and white, kids. Like so:

PS. ZOMG, someone hold me back before I ruin everything I’ve been working toward and DYE MY HAIR these 84,000 colors:

When: Thurs., February 12th, 2009.

What: Plain black trousers from Express, sleeveless black blouse by Samuel Dong, thrifted black belt with neon stripe. Vintage black leather moto jacket by Wilson’s, boots by H&M, Peruvian scarf from little Bodega Bay surf boutique. Bullet necklaces by J. Gold.

Confession: I feel like a dirty fucking hippie because I haven’t washed my hair for, like, four days or something. It feels gross, even. But it looks SO FANTASTIC, I just can’t bear to do it. I don’t even know how it’s possible, it’s FILTHY, it probably smells, but when the Shiny Hair Goddess of Preternaturally Lovely Waves pulls you to her gossamer bosom, you do not squirm or wiggle or wish for an entire bottle of shampoo. You toss your hair after brushing it with your fancy Aveda hairbrush.

Close-ups of fancy floral lattice on back of blouse, my shiny hair and the bullet lipstick pendants by J. Gold (I’m keeping the baby one safe until the petite can wear hers without other parents turning me into the CPS.):

When: Wednesday, Dec. 4th, 2008.

What: Ash brown blouse by BCBG Max Azria, black pencil skirt by Brooks Brothers (yes, Brooks Brothers), thrifted wide burgundy belt. Brown metallic leather pumps with flower and ankle strap by Franco Sarto. Feather headband by modcloth.com.

Scent: I am a fickle believer in keeping my friends close and my enemies closer, which is why I chose a patchouli-based scent today: Real Patchouly by Bois 1920. It is not for the faint of heart, nor is it remotely hippie, which is where my total, unfettered revulsion of all things patchouli is born. The Texas citron nails you from the get-go, the sandalwood in hot pursuit. It leans into you like that until you think you can’t stand another second, and then the bottom drops out from under it, leaving you with a scent that is pure, spent afterglow. It’s a quick, dirty, forbidden quickie of a fragrance, without the unpleasant foulness one associates with patchouli after spending enough time on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley. I dare you to try it!

Confession: I love that this blouse zips up the back, but I was scarcely able to do it without the tomboy home to help me earlier today! The bench that is pictured below was a terrific find on ebay.com a few years ago, and when we went back to find another one, they were all gone. We wanted a set! They’re dark brown studded leather, with little ornate handles and detail, and they kind of beg to have all manner of dirty deeds committed atop them, don’t you agree?

When: Monday, Dec. 1, 2008.

What: This is my favorite blue top by Kenneth Cole, with a thrifted burgundy belt and my favorite vintage scarf, paired with the same Laundry trousers from yesterday. The little comfy black velvet flats are by Scoop NYC.

Scent: Amarige de Givenchy. I’ve worn this scent for years because it is austere and very lovely. It is romantic, but not naive. It is a scent that almost reinforces my unattainability, which is probably a strange thing to say, but I like it.

I will never forget walking up to the counter at the faggiest Sephora in SF in 2003, I think it was, plunking down this and Chanel No. 5 for purchase and getting a sky-high raised eyebrow from the catty cashier, who felt the need to note how “mature” both scents were for someone as young as myself. (To him I say: Douche, what the fuck do you know?)

The staying power is so-so; I can barely detect it 6 hrs. after application. The notes as follows: Neroli, Rosewood, Violet Leaves, Citrus Notes, Gardenia, Mimosa, Melon, Peach, Plum, Cashmereon Wood, Tonka Bean, Vanilla.

Confession: My hairdo! It’s so pretty! I’ve never done it like this before, it was a total my-hair-is-wet-out-of-the-shower-but-I-have-to-go-to-brunch thing, a fluke!

I just braided it to one side, and twisted it up and around back, and clipped it into place with some locking bobby pins! As it dried, little pieces fell out of place and made it messier and come-hitherer.

Try it!

PS. Here are the creepy little avatars that I made for M & I. HA!

When: Tuesday, Nov. 25th, 2008.

What: (Let’s start from the bottom, shall we?) Red leather pumps with ankle strap, Nine West. Black knee socks, Betsey Johnson. Black jersey skirt, Sylvie & Mado. Black keyhole turtleneck, Nine West. Blue cardigan from Buffalo by David Bitton. Belt, thrifted. Red wool coat, vintage I. Magnin. Leather argyle cuff from Grove St. Kids in Berkeley and feather headband from modcloth.com. (For the Bangmaster: The Grape Lakes by OPI.)

Scent: Today I am wearing Guerlain Insolence, which M gave to me on one of our dates a year or more ago. (She gives me fantastic little date night gifts every once in awhile. It’s lovely.) It is described on Sephora like so: “Exuberant notes of violet are accompanied by jubilant red berries like raspberry. A hint of orange blossom and rose impart a striking intensity, while sensual iris and tonka bean resins finish the scent, making Insolence the ultimate luxury fragrance.”

It is very sweet, if you are familiar with it, then yes, this is definitely a fragrance martini with a generous shot of Guerlinade. The staying power is wonderful, it just kind of floats around you, a very soft and very feminine and very pink perfume. I stood in front of all my many bottles and decants and vials this morning, hesitating, and then (who knows why, perhaps because of a frisky morning) I realized of course the Insolence!

Confession: Being a (temporary) housewife/housefemme is HARD, yo. I just got home from the bank, the drycleaners, selling 3 bags of the petite’s clothes to a resale shop where she “made” $40, getting gas, exchanging some not-so-goodies for goodies at Sephora (Kinerase Clear Skin Moisture Light & I are friends again, Kat Von D lipstick in Lolita, the Tarte limited edition Tres Cheek 3-piece set), lunch at Pasta Pomodoro (kids eat free on Tuesdays, apparently) and Claire’s, where I procured a satin ivory bow headband. That was all after a very pleasant (read: morning sex FTW) morning. SCORE. Anyway, it was very busy, and now you’ll have to excuse me, as I have to take the pork chops out of the oven, and serve them to my family with applesauce and delicious stuffing. And Ketel One cosmos, of course. Oh, and soft, fresh vanilla cupcakes with a huge dollop of cream cheese frosting for dessert. Wish you were here!

When: Sunday, Nov. 16th, 2008.

What: Black shirt dress by Rogan Gregory for GO Int’l @ Target, thrifted sheer scarf as belt, gray calfskin booties by Bebe. Feather earrings from Soho street vendor, pendant from Claire’s.

Confession: Nothing to report, other than the fact that I had a fantastic Sunday. 1.5 hr. massage with a wonderful new masseuse and a lively dinner with M’s longtime friends, who were in town for a visit this weekend. The dinner? A quiet, lovely restaurant overlooking the water…I had an amazing Kobe beef meatloaf wrapped in pepper bacon with a red-wine mushroom sauce and ginger lime “peartini.” We shared a delicious flight of tawny port wine and baby beignets for dessert.