How to Style a Vintage Skirt: Part III

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You guys! I really outdid myself on the vintage skirt front this week. My hope is that there's a tiny little piece of you that is considering a thrift shop excursion this weekend and a vintage skirt in your future. I will wait patiently for the Instagram photos. 

If you read the blog this week, you know that I've been throwing out thrifting tips like it's my job, but sometimes the best vintage clothes belong to your family! Take this skirt for example - it used to belong to my mother before I stole it a few a years ago. She was an elementary school teacher and had THE BEST wardrobe. I especially love this skirt because of the buttons. It feels so Angela Chase. So, my last tip is to raid your mom, grandma, aunt, great-aunt's closet. I even have clothes that belonged to my dad! 

For look #3, I paired this skirt with a denim, pinstriped top from the Gap (if you click on the link, notice the half tuck), and tied the bottom for an 80s vibe. I busted out my Ray-Ban Clubmasters to take the look even further down memory lane and then just threw on the same shoes and put my Annie Bukhman handbag over my shoulder. What else is new?

So that's a wrap for Vintage Skirt Week! Hope it was everything you wished for and more. Until next time, ciao!

How to Style a Vintage Skirt: Part I

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If you know me, you know I love a good thrift shop. Some of my favorites include Wasteland in the Haight, Beacon's Closet in Brooklyn, Thriftique in Pittsburgh, to name a few. This appreciation for vintage, gently used, whatever you want to call it, came from my parents. And if anyone can scoop up a $2 Tommy Bahama shirt, five $4 fur coats, a tea set and a classic radio all before noon, it's Jim and Cecilia. They taught me young how to spot a good deal and over the years, I've racked up quite a collection of vintage pieces including this skirt!

So this week on Clara Mae James, it's all about how to style a vintage skirt. The first thing you need to know is that skirts from back in the day will be high-waisted. When you look at the waistline, you may be thinking "oh hell no," but give it a try - you will be surprised! The second thing you need to know is to make sure to check the hem and zipper. These things can be fixed, but it's nice when you don't have to repair.

Here is look #1: I paired a maroon-colored mid-length skirt with a retro New York City t-shirt and did a full tuck to accentuate the waist. You can also pair it with a shorter tee like this one, which I'm obsessed with, and give the half tuck a try. I swear it's cool. And for the Fall, I'm a big fan of making sweatshirts work-appropriate and when paired with a cool skirt and a fun moto or denim jacket, no one will bat an eye. For the shoes, a good pair of clogs like these always look great and they just happen to be back in style. My handbag is from Annie Bukhman - no surprise there, her pieces are perfection!

Check back on Wednesday for look #2!

Tips to Make Your Hair Color Last

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It’s been six weeks since i took the plunge and dyed my hair purple. The picture above was taken during the first week and the pictures below are from this past week. Quite a difference! Now that I’m looking at it more, it’s a little Radiant Orchid, Pantone’s color of 2014! I was warned that it would only last a few months and I’m not hating it, but I may be back at the salon soon for a quick glaze.

If you’re thinking about exploring with bright hues or pastels, you must be willing to keep up with the post-color maintenance! It’s really the key to longer lasting hair color. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

Tips for Color-Treated Hair

  1. Don’t wash your hair for at least 48 hours after you dye your hair.
  2. Make sure to use a shampoo and conditioner specifically made for color-treated hair. I shampoo the roots and condition the tips. I love Wella’s Brilliance Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair. 
  3. Wash your hair less frequently - I’m talking twice a week if you really want the color to last! 
  4. Avoid excessive rinsing in the shower.
  5. Invest in a good shower cap like this one from Drybar to wear when you wash your body, which you should clean more than two times a week!
  6. Deep condition once a week. I’m currently obsessed with this mask from Fekkai! 
  7. When washing, use the coldest water you can stand. It’s awful, but it’s worth it. Heat is your worst enemy when you have colored hair!
  8. Let your hair air dry if possible, but if you do want to use a blow dryer or heat styling tool, make sure to use a heat protectant! Try Oribe’s Foundation Mist - it also offers UV protection, which is a plus for color-treated hair!
  9. Dry shampoo is your best friend! I’ve been testing a lot of different brands, but lately I’ve been hooked on this one from Kevin Murphy

If you live in the NYC area, check out Muze Salon in Chelsea. They used Wella products on my hair, which are really the best for color!