Book Review: A Guide to Elegance

I picked up A Guide to Elegance from the library on a whim, and then read it in two sittings.  The author has worked for some of the top Paris couture houses and helped some of the world’s best-dressed women accessorize their outfits– that’s credibility.

This book is a fun blend of old and new.  Originally written in the 60′s, it seems to have been updated for the modern woman… in some parts…I’m not sure if the very occasional old-fashioned opinion comes from an author of advanced age, from a European sensibility, or from the original text.  Either way, it’s hard to accept a basic wardrobe that doesn’t include jeans, for example.

Everything else about the book is genius, genius, genius.  The focus is elegance.  Not style, not sexiness, not fashion-forwardness, just elegance.  Reading this book really made me think about what clothing I think looks good and why, what clothing I wear most and why, what clothing I own and why, etc.  It also makes you think about how standards of dress have changed over time, due to women’s schedules/expectations and the materials/methods used for modern clothing.

A Guide to Elegance is written by topic, alphabetically.  Some of the pieces seemed to be from some far and distant society of which I can’t imagine myself a part,  due either to social class or general climate (Some examples: an alligator purse is really only for sport wear, white heels strictly allowed for resort dress, the need for matching one’s gloves and shoes, and changing one’s jewelry and dress according to time of day… with different rules for every 4 hours)

While I may not be able or willing to follow all of the author’s advice, some of it seemed very true and original.  I had never thought of draped clothing as being more appropriate for older women, for example.  I had never considered what type of swimsuit was most elegant, or what I would wear if I needed to attend a funeral in the fall or winter.  Not everyone may want to consider (or value) all of these points, but it was helpful to me as I try to simplify and design my own wardrobe.  Either way, it is a very fun read with a lot of information– and it’s sure to get you thinking about your style!

Pick-A-Pepper Summer Hummus

When house-sitting recently I’d been told to pick any peppers that ripened.  I was excited!

Six jalapeno peppers later, I was mostly just confused about how to use them.  Then I found this recipe on How Sweet It Is for Sweet Corn Roasted+  Jalapeno Hummus.

A can of corn, a can of chickpeas, some roasted peppers, and you’ve got a yummy spicy dip for blue corn chips or sweet potato chips!  As the recipe says, the corn makes it rather light and fluffy, which is always welcome in the summer.  You could add diced tomato  or sundried tomatoes or roasted red pepper for some color.

I modified the recipe a bit– mostly because I didn’t have it in front of me and I thought I could figure it out.   I used way more jalapenos (six jalapenos, to be precise… probably too much for most people) which gave it a big kick, but the roasting makes them more mild and I live in a state that loves its spicy foods.  I also used paprika for color instead of pepper… definitely did not need any pepper after all those jalapenos.

Wardrobe Planning: Phase 1

Fashion and sewing seem to agree that a plan will ensure that wardrobe additions are effective, impactful, and loved.  Whether it’s an exciting new pair of shoes or a freshly-sewn skirt, no one wants to waste their time or money on things they won’t wear, and then end up still not having what they need.

After reading A Guide to Elegance (which I’ll review soon), I felt like I had a nice schematic for what a ‘proper’ wardrobe should include so that I have something to wear for any occasion.  I didn’t follow her guidelines exactly, but I liked her ‘basic’ outline of must-haves for the woman on a budget.  I made a few notes on what my wardrobe would look like, and then what I already owned vs. what I needed.

The next step is obviously color choices– A Guide to Elegance actually goes as far as to make some general color recommendations (everyone needs a black dress, for example) and I filled in the rest with shades I thought were both complementary to each other and flattering to me.

It was really exciting to see it all laid out in front of me; I finally felt like I understood the gaps and surpluses in my closet.  What’s more, I now have a ‘palette’ of colors that work throughout the year, that work for me, and that work together.  I know most people prefer to be more spontaneous in their fashion decisions, but I really would like to be purposeful– boring as it may sound.

If you’re interested in doing this, A Guide to Elegance is a fun place to start (with a grain of salt… see upcoming review!).  I also recommend any of the ‘Guide to Style’ type books put out by Lucky, InStyle, or even Lauren Conrad.  Nina Garcia also has a book called “The 100″ that will get you thinking.  I’ve browsed Tim Gunn’s book and it seemed clever and informative.  Let me know what you get out of it!  I’d love to compare notes.

Indoor Plants for the Black-Thumb Gardener

Today’s post is for everyone who wants a plant but kills everything they touch.  People who joke about how they can’t expect to raise kids if they can’t even take care of a plant.  Worst of all, they have no idea why all of their plants seem to die… so they just give up.

Take heart: it doesn’t have to be this way!  There are plants for you!  Your first step is to go to a nursery with knowledgeable staff and high-quality plants.  It’s worth a few more dollars to get a plant that you know will work for you, a plant that isn’t secretly half-dead when you buy it.  Look around until you find a plant seller you trust.  Then tell them you are the worst gardener ever, and you need a plant that can handle that. (See additional Plant-Buying Tips at bottom of this post)

This plant is a type that I’d bought before from a kind of bizarre French woman who insisted that it needed very little light, and that I could basically never water it.  She was wearing a lot of turquoise eyeshadow.  Her actual words were “forget about it, and then every few months give it a good drink.”  It worked!  So I bought another when I moved to Dallas. It’s called a Mother-in-law’s Tongue, and its deep color/sculptural aspect make it great for any home– just find a pot that matches your home’s vibe!

This one is some kind of succulent that I bought for my office several months ago.  I told the nursery dude I had a Mother-in-law’s Tongue and wanted something similar.  He pointed this one out, I put it in a pretty pot, and that was the beginning of our beautiful life together.  That window had some light, but now this one sits in a fairly shady area.

Lastly, I really recommend the succulents that are so popular right now.  You can get a tiny one to start, plus they come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors.  They need almost no water, ever.  Once you gain some confidence, you can even arrange them together to make a living arrangement of sorts.  Super pretty, hip, and eco-friendly!  This article via Apartment Therapy is the source of the above image and a great guide to succulent shopping.

Extra Plant-Buying Tips: It’s best to have a place in mind where you want to put the plant, and have some idea of how much light it will get.  If you’re putting the plant near a window, try to look and see if it’s a shaded window, and maybe make a note of which direction the window faces (south? northeast?).  Your nursery should have an indoor plant section that is inside.  When in doubt, look for a plant that is in a similar location to where yours will go– middle of the room, on a windowsill, near a light, etc.

Confident Crafter Assignment #1

I just discovered (late to the party, as usual) the Confident Crafter Series at Micheal Ann Made.  She did a month of posts in May and I was reading the archives, wishing I’d participated… so I decided I’d participate this month instead!  I’m already feeling re-charged…

Assignment #1: Spruce Up Your Space

My craft area has been a work in progress for some time.  It’s one of two closets in my bedroom– one is a walk-in, and the hall has a coat closet, so I knew from the beginning I’d want to put a craft space in here.  I did a little research a while back, and I’ve come a long way!

Before:

Tips: Micheal Ann made a great point that you don’t have to store everything right at your fingertips.  This inspired me to move some of the extra fabric cluttering those upper shelves into some under-the-bed space.  Also, let’s be real: I needed to get rid of stuff I’ll never use, and take out things that just don’t belong in a craft area! At the same time, I wanted to keep visible the things that inspire crafting. I read that I should use vertical space as much as possible in small-space offices or craft areas, so I kept that in mind. Lastly, I recommend that you modify in small steps rather than buy or build a bunch of storage solutions only to find they aren’t ideal.  This took me several months, but the Assignment made me get around to the finishing touches.

After:

Now that I’m also using this area as a place to work from home, I really need it to be fairly organized.  Looking back, I’m so glad I bought a desk with a file drawer!  The hutch’s little cabinets are also nice for stowing things out of sight.   Lately the craft closet has been staying in pretty good shape, despite almost daily sewing!  Good girl, Lindsay. * pat pat *

Not pictured here: On the left, I have cut-out patterns hanging on skirt hangers, as well as a wall-mounted thread organizer, and the shelves hold my knitting books and art papers.  To the right I have drawers to store trim, jewelry supplies, stamps/stencils, and art supplies, plus bins for yarn and current projects-in-progress.  The right side of the shelves holds sewing books and fabrics that have been grouped for quilts.  The hutch cabinets hold needles of all kinds, felt scraps, and stationery.  The fabric you see folded is for upcoming planned projects– apparel on the left, home dec on the right.

Do you have a craft area or a home office?  What do you do to keep in organized and functional?  Any tips or lessons-learned?

Book Review: Cook With Jamie

Can I say enough good things about this Jamie Oliver cookbook?  Cook with Jamie is fresh, funny, and fascinating.  It really teaches you a lot about choosing, preparing, and cooking a truly wide array of foods– it’s not just a collection of recipes that you could go hunt down on the Food Network site.  I learned a ton reading this book, and perhaps more importantly, I felt empowered and motivated to try new things!  Now I’m also hooked on his show Jamie at Home, of which you can watch whole episodes on YouTube.

I got this book from the library but I’d like to buy it in the near future.  There are so many recipes in it that I want to make, and the proceeds of the book go to Fifteen, Jamie’s non-profit that trains at-risk youth to be chefs.  They even have their own restaurant!

I think my favorite part of Cook with Jamie was the part on selecting fish and meats.  You may know that Jamie is a big advocate of fresh, local, wild, seasonal, etc.  He’s no less stringent when it comes to meats (There’s at least one recipe that calls for wild rabbit… I have no idea where I’d even start looking for that, short of the forest).  Having cut my teeth cooking for a vegetarian, I’m always hesitant and uncertain when it comes to meat or fish.  It’s just a lack of experience combined with a reluctance to gamble the cost of salmon when I could just make carrots or something.  As I read and re-read the recipes in this book, I found myself being braver and more discerning when it came to my animal protein attempts.

I can’t recommend this book enough.  For a while I’d wanted Jamie’s book on cooking for two, but I think I’ll get this one instead.  Also, if you haven’t checked the cooking section at your library, do it!

The Modern Gal’s Trousseau

For the past few years I’ve played with the idea of a modern hope chest.  I love the idea of learning and using new skills to make items that can become family keepsakes. The idea first struck me when I was in engaged in college– lots of our things were hand-me-downs or simply what we could afford, and I thought that if I worked hard I could make nicer versions to add to our future home. I never married that person or ever really got beyond the research phase of building a ‘trousseau’ or ‘hope chest.’

Now, with a much nicer apartment and still a deep-seated love for the handmade, I once again find myself thinking about knitted handtowels, embroidered linens, and handmade treasures.  But I’m not exactly a kid with years ahead of me to build such a collection.  And there’s no way I would labor over beautiful housewares and then not use them for years while I live with only one set of napkins. With most women living on their own for a time before marrying, I imagine it’s much more difficult to guess what a couple’s style will be, much less the size of their bed/table and in what part of the country they’ll end up living!

I still love the idea of having a few special items tucked away for one day when I have a more permanent residence and romantic partner and building my own collection of personal handmade items.  I made a list of project ideas, and even a Pinterest board of some inspiration photos.

Here just a few ideas I liked, ranging from simple to elaborate, including a few store-bought things: knitted/crocheted blanket(s), napkins/place mats, sachets, candlesticks, ornaments, handkerchiefs, family tree, table runner or tablecloth, pillowcases/sheets, tea set and stemware, quilts, hand towels/dish towels… the list goes on!

Have you ever thought about creating a trousseau or a hope chest– for yourself or maybe a daughter?  Modern life is so different from when this idea originated, but I still think the concept is beautiful and enduring.