k is off to the big apple, people!

hi friends, kendall here, the lazier half of valentine on the side. just wanted to write a quick post on my own to let you know why we've been m.i.a. from the blog world. besides the fact that this summer denver has been too hot to do anything, including thinking of new blog ideas, going shopping/scouting/researching, and even sitting in front of a computer to type said blog, the absence is mostly my fault, because my mind has admittedly been elsewhere: i'm about to move to the big apple!! 

that's right, three weeks from now i will officially be an aas fashion design student at parsons the new school for design! high fives all around??

we don't know what will happen to the blog in all honesty, but we will surely keep you updated if we decide to branch off into new blog territory. truth be told, i'm going to miss romping around denver with el, drinking san pellegrino, typing in courier font, discovering both the surprising coolness and numbing lameness of the city. surely there's much more to be discovered.  

you might be saying: k, are you fashionable enough for parsons, the school that hosts the beloved show project runway? the answer is no, not even kind of. 

...but i think i will do okay as my old, unfashionable self. until next time!

cheers!

xoxo k

hiatus for july

oops!

you may have noticed our absence this month from your favorite fashion blogs and well, all we can say is that we meant to post something earlier about our july hiatus and we only got around to it just now! we are on hiatus for a reason. but fear not, we will be back in august with more irreverent commentary on the world of high heels and jackets and dresses.

fashionisto of the month: gabe covarrubias

alright, so let us again state that we realize "fashionisto" isn't an actual word per se, but if it was it would certainly apply to this months featured style whiz, the man with the sexiest name (and hair!) in denver, mr. gabe covarrubias. 

we managed to snag gabe away from his busy schedule of being a most highly sought after coiffeur, m.cing for the denver roller dolls (in elvis costume nonetheless), staying tight on his star wars/wes anderson trivia skills and generally just making sure everyone is down to party, and got him to answer our famous five questions about fashion.

1. why do you think you're so fashionable?

The benefit of what I do for a living is that I see a constant flow of fashion from my co-workers and  clients.  I feel like I keep it  pretty simple most of the time,  but my style definitely reflects my personality. I have always been drawn to the surf, skate and punk scenes. Within these cultures, styles have been influenced from so many different places, a good example is the hip-hop skate thing. A variety of different cultures combine to create great things in fashion.

2. what is the least fashionable thing about you?

My least fashionable trait would be a tendency to  play it safe with colors.  I saw a guy in a really great dark suit with a loud as hell pink shirt and thought it rocked! I felt like I  could never pull it off.  Maybe I play it a little too safe.

3. what is a secret fashion vice of yours?

My no doubt fashion vice is a way too expensive, well fitting suit. Life is too short.  Any great Elvis man should have at least one incredible suit.  The suit that you wear should make you feel like a million bucks. The suit will create reasons to dress up and hit the town as a better version of you.

4. what trend or trends do you hate most right now?

Trends I hate?  That’s easy! Ed Hardy Shit.  It might be in a close hate race with Crocs, or even worse, Crocs with socks!  And you can guarantee you're going to hear about how comfortable those Crocs are, because people always feel the need to tell you that.

5. who or what is a fashion inspiration to you?

I have a few favorites but my fashion hero is hands down David Bowie. Ziggy Stardust Bowie was outrageous and brave for the time. Bowie can also kill it on the red carpet in a sharp suit. Why do you think he was in Zoolander?  Because he is fashion icon.  I also dig Bjork, Peaches (The Musician) and Andre 3000 for their forward-thinking fashion sense.

JUNE BONUS QUESTION:
being that you are such a connoisseur of beautiful women (through your job, through roller girls, through your hot girlfriend) and have such an eye for style, what is the main tip you would offer our fashion forward lady readers out there?

For those about to rock ladies, we salute your favorite hair person.  That's right, good hair can do a lot for a shitty day, and it can make a good day even better. Hair is the beginning of the endless possibilities of how you can express your style.  Cut it, color it, curl it, pin it, straighten it, wear it up or wear it down. Find a stylist that you trust and you can add so much to your individual style.

you, yes you, loyal reader can have a private audience with gabe by making an appointment to get your hairs cut at the parlour highlands---303.433.4448 

or by supporting and cheering for our lovely denver roller dolls at any of their games---www.denverrollerdolls.org

thanks so much gabe!

cheers!

k&e

a brief but hopefully informative blog entry

so we decided to go check out the sweet william market at 29th and quebec today. this market is held out by the old airport the last saturday of every month. we found it a pretty pleasant place to converge and shop on a grassy green knoll with a good variety of things to buy for body, house, garden, what have you. the prices were reasonable as well and there were some cute clothes for way cheap as well as adorable jewelry. We snapped a few pics for your approval. you can get more info on it here: http://sweetwilliammarket.com/

cheers!

k&e

defining moments in your closet

this week we take a gander at a signature pieces of clothing from our own wardrobes and talk about what we see as defining fashion in the other person's wardrobe.

a signature piece, a defining fashion moment, can come in any form...dress, jeans, a ring, scarf, shoes or coat. you may not even wear it that often but when you think of what really nails down your style in a single item, it is what pops to mind. it's something you would never get rid of unless forced by disaster.

doing this "fashion exercise" in your own wardrobe may help you figure out what your look is outside of trends. it also never hurts to ask a friend what they think really brings out the rita hayworth or sarah jessica parker in you. in these economically dicey times, where we may wish we could hop on the latest fashion bandwagon but simply can't afford to, this might help you figure out where a dollar spent is a dollar you'll keep wearing for many years to come!

el's take on el: most defining piece

my most defining piece is a simple black diesel dress i got when i was 21 years old (i am almost 28!) from my favorite fort collins boutique kansas city kitty. if you have known me for longer than 6 months, you have seen me in this dress. it's a low v neck front with a few embroidered details around the v, like the diesel 9 in red. the back has a really cute detail of an inverted triangle with black and white stripes. it hits just below the knees and is a strait cut. i have worn this dress for years, with everything i own. i've dressed it up, down and sideways. i've worn it just as a dress with heels, with boots, with flats, with sneakers. i've worn it over jeans with a cardigan, i've worn it with long shawls, i've worn it with pearls. i've taken it to berlin, prague, switzerland, minneapolis, all around colorado, i've taken it on dates, to birthday parties, to get drinks at the corner bar. my 20's would not have been my 20's without this dress! it's getting kind of threadbare these days so i hardly bust it out at all for fear it will one day rip. i don't know how i'll ever find it's equal. i think i love it so much because it is just your basic black dress, it makes me feel a little like audrey hepburn. plus it's totally versatile and you can rock any accessory you want with it. long live the dress! here is (a little more inky black then it is these days) back when we first met:

el on kendall: most defining piece 

this is a hard one because kendall is so hot! but in all seriousness, i think what defines kendall as the fashionista i know and love is color, especially BLUE. kendall is not afraid to wear 17 shades of blue at once and pulls it off like it's nothing! i was always afraid to wear more then one color of blue at a time but kendall has helped me break free of my blue shyness. i think she does it especially well when she wears her big blue scarf, it really makes her face and skin look healthy and bright and it always makes her lipstick pop! so do as kendall does and bust out your blue loud and proud. remember, color doesn't cost a dime. 

k's take on k: most defining piece

sifting through a closet full of stuff i don't really care about (I just counted and i have 23 dresses!), stuff i shouldn't even own anymore (there was a hot pink guess tube top i finally put in the goodwill pile) and stuff that i love but never wear (a whole row of heels that are lucky if they've seen daylight once), i'm thinking my most defining piece, or pieces rather, are my killer camel-colored leather boots. now, i am a big animal lover, and i refuse to buy leather brand new, so you can imagine my delight when i found these at a thrift store for $16. they're not waterproof, so i have to be careful in bad weather (even though i was wearing them when el and i got caught in this horrible rainstorm--i thought they were going to shrivel up and die!) i love them because they are stylish, the lining is torn and they are well-worn which makes them all the more comfy, and they go with everything (i think). i wear them with skinny jeans or leggings when its cold, knee-high socks and dresses when its warm, and when i move to new york in a couple months i can imagine them sashaying down the street like they own the place. versatility is something that i really love, which is why i think they are my most defining piece.

k on el: most defining piece

ok, so i'm a little shoe-obsessed lately, but i'm going to have to go with el's frye boots! i still remember the day she found these boots--i think she called to tell me about it. since then i've seen her wear them pretty much....yep, everyday. with rolled-up jeans, with casual dresses, with nicer dresses, and she looks like a badass every single time. it just goes to show, when you find your soul mate, you just know it. 

until next time...

cheers!

expensive shit you can actually make yourself--vol 2.

we have been thinking about trying to make feathered headbands ourselves for awhile now, and were inspired to finally give it a go last week when we hopped into common era and saw some simple ones for sale for around $20. we're not hating on common era or anything...in fact we just love a good challenge, especially if it means we can be thrifty!!

turns out, they are just as easy and fun to make as we'd imagined. all you need to get started are:

--a plain mono-colored headband that is flat and relatively thin
--feathers of your choice
--a small amount of felt and/or thicker fabric
--something circular (you'll see)
--fabric scissors
--hot glue gun (you should have one anyway; they are a must -have for arts and crafts lovers)

here are all the supplies we got. we bought cheap feathers at michael's and $1.50 headbands at forever 21 that we just took the bows off of.

first, trace a circle on a piece of felt and/or fabric and cut them out. you'll need two circles.

second, glue the felt (or one piece of fabric) to the underside of the headband. glue the second piece of fabric on the top side and make sure the edges are secured together. now you have the perfect base for gluing feathers.

third, start at the top and keep gluing rows of feathers until the fabric is covered with them. we both chose to have all our feathers match, but you can mix it up if you like.


done and done!! all in all these cost about $4 a piece for the headband and feathers, and they look just as snazzy as more expensive ones---plus, you get to choose feathers that coordinate well with your haircolor, outfits, etc.

until next week!
cheers!

better know a local biz: common era

we hadn't really been shopping much on south platte street in denver, dismissing it as the home of a pre twenty-one yesteryear when nothing meant more then finding a coffee shop open all night that you could smoke cigarettes in (at least for one of us!). but it turns out that angsty coffee shop on south platte is all grown up now and so is the area. one of the most pleasant perks? boulder clothing staple, common era.

1543 platte street is common era's new stomping ground. although it still has its spot on boulder's famous pearl street mall, it has happily graced denver with its fashion-savvy presence and can't-be-beat prices...something not always common in small clothing boutiques. here is a place where you can find unique pieces from dresses to jeans, well organized racks (hello color-blocking), shoes, earrings, and a bag to match.

here are some adorable high-waisted jeans with double buttons that went home with the model. we saw them featured on the mannequin out front and couldn't wait to see them on. nice to see it looks cute on human bodies too!

highlighting of some amazing accessories. k & e particularly love the 1920's head pieces.

denver fashionistas, if you are looking for a cute, reasonably-priced outfit on the fly, forget forever 21 and spend your bucks at common era instead--you'll be helping out the economy where it counts: at home, looking fly, and you won't have to venture into *barf* the mall (added non-mall bonus: this place played morrissey while we shopped, not mind-numbing techno).

p.s.

we heard they are planning on starting how-to classes soon, excellent for those of us who are up on fashion trends but are feeling a little light in the wallet! go to www.mycommonera.com to vote for what classes you think you would attend.

happy local shopping!

cheers!

fashionista of the month: miss beth martin

k's longtime friend, former roommate, and fellow fashion enthusiast beth martin was an obvious pick for our fashion interviewee sooner or later. beth was born and raised around the denver area, and we're always impressed by her ability to stand out and not only be fashion-forward, but unique, and also just fucking adorable and sassy. don't even get me started on her halloween costumes. yay for may!

1. why do you think you're so fashionable?
I guess maybe its the fact i don't take myself seriously. I like to have fun with my style and do silly things. Keeping people guessing always seems really fashionable to me. Plus I have an uncanny ability to wear way too many accessories. 

2. what's the least fashionable thing about you?
My bags are normally hideous. I cant be bothered to hold things so I put my purses down everywhere and they end up getting pretty grimy .

3. what's a secret fashion vice of yours?
I'm the type of person who likes to re-invent myself very frequently or i get board, so right now my current vice is changing my hair. I wanted it short a month ago and now I want it long again so i may have developed a slight addiction to hair extensions...on only one side.


4. what trend or trends do you hate the most right now?
Not so sure how i feel about jumpers. I somehow have one in my closet though. How i ended up thinking "yeah this is cute", going all the way to the counter, getting my money out and purchasing it without a little red flag coming up I have no idea.

5. who or what is a fashion inspiration to you?
People who are elegant and classy no matter what they are wearing always baffle and amaze me. I am inspired by people who are effortlessly glamorous, probably because it is so different than how I feel myself. Also my friends inspire me; we feed off each other. Who knows what i would end up wearing if i didn't have fashionable friends?



bonus beth question!!: as a longtime denver-area resident, what are some tips you have for us about vintage store shopping or places to shop?

For me the most important thing right now is versatility, because i'm quite broke. So i need to find things i can wear lots of different ways. The great thing about vintage stores is that you can have versatility without being boring. I love the unique shapes that you can find. I really enjoy common era over on platte street as well; they are reasonably priced and they have a lot of jewelery that they make themselves and is one-of-a-kind.

imaginary clothing friends

we're jealous of clothing make over shows that give you $5,000 to spend on anything you want. so maybe we're not the worst dressers in the world, does that mean we should be denied this amazing opportunity? according to popular television, probably. so instead we decided to take ourselves on an imaginary shopping spree and see what we would spend other people's money on. 

kendall's picks

stella mccartney embroidered mini dress for $3,945.

kate spade owl bag. price is unknown as it is not available until august 2009 but estimated at around $500.

alexander wang carrington woven boots for around $1,000.

scalloped jacket from chloe's spring 2009 collection for $2,495.

kenneth jay lane octopus ring for $150.

grand total: estimated at $8,090. k only went $3000 over budget for these 5 items!! yay!

el's picks

dolce v by mimi holliday silk and lace bra and panty set because every girl wants to feel a little like marie antoinette under her clothes. bra for $88, briefs (not pictured) $59. 

paige premium denim blue heights mckinley jeans for $179. 

fall 2008 ann demeulemeester lace up boots $1800.

vanessa bruno ruffled top. no idea what season it's from, just love it. estimated cost $500.

vivianne westwood distressed linen "worthmore" jacket for $865. again, no idea what season it's from.

ashley watson dunlin bag for $440. this is being currently sold at composition, our favorite denver store!

jennifer behr victorian crystal and silk stain head wrap for $264. not sure about the season yet again.

grand total: estimated at $4195! leaving el an extra $805 to go to town with. she would probably at least get another pair of jeans and a couple of these...

crazy expensive ($81!)but super cute harlow cropped sweat pants from ella moss because she loves to lay around in her pj's so much and no fashion make over show would ever break her of this habit

just remember folks, you are never too poor to shop with your imagination. cheers!

dress for the resesh: exploring denver thrift stores

we hate talking about the recession just as much as the next gal, but there is no denying the fact that it is time to start thinking about shopping on a tighter budget (not that we don't already!) so today we went on a quest to explore some of denver's more reputable thrift stores. we really only had the time to get down to the south broadway area, but that's where most of the good ones are anyway. here are the four that we hit and what we thought about them:

south broadway ARC--1515 s. broadway. denver, CO.

this arc is interesting. it hovers on the thin line between the hip baker neighborhood and one of the more ghetto areas of denver (close to south federal, santa fe, etc), so the items in the arc can range from amazing finds to disgusting t-shirts that smell faintly like pee. but it is worth the trip, as we both have found some real gems there. this arc is pretty large, so you have to be committed to searching a bit. don't count on the tiny dressing rooms being available.  

k found these hot ankle boots by rampage for $3.99

regal vintage--1866 s. broadway. denver, CO

we were thrilled to happen upon regal vintage (previously called rare bird vintage) at its new, rather unfortunate location (it used to be on 13th ave in the capitol hill area). this vintage store is a real treasure. its spendier of course than your typical thrift store, but its got high quality clothes and accessories as well as vintage furniture, ashtrays, new kids on the block pillows, etc. if you love vintage stores, be sure to make the trip down to south broadway to check this out. judging from the location, they probably don't get a ton of foot traffic. the staff seemed knowledgeable and friendly, and they also buy vintage items so try taking your high quality goods down there if you'd rather be making some cash than spending it.

regal vintage is a colorful oasis on south broadway. check out that cool old luggage in the window!

our favorite find: a fun faux fur collar with a chartreuse tie for $15

flossy mcgrews--1824 s. broadway. denver, CO

this store is best known for being THE spot for halloween costumes, so we weren't sure what to expect on a tuesday afternoon in may. turns out its chock full of all sorts of vintage clothes, accessories, jewelry, hats, and of course, random costumes for that ugly sweater party you rsvp'ed to. we found it a bit off-putting, though, because it was so dirty, unorganized, and cluttered. it looked like no one had taken a broom to the floor since last halloween's busy season, so if you're a vintage clothing lover, be sure to block out a chunk of time to do some serious digging. some of the hats, for instance, looked too dirty and wrinkled for anyone to actually want to wear them, but there are no doubt some gems hidden in flossy's. 

you're going to need to dedicate some serious time to digging through this wall of costume jewelry

safari seconds--422 broadway. denver, CO

there is one word for this store: gnarly.

we traveled here at the behest of the westword's 2009 best of denver edition (westword is our local alternative newspaper) which had this to say about what they called, "the best thrift store deal in denver":

We already like Safari Seconds enough to have raved about it here in 2006 and 2008, but the place, a dirt-cheap, refugee-run thrift store that helps African immigrants get on their feet, just keeps on giving. Since moving last summer to a more visible space on Broadway, the shop has hosted clothing giveaways every last Friday of the month, sometimes with a bit of fanfare and African food and music, but always offering secondhand specials at the best price of all: free. Spring cleaning was never so much fun.

while that's all well and good, it doesn't change the fact that safari seconds is seriously thread bare and has an overall unhygienic smell that makes shopping there unpleasant. after scanning the few racks we didn't even find anything to snap a pic of. so maybe donate money to these folks, but don't spend it there.

overall we are slightly disappointed in denver's thrift store selection. compared to other cities we've been to, there just doesn't exist that same culture of upper echelon thrift. but maybe because of the good ole recession the denver thrift store scene will perk up soon and surprise us all. here's to hoping! let us know if you have any special places in denver you go for great deals, we'd love to hear about it.

cheers!

design tip of the month: altar your space!!

one of the coolest little tricks we have found for not only filling up a random empty corner, shelf, or bookcase while making your living space that much more personal is to create your own altar. there are a billion variations to be explored with altar-making. its a great way to gather together the random stuff you have laying around that is too meaningful to get rid of, and its a creative and potentially thrifty way to increase the design-savvy look of your personal space. 

when putting together an altar for the first time, think about what you have the most of already. religious paraphernalia? old family photos? how about those 99 cent lady of guadeloupe candles you bought at the king soopers when you were in college? since el had a dia de los muertos theme at her wedding, she already had a ton of fabulous day of the dead knick-knacks, which became the main theme of her altar. k had a plethora of hindu murtis, seashells, and crystals that look so magical when grouped together in an old bookcase she cleared out and painted. 

el built her altar in an awkward empty living room closet

layered tibetan prayer flags or papel picado banners are a must for colorful altars. try your local tibetan store or mexicansugarskull.com for the banners.

we can all agree that altars look more amazing when they have an overall theme. this is where you get to start collecting and thrift-store hunting. most traditional altars are religiously-themed, but this does not have to be the case. you can theme around a color, superhero, artist, or special person in your life. 

mexican blankets and fake fruit and flowers all create an authentic day of the dead altar.

here an antique cabinet was transformed into a altar to remember ancestors. 

our personal favorite: this altar was made in an old radio cabinet complete with a found bird's nest and "book branches." this is a perfect example of how creative and unique you can get with the design and theme of your altar.

enjoy altaring your space!!

cheers!