Carolyn Braden says: Conan, So Long But Not For Long!

Great last Tonight Show!

So long but hopefully not for too long, Conan O'Brien!  You'll always be in style to me!  Twenty years of great comedic style you have shown through your 20 year run with NBC. 

Loved the message, one that we should all listen to:

Things don't always turn out the way we want them to.  Be happy for what you have and leave cynicism on the side. Good things will happen to good people.  Sometimes those people just have to wait a little while. 

You are super talented in my mind and will have so many more years of great comedy fun.  Hopefully we will see you soon, maybe September?  And hopefully we'll see Andy too!

Carolyn Braden: Style Book App in Lucky Magazine

Over the holidays I decided to start a style file, documenting all the outfits I create and want to remember.  I thought it would be a good idea due to always going to my closet and thinking I have nothing to wear.

Well, the people at Lucky Magazine were thinking the same thing as I was.  Instead of taking pictures of the outfits and printing them out and then putting them in a binder, I can skip all that and save it in my iPhone.  I downloaded an app one of the Lucky staff members created.  It's called Style Book.  

Here's my take on the app:

In the magazine blurb in February's issue, it seemed to me that you just had to take pictures with your iPhone of your clothes, accesories, shoes, etc, then the app would put together your outfits for you based on your photos.  I was wrong.

The downside:

Instead, you take the pictures, create the outfits yourself and save them in the app.  Then you can just refer to the app when you need ideas for what to wear.  A little disappointing that I have to think of the combinations.  I really did think the app would do it for me based on the app description.  I was in a fashion dream world on that thought. 

The upside:  

I can keep up with the outfits I create more easily (no more printing out photos and putting them in a binder) and I now have started an inventory of everything I own within this app.  I haven't taken photos of EVERYTHING yet, but it is an ongoing project.  I've gotten through my sweaters and t-shirts so far.  :)  This will be good for when I go shopping and I just have to have ANOTHER pair of skinny jeans.  I'll just refer to my app and know I already have about 10 pairs.

So.....

If you have a hard time piecing together outfits and you want an app to do it for you, you are out of luck with this one.

If you can piece together outfits, want to remember them, and have some free time to take photos of your clothes and accessories, this app is for you.

Now if someone can just create the app that will do it all for me.............

Maybe soon.  :)

---Carolyn

Carolyn Braden Prediction: Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground!

I must admit, I have to watch the pre-shows of American Idol every season.  They truly can make you laugh.  The latest "hit" by a 62 year old man that will be everywhere soon:  Lookin' like a fool wit' your pants on the ground! 

Google it.  YouTube it.  Twitter it.  Facebook it.  It's silly and it will be the "in style" conversation of work tomorrow!  :)

---Carolyn

Carolyn Braden's Comfort Christmas

Comfy Christmas outfit....stretchy for all the good food and
comfortable enough for playing hide and go seek with my niece!

Norma Kamali for Wal-Mart music note shirt, black leggings, low heeled
gray slouched boot, black and silver slouch socks, easy blue-gray
sweater by Delia's, earrings and Wizard of Oz ruby slippers necklace
by Tarina Tarantino.
;) Carolyn

Carolyn Braden's Style File!

A new year resolution.... Start a style
file! I am so tired of looking in my closet and seeing lots of
clothes but still thinking I have nothing to wear! I am going to start
documenting my "stylish" outfits by taking photos and uploading them
here and printing off a photo a putting it in my style file binder. I
am also going to put all those outfit magazine pages I have floating
around all over in my binder too! I seriously hope I keep this
resolution going!

Today's outfit: Buffalo peacock printed dress, pink Gap tights,
Report gray suede booties, and a Paper Denim jacket distressed by me.
Felt flower in my hair by me and flower crystal earrings by Tarina
Tarantino.

Carolyn Braden asks "Paris anyone?"

Paris is everywhere.  Don't know why, it just is.  It is showing up in fashion, make-up, and home decor.  I can't stop noticing the Eifel Tower.  I had a dream I was in Paris.  I saw the Eifel Tower all lit up at night.  Then, strangely, I saw Big Ben.  Weird.  

If I don't blog before Christmas, have a wonderful holiday!  Be fashionable.  Give crafty gifts this year if you can. I am.  I am making many things this year.  :)

---Carolyn 

Carolyn Braden......Dreamer of Style

I had a dream Tuesday night.  It was a dream about fashion.  I remember my dreams often, but this particular dream spoke to me about an upcoming style.

I remember Tarina Tarantino being in my dream.  She is one of my role models ever since I discovered her wonderful jewelry designs.  I won an essay contest she had several years ago.  It was about inspirations and I wrote how she was such a huge inspiration to me.  She continues to inspire me and I feel like I think in the same creative way she does.  I often will have an inspiration of some design, such as peacock feathers, coming into style.  Then I'll come across her website and see that one of her latest collections reflect what I was inspired by.  There must be a connection between all the creative people in the world.  I am waiting for the door to the creative world to open up for me......... :)

I was talking to Tarina in the dream and we were looking at huge rubies an emeralds.  These big single stones were the focus of her new designs.  I don't remember other colors, but I am sure they were there too.  So......that leads me to believe that big single stones are a great new style coming out in jewelry and maybe more. 

Other inspirations right now? 

Glittery decor.  I raided the Target dollar bins and found the glittery words "peace", "joy", and "wish".  I just bought vases that have similar words to these on them.  I will be using these things to decorate this holiday season.  Right now though, my decor is focusing on fall.  I have used red flowers and white peacock feathers in a large arrangement in my dining room.  I put shiny stones in the vase to keep it from falling over, but they look pretty too.  My placemats have a photo print design of stones on them too.  My bannister contains a "garland" of leaves I created.  I used oranges, greens, and yellows.   Love these colors together. 

My snow globe idea from months ago is out there everywhere.  I just bought my latest globe......a beautiful silver base with a silver Christmas tree inside.  Oh, the holidays.  I can't wait.  :)  "I'm dreaming, of a white Christmas........"  Get some stylish snow boots soon.  You may need them this year.  I am looking for moon boots.  Kind of Napoleon Dynamite inspired.  Where oh where am I going to find them?

----Carolyn