Lovely Links: 10/17/14

Weekly Kitten:

Sleepy felines in the breakfast nook. When they’re not being used to transport groceries, those are Harriet’s boxes.

This closet detox cheat sheet is just plain brilliant.

Currently lusting after the Seacliff Coat from Curator. Such a cool shape, and made from organic cotton.

A fascinating read on the gender politics of pockets. (Via YLF)

Ever the rebel, Melanie asks, “Do you ever think your outfit or photo is too settled, too nicey nice, too model-wannabe, so you just want to wreck it up? Of course it’s hard to get away from when the goal of an outfit post is to show people what you’re wearing, but still, the desire to bust out is always just under the surface.”

This roundup includes some seriously chic wide-calf AND narrow-calf tall boot options.

Cambridge University classicist Mary Beard is urging women to reclaim the word “old.”

This examination of how the fast fashion cycle relates to licensing and patent laws is utterly fascinating. And looks at both mall stores stealing from high fashion designers, and high fashion designers stealing from visual artists.

Beauticurve styles a stunning asymmetric hem LBD three different ways, all of them gorgeous and glam.

“Realistically speaking, though, I know I’m never going to be able to un-know what it’s like to feel separate from my body. I am slowly learning to come to terms with my it. I have to—my body is my constant companion. It’s not an ‘other.’ It’s me.”

Huh. I’ve got a when-to-wear-nylons post coming up, but came across this one that insists nylons or tights must be worn in professional settings if the temperature is less than 70 degrees. Thoughts?

Related: Allie gives her two cents on nylons, sheers, and opaque tights.

Anna has created a five-minute guided body gratitude meditation that you can download for free.

So Madewell, right? Bought its name and logo from a family-run company founded in 1937, but did so in 2004. And still hints at a multi-decade brand legacy that doesn’t really exist.

Kileen of Cute & Little has posted some fabulously fashionable maternity outfits over the past few months.

I’ll be contributing posts over at Mad Mimi once a month, and wrote about making your newsletter subscribers feel special this month.

This interview with a magazine photo retoucher is in-depth and kinda horrifying. For instance, he’s been asked to remove “distracting” collarbones. OY.

Now that’s some ninja-level layering right there.

“Embracing self-acceptance doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy dressing or applying make-up. Self-acceptance and style do not have to be mutually exclusive.”

My fringe bag kinda DIY might be hard to recreate, but this one shows you how do make a fringed clutch from scratch.

Another reason to learn to sew: Virtually no sleeved dresses in the stores, but you can create a stunning long-sleeved sheath for yourself. Doesn’t Erica look smokin’ hot in hers?

There’s a Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam. ‘Nuff said.

My angled-zip brown ankle booties are long sold out, but Clarks has a new pair this season that are almost identical!

Maria muses on the confining nature of fashion rules, and then offers some that she applies to herself, including, “Be nice to your feet. The more insecure you feel, the “safer” the outfit should be (though choose one badass element, for balance). Wear a slip underneath clingy skirts. Pockets are good, as is getting older. Perfume, though only a little.”

What’s hanging in your fantasy closet?

Only vaguely on-topic, but heartwarming nonetheless: 13-Year-Old Girl in Training to Be the First Person on Mars, NASA Thinks She Could Succeed

What a fabulous way to style an on-trend dark floral dress.

I know I link to Grechen every week, but she is killing it with her Minimal Closet posts: “There’s no doubt we feel better about ourselves and sometimes life in general when we wear “nicer” things, or things we love, but your dog can still die while you’re wearing your favorite cashmere sweater, and you can still get fired wearing your best suit. Nothing can protect you from life.”

Pondering a change? Here are three apps that let you “try on” hair colors without committing.

I’ll probably pass on the cape trend myself, but goodness Annette looks elegant in hers.

High Plains Thrifter highlights nine wardrobe essentials she’ll be thrifting for fall.

“Becoming a mom sort of threw me into a style evolution that made for some awkward times, sartorially speaking. For a while, I tried to wear the same kinds of clothes I would wear before pregnancy, but they just never felt right. Not completely because of my new body, but also because I was a new person.”

Lisa experiments with using camo print as a neutral. She came up with some great outfits.

A great reminder that wearing the same things again and again – even if they’re very memorable and worn at highly photographed occasions – is a wise practice. Don’t let fear of being seen multiple times in the same outfit deter you.

If you’d like to fall down a reading rabbithole, Sociological Images rounded up some Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame posts in honor of Love Your Body Day. A Fashion Advice Counterfactual is especially enjoyable.

I bought these slightly over-the-top moto/zipper detail jeans. And I adore them. And there are plenty of other past-season Jag jean bargains

Women Wearing Spectacular Hats In Art History (complete with hilarious captions)

“When I talked to my friends about our inept fumblings with crafting an image, one refrain kept coming up: ‘Nobody told me.’ We may wear or do things not because we get great reactions, but because we’ve never received feedback at all.”

And from the Department of Random: What does the moon smell like? (Via Yes and Yes)

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