JenRocksFashion Colorful Musings from the Practical Fashionista…

Sea of flowers at U.S. Botanic Garden

I can’t remember exactly what type of flowers these are (is it blatantly obvious to everyone else out there? Can you let me know?)  But they remind me of Andy Warhol’s series of Flowers:

Andy Warhol, Flowers, 1964

From the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh website:

“It was in 1964…that Warhol embarked on one of his most successful projects using the flower motif. In a series of paintings based on a photograph of hibiscus blossoms, Warhol drenched the flowers’ floppy shape with vibrant color and set them against a background of rich undergrowth, transforming them into psychedelic indoor décor.”

That’s some flower power.

Las Vegas showgirl earrings

I must be one of, like, five women on earth who doesn’t have pierced ears.  I had them done when I was sixteen (my parents had finally capitulated) but even though I diligently took care of them, they got infected anyway.  Boo.

I actually don’t mind not (double negative?) wearing earrings on a daily basis.  Yet sometimes, I get a hankering to sport some bling around my face.  I found these clip-ons on sale last year at Cusp.  Yes they are flashy and big.  And yes they look best with a tan (please don’t lecture me about sunscreen.)  AND they instantly dress up a plain white T and jeans.  They are surprisingly lightweight, and the clips are comfortably padded.  Now I’d say that’s being very practical.

So one of my personal style commandments is that thou shall buy in bulk those rare items that thou truly loves and will wear year-round.  American Apparel Boy Beater ribbed tank tops fit the buy-in-multiples criteria for me.  Okay, I know, the company may be in bankruptcy by now, and their hirsute CEO Dov Charney is über creepy.  But at least “Boy Beater” is a little more PC than “wife beater.”  And these tank tops are 100% cotton.  They have a modest scoopneck.   They don’t bunch up or stretch out.  I wear them as a layering piece in the fall and winter, and on their own in the sweltering DC summer, and underneath my beloved knit cardigans in the spring.  Check out my drawers (couldn’t resist):

My collection of American Apparel tanks. They are reasonably priced so go crazy!

It’s Sunday so I thought of sunflowers.  They are botanical sunshine.  Just try and not smile!

Sunflowers at the U.S. Botanic Garden

As an Asian-American, I shied away from wearing yellow for a long time.  I had it in my head that it wouldn’t work with my skin tone.  Boy was I missing out.

So here’s my latest favorite skirt: a free-range-egg-yolk yellow jacquard knee-length skirt from Kate Spade.  It’s versatile and practical, plus I love the gold zipper and unexpected orange trim.  I paid full-price and have no regrets.

I love ya, Kate Spade

Trina Turk sunburst miniskirt. Prints in moderation.

Speaking of skirts, most of mine are of the mini-length variety. Or as Greg my friend from grad school used to comment, “the size of a paper towel.” Mini-skirts are generally more practical: no billowing material to get caught in a car door, less fabric means less weight to the garment. Besides, at 5’2″, I feel overwhelmed by ankle-length hemlines (Mom, you know it’s true.) And I’m not really a fan of wild prints or bold patterns but this Trina Turk number just screams summer and sunflowers (you were waiting for the segue, right?).