Grab her clothes to pull her in every direction

Outfit Details:
Coach Tyler Moto Jacket - courtesy of Coach
Kristin clutch - borrowed from Coach
floral romper - thrifted
Alternative Apparel cardigan - courtesy of LuLu*s
tights - We Love Colors
Seychelles Hawk Wedges - courtesy of Seychelles

It was inevitable that all of these items were finally worn at once; it's a compilation of the most worn items in my closet. I wear this jacket with everything: it's warm enough for chilly days and small enough to sling over my arm when not in need of excess layers. The draped cardigan and the romper are my comfy go-tos and the Seychelles Hawk wedges are just my favorite (I like them so much, I have them in two colors). I love changing it up and wearing new things, but it's so nice to have the steady picks that are always in rotation. It makes early morning dressing so much easier. Lately, my schedule has been so hectic - especially without my computer or iCal for mild organization - that I have been throwing outfits together and running out the door.

Did I mention that my macbook pro is back at Tekserve? Otherwise, I would have a couple more photos of this outfit to share. It seems as though the hard drive was not the only problem (looks like an easy fix - corrupt OS). Let's hope this doesn't take another two and a half weeks, or else I'll be in Florida and unable to retrieve it. Don't get me wrong, I'm terribly grateful for Tekserve. It's just that I would be really happy to have a working computer again!




p.s. Don't forget to check out my guest post at Coach and enter the Coach and Keiko Lynn giveaway!

soon you'll be much easier to capture

Outfit Details:
vintage cardigan - gift from my moModCloth dress - clothing swap, from Kimblush jacket - courtesy of LuLu*s
tights - Target
socks - Nordstrom
Seychelles Hawk Wedges - courtesy of ModCloth
vintage bag - gift from my mom (from her shop, Hourglass Consignment)
bow belt - courtesy of Darlingtonia Moccasin Company (all of her bow belts are on sale for $20 til midnight!!! I just bought one as a gift)


After two and a half agonizing weeks, I finally got my computer back! I decided to post this old outfit just because I actually can - it seems as though they were able to recover almost everything. Now that I have my pretty little MBP back in my life, I will get back to doing Makeup Mondays. It was just too difficult to get them done every week without my own computer.

It's our first day of snow in NYC and even though they're mere flurries, I'm ecstatic. I didn't even see real snow until I moved to New York; it really never gets old for me. Not to mention, the American Eskimo half of Miku is positively delighted. She lives for snow!

Velvet and Ponies

Outfit Details:
velvet dress - forever 21
tights - we love colors
shoes - courtesy of LuLu*sbelt - my mom's store
Rebecca Minkoff Studded Tart - courtesy of Rebecca Minkoff (crazy sale going on right now)
lace jacket - thrifted

When I was in fourth grade, all I wanted was this velvet bodysuit that had long, belled sleeves and went off the shoulders. Every trend I was fond of was a component of this one little bodysuit and I just had to have it. When my friend came to class in a similar top that was not an actual bodysuit, I made sure to remind her that come the new year, I would have its superior counterpart. We had matching bubble necklaces; it was only natural that we should also match our outfits, too.

Well, I never did get that velvet bodysuit or anything remotely similar, but this dress is a close second. I didn't dare lament about it; once you've received a pony as a Christmas gift, you really can't complain about anything. Ever.




p.s. I have a bad habit of forgetting to close my bags...it has a cute little studded strap that goes over the flap.  

Kismet

Outfit Details:
vintage cape - dumpster, courtesy of my dumpster diving mom
leopard silk shirt - thrifted
burgundy shorts - courtesy of LuLu*s (use code KEIKO for 15% any purchase)
tights - Target
Seychelles Romance boots - courtesy of Seychelles
Ginger Leather satchel - courtesy of Coach
glasses - forever 21

The timing of this outfit couldn't be better. Today is the second anniversary of my little ol' blog, and this cape happens to be featured in my very first outfit post. It was not planned, I swear! Call it kismet; I just now figured out that it was the second anniversary of the blog when I was looking for the post. I wish I had something big planned but I have nothing prepared because I'm no Oprah. Ten thousand virtual hugs for all of my readers!

As you can see in the original post, my mom got this cape for me out of a dumpster. The thrift store near her bar used to throw out bags and bags of clothes; it's really a shame how much of it always went to waste (though most of the homeless in our hometown found a great deal of their clothing there). My mom saw this vintage cape and fetched it for me - and washed it thoroughly, obviously. I really love it; it's like wearing a cozy blanket. Now all I need is one that goes all the way down to my toes. Snuggie?

 p.s. Am I the only person who avoids switching big, everyday purses on a daily basis? I like to carry the same one every day (as you might have noticed) unless I'm switching to a wee little bag and just throw in my cards, cash, phone, keys and burt's bees. Otherwise, it's such a big to do since I carry way too much of everything with me. Every time I switch everything over to a new bag, I carry that one for weeks. I'm trying to get better about actually coordinating them with my outfits but I guess that means getting more organized for efficiency's sake.

LuLu*s $100 credit giveaway!

Today's giveaway is courtesy of LuLu*s, who is offering one of my lucky readers a $100 credit to their site!  

To enter, simply visit LuLu*s and comment below with a link to your favorite item(s). 

Please note that this contest is only open to residents of U.S. and Canada. Entries will be accepted until 9 pm EST Saturday, November 20th (my sister Tessa's birthday!). A winner will be chosen at random and announced in this post. Good luck!  

p.s. Use the code KEIKO at checkout for 15% off your order! (U.S. and Canada only)

Butterflies

Outfit Details:
Tennessee Dress - courtesy of Spotted Moth
grey sweater coat - courtesy of LuLu*s
HUE tights - Nordstrom Rack
Calvin Klein heels - Beacon's Closet
navy scarf - Gap

(I also wore shorts underneath this little number; it's not polite to flash people while getting in and out of cabs.) 
Tomorrow is the IFB Evolving Influence Conference! If you aren't able to attend, you can watch a livestream here. I have to admit I have butterflies in my stomach just thinking about speaking in front of such a large audience. I also have no idea what I'm wearing; it will be a surprise to us all. I never plan out my outfits, which is probably why I'm always running late. On that note, perhaps I should get my act together and be a little productive before the rest of this week consumes my life.

Wrinkles

Edit: Please take a second to vote for one of my readers - she is currently trying to get funding to buy French books for her class. My teachers made a huge impact on my life, so teachers always have a place in my heart! The fact that she's doing this on her own time is really special to me. You can vote once per day and you don't have to sign up! Just type in Meadowlands, select the listed school and you're done. Vote for Meadowlands!




Outfit Details:
Vintage suede jacket - hand-me-down from my mom (it was hers when she was younger than me!)
vintage knit beret - thrifted
navy blouse - courtesy of LuLu*s (use KEIKO to get 15% off your order)
vintage shorts - bought in LA at jetrag
Seychelles Platinum boots - courtesy of ModCloth
socks - Forever 21
tights - Beacon's Closet
old nine west bag - thrifted, a gift from Tessa:)

Please don't judge my wrinkled blouse! It's a loose fitting top and I stuffed it into a fitted, heavy jacket all day. I'll have to show you another time when I'm not being a sloppy mess, because it's a soft, comfy wonder of a blouse. As for the vintage shorts, they're wool and I have a slight allergy to wool...so I can only take these out when I'm fully protected by tights.




Kim and I started out our day at the Lexington Equinox location, where we went to show our love for Greta, the brilliant force behind Fashion Me Green. Greta was hosting the launch of the sleek Derringer pedal bike, which is limited edition and has a pretty hefty price tag ($2300) to match the exclusivity. Well, this is coming from someone who picked her bike according to how well it matched Miku's personality, so I'm not the person to consult about cycling.

Afterward, Kim and I bought way too much candy at the adjacent Dylan's Candy Bar, went shopping for lots of socks because it's freaking cold, and ate the most amazing brunch in history of brunch, at NoHo Star.


Eggs benedict on french toast, with apples and maple syrup! Favorite. I never know if I'll get yelled at for taking out my bulky SLR at a restaurant, so I took this ninja-style with my slick HTC Aria, which HTC sent to me because they probably felt bad that I used my mom's hand-me-down phone circa 2004. Hand-me-down vintage coat, good. Hand-me-down brick phone, bad. Now I'm all growed up and can take pictures and tweet on my phone.




p.s. If you aren't familiar with Greta and her eco-friendly, fashion forward movement, please reconcile that immediately. I adore her and everything she is doing. See the green makeovers she has given to some well known style influencers at Fashion Me Green. Also, please vote for her to become Sunglass Hut's full time fabulous blogger here!

Miku, my little love.

Outfit Details:
romper: thrifted
cozy cardigan (I've been living in this): courtesy of LuLu*s (get 15% off your order with code KEIKO)
Coach bag - courtesy of Coach
Seychelles Hawk wedges - courtesy of Seychelles
tights - we love colors

I had the utmost scare a dog lover could imagine: Miku ran into traffic and almost got hit. I'm shaking just typing this, even though it was two days ago. Bobby and I were taking her to the dog park near the bridge, and while he retrieved the car from the opposite side of a busy avenue, Miku and I waited. I was chatting with a girl about Miku; she told me she had a dog just like her and wanted to know if I would breed her (she is spayed - spay/neuter your pets!). As we were talking, Miku got frantic with worry over Bobby's absence. When we're not home and one of us makes an exit, she gets really upset and anxious. Her gentle leader started to slip up as I held her back, so I stooped down (with two bags and a drink in my hand) to fix it. She took that opportunity to quickly wriggle out and went darting straight for traffic, heading toward Bobby.

I  ran straight after her, screaming and flailing my hands for cars to slow down. Though they would have had time to slow, not a single one even tried. Both Miku and myself were nearly hit not once, but at least three times. I don't know if I would have been able to save her if it wasn't for the girl I was talking to, who bravely and selflessly helped me corral her. Thankfully, she was a little more level-headed than me and didn't risk getting hit, but still...I can't even begin to thank her enough. When I got Miku and brought her back to the sidewalk, she was trembling. I was shaking like crazy and a hysterical mess. I couldn't manage to get anything more than a sincere "Thank you" out, but I am forever grateful for the girl who helped me save my little pup. Miku is my life. My animals mean the world to me and Miku is my heart. I'm crying just thinking about this, how I could have prevented it if I had her collar on tighter, how she came so close to being run over.

Bobby and I carried her the rest of the day, save for when we were near the water on the secure promenade and in the actual dog park. Even in the park (which has double gates to prevent escape), I was a wreck. When she even went near the fence, I called her over to me. She was over it the second we were in the park with other dogs, but I'm still a nervous wreck. We went and got her a harness, and I'll now be walking her with both the harness AND a gentle leader, because I'm crazy. Two leashes until the harness proves its worth (I got a sturdy one).


It's that fluffy hair. It makes the collar seem so much tighter than it actually is; she's really quite small, save for the hair.

I'm forever grateful that I'm able to report with a happy ending. I'm also pleased to know that I will, without a doubt, risk my own life to save my dog's. That's love. I know she'd do the same.

p.s. I did post a craigslist missed connections to thank the girl, since some of you asked:)p.p.s. I don't know if you noticed, but I have a partial black eye (my right) from my cat. I was holding Lacy and Bobby sneezed, which freaked her out. She accidentally clawed my eyelid, near my tear duct (hurts like a mother) and near the other eye. She left my right eye looking like I got punched!

But like, as well as, in addition to.

Outfit Details:
vintage coat - Beacon's Closet
lace top - thrifted
twenty8twelve skirt - super sale at Gilt (click if you need an invitation)
lattice heels - courtesy of Lulu*s
sequin clutch - courtesy of Juicy Couture
rhinestone bracelet - from the Fenton/Fallon jewelry making party (I removed it from my DIY necklace)


Just keepin' it real with my bruises and bug bites from the farm. The newlyweds (Jon and Amanda), Roxy (their daughter), Shelbey (Jon's sister), Bobby, mom, my stepdad, Tessa, her boyfriend (!!!!) and I all went to dinner on my last night in town. In Coral Springs, there are a few food must-haves for me: Laspada's hoagies, Publix subs (really!), Blue Moon, Big Bear's beer muenster cheese soup and...Sweet Tomatoes! Yes, I got this dressed up to go eat soup, salad and blueberry muffins. We may have really great food in New York but I always miss Sweet Tomatoes. I'm a cheap date! I don't want you to make my salad for me. I want to make it myself. I also want small portions of three different types of soup, thankyouverymuch. Variety...and freshly baked blueberry muffins! Also, when is New York going to realize that sweet tea is a necessity? It's practically my religion.

As mentioned before, I met Tessa's boyfriend. I was expecting to hate him just on pure principle that he is stealing the innocence and youth from my baby sister, but he's actually really great. He fits right in, and though six feet tall, he's still very much a kid - which I appreciate so, so very much. Both of them have their heads on straight and don't seem to be in a rush to grow up and be too cool for their families. I lectured both of them on the dangers of drugs, alcohol and holding hands or kissing...and then I told Bobby to give him the third degree. He gave him a faux menacing look and pointed his finger at him. Then they became best of friends and bought matching speakers for their iPods. Good job, Bobby. I do have to give the kid credit, since he was thrown into a room with a small portion of our very large family and blended right in. If anyone stuck out like a sore thumb, it was me...in my vintage jacket and sequin clutch, which I received in my gift bag from the Juicy Couture bag preview. Like that transition?







Before I left for Florida and wedding festivities, I attended a preview at Juicy Couture's showroom to check out their new handbags and talk to the designer, Kirsten Schwinn. I've always prided myself on being open minded and not judgmental at all (suuure), but let's be real: Juicy Couture immediately brings to mind tracksuits and sweatpants with words on the butt and though I have nothing against them, they aren't something I have in my wardrobe. I knew they had a lot more than that to offer, as demonstrated by The Glamourai Kelly  and the fact that Erin Fetherston recently signed on as a creative consultant, but I honestly didn't know what to expect and was excited to see what they had in store for us. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. I was immediately drawn toward the overtly girly bows and raw chiffon ruffles, and obviously thought of Kim when I saw an entire wall of glitzy sequins. Kirsten acknowledged their effort to breathe new life into the entire line, making everything a little more fashion forward, while still staying true to their customers. It's kind of exciting to see Juicy grow. The moral of the story: don't judge a brand by just its tracksuits - there's a whole lot more in the store.

Love Love,
Keiko Lynn

p.s. Use the code KEIKO for 15% off any purchase at Lulu*s! FYI, the shoes I'm wearing would be $33 with the discount.