Blonder Ambitions

Author: Kiki E.

  • ELECTRIC LEMONADE

    ELECTRIC LEMONADE

    Shirt, Wet Seal. Belt, Gossip. Necklace and Shoes, F21. Jeans, Red Engine.

    I do not believe {wholeheartedly} in the phrase “mellow yellow.”  Yellow can be mellow… and muted.  However, yellow can also be a statement piece… and vibrant… and shocking… like electric lemonade.   I am a huge proponent of the power of shock value… and, as I was exhausted from a week full of work and play, I felt that my electric yellow top would distract from the sleepy look on my face.  Yellow is an instant mood brightener that projects confidence, positivity, and the feeling of a free-spirit {we all know that you are all of those things, darlin’}… however, when you don’t feel that you are projecting your brightest self, throw on this hue… and no one {shh… promise!} will notice.

  • CURRENT OBSESSION – LUXURY CANDLES

    CURRENT OBSESSION – LUXURY CANDLES

    My love for candles has turned into more of, well… an obsession.  A candle is $75?! No, I don’t find it as ridiculous as you might.  I look at the 60 hour burning time and rationalize that each hour of scented, candlelit euphoria is only costing me a bit more than a dollar.  My current candle fixation is my new candle that was an Easter gift from my oh-so-wonderful mother… it’s a Williams-Sonoma Tuscan Fig candle… I love it because it’s parrafin-free and uses a cotton and paper wick… so it’s clean burning.  Read on for some more of my candle recommendations.

    1. Diptyque Candle in Feu de Bois $60
    2. Miller Harris Candle in Citron Citron $72
    3. Cire Trudon Candle in Mademoiselle de Lavalliere $75
    4. Memo 2009 Very Red Roses Candle $60
    5. Trapp Lemongrass Verbena #10 Candle $17
    6. D.L. & Co. Black Wax Skull Candle in the “Momento Mori” Collection $25-$55
    7. Archipelago Bergamot Tabacco Candle $25
    8. Tocca Stella Candle $38
    9. Delirium & Co. Suede & Smoke Candle $38

  • HOW TO – DECONSTRUCT & RECONSTRUCT A T-SHIRT

    HOW TO – DECONSTRUCT & RECONSTRUCT A T-SHIRT

    I was headed to the Big Four… basically a huge metal music festival where Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax would be playing… and I had no idea what to wear.  My man gave me one of his cherished Metallica T-Shirts and told me to do whatever I wanted with it.  Perfect.  With the assistance of an embroidery needle, a silver Sharpie, some awesomely sharp scissors, crimson ribbon, and a safety pin… I got exactly the Metallica shirt that I wanted.


    1. Gather your supplies… T-shirt. Silver Sharpie pen. Scissors. Ribbon. Etc. 2. The beginning T-shirt… Cute, but not quite the look I was going for. 3. My “Aha!” moment when I thought… “I can make over this shirt.” 4. Using the silver Sharpie to mark where to make the cuts.  5. Close up of the Sharpie markings. 6. I like this much better… a tank top! 7. No… I don’t. I can make it even better! 8. Cut a slit down the middle… yeahhhhh. 9. Love it. 10. Only loved it for .5 seconds… decided to cut up the sides.  11. Decided to re-stich the sides with some satin ribbon.  12. Stitching myself back up. 13. Happy! That’s what I wanted. 14. The finished product. I even added a metal-esque safety pin. Love.

  • HOW TO – MAKE THE PERFECT GIFT BASKET

    HOW TO – MAKE THE PERFECT GIFT BASKET

    One of my childhood friends was having a tea for her bridal shower… after settling on a Betsey Johnson New York crocheted navy and pink frock and hot pink ruched pointed toe pumps, I decided to shop for her {coordinating} pink gift.  I figured that with Easter right around the corner… a bridal basket would be right on point.  What bride-to-be wouldn’t love some pink kitchen accessories, killer cupcake mix (with the perfect pearl topping!), and some gourmet truffles to eat while she bakes?  A simple gift basket how-to is below.


    1. Gather all materials… basket, tissue paper, ribbon, any other accessories, and the gifts.  For the gifts, try to stick with some kind of a theme (here the theme was twofold: pink and cupcakes)… All these gorgeous goodies are from Williams-Sonoma. 2. The adorable edible sugar pearls that are ideal for chic cupcakes. 3. Yum. Chocolate + champagne + pink + gold leaf = p.e.r.f.e.c.t.i.o.n. 4. Tie your ribbon around the basket and line the bottom of the basket with coordinating tissue paper that is all bunched up. 5./6. The final basket… with tiny faux flowers in the corner for a sweet touch. ♥

  • JEWEL TONES

    JEWEL TONES

    Dress and Belt, Custom made {vintage}. Shoes, F21.

    Another full day of design work and a going away party for a dear friend demanded an outfit that would seamlessly transition from business to happy hour.  Cue the jewel toned sheath dress.  Jewel tones are for women what a red power tie is for a man.  It is fashionable, makes a statement, and helps you appear confident/powerful (which… my love… you are!).  Gold embroidery (the dress was custom made in Thailand) negates the need for accessory overload.  A simple belt is sufficient.  And… if you haven’t picked up my rule on color mixing by this point… it’s simple: anything goes! Especially an emerald sheath and sapphire jewel toned shoes.

     

     

     

  • LADYLIKE

    LADYLIKE

    Suit, Vintage {Custom Made}. Top, Hollister. Pearls, F21. Shoes, Poetic Licence. Watch, Michael Kors.

    A day trip to Los Angeles, scouting a reception venue for my business, a Santa Monica lunch with my sister, and a quick meeting with one of my best friends called for an outfit that was professional, unique, and a lot of fun.  Enter: the vintage skirt suit.  With its bold pattern, oversized buttons, and cinched waist… I knew I had exactly what I needed.  The addition of playfully large pearls, a sheer top with floral detailing, and faux ostrich secretary heels completed the look.  Being ladylike is anything but boring.