The Post in Which I Beg for Your Fashion Advice

Hi sweets! This post steps quite a bit outside of my usual comfort zone as I am going to turn the virtual focus upon myself for a second. Oh gosh...scary.

Here's the deal. I really need your help! I've attached images here of the clothing items that I will be packing to wear for NY Fashion Week. Yes they are all black...every single thing (unless I count denim as a color).

So you can see why I desperately need your help dear ones. How do I brighten this funereal palette up and do color right? What would you recommend? A neon belt around the dress? A bright tank under the beaded top? You can see how flummoxed I am. Ack! Any little tips, tricks, or shopping links you can share will be forever appreciated. P.S. I also feel like I should mention that I had to go out and buy just about everything you see here for this trip since my usual day-to-day blogger "style" is of the comfortable jeans and 5-yr old t-shirt variety. This is also the first dress I've owned in about 9 years (my last one was a wedding dress)! At least I have a few good staples in my closet now though, right?!

Credit and links (many of the pieces here are from the outlet mall in Oklahoma City, so I don't have active links to share for those. Sorry.):

BCBGMAXAZRIA Dress | MICHAEL Michael Kors Tracey Open-Toe Pump (I purchased mine at Dillard's) | Nine West Flats | Fossil Watch | Set of Three Bangles from Fail Jewelry | Hinge Bracelet (made by me) | J.Crew Belt (from a couple years ago) | Business Cards printed by Moo (I love them) | Beaded Top (by unknown — the tags were gone when I bought it) | DKNY Button Down Top | Assorted Jeans| Drapey Band-Waist Pants from Gap (they run big so I recommend a size or two down) | Black Out Sweater from Mohawk General Store | Xhilaration® Short Sleeve Tee from Target | Cole Haan Marley Tote |

Inspiration Daily: 08. 30. 11

Make Me Dream of You by Kirra Jamison (via Julie Digs Design).

The HP / Project Runway Challenge: Week 5

Wow! I can't believe we are already five weeks into this season of Project Runway! If you've been watching, have you been enjoying it so far? It has definitely had its ups and downs for me, but I've loved the show ever since Season 1, so I'll probably be loyal to the end.

Anyhow...as you know by now, I've been challenged by HP to use their HP TouchSmart to sketch my own translation of each weekly challenge. Another super exciting part of this collaboration that I wasn't free to share until now is that in a little bit less than 2 weeks I'll be attending the finale runway show taping at New York Fashion Week, and rubbing elbows with the designers, Heidi, and Tim (or at least trying to) at what is sure to be a fabulous cocktail party later that evening. You have to believe me when I tell you that I am beyond thrilled and have been having one of those pinch me sort of months. This is far outside of my normal realm of life. Which brings me to my biggest challenge...what in the world am I going to wear!!! I need your help lovelies! We'll definitely have to have a little post about that soon.

So...on to this week's challenge, and what has been the toughest one (for me) to date. Objective: A fashion forward outfit that can be worn with Heidi's new line of New Balance sneakers...that also has to include denim, suede or both! Eep!

The last thing I think to throw on with a cute outfit is sporty shoes (although I do love my Converse), so I literally spent the entire weekend without a clue about what I would "design." In the end I just decided that it would have to be something that I would want to wear regardless of what shoes I had on. My favorite pant these days is a tapered trouser with a little bit of a harem pant vibe (hence the droopy drawers look—not for everyone I realize). The top is a light-weight Chambray (that can count as denim right) with a faux peter pan collar (the material is actually just stitched to give the effect of a collar). What do you think? Do you have any clever ways that you would you rock sporty shoes with a dressier look? I'd sure love to know.

I'll have another challenge to share with you next Monday following this week's show. If you'd like you can catch my first four posts in this series here. And if you missed last week's Project Runway you can see the full episode online right here. xo Ez

-----

Full disclosure...because that's just how I roll. HP provided me with a TouchSmart 610 computer for use with these weekly challenges. All content was left solely up to me. I have not been financially compensated for my opinions of this product or the Project Runway show.

Pinterest Picks: 08. 29. 11

Hello lovely friends! Thanks for starting out your week here on Creature Comforts. I'm so glad you've come by! Just like many of you I've been glued to the weather channel and crossing my fingers for everyone on the East Coast and in Hurricane Irene's path. If you weathered the storm this past weekend I hope that you and your loved ones made it through alright. I know many have been, and still continue to go without electricity and running water. I find that it is easy to feel rather useless when you are somewhere else in the world...but desperately wanting to help. Don't you agree?

So I propose that we all do something unexpected and lovely today...a random act of kindness for an unsuspecting someone in our community. Will you join me?! If you feel like sharing your kind deed with us here later, I'd love to hear about it. You never know how many people you can positively effect with just one small act of kindness. xo Ez

And of course, here are a few pretty Pinterest things that I'm loving today:

| 1. Chocolate Cake photographed by Alastair Hendy for Marie Claire.it, seen on The Paradise of Cupcakes (via Christina) | 2. Sunday Evening in the Prado by Rhiannon Leifheit, seen on That Unreliable Girl (via Nicole) | 3. Michael Kors Resin Chronograph Watch at Nordstrom (via Elissa) | 4. I Am Oozing Emotions Album by The Chap (via Manon)  | 5. Poster Design by Liam Stevens (via Emily) |

Inspiration Daily: 08. 29. 11

The Dew Sparkled Like Diamonds in the Morning Light by Jeanine Caron. Find more beauty on her blog.