My Ampersand

The ampersands went neck & neck, but in the end the battle was decided by four votes... which went to my talented opponent. My & was not, alas, the better letter. Did you guess which was mine?

I couldn't decide what shape to give my ampersand, so I decided to play with two in watercolors and gouache. 

It was a pleasure to break out my brushes for the Better Letters contest, thank you for voting!

Better Letters: Ampersand

Do I have any letter-lovers or typophiles in my readership? If so, a have a Friday treat for you...

Today I'm participating in a battle of hand-lettered ampersands at Better Letters. Better Letters hosts daily competitions between designers: one letter, one day to create, one winner.

Which & is the Better Letter? Go vote!

Giveaway: Shabby Apple

Remember my very first giveaway at Shock the Bourgeois? Well, I'm sticking to my guns: a curve-hugging pencil skirt is the staple every girl should have in her closet. So, with the help of Shabby Apple, I want to give another lucky gal a little gift (that already has a bow on it).

The Francine Pencil Skirt from Shabby Apple, featured with a Veronica Beard Tuxedo Blouse from FarFetch, Fossil Rivoli Toggle Bracelet, Kenneth Cole Rose Gold Watch, & John Rocha Waterford Champagne Flute from Macy's, Studded Shimmer Bracelet & Cabled Tights from Anthropologie, Glamour Pearl Clutch from Forever21, and Sam Edelman Marina Pumps from Piperlime

I styled "Francine" for a glamourous occasion, playing with the concept of a deconstructed tuxedo. I stuck to a black and white palette- but imagined pushing up the sleeves to reveal unexpected sparkle at the wrist. As for the bow tie- well, that comes with the skirt!

Shabby Apple has a wonderful selection of women's dresses and skirts in flattering shapes and basic colors- pieces that are easy to accessorize and make your own. Want to make this skirt your own? Just follow three steps to be eligible to win...

• "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook.
• Tell me how would you wear the Francine Pencil Skirt this winter in a comment on this post.
• Be sure to include an email address so that I can notify you if you've won!

You can receive additional entries for doing any of the following (just leave a separate comment for each)...

• "Like" One Must Shock the Bourgeois on Facebook.
• Become a follower of the One Must Shock the Bourgeois blog.
• Follow me on Pinterest, and pin this image.
• Tweet about this giveaway and follow @ShockBourgeois.
• Blog about how you'd style your new pencil skirt.

I'll randomly select the winner next Wednesday, December 21st at noon PST. Remember to check your email before the holidays- you might be receiving a belated gift from Shock the Bourgeois!

Good luck, ladies!

The fine print: This prize cannot be shipped outside of the US, and is not eligible for return or exchange.

This giveaway has ended. Thanks for entering!

The Pantone Color of the Year

Chronicle Books put the words "Pinterest" and "contest" in the same sentence, and I was in. But a whole board of this saturated orange? That's a challenge. I thought, "Okay, 17-1463, let's dance."

It's an enigmatic shade, flickering between mellow orange and vivid coral every time you blink. I tried to envision myself actually wearing this color, and using it in my home. My taste, only brighter. Ruffles, curls, herringbone, skulls. Sassy, but optimistic. A few pins later, and Tangerine Tango didn't seem so far-fetched anymore...

Find these images (and many more) on my Tangerine Tango board on Pinterest.

Tangerine Tango could well be my New Year's resolution for 2012. How do you feel about the Color of the Year?

Speaking of contests, I've got a little something in the works for you readers this Wednesday...

Giveaway: Shabby Apple

If you heaved a major Monday sigh when you opened your closet to get dressed this morning, I have just the thing for you: a giveaway of Shabby Apple finery sure to wake up your wardrobe!

This is my very first giveaway, and Shabby Apple is the perfect fit for my vintage-inspired taste. I picked the Tess Skirt, a go-with-everything, hourglass-figure-making pencil skirt in practical olive canvas twill.  I can't enter my own giveaway (drat!), but I sure can dare to dream about how I'd style the Tess Skirt. A few links of chain and some bossy stripes to toughen up the feminine silhouette, an artsy cropped cardigan to show off the fabulous bow, snakeskin and a silver skull to shock the bourgeois...

The Tess Skirt from Shabby Apple, featured with the Elizabeth & James Tari Sandal from Piperlime, a jeweled bracelet by Rappaccini's Garden, the Tea & Roses Cropped Cardigan from Anthropologie, the Vince Stripe Favorite Tank from Piperlime, and the Claire Cross-Body Bag from Banana Republic

Envisioning your own outfit? Make it happen. Here's how you can enter to win...

• Click "like" on the Shabby Apple Facebook page (what's not to like about a free frock and exclusive access to year-round discounts?)
• Leave a comment on this post telling me how you would wear the Tess Skirt. Be sure to leave your email address!
• If you tweet or blog about this giveaway, leave me the link- it'll count as an extra entry!

I'll announce the winner on Monday, April 18th- so get your entries in by Sunday at midnight PST.

Only one lucky gal can snag the prize, but everyone's a winner: Shock the Bourgeois readers will receive 10% off of their purchases at Shabby Apple with coupon code "shockthebourgeois10off"

Good luck!

The fine print: This prize cannot be shipped outside of the US, and is not eligible for return or exchange.


*This giveaway is now closed!*

What Do YOU Want for Christmas?

All I want for Christmas is $100 to spend at mydeco boutique... so I entered a moodboard in the mydeco + Rue Magazine "All I Want for Christmas" contest!

My moodboard entry, A Curious Christmas is a room full of dare-to-dream items (like a beaded chandelier and the rug that would look marvelous in my living room). Of course, if I were to win that $100, maybe one of these dreams could become a reality!

Have you entered yet?

Summing Up My Style

Ally at From the Right Bank is holding another round of "What's Your Style in One Picture." I decided I was up for the challenge this time around. 

Image Courtesy of Domino Magazine

I spent an evening searching through my image archives (and doing a bit of soul searching as well), and I kept coming back to this library. Books will always be a focal point of my design aesthetic, and I dream of showcasing mine in a soaring bookcase like this one. Isn't this the perfect reading room? A tufted leather sofa to recline on, the crisp daylight to illuminate each new page, the expansive white palette to fill with imaginings. I love the classic bones of this salon, and the cheeky details- the stately bust, the diminutive topiary, the sly bar set-up, the rat in the glass case! My style precisely.

Too much fun- thanks Ally!

The Weekend in Review

The trouble with a legendary weekend... is that Monday finds you dull and glassy-eyed, facing an almost insurmountable pile of neglected chores (and if you uh, put the work off until Tuesday, it's all the more daunting). Excuse me while I engage in an epic battle with the fearsome piles of laundry and dishes that have usurped my apartment. Should I prevail, I'll regale you with tales of feasting, festing, and feats of fashion.

Coming up soon...

• I wasn't kidding about the festing. Pictures from the Fremont Solstice Parade and the Edmonds Art Festival are on the way.
• My style woes are history- thanks to a little help from my friends. See how we addressed the problem for under $150, and see how I take on the winner's decoration vexation. (Pssst, Rachel! Send me pictures!)
• I'm entering the Apartment Therapy My Great Outdoors Competition, and I'm in it to win it. (Which is funny, as I don't actually have a yard...)
• I have a knack for spotting a fab find... but sometimes I'm not quick enough on the draw. This week I'll show you some great stuff I didn't win.
• Next weekend I'm rolling out the drop cloth and revving up the orbital sander- it's time to attack that to-do list. I've got an apartment full of "befores," let's see if I can crank out some "afters."

In the meantime, here's a glimpse of last weekend's adventuring...

Cheering the Mariners on to victory with Alex, Cory & Megan (and celebrating said victory at the Pyramid Brewery later...)

Who knew that baseball players were into decor?

The M's spice up their bullpen with some awesome "antiquities" and a "we're going to kick your ass" theme.

Megan got a souvenir from the Diamondback's bullpen.

Adam was a little jealous, so we had to buy him some rally fries.

Dare to Dream: Playing Dress Up, Playing House

When I beg my family to nominate me for What Not to Wear, they roll their eyes- and I guess they have a point. I'm not exactly schlumping around in men's clothing or teva sandals with wool socks...

But I'm not making the best-dressed page either.  In the winter I adhere to a uniform of black turtleneck sweater + jeans, and in the summer I transition to a black ribbed tank.  Totally dressed to depress.  My fashion sense died the day I moved away from my female friends- and I've been in mourning attire ever since!  

So, I may be dreaming of a Stacey & Clinton-esque $5,000 rescue... but I'd be thrilled just to have a shopping buddy to help me spend my $150 allowance!  Readers, in my desperation, I turn to you!

Here's what I propose.  Comment with some links to clothing that will liven up my wardrobe (for under $150 total). In return, I'll do some personal shopping for YOU.  That's right!  Add a design dilemma to your comment: one lucky reader will get a whole post of solutions.  (See how I'm slyly encouraging some reader participation here?  See what I did there?)

Let's get those creative juices flowing, shall we?  

I have...

 

A lovely jewelry collection, sweet & sassy shoes, a couple great bags...

and a few key pieces, like this lilac-colored ruffled tank (also bought this and this), my vintage brocade skirt, and a sheer floral blouse.

I need pieces that are intricate & feminine, like so...

Totally romantic- definitely a change from stark black.

(Images from Anthropologie, Lucky Magazine)

Lend me a hand, friends- outfit me for summer, and I'll help you outfit your home.