#21 Eyebrows

I'd rarely thought about the shape of my eyebrows recently until the incredible Nicolette Mason graciously commented on them on my last post. I realized how thick and full they are, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'd always admired thin, shapely eyebrows with a high arch and wished that mine could look like that-- elegant and sleek. I've always considered mine to be "hairy caterpillars" growing on my face and the fact that they completely lack an arch doesn't help. Plucking them thin always looked ridiculous and I dislike the way eyebrow pencils make them look so dark. It's a love-hate relationship, and truthfully, I have no idea what to do with them. I remember when I was in 8th grade and I over-plucked them, looking super classy with eyebrows that began at my pupils, separated by 4 long inches of glorious hairlessness. If anyone has any ideas about how to shape them, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll just keep with my caterpillars. I'm learning to love them.

GLASSES Menswear Tortoiseshell, Rayban | PLUGS Cubic Zirconia 7/16", Body Art Forms | NECKLACE Gold, Rose Gold, and Silver Studs, Noir Jewelry | RING Black Oval Stone, H&M | TOP Lace Back Drape Shirt, H&M | SKIRT Textured Pull-on Skirt, H&M | TIGHTS Sweater Knit Tights, H&M | JACKET Faux Leather Jacket, Forever 21 | FLATS Glitter Ballet Flats, J Crew

I love this lipstick, by the way. I think it makes the whole outfit. I love the combination of neutral and neons, neon pink in this case. The color is "Schiap" by Nars purchased at Sephora. If you like this tint but want something a little more subdued, I suggest "Roman Holiday" by Nars, as well. It's perfect for day time wear! My nail color is "Carnival" by Essie and I recently purchased "Mint Candy Apple" by Essie as well. Those are my Fall beauty obsessions! If anyone has any eyebrow product suggestions or tips, please feel free to advise. :)

#20 Dream Weaver

Long time, no outfit post! :) That's back-to-school life for me. And now that I'm no longer staying with my boyfriend, I rarely have an excellent photographer around. Thankfully, last weekend my friend Ellie and I shopped 'till we dropped, and luckily I was able to convince her to take a few shots of my outfit on top of the parking garage. Pardon the squinting... it was such a beautiful sunny day!

JACKET Rouched Sleeved Jacket, H&M | TOP Black Snakeskin Ballerina Tunic, Urban Outfitters | JEANS Black Skinny Jeans, Old Navy | SHOES Black Strappy Wedges, Target | NECKLACE Dream Catcher Necklace, Vintage | EARRINGS 7/16" Jade Plugs, Body Art Forms | PURSE Studded Metallic Clutch, Marc Jacobs

I love this necklace. It's such a huge statement piece and I think it really makes the outfit. I bought it at a vintage/thrift shop in New York City a few years ago. I rarely wear it, but ever since I've decided to try to wear more of what I own and buy less, it came back into my regular rotation. However, I always feel conflicted about "ethnic" pieces like these: is wearing them a celebration of a beautiful and rich culture, or simply exploiting an oppressed racial group? What do you think?

The wedges from Target are amazing, too. They are a blatant rip-off of Dolce Vita's wedges (which most likely are runway rip-offs), but they are so comfortable and only cost about $30. Sadly, as the weather seems to be getting cooler and cooler, this will probably be my last outfit post featuring open-toed shoes! On the other hand, I can't wait for fall fashion...

Finally, I really want to thank everyone who voted for me in the Talbots contest. Sadly, I didn't win, but I really appreciate everyone who took a few minutes out of their day to vote! Thank you so much!

#19 Talbots Contest - Please vote for me!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I've been meaning to post an outfit post soon, but unfortunately I've been sick for the last week and half with bronchitis, which as you can imagine, has been no fun at all. On the other hand, I did enter a Talbots contest.


The winner receives a $1500 Talbots gift card and a free trip to NYC for a fashion makeover. I love Talbots, especially for work, and it would be awesome if I could win. Second and third places also get gift cards! I'd greatly appreciate it if you could click here and vote for me! It only takes a minute. If you really want to be awesome, you could also post this link: http://bit.ly/oMImNQ to your Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, blog, MySpace, Friendster, etc. (haha) and get others to vote, too!

I highly recommend you fashionable ladies of the blogosphere should enter as well if you love Talbots, too! Thank you all!

#18 Unusually Bright

Unusually Bright by zezaftig featuring antique bracelets

Tonight is about demonstrating self-control: I've been really working hard to save money. I have some upcoming traveling I want to do and I'm also really trying to minimize the number of material possessions I own. It's something I've always wanted to do-- I really admire people with few belongings. I see how it can really keep your life from getting overly complicated and keep you focused on the things that are important. I also notice how people (myself included) use shopping as an emotional outlet, which I think can be financially dangerous. I haven't really bought new clothing for months, which has taken quite a bit of restraint. I'm proud of myself, but it's really getting tough to keep this going...

Which gets me to my next point: for the past few days I can't seem to stop fantasizing about shopping! Tonight, I daydreamed up this little fantasy on Polyvore. It's one of those, "If I had a million dollars..." scenarios. I have always been into bright colors and quirky statement pieces, and I think this photo sums up that aspect of my style quite well.

If you want to find out where to purchase all of these quirky, bright, beautiful pieces, just click the photo. My favorite pieces are the glittery Miu Miu salmon heels, the neon green satchel by Cambridge, the cobalt blue body con lace dress from ASOS, the mustard pencil skirt by J Crew, the white seashell heels by Alexander McQueen, and the peacock tights from Mod Cloth. A girl can dream, can't she? This was a pretty fun project and it cost me zero dollars. Not bad.

On another note, my literary wish list includes the following:

A graphic novel's interpretation of The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. AMAZING.

A collection of essays by the amazing David Foster Wallace.

A new book about self-control and will power. I just read about it in the New York Times this weekend. Goes well with my theme of self-restraint this evening...

The incredibly brilliant Howard Zinn writes about race in America, something that has always fascinated me.

And now, the end to my materialistic rant! While I may never own Alexander McQueen heels, I definitely plan to own these books sometime soon. Surely, they will also make you "unusually bright!" As much as I love fashion, books will always be some of my favorite possessions. I learned to read at a very, very young age and I used to stay up all hours of the night reading as a little girl. My parents even had a small library in the home we used to live in before we moved and I used to stare at all the books on the shelves and promise myself I would read every book that was ever written! It's always been my dream to have my own library in the beautiful home I will own someday. Just day dreaming on a Monday night...

#17 Villa Vizcaya

This week was my first week back at school with students. I work at a charter school with extended school hours, so that means I'm up at the butt crack of dawn and leaving work around 6-7pm. Don't get me wrong though-- it's such an amazing place and I'm so happy to be a part of it. It feels so good to get back to teaching, which is what I love to do. I feel like I'm really fulfilling my life's purpose when I'm teaching and interacting with kids... but as you can imagine, it doesn't leave me a lot of time to do outfit posts!

I've been looking through old photos and feeling nostalgic tonight. Two summers ago, I went on a pretty epic road trip with my boyfriend down South. We drove from Cleveland all the way to Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Palm Beach, Miami, Key West, and then back up to Atlanta. It was one of the best times of my life! I was thinking about this beautiful villa we saw in Miami, called Villa Vizcaya. It was a house built in the early 20th century for businessman James Deering. It's highly influenced by architecture from the Italian Renaissance and is bursting with gardens and fountains. This beautiful place even has an old outdoor swimming pool and a "harbor," so to speak, with steps going down from the house, descending right into the water. It's a magical place, to say the least.

It was a cloudy, rainy, humid day and I was eaten alive by mosquitos, but it remains in my memory as one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and it felt so wonderful to share those moments with someone so special to me. I remember my outfit specifically from that day...

Downtown Miami at night.

The outdoor fountains and the front of Villa Vizcaya.

Inside the Villa.

The outdoor pool area.

Here I am, standing by the harbor. The house is just a few feet next to this beautiful port!

DRESS Striped Mock Two-Piece, Nordstrom BP | SANDALS Black Gladiators, Urban Outfitters | GLASSES Prescription Tortoiseshell, Ray Ban | PURSE Gold metallic shoulder bag, H&M

Now that I think about it, I really love the nautical feel of my outfit-- it goes so well with the harbor/water theme! Wasn't planned at all, but I love the way it worked out. I'm still so pleased with these photos, especially the vivid colors. This was after I bought my first "real" camera (a Nikon D4o) and I remember being so amazed by the quality of the photographs. I hope you enjoyed my blast from the past and I hope that you too can visit this beautiful place someday! It really is a treasure. I can't wait to continue traveling and be able to post more of my experiences in new places.

#16 Pin Up Girls Give Away!

To celebrate 40 followers, I will be giving away a brand new "Joanie Dress" from Pin Up Couture (via Pin Up Girl Clothing). See below for what it looks like!

It's a really cool vintage reproduction. I thought I got it in a size 2XL, but I think it's more like an XL, fitting sizes 12-14 (and maybe a 16 if you like it tight!). I originally bought it for work, but it's a little too form fitting for that purpose. However, I'd like to pass it on to someone who'll appreciate it! Here's the website's description:

"Pinup Couture's 2010 Collection takes its inspiration from classic shapes worn by screen icons of the 50s, but always with a modern, sexy woman in mind.

The Joanie Dress is our answer to two big requests from PUG fans: vintage-inspired styles that are workplace appropriate, and sleeves! The rayon blend fabric drapes beautifully, creating a 1960s silhouette with threequarter sleeves, a removable matching belt, and a wide rolled collar. Back zipper and walking slit."

If you would like to be considered for this giveaway, please:

1. Make sure you are a follower of Ze Zaftig! (Click the Follow button to the right)
2. In the comments section, please write a way for me to contact you if you win.
3. In the comments section, tell me what you like about vintage clothing and what your favorite era of fashion is!

Anyone from any country can enter. To determine the winner, I will assign all entries a number, and then use a random number generator. The giveaway will end next Friday, August 19. Good luck!

#15 A Formal Affair

I love getting dressed up for formal galas and gatherings, though I rarely have the opportunity to do so. I always really look forward to putting on fancy dresses and gowns and the educator's gala I went to on Thursday evening was no exception. I love the vintage feel of my dress and was really trying to evoke Christina Hendricks in Mad Men. Did I succeed? :)

DRESS Green Ava Dress, Pin Up Girl Clothing | SHOES Black Patent Peep-Toe Pumps, Nine West | NECKLACE Garnet Heart & Gold, Vintage Jewelry | PURSE Studded Metallic Clutch, Marc Jacobs (not pictured)

I'm a bit frustrated that I forgot my Nikon D40, which takes much better quality photos than my regular point and shoot. The only problem is, a huge Nikon does not fit in a cute Marc Jacobs clutch. I'm not a huge fan of name brands or designers, although thanks to fashion blogs and to Gilt, I'm getting more and more interested in designer clothing. This Marc Jacobs bag was a gift from my dad's girlfriend and it's absolutely perfect. I love the gold and silver metallic combination, which means you can wear it with any jewelry. The studs add a rocker/bad girl flair that resembles my personality and it's the perfect size, not too big or small. It's one of my favorite accessories and I use it all the time.

I must admit that after a long week of professional development, I was pretty pooped and wasn't interested in grooming myself for several hours. I got ready for this event in about 30 minutes. Side pony tail, a few bobby pins for my bangs, slip on the dress, some quick makeup, slide my shoes on, and I was ready to go. I wish I would have hit the dress with an iron for a little bit after it was in my suitcase, but I'm still pretty pleased with how it turned out. If you like the dress or vintage/vintage reproductions as much as I do, I highly recommend you check out Pin Up Girl Clothing, with sizes up to 3x. However, buyer beware: prices can be high and quality of their garments is inconsistent.

#14 Blog Feature

Long time, no see. It's barely been 7 days, but somehow it feels like forever since I've posted. It's been a crazy last few weeks. I sadly left NYC at the end of July, spent a two days at home, and then went to Nashville for a week of educator professional development. I'm really enjoying myself but I've been all over the place in the past month. I have a few pics of my outfit from a formal educator's gala I went to on Thursday that I can't wait to show you tomorrow, as well as some incredible shots of the hotel I stayed at while in Nashville.

I just went on to check my stats, some messages, and return some comments, when lo and behold! I was so amazed and excited to see I was featured on Natalie's blog, "Extra Large As Life." Super cool. I am blushing hard and feeling so flattered to be one of the featured blogs. AND, I'm even more stoked to see all the new followers of Ze Zaftig! Thanks, new followers! Welcome!

Please visit Natalie's blog. It's really fantastic and full of a lot of inspirational, fashionable photos as well as gorgeous photos of her fierce Australian self.

#13 A Day at the Beach

Something I used to dread: getting in a bathing suit. I'd always find ways to keep my body covered or jump as quickly as possible in the water so no one could see me. I was so self-conscious about my tummy and my thick thighs. Thanks to fatshion blogs (and a very devoted boyfriend), I've come to see my body in a new and different way and I'm no longer ashamed to be in a bathing suit. In fact, I love my new cute bathing suit and try to wear it as much and as creatively as possible-- you might remember this outfit from July 4!

We went to the beach yesterday at Jacob Riis Park. It was such an incredibly beautiful day and I really loved swimming in the waves. Here are some bathing suit pics.

BATHING SUIT Striped Vintage Style One Piece, J Crew | GLASSES Aviators, Ray Ban

My make-up free cheesy face in the first pic looks pretty happy! It was a great day. I love the striped pattern and underwire cups of this suit, giving it a vintage feel. It runs a little bit big and I would have loved more support in the bust-- I'll have to remember that when I buy my next suit from J Crew! I also would have loved some vintage Ray Ban frames like these to complete the look, but those are on my wish list for upcoming purchases!

What bathing suits are you wearing this summer? I would love to see everyone's beachy looks!

#12 GILT! Heavily Discounted Designer Labels

Yes, that's GILT, not guilt, the feeling you get when you inhale a box of Goya dulce du leche wafers... not that I did that recently or anything... Anyway, how many of you have heard of GILT? I have recently been patrolling GILT and I'm obsessed.

Here's the description of GILT from their website:

Members Only Shopping
Gilt Groupe provides instant insider access to today’s top designer labels, at up to 60% off retail. Become a member and find something new every day for women, men, kids and home as well as exclusive local services and experiences, and one-of-a-kind travel packages. Sign in and see what inspires you today.

It's kind of amazing. I'm about to get some Pour La Victoire sandals on there for 50% off! It's also somewhat addictive... they have new sales every day (that begin at different times, but usually at noon) and a limited amount of merchandise. So you have to log on quickly to see what they have and get your size when it's gone! I'm mostly using this for amazing shoes and accessories, but they occasionally have clothes that might fit us curvaceous ladies. It's a great option for those of us who want to dip our feet into designer labels without demolishing our bank accounts in the process.

The catch is, you have to get a GILT account by invite. Trying to do it without an invitation can sometimes takes weeks to get your account and password (I know, I tried!). If anyone would like an invite to this awesome site, please leave a comment below with your email, and I'll try and get you signed up!

#11 - Repurposing A Romper

I love rompers. They're cute, they're charming, and they're comfortable-- it's sort of like a skort, except less tennis-y. I recently bought an olive green one from Old Navy and liked it a lot when I bought it, yet somehow liked it a lot less a month later when I actually tried to wear it. Has that ever happened to you? Apparently likability is inversely proportionate to the amount of time you wait to wear a piece of clothing. There's my nerd coming out. Anyway, although I loved the color and the drapy-ness of the top, I liked the fit a lot less and needed to find a way to repurpose the piece. Exhibit A:

TOP Olive Green Romper, Old Navy | SKIRT Taupe Bodycon Textured Skirt, H&M | EARRINGS Origami Paper Crane Earrings, stand at Comfest | NECKLACE Ohio Charm, Tiger Tree Columbus | SANDALS Studded and Jeweled Sandals, Sam Edelman | BRACELET Tribal Silver Cuff, Target

I'm indifferent towards this romper, but I loved how I was able to repurpose it as a top. It's great when you can find one piece you can wear in multiple ways, getting more bang for your buck. I only wish the lighting was better in this room so you could see the beautiful neutral colors together (olive green romper, taupe skirt) combined with a pop of color from my glasses and earrings. Stylistically, that's something I love to do: take a classic piece and make it pop with an eccentric and unique accessory that makes everyone go, "Where did you get that?!" I hear that all the time with my glasses and got lots of compliments on my earrings and of course, my totally rebellious sandals. It's fantastic!

I also can't sew particularly well and don't own a sewing machine. It's something I'd like to learn some day, but if I may, I'd like to recommend something incredibly inexpensive and useful to have in your style arsenal: the safety pin. They're cheap and can completely change the look of a piece of clothing. This romper is wide open, exposing my entire chest (I guess it's supposed to be a swim suit cover up) and is a bit too blousey/baggy when worn with a skirt. I took a safety pin to the chest to make it less revealing and took another to sweep the top flap further over the side, making it look more fitted. When you don't have time to sew: safety pins!!!

#10 - SOMETHING AMAZING! Etsy Living Fashion

I'm just chilling in the apartment today and didn't plan on posting an outfit post or really posting at all, until I stumbled upon something really incredible from Etsy. After I was able to get my jaw back up from off the ground, I decided that every few weeks, I will be posting a segment called "Something Amazing!" featuring a piece of fashion that is truly amazing, yet also affordable.

Today's "Something Amazing!" comes from one of my favorite places to shop and gain inspiration, Etsy. Many of us may have heard hype of living fashion (remember the diamond tarantulas from Next Top Model?), where bedazzled little icky crawly things walk around on the hands, arms, lapels, and even faces of models. Since Next Top Model, I never thought living fashion could make me squeel with glee instead of horror. That is, until I stumbled upon Colleen Jordan's Etsy shop, Made by Colleen.

Colleen's shtick (pardon my Yiddish) is turning tiny potted plants in jewelry, making your earrings, necklace, or pin a mobile miniature greenhouse. Here are some examples below:

Necklaces.

A pin.
Earrings.

The living jewelry ranges from about $15-$55 bucks, making it extremely affordable. The catch: they don't come with plants ready to go in them, so you'll have to have a bit of a green thumb and a little patience to really make your jewelry come alive. Still, I'm just really blown away at the charm, the whimsy, and the creativity of these pieces. I'll be picking up my planter necklace from Made by Colleen immediately! I hope you enjoyed my first segment of "Something Amazing!"

#9 Brushstrokes

"The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity." -John F. Kennedy, Jr.

JFK was so eloquent. I love this quote because it puts such a positive spin on the negative-- very typical of JFK and one of the many reasons why so many people loved him-- and it has a little bit to do with my outfit today! I wore this dress covered in brushstrokes around Manhattan to study at the library, walk around Rockefeller Center, and eat some delicious Nonna Maria pizza at Bleeker Street Pizza! AMAZING!

DRESS Brushstroke Blouson Dress, ECI via Nordstroms | WEDGES Red Gladiator Platform Wedges, H&M | GLASSES Green Prescription Glasses, Vintage | BAG Zebra Print Hobo Bag, H&M

I absolutely LOVE this dress. If you like it too, they have some left in a size 12 and it's a bit large, especially in the bust, so it might fit a 14-16 (I'm wearing a 16). I salivated over it for weeks, but sadly, it was $150. Thanks to Nordstrom's amazing end of season sale, I picked it up eventually for only $88! I was so excited! I love the silk, the stretchy waist, the convenient but subtle front pockets, and the gorgeous colors. It looks great in the photo, but even better in person. I got a lot of approving nods and looks from some of NYC's stylish hipsters on the streets.

These are also my favorite wedges because they are so unique and bright. The red suede and the front zipper puts an awesome spin on the bandaged/gladiator wedge style. I picked them up at H&M last year and I seriously regret not getting them in black as well, as they are insanely comfortable and light. I walked around them all day, even carrying my heavy H&M zebra bag (pictured sitting on the bench) full of books, a laptop, and a large Nikon camera.

Praise the fashion gods for wedges, am I right!? They are so fashionable, yet comfortable. They give you the height to elongate your legs and sexify your outfit without the pain of stilettos or pumps. I love high-heeled shoes but I HATE to wear them. I can never walk in them and they make me feel uncomfortable, and being uncomfortable just sucks the confidence right out me. How about you? Are you able to walk in heels comfortably? And if so, will you teach me how!? :)