April Prize Winner! Ding, Ding, Ding

April's Champagne Lace cardigan from last month's feature store Mapel is shipping to Florida! The Fashionista Club's lucky winner Vanessa P will be sporting her free cardi in 80 degree weather. It's light weight enough for the Gulf's warm days and balmy Miami nights. I am sure she will be sizzlingly gorgeous in her freebie no matter what the temp! Maybe we could convince her to share a snapshot with us all. May I suggest a darling dress from Veronica M to our Miss Vanessa P? It would look great under that cardi. ShopMapel's got em!

If you haven't signed up for our Fashionista Club yet, what are you waiting for? You could be our next lucky gal!!

Makeup Before and After

The editor of Fancy Green asked me to use my experience as a makeup artist to review a line of natural cosmetics called Mineral Fusion. Since Miss E never wears makeup, she recruited her neighbor as a model. "This could be rough." I thought. But, I took the short drive to the destination with my styling kit in the trunk. When I knocked on the models door, she opened it and I was pleasantly surprised, "Phew! A good canvas!" I sighed. Natalie had a great complexion and sparkling eyes. Now for the makeup, would a natural, mineral makeup sold at Whole Foods be able to stand up to my professional scrutiny and general pickiness? See for yourself; Above are photos of Natalie in stages with and without makeup plus a terrific before and after! My favorite product was the velvety smooth Face Primer. It gave our model the appearance of an airbrushed, flawless face. Read the full review for Fancy Green here. Even the no-makeup editor was so impressed, she ordered some for herself. I explained, "The goal is to get your skin to look its best, not to make you look like someone else. Good makeup will do that." I'm so excited about this good-for-you makeup, I am hoping to get one of my Fashionista Club members a pretty surprise!! Stay tuned.

Good evening. How many?

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I'm no Taiwanese babe but I'll sure try! Puffy is the name of a clothing line from the largest island in the Republic of China. All their clothing comes one size or 'free size' as they say. My size! Yipee! The shirt says, "Good evening. How many?" Is this the tiger making a reference to having you for dinner? Not sure. Probably just bad translation. At any rate, I'll bite!

P.S. This is the worst picture I could find of the girl. I just couldn't help it. Even so, ain't she the cutest?!

Today's Adelita Style Self Portrait

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My dog Jelly Bean brings out the animal in me. I took a trip to Meadow and found this darling bat-wing, leopard print jacket, Lily's special ordered OPI's 'Chopsticking to My Story' for me, and Cherry gave me these pointy Report shoes. I received oh-so-many compliments on my purrrfect outfit, I decided to share it with you!

Meadow's Vegan Clutches

Our feature boutique Meadow has great vegan alternative handbags! My favorites are these clutches that come in tons of yummy colors for under $50!!

Loomstate Sends Me

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Celebrating Earth Day is a breeze when I slip on Loomstate’s Rivera Dress in Ocean Blue. I feel like a princess swept away on her sailboat, basking in nature’s beauty. Sigh.

If only that were true. I’m not a princess but I act like one and the Rivera dress takes me there with its whisper soft organic cotton layers, open kimono sleeves and gently tied waist.

But wearing this dress and feeling like I’m on vacation is no fantasy. I can easily see myself strolling along my favorite beach or sunny boardwalk in style. During the day, I’ll just throw the "flutter sleeve" dress over my bikini and hit the sand. And for those evening outings the dress’ removable slip will turn my look from day to night.

It’s cloudy in Seattle this Earth Day, but I’m not pouting. Loomstate has a way of carrying me away. I don’t need a boat to take me there; this simple 100% organic cotton Rivera dress in Ocean Blue does the job. A dress that can take you on a vacation just by putting it on? Give me one in every color!!

The editor of Fancy Green was a bit miffed when she had to turn over this item to me! Read her review here.

Gaga for Gaga

Just a few days ago Lady Gaga sang for Tokyo fans while on her "Monster Ball" tour. Who better to demonstrate their love for the lady than Japanese die-hards. I pulled these photos off of a Tokyo fashion site. But what I really want to know is this; did she influence them or did they influence her? Check out TokyoFashion.com for the complete story.

Hot Stuff

Barbara gave me a call the other day and instead of grabbing a $4 coffee (with tip), I purchased this $2 quilted ceramic box with a pile of tiny art books for $1 from a tag sale and a $1 coffee at the donut shop. Now those are some hot deals!

Dreamy Organic

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Organic by John Patrick sent me this boy tank in fawn (via Fancy Green). The first thing I did? Washed it! And, this is a secret, I put it in the dryer too! The tag says "hand wash and line dry." I say, "Who has time?" I have found that if you wash your super soft organic thingeez in the gentle cycle and tumble dry on low, quality garments like this buttery tank will hold up. Not very green of me? Well, that's debatable. I think if I am using a front load economy washer, I'm stuffing it to the max, and using warm or better yet cold water for both cycles, I may actually be using less energy. Line drying I can't beat. That is something to consider next time. Treat my organics with "green" gloves. Hmmm, I like it!

I slipped on my OJP bias cut tank on, zipped up my skinnies, tied on my pink Pumas and threw on a pashmina and Juicy track jacket and headed out the door for my morning walk. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that I forgot to put on the tank. You see, it's so soft, you could swear you were naked. Really! It's that airy! The rest of my day was all about running around tying up loose ends that always seem to pop up near the end of the week.

I got home, made dinner, concentrated on what was wrong with everyone elses lives, you know US magazine, unzipped my skinnies, untied my Pumas, slipped off my Juicy and floated into a dreamy organic sleep thanks to my fawn tank from Organic by John Patrick.

Now You See It, Now You Don't!

Exactly how do I miss these things? TopShop sells out of styles faster than you can say, "Kate Moss!" They temp me with photos with items that are no longer available. I drool over missed opportunities like this, their Parisian Wedge by Boutique. Anyone that knows me, knows I am forever in love with anything Antoinette, anything luxe and everything Parisian. While my two hands are typing my head is rhythmically pounding on the wall. Goodbye beautiful shoe! I knew you not but wish I did. Sigh.

Book Review: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

This weekend might be a good time to slow down, put on your favorite cozy slippers and take in some life lessons from french novelist and professor of philosophy Muriel Barbery.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog is a french novel that was wildly successful in Europe and parts of Asia. The main characters are an autodidact widowed concierge and one of her tenants, a 12-year-old preparing for her suicide. The author switches back and forth between the two women's thoughts and journals. Each chapter or essay is no more than 2 - 4 pages but replete with profound philosophy, wit, art, culture, class definitions and thoughtful poetry. I have found myself reading sentences over and over to deconstruct the meanings. I keep a dictionary handy too, unabridged, for the excessive vocabulary from the former character. I understand that the critics were waiting to see how the American public would receive such a truly french novel. Philosophy-based novels are not the norm on our best-seller lists. At the time of this publication date, Barbery’s novel has been on the New York Times best-seller list for 59 weeks. It seems that heady intellect with a dash of charming spirituality is not limited to our European and Asian cousins.

In short, if you are not sure where your life is headed and it's meaning seems lost, please read this. It may not answer you directly but it will enlighten your direction.

Vigoss Available at Meadow!

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Vigoss Denim is known for their trend-setting washes but did you know how affordable this little line from Istanbul is? These Turkish delights are right around $50! At that price, you can afford a pair with the newest purple pocket stitching and some with cute little rhinestones like the ones I shot at our feature boutique. You can get these yummies on line but, take a walk to the Meadow and try em on! If you live out of town give this trendy boutique a call (206) 659-4963 and they'll be happy to ship you the latest.

Car Bag

You've heard of carpet bags, right? Well the editor from Fancy Green sent me this "Car Bag" made by English Retreads to review. I call it a Car Bag because all the "leather" you see is actually made from recycled car tires and it matches not only my little boy rain boots, it also just happens to match my car! I took it for a test drive while running from boutique to bank to studio. Because it's made from tire rubber, I recommend NOT overstuffing it like I tend to do. It's plenty tough but it makes it a little heavy. The Hybrid, as they call it, comes in 6 colors all of which happen to match the little Mazda3... zoom-zoom!

Madison High Meadow

The Twilight movie is set in the very-real town and surrounding areas of Forks, Washington. But due to cost factors and special incentives offered by Oregon, the film was primarily shot in the Portland and the Saint Helens area. So while it might be located in Portland, Madison High actually filled in for mostly interior shots as Forks High School in the film, while the majority of exterior scenes were done up north at Kalama High School in Kalama, Washington. On our little Spring break we payed a visit to this Madison High while we were in Portland.

Cast: Rainbow as Bella in a red jacket from F21 and Urban Outfitters forest green buckled rain boots and Lil Star as Edward in her Curious George sweatshirt and GapKids jeans.

It was mighty chilly "filming" on the steps of the high school.

Rainbow makes a beautiful Bella, don't you think?

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from Adelita Style and Louis Vuitton!

From Darkness Comes Beauty

Alexander McQueen - Plato's Atlantis from SHOWstudio on Vimeo.

It bares repeating...

Baby Brother

On a short vacation with Lil Star, we decided to pay my baby brother a visit. At Christmas my two sisters and I decided it was time for my mother to don the ultimate accessory, a small dog. Sammy is a Pekingese who from that day on has sat at my mother's feet. He swishes his long mane around the carpet like an expensive mop, no feet in sight. And in a few short months he has learned to dance, shake hands, bark for his food and kiss a rag doll that my mother made! But this 2,000 year old Qing Dynasty Treat is not just decoration, he is part of the family, my baby brother.

P.S. What is he wearing? Only a beautiful dog like Sammy could get away with going commando under a fur coat.

The Fragrant Meadow

I live on top of a hill in Seattle but that doesn't mean there aren't any meadows. I found the cutest, most fragrant patch of sunlight on the hill in a boutique called Meadow. Owner Shelley Hall has an eye for sweet sophistication in clothing, housewares, perfumes, sundries and even furniture! Think feminine, think coquette, think VERY affordable and drive up to our feature boutique this month! Meadow at 6th Ave W and Crockett.