At the moment I’m snuggled up in bed feeling a little under the weather (boohiss), but I’m totally optimistic that by this time tomorrow I will feel 100%. I’ll be putting the finishing touches on my costume while scarfing down handfuls of candy corn. 

And anyways, I can’t be sick because I don’t think Cath and I have missed a Halloween together- ever. Back in the day we used to always dress up as the same thing (except when we were 5; Cath was Super Woman and I was Wonder Woman). In recent years we’ve mixed it up a bit and done less of the twin thing (twin Dorothys might have been cute back in the day, now it would just be a little creepy in the wrong way).

Two years ago I was Amy Winehouse and Cath was Frida…

Last year I went as a vampire and Cath was Pocahontas…

This year, I’m going as Lady Gaga and Cath will be Yoko Ono.

I kid you not, Cath and I based our costumes this year (and most years) on what we have in our closets. Cath had to buy a black Yoko wig (Yoko does not have Cath’s bangs) and I had to buy a Gaga wig, but other than that we are both set. I’m not sure what that says about my closet/fashion sense that I didn’t have to shop for fishnets, thigh highs or numerous leotards, but there you have it. 

Oh! And Happy Pride!!! Woo-hooo!!! We’re going to try to make it to the ATL Pride Parade on Sunday.

We hope you have a very happy Halloween, readers! What are you going to be/do?

Even though Lar and I moved into this apartment about four months ago, we’re still in the decorating phase. Why is it that we never seem to have enough bookshelves? Last weekend I decided it was about time to put up these floating shelves from Ikea. My dad was kind enough to help me anchor them on to the wall. Two hours, six giant holes in the drywall, some books and two paintings by Lar later, my weekend project was complete!

I wore this outfit a couple of days later and thought it kind of fit in with the bookshelves somehow. You can’t see the shoes, but the dress is from Miss Selfridge (years ago), H&M belt and cardi and my favorite Nixon watch.

The lighting wasn’t great when we were taking these photos, so I’ve only included one closeup view.

This outfit here is just a way for me to talk about my mom’s great Halloween table decorations.

A few weekends ago, our mom had us over for brunch and had decorated the table for the season. Cath and I couldn’t stay as long as we liked because we had a photo shoot later that afternoon. The lovely people behind the shoot asked that we wear black and white, so I tossed on my Forever 21 sixties tunic (from a few years back- and actually pretty good quality for $30) and my thigh-highs. Cath wore this blazer outfit. (You like how – kinda, sorta – I tied this outfit to Halloween decor?).

Below- the real reason for the post! The table! 

Now I know lots of people do good tablescapes, but my mom whipped this out with a miniscule budget (I would guess under $10). 

The center piece is the retired cast of Nightmare Before Christmas– an assortment of characters from years past. The black water goblets and black plates are my mom’s wedding china (yes, really) from 27 years ago. 

The napkin rings are skeleton hands attached with black pipe-cleaners, and an assortment of plastic skulls and spider webbing are scattered over a length of black cheese-cloth.

My favorite part of the table are these skeleton candle sticks. My mom bought 6 brassy candle stick for $1 at a thrift store, spray-painted them matte-black, and hot glued these skeletons in different poses (skeletal yoga- so the candle wax wouldn’t hit them). And don’t you love black tapers? Morticia Addams would bes sooo  jealous.

My mom is quite possibly the most creative person I know; Martha Stewart with a heart, I like to say. Eddie Ross* should take notes.

*Both my mom and I love Eddie (and Martha) and are constantly inspired by both– I just like to be cheeky. And when Amelia and I met him last year, I was anything but (just giddy and star struck). Check it out here.

Urban Oufitters ($228) vs. Jildor ($140) for the same exact shoe, my Jeffrey Campbell thigh-highs.

Now, why am I babbling about these shoes again? Because it shocks me that Urban marks their wares up like they do. I have always had a love/hate relationship with UO (the clothing design is great, but the quality for the marked-up price is less than mediocre). So I wanted to let you lovely readers know… if you are contemplating the thigh-high purchase, it seems Jildor is the way to go.*

*I’m not getting a commission form Jildor- I had never heard of them before my thigh-high search- but I hate that you guys might be scammed out of $88! Happy “thrifty” boot shopping!

In high school Cath was in the marching band (french horn/mellophone), and I … uh… sadly got left out of all the fun. I missed out on all the band regalia: plumed hats, tuxedo trousers, stiff uncomfortable and heavy jackets with brassy buttons.

But- ah ha!- now (9 years later) I too have a stiff, uncomfortable, but oh-so-chic marching band jacket I found at  local thrift store (locals, it was a few doors down from Young Blood and they had an old rack full of them in the basement). I had it altered to fit a bit better, and now it’s one of my favorite items in my closet. It’s warm, it’s nostalgic (kinda), and makes Balmain jealous.

I wore it with skinny black pants, my thigh-highs, a $2 leather purse I partially studded last year, black fingerless gloves, and my greek fisherman hat.

I don’t know if I would pass drum major inspection, but I could successfully play a Sousa march for sure (on the violin).

(Thanks for taking the photos, M!)

ps- Sorry for the slow-down on comments, lovely readers! I’ll be back in town tonight and can’t wait to catch-up on your blogs.

The beautiful and talented Linda at Struggles of a Creative Mind did this awesome sketch of me and my thigh-highs. Doesn’t she rock?! Visit her blog and her illustration site Misketch, and maybe you’ll be Blogger of the Month next month with a gorgeous sketch! Thank you, Linda! Seriously, today feels like Christmas

I hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!!

xoxo,

Lar

The cold, rainy Atlanta weather has me daydreaming about Paris. Not the pastel Marie Antoinette/Sofia Coppola version, but the turn-of-the-century smokey coffee house and cold artist garrett version.

To…uh… celebrate my moody Paris daydreams, I’ve been playing a lot of Edith Piaf (to Cath’s chagrin) and went with a French ingenue outfit for work during the week: a black satin ribbon, white button-up, and flats (a rarity at Chez AsianCajuns).

Thrifted shirt, found ribbon, AA skirt, Capezio shoes, book is The Parasites by Daphne du Maurier.

Background print from this Etsy seller.

I’ve only been to Paris for about three days in my entire life  (three days of pastry-eating and Louvre haunting), so I’ve based most of my ideas about the city off of movies. What is your favorite rainy, moody environment? My second choice would be some old library in the middle of nowhere (again, based on watching numerous movies set in the British country-side). Books, music and pastries seem a safe bet against chilly autumnal weather, non?

Happy Weekend, mes amis!!!

So while Lar and I were in NOLA I did what all the locals do and went shopping at Urban Outfitters. I know, I know, it’s shameful to go to a chain store when you’re traveling, but in this case I’m so glad I did because I found the best blazer on the sales rack. It’s a thin, silk, double breasted, black blazer with slim-cut arms. I love how it makes every outfit look pulled together. Since it has been a little chilly in Atlanta, I’ve been wearing it with everything.

Exhibit 1:

U.O. blazer, U.O. tshirt, Blank cords from Rockit and Payless boots.

The necklace I’m wearing is one I bought for Lauren on our birthday from a local salon. It’s a mix of silver, gray and black chains hooked together.

Exhibit B:

U.O. blazer, Anthropologie blouse, Bitten by SJP jeans and secondhand boots.

It’s no Brooks Brother suit, but I think this blazer is pretty alright. I’m sure I’ll wear it out before the season is over.

While in New Orleans, Cath and I were attracted to the same small, dark and handsome knit dress. I think it all had to do with the puffy sleeves (a big selling point for us since we were three). 

You might think as twins one of us could purchase the dress, and we could share it. Nope. We don’t share. I know that’s disappointing to most people, because that’s one of those assumed perks of being a twin: twice the clothes, twice the shoes. It just doesn’t work like that. Every (and I mean every) time we try to share, we want to wear that one item the same exact day. A fight ensues, and someone ends up feeling very put out.

The lesson learned? Buy two of everything.

Look how happy we look when we don’t have to share:

As you guys have surmised from this blog, we also have different styles. We thought we would take this puff-sleeved opportunity to show you how we style the same item of clothing.

Cath: 
Belt and leggings from Tarjay, shoes are Dulce Vita via Eviva. 

Lar:

Belt and shoes are Tarjay, skirt is from Anne Taylor (about nine years old- eesh!), feather earrings are June Shin

Oh! And we also have different size feet. Mine are nearly a whole size larger than Cath’s. No shoe sharing. I know!! Where’s the justice in that? Though, come to think of it, we’ll probably be even worse about sharing Louboutins if we ever get the opportunity.

We hope you guys had a wonderful weekend! We spent ours at the Decatur Beer Festival and getting to know the great people behind 944 Magazine (more on that to come).

Catherine and I are both girly girls. Okay, I might be girlier (see above outfit for proof). That doesn’t mean I adore pink and ruffles, I just like a bit of softness and beauty every once and a while- not exactly the trend at the moment. I mean, I’ve embraced the studs, bandage dresses, leather, flannel and cut-offs of the last couple of seasons, but I get really excited when I see something unabashedly feminine. 

Earlier this week we took our mom to see Bright Star, a gorgeous movie by Jane Campion about John Keats’ love, Fanny Brawne. The music, the scenery, the clothes, the art direction, the acting- everything in this movie is beautiful. Watch the trailer here. This movie isn’t snarky or action-packed or gory, nor does it contain a single vampire or zombie- but I love it for that. I had forgotten what it was like just to revel in something that is beautiful and true (their love story isn’t a fairy tale and is based on real letters between Keats and Brawne).

Fashionistas, you’ll enjoy Fanny’s costumes most of all (see the photos below). Who doesn’t love a Regency era fashion designer? Apparently a present-day Keats would have totally swooned over our blogs. Yeah. I’ll keep this thing up if I get a sonnet it out of it. 

Get thee to a movie theater and watch it. You too, gentlemen readers- especially if you like literature and/or history. I think more of this sort of thing in everyone’s life  balances out all the turdiness that life can throw your way. (Did I just write “turdiness”? Oh yes, Keats would have loved this blog).

Happy Friday, Everyone!!!