Cath and I stumbled upon the Feather Report earlier this week. It gives New Yorkers daily inspiration of what to wear as dictated by that day’s weather report. It’s a fashion blog meets weather.com. Genius! The only problem is that Atlanta is a bit south of NYC. We figured we are already jealous enough of our northern neighbors (Uniqlo, when will you show some love in the South?), and it was time to do something about it.

So welcome to the AsianCajuns’ new weekly post “Outfit of the Week.” Each Sunday afternoon/evening we will attempt to keep you inspired with what to wear in the Southeast according to what the weather will be like for the week. We do realize that many of our readers are not in the Southeast or even the United States- please don’t feel excluded! Cath and I will include the degrees in fahrenheit and celsius in the post titles, so you can search our weather-dictated outfits any time of the year depending on which hemisphere or latitude you are in.

We also want to make these outfits at least somewhat attainable to readers. Most of the pieces we choose will be under $100. If there is a designer piece we absolutely love, we’ll include it, but keep the thousand dollar baubles to a minimum.

Let us know what you think! We love to hear feedback from our lovely readers the world over!

This week’s picks are inspired by the movie “The Brothers Bloom” from 2008. Cath, my bf and I watched it for the first time the other night and fell in love with the art direction and costume design.

We were especially smitten by Rinko Kikuchi’s style (and personally I think she steals the show, even though she only has about three lines the entire movie).

Brothers Bloom by AsianCajuns featuring Aerie

Cath and I have favored fake fur for a few years: a couple of hats, an awesome blanket Cath got me for Christmas two years ago, etc. We try to stay away from real fur as much as we can- even if it’s vintage I can’t bring myself to put it on. Our grandmother’s mink coat has spooked me since my mom inherited it many moons ago.

Here is a showing of our more recently acquired fauxfur love:

Cath and I both bought this hat last year at H&M. It has become a winter closet staple for both of us. I think it’s faux red fox, and wonderfully warm. These photos of Cath are by her bf Troy Cono.

Cath made me this fauxfur vest for Christmas. Isn’t it marvelous?! I’ve already worn it about five times in the past two weeks. I think it’s my favorite thing in my entire closet. She got the idea from DIY queen Maegan– see how it’s done here. (Anyone spot the $1.60 Bottega Veneta bag? I still wiggle my toes in happiness every time I look at the thing).

This was a belated Christmas present to myself (one of many– ah cha cha!). Mango was having a great sale post-Christmas and I’d been eying faux leopard for about four months now. I’m so glad I was self-centered caved and bought it! It’s the softest, most delicious-feeling thing I own. I kind of feel like a plush teddy bear in it (it’s quite bulky which is not too friendly on my petite frame), but I love it and never want to take it off. I’ve contemplated sleeping in it a number of times. We’ll see if I give in. Sound awesome? Get it here– it’s still about 50% off!

How do you guys feel about faux fur? To me it’s like diamonds. I have an uber-untrained eye so I can’t really tell the difference between a lot of real fur and fake fur. Someone could show me a sparkly piece of plastic and a diamond and I would go for the plastic. And I care about as much about real gemstones as I do about looking a bit cheesy in fake fur. I also feel better not wearing a cuddly animal on my body just to look chic (I’m okay with the killing of venomous spiders and cockroaches, but not most animals). What say you on the matter?

p.s. Thank you for all the sweet feedback on the 2009 Recap post! We’re hoping to rock your socks off this year with even better outfitage!

Happy 2010, wonderful readers!!! We hope you had a wonderful New Year’s and are relaxing this first weekend of the new year.

I had a fairly low-key New Year’s (herring and salmon with the ‘rents and drinks with friends), while Cath left me for Philly/NYC- sniff, sniff- our first New Year’s apart. (Hope you are having a lovely time in NYC today, Cath. Remember your dearest, sweetest sister when you step into Uniqlo!).

I thought a good way to start the year would be to review a year of AsianCajun outfits. I really hope this isn’t too much fashion navel-gazing for you all. I am actually doing this for selfish reasons. I like using this blog as a style tool when I can. And even though I’ve rounded the bend of my mid-twenties, I’m still trying to figure out my style. I think Cath (on the left of all the photos) has a very classic and elegant, but fresh style. Mine is still a bit of a mish-mosh. I foresee myself saying the same thing at 40.

Cath does animal print way before I ventured there with my Rodarte dress.

This is actually one of my favorite outfits of the year (right). And shivering at the gusty 20 degree winds outside, I can’t wait for our balmier Georgia winter weather- I’m not even wearing a jacket and it’s February! Hoorahh, Deep South!

Cath looking chic and Chanel-y. Me looking trendy, trendy. I’m going to try to pry my figures off trends this year a bit more. Note to self, baggy, ripped-up tees only work on some.

Both Cath and I are dressed a bit more girlie and soft here for Easter. I should stop shying away from pastels.

Pencil skirts unite! Cath wore this to work, and I wore my outfit to a concert.

Again, Cath is so chic! I’m seriously going to start raiding her closet. As for my relaxed summer look: I think I’m over cut-offs for the year. I’ll probably have to eat these words come summer 2010.

Ahhh summer tans. feels like so many shades ago.

Cath and I are both partial to hats in the southern summer heat.

Two of our favorite pair of shoes this year: Cath’s booties are Alice & Olivia from Payless and mine are F21 ($14)!

I love this black and white look on Cath. I’m wearing practically the same thing, but with a (huge) dash of military red.

Lovely layers. Cath was inspired by J.Crew and I was inspired by Swedish bloggers. I figure they would know how to dress in frigid weather.

Quirky scarf-wearers. These photos remind me to be more creative with my accessorizing this year. Resolution #57.

What was your own favorite look from 2009? Are you ready for leggings to roll over and die? How about faux fur coats (please say no- I just bought a faux leopard that I’ll show you in an upcoming post)? Done with over-the-knee boots? Platforms? Black leather and studs? Bodycon dresses? Shoulder pads? Alexander Wang and Balmain? Lady Gaga (never!)? Vampires? The recession? Prop #8? It’s a free-for-all. Let’s hear it!

1. “The Same Type of Different” – Victoria Beckham & Rihanna
2.  “Check out Their Style through Your Video Phone” – Beyonce & Lady Gaga
3.  “Models that Ruled the Runway in 2009”- Kate Moss & Chanel Iman
4.  “The Tale of Two Cities: East vs. West”- First Lady Michelle
Obama & Kim Kardashian
5. “Opinionated Style” – Rachel Bilson & Sienna Miller

I Am Fashion Weak asked us to submit our opinions on the above list. You’ll be able to see our thoughts tomorrow (that’s Monday) on the site. Check it out and let us know if you agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or just plain disagree.

We spent the last week and weekend with wonderful friends and family doing lovely gubly Christmas things: watching a Christmas Carol at the Shakespeare Tavern, roasting marshmallows at the Decatur bonfire, and making gingerbread houses.

I love desserts more than candy, so if I had been Hansel or Gretel, the witch wouldn’t have lured me with any amount of lollipops. However, had she been wearing Nina Ricci platforms and singing Bad Romance, I would have tottered after her in hopes of these.

Gagaloo, are you home?

Thanks for bearing with us, lovely readers! We’re almost out of the holiday madness, and our postings and comments will be a bit more regular!

We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season too!!!

We hope everyone had a lovely, lovely weekend! We stuffed ourselves silly with Peking Duck (it’s an AsianCajun Thanksgiving: stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, string beans, cranberry sauce and Peking Duck) and other delicious food stuffs cooked up by wonderful family and friends. Ahh warm fuzzy holiday feelings are the best. until you are dragged back to reality with a soggy, blustery, cold Monday and a too-early wake-up call for work. And I was just getting used to the whole sleeping in, hanging out and eating all day schedule.

To cheer ourselves up a bit, Cath and I decided to wear our matching pleather H&M (from a few years ago) bomber jackets. 

Cath, being a very responsible government employee, dressed her faux leather with faux fur, chic wedge oxfords, and a delicate sweater.

Faux fur and faux bling= brilliant accessorizing. Way to go, Cath! I’m coveting that diamond-headed bird ring on her left hand.

At my job, I don’t tend to schmooze with clients on a daily basis, so I opted for a dressed-down approach to the pleather: white tee, gray pants, black boots, and a hair poof (my signature I-didn’t-have-time-to-wash-my-hair fix).

I think the stud trend has pretty much rolled over and died, but I have residual stud-age languishing in my closet (see DIY collar on mens Hanes shirt below). Studs and pleather/leather still make very happy bedfellows don’t you think?

Next on the AsianCajun agenda? Prepping for the winter holidays. I love twinkly fairy lights and sugar cookies and the smell of fresh evergreen, but the thought of holiday shopping is making me want to hibernate until the New Year. Does that sound too Scrooge-y?

Spaceship by L.A.T.I. from L.A.T.I. on Vimeo.
So a few posts back I gushed about my adoration for pop phenom Lady Gaga while swearing that I’m usually much more of an Indie rock kind of girl. I should stop pigeon-holing myself into such music genres. Our gorgeous fellow alum of Agnes Scott College, L.A.T.I. (Latisha Cotto) just put out her first video, the single “Spaceship” off of her debut album (out next year).

We love Lady Gaga for her gutsiness, the power of her voice and her disciplined focus on her passion. L.A.T.I. is the same but for the R&B world- and we actually know her! Cath, ‘Tish (as we knew her then) and I all lived in the same dorm our first  year at Agnes Scott, and I remember hearing ‘Tish belt out songs in the shower. Normally this would be annoying (sitting in your dorm room trying to study or get much needed sleep), but she was so talented I didn’t give a hoot and wanted her keep singing. and she has! From the ASC dorm showers to a sound studio in Miami!!!

Congrats, ‘Tish!!! We see big things ahead for you (and hopefully we’ll see you at our 5 Year Reunion– eesh has it been that long? — in the spring!).

Check out L.A.T.I.’s video above and her myspace here.

A big thank you to Liz Blair for these illustrations of us! We feel so honored by first the lovely Linda of Misketch and now the renaissance woman Liz!

Go check out Liz’s blog, she has a great illustration of Susie Bubble too!

Click photos to enlarge. Photo credit.

Apologies if 1) you’ve already spied these Lady Gaga/Annie Leibovitz wonders in the December American Vogue and/or 2) you are sick of hearing me ramble on about Lady Gaga. I think it’s turned into a little (teeny, baby) obsession.

I’m usually more of an indie rock girl than anything else, but I can’t stop watching for her next outfit and listening to her latest release. You know how everyone dressed as Lady Gaga for Halloween this year (including yours truly)? Well, I did it not because I thought it was a good excuse to wear a leotard out in public or to see what I looked like blond, but because I truly think she is kind of awesome.

I like her because she’s not a hypocrite (former pop princesses that sold sex appeal more than musical talent, and stressed “saving yourself” for marriage always left me scratching my head), she’s not into being catty towards other women, and she is a huge champion of gay rights. Oh yeah, and she can sing and she pushes the boundaries of fashion and wearable art.

I think I feel kind of bashful whenever I listen to too much pop music, but when it’s good, it’s good- right? Are you guys gaga for Gaga like moi?

Apologies for the pretentious title, I just couldn’t help myself because this really is kind of a study on red ankle boots. Suede, red ankle boots from Newport News a couple years ago, to be exact. We thought that since our Puffy Sleeve study went so well, that you, dear reader, would like to see how we style the same shoe differently.

We both wore these boots to work on the same day last week. Guess who works for the government and guess who is a graphic designer.

Ding, ding, ding! You’re right (that’s me on the left)! I work in a slightly more conservative office than Lar, so trousers and a knitted turtleneck helped downplay the out-there-ness of the shoes. Lar, on the other hand, played them up with a graphic tee, leggings and relaxed blazer/coat.

I’m wearing an Old Navy knitted turtleneck and Alexander McQueen for Target pleated trousers. I love these trousers – not just because I can almost believe that McQueen himself had some hand in the design, but also because I feel like Katherine Hepburn in them.

Lar is wearing an U.O. tshirt, AA leggings and a boyfriend blazer from this awesome Etsy seller.

Thanks for all of your well-wishes everyone! Your comments always make us feel sooo much better.