Finally some blogging again! I’ve been practicing for my upcoming show every day for almost a week, and I’m both exhausted and very pleased with how things are going. The only thing left to do is decide what to wear… and I’m finding it rather difficult, to be honest. I have two options, and would love to hear which one you prefer!

Look nr. 1: A black, plain t-shirt with ruching along the neckline and arms; my white tulle skirt with lots of fabric and a tight, elastic waistband; high-heeled, black satin shoes with a bow on the back; some dark, shimmering nail polish, and probably either diamond earrings or my diamond headband.

Look nr. 2: That fantastically patterned dress that gives me the perfect hourglass shape – and probably the same accessories as the ones from Look nr.1.

Look nr. 2 will probably be more comfortable, but I have a feeling the white tulle skirt might look almost fairy-like under the stage lights (unless it becomes see-through, that is). I’ll be standing and sitting (for when I’m playing the piano), and the music is re-arranged, strange pop.

Please help me decide: which look do you prefer?

Click the image for credits.

So far, this year has been pretty dull. Everyone at school seem tired and uninspired, and I think we could all use an occasion to simply go crazy. Enter the University’s annual October Party! Students from my faculty has not usually been known to participate (we prefer to host our own dark and dangerous parties), but this year Boyfriend and I decided we should stage a little coup d’état (not to be mistaken for a coup de grâce) and get together a whole bunch of musicians and join the party.

But this is where I need your help.

You see, the October Party is also a costume party, and this year’s theme is “The Dark Alley”. Our little posse must, naturally, have outstanding costumes, and I am struggling to find fresh ideas. I have a suspicion that there will be prostitutes, homeless people, drug abusers and black cats aplenty, so I could really use some help in coming up with something more original, darlings. Nothing is too wild or complicated or crazy – give me all you’ve got!

What would YOU wear for a costume party themed “The Dark Alley”?

Yes, dear readers, I have finally reached my 100th post (not counting the old blog), and to celebrate I’m having my very first blog competition!

THE CHALLENGE: Create a picture with the title “Lost in a Spotless Mind” and post it on your blog, linking to this post. If you don’t have a blog, you can e-mail me your picture HERE. I say “create”, because you can choose to take a photo, draw or paint something by hand, or even use a Bam if you’ve got one. The picture does not have to be fashion-related – though I won’t kill you if you manage to incorporate something fashionable, of course. You can even use one of my pictures from this blog if you want, as long as you do something interesting with it.

THE PRIZE: The picture I like the best will be rewarded with Benefit’s Benetint. It’s a lip stain that will colour your lips a lovely rosy shade, and you can layer it to make the colour stronger. The reason I like it so much is that it doesn’t make your lips sticky at all – the tint sinks into the lips, so to speak, and stays there until it vanishes gradually after a couple of hours. In addition to this, my five favourite contributions will be put on a special page on this blog, including a link to your blog or webpage, of course.

THE DEADLINE: Friday, October 16th, Midnight.

Now go have fun, pretty ones – I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

PS: Please leave me a comment here linking to your contribution – just so I won’t miss out on anyone

This is my method for that big, once-every-five-years closet clean-out, not the small ones you do every now and then just to keep things in order. Think of it as a detox for your wardrobe, which will leave it in excellent health and appearance when you are finished.

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This process will probably take a whole day (or maybe even two, depending on how many clothes you have), but it can be quite fun if you do it right. A suitable soundtrack, proper lighting, and some ready-made snacks and drinks (I suggest sparkling water mixed with apple juice) can do wonders, but your most indispensable aid will be a friend. Preferably a girl, preferably someone who knows you (and your style) well, and someone who can tell you her complete, honest opinion when it’s needed. I could never have done my clean-out without Boo (thank you, darling!).

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If your hair or face doesn’t look its best, do some simple things to improve this. Trust me – otherwise you’ll only end up focusing on said hair or face, and no clothes will look good. Just make sure you’re still able to try on a lot of clothes without fuss (which means no red lipstick or complicated updo, for instance). Some blusher, mascara and a slightly teased low ponytail (placed off-center) did the trick for me.

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Make sure your working space is tidy and has as many clear spaces as possible; one for laying out everything when removing it from the closet (I find my bed a good place, as it’s long enough to accommodate even floor-length dresses) and one for placing piles of clothes as you progress. You’ll also need a floor length mirror (or, in a crisis, a friend with a digital camera).

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Every dress, top, skirt and skeleton must now be transferred from the closet to the working area. And yes, I do mean all of it. If you keep your knickers in a drawer, you can leave them there (for the moment); the point is to empty the closet so nothing can hide and come out to scare you later. If you tend to stop mid-project, such as myself or Lorelai, I suggest removing the “fun” clothes first (in my case this would be dresses), and pile the more boring ones on top. This will give you motivation to keep going if courage should fail you later on. Lay everything flat on your designated area (this is where I use my bed, see?) on top of each other. Try to put them in layers so that all tops are together, all pants underneath, then all skirts, etc. This makes it easier to decide if you really should keep those jeans or not, since you can compare it to the rest of your jeans.

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Quickly wipe all surfaces of closet, and vacuum the floor if there be one. A clean slate is important, yes?

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Now begins the real job. Simply start on top of your pile and work your way down, trying on everything as you go along. As you put them on (and you do need to put them on, not just hold them up in front of you), ask yourself this:

♥ Does it fit me? If no, put aside.

♥ Does it look old and worn (look for stains, holes, faded colour, etc.). If yes, put aside.

♥ Have I worn this in the past two months (very seasonal items can be allowed a longer time period)? If no, put aside.

♥ Do I have many items that have the same function/look? If yes, you’ll have to decide on how many items in each category (jeans, t-shirts, dresses, etc.) you’ll allow yourself to keep, then decide between them.

How strict you must be with yourself depends on many things, like how many clothes you have to begin with, how much closet space you have available and how long it has been since your last thorough clean-up.

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The ones that survived this process you can safely keep. Fold them together by category, or hang up straight away to minimize wrinkling.

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The ones you’ve put aside must now be sorted in three (or four) piles. Pile One is for things that can be mended or altered and will then be ready for use. Keep Pile One as small as possible. Pile Two is things that are beyond help, and must simply be thrown away. Pile Three is for things to be donated or given away to friends/relatives. I’ll usually let my mother and sisters have the first pick, then ask a friend or two if they want anything, then deliver the rest to the Salvation Army. This year, though, I also made a Pile Four, which will contain things to be put in my as-of-now-nameless blog boutique… But more on that later, darlings!

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Put your underthings, stockings, tights and socks through the same process, getting rid of anything that doesn’t fit or doesn’t look good. If you really want to get a fresh start, you can also do the same with outerwear, bags and accessories.

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Fold everything that’s to be folded, place in neat piles in closet. Hang everything that might wrinkle. If you feel like really going crazy, you can sort the clothes by colour (the piles) and length (the hanging things). Cutting out some of your favourite editorials and hanging up on the inside of the closet door can be really helpful if you later feel uninspired.

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Congratulations, your closet is now in perfect condition… but you’re probably not. All that dressing and un-dressing has probably made you a sweaty mess, so reward yourself with the longest, steamiest shower imaginable, enjoying the knowledge that dressing afterwards will be easy as pie. At this point I suggest you sit down to paint your toenails – maybe with rollers in your hair to dry? – and write a list of the items you’ve discovered you ought to buy – and now also have room for.

I’ve made a new list-of-the-month – click the picture to find it. I also decided to keep the old lists, which can be found in the sidebar under “Pages”. Now, I know there are many different tags going around, but I thought I’d make one of my own, a slightly different one:

I challenge you to write eight fashionable confessions of your own, put them in a post and dare to be imperfect.

Oh, yeah, and I tag every single person who’s read this post. Let me know if ye be cowards of heroes!

Tonight my sister, Miriam, bought this fabulous dress at the H&M webshop:

Yes, I was the one who persuaded her to buy it, simply because it will look elegant for many years to come (because of the classic colours and cut), and will fit her like a glove (she’s a dancer – do I need to say more?). Since I’m still sick and can’t sleep at night, I thought I might come up with some ideas for different ways for Miriam to wear it for various occasions. And what better tool could I use than dear old Polyvore? But before we hit the outfits, it might be good for you to know that my sister is about 1.60 m tall, is petite, but hourglass-shaped, is going to study acting next year and is a photographer on the side. She’s myopic, like me, and she happens to look a lot like Alexis Bledel, with big, blue-grey-green eyes and gorgeous chocolate brown hair. There – let’s get to it, shall we?

DRESSED-UP DAY LOOK

This is a combination where the dress isn’t necessarily the main focal point, but merely a great base upon which the rest of the outfit is built. A splash of colour keeps it from becoming boring, and a sweet hairstyle makes sure it looks young and sweet. The belt creates a waist (much needed with cardigans like these!), and I added some slightly eccentric glasses to give it some personality. This look would be perfect for going to see a movie, or maybe the occasional visit to a café with friends, don’t you think?

SIMPLE & CHIC

This is a more simple look, perfect for those chilly autumn days we have a lot of in Norway. Basics such as the trenchcoat and lace-up boots are classic for a reason, though I think it’s nice to add some personal touches (such as the zipper gloves, the messenger bag and the glasses) to make sure the look still says something about your personal taste. The blue scarf is practical when it’s cold outside, of course, but also happens to have the exact same colour as the eyes of both Alexis and Miriam.

THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

As I mentioned above my sister is also a photographer, and next week she’s going to be a wedding photographer. I think this would be great for that occasion, since it’s slightly anonymous and simple, but also dressed-up enough to fit in at a wedding. A long necklace would have looked lovely, but might become annoying while taking pictures, as might jangling bracelets. The finishing touches are therefore a coral nail polish (I do love a splash of colour), a casio watch (practical as well as decorative), and a large bag to hold all the photography accessories. Smoky eyes and straightened hair keeps it sharp and gives it a mysterious edge (which is never a bad thing).

LET’S BE FABULOUS