Fashion For Nerds: August 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

barokendragontattoo

Sleeve tattoos are pieces of body art that's performed on the limbs of the body and tend to wrap around the limb in a sleeve-like fashion. Done in 3 different ways: quarter sleeve, half sleeve and full sleeve, this type of tattoo is now one of the most popular types of body art performed.

Sleeve Tattoo Designs - Tribal, Japanese and Dragon Tattoos Around Your Arms Or Legs

Sleeve tattoos, like every other type of tattoo tend to have their most prominent and most common types of designs. For example: Tribal, Japanese and Dragon sleeve tattoos are constantly requested in tattoo parlours throughout the world.

barokendragontattoo

Tribal, Japanese and Dragon tattoo designs generally have a very artistic and spiritual look and appeal to the tattoo and are therefore very popular among male tattoo enthusiasts. Females who enjoy getting tattoos rendered tend to go for more feminine artwork, such as flowers and animal sleeve tattoos.

Weekend Casual

This was a casual weekend outfit, created for a day of going to the farmer's market and later running errands down on the peninsula. As it turned out, this was the first day of our mini heat wave, so I quickly shed both the scarf and the cardigan, leaving just the tank top underneath.

The tank top, by the way, is just a basic one, but I LOVE it. It's nice and soft, very stretchy, with no annoying shelf bra built in and an extra long length, which means it more than covers my midriff when I have on low rise jeans. The best part? It cost $2.80, and is still available in multiple colors at Forever 21.

Scarf: Duke et Duchesse
Tank: F21
Cardigan: All Saints
Jeans: Lucky
Boots: Morgan, vintage

Bonus adorable dog photo: Georgie keeping watch over her domain.

Tattoo Tuesday V.33

*Before I post this week's feature I'd like to make something very clear. When I feature my friends or readers in this space, it is NOT so they can be cut down or have rude/nasty comments made about anything they are sharing. It's one thing to leave a comment on this blog in regards to a post that I make- I couldn't care less and I see it as par for the course- but these are my guests, and I simply won't tolerate that kind of nonsense. From now on if you don't have something nice to say on a feature post here, DON'T SAY IT AT ALL. It's not welcome and I simply won't have you rude, anonymous people treating guests of my blog in such a disrespectful way. I wouldn't allow it in my home, and I won't allow it in my internet home. So, with that little bit of negativity out of the way, on to some happiness, shall we? :)

This week I am featuring one of my FAVORITE people in the entire blogging world ever, my friend Megan! Megan and I have been reading each others' blogs for a couple of years now, and I absolutely adore this wonderful woman. She's a huge inspiration to me, incredibly sweet and intelligent, and on the top of my "I can't wait to meet you" list. Do yourself a favor and visit her blog if you're looking to become inspired by clean/healthy eating, a do-it-yourself kinda mama, and her daily photos of her beautiful self and family. She is only 20 years old, but is incredibly wise beyond her years. Featuring her here is long overdue, and I'm excited to share her words and photos with all of you. So thanks Megan for being a part of this series!

Name and blog name: Megan! - www.meganislove.tumblr.com

Age: 20

Occupation: Army Wife & Stay at home mom to my wonderful daughter, Scarlett!

Age of first tattoo: 17

Favorite tattoo: I'd have to say that would be my newest addition, my lighthouse.

Featured tattoo/location: Lighthouse on right forearm.

Artist/shop/location of feature tattoo: Kane at Spider Monkey tattoo in Olympia, Washington.

1) Tell us about the tattoo you are sharing with us- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

I've always loved Nautical Artwork, but found myself really falling in love with it, after my husband joined the Army ( yep! not the Navy! funny huh?). The symbolism I took with the lighthouse was, no matter how far (you're out to sea) or lost in life, there will always be a lighthouse (or light) guiding you back home. For me, being whipped away from all of my family and friends, and dealing with the Military life represented that. It was hard to always see the light at the end of the tunnel - Getting my lighthouse, helps me realize that no matter how hard things get - there will always be a 'light'. I also asked my artist to specifically include an Anchor to my piece - to me, an anchor symbolizes "stability" and for my husband and I, getting to that point has been a hard and rocky road, but we are finally there! and I wanted to commemorate that moment! :)

2) Do you have any other tattoos? If so, what do you have and where?

Yes! I have a 1/2 sleeve of two newlyweds, Dia de los Muertos style! I'm absolutely in love with this tattoo, but most of all, my artist included two little love birds sitting in a tree behind the groom :) - I also have a diamond on my right wrist, "Don't Panic" on my left forearm (not because of Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy! haha. more of just a reminder to myself! :) and Ben's initials down in my...pelvic region :)

3) Do you plan on getting more?

Oh yes, definitely! I have a couple more pieces being planned right now. I've been thinking of something special for my daughter, but nothing is good enough, yet! :)

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them?

Ah, I've been waiting to answer this question! :) I know this sounds absolutely horrible - but, my mother didn't know about any of my tattoos, until a year and a HALF after I got them! She absolutely despises them, and I was so scared she'd disown me (not even kidding), I just couldn't tell her..but of course, she ended up finding out, and absolutely LOVES the ones I have. She makes subtle hints here and there, about how she really thinks the one's I have are ENOUGH, but she also supports everything I choose in my life and I couldn't love her more.

But negativity? Oh sure! Moms look at me differently because of them, but I know the art on my skin, doesn't make me any less of a mother, so it doesn't matter to me! :)

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

A friend once told me, when I was struggling on the drawing for my tattoo, "tattoo artists...are...artists! shoot out some words that are meaningful to you, (regarding the tattoo you want) and let them come up with something! That's their job!"

& That's exactly what I've done with every tattoo! I give them some key notes about what I want and let their minds go to work. I end up loving what they come up with every time!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Japanese Turtle Tattoo Design

Japanese Fish Tattoo Design

I love Sunday, on a Monday.

This weekend was so great. I came down to my parents' with two set goals in mind: finding Lauren's wedding dress and starting the search for furniture for the new house. The first of the two was a total success and the second remains a work in progress of course, but I definitely checked some things off of our list. The dress Lauren found is absolutely amazing. We knew it was "the one" right away, and it looks like it was made for her. I obviously can't share photos, but in March you'll be able to see it in all its glory!

Speaking of, it's amazing to me to see my baby sister all grown up. Granted, she's not a baby anymore but it's still a little crazy to know she will be getting married in a few months. I can't wait to stand up on her wedding day, as her Matron of Honor. It's going to be the most beautiful day and all of her planning and hard work is going to pay off and I am excited to see her so happy. I'm kind of obsessed with planning and weddings, and all things LOVE so it's so fun to see all of this taking shape. We also spent a bit of our weekend doing some furniture shopping, and I'm getting more and more excited to finally close, move in, and decorate! With about 10 weeks to go until baby Henry's due date, it's just starting to stress me out that we have absolutely nothing done, bought, put together, or figured out! AH! That's stressful to even type. However, I know it will all come together once we are in the new place, but right now it's just hard to be in the in between.

While at my parents' home I always get totally inspired to eat even healthier due to my Mom. Right now she is completely vegan and eats a diet of mainly vegetables and grains like quinoa (one of my all-time favorite foods). She always comes up with the best, most interesting recipes, and I love love love trying the things she makes. Last time I was there she made this amazing raw apple and fruit dessert that I've been thinking about it every day since then. Unfortunately she didn't make it this time- THANKS FOR NOTHING MOM ;), but hopefully she will next time. Hint, hint! If she does, I will be sure to share the recipe, I think you guys will love it too.

Short post, but I'll be back tomorrow morning with my Tattoo Tuesday feature! Here are some photos from the weekend-

prettiest rainbow ever! This photo doesn't even do it justice.

Lauren trying on dresses

29 weeks pregnant and heading to the gym :)

an "H" for Henry's nursery, via Anthropologie

the fruits of my weekend shopping for AFTER Henry is born. I figure if I see something cute I should just get it now right? I won't be pregnant forever. ;)

on the open road home to Hank :)

WTF, Portugal?

I thought today we should have some music to accompany the outfit post. I'm sure that lately it must seem like I've suddenly got it into my head to post a bunch of music, but the fact is that I've had these ideas rolling around in my head for quite awhile and have only been motivated to actually write them down recently. Sometimes posts need time to percolate before they actually make it into print.

First I thought I'd share a track I absolutely love, called Ilusión; it opens with Brazilian singer Marisa Monte's smooth, throaty voice pouring out like warm honey. When Mexican artist Julieta Venegas joins the duet, it's like someone uncorked a bottle of sunshine. And when these two voices come together to harmonize, it's pure magic. What I find notable about this song is how each singer's voice is so perfectly suited to her native language. Mexican Spanish has bright, lively tones that are a perfect match for Julieta's sweet-spicy voice, while Marisa's sultry purr is the ideal vehicle for that most mysterious of languages, Portuguese.

Despite being fairly proficient at picking up bits and pieces of languages, I find Portuguese to be positively impenetrable. The problem is that the written language bears enough similarity to both Spanish and French to be tantalizingly familiar, and yet the pronunciation doesn't make a lick of sense in either. The minute someone opens their mouth to speak Portuguese, it's like the entire Arabic alphabet has been rearranged into some sort of secret code in which all the letters and their corresponding sounds have been shuffled around at random. Even Stephen Maturin remarked, "No man born of woman has ever understood spoken Portuguese." Seriously, WTF Portugal; why'd you invent a language that no one but natives can understand? It's so you can talk about us behind our backs, isn't it??

Yeah, go right ahead. I dare ya.

Ahem. Since we're on the subject of Portuguese-speaking artists, I should also mention that Laura and I recently went to see Seu Jorge and Almaz in concert, and what an amazing show that was. Seu Jorge is mainly known in the US for his Portuguese covers of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust album, which he recorded for the soundtrack to The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. But his music covers a broad range of influences, and incorporates a very modern mix of funk, soul, and even a little psychedelia with more traditional Brazilian samba sounds. One of my favorite tracks from his latest record is called Pai Joao, to which tune I've been walking around singing nonsense lyrics ever since seeing the show (because clearly I'm never going to be able to make out what the fuck he's actually saying).

Free music - Pai Joao

Seu Jorge grew up in the favela of Rio de Janeiro, and his melancholy, gravelly voice conveys all the sadness and hardship of that background (he also appeared in the movie City of God, which is set in the favela). But there's also a lot of sweetness there too, which gives his music a depth you can really sink into. It's so good, I can even forgive him for singing mostly in Portuguese, and for having a name I can't ever hope to pronounce.

Outfit details:
Shirt: J. Crew, thrifted
Vest: Forever 21
Pants: Marlowe
Boots: Bronx
Handbag: Monserat de Lucca (via Gilt)

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sexy Girls Chest Tattoo Pictures

Sexy Girl Chest Tattoo Design

Sexy Girl Chest Tattoo Picture

The majority of the women will finish looking to the top a group of generic tattooing of trunk female on the Web. Anyhow hard the majority of the people test, they always finish to the top with the speed reading by the bottom-of-the-range galleries, which do not have anything but by the drawing-model and not much of another credits to be offered. This occurs for a specific reason and it can be avoided for the majority. I will tell you a good manners to discover the galleries of tattooing of quality to obtain there a catch of great tattooing of trunk female.

Tribal Back Tattoo Design and Art

Japanese Tribal Back Tattoo Design and Art

Japanese Tribal Back Tattoo Design and Art

Back tattooing of tribal make a return very impressing lately, with tribal designs for other parts of the body. These designs had one period of back of popularity in the middle of last century, but took a little a bench since then postpones. Since the last decade of the previous century, tribal tattooing of all the types were back of mode still.

Skull tattoo

When someone chooses a tattoo to look and feel tough, it is common for them to pick an image of a skull especially since there are a variety of different skull tattoo designs. On first thought, people usually associate skulls with death or fearlessness. People usually envision darkness around skulls, but that is not always the case. Depending on the designs, the image of the skull can actually be drawn in a way that it looks cartoonish or even cute. It is interesting to see how a skull can start off at the most negative spectrum and extend all the way to the delightful and magical spectrum based solely on color and the different skull tattoo designs. But nonetheless, the meaning still remains the same regardless of the image chosen.

In Christian art and culture, skulls symbolize eternity, repentance and human vanity. A skull with a serpent crawling through the eye sockets is understood as a representation of immortality as well as knowledge. But more importantly, the skull itself is seen as a sign of triumph. In times of battle, it is common for Lords to request the head of the person they wish to see dead. The reason for the decapitation of the head is to show solid proof that the person is in fact dead, and it also displays power and superiority while bringing fear to the public.

In ancient times, the skull symbolized great change rather than death or danger. In the present day, skulls have adapted the negative light because the greatest change a person can have in their lifetime is death. But do not let death or other negative resemblances scare you away from getting a skull tattoo as there is a more positive spin on the meaning. Skull tattoos can also be seen as a symbol for protection, strength, and power. Skulls can also be used to represent a time when you overcame a tragedy or obstacle which shows your strength and determination as a person. But above all, the image of a skull makes you look tough.