I congratulate you if you can pull off these things. I can’t.
Shabby Chic
This photo, from the beautiful style magazine House of Fifty (blog here), is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. This Shabby Chic arrangement is lovely yet I know if I had this grouping in my house, I would not be able to rest until I refinished the chest. Husband would swipe the tiny bottles into the recycling bin and pound a nail into the wall for the painting. End of Shabby Chic.
Furoshiki
Publisher: C & T Publishing
I checked this book out of the library because I like the Eco-friendly coolness of Furoshiki wraps. Will I do it? No. First of all, maybe it is the caliber of people I call friends, but I think most would say as I handed them a fabric wrapped gift, “What? You couldn’t go to the Dollar Store and buy a roll of gift wrap?” I’ve tried some of the wrapping examples in the book. When I was finished with them, the packages looked as if I took an old rag and tied up my belongings like a hobo. All I needed was a stick for a handle.
Messy Hair
Steve Granitz/WireImage
She’s gorgeous! If I left the house looking like this Husband would not mention the golden skin, white teeth or sparkly dress. He would say, “Honey, I think you forgot to do your hair,” and I would rush back into the house because deep down I would know my hair was a mess and no one was going to think I did it on purpose.
I really related to this post. I feel like too many times people try to pull off trends that aren’t “them” and end up looking ridiculous- I guess thats why there are so many out there. For a while I tried pulling off the kitchy boho chic look- it was just too loose on me and I kept retooling the outfit to make it more sleek- its a quick way to ruin a trend.
We’ll just have to keep an open mind to admire the other trends from a safe distance.
Thanks for starting off the conversation! Boho Chic is another tricky thing to pull off. You can come off looking cool or come off looking like a bag lady. I don’t think I could carry it off either although I love the look. You are right, we just have to admire from afar.
Haha…hobo. I was thinking the same thing – those packages look nice in the picture, but mine would look like crap.
Did you ever try to fold napkins into fancy shapes like fans or swans? That has never worked for me either…
Never, ever have I tried that. Because failure is an option.
Bwaa ha! Oh come on now, that’s the wrong attitude!
Oh, no – I think it saves time to know what you won’t be good at!
It doesn’t make much sense anyway. You spend all that time making a linen swan and then 2 seconds after your guests sit down they open then up and spread them on their laps. Forget it!
LOL – true!! I always feel bad taking the napkin from to use in a restaurant that does one of those fancy folding deals. I’m like, how can I keep this pretty and somehow eat around it? Oh, well.
PS: I save a lot of time on a lot of things (Get it? I’m not good at very much. Boy, you know it’s a lame joke when even the one telling it feels it needs to be explained. And yet, that is something I still keep trying.
)
When I first scanned this post, I thought the first trend was “stabby chic.” Now THERE”S something I’d like to pull off! But I’m pretty sure I do the messy hair thing every day, like it or not! Very funny post.
Ha ha! If I ever start a fashion blog I will name it : “Stabby Chic—for the woman taking a stab at looking chic”. As for the hair, you have that wonderful curly hair that looks great no matter how messy it is. Lucky you!
fabulous post. i am snorting. i would just love a posted photo of a fabric wrapped book as a gift which doubles as a hobo knapsack. oh em gee. i am still cackling at that.
I never have a camera charged and ready when I need it. I thought of trying it again for the purpose of illustration but I have three words for you– too … much… work.
Love this post. I have tried off and on to go for the messy hair look, but no one else gets it. They always ask what’s “wrong” with my hair. So insulting. And I, too, couldn’t stand not refinishing the cute chest.
That’s what happens to me! I don’t get it. Does no one ask Zoe Saldana if she’s sick when she walks out the door like that? People think I’m not feeling well. As for the chest, it’s so pretty. But someone needs to FIX IT UP!
Shabby Chic will never ever worked for me, somehow it always look good in any magazine, but never in my house. Now for messy hair…. I wish you could look at me now
and guess what I DON’T CARE – I look shabby chick 
Very clever, Ariana! That would be another good name for a fashion blog
I’ve seen pictures of you, though, and I can’t imagine you looking shabby…
This is all SO TRUE! You should start a meme
None of us can pull these things off yet SOMEONE can! Or CAN they? Maybe we are all being punked…
Lady, I’ve been doing shabby but without the chic for the last ten years! You made me laugh out loud with the hobo comment! bwhahaha! I couldn’t pull that one off either. The messy hair, I’ve forced myself to pull off. Thank goodness that curly tops already have bed hair!
I am soooo jealous of you curly headed people! You can rock the messy hair look no problem. Why don’t we just call our shabby decor ‘chic’ and dare anyone to say it isn’t?