Presenting Urchin Mag!

Currently Listening to:

"God Made Man" by Young the Giant

Hello my lovelies! I've been hard at work on the new Muffin Top Baby shop along with a bunch of other new and exciting things for MTB. In the meantime though, I wanted to take the time to share with you guys a new side project that my little sister and I have started up: Urchin Mag.

Part blog, part magazine, Urchin Mag is a brand new blogzine inspired by sunburns, bare feet, and the streets of the OC - as well our own childhoods growing up in Huntington Beach! It is rooted in the unique youth style, culture, and vibe of sunny Southern California and we'll be featuring everything from fashion, music, art, and live events that embody So-Cal and the surf, swim, and skate lifestyle.

So if you live in your swimsuit and love the smell of the ocean air, check out Urchin Mag! <3

xoxo Coco

Don't Let The Sun Blast Your Shadow

Currently Listening to:

"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide" by David Bowie

(Vintage fur collar, Lane Bryant top, vintage Yves Saint Laurent scarf as a belt, tiered black lace maxi
skirt by Solemio courtesy of GoJane.com, vintage Mudd booties, assorted vintage & F21 jewelry,
 gifted one-of-a-kind patchwork purse from Amsterdam)

So I had to run some errands and do some last minute shopping for school. Not the fun kind of shopping where you get to spend hours in stores trying on outfits with your mom, but the kind that involves purchasing supplies you'll never use and over-priced paperback books. To my surprise, it was fairly warm and I just did not feel like sweating up a storm in denim; so I decided to wear my favorite skirt instead! The gorgeous black lace one that GoJane.com was kind enough to send me earlier this Spring/Summer! Anyway! I paired it with one of my trapeze tank tops from Lane Bryant that I love so much. Then, as you guys can see... I started to get a bit creative.

I've had this vintage YSL scarf for forever, since I bought my fur collar in fact (they came together, the scarf was a gift) and thought I'd play with it. It was on my head at first, tied up like a turban, but ended up around my waist instead. Since I was going in a very 70s, Hippie-Rocker-Chic direction, I decided to break out my trusty collar and the purse that my parents brought me back from their trip to Europe a few years ago. It has these beautiful patches of velvet and blown glass beads on the shoulder, which I absolutely love, and even though I've never been much of a jewelry kind of gal (I'm a bit simplistic); I think I was actually wearing every piece of jewelry that I own!

I borrowed (read: stole) a bunch of my step-dad's old records/albums and have been inspired by the music of his generation lately. I especially love listening to I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama, Frampton Comes Alive, and The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders from Mars. Plus, I wanted to try my own take on the new Free People August 2011 "in Venice" Look Book with all the layers, vintage-inspired prints and accessories. Please ignore my somewhat tired look. I just put some blush, eye shadow and lipstick on. That color is actually one of my favorites that I unearthed whilst sifting through my armoire for my bangles; its called "Flirt" and its by Benefit (my favorite).

You guys can see my new Ombre hair a little bit better too, which has totally and completely grown on me (literally). I absolutely love it; it feels really natural and sexy! I've been working a lot with my hair recently, trying to achieve that perfect beachy, boho-wave. I've tried a few different ways, but I think the closest I've come to the ultimate wavy 'do was through Cara's Wavy Hair Tutorial over at A Fashion Love Affair, which has become one of my favorite personal style blogs as of late! Cara's also hosting a giveaway for a Hana Titanium Flat Iron (as seen in Red Book and Marie Claire), so be sure to check that out and enter for your chance to win!

And with that, I shall leave you all with some words of wisdom that I think everyone should try to live by:

"I'm not a prophet or a stone aged man, I'm a mortal with potential of a superman."
- David Bowie

xoxo Coco

Outfit Inspiration: Oh, Foxey Lady!

Currently Listening to:
"Foxey Lady" by Jimi Hendrix

1. UNIF Birkin Fringe Top in CREAM @Nasty Gal - $78

2. Vintage Rocker Jeans in ECLIPSE @Madewell - $110

3. Beaded Religious Necklace @GoJane - $5.80

4. Lace-up Suede Platform in TAUPE @GoJane - $38.55 (ON SALE!)

5. Rhinestone Embellished Shield Ring in PEWTER @GoJane - $14.30


As Fall approaches, I find myself more and more inspired by the laid-back, yet edgy aesthetic of vintage rocker chic. Its relaxed and a bit disheveled, but still sexy - tight jeans, wavy bedhead hair and all! I LOVE the intricacy of the new UNIF Birkin Fringe Top (nothing says 70s like a fringe) from Nasty Gal, and the details of the rosary-inspired necklace and Rhinestone Shield Ring from Go Jane; paired with these simple, but excellently made not-quite-skinny, not-quite-flared jeans from Madewell, who absolutely live up to their name. To top it all off, who could resist these towering platform boots, which look oh-so wickedly close to the infamous Jeffrey Campbell "Lita" - only, for a quarter of the price! A much sweeter deal for bargainistas on a budget, if you ask me!

I could totally see myself rockin' to the sounds of Hendrix, Zeppelin and Muddy Waters in these super hot, but super cool threads.

Now if only I had this exact outfit for my shoot in the morning! Haha!

xoxo Coco

Take A Peek Inside My Purse + The Free People AUG 2011 Lookbook + MY NEW OMBRE HAIR!!!

At the current moment, these would be the contents of my purse:

As you can see there's nothing too spiffy going on. I have my M*A*C essentials for retouching my makeup when I'm out and about (I like to keep things natural for the most part), my clutch, which contains my ID, license, cards, etc., for when I want to switch from a big, bulky side-bag to something a bit sleeker; my sunglasses to fight off this blazing Sacramento sunshine and of course my copy of the new Free People "in Venice" August 2011 Lookbook that arrived in the mail for me! I really love the look of 70s inspired separates for this Fall and definitely plan on taking a page (no pun intended) from FP's book for style inspiration this season.

Here were a few of my favorite looks:

I wish I could just walk into my closet and walk back out wearing all of these ensembles! I especially love the maxi dresses and the shaggy coats, both of which I plan to buy and wear many, many more of! You all know that I love my Summer and that I tend to be a summer and springtime girl, but I have to say that FP's August Look book has me itching for Fall. I seriously can't wait to try some of these layered looks for myself. I also realized that I am in dire need of a really big, really floppy hat! So if you guys have any suggestions as to where I can shop the perfect one, let me know! I'm all ears!

In other news... (Drum roll please...)

I played with my hair!

I know, I know... AGAIN, COCO?! (Or "you're killin' me, girl" as Katie put it! Lol!)

But you guys know me. I get bored easily and I just could not resist the calling of the Ombre. (Plus things have been so hectic as of late that I just felt like I needed some sort of change or overhaul or something.) I've been a little obsessed with the relaxed and messy, laid-back, over-grown hair trend recently, which is not surprisingly still going strong - there's something grungy, but still very glamorous about it. I kept flipping back to Drew Barrymore's take on Ombre (or "Balayage" which is the formal name) hairstyle last year, which I personally think she rocked the heck out of. Other honorable mentions definitely have to go to Hillary Duff, Rachel Bilson, and of course miss Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast, who was actually one of the first people I saw to sport the style.

Its not for everyone, but I really, really love it. I feel free in a strange way. I don't know why. Possibly because the whole idea of it; is to look like you've skipped months and months of salon appointments to let your roots grow in wild and free. That being said, Ombre is pretty much the perfect style for any girl who wants something low-maintenance and its easy to do at home with a highlight/lifting or bleach kit. All you do is paint from the tips of your hair upward in graduation, let it set for a bit, then rinse, and repeat the process until you're happy with the lift/how light it is. There are several great DIYs online if you feel like being adventurous too! Be sure to check out these awesome step-by-step tutorials by Zoella and Brittnee Caan of L'ing the L :}


What do you guys think of Ombre hair? Think its still hot or just a hot mess?

xoxo Coco

Please Don't Make This Harder. (No, I Won't Yet.)


Currently Listening to:
"What Ever Happened?" by The Strokes

And I can't remember who all of these painted ladies are (or the artists), I found most of them
scattered across the internet, but they sure are beautiful, aren't they?





I hate not being able to sleep. When insomnia strikes so does my creativity and for some reason I was feeling very historical and whimsical at 3:57AM. I felt this really nerdy need to put on some of my costumes and take photos, so I did. Lol. I've been feeling super inspired by classical artwork lately, especially paintings from the Renaissance/Baroque/Georgian eras; when fashion was the epitome of femininity. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time (just for one day at least) and live the life a Courtier or a Dauphine of 18th Century France. The clothes they wore were so eleborate and grandiose! I always die a little inside every time I watch Marie Antoinette XD Anyhoo! The first shot came out super blurry, but I like it for some weird reason. I really love the firefly look of the Christmas lights especially. That Green dress in the first two shots is an empire-waisted gown that I hand-sewed myself, the blue brocade dress in the last shot is a costume a friend of mine made, and I always feel very Ever After in them both :}

In other news... I was asked to contribute to a new magazine thats launching in January! They asked me to send in some photos to one of their features for the first issue, so I'm working on that right now. AND I'm meeting with an agency tomorrow! They really like my look and they actually already booked me for a gig next week! I'm so excited! I seriously can't wait. I have to admit though... I'm feeling a little worried/self-concious, because the day after my birthday; I woke up to a breakout all over my face from this Lancome foundation I had tried out. (EEK!) I'm still recovering too. Its cleared up a lot already, but usually my skin is so not pimple-y and red, it's really freaking me out to see so many of them now. Lol. Here's hoping the regiment I've been doing will make good by tomorrow! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

xoxo coco

You Oughta Know #2: Andrea Kett, Artist

As we all know, inspiration for fashion can come in many different shapes and forms, and for me, personally, that can be no truer than it is with art. I gather a lot of inspiration, fashion-wise, from visual imagery like hand-drawings, cartoons, pictorials, classic renderings, etc... From royalty in 18th century paintings to Art Deco pinups of the 1930s, art provides many a muse for this muffin top! And thanks to one artist in particular, I find myself feeling ever the femme fatale of fashion!

(Right: "OOh Fancy" by Andrea Kett)

Meet Andrea Kett. Currently based in the UK, she is an Irish artist who specializes in "Superior Smut" that is sure to knock your seam-line stockings off! Her artwork is girl power epitomized, inspired by 18th century dauphins and 30s and 40s pinup girls, and is a whimsical mixture of vintage glamor and witty pop art that transports you back to a time when men were men and women were women; and all that separated them was a bullet bra and fishnets!

(Left: "Newly Webs" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Viva Las Vegas" by Andrea Kett)

("Johnny Cake & Pavlova" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Arctic Fox" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Portia Pine" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Jelly Skelly" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Agatha Crispie" by Andrea Kett)

Andrea has been creating her whimsical greeting cards, prints, and even paper dolls for a number of years, depicting all manner of fabulously outrageous characters such as pretty pinups, posh pirates, zombie burlesqueteers, mischevious mermaids and devilish brutes. Each one of her characters has its own signature personality, which makes her work all the more charming as she infuses classic metaphors and analogies in the most playful of ways, breathing new life into the buxom beauties throughout history.

(Left: "Jelly Curls" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Shrimp Cocktail" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Polly Grip the Sweet Tooth Fairy" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Scentaur" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Under-werewolf" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Tarzipan" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Seasons Bleatings" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Diamonds Are a Ghoul's Best Friend" by Andrea Kett)

Andrea's inspiration comes from many different sources: the 1920s-1950s, glam rock, the music of The Cramps and The Tigerlillies, vintage pinup girls, Burlesque, John Waters films, Kenny Everett, The Moomins, Cake Decorating books, horror films, fairy tales, afternoon tea, Fellini films, Jan Svankmajer, Beatrix Potter, P.G. Wodehouse, Mapp and Lucia, Seaside tat, Woody Allen, Naughty Victoriana, Agatha Christie and Lashings of Enid Blyon.

(Left: "Fish & Chips" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Dirty Beach" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "A Jolly Good Roger" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Saucy By Sea" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Hot Hair Balloon" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Trifle Towers" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Romeo & Ghouliet" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Blue Rinse" by Andrea Kett)

Miss Kett studied animation at Dun Laoighaire College of Art & Design in Dublin before finishing her studies at Bristol University and since then she has designed for a number of amazing clients! Her commissioned credits include UK shoe retailer, Kurt Geiger, leading British accessories designer, Lulu Guinness, and exotique interior designer and boutique, Sera of London and there is no doubt in my mind that we'll be seeing much more from her in the future!

Andrea's confections are tasty to say the least, and they make me want to throw on some red lipstick and lounge around in nothing but a silk dressing robe as I daintily snack on tea and petit-fours on an early Summer afternoon! There is something distinctly delicious about each and every piece that Andrea dreams up and I can't wait to order some prints of my own to decorate my girlish art gallery (a.k.a. my bedroom wall) - I just wish I had the money enough to order them all! There's a good chance that one of these may end up tattooed on my person, eventually anyway, but only when I've overcome my fear of needles of course! (Which one of these delightful dishes is your favorite?)

To view more of Andrea's work, be sure to check out her Official Website. Her prints are available in several outlets throughout the UK, Ireland and the US, and online at her Etsy shop, which is currently closed, but never fear! It will re-open on January 26th, 2011! Until then, feel free to message her on Etsy (she will be checking her inbox regularly) or contact her through her website for custom commissions...

Hope you feel as inspired as I do!

xoxo coco


Editor's Note: Information and photos taken from Andrea Kett's Official Website and Etsy.
All photos are copyright Andrea Kett. I do not claim ownership. A BIG thanks to Andrea for her permission to use them!

Style Me Pretty. (Goodbye Spring.)

I know its been a few days since I posted anything of substance, I've just been a little... Mmm, how you say 'sidetracked' with a bunch of other things, which I'm super sorry about, guys! I hate to go without new entires though (it bothers me, seeing such a huge gap of time since the last time I posted) so I thought I would post something to sort of tied you all over until I can get up another fashion journal post up. So, without further ado, here are some photos from a wedding inspiration shoot I was involved in earlier this year (Spring time) that was featured on the website Style Me Pretty, pretty much the ultimate in wedding inspiration blogs.



 





 



 



 

 

 



 
(Style Me Pretty: Celebration of Spring Inspiration Shoot 
and to see more photos from the shoot, check out  the full galleryhere!)

These aren't of my real wedding, mind you. (Don't get me started on that lol) Just a board put together by wedding vendors in the area as inspiration - and as further reasons why you should hire them to do your wedding! Lol! The top hat I'm wearing was my own creation, the belt, not so much. That credit goes to Audrey at Botanica Florals. The dress was provided by Wish Bridal, the coordinating by Pizzazz!, and the photography was done by Carmen Salazar. My very, very, very cute Groom in the bumble bee necktie is Jesse, which I picked out, along with the floral kerchief. He was wearing a tux by a local tailor here in town named Ryan, who is incredibly talented and makes custom suits and tuxes. Oh, and did I mention my groom was cute? I don't know, I might have...

xoxo coco