steve's new glasses [sponsored by firmoo eyewear]

once upon a time steve and i went to my cousin laura's wedding, and due to a series of hilarious, unpleasant events, his oakley glasses ended up flying out the window of car going 70 miles an hour down I-94.

fortunately, firmoo.com got back in touch with us after my last review of their awesome eyewear. since i am still loving the pair i got last time, it seemed ideal to set steve up with this handsome new pair of specs.

firmoo still just blows my mind with their fabulous prices and chic selection.  personally, i think this $49 pair he picked out is even more handsome than the expensive pair of frames he lost, and steve says they're more comfortable and lightweight.  firmoo is definitely going to be my go-to every time our eyes need an update.  and for first time shoppers, firmoo offers 50% off your first pair of frames.

head on over and see what they've got!

xoxo

vintage street style

life magazine sponsored by time.com is running a collection of photos featuring high schoolers' fashion choices in the year 1969.  it's pretty awesome and worth checking out.  view the slideshow here.

firmoo eyewear [sponsored]

here's a fun fact about me:  i'm legally blind without corrective lenses.  the world is murky when you're very myopic.  the "how many fingers am i holding up" test?  nada.  those aren't fingers, that is a fleshy colored mass at the end of what context dictates must be your arm.

so imagine my excitement when firmoo.com contacted me last month and asked me to showcase a pair of their prescription eyewear for my readers.

sometimes when you think something is too good to be true, you're completely correct in your skepticism.  this is not the case with firmoo.  color me blunt:  this website rules.  they have an amazing style selection of glasses, sunglasses, and specialty eyewear and everything is unbelievably priced.  these bad boys i'm wearing?  $39.

i remember when i was in middle school i had an art teacher who rotated between three different pairs of completely adorable glasses.  i remember thinking how much i wanted to be able to change my glasses to fit my style and now the means actually exist to make this happen.  firmoo:  realizing middle school fashion fantasies across the globe.

ok, seriously though.  i'm probably not buying glasses anywhere else from here on out.  the lenses are perfect, the glasses come in the cutest map-printed case, and they ship in no time!  yes, this is blind-person accessory heaven.

like the pair i picked?  you can grab them here, or browse the rest of firmoo's spectacal-ular variety *wink knudge.*

[rant] THE HEMLINES ARE TOO DAMN HIGH

well i'm stumped.

the gap cancelled my order on the dress i intended to wear to my bridal shower this weekend and now it's between some emergency laundry with creative accessorizing and a trip to the mall.

in case anyone wants to know: i hate the mall.  a florescent, barren wasteland of middle schoolers, elderly-mall-walkers and strollers create an obstacle course between my favorite stores, which are always in opposite ends of the loud, echoing jungle of aggressive kiosk salespeople, and noxious smells of sbarro pizza.

it's not even like i really left this dress hunt to the last minute.  it's just that after spending weeks surfing various websites looking for a dress that could save me from the mall condemnation into retail hell, i have made an alarming discovery.

did you know that all dresses are maxi dresses now?  it's true.  because i'm pretty sure everything that doesn't qualify as a maxi dress is really just an overlong shirt nowadays.  finding a knee length dress, or pretty much anything that hits below the upper thigh is an exercise in great patience now that spring/summer fashion is here.

now yes, this is partially a complaint rendered by the fact that i have a longer torso and a bubble butt, which means that anything meant to hit above mid-thigh is essentially pornographic on me.  and yes i am aware there do exist SOME (usually overpriced, high necked or long sleeved) dresses that do not look like they are made for toddlers, but i'm beginning to come to the conclusion that fashion designers nowadays think if you want a hemline below the crotch you probably want a full burqua or you're one of those "classy snobs with hundreds of dollars to spend on a single sundress."

but seriously world, when did we think that the definition of summer dress should mean "crotchless panties with matching top sewn on."  am i the only person in the world who likes to sit down without my underwear serving as the only barrier between my body parts and the chair seat?  am i destined to wear leggings year round?  what does a girl have to do to reveal her knees and hide her privates while wearing floral print?

a peak at my christmas list

thankgiving came late this year so it's a bit of a scramble getting everything ready to go in time for christmas.  in case anybody is itching to get me crossed off their shopping list in time for the black friday/cyber monday holiday shopping madness, here's a look at what i'm drooling over right now.

crown vintage tabitha bootie (black size 11)

urban outfitters black panama hat

american rag tribal print sweater (medium or large)

artemis stud duo earrings

crystal lana drop earrings

warmen nappa leather plush lined button gloves (camel size large)

sandra dieckmann graphite stag throw pillow

sandra dieckman graphite bear throw pillow

buddha and yin yang iphone 4s case

talisker 10 year old single malt scotch

tibetan turquoise mantra earrings (charitable purchase from the campaign for a free tibet)

chateau cap de mourlin grand cru 2005 (bordeaux st. emilion blend)

deadwood: the complete series (on DVD)

happy holidays y'all!

word count: 35,770

saying no to the dress

well it is official.  i am completely finished wedding dress shopping!

last weekend my mom, my sister and i all went wedding dress shopping together (thanks for driving dad!) and i tried on more shades of white than i've ever seen in my life.  at macy's bridal salon in downtown chicago i got the full "say yes to the dress" treatment complete with amphitheater arranged "reveal" seating and more than one instance of hearing the phrase "wow factor."

ultimately, though, i found my dress at a funky little hole-in-the-wall store in a polish neighborhood far outside downton (seems fitting, i mean, i am going to be the future mrs. karpinski after all).  i'm still giddily looking at the pictures on my phone of the absolutely gorgeous gown i found to wear next fall.  it definitely makes the whole thing seem more real when you actually have an outfit to picture yourself in on your wedding day.  macy's had an absolutely stunning veil we decided to purchase, so i'm pretty much set apart from the shoes!  now i guess it's time to find steve the right shade of black for his suspenders!

obviously i can't reveal the dress i actually bought, but i there were a couple i tried on that i really thought might be "the ones." you'll have to wait until next year to know what my dress looks like, but these were the two runners up!  it was awfully hard to say no to these dresses, but i know the one i chose will be perfect!

happy thursday!

word count: 30,726

button ups by bra size

elle over at wonderfelleworld.com pointed out this style pro-tip, but it is just WAY TOO GOOD not to share everywhere and anywhere.  the fashion gods of the world (also known as instyle essentials) have graced us with button up shirts by bra size (as opposed to standard shirt or dress size).

if your reaction to this news is: "what? why?" you can just go away right now.  take your b cups and enjoy your ability to shop online without concerns about free return policies.

the rest of us buxom broads are going to rejoice.  shop here.

word count: 29,202

guest blogger: meghan of meghan silva lifestyle blog

thanks for checking in while i'm out on vacation this week!  please welcome meghan, today's guest blogger!

meghan is always coming up with amazing new posts about beauty, blogging, and staying inspired (along with recipes, DIY, and more... she pretty much does a little of everything)!  and she's a total sweetheart to boot!  be sure to go visit over at her blog, i promise you won't regret it!

mr. mcqueen

i try to avoid too much fashion blogging on loose from the zoo, because that is not really what this blog is about.  but this post is more about art in my opinion.  have you seen alexander mcqueen's fall 2013 line?  sweet mustache and willikers it is gorgeous.  (p.s. if you get the "sweet mustache" reference you are probably my eternal hero).

happy monday everyone!

summer fashion favorite

i remember how desperately i used to want a pair of jelly shoes when i was a child.  i begged and whined and eventually, probably on my birthday, i received a pair of heinously uncomfortable strappy blister-machines that would eventually be something of a fashion icon from the 1980's (though my childhood ones would have been more of a mid 90's jelly fad revival).

hotter than molly ringwald

since then, jellies have come a long way.  i first took notice last summer when tory burch introduced a jelly version of her famous reva flat, but sometime a few weeks ago i found myself on a serious hunt for a cute pair of jelly shoes.  much to my dismay only tory herself seems to sell jellies in larger than a size 10 (yes i have monster feet and it makes shoe shopping torture).  but i eventually read a review on zappos that the mel by melissa fresh iii flat ran big.  i immediately snatched up a 10, crossing my fingers it would fit, and i'm pretty sure i have worn them every day since they arrived.  they are a very soft, flexible plastic and their waterproofness, comfort, cuteness, and super fun pop of color have me totally obsessed.

if you haven't jellied up your feet yet i would really recommend you try it.  i'm going to have to be sticking with the open toed variety (unless i get crazy and decide to spring for some of tory's) since my big fat feet can't be tamed.  but if you've been considering taking the jelly plunge do it, i say!  full speed ahead!

tory burch jelly bow flat // mel by melissa macadamia sandal // vivienne westwood anglomania + melissa virtue flat // melissa ultragirl + liberty flat // tory burch jelly reva // mel by melissa fresh iii flat

P.S. what do you guys think of the new look?  it seemed like a good time to replace the old dusty banner.

wearing it down

some days you leave the house feeling cute enough to brag about it.  today was one of those days!  we're going to go see steve's little brother graduate from high school tonight, and i need to leave straight from work so i figured i'd just wear it all day long.  here's what i'm wearing:

goodness don't you just love maxi dress season?  i do. 

recent pins

1.  tandoori chicken burgers

2.  crockpot caramelized onions

3.  olivia cut-out oxfords

4.  poppy bouquet

5.  mismatched tiles

6.  hair jewelry

7.  golf tee balloon anchors

let me know in the comments where i can find/follow you on pinterest!

guest post: mother's day style with alyssa from glitter and gapske!

Hi! I’m Alyssa, from Glitter and Gapske, a lifestyle blog all about the daily sparkle. Becky’s a good friend of mine from high school, and I’m so glad that we get to interact in the blogging world now that we live far apart. I’m so excited to be guest posting about Mother’s Day on Loose from the Zoo!

My mom is way cooler than me. She’s a brilliant artist and works with clay, paints and takes gorgeous pictures (check out here website here! : patriciagapske.com). Fun fact: I'm wearing her BCBG leather jacket in this picture. I'm so happy we're similar sizes!

 

photo credit left to right: nolan gapske, patricia gapske

I’m not much of an artist, my brother ended up with that gene, so I’ve found that one of the biggest ways my mom and I bond is through style. In all honesty, we’ve never paid much attention to Mother’s Day, at my mom’s request. I used to think this was strange, but she’s really helped me understand that she’s grateful for the time we spend together each week. I went to college in my hometown, and have been lucky to spend a lot of quality time with my mom overtime. Even if I only get to see her for a few minutes, it’s nice to have that.

This year, we’re going shopping over Mother’s Day weekend! My mom and I have different styles, but it’s always fun to go out with each other. As for our different styles, my mom tends to wear clothes I would consider to be categorized as a little more bohemian or rock influenced, while I tend to wear more classic styles with pops of brights and sparkle. When it comes to accessories, you can find my mom wearing some really cool architectural bold heel and jewelry inspired by birds, while I’m more likely to be wearing a bright or sparkly flat and some girly skulls. As far as make-up goes, I’ve got the subtle cat-eye thing going on and my mom usually is wearing some awesome purple shade from Urban Decay. With her naturally white hair, she rocks it!  She frequents Fossil and BCBG, and I’m usually hitting up J.Crew or LOFT (and let’s be honest, with my budget, Target and Old Navy too).

We really have different styles, but when it comes down to it, we tend to pick out similar basics. We both have our fair share of similar black blazers , cozy sweaters, plain white t-shirts and jeans. In honor of my mom, who had white skinny jeans before me, here’s how we both might style the pants!

note from becky: thanks alyssa!  i can't decide which pair of shoes i love more!  now everybody head over to glitterandgapske.blogspot.com for more of alyssa's awesome style!

pins and needles

1.  similar // 2.  similar // 3.  recipe // 4.  recipe // 5.  flats // 6.  bracelet // 7.  triptych

i'm always looking for awesome pinners to follow! let me know where i can find you on pinterest!

spring fashion favorite

happy friday!  hope everyone has had a lovely week!

you may remember that earlier this week i bought myself a hat.  i am telling you right now:  best life decision ever.  if you have ever wanted fashion advice from me (not likely, but still) take this: buy yourself a hat.  wearing an awesome hat is the easiest way to stand out.  there's also something terribly romantic and old fashioned about finishing touches like hats and gloves that complete an outfit, but very few people wear anymore.

there is also the potential to go horribly miserably wrong when wearing hats

seriously guys, i cannot stress enough how glamorous you feel if you are pulling off a hat on the street.  i was literally complimented by 4 different people on my walk to lunch when i wore my new hat, and only one of them was homeless.  to help you get started i've put together three spring/summer outfits that will make a statement when paired with a hat.

1.  unisex outback hat // 2.  ruffle top // 3.  floral skirt // 4.  earrings // 5.  sandals

1.  sunhat // 2.  maxi dress (sold out) // 3.  cuff bracelet // 4.  sandals // 5.  diamond earrings

1.  bonnet // 2.  earrings // 3.  flip flops // 4.  one piece

bargain watching

so here's a fun fact about my family:  i have two older siblings, and all three of us were born on the 29th of the month (march, april and july).  this means my big sister's birthday is coming up at the end of this month, AND mother's day is right around the corner.  gift giving is literally one of my favorite things to do, and when the internet produced "the private sale website," shopping got put in a whole different ballpark.

if you are not a member of at least ONE of the following websites, swallow your pride and sign up (no, i am not sponsored or being paid to tell you this, it's just really solid life advice).  they are free to join.

hautelook

rue la la

my habit

gilt

one kings lane

ideeli

fab

sole society

they do spam your inbox a tiny bit (only with their own emails) but the deals you can get on these sites are absolutely incredible and they will totally change the way (and amount) you shop... forever.

if you don't believe me check out some of the things i have fallen in love with, while shopping for people's presents:

1.  14k gold thunderbird etched cuff $110:  $59 from gilt 

2.  hangtime koi fish wall clock $149: $59 from myhabit

3.  tosca colorblock tote $60: $28 from hautelook

4.  lily pulitzer lottie dottie dress $198: $79 on ruelala

5.  14 piece bamboo utensil set $40: $22 on onekingslane

6.  tracy reese wylie wedge sandal $140: $70 on myhabit

7. best society draped wrap front dress $79: $59 on gilt

8.  wiener dog oil and vinegar set: $40: $24 on fab

warmer weather wants

it's friday!  and it's officially the first day of spring 2013 that we haven't had snow (yet)!  since eight out of the next ten days on weather.com's forecast are supposed to be above a scorching forty degrees, i figured i'd get in the spring spirit by sharing with you some of the warmer weather things i'm currently drooling over.

psst my birthday is in a week *hint hint*

nautical wine bag // maxi skirt // arrow bangle // sandals // polish

vintage etsy style finds

antique moroccan brass camel // antique french copper cookware // 

antique brass mirror with accordian arm // antique silver teapot necklace// 1920's starlight floor globe 

what i'm packing part 3

adding a blazer for the sub-60 weather

dress // sunglasses // blazer // shoes // bracelet // earrings

what i'm packing part 2

dress // bracelet // necklace // shoes

like i said.  vacation on the brain.

dress // sunglasses // necklace // shoes