makes you think all the world's a sunny day

learning about photography on matt's old manual camera...

you know, practice for when i get my super nice g11 (someday)

pic via weheartit

flesh of my flesh

enjoy clothing art by derick melander while i try and find some inspiration/clean out my closet/find one million dollhairs/grab that creative vibe. 

xx

h/t @rarepress... thanx gurrrrl.

70 ipods for 60,000 cds

if you follow me on twitter, you know that i have been looking around for a new album to get into. on monday i listened to broken bells' self-titled debut, she&him's latest, volume two; and under great white northern lights, a live album from the white stripes. all three were great and totally recommend taking a listen (hop on over to first listen on npr, a great resource, to decide for yourselves). but none of them compelled me to listen to them several times a day for days on end. then, by the luck of the irish, i brought my old, old ipod to work. i have no idea why i did this, since the battery has been dead for years. but i did, and i plugged it in and it started to work!! heaven's to betsey i was stoked! all sorts of old playlists and artists and albums were now at my fingertips (slash electrical outlet because it turns out the old girl only works when plugged in but whatevs). that's when i found an old fave, and my thirst has been quenched!

in 2006, vogue released a two cd set of music selected by the kaiser himself. the collection is divided into two playlists: 'at home' and 'at work--fashion show mix', both mixed by french dj michel gaubert whilst karl supervised. it includes songs by lcd soundsystem, caribou, devendra banhart, the pipettes, and the fiery furnaces. the result is super fun and sometimes when 'at work' comes on i pretend i am walking down the runway in a tweed suit and super hott shoes. what? that is so not weird.

GET IT: vogue presents karl lagerfeld: les musiques que j'aime. available on amazon but not itunes( = lame, i know).

what tunes are y'all digging lately? i'm always on the hunt for new artist and great albums! 

tell me!

love you like a fat kid loves cake

hey! i've been noting all these great new blogs i've found (like, i write them down on all these little scraps of paper and then tape them in my notebook) and i finally added all (most?) of them to my blogroll. check them out. these are just four of like 12 i just added. they are all cool and funny and inspirational and beautiful in their own right. there are a lot of local 415/510 bloggers on there too, gotta represent wut wuutt.


also, i think i'm not into the original font i chose. so i am switching it, let's see how we like it in a little bit. and i gave up on the 3 column dealie...it was so not doing it for me. and i'm also thinking about changing my banner. any designers out there want to lend a hand?? another change: out with the old (boring) title posts. i'm trying to choose a song lyric or something that fits the post sentiment. all in all, i'm looking to spruce things up here at siggie stylez. any suggestions while i am at it??

blog crush du jour

hi! remember me?? i'm al, and i write this blog.  i was on vacation for the last little while and even though i brought my computer along with me, i never ended up opening it once. oh well! i hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and new years eve! i spent the past two weeks with family and dear friends, and i can't think of a better way to have spent my time. i do have pictures though and i promise i'm going to upload them tonight!


in the meantime, i have been cruising the web in search of inspiration for the new year and to check out what i've been missing. i'm starting to feel about halfway caught up... inspiration is slowly creeping back to me, but i had to take a moment to share with you what really did it for me.


i've featured secondskin before (see, here) but when i stopped by most recently i was completely enamored! girl has been on-point with her outfits lately! i am seriously digging each one. she masters layers, colors, textures. im sure (or at least i would like to think) that i am not the only one to have blog crushes. right?? sometimes i just jive with one and want to sit there and read the whole thing. and sometimes that's just what i do. and sometimes i suggest you do the same!! 

http://secondskinstyle.blogspot.com/

who is your blog crush du jour?

business as usual

this saturday marked the first of many in the christmas party marathon. it was the 13th annual gingerbread party, where friends and family gather to compete against one another in a themed gingerbread scene contest. the older boys team (whom are now all 27 years old) have a pretty strong hand on the competition, but the older girls team (me and my girls!) are known for our attention to detail. this year, for second in a row, the dad's team made a surprising leap to the front with their take on the theme "business as usual". 

 

and you know me, i'm always on the look-out for stylish inspiration. well good thing for me i didn't have to look to far with maggie and rachel on my team. for these girls, looking this cute is just business as usaual. and now: maggie and rachel's signature styles.

on maggie

sweater, younger sister's from gap; jeans, just usa; blouse, weston wear;shoes, ambiance; earrings, etsy.

on rachel:

top, ambiance; skirt, american apparel; tights, kate spade; boots, frye; scarf, borrowed; bracelets, vintage.

best dressed

let's take a look at the SIGNATURE STYLEZ of the best dressed bloggers this week!

1. advanced style. this is why i want to be old. becuause you can wear a huge faux leopard coat, bright green and pink sneakers (carolyn!! did you see?), leggings, and an old wacky purse and STILL get stopped on the street for a style shot.

2. style rookie. tavi just got back from a spectacular sounding adventure in tokyo and got to pick out her favorite peices by her favorite designer! i mean, how amazeballs is that? plus, she's 13!!!! and she's so stoked on the whole experience that you really just can't help but smile with her. not to mention, this blanket coat is the sickest thing i've ever seen and you should read all about it now.

3. whatiwore. jessica does it again! girl rocks the colored tights and darling dresses and is overall such a positive inspiration that again, it's just hard not to smile with her. this is the type of look i will find myself trying to emulate.

4. the glamourai. oh hi, can i have that outfit for the bazillions of holiday parties i have to go to? talk about perfect proportion, color scheme, warmth factor for holiday party-hopping!.

5. theclotheshorse. the only westcoaster in the bunch, rebecca introduces a more earthy vibe without being in the least bit earthy-crunchy. the outfit is so perfectly original and pulled together. also, ankle socks with tights?? interesting....will give that one a try.

there you have it folks! what do you think of my selection?? have a great weekend!

style chain!

good morning! today i am hopping on board with the style chain gang and reppin the 'belted scarf look'. first of all, i love this game of taking what you see and making it your own and then seeing how it compares to the inspiration. second of all, i kindof love this belted scarf look.

so i had my bro snap a few shots this morning since i knew it would be dark by the time i got home (i hatechu, winter) and i would like to say a few things. a) how do people take pictures so early in the morning? i'm like a space cadet before noon. b) this "shoot" was decidedly less goofy that the last time bro took pics. c) um i forget was (c) was because it's still before noon. 

the style chain gang: julie from orchidgrey; christina from secondskin; krystal from thistimetomorrow; indiana from adoredaustin; and now me! from signaturestyles

wearing: scarf and belt, vintage; sweater dress, h&m; wool tights, ogilvy's in montreal; boots, jcrew.

steppin up my game

Follow my blog with bloglovin


i just joined bloglovin and it seems like a great way to follow all your daily reads and then some!! now you'll be able to follow me too! i set up a little linky on the right hand side of the blog, underneath the AWESOME photo of jessica stam (photocredit goes to to wetbehindthears [seriously her site is like the best inspiration all the time])

you can also follow me on twitter or on networkedblogs (also links to both on your right). yay!

best dressed

here's my round up of favorite outfit shots posted on the interwebs this week. it was a hard choice what with all the stylish ladies, but these 5 looks stood out to me above the others. also, maybe this is just me and the blogs i read, but was this a slow week or what?? it seems like everyone had a million things going on all at once, myself included. which is why i am beyond thrilled to not have class tomorrow so i can experience the saturday morning laziness i think i deserve.

in no particular order, i present you with some SIGNATURE STYLEZ

1. audrey from homerunballerina. loooove that fun skirt! the bright socks and pumps jazz it up but the black top keeps it from going toooo OTT (= over the top duhhhr)

2. Aimee from songofstlye. girl i would rock this outfit in a heartbeat! killer shoes (i want!), vintage tee, & blazer, black skinnies... the perfect recipe for a flawless 'fit.

3. erin from calivintage. another sfbayerrria blogger (see also, aimee from this weeks best dressed). this post was about "seasonal dressing" in our strange climate. i feel you girl, 60 degrees is faaa-reeezing.

4. jennine from thecoveted. this is homegurl's WEDDING DRESS! first of all, i love that this is her wedding dress. second of all, i love that she is wearing it not on her wedding day. also, love those leggings. sidenote, can we think of an abbreve for leggings? leggs? gings? get back to me

5.jentine from myedit. great work outfit. all the right parts put together to form a perfect whole. check out her blog for the deets shot, the ruffle blouse is pretty much t.d.f. (= to die for. geez do i have to tell you guys everything?!)

lost in the light

for my final project in styling this semester i have to conceptualize and style a photoshoot. this is why i love school! projects like these are super fun and will come in handy for portfolios in the future.

so, here is my mood board; i.e. the first stage of planning. to find these images i looked through pages and pages of wet behind the ears which is like the most awesome website for inspirational editorials ever. if anyone wants to participate --model? photograph? style? lend clothes? DJ? idea bouncer-offer?-- let me know i would LOVE to collabo!

happy almost friday!!

xx

make a wish

after some suprisingly expensive dental procedures (even with insurance!) and some early christmas shopping bills to pay, it is unrealistic even to make a list of things i would get if i could. instead, my wednesday wishlist is something that cannot be bought. in essence, my wishlist today is YOU!

more than anything material right now, i wish for this blog to be a success. i wish for readers all over the world. i wish for people to find me relatable. i wish that i may inspire even one reader the way i have been inspired by other bloggers. i wish that i can continue to write and ramble about the silly things that make me happy. i wish signaturestyles opens doors for everyone to meet, discuss, collaborate, design, debate, model, style, share, laugh, learn and try something new. i wish for new and exciting ideas all the time so i never bore my readers. and i wish for your suggestions and help to makes this into a dream come true....


and remember, if you help make my wishes come true (tell a friend to stop by the blog and take a look!!) then i will offer a giveaway (hint hint: goodies from paris!)

also, i wish you all a very happy vererans day. 

p.s.- i'm going to make this

what a lovely afternoon! just got back from class where we had a fashion photographer guest lecturer, a little window shoe-shopping with my girl joanne (and i didn't spend any money! woo-hooo!), and now home for a bit before pizza dinn with the fame. to fill my afternoon hours i'm thinking i might embark on a DIY project or two. i found an AWESOME site (via refinery 29) that filled me with totally do-able ideas! pretty stoked, can't wait to check back and show you what i've made*

*ps i might just read my book and take a nap instead. but i swear i'm stoked on these ideas and it will happen at some point this weekend! 

happy crafting!

tidbits

• halloween was a blast! my costume turned out great, don't you think? ps, a proper halloween recap post will be coming soon (three costumes this year!)
• thank you to everyone who has ever read this blog--you all are so encouraging!
• and, if you like this blog please check out the links on the right hand sidebar. these blogs are so amazing, and you will totes dig them all i promise.
• happy happy birthday (week), broseph of nazareth!

homework help!!

dear you guys,

i need help! i have a big ol' project due on saturday but i want to get it done as soon as possible since Bri is coming to town and work and stuff and blah blah blah. basically, we have to choose a collection from nyfw and write a little report. easy! great! no prob! but WAIT. this is where i need your help: on saturday we have to DRESS LIKE THE COLLECTION!!! that ups the ante major-styles.

so far i have narrowed it down to 2 collections that i love/think are cool new directions, and 1 that is cool and i could probs dress the most like.

door #1: ALEXANDER WANG.

gotta love a hometown hero....been a fan since the beginning and i'm digging the athletic look this season.

door #2: MICHAEL KORS.

too easy? it's nice, but a little...predictible. but i could slash up an old sweater no probs.
door #3: RODARTE.
we all know i love those mulleavy girls and they've done it again this season

PLEASE, go check out the collections at style.com and report back with your favorite/what you liked best/how i could rock it/ etc...

thankYOU!!!!

love,

al

let the wild rumpus start

in a world so blessed by designer collabos it takes a lot nowadays to stand out. and the latest to hit the headlines does just that. opening ceremony is launching a line directly inspired by the film adaptation of "where the wild things are". and let me tell you, these pieces are divine! fall is all about texture (like i said...) and fur is being seen everywhere. my recommendation: if your budget allows, splurge on these whimsical pieces! the silhouettes are modern, feminine, and totally wearable. my fave is on the left--so stylish!

bull shawl jacket, alexander mini, k.w. boxy coat

if you are worried about the pull-off-ability of such high priced goods, not too worry: here are some faux-fur separates that won't break the bank. i just want to throw it out there though, that OF COURSE you can pull it off-- all you need is big smile and some self-confidence girrrrl!

   

fred flare isabelle coat, $153. hm faux fur vest, $50ish. faux fur cap sleeve dress, $79.

OMG, if you take the k.w. boxy coat, the leather skirt and shoulder pad tee from the previous two posts, and the MaraisUSA two-tone flats (or either of the boots) and that would be the coolest outfit everrrrrr. hmmm.....

knubs and a weave

over the weekend i took all my tearsheets from the september mags (i had a LOT) and assembled them into one nice inspiration book. a little cheeseball, i know, but it cleans up a lot easier and it turns out it's quite helpful. when looking back through all the pages i had torn out, i figured out what i was most attracted to this season. and that, my friends, is texture. yes, more than any color or silhouette or designer in particular,  texture--anything that made me want to reach out and feel the fabric-- was ripped out and sprayglued. 

with my inspiration as such, and the weather turning awful (i hate the fall, but that's another post all together), on tuesday i got crafty with my tights and paired them with my black woven boots. the colors match but the textures contrast in a really cool way.

tights: gap, paris (turned inside out). boots: handmade in italy, available here

shannon

this morning on the way to work i came across the most darling girl at the bus stop. her clutch caught my eye first-- i love the vintage feel and wearing it to work is brilliant! since i'm officially a blogger now, i asked her to pose for me so i could share with everyone the super cute outfit she had on. she kindly obliged, and i am pleased to present the newest addition to the signature styles segment!

she's wearing:

shoes: bcbg, thrifted. skirt: jcrew. blouse and scarf: h&m. purse: iman (gifted). feather hairclip: tigerlily

shannon also gave me a hint for a new shopping opportunity: hayes valley. i haven't been there in a million years but have reason to go this weekend; the local label tigerlily sells their wares in the area (and, there's a boutique that sells MaraisUSA shoes--doublescore!) thanks girl!!

tidbits

inspired my dear annie in new york:

• i actually have been listening to this song on repeat for, oh, over an hour. it's just such a great jam that when it ends all i want to do is hear it again
• too cute: tu.tu.blu. the clothes are adorable, the site is playful, and the model is beautiful.
• here is where this inpirational chica is headed! can you believe? i am so excited for her to rock it down south...not to mention my wishlist is miles long. textile developer in peru?! send me one of everything, please??
• oh, no big deal she just got her start in the textile world at the ultra-hip up-and-coming bodkin.

tidbits

• i keep getting 'reminders' from chanel to be the first to own the "chanel cocoon" bag. i know i won't be on the list, but in case you are, here's the link.
• lovely, lovely editorial at numero korea this month. ms. jessica stam is looking stunning as ever.
• holy natural inspiration! crests and waves, maaaaaan.
• updates: my first modcloth is package is on the way! and this little diddy should be arriving today via ebay.