i moved!

hi guys, i got a makeover and a major revamp, please visit daveesecrets here from now on.

xo

gift giving.

after michael and i indulged ourselves in the most delicious bowl of ramen at masu for our second annual valentine's day lunch, we dropped into the foundry home goods store in the north loop neighborhood. if you haven't been in this little corner shop - you're missing out on the most perfect rustic scandinavian setting. the ambiance just makes you want to curl up on the couch with ruby, the cutest shop dog ever.

we picked out our favorite gift items with the idea that gift-giving is not just reserved for holidays. why not shower your loves with goodies without the premise of a holiday that tells you you should? here are my picks(and later, jump over to millcitymen to check out michael's):

 for the well-cultured everything connoisseur: an issue of cereal, a quarterly magazine that delivers beautiful imagery in the pursuit of food + travel

 for the ice queen: showing off your jewelry with this ring holder that doubles as home decor.

 for me: because i'm a witch, had to put a broom on my list. no but in all honesty, as a person that lives in a studio that lacks storage space, i wouldn't mind if someone gifted me this broom/dustpan set that was meant to be shown off.

 i'm a huge collector of canvas totes and you can't beat the price + size of this one. michael has a couple, one in which he's dip-dyed for a little something extraordinary.

for the dapper dude in your life: this ultra cool shoe shining kit packaged in a reusable tote.

all photos by michael dodes of millcitymen

*also, i'll be announcing a winner for the gstar denim contest tomorrow, you still have tonight to enter here if you haven't done so already. 

*and stay tuned for a recap of an unofficial mspfw, but one of the best ones yet. 

layer me up.

photos are glorified selfies (except for headshot)

motorcycle jacket: bar III | jeans: gap | buffalo plaid wrap: zara | sequined sweater: bcbgeneration | flannel (around waist): uniqlo | thigh high boots: bakers (old) | herringbone scarf: h&m | earrings: rewind vintage

if you're wondering how i survive in minnesota, this is how.

ps. will someone please come take down my christmas tree? :(

the show must go on.

a couple things:

even though the future of mnfashion & the official msp fw are up in the air, the show(s) must go on. if you're flying solo this valentine's day or like me, could care less about this over-commercialized holiday & more looking forward to the season 2 premiere of house of cards than some grocery store-bought flowers and cheap chocolates, then add this to your vday itinerary: the black hearts ball. this show will feature some of our favorite local designers - old and new, including danielle everine, laura faulk and rachel roff.

saturday marks the return of the always anticipated u of m senior fashion show - this year better known as align. catch me at the sidelines with my fashion besties (sarah & michael) probably collectively lusting over lindsey dewitt's latest collection while aggressively live-tweeting with harper's bazaar fashion emojis.

sunday i'll be on the flipside of the fashion show at the red dress collection and participating as a model instead of a stylist behind the curtains. i know, i'm worried too (someone cue j. alexander, i need help). i'll sacrifice my dignity for a good cause any day though, for this particular occasion - the american heart association's go red for women program. all seats are sold out, but general admission is still available. join us as we paint the runway red!

 design/model pairing for the red dress collection, photo c/o realia by jen (swag bags from the show will include specially made jewels by realia x red dress)

sneak peek of my little red dress by super talented knitwear designer mary pranica

in those jeans.

photos by michael dodes of millcitymen taken at pharmacie mpls

denim: GSTAR RAW in davin loose tapered & arc 3D kate tapered | jewelry: lionette by noa sade | motorcycle jacket: bar III | utility jacket: ecote | denim vest: ae

naturally gravitating towards anything unconventional and slightly manrepeller-ish - these boyfriend jeans from gstar were a no-brainer. never had i encountered a boyfriend jean cut so perfectly to accommodate my baggy/borderline gangster denim needs until i met these beauties. the arc 3D uses twisted seams to create a fit that turns at the leg and makes for a more natural and comfortable fit, regardless of the bagginess. added bonus is the cropped ankle - perfect for pairing with both booties and some sky-high heels. see more styling inspo for the arc 3D at the cut.

davin, you had me at drop crotch and therefore, are my favorite pair. inspired by the vintage sailor's pant, it has extra pockets on the thighs and is loose at the top but tapered from the knee down, giving it the feel of your favorite slouchy, drop crotch sweats. 

just in time for valentine's day, i'm giving away a boyfriend - boyfriend jeans that is. enter to win a pair of gstar raw denim (valued in the hunneds, hunneds) in any of their famed boyfriend cuts. just follow the rules below:

1.) click like on the davee's secrets facebook page here.

2.) leave a comment below, via my twitter or facebook page explaining how you would style up a pair of boyfriend jeans. 

i'll go through and pick my favorite and most creative submission - so have fun with it! contest ends next monday night, i'll announce a winner tuesday, feb. 18th. glucks! xo

minnetonka moccasin.

photos by mark bahn of minnetonka moccasin

had so much fun shooting the minnetonka moccasin february lookbook with one of my fashion bff's (michael) who pulls off the knee high moccasin boot quite impressively. also had a proud mommy moment now that the sometimes intolerable but always adorable charlie made her foray into the modeling world. 

can't wait for spring/summer to pair these mocs with denim cut offs and flowy dresses. check out the rest of the lookbook here, featuring some cool minnesotans and sweet mocs!

[moccasins featured] classic fringe boot soft sole (women's) | tramper ankle hi boot (women's) | front laced hard sole knee hi boot (men's) 

[outfits] tie dye kimono: zara | crop top: ecote | denim: blue cult (old) | hat: midnorth mercantile | jewelry: lionette by noa sade | faux fur stole: h&m

jersey tunic: freepeople | beanie: duffy | sequined shorts: patricia field nyc | thigh high socks: free people | jewelry: lionette by noa sade

winter whites.

photos by mina vang

coat: bb dakota | grey sweater: random (old) | white dress worn as a shirt: herff christiansen from arrow | white cords: l'agence from arrow | bejeweled hand piece & ring: lionette by noa sade | fringe booties: jeffrey campbell (old) | sunnies: karen walker

in staying true to my obsession of wearing baggy clothing, here i am wearing nothing that fits me. in terms of layering, my favorite thing to do as of late is to wear dresses over pants and just stopping short of looking hobo-esque. or maybe not.

new lengths.

photos by lilly chow

sweater robe: foreign exchange | tshirt: AA | necklaces & rings: lionette by noa sade | thigh high socks: freepeople | tote bag: h&m | booties: target

lionette sent over some cool, new pieces - all of which i'm wearing in here, except for the hand piece which is so amazing it deserves a post of its own. 

also, this floor length sweater/duster my little sister gifted me is my new favorite thing next to the drake shake app of course.

fearless.

image via studdedhearts

if he taught us anything, it was that we should confront our fears because we have nothing to be afraid of. happy MLK day! #livefree

home tour: sunday best.

photos by me

a little home tour now that i sort of have some parts of the house pretty much together, there are no kitchen shots for good reason - it's a mess! PS. see how many photos you can spot charlie in, she sure loves the limelight. 

photos include:

leftovers from yesterday's photoshoot with michael & minnetonka moccasin, a snow-covered charlie, my new flavor-of-the-month clothing rack, coffee table books, a serious shoe game, some new bling from lionette by noa sade, natural sunlight, fresh hydrangeas in a ceramic pineapple vase, my favorite mismatched stud earrings and remnants of what was supposed to be a girl's night out of dancing that quickly turned into a night in that included pizza, beer, a 90's chic flick w/a throwback james franco & NSYNC live in madison square garden on repeat.

relax!

you are enough,

you have enough,

you do enough.