Bloggers with Style: Moose in the Kitchen

I've met Amber, so I hope I don't scare her too much when I say: I have a big ole blog crush on her. She's quirky and lovely and ridiculously smart but in the very best way, the way that makes you feel smart just by talking to her. If I lived in San Francisco, I'd force her out to drink champagne with me constantly. Her style is hers, and that's what I love most about her. When you know who you are, you radiate style, no matter what you're wearing or how you decorate your life. Here are her five picks of things that have contributed to her style. I especially like how she incorporated a lot of purple (it's a great color, yo) and included a gadget. Don't act like your iPhone or DVR doesn't actively contribute to your style, too.

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My brother once described my contribution to the sartorial world as exuberant. I believe the exact phrase he used was “colorblind clown.” To be fair, I was wearing lime green sneakers and raspberry striped socks that day, and that was only on my feet. God knows what the rest of my outfit was doing, but it probably wasn’t doing it in a nice demure black dress. I dress like I do everything else – to amuse myself.

1. Purple tights

Wearing purple tights with a gray dress and black boots is my favorite way to leave the house. (Yes, I’ve toned the palette down – somewhat – since my days of raiding the Ringling Brothers’ costume shop.) I get compliments when I wear bright tights with a dark outfit and I do love the compliments, so I just keep doing it. Here I am with Leah (on the left) in our tights o’ purple.

2. Plum mascara

Purple is becoming more of a theme than I expected, mainly because some sly minx at Benefit told me “the purple will bring out the green in your eyes” and I TOTALLY FELL FOR IT. But putting on plum mascara in the morning makes me happy, and that’s what really counts.

3. My go-to outfit

In fact, I’m wearing this outfit as we speak. Tall brown boots (Banana Republic), my favorite jeans (Lucky), and a white shirt (wherever has white shirts on sale) gets me through at least four out of seven days. I usually throw on some random scarf I knit myself.

4. Coco Mademoiselle perfume

My Chanel perfume has become the scent I associate with date night, dinner parties, and going to the theater. I love this stuff. A friend once picked up the bottle and said it smelled like me. I’ve had the same bottle for nine years – some hyper-organized magazine would probably tell me that’s far too long to use the same bottle of perfume (because it’s breeding nicely-scented plague? encouraging a rut of epic proportions?) – but after almost a decade, it really does smell like me. And I like that. It’s certainly better than being associated with the scent of wet sheep or that dodgy dumpster on Market Street.

5. My iPod

My iPod is green and I call it Kermit. (What? Don’t your electronic devices have names?) I love to bounce down the street pretending Vampire Weekend or The Flaming Lips are responsible for the soundtrack to my life. Music soothes me, improves my mood, or gives me a much-needed boot to the rear when my energy flags. I’ve been known to stand on the street and shout “NOOOOOO!” when my battery unexpectedly dies. Followed by “BATTERY, COME BACK! REVIVE! YOU CAN DO IT!” as little old ladies give me odd looks and shuffle quickly past. Although they might be admiring the purple mascara and thinking about how nicely it complements my eyes.

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You can find Amber at her blog Moose in the Kitchen. You won't be disappointed.