Feathers

Oh hey guys!

2012-02-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

Wow, I just logged into this account for the first time in soooo long, and what do you know? I still have a few followers. Acutally, I have the same amount of followers that I had before, which was always only a few. But I wanted to pop in and say that I've switched over to tumblr, since it's a little easier, more casual, and suited to what I like to post. Come on over and check it out if you like! It's called*girl in a cardigan* and there's mix of outfit posts, random fashion, and memes because yeah I'm one of those people. And kitties. Not a lot of kitties, but the occasional kitty.

Hope to see you there!

Pssssst...also my hair has been short for about six months now:

Can't find enough pots and pans, let alone knives in my kitchen, to keep you cookin'

2011-06-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

The past few months have been a flurry of life changes, and all of them have been welcome. Time and energy once spent on my blog, because I had no where else to funnel them, have been poured into two jobs and wedding planning (though the latter is being kept very low key as to avoid pointless stress). But I do miss posting. There have been a lot of great outfits seen only by those who happened to come across me in real life, completely unknown to the online world. After being mildly chastised by one of my bridesmaids for my long style blogging absence, I took to the trail this evening and brought along my camera to capture one of my favorite pieces I've ever thrifted.

I love the saturated turquoise color and latticed embroidery in this vintage top. It's one of those items I bought for my etsy shop and then decided I didn't want anyone to else to have. (Don't worry though, it's up in the shop despite my love for it.) I doubled up on vintage today with what I like to call my old man shoes because they look better with these shorts than anything else in my wardrobe, and here it's just now getting warm enough to venture out in bare legs. This is plainly evidenced by the absolutely blinding state of my winter-pale legs.

PS- Did you notice my haircut? You didn't? Well, I don't blame you. Though I got about three inches hacked off, it was getting so long before it's not so drastic of a change. The side fringe and layers have improved the overall look quite a bit, though. Not that you can tell in these photos, I've noticed just now I didn't manage to showcase my hair very much at all.

That's about all for now.

Vintage top, American Eagle shorts, dad's belt, vintage shoes from Value Village

You smell like pine needles, and have a face like sunshine!

2011-05-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day off in two weeks, and my last day off was the trip to Seattle and the concert, so it feels like longer since I've had a day without work or obligations. I'm capping off the day's activities by bringing you a set of photos from last week. This is my 20 dollar Urban Outfitters dress I got with my birthday money. Cotton, pockets, and an irresistible little strawberry print, on sale and in my size...it was kismet. I'm already mentally packing it for my honeymoon in Southern California a few months from now.

Handed-down American Eagle cardigan, Old Navy tank, Urban Outfitters dress, Kohl's sandsls

Future Starts Slow

2011-05-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hello all! It's been awhile. This past couple of months has been full of so many changes, and I've been busy enjoying all of them. Most of you already know that I got engaged recently, and wedding planning is in full swing. Since Joe and I wanted a short engagement, everything is coming fast. My mom and I went dress shopping last week on my birthday, and when anyone at the bridal shops found out that the date was August 27, they looked at us like we were crazy! I managed to score an amazing dress for a great price at a consignment shop, and best of all it needs very little alteration. New dresses mostly come in size 8 or 10, and would have needed major alterations for size 0 me!

I also got a second job shortly after I started at the library, so going from five months of not working to working every day has been an adjustment. A good one, though. Most days I only work a few hours, so I'm still in part-time territory. My newer job is at a local gift and card store (we also make/sell fudge and have bulk candy...it's so hard not to eat sugar all day long when I'm there) and I love it! It's kind of my dream job, and the owners also run a conjoining independent book store which I will be eventually working in as well. The book store is pretty beloved, and I've wanted to work there since I first visited it years ago, so I'm still in a state of disbelief that this is actually happening! I probably won't train on bookstore side for awhile, so for now it's strictly cards and candy and giftwrapping and knickknacks, but that's pretty awesome in its own right.

Enough news, how about some pictures? Last week was my birthday, and a few months ago Joe got tickets to see one of our favorite bands, The Kills. Since the concert was just a few days before my actual birthday, we made a celebration out of it. We hit Pike Place Market first thing, and Joe was convinced we would see Alison and Jamie (the band members) since the venue was less than a block away. No luck, but we snapped a few photos at Post Alley.

We continued to wander around Pike Place and downtown Seattle. I grabbed some pizza and we checked out Urban Outfitters where I scored a dress for 20 bucks. Finally, tired of walking around, we took a rest near the Showbox (the concert venue) and contemplated our next move. That's when it happened--Joe spotted the band members across the street! We hurried after them, getting stuck at the longest Don't Walk signal ever, and just managed to catch up before they stepped into a restaurant. They were extremely nice and were happy to take a couple of pictures as well.

After that, we were so excited we couldn't stand still for long, so we trekked over to the downtown branch of the Seattle Library and explored its weird and cool modern architecture for a bit. Then we headed back to the Showbox to wait for the bar to open so we could sit inside. We ended up meeting and hanging out with a guy who had flown up from San Francisco to see the show. No pictures allowed during the concert, so I don't have any proof of our great positions on barricade, less than an arm's length from the stage. But I had Joe take a shot of me in front of the marquee outside. That guy with the blond dreds and the murse is part of the band's crew...in fact, I think he might have been their manager.

A great day was had by all, especially when I managed to get right back onto the freeway from downtown Seattle, an accomplishment that is pretty rare.

Love's Old Song

2011-04-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

I love the dotty print and floaty skirt of this vintage dress. I bought it for my shop and listed it, but I'm kind of secretly glad no one has bought it yet. So far I've only been able to wear it layered under a cardigan, but today I was imagining myself bringing it on my honeymoon and unleashing its full sundress glory on southern California. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll be disappointed if someone else snaps it up...I've had my time with it, and would be happy to see it go on to another home. (Though Joe doesn't quite agree...when I told him someone might buy it he said very definitively "No. Wear it on our honeymoon.")

I've always gone with a feminine heels and sweater combo with this dress, but as I'm currently making my way through My So-Called Life on Netflix, there's a great temptation to go the flannel shirt and Doc Marten boots route. Since I don't own any appropriately grunge-era boots, I'll never get to pull it off. It's just as well, anyway. Being engaged in in my twenties doesn't lend itself to a style most at home on moody teenagers drowning in ennui and unrequited infatuation. Also, embracing grunge means I might have to consider allowing overalls back into my life. I've made that mistake before, friends, and I rather hope never to make it again.

Nordstrom cardigan, vintage dress here, vintage belt, New York and Company wedges, vintage necklace

Country lanes lead to fields

2011-04-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Spring is so often seen as a time of beauty, growth, and life. While this is certainly true, I think there's a sort of inherent struggle and darkness to this time of year. Growth always comes slower than we want, and there is an impatience and frustration in the days just before summer's lazy warmth. Clouds crest and scatter, taunting us with sun one moment and gloom the next. Hope and despair come easily, and in ever-changing shifts. Days I insist on filling run empty like a sieve, momentum swells only to slam against the wall. Victories are small, their joys fleeting. A warm patch of sun cannot overpower the constant chill of gusting wind. My mood refuses to equalize. A dress with pink flowers is stubbornly, unwaveringly optimistic.

American Rag cardigan, American Eagle dress, mom's old belt, Chinese Laundry shoes, purse available here

Dude Style: Part Three

2011-04-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

He's back. Yep, it's Joe again. And not only is he wearing a rather glorious brown grandpa cardigan, but he's paired it with a pale yellow cable-knit sweater. Honestly, I cannot decide which is more resplendent. And the double sweater action? Totally his idea. Our aim in shooting this ensemble was to highlight the fancy boots, because we both loved them. Honestly, every guy should have a pair in his wardrobe.

It was kind of funny having Joe hang out with us, since he and my fiance have the same name. I almost never call my Joe by his name, usually we just call each other "hon," but having both of them around caused a few minor confusions. I think most of us have to deal with these sorts of multiple friends with the same name issues, and resolve them in various ways. Back in high school my group had a girl named Erin and another girl named Eryn. Inevitably, someone would call to Erin and Eryn would answer, and the person would say "no, not you." So she started referring to herself as Eryn No Not You. And answering to it. Not the most elegant of solutions, but hey, it worked for us.

And that's why you always leave a note

2011-04-12T19:03:00.001-07:00

Joe and I have started to watch Twin Peaks on Netflix. They've gotten a lot of good new stuff on streaming lately, like Twilight Zone, and I hear Mad Men will be coming soon. They've also gotten a lot of really random old stuff, like Wings. Remember that show? From the nineties? It had Tony Shaloub pre-Monk, Thomas Hayden Church pre-Sideways and Spiderman? If you don't you actually score points. I used to watch that all the time when I was younger, but I'm pretty sure if I tried to watch it now I would consider it pure drivel.

I've been putting on Ally McBeal at night when go to bed (yes, I have the bad habit of falling asleep to tv shows), and Joe is not too pleased about it because it messes with the recommendations generated on his account. For example, currently the "Top Picks for Joe" starts with The Secret Life of an American Teenager. If I ever watched an episode of Glee on streaming there's a good chance he would break up with me immediately.

Express cardigan, Old Navy cami, Macy's skirt, JC Penny tights, Steve Madden flats

The slow fade of love

2011-04-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

Today was a pretty big deal...my first day of work since November! I finally got a job, and will be making money again. Not very much, but anything is better than nothing. Back to library life for me, though in a different job, and in a very different environment. I'm such a nerd, I get really fascinated my the inner workings of libraries now, how each is so unique. Today was mostly paperwork, but there were four of us so it was a little less boring than it could have been. After months of unemployment, I'm kind of psyched to be around so many new people all the time, though I'm sure that will go away. The introvert in me will always win in the end. And being in a bigger city now, I'm sure I'll have lots of fun, weird, and/or annoying stories to tell you.

(Pssst...skirt available here, and the purse too!)

Old Navy denim jacket, Old Navy top, Kensie girl heels, mom's old belt, vintage skirt and purse in my etsy store

I made them into a dream spider

2011-04-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

Here's me posing in the corner of the deck/outside entrance of my apartment building, with sane looking hair and clothing:

And here's me trying to take pictures out in the open:

I may look like I'm twirling about, but I assure you I am not. The last one is my favorite, it's looks like I'm wearing a bustle in the front of my skirt. I've been contemplating a major, MAJOR haircut (though not until after Joe and I get married), but days like this remind me of how much more difficult super short hair can me on windy days. I chopped everything off down to about half an inch once in high school, and the awkward growing out phases means a lot of time in the "too short too put in a ponytail, long enough to blow around in front of my face every day of my life" zone.

American Rag cardigan, thrifted Anne Taylor top, Goodwill dress, Delias tights from Joe, Rampage heels

Doubt is the big machine

2011-04-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

Even though I came across this shirt in the women's section while thrift shopping recently, I'm pretty sure it's a little boy's size. I guess pink and blue plaid didn't intimidate boys back in the day this was made...I'm guessing the seventies by the look of the tag. I'm enjoying the boxy cut and jaunty hemline, and was even prompted to mix it with this white jacket that never gets much play.

Yesterday I was out and about a bit with Joe. We walked the college campus he lives next to, and later ended up at the mall for awhile. I couldn't help but notice that girls everywhere were cuffing their skinny jeans. I also couldn't help but remember that I started doing the same thing last year, so your welcome, new spring trend. I'll be awaiting my official recognition.

Oh, and one more thing...Joe and I got engaged! We have been talking about it for over a year, so we're very excited for it to be official. Below is a shot of my ring, a pretty silver and marcasite piece from an antique store. I'm not big on the traditional solitaire, or even diamonds in general, so I picked this out a few months ago. It's totally perfect, and I love it!

Old Navy jacket, vintage shirt, Charlotte Russe jeans, Roxy canvas flats, vintage bag available here, vintage rhinestone bracelet, Charlotte Ruse bracelet

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

2011-04-07T18:03:00.000-07:00

This rock-tunnel shall henceforth be known as the place I take pictures when I'm wearing red and yellow. Okay, not really. I don't think I have enough red or yellow to keep that going very long. But last time I wore such a blatantly condiment-tastic combo I took pictures here. I apologize for the inexcusable whiteness of my legs, and I'd love to tell you that they will become more palatable as summer descends. But the truth is, I am very pale, and though my brother can go out and spend and hour mowing the lawn once in like March and come in looking like he spent a month in Mexico, the best I get is a few minor shades darker and, most likely, various sunburns in the minor spots I happen to miss with my (totally necessary) SPF 30 or higher sunscreen.

Oh yeah...and the shirt is available here.

Dude Style: Part Two

2011-04-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

I like to think I'm gaining a skill or two in taking pictures after over a year of style blogging, but let's face it: when it comes down to it, I'm a girl with a point and shoot camera and no training. A good picture is a bit harder to come by for an amateur like me, so here's a couple of pointers I've picked up. 1. An irreverent subject never hurts. Thank goodness Joe doesn't mind looking a bit like a fool. 2. Lighting. Duh. 3. Props. Let a character emerge out of your ensemble, and go with it. For example, a wall can always be leaned against for a seductive look, and a toy King Kong says "I'm sensitive and childlike, please take care of me." The scarf says the same thing.

And if I may say something about newsboy caps...or even if I may not, I will. In my experience, they go perpetually in and out of style, so any guy wondering if he can get away with it should just try it. Pulling off a newsboy cap is more about liking the way it looks on you and being able to mix it in with your established style than whether you'll find one in GQ this month. In general, they look best with long pants and sport coats or other types of jackets, so if your a t-shirt and shorts guy, I'm gonna go with no.

You are my sweetest downfall

2011-04-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

My first instinct when I put this top on today was to go full boho and wear a long skirt and sandals, maybe put some braids in my hair. But I'm too petite to get on board with a boxy top and long skirt, plus to be honest I don't even own a maxi skirt. So I went semi-boho instead, with a shorter but still flowy skirt and slightly oversized cardigan, but mixing in the modern, neutral ankle boots that seem theoretically wrong in the context of this outfit. I felt great, though I kept imagining how amazing this top would be in the summer with a pair of cutoffs, a bikini, and some major espadrilles. Does that sound good to you too? Well, great news...I've just put this top (and the purse, which I've loved so much I've been loathe to part with it) in my store. Links for the shirt here and the purse here.

Value Village cardigan, vintage top, Billabong dress, old tights, Kenneth Cole Reaction boots

This is not my idea of a good time

2011-04-05T23:31:00.000-07:00

Spring dressing conundrum: it's pouring down rain, windy, and cold enough that I've turned the heat on like three times this weekend. Skirts and dresses call to me, but my intellect and affinity for coziness at all times rule them out. I find my solution in a hot pink cardigan and long pants, which brings a sunny optimism to my day while staving off enough chill to swap out my severely overplayed black boots for shiny faux snakeskin flats. Sadly, my first footwear choice of suede ankle boots, donned with high hopes, were nixed in light of intermittent downpours.

Fun fact: Intermittent is an awesome word, especially if you pronounce all the t's when you say it. Many of my favorite words can be labelled thusly for no more significant reason than that they sound funny. Like dipthong and foible.

Nordstrom cardigan, Gap t-shirt from Value Village, Roxy pants from Goodwill, mom's old belt, Steve Madden flats

Dude Style: Part One

2011-04-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is Joe:

Not my boyfriend Joe, but our other friend Joe. He's been in town the past couple of days, and we've been educating on the finer points of dining and living in our town. Also, we went thrifting. He's one of the most stylistically adventurous guys I know, and he ended up buying a ton of ridiculous and amazing stuff, which of course meant we had to do a photo shoot of everything.

Since both the Joes are apparently too young to know what a Members Only jacket is, I had to explain my excitement over his purchase of this genuine gray one. Also, those jeans are Abercrombie and Fitch. I am not a fan of that brand, but somehow a thrifted pair being worn half-ironically made me extremely happy.

Since we took way way too many pictures, stay tuned for a couple more installations of Joe's dude style in the days to come.

You used to be alright, what happened?

2011-04-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, I officially can't be derisive or even ambivalent about tights under shorts anymore since I'm wearing it again, and I kinda love this outfit. I was foiled a bit by the inability to find shoes that hit the right note, and I'm a bit weary of returning to this boots again and again. Also the pictures came out kind of grainy. And it was raining too hard to go anywhere but my deck again. And boohoo. This lame post will be followed by another very soon full of amazing shots of some great dude style. And my tights are awesome, so poutiness officially over.

Guess cardigan from Labels, Target shirt, Kohl's shorts, vintage boots from Labels, secondhand pendant, Target tights

We we we so excited

2011-04-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well, Laurel, your wish is my command today. Last time I wore this shirt, you entreated me to keep it instead of selling it in my shop and style it many different ways. It's still for sale (here), but I am wearing it again, and very differently than I did last time. I'd like to introduce the news style phenomenon that I invented and will be sweeping the blogworld: lumberjack schoolgirl. The pictures turned out decent (despite torrential rain sequestering me to my deck for today's shoot), but in real life I feel kinda ridiculous. The shirt is much more voluminous than it looks, and it took a lot of tucking and rolling to appear normal-sized on me. Please, someone buy this who can do it justice and actually is the correct size. Cause it is awesome, and I have my eye out for something similar that will fit me.

At least if people give me weird looks or comments, and are like "Are you serious?" when they see my outfit I can be like, "uh....Aprils Fool's! Gotcha! Hahaha like I would really dress like this." Even though secretly I would be ashamed because despite how strongly I was questioning my sanity as I got dressed today, I really do like the outcome. I just wish I had a pair of caramel-colored brown boots instead of black. And now I wish I had some caramel. Or salted caramel. And chocolate. And potato chips. What was I talking about?

Observe Stephanie in her natural habitat. Guitars I don't play, ugly couch, and BOOKS.

Have a great day everyone, and don't get April Foolzed! Remember, anyone who breaks up or gets engaged on Facebook today is really lame at pranks. And check out Hulu's 1996 homepage, and the dial-up tone that plays when you load a video. Might me my fave internet prank of the day!

Vintage Woolrich shirt in my store, secondhand skirt from Labels, Target children's section socks, vintage boots from Labels

I am large, I contain multitudes

2011-03-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

Usually I welcome the coming of spring weather most excitedly in the transition from winter footwear to sandals. The specifics of those sandals changes depending on what stage my personal style is going though at the time. In the past, this meant a lot of flip flops and various flat-soled shoes, but the upheaval and progress I have made this past year as a style blogger has meant my first choice in warm weather footwear has been my ridiculous Nine West quasi-espadrille wedges. They are astonishingly comfortable for their height, though they have their limit. And the way they push my toes together isn't significant enough to cause pain unless, as I remembered today, I haven't clipped my toenails in awhile. I also donned this skirt, which started out as a crazy pair of vintage shorts I was going to put in my shop, but decided to gut and remake. They still have a certain shorts-y aesthetic, but the transformation was pretty successful. Unfortunately, the before photos I took got erased, but if they hadn't you could see that not only did I change the shorts into a skirt, but I moved the zipper from the front to the back. In addition, this was my second sewing project ever, done entirely by winging it and hoping for the best. While the final product looks decent from the outside, don't ever ask to see the seams/stitching underneath, cause....yikes.

I recently finished the books I had been working on the past couple of months, the Hunger Games trilogy (great, though the last book isn't as compelling as the first two) and Schulz and Peanuts. The latter, which was a bit scattered in places and not the best written biography I've read, was nonetheless fascinating and enlightening. Schulz come across as single-minded, contraditory, ambitious, insecure, self-involved, child-like, loving, and brilliant. Even if you have only a cursory interest in his work, it's worth reading about his journey from an unappreciated, unknown cartoonist to the creator of one of the single most influential pop culture forces of the 20th century.

You can't tell from the pictures, but the skirt is actually made of corduroy. Yep, high-waisted, pleated, dew-covered, corduroy leaves. Only in the eighties.

Handed-down American Eagle cardigan, Old Navy cami, repurposed vintage skirt, Nine West wedges from Ross, Urban Outfitters trench, vitnage Lou Taylor purse

Cheap and Cheerful

2011-03-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or does cuffing a pair of skinny jeans above the ankles instantly make them look tons cooler and more stylish? I'm pretty sure it's wishful thinking on my part, but just go with it.

Incidentally, I never get more compliments than when I wear this shirt. Okay, maybe that's not true, but honestly people love it. Personally, I'm not totally smitten, though probably because its tunic cut means it doesn't go with anything except skinny jeans, and I can't really do anything creative with it. But when I wear it I do enjoy the satin trim, which is irresistibly smooth and soft. I used to have a blanket with a similar trim when I was a baby, so it's strangely comforting.

Guess cardigan from Labels consignment, top from a store in Anaheim, Buffalo Exchange jeans, Nine West wedges from Ross, bracelet here

A hasty, chilly photo shoot yesterday resulted in pretty sub-par photos, but here's a couple of semi-decent ones. I'm still struggling to find something to match this skirt besides white (purple and white were my high school colors, I still feel a bit strange wearing them together) or black. While not totally successful, I did like the tone-on-tone look with my green shoes and tights. I find myself more and more working similar monotone elements into my outfits, such as with my coral t-shirt and red sweater from last week. Full monotone is a bit extreme for me, though... I always have to include at least one major piece in a contrasting color.

Target t-shirt from Goodwill, Wilson's Leather skirt from Labels consignment, Charlotte Russe tights, Payless Shoe Source heels

Good Grief

2011-03-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

However frowned upon it may be to wear the same cardigan two days in a row when documenting both those outfits for a style blog, I've done it anyway. And once again, I flout the conventions of my former (more rule-oriented) self by pairing red with purple. I ended up wandering the trails for quite awhile, enamored of the beautiful weather, communing with birds that called from the trees and skittered about in the underbrush. And then, I welcomed again that spring phenomenon that always seems to slip my mind in the dark days of winter: allergies. I sneezed and sniffled, but it was relatively minor, and nothing could shrink my enthusiasm for a day that was so lovely.

American Rag cardigan, Target children's section dress, Betsey Johnson tights, vintage necklace, Blowfish flats from Ross

So no one told you life was gonna be this way

2011-03-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

As much as I like this outfit, I have to say that a blue sky is the best accessory I could ask for. I've really missed it these past few months! It's shining presence begs bright bright colors and happy clothes. Though fifth grade me would be highly disapproving of my mixing of a pink shirt with a red cardigan. I can't help it...all former rules go out the window in my attempt to look as sunny as the sky. I've brought a bit of neutral in with the belt and shoes, but I did give my red flats and pink belt serious consideration first.

The last outfit I posted was the an uncontested hit, earning me more attention on chictopia and weardrobe than anything else I've ever posted. And the lovely white skirt was sold in record time. Tomorrow it will be on it's way to California. I'm a bit sad to see it go so soon, but I certainly welcome the money! I guess I'll have to use it to add in a couple new items, since I also recently sold a pair high-waisted pinstripe trousers. I feel just the slightest bit closer to being able to make a living off my thrifting and vintage obsessions. I still have lots of stuff in the shop, so click through the link on my sidebar to take a look!

American Rag cardigan from Macy's, Walmart t-shirt, Pacsun skirt, Target tights, Target shoes, vintage belt

Oh, and before I forget...thanks so much to Meganne at The Posh Pearl for giving me the Versatile Blogger Award! Her blog is great, and not just because of her adorable bird-themed header. She always wears tons of bright color, has a great eye for pattern, AND she has the same skirt I'm wearing here in a different color AND she likes Radiohead. And I love all her shoes. So win-win-win.

How You Doin'?

2011-03-21T23:20:00.000-07:00

I am in love with the colors in this outfit. Coral, mustard, caramel, sage and crisp white. I'm not sure if I feel like a cheerleader or a housewife in this skirt, but the pleats and stark whiteness demand to be contrasted with bright, pretty colors. It feels fun and feminine at the same time...like a cross between a tennis skirt and a gown. After a couple of weeks wearing skinny jeans and t-shirts every day, putting on this outfit was like going home again.

Target cardigan, handed-down tank top, vintage skirt available here, mom's old belt, vintage Lou Taylor handbag, Payless Shoe Source shoes

Rookie of the Year: Hailee Steinfeld

2011-03-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

I know that it's way way too late to be posting ruminations on award season style, but I have to put my two cents in on perhaps the most impressive show of formal dresses by a singe person I've ever seen. And to make the feat even more astonishing, it was delivered by a fourteen year old girl, True Grit star Hailee Steinfeld. I don't know about you, but I'd kind of hate to be expected to choose red-carpet worthy dress at that age. Or rather, I would have loved to, and then years later would have looked back in dismay at my choices.

Usually when a young teenager or preteen is thrust into awards season, they end up being stuck in something that looks very mall/promish. Parents or stylists seem afraid of getting too close to sexy territory, lest they be lambasted in the press. All future female actresses in Hailee's situation should print out these photos as a guidebook on age appropriate, fun, modern, and classic. First off, her Oscar dress is simple and sweet with lovely beading, and the netted material that takes the stapless silhouette to a more modest sleeveless is the perfect touch. I love the headband, which is at once youthful and sophisticated.

Her Golden Globe look was equally successful. Her hair, though different in all three looks, is always simple and sleek. She's not showing too much skin, nor does she feel the need to cover up her bare arms with an awkward shawl. The clutch and bracelet are perfectly minimal-it would have been ridiculous to put her in diamonds. She isn't caked in makeup, and the slightly stronger eye is balanced by a nude lip. She doesn't look like a child who got into her mother's makeup, but rather a lovely fourteen year old.

My personal favorite is also the most imperfect of her choices-the orange and pink Prada dress she wore to the SAG Awards. There's something a bit off about the color combo, and I simply cannot decide if the gathered hem at the bottom is good or strange. But of all the dresses I've seen so far this year, this one is the one I have remembered. It's a bold choice to be sure, but for a relatively unknown actress who isn't even eligible for a driver's license to step in front of millions of people wearing it, I can give her nothing but respect. Most established actresses are so terrified of being criticized that they opt again and again for beautiful but safe dresses. Few would have the guts to step out in bold, bright, stripes. She plays the rest of her look perfectly, no accessories except a single ring, hair smooth and wavy. She must have known that people would be inclined to hate what she was wearing, yet she shows not a hint of uncertainty in expression or stance.

The more I look back on this dress, the more I love it. While all three looks are fantastic, I can't see the first two making a lasting impression. But whenever I watch award shows, the third will always serve as a sort of standard by which I'll judge how willing the attendees are to take risks. If only red carpets were filled with more color and pattern and daring and with less diamonds and draping overly-hairsprayed updos. Well played, Hailee Steinfeld. Please do more award-winning movies, because I can't wait to see what you wear next year.

It's not easy finding green (in my wardrobe)

2011-03-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I had no recollection it was St. Patrick's Day this morning. At some point I checked my Facebook and noticed some updates mentioning it, which I promptly forgot and went about my business. Still, I somehow managed to throw on a green cardigan before leaving the house this morning, so I guess my subconscious was looking out for me. In celebration, here's some pictures of me wearing green things.

I would make each picture a hyperlink if I was smooth and cool and fancy, but alas, I am not. Also, I tried captions but I couldn't do that and have two pictures in the same row. Isn't blogger lovely?

Green items are: 1. Old Navy button-up (on clearance) worn here. 2. Charlotte Russe top, which I apparently photographed but never posted. The blazer is from some store in California and also has green stripes in it. 3. Anne Taylor cardi from Goodwill worn here. 4. Secondhand skirt from Labels worn here. 5.Charlotte Russe tights I wear ALL THE TIME but specifically here. 6. Old Navy t-shirt worn here. 7. My grandma's scarf, she used to wear it in high school (and the tights again) worn here.

Is that enough content to appease you while I am too lazy to take photographs? Yes? Ok cool.

Throw it over

2011-03-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

Many of my friends are still skeptical of the whole shirt tucked into a skirt thing, though I valiantly try to convince them of its merits. They also tend to yank skirts down to their hips, looking at me askance if I dare suggest the waistline should hit above their bellybutton. All this to preface that I wore my shirt untucked with a skirt today, and it was weird. Not insomuch that it looked wrong, but I felt as if I was betraying a steadfast guideline. Rest assured, I will be tucking away for a good stretch in order to realign my worldview.

Really old Wet Seal button-up, PacSun tank, Macys skirt, old black tights, Charlotte Russe green tights, vintage boots

Oscar Dresses: So What?

2011-02-28T17:45:00.000-08:00

The older I get, the less I really care about giant award shows in general. But usually, my interest is at least piqued by the fashion. For some reason, this year I have experience a great shift in ambivalence towards the dresses I've seen at the Golden Globes, Grammys, and Academy Awards. Maybe it's because this is the year I really started to delve into personal, unique style, and have shifted my opinions about what fashion really means to me. Starting this blog, then discovering and exploring an endless stream of style blogs has shown me that celebrity-based trends and mainstream media portrayals of style are two dimensional and slightly dead. Especially compared to what many everyday, normal, but ridiculously chic, women are accomplishing with limited budget, little no access to designer labels, and in many cases, a good sewing machine.

Not that I blame actors and actresses. It's their job to be in movies and tv, not to dress well. That's why tv and movies have wardrobe departments. Sure, some of them love clothes and put together some killer looks. But most of them could probably care less about keeping up with trends and going shopping. No wonder stylists are essential these days. And if you think about it, while the media and popular culture hypes up award shows as the ultimate platform for the best dresses in the world to be worn and shown, there's a strong pressure to look good and not take risks. Hence, my reaction to most of the award season dresses I've seen this year, which can be summed up as this: uh, pretty I guess? Kinda looks like a billion other dresses I've seen before.

So I'm not going to slam anyone for being boring or safe, because when it comes down to it, I get it. Pick a pretty dress, something nude/white/red and sparkly/strapless/with a small train, dip your head in a bucket of hairspray and the rest of you in borrowed diamonds, and just get through the night without fear of being mocked on E! the next day. Meanwhile, even I found a couple of standouts at last nights Academy Award ceremony.

My first pick: Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine. Genius. She can do a neutral color without looking boring cause THAT HAIR. Also, love that she didn't go for a typical updo. I think loose, flowing hair complements a fancy dress so much better than weird helmet head. Also the vintage silhouette fits perfectly, loose enough so she looks comfortable, but still sleek. Long sleeved dresses are huge right now, but most celebs wouldn't have the balls to bust one out on Oscar night. And I doubt anyone else would have looked right in this dress, a sure sign that she's got her personal style nailed down.

The other dress I loved was worn by some girl. The fact that I had no idea who she was yet still stopped dead when I saw her proves she looked awesome. She's actually the daughter of Ed Catmull, who apparently works for Disney/Pixar. The dress is, of course, killer. The cutout takes a simple red gown to another level. But it would still be pretty meh if it weren't for the fact that she's wearing the obligatory blogger glasses. Maybe they should just call them o-blog-atory glasses. Amirite? No? Moving on. She is adorbz and those glasses are better than any boring old diamonds.

Come back soon, as I have a few more things to say about this years gown-wearing season. Who else did I love? Which dress seemed boring at first, but won me over after weeks of deliberation? Which two lovely ladies did well enough to land on my fave list twice?

Images courtesy of www.oscars.org

Slowly we unfold as lotus flowers

2011-02-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

Joe used to be really against v-neck t-shirts on guys, until we discovered the ones at the Gap. They have a modest, not-too-low cut that's not too hipster (read: stop around the collarbone, not halfway to his navel). He has a couple of the Gap ones in various colors and a pack of Ralph Lauren white v-neck undershirts, and they're pretty much his daily uniform. So when I saw this women's Ralph Lauren white v-neck at Value Village I knew I had to get it and be twinsies with him. Bonus: my other white tee is really old and scoop-necked and kinda short, so I hardly wore it. This one fits much better and has the cool little polo-playing man and horse on it.

I'm either channeling Meg White again like in this post, or I've been watching too many Thom York dancing videos:

(more on Dancing Thom's tumblr)

Urban Outfitters trench coat, thrifted Polo RL t-shirt, thrifted Levi's, thrifted oxfords, grandma's scarf, bracelet in my etsy store, dad's belt

Threat Level Midnight

2011-02-25T17:05:00.000-08:00

Most oversized plaid shirts have connotations of grumpiness and hipsterism and people who like bands I've never heard of. But the kicky red color on this number transcends that image, and feels overall like a happy and comforting kind of plaid. Maybe that's why I added this knit hat with a surprise happy frog friend on the back. I could even see this shirt tucked into a mini and paired with some killer heels for a fun evening look. How would you style it? Tell me your ideas, or buy it for yourself and remix to your heart's content! Now available in my etsy store here.

Button-up from my etsy store, handedd-down Target t-shirt, Celebrity Pink jeans from Buffalo Exchange, Report boots, Charlotte Russe socks, handed down hat

Stop in the name of pants

2011-02-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

I got these vintage high-waisted pinstripe trousers last week, another item destined for my etsy store. To be honest, I've seen some girls hit this trend out of the park, but I never felt it was quite right for me. Ever the experimenter, I took these out for a test drive today, and ended up liking the look more that I thought I would. This pair is a bit big on me, so they weren't totally ideal, and they were so long I had to wear my five inch heels to avoid looking like I was wearing a zoot suit. But I love the sportswear look, and the red stripe was so pleasantly preppy. They also made my legs look really long. Like what you see? Hop on over to my store here and get them for yourself. (And check back soon, as I will be listing the bag and earrings as well.)

Handed down t-shirt, vintage pants from my etsy store, mom's old belt, vintage Lou Taylor bag, Jessica Simpson heels

Waaaaaaaaalt!

2011-02-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Who needs leopard print when you can wear the actual animal? Well, not literally. But you've gotta love the majestic depiction of leopard heads on this skirt. I found it thrifting last week, one of many finds that aren't just for me to enjoy, but you as well. That's right, this baby has been added to my etsy store (link here), and it's up for grabs! It's a great vintage 1980s piece with belt loops and pockets and jungle imagery. Perhaps I was drawn to it in the midst of my current Netflix marathon....I've been powering through Lost for a couple of weeks. So I guess the tropical plant fronds and flowers triggered my subconscious. I'm on season 3 now, which is still excellent, but I've been warned that the show gets ridiculous (not in a good way) soon, so perhaps my voracious episode consumption will slow down and I can get back to things like blogging, job hunting, taking out the garbage, venturing outdoors, etc.

Goodwill little boy's blazer, Old Navy camisole, vintage skirt, mom's old belt, Jessica Simpson pumps, vintage bracelet (will be added to my etsy store soon)

Don't tell me what I can't do

2011-02-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

After being with Joe for two years, I like to think that I have a pretty good idea about what outfits he's going to like and which he'll be ambivalent/confused about. When I thrifted this lovely Old Navy blouse last week, I was sure he would love it. It's a button-up, one of his favorite styles on me, and red, one of his favorite colors on me. (Sorry it looks kind of orange in the photos...my bathroom lighting is mediocre at best.) But when I showed up at his place and asked him about it, he was unenthusiastic. He didn't dislike it, but he was rather confused by this style, which is apparently kind of pirate-y. I, on the other hand, am wholly infatuated with it. The sheer fabric, ruffled sleeves, seaming and color are lovely, and I have a dearth of pretty feminine blouses, so it will fill a big hole in my wardrobe.

I accessorized with an old belt of my mom's that's cracking and falling apart. I've always been the type who's drawn to minor, intentional imperfection in fashion. I embrace holes in a cardigan, wear vintage rings with missing stones, sew on a mismatched button when the original goes missing. I'm not sure if I really value character and originality over perfection, or I'm just rationalizing my laziness. For now, I'll keep claiming it's the former.

The second button literally makes or breaks the shirt

2011-02-19T21:34:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the awkward hand placement in that first picture, but I wanted you guys to see my new favorite thing. I bought this vintage gold-plated bracelet to put in my etsy store, but since I'm not going to prepare my listings until next week I decided to wear it. Every minute. All the time. Forever. I love it because I have so many bracelet issues most of the time, due to my tiny child-wrists and hands. I've never been able to participate in bracelet-related trends because of my affliction. However, this piece is hinged so that it opens up entirely by pushing a button.

Speaking of buttons (best segue ever here, and I didn't even plan it!), have you ever heard that Seinfeld bit about proper button placement on a shirt? This button-up is the perfect example of bad button placement...the first one is so high it looks weird and causes unflattering pulling and gaps when fastened, the second is so low I get a little more exposure than I like. I've resorted to a secret hidden ninja safety pin about an inch above button number two.

Pacsun cardigan, Hollister shirt from Value Village, antique store pendant, Levis from Value Village, thrifted boots, thrifted bracelet, dad's belt

The spoils

2011-02-19T18:53:00.000-08:00

In my last post, I mentioned that you should always bring a camera on thrifting excursions, because there is ALWAYS something worth documenting for posterity. First up, from my favorite consignment store is this gorgeous thing:

Oh yeah, and did I mention...

Vintage Oscar de la Renta. If it was in my budget, I would have snapped that baby up and put in in my etsy store post haste. As it stands, if any of you out there want it I might be able to arrange a return trip and secure it for you. If it's even still there. Priced at about $35 in the store, with the cost for me to ship it this could be yours for about fifty bucks. And if you are wondering, yes it's amazing and unbelievable and the quality is impeccable.

Moving on, I went to my local Value Village for the first time yesterday, and was blown away with how much great stuff they had. There was even a specific vintage rack where everything was priced about the same as everything else in the store, and 90% of it was awesome. Here's a brand I wish was still around today:

There were, of course, some ridiculous sequined items, but this one was totally elegant and gorgeous. Also, it weight about ten pounds.

Now, if you come across a vintage, shoulder padded, confetti-covered vintage jumpsuit, for the love of Mike, try it on. Then get a picture of yourself and post it on your blog, despite the fact that the image will surely cause your boyfriend to break up with you.

I was actually in the store so long that the song that was playing when I came in started again as I was leaving. The soundtrack is one of the more entertaining aspects of shopping at Value Village. The mix varies from oldies to late nineties, and in general the songs are familiar enough that people around you might sing along to themselves without realizing they are doing it.

All in all, I had a great time, especially since I haven't been thrifting in forever. For whatever reason, it's a passion of mine, and I get a kick out of all the crazy stuff I find. I ended up purchasing a few items for the etsy store, so come back soon to see me try and style them up for your pleasure (and to try and convince you to buy things). I've been wearing two of my purchases since I bought them, and it may be painful for me to offer them to you since I have grown to love them so, but I'm a giver. In the sense that, I might allow you to pay me to give them to you.

Practical Style Guide: Thrifting

2011-02-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

Full disclosure: I am generally not a fan of tights with shorts. I've only done it once before, and it was fine, but if I'm going to put on an outfit that requires tights I tend to believe that a simple, basic skirt is a better choice. I'm not sure what made me give it a whirl today, but I felt really cute and comfortable. So, I'm eating a bit of crow here. Don't expect this look to be a staple for me, but I won't completely write it off anymore either.

Now, down to business. Anyone who does a lot of thrifting knows that the whole process is pretty much an art. From which stores to visit, which sections of each store, how to find diamonds in the rough, right down to what to wear. I have perfected the ultimate outfit template for a thrifting trip, so I thought I would share my insights with you all.

1. Begin at the beginning, with a good foundation. Tights are ideal for a number of reasons. They provide a barrier between you and the clothes, cutting down on the ick factor of trying on unwashed used clothing. You can easily try on pants, skirts, dresses and shorts over them. Some people might lean toward leggings, but I maintain that tights are superior because if you must take your shoes off, either in the fitting room or when trying on shoes, you've got a barrier between your feet and the floor. You could do leggings with socks, but you will look ridiculous when you have to wear them while you're trying on skirts or dresses.

2. A basic shirt. Though I'm wearing a t-shirt here, a plain cami or tank top is slightly better because you can keep it on when trying on dresses or shirts. Go with a plain, neutral color that will match anything. That way it won't clash with anything you're trying on.

3. A comfy skirt or shorts. Once again, keep it plain and neutral. Don't do a pattern unless it's subtle. I'm all for pattern mixing, but chances are a plaid skirt won't go with every shirt you want to try on, and you won't get a good feeling for what it will look like because you're so distracted by your weirdly clashing attire. Ideally, you should be able to slip your skirt or shorts on and off easily without a lot of buttoning or zipping, cause that gets old real fast. A dress could work, but make sure it's easy to slip on and off, and you wear a cami underneath or else whenever you try on pants or a skirt you will be topless.

4. A cardigan or jacket. Broken record here...keep it neutral. You want something you can throw on with any dress or blouse you're trying on to get an idea of how that piece might work with separates.

5. Flats. Boots could work, but they might look wonky with certain hemlines, and they're bulkier. Flats can be slipped off in the aisle to try on other shoes. And usually you don't have to take them off when trying on pants (unless they're super tight skinnies), a bonus if you'r lazy like me and hate taking your shoes on and off all the time. I guess I could just leave them off, but it helps me to be able to wear shoes with my items so I get a fuller sense of how they look on me.

6. KISS- Keep it simple stupid. Hair down so it's doesn't get messed up (though you might want to bring a rubber band just in case). Minimal jewelry. Long necklaces will just get in the way, earrings will catch, belts must be buckled and unbuckled. Two layers on top (shirt + cardi or jacket) is good, any more is just extra stuff to take off and put on.

7. Bring your camera. There's sure to be something ridiculous and you'll wish you had it.

Do you guys have any special tips for what to wear on a thrifting outing? Do you agree/disagree with my tips? Anything I missed? I'd love to hear about it!

Guess cardigan from Labels consignment, Gap t-shirt from Value Village, Ross shorts, JC Penny tights, Target flats

Come on, come on, come on. Get through it.

2011-02-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

While most of you have sadly put aside your pretty red and pink dresses now that Valentine's Day is gone, I have an excuse to take mine out for a night on the town. Yesterday was our anniversary, but Joe had school, so tonight we celebrate! (We've been together two years, if you're wondering.) Italian food at a place he's never been, True Grit at the theater by my apartment, and maybe some ice cream or a milkshake later on. My red Christmas dress was begging to be worn, since the only other day it's appropriate is Christmas. Though appropriate isn't really a concept I abide, so expect to see me throwing it on to go to the beach or work or something equally ridiculous in the coming months.

The shoes were actually my first pair of high heels. I got them back in middle school for a choir concert, and though I don't wear them much anymore my love for them is just as strong now. In fact, I like them so much with this outfit I think they're going to start making their way back into regular rotation. They're Chinese Laundry, which was my favorite shoe brand for years. I don't see it around that often anymore, but when I do I get major nostalgia.

Embarrassingly simple DIY of the day: If you want to wear a pendant on a long chain but don't have one, just attach two shorter ones together end to end. They don't have to be the same size or metal, and don't worry if the clasp shows. The best part of fashion is the presence of intentional imperfections.

Target sweater from Goodwill, Buffalo Exchange dress, old tights, Chinese Laundry shoes, antique store pendant

DIY skinnies: a sewing adventure

2011-02-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas, but I have to admit even before I brought it home and took it out of the box I was intimidated. I can sew a bit by hand, but I'm so very out of practice. And tackling my new machine without lessons, help, or someone to even explain to me about upper and lower threading was enough to discourage me from attempting to try it out. But last week I finally sat myself down and figured the thing out. I wound a bobbin, threaded it, and did some practice stitching on a piece of junk mail with only one minor breakdown and confused call to my grandma thinking I had broken the thing already.

For my first project, I needed something so simple as to be almost embarrassing. My first thought was to carry out an idea I'd been toying with for weeks: converting a pair of stretch bootcut cords into skinnies. They were bought secondhand, and though I loved the fit and color I could never seem to work them into a successful outfit. Taking them from bootcut to skinny would make them feel more modern and fun, but if I messed them up I wouldn't miss having them in my wardrobe. I knew the stretchy fabric would be forgiving if I miscalculated. I wouldn't have to get the measurements just right. So I bravely pulled them on inside out, pinned the inside seam close to my leg, took them off, marked them, and got stitching. Not much later I had sewn both legs, cut off the excess, and had a semi-shoddy but passable finished product.

Look out, skirts and dresses of my closet. You're all about to get a lot shorter.

Old Navy denim jacket, Target t-shirt handed down, Abercrombie kids restyled cords, Converse Outlet kids shoes (I wear a size 4!), antique store pendant on two old necklace chains

P.S. This is what they used to look like...

Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day, Everyone!

2011-02-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

I won't begrudge you all the indulgence of pink and red ridiculousness today, cause I'm sure you've all got some killer outfits up your sleeve. Can't wait to check them out. Personally, I'm going a bit more subtle this year. I've pulled out my heart-print skirt (kinda hard to tell, but they ARE hearts not dots), and added a ruffley shirt and socks with bows. In the past I've done everything from decking myself out in red to wearing black in protest. As I said earlier today, Joe and I don't celebrate Valentine's since neither of us really care about it, and our anniversary is the 15th, so it would be crazy to have to plan/buy stuff for both.

For those of you singles out there, please don't get weird and depressed, cause there's no point. I've spent 25 of my 27 V-Days unattached. I could go into my whole romantic past (or lack therof), but in the end the things that make me really happy about being in love are small and everyday, not grand, complex and dictated by a holiday.

(This lovely little sign was a Christmas present Joe's aunt, who I've never met, made for me the year we started dating. I'm the cougar, cause I'm older than Joe, and he's the koala for some reason I don't remember. It's one of my favorite things in the world.)

Charlotte Russe top, Sugarlips skirt from Macy's, Target tights, socks from Labels (consignment), Kenneth Cole Reaction shoes, vintage clip-on earring clipped to Icing headband

Don't forget to John Locke the front door.

2011-02-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Valen Times Everyone! Joe and I don't really celebrate, since our anniversary is tomorrow.

I've been watching Lost on Netflix, BTW.

We're Going to Be Friends

2011-02-13T18:36:00.000-08:00

Meg White is a bit of a wallflower. Actually, that's an understatement. She speaks so quietly, she has to be subtitled on The White Stripes' DVD Under Great White Northern Lights, and responds to most interview questions by smiling coyly, eyes flickering to the ground, as she reflexively tucks her hair behind her ear again and again. But as a drummer she seems almost fearless...childlike, as Jack White once said. Drumming is a decidedly unladylike choice of instrument, and Meg is a decidedly ladylike woman. Not feminine. per say, but elegant and understated. She dresses with an almost Parisian minimalism that feels at once uncontrived and intentional. T-shirts are a staple of her wardrobe in Under Great White Northern Lights, but so are a chic black swing coat and a pair of towering wedges, seen above. Her long hair serves as a security blanket and a trademark (Meg is known to suffer from anxiety, once so severe that they had to cancel an entire tour). She never once wears it pulled back, and it whips around her constantly as she drums. When she smiles, it's behind closed lips and with downcast eyes.

In just about every way, she's the opposite of my female style icon of music, Karen O. Tethered and hidden behind a drum set, wearing a simple pants and t-shirt combo, Meg is miles from the blatant, powerful exhibitionism I so adore in Karen O. But her magnetism is just as strong. Perhaps it's the air of mystery about her that results from rabid introversion, but to watch her is to be overcome with a compulsion to know her.

See my post on Karen O here.

All images taken from Under Great White Northern Lights.

We have to go back

2011-02-11T14:44:00.000-08:00

I think I should name this rock Photo Shoot Point, since I keep going back to it this week. It's perfect in so many ways...within sight of the parking lot for days too cold for wandering down trails, picturesque, the lighting is always decent, and it's so mossy and magical. I promise to venture farther when the weather gets nicer, but I'm happy to have found a great go-to spot for now.

I'm either getting better a the whole topknot routine, or my hair is more cooperative these days, because putting it up today was a breeze. For those of you who don't know, I'm trying out the whole no soap, no shampoo thing. It's been over a month, and while no soap has been no prob, my fine hair was getting super greasy and unbearable. So I did a couple of apple cider vinegar rinses, and it worked fabulously! I still sneak a bit of shampoo in the very front section of my hair now and then, but the vinegar took care of almost all the greasiness. I've enjoyed getting to wear my hair down without feeling totally gross the past week. But despite intentions to the contrary, today felt like a hair up kind of day after I finished getting dressed. I added a green vintage scarf my mom rescued (my grandma was selling it at a garage sale), and finished it off with two vintage clip-on earrings. It was an easy, simple way to spruce up my hairdo and add one more pop of color to my outfit.

Target cardigan, Billabong dress from Macy's, Charlotte Russe tights, Steve Madden flats from Famous Footwear, vintage scarf and clip-on earrings, Old Navy earrings

I will just...destroy you

2011-02-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

Though I have to admit, I'm not much of a fan, maxi dresses are pretty much taking over, especially as a breezy, simple option for the impending warmer weather. Yet in my closet hangs this dress. Not quite a maxi, it hangs rather strangely right at my ankles. Somehow, the added awkwardness of the wedges works for me (despite the fact that I almost faceplanted trying to walk down a wooded trail in them). I'm still not sold on the whole maxi thing (though maybe if they changed the name...I don't usually have aversions to specific words, but I kind of hate "maxi"), but I will admit the length of the hem made me feel more elegant and fancy than usual.

Blazer from Goodwill, Espirit dress from Macy's, Target tights, Nine West wedges from Ross, Goodwill necklace

I can't be distracted

2011-02-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

I've been observing the past couple of Everybody, Everywhere events with interest, but could not participate since I don't own either of the previous items spotlighted (spotlit?). But this time, thankfully, I had not one but several options. My first instinct was my black shrunken (read: little boy's size 6) blazer. It's a real workhorse, and goes with everything. I don't think I could screw it up if I tried. But upon further reflection, I decided on a piece that I've owned for years, but have probably only worn about five times. It's not that my J Crew blazer isn't lovely. As you can see, it's a pretty shade of light cocoa with an almost tweed pattern. The problem is, it's slightly too big for me, and I feel like I'm wearing my dad's jacket or something. And I usually try to pair it with pants, and the result is a look that's a bit masculine, but not in a good way.

I knew my best chance at success would be a skirt. In an uncharacteristic bout of luck, I imagined this outfit almost entirely in my head before trying on any single piece. Usually when I attempt this the proportions end up all wrong and I have to start from scratch. But this worked, and I love love loved it! The conservative blazer with an edgy skirt, topped with a hooded sweater for a dash of insouciance. Even the obligatory knee high socks/boots combo came in pitch perfect. Someday, when I can afford it, I'll tailor this blazer a bit so it will be easier to incorporate. But for now, I'm just giddy that it worked out so well today.

Though I'm sure it's some kind of faux pas to have tripod shadow in blog pictures, I choose to acknowledge said tripod and move on.

J Crew Outlet blazer, Gap sweater from Goodwill, Target children's section skirt, Wet Seal leggings, Target children's section socks, vintage boots

In the cold, cold night

2011-02-07T19:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Joe and I watched a documentary called Under Great White Northern Lights, which follows The White Stripes on a Canadian tour. I've never listened to much of their music except the singles, but Joe loves them and I've become a fan by proxy. It's a great documentary, revealing and kind of adorable, though it's obvious the duo never reveal any more about themselves (personally and as a band) than they want to. Starting from the very beginning, and persisting right up to the end, I found myself captivated by Meg White. Quiet, uncalculated, and plagued with anxiety, everything she said had to be subtitled to be understood. Bound within the confines of a strict red, white and black only dress code, it's obvious she doesn't think much about what she's wearing. But that's the brilliance. She is so simple and effortless, almost Parisian in her aesthetic. I came away from the documentary wanting only to wear white t-shirts and black pants, hiding one eye behind a sheaf of long, loose hair.

Luckily, I had items in my wardrobe that would allow me to test the Meg White look. She would often add a scarf to the white t-shirt idea, and since I didn't have one in the proper color family I went with delicate green, adding a vintage clip-on earring at the knot. I finished with oxfords and even brought along my red coat. Funny how wearing perhaps the most simple outfit I can remember felt so subversive. I loved it, actually. It's not something I would wear every day, but the intentionality of its minimalism moved it beyond boring and into sophisticated.

I plan on doing some screen grabs from Under Great White Northern Lights in hopes that you will find some inspiration as well. For now, here's a little taste:

Brilliant.

JC Penny t-shirt, Roxy pants from Goodwill, vintage scarf, vintage clip, vintage shoes from Value Village, Lulu Guinness sunglasses, Target children's section coat

Most actors aren't bright, so it has to be simple

2011-02-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

Styling tip of the day: an uber-boring outfit can be magically transformed into a pretty decent outfit with a skinny belt and turban-style scarf. Also, laying a pocket tank top over a plain black top, even though they are the same color, adds interest and feels a bit like wearing a sweater vest.

Last night Joe and I finished watching the last episode of Party Down on Netflix. The entire show run is two seasons, only twenty episodes total. I'm not sure whether to lament this tragedy, since it's one of the best television comedies I've ever seen, or rejoice that it's brevity will forever ensure it never falls victim to the oh-so-tragic and very common fate of most great tv shows: a sharp downturn in quality that sets in after a few seasons, forever sullying its legacy (ahem *The Office* cough cough). Since Party Down aired on Starz, it's full of swearing, sex, drug use and occasional nudity, and it's tone is decidedly darker than network shows. The cast is mostly pitch-perfect, not a single throwaway character in the bunch. Adam Scott plays the has-been actor main character, returning to his former job working for a catering company called Party Down. According to his IMDB, he has never been in a bad movie or tv show ever, is overall awesome, and in my opinion has been killing it on Parks and Recreation since he joined at the end of last season. So has Rob Lowe, for that matter, but that's another subject for another post.

Scott's "love interest" is played by Lizzy Caplan. She looks a bit like Katy Perry with less makeup in a white button-up and pink bow tie, and has the mannerisms and delivery of a less monotone Aubrey Plaza. There is almost a slight masculinity to her character, in the sense that she rarely plays the typical victim-of-love tripe female sitcom leads are handed. She playfully emasculates Adam Scott's character in and outside of their romantic relationship. Finally, a couple that can dish out and take each other's sarcasm and can interact at a level beyond lovey-dovey/overdone happiness or fighting/annoyance with each other. Caplan's character, Casey, is an acerbic, dry, unapologetic aspiring comedian, and it's lovely to see that not only does she keep every one of these traits once entering a romantic relationship, but that Henry (Scott) would have it no other way.

Of course, I'm only scratching the surface here of what's great about the show, since I've only discussed two characters. Jane Lynch is brillant as ever during season one, but shockingly the show doesn't suffer from her departure at the end of ten episodes. I was initially skeptical of Megan Mullaly as her "replacement," but within a couple of episodes I was converted. And as for the short 20 episode show run, in the end I am grateful for it. I wish networks would start considering cutting off their series after two or three seasons, getting out before the writing gets stale or the characters become sad caricatures of their former selves (cough *The Office* cough cough). In fact, it would be nice to see some shows that are conceived and carried out with a specific story arc that only lasts two or three seasons. So many of the complex, Lost-style shows that are constantly under pressure to reveal new, shocking twists could avoid becoming tangled, ridiculous messes by limiting them selves to, say, four years max. J.J. Abrams is especially guilty of carrying on too long and losing his initial momentum (see: Alias and, too a certain extent, Lost). Heroes, created by Tim Kring, had me hooked until about the end of season two, then became a joke. If only these shows had been mapped out fully, beginning to end, executed according to plan, and finished no matter how high the ratings and great the buzz, they could have been nearly flawless. But as seasons pass and time has to be filled, plots, characters and storylines get increasingly unwieldy and bizarre. Characters die and come back to life, sometimes more than once. Writers resort to cheap gimmiks and bait-and-switch in an effort to regain shock factor.

Sorry if this is rambling or uninteresting to any of you, but I am great lover and critic of television, and sometimes I get a bit carried away by my opinions. What tv shows do you love/recommend? Any underrated gems that were cancelled too early? I'm becoming quite the connoisseur, I don't think there's much our there I haven't seen or at least heard of.

Express top, Miley Cyrus for Walmart tank top, Old Navy pants, mom's old belt, Kensie girl heels from Macy's, vintage scarf and rings

When you're in your little room, working on something big...

2011-02-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

I haven't worn Old Faithful (that is, this supremely versatile and remixable skirt) in almost a whole month! I think I've been passing it over because it really is too easy to style. I almost feel guilty about throwing it on with a t-shirt and cardigan, because then I look casual and chic and like I actually thought more than 2 seconds about this whole outfit. As a sort of amends, I did wear my houndstooth tights and striped sweater together. Pattern mixing, amirite?

Joe is in class right now, and I'm hanging by myself in his apartment, which gives me the perfect opportunity to show you around. Since his room is about 12x12, there's not much so see spacewise. But he's used what little space he has so well, and we both really love his little room. When we talk about being married and having our dream house/apartment, we're not pining for sprawling mansions...just a big, open space and some cool art on the walls. We can't wait for the days when we can trade posters for canvases, carpet for concrete or laminate, my tv for a really good projector....and I for one am ditching my weird old handed-down couch for something more like this pullout sleeper Joe has:

Where do you dream about living someday?

Pacsun sweater, t-shirt gift from old roommate's trip to NY, Macy's skirt, Target tights, vintage boots

P.S. The White Stripes have broken up. Sadness.

I shall call him squishy, and he will be mine, and he will be my squishy

2011-02-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had some time to kill at the mall. First, I bought a full-sized tripod (woo hoo! Taking pictures is a breeze now!) at Target. Then I rejoiced over the fact that swimsuits are in the stores again, not because I want to buy one or have any reason to wear one, but because their appearance means spring and summer really do exist and one day will come again. I also knew that if I took my time and looked very carefully, I would find one other item to buy along with my tripod. See, the thing about Target is, if you take the time, you can always find one major, irresistible, totally worth it deal. After browsing through women's clothing and a cursory look at several other departments (so many good shoes right now), I hit my favorite spot: the little girls' department. And sure enough, tucked away in the corner, at the clearance end of the socks and tights, I found these lovelies. Purple, knit, striped tights. They even have sparkly parts! I actually spent several minutes debating between purple and pink, because both were amazing. And the price? $1.98. I win at life.

Look! I'm wearing my coat for once!

A funny thing happened while taking my pictures today. I kept hearing a small, strong, persistent whack! sound a little ways away from me. On the way back to my car, I stumbled on this little guy, hammering away at an old electrical pole. As you can see, he's made some pretty major dents! I walked by slowly and carefully, managing to get pretty close. I'd say at one point I was around 5-7 feet from him. Nature is cool and stuff!

The first picture is with my camera fully zoomed, the second is with no zoom at all.

American Eagle cardigan, PacSun skirt, Target tights, Old Navy shoes, necklace I've had since 2nd grade with mom's pendant from high school

I ate everything in the minibar while you were asleep.

2011-02-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

It's one thing for a holiday to take away some of our most promising color combinations. Already we are discouraged by tradition from wearing red with green, orange with black, or red, white and blue. But I refuse to let fast food and condiments keep me from pairing red with yellow. Let's face it: these two colors look awesome together. You can bring up McDonald's or ketchup and mustard all you want, I am still going to stand by this necklace choice.

I'm almost never influenced directly by outfits I see other bloggers wearing, but after I saw Annabeth in this getup I couldn't get the red sweater/shirtdress combo out of my head. So getting dressed was actually a breeze this morning, since someone else essentially picked out my outfit. I went a different way with the shoes, which are open-toed, ensuring you would all be witness to the growing hole in my black tights. Well, actually you never would have known except I took a picture to show you and made sure to point it out. Isn't it part of being a blogger to wear your holey tights as if it's on purpose, and chuckle sympathetically when a normal person mentions it because, well, they just don't understand? Oh, I have a rip you say? Silly misguided citizen, I am above caring about such pedestrian trivialities!

This is me not caring

New York and Company handed-down sweater, Labels consignment dress, old holey tights, Candies heels from Kohl's, vintage necklace from an antique store

Love's not a competition, but I'm winning

2011-01-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

Did anyone else absolutely hate January? It's trying to redeem itself by gracing us with sunny (and totally freezing) weather, a nice contrast to almost constant rain and dreariness. But I for one am glad to see the end of it.

I managed to have one of those magical epiphanies while getting dressed this morning that allowed me to utilize not one but TWO difficult pieces I love but can never figure out how to wear. The first is this pretty floaty pink button-up that is a bit boxy untucked, too short too tuck into jeans, and simply doesn't go with any of my skirts (or so I thought). The second is a pretty floaty white beaded skirt that is rather too big. I ended up loving the combo once I belted the skirt up to make it high-waisted and paired it with the button-up. Unfortunately, I was so distracted by lighting difficulties and freezing cold, hand-numbing temps that I was unaware my skirt had loosened and was hanging to my knees in most of my pictures, and the waistline had dropped below my belt on one side. Grrrrr. At least the first picture shows what I was going for! I think I'll try this combo again once warmer weather lets me go without tights, and I can feel my fingers (which is helpful when trying to adjust one's skirt and belt).

American Eagle button-up, mom's old belt, Wet Seat skirt, old tights, Steve Madden flats

Will there be a tomorrow?

2011-01-29T22:36:00.000-08:00

I wasn't going to post today, but the success of my latest tights layering was worth documenting. I started with my bright blue pair, and put my favorite green floral pair on top. My legs look sort of like upholstery.

Gap sweater from Goodwill, vintage dress from Goodwill, blue Target tights, green Charlotte Russe tights

Are We Having Fun Yet?

2011-01-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am officially coining the term "Feel Drab? Dress Fab!" since it totally completely describes my mood and outfit today. Also it rhymes, sooooo...bonus! If you read my How I Get Dressed posts yesterday, you know that I tend to work my outfit around one foundational item. I was about this close (imagine I am holding my thumb and forefinger about half an inch apart for illustrative purposes) to skinny jeans, my version of an I Give Up day, when for some reason I put on this black bodycon dress I've had for over a year and have only worn about three times. It's just too tight, too fancy, too short, too...well, too awesome. Why should I punish the poor dress for its virtues? All I had to do was add a grandpa cardigan (it IS winter after all, cold and pouring down rain).

In accordance with my Feel Drab Dress Fab motto of the day, I also decided to pile on the accessories, since I'm normally pretty minimal. That didn't go as well. As you can see, I am wearing two necklaces. I know, I know. Somebody stop me, I'm outta control!

Trouve cardigan from Value Village, Silence + Noise dress from Buffalo Exchange, old tights, socks from Labels (consignment), New York and Company wedges, Forever 21 and Goodwill necklaces

How I get dressed, part 2

2011-01-27T18:57:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of the rule of three? It's traditionally known as a literary device, in which things that come in threes are the most effective at conveying what the author is trying to say. But aside from storytelling, it actually applies in all kinds of situations. In fact, many shoe stores have a rule of three. When the salesperson brings you the size you want in a certain shoe, they are also required to bring two other pairs shoes--one similar to the pair you requested, and a third sort of wild card option.

Well, this rule can actually do wonders for your remixing options. In today's first post, I showed you the suede skirt I wanted to wear today. In building an outfit around on particular piece, I often use a rule of three type approach to stying it. I sort of went in a more rule of two direction today, to be honest, but the same principles apply. First, I put on my skirt and then thought about my options for what to wear on top. The last two times I wore it, I chose a patterned spaghetti strap blouse and then a graphic t-shirt. In the interest of avoiding outfit retread I decided to try a cotton blouse with sleeves and floral print and a plain white button-up, both very different from the tops previously worn with this skirt.

I like both tops, and could have worked with either. I went with my instinct and chose the white one. For whatever reason, I just felt more inspired by it. Remember, there is no one right or wrong outfit. It's all about experimenting and creativity and fun.

Next, I needed another layer on top. Normally I would go with a cardigan, so I glanced at my options:

Nothing jumped out at me, and I've already done the cardigan look twice with this skirt, so I considered other options. I'd noticed my denim jacket when pulling the skirt from my closet, and thought I should try it. Turns out it hit an awkward spot right where the skirt flares out, so that was a no. Next, I grabbed my little boy's section Goodwill blazer, and liked the silhouette and structure it added.

Getting close now! Since it's winter, I for sure need some tights on those practically translucent legs. Plus, I'm looking a little like I'm wearing some sort of school/work uniform here, so I need something off the wall to mix it up. I choose two options...purple with black layered over, or green textured floral. Going back to the rule of three, opaque black is the standby third option in case neither look good. But essentially, I'm confident the green will work since I wear them with everything, and they are super versatile. So black and green are my one and two choices. Both are versatile and go with just about anything, the outcome is unsurprising. The third, wild card option is purple and black layering. And since I most want to wear the purple and black I try them first. I know if they look good I won't try any of the others on, since putting tights on and taking them off is super annoying and I avoid it if at all possible. Thankfully, the combo looks great and I decide to go for it.

Now on to shoes! This is the easiest and hardest part, since shoes are so easy to take on and off, so I sometimes go crazy and try on tons.

Today I did a very strict rule of three shoe session. Option one is very basic and is the pair I most want to wear with this outfit in theory. I try them on to make sure they actually do look good. They do!

Option two is another basic pair that go with just about anything, and in theory will look good with this outfit. In reality, they make me look kind of frumpy, especially from the side. No go.

Option three is totally different from the last two, and I have no idea if they will look good. They don't. Something about the bright purple with the leopard print doesn't sit right with me.

So it's back to option one. And that's it! I'm done for the day. I ended up throwing on some earrings and a pin as well, which you can see in my outfit post today. Overall, this took just a few minutes. I rarely spend more than ten or fifteen minutes total on my outfit, even though I'm starting from scratch. Maybe you like to throw something on and go, and that sounds like too much of a time investment for you. If so, the rule of three can still work for you when pre-planning and trying on outfits. It may encourage you to pick an item that doesn't seem obvious and end up with a totally new, creative outfit you've never considered before. Personally, I don't mind the time investment, since the rest of my morning routine is very basic. I've never understood people who can spend forever doing their hair. My max is five minutes--blowdry or put up in braids is as fancy as I get. If you spend lots of time on your hair, I can understand why you wouldn't want to put the time into dressing from scratch in the morning. My makeup routine in super fast and minimal as well, so I feel okay with spending a little extra time staring into my closet or going back and forth to the mirror with one pair of shoe after another.

So there it is everyone. My alternative dressing plan. Don't feel like the three rule is strict...if I really love the first thing I try on, I often keep it and spend more time on other parts of my outfit. And you can surely try more than three options in any case. I think the most important thing to remember is to go with your instincts and push yourself. If you have one plain-colored cardigan you wear all the time and looks great with all your skirts and dresses, don't reach for it first. Try a couple you're unsure about, and if they don't work out, you know you have a backup. Save the reliable standbys for days when nothing else works. I guarantee that, with time, you will start to see a multitude of new possibilities in the clothes you already have, and recognize gaps in your wardrobe that need to be filled. You will shop better because you'll know what works, but you'll also be less afraid to try something new. What's the worst that could happen? The fitting room mirror will mock you? It won't look good? No problem! On to the next. Fashion and style should be fun and crazy and whimsical and courageous.

What's something you've bought or worn that you never thought would work until you tried it on? I want to know! Leave me a comment, or let me know some of your favorite tips for getting dressed!

The Final Product

2011-01-27T15:52:00.000-08:00

If you read my post from earlier today, you know that I started my outfit with the purple suede skirt I'm wearing, and the rest was chosen though a process which I will describe in my next post. But you don't have to wait to see the final product, cause this is it! I feel pretty good about how it turned out. It's not earth-shattering, but I tried something new with the mixing of purples and took another shot at doubling up my tights. I thought the black textured tights toned down the brightness of the neon purple ones really well. For anyone out there who has trouble styling colored tights, this might be a good way to ease in. You get a peek of the color without feeling to muppet-y, and you'll make even a boring outfit way spiffier! Overall the items I wore today were super basic, and I would have gone a totally different way to avoid looking too plain (boring), but the tights felt like just the right amount of crazy. One of my goals in wearing this skirt again was to try something really different from how I've styled it before, and I think I accomplished that. Do you agree? Check out the other versions here and here.

Goodwill blazer, Target clearance button-up, Wilson's suede skirt from Labels consignment, purple Betsey Johnson tights, black JC Penny tights, Kenneth Cole Reaction boots

How I get dressed, part 1

2011-01-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

I was reading Kendi's post today, part 5 of her "Create a Working Closet" series. All the posts she's done for this series are so well-written, practical, and for a lot of people, really helpful. She discusses how to eliminate unnecessary items from your wardrobe, how to shop intentionally, and gives tips for picking outfits in advance. The series has been very successful, and I'm sure there are a lot of people who will put her advice into action.

I will not be one of those people.

For me, fashion has ALWAYS be spontaneous and organic. I am a procrastinator. I don't do lists. I hate planning stuff. And this doesn't only apply to what I wear, it's all aspects of my life. In school, I did everything last minute, especially papers or writing assignments. I would stay up the night before, clacking away at the keyboard until I was done. And it was glorious. I sacrificed perfect grammar, since I didn't have the time or perspective to properly edit, but the quality and creativity level were always far superior when working under pressure. The best ideas and decisions in my life always come organically, and in the moment. Screw schedules. To heck with checklists. It's just not me.

I have no problem with people who need organization and order, in fact, I rather envy them. And while I do thrive in spontaneity, I keep my living space tidy and clothes/projects neat. But I feel like someone needs to say that it's okay to do fashion and style in the moment. I'm 27 years old, and I know myself well enough to know I will never function by planning my outfits in advance. In fact, it seems crazy to me. How will I possibly know what I want to wear tomorrow, much less a week from now? Just as there are many different ways to wear one item of clothing, there are many approaches to getting dressed. So I thought I would share my process with you as an alternative to the sketch/plan/list in advance approach. Spontaneous dressing doesn't have to be stressful or time-consuming, as long as you take a very intentional approach to your closet.

This is the first thing I see when I start getting dressed:

First of all, it's important not to get overwhelmed by possibilities. I always start with one thing I want to wear that day. It's usually a skirt, dress, or pants, since I find that's the easiest starting place for me. Today, I wanted to wear my purple suede skirt I got secondhand last month. Sometimes I might decide the night before the starting garment, but it's never set in stone, and I just go with my instincts in the morning when I open my closet. In this case, I pulled out my skirt and got started

As for the rest, I don't want this post to be too long, so I'm going to break it into 2 parts. Come back later for the rest of my process...which is pretty much the whole process since at this point I've only picked out one item! And remember, my way might not work for you either, but the biggest tip I can give you is to have some sort of blueprint for how you get dressed. It may be as simple as starting to pay attention to what you're doing in the morning and repeating the techniques that work while eliminating those that cause frustration. And don't feel pressure to fit into anyone else's idea of the "right" way to get dressed. Change and growth can be good, and maybe trying out some new techniques will improve your style and morning routine. But clothes are so utterly personal, and ultimately you are the one looking into that closet, choosing each item, and walking out the door. Don't be afraid to try, experiment, and fail. But just make sure you pay attention to what causes each failure as much as what causes success. Even this small step will put you well on your way to figuring out what's best for you.

I hope this was helpful to some of you! Part two will be posted later today!

Don't be a fool like the rest of us

2011-01-26T20:05:00.000-08:00

I have had this weird headache all day. Not major, just annoying. I actually got it yesterday. On top of that, I was feeling kinda generally bummed out, and Joe was feeling stressed out yesterday as well. So I made potato soup and did a whole lot of nothin' on my laptop while Joe spent about an hour tidying and organizing my apartment. Yeah...I'm a lucky girl.

So, I first saw the double-tights technique a few weeks ago on weardrobe, and I've been wanting to try it ever since. Today was a good opportunity, so I layered my lacy blue pair on top of plain gray, and got this:

I love it! My legs were pretty warm, and it added depth an interest to my outfit. I'm kind wanting to try these same blue ones with the neon magenta Betsey Johnson pair I inherited from my old roommate. Or my black patterned ones. WHAT, two patterns, you can't do that!!!! Well, look out cause I just might.

I forgot my tripod today, so when I was snapping pictures I had to be a little creative to get a decent head-to-toe shot. I ended up setting my camera in its side (it's too thin to stand on its own) and setting a rock on the wrist strap to balance it. Precarious, but it did the trick.

Before I go, I just want to say thanks to Melrose for giving me this award:

I'm supposed to share 7 things about myself, so here it goes. 1. I am a major procrastinator. 2. Meh....I think I'll finish this tomorrow.

S'later!

Express cardigan, American Eagle t-shirt, Urban Outfitters skirt, delia*s blue tights, old gray tights, Blowfish shoes from Ross,, Macy's necklace I didn't get a very good shot of cause my hair is fluffy today

Because he said I could...

2011-01-26T19:33:00.000-08:00

This is Joe.

Bonus: new collages in my etsy store. More to come soon! Go there by clicking here.

Smile like you mean it

2011-01-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

American Eagle handed-down cardigan, dress from California, old tight, Payless Shoe Source heels, vintage earrings

When I started this blog, it was for me. I just wanted to keep track of my outfits, and maybe try to be a little more creative with my clothes. Slowly, over time, it evolved and I started seeking out other blogs, improving my posts, taking better pictures. I started to imagine that a creatively-based life was possible. That one day I could perhaps make a living off my passions. It all started with one dimly-lit photo on a mostly-blank web page.

If you just take one step towards your dreams, and keep on walking, it's amazing how everything changes. You will find inspiration. You will find courage.

I want to go to there

2011-01-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

The slightly tilted composition in these photos represents my feelings of insecurity and imbalance in an uncertain world. The path is my future, and the fact that I'm standing off the path means I am unwilling to begin the well-traveled journey to adulthood and responsibility.

That, or my camera was on an uneven surface.

When I wore this dress on Thursday, I knew I had to break it out again for the show I was going to play on Saturday night. I had been pretty uninspired and unsure about what to wear, but the polka-dots and full skirt were the perfect mix of girly, unfussy and classic, and there was nothing trendy or trying-too-hard about it. Joe and I opened for our friends' band with a quick acoustic set. It was the first time I'd ever played any of my original songs in front of an audience. It went pretty well, but afterwards I almost felt like it didn't happen. Time flies when you're on stage! I love singing and performing, so though it's nice to be done for now, I hope someday to have a band or at least a chance to do some songs again.

The rest of my weekend was pretty boring. Today it's pouring rain so I just went with jeans, but I'll try to muster the energy to take a quick pic. And the polka-dot dress will be retired for awhile now. Don't forget, you can buy it from my etsy store here! I promised it will be freshly laundered.

Goodwill cardigan, Pacsun cami, vintage dress, mom's old belt, JC Penny tights, Kohl's wedges

Shut it down.

2011-01-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

Tonight instead of Joe having to take the bus to school, he convinced me to come with him and hang out on my laptop since his class is only a couple of hours. Since my plans for going out for another woodsy photoshoot today got foiled by all-day pouring rain, I thought I could easily find a quiet little spot out of the way to get a few pictures, and then do a post while I was waiting. Turns out, the campus is pretty busy, even in the evening. I had more trouble than I thought finding a secluded, decently lit spot. Then I had to wait for Joe’s break so he could give me his password, so I entertained myself the only way I could think of for about ten minutes—playing around with editing my pictures. That’s why they’re a little fancier than normal today, though I used Windows Photo Gallery, so my selection of effects was pretty sparse.

This dress is actually for sale in my etsy store, and I've been wanting to style it and take some photos to add to the current boring shots of it hanging from a fence. And what better way to celebrate the adorable polka-dot print than with MOAR POLKA-DOTS! Serioulsy, did I even have the option to wear any shoes other than my matching blue polka-dot pumps? Throw in a dotted tank-top for good measure, and a vintage necklace to bring the nineties silhouette a little fifties flair, and now I'm considering taking out of my store and not letting any of you out there have it.

Listing is here.

American Rag clearance cardigan, delia*s tank top, vintage dress, old tights, Kensie girl clearance shoes, vintage necklace

I know that I'm a mess that he don't wanna clean up

2011-01-19T16:22:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I start to feel a bit strange about the topics of my blog posts. It's all, this is where I took my pictures today, blah blah blah, here's some stuff about my outfit, yada yada yada. It starts to feel a bit narcissistic after awhile. But when I read other blogs, I am usually pretty interested in that stuff, so maybe I'm being overly self-conscious. At any rate, I'm going to split the content of today's post between myself and an unrelated topic that interests me. First thing first, bored with the normal locations and in possession of a rare profusion of daylight, I stopped off for an outdoor photo session. The dress is actually much longer, I folded down the top part and hiked the skirt up, turning it into a neckline. I've done this a couple of other times, here and here.

In other news, have you heard that Starbucks is releasing a new size called the "Trenta"? A lot of people are calling it overkill, since it holds 916 ml, and the average stomach is only 900 ml. But to give a little perspective, it's about 31 oz, which is smaller than the large size at most fast food restaurants. I personally think all drink sizes are out of control, and Joe and I frequently chuckle when we order a "small" beverage and are handed a cup so big I could probably stick my whole foot into it. Of course, it's my theory that Starbucks and all other coffee shops in the US are pulling one over on us with the iced drinks. I'm pretty sure that each cup contains the exact same amount of liquid, and they just proportionally increase the amount of ice to fill in the extra space.

There is one personal perk I'm looking forward to with the nationwide release of trenta-sized cups in May. Since the tap water where I live is pretty gross, Joe and I often order a venti water whenever we stop at Starbucks and sip it for the rest of the day. Now that I'll be able to get a trenta water, the free delicious water will last me 400 ml longer.

Blazer from Goodwill (boy's size 6), Ross dress, Betsey Johnson tights from Ross, Target boots, mom's old belt, Guess purse (Christmas gift)

It's the nuts of the tiger, the ennui of the fight...

2011-01-18T20:29:00.000-08:00

For those of you who read my 5 random facts post, you know I am in the midst of a no-shampoo experiment. My hair is reaching maximum grossness after about a week and a half without shampoo or conditioner, and though I vow to push through in hopes the promised future improvement/magical non-greasiness, for now I am forced to use braids and updos to disguise the increasing unpleasantness which is my current hair. I plan to implement another baking soda application this weekend, since it helped a lot last time.

Meanwhile, today's post is brought to you by an evening spent in Joe's apartment. Consider this a tour, since this the entirety of the space he alone has access to. His building is dorm-style, and he shares a bathroom with one other person and and kitchen with three. Note the plethora of highbrow poster art and the cool retro sleeper couch from Urban Outfitters. And my can of Mucho Mango, which despite being labelled quite clearly as 99 cents actually cost 67 cents. WhhaaaaT? Yep, I totally scored. I even treated myself to an additional can of lemon iced tea.

Here I am drumming. I'm totally good and stuff.

Nope. Not. I suck actually.

Target cardigan, New York and Company top, Celebrity Pink jeans from Buffalo Exchange, vintage boots from Labels (consignment)

Double Decade Dressing

2011-01-17T14:25:00.000-08:00

Well, everyone, it seems that retro flared jeans are making a major comeback. Last week especially it seemed like they were everywhere I looked. So today when I was in the mood for an outfit that was stylish in appearance but pajama-esque in comfort, I hopped on the bandwagon.

I've had these jeans for awhile, but they don't get a lot of wear because they're ever so slightly baggier than I normally like. They were a pretty major score--$30 at my favorite secondhand store. What, that doesn't sound like a very good deal to you? Well, what if I told you that they're 7 for All Mankind? New, these would be two hundred dollars minimum. And while I used to scoff at those who would spend so much on simple denim, I have been somewhat converted. These are by far the softest, comfiest jeans I have ever worn.

The other day my good blogfriend Laurel at Trophy Boutique tagged me in a 5 random facts post. So here's five random facts about me:

1. I love french fries and almost any potato-related food. I can discuss at length the merits of the french fries served at just about any fast food chain. As a baby, my first words were mama, dada, baba (bottle), and fri-fries.

2. I am turning into a music snob, but my love for Ashlee Simpson is unabashed. I own all three of her albums. The first one is the best, for sure, but Bittersweet World is more eclectic.

3. I went on a trip to Western Europe for three weeks with a student ambassador program in high school. We were supposed to only eat local cuisine to immerse ourselves in the experience, but whenever we had free time away from our chaperons we would make a beeline for American fast food. Pizza Hut and McDonalds have never tasted so good to me in my life. (Though to be fair, the best thing I ate on the trip was an authentic Belgian waffle with chocolate syrup and powdered sugar.)

4. I have a sort of fear of public bathrooms. Not multi-stall ones, but the kind that are one room that you have to lock yourself into. Every time I lock one of those doors I have a moment of panic that I won't be able to unlock it and get back out again.

5. For a little over a week, I have been experimenting with a no-soap, no-shampoo lifestyle. After reading two very honest and fascinating articles about it, and also hundreds of reader comments, I decided I would give it a try. It takes at least two weeks for your body to adjust, and so I can't give any kind of definitive assessment of its merits, but I have to admit I feel a lot cleaner than I thought I would. I still shower daily and have used baking soda on my hair once, since it's very greasy, as well as washing my face with warm water at night.

I hope you've enjoyed these strange and truly random insights into my life. I'll refrain from tagging anyone else, but feel free to participate if you feel like sharing!

Hollister sweater and 7 for all Mankind jeans from Labels consignment, Kensie girl pumps from Macy's

What's New in Pop Culture: Stuff I Watched on Hulu Today Edition

2011-01-14T23:26:00.000-08:00

Let's discuss Michel Gondry's career trajectory for a moment. He directed a bunch of stuff I know nothing about along with some cool music videos. Decent start. Then a little movie called Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind happened. Awesome. Some other stuff, including Be Kind Rewind (sweet movie) and an episode of Flight of the Conchords (seriously? I was unaware. I'll have to rewatch that episode. Sweet show). Then he chooses to direct the new Green Hornet movie with Seth Rogan. I will never understand why. Which takes us up to Thursday night, when he directed an episode of Jimmy Kimmel that was kind of great (except the heinous band). You should watch it.

Also, the IFC will be airing this:

A six-part comedy series with Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney and Fred Armisen of always being awesome. Except that Obama impression. Please stop that. Anyway, Portlandia is also available on Hulu.

I was particularly fond of the hide-and-seek sketch. In case you didn't catch it by the title, the series fondly mocks Portland culture. I may not live there, but I'm within half a day's drive away, and the town where I live seems to share a lot of similarities with the affectionately artsy, unambitious city they inhabit.

The dark days are...really not even close to being over, actually

2011-01-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

Bathroom photos today! Please, don't get too excited. It's a rare treat, I know.

I was wearing the tights Joe got me for Christmas today because many of my other pairs are in the laundry hamper. I kind of liked them with the heart-printed skirt, though I had not previously considered the combination. As I was hanging out in Barnes and Noble, waiting for Joe to have his lunch break, a vibrant older lady spied me and started gushing over the my tights. I thanked her, and then went about my business. Later, I was sitting in a chair reading and she happened to sit next to me. Once she recognized me again, she engaged me in a long and interesting conversation about all kinds of topics. Turns out she has a granddaughter who used to work for Kate Spade, and is now at Betsey Johnson, so she was rather up on fashion. It was fun talking to her, and I don't think I'll ever forget that random encounter. To anyone out there who says fashion and style are pointless, this is a little bit of proof for me that such a statement isn't true. A crazy or amazing garment/accessory can often be a perfect icebreaker. Style can bring people together, make us feel at ease with each other. Passion is passion, and we shouldn't devalue our interests because some people might see it as shallow.

On an unrelated note, some of you may remember me talking about all my cheap and/or secondhand furniture. In a couple of these shots you can see the Banana Republic cabinet I mentioned, which used to be a glasses display case at an opthalmologist's office. (The glass part on top the frames were displayed in has been removed.) And as a bonus, here's a gargoyle I bought in Paris near the Notre Dam and an issue of Poetry magazine that's supposed to make people think I'm cool and intellectual. They are sitting on my toilet tank.

Goodwill blazer from the boys department, Aeropostale t-shirt discarded by a friend, Sugar Lips skirt from Macy's, delia*s tights, vintage boots from Lables consignment, Goodwill necklace

girl in a cardigan Update

2011-01-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

New items in the etsy store! I'm starting to list some of my collages that have been sitting around forever, and I'm also working on a BRAND NEW piece that I can probably finish, today, actually.

5x7 "Always Be Prepared"

8x10 "Deadlines" (UPDATE: Sold!)

4x5 "Wildflowers"

All are listed at introductory prices, between eight and fifteen dollars. Go to the store HERE.

Winning is Everything

2011-01-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

Today at one in the afternoon I was making French toast in my bathrobe while watching 30 Rock on Netflix. Sorry, no photos to document my oh-so-productive morning. But I did get dressed just after that. Took about 3 shots outside before it became clear that it was too dark out and the wind was making my hair stick to my lipgloss.

I'm usually not the world's most adventurous dresser, at lease not by blogger/fashion industry standards. But today I give my outfit a six or seven on the weird scale. Green, purple, blue, suede on suede and yet ANOTHER Hot Topic t-shirt. I'm not sure what it is, but lately I've been hitting my stack of graphic tees pretty hard.

Any other children of the eighties out there who watched Jem ? Once in high school two of my friends and I went as Jem and the Holograms' evil nemesis band, The Misfits, for Halloween. Sample lyric to one of their songs: "Mischief, we're makin' mischief, makin' mischief. Yeah, we're really makin' mischief!"

We wore these exact outfits. I'm not much of a seamstress, but I did fashion a giant cotton zebra-print nightgown from Value Village into a skirt and collar for myself (I was Pizzazz, the green-haired one), and another collar for "Stormer" blue-hair on the right. We had the wigs, the weird face makeup, everything. Down to the one lime green sock Pizzazz would wear, though it's not pictured here.

May I recommend the "List of Jem characters" wikipedia entry to any and all? Makes me think the writers/creators were most certainly on some kind of drugs. Though it's kind of making me reconsider my "I'm not having kids" stance, just so I could have a daughter and name her Jerrica (like Erica, but with a J). It also informs me that a later addition to The Misfits was named "Jetta." Which is, unfortunately, no longer edgy or villanous sounding, but fortunately, is hilarious.

Goodwill Anne Taylor cardigan, Hot Topic t-shirt, secondhand Wilson's Leather skirt, Target tights, Target boots

I SAW 41 OWLS ON THE WAY HOME. This is big. Huge.

2011-01-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

Have any of you ever wondered where I get my weird and random titles from? Today's is brought to you by one of my favorite new discoveries, whenparentstext.com. I have literally read every submission they have. And the owl mention is oh so appropriate considering my shirt today. (Originally I was going to call this post "Owl always love you." Better? Worse?)

I needed something to spice up my uber-simple outfit today, so I'm breaking out the fuzzy boots. I only allow myself to wear them during the months of November through February, and they've been pretty highly ignored this year, so I decided to give them a spin. Also, my shirt was not only a Goodwill find, but my old roommate actually bought it and I once intentionally went into her dresser to find it and then never gave it back. If you're reading this, Tori, I still plan on letting you borrow the gray purse and I'm giving you my black knit hat so s'all good, right?

I know how popular owls are right now, so here's a close-up of the print, which is actually raised velour that feels nice when you touch it. Also, no one is allowed to touch it but me, cause that would be weird.

Thanks to all my commenters and my slowly growing number of followers. Remember, owl always love you!

Sorry.

Guess cardigan from Labels (consignment), Roxy t-shirt from roommate's drawer from Goodwill, Celebrity Pink jeans from Buffalo Exchange, Report boots for Christmas years ago, $5 Pike Place Market leather bracelet

I make awesome decisions in bike stores.

2011-01-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

In this photo, the shoes are purely for styling suggestion purposes. I've spent the past couple of days watching 30 Rock on Netflix and doing this:

In case you're wondering, I'm doing art

This is the actual footwear I've been bumming around in:

Picture taking was horrific today. Many weird face shadows and not wearing makeup today related problems. Now here's some pieces of possible future art:

Value Village cardigan, Goodwill dress (Target brand), JC Penny tights, Payless Shoe Source shoes, Gap slippers

You're Pretty Good Looking (for a girl)

2011-01-10T18:38:00.000-08:00

It's my 200th post! Woo hoo!

Hm. I already regret saying woo hoo, but I'm going to leave it.

I thought I would commemorate this fine moment in what will surely become a beloved, lucrative, highly famous blog very very soon (pretty please internet?) with my very first remix post. If you've been in my archives at all, you've surely noticed a certain item of clothing that makes very frequent appearances. I am wearing it today, in fact, and just posted it a few hours ago. It's my black mini with the secret snakeskin print. It's not actually secret, it's just that the skirt looks plain black in some photos, but it has a slightly shiny texture/print of snakeish persuasion all over it. See?:

I apologize that this is essentially a close-up of my butt. It was the best example I could find.

I've seen a lot of remix posts, and honestly I don't always get what qualifies an item as often-worn for some bloggers. Sometimes it comes off a bit like, "Look how thrifty I am! I've had this skirt a WHOLE YEAR and I've worn it four times!!!! I r so cool yah." And in my mind I'm thinking...if I had something for a year and wore it four times, that would mean I should probably get rid of it since it's not getting enough use.

I hope you all recognize that I'm exaggerating a bit here. And I in no way mean to criticize any ladies out there doing remix posts. Personally, I've simply noticed a discrepancy between what I consider "wearing something all the time" compared to what other people mean by it. So, without further ado, here are some ways I've mixed my snakey skirt.

Here is is in it's first appearance on my blog, in my fourth-ever post. Go here to see it...and get a taste of how much my blogging style has changed.

My devious memory card made this one come out wonky, but I kind of love it. Circa June last year.

The first time I ever took an outfit photo outside. Also my first time wearing two belts. From August.

I had just gotten these blue tights, and was in the middle of moving into my current apartment. September.

I tend to go kinda casual with this skirt, but it has lots of fancy-dressing potential. This was November.

A History of the Skirt: It was a skirt at Macy's. My mom and I went shopping one day. I tried it on. She bought it for me.

Fun Facts: 1.When I first got this skirt, I was just getting into more flowy, loose silhouettes, and tended to wear it with untucked t-shirts and cardigans. Now I more often go for a tucked in top. 2. My archives feature this skirt, by my count, 18 times. I estimate I've worn it at least twice as many times since last April, since I used to be pretty sporadic about picture-taking.

Thanks to everyone who's been with me so far, and I hope you'll stick around for the next 200 posts and beyond. U R so cool. I mean it!

Stephanie

Live every week like it's Shark Week

2011-01-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

I've worn this exact outfit three or four times over the past couple of weeks, and I really wanted to document it since I never, ever wear sweatshirts anymore. Somehow I managed not to get any pictures on those occasions, so I intentionally wore it again today and went out in the freezing cold and got photographic proof once and for all. I'm coming around to the idea of hoodies lately after a several year long moratorium on them, but what I really want is one without any print or logos on it. This one I got long ago when I used to work at Old Navy. It's one of my few pink items, and the lion on the back is killer. Unfortunately, it's usually covered up by the hood, so I showcased it for you.

Speaking of Old Navy, I was noticing the intentional imperfections on the hem of this garment, and it reminded me of a story. Some customers will try all sorts of tactics to get a discount when you work in retail, as I'm sure many of you know. One day I was working at the register and a lady brought up a women's striped polo shirt with similar holes and fraying at the hem. It was the "look" back then, and obviously (to most people) intentional. This particular customer, for whom English was not a primary language, kept pointing at the holes and insisting she should be able to purchase it at a discount, since it was damaged. I'm not sure why she would want to buy/wear a shirt she considered visibly worn and holey, if she wasn't aware of it as a trend, but I'm pretty sure I spent about ten minutes trying to convince her the shirt was supposed to look like that.

The snow that fell a couple of nights ago looks really pretty on the trees and such. Not so much on the grocery store and dumpsters. This is the best view I can get from my deck, though, so you'll look at it and you'll like it.

Old Navy sweatshirt, Macy's skirt, old tights, Target clearance flats

Disclaimer: this post is totally unrelated to fashion

2011-01-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Joe and I went back to our hometown to get in some decent practice for our upcoming show. We have been running through our set pretty much every day, but since we both live in apartments I can't sing the way I need to without really annoying anyone in an adjoining apartment. A friend let us use their house for practice and then we popped into a local coffee shop/pottery painting establishment where another friend works for an improptu practice show in front of about four or five people. We killed time walking around town, and found some funny items in an antique mall. Including a creepy doll (it was two or three feet tall)...

And this supposedly "antique" Space Jam cookie jar. And yes, careful observer, your are correct. That price tag does indeed say $85.

Then we hung out at the coffee shop until our friend Joe got off work. I know, it is very confusing and inconvenient of me to have a boyfriend AND a friend named Joe, but it can't be helped.

Friend Joe was telling us about a girl who came in that day that was so beautiful that she made his heart beat faster, and we chastised him for not talking to her. Turns out, she had been painting a mug and didn't finish, so she left it there to finish another day. So he left this note in the mug for her to find.

This is him reading the note aloud to me, Joe, and our friend Kirk (I'm totally sure he won't mind me posting this, even though I didn't ask if I could):

This is Kirk writhing on the ground, overcome by the awesome/awkwardness of it.

Friend Joe wasn't going to leave his phone number on the note, but after some cajoling he relented. WHAT WILL HAPPEN? Probably nothing, but he gets Awesomely Sweet and Kinda Dashing Guy of the Day Award in my book.

Who likes to rock the party? We like to rock the party.

2011-01-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

What to do with a cardigan handed off by a friend who was moving away, but is too big? Well, thanks to this post (which I just realized is from exactly one month ago) by Elaine at Clothed Much, the solution is simple: brooches. I tried it once already (see it here) and it worked out pretty well. This time I used three vintage pieces handed off to me by my mom instead of the Lord of the Rings gold leaf. It's nice to find a use for my brooches, since usually they just hang around in drawers or on my dresser, and no one gets to see them. My mom did get me a jewelry tree for Christmas, so they get to be displayed now, but jewelry is meant to be seen, worn, and loved. I usually wear very little in the way of accessories, so I've been trying to challenge myself lately and bring out one or two items here and there and get creative with how to wear them.

This is my "OMG, and then he was all, like, WHAT? and I was all..." pose

Lots of rain means pretty shiny streets and sidewalks.

Hey Now!

2011-01-06T16:53:00.000-08:00

Oops..its seems as though I have let the good lighting hours get away from me today. Here's a couple of hasty snaps so you can get an idea of my outfit. Yep, same tights as yesterday. What's that you ask? Have I washed them? Um, no comment. Also, I didn't wear them the WHOLE day yesterday. Only most of it.

I saw a craigslist posting that a local store downtown was hiring, so I decided to bring my resume down. In the ad, it asked specifically for those interested to put on a nice shirt and bring their favorite joke. I consider myself to be witty and sarcastic, but I don't do jokes very well. So I decided to kill two birds with one stone and wear a nice shirt with a joke on it. If this shirt gets me the job, I'm pretty sure I'll be really happy working there.

Since I don't have much photo-wise today, I thought I would satisfy some of your insatiable interest about my life (j/k, I know you're all ambivalent at best) and show you my version of a workspace. Presenting, me on my couch with a bunch of junk on my coffee table.

At least fifty percent of my blogging is done from bed. In that case, all this stuff would be on my nightstand

And, as another bonus, check out this screenshot I took from an episode of The Larry Sanders Show:

I know the quality's not very good, but I had to point out how very modern this character's 1992 outfit looked to me. The shirt is actually stretch lace, a trend I've seen all over the place the past few months. Then there's the flowy, ballerina-inspired tiered skirt, a belt fastened high on the waist, and lace-up boots with slightly pointed toes...and socks! I could have gotten some better stills of the outfit closer up, but I just had to get the boots in because they look straight out of this season's Urban Outfitters. Also, Janeane Garofalo was wearing a very blog-ready outfit of a red and black plaid dress, footless black tights and pointed-toe brogues, but I simply could not capture a still that was decent.

Sometimes it just kills me how the cyclical nature of fashion can make me long so much for clothes I once cringed over.

American Rag cardigan, Value Village t-shirt, Macy's skirt, JC Penny tights, vintage boots from Labels consignment

Because we separate like ripples on a blank shore

2011-01-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

The only stuff I've accomplished so far today is paying rent and eating soup. Actually, I went down to the office of the property management company that owns my building to make sure I didn't have a late fee (rent was due on the first. Oopsies!) and the receptionist was in a chatty mood. No late fee, today was the last day of the grace period, but we talked for almost fifteen minutes about divorce and fidelity and marriage.

I was feeling pretty uninspired this morning when I got dressed. More accurately, I was feeling uninspired this afternoon when I got dressed after sitting around in my bathrobe for a couple of hours, so I pulled out this dress, which I love and wear once a month or so. I try to switch it up each time, so I stayed neutral with the colors and put on a few more accessories than normal. I always feel that this dress is such a fun mix of contradictions, with its classic, retro shape, feminine roses, and whimsical little airplanes. I actually thought they were birds when I bought it, and was delighted to discover my mistake when I brought it home.

It was raining out today, so I opted for a stairway photo shoot. Not quite as good as the outside pictures, I know, but at least I got some natural lighting.

Target cardigan from Goodwill, Urban Outfitters dress from Buffalo Exchange, JC Penny tights, vintage boots from Labels consignment, F21 necklace, vintage rings

I think I'll call him "Poo-Paw"

2011-01-04T17:44:00.000-08:00

ring made by my dad in high school, other ring from Joe, rhinestone bracelet my grandma's (vintage), silver bracelet my mom's from high school, purple crystal bracelets a gift one year for Christmas

I'm kinda running out of stuff to watch lately. I don't have tv, so it's strictly Netflix and Hulu (free Hulu, not plus) and whatever else I can find online. One recent coup is that Joe and I discovered that TBS (which streams Conan, a personal fave) not only airs Seinfeld on their channel, but they also offer a rotation of five episodes at a time on their website. This is the only legal site I have ever found with Seinfeld episodes, so we have been making use of it. I've seen every one more times than I can count, but it still holds up. When I was in high school and college I knew the times when it would come on and what channels aired it in syndication, so I could catch between two and four episodes a day if I wanted!

Joe and I are pretty picky about tv, and though there are lots of movies in the instant watch queue, we don't get to those very often. My Office DVD's are dearly beloved, but they've seen more viewing than perhaps any other show I've ever watched. Parks and Recreation was brilliant in the second season, but the third doesn't even start for a couple of weeks. So the other day I was browsing through Netflix's instant watch tv comedy options, and noticed they had The Larry Sanders Show. I'd heard a lot about it, but since it was an HBO show from my childhood I had never seen a single episode. Turns out, it's fantastic! I can see how it was an influence on many of my favorite shows, such as those I've already mentioned. It's got Jeffery Tambor (from Arrested Development, another goodie) looking like Dr. Phil's long lost twin brother and a rather younger and more likeable Jeremy Piven than I've seen before, as well as a slate of nineties-era guest stars. It reminds me of a kinder, gentler Curb Your Enthusiasm (I never could get into that show), with a touch of Aaron Sorkin-esque clever wordiness to the dialog.

And while I'm on a roll talking about stuff I like, my mom got me some Bare Escentuals makeup for Christmas. Not the normal kit with foundation and stuff, but the Mineral Veil, blush, mascara, some eyeshadows, and lip gloss. Now, I'm not really a gloss kind of girl. I have a really hard time finding shades that look good on me. But of the five I got, three or four of them work well with my skin tone, and I've been wearing them almost every day! That's why I'm making the kissy face above--I'm trying to show you how nice it looks. Then I put the dorky one in next because I don't have nearly enough dorky photos considering that's one of my dominant personality traits.

Oh, and one more plug. My cousin got me this purse for Christmas. I love the color, and it looks so nice with my soft gray coat and slate ankle boots. My aunt and cousin kept telling me they had it in black as well, and I could return it for that color, but I don't have much purple in my wardrobe, so I was psyched to get it. I'll probably just wear it with all my various colored coats without regard for "matching."

PacSun cardigan (Billabong), Hot Topic t-shirt, Goodwill dress worn as skirt, Target tights, Kenneth Cole Reaction boots

Uhhh...something. Yeah.

2011-01-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

I wish I had a full size tripod, because there are so many potentially cool photo spots out here behind my building. I end up having to take really low angle shots, or balancing my camera in weird places.

I'm not sure how I've managed to get outside pics the past couple of days, since it's been inappropriately cold to go out in my coat and scarf-less getups. I don't really notice the temperature since I'm distracted figuring out where to stand and what to do and trying not to get noticed by anyone who manages to drive/walk by.

I wanted to make sure you all saw my vintage necklace. Every time I wear short, beaded necklaces like this I feel that it adds a certain housewifey vibe to my outfit, even if the rest of what I'm wearing is completely different. By the way, sorry about my hair.

And since I've been rambling on about my new coffee table, here it is! Usually there are laptops and mugs and such on it, but it's cold in my apartment and I'm holed up in my bed to conserve heat and also I'm lazy. Back to my coffee table, though, the drawers extend the whole width of it, so you can open it from either side! And I love that there's a shelf-type spot under that surface so I can display/store stuff without having it be in the way on the top.

Are any of you guys furniture nerds like me? Joe and I love fantasy shopping for our future house with our fantasy future riches. For now most of my pieces are cobbled together secondhand or mass-produced items from discount chain stores. The coffee table is from Overstock.com, and the couch is a hand-me-down from my aunt and uncle. I have Ikea shelves that were left by family friends in an apartment I used to rent, another shelving unit made by my dad from the doors of a closet organizing unit from Home Depot, and a dresser and nightstand from Fred Meyer. My TV stand is actually a fish tank stand I bought on clearance at Petsmart, deeply discounted because it was the display unit. A cabinet in my bathroom is the bottom section of a glasses display case that used to be in a ophthalmology clinic (it has the Banana Republic logo on it, and it's one of my favorite pieces). I could go on in this vein, but I'm sure it's not very interesting, so I'll stop now.

Old Navy cardigan, Target tunic, Buffalo Exchange jeans, Kenneth Cole Reaction ankle boots

We Wear Scarves

2011-01-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

Joe and I went for a walk yesterday to the nearby college campus, and it was terribly cold out so we took the chance to duck into a couple of the buildings to warm up. This particular one is brand new, and had a sign on the door warning all who might dare enter that the floor was freshly waxed and not be be tread upon. To be fair, we did test the finish and determined it was sufficiently dry before we chose to ignore the sign completely. And those floors sure were shiny. Just take a look at this:

Also, these shots finally gave me the chance to show you the coat I got for Christmas. I found it on a shopping trip with my mom and grandma to a nearby outlet mall. It's Anne Taylor, and while the original price was $180, the outlet price + sale price took it down to eighty flat. Not too shabby, eh? And the best part is that it's an XXS Petite, meaning it fits pretty well and the sleeves actually fall at a reasonable place on my arm. I've gotten so used to coat sleeves coming down to my knuckles that these actually felt strange to me at first.

Joe and I are on a constant search for a decent band name for when he starts looking for band members, but he's super picky. So usually we just throw out weird or silly things that we know are bad, but make us laugh. I can't tell you how many times one of us will say something random in conversation, and the other will respond "That's what you/I should name the band" or just "band name." Yesterday's reject was We Wear Scarves. Other previously rejected names include Grown Baby, Headfoot, Chair, Busy People, Sad Girl, Sad People, Girl People, and Seth Rogan's Laugh.

Anne Taylor Outlet coat, Fossil scarf, Charlotte Russe jeans, Target socks, Labels consignment vintage boots

Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew

2011-01-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

I am about to eat one of my most favorite meals. Potato Soup! I bought the ingredients last year (hahahaha see what I did there?) and I knew I had to get those potatoes cookin' or they were going to start sprouting. My mom used to make it for me a lot when I was little, and I've tweaked the recipe a bit for my grown tastes. I usually exclude the celery, use shallots instead of onion, and throw in a bit of garlic. And since I am in a perpetual lifelong struggle to not look freakishly thin, I put the bacon grease in the soup along with the bacon after I cook it. It is also vair vair cold in my apartment, so hot soup is going to be perfect.

I would turn on the heat, but I'm about to go back to Joe's apartment and work on music things because apparently I have just agreed be the opening act for my friends' band in three weeks. Have I sung in front of people before? Yes. But never my own songs. Speaking of which, I have pretty much only one song fully written, and about fifteen songs half to three quarters of the way done. And my guitar skills are so basic as to be almost embarrassing. So it should be pretty fun!

I am very sure that these grey tights don't match the stone/brownish color booties, but didn't I already tell you guys I'm going to be wearing them every day? So I wore them anyway. And lots of rings. All the ones pictured above are vintage, most from my mom. The green stone/gold ring was my great-grandmother's, the pearl and aquamarine ones are my mom's from high school, and the other one I've just had for awhile. It's origins are mysterious. Probably my mom bought it at an antique store.

That's all. Soup time!

American Eagle cardi, Urban Outfitters top, Pacsun skirt, old tights, Kenneth Cole Reaction shoes, vintage jewelry

I don't feel any different

2011-01-01T16:36:00.000-08:00

Well, my New Year's Eve was kind of a bust, but I hope the rest of you all had fun. Joe and I had plans with friends, but they all bailed at the last minute and so we just hung out at my place and had chips, salsa con queso, and Mike's Hard Lemonade. Then I stayed in bed until one and took a shower at three and took pictures with the last possible moments of daylight. There's hardly any foot traffic around here since winter break is still going, so I snuck out to the back entrance of my building for photos. Brrrrrrrz, it was chilly out there!

No real close-ups, I'm not really wearing makeup today. And my hair is still wet. And I grabbed a dress which was the closest possible to being the equivalent of wearing a t-shirt all day.

One cool thing about today is that my parents dropped off the coffee table they got me for Christmas! I couldn't take it home in my car, so I had to wait until they could make the trip with my dad's truck. I haven't had a coffee table in over a year. It's one of those things you kinda take for granted until you don't have one, and then you realize what a valuable function it serves. At my last house, my roommate and I used a giant Rubbermaid tupperware storage container, and since I've moved here I had only a tiny table that's about 1 1/2 feet long on each side. The luxury of being able to set my laptop and a plate and my phone and my camera all on one surface and still have extra space is astonishing to me now.

This morning I took down my little Christmas tree, since New Year's Day is my personal deadline for Christmas decoration removal. So any of you out there either procrastinating or caught in the throes of holiday sentimentality, I suggest you get over it. Everyone is judging you. I think I have decoration removal issues, since when I was in high school this house put out a jack-o-lantern printed garbage bag full of leavesin their yard in October, and didn't get rid of it for at least six months. I had to pass that thing every day. It made me so mad every time I saw it. Also, this hotel in a nearby town put up one of those giant yard inflatables a couple of years ago. Not a Christmas one--a turkey. A giant inflatable turkey. That stayed up well into the next summer. When it was mostly deflated. Did I mention that this hotel is skeevy and creepy and looks like it probably functions as a front for drug deals and prostitution?

So, yeah. Take down your Christmas stuff. It will make me feel better.

Gap Outlet cardigan, Labels consignment dress, Delia*s tights, Kenneth Cole Reaction ankle boots (yes, again)

girl in a cardigan Update

2010-12-31T17:07:00.000-08:00

Hi guys! The new year is coming, and while I don't really do resolutions, I'm definitely feeling the motivation vibes from all of you out there. So I've updated my etsy store, *girl in a cardigan*, with a couple of new items, and will be adding every couple of days this week until I get everything listed that's lying around my apartment. Stop on by and take a look, tell your friends, maybe even find a treasure for yourself! The vintage barrettes above are only $5!

What home can be considered complete without a vintage horse accent rug? Not yours, am I right?

And an oldie but a goodie, these vintage red suede pumps have been in the shop since November, and I can't believe they haven't found a home yet! They're in awesome shape, you guys, and are Italian. Size 8.

I'd love it if you all would take a look at my wares. What's your favorite item? Drop me a comment and let me know! I'm contemplating a giveaway when the store is complete, so convince me. Get there by the link in my sidebar, or click here.

Happy New Year soon!

Bazinga!

2010-12-30T22:52:00.000-08:00

My sidekick Paige came and spent the night at my place last night. I used to be her babysitter way back in the day, but now she's fourteen and in a band and taller than me and stuff so we're pretty much at equal coolness levels now. She also likes editing pictures so these first few are courtesy of her skills.

We were walking downtown and I pointed out a bridal shop, and she insisted we go in. It was actually pretty cool, and we found some irresistible tiaras. The one I'm wearing is just a very simple design, but I loved it so much I've bookmarked it mentally. I think wearing it with my hair down would be pretty and simple, just my taste. We also stopped at a few local shops including Buffalo Exchange, which never fails to deliver something awesome. Paige left with this cool Kensie cardigan that's kind of cape-y.

She's back home now, but it was fun to get to spend such an extended amount of time together. We don't get to do that very often anymore. Now I'm just hanging out at Joe's place. We're listening to Smashing Pumpkins together with his two new headphone sets, and he's on his brand new Macbook Pro, a Christmas present from his family. Jealous. What? Who said that? Not me. I've got my awesome HP whatever that's fat and heavy and runs Vista. What's there to be jealous of?

I made this necklace last week. It's actually red, not orange. Soon to be in the etsy store!

Also I wore rings today.

Value Village cardigan, Gap via Value Village t-shirt, handmade necklace, Celebrity Pink via Buffalo Exchange jeans, various rings

Feathers

Oh hey guys!

Can't find enough pots and pans, let alone knives in my kitchen, to keep you cookin'

You smell like pine needles, and have a face like sunshine!

Future Starts Slow

Love's Old Song

Country lanes lead to fields

Dude Style: Part Three

And that's why you always leave a note

The slow fade of love

I made them into a dream spider

Doubt is the big machine

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

Dude Style: Part Two

You are my sweetest downfall

This is not my idea of a good time

Dude Style: Part One

You used to be alright, what happened?

We we we so excited

I am large, I contain multitudes

Cheap and Cheerful

Good Grief

So no one told you life was gonna be this way

How You Doin'?

Rookie of the Year: Hailee Steinfeld

It's not easy finding green (in my wardrobe)

Throw it over

Oscar Dresses: So What?

Slowly we unfold as lotus flowers

Threat Level Midnight

Stop in the name of pants

Waaaaaaaaalt!

Don't tell me what I can't do

The second button literally makes or breaks the shirt

The spoils

Practical Style Guide: Thrifting

Come on, come on, come on. Get through it.

DIY skinnies: a sewing adventure

Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day, Everyone!

Don't forget to John Locke the front door.

We're Going to Be Friends

We have to go back

I will just...destroy you

I can't be distracted

In the cold, cold night

Most actors aren't bright, so it has to be simple

When you're in your little room, working on something big...

I shall call him squishy, and he will be mine, and he will be my squishy

I ate everything in the minibar while you were asleep.

Love's not a competition, but I'm winning

Will there be a tomorrow?

Are We Having Fun Yet?

How I get dressed, part 2

The Final Product

How I get dressed, part 1

Don't be a fool like the rest of us

Because he said I could...

Smile like you mean it

I want to go to there

Shut it down.

I know that I'm a mess that he don't wanna clean up

It's the nuts of the tiger, the ennui of the fight...

Double Decade Dressing

What's New in Pop Culture: Stuff I Watched on Hulu Today Edition

The *dark* days are...really not even close to being over, actually

*girl in a cardigan* Update

Winning is Everything

I SAW 41 OWLS ON THE WAY HOME. This is big. Huge.

I make awesome decisions in bike stores.

You're Pretty Good Looking (for a girl)

Live every week like it's Shark Week

Disclaimer: this post is totally unrelated to fashion

Who likes to rock the party? We like to rock the party.

Hey Now!

Because we separate like ripples on a blank shore

I think I'll call him "Poo-Paw"

Uhhh...something. Yeah.

We Wear Scarves

Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew

I don't feel any different

The dark days are...really not even close to being over, actually

girl in a cardigan Update

girl in a cardigan Update