all this happiness

Wishful Thinking.

2012-01-27T15:55:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the internet. I love it a lot, but these days there are so many vehicles for collecting and sharing things we love and are inspired by, that a lot of my links end up all over the place. My tumblr favorites are out of control (I try to go through and edit them every few weeks, but there are still thousands of posts in there), so I started to use pinterest as a means of making those a bit more searchable, but honestly that hasn't made it that much better. I bookmarks things, star them in my google reader, but eventually they all become so full that I can't really find anything. When holidays or birthdays come up I never know what I want, because I'm certain I saw something, but heaven only knows where that link is buried.

Maybe this will help. I try not to spend too much money most of the time, and generally I'll sit on a purchase for a few weeks before making it (thrifting and food not included) to make sure it's something worth it. Here are a few things I've been eyeing and might hand over my pennies for if there's anything left over after that next paycheck!

1. I've been much more interested in watches this year, and this initial watch caught my eye a few weeks ago. Most of my watches don't actually work (somehow, I kill watch batteries) but I like the look of them. On the downside, the letter K is sold out in this one, but I could always go with my middle initial and snag the S. And it's from Urban Outfitters. On the upside it's cute, and cheap (but I hate paying for shipping).

2. I have a pile of tote-bags that is to-my-knees high, but none with a cat on it. How adorable is this black cat tote? Maybe someday I'll graduate to real grown-up purses, but it is not this day.

3. I've felt kind of lukewarm about Madewell for a while now, but I want almost everything that's come out in their spring line. Especially the shoes, and especially these polka-dot flats. Polka-dots, for goodness sake. This is the one purchase from this list I might actually make sometime soon.

4. I feel a little weird posting a bra on here, although I'm not sure why. Whatever. It's pretty, it's mint green, and I want it. I'm also pretty sure the only thing holding me back from ordering things like this (because the price is reasonable, really) is shipping. I really, really hate shipping, totally irrationally.

5. It was just listed this morning, but I'm a little obsessed with this cat brooch. Someone should buy it before I do.

6. Emily's book is available! Once I get my hot little hands on some extra pennies I have plans to buy this for ~~myself~~ some little kids I know who might just love it. I'm a little bit sad that I can't live in her illustrations, so I suppose this is the next best thing!

7. Ever since Anabela posted the contents of her beautifully curated purse I've been lusting after this wallet. I think I've actually pulled it up on my phone and showed three separate people. It will be mine, I am certain. Mostly because I need a proper adult wallet instead of the flippy thing I've been using that I can't actually fit anything in, and that I have affixed a cat sticker to, but also because between the texture and color I also kind of want to eat it.

8. I could lie and say oh yes, I would like to purchase this tie for John, but really I want it for me. Maybe I could get him the other color, but the pink/khaki is definitely singing some kind of siren song to me.

My next post will be less rampant materialism and more dressing up for a day out by recycling things in my closet. I'm trying to hem something at the moment, but I'm a bit worried that I've cut it too short, so wish me luck!

Going Outside was a Bad Idea.

2012-01-19T22:55:00.003-05:00

Skirt: thrifted, Blouse: Forever21, Cardigan: estate sale, Beret: now-defunct French shop in Woodstock, Shoes: J. Crew

In hindsight, I probably would not have chosen today to do an outfit post. It was bone-cold today, windy, the kind of day when I usually do my best to stay inside at all costs. Nevertheless, coat came off (because I knew I was not going to have the wherewithal to stand around and take pictures of that too) and I ducked out of the car to grab a few outfit shots. As a result we've got half-closed eyes and strange hands. It was all I could manage, and confirmed to myself that the milder weather posts are usually my favorites because there's a freedom of movement in nice weather that just doesn't exist in the cold.

I broke a rule when I bought this skirt. No more grey wool skirts, I said. You have enough, I said, pawing through the racks. But nope, this one I needed. I might shorten it, to make it a bit more distinctive, just to the knees so it's still on the long side but a bit less difficult to pair with coats.

It wasn't really warm enough for it anyway, but it looked sunny when I got dressed, so I suppose this might be a repeat outfit for a day when things are warming up. If I can just make it through February, I think I'll be alright. But goodness, do I miss the green. I'm thirsty with longing for some vegetation in the world.

This bag is another of my mother's estate sale finds. It's vintage B. Altman, and one of the most delicious purses I've ever seen. It's small, but sneaky, because I can fit just about everything I need in it (well, almost. Extra shoes don't quite stuff inside, but I can usually fit my phone, rosebud salve, wallet, two lipsticks, bobby pins--everywhere, an extra scarf, my keys, and some other little odds and ends that have no point but it's good to be prepared for every eventuality).

You might also have noticed a little house-keeping going on around here! I'm slow, and my layout skillz are not fantastic, but I'll get everything filled in eventually, and until then, I hope you'll hang in there with me!

The New Uniform.

2012-01-10T23:56:00.000-05:00

I have a few uniforms this winter, even though the season has only just begun (and it's a mild one so far), all variations on a theme. Somehow I've little patience anymore for being cold. I used to wear flats in cold weather and just let my feet be a little bit frozen if I was just hopping in the car to go to work, but this year I pile on the socks with a vengeance. My skirts are longer and wool, sometimes I'll wear two sweaters at once, and suddenly I'm interested in muted colors. Like the outfit below, and in this one, I've been shying away from brighter colors in recent weeks. I might just be armoring up for the winter I know is coming (for the record, I don't watch Game of Thrones, but I know that's some sort of reference).

Skirt: Thrifted, Sweater: Charter Club circa 2010, Shirt: J. Crew, Boots: Nine West circa 2006

I also really need to get myself a remote. It's dreadful taking pictures by yourself, especially since I've gotten used to someone else taking them.

I'm in the mood for less fuss lately. I haven't bothered with eyeliner in a good two weeks or so (that is probably a terrible misjudgment, it's probably more like several days). I'm taking the minimal approach to hair, letting it go unbrushed and trying to only wash it when it seems like I'm venturing into raised by wolves territory. Aren't we supposed to be hibernating anyway?

Sweater Love.

2012-01-09T23:16:00.001-05:00

My parents, in particular my mother, are really good at estate sales. When I was younger we used to go every weekend in the summer for hours, until I got to a point when I was sick to the teeth of waking up and going. These days estate sales are different, and I often don't even bother with them. Besides the fact that my days when sleeping in are scarce, and sleep usually outweighs anything else, it's getting harder to find the kinds of things that I want at estate sales.

But a few weeks ago my parents hit estate sale heaven, and my mother brought home all kinds of treasures that I'll show off here little by little. One of them was this sweater. The woman who knitted it was certainly an artist, as evidenced by all her other work my mother scooped up, of textile.

If you've been around since last October, you know that I've been fixated on the aesthetic of Never Let Me Go, and my mother marveled at all the hand-knit sweaters the kids wear in the beginning of the movie, and knowing my inexplicable, tragic love for the movie and book, she knew this sweater fits right in. It's really quite amazing, with lovely little details at the shoulders and wrists which I'll have to photograph at some point.

It's hands-down my favorite sweater of the year. It's the perfect subdued-blue color, a little shrunken, and warm.

2011: In Review.

2011-12-31T00:03:00.000-05:00

I sort of can't deal with this year. Not that anything particularly bad happened in it, but rather that it has flown by so fast that I'm having a hard time conceiving the fact that it's over. Even on a day-to-day basis I'm constantly shocked that it's already the afternoon! By Wednesday I'm scandalized that Thursday is tomorrow!

That said, it's been quite a nice year, and I really must thank all of you for reading and commenting, e-mailing, and all of that! I'm so grateful for everyone, and for this little community that exists. This year especially I've met so many lovely people and new friends! So to wrap things up, here are some highlights from my year!

January

I got bangs! After pining after them for years, I ended up with bangs and chopped off my hair.

February

On day in February it was unseasonably warm.

March

I tried to have auburn hair for a little while. I'm starting to get the itch for it again, but we'll see if I ever have the nerve. Shortly after this post, I accidentally put that sweater in the dryer and it was lost to the shrinks.

April

I recreated my favorite movie's poster, and have really been dressing with this sort of thing in mind ever since, especially now that we're heading into the cooler months again! I also cut my hair the shortest it's been in ages, and haven't touched it since!

May

I saw Jane Eyre and started obsessing about that too. John and I started taking more day-trips and visiting historical sites from my childhood.

June

Like Clermont. I had meant to get back there in the fall, but somehow it seemed I kept missing the height of the leaf changing season because of colds and things, so I suppose we'll have to go again in the spring! It was one of my favorite places all year, and I ended up with a dress that I never expected would be one of my favorites!

July

The final Harry Potter movie came out and I had a little party to go with it, and perfected my costume. I've been heartbroken ever since, really, but that's alright! It was so much fun!

August

I turned twenty-five! And went to the beach, and marveled that summer was almost over.

September

This month was slow, as I was floored by two sinus infections! The highlight was probably when I met up with a bunch of my absolute favorite blogger ladies in NYC, where I forgot to take pictures!

October

I attempted to levitate in a park, while wearing tweed.

November

I dressed like a book for the second time!

December

And this month, I embraced color again!

Happy New Year everyone! Love to you all!

Christmas Special.

2011-12-25T22:45:00.000-05:00

Happy holidays to everyone! I can't fathom that Christmas, along with everything else, is here and has gone by so fast. There is something really strange about this year in particular that seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye, and I'm totally bewildered at the whole thing. But I suppose that's what happens, and in the meantime I'll look for, and gladly participate in, any excuse to dress up.

Dress: Vintage, Tights: J. Crew, Shoes: Nine West circa 2007, Hair jewels: Vintage

I haven't had a proper Christmas dress in years, but this year when I was shopping for some extra goodies to wrap up for the holiday, I had a particular dress in mind at my favorite vintage/antique store. The dress was mustard colored, a kind of brocade almost, with a full skirt and velvet bow at the waist. I remember it was there last January, but I didn't buy it because I wasn't entirely sure if I needed it, and it had a really funny crinoline inside. It had been there all summer long, just waiting, and finally I decided it would be a perfect holiday dress--I would just sever the damaged and uncomfortable crinoline from it's shell and deal with the rest that way. But of course, it was nowhere to be found. No matter how much I pawed in the piles of dresses and suits did I find it. I did however, head to the dressing room with an armload of other dresses to try on, and this was among them.

It's pretty much a perfect Christmas dress, and I have every intention of dousing the whole thing with pink accessories to make it a Valentine's day frock. The downside is that I tore a hole in the arm while reaching to arrange one of my tulle bows, but these things can always be mended, and as any lover of vintage garments knows, there is no use crying over a split seam.

And anyway, it was a really exciting chance to wear my favorite little hair decorations. I've had these little jewels for ages, and they are always just the thing to stick in when earrings or necklaces seem like too much. And of course I feel weird and naked without something on my head, so this hugely ephemeral black bow had to go on, if only to make things ever-so-slightly more theatrical!

If you follow me on twitter or instagram you have seen all my various wardrobe changes and adventures, but this is one of four outfits I ended up in today. One of them involved a dish towel.

A big thanks to my mom for taking pictures today, so I didn't have to freeze alone with my tripod!

Now I'm going to get tucked into my PJs as fast as I can, and see if I can't squeeze in enough time to watch the Downton Abbey Christmas Special! I've already been spoiled for it, but I still can't wait!

Princeling.

2011-12-15T23:28:00.001-05:00

This is, by far, one of the greatest pieces of vintage I've collected. My lovely hair stylist gifted several of her beautifully-curated vintage pieces from her own collection last year, and this was one of the things I ended up with. It's a bit delicate, and I've always found it challenging to wear (it's basically a top, but um, I didn't get any proper outfit shots of it), but I love it. The pattern is kind of amazing, it's got puffed sleeves that point at the wrists, a million buttons, a little collar, and gold thread woven into the design. And the colors! If I were skilled in the least, I would write a sonnet about these colors.

I feel very sort of, prince-like in it, like I should be wearing it with some Shakespearean tights and a sword. I keep getting the line, "pointy-eared elvish princeling" stuck in my head about it, something about the collar and the buttons and the way the swirly sides of it (not pictured, I know, how could I) fall.

Disgusting Colors.

2011-12-10T20:08:00.001-05:00

I bought puke-colored tights. They were the kind of purchase that involved little-to-no thought. I bought them because I loved the color--not even that. I didn't love the color, something about it attracted me to it, even though I had not the foggiest idea what I would wear them with. Since then I've been trying to figure it out. I'm not entirely sure this is successful, but nothing goes with them. Navy might work quite nicely, but I can't seem to find anything navy in my closet that works as I'd like it to. Shoes are a nightmare with this color. Brown only makes it look more unappealing, black is too witchy.

So I figured I'd just go with it, and throw on some of the more obnoxious colors I have and pretend I meant it. There are several colors I love because they are disgusting. Puke green is one of them. I also love that shade of mustard that is more green than yellow. So revolting that it goes all the way around and becomes appealing again.

Coat: J. Crew circa 2008, Dress: Darling Vintage, Tights: Anthropologie, Shoes: Nine West 2008, Belt: Vintage, thrifted.

Trying to spice up my outfit poses. Ashley is the queen of this. Lady can take the silliest and most hilarious poses and still be the most gorgeous creature on the face of the planet.

These were taken shortly before two of the buildings tenants showed up and I wanted to dig a hole and live in it, because somehow there is almost nothing more mortifying (still) than getting caught taking outfit pictures, even if someone else is taking them!

Pictures taken by John.

Don't Eat the Glitter.

2011-12-01T22:22:00.001-05:00

I love glitter. When I was little, I used to think it would be really great if I had a pool full of glitter, and I could swim in it (in hindsight, this would be the most uncomfortable thing ever. I also wanted a pool full of sunscreen, so I could just dip myself in it without having to worry about apply the stuff all over. This made sense to me at the time). My favorite thing was when my mom would make something involving glitter, and it would be sticking to everything for days. I love handfuls of the stuff, and usually have to keep myself from eating it (I know doing so is a really, really bad idea. Not only would it taste awful, but it would probably be almost impossible to get out of your mouth. It's up there with bars of soap from Lush and new tubes of lipstick in the list of things I want to eat but absolutely should not).

I also really love nail polish. I hardly ever wear it, since I work with food so I can't really wear it anyway, but sometimes I have enough days off in a row that I can justify the application. So even though I hardly ever buy it, I splurged and made this golden glitter polish by FACE at J. Crew my own. Normally when I need to feel sparkly I put on Moulin Rouge, but this works almost as well and it stays with me all day!

It's really hard not to stare at my nails all day. I keep wiggling my fingers around in different light to see what they do, and have had to hold myself back from applying more than three coats. Plus, then I don't feel like I need rings!

Wearing the Book: Ulysses

2011-11-21T09:34:00.000-05:00

I've never read this book. I've never attempted it (I think--I might have attempted it once for a class where I was required to attempt parts of it). But I have two copies of the same edition of it, because I loved the cover and typeface too much to leave it behind. The blue one, pictured here, is the first one I bought and I was beside myself with joy at the cover. I have it in green also, the same exact one, which I am less in love with but I had to have it so that they could be twins.

Dress: Anthropologie, Sweater: J. Crew 2010, Shoes: Nine West 2008, Belt: J. Crew

It's also one of the first covers I knew I wanted to dress like. I suppose this outfit is a bit literal, I was hoping to be a bit more abstract with it, but if I keep trying to find the perfect match I'll never get a move on with posting in general or this little series! I've been feeling lately that I want to wear more complicated outfits--more layers and things as though being able to find the perfect arrangement of clothing and accessories will make me seem an expert dresser. But most of the time, I don't really know what exactly to do to achieve what I have, vaguely, in mind.

I also don't know why I'm being a real Misery Bear in pictures these days. It's just so hard to get used to the self-timer again, and to run around my neighborhood looking like a loon in heels. But the light disappears early now (it was gone by four thirty today!) so I've got to buck up and figure it all out again!

P.S. Ever since Emily's pig-tail tutorial it's been my go-to hair-do! My curls are a bit short, but for now that's alright!

Look at the inside! It is amazing!

Previously:

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised By Wolves

We are not a Codfish.

2011-11-07T16:15:00.000-05:00

But apparently we are, because we can't seem to keep our mouth shut in pictures! In defense of myself, I've gotten sick, again, and after a week or so I finally feel as though I can dress like a human being again. I'm still facing the challenge of blowing my nose while wearing lipstick (it's second in difficulty only to putting a shirt on while wearing lipstick--which SEEMS like an easy thing to do, but not so much when you're in a fitting room. Or maybe that's just me) but I've got to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back into blogging regularly again!

Jeans: Gap, Shoes: H&M, Socks: Haven't the foggiest, Shirt/Sweater/Hairthing: J.Crew

(Kater, you should have ironed that shirt.)

Instead of blogging, I've been doing things like working (all the time), being obsessed with eyebrows (Michelle Dockery's), listening to new music (Florence), buying books but not reading them (Mindy Kaling's new book), and grumbling about the weather (it SNOWED, on HALLOWEEN. I was sick as a dog anyway, but the whole thing was really insulting).

I also bought the above shoes, even though I really do not need another pair of oxfords/brogues. But I've been meaning to wear something like this for ages, and things were just the right mixture that day for me to buy them. There are certain times when I can go ages without buying anything, when nothing feels right, and then one day I'm in a totally different mood and open to everything.

I also have a lot anxiety about things. Actual things, not the vague, cryptic kind of things but honest-to-goodness objects. Suddenly these kinds of shoes are everywhere, and I love them, and we are perfect together in all their many incarnations, but what if they go away? What happens when I wear them out? I will be left heartbroken. It is good planning and forward thinking to buy them up now.

How Many Times.

2011-10-17T22:09:00.000-04:00

This pin is my best friend. He is my little fox friend, and he hangs out with me on adventures and not-adventures. I suppose it's not very interesting to keep posting the same bits and bobs over and over, but it's a bit more honest in terms of chronicling a personal style. I don't want to say my little fox is my favorite one, because I don't want the others to feel bad about it, but I usually reach for him before anyone else. And are you sick of this scarf yet, or the chambray?

Pin: Vintage, Bag: fieldguided 43rd parallel tote, Everything else: J. Crew throughout the years

This is also pretty typical of a non-blog outfit outfit. The kind I end up in on days when I don't feel like dressing up, but it feels wrong to throw on a pair of jeans and shirt by themselves. I've also found that I'm really interested in this vaguely borrowed-from-the-boys kind of outfit. The sad thing is that soon we'll all be swathed up in coats and things, but for now the weather is nice enough that a good blazer works wonders.

Pictures taken by John M.

Belated Birthday.

2011-10-16T21:18:00.003-04:00

Oops! Once again, I forgot that my blog had a birthday! On the 14th All This Happiness turned four years old! It's a really weird feeling! Thank you all for reading, and for commenting, and for everything, it is such a delight to share with everyone and to get to know you!

Various posts are pending, but since all lately I get all dressed up and end up looking like this:

they'll have to wait until I can come up with something else!

love,

kater

Tweed Forever and Ever Amen.

2011-10-08T00:07:00.001-04:00

In the interest of last post's topic, here is a silly shot we ended up with today:

In it, I am attempting to Wingardium Leviosa myself (my wand is cleverly hidden in my skirt folds so that I don't break the International Statute of Secrecy. Don't worry, Muggles can't read this!).

More importantly, this outfit features two things I've been meaning to post about for ages and ages. First, the dress is one I captured last summer on a day that had such luck as I have not been able to capture since. The funny thing is that even though I wear this dress to death and beyond, this is the first time I've really shown it! It's home-made, and the hem is slightly longer on the left side than the right (maybe, I can't remember, it might be the other way around) but who really notices that sort of thing anyway? It might be the most versatile dress I own--something about that particular shade of red makes it kind of perfect for autumn and summer all at once.

Dress: Vintage, Blazers: J. Crew Fall 2011/Gap Winter 2009, Belt: J. Crew, Bag: Vintage, Tights: J. Crew, Shoes: Steve Madden

Seriously, I use the tuck pretty much every day now while I wait for significant growth.

The other thing is tweed blazers. I have two, now, after searching for years and years. The first is one that's been on here several times, but honestly it's getting a little sad and I've had to fix the buttons 4 or 5 times. Thankfully, I found another tweed blazer so that I may live my dream of being Remus Lupin everyday.

But the thing about me is that on a regular day I wear about 3 outfits. Or, I wear the same outfit but move bits of it around so that it looks slightly different, and tweak it throughout the day. My car is basically my portable closet. I generally have some kind of back-up hidden about my person at any given time, be it a shirt or scarf, or a different dress rolled up and stuffed in a tote.

In the morning I wore the old blazer and a t-shirt with the dress, along with a brown belt. After work I switched blazers, lost the t-shirt (it was a bit warmer than I expected) and used a belt I acquired while working, which is the outfit you see above.

But then I was a little bit over that blazer, as it is slightly different from the first, and I went back to the original (this is sounding complicated, and really, if you're even reading this at all, you deserve all kinds of internet hugs) and belted it with the new belt instead of the old one, so that by the time I arrived at Barnes and Noble to eat a cupcake and read magazines I had transformed into the following:

My hair also came down, for no particular reason, but that, in a way, is a day in the life of Tweed Girl.

Pictures by John M.

The Awkward Days, a Brief Post.

2011-10-05T22:33:00.002-04:00

Outfit posts are strange. These days this little blog is really mostly about just that, and it's fine, although eventually I'd like to get myself in gear and post about other things. I really like having this chronicling of what I wear, but also, outfit pictures are hard. I still feel weird when people are around, but a lot of the best spots to take pictures are where people are. And sometimes I don't know what to do with myself. What do I do with my hands? Are my legs alright? What if my feet are in an odd position, my sleeves are rolled funny, what if my mouth is open (again), if I look too miserable? Sometimes it just works, and others, I just feel weird and awkward and scrap the post altogether.

So in the interest of not doing that, I've only got one picture I feel like using for this post. Someday I'll find some interesting ways of standing, but for now it's the standard!

Dress: H&M, Boots: Nine West circa 2007, Tights: J. Crew, Bag: fieldguided, Pin: Vintage

I've wanted a cream 60s-looking shift dress with sleeves for my entire life. But so does everyone else, so the vintage ones are few and far between (around here anyway) and when I do find one it'll wipe out my little wallet. But then this beauty popped up in H&M. I didn't snap it up right away because, you know, I'm a bit of a snob and I thought well I could find something real vintage. Except I've been looking for I don't know, ten years, and haven't found one yet. And it was $34, why not? The lining is a bit annoying, it hangs longer than the dress itself, but I can always detach it and wear my own slip or hem the silly thing.

Plus my hair feels the wrong length, I forgot how to walk in heels like this, and I can't tell if I need a jacket or not. But I'll get over it, it's just a feeling, really!

Pictures by John M.

Jeans and Gelato.

2011-09-30T23:35:00.001-04:00

During the summer, I unintentionally stocked up on thick cotton sweaters. The kind that you think, yes, I will wear this to the beach! I will wear it hanging out on the porch during summer nights, with shorts and dirty sneakers and maybe a sparkler, some ice cream, tall grass at dusk, that sort of thing, but then you end up wearing it never because the reality of the weather where you (I) live is that it's 92 degrees with a humidity of four-hundred-and-seventy (which looks much more impressive and oppressive if you write it out), so you don't wear the sweaters all summer.

Thankfully, I'm stuck in that weird place season-wise when there is no committing to anything. Wool sweaters are the worst idea (tried it, was miserable) but a nice cotton one will do nicely if it's a bit breezy and there are equal threats of sunshine and rain. I somehow ended up with this sweater in two colors (the other I wore earlier this week to go get lunch in

super casual outfit), but I have no problem admitting that the mustard stripe is, marginally, my favorite.

Jeans: J. Crew (circa 2008); Sweater: J. Crew (Summer 2011); Shoes: Seychelles by way of Anthropologie; Pin: Vintage, ebay; Bag: Vintage, mom; Glasses: Forever21; Gelato: from my work!

I'm starting to notice that there are also things in my wardrobe that have stuck around for a while. For so long you're growing out of things or destroying them because you're twelve and you run around and spill things and things either don't fit or are unwearable before long. Then, all of the sudden you realize you've had a pair of jeans for four or five years and that suddenly just seems weird.

I think I've had these since 2007 or 2008? I hardly wear them, although I do really love them, mostly because they require heels. I also feel a bit self conscious on them, I feel like my legs are more on display somehow than in a skirt. Thankfully, I didn't toss them into a bag during one of my Oh My God I Have To Get Rid Of Everything moments, and suddenly flares are resurfacing a bit.

And of course, where would I be without my little fox friend?

Pictures by John M.

Borrowing the Gibson Tuck.

2011-09-28T10:34:00.003-04:00

I know, the last time I posted was just over twenty days ago. In my defense, I contracted the world's most persistent sinus infection--but mostly I've just felt a little restless with my current wardrobe and can't be bothered (most days) to wear something that merits and actual post. But now it's just gotten awkward (and of course, I feel the need to call attention to it) and I figure I better post something before things get really even more so!

What I'm most frustrated by right now is my hair--after cutting it months ago, I decided to grow it out (I might be doing so partially so that I have at least some-what decent length locks for the premiere of The Hobbit. Maybe.) and I think there is at least one moment in every day when I grab fistfuls of the stuff and chant, "Grow hair grow!" hopefully into the air. This doesn't seem to be helping in the least. So most of the time my hair gets ponytail-ed, but thankfully I found a new favorite way to tie the silly stuff back without resorting to getting horsey.

I had seen the picture of the resulting hairstyle floating around tumblr and pinterest, and in one of the rare instances where things are linked properly on one of those sites, I discovered a really wonderful tutorial on Simply Stardust detailing how to style the simple Gibson tuck.

It's easy-as-pie and what I've been wearing for the past few weeks.

(and there is my little carrot pin, rescued from ebay!)

Mine generally ends up a bit messier, since I've been doing a bit of teasing at the crown just so it's not so flat on my head, and sadly I don't have those gorgeous red locks, but it's making me quite pleased with my hair for the moment. It's also very helpfully channeling a bit of Downton Abbey hair, which is helpful as it seems the entirety of the corner of the internet in which I live is totally obsessed with the show. I'm just glad the second season is on it's way, even if I am terribly worried about what's going to happen in it!

My bangs are still being really stubborn and refusing to grow. I'm at that point where I'm thinking it might just be easier to cut them again, but so far I've been good and kept the scissors to themselves.

Out and About.

2011-09-07T20:57:00.001-04:00

Despite my little pause for however long that was, I am really and honestly trying to update with more regularity. At the moment I've been struck down by some kind of cold that is making the rounds, and also, it is raining almost as much as possible. Normally I am perfectly pleased to roll around in puddles but at the moment I'd rather have some mild sun.

I thought though, I'd take the opportunity to offer the other places on the internet where you might follow me!

The tumblr to go with this blog can be found here. It's still on wobbly little legs, but it's there. If you followed my tumblr back when I first started it, you probably noticed it quickly devolved into internet-screaming about Harry Potter and cat gifs, with a healthy dose of my deep and inscrutable feelings regarding whatever book, object, TV show, or dress was making me feel things. That tumblr is still up-and-running, but it has little-to-nothing to do with my blog, really, so I pulled the two apart.

The blog's facebook is over here and I do use it pretty regularly. I throw a link up when I've updated the actual site, and also use it for pictures of things that don't really belong in an individual post, or that are just cell-phone pictures, but that I still want to share.

Twitter is, of course, here although it is going a bit of the way of the first tumblr. Lots of caps-locking and losing my mind over things like Harry Potter, lack of Pottermore e-mail, Downton Abbey, and what I am eating. I also post blog updates and sometimes things that are clothing-related.

I tried using lastfm but couldn't stick with it. Thankfully, 8tracks seems to have rescued me. I don't make a whole lot of mixes on there, but I pop in now and then to put up whatever I'm currently listening to or things I think fit together nicely.

Since I talk about books fairly often on here, I got myself a Shelfari, because I liked the way it looked better than the other personal library-cataloguing sites out there. It's generally correct, but I tend to update it in bursts.

I recently hopped on the pinterest train, and while I love it, I am getting really, really frustrated with the places I find images from that don't credit the source. A lot of things I've pinned are from my tumblr favorites, which inevitably don't include credit so I tried to include a link to the original post that I found it, at the very least, but if it's something that has pretty much no source I usually just won't pin it. The Cats board is getting a lot of pins from me, as is the Hungry one.

Flickr is still running pretty much as smoothly as ever!

I think that's it! I have a terrible habit of signing up for everything, but these are my most frequent or useful haunts. Please feel free to add or follow me, I try my best to add or follow back, but I'm a bit slow so introduce yourself on any of these sites if you'd like! Hopefully all these links work, phew!

The Stop Staring Dress!

2011-09-05T17:46:00.002-04:00

After seeing the Stop Staring dresses on calivintage and Vixen Vintage, I definitly jumped at the chance to try a dress myself when offered! I ended up picking this one, partly because I liked the little sleeves and neckline, but mostly because I've noticed a strange hole in my closet when it comes to black dresses. I used to have dozens (well, maybe a dozen) and then all of the sudden, the disappeared and became outnumbered. Which isn't surprising, if I think about it. I skip over the black sections when thrifting or shopping for vintage (bad, I know, but patience is not one of my best virtues) and normally am so entranced by some other neutral or color that black gets left behind. I suppose it's the Lady Mary in me.

Dress: Stop Staring, Shoes: Nine West (2007)

The dress comes with a matching black belt, which I left off here because I felt in the mood for less somehow. I suppose it's the silhouette of the dress, which is one I haven't worn much since last year's Mad Men pictures, and which is certainly not for the shy (not that it's revealing or anything like that, only that it makes the shapes I have going on from my daily croissant more shapely than in regular old outfits, it's thankfully a flattering material!).

I'm mostly looking forward to wearing it in cooler weather (where we're heading, judging by the looks of things out the window), especially with tights, but I've been sitting on it since August (in my defense, we went on vacation, I ate myself into a new dress size, got hit by a hurricane, got sick, and am now getting around to behaving like a human being again rather than some kind of bed-ridden amoeba) and realized it's high time it at least showed it's face on here! So be prepare to see it again with some foliage and trench coats!

And of course, I didn't know what to do with my hair so it's in my favorite funny little bow again, accompanied by my little ghosty lens flare.

2011-08-25T07:07:00.005-04:00

I'm leaving my previous post up for now, because it is early for me and I am leaving for work. At the moment, I'm not entirely sure how to proceed from this.

It seems that The Dewey Decimals have asked that their readers post a comment on their behalf, accusing me of stealing their blog premise. I am very sorry to have given this impression to the bloggers, since I know it is frustrating and disheartening to feel that your work is being used elsewhere, but I must make clear that this is the first time I have come across their blog and work, and I absolutely did not steal their idea.

In my post, I do specify that I was inspired by another blogger's series in my post, and link to it appropriately. I even e-mailed her to ask if she minded that I was so strongly borrowing from her style of presenting two images, if the concept was to similar to her's, to make sure I was not stepping on anyone's toes. I realize this has little to do with how The Dewey Decimals feel about the situation, but I want to impress that I am careful about these kinds of things, and do my best to avoid things devolving into this.

I'm very sorry about all this, and I would like to seek some kind of resolution. At the moment I'll leave the previous post up, but I'm not sure if it will stay that way, or if I will just disable comments and not continue with the series.

Edited to add:

I also want to ask that we please not say anything bad about each other. I'm sure that both the writers of The Dewey Decimals and myself are equally upset about this whole thing, and I'm not posting this to start anything. Please, I ask everyone not to refuse to support or read their blog if it is something you would otherwise have been interested in or enjoyed.

This is a misunderstanding, I simply wanted to post about it here in case readers saw the comments on the previous post. I have reached out to the authors there via e-mail, and I would like to ask that my readers not harass them in any way (I don't think anyone would, but you know), because that isn't what this is all about. Thank you!

Edit 8/30:

Hello everyone! Thank you for all your kind words and support. I am pleased to say that this has all been resolved, and I meant to post this edit sooner because really everything was alright by the end of the day on Thursday, but I wasn't sure if I now wanted to leave this post up, if I should take it down, because who wants to see controversy and things? I'm a bit behind on my posting, but rest assured I'll be back up in no time!

Wearing the Book: St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves

2011-08-24T18:47:00.003-04:00

I buy a lot of books, and can hardly ever let any go (I buy even more books now that I have a kindle, because if it's cheap on there I get it, and then if i love it I buy it again in paper form). What's even worse (or better, depending on your opinions of space) is I have a really bad habit of buying several copies of the same book. If it's languishing somewhere used for five dollar or under, it's coming home with me.

I can justify it often though, because of the different covers. First of all, I hate the cliché 'don't judge a book by it's cover', because while I know that authors rarely have control over what actually ends up encasing their work, sometimes you just have to turn a book over because of the cover, staring up at you in strangely inconsistent oblivion. When I'm loafing around the bookstore 90% of the reason I pick up a random book for it's cover (the rest is the title), so you know, you have to judge a book by something, really.

But getting back to different covers, I really love collecting several versions of favorite tomes. Partly because it's so pleasing to arrange them in tableau somewhere, but it's also somehow about all the different things a certain book can be. What's really frustrating is when I see a book cover that really strikes my fancy and then I cannot find it anywhere. There is a specific copy of The Unbearable Lightness of Being I am really hoping to find someday, but so far I'm bereft.

I love looking at book covers. I love staring at them, looking for them, thinking about them, arranging them together or alone, and sometimes, I like dressing like them. Inspired by the color comparisons of Miss Moss, I've been thinking I should share the outfits and book covers side-by-side.

Hopefully this is the start of a little series I'd like to do, but I can be a bit flakey when it comes to committing to things in succession. It's only that I've felt myself getting a bit tired looking at street style blogs and catalogs for my inspiration, because often in the end I still feel a little bit of 'well, it's not quite as good as the original, I had to make do you see'. If I'm not dressing as a character in a book, I might as well dress like the book itself.

Wearing the Book: St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves

Dress: J. Crew, Shoes: Urban Outfitters, Cardigan: J. Crew, Tote: fieldguided

I wrote about this book once before, and my love for it is still just as strong and jealous as it was then. I've accumulated another copy of the above cover (one is signed—I wanted to die of excitement when that happened) and another of the UK paperback version. I almost used the latter, but it's a bit more tan and warm looking than the one I've gone with, and there is no reason why I can't use it later.

I don't want this project to be about dressing like the things on the cover of the book, so I've not done my hair like the little wolfette there, and though I thought a reference to the titular story would have been clever with a pair of penny loafers (when I read the line about not chewing on your loafers in it, I thought about how I was keeping myself from doing that very same thing all the way through my uniformed school-days in knee socks) something about the fusty-ness of wingtips goes better, somehow, with the typeface on the book.

I ended up with the other outfit items in a similar way. The dress, in real life, matches the base color of the book perfectly, and has little red dots mirroring the hidden red text of the title, and the little in her dress, and all of that. I relied on my hair for the browns, and another beloved fieldguided tote for the dreamy strangeness I associate with my favorite kinds of stories.

Beachy Keen Jellybean!

2011-08-16T22:40:00.003-04:00

I've another roll of film trundling around here somewhere, but in the meantime here are a few favorites from my vacation to the beach last week! It already seems like ages ago, but I don't really want to be anywhere but home and burrowing into my own bed instead of into the sand.

(Picture taken by John)

My typical beach outfit. A large hat, a t-shirt or cotton cardigan, and occasionally a skirt if we're walking to the snack bar or if my legs are getting particularly freckly. The poor hat ended up being the floppiest thing by the end of the third day, the salt air wilted it, and I relinquished it for a straw cloche for the rest of the week.

The first day we were there, the water was warm, just calm enough to hang out in the froth, and the perfect blue-y green shade. But it was not to last, and it all got moody and grey. Which ended up being fine, although I ended up staying out of the water for the most part. A bit too churn-y and wild for my tastes, but I've got pocketfuls of broken shells to account for my time.

The Birthday Dress

2011-08-11T22:12:00.003-04:00

"You know I'm gonna be 25 in June"

"You are?"

"That's a quarter of a century, makes a girl think."

"About what?"

"The future."

Some Like it Hot (1959)

I've been waiting years, ages, practically my entire life until I would be 25, just the right age to be able to quote that line for a while and have it apply to me. I don't think at six I knew what a quarter of a century was, but that didn't matter to me one little bit, because it was just the most glorious fun of a line to say.

Somehow, I also never really cared much about birthday outfits (I'm not entirely sure why I stuck that somehow in there, or the also, but I can't just leave these two sections unconnected without some kind of verbal hand-holding going on to string them together sloppily) but this year I was struck by a need to have a bona-fide birthday dress. It also means I could justify the kind of dress purchase I would normally think thrice about.

Of course I got it into my head that this was the one I had to have. Of course, there is no Anthropologie anywhere near here (psst, put one here, it is the best idea!) but I had seen the thing on a recent day trip, and just loved the print to little pieces. It helps that it looks very much like a vintage dress that is amazing and just tight enough in the waist to keep me from wearing it to any activity that involves eating, drinking, breathing, or moving.

Details: Dress: Anthropologie; Shoes: Anthropologie (2009); Bag: Aldo Outlet

Despite a setback or two, I had the thing in my grubby little hands just in time for a birthday dinner. It wasn't the actual day, but for a celebration I plunged into the unnecessary items I overpacked and attempted to do justice with lipstick and heels to the little dandelion print.

But then today is my real-deal birthday, so I wore it again.

Details: Dress: Anthropologie; Shoes: Urban Outfitters; Bag: Vintage; Jacket: Vintage

With some rather out-of-place looking shoes I somehow miraculously acquired for ten dollars.

And now that it is almost post-August 11th, I can start thinking about sweaters and tights, boots, and jackets and scarves without feeling bedraggled by the rest of summer.

Photos by John.

Docked Out.

2011-08-10T17:55:00.003-04:00

Home, home, home! After a week at the beach, collecting freckles and napping in the sand, I'm pleased as punch to be home and burrowing into my own bed and doing my usual thing. I always feel a little bit off for the first day or so home, and so in an effort to get back into the swing of things, I'm posting first-thing!

I've been waiting to wear this little shirt from Clever Nettle for ages, but somehow the few times I've worn it haven't been days when I've documented the outfit. This seemed the perfect time and setting though. I loved it the second I saw it in Anja's shop, and thankfully I had a few pennies lying around the old paypal account, which is just about all it takes for me to snap something up.

Outfit details: Shirt: Clever Nettle; Pants: J. Crew Waverly Chino; Shoes: J. Crew (2010); Sunglasses: Forever21.

I had planned to visit this little dock area a few times, but of course other plans kept us from there! It was only a short walk from the house we were staying in, so we did pop over there one night to drop rocks in the water and see the bioluminescence and the green light on the buoy being Gatsby-esque.

Pictures by John M.

Brb!

2011-08-05T22:48:00.002-04:00

Last summer.

Be right back! I'm a little slow posting this week, so we'll call it a break and be back to regularly scheduled posting in a few days!

My Favorite Scarf: A Retrospective.

2011-07-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

I love scarves. I end up grabbing them everywhere I go, buying them even though I'm not entirely certain I'll wear it, and now I have a drawer that is bursting (although my collection is nowhere near my mother's, which is also beautifully organized. Sometimes mine aren't even folded, and I drape them across my room pretending that I did it for design reasons).

In the end though, there is one that I love above all the others. I worry about it when I can't find it, which is frequent because I so often grab it on my way out the door that it might be in a pocket, tote, or bag (sometimes it's still knotted in a blouse). I usually have it with me, either to tie onto said bag, or just thrown inside because most of the time I'm in such a rush in the morning that I'm not sure if my outfit feels quite right until hours later. Thankfully, my two go-to ways of wearing my best friend of a scarf make me feel instantly fashionable.

The other day I wore it on my head.

At the end of last summer it was a bow-tie.

And it dressed up my dingy little tote.

A bow on my head for a freckled birthday.

And a few weeks ago it was a bow-tie again.

The thing about this scarf is I never imagined it would be the one. It's the right size, and somehow the colors are just perfect. It makes me look like I tried when I'm at work, up to my elbows in flour, when I forgot my mascara. It goes with stripes, flowers, and polka-dots. It's just nautical enough without adding to my stripe addiction.

I wear it, without exaggerating, probably three or four times a week. I don't know what I shall do when it disintegrates into the universe. It is my faithful friend, my outfit-fixer, and probably the one item of clothing I could not do without if I tried.

Uniform Days.

2011-07-26T22:01:00.003-04:00

In trying to think about this post, I keep rolling off the edge into about eight different other places (that sounds much more ominous than I mean it to. Really, it's just that there are several things I want to write about). For the past few months I've been sort of struggling with exactly what I think my personal style is. I think at some point someone asked me and where I used to know that if a doll would wear it, I probably would, suddenly that didn't seem so true anymore.

I didn't used to worry about it. For the past few years I've been of the philosophy that you should just buy what you want (I don't mean go nuts, but rather, don't talk yourself out of something because you don't think it fits with your style) and eventually it will all fit together somehow. But now I've been thinking about it more. I suppose I'm starting to find a kind of uniform that's not, but a general kind of outfit that I'm finding more ways to repeat. I'm getting back into unapologetically wearing the same thing, like I did when I was younger.

Hence, this chambray shirt (I keep collecting them!) and my favorite scarf of all time, every day.

Outfit details: Shirt: J. Crew; Shorts: J. Crew; Scarf: J. Crew (2005); Shoes: Urban Outfitters; Bag: Vintage

Pictures taken by John M.

Guest Post for Holland 1945!

2011-07-23T21:30:00.004-04:00

Hello friends!

Just popping in to direct you over to Holland 1945, where I've done a little guest post for Alison, who is on vacation! Check it out if you'd like, and peruse the rest of her lovley blog :D

Repetition.

2011-07-18T21:43:00.004-04:00

I get fixated on things. This extends to books and movies, wanting to be inside a world so thoroughly that it becomes something I have to keep myself from talking about every moment of every day, but also ends up materializing in little things like which teacup I use, or, of course, whatever I end up wearing.

Which is why I'm posting this silly dress again.

Outfit details: dress: J. Crew; shoes: Urban Outfitters; bag: vintage; watch: mom's; sunglasses: forever21

Like this dress. It really is my summer bff. I knew it was going to be some kind of love affair when I first got it, but it's been much better than I ever imagined it would be. I've worn it several times, and so far it's become my go-to summer dress when I don't know what to wear but know that I want to feel a certain way.

I think it's something that happens a lot with clothes. Since starting this blog it's waned a bit (of course I still have my favorites, but they don't get the kind of constant wear they might have if I wasn't trying to think of new things to wear) but I used to wear one particular shirt or sweater with almost obsessive constancy. In particular I had a blouse that was green, with little pink flowers on it, that I think I wore until the stupid thing fell apart (it wouldn't button anymore anyway). Before that, it was a red sweater with an argyle print across the chest that I think I hated when I first got it, but then wore for days and weeks straight. I really hated when it was in the laundry because it meant I had to come up with something else that day.

Oddly enough, I have very few pictures of either of these things.

I should probably get another one, because I'll be very sad when something happens to this one. In the meantime, my Remus Lupin shoes are getting lots of wear, and I love them to a million little shoe-pieces!

Pictures taken by John M.

Too Old, Too Poor, Too Dangerous.

2011-07-15T20:23:00.004-04:00

"The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with grey."

Outfit details: shirt, vest, blazer, and pants: J. Crew both recent seasons and from several years ago; tie: dad's; shoes: Urban Outfitters; wand: home-made; chocolate bar: Cadbury's

Scars: Liquid latex and lip liner/blush

I love Harry Potter. A lot. I'm not entirely sure how to explain what it is, but the past few days then, have been very strange. It seems terribly overdramatic to say these kinds of things over something like this (because it isn't just books anymore, or just books and movies. It's something entirely different, a strange oddly intangible and fleeting thing inextricably personal and also linked with a larger fan community) but really, it's very upsetting. Of course it isn't over--in the sentimental way it will never be over--but at the same time this is the last in a long series of midnight releases and day-after events of a certain kind.

Of course, I knew this was my last chance to dress as my biggest favorite, Remus J. Lupin. November's costume was alright, but I knew there had to be a way to do it better. To be baggier, thinner-looking, with better scars. In the end I pulled together what i could, added a chocolate bar because it will make you feel better, and tried my darndest. I am quite pleased with how my makeup came out, although it's a bit fake-looking in the above picture I think it looked pretty realistic in life!

My thoughts and feelings on the movie are mixed. At the moment I'm feeling not so good about it, but I think my little costume is a nice heartbroken homage to my favorite werewolf.

Pictures taken by John M.

Daytime Nightgowns

2011-07-10T18:07:00.005-04:00

When I was in the throes of my Jane Eyre obsession (don't be fooled, it's not over. It's resting while I prepare myself mentally, physically, and spiritually for the final Harry Potter movie. Which is also why I've been dormant for a little while) I started getting an eye for nightgown-y looking dresses. At first I started looking for frilly, going-to-bed-on-the-prairie type things in all of the usual spots to wear as they're intended--tucked neatly into bed--but my search didn't yield much until I started letting my tendencies yield to things only vaguely-nightgown looking.

outfit details: Dress/nightgown: Vintage; Shoes: J. Crew 2010; Necklace: vintage; Belt: J. Crew; Tote: fieldguided

The first thing I found--after that J. Crew dress--was this. I think it's probably an actual nightgown, but it was pretty much exactly what I was looking for. It had that detailed, delicate lace around the neckline that peeked out from the calico dresses in Eyre, with a little yellow ribbon to make it really perfect.

And since then I've been somehow really lucky, because I keep finding like-looking dresses and nightgowns in vintage and antique stores, where before I came out empty handed.

Pictures taken by John M.

Chambray Saturday.

2011-06-25T15:09:00.004-04:00

Outfit details: Shirt and Jeans: J. Crew; Shoes: G.H. Bass; Bag: Vintage; Scarf: J. Crew circa 2004 (I think, it's older)

I had to resist calling this something like cham-brain, although I putting it as the starting line of a post isn't much better.

I have plenty of chambray dresses. In fact, most of them that are have become my favorites, and yet I've really resisted the chambray shirt. I don't know why. I never saw one and thought, yes, I want that! I need it to be in my life! Hanging on racks I never found myself inspired by one, clinging to it in sadness, leaving it behind, united at last in purchase.

But the thing is, lots of people have them and wear them with almost anything. Calivintage, comes to mind. I suspect it might be her that pushed me over the edge into buying one.

I think you can also tell that I was reading Tomboy Style this morning. This is one of those outfits that stumps me. Most of the time my aesthetic is something dreamy, floaty, beribboned or bowed in some way, and then every now and then I feel the need to be bookish and fusty, like old furniture, I need something downright boyish.

Pictures taken by John M.

Berry Picking.

2011-06-21T00:22:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was a real true-blue summer kind of day. I woke up early, ate candy for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch before heading our for the first embarrassingly typical summer activity of the day: berry picking.

My 'tourist' shot by the sign.

If I'm being honest, I feel pretty lukewarm about strawberries. They're very nice, but I'm a raspberry gorger at heart who occasionally dabbles in blackberries (I do not like cherries, and will almost never reach for a blueberry unless it is all that is there), aside from the fact that the berries gleaming under the little plastic boxes in grocery stores are strange, freakish behemoths compared to the little gems of normal strawberries. Coincidentally, I will eat strawberries in their natural state one stained handful after another.

Outfit details: Shirt: J. Crew; Shorts: J. Crew; Sneakers: Bensimon; Watch: J. Crew; Hat: Forever21

For two or three summers I've been envisioning a blog post of berry picking, with some winsome summer frock, a straw hat, or something properly farm-ish in nature. Instead, I ended up in my trusty gingham shorts and a ratty striped t-shirt that ripped at the sleeve (hidden, cleverly, in these pictures) when I put it on. In the end it seemed more right to be less prim and a little torn at the edges for this sort of elbows and knees in dirt activity.

This is also a much more typical outfit than what usually shows up here. Most of the time, especially because of work, it comes down to what is best for moving around in the heat while not looking like a dehydrated leaf.

We visited some goats and sheep before heading home, to plop strawberries with cream on top of pound cake, fall into the pool, and ride bikes around the neighborhood. My arms are properly pink, despite liberal application of a usually trusty SPF, my legs are heavy and tired, so it seems it was all meant to be for the eve of the first day of summer.

Pictures taken by John M.

Clermont

2011-06-19T18:26:00.006-04:00

I have a lot of memories of places that I only barely remember in the way where I can't tell if they're real or just images from books or movies that I've stolen for myself. A lot of these places are historical sites or other picturesque places that I visited as a child or adolescent, that I'm certain exist, but of course I hardly paid attention it when I was there or was only barely cognizant at the time of anything other than my current, phase-ful, obsession.

It's hard to get back to places when you don't remember their name.

I have a very (well, relatively. It's not that strong, it's just distinct I suppose, in the general feeling I get from it, but the image itself is fuzzy and sort of lacking in definition) strong memory of this place. I remember wearing a white t-shirt, playing with a necklace made of a plastic lanyard that I had looped through a bangle, sitting on the railing on front of a stone lion (I might have been sitting on the lion. I did a lot of sitting on sculptural animals for a while there). I think I remember wandering into the house, the entrance hallway, because doors were open on both sides, and I ran into a woman who was a tour guide or something, but I don't remember talking to her or anything at all. I remember some cracks on the ceiling, or a watermark, or something. In my memory of it, I spent a large part of the time there wandering around waiting to do something else.

Eventually, it turns out the place I remembered is Clermont, with it's deeply sloping hills and the frighteningly wide view of the Hudson River.

Outfit details: Dress: vintage, via Five and Diamond; Shoes: J. Crew; Bag:fieldguided

It might be one of my new favorite places to go. Optimistically speaking, I suppose I should warn you that there will be future outfit shots taken here, since I imagine summer picnics and wandering of trails. In the end though, I'm never sure if I'll follow through on those kinds of daydreams, but we did end up back there this time, so that's hopeful.

I do wish my hair would hurry up and grow. I'm so wistful and sad for long hair in the summer. There is that thing that happens, like when people who want have babies but haven't suddenly see them everywhere, I keep seeing these long, floaty braids streaming all around and all I can do is shake some strands and hope it loosens some length.

Pictures taken by John M.

The Thick of Summer.

2011-06-17T22:22:00.004-04:00

I don't actually think we're in it yet, the nights are still cool, but days are breezy and warm (when it's not raining) and I'm spending my time reading books I feel guilty about, because I'm not reading the ones I ought to be for writing and all that.

Yes! I grabbed another fieldguided tote. Hot pink! Somehow I don't think there is anything more summery and nostalgic than hot pink.

Outfit details: Dress: vintage; Shoes: goldenponies on etsy; bag: fieldguided

Most of the photos for this outfit came out out-of-focus, and the ones that were just seemed strange anyway, so this is just a short little hint of a post, with little to say except to try and set the mood.

Pictures taken by John M.

Giveaway: 100$ Shopbop Gift Card, Featuring Tory Burch!

2011-06-06T09:44:00.010-04:00

Tory Burch Roslyn Tote at Shopbop

Hello dear friends! I know I just posted a giveaway not too many posts ago, this one is really too good to pass up, so here we are!

Shopbop has kindly offered to give a reader a 100$ gift card to shop to their heart's delight from designers like Tory Burch!

To enter the giveaway, take a gander at the Tory Burch Hobo and the Tory Burch Totes, and leave one comment comment telling of which bag you like best!

Please make sure there is an e-mail attached to your comment in some way so we can get back to you if you're the winner.

Entries for the giveaway will be open through Thursday, June 16th.

Enjoy, and good luck!

<3 Kater

Updated 06.17.2011

Hello again!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated, ahh! I'm a little shocked at how many comments we got on that one, hello to everyone! I'm pleased to announce the winner is L of Hey Nancy! Congratulations, lady!

Edwardian Underwear (not really though).

2011-06-03T23:07:00.004-04:00

When I first saw this dress I said aloud, "I have to have it right now! It looks like Edwardian underwear!" Sometimes I forget that I am not surrounded by people who understand this kind of statement, and so I am not entirely sure anyone else in the vicinity saw the appeal of this.

Ouftit details: Dress: J. Crew, Bag: Vintage, Ring: Mom, Shoes: Urban Outfitters, Slip: Vintage

I hoarded it, I think I might have worn it once, until today. I was originally saving it to go visit a 1700s house downstate, but the rain thwarted our last plan to visit it, and I figured today was as good a day as any.

The thing is, I've been looking for all kinds of Edwardian things lately. It's part of the whole Jane Eyre thing. I know that isn't Edwardian, but the little lace collars and bits poking up from the tops of dresses made me think of it. I lost out on a lawn dress with not buttons on ebay (it ended up going for 17$. I forgot about the auction and watched Parks and Recreation. I'm trying very hard not to think about this tragedy), but most of them go for higher prices or have really tiny waists. Nevertheless, when something latches on to your brain there is little to stop yourself until you get the thing you're looking for.

And then, on the day I decide to wear this dress--not vintage, but decidedly antique and vintage inspired--I found a really quite perfect Edwardian-ish (I'm not entire sure on the time frame for it, maybe 20s) cotton nightgown with lace sleeves and neckline, complete with a tiny yellow bow. Happenstance made it all come together, rather inexplicably!

The bag is from my mother. She had it for years, and I think I borrowed it a few times, but always had my eyes on it. One day it was on my stairs, waiting, and I grabbed it and scurried away. Since then we have scarcely been parted. The ring was also mom's, but when it didn't fit her it became mine! She had it engraved with my grandmother's initials. I wear it on the opposite hand from the pinky ring that has my initials, and I'm pleased to have this tiny collection of them now.

Of course, this dress being white and my coordination skills and nervous energy being what they are, I've already blessed this dress with some tea stains. I'm certain that they'll come out, but if they don't it's to the tub with this one, to get some new color.

Pictures taken by John M.

Short Order.

2011-05-28T22:09:00.006-04:00

Outfit details: Blouse: H&M (2009), Shorts: J. Crew, Shoes: J. Crew (last year), Bag: H&M (last year), Sunglasses: H&M

I resisted shorts for a long time. I've worn them here and there, but for the most part you'll find that (and I think most of my posts over the last handful of years illustrate this) I usually reach for a skirt or dress over shorts (which is, I've noticed, one of many words that gets really weird the more times you type or say it).

But it's hot out, so I give up.

There is also this thing that happens, all too often, when I cannot anticipate the garment that will become my favorite, or go-to, or whatever fashion-y buzz-word works best. I try to guess sometimes and end up with doubles of this or that thing, only to have it fade into the obscure regions of a closet or dresser. Of all the things I could have bought, and I decided to buy two of that sorry little thing.

The problem is that when you don't bother to think ahead in this manner, you end up with a blouse like this one. It fits the bill just about perfectly, does exactly what it ought to, and of course there is only one. The solitary item, languishing on it's own lonely hanger, being worn into the obliteration of seams all because I do not have the gift of foresight.

So I try not to wear it too often. Only when I'm in deep agitation about what to wear, as it will soothe my silly little dressing-up portion of my soul in just the right way.

Or, the other solution, is eat some cake.

Since the bakery I work it is closed for a long weekend, today I took my day off to be the piggiest thing since the last time I worked, and get myself two pieces of cake. The one I'm digging into is 'Avalone'--a vanilla genoise with a pomegranate mousse, and a blackberry and wine puree mousse. It's a new favorite, with the old favorite--a Savarina--lurking in the background waiting to be second dessert.

No work till Thursday also means I can paint my nails and rather than try to decide which color to go with, I decided it was best to try several.

Pictures taken by John.

Jane Eyre Poster Winner!

2011-05-23T18:33:00.003-04:00

Hello all!

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the giveaway is Sonja!

She left a quotation from Jane Eyre as it appears in the book:

"Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal — as we are!"

Thank you to everyone who entered and everyone who left a quote! I really loved reading them all, so I've complied them here where it's easier for everyone to read!

"A vaportrail gashed the sky.
But the sky healed itself. Without fuss."
"Black Swan Green"David Mitchell

"They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects."
"Pride & Prejudice" Jane Austen

"My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees — my love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath — a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff — he's always, always in my mind — not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself — but as my own being — so, don't talk of our separation again — it is impracticable."
"Wuthering Heights" Emily Bronte

"Holding hands, for example, is a way to remember how it feels to say nothing together."
"The History of Love" Nicole Krauss

"Everybody's different, and everybody thinks everybody else is the same and they're the only one different."
"Homecoming" Cynthia Voigt

"Parting is such sweet sorrow."
"Romeo and Juliet" William Shakespeare

"Reader, I married him."
"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Bronte

"Yes I said yes I will Yes."
"Ulysses" James Joyce

"Things always change. Things would be changing now if your father were alive, Edgar. That's just life. You can fight it or you can accept it. The only difference is, if you accept it, you get to do other things. If you fight it, you're stuck in the same spot forever."
"The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" David Wroblewski

"Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and
never forget that until the day when God shall deign to
reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in
these two words, -- `Wait and hope.' Your friend, Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo."
"The Count of Monte Cristo" Alexandre Dumas

"Wherever you are is my home - my only home."
"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Bronte

"My bride is here... because my equal is here, and my likeness."
"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Bronte

"It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace."
"Diary" Chuck Palahniuk

"Life is both sad and solemn. we are led into a wonderful world, we meet one another here, greet each other---and wander together for a brief moment. Then we lose each other and disappear as suddenly and unreasonably as we arrived."
"Sophie's World" Jostein Gaarder

"Perhaps it is our imperfections that make us so perfect for one another!"
"Emma" Jane Austen

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
"Hamlet" William Shakespeare

"My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes."
"Anne of Green Gables" Lucy Maud Montgomery

"I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking."
"Goodbye to Berlin" Christopher Isherwood

"In youth from rock to rock I went,
From hill to hill in discontent
Of pleasure high and turbulent,
Most pleased when most uneasy;
But now my own delights I make, -
My thirst at every rill can slake,
And gladly Nature's love partake
Of Thee, sweet Daisy!"
'To the Daisy' William Wordsworth

"To see ten thousand animals untamed and not branded with the symbols of human commerce is like scaling an unconquered mountain for the first time, or like finding a forest without roads or footpaths, or the blemish of an axe. You know then what you had always been told -- that the world once lived and grew without adding machines and newsprint and brick-walled streets and the tyranny of clocks."
"West with the Night" Beryl Markham

“Night flying over charted country by the aid of instruments and radio guidance can still be a lonely business, but to fly in unbroken darkness without even the cold companionship of a pair of ear phones or the knowledge that somewhere ahead are lights and life and a well-marked airport is something more than just lonely. It is at times unreal to the point where the existence of other people seems not even a reasonable probability. The hills, the forests, the rocks, and the plains are one with the darkness, and the darkness is infinite. The Earth is no more your planet than is a distant star – if a star is shining; the plane is your planet and you are its sole inhabitant."
"West with the Night" Beryl Markham

"The time piece in the bedroom ticking frantically against the clock on the stairs; ticking harder and harder till it seemed to clang like a gong; and all this while the subtle-souled girl asking herself why she was born, why sitting in a room, and blinking at the candle; why things around her had taken the shape they wore in preference to every other possible shape; why they stared at her so helplessly, as if waiting for the touch of some wand that should release them from terrestrial constraint; what that chaos called consciousness, which spun in her at this moment like a top, tended to, and began in. Her eyes fell together; she was awake, yet she was asleep."
"The Mayor of Casterbridge" Thomas Hardy

"Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens."
"The Shadow of the Wind" Carlos Ruiz Zafon

"...now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, expressionless. We are living in a time where flowers are trying to live on flowers, instead of growing on good rain and black loam."
"Fahrenheit 451" Ray Bradbury

"Out on the Safaris, I had seen a herd of Buffalo, one hundred and twenty-nine of them, come out of the morning mist under a copper sky, one by one, as if the dark and massive, iron-like animals with the mighty horizontally swung horns were not approaching, but were being created before my eyes and sent out as they were finished."
"Out of Africa" Isak Dinesen

"She was not in the library; I mounted to her room, but she was not there. I paused by her laden dressing table wondering if she would come. Then through the open window, as the light streamed out across the terrace into the dusk, to the fountain which in that house seemed always to draw us to itself for comfort and refreshment I caught the glimpse of a white skirt against the stones."
"Brideshead Revisited" Evelyn Waugh

"All her generation use their brains too scrupulously upon books, seeking meaning rather than letting themselves run on for pleasure which is more or less my way, & thus naturally richest & best."
Virginia Woolf, Diaries

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me"
"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Bronte

"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it."
"Wuthering Heights" Emily Bronte

"I must, then, repeat continually that we are forever sundered--yet while I breath and think, I must love him."
"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Bronte

"Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs."
"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Bronte

"And...I see. I hear. But not with eyes and ears. I'm not outside my world anymore, and I'm not really inside it either. The thing is, there's no difference anymore between me and the universe anymore. The boundary is gone. I am it and it is me. I am a stone, a cactus thorn. I am rain." She smiled dreamily. "I like that most of all, being rain."
"Stargirl" Jerry Spinelli

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" Steve Kloves (script adaptation)

"So Matilda's strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone."
"Matilda" Roald Dahl

“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
“After all this time?”
“Always,” said Snape.”
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" J. K. Rowling

"I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet."
"The Bell Jar" Sylvia Plath

"Mostly, I'm just trying to get it right. Whatever that means."
"The Truth About Forever" Sarah Dessen

"And what are you reading, Miss—?" "Oh! it is only a novel!" replies the young lady…in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language."
"Northanger Abbey" Jane Austen

"If you can sit in silence with anyone for half an hour and feel 'comfortable,' you and that person can be friends. If not, friends you'll never be and you needn't waste time trying."
"Old Grandmother, Magic for Marigold" L.M. Montgomery

"...perhaps a robin, all but one of his fires out."
"A Child's Christmas in Wales" Dylan Thomas

"It's the wanting to know that makes us matter"
"Arcadia" Tom Stoppard

"“Here’s to seasonal madness, part-time relatives, and substitutes for love.”
"Crank" Ellen Hopkins.

Everyday Costume.

2011-05-22T16:27:00.003-04:00

Lately I've been thinking that it's a shame I'm not more outgoing or gifted in the vein of performing and acting, because most of the time I'd really like to wear some sort of costume and pretend all day. I'm just shy of twenty-five so full-out costume dressing doesn't really click these days, although that hasn't stopped me from trying at least a little bit. My habits of dress usually coincide with a movie or book I've seen or read and if you've seen my last post I'm sure you can guess the sorts of things I've been trying to channel as far as the costume for the day goes. I've been forgoing my usual eyeliner (partly because my allergies were so bad that I was starting to despise applying any makeup at all) and keeping my mascara to a minimum. Despite my penchant for lace and old oddities of dress, I don't really have much that would work when it comes to 19thc. corsets and calico dresses. I've also been sorely lamenting my chopped hair, wondering why I ever did such a thing, and trying my very best to will the stuff to grow faster.

In the meantime though, I'm making do. I had a white dress I snagged on sale at Anthropologie last year, but had hardly worn. The thing about white dresses is they always seem like a crisp, cool idea at the time, and then I hardly wear them.. For a while a few years ago I couldn't get enough of the things, but that was mostly paired with tights and strange boots, rather than in summer. I have a little pile of white dresses that I bought on impulse, thinking that yes, they are white, but I can always dye them (this is also my justification for buying vintage that is stained so much I'm unsure if I could actually get it out). Assuming I ever get around to that task. My need for at least one Jane Eyre inspired outfit was enough to push me to try such a thing, and so I started with this dress:

Consequently you cannot see it very clearly because it is white. Helpful.

I don't generally like shirt-dresses. In theory I think they're lovely, and then I put one on and can't stand it, so they hardly get worn. But something about the lines of this dress reminded me of the costumes in the movie. Originally I had visions of a mint-green thing, with a little lace jacket (I have procured on from Forever21, which is not in this post, but it was originally planned to be) that I imagined I might dye with tea, and a pair of triple strap flats ordered from golden ponies (I've ordered them, and they're on their way but not here yet). As it turns out, the color green I wanted has been discontinued. I didn't really trust myself to adjust the shades of green in the store, and anyway my favorite dress in the aforementioned film is a very pale blueish grey. After a first dye, using less than a quarter of what the dye instructions called for, I had a dress in a pleasing shade of light blue. I was thrilled with it, but in my heart it was not the color I wanted. It was a little more Alice in Wonderland blue rather than faded dress grey blue. I opted to try a grey dye over the blue for a short amount of time. The resulting color was exactly what I had hoped for.

After that I threw some snaps on the collar to close it up the shirt-ness of it, and after adding a little lace collar and some ribbon, I was quite pleased at my vaguely Eyre-esque outfit to be worn traipsing to historic sites and wandering grounds.

Olana, a place I remembered visiting when I was a kid, so we headed back!

I have a small collection of lace cuffs that I buy for no reason. I love the idea of them, how period they look, how delicate and strange they are. A lot of them are on their own and appalling cheap because they are missing mates or stained, so I've started wearing one by itself as a kind of bracelet. For the purposes of this costumed outfit I wore it alone, but I've been enjoying it layered with some shiny bracelets for more regular days.

I'm trying my best with my hair! I used to be able to do so much with it when it was long, all these romantic hairstyles! Now I'm limited, and this length doesn't hold curl very well, but I'm making do until I get some lengthy locks again.

Dress: Anthropologie, altered
Collar: Vintage, thrifted
Cuff: Vintage, antiqued
Shoes: Urban Outfitters
(For reference, I used RIT liquid dye in Evening blue for the first dye, and used RIT pearl grey in powder form for the second dye)

Pictures taken by John M.

Giveaway, Jane Eyre.

2011-05-16T18:07:00.002-04:00

If you follow me on tumblr or twitter (both of which have devolved, for me, into a caps-lock infested place for flailing about all manner of things usually having very little to do with this blog) or even picked up from my writings here or there in the past few posts, I've become absorbed by the new adaptation of Jane Eyre. I know the movie has it's detractors, it's critics, people who swear their lives by the book and who are irked by the movie but I am fiendishly preoccupied by it at the moment. The book, which I had read but totally forgotten about from many years ago, suddenly seems fresh to me with the movie. I'm sure people will be bent on throwing things at me for that, but, you know. I am, as I've confessed, a Harry Potter fan, and so my expectations when it comes to book-to-movie are particularly different, I think. In any case, I don't care, I love this movie with reckless abandon.

Three of five ticket stubs--I don't know into which pocket the others have gone.

It's about capturing a feeling, a sensation, rather than attempting the impossible task of transposing text to screen, and it's something I find this movie does beautifully.

In fact, I have been so transfixed (I couldn't not use that word) that I've been to see it five times (in my defense, three of those times was with other people who wanted to see it and I tagged along). When it comes to movies like these, I know they'll never be in theaters again. Harry Potter probably will, and so will Lord of the Rings because of course re-releasing those in theaters is too lucrative an opportunity to pass up. But this beautiful little movie will probably not be on a big screen again, and I cannot bear the thought of being chained to it on a TV. Those big, fleshy close ups of strange faces and moors are something I want emblazoned on my brain.

I love it so much that I ventured to ask about a poster at my local theater (on their website it says posters can be ordered through the box office for $15). When I dropped off my form a kind person working that day told me they had a poster on hand so I would not have to wait for it! It turns out that there were extras, and to my delight I soon found myself with several of these gorgeous, thick, double-sided, and large posters.

I plan on keeping an extra for myself (framing one, and then keeping another as back up) but I thought, I ought to give one away!

And so, here we are! If you would like, please comment on this post for a chance to win a Jane Eyre 2011 poster.

The only requirements are that you must leave an e-mail where I might reach you, and in order to make this something fun to read, I ask that you leave a favorite quotation or passage from a beloved book. I will pick a winner at random one week from today, on Monday May 23, 2010.

Turning Green.

2011-05-13T22:20:00.003-04:00

Now that things are turning green and the trees have honest-to-goodness leaves, I'm starting to branch out (har har!) into more wood-sy areas. Or, that's the idea anyway. I suppose I've been watching too many movies where someone wistfully, fitfully, or frantically flings themselves out into the world and runs around lying on rocks or in flowers. The downside is that I forgot about bugs. There were these furry things on the ground (some sort of leaf of which I am sure my dad knows the Latin name), and after merrily running to the rock there, I saw a few and felt dread creep into my heart. I thought they were giant, hairy cattepillars and somehow that made me very unhappy. As it turns out they were, as mentioned, leaves, but still. The giant mutant mosquitoes were enough to make us flee back to the road.

Allow me to climb upon this rock.

I ended up in this dotted swiss dress again. I think it's becoming my favorite summer dress, despite it's short length. This morning I had no idea what to wear, and so leaned on this little fellow (I'm not sure why this dress, with puffed sleeves and feminine details, is apparently male). Of course the day was not cooperating, and so I grabbed this sweater in haste. It shed all over John's car, but I am really fond of it besides (I think I might just have endless adoration for things that shed re: cats).

Eventually, it rained. I had quite an ordeal in attempting to open my umbrella. I got it after a few tries. It turns out there is a button on this contraption to make it easy to use, but in my infinite wisdom, I didn't notice it.

And of course, what is my life without a bow on the head? I am in a strange place hair-wise. I chopped a few more inches off a good three weeks ago, and now I'm trying to grow it back again. It used to be so long, practically waist-length, and then I cut it for whatever reasons. Delusions of chic-ness and order, when really the things I like are always lacy and disorganized so a short, somewhat sleek haircut is really just not where I feel myself. And I'm growing out the bangs. They will probably come back in the winter or fall, but for summer I can't abide their constant eye-lid grazing.

My usual solution for something that is distressing me worked alright today. When in doubt, put a bow on top.

Dress: J. Crew
Sweater: J. Crew
Socks: Mystery!
Boots: Hunter wellies via Zappos

Summer Inspiration: The Talented Mr. Ripley

2011-05-08T21:09:00.002-04:00

I should clarify that at the moment my inspiration as far as The Talented Mr. Ripley is concerned has been usurped by the most recent production of Jane Eyre, which I loved to a point of obsession and have hence seen it three times in theaters (my current illness--which has kept me from posting outfits since an outfit is not made of ancient t-shirts and leggings--not interfering with viewings). I suppose I'll post about that eventually, but until then I thought I had better post about this, which I have been meaning to do for about two years.

When Ripley came out, I was hoovering somewhere around thirteen-years-old. In the throes of a Titanic obsession (it happened) I was thoroughly put-out and unsure of why exactly my mother forbade me to see The Talented Mr. Ripley. Years went by, far into the age when I could finally see it, before I did watch it about 5 years ago. I quickly realized why I wasn't allowed to watch it earlier.

In the summers that followed though, I've been increasingly captivated by Marge Sherwood's wardrobe for summer. Gwyneth Paltrow, always at her best when she is playing some kind of waspy character, suddenly makes me think that this late 50s garb is the best idea for summer. High-waisted circle skirts, little knotted white blouses with cheeky bikini tops underneath. And her hair, somehow perfectly coiffed without being too done, the tiniest wisp of eyeliner and the occasional lipstick for her latter points in the film, almost always dictate what I want to wear in summer.

I tend to prefer her outfits in the summer scenes of course, although the two coats she wears are so glorious that I couldn't resist throwing them in. The thing about this movie is that it makes me think that going all the way into the late-50s sort of look is going to work wonderfully (another one, Sylvia, makes me think this) and then I end up looking a bit fusty and prim rather than fresh. I suppose it's one of Gwyneth's lucky bits, that she can pull it off without seeming old.

For myself then, I'll just pile up on loose summer blouses and cotton skirts.

Leapfrogging Spring.

2011-04-27T13:14:00.004-04:00

This isn't an outfit from today, or even from anytime in the past few days. According to my camera, it's from April 11th--the day that I went for a walk and for 3 bug bites in ten minutes, when it suddenly hit eighty degrees without warning. In the interest of trying to post more regularly, and since I hadn't shared this then, here it is now! It's been a summery-kind of warm here, out of nowhere, and some people are actually complaining that it's too warm!

This is a dress that I saw, and even though I knew I wouldn't be wearing it for ages, I bought it on-the-spot. Dotted swiss! Puffy sleeves! Weird little linen details! I had been thinking of it as my Snow White dress, although I don't know why, until I realized it was exactly the sort of thing that really reminded me of the movie in yesterday's post.

But I'm pleased. I'm reliving summer memories from back in the day and relishing the familiar feelings of summer that I don't really know how to articulate. There's something about how the way the windows are open, the way the room is really messy, the way sunscreen smells that all combines to something really specific but also general.

These flowers have long-since died, but that's alright, because there are finally some outside anyway.

I'm really excited for night-time in summer. I think it might just be that I'm nostalgically remembering summers in high school as being a certain way, but I always get excited for it.

Outfit details:
Dress: J. Crew
Headband: J. Crew circa 2009
Shoes: J. Crew
(Oh jeez, I didn't mean for that to happen! Entire outfits from one place, oh dear)
Flowers: Ranunculus

Spring Inspiration: Bright Star

2011-04-26T21:31:00.005-04:00

Uh, I'm not sure how to explain this. This is a long-ass post, and I'm holding myself back. I had a good two pages of my feelings on Keats and his poems and letters before I realized that I ought to get to the dress as soon as possible, and save the rest for my thesis.

When I first heard of Bright Star (alternate title: A Girl Sitting at a Window with Her Cat), I was dubious. I have that very particular feeling, that sense of snobbish ownership, about Keats and his works. It's really hard to fight the rising aggression that surfaces whenever a quotation is out-of-place, so strangely transplanted in an alien context (my only other real qualm is something many period movies are guilty of. When a woman moves from one room to the next carrying her embroidery with her, but not bringing any extra thread or scissors. Irritated!). But that's a silly attitude to have--movies about real people aren't really about them at all, and besides all that, it's just one little image, one rendering of a version of a story about a person who existed. Not to mention (but I'm going to mention it anyway) that anyone who says this is a movie about Keats is surely missing every point ever pointed. It's a movie about Fanny, and after decades and ages of scholarship maligning her, I think this is a nice reprieve. I love that the movie parallels Keats and writing, with Fanny and sewing, making her a poet in her own sense.

But besides all of that, the movie is a gorgeous watch. It has become a site of my primary spring inspiration this year--all dotted swiss, strange collars, light cotton blouses, pastels, stripes in pale colors, and triple-strap flats. I especially love that we see Fanny wearing the same items over and over in different ways. The sea-green over-dress she wears pops up in springy scenes with a blouse in the same shade, and later she wears it over a cotton tunic lounging around the bed in hot weather. One of my favorite details is that both Fanny and her sister have dresses in matching fabrics--because of course, you wouldn't just buy enough to make one dress, but enough to get several items out of it. I think my favorite is the light brown and cream striped dress that pops up a few times (under a pink striped jacket--not shown--with white blouses both frilly and plain).

I also love the men's dress in this, although my interest there is mostly limited to Samuel Brawne, following around the background with his tall straw hat and light-colored spring suit (my favorite though, must be the striped jacket he wears in the kitchen and in the fields catching butterflies).

And of course, I can't resist a movie with a girl and a cat.

(Since I am incapable of controlling myself, I tried to use smaller versions of the stills to save you from too much extra scrolling and giant images!)

In the end, if I can just dress like this for spring, and even summer, it will be a good year.

Sad Clones in Sweaters.

2011-04-23T23:23:00.005-04:00

(The location, serving in my pretending-brain as the pier in Never Let Me Go, Swamplandia!, and The Dead Marshes)

In October, I posted about Never Let Me Go and wanting to dress like the movie. Thankfully, this look (which I dubbed 'Sad Clones in Sweaters') of raggedy, piled-on clothing in mushy drab colors fit in really well with what the weather was doing all winter long. Of course, it's not really spring yet, somehow, and I'm donning the same thing for a few more days until the season decides that it's far too late into the year to be doing this sort of cold and moldy rain.

The upside of this, is that I can still dress like a Sad Clone and run around pier-esque areas reminiscent of various countrysides in movies.

And reenact movie posters.

This is only one version of the Sad Clone. I had lots of time this winter to come up with many, most involving the lumpiest most wonderfully hideous ill-shaped sweaters possible. I didn't wear one today, since it wasn't actually all that cold when not standing on a dock in the middle of the water and wind. I normally don't include the scarf pictured, it's a bit too full and healthy looking, but I didn't want to look like a total ruffian dragging a tatty scarf around Target.

It's also a bit of a shame that my hair isn't long and blowing around, but at least I have the blunt bangs.

I'm still getting that phantom hair thing a lot. It's not that I really took off all that much, length-wise only 4 or 5 inches, but it's enough that I still get that missing-the-step feeling when I go to control the stuff blowing about in the breeze (I still haven't gotten the hang of how to deal with bangs when it's windy).

I do suppose this is probably my last occasion to make my Sad Clone outfit post before next autumn. I'm dubiously eyeballing the weather reports for the next week, but there is no way we could steer into May without having warmth as a regular thing. If it doesn't happen soon, I might have to start dressing like it is, even if my legs and toes freeze.

Outfit details:
Jacket: Thrifted
Dress: J. Crew
Tights: No idea.
Boots: Hunter, zappos
Scarf: Mom's :)

As usual, John took my pictures.

Iphone Adventures.

2011-04-22T23:23:00.003-04:00

In lieu of a real living-and-breathing post, here are a whole bunch of silly pictures from my phone. If you follow my capslock escapades on twitter, you've probably seen them at one point or another (several of them also find their way into facebook).

My first soft-serve ice cream of the season (I always get chocolate with rainbow sprinkles. Always).

Attempting to dress myself. When the warm days are few and far between, I get anxious that I am potentially wasting the chance to wear something awesome. I think, if I remember correctly, I didn't end up in any of these items.

This is one of my favorite items we make at the bakery where I work--a Savarina.

Pictorial evidence of a habit. In office supply stores I like to write this message on the pen-tester pads. I also type it in empty word documents on the computers.

Flowers, which are now dried on my windowsill.

Easter friends, little demented looking chicks.

Two twin cat friends on my walk home from work.

An inside page of the Marilyn Monroe book, I quite liked this one, but the whole thing had really lovely and strange pages and pages of pictures of paper like this one.

My tote and packaging from fieldguided!

Shorter, darker hair, rummaging through the Easter merchandise in Target.

A favorite movie, awkwardly vignetted.

Today, short hair.

Today's diet.

And so there goes April.

(for those interested, I do use an app for these--it's 'pudding' and I can't read any of it, but I like that it hides my skin flaws and makes life look dreamy.)

Flowers and Books.

2011-04-09T18:57:00.004-04:00

We're in blissful weather now, cool in the mornings with promises of jacket-shedding weather in afternoons, sunny and puddle-less. In no time the trees and bushes will be all a-haze with buds making noses run with allergies, but I can hardly care.

Today was exactly the kind of day I always hope to have. Besides the weather that was cooperative and lovely, I spent it walking around town gathering things like small flower bunches (from a store with a little corgi leaping with joy in the window) and books that I never intend to really read, but can't leave behind because the typography and designs on the spine are too gorgeous to leave behind.

My hair has faded quite a bit, it's almost back to my normal color, and I'm left with decisions to make about my appointment next week. Do I keep the auburn or go back to identifying with Snow White and return to dark locks? Honestly, I'll probably try the reddish hue again, because it's something I've become a little bit fond of even if I don't always feel myself with it.

Also (atrocious way to start a sentence, let along a paragraph), do you ever have days where your outfit looks truly the way you always hoped it would in person, only to have it photograph less-than-perfectly? I suppose it's what people mean by 'editorial' when used in terms of describing outfits, or something. Somehow, probably because of the edible color of the skirt, nothing seemed to come out exactly representing how it felt to wear it in life.

Oh well. I can't be too irritable about it, since I ended up peeling off my tights in the car. My legs, free at last, have never been so happy in the sun.

Outfit details:
Slip: Vintage
Blouse: Anthropologie via a friend's hand-me-over
Skirt: J. Crew
Jacket: J. Crew
Tights: Nine West
Shoes: Urban Outfitters
Scarf: Talbots Outlet
Bag: fieldguided, I am forever dedicated to those totes!
Pin: Vintage, ebay

Pictures taken, ever obligingly, by John.

One Warm Day.

2011-03-30T20:54:00.003-04:00

It's not here yet, spring, and even the chipperest people around these parts are dragging themselves across the pavement, trying desperately to leave coats behind. You can see here that the little piles of snow have melted (which is partly why I went back to this spot for pictures) but every news outlet, tweet, and facebook update is warning that we're going to get more on Friday.

I've been living in this striped dress since I bought it. I remember seeing it in the J. Crew catalog and pining over it (even though I don't really like the zippers on the sides) until finally prancing across the hall in the mall when I saw it hanging on a rack in the front of the store. My grubby little hands were not to be separated from it and it came home with me even though that was weeks and weeks before any appropriate temperatures were going to surface.

And of course, there is my funny trench. I've been looking in every single store I walk by to try and find a classic trench, but have yet to find my trench-mate. The ones I end up liking are always $200 or upwards, which does not fit into my little world's budget!

Meet my little fox friend! He is another Zentall pin that my mother got in a lot with the seahorse gentleman, and I love having him about the world with me. He's very fantastic.

Outfit details:
Dress: J. Crew
Trench: Thrifted
Tights: Who knows!
Shoes: J. Crew
Tote: field guided--eventually I'll show you my other field guided tote, but I just thought this one was best for today!
Lipstick: Nars, 'Heat Wave'

Pictures taken by John M.

The Regular.

2011-03-12T17:56:00.002-05:00

Most of the time when I bother to get pictures to post here it's on days when I don't have to go to work, or when the weather is particularly good, or if I'm going somewhere that will have good spots for it. These days, anyway. When I first started posting here, it was a little different, but I'm much happier over the past year or so with the way pictures and posts come out.

But if I were telling the honest-to-goodness cross-my-heart truth, I don't dress like this every day. It's not too different on most days, but a lot of the time I'm in something a little less fussy.

Something a little more like this. First, I have to swear, they're not leggings! I'm not falling victim to the Leggings As Pants event that has swept the nation (I'm also aware that I might just be telling myself that). They are in fact pants, something more akin to a riding pant than to a proper jean or chino, much thicker than leggings. I've worn them a lot in the winter with my wellies or other boots, to make climbing the iced-over snow banks on my way to work a little bit warmer and easier.

And of course, whenever I am in doubt, I wear stripes. It was also definitely not warm enough to warrant those shoes, but I'm so sick down to my very bones of wearing socks.

I also have to admit, no matter what kind of rants I might end up with, these glasses aren't mine. BUT, before the groans start, they soon will be mine! I do need glasses to see--distance anyway, especially for movies and driving--and after watching everyone else in the blog world get their hands on some Warby Parker glasses, I decided to take advantage of their free home-try-on option. I'm wearing the Webb ones here, which are my favorite I think, that I ordered, to see how I like them. They're nice and wide (my current glasses are a bit narrow and so it's limiting in the space I can look through), although between the bangs and the lipstick I do feel a little bit (shall we say the word?) hipster-ish. Which, even using that phrase annoys me--what on earth does it even mean? And I don't want to be that person who tries so hard not to be like something. But sometimes, despite all efforts, I worry what people will say or think, even to themselves.

In the end though, I just want to wear lipstick and stripes and ponytails, and the rest can just be silence.

Outfit details:
Shirt: Saint James
Pants: J. Crew (pixie pants)
Shoes: J. Crew
Jacket: Thrifted
Glasses: Warby Parker
Scarf: 'borrowed' from mom, vintage benetton.
Lipstick: Revlon 'Coral'

Pictures taken by John M.

(look at me, updating two days in a row! Let's hope it's a trend!)

Sweater Tugging Days.

2011-03-11T22:18:00.003-05:00

After my last post it snowed a whole lot. That was really fun, except for the part where I totally hated it. Today it was nice though, and I once again had the urge to wear something nice, brush my hair, leave the house.

I've been meaning to wear and post this blouse for over a year! My boyfriend ordered it for me from Francesca's shop last Valentine's day, and it's taken me almost that long to wear it! I was in love with the bunnies from the moment I laid eyes on it, but the sleeves were a bit too snug for my arms. My mother, infinitely resourceful and talented, sewed bits of lace into the underside of the sleeves so I had some extra room and did not loose circulation in my arms.

The skirt is new, something I picked up because I thought it looked like the sort of thing I was always looking for but never had the eye to pick it out. Someone cut one of the faux-pockets open and added a lining so it sticks out a bit on the side, but I like having at least one pocket.

My hair is also, as you might notice, a slightly different shade than usual. A little over a week ago, almost two weeks now, I decided to follow the itch I had and try for an Auburn color. It's one of those things, like bangs, which if you've always kind of wanted you're going to always kind of want until you just do it and get it out of your system.

Initially, it came out very, very bright, and I woke up the next day in the midst of a Jo March moment, clutching at the sides of my head and convinced that it was purple. I feverishly washed my head, dropping the lightly pink soap on the white tub to see if it was still eeking out into the lather, until I was less panicked.

It's not permenant, so it's going to keep fading, but right now it's at a spot where I like it. I'll go back to brunette in April, when I have my next appointment, because nothing else really feels quite right. For the time being though, it's a nice little change to boost myself into warm weather.

Outfit details:
Blouse: Thirteen EightyFive on Etsy
Sweater: J. Crew
Skirt: Vintage
Tights: I couldn't tell you if I tried, which I did.
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell via Solestrick

Pictures taken by John M.

I Remembered Spring.

2011-02-18T22:28:00.004-05:00

I think I did, or do, anyway. There is this thing that happens in the morning when you leave the house and realize you don't need the coat you're wearing. It's like a catch of breath, or a skipping step, or the lightest and most sentimental of breezes. Spring does that, even though I use to hate it when I was a kid--insisting that it was too pastel! The first flowers out require so much attention, the hogs! But this week I remembered it, bare arms and puddles, just enough to feel less anxious that it's still winter.

I was going to call this post A Morning of Pale Spring Still Clinging to Winter's Chill, because my dayis sometimes little more than a string of Lord of the Rings references but I know better. It is not spring, no matter how much we tried to pretend today, hallucinating beauty in the piles of snirt (snow+dirt) full of cigarette butts from December clinging to the curbs. I know where I live, and this is no real spring, but a little preamble reminding us that eventually it will be here for real.

Until then, I will collect these precious days of fleeting warmth and make the best of them, even if I would rather sit on the floor all day.

I am also going to confess something that doesn't really bother me, but might a little bit. I really love this skirt. I first wore it in February 2009 (when my hair was shorter then, too!), and it's become one of my favorites. The downside is that I work at a bakery, and I eat a croissant (either plain or filled with nutella) pretty much every day if there is not something else (puff pastry covered in apricot glaze or a giant slice of cake) that I fall in love with and need to eat. As such, this skirt fits, but is so tight that I worried about potentially passing out or bursting the button this morning.

Thankfully, a hair-elastic saved from the floor acted as my savior, and gave me an extra inch of breathing room. I feel like these are the kinds of things oft-admitted to on blogs. But you know. These things, they happen, and croissants are my tongue's promise to my soul (I don't know, I just love food).

This is also the first meeting, on this blog, of my new little pin-friend! Over the summer I fell in love with a seahorse gentleman trapped inside a window at an antique shop. He was not to be had but my mother, in her infinite brilliance and ebay savvy ways, found this little guy and wrapped him up for me for Christmas! He is the trickiest thing to photograph, but the loveliest little creature I have ever seen. His tail is long and stepped, and it curls at the bottom. I have to keep myself from talking to him when I am in public.

Outfit details:
Blouse: J. Crew
Blazer: Gap, circa 2008 (I think?)
Skirt: Vintage, thrifted
Tights: who knows anymore!
Wellies: Hunter
Bag: Vintage, thrifted
Seahorsefriend pin: Christmas gift from mom, found on ebay

(Added 2.19) Some details shared by my mom on facebook about the pin:
The seahorse pin is a vintage Robert Zentall. He fled Europe with friend Etienne Aigner during WWII. In the 1950's and 1960's they designed and created fashion accessories.

Photos, as usual, taken by John.

The Loves of My Life are My Favorite Books

2011-01-30T18:20:00.006-05:00

“Ink runs from the corners of my mouth. There is no happiness like mine. I have been eating poetry.”
Mark Strand

This is a bit of a departure from what I've been posting here for, well, to be honest, the last year or so. I don't know what happened to the Things of Happiness, but you know. Sometimes things peter out. So in the spirit of posting about things besides outfits, this is a post about my soulmates—books.

There is nothing I love as much as a book. I love the covers, the pages, bookshelves and bookmarks. I got a kindle for Christmas, and I do not find that this strange object has destroyed the 'real thing' at all for me. I am delighted with it. I can carry around all of my favorite books with me at all times, losing my place is near impossible, and I love highlighting sections to keep in my little clippings folder. If anything, the kindle has increased my book buying habits because if I love a book I read on there, I'll go buy a hard copy of it to place lovingly on my bookshelf.

And so, here are a few books who have (I talk to and about them like they are people—these strange, silent friends who break my heart) burrowed their way into my life in the past few months:

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, Karen Russell
This book made the rounds about a year back—I think—and it seemed all the bloggers in this little niche were talking about reading it, or wanting to read it. My resistance was pointless. With a title like that it was only a matter of time before I snatched this little beauty up, and I've hardly put it down since then. I love these stories, they're so strange, magical, and at times a little bit horrifying (at others, heartbreaking). I wish I had written them (I think one of the blurbs on the back of the books says this, so I can't be the only one!). I think I've read the stories a dozen times, some even more. If I remember correctly, this was one of the first books I read in the past year-and-a-half that reminded me why I love reading. Maybe it's early still, considering the rest of my life, but I suspect this is a book of stories that is really quite important to me. A few weeks ago I learned that the author, Karen Russell, is coming to my school for The Writer's Institute. It's only in a week or so, and I cannot wait! I am so thrilled to bits, I might explode. In the meantime, I will sit in the corner and read it over again, while eyeballing my penny-loafers praying to be chewed.

Pretty Monsters, Kelly Link
I was looking for something that would satisfy my appetite for strange short stories with an element of the magical. It's hard, because I knew the kinds of books and stories I wanted were out there somewhere (essentially I was looking to read more of the first listed above), but finding them seemed and impossible task. I almost would rather not read a book at all that ends up being a disappointment, and so it took a good week or so of hemming and hawing on my part before I snatched this one up. I think I read the description of it on Amazon and the review 47 times. This was unnecessary, because I loved it. The stories were also strange, magical, occasionally frightening, and at times hilarious. The only problem is that I finished it, and while I can read it again, it's never quite the same as the first time.

Of Bees and Mist: A Novel, Erik Setiawan
After Pretty Monsters, I was bereft. I had gone through re-reading everything I already knew I loved, and then read that book, and still hungered for more. Thankfully, a tumblr-friend came to my rescue, leaving this curious title and a a recommendation in my ask box. After reading the description on Amazon I hadn't a doubt in my mind that this was exactly the book, or the kind of book, I was looking for. Not to mention, I love bees (I have a secret desire to keep bees and wear that crazy outfit) and also, I love mist. I read it in just over twenty-four hours, devouring its pages in a mad rush, speed-reading whole sections and being totally heartbroken thinking about the characters every moment of the day. The book isn't without it's faults—at moments I wanted to punch the same oft-used adjectives in their little font-faces—but somehow that hardly matters. It was a book I was happy to become swept up in, like I used to with books when I was younger, to be absorbed into it's universe so much that it seemed tragic to me that I could not literally be a part of it, living it (even though the events in it are horribly).

I have also recently signed up for a Shelfari account. Hopefully I'll keep up with it, and eventually I'd like to have all my books up there, but we'll see how long motivation for that lasts.

Children's Hour

2011-01-23T23:00:00.002-05:00

I've been on the lookout for a sweater from the boy's department (specifically, from crewcuts) for a few months now. The tricky thing about it is I'm not exactly boy-ish in figure, and while squeezing myself into child's clothing is a talent I used to be quite good at, these days it's a bit harder. But after months of digging and searching, I at last found a size 12 sweater from the boy's department to call my very own.

This is the kind of thing I've been loafing around in for weeks. I can't be bothered much with accessories--my poor, neglected watch was the most effort I could muster--and I just want to be warm. Generally, it comes down to what looks cute under a coat.

I'm also finding that new hair brings new feelings about clothing. I've been having trouble for a few months with the fussier side of things. I can't help but be drawn in by bows, lace, little collars, chintzy patterns, kittens with bows on their necks and all manner of tea party paraphernalia personified in outfits, but all the same I find that these days it's just a bit too much. I want to pare things down, wear simpler outfits with cleaner lines. It's the trench-coat-and-a-black-dress feeling.

I'm also discovering that bangs grow like the fastest weeds in the West, and have an ever-developing mind-of-their-own. I haven't quite progressed to styling them (I don't know how to blow dry my hair. I just point the thing at my head until it's dry, and then adjust accordingly with hot rollers), and so far the air has been really helpful with all of that.

In the meantime, it's still winter, seemingly forever.

Outfit details:
Sweater: J. Crew, crewcuts
Skirt: J. Crew, circa 2009
Tights: Hue
Watch: Thrifted

P.S. I've been working on cleaning out my makeshift closet, and so far I've listed a few of my less-worn vintage goodies in the old etsy shop. Please take a look if you'd like :) More things will be added throughout the week! Some of them are really lovely, and need loving homes!

Even Legs Get the Blues.

2011-01-16T23:10:00.004-05:00

It's been a while since I've been able to take some proper outfit pictures. Most of the time I just want to stay inside, where there is no light, wearing as many blankets as possible and sliding through the house like some weird amoeba. The time spent outside is mostly scurrying from one doorway to the next, with occasional bursts of flinging oneself inside the car to escape the cold (which isn't really so bad as just really uncomfortable).

This is my favorite coat of all time. I don't know what I will do when it gives in and becomes decrepit.

The original plan was to take pictures by the movie theater, but I chickened out when I saw a guy patrolling the parking lot. It's been a while, and I feel like a weirdo posing for pictures like I'm some kind of awesome. So we headed over to one of the local private high schools, since it was Sunday and cold, so no one would be around. I can walk there from my house, but I haven't been in years! Not since track meets and meeting friends anyway.

The real exciting thing though, is my mini meow tote from fieldguided!

I had been secretly pining away for one for weeks, waiting for payday and then forgetting and buying cake and dresses instead. I'm such a sucker for tote bags--I have, I think, given up on actual purses and have thrown myself body-and-soul into tote-bag-collecting--and this one is kitty themed! There are others in the shop as well, so everyone ought to order away, but not too much, because I may need to treat myself to one of the lyric totes, or another meow if I manage to destroy this one.

The problem with tote bags, is they are often large, and I will pack them with extra shoes, cameras, books, planners, pens, cosmetics, a pair of socks just in case, sometimes a different blouse in case I change my mind later, and occasionally an apron if I'm going to work. Also, lunch. I'm trying to carry less, and so a smaller bag seems the best way to do so, and to not sling things on my shoulders. Eventually I will be lopsided if I keep my habits going!

Outfit details:
Coat: H&M, circa 2007
Jumper: Banana Republic, thrifted
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Steve Madden
Blouse: Banana Republic
Tote: fieldguided

Bits and Bobs (and Bangs!)

2011-01-08T23:07:00.002-05:00

Just a quick post today!

A few months ago I gave in and made a little facebook page for this blog, and as time goes on I've been posting all the little bits of things that don't seem to go anywhere else there! So far it's cell-phone quality outfit shots, occasionally things I see out in the world that I like, links to new posts, and the occasional stealthily-taken video of something inane, like digging through dresses.

So, if you'd like a gander at any of the above, take a look on over here, and give it a thumbs up as well if you're so inclined!

You'll notice, from a few posts on there, that I went ahead and lopped my hair off!

Alright, not off, but it's considerably shorter and features the (among a little niche of bloggers) ubiquitous blunt bangs! I've wanted them for ages, always longingly looking at catalogs and editorials and tumblrs and blogs where the girls and women in them had that nice, thick fringe. But I had bangs several years ago and was convinced that they were not something that I could pull off, that went along with my face at all.

But I had that itch, and knew I wasn't going to forget them until I had them on my head. They're taking some getting used to--they keep touching me--but it's a nice change for now. I can't say that I'm a lifetime convert, but an occasional dabbler certainly seems an apt title.

A Year in Happiness

2010-12-31T00:13:00.004-05:00

I've been inhabiting this little corner of the internet since sometime in 2007 (I missed my blog-birthday this year, but ahh, there is always next!), but I've never gone back and looked at the year at the end of it. I don't really care much about New Year's. I don't make resolutions, stay up late, or get really trashed, so it's a holiday I generally feel apathetic about. But this was one of my favorite years thus far. Despite all my frustrations, there were a few times this year where I was wearing exactly what I wanted to wear, out of all the clothes in all the world.

In January, I started wearing red lipstick on a regular schedule, and have pretty much stuck to it ever since!

My lipstick choices are a bit different now though--I've kind of (for the moment) left my MAC by the wayside in favor of my Revlon shades, although I have ventured into Nars territory this week, but we'll get to that later.

I was really over it in February

There were almost no outfit posts in the cold months, which is a trend I'm partaking in again this year (not on purpose). Those winter doldrums, they're a killer.

We had a really strange warm day in March, where I wore a dress I have since sold, that I remember so clearly I can hardly believe it was a year ago.

I'm linking the whole month of April, because I was and am really pleased with how things went down outfit-wise.

I solicited my boyfriend to start taking my pictures:

And he took some of my favorites, probably of ever:

And went places in outfits that make me miss spring really, really awfully:

By May it was pretty much full-fledged summer, all humidity and flea market dresses to beat the heat.

I was bowled over by that vintage find, until I found my little patterned friend in June.

In July I began the long campaign that was the Mad Men Casting Call. I didn't win, but with all the help in the world, I came close!

August is my birth month, and in celebration my parents and boyfriend took me to New York, to spend the entire day in the museum (heaven!). I became a devoted member of the scarf-on-your-head-gang.

I was ecstatic in September to be featured in a real life magazine! Still kind of giddy about that.

In October I shared some of my favorite pictures of my Grandmother, and was so overwhelmed and touched by all of your kind words and comments. I'm so happy that you enjoyed the pictures <3

And in November, I geeked way out and dressed up as Remus Lupin.

And then I was kind of lame in December. But there is always tomorrow, and, you know, the whole next year looming ahead (though not in a bad way)!

Thanks to everyone for reading, for commenting, for everything! You are all wonderful <3

Dressing Like: Calculette

2010-12-29T21:39:00.002-05:00

Ages and ages ago, when we were all free to move our arms about without being hindered by winter coats and other cold weather accoutrement, Kim and I went to see Micmacs (I actually can just barely see my ticket stub on the board above my computer--July 8th, it says!). I really loved it, and have been waiting for way to long for the DVD to come out so I can be sad that I do not have friendly dancing sort-of-robots to hang out with all day.

I was thinking about Micmacs when I was lamenting my ability to find the correct shade of blue Bensimon sneakers. I am a lucky enough gal to have received the DVD for Christmas (and have proceeded to watch it four or five times in one or two days). Consequently, it happens that the blue sneakers were a disgusting mistake—so says the director—but of course I still want them.

But just look at this girl! She is adorable, with her strange glasses and bangs and severe braids! Calculette, as she is named, is my newest inspiration for dressing with her little cotton vintage dresses and cardigans, legs poking out of skirts with giant socks swathed around her ankles. I supposed it's sort of the spring-ier version of the sad-clones-in-sweaters I've been citing as my winter wardrobe, but it makes me feel all antsy for warmer weather already, even though today is the day we are being threatened with mountains of snow.

I'm afraid my caps aren't terribly good, and as someone mostly in the background it's hard to get decent shots of her outfits, but it will just be an excuse for everyone to see the movie rather than looking at my grainy little stills.

Oh gosh!

2010-12-19T12:37:00.003-05:00

I can't believe I haven't updated in almost a month! It hasn't seemed that long, honest!

I've nothing to offer at the moment but this tree, which we realized is missing some lights, and promises of posts-to-come!

I guess the excuse is that it's been cold and miserable, and working in retail and end-of-semester times mean things get a bit hectic, but I feel guilty since this is not the first of my oops! it's been to long posts! Ahh well, soon!

Thank you everyone for reading, and for all your comments always! I really appreciate them, and it's so lovely to meet so many nice people!

The Red Alternative.

2010-11-21T19:16:00.001-05:00

I spend a lot of time these days thinking about lipstick. I've really become quite a fan of the stuff, but it complicates several aspects of life. I have to be very aware not to injest 90% of it, to mind that I don't smudge it. It curbs some of my snacking tendencies, which is quite helpful, but it does complicate things a bit. I've gotten a bit sick of the standard red, and after seeing some of the autumnal J. Crew models in their fuchsia (I think that's the color) lipstick I picked up a tube for myself during my weekly trip to Target.

It's my new favorite thing. I like red, but it can get a bit shocking, and sometimes it's a bit too classic for a given day. I'm really awful at giving lipstick advice since my usual mode of choosing on is to hang out in the aisle and grab the brightest version of whatever color I want to wear, but so far I've had lots of luck with this one. It's Revlon, fuchsia, and it's the same kind as the lipstick I wore in my Mad Men casting call photos (except that one was 'Coral'). As much as I swear by my MAC, these colors and tubes are probably my new favorite. The texture is smooth without being shiny, and it doesn't bleed all over my face. It also doesn't do that really horrible thing where you are left with just the rings of lipstick around the edges and without color in the middle. Also, it's six bucks. I can deal with that.

I'm entering into awkward territory outfit-wise. It's chilly outside, and the last thing I want to do is put on anything besides leggings and gigantic socks, but I also don't want to look like your average bear who ought to be hibernating. Such is winter. The shirt was an impulse buy, even though I swore to myself I would not let my grubby little hands get hold of another striped shirt.

The other reason I get bummed for winter is that suddenly outfit shots become much more complicated. I am loathe to take my coat off outside, but it covers the whole purpose of the post, and inside it's hard to find spots that aren't 1.) covered in laundry 2.) have flattering or halfway decent lighting. We will see how I will survive this winter.

Outfit details (I figure I ought to start adding this):
Shirt: J. Crew
Skirt: Anthropologie
Belt: No idea
And for those who asked, my coat in the previous post is from J. Crew as well.

Pictures taken by John M.

Dressing the Part: Remus J. Lupin

2010-11-21T19:00:00.002-05:00

I really love Harry Potter. I'm one of those people. I go to the book and movie debuts at midnight, usually in some kind of costume, and run around as though I am still in high school hanging out and being incredibly dorky with my best friends. Seeing as we are on the cusp of the last movies, I decide that it would not do to stay in my little city and do the midnight release. I always wanted to go to a big city, to a big theater, and do it with some of the friends I have made on the internet because of Harry Potter. So this year, I did. We went to Boston and I met up with some wonderful friends who I know mostly because of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. I still think I haven't recovered, I'm totally exhausted, but it was worth every second.

Every year, thus far, I've dressed up as Hermione for these kinds of events. I have brown hair, and I went to Catholic school so I've already got a uniform (even if it is a bit small these days), that gets properly bushy fairly easily. But Hermione, lovely as she is, is not my favorite. I am a die-hard, deeply-in-love-with, literary-crushing on, Remus Lupin fan.

I dressed the part once for no reason, although it was a less-literal interpretation than a costume. This would not do. I am a bit of a competitive snob and always want to have the best version of a costume I can.

I might have bought several items of clothing over the years based entirely on the fact that it seemed like something Remus would wear. Maybe.

It's not the best ever, and apologies for the quality of the pictures--there are much more important things to do at an event like this than worry about photos--and my yellowish color, but it works in a pinch.

I'm also wearing a pair of grey corduroys and some grey converse sneakers (I needed comfort, and wear a LOT of grey in general). But it's going to be really hard to keep myself from dressing like a fusty, possibly dirt-poor, lycanthropic, wizard/professor. My usual.

And I adored the movie.

Outfit/Costume Details:
Everything is from J. Crew, except for the tie, which is my dad's. Thanks dad!

Jackets, Boots, and a Hair-Do.

2010-11-05T23:55:00.000-04:00

To be totally honest, I've probably worn this dress six times since I bought it. It's so warm and easy, but I do promise that I don't wear it all the time. Somehow it just happened that outfit posts seem to have mirrored each other.

I have worn my wellies almost twenty-four-seven since getting them. I even wore them around work the other day when my flats were just too painful (in my defense, I was also doing some dishes and have a tendency to splash all over the floor and then slip in my puddles). The coat is new, a bit of an impulse buy, but necessary. I have a handful of ridiculous-ly colorful winter coats, and almost nothing in neutrals save for a black one who is missing several buttons. This green one, I justified to myself, is not only a nice color, but has something akin to toggles and a hood. I promptly discovered that the hood is large enough to pull down over my eyes to facilitate secret naps--not that I partake in such an activity regularly.

Today was one of those days where I can't be bothered with much, and yet I end up pleased with myself as a whole. I spotted this tutorial last night (along with loads of other bloggers it seems!) and thought, I will try that tomorrow! It's a bit different, but ended up quite nice. I slapped on some lipstick--ever since that Mad Men thing I feel sort of weird without it--and a trusty old flannel dress and somehow felt just right with the whole thing.

I'm sure as things get colder and there aren't even any colorful leaves left on the ground my general happiness with myself and the world at large will get a bit more sour, but for now I'm content with my boots and jackets and red lipstick.

Photos courtesy of John's cell phone.

Pumpkinfriends.

2010-10-20T13:17:00.000-04:00

I have to say, this was not the outfit I had hoped to debut my new beloved wellies in, but the bits and pieces of the desired look were languishing away in the washing machine, so I had to make do with some gingham and flannel. I also forgot to upload the up-close picture of my new boots, so we will consider this an impromptu meeting, and save the actual day for when it's raining or muddy.

I ended up ordering them in navy blue--my mother has a pair of green ones, that are a big too snug for me, and I rather liked something about the navy instead. They look almost like a soft black, which is ideal, and I love them to little rubbery bits. I had tried them on at Nordstrom, and I suspect they were a slightly different boot, since the ones I tried on were slightly more mailable and light. These heavier versions are probably better though, if the state of my every-day footwear is any indication of how hard I wear my shoes.

I also opted to wear them despite the fact that it was not doing anything even remotely related to rain yesterday. I don't care, I will probably wear them whenever the feeling strikes, weather appropriate or not.

It was less awkward to wear them to the orchard though, to pick up little pumpkins and eat a donut or two. I have a real problem with things like pumpkins, especially the teeny ones. I want to bring them all home! I was really taken with the little ghost pumpkins, but only ended up with two. I have grand plans for these little dudes, so let's hope my procrastination doesn't get in the way of my ambition.

Never Let Me Go

2010-10-17T23:42:00.000-04:00

I'm all tucked up in bed, meaning to be asleep a good half-hour ago, but my sleepytime doesn't seem to be doing to trick. Lately, my inspiration for dressing myself comes from a curious place. Not that movies are a strange place to look at for that sort of thing, but I always feel a little bit silly taking inspiration from sad movies. Nevertheless, life is now about thick tights, little dresses, too-big cardigans and some variant of wellington rain boot.

The movie is Never Let Me Go, and after seeing the trailer, my interest was piqued, and so I trotted myself off to the bookstore for my own copy of the novel. When the movie came out, I went to see it with Kim and then again today (with Kim again, as she is a lovely friend and also awesome). I've been obsessively re-reading the book since then, and honestly thinking about little else (if you haven't seen it, I urge you to both do so and read the book first).

I'm not entirely sure how to describe it. It's one of probably two movies that, for me, almost surpasses the book (an unfair statement--comparing books and movies is one of the most useless endeavors of all time, since how on earth are they ever comparable to begin with?). It fills me up until I feel I might be obliterated, and I can't bear it as the days go by and the spell of it starts to ebb away.

But besides all of that, I love the careful assemblage of outfits that happen in the movie. It's somewhere between utilitarian, throwing on what makes you warm or easy to walk in, and the heartbreaking care taken when there are only a handful of things to wear. It also makes me want that thick bang across the forehead, but alas, there is nothing that looks quite so terrible on me as a blunt bang.

My boots are in the mail and I think I have a few acceptable sweaters to toss on in the remaining weeks of fall.

Grandma

2010-10-14T22:52:00.001-04:00

Anne Ruskan Dowd, my maternal grandmother, 1945.

Today is the one-year anniversary of my grandmother's passing. I've been saving this post for a while, and yet I find I can't quite hit the nail on the head for what I'd like to say. Somehow, my sentiments don't seem to fit just right, or come up short, or feel contrived. I suppose the best way is to let the pictures speak for themselves! It has been a very difficult year, but I'm really excited to share these with all of you, since I know so many love to look at and take inspiration from vintage photographs. These are a few of my favorites of my grandmother, who besides her completely perfect sense of style, was lovely and full of kindness and grace. I hope you all enjoy them :)

At Point Pleasant, NJ, 1948

Anne and Tom, 1964, in a photobooth in NYC.

At Tom's Rive, NY 1948(ish).

At 48 E. 16th St., in Bayonne NJ 1946/7

My grandparents with my mother and my two aunts.

Too Much of a Thing.

2010-10-04T22:22:00.001-04:00

I'm in one of those funks where nothing feels quite right. Knowing what to wear suddenly seems daunting and my old striped shirt trick isn't quite settling my spirits the way it usually does. I need a haircut, but I don't know what to do with it, and I haven't much nerve to change it too much anyway.

It might be the rain, or the curse of favorite pants that don't fit because of Nutella croissants, or a general malaise brought on by years of too many prim little dresses. In any case, I'm have this weird feeling of uncertainty about my style. I'm a little sick of things that are twee and overly girly, and I find myself gravitating towards things that are a bit more cool, effortless, dilapidated. I'm starting to really enjoy pants. My goal these days seems to be to try and dress by just throwing things on, adding layers, all that.

In the end though, I end up in something like this. It's a little, to use a word more than once in a post, prim and precious. I suspect I've gotten used to dressing this way, so now it's the kind of thing that comes eaisly--but of course, as soon as I think I've got the hang of one thing, I feel strange and want another!

For the moment though, I'll just go along with everything and figure out what to wear somehow.

Rose Colored

2010-10-04T21:47:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I got a lovely little note from Kelly of Kellyssima on Etsy. She offered to send me something from her shop, and after looking around I couldn't resist! All of her little treasures fit in so well with jewelry I already had!

I was tempted to go with something like my rose earrings and necklace I already had but that's the thing--I already had something similar! Everything there has a really delicate, lovely, vintage feel that fits in nicely with what I think I'm going for style-wise. I've been wearing earrings with much more regularity lately, and so I chose the Rose Colored Glasses style.

I've enjoyed wearing them to work so much latley, I'm sure you'll see them popping up here and there! Thanks so much, Kelly!

Please have a visit over at the Kellyssima Etsy Shop to check out all the other little goodies :)

I'm Still Here!

2010-09-27T21:07:00.000-04:00

Phew, sorry about that!

Yeah, it's a bathroom.

I promise, I have heaps of posts in the works! I'm afraid I left the last post up in hopes that people stopping by from work would be able to vote easily (my boss put my contest entry pictures up in the bakery where I work!) with that entry on top. Though, as I'm sure most of you have seen, I didn't make it to the semi-finals--I suppose I'm just not quite good enough at social networking to get those votes up there, but it was really such a blast, and I appreciate all your votes and kind words! Next year, I'll try again!

And then things like jury duty happened, and insane work schedules. But this week promises to be quiet (well, comparatively), so please don't abandon me chums! I'll be back to normal in no time.

Another Plea for Votes!

2010-09-03T14:10:00.000-04:00

Hello my dears! Once again I'm asking for your help and votes!

The Mad Men casting call has evened out the competition, so those with legitimate votes can move up again! I'm not too far from the top, I don't need much more to get into the top ten women!

Please, if you have a moment, vote here! and pass along, re-blog, tweet, facebook if you'd be so kind!

I was feeling a bit disheartened for a bit, and sort of gave up, but ahh! This could work!

You can vote once a day here!

all this happiness in Glamour España!

2010-09-02T18:52:00.000-04:00

This blog is in a magazine!

It sounds really dorky, but I'm pumped! It's kind of exciting! A few months ago I was contacted by Sara at Glamour España for permission to feature this here little blog and use some pictures. They kindly offered to send me a copy (and it came with two additional wee little magazines!) and it arrived in the mail today.

Ahhh, I'm on a page!

I can't believe I'm on a page with PARK & CUBE since she is chic like I could only dream of being! I basically do this at her blog.

They used pictures from this post and also this one, featuring some of my favorite vintage finds. I think my teachers from middle and high school would be proud, I can even read the little blurbs next to the pictures without a problem!

I'm super excited. Thanks so much Sara and Glamour España!

Edit: Youtube link fixed, thanks to a heads up from Anabela :D>

Newsboy.

2010-08-27T22:15:00.000-04:00

This outfit started out different. The scarf was on my head, I had a giant necklace, and red lipstick. And then, somehow, that wasn't working and the scarf became a little bow tie.

It wasn't really cool enough for this kind of thing. Morning and evenings are chilly, but during the day in the sun it's still just a bit too much. Lately, I've been getting away from dresses and skirts. Even away from vintage! Not for good mind, just for the moment. I'm distracted by all the new fall things set up everywhere, and most of my favorite vintage spots seem to be running dry for the moment. This happened last year too. Suddenly we hit autumn and I wanted nothing more than pants and funny vests. Less delicate and frilly!

And just to round it all out, since suddenly it seems we're all loving outtakes these days, here is a picture of me being really derpy:

:D

Marshell.

2010-08-21T23:32:00.001-04:00

This has nothing to do with anything I post about almost all of the time, but I need to share it with everyone I have ever met and not met:

But my goodness! I can't stand it! I've watched it about twenty times already. Everyone should watch it as many times as possible. Watch it all day. It's amazing. Ahh, so cute!

Striped Shirts: Saint James, at Last

2010-08-19T17:18:00.000-04:00

In the list of things that I ~~hoard~~ collect, striped shirts is high on the list. Two or three weeks ago I counted them, and subsequently forgot the number. I can assure you it was a preposterous amount that was forgotten to spare myself the inevitable mortification following admission of such a number. No one needs that many striped shirts and yet each one is beautiful and unique (perhaps that's pushing it, but I do love all of them in their own ways).

For my birthday then, it seemed appropriate to ask for the ultimate striped shirt from Saint James. No more crappy (sorry, shirts) jersey numbers without the proper weight, this was to be the shirt blessed by Chanel and Picasso, not to mention the American girl's dream version of what her French counterpart would wear. I've been wanting one for ages, and finally I've got two!

Sizing was tricky. While generally I am in favor of large shirts (effortless, blousey) the unisex Meridien II (I got mine from J. Crew, but one can always pop over to the Saint James website) was massive on me to the point of comical. No amount of sleeve rolling would save it, so I opted for the XS. It's a bit tricky as well--it doesn't exactly hang when it reaches the hip area, but I've never been one able to style onself as a waif.

I love it to bits, even if it is still to hot to wear it just yet. Soon enough it will autumnal, and I'll be able to wear little else. I also snagged the Naval II tee, that one in a larger size, but as it's the tiniest bit lighter, it's in the wash after several wears already.

Pictures taken by John M. at Wainscott Beach

With a Bow on Top.

2010-08-13T11:47:00.000-04:00

It's been a whirlwind of activity for the past few weeks, or perhaps it's only been two, so much that I've been stockpiling little bits of outfits and have nary a time to wear them! I'm getting that feeling that always comes around the end of summer, when there is still a good month and half to go and I'm starting to want nothing more than cardigans and tweed-things. I’m ready for fall. No more gauzy dresses, tank tops, sandals. Bring on the tights, cardigans, crunchable leaves. Keep the winter though, we can do without that. Just autumn.

In the meantime, I've been meaning to post for months about my go-to hair. My hair, in it's unfortunate state, is a strange not-quite shoulder length and not quite long. I waffle between wanting to be a more gamine version of myself and chop it all off, do the Charleston, and attempt to be effortlessly cool that way, and letting it grow to my elbows like two years ago.

In the meantime, up in some pins and with a scarf it goes. Some time ago, I would guess over a year, there was a girl on The Sartorialist with her hair pulled back and a greenish and gold scarf tied on her head. Her little bangs poked out under it to one side, and her light blue (possibly patterned) shirt was buttoned all the way up to the top button. She was just lovely, and I have no idea where the picture is even if I've saved it one hundred times.

Anyhow, I fairly soon after that started wearing scarves on my head.

Mostly to work (because i am always on the lookout for things to wear on my head there), but now it's becoming an almost-daily thing. I have large chiffon-ish scarves that give me nice floppy bows, and teeny square ones like this that give me strange little stunted bows. Occasionally I toss it to the side, jaunty, and if my bun is loose enough and low enough it's a bit apropo for a Gatsby-party.

I've also, as you can probably tell, become attatched to the coral lipstick I picked up for my Mad Men casting call picture (you can vote again there!). It might be my favorite lipstick, possibly of all time, but we'll see on that one. It's fantastic, stays on relatively well through the day, and has a really nice texture. Oh lipstick, why did I wait to long to wear you daily?

Stay tuned for the beach, Saint James shirts, and all the rest.

Apparently we all have scarves on the brain! Check out this adorable collection on the how-tos of tying scarves linked on Style Bubble

Cats and Dresses.

2010-08-02T16:51:00.000-04:00

I'm on vacation at the moment, but of course I knew I'd be finding all manner of amazing things and so did not bother to make a note on this here blog! Plus, we all are aware that I tend to wander away for two weeks at a time and not say a word, so a prolonged silence would not have been uncharacteristic.

Today we stopped at the world's most glorious vintage/antique clothing store. The prices were so high that I couldn't have bought a thing there, but it was a particular kind of store that is so well-stocked, so loved and cared for that it was a treat just to go in a touch and see all the pretty clothes. The two women in the store were just lovely. They came and spoke to my mother and I for a good chunk of time about vintage clothes, about the intense work that goes into sewing, and showed us some gorgeous Victorian pieces.

However, there was one dress that that captured my heart and imagination like no other dress. Of course, I had to leave it behind, because my poor little bank account would have been not just empty, but negative. But look at it! It would have been the most perfect birthday dress!

Oh I love it! But I will have to be content with my quickly-taken little pictures, and perhaps doodling it in my journal. Perhaps someday I will wear it in a dream, though that might be even worse for not having it.

Part of the consolation of leaving empty-handed was the lovely little kitty sleeping in the sun on a pink set of chairs outside the store.

Oh she was so sweet! The whitest white, except when she started rolling around on the ground, with her pink nose and ears and little pads on her feet! And when she opened her eyes they were the most glorious shades of blue and green, like a little sea-cat!

And of course, just to keep the ball rolling, if you would please be so kind as to
VOTE FOR ME
in the Mad Men casting call :D Your words of encouragement and support are so sweet, they just make my day!

Oh My!

2010-07-31T17:45:00.000-04:00

Oh my goodness! I have to, have to thank all of you lovely readers and people! All your comments here, on twitter, tumblr, and facebook (and elsewhere!) are just lovely. The reblogs and retweets and linking are more than a girl could ask for, along with all these sweet words and encouragement!

You are all so lovely, the most wonderful readers and friends <3 Thank you so, so much for all your support! I've done so well so far (at the moment I'm on page three! It's slipped a few times, but overall it's been so wonderful thanks to everyone!

Of course, you can still vote here until September 17th, once a day, if you'd like!

Thanks again for all your support and votes and such! I will have to come up with a special post/giveaway/gift or something in thanks soon!

Mad Men

2010-07-26T22:45:00.000-04:00

Serious business!

Last year I wasn't watching Mad Men. Then, for no reason, I watched season three on demand. I was hooked, and continued to watch the series backwards as I anxiously awaited season four.

I wasn't watching when the Banana Republic Mad Men Casting Call was going on, but this year I've been waiting. For the past few weeks I've been positively obsessed with working on an outfit and taking the pictures to enter!

Screaming about the wind and uncomfortable nature of vintage foundation garments.

This is another Thought About it For a Week and Then Went Back and Got It dress. It's from Twilight Vintage in Troy (it's a dream there, a wonderful vintage dream) and it's been staring at me for months wondering why I wasn't wearing her. Suddenly, I realized this was the perfect debut opportunity.

I've been affectionately calling it 'The Joanie Dress' since the second I tried it on.

I found a pair of my grandmother's gloves to wear--they don't fit in the worst way! I have huge hands ( I have to wear the large gloves at work!), but thankfully they just look dainty in pictures instead of tiny. I remembered I had these shoes lurking around from two summers ago, even though now they are decimated, and borrowed my mother's vintage Avon bee pin along with a delicious leather bag from France she snagged at an estate sale ages and ages ago.

I tried my best with hair, although it really deflated badly in the wind, and ran crazy trying to find the perfect shade of coral lipstick. All of my usual haunts and brands let me down, till I found a gorgeous shade at Target (Revlon, Coral) for pennies!

I even wore period-accurate undergarments! It was rough. I will admit, I skipped the stockings because I couldn't keep my shoes on with them (and they're the neatest little things with original 1960s packaging, I didn't want to stain them with my shoes) but all the rest of it was there and boy. Stand up straight you do!

My entry is now up!
Vote for me here!

Sneaky Sneakers.

2010-07-19T15:21:00.000-04:00

Image via this ebay listing, where they are a size 5 and thus, way too small for me.

I've seen Bensimon sneakers lurking around the internet for a while. I thought, meh, cute, but more canvas sneakers are the last thing I need! Then I tried on a pair at Madewell and thought, well now I see what all the fuss is about!

Of course, I feel extremly picky. I must have them in the mid-top and they must be this light blue. The internet has let me down thus far. Bah! I will find them somehow. Magically they are comfortable as anything, and even more inexplicably, make my feet (hoovering around an 8.5 or a 9) look smallish! How adorable they would be with little dresses, shorts, skirts, taking the fuss out of all the fussy little details I sometimes feel too frilled-over in.

I will find them, someday.

Shabby Apple Winner!

2010-07-18T19:40:00.000-04:00

Hello dears! Just a quick pop in to announce the winner of the Shabby Apple giveaway!

At comment 52, Kaileigh of Sunny Side Up!
Congratulations! I'll be sending you an e-mail with details!

Thanks to everyone who entered <3333 Edited to add: Oh dear! I almost forgot!
For everyone, use the code
Allthishappiness10off
at Shabby Apple for 10% off!

Giveaway: Shabby Apple, Oh la la!

2010-07-11T21:03:00.000-04:00

Hello dears! I'm popping in for a quick minute to post about the giveaway I mentioned in my last checking-in post! The lovely people over at Shabby Apple contacted me about running a giveaway here, and since I have been eyeballing some of their lovely little frocks after seeing them on some other blogs, it seemed they would be perfect for my first giveaway! Shabby Apple is a lovely little site featuring some terribly adorable women's dresses and other delightful adornments (I can't wait for their apron section to fill to the brim!), so for this giveaway one lucky gal will be the winner of the OH LA LA dress (since my resistance to stripes is non-existent):

OH LA LA dress at Shabby Apple

Rules are as follows:
1.)1-3 entries per person.
2.) Take a visit over to shabbyapple.com and let me know what your favorite dress is or follow the shabbyapple blog and let me know in your comments on this post.
3.) Open to US residents only.
4.) All entries must be submitted by Sunday July 18th at 6pm.

A winner will be chosen at random next Sunday!

Summer Daze.

2010-07-07T22:31:00.001-04:00

It's so hot. It's so hot and I can't stop talking or thinking about it, walking around sticking to everything I am in contact with.

Bit quiet around these parts, but soon we'll all be chirping up a storm! I have some outfits to share (went the film-route this time, but I still have to use up the roll!) and the blog's first giveaway coming up soon! In the meantime I've had a mini vacation from work, discovered more freckles and got an unfortunate sunburn.

But we'll be up and running again in no time!

All This Happiness on The Fashion Spot!

2010-07-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

A little while ago I got an e-mail from Nika at The Fashion Spot about being featured! I was totally overjoyed and thrilled to bits--and a bit awed! I love The Fashion Spot, I'm so pleasantly surprised to be featured on there! You can check out the interview here, discussing how and why I started this funny little blog along with other tidbits! I'm pleased as punch (to drop another cliché) about it!

File Me Away.

2010-06-20T21:36:00.001-04:00

I save outfits. Sometimes I spend ages thinking about what to wear (in general or with other things) when I ought to be thinking about pretty much anything else, before coming up with an outfit. Then I save it. Occasionally I write it down on a post-it note and wait. In the meantime I wear a lot of striped shirts and rolled jeans, lurking around my closet and waiting for the weather to ship-shape up and stop being a complete jerk.

For a while I stopped doing this. I decided that I would wear whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to wear it and wouldn't give two hoots about what anyone said. That went on for a while, but one does get tired of the wind up your skirt and snow in your boots (not to mention soggy hems and rain-flattened hair), until I relented and decided it was alright to wear a t-shirt sometimes. If I felt really down about it I could always wear something ridiculous on my head (a bow, something floral) to make up for it. I started filing outfits away again.

Dress from this post, one of two from a day's loot at Recycling Red Dresses

I mean, maybe it's because I' m hard on my clothes. All elbows ripping, hems pulled out, holes in strange places, not to mention drips, drops, and spills. What if each garment only has so many wears in it before the poor thing turns faded and sad, looses its shape, and becomes a dejected shade of its former loveliness and glory? If there are a finite number of wears to a dress, what is a girl to do? Especially with vintage, which has survived this long, but is usually a little bit older than anything else in the closet, and so while it can run with the best of them, doesn't it get a little bit winded a little bit faster? Am I wearing out my metaphors and queries here?

I do a lot of sitting around and waiting for the right hair day, occasion, or weather in order to wear an outfit. Sometimes, as is the blogger's dilemma I suppose, I wonder if it's worth wearing a cute outfit if there is no one to photograph it for me to post on here. I'm not saying I dress for the internet or anything but, maybe I do, just a little. I'm not really bothered by that, because I save my little outfits and new dresses anyway, whether someone sees them or not. There's a what if I don't do this dress/blouse/skirt/thingy justice with the rest of my outfit today feeling.

I almost saved this dress even longer. The first time you wear a dress that somehow meets your dreams is always laden with meaning and a bit of dread. It's never the first time you wear it again!

Then I decided I was being ridiculous and tossed it on for an afternoon, even though I had to tie the straps up in little knots because they were far too long and then switch my shoes since they rubbed and we walked up a hill in the heat. Still filing it though, for a more glorious wear.

Photos taken by John M.

Spotted Moth

2010-06-14T21:26:00.000-04:00

Hello my dears!

I'm just popping in, amidst these rainy days and broken computers, to drop off a little treat! The nice folks at Spotted Moth have sent me a note offering a coupon code for my lovely readers! I'm partial to the golden noodle necklace (and the name of their Oh Barnacles! dress makes me chuckle), but they've got lots of pretty little dresses, jewels.

Spotted Moth is a stylish online store featuring unique clothing and accessories for women. Since launching in the spring of 2010, we have been very hands-on. Everything in our store is hand-made or hand-picked.

We make and sell the items that we, our friends and new friends (you!) would want to wear. You’ll find our catalog to be a mix of chic and sweet. We know (from experience) that staying stylish can sometimes be costly, so we make sure that our items are reasonably priced. (from the Spotted Moth site)

To get 15% off your order, use the coupon code HAPPINESS.
(Good till September 14th, one use per customer).

Two Prints.

2010-06-09T20:39:00.000-04:00

After I hid this skirt, I thought about it almost every day before I went back and got it. I have the hardest time finding 50s-ish era skirts that are just the right waist size, and the pattern! Then I saw Sally Jane Vintage's post, with her gorgeous peacock skirt and simple white tank, and my need for the butterfly skirt became intensified. Normally I feel sort of strange copying other blogger's outfits--I know we're all about inspiration and influence, but occasionally I worry about outfit copyrights! Thankfully, SJV, along with everyone else I've run into out in the blog world, is quite lovely and my worries are surely unnecessary.

I ought to have taken a detail shot of this dress-it has matching cloth-covered buttons and a little peter pan collar! It's the one I grabbed instead of the skirt (at first). I wasn't sure about it when I saw it. It's not the kind of print I normally gravitate towards, which is appealing for its difference, but the cut was a bit more youthful than some of the vintage dresses I find so I couldn't leave it behind. It's sort of autumnal, but it's been cool enough lately that I wore it a few days ago and almost (almost, not quite) wished for fall. I envision wearing it with navy cardigans and tights and brown boots. Maybe a hat, for good measure.

The electric blue belt is my new belt-friend. I must prevent myself from wearing it with everything I own (except PJs).

(Photos taken by John M.)

Strategies of Acquisition.

2010-06-02T16:26:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick peek at three new closet dwellers. It's so funny, I go weeks and weeks and find nothing I'm really excited about, and then all of the sudden luck piles up and kisses you on the nose, dropping vintage goodies into your lap (I can never decide if I think it's alright to change from 'I' to 'you' in my sentences, oh dear).

The first dress is spectacular for it's strange print, although I suspect that it's home-made and the hem is a bit dodgy. It's longer on one side, and I think in the back, than the other and the front, but somehow it doesn't look awful. It's such a strange print unlike anything I have (that is, not floral or gingham) that I had to scoop it up.

I found it at the same store where the stripes and dots dress is from. It was hanging at the door, and I knew that, barring it being too small, I would have it. It reminds me of loads of dresses on Etsy that I let go. I've been looking for a dress like this for ages--something with contrasting stripes or stripes and an alternate pattern--in black and white, and somehow luck was on my side.

The butterfly skirt in the middle and I met two or three weeks ago. I was buying a dress instead, and had to leave the skirt behind. I knew it was glorious, and out of fear someone else would love it too, I stashed it in a basket of vintage purses, way down at the bottom. Today I went back, praying and hoping it was still there, and after a few seconds of harried and panicked digging, pulled it out. I don't normally go around hiding things like some kind of manic squirrel in a dress, but I knew how versatile this would be and would have been fitful if someone else got their hands on it!

(The word strategies looks weirder and weirder the longer you look at it, till you go cross-eyed and it means nothing. What?!)

Also, thank you everyone for all your thoughtful comments on my last post! It's such an inspiring movie, and yet at the same time it's so complicated. I really appreciated all your comments and discussions, everyone is quite clever and lovely! It's so nice to meet kindred spirits on the internet <3

Summer Inspiration: The Virgin Suicides

2010-05-26T12:08:00.000-04:00

I suppose it's a bit typical of a blogger like me to cite The Virgin Suicides as some kind of inspiration, but I try not to apologize for the movies or books that I like. Despite it's popularity it's quite a good movie—not that it's world-changing or the greatest movie of the decade—but it's thoughtful and (to use a word used too-often) entrancing at moments. The book is heartbreaking not so much for it's obvious subject (although it is), but in the painstaking assemblage of passages and phrases that so clearly evoke a mood or sensation that any of us who fancies themselves a kind of writer finds themselves hypnotized and a bit envious.

(via Trauma Ben)

(via Ruth & the Magic Mirror)

The movie came out in 2000, just as I was graduating middle school and heading to high school, and perhaps that's the cause of a summer preoccupation with it. At thirteen, fourteen looming, I remember reading and watching it but feeling a bit odd because of the darkness in it. But there was a dreamy focus, a drawling voice, images of hot summer days that now seem so close to my own teenage-summers (minus the tragedy and debauchery). It spawned, to be really pretentious and begin giving names to things, The Cult of the Virgin Suicides.

(via r9m)

(via Ruth & the Magic Mirror)

I don't mean this in the way that girls of a certain age started wearing white dresses and flinging themselves out of existence, but rather that there are droves of us who post pictures from it, watch it, quote it, try to be strange creatures lounging around summer and make our lives more like the aesthetic of the thing. I'm sure someone, somewhere writes an important paper about the horrible-ness of this kind of thing, but for the moment I try not to complicate it and funnel the dreamy scenes into my interpretation of summer.

Have we photosynthesized our breakfast today?

(last three images found here, by plus_minus at film_stills on Livejournal.)

The Flea Market Dress.

2010-05-15T19:50:00.000-04:00

A few weekends ago we took a quick weekend jaunt to NYC, staying with a dear friend in Brooklyn, to see a show and traipse around spending far too much money. At first I hadn't planned on stopping anywhere in particular--Anthropologie was expected, since there aren't any near here, and it would be only feet away from the show's venue--before I realized that the Brooklyn Flea was a very real possibility. Months ago mom and I popped down to the city, but were too busy at the Met to head to any of the fleas.

We went early-ish, so vendors were still setting up when we arrived there, and though it was a bit smaller than it looks in pictures I had to keep myself from pawing through the nearest piles and rubbing my hot little hands together with glee.

Thankfully, I restrained myself and did not fork over my dollars for the first dress I had a crush on. We wandered and poked about, and I kept in mind a few dresses and blouses that seemed suitable, until we were gearing up to go and I chanced upon this beaut:

I told myself that I would know when the dress I wanted would pop up, I knew I was only going to buy one since prices were heftier than around home, and I wanted it to be a special dress. I wouldn't say this is the most spectacular little number ever--but it's pretty darn good. It's cotton, 40s-styled, floral, mismatched buttons, with little pleats in unexpected places. It's the kind of dress I know I'll probably throw on all summer when the days are hot and unbearable.

So many times I read blog posts from people who have lots of huge flea markets, and I get a little bit bummed. There are a few in my area--one quite close--but I haven't found them to be terribly lucrative for my funny sartorial whims, and some of the larger ones are quite a drive away (worth it, but ugh, getting up early to hop in the car for two hours). It was nice to hit a flea and leave with a hole in my pocket and a dress in my bag.

I finally wore the dress yesterday for an afternoon checking out a local vintage store open only in the evenings. It was heavenly, one of the best I've been to in my area, even though I had to leave the most delicious dress on the rack and save my pennies for car payments. Crossing my fingers and toes and praying that it's still there next week!

(And a sneak-peak at my new haircut!)

Pictures taken by John M.

Brand New Key.

2010-04-25T10:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, in an effort to go places spontaneously more often, my boyfriend and I drove down to Woodstock. It was a nice mild day, although a few of my favorite shops have closed since we were there last, like Chez Grand'mere, and made my mood droop just the tiniest bit. Next time I want to take a trip to another nearby town and inspect an antique store I've heard rave review about, but this time we ate giant cheeseburgers and loads of tea, a few bars of soap that I have a very hard time not licking (it smells soo good!), and a My Little Pony Seahorse.

I grabbed this skirt on Friday from my favorite antique/vintage store on my weekly visit. I almost didn't see it--the pile of dresses I tried on over my clothes were all a bust--and I was ready to leave with just a sweet little blouse before I saw a crumpled pile of keys on navy blue sitting by the register. I ran to the back, slid it on over my jeans to make sure it fit my waist, and it was mine! All mine!

It is exactly the kind of thing I always hope to find. Something not too twee, but with a certain silhouette and something silly about it, like little keys. I ironed her right up and tossed her in the dryer for a quick fluff with lavender oil so I could wear it the next day without smelling musty.

Next week, even though we are going to NYC for a concert and to visit a lovely friend, I think I might grab the floor-length floral dress from that shop. I've been staring at it for years, it would require almost no mending, and is generally a dream. Hopefully no one else will fall in love with it before I get there, or it would be the most tragic of love stories for me.

Also, thank you to everyone who left me their links, and thank you to all of you lovely darlings who have linked to me! I'm so excited to read some new blogs <3 I think I've gotten everyone who left one, but I'll be checking still through the next week or so to make sure.

Pictures taken by John M.

Keeping House.

2010-04-21T17:33:00.000-04:00

Of all the things I ought to be doing (school-work, laundry, mending, buying jelly) this is one of the, but probably not the most pressing. Nevertheless, it is something to be done before I forget (once again).

This past year (year!) I've been really awful about my links list. And so, if you've linked me and would like to be linked back, if you've changed a blog address and I've neglected to update it, if you'd be so kind as to drop me a little line here I'd be pleased as punch to mend or add to the list!

Pictures taken by John M.

Chasing Spring.

2010-04-17T14:42:00.000-04:00

The weather is bad again. I am all rainy and soggy running around in my keds, still waiting for it to be summer. I try not to constantly talk about the weather, to be always waiting for it to get better, but it seems in recent years that it agitates my mood more than it used to.

In the meantime I have sunny pictures to look at while I constantly check the 10-day weather report. I stared at this dress on etsy for ages, and when it went on sale I snapped it up instantly. It's different than I thought it would be, less fitted than I expected somehow, which is kid of a nice surprise anyway. It's quite a tattered little thing, but I couldn't wait any longer to wear it. I stitched up the hem a bit in places, but left a tiny stain and some of the teeny bits that are a bit raggedy. It's another one of the hoarded spring/summer dresses from the winter, and I love it if only for its funny buttons and color.

Pictures by John M.

Bad Dress Dreams.

2010-04-15T00:14:00.000-04:00

Every weekend my boyfriend obligingly takes me up to Saratoga, usually on Friday or Sunday, and I drag him around to all the antique and vintage places there and on the way. Sadly, I think I've just about picked my way through most of them for a few weeks (even though I still faithfully return the next weekend to see if they've gotten anything new in) and will have to mosey off and save my pennies for a while.

Generally what happens is I see a dress, don't buy it, and think about it for a week before going back and handing over my pennies. Like this one:

Oooh, boy, did I hem and haw over her. I loved it, it's blue. It has little flowers, is old, little snaps, cloth covered buttons, and all that. But just look at those sad-eyed droopy tears! She was still a pretty penny, even with the rips, but I had a horrible dream that someone else bought it! It was terribly. Just about the worst nightmare ever, so that very day we drove out to Saratoga and I got my grubby little hands on it.

Since then I've just been staring at it. Such a dilapidated little dress, with little holes. I suspect some spiders or other variety of insect was living in it for a while (oh, ew) because of the little spun-web type things lurking in some of the folds and a few tell-tale holes that I surmise were nommed upon.

I tackled the tears since these pictures, but it just doesn't look right. I need some kind of little bit to put over it, to help reinforce the threads and cover up the odd-seam. I just don't want it to look thrown on, like it is hiding an obvious defect!

In the meantime, I left a pair of 1950s Montgomery Ward overalls at Divinyl Revolution (formerly Last Vestige). They were adorable from the front but a heinous crime from the back. But, you know. It's been 3 weeks, so I might just have to suck it up and wear them all droopy, or hope the tailor can help me out.

Dresses off, Pants on.

2010-04-12T21:15:00.000-04:00

Part of there reason outfit posts got sparse there for a second is that I've been dressing with purpose less often. I was so stuck in winter doldrums, and now that it's spring and my closet is (makeshift--I don't have a real-life closet) burgeoning with little dresses I'm trying to wait till it gets really honest-to-goodness (second most overused phrase of mine) warm out.

Most of the time I end up in something like what's above. Not all the time, but if I have to run around on errands and the weather is touchy, or if I'm exhausted from any number of things, I toss on some crisp jeans, a favorite t-shirt (I have two of this one--in different sizes--and I toss it on when I honestly have no idea what else to wear), and a ridiculous cardigan. The usual bow is tossed in my hair--I need to have at least one thing be just a little bit fussy or I feel too usual, casual, background.

But in the interest of documenting real-life (maybe not real-life, but rather documenting other little moments of life clothes) clothes, here is my slightly more every-day outfit.

Pictures by John M.

Dresses in Waiting.

2010-04-07T21:33:00.001-04:00

Dudes, I have been waiting to wear this dress for ages. I almost wore it two weeks ago for a daytrip, but decided against it. Today we hit eighty degrees, and a few above, with sun, sun, sun and a nice little breeze. It couldn't have been more perfect--all the funny little buds are starting to pop out, so all the plants are kind of hazy and lovely, and some of the flowering trees have already started (much to the chagrin of my sinuses--but we're armed with all manner of pills and allergy accouterments around these parts) blooming.

I stared at this dress forever. It's a total weird-o. It's a wrap dress, with a button at the nape of the neck, with giant pockets and a scalloped neckline. And the print! Ahh! It's one of the spring and summer vintage dresses I hoarded while being barraged by frigid winds and snow.

It had a sister dress, but that one was a bit more fussy, and I couldn't justify taking them both home. Even at half-off I almost left this pretty lady on the rack, but an impulse said I ought not to, thinking wistfully of summer days. It's got a few holes in the back, teeny ones, that I still have to mend, but at the moment those aren't so bothersome and I wore it to the park anyway. Lots of people, lots of dogs, and a few ducks.

Despite my allegiance to pin curls, last night I attempted rag-curling instead. I'm not used to it at all, and it took me a while to get them in, but I do quite like the result. It's a bit frizzier, less prim, than the pin-curls, although a few of the back curls fell out by the end of the day. Practice, practice! If I have patience, but I might just stick to the pins simply for speed.

(Photos taken by John M.)

All the Bows.

2010-03-17T21:19:00.000-04:00

In addition to lots of stripes, I've also taken to wearing a cloth ribbon in my hair. It's floppy and sort of bedraggled in the most perfect way. I've been snagging lengths of it at work to tie my hair back or up, but I suspect I may have to find a roll of it for myself so I might tie little ribbons all over everything. It adds just the little bit of primness that I need and can't seem to do without.

Secret Spring.

2010-03-17T21:08:00.000-04:00

It's been perfection for a week. The only thing missing are the flowers, the leaves, all that lovely greenery. Phosphorescent copses and funny moss on rocks, you know? But we'll get there. I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that this is here to stay. I even did something brazen! I wore nothing on my legs today! Normally I wait to do such a thing until I think spring is official or until it's ridiculous and hot, but this year I'm optimistic early.

I felt exposed without something wrapped around my legs, but it's kind of easy and nice without them. The dress is one I bought half-price on a whim when a vintage store in the mall was moving. It's tight, tight, tight! I can just barely get away with it, although the buttons pull a little bit, so I might have to part with it after one more wear. I think I love it because of the belt (which makes me think of this dress except not as awesome because that blue confection was everything dreamy), and the neckline which is somewhere between a scoop and a crewneck.

I'm also, suddenly, way in love with mustard colors. I really like them with pink especially, so I'm trying to make it happen as often as possible, but mustard is tricky both to eat and to wear. My other favorite vintage pink dress no longer fits (I've gained, oh dear me, two inches in my waist in the past year. Working in a cake shop will catch up with you, or me at least) and so I'm left with just this one.

There is a blouse at an antique store not too far away that has a silk mustard blouse with a bow at the neck that is inexplicably wonderful, but it's also priced a bit high for a blouse. We'll see. If it keeps haunting me by summer's beginning, I may have to throw caution to the wind and whisk it away to my closet.

RagaMuffin etc.

2010-03-03T23:29:00.000-05:00

I feel like this is the sort out outfit that make-over shows tout as really unflattering. Kind of weird, somewhat formless pants--cuffed, so that they would theoretically shorten the leg--topped by horizontal stripes and an amorphous jacket with little-to-no shape. I don't particularly care, and I don't happen to think this is terribly unflattering, but it's just interesting I think.

I've taken to snipping ribbons at work and tying them in my hair. It's funny cotton ribbon, which is nice because it doesn't slide out of my ponytail, and sort of un-precious-ifies a hair bow in the first place.

Other outfit notes include: it was a bit too chilly not to wear a proper coat, but I don't care, or socks (especially since I know that March is no promise at all of any kind of weatherly reward). This is also about the 20th striped top I have (I have no idea if that's an exaggeration or an approximation) and it's almost perfect. I also call these my Street Urchin jeans, since they are kind of baggy and have a hole in the knee, and when worn with an equally shapeless coat it feels kind of endearingly ragamuffin. That is the intent anyway.

Scowling at Winter.

2010-02-26T12:49:00.000-05:00

I hate to be so typical, but man, I have spring fever quite bad. Lots of us do it seems. We're very short with winter this year, and the internet is no help--it's very hard for me not to throw a fit and be depressed for hours after reading all manner of spectacular blog posts from places where it is warm. Blast winter! I live in a place where it seems like it's winter most of the time, where we all know we're not in the clear until at least April. At the moment I keep turning around and glaring at the window as though if I looked at it hard enough, it would be just kidding.

I've never had the winter blues so bad! Normally I can't wait for summer to end, I dread those hot sticky days, deflating hair and my crispy skin, freckles, the suffocating heat. But of course right now it's all I want, or at least I want mild days where bare arms are acceptable. I've stopped buying winter clothes and have started stockpiling summer dresses like a little clothes-obsessed pack-rat.

For now though, it's all sweaters and tip-toeing around puddles of freezing cold slush.

I'm also back on a vintage kick. I find that I go through cycles with it. I always love it, but sometimes going through etsy or rummaging through a thrift or vintage store is the last thing I can stand to do. Then, a few weeks later, it's all I ever want to do. I love scrounging around and finding old things, wasting away in front of etsy until I think I might have seen every single dress there.

I've been vintage shopping like mad. Lots of summer things, like the most adorable pink dress that does not fit, blouses, dresses, aprons. The blouse above is something I bought at the end of the summer last year and totally forgot about. It's completely divine. I feel like it looks sort of nefarious, like little horns or something. In a drama set in the 50s or 60s at a college, this is the blouse that the catty girl in literature class wears. Or something. I bought it with a 40s crepe dress in pretty sad condition, but the lovely woman selling them let me tote both away happily for $12! I've been trying to salvage the dress, and it's not too bad except I think someone tried to wash it once, because it's really, really, really short. Oh well.

French Haircuts, Circus Girls.

2010-02-08T15:56:00.000-05:00

Dear Anthropologie,

Yeah. You win. For a while there it was touch-and-go. I loved you because I always had, despite the fact that so does everyone else, because you had clever things to bait me like green vintage typewriters in your stores and nice packaging and a general sense of whimsy that beckons my silly little heart. But between the last catalog, with the haircut I can never really pull off, and this little bit of circus imagery, you've locked me in.

Wistfully yours,
Kater.

p.s. If you feel so inclined, it would be nice if I could afford your bits and bobs without feeling guilty for handing over my pennies.

You Smell (In a Good Way).

2010-01-14T15:44:00.000-05:00

Perfume is a problem. It smells, and a lot of it gives me a headache (ages ago a rather nice sales-woman at a counter somewhere suggested I might have an allergy to 'white amber', whatever that is, and I don't know how true that could be). Despite this, I am fascinated by it. I love hemming and hawing over the little bottles. I'm fascinated by solid perfume, and the more cute, whimsical, or twee and charming the container the more smitten with something I am (although if it doesn't smell good there is no saving a delectable bottle).

I tried Vera Wang's Princess for a while, but I think it's just a tad too sweet for me. My mother wears Chanel No. 22, which is not easy to find (especially since we do not have a Nordstrom here, which I heard carried it) although she has been making do with all kinds of versions of it ordered via ebay. I once had a strange green vial of perfume that was supposed to smell like tea (it did not, but it smelled good anyway) but once it was used up that was it.

These days I'm yet another wear-er of Coco Mademoiselle. I'm not sick of it, it doesn't give me a headache, and sometimes when people smell me I get compliments. It's not too sweet, which I like, and it has the kind of iconic what-have-you lurking behind it that makes me feel like a grown up. Like when you finally figure out what your haircut is (I have yet to do this).

This has become slightly tangential. The point is I have grabbed another perfume that I can't stop loving all day. I picked it up because I liked the product's packaging (I don't care. I do judge books by their cover, I like packaging and prints and lettering and all of that) and the little moisturizers, tiny bottles and pastels. Plus, testers! Testers are really gross because everyone touches them, and I am sure they fomites of the highest degree but I love smelling and smoothing.

I bought the smallest bottle of Lollia's Wish because it had bees on it.

Alright, the bees were not the only reason. I love things in miniature (especially tiny farm animals, but small dice or elephants or impossible small containers are also delightful), and it smelled just divine. Sweet, certainly, but not overly so and sort of spicy. I keep smelling it all day, at random moments on my hand or wrist, or in my hair (on my scarf) and being thrilled by it. I recommend it (I also don't mean for so many of my recent posts to be focusing on products, but you know. Sharing the four-one-one of favorite cosmetic items is nice, and helpful, and I like stuff).

Apparently they are carried at Anthropologie, a store which my humble little city does not have (much to my dismay/disappointment/heartbreak), but they're being carried in a funny little boutique type place in a shopping center in my area. I will eventually have to go back to get the larger size, instead of the miniature one even if the tiny little bottle endears itself to me.