If I Were a Dress.

I think I would be this one.

Dress: honeytalk vintage, Belt: Vintage (gifted to me by my aunt), Bag: Laura's Vintage,  Headband: J. Crew, Light switch: because of outfit pictures in the ladies room

When it popped up over at honeytalk vintage I snapped it up right away. I don't often do that with online, especially vintage, purchases. I'll grab something impulsively, in a heartbeat, on a whim, in store but somehow I'm really pretty considered and careful about what I spend online. I think sometimes I have a hard time visualizing how something will actually look in person no matter pictures of it I see, and I'm still working on training my eye to pick out things that I will actually love and wear. 

It's a good thing I listened to none of that and grabbed this one, because I've already worn it several times and it's only been in my possession for less than a month. Polka-dots, mini dress, with ruffles? I love it so much I could puke.

I first wore it to Courtney's birthday celebration (I snagged this picture from Emily's instagram), and then promptly threw it on with a new bag and some false eyelashes for another gal-pal's fancy cocktail-hour birthday shenanigans a week or so later. Of course, being winter I've long lost the light by the time I've gotten myself all dolled up, so this post is made up of patched-together instagrams and bathroom mirror hilarity:

For the record, I was way overdressed as per usual. In any case, I donned this entire outfit again last night for New Year's Eve. I tried several other outfits, even toted the lot of them 45 minutes out to my destination, tried them on again, before getting back into this dotted-swiss confection because that was the one that inexplicably felt the best and the most me. I should know by now that there's no fighting that feeling, sometimes an outfit just wants to be worn even if it's a repeat.

Sponsors Again!

Just popping in with a quick note that I've updated the sponsor information! January seemed like a good time to get in gear and start this up again! I'm giving passionfruit ads a go this time around, and so far it seems much easier!

And happy new year, officially!

Goodbye, 2012!

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for sticking around, for reading, for commenting and messaging, for posting and being all-around awesome people! I am so excited and thankful for all the wonderful, amazing people through this weird little thing! Is that incredibly saccharine and trite? It think it might be, or maybe it only is if you don't mean it. 

2012 was the weirdest year for me, full of some really weird, sad, bad-luck ridden days (break-ups, dead crows, a case of shingles), and also some of the most fun (summer driving, visiting the best ladies ever, exploring abandoned buildings, getting a cat). Either way, I'm pretty excited for 2013! I think it's a way better number all-around, I think it has a good personality. In the meantime, I thought I'd do a quick post looking back on the past year. I don't feel entirely confident in my personal style, I still feel like I don't know how to describe it, that my mood of what I want to wear changes so much each day, but in looking back on the past year I feel like I've had some of my favorite outfits yet!

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A Fresh Coat.

Over the past two years I've managed to amass a pretty decent collection of coats. My favorite coat was stolen last winter, a black one, so this year especially I've been on the look out for coats that will get me through the winter without bringing my spirits down because I have to cover up my outfit. My coral J. Crew from several years ago is one I end up in a lot, but sometimes the brightness of it is oppressive, and it's something of a fancy coat really.

Coat: c/o Modcloth, sold out two days after it got here, ugh! But you can find a similar one here, which I actually think I want MORE now! Also similar, Dress: Madewell, Tights: J. Crew, Shoes: DC Footwear via Zappos, Bag: Vintage, estate sale, Beret: I think it's my dad's actually.

I picked this one almost right away, the second I saw it, as a gift from Modcloth because I've started to become a parody of myself, working polka-dots into every single outfit possible. I was actually quite good and photographed it right away (something I'm generally pretty bad about these days--I've been recycling outfits a lot more this year than before because I carry my camera and tripod with me thinking that if I have a free second I can grab some quick shots--this doesn't usually happen) and realized when I went to upload this post that night the coat had sold out, ugh! 

I also got caught pretty bad taking these!  I think people are probably starting to notice there are a few brick walls in my area that I tend to favor--this is one of them--but this time I didn't realize the people behind those windows were in there and could see me! I'm starting to feel less awkward about the whole thing, after five years it's about time, partly because it seems like more people are aware of blogs better these days and so explaining it isn't quite as painful as it was before. 

The sad thing about this outfit is I probably won't be throwing it on again anytime soon since we've been buried under some serious snow. I know it's a stupid thing to complain about, and a silly thing to wish for, but I was quite content with last years winter with hardly any snow! I'll regret this statement, I'm sure.  I've also worn these poor shoes down to nubs, the heels are tragic from turning them into my dancing shoes, but thankfully they are at the shoe repair shop being patched together!

Hats in Waiting.

Coat: J. Crew circa 2008, Dress:Custard Heart Vintage, Boots: Nine West circa 2006, Bag: Vintage/thrifted, Hat: Vintage/estate sale, Lipstick: NARS Schiap

Remember this spot? I wanted to get back to it in the summer, and the fall, when there were leaves and things and I could wear a summer dress on the dock but I never quite made it back. Finally I got back there on a day Jess and I were spending the day thrifting and trying to find a spot to take some shop an outfit photos. It took a bit of wandering to find it again, but I'm glad I know where it is well enough now to go back!

(Got my grump on, apparently!)

This outfit is a little bit ridiculous, between the hat and neon coat, but nothing else seemed to do that day. I got the hat ages ago, last March, at an estate sale with Jess and had to tuck the thing away for the entire summer before I knew I'd  be able to wear it again! It's kind of huge and insane, but I love it a lot. I have the original box, complete with a note written on the top of it by the owner detailing the date it was bought and what else she got that day.

And then the dress, which is a dream! I've been looking for a 60s cream lace shift dress for ages, but every time I thought I found one it didn't fit, or something was weird about it, or it was way, way out of my price range. The second this popped up over at Custard Heart Vintage I made it mine. And then it arrived on what was truly a no-good day, just in time to cheer me up!

Pictures taken by Jess. Check out her shop for a few hats and coats we photographed at this location as well!

Insta-outfits.

I suppose I'm at a point where I ought to admit to myself that instagram is one of the things keeping me from taking outfit photos more often. It's hard to have time, and it's hard losing the light, doing it yourself, when you can just snap a quick picture in a mirror. I've gotta find that balance between instagramming and actually posting!

But there have been a few things, outfits or bits of them, that I've wanted to share or photograph for a proper post and have just never gotten around to it. Might as well, I thought, just lump them all together and make one big post. 

And besides, there's no way I can let Halloween costumes go by without a post about them!

For what was hands-down the best Halloween party I've ever experienced at Jess's place, I finally dressed up as my favorite other-people hating Daniel Day Lewis role. I've been wanting to do this costume for years, pretty  much since I saw the movie (which I watch on a strangely regular basis, even though there is nothing about it that should appeal to my usual sensibilities). Then there was that SNL skit, and the other costumes floating around the internet, and every year I wanted to do it.  Plus, you know. dressing like a boy is kind of a weird past-time of mine. I'm on my own, so I got an old baby doll in a basket to stand in for H.W. Plainview, with a milkshake prop and a box of pink striped paper straws. The rest of the outfit was all bits I had in my closet--I only had to buy the mustache and milkshake. 

Then, for actual Halloween I had big plans. Months ago Amy and company decided that we'd all be The Avengers, and I was really excited to be Hulk. It would be hilarious, because no one looks at me and thinks Hulk! I did some research, ordered paint, and promptly discovered that it did not wash off efficiently. That wouldn't do, and my last minute paint came off on everything, so I gave up and pulled out a 1940s suit gifted to me by my hair stylist, pin-curled myself, slapped on some red lipstick and carried around a vintage Captain America comic book to go as a slightly inaccurate Peggy Carter. 

Left outfit: Blouse and Sweater- J. Crew fall 2012, Skirt- Gap circa 2005, Shoes: BC Footwear, Bag-Vintage

Right outfit: Dress- Madewell 2011, Jacket: J. Crew 2010, Bag- Vintage, Scarf- Laura's Vintage, Shoes: Madewell, Knee Socks- H&M 2008

Then I started chronicling outfits at work (one of my jobs allows me to dress up a bit more, as opposed to the bakery where I try to wear nice things that I also don't mind getting flour or egg or cocoa powder on). These two I wore a lot over the fall, repeating them with slightly embarrassing frequency. Who knew a hen sweater would be something I would want to wear twice a week?

Left outfit: Skirt- Thrifted, Sweater & tights- J. Crew Fall 2012, Belt: J. Crew Winter 2011, Shoes- No idea.

Right outfit: Pants & Shoes - J. Crew (current season), Shirt- J. Crew Fall 2011, Sweater- Macy's Christmas 2010

The outfit on the left here is my favorite of all season. I feel very accurate to myself in it, and so I think I've worn it once a week since acquiring the sweater! The right happened because I wanted to wear those blue shoes, and somehow wearing an all-blue outfit seemed the best answer.

Left outfit: Skirt/shirt- J. Crew (current season), Sweater- J. Crew winter 2009, Shoes: Bass Outlet winter 2011, and a men's tie.

These are both from the last week or so. The right outfit you've seen already in this post, with the addition of a coat and cup of tea. The left I wore not realizing I was going to be up a ladder most of the day, and it was not the best decision to wear that skirt.

Some randoms! On the left you see me in a Forever21 fitting room, wearing what I am thinking will be my New Year's Eve dress. The alarmed expression is in reaction to a child hysterically shrieking in the next room over. 

And then you've got something a bit less formal, but a glimpse of what I roll around the house in. Hoodie (complete with polka-dots), blanket-scarf, and a glitter headband.

And finally, back in September I went to see Florence and the Machine! I had elaborate plans for what to wear, which were thrown out the window when I tore the dress I had in mind. In the end I went with my Madewell white dress, a little fur jacket, and a lot of glitter.

Favorite Places: Laura's Vintage.

I get a lot of questions about where I buy my favorite vintage, and while some part of me always wants to keep those things secret for fear someone else will snag my dream dress before I do, I also really love sharing my favorite haunts with people who appreciate and love clothing (especially vintage) as much as I do! Plus, I've relied on several internet gal-pals pointing me in the right direction when I visit their neck of the  woods too much to keep everything to myself, not to mention wanting to support and share local shops that I love! I'd like to make this a regular feature, and this is my first!

I think I first read about Laura's Vintage a few years ago when I was determined to find more places to buy some special vintage. It wasn't until this past September that I finally made it to the shop, then in a different location, because it's a bit of a hike from where I live (I don't believe in letting a drive stop me from getting out and about, as evidenced by the amount of time I spend in Saratoga Springs, which is a 45 minute drive). Since then I've been back twice in the span of a month, and each time I leave with some new little treasures. 

This is certainly one of my favorite vintage shops of all time, I think, partly because the entire shop is beautifully curated and arranged by Laura. I love a good rummage as good as the next girl, but there is something really special about shopping or visiting a place that is put together with such love and care. Everything in the shop is in tip-top shape. It's easy to shop and see everything, although it's hard not to flit around in excitement so I've been trying to be better at really looking at everything. There are so many wonderful little treats to investigate, I know I miss some every visit only to find them the next!

I'm so glad I finally made it a priority to get up there, because this shop is really a wonderful place. Laura knows her stuff inside and out, and will tell you all the little tales behind the pieces. She's great fun to shop with and visit, one of the sweetest vintage shop owners I've ever met! It's also worth mentioning that her prices are really great--so often I fall in love with this or that piece, but find it falls wildly out of my budget--but in her shop it really seems that Laura strives to make it so everyone can bring a piece of vintage home with them. There is a real range for all budgets, which has proved a little bit dangerous for my pennies as I've already amassed quite a pile of things from here (a few will be making their blog debut soon!)!

If you're ever in the area, or if you're from here, you must stop here! A giant thank you to Laura for letting me get snap-happy in her shop, and for spending a nice little afternoon trying things on and geeking out over vintage!

You can visit Laura's Vintage at 19 Ridge St. in Glens Falls, NY, and visit the shop on facebook!

White Dresses, Black Tights.

I suppose I've got a weird, gothy, ghosty vibe going on for this post and the last. Although today at work I kept catching myself in the mirror and feeling like some weird Burton-y character in an orphan's uniform.

Or maybe I'm just trying to dress like my cat. It works for her. 

I love color, I do. I love staring at certain sweaters, sometimes sticking colors next to each other that don't particularly go but something about the brightness next to each other is pleasing. That said, there's something comforting to me about black and white (or black and cream). Black tights are especially nice, no matter what I feel good in them, as though attached to some kind of anchor.

Dress: Madewell, Shirt: J. Crew, Shoes: BC Footwear , Bag: Vintage, Necklace: Lawrence (chain added), Lipstick: NARS Terre de Feu

I bought this dress in late summer, and rationalized the purchase by saying I would wear it all the time come colder weather with black tights and chunky sweaters. I then wore it once and promptly forgot about it. I think that's a sign I need to do the winter-summer wardrobe switch-out, and maybe pull some of the old forgottens forward again. 

All of the sudden it's winter. I should probably start calling this a personal style slash weather blog, for all I talk about the latter. I used to try very hard not to, because complaining or talking about the weather is one of the most boring things ever. It's my least favorite small-talk topic, but there I am every post thinking about it. It's only that it so dictates what I end up wearing, to a certain degree. And it's a strange thing, especially given recent years on the East coast where suddenly everything is going a little bit nuts.