"It was my mom's in the '80s"

Not too long ago, my mom gave me some things from her closet she thought I could make some money on. I thought she was crazy to think I could get rid of it all. She thought I was crazy for wanting to wear any of it. Several of the pieces I have worn and the other few just hang in a dusty closet in my apartment. I like having them around. I decided to wear her old blazer today and couldn't stop thinking about the line said by  "ugliest effing skirt [Regina George] have ever seen" girl from "Mean Girls." It would be nice if I wasn't condemned as such, but whatever. 

The sunglasses and the brooch just under my shirt collar were both found in Paris at a store called Vintage Bar in Le Marais. I went there several times over the course of my trip, drooling over vintage Christian Lacroix, Chanel, etc. A wonderful blonde woman (maybe the owner?) helped me several times and was more or less the sweetest person I've ever met. I may also just have taken a particular liking to her because she was quite friendly for a Parisian (obviously, she was selling) and highly complimentary in French. An impossibly attractive French boy also helped me out one of the times I went. I'd like to know if there's anything more wonderfully Hedonistic than being among beautiful clothes and beautiful men. There's always the acquisition of these things, I suppose. In any case, obtaining the more material of the two had me plenty satisfied. 

 Vintage blazer and brooch, J. Crew button-up, thrifted shorts and belt, drugstore nylons, Messeca boots, bag purchased at Urban Outfitters, "vintage" Céline sunglasses.

Outfit Overload

I seem to be a hopeless blogger, as my posting is hardly regular. I often play the game wherein I confess my laziness and say something about making posts happen more often, but I'll just avoid making any promises. It's Spring and in typical Seattle fashion, it's pouring down rain tonight. Oddly enough, it's been rather nice otherwise. The whole transitional weather thing makes getting dressed a constant battle (life is rough). But enough about the weather, since this isn't a bad date. This is an overdue outfit post, so let's be quick and dirty and just get the thing over with. I've recently become friendly with the owner of an amazing vintage store in Capitol Hill called Indian Summer. I'd been there before and bought a now-beloved wrap coat that used to be hers for next to nothing. She showed at UW's Everybody Every Body Fashion Show and we fell in love over talk of things like Kate Moss's old runway walk, so naturally I had to revisit the store. The sequined sleeved sweater and the plaid wrap skirt are recent acquisitions. The rest is made of bits and pieces I've had forever. Socks and sandals man.

Vintage sweater and skirt, American Apparel thigh-high socks, Dolce Vita sandals
This was taken when the sun began to show itself, so I felt compelled to be colorful. The skirt is a semi-recent purchase from Red Light and is made for someone without bones. I actually bent down to clean up a mess I made in favorite cafe and the button popped off. I already had the shirt around my waist, so it all worked out and I didn't scandalize the kind people of the U-District any more than usual. Too bad.

Vintage blazer, skirt, scarf, and clutch; gold tank from Gillian, Koto button-up, American Apparel thigh-high socks, Jeffrey Campbell shoes
I wanted to look cute while getting frozen yogurt. Brrrr.

Thrifted faux fur, Urban Outfitters stripped long-sleeved t-shirt, vintage skirt, Messeca wedges, faux fur hat from Gillian
I was bluesy one night and watched Breakfast at Tiffany's, only to remember that what I was feeling was the mean reds. The next day, still high on Tiffany's, I tried to channel a darker Holly Golightly, perhaps in the hopes that her wit and the constant glint in her eye might rub off on me. The coat is a huge old men's Burberry that my friend Julie found at a garage sale or something. It's been in my closet for a while now, but this was the first time I actually left my apartment with it on. It was perfect for the rain, but I didn't have any kind of romantic climax with a man and a cat in an alley. Devastated.

Burberry coat, Urban Outfitters stripped long-sleeved t-shirt and gloves, belt and shorts from Gillian, American Apparel thigh-high socks, Deena & Ozzy shoes
This is just a Monday after a glorious weekend in Portland visiting Gill. The skirt is vintage Jay Jacobs and the t-shirt was free at the Marc by Marc Jacobs store on Fashion's Night Out a couple summers ago. The little cowboy-inspired booties are a new vintage purchase from Red Light. They have horse faces and guns on them, which is part precious, part ridiculous. But really, what more do you need than gold lame, naked Marc, and a headscarf?

Vintage Levi's denim jacket, vintage skirt and boots, drug store nylons, Marc Jacobs promotional t-shirt, belt from Gillian
Oh my god one more. I'm exhausted. Summertime means wearing big things with no pants and one hundred million pieces of jewelry. This caftan mini-dress was just purchased at Lucky Vintage on the ave and it's my new favorite thing, even though it's colorful. Hah. It even has little dots of glitter glue on it. Tacky, perhaps, but they make me smile.

Vintage dress, American Apparel thigh-high socks, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, vintage Levi's denim jacket

"No Sweat My Pet"

Aside from the fact that I managed to sleep through my 8:30a.m. French class, I greeted the morning with a decent attitude. Wearing a Steve Urkel t-shirt and bright blue jeans may have had something do with it. The shirt is a favorite, as it reminds me of a huge vintage band tee, but it's all the more ridiculous, especially because of the various sayings that frame Urkel's face.

A friend came over and I made us coffee while we chatted. Uncharacteristically sunny and optimistic, I found myself dancing around my apartment with an audience of one. I don't think it was just the caffeine. After he left, I spent my time working on a Gillian's valentine. Once done, I threw together an outfit and went to the post office. It's always notable (if such a thing can be) when I wear much bright color. Even that orange sock is glaring through between the jeans and shoes. My apologies for not at all being remotely capable of taking photos of myself.


Vintage 1980's blazer, thrifted and gifted Steve Urkel t-shirt, Blanco jeans, Messeca wedges, American Apparel circle scarf, plaid dress hem (worn as scarf), 7 Chi studded bag, assorted jewelry

I've been meaning to post a close-up of the shoes for a while now. I got them fairly recently on Piperlime and I wear them constantly. Ignore the twelve inches of dust visible on my floor.


Test shots are mildly entertaining. I think there was a campaign with the models heads chopped off sort of like this, but I can't remember. The photographer probably photoshopped their veiny arms though.

I wore fake Hermès to French class today.

Today was the first day of Winter quarter at the great learning institution I attend. I have French class at 8:30 every morning, but luckily New Years fucked up my sleep schedule so much that I've been going to bed at a reasonable hour over the past couple of days. The fact I woke up at 7 today is otherwise astounding. After coffee and some breakfast, I went to my closet with France on my mind. In fact, last night I listened over and over to "La Vie En Rose" and a Lady Gaga performance in which she sings in French. Soon, I'll be one of those annoying Francophiles that only drinks black coffee and smokes imported cigarettes. I suppose that's not too far off though. Anyway, my natural tendency to choose black and a never-dying memory of a Carine Roitfeld street style photo left me with the coat, the ripped nylons, the booties. The headscarf was something I had been thinking of since the night before and for some reason I was set on it. I tried for something more playful à la Louis Vuitton bunnies or Alber Elbaz's illustrations. I love the whimsy of some French designers, like Sonia Rykiel, alongside those who are preoccupied with being chic. That creative dialogue, of sorts, provides me a very interesting impression of what Paris is really like. And, I suppose, outfit inspiration, which is obviously of the highest importance.




BB Dakota Coat, thrifted scarf, drug store nylons, Banana Republic Booties, (barely visible) J.Crew button-up

I can only blame my own laziness for the grainy—and mildly comical— cellphone photos. My digital is without batteries and I lack a live-in camera-savvy boyfriend like Rumi or Susie Bubble. Taking pictures of yourself is frustrating. And quite strange, I suppose. In any case, I'd rather embarrass myself with terrible photos rendered in a MySpace-like fashion than not post at all. Resolutions.

Child, the living's easy.

It only seems right to post a Summertime look as a downpour ensues outside. I suppose this was me mixing a bit of Seventies soul with a touch of the hippie side of the era. I don't mean to be sentimental about the Summer or a forgiving schedule that doesn't keep me away from all the things that I love, but this post has been a long time coming. And the scatterbrained thoughts stop here... sort of.

(silence + noise top, [BLANK] jeans, Jeffrey Campbell shoes, thrifted (probably fake) Hermes Scarf, vintage bag)
I've been listening to a lot of Janis Joplin over the past couple of months, but I can't remember if this was at all influenced by her style or not. With the excessive jewelry especially, it wouldn't be completely surprising. In any case, she's incredible on multiple levels (as if it needs to be said).

Now I'm going to brave the rain to stop by the library. Happy 11-11-11!

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.

Vintage wrap, thrifted BDG t-shirt, BDG jeans, deaux lux bag, BP Nordstrom scarf (worn as turban), gifted silver and seashell necklaces,
ring purchased at Moksha, tassle necklace Forever 21, assorted bangles, gifted flats

On the day of the Pride weekend street fair, Gillian and I explored the less charted regions of Capitol Hill, where we found a wonderful vintage store called Indian Summer, tucked away not far West of Broadway. I found a beautiful greyish, jade greenish wrap, printed with fish, antelope and other exotically rendered creatures all over it. The fringed hem also got my motor running. I had just spent nice sum at Cairo, another nearby vintage store, and reluctantly fell in love. Gillian looked at me and knowingly said, "Don't pretend you're not going to buy that." (For whatever reason, I have a fierce attraction to ponchos, wraps, capes, and any other garment that loosely covers me that couldn't be called a coat). The large "10" written on the tag seemed oddly low, so I made sure with the owner who reassured me it was ten dollars. All resistance was quelled thereafter.

The Summer weather has required me to be virtually naked (I'm a whiny Seattleite), so my excitement about the garment has not been fully exercised, but on the day I took this photo, it was rather cool and grey. I even put on some pants. I'm also fairly obsessed with headwraps and the like, so I devoted a chunk of my morning to mastering a turban shape with a long scarf. An excess of jewelry, eyeliner, and room in my bag brought together all of the bag lady elements.

I'm so fucking ready for Fall.

Copies 6¢

Praise Mario Lemafa for always having his camera with him.



Thrifted button up, BDG cigarette jeans, thrifted Banana Republic ankle boots, thrifted green (faux?) snakeskin clutch