The One About Plaid

I'm back! I'm moved in-the clothes are hung, books are shelved. I'm loving my classes, thank god. And I'm laying on my dorm floor, right now, watching Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains. I love the clothes they wear in this movie, even Diane Lane's ratty cheetah print coat.

I don't know what its like at all the other colleges around the country, but everyone and their mother is wearing plaid this fall. On the first day of classes, 25% of campus at least were wearing plaid, including me. There's nothing better than a boy in plaid, so I'm not complaining. It just makes me giggle when every other girl is wearing some variation of a plaid tunic. I've been theorizing about why plaid is so popular. I know that the 90s are cycling back around. But I also think plaid has that homey, comforting quality. Its very American and familiar, in a time when a lot of things are uncertain in the country (you know, just the job market, health care, recession. a few minor things).

Outfits!

My first day of school outfit! Tunic from Urban Outfitters, Leggins and silver bangles from WalMart, Belt from Pac Sun, Loafer wedges from Payless. The necklaces are self-made.

This is my life partner, she wanted to be photographed too. She's wearing a Chiodos t-shirt, Bullhead jeans, and white Chucks. Her necklace and bracelet were made by me. Today's outfit. The tunic, cardigan and scarf are from Old Navy. The leggings and silver bangles are from WalMart. The flats are from Charlotte Russe, and the blue bangle (on forearm) is from Laila Rose. Michelle my life partner, wearing various clothes she "borrowed" from sorority sisters. I was trying to ironically wear the sweater vest, but its more straight up prepster. I can't hide my love for argyle. Sweater Vest, NY & Co. Grey shirt, Old Navy. Jeans, AmEagle. Necklace, self made. Flats, WalMart.

The One on the Last Day of Work!

Today is my last day of work (at least until Winter Break). I am elated. Completely elated. I have nothing to do, the last 30 pages of a Jacqueline Carey novel to read, and in 48 hours I will already be half way to school. Michelle called me last night in a state of panic because she hasn't packed at all. I promised her that once we got to school, we would unpack, take showers, and then nap. The promise of a nap is the key to calming down Michelle. I've kind of packed somethings. I have a box of glassware, a box of art supplies, my sorority treasurer box, and a bunch of books I want to sell. I really don't need the Norton's Edition of Middlemarch, or three different editions of The Inferno. I have a couple tubs'o'stuff i "need" to survive at school. Like sidewalk chalk. And anti-itch cream. But the clothes, shoes, obscene amount of Vera Bradley totes, make-up and jewelry, and bedding (I keep forgetting about bedding!) all remain to be packed... tomorrow. Side note: co-workers told me my hair looks nice this morning. Its because I woke-up early and showered instead of sleeping on it wet. I didn't brush it, though, so I think this is why they said it looks nice and layered. Today I have some of my personally crafted jewelry. Other than the first piece, I consider most of my jewelry to be "t-shirt jewelry." Its pretty casual, mostly on natural cord. This necklace was made with supplies from etsy seller BellaBohemian. My mom thinks the razor blade is pretty morbid. I like it because one of my closest friends struggled with self-harm, and to me its a touchstone for how much self-harm damages not just the physical, but also emotional and psychological self. Check out To Write Love on Her Arms for more impassioned speak about self-harm.

This is my Buddha necklace. I really wanted to make something with feathers. The cinnabar Buddha bead is from etsy seller Charming Cute Couture. The other beads are from Michael's, as are the feathers and cord. This is a long necklace. I put a clasp on it mostly because I was so excited that I had learned how to put on a clasp, but it doesn't need one.

The beads from this necklace came from a super overpriced bead shop at a beach town. Seriously, I think they charged me a dollar or something ludicrous for the green bead. Its some semi-precious stone which wasn't even drilled well! It took me forever to get the head pin in there. The heart is wooden and charming. Cord from Michael's.

I'm Wearing Clothes Again!

I just want to note, these outfits are collected from about a week ago, so I didn't wear those Miley leggings 8 days in a row.

Sometimes I just try to make my mom laugh while she's taking the pictures, and then I start laughing, and then I look like this. This is when I gave up looking nice at work and instead opted for ultimate comfort. This sweater is, in all honesty, the bomb. Its a men's cardigan from AmEagle. Its thick, woolly and over sized (perfect for the summer!). I think my friend bought her boyfriend the same sweater. I wish it had pockets, but you can't have everything. Dress, Old Navy (one of several cotton baby doll dresses from ON that I wear all the time). JCP White Cami. Miley Certified Leggins. Flip Flops, also AmEagle.

My mom wanted to take a picture sans sweater. I acquiesced, and cheesed hardcore. Okay, I wore this to The Last Supper with Melissa (it was more of a last lunch at Chipotle, but bear with me). We swapped early birthday presents (Mel turns 21 this year! In Ireland, lucky bia). Mel made me a painting! Its beautiful! I got her some vintage childrens books, cause she's a children's librarian in the making. Plaid shirt, Goodwill. Miley Certified leggins (I don't take them off). Belt, Pac Sun. Razor Blade necklace, invisible but made by me. Amazing Shoes which I don't regret buying, Connie via Famous Footwear.

I'm a big supporter of Leggins as Pants, as long as you make a semblance of effort to cover your butt/avoid camel-toe. But really, at home I wear leggings and sorority sweatshirts all the time. With mukluks. And my parents wonder about my fashion sense! Oh my god! I own jeans!!! I told you! These are the new straight leg jeans from AmEagle. Lovelylovelylovely. The sweater is from Kimchi Blue via Urban Outfitters. Its made out of a sweatshirt material, and it has batwings, so all in all really comfy. Still wearing my Awesome Oxfords. And check out that sweet ponytail action. My hair is looking smooooth. Those Oxford shoes! With tights! Don't my legs just go on for miles? Haha. Purple top, corduroy skirt, and tights are from Old Navy. Shoes from Famous Footwear. Cardigan from JCP. Seed Pearl Necklace is from an ABC Store in Oahu. Apparently in some places ABC Stores are liquor stores(?) but in Oahu they are magical convenience stores, almost like a mini-walmart crossed with a souvenir shop with a deli in the back. I got this necklace for some ridiculous cheap price, and always assumed the pearls were fake. I just did the tooth test, and it appears they are real! To test a pearl for validity, just lightly scrape your tooth over it. It should feel gritty or grainy. A costume pearl will most likely feel smooth. (This is legit, I just googled it to make sure it wasn't some crazy idea my grandmother cooked up).

This is me wearing the cardigan. Its a trapeze cardi with only one button. I was shopping in a bad mood with my mom, and I didn't really like it but she bought it anyway because she thought I was being stubborn and not admitting it was cute because she thought it was cute. Now I eat my moody high school attitude every time I wear it, because it is cute.

I just remembered that my Payless boots should ideally come to the store today or tomorrow... if not my mom has to ship them to me. At least I won't need them right away, cause it should be pretty warm/borderline hot at school until October. Oh man, I can't wait to get to school. I really do consider it home. I love arranging the furniture in the room, unpacking everything, making the bed for the first and last time, hanging posters. I'm just giddy with excitement. I probably won't be posting until next week when everything is settled. Till then!

The One About Gratuitous Shoe Buys

Yesterday's big excitement involved me getting rear ended at a yield sign 500 feet from my house. I'm fine, the car is relatively fine, but I did wind up with a searing tension headache, and I fell asleep before the new season of Project Runway started. Better, Cheerful-er News: I finished my jewelry wardrobe over the weekend, and I found fake fur fabric to use for my Max costume (yes, I plan my halloween costumes months in advance). Check out my swanky ring bump drawer: Wooden ring is from a surf shop, mysterious faux (?) engagement ring was a gift from my unmarried aunt, I like to imagine it has some terrible romantic story she will never tell us behind it, zebra ring from Charlotte Russe. Pearl Monstrosity ring is also a gift from said aunt, by Honora. Check out my high school ring (yeah, it has color guard flags engraved in one side, so?). Faux diamonds for sure ring, aunt (she likes QVC ALOT). My signet ring (its engraved with my monogram) from grandparents (they got my mom one for HER high school grad. awwww). Claddagh, vintage and thrifted. Antique pearl ring, gift from aunt. I wear the front three most days. This is inside the door. All my necklaces hang from the carousel, and earrings chill in the little boxes at the bottom. I keep my bracelets/ super long necklaces in the drawers. This is the finished back. The quote is by the Persian philosopher Hafiz. I plan on theming my future wedding to Awesome Guy Out There! around this theme. Finished flower side. You can get a better idea of the purple tree from these pictures. Do yuo see all those books stacked around my wardrobe? My room is seriously like the Grey Gardens house. Those ladies had serious style, though. I'm both ashamed and unapologetic about how bad the mess is. I'm packing it all up this weekend for school! Hey look! I'm wearing clothes! Blue plaid shirt, Goodwill. Cami, JCP. Shorts, GAP via kjersten. Shoes, Charlotte Russe. Belt, Pac Sun. Freshwater pearls, Hawaii (where even at the mall, if you pay cash, they will sell it cheaper). My theory about this outfit is that this oversized men's shirt, when belted, creates the batwing sleeve effect, instead of just appearing like I'm wearing a man's shirt. I love this shirt, I sleep in it sometimes. Sometimes I wear it AFTER having slept in it. You would too. I have a serious conundrum on my hands. I'm going back to school, and even though I worked full time all summer, most of that money is going towards paying for tuition. I seriously seriously seriously have to watch how much money I spend, especially since my glamorous job in the dishroom might not be available. And I have sorority dues, pledge party, and spring party as DEFINITE expenses. And I want my next tattoo so bad. With all this financial burden, what do I do? I buy a pair of gratuitous shoes at Famous Footwear. I blame it on lipstick effect. In times of economic crisis (both nationally and in my bank account), the purchase of small cost luxury items rise. In this case, a $20 pair of two-tone black oxford booties. Not even off my fashion wish list, though always an intrigue. I knew. I knew, going into FF was a terrible idea. Oh, no, my mind coaxed me. This is just for fun. Lets just poke around for a few minutes. Its hot out go inside! I did. I braved past a pair of $30 sperry imitators. I was unimpressed by all I saw. Haha, I thought. I CAN outlast this temptation. Then, as I made a quick loop past the clearance rack, I saw them. My size. Patent leather toes. Black. Twenty dollars. Adorable. Oh, just try them on, my mind whispered, in a seductive tone I personally will never master. I did. They fit perfectly. I just happened to be wearing black tights. They looked charming. I bought them, with the full decision I would return them after some consideration. Its just that, they were the only pair, and if I did decide to buy them later, they probably wouldn't be here anymore! Hours later, after my minor auto collision, I sat on the couch, wearing them. I really like them, I told my mom. My mom, probably the progenitor of my inability to resist shoes, smiled encouragingly. I think I'm going to keep them. I looked for a picture of them online, this is as close as I could find. Where it appears to be grey/brown, mine are matte black. Beneath the lacings are a small cut out. In other words, lovely, fashionable, and completely unnecessary.

The One About Defining My Style

I've been trying to figure out how I would define my personal style. Its hard! A Boy from Sometime Ago texted me earlier this summer while he was at an Animal Collective concert to tell me he saw a girl who dressed a lot like me. And all I could think was, "how do I dress?" (and also, omgpleasecanwejustgetmarried, but that is Beside the Point and also Futile Wishing). The outfit I wore yesterday sums up in many ways my normal style. It varies by weather related incidents but it can be boiled down to: Dress + Leggings + or - Cardigan. Boots in the winter, sandals in the summer, ballet flats in the fall. Add scarf as necessary. Yes, this outfit is incredibly close to one I wore recently (I can't remember if it was just last week, or two weeks ago). I love black and white. And this Miley Cyrus Certified cardigan is quickly becoming my favorite piece of clothing. It is over sized, yet the fabric is t-shirt thin. Glad my mom told me to get black, because "it makes it look less cheaply made." Hahaha. And it has pockets!! The dark grey leggins are also from walmart (as are 95% of all my leggins). Dress is from Old Navy as is the nasty lace cami, which I chucked after this picture, because I bought nice new fresh camis from JCP, and this cami was hardly white anymore. Ew gross gag. The wedges were from one of those outlet mall shoe stores, which I bought when I was in a bad mood and never really wore until yesterday. And they are so comfortable and cute. They are actually a black canvas material. The scarf is from a surf shop, and isn't really worth the $20 I paid for it, because its seriously like netting material. But I love black and white so... I prefer this picture so much more, because I'm cheesing with my hood up and actually laughing a little and less like, oh my god I'm posing for a picture. Plus you can see my foot tatt, on my left (your right) foot. It says "No matter what..." and was totally worth my parents disowning me. (More about that in future post, The One About Tattoos, and Are They Worth Your Parents' Reaction?) (short answer, yes. long answer, make sure you can support your ass before you do so).

OK, so, that's what I wear a lot. I have lots of cotton dresses which pull their weight all year long. I have several shades of faux-uggs that are NECESSARY! in the lake effect snow at college. And my Aldo sweater boots (in grey, my second fave color after black). I also do own jeans, I promise. I like jeans, I just bought a few new pairs from AmEagle that are stretchy and flattering and hot. But most of these outfits posted so far I wear to work, and jeans are verboten. And lets face it, on the weekends I wear gym shorts and sorority scrubs. Like a Boss. (Keep an eye out for The One Displaying All My Sorority Will Downs!). But when I'm at school (and making my roommate take pictures of me) there will be a lot more jean action. But I prefer dresses, hands down. I don't even own many skirts.

Outfits Which AREN'T My Everyday Style

Now, this outfit looked really cute on. It didn't get any love on flickr, so maybe I'm the only one who likes it. I kind of hate this picture, cause I look about 14. It didn't help that I pinned my hair back either. (It makes me think of Susan from the Narnia movies, I don't know why. I'm a nerd). And I'm not wearing make up because I've known everyone at the office for about 5 years and I'm not really trying to impress. But I do wear make up regularly, like jeans. Just not in the summer. This sweater has lasted about 4 years, and its from when AmEagle clothes weren't shoddily made. I love it, except it has shrunk and I usually have to layer a tank underneath. The skirt is actually a strapless dress from Old Navy which I always forget to wear because I don't really have a strapless bra (I know, I know) so I always have to wear a cardigan. Shoes are from payless, and I love them. I love wedges and these are blue suede. I love suede!! Rose pearls, courtesy of Aunt Josie and Honora for high school graduatin'. Its actually a set, with a bracelet, ring, and stud earrings. I love pearls, because I'm an closet argyle wearing freak on the inside. This is another business casual look I wouldn't normally rock during the school year. Pink top could melt your eyes!!! and is from Marshalls. Much nicer, classier white cami from JCP. Brown bermudas have gotten a lot of play this summer, because they fit really nice and are from the GAP and oh, yeah, they don't belong to me! I borrowed them from a girl who lived on my hall for a beach party at the end of the year, and she moved out before me and I still have them. I secretly love them and want to keep them, yet I'm worried she would see me around campus and say, hey... are those my shorts? Plus I like to keep my clothing karma good. Sandals, Charlotte Russe, which I bought in one of their infernal BoGos, and never really wore (I tend to do this, and only wear my $3 thrifted moccasins ever. Am I the only person who seems to wear her cheapest shoes all the time??). But they are cute, and the heel is high and skinny, which is my preferred heel shape.

Other things that are important to my style: Rings: my thrifted vintage claddagh is a constant-- I have to wear it on my thumb, because its huge and it still flies off every now and then. Also, my signet ring from my g'parents gets a lot of play, as does an antique fancy pearlz and gemz ring. Sunglasses: I have lots. My nicest are from Fossil (I'm not super fancy), my tackiest are white with rhinestones and painted roses. My new faves are a $5 pair of wayfarer knock offs from WalMart, and my hold my breath pair are a pair of Fo' Real Vintage 80s Wayfarers, which I am bidding on at Ebay. I probably won't win because I made a rookie error and bid right away, while it has lots of time left, and I refuse to go very much higher, because I am budgeting. Scarves: As I said before, I love scarves. This includes airy filmy scarves, pashminas, vintage silk square scarves, fringy bandanna scarves, and handmade crocheted thick and warm scarves.

Style defined!

The One About Fred Flare

This is where I make art. The basement floor. I don't really go into my bedroom except to sleep and store books. I even keep the majority of my jewelry on a shelf in my bathroom. Anyway, this is a small glimpse of some of my crafting supplies, spread out in all their glory, and ensuring that no one else will be watching tv in the basement for a few more weeks.

Check out my jewelry wardrobe!

This is the unfinished back/side of my wardrobe. The giant purple corner tree was the first effort. You can't tell but there are little blue fruits (aka dots) in the branches of this tree. It also has some great texture going on. The top of my wardrobe. Yes, that's Max from Where the Wild Things Are. I haven't finished his face with marker cause his neck looks really fat for some reason, and not at all like my original on-paper sketch. You can see how the tree blooms into the corner. And do you like the quote?? Its from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, for all you who don't get down with the time warp. This side is unfinished. But it has some flowers I cut out of scrapbooking paper, which I painted over to make them pop. I've been saving this hand with lighter for months. I cut it out of an ad ages ago and miraculously never stored it, just left it laying around and it is still in pristine condition. Painted the flower onto the wrist and then felt iffy about it, but I can't take it back so "make it work!" This is the front. Do you like the lovely teal shade I mixed up? And more dots!! I think I'm going to stencil some words down the front of the drawers in black. I just have to decide what. My sorority sister refers to this as my Hawaiian Grandmother dress. Whatevs. Dress and Cami from Old Navy. Navy Cardigan and Flips from American Eagle. My outlet store steal bag and key necklace, Fossil. Yellow glass bracelet from the Smithsonian and blue bracelet is DIY me. My bag looks strangely plasticky in this picture, but I assure you its lovely soft leather. This is the only bag I've used all summer, except for when I was in England/Ireland. Then I used a giant plaid tote bag that made me feel really unchic, but I carried all my class texts, a water bottle, an extra sweater, camera, passport, money, and more in one bag. I also had the smallest suitcase of all of my professors/peers. I think that should earn me an A for the course, just because I could store that sucker on every train, bus, and metro we went on without fail. Something slightly disturbing I've just recently realized is that I don't have many grown-up bags. I have this Fossil handbag, and a Wilson's Leather dark brown purse I got for $20 at an antique store (which I don't think I've ever used for more than a few days, but it was cute and leather so I snatched it up). But in reality, at school I use one of about 15 different Vera Bradley patterened bags. Including the messenger bag and the extra large backpack. In my defense, my hometown is super preppy, and I went to private school where I had to where plaid skorts and polos every day for 13 years. And kindergartners carry VB lunch bags. However, as I said, not very grown up. Yes, older women carry them. But they also wear mom jeans (except for my mom! no mom jeans cause she's hot!). But preppy dressing flows deep in my veins, and sometimes nothing gets my heart pounding more than a guy in khaki shorts and Clarks desert boots. With a sweater and button down. I like it even more when the sweater/button down gets the indie nerdy twist and there's a bearded dude with a pair of chucks... Where was I again? But then I had a second revelation that maybe I never realized my lack of adult bags because this Fossil bag is ALL I NEED! And when I go for something smaller, I grab my Dooney and Bourke clutch, which I pretty much stole from Nordstroms. (Not really, it was just on sale for 75% off). But do I really need to be grown up? I don't think so, especially since I just looked on Fred Flare for the first time! No one told me what I was missing. Buttered Toast wallet? Calculator watch? Napoleon Dynamite sleep max????? Any cutesy food can be made into a kitschy accessory, not limited to band-aids, purses, earrings, and floss. If I loved my friend Caroline enough, I would totally buy her this $75 monstrosity. She really really loves wolves. If I hadn't already bought Melissa her birthday present, I would buy her this. Its a pin. She wants to be a librarian. Specifically a children's librarian. But in reality, Mel just wants to have an excuse to be paid and hang around books all day. And I would buy this, if I wasn't saving up all my money for my next tattoo.

Urban Outfitters in London and Dublin both had these mini portable purse speakers in their sale section, and I almost bought them everytime I saw them. And very rarely do I kick myself for passing up buying things. But now as I sit at my reception desk with the speakers mysteriously not working on my computer, listening to the white noise of the modem and a/c unit, I kick myself. Hard. And when I think of all those spring semester days spent lying on a blanket on the quad, drinking out of nalgenes and reading for class, listening to some country western gospel music assaulting me from a few blankets over, I kick myself again. Harder. I told myself I would never really use them. But I think about them with wistful, misty eyes. Birthday. I keep promising myself. Birthday.

Also, I've been checking out Erin, and I could not hate her more for her collection of pull-up denim leggings WITH AN ANKLE ZIP that she got from Target. And trust me, I already checked, they are out of stock for all but the size 1. Grrr. She wears those leggings (in black and blue) all the time and they look so good and now I'm craving my own pair even though I DON'T NEED THEM (that's what I keep telling myself). Also, after falling in love with all my new AmEagle jeans, I want a skinny pair. (Mel could tell you that all the jeans have new stretch, better rise, and higher pockets to make your butt look perkier!). Birthday. Biiiiirthday.

I have a very serious styling question. Peep toe booties. What do you do with them in the winter? Not wear them? With footless tights? Leggings? Dare I say, full tights? I have always considered pairing open toe shoes with tights/hose complete anathema but can it ever be appropriate? This could just be residual disdain for those fools in sunday school who wore their Easter dress shoes with white tights in the winter. So bad. I can't talk, I wore some pretty hideous things back in the day. Which I count as up to 10th grade, for sure. Currently, I have no peep toe booties. I do however have peep toe blue sueded wedges (that I'm wearing riiiiight now). I don't think I'd wear them with tights, but maybe some sheer footless tights? I just don't know! But I keep seeing peep toe booties online for fall, and I don't know where everyone else is crashing but it snowed before Halloween at school last year (I go to school in satan's underbelly for sure). I can't do bare legs after my birthday. Its too cold. And I've considered that bright colored tights with black or neutral booties and a dark dress (enter daydream of me in booties and pea coat, cold crisp air, cigg in hand) could be really cute. Actually, while cruising Charlotte Russe I saw an ad with a pair of legs sporting light brown peep toe suede booties and electric blue tights. Is it approved??? I don't know!

The One About My "Jewelry Wardrobe"

These are some pictures of my lovely thrifted jewelry box, after a coat of white paint. Behind the door side is a little carousel on the top for hanging/rotating necklaces, and at the bottom you can see little partitions for storing stuff... I'm thinking earrings. This box is awesome, because last year at school my jewelry storage was quite haphazard. And this saves space on my dresser.

AND it has a ring bump! With a little mirror! I'm so excited! A place to put my claddagh and my zebra ring. (I own more rings than that, I just seem to only wear these two this summer). The knobs of the drawers have little penguins on them. So cute! I've already started painting, gluing, and drawing all over my new "jewelry wardrobe." Jewelry Closet? Its definitely not just a box. Either way, I got a little carried away last night while watching "Haunting in Connecticut," so I have to reel the design back in. But its got some good things going for it. Pictures soon, I promise!

My DIY fabric bangles. I have fingers, don't worry. I like these because they aren't dressy, so I can wear them with gym shorts. They're colorful but not fancy, so it strikes a perfect balance when accessorizing with my sorority hand downs. However, wrapping them in fabric has, not surprisingly, made them thicker, and are a bit of a squeeze to put on sometimes. But, I deal. They have a nice handmade look, and I love bangles in general.

Can I just mention how I can't wait for fall?? I really do love fall. I never seem to dress weather appropriate. I know greys and blacks aren't really cheerful summer colors, but I love them! And I like nothing more than to be wearing some leggins, a cardigan, and boots. And I understand that my sweater knit [grey!] Aldo boots are inappropriate for the summer, so I have to keep holding out for a chilly college campus fall. I dream about stomping around campus in my new black booties, some colored tights, and my pea coat, smoking a cigg. Sigh.

My Grey in the Summer Outfit!

The Incredible Shrinking Shirtdress from Marshalls, Grey Shirt from Old Navy, Miley Certified Stirrups, Silver Bangles from Walmart, Black Patent Heels from Payless, Zebra Ring from Charlotte Russe

ps. why do my outfit pictures seem kind of crunchy on my blog, but really clear on my flickr??

I would post about how much I want WR2BAM's fringed moccasin boots, but I really want to mention how hot I think this chick's outfit is:

Lady Smaggle from down under has been around for a couple years, but I just discovered her. I'm jonesing for her curly hair. I realized the reason I love this outfit is because it looks just like something I would wear. Skinny jeans, scarf, bangles. I just don't have ANY jackets. For real. I've bought a couple jackets and never really loved them. Her thrifted tuxedo jacket is great. I do have a men's grey suit jacket I wear, and people always like it, but its longer in the torso then this little number. I guess I always sub out jackets with cardigans. I'd wear this outfit with my grey striped men's cardi from ae.

The One Where I Rant about Indie Dudes

Its Monday. There will never be any picture of my outfit today, because it consists of a solid green knit top and black dress pants. And black ballet flats. No jewelry, no charming scarf. I stayed in bed till 7:53 am because I was trying to hold on to some shreds of a crazy dream I was having about Some Guy from Back in the Day. So I didn't feel like devoting any time to make a lasting fashion impression. I'm shocked I brushed my hair and washed my face. I'm not even wearing a bra, I'm wearing one of those camis with a shelf bra. Seriously, I don't even remember putting it on... wtf? Poor judgement call. And I'm STILL wearing glasses, but my contacts just came in, so hopefully I can pick them up asap and start wearing my knock off wayfarers outdoors and indoors. Okay so these are some of my outfits from last week. Woohoo! Black Cardigan (MILEY CERTIFIED) and blue bow flats from Walmart, Blue Leggins from Target , Pink Tank from Old Navy, Pink Scarf from Accessorize in Oxford, England, that also sold me a shitty bracelet that broke the same night. Thanks alot, Oxford!

White dress (actually, my high school graduation sundress!) and black tank from Old Navy

Black (MILEY CERTIFIED) stirrup leggins, silver interlocking bangles, and purple print scarf from Walmart

Cardigan from BCBG Max Azria (who stooped to work with Miley the demon spawn, wtf?)

Black patent heels from Payless

This is easy. Everything is from Old Navy.

Except the boots, which are from a store in London called Schuh (It was like a grown up Journeys). And the key necklace is from Fossil.

And I admit that I wore some sweet outfits this weekend, including some of my goodwill plaid and my good luck thrifting shoes, but I didn't take pictures, cause I was out doing things, which happens once a month usually. This weekend was super successful, on a thrift shopping front. Meliss the Wonderful and I cruised the antique stores and thrift shops, and I returned with a great haul, and some left over subway, yo!

I scored a Fiesta Ware yellow pitcher that I dream of serving lemonade with. And maybe Dirty Shirleys (shirlies?). I also brought home a cute little wing pin (I'm trying to put pins into my wardrobe), some vintage alcoholic beverage glassware, a Miss Dior train case (!!! I think it originally must have been a perfume gift set, but for $2!!!), a 50 cent rainbow mug, and a handful of used books, including siddhartha and mister popper's penguins. Life is good. But the best part had to be landing a $12 jewelry box, right after I had been saying, omg, my jewelry is a mess I need a tackle box for it. This, my dears, is so much better. I vented some emotional angst on Sunday afternoon by painting it white and jamming to some of my songs of summer. aka "Like a Prayer" by Madonna and "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Next up I'm gonna multi-media collage the crap out of it and then modge podge it to death. Woo! In other news, I've been coveting a gray body con dress from Dorothy Perkins. Its on sale, and shipping isn't nearly as terrible as those danish bitches. But I still can't imagine ordering clothes from a different country, unless they're made of unicorn or something. But anywho, I would totally pair this with the dress:

Yeah, I definitely could use a sequined men's blazer.

Oh yeah, I wanted to complain about something (whatevs, get over it, its my blog I can totally complain). I have a not-so-secret love for the hilarity of boner party. And I like looking at hot chicks too. Especially since bp shares my love of zooey deschanel, the little indie goddess that she is. And today, being bored, I decided to go all the way back and start at the beginning of bp's archives. I don't have anything better to do, y'know? After snickering at the snarky observances and their dreams to smoke a bowl with pretty much every girl in the universe, I started to get irritated by the constant referrences to "finding an 8" (offensive all on its own for ranking women, but I don't want to sound like a feminazi) and all this whining and whining about how there aren't good wifey material indie chicks out there. Like, seriously. I'm probably just sensitive to all this because I spent the last year hanging out with indie dudes. Are they all the same??? They all seem to have heavy emotional damage to blame on some terrible ex-girlfriend, a love of chicks with bangs, and a drinking/weed problem. Listen up, bp. I've made out with 2 different over-opinionated dudes that wanted the same vonnegut tattoo. so it goes, right? I know indie dudes. I get all the obscure literature and movie references. And I let you pick the music that sometimes doesn't sound like music at all. Just stop whining for Christ's sake! Indie dudes are so tortured/idealistic. On the flip side, all I ever do is whine about the lack of satisfying indie dudes and why did I choose to go to a lame-ass conservative Christian college and how did my high school me not realize once I got out of the hometown I would want to go to an art school in a city somewhere and smoke a bunch of ciggs and hang out with indie guys? Maybe I'll make a new tumblr of just hot indie guys and I'll rank them and complain about how no indie dudes stumble to my door in the middle of the night, cold, wet, and amnesia-ridden. Anyway, bp, we're probably soul mates. I have a really good track record with indie guys who smoke up a lot and whose exes left them with a serious need for therapy. Call me!

The One About Denmark

So tired this afternoon, since I had to pop out of a (squeaky) bed this morning and drive back to my house in the dewy 6 am morning... oh, the sacrifices we make for friends. I've taken a few outfit pictures, but realized I have yet to clean the mirror in my room, resulting in a nasty dust smear. I promise to clean the glass tonight. Also, sorry they are sometimes blurry. I'm gonna work on my hand strength. Actually, I'm wondering if maybe my camera is just dying. Sometimes pictures are randomly blurry even when I'm standing still and holding it with both hands. I've had it for about 4 years, and that's like 68 in camera years.

I'm rocking a dress and cardigan from Old Navy, belt thrifted straight out of dad's closet, some walmart leggin's, and awesome new $9 walmart ballet flats. With bows yo. And my sweet necklace is from a surf shop in Ocean City. And that bracelet is diy goodness. Fashion buy of the week: I went on a Goodwill $16 shopping spree, and came up victorious by crossing off one of my fashion wishes: XL mens flannel plaid shirts. A red one and a blue one, to be precise.

Oh yeah, that's me cheesing in the Goodwill dressing room. Can I just mention how I am so for the leggin's as pants movement? And to think I used to be against it. But its cool, I checked the bum coverage and we're golden. I would wear this with jeans too, for that lumberjack vibe.

On the DIY front, I watched some L&O:SVU (I have a thing for Elliot Stabler) and covered some old silver bangles with fabric, creating multicolored, whimsical bangles. I'm working my way through the set of 20 I bought a couple summers ago. Its super easy: cut a 2-inch wide strip of fabric about 10 inches long, spread tacky craft glue on the plain side (I used a foam brush) and then start wrapping the fabric around the bangle. I'll post some pictures soon!

Okay now I can talk about Denmark. Specifically, this gorgeous design brand Carmakoma. A fabulous, edgy line that is made JUST FOR CURVY, CHARISMATIC WOMEN!! And its SO HOT! So cool. The chick with the long wavy hair and bangs? I'd like to be her. AND the models have tattoos!!! But my favorite thing? This beautiful, adorable pink shirtdress. A shirtdress made for a curvy girl! A shirtdress that takes into consideration that tight armholes suck!

Now, the website listed it as on sale(!) for 24.66 Euros... and conveniently offer a currency converter. In good hard American dollars, this shirt dress is 34.62. ZOMG! I would totally buy that dress for $35. Whats stopping me from giving the women at Carmakoma my credit card, my Social Security number, and my soul?

A FORTY-TWO DOLLAR SHIPPING COST! Argh wtf!wtf!wtf! I mean, I know. Its coming from Denmark. But for that much money I could play Russian roulette at Urban Outfitters and get like, three indie outfits that are designed for waifs, yet kind of mostly fit. So, Carmakoma, you dirty little tease, I will drool over you from the states, and maybe one day I'll get in touch with my Dutch roots, and then swing by Denmark on the way back.

PS. Check out my fancy-full tumblr: wildrumpusfashion.tumblr.com . It has loads of sweet pictures and literary quotes. And the occasional baby animal. They're so cute.

PPS. Shout out to my number one fan and only reader. Melissa you rock my world with your groovy ways!