Leopard Print Collar $295
This may be one of the easiest and most ingenious ways to transform an outfit and add personality, baby!
"Forgiveness
is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different."- Oprah
Winfrey
11 OBJECTS COLLAR
April 20, 2011
I saw this a few weeks ago on one of my old friends from boarding school. I was scrolling through my news feed on Facebook,
and her picture instantly caught my eye. I wrote her a message
expressing my adoration and she gave me a green light to feature it in a
post (I'm really big on not stealing ideas, if I don't discover something myself- I always credit the source).
Tan Calf Hair Collar $325
This may be one of the easiest and most ingenious ways to transform an outfit and add personality, baby!
This may be one of the easiest and most ingenious ways to transform an outfit and add personality, baby!
WHY WHY WHY
April 13, 2011
I thought if I closed my eyes long enough, when I opened them again this fad,informally known as Flatforms would be over. WRONG-O. I always campaign for the "don't knock it til you try it" attitude, but I feel validated in prematurely knocking this bad excuse for a trend because I have tried it. WHEN I WAS 12! Let's take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about the time we all had the "Slinky" Steve Madden slip on sandals, shall we?
Back then I really did think they were the bomb.com , so I'm not going to pretend I thought they were unattractive all along. But let's be serious- they are NOT CUTE. And they're certainly not vintage yet, nor should they ever be. I know that like history, fashion repeats itself- i.e. the resurgence of 50's ladylike dresses, 60s bohemian/ hippie clothes, and 70's disco jumpsuits etc etc, but the 90's?? Heaven help me. Unless of course, dressing like Cher in Clueless circles around again. I would be at Contempo Casuals faster than you can say "Whateverrrr." That movie changed my life. No, serioulsy.
Anyway, back to the "flatform" Slinky's- I think some things that are in the past should stay there. Looking at them again now renders nothing but memories of me in a Guess jean skirt and logo Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt, standing around a pay phone with my friends prank calling boys (probably collect).
Apparently no one shares this opinion with me because I have yet to see a designer for S/S 11 who hasn't produced their own updated rendition.
MICHAEL KORS
3.1 PHILLIP LIM
CALVIN KLEIN
DEREK LAM
TORY BURCH
"The one charm of the past is that it is the past." -Oscar Wilde
Back then I really did think they were the bomb.com , so I'm not going to pretend I thought they were unattractive all along. But let's be serious- they are NOT CUTE. And they're certainly not vintage yet, nor should they ever be. I know that like history, fashion repeats itself- i.e. the resurgence of 50's ladylike dresses, 60s bohemian/ hippie clothes, and 70's disco jumpsuits etc etc, but the 90's?? Heaven help me. Unless of course, dressing like Cher in Clueless circles around again. I would be at Contempo Casuals faster than you can say "Whateverrrr." That movie changed my life. No, serioulsy.
Anyway, back to the "flatform" Slinky's- I think some things that are in the past should stay there. Looking at them again now renders nothing but memories of me in a Guess jean skirt and logo Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt, standing around a pay phone with my friends prank calling boys (probably collect).Apparently no one shares this opinion with me because I have yet to see a designer for S/S 11 who hasn't produced their own updated rendition.
MICHAEL KORS
3.1 PHILLIP LIM
CALVIN KLEIN
DEREK LAM
TORY BURCH
Maybe I should go pick up a pair of Teva's next. Ugh.
"The one charm of the past is that it is the past." -Oscar Wilde
Picnic Basket Case
Nothing says summer like Gingham. Somehow, it just looks like the American dream. It's a fabric depiction of sunshine, a white picket fence, green grass, blue skies, a cold glass of lemonade, fresh fruit, a handmade woven basket, and everything else you'd see skimming a July issue of Martha Stewart LIVING. 
Ah yes, all of the makings for a perfect family picnic. Except- Picnics SUCK. First you have to pack everything into a dozen Tupperware containers (which will inevitably spill all over your car once you back out of your driveway), then you have to unpack everything onto your blanket (which is never big enough for more than one person and a small cat) only to have every ant, mosquito, and fly in a 5 mile radius call up their friends to spread the word about the buffet you've laid out for them, all while sweating your A double $$ signs off in 90 degree heat, eating an egg salad sandwich that got squished in the Zip-loc bag on the way. To me, all of those things sound even worse than that run on sentence. Oh, and if you had kids with you- FORGET IT.. . .So if you're like me, and you think eating out of plastic containers on an anthill sounds more like hell on earth than a fun Saturday afternoon- you might be better off skipping the picnic and opting to dress like one. That way you get all of the beauty of a summer day without the rash from wet grass.Here are my picnic picks:
Forever 21 Bandeau , Forever 21 Belt, Asos Skirt
Ah yes, all of the makings for a perfect family picnic. Except- Picnics SUCK. First you have to pack everything into a dozen Tupperware containers (which will inevitably spill all over your car once you back out of your driveway), then you have to unpack everything onto your blanket (which is never big enough for more than one person and a small cat) only to have every ant, mosquito, and fly in a 5 mile radius call up their friends to spread the word about the buffet you've laid out for them, all while sweating your A double $$ signs off in 90 degree heat, eating an egg salad sandwich that got squished in the Zip-loc bag on the way. To me, all of those things sound even worse than that run on sentence. Oh, and if you had kids with you- FORGET IT.. . .So if you're like me, and you think eating out of plastic containers on an anthill sounds more like hell on earth than a fun Saturday afternoon- you might be better off skipping the picnic and opting to dress like one. That way you get all of the beauty of a summer day without the rash from wet grass.Here are my picnic picks:
Ways to Wear:
 |
| ANTHROPOLOGIE Button Up Gingham Top $88 &MODCLOTH Tropical Tie Waist Skirt $37.99 |
 |
| TOPSHOP Mustard Gingham Bralet Top $40 & LULU'S Lace Knee Length Skirt $34 |
 |
| FOREVER 21 Rose Skirt $12.80 |
Lucca Couture Bustier & Modcloth Shorts
 |
| PRET-A-SURF Red Gingham Shorts $175 TOPSHOP Floral Tee $66 |
 |
| FOREVER 21 Pink Flower Skirt $14.80 & FOREVER 21 Floral Skirt $16.90 |
 |
| MODCLOTH Rainbow Cardigan $64.99 & FOREVER 21 Rainbow Woven Belt $6.80 |
 |
| LUCCA COUTURE Gingham Bustier $49 MODCLOTH Nude Scalloped Sailor Shorts $62.99 |
 |
| MODCLOTH Rainbow Cardigan $64.99 & FOREVER 21 Graphic T-Shirt $12.80 |
 |
| FOREVER 21 Yellow Striped Bandeau $3.50 & FOREVER 21 Wide Woven Belt $7.80 |
tribal themed chiffony afghan
April 11, 2011
"Life is really simple, but we INSIST on making it complicated." - Confucious
For the Birds
ANTHROPOLOGIE Nature Collage Blouse 
LEIFSDOTTIR Nature Print Dress $478
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." -Franklin Roosevelt
matchy matchy
April 8, 2011
Mixing prints, layering, and well...wearing things that straight up don't match is something we all enjoy. Dressing in such a manner is eclectic, creative and helps transform a single item into a plethora of ensembles. 
But what happened to matching? Is it such a crime to have on a blouse that mirrors your shorts? I don't see why it should be. Lately I've been searching for matching separates. Not coordinating separates, not complimentary separates. MATCHING. So far though, my efforts have been coming up fairly fruitless. I found two examples of exactly what I'm looking for, but last time I checked, I didn't have $4,118 to spend on a couple of outfits.
But what happened to matching? Is it such a crime to have on a blouse that mirrors your shorts? I don't see why it should be. Lately I've been searching for matching separates. Not coordinating separates, not complimentary separates. MATCHING. So far though, my efforts have been coming up fairly fruitless. I found two examples of exactly what I'm looking for, but last time I checked, I didn't have $4,118 to spend on a couple of outfits. 
So, once again, I turned to the ever-loyal Etsy. I didn't know exactly what to type in the search box...so I tried, "matching clothes, matching skirt and top, matching top and bottom" etc. Everything that came up was for a toddler, or one of their dolls. I started thinking maybe this was a sign that people who are no longer spending their afternoons in a sandbox should be matching from head to toe, until I finally stumbled upon this.
At first, my thoughts were the same (presumably) as yours- LI-BRAR-IAN. But there's alot of potential here! I am going to have the hem raised to mid thigh, wear it with the bow open and the first few buttons undone, and carry an oversized clutch or a small crossbody bag. I'm super excited about this find and can't wait to wear my first "mono-patterned" outfit since Laura Ashley threw up in my kindergarten closet! Now my hunt begins for matching shorts/ pants and tops.... TO BE CONTINUED.
"KNOCK, KNOCK. Who's there? Opportunity. Don't be silly- opportunity doesn't knock twice."
Garden Party
April 6, 2011
It would probably be pretty hard to have a bad day if you looked like a floral arrangement.
ANTHROPOLOGIE Draped Dress $148, JIL SANDER Mini Dress $2,445 , TOPSHOP Knot Back Dress $75.00 , OSCAR DE LA RENTA Retro Dress $2,989 
These made my heart skip a beat.
TOPSHOP Ruffle Sleeve Blouse $75, I LOVE LOVE THIS: ANTHROPOLOGIE Lace Inset Blouse $88, ANTHROPOLOGIE Braided Neck Blouse $118
TORI PRAVER Smocked High Waisted Bikini
"You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims."- Harriet Woods
ROYGBIV
April 5, 2011
"There are two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it." -Oscar Wilde
A Pretty Penny
I've been feeling very fondly towards penny loafers for a while now, but so far I've only purchased one pair (seen here). This classic is simple and versatile, and hey- you've always got 2 cents! Which nowadays won't buy you anything except for someone's opinion that you most likely didn't ask for. But anyway, the pair I recently bought were super inexpensive and I like them a lot, however for 22 bucks- they will probably disintegrate come fall. So I was thinking, since Pennies (from here on out we shall refer to them as "Pennies") have stood the test of time for decades now- it might be worth investing in a slightly better pair. That is, until the glorious day when I decide I'm a "real" mom and finally buy some TOD'S.
Here are some to which I'm-a-lookin', and I'm-a-likin':
Stuart Weitzman Glitter Penny Loafer $298 
Pour La Victoire Studded Loafer $229 
Michael Kors Patent Leather Pennies (7 colors) $97.95 
these are so cool- Dani Black Silver Perforated Loafer $175 
Elizabeth and James Snakeskin Loafer $235 and if are not 5'9" like me . . . 
Jeffrey Campbell Platform Loafer $126 
"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse."- Jim Rohn
The Vintage Advantage
April 2, 2011
As usual, everything old is new again. So why are we being charged out the ying-yang for clothes that we can find in our grandmother's musty attic? Because trends are being recycled so frequently now, I cannot justify spending $89 on a pair of high waisted magenta daisy dukes that are going to give me four mooseknuckles and push my bottom into a pancake, simply because (for the time being) someone decided they were back "in." That being said, I will most likely succumb to the fad and be wearing them once the weather plateaus in the mid 80's. Just be sure to squirt some bleach in your eyeballs before I walk past you so that you're not scared $&!%less by what your ham hocks will look like after having two kids. But my point is- what's next? We're all going to be standing around in our high top L.A. Gear's putting scrunchies in our neon Kaboodle?? And please...don't even try to act like you don't remember what a Kaboodle is. 
And DEFINITELY don't try to pretend you didn't skip around in your L.A. Gears. 
While I am the first person to advocate trying "new" trends, I am straight up OVER investing in them. I refuse to be tricked by the lazy designers who have been perusing 1990s J.C.Penney catalogs for ideas, and cutting out pictures of clothes they want to pawn off as their own creation by sending them to a sweatshop in Bangkok for mass production! Ahem. Okay, clearly I am being a little too overzealous about this, but in my defense it's after midnight and I'm running on 1 Lean Cuisine and 9 chai lattes.
Thankfully for me and my consistently overdrawn bank account, I have found a solution! Last year one of my best friends introduced me to Etsy. How I never knew about this wonderful website before, I have no idea. At first it's a little overwhelming because there are SO. MANY. SELLERS, but after discovering all of the fabulousness that lies within, the exorbitant amount of one-of-a-kind things doesn't seem to be enough. I've made several purchases on Etsy so far that I am incredibly happy with, and am highly considering making it my one and only source for shopping for THREE damn good reasons.
1.Every item is totally unique. Because the whole site is strictly vintage and handmade, once you purchase an article of clothing, there are no more to go around. Which means there is a one in a million chance you'd EVER run into a girl (or boy..teehehe) wearing the same thing. You get the unparalleled satisfaction of knowing that you are the only person on planet earth who possesses that thang. This is major for me because I'm totally nuckig futs about being the only person I know owning certain things and I desperately need help.
2.IT'S TEN TIMES FREAKING CHEAPER.
3.It's GREEN. Recycled clothes are happy clothes.
On to the good part. After extensive research, I present several comparable Etsy and new items that I found for not-so-comparable prices. Some of the comparisons are so close it's embarrassing. Check it out!
top: Matthew Williamson Embellished Bolero now $808 was $2,695 vs. Etsy Sequin Bolero $39 bottom: Milly Sheer Sequin Bolero $355 vs. Etsy Pewter Sequin Bolero $35 
Topshop Tapestry bag $72 vs. Etsy Tapestry Weekender $30 
Topshop A-Line Denim Skirt $66 vs. Etsy Button Front Denim Skirt $24 
The Row Circle Sunglasses $410 vs. Etsy John Lennon Sunglasses $15 
Topshop Midi Pleated Skirt $80 vs. Etsy Black Mini Pleat Skirt $30 
Topshop High Waisted Cuffed Jean Short $66 vs. Etsy High Waisted Cuffed Jean Shorts $29 
Asos Top-Handle Tapestry Purse $66.34 vs. Etsy Mary Poppins Tapestry Purse$25 
Why the blank are these things back?
Topshop Black Denim High Waisted Shorts $90 vs. Etsy Black Denim High Waisted Shorts $24
I LOVE THESE. And seriously, they are IDENTICAL.
Topshop White Crochet Fringe Crop-Top $60 vs. Etsy Grey Crochet Fringe Crop-Top $34
NEW : $2,073.34 - VINTAGE: $285 = Hi, you just saved $1,788.34!!!
Please know that my agenda in creating this post was not at all to discredit mainstream retailers. I love Topshop and Asos, and I think Matthew Williamson and Milly make spectacular clothing. But sometimes, when something is clearly a repeat offender, it's worth looking at alternatives before taking out a second mortgage on your house. Especially when you know the trend is going to be short lived.
And DEFINITELY don't try to pretend you didn't skip around in your L.A. Gears. While I am the first person to advocate trying "new" trends, I am straight up OVER investing in them. I refuse to be tricked by the lazy designers who have been perusing 1990s J.C.Penney catalogs for ideas, and cutting out pictures of clothes they want to pawn off as their own creation by sending them to a sweatshop in Bangkok for mass production! Ahem. Okay, clearly I am being a little too overzealous about this, but in my defense it's after midnight and I'm running on 1 Lean Cuisine and 9 chai lattes. Thankfully for me and my consistently overdrawn bank account, I have found a solution! Last year one of my best friends introduced me to Etsy. How I never knew about this wonderful website before, I have no idea. At first it's a little overwhelming because there are SO. MANY. SELLERS, but after discovering all of the fabulousness that lies within, the exorbitant amount of one-of-a-kind things doesn't seem to be enough. I've made several purchases on Etsy so far that I am incredibly happy with, and am highly considering making it my one and only source for shopping for THREE damn good reasons.
1.Every item is totally unique. Because the whole site is strictly vintage and handmade, once you purchase an article of clothing, there are no more to go around. Which means there is a one in a million chance you'd EVER run into a girl (or boy..teehehe) wearing the same thing. You get the unparalleled satisfaction of knowing that you are the only person on planet earth who possesses that thang. This is major for me because I'm totally nuckig futs about being the only person I know owning certain things and I desperately need help.
2.IT'S TEN TIMES FREAKING CHEAPER.
3.It's GREEN. Recycled clothes are happy clothes.
On to the good part. After extensive research, I present several comparable Etsy and new items that I found for not-so-comparable prices. Some of the comparisons are so close it's embarrassing. Check it out!
top: Matthew Williamson Embellished Bolero now $808 was $2,695 vs. Etsy Sequin Bolero $39 bottom: Milly Sheer Sequin Bolero $355 vs. Etsy Pewter Sequin Bolero $35 Topshop Tapestry bag $72 vs. Etsy Tapestry Weekender $30 Topshop A-Line Denim Skirt $66 vs. Etsy Button Front Denim Skirt $24 The Row Circle Sunglasses $410 vs. Etsy John Lennon Sunglasses $15 Topshop Midi Pleated Skirt $80 vs. Etsy Black Mini Pleat Skirt $30 Topshop High Waisted Cuffed Jean Short $66 vs. Etsy High Waisted Cuffed Jean Shorts $29 Asos Top-Handle Tapestry Purse $66.34 vs. Etsy Mary Poppins Tapestry Purse$25 Why the blank are these things back?Topshop Black Denim High Waisted Shorts $90 vs. Etsy Black Denim High Waisted Shorts $24
I LOVE THESE. And seriously, they are IDENTICAL.Topshop White Crochet Fringe Crop-Top $60 vs. Etsy Grey Crochet Fringe Crop-Top $34
NEW : $2,073.34 - VINTAGE: $285 = Hi, you just saved $1,788.34!!!
Please know that my agenda in creating this post was not at all to discredit mainstream retailers. I love Topshop and Asos, and I think Matthew Williamson and Milly make spectacular clothing. But sometimes, when something is clearly a repeat offender, it's worth looking at alternatives before taking out a second mortgage on your house. Especially when you know the trend is going to be short lived.
"Who's more foolish?" The fool or the one who follows him?"- Obi-Wan Kenobi
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