office nerd

There is, floating out there in the Interwebs that we know as the World Wide Web, a photo of a gal that inspired this outfit, with a full, short black skirt, ankle boots and motorcycle jacket. The proportions of her outfit were just perfect. Only glitch is, I can't seem to find said photo for the life of me. And, of course, Google searching "woman in short, black skirt and ankle boots" only brings up porn-related sites and, needless to say, definitely NOT what I was looking for.
My apologies, lovelies, but you just have me to look at today.
On a side note though, after I reviewed these photos, I think we all can agree that these ankle boots NEED something. Studs perhaps? Any tips on doing that? I was just considering hot glue as these are not real suede shoes. (Awesome find at Payless!) But maybe I should really stud them? I'm a bit behind (OK, way behind) on this DIY trend and open to suggestions!

Shirt: Blue striped ruffle blouse, Gap
Skirt: Black button up full skirt (rolled up a tad), Gap
Boots: Black suede ankle boots, Payless
Belt: Vintage cream colored belt
Accessories: Random watch I found lying around our house, bracelet from Charlotte-Russe, glasses from Wet Seal

lady dior

I hope I didn't hype this shirt up all too much, but ahem, (gracious various hand movements and bowing) I give you the Christian Dior shirt that I found for (brace yourselves) $10! It's the most unbelievable sea foam green silk shirt, so you can imagine my disappointment that these photos come no where near bringing it justice. 

That said though, I am still utterly enamored with the item, will probably dote on it for the next few days and have already planned out more outfit play dates for it, most notable being a full white, high-waisted skirt for more of a "Mad Men" retro feel. 

This particular outfit though was all about the shirt, hence a little on the simplistic side with skinny jeans and heels. Basically, I wanted the shirt to do all the talking, what can I say?

And in the meantime, my little Dior darling is hanging up next to my one and only Oscar de la Renta steal of a shirt ($7 from the same thrift store!) so they can be snooty designer clothes together, whispering Italian and French things. You know, basically making the rest of my wardrobe feel inferior. 

Does anyone else do this? Anthropomorphize their clothes? Or is that me filling the void of imaginary friends of yesteryear? 

I swear, I'm not crazy. I swear. 

Shirt: Sea foam green silk vintage Christian Dior

Jeans: Skinny Levis

Shoes: Gladiator heels, Simply Vera

Sunglasses: Vintage 70s glam sunnies

leopards and owls

Ladies (and gents)...got some good monetary news. No, I didn't land my dream writing job. And no, that dollar I put into a slot machine yesterday didn't change my life. But I will be getting paid for a story I wrote nearly two years ago for a local weekly entertainment newspaper.

Sure, it doesn't make me feel a whole lot better about that previously mentioned, and guilt-inducing shopping spree I went on over the weekend. But I'll liken it to finding money in your pocket of a jacket from last winter. Totally forgot it was there, probably won't buy you those (insert coveted item here), but in the end, you can manage to buy your friends a few rounds of drinks. Emily, I believe I owe you one. And maybe some fries. Good fries.

About the outfit though, I bought this tuxedo blazer from Express months ago, rocking it with my wet lame leggings/jeans/dresses but this marks the first time I tried it out with shorts. This also marks the first time I attempted cuffing the sleeves to show off the adorable leopard print that lines it.

Needless to say, I don't know what took me so long to realize it was there. We've truly been missing out on each other.

P.S. Picked up the most awesome vintage Christian Dior shirt for only $10 yesterday. Can't wait to show ya'll.

Shirt: V-neck screen printed shirt with owl on it, Urban Outfitters

Jacket: Black tuxedo jacket, Express

Shorts: DIY jean cut-offs

Shoes: Black wedges, Kenzie

Jewelry: Multiple vintage necklaces

Barcelona bound

I'd like to think that I could roam around Barcelona in this outfit. Granted, I was in Barcelona once. But after a semester abroad full of traveling every weekend, it's expensive (and exhausting) to keep up with those chic Europeans. I'm thoroughly convinced there's something in their water that allows them to exude more style in their big toe than I have in my whole being. Including my hair. And I have a lot of hair on my head. If you haven't noticed.

With Barcelona in mind, I kind of ran with some inspiration from Penelope Cruz and her role in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Sure, she played an eccentric, suicidal (not to mention homicidal) artsy bitch, but aren't we all sometimes? 

I mean, nobody's perfect.

For the outfit, I wanted to focus on more of a romantic feel, thus the princess sleeves, the delicate detailing and of course the dangly jewelry, specifically the rosary (hello, Catholicism) and the red woven tear drop charm that just screams, "Take me to Spain!" 

No, wait. Not scream. Perhaps whisper with a rich accent. Yes, that's what Penelope would do.

Blouse: Beige crocheted detailing top, Miss Me

Skirt: Black bandage skirt, Target

Boots: Vintage riding boots

Jewelry: Multiple vintage necklaces

leatherrrr

So let's just say that it's quite possible that I cracked and indulged a little more than I should have at Target. And then Charlotte-Russe. And then several cheap jewelry stores after that. What started out as an innocent trip to Best Buy to pick up a Leonard Cohen CD turned into a shopping fiasco. Ah, hell, not fiasco, I have a problem. But the fun part of problems, is the luxury of living in denial for awhile. And I must say, denial is looking pretty good these days.

Any how, outfit, yes. Perhaps a bit too god forsaken hot to wear ankle boots, but I like the leather and floral combo, along with everyone else this season. Yes, that was me, jumping on the bandwagon. You just witnessed it. But hey, at least I can admit it, right?

Happy Monday, everyone!

Vest: Vintage leather vest

Dress: Floral print drop waist, Charlotte-Russe

Shoes: Black, lace-up ankle boots, H&M

Jewelry: Multiple vintage necklaces

wine, fondue, electric blue!

I bought this dress awhile ago from Saks Off Fifth, but it hasn't graced this blog yet due to a general lacking of an occasion to wear it. Don't get me wrong, grocery shopping in this could warrant some good laughs (from you and your fellow aisle fivers) but unfortunately, it's quite hard to set up a tripod on freshly mopped  linoleum floors. Yes, I've tried.

Sooo...as you can guess, I found an occasion to wear this, an evening involving the following: wine, fondue and a good friend who just got back into the country after a year of traveling. Only a few minor causalities (cheese on my dress, wine on my friend's shirt), but all in all, a lovely evening out. 

In other news, darlings, I suppose I should play a little catch up from earlier this week when the oh so adorably stylish Lauren from This Little Piggie awarded me with my very first blog award: The Kreativ Blogger Award:

The name of the game, ladies and gents, is that I now list seven things about myself that will tickle your curiosity about me. So here goes nothing, because I'm pretty sure you all stopped reading by now:

1.) My goal is to someday work for a major fashion publication (Anna, listen up) writing fashion editorials and human interest pieces about the men and women that make up the industry. 

2.) I love pesto on everything, which usually means I have green stuck in my teeth after meals. 

3.) Because of the above comment, I always carry floss in my purse, just in case.

4.) I have a slight OCD problem, mainly with making sure doors are locked. I'll check about five times, just to make sure. Drives my boyfriend crazy.

5.) My soft spots include, but are not limited to: a good Cabernet, Dave Eggers and all of Andrew Bird's music.

6.) I want to live in New York City.

7.) I'm pretty much the queen at Scrabble.

Whew, promise this is almost over. Now, here are seven fashionably traffic-stopping bloggers I would like to nominate (ahem):

Fashion My Darling

Kansas Couture

Orchid Grey

Lacy's Mess

Trash On

Strings & Buttons

RoAmyLive

That does it for me, folks. I've rambled enough. Now it's back to this Jill and Kevin choreographed wedding entrance video. I'm strangely addicted to watching it. Puts me in a good mood. I know, I'm a sap.

Dress: Electric blue aryn K dress, Saks Off Fifth

Shoes: Leather gladiator heels, Steve Madden

Jewelry: Gem embellished bib necklace, Charlotte-Russe

Purse: Black chain wannabe Chanel purse, Target

grrrr

I'm probably preaching to the choir when I sing the praises of The Glamourai, so I'll spare you all the gushing admiration for a lady who rocks some pretty rad outfits, makes her own jewelry and offers poignant takes on fashion as an art form and lifestyle.

One thing I always admire though and the reason for this post, is her knack for pairing her leopard print heels with a lot of her outfits. 

Me? I tend to only don these wild animals from Aldo with black and grey-based frocks, usually for an evening occasion. You know, let the shoes do all the talking for the outfit.

But you only live once and shoes are a shame to waste for only certain cookie-cutter circumstances, right? 

I wore this to meet up with a few friends for dinner, wine and the type of sunshine that only a rooftop patio can provide. On my way out, a fellow diner commented on my interesting shoe pairing.

Interesting? Fine by me.

Shirt: DIY grey crop top, Target originally

Skirt: Blue pencil skirt, vintage

Shoes: Leopard print heels, Aldo

Jewelry: Gem embellished bib necklace and multi-layered chain necklace, Charlotte-Russe and Kohls, respectively

Purse: cream colored chain purse that I wish was Chanel, vintage

Sunglasses: Jackie O sunnies, Steve Madden

always a lady

First of all, let me set one thing straight for the record before you all run off laughing and pointing: No I did not leave the house with just lace covering my ass. I'm a lady, remember? And ladies manage to find some nude colored spandex shorts that work wonders underneath even the most scandalous of bottom pieces.

Second of all, I love rocking my rings like this. I never really was a huge fan of multiple rings, but now look at it as a defense mechanism, my (brass) ring knuckle sandwich. Watch out, don't piss this lady off. She'll shove some turquoise in your face. 

Third of all, yay for bike shorts. I have a feeling I might just be rocking this more than I should this summer. Will someone please intervene if I binge on them? Please?

psssttt....sneak peak!

There is a 98 percent chance that yours truly will be walking a catwalk out with the above-pictured gals in the above-pictured outfit (second photo from the top) for none other than a Burning Man fashion show in Reno. Keep in mind, that's 98 percent. That leaves condoms with better odds than me. 

(awkward silence)

Moving on, the show is Sunday, August 2nd and for all my Renoites out there, you know what Burning Man is all about.

For all my hardcore, free-loving and eco-friendly hippies out there, I'm sure Burning Man is your family vacation.

For all those who think I'm referring to some strange independent film offshoot of "Rain Man" picture this: Black Rock Desert, relentless dry heat, 50,000 hippies all participating in a week-long large-scale art show/festival/pilgrimage/acid binge. Oh, and most of them are wearing some combination of fur, body paint, multi-colored wigs or nothing at all. 

Crazy fun. And yeah, only in Nevada.

So with that said, the lovely Ms. Jessica Schneider (first photo) of Junkee Clothing Exchange will be showcasing her featured Burning Man looks of the season and I hope to see some of you (all two Reno readers, ha) there. But of course, I'll have plenty of photos to update all of you other, lovelies. 

Unfortunately, however, no one will be naked for the show. That I know of anyway. 

P.S. Isn't the girl in the third photo adorable? She looks like she should be playing chess with the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland.

P.P.S. Should have an outfit post later on today. Stay tuned.

cruising

Survey: Ever have one of those mornings where everything about your outfit, just clicks. Yes, romper! Yes, jazz flats! Yes, yes, yes accessories! Everything between you and the universe seems copasetic. And you're on time for work because of it. Hell, early even.

And then, the initial buzz wears off, you roll over and sorta realize you're not that crazy about it anymore. Sorta like that boy your freshmen year of college who was so incredibly cute during your brief stints together in Philosophy 101, but then Italian 112 started and you were over it.

That's how I felt today. I knew I was going to be riding my bike for part of the afternoon, so I wanted something comfortable and breezy (still averaging 100 plus here!). The romper seemed like a natural choice, the checkered shirt was thrown in because of chilly office buildings and the fedora is my lousy and lazy excuse when I don't have time to do something with my hair. 

Performance wise, I feel like I could have stepped it up a bit more. On a scale of my outfit happiness it ranked a 6. I usually try to shoot for 8/9 most days, so I spruced things up with my Electra Amsterdam cruiser. So if you get tired of looking at my lazy ass, let my blue baby be your eye candy instead.  He aims to please, ya know. 

Shirt: Checkered shirt, Urban Outfitters

Romper: Black halter top romper tied to fit like a tube top, Target

Shoes: Leather jazz flats, vintage

Hat: Straw fedora, Peter & Grimm

Jewelry: Gem embellished bib necklace

rock, roll repeat

Alright, so I know I've been honing in on "My So-Called Life" looks lately (with the flannel, extensive use of jean and black, black black) but in my defense, I couldn't help it with this dress. 

Again, this little spine inspired number is on loan from the Weardrobe Closet and in all honesty, isn't something I would normally pick out for myself. But sometimes, when life throws you fashion curve balls, you make a black spine dress lemonade. Too many cliche metaphors, I know. My journalism professors are no doubt cringing in their sleep at the very thought of that previous sentence existing somewhere in the cosmos. But worse things have happened to the English language I guess. I mean, Lauren Conrad has a book published. Need I say more?

Back to the dress, though. I'd like to think that Kate Moss could rock these looks, very rocker-ish, mod-ish, Moss-ish. But then again, what can't she pull off? 

Dress: Mary Meyer spine dress (from the Weardrobe Closet!)

Shoes: Black lace-up ankle boots, H&M

Flannel: Old Navy

Vest: DIY men's jean vest

Jewelry: Multi-layered silver necklace, Kohls

weardrobe dress up day #2

And another lovely little item from the Weardrobe Closet. Short. Sweet and very coral colored. I also found I couldn't decide between striking figure skating poses or ballerina poses but soon after, I realized there's no difference really. So I went for my usual-- the awkward avoiding eye contact with the camera. Enjoy.

The boyfriend left today for Japan. For a month. As a reminder, Ian, some of the types of kimono wrap robes that I would absolutely love you forever for can be found here and here. Happy hunting and of course, have a safe flight.

And with that said, I'm officially late for work now. Ah, blogging, the ruin of so many jobs for so many people, I'm sure.

P.S. Yay for larger pictures, via Photobucket. Big thanks to We Were Damsels for helping me out with that. Quick question though (as I'm really f-ing late now) is the size OK? Or are they too big? Feedback is encouraged!

weardrobe dress up day #1

Remember that package that I received the other day on my doorstep? Well, let's just say the Weardrobe Closet was good to me. Trust me, the selection process was not easy, especially trying to narrow it down to three items. Tears were shed and blood, probably spilled, but in the end I gave one of my roses to this BDG Convertible Skirt from Urban Outfitters.

The skirt itself is awesome. Fun pattern, great feel to it and deceivingly comfortable for summer outfits. Only problem that I encountered was that I wish it was an eensie, weensie, teensie bit longer. I'm all for mini skirts, even with my somewhat stumpy legs, but if I have to spend most of the day trying to shimmy the thing down to sorta cover my bum, well, Houston, we have an outfit problem.

Don't get me wrong though, still love this skirt. I'm contemplating holding it hostage, but I don't think the Weardrobe karma gods will appreciate that.

In completely unrelated but still exciting news, I was tagged by the incredibly stylish Liz over at Late Afternoon to let you, oh devoted readers, in on ten things that you may or may not or just may not want to know about little ol' me. So let the creative and oh so insightful listing of things begin:

1.) I'm a vegetarian. Unfortunately, I'm a vegetarian with no admirable reasons and have been known to wear some fur on occasion. I know, I know, send PETA out to get me.

2.) My claim to writing fame (thus far) was when I wrote an Onion-esque column for my college newspaper about Lady Gaga and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons. Huffington Post picked it up, reported it as true and someone even included it on Lady Gaga's Wiki page.

3.) I love satire anything.

4.) My nickname at my last job was Chubby since I'm always eating something. In fact, I'm 99 percent sure they installed the new vending machine just for me.

5.) I ran a marathon once and lost my two big toe nails because of ill-fitting shoes that began to hurt around mile 5.

6.) I have broken the hanging rack in my closet due to excessive weight from clothes far more times than I would like to admit.

7.) I wish I could have lived in Paris and been one of Hemingway's fellow expatriates.

8.) Pssst...I have a confession. I don't think the world is going to end in 2012.

9.) I studied abroad in Italy for a semester in college during the 2006 Winter Olympics. I met Shaun White while I was there. His red hair is not that red. Disappointing.

10.) Making fun of Sarah Palin is a pastime for me. She's like a bad car crash. Horrible but hard to turn away from.

And now I am tagging the following lovely people:

We Were Damsels
The Owls Are Not What They Seem
Jen Loves Kev
Between Laundry Days
This Little Piggie
Lilli Living

Happy Monday everyone!