Thursday, October 27, 2011

Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you


Have you noticed how talented I am at going on a regular blogging spree and then all of a sudden dropping off the face of the Earth for 2 weeks? Yupp, takes true talent and learned skill. But here I am and with an outfit post of photos that I took last Friday (yes, a week ago!) and am just now getting around to posting. Shows how behind I am...but I'm on a caffeine kick! After this I'm baking cupcakes and sewing a Halloween vest out of spooky black cat fabric....and it's nearly 11pm!

I spent tonight at a Retail Connect event on campus where there was free coffee and imported cheese. I don't usually drink coffee but I was falling asleep and it was free, so I figured why not? I sat next to this lovely girl in my major who dresses 90s-granny-grunge and makes me want to watch "My So-Called Life" so badly. Everytime I see her. But enough about this nonsense!



I wore this last Friday. I took last & this weekend off from work and last Friday was spent eating German food with my father & my boy. I'm such a spaetzel fanatic and I never say no to rahmen puten schnitzel, even though I can hardly say it all in one breath. It must be all that German blood in me....



Here I am swearing a Marilyn Monroe cardigan that I found from a little shop/closet tucked away in Camden Town. The shop girl decided to give me 20% off everything I bought because she thought it was all overpriced. Ha! I scarcely wear white but if it has Marilyn's faced splashed across it, I'll make an exception. I guess this means Marilyn will have to be on my wedding dress too then, hmmm....


The skirt is from Target, the buckle boots are Steve Madden, the purse is Nine West, and the shirt is my absolute favourite from Macy's a couple summers ago.



I went vintage shopping last Saturday and found a pair of super amazing sequin hot pants. I left the store without them but then whined throughout the next two stores we went to, so I had to go back and get them.... I'm going to wear them as part of my Halloween costume as a circus girl! I don't know what I'm up to for Halloween yet, but as long as I look cute, everything else will come together alright....right?

Sunday, October 16, 2011

old boy, you've still got it!


The autumn decided to finally come, and come it has! The colour seems to have come and gone within a couple weeks and I was scarcely outside to enjoy it, spending most of my time in class, on the bus, or at work. Autumn is my favourite season to be out in, so it's definitely a bit sad but...here comes winter! I keep forgetting that we still have Halloween and Thanksgiving, I'm already so excited to break out the Christmas decorations! To draw me back to the present...what's everyone being for Halloween?




I wore this outfit on Friday to French class. I bought this sweater a couple of years ago at an annual church sale, where missionaries come back and bring good from the countries they were aiding in. This sweater was made by women in India and it's positively beautiful and cozy. I rarely wear it though because it's too hot to wear for the 70 & above weather and too cold for the 55 or below weather...so there's a very small temperature margin in which I can comfortably wear the sweater without layers. I'm sure everyone has articles of clothing like this, especially if you live in a 4-season climate. It's just a pity that it must happen to such a beautiful piece!




I'm really into funky, statement jewelry right now. I mean, I wear my Tinkerbell necklaces to work almost everyday! I'm trying to make myself seem younger while at work in an attempt to ward off creepy men from thinking that I'm legal and therefore fair game. I wish I was still 17...


Anyways, this brooch was given to me as a gift from...I think my mum? [correction: It was from my auntie! Thanks auntie :-) ] It's so silly, I love it. And since the colour palette matched the rest of my outfit, it was the perfect touch. It probably repells men pretty good too, except I can't wear it at work! Oh well!





I should definitely get onto my colour theory homework! I'm going to a dance show at the Ordway theater in St. Paul tonight. It's choreographed by Twyla Tharp and it's all Frank Sinatra music so, ya know, right up my alley.




On a last note, heeeeere's Moses! He's difficult to get in front of the camera anymore. When he was a pup, he'd sit in front of it for hours just making faces and being a goof. Now he runs under the table whenever I pull it out...I think he's afraid of his aging being caught on camera... All I have to say to that is, Old boy, you've still got it!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

crawl with me


Finally an outfit post, yeah! Design school is keeping me killer busy. I skipped my 3 classes today in order to stay home and do homework (ok, and watch '90s movies...). When I say homework I mean painting the green value scale, assembling a hue triangle, and sewing two zippers and a skirt waistband. I haven't even finished it all yet! Stress levels are through the roof. I took some time from my painting to run outside and take a few photos, but almost immediately it started pouring rain and hailing!



I've been wearing stuff like this a lot lately. Docs have re-become a wardrobe staple. This cheetah print belt is also popular amongst myself these days (see what I did there? wordplay.) I also love this Prague Pub Crawl t-shirt. I found it on my bed one morning in the hostel. We never went on the *official* pub crawl, but since we did crawl many a pub while in Prague, and since it was my size and didn't smell too bad, I decided to keep it.



For my sewing class I recently completed a pair of super cute aquamarine shorts (which I screwed up the elastic for >__>). Next we're making a little girl's sundress. Both items are going to be donated to an orphanage in Haiti, which is such a cute idea!


I went to the fabric shop yesterday to pick out some fabric for an upcoming skirt project. I also ended up purchasing several yards of other fabrics for not-yet-decided projects which I don't have time for. Hmmm.... Maybe it's still the summer in me, but I don't remember university being such a hardass!





I bought a couple little pin-up girl brooches from Strawberry Fields Jewellery (using money that I don't have, mind you). They were too cute to be true and since I'm a pin up girl at heart, it only seemed appropriate.



Anyways, it's sewing time! Wish me luck. My goal is to get all my homework done tonight, so that I can enjoy tomorrow (when I say enjoy I mean spend my day in class, then tutoring French, then returning home to do more French). p.s. Remember how I keep saying that I have loads of stuff to sell on eBay (including Doc Martens & Cheap Mondays)? Well I swear I'll be getting that up! My life is feeling cluttered and un-organized right now...I need to get this stuff out of it!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

MN Fashion Week: Vintage Did It First @ Blacklist Vintage


This week in Minnesota is Fashion Week, which involves a number of local designers and boutiques putting on shows and having sales! I was invited to one at Minneapolis vintage store Blacklist Vintage on Tuesday and was able (miraculously!) to make it between my busy schedule. Being up till 1am doing homework was totally okay since I came out with some lovely goods and a new shop to add to my favourites list.


They sent out the cutest invites ever! Definitely one for the fridge.


The theme for the fashion show was "Vintage Did It First" which was about modern runway taking inspiration from vintage. The two owners selected pieces from the store and styled them à la fashion designer giants of today. (Please excuse the horrible photos! My 5 foot self got shuffled behind a few rows of people, mostly with cameras larger than my head.)


They obviously made some good calls with current trends. '70s wide legged trousers (here styled after a Derek Lamb runway creation) are such a huge trend right now. Even I've bought into it, as I documented last week.


Orange dresses (as seen on the Lanvin runway)! I love the one they used in the show, and one of the shop co-owners was wearing the cutest orange dress as well. Come to think of it, several orange dresses were in & out of the store throughout the evening. Definitely a popular trend!


This cape (styled after Azzaro) got several oohs & aahs as the model swept down the runway. I'm such a sucker for capes and the romanticism of them. This is definitely a style I want to play with this autumn/winter.


After the show some shopping happened! Blacklist has a great collection of both men's and women's clothing (which is good, since I brought a boy who isn't so keen on dresses). I found this incredible shirt (above) featuring a print of 19th century women on Christmas. I love button downs with fun prints...I'm also a dork for Christmas. Argh, why couldn't you be my size, you wondrous, silky button down?! I would be the most popular kid in class!


I did, however, walk away with this beautiful pink button down, complete with sunrays, clouds, and birds in flight! I also bought a brown velour v-neck for my boy (who doesn't want a man covered in velour?) and a couple of old patterns for cute 60s/70s dresses!


I saved the best for last...Okay, I didn't actually BUY this lamp, but it's now at the top of my To Buy list. It is the most glorious lamp I've ever seen in my life. I stared at it for several minutes in complete awe. In fact, I don't know how my boy pulled me away from it. Now...I'm absolutely NOT blogging about this lamp to inspire fellow Minnesotans to rush off to Blacklist and be the first to buy it. This will only lead to me crying, and no one wants that. But this is a true piece of art, which will (hopefully soon) be in my own house. Life as a die-hard Charlie fan cannot be complete without this gem.

I also had my eye on a beautiful parrot brooch, so I know I will most certainly be heading back there soon! I just have to get back to the time clock a few times before I return (financial resposibility and whatnot), but keep your eyes out for more goodies from here and if you live in the metro area, definitely check the shop out, visit their website, "like" them on Facebook, etc. They're located at 25 E 26th Street in Mpls, near MCAD, the MIA, and a fabulous German restaurant called Black Forest Inn (go there, too).