Light of my life, fire of my loins.

Nothing gets a person's attention like a title with the words loins in it, right? Well, being the self-proclaimed Russian nerd that I am, I am reading Lolita.
Doesn't this photo from the film (which I refuse to watch...yet!) make you want to go out and lie shamelessly in the grass in a retro-inspired swimsuit and giant hat? What is that one made out of anyways, any guesses? If I were thirteen, I could be spending my summer doing that, but instead I'll continue to busy myself indoors with the mountain of things I have to do (and should be doing right now). When I finally do get some time to bask outdoors, I may want to do so a la Lolita...in a way that is far more legal, of course. Swimsuit and sunglasses, Urban Outfitters

I'm not a stripper.

During the summer, I get strong, unusual cravings for tragically campy cinema. For the past four or five summers, I have gone to the video store (do they still call it that?) with my family seeking out horrible and hilarious movies. Typically it ends up being a horror film (I stand by the original Amityville Horror being THE funniest of the horrors), but once in awhile, something outside of the horror genre will produce glorious, golden camp. I give you Showgirls. If you haven't seen this movie, please, go watch it now. Well, maybe not all of you, considering it is NC-17, but you should at least catch the edited for tv version they show onVh1. The 1995 film stars Elizabeth Berkley (you know, Jessy from Saved by the Bell? Who can forget!). "A young drifter, named Nomi, arrives in Las Vegas to become a dancer and soon sets about clawing and pushing her way to become the top of the Vegas showgirls." (thanks, IMBD) As if that shouldn't lure you into seeing this film, I have found upon recent viewing that the 90's threads Nomi (what a name) acquires after reaching some stardom are really kind awesome in the way that only early ninetie's clothes can be. She has a penchant for Versace, all things body concious, and fringe...or really anything that adds a strange urban cowgirl element to the ensemble. Unfortunately, there are very few photos of some of the costuming, so I decided to compile a little collage of WWNW -- what would Nomi wear? Try not to be too dazzled by my paint skillz, now.
I don't know how many strippers, I mean, dancers, should actually serve as inspiration for any wardrobe. But damn it, if loving Nomi is wrong, I just don't want to be right!

About Face.

I, like many other fashion/culture obsessed folks, am pretty religious about checking out Yvan the facehunter. I can always rely on his photography to serve as some inspiration for my sartorial choices.  There is always an abundance of unexpected combinations of colors, prints, and textures.  Because of his photographs, I have seriously considered rompers (I have yet to find one that is just right), worn sequins casually for day, figured out how to work over the knee socks in a way that isn't reminiscent of a slutty Halloween costume, and have been totally saved in the crucial moments before I am about to go out for the night and have NO IDEA about what I'm going to wear and there are a million articles of clothing already strewn about my room.  Yesterday was dark, gloomy, rainy, and so cold I could see my breath.  So not cool for April!  It's days like that when I have little to zero motivation to get out of bed let alone dress myself and face the elements.  With such little enthusiasm, my inspiration for an outfit was running on empty.  Then, I remembered the outfit I had saved to my desktop!  

I am obsessed with the rosette skirt.  If any of you know of where to find one: TELL ME.  The dark floral is something I would like to see more of.  It would be great way to wear florals on a night out this spring or summer.  Beyond that first stunning point, there are the sheer tights, which I haven't really flirted with yet, but there is a sexy smokiness to them that makes me think more Film Noir and less Warhol Factory Film than my beloved opaque black stockings.  Then she adds the fringed booties, which we know I have quite the affinity for, which adds a bohemian element to the dark look.  I'm a big fan of this Urban Hippie look that's on the rise, and I feel that the suede fringe adds just the right amount of this element to the look.  She also broke the whole, no-black-with-navy rule, which should definitely be thrown out, as most rules of fashion should.  The glossiness of her jacket and supple looking bag juxtapose her delicate looking tights and moccasin booties to perfection.  Obviously, I could not create a carbon copy of this bruise-palette ensemble, partly because I am not adorable and blonde, and partly because I am unfortunately lacking an amazing rosette skirt.  I really wanted to add a pair of elf-like Steve Madden fold over flat ankle boots, but the weather would not allow...

Black Dress (worn under shirt), cropped leather jacket, and buffalo plaid rain boots, Urban Outfitters; Sheer Navy T-shirt, really old; Grey tights, DKNY.