The Comeback.

I have returned! I am really, honestly back for plenty of summertime musings. Been a little overwhelmed this week with moving my piles of clothing and shoes back home from college. I am not being a bit hyperbolic when I say piles. If I weren't so ashamed at the state of my bedroom, I would totally post a photo. I used one of those suitcases you joke about carrying your friend in when you take a totally enviable trip to transport my shoes back home, and get this: they wouldn't all fit. The very sad thing is, with the season morphing into summer, I feel only compelled to purchase more outrageous footwear. I also started a new job this week! A job that allows me to act on my urges of wearing pretty much whatever I want compared to my past employment ventures. Anyways, I feel like I could post about a thousand things right now, but I will try my very hardest not to do so.

Things that make me very excited for summer:

Seeing Death Cab for Cutie next Friday

Going to NYC with my best friend and mom(never gets old...even after 16 trips!)

My amazing new gladiator sandals

Prancing around the very green Kansas country side

My new eBay-ing adventures (henceforth referred to as Solid Gold Vintage...more info on that as it comes!)

Anyways, many real posts coming your way...if I have any more readers! I still want/need to know what you want to see being auctioned off on eBay so I can find it and it can make its way into your hearts, heads, and homes!

I also have an obvious affinity for green grass and all things sun-drenched.
Yellow gingham and floral print blouse, white belt, black pencil skirt, and sunglasses-vintage; white peep-toe jelly sandals-Urban Outfitters.

Milk-Maid Braids and Flowers.

Now that I am (sadly) sinking back into reality and coming off of my National Championship high (but not completely!  I will probably be on that high at least a little bit for life), I have returned!  Today started out fairly nice, clear, and sunny.  I even needed sunglasses most of the day, and shielded myself from wind with just my little leather jacket.  I left my journalism class at 4:15 and the weather had become unfortunately overcast and chilly.  I just want a big chunk of nice weather, is that too much to ask?  My boyfriend and myself went out to celebrate our 20 month anniversary and it started to rain, a cold, visible breath kind of rainy-ness.  So lame!  No matter, though, I still wore milk-maid inspired plaits in my hair and a floral dress...One of my favorite dresses.  Partly because I got it for one dollar, but mostly because it is the best floral print ever.  Also, I don't know if anyone else does this, but I buy my opaque tights from the discount dance website.  After being a dancer, I've realized that no tights are as durable and truly opaque.  My recommendation to you.  

Floral print mini-dress, leather belt, and bangles, vintage; tights, bloch dance; high heeled oxfords, built by elves.  

PS: If you are a fan of street style, culture, clothing...hell, even if you WEAR clothes, you need to check out the Midwasteland based in Chicago.  Another plus, I will be a contributing writer in the near future...thanks, Monica!  

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.

Playing Favorites

It all started with the t-shirt for me.  When I really got into thrifting around six years ago, all I bought were strange, vintage t-shirts.  My habits have yet to change.  Every time I find myself in a DAV or Goodwill, I bolt for the kids' section in search of another gem to add my huge collection.  With such an ample supply, it is hard for me to choose a favorite...kind of.  I have narrowed it down with three to show you.  All are thread-bare and soft as butter, some with questionable markings from owners past.  The tags have frayed or just come off completely.  And I love them just as I love some of the beautiful vintage dresses I own.  I like to see myself as an equal opportunity wearer.  Even if you consider yourself a fashionista of the highest standards, I don't care: Girl has got to have her t-shirts.  

Pictured above is a shirt that I've only had for the past year, maybe.   Yeah...I don't get it either.  

Alright, so this isn't really vintage.  Unless you see 1998 as far enough in the past to be considered vintage.  This shirt I actually stole from my boyfriend.  It's a souvenir from his boy scout camp.  He got free reign to decorate a t-shirt, and this is how it turned out.  Puffy paint never looked so regal.   
Few things are better than sporting an artistically illustrated Captain Kirk and Spok.  This shirt was wedged between about a million others in a huge, bi-annual, hospital rummage sale.  The date of copyright on the shirt is 1985, I think.  I'm not sure how successful Star Trek IV was, but I thank my lucky stars that it produced this t-shirt for my wearing pleasure.  Not pictured (but should be!) is my "We are the World" shirt, which I WILL include on this blog sometime.  Honorable mention to: My Alf 1987 shirt.  You put up a good fight.  

And, because I have pictures, today's outfit!

Eyelet Dress, Kimichi and Blue; Green Cardigan, pink 40's deco belt, vintage; tights, bloch; mouse flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Day Tripper

Beautiful Fridays may just be life savers.  What started out as a chilly, fog blanketed Friday morning ended up being a sun-soaked yet cool Friday afternoon.  My boyfriend and I hopped on a downtown bus to mingle around the shops, which was a fantastic way to start the weekend!  It's nice to watch the bright sidewalks fill with people from behind a nice pair of shades.  Or perhaps shades are more of a necessity for my boyfriend who makes some ridiculous faces while sporting the vintage aviators I got for him at the DAV.

Tortoise wayfarer-shaped sunglasses, blue blazer with gold buttons, leather patchwork purse, steer printed maroon shirt,  all vintage; denim skirt, made by myself from a pair of mom's 1992 lucky brand jeans; moccasin booties, Minnetonka

Now if only the grass could turn a little greener and my wallet could become a little fatter (in hopes of purchasing much more for spring and summer...sigh), life would be even more exquisite than it is right now, on the cusp of Friday evening.  

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I have always had a soft spot for Mr. Rogers.  Who else puts on a cardigan and changes their shoes upon entering their own home?  Having worn cardigans from the mens' section for several years now, I have always thought fondly of him as I slipped one on to shield myself from a wind chill.  Since today was incredibly windy and strangely cold (and I was feeling really lazy and had to spend most of time studying for a test and not choosing an outfit!), I decided to channel the neighborhood man and wear my oversized butter-yellow men's cardigan.  Paired with a super simple v-neck, my standard grey skinny denim, high-heeled oxfords, and my favorite vintage ring, it made for a decent cold/dismal/Wednesday/I-have-a-test-today outfit! Please excuse the boring outfit, boring post, and horrible dorm lighting!  

Cardigan, vintage; v-neck top, H&M; jeans, Cheap Monday;Oxfords, Made by Elves; Ring, Vintage