Lovesick for Summer

I was never a summer person. I’m not a beach vacation person either. I don’t like sand or salt water, and I am especially fearful of sunshine. I carry umbrellas to hide my porcelain flesh from the harsh rays that would most certainly burn me to an unrecognizable crisp in under 30 minutes. I don’t like amusement parks or public pools. There is no reason I should be waiting on summer’s arrival and yet here I am, huddling under a mound of blankets, searching longingly for photos that take me to warmer days. Here are a few of them. I hope they warm your soul as much as they do mine.

This is where I am from and this is what spring looks like there. It is only natural to be jealous.

Just Sexy.

This is the sexiest photo I have seen in a while.

Oh, Christian.

I’m going to show you something. Now, I’m warning you- this is beautiful. I may or may not have cried a little when I first saw them. Christian Louboutin is an artist and Box T Dorcet is one of his many masterpieces.

swoon

you just can't get enough.

Scratch that, start over.

I’m tired of everything and it’s way too early for that. I’m tired of the week that has yet to begin, school that just started, my messy room I have no time to clean, the job I just started and my look, even though I just got my hair done on Thursday. So the plan of attack is to forget all of that and find a new project. I will take everything out of my closet, drawers, etc, scrap everything that is useless to me, alter things I see potential in and tag those things that require a professional. The idea is that once I see all the clothing I own, I will come up with new ways to wear them instead of scrapping all of it and starting over. I will document this adventure and share it with all 6 people who read this. (hi mom.)

In other news- My dear friends Kaeleigh and McKenna had a birthday party last night that was fabulous. Greatest party I’ve been to in a very long time. Theme was Great Gatsby, there was a live 4 piece jazz band (that were brilliant) and the costuming was spot on.

Here are a few crappy snapshots from my camera. (Real photos to come.)

My getup.

The band.

The birthday girls.

Combat boots etc.

I finally bought a pair of combat boots. I know, I should have owned them months ago, but I had to find the perfect pair, and I believe I have done it.

Let me introduce you to Charles Street by Timberland.

Aren’t they perfect? I haven’t worn anything else since they arrived in that butterfly-inducing white box from Zappos. I’m working on some perfectly 90s getups for them . Photos to come.

In the meantime, I will share a couple of the looks I’ve been lookbookin as of late. Valori deserves all the credit since she has become our resident tech expert (photoshop).

You should check out the fabulous fashions of my fantastic roommates Kaeleigh and Valori on Lookbook. They are brilliant and I love them.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Oh, G Star Raw, how could do this to me? Your 2010 line of denim is truly vomit inducing. Are there no women on your design staff? No men on the design staff that know a woman? I have yet to hear any woman say, “If only someone would create denim that made it look like I crapped myself.” Why couldn’t we let the harem pant die with 2009? Instead you had to resurrect them by creating the Frankenstein of Harem pants and denim. Bad idea. This season, I wish you failure. Crash and burn in 2010 G Star.

Get a bucket and see the rest for yourself.

http://gstarraw.com/flash/content.html

Fueled by the promise of a new year

I am running on empty. Training for a new job, keeping up with my old one, getting settled into my full school schedule and the rest of life on top of that. Little Brother Al left yesterday, not to return for two years and I miss him terribly. I’m keeping it together and pushing forward because 2010 is going to be a beautiful year, despite its rough start. I have a list of resolutions that is growing by the day and a grid-locked schedule to keep me on the ball, all in an effort to guarantee that this year will be better than the last one. I will begin the year with a new do and as always, I would appreciate a little feedback. My theme for 20-10 is decisions, not options. Forget versatility, I am looking for something specific and fantastic. I would like to go all in- 1950’s. Dark, perfectly set- something that might go nice with a blossoming burlesque career… wink.

Here are a couple of my ideas- share yours.

How could I resist?

If I promise not to wear a romper?

Maybe go red?

Alright. Give a girl a hand. Assistance please.

Perfectly Retro

I was born in the wrong decade. I would have no problem tacking on the extra 3 hours to strap into my corset, lace up my boots, set my hair in perfect curls and draw flawless lip lines. I was made for the 1950’s. Okay I would have been made for the 50’s if I were blessed with the bottom half of “curvy”. I have no hips, which might have held me back a bit, but I love it nonetheless. I wear red lipstick and garter belts with my stockings, and a few dresses  from these sites when I’m lucky.

Hat and gloves were vintage finds. The dress is brought to you by Bettie Paige Clothing.

I thought I should share a couple of my favorite online stores to find all things 50’s.

Bettie Paige Clothing

My first run in with this brand was truly serendipitous. I was in Vegas for a weekend of brilliant restaurants, beautiful hotels and mind-blowing Cirque du Soleil shows, with little time left for shopping. I had about 30 minutes to run around the Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood and in the last 5 minutes I decided to take a different way out and ran right into Bettie Paige’s flagship store. Needless to say, I was late meeting my comrades, but I came out of it with the dress pictured above. I love it.

They have managed to capture the iconic style and spirit of Bettie Paige in some the best 50’s style dresses on the market.

Stop Staring! Clothing

Though their website isn’t the most eye-catching, they have some fabulous finds and a wonderful selection. They sell wholesale, so you can find a lot of their designs in boutiques across the country. Every dress on the site oozes femininity.

Pinup Girl Clothing

This company has been around since 1999 and still offers great pieces of retro clothing, accessories, shoes and even swimwear. They carry several other lines of retro clothing including some which cater more toward  rockabilly wear. I have ordered several pairs of their seamed stockings (which I love), though I’m not a huge fan of any of their swimsuits I’ve ordered. (My favorite black pencil skirts is from this site.)

I would kill for a shape like that.

Happy Shopping.

Let’s stalk someone together.

Her name is Garance Doré. She’s brilliant and endlessly lovely and her website is my newest black hole of a time waster.

Miss Doré

She is a french illustrator and fashion blogger who also just happens to take brilliant street snapshots. She recently created an english version of her website for all those of us whose french is a little rusty.

one of her illustrations

http://www.garancedore.fr/en/

Make certain you check out her Portraits section aptly titled “my nights are more beautiful than your days”.

Some of my favorites:

Let’s talk about New Years

New Years is the perfect excuse to wear that fantastic piece you’ve had your eye on but couldn’t justify purchasing. Or those great gloves you have in your drawer that just don’t seem to work with anything these days. (Cream leather, above the elbow gloves in my top drawer) Center your entire outfit around one great item. I find that people either miss the opportunity entirely or try to pile on way too much. Wanna rock sequins? Do it. Just don’t add giant metal earrings, metallic eyeshadow, and gold shoes. Allow the rest of your outfit to complement your star piece without drowning it out. (See sequin dress in previous post)

Don’t forget about the weather. Girls that throw on their tiniest party dress and a pair of stilettos are going to look like fools standing in the snow, no matter the price tag. Know you’ll be standing around in below-zero temperatures but still want to look midnight spectacular? Not a problem. Tights can solve the bare leg issue and don’t neglect the beauty of the blazer. You can go for a sheer hosiery option- you don’t have to wear sweaters between party dress and wedge. Anything covering your legs will help you out. If you don’t already have a great blazer you love- now is the time to get one. throw a fitted solid color blazer over a party dress, slide on those sheer tights and top it off with a great heel, and you’re set. Don’t underestimate the statement a coat can make. Choose something bold and colorful to arrive in. It will also make it much easier to find yours when you’re ready to head to a new party.

Killer tights and a hat? Do them in the same color.

dress with studs? check. tights and sweet heels? check. check.

Make the coat your statement and you'll be warm all night long... and well into the morning.

Can anyone say shoulder pads? Go big or go home this season.

Bail on black. Opt for fantastically fun.