Fall 2011 Wishlist

Okay, I’m ready for fall. The shopping list starts here and now, because come September 1^st I will be (hopefully) successfully moved into a new apartment that will essentially act as an enormous walk-in closet. And…go!

Fancy Sweats

Rodarte Sweatshirt via Opening Ceremony

I will easily live in this come fall. And it will make hangover Mondays just so much more bearable.

Vintage Collar

Vintage Collar via Etsy

I get teased at work for my love of the Peter Pan collar. I’ve been a fan since kindergarten and show no signs of stopping. So it is only cost-effective to have a lovely, bejeweled little buddy to attach to any old tee I want. Or maybe even my new sweatshirt. Hangover Mondays just got reeeeal fancy.

Architectural Wedge Booties

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Mary Belle Booties

Still not over this. Wedges have now become my version of sneakers. What exactly classifies a “walking shoe” anyways? But also...

Hiking Boots That You Wouldn’t Actually Wanna Hike In

Privileged Ally Hiker Wedges via Lulu's

To wear with floral skirts, lace dresses…any time I need to butch it up just a little bit. Or also with...

Horse Print Jacket

Vintage Horse-Print Jacket via Etsy

I saw one of these in a thrift store last month in a size XXL which prompted me to text three people asking what is considered “oversized” and what is considered “crazy bag lady too big.” And so Etsy, you’re my only hope for proper-fitting equestrian themed clothing.

Okay, it can start getting nippy out now...

I Came, I Saw, I Copied.

Backstory: Once upon a time, a young red-haired lass was browsing the internet, not really looking for anything in particular, when --

WHAM!

She spied this baby:

Photo via Refinery29

Since then I've searched high and low for this spearhead necklace by Madewell. Okay, I mean I went on their website and it wasn't there, and then I briefly checked Ebay and couldn't find it, therefore concluding it does not exist in real life. It was quite the trek.

Anyways, I'd been on the hunt for something similar when I saw an emaciated sad little version in a Forever21 ad. It wasn't quite right (as F21's stuff tends to be...seriously, what's with all the rhinestones???), but then I had a brilliant idea!

I picked up TWO of the pathetic little wannabe's and, kelly clamps in hand, Frankensteined my own version.

Okay, so it might not be Madewell (or, you know...made well), but for a grand total of about $13 and the duration of a Seinfeld rerun, I'm pretty happy with my little creation. Extra points because it jingles whenever I move, something sure to annoy all passersby. 

Yes, Mom. I will go to Macy's with you.

...on August 31st, when Karl Lagerfeld's line for Macy's comes out.

And here are the pieces I will be after:

Photos via nymag.com

A crisp, super-high-collared button-down, with sleeves puffed in somewhat random places. Just thinking of the big ass ascot you could tie around this baby is making me drool. Also good for hickey-coverage.

Last year it was the military trend. This year? A preview for the military trend circa 2057. Dresses that somewhat resemble alien overcoats? Yes, please.

Okay, so this is basically what I wear to work every day in the wintertime anyway. But this is the Karl version, so it's a big step up.

Keep Karl somewhere between your heart and your wallet at all times. 

I mean, if I could dress like Wednesday Addams every day without it being considered some sort of social disorder, I probably would.

I think these are all reasonable requests. Mom, take me shopping? Yeah?

Citrus Fruits

You know my deal with popsicles. I love ‘em, but I only like the citrus flavors: orange, lime, maybe a lemon here and there. (I’m particularly partial to boxes that only sell these flavors, like Shaw’s Citrus Sticks, which have been mysteriously absent from the frozen section as of late…) Well, now this taste for sweet acidics has begun to translate to my tastes in threads. And for someone who has still not imbibed of traditional American lemonade (I promise to try it by the end of the summer, guys!), this is highly, highly bizarre…

We all remember Jil Sander’s citrus takeover this spring. The lemons, the limes, the oranges…even venturing into grapefruit…

Images via style.com

And yes, these shoes are calling to me. Fruit bowls are just generally appealing. Even if these Jeffrey Campbells sort of remind me of something my grandma might have worn while serving chicken salad on her front porch in the summer…And the cutout platforms? Not sure if I’ve quite graduated to these yet, but I can only dream…

via NastyGal and Indie Fashion Market

Okay, this next one is not citrus-themed, but I couldn’t resist!

from Etsy

Green apples always provide my tastebuds with the tang I desire. And come on, it’s only fitting.

Red Hair, Green Dress...It's a Cliché, I know.

First I put on the dress. Then I started feeling very Mad Men, so up went the hair, on went the chunky jewelry, and out came the sassy one-liners.

(Dress - thrifted, Shoes - F21)

...and the awkward posing ensued. Sometimes it's nice to dress like a real grown-up lady, and pretend you're the type who throws dinner parties and doesn't believe an entire box of Cheez-Its counts as a meal.

(Chain Cuff - Vita Fede, Necklace - thrifted, Watch - Michael Kors)

Unfortunately (and I only say this because it's not Grey Goose) this is what my dinner actually consisted of. Cheers?

It's so nice, I wore it twice.

Now I just need to save up for this coveted little baby...

Gone Apple Pickin'

I look forward to Sundays all week, every week. Right now mostly because True Blood is back on...

But aside from that, it's the one day I usually have no commitments and nothing but free time. So of course my favorite thing to do is walk around town, headphones on, scouring secondhand stores for goodies. Because I'm so often asked about my thrifting adventures, I will share with you a few of my weekly rituals, just promise to use them to add only vital pieces to your wardrobe and not Ed Hardy crap. Seriously that shit is everywhere. Everyone collectively decided to sell/donate it at once. Wtf.

1. Have some good tunes at the ready. After all, most places will be playing Top 40's...from 1973. And although I do love the song "Bennie and the Jets," those musical morsels are hard to come by in your average secondhand shops.

2. Pick a day that isn't going to be crazy crowded. The number one type of person on my shitlist is the one who crowds me while I'm shopping. And they usually smell like urine or McDonald's. Or some kind of rancid combo. For realsies, step off.

3. Be patient and have a game plan. You're way less likely to find buried treasure if you aimlessly browse around. Pick a section and scour. I usually look at actual clothing first, then housewares, then shoes and bags, then jewelry. That way you can hit up the fitting rooms (if there are any) before you gather up anything that you can't bring in.

Which brings me to my next little tidbit...dress the part. A lot of times there aren't any fitting rooms, so wear things you can slip clothes over or slip off easily. Be comfy, but dress cute, perhaps in past thrifting finds. Call it "wishful dressing" or something. It can help inspire ideas.

(Lace-trim Tee - thrifted, High-waisted Shorts - American Apparel, Braided Belt and Platform Sandals - H&M, Black Patent Bag - recent thrifting treasure)

The tee and shorts are easy to slip on and off or throw something over. The bag is my "inspirational piece" because I loooooove it and found it for $4 in a thrift store. 

The sandals are comfy and slip-off-able, but can be easily paired with outfits, giving me some ideas in the fitting room.

And over-accessorizing my arms is just what I'm all about these days. Weigh them doooown.

Now, get thee to a Salvation Army!

The Training Birkin

If stealing intellectual property is wrong, I don’t wanna be right. Okay, well like…to a reasonable extent.

Patrice knows all about my quest for the perfect structured kelly bag. And yes, ideally it would be this:

But for the time being, I’m always on the prowl for my aptly named “training Birkin,” a title I give only to the worthiest of inspired-by bags. For instance, cue my Marc by Marc Jacobs Ozzie Square Lucy Bag:

But the little baby below was an ideal fit for this prestigious position — a perfect mini-version, by Neiman Marcus and a $4 thrift find. Whuuut. A little soapy water and some black shoe polish later, and we got a beaut — coming to a dive bar near you (well, depending on where you are…), on the shoulder of yours truly:

Sugar Fix

                              Isn’t everything better with sprinkles???

                          

Speaking of which, it seems I’m fully abandoning my usual all black, all the time ways for more and more color. I’ve got to have a sugar fix at 5 o’clock every day…and now I need more of this in my life:


Shoes - Haus of Price, Dress - Josh Goot for ASOS, Eye Glitter - Makeup Forever

Break the Rules, Even the Real Old Ones

When I get into something, I tend to go overboard. But that’s how collections happen…right? And I don’t wanna stop till this shit hits both elbows.

And I know, I know…

“Before you leave the house, take a look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
- Coco Chanel

Sorry, Cokes, just can’t stand behind you on this one.

She knows the deal.

Brace Yourself.

Suddenly over-excited by all things arm-adorning...

I’ve never been a big bracelet fan, probably due to the inability of my puny wrists to hold normal-people-sized jewelry. Maybe it’s because I work three doors down from Alex and Ani, or maybe I’m simply starting to run out of things to collect (first bags, then shoes, and so on and so forth…) but now I’ve added bracelets to the shopping list.

Friendly Army

(Bracelets by Ettika, Chan Luu, Rebecca Minkoff, and Anthropologie)

Remember friendship bracelets back in the day? (Remember? Like back when you were 12 and had real friends?) Well, they’re back and better than ever. I’ve been noticing my friends lately layering on all kinds of bracelets – leather, silver, beaded, charm, even lanyards – until about four inches of forearm is covered. Gotta say I love the look, now I just need to build up my collection…

Chain of Jewels

(Bracelets by Kate Spade, Alex and Ani, Forever21, and Ann Taylor)

I’m currently obsessed with strand bracelets, whether they’re chunky chains or ropes of glitzy jewels. These babies making layering easy and effortless, and add a bit of pizzazz wrist-side. 

(Bracelets by Eddie Borgo Smile, Hermes, Urban Outfitters, and Citrine by the Stones)

Off the Cuff

Cuffs are oh-so versatile – they can go from being heavy metal rocker chic to strolling down Newbury Street. You can simply wearing your favorite cuff with a few other simple accessories, or go a little more over the top and wear one or more on each arm. I like to call this “the Cleopatra.”

And on that note, here’s this. Funny how some things come full circle, isn’t it?

The Marc Jacobs Diet

When I was in college I snagged this little baby on sale at Saks:

I was in love with the beautiful, lipstick red leather and the over-sized patchwork stitching. I still sometimes drool over it…reeeeeeddddddd leeeeeeaaaaatttttthhhhhheeeeerrrrrrr……….okay. Sorry.

Well, since then I’ve always lusted after Marc Jacobs bags, the Baby Stam in particular. So petite, so cute, so…out of my price range. In the interim, I’ve purchased two Marc by Marc Jacobs bags, both of which I love dearly, but no collection pieces. But then, on a thrifting excursion which was meant to rid my closet of unnecessaries, I saw behind the counter…a Baby Stam. In patchwork lipstick red. Authentic. Way underpriced. Fate.

So, clutch wallet, meet your big sister!

This is why people scour second hand stores. Now, I can still dream about the day I find a Chanel Classic Flap or Hermes Birkin behind one of those counters…hey, it could happen!

Keep on the Sunnies Side of Life

Vintage sunnies. Oh, don’t worry. There are many more in my sunglasses drawer. Does anyone really need a drawer devoted to sunglasses? Apparently.

Yup. Too cool.

It’s at least enough of an obsession to write this post for the salon blog!

Another Bashful Blog Appearance...

I guess the rule is, if I wear this coat with these shoes, someone, somewhere is going to blog about it. I know, I know, I’m just too cool.

And this fashion blogger really knew how to approach a girl for a photo! She set me up in front of these pretty red branches and told me to cross my feet and smile. What a pro! And apart from my goofy face and roots galore, I’m feeling pretty proud over here.

Sheesh, that fur-collared coat was really the best $8 I ever spent!

Character Coats

I’m convinced that much of my personality is made up of bits and pieces of characters I’ve seen in movies.  This in turn also inspires much of my wardrobe.  

My favorite thing to hunt down is outerwear reminiscent of these characters.  Putting on a large winter coat is the easiest way to disappear into disguise and become whoever you choose to be.  I remember one year searching Ebay and consignment stores alike until I found the perfect Russian princess coat that would make me appear to be Anna Karina in Vivre Sa Vie (which is still by far my favorite coat in the world).  Although another coat is the absolute last thing I need in my closet, here are some on my wishlist as inspired by the fictitious women we love:

Alice Ayers in Closer.  

I loved how she was basically the character in Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blue” come to life.  This blanket coat via Urban Outfitters reminds me of her shearling coat and reckless abandon.

Margot Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums.  

Who doesn’t want to be her?  A prodigy, a playwright, a sullen lover…plus she has that Birkin I would kill for…  This ruffled faux-fur coat via Saks is an update on the plush yet ironic fur coat she dons throughout the film.

Clementine Kruczynski in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  

This manic-depressive, potato-doll-making character is what I want to be.  Although I try to keep in mind that she is not a concept, she’s just a fucked-up girl looking for her own peace of mind.  I’ve always wanted a puffer-princess coat like the one she wears on the frozen Charles, and I’ve come close with this one via Saks.

Lauren Hynde in The Rules of Attraction.  

Love the book, love the movie, and pretty much love any character Shannyn Sossamon plays.  I just wish I were that indie.  This military coat via ASOS (possibly paired with a ruffley blouse and cords?) is so totally her.

My Fashion Blog Debut!

Fur Collar Coat - Thrifted, Cropped Sweater & Jeans - American Apparel, Wedge Booties - H&M, Necklace - Chanel, Bag - Marc by Marc Jacobs                     

While walking with my friends in the Lower East Side a couple of weeks ago, a lovely girl with a camera asked to take some photos of me for her fashion blog.

Lo and behold!  My fashion blog debut...

Check out the comments—I think someone is asking if I’m a presenter on MTV???  HA!