Renaissance Fair

Floral Skirt - Thrifted, Velvet Bustier - MinkPink, Gold Cross and Corno Pendents - Thrifted,
Sandals - DV Dolce Vita, Drawstring Dooney and Bourke Bag - Thrifted

My mom insisted I get this skirt when we went shopping in Portsmouth last month, and now I'm a little obsessed with it. The fabric is this sorta-shiny, almost curtain-like material (and it's fun the swoosh around). Then I found the MinkPink crop top. I'm still trying to master all the different ways I can wear this before summer hits...

Primarily Mondrian

I've always been a Mondrian fan - something about blocking out primary colors really appeals to me.

So when I saw this Cosby-esque sweater while shopping with my mom, we both knew it had to be mine.

Mondrian Sweater - thrifted, Disco Pants - AA, Buckled Boots - Deeny & Ozzy

While I'm usually against the "butt-sweater," who doesn't love loud, lounge-around winter-wear?

See...My...Vest!

Whilst visiting my sister in Brooklyn a few weeks ago, we allowed ourselves about a 20 minute thrifting trip (yay forced self-control!) at her favorite nearby secondhand shop. She picked up a couple great pieces...I kept grabbing vests. I love vests. I don't really know why. But obviously because they are somewhat impractical, but always eccentric layering pieces (at least the ones I tend towards).

While standing in line at the register with this green, suede fringe vest in hand, I asked my sister what I was doing and how I got there. But most importantly, on what occasion was I ever going to wear this? She offered, "With some basics! It's too cool not to buy!" She convinced me, and I was so taken with it that I took it home, if only to hang on the back of my closet door to stare at.

Well, it's been a few weeks now, and I've worn this thing no less than 6 times. Always listen to your big sister...especially when vests are concerned.

Also, I sort of always feel like Michelle Tanner when I wear a leather jacket with shades...

You got it, dude.

Swallow Magritte

A neat little set up in my new place, right by the front door, circa the 1970's door jam just to the left...

DIY framed Magritte print, gold swallows (ha) from a flea market, glass cherry blossoms from a thrift store, bowler hat from some Korean man on the street, stand from my mom.

Just a place to toss your keys and hang your hat at the end of the day. 

Also, I wish I didn't look weird in hats. Troubled.

Thrift Store Finds: Moving Week Edition

During my usual rounds around the secondhand spots this past weekend I was met with quite a surprise – the places were PACKED. Duh, obviously it was the weekend after Boston’s annual (dreaded) August 31^st/September 1^st moving days. But even though there was slimmer pickin’s than usual on the housewares front, I did manage to knock a few items off my list. Yeah, I make thrifting lists now. Budgeting makes you make lists. Good times.

I needed a better way to manage my now overabundance of jewels, so I found a couple of silver cake stands, and a-one, and a-two, and a-three:

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

Prest-o change-o! Makeshift jewelry stand. Take that, cheaply-made, overpriced Urban Outfitters versions!

The lady at the shop (who pinned me for a secondhand junkie as soon as I walked in) told me with a little polish and elbow-grease they would triple in value, but I kind of like the antique-y patina going on. Besides I have no intentions of covering these in cake anyways. Cookware and the like almost exclusively serves as décor in this abode.

Then there was this little guy, which I can only assume is intended as a fingerbowl. I actually have no idea what a fingerbowl is, but let’s pretend I know what I’m talking about. Anyways, its new purpose in life is to contain my rings. I’m sure that’s way more fun than whatever it is fingerbowls do.

At the end of the day, I’m always glad to add a little more gaudy-Italian-grandma-décor to my living space.  

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?

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:

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!

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!