i can feel your smile.

just a few quick shots today because i've been super lazy about posting. i'm really trying to get into the habit of it again, but i guess it's just a gradual thing for me right now.

anyway, here's my pup and some clothes!

hat, urban outfitters / shirt, handmade / skirt, macy's / boots (not pictured) jeffrey campbell coltranes

i was really happy to have found this skirt for a fraction of the cost these things usually are. i tried a sort of similar skirt at free people in boston that sat funny on my body-- i think there was an excess of fabric near the bottom that made me look like a horse-- and was so happy to stumble upon this one a few weeks later! normally, waterfall skirts are a bit weird for me and make me feel short, but this one's good stuff.

actually, this whole outfit is kind of a free people knock-off. the tee was patterned off something i saw on sale from them for more than i wanted to pay, so i just made my own!

i had to stand in the kiddie pool to get nova in.. i used to practice this when he was a puppy by stepping into a box and getting out, and then he'd copy me. i love this dog, and i realized that i want to try to work with animals more, so i'm going to submit a volunteer application to the humane society soon!

music: iris -goo goo dolls

right.

nice to see people are still with me! i've taken a break from blogging and documenting outfits because i've felt pretty down on myself the past few months. since i came home from school, i've felt really guilty both for coming home from school and for working on my disordered eating, especially since the latter changed my body type a bit and was kind of detrimental to the confidence i'd built up since starting work at ragstock.

a lot of people don't really understand the guilt trips i go through over choosing whether or not to eat or to exercise away what i've consumed, and i don't really know how to explain it. it's just been a source for calmness for me for months into years. i still feel bad about my looks and emotions a lot of the time.

someone recently was quizzical towards my interests in fashion and makeup and wondered why, if i'm a feminist, i would care about it at all. it's the same frustrating standpoint that people take of Woman Wants To Be Anything So She Has To Be Everything, the kind of view that a feminist wouldn't want to be a housewife-- it's so typically feminine. so why would i be into fashion? it's stereotypically girly.

i feel like it's one of the least helpful perspectives people attach to feminism. when people ask me why i'm interested in a stereotype, i can't help but think that they've completely missed the idea. i mean.. who.. cares? as long as i have options, it's a non-point.

it isn't for you.

it's for me.

IT'S ALL FOR ME.

happiness is love necklace, thrift / dress, hazel / watch, gift / shoes, h&m

i wish i could gather my thoughts and express all the frustrations i've had in the past few months regarding human rights, but there's so much that i'll have to keep writing about it when something comes up. it's just become a huge interest to me, and every time someone tries to shut me down, i realize how important it is.

anyway, here's a frilly new outfit. old shoes and accessories, new dress. i kind of feel like a parfait in this dress, but in a good way? it's just like a sweet lemon meringue concoction, definitely lighter than my normal dress code, to celebrate summer being here in full swing.

i hope to actually be posting more. it's hard to go from the bay area back to wisconsin and keep inspired, but i'm going to try to post once or twice a week now.

ta!

BORA AKSU fall/winter 2013.

since spring is hardly upon us, i may be getting ahead of things here, but ever since i saw this collection, i've been obsessed with it. the light, flowy materials are romantic, drawing me in, and combined with a tie-like addition here, a blazer there, i was sold on this coming season's menswear addiction. also sold on the plum used in many of the garments-- just enough color to not overwhelm me. oh, and have you seen the headpieces?

THE HEADPIECES.

the headpieces and makeup make for a look that is "classically futuristic," dating back to 1927's metropolis-- each pretty little crown topper is a piece to remember, and it's easy to imagine a microchip implanted in one, somewhere amongst the lace and sequins. widely spaced, long lashes make for huge eyes, and life is breathed into each figure with a touch of pomegranate on the lips.

i really can't get enough of this. watch the shows, folks. you won't regret it.

till soon,

music: no bones -yeasayer

the chill and the chillwave.

i've been playing a lot of really laid-back music, and i think it's been inadvertently inspiring my wardrobe as of late: i've been trading the extravagance on most days in favor of simple bottoms and tops, mostly black and white, which just happens to coincide with the spring trend of black and white 4eva. i like a more toned-down version of the desaturation, though, with one piece of white and one piece of black, rather than mixing stripes with checkerboards with plaids and so on. today, though, i mixed the forever-needed black with a plum topshop crop.

also, i have a few shots of my new winter coat, although they're not the clearest to really show off how amazing this zara piece is-- i'll be sure to take some more detailed photos soon. it basically makes me look like i'm from the matrix. cue slow-motion-backbend shots.

my new favorite thing, though, is this pair of black american apparel riding pants. complete with padding on the inside of the knees, these pants are versatile, sleek, flattering, and best of all, comfortable! i've worn them probably four days out of the past week, which is probably a record for me. i keep planning outfits with these pretty babies. they're a dream piece.

also, crop tops, whether form-fitting or loose, are still at the top of my fashion list. they appeared on the runway for last spring/summer, but i feel like they're still in full swing. it's probably my penchant for matching with high-waisted things, but i'm in love. they're simple and chic, and they also show a glimpse of unexpected skin in a way that isn't so over-the-top for my latest interests.

i did just find a cheap pair of clear spiked creepers, though, so. i guess my closet just jumps all over the place.

 the creepy statue head is a piece on campus that i love-- i've always wanted to shoot with it, and i finally found a quiet time to do it.

lastly, the messenger bag tucked tightly to my side is borrowed from my roommate-- she's brilliant with little accessories and things when i just can't find the perfect match to top off an outfit-- and i've used it all this weekend. of course, come tomorrow, it's back to the old school backpack routine, but it's been nice to use a cute little satchel for a while.

bowler hat, ebay / crop top, topshop / pants, american apparel / creepers, gift (y.r.u.) / coat, gift (zara) / bag, c/o

p.s. i've been paying almost zero attention to fashion week and feeling distanced from so many trends, so i'll be looking into that and bringing things up as it feels fit.

more to come soon,

music: so many details -toro y moi

zooey style.

hello all,

just sharing a dress from a wonderful little shop called dainty daisies. if you're in the area, check them out! lots of good vintage and hand-mades. definitely worth a look around. i couldn't resist this cute little zooey-deschanel-style number, even though it isn't my usual type of dress-- i'm happy to branch out a bit. in love!

dress, dainty daisies

till soon!

music: you! me! dancing! -los campesinos

comfy cozy cosby kid.

just a quick outfit post today!

staying warm in my ragstock vintage sweater and hand-studded blouse, topped off with a hat (of the free variety, what better?) and tights. pretty basic.

oh, yes. and i'm blonde, just replacing the last bits of color in my hair with toner for a grey-silver shade. new times, good times. i'm basically giving myself the granny look. and i love it.

makeup, nars / hat, dad's / blouse (altered), t.j. maxx / sweater, ragstock / shorts, tripp / tights / socks / platforms, h&m

music: oslo in the summertime -of montreal

stereotypes.

1. the hippie (the janis joplin): scarf, vintage / glasses, ragstock / necklace, mom's / dress, thrift / belt, gift / pants, f21

2. the charlotte gainsbourg: tank, gift / bracelet, gift (pixie market) / jeans, ?

3. the prep: shirt, urban outfitters / shorts, f21

4. the grunge rocker: flannel, ragstock / jacket, dad's / thigh-highs, target

5. the punk: blazer, thrift / vest, thrift / dress, f21 / docs, gift

6. the american apparel girl: tank and skirt, american apparel

7. the street goth: body chain, ? / tank, gift / leggings, black milk clothing / coat, gift (zara)

8. the blogger: romper, pixiemarket / necklace, urban outfitters

just for laughs because i have a veritable dress-up box of clothing due to all of the things i've cycled through and don't wear very much anymore.

all for now!

girl.

crop tank and maxi skirt, american apparel

a dusty scan of one of my earlier shots from the semester of yudie. i have a lot of shots from this roll that i want to print because this girl is amazing at modeling. i'll get there. and i hopefully have another couple of rolls i'll print really soon as well!

p.s. like my facebook page!

music: soul meets body -death cab for cutie

pretty in pink.

one of the things i didn't have going into the city was a guide of all the right little shops to go to. no matter how many google searches i did, i kept seeing the tourist-blown shopping centers, and even the shops i found in haight and mission were just things i happened upon by chance. in fact, i only had recommendations from locals on maybe four local shops, and i only had time to go to two of those.

a great thing, though, can be found just outside san francisco.

oakland houses pretty penny, a vintage shop that reaches way above and beyond expectations for completely wonderful vintage pieces at affordable prices. and people shrug off the Yeah Affordable thing, but if you're paying sixteen dollars for a blouse with its own story and unique look that sets you apart from the modern-day manufacture, you're doing pretty well.

the prints, colors, details, and materials that these guys bring in are enough to grasp a person for hours. or if you're looking for something in particular, you can find everything organized by color, and staffers are the best at guessing sizes for you. and if your skirt or shirt or dress needs to be taken in or up, they offer alterations. and there are shoes, and accessories... and the choicest menswear.

i have a coin bank where i throw all my change, and it never really amounts to anything, but having this place in the area actually gives me a chance for those pennies to really be pretty.

ha ha ha ha

check the photos for some random things, some pictures of the shop, and some of my scores. click click for higher resolution.

leather skirt, "always a lady" sweatshirt, pink blouse, PRETTY PENNY

i originally was going to make this post really Pink themed, and i found out through doing so that despite my hair color, pink is almost never in my clothing repertoire. does anybody else have this weird thing where they never dress in one particular color? or where they only dress in one particular shade or two? just curious.

till next time,

music: sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows -lesley gore