spring so far

Saturday

I work Monday through Friday (and though I'm considered full time, I am not working 40 hours a week, so I still feel compelled to keep looking for an additional job), so pretty much all I want to do on Saturday and Sunday is sleep. Hopefully soon I'll get adjusted to waking up while it's still dark and chugging coffee like all the other adults.

And now some outfit photos: [kind of amazing how I never wore pants the months I was living at home, and now that I've moved I have barely worn any dresses or skirts. hopefully my outfits aren't too boring now]

a few weekends ago:

cardigan- remixed a million times over
shirt- thrifted
pants- Joe's Jeans
bag- vintage
shoes- Seychelles

last weekend (easter):
bag- vintage
scarf- Cambodia
green v neck- Splendid
blue undershirt- C&C California
cardigan- remixed
jeans- Joe's
shoes- Teva (these allow me to be spontaneously intrepid. intrepid!)

new in the shop

Vintage 1940s Tailored Blouse

Vintage Black 'n White Accordion Skirt

spring for the shop!

I have today off (oh yeah, I got a job), so I've spent the morning doing some photography and getting ready to update my shop. I've felt pretty guilty for neglecting it these past couple of months, but I think life is finally settling down to the point where I can get things going again.

Just a few of the things from my closet that will be in the shop in the coming weeks.

Most of what is going to be appearing the next month or two are pieces from my own closet--- clothes that I love but just don't get the chance to wear enough. In addition to things from my closet are a few dresses from my grandmother's in New York! Unfortunately they are all too big for me, but maybe they'll be your size? Especially worth noting is a chocolate brown 1950s sheath dress and bolero set--- soo Joan from Mad Men!

Already listed are the following two dresses (remember these?):

Vintage 1980s Secretary Dress Small/Medium

Vintage 1960s Fitted Dress & Shirt Set Small/Extra Small

sea sage

Though I have lived in California for all but two years of my mid-twenties life, this place I moved to two months ago is the closest I've lived to the ocean. I drive by it on my way to my boyfriend's, but it wasn't until today that I got a-hikin' out to the Pacific from my little house.

Hylton and I were only out for about two hours, though we definitely could have stayed there on the mesa all day--- eucalyptus groves behind us and the ocean ahead.

Poppies are my favorite flower... I probably like Oriental or Icelandic poppies the best, but the varieties native to California are also quite beautiful.

California poppies: the state flower.

Wild mustard growing aplenty with the foothills beyond.

shirt- thrifted
undershirt- AA acid washed V neck
pants- Volcom
shoes- Teva
tote bag- from a temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand

There have been times in my life (most notably college) where I felt this need to chose between two types of being--- maybe it was just style, but it always felt like more than that at the time. I went through periods of no makeup, no [leg] shaving (at the longest, a year and a half), long hair all the way to my tailbone. It was always freeing to not spend time on those unnecessary pursuits--- but I'd always eventually be drawn back to a little powder and mascara, heels and a cinched in waist. This weekend I spent lolling about in the same clothes, feeling unwashed and basically happy, but tomorrow I'll be showered and hopefully heading in for my first day of work. As long as you have a weekend I guess you don't really have to choose.

there wasn't a house here in 1962

orange shirt- UO
denim wrap skirt- thrifted
bag- vintage 1970s
shoes- Born

under my thumb

shirt- ? [old] (CA)
skirt- vintage 1950s (CA)
belt- vintage (NY)
boots- Me Too

sam edelman/ boho toe tappers

While wandering around downtown yesterday (meekly calling, "someone, please, offer me a job"), I came upon a few pairs of shoes that I would very much like to buy, future salary willing. Both are from Sam Edelman, and both would look quite nice with the long, flowy attire I associate with spring and freedom (though not the kind that only comes with forced democracy).

Ginnie Sandal

Greco Sandal

About this time last year, when I was still living in Japan, I was excited by the crop of gladiator sandals showing up online. When I returned to California, though, I saw them EVERYWHERE and of course that sort of makes them less appealing. These two sandals by Sam Edelman seem to be in that same vein while remaining a bit more true to the boho strap-some-leather-on-your-feet-before-hitting-the-field-of-flowers look that I like about this kind of shoe. The only worrisome aspect (besides any shoes I like assuredly costing more than I will be able to convince myself to spend for at least a couple more months) is that the sole is always quite hard and completely flat. Are these then just not the walk-around-all-day sort, or is there something here I'm missing?

a day in the graveyard II

cardigan- Rope Picnic (Japan)
blouse- thrifted (California)
skirt- Uni Qlo (Japan)
socks- ? (old!)
boots- Me Too (California)
bag- vintage (California)

Please enjoy my amateur photo editing skills.

These photos were taken in the overgrown corner of a graveyard near a Japanese church, where Hylton and I got our fill of anko mochi at a mochi pounding 'party.' We spent the rest of the day hanging out at a playground near the campus with a bunch of people from his grad program. The day was finished off with a nerdy board-gaming sesh' with one of Hyl's roommates. Good Saturday.

i went home for the weekend

one of many edens

blouse- H & M (Germany)
jeans- Rock and Republic (CA)
white wedges- Seychelles (zappos)
bag- vintage (CA)

valentine's day at the courthouse

on and off rain: a study in wardrobe

last weekend

Valentine's Day

apartment therapy

Helsiniki apartment on Apartment Therapy

It's been a cold and rainy week, which for Southern California is the equivalent of a month long snow storm. Rain always makes me want to stay indoors and nest, and luckily my roommate just introduced me to Apartment Therapy, a great site with lots of nice tips and ideas for your inner decorator. Even if it's not raining where you are, you should check it out.

desk and chairs fashioned from vintage rulers

want: frye shoes

This is mostly to clear up some tab space in my web browser, but also for me to pretend I have the money to indulge in new shoes. Oh, new shoes.

I kind of hate trying things on in shoe stores, because inevitably the staff will either hover and force a decision out of you, or they will just throw the box at you and retreat to the back room, never to be seen again. Ideally I'd like space to walk around and hem and haw for the necessary half hour of deciding, but this is not usually the case. So what this boils down to is that I like online shoe shopping best, even if the circumstances of sizing are at best nebulous. But this is why Zappos is amazing, and a wonderful free-shipping-both-ways kind of company. Onto the show:


Frye Ava Oxford in dark brown. My boyfriend contends the olive green would be a better choice, but I just love brown shoes.


Frye Kat Mary Jane in cognac. These would also be really cute in yellow, but again, the brown thing.


Frye Kat T Strap in poppy. Red shoes are such a great outfit brightener. My red wedges from a couple of years ago are really not wearable anymore, so sooner or later I will be forced (ahem) to replace them.


Frye Adrienne Stitch T Strap in dark brown. I love the T-strap heels people have been wearing the past season or two (or longer?). I don't have any trouble walking in heels, though depending on how much heelage there is I sometimes feel conspicuously tall, and I think flats are just in general better for the ole joints.


In my defense these are all on sale, but they are all also Frye brand, which is not exactly the cheapest manufacturer out there. That said, I'd much rather get more for less if that means there is actual craftsmanship involved. I won't name any names, but I am continually unimpressed by some of the big retailers whose classic-yet-quirky styles for 20-somethings I like but whose quality is just not worth the money. If I can't buy vintage then I at least want something long lasting.

sea bird

I may be depressed about being unemployed, but I sure can't complain about everything.

animals on the wall

In a leisurely search for furniture and wall hangings to give personality to my new room, I've done my share of salivating online for art which I can in no way afford right now (which is not to say that they are unreasonably priced!). Some of my favorites:

Quail by Studio Lyon
Have you ever seen a Mama Quail leading a scurrying line of babies? Quails are awesome.

Forest Raccoon by intheforest

I'm always interested in what animals are 'pests' in different parts of the world. Raccoons are well known night trash diggers in the U.S. I remember an English friend saying the raccoon equivalent in the UK were foxes, and in Germany I vividly remember the fat little hedgehogs dodging my bike on the sidewalk late at night. Who goes scavenging in the dark where you live?

Swingers by boygirlparty
I am enjoying living at my new place with the two pups of my housemates, but deep down I really love cats the best. I think I might start volunteering soon at a cat rescue place near my house.

Koi Pond by arinfish
Every time I see koi, especially the fat old ones, I want to just slip under the water and hang out with them. I was somewhat disappointed to learn that in Japanese koi just means 'carp,' but that doesn't really detract from their otherworldly charm for me.

I just did a bit more room decorating yesterday, with specially selected postcards from my vast collection. When I lived in Germany I got very into collecting those free postcards from bars and the like, as well as buying a postcard from every new European city I'd visit. I did this again when I lived and traveled in Asia, and now back in California I have a very high stack of postcards that I, uhm, have nothing with which to do. My last year of college I covered an entire bedroom wall with them, but that was a lot of work, and so this time around I just selected my personal favorites for a brief collage. Do you have any favorite decorating tips or ideas?

The 1950s Drama Dress

One of my favorite pieces in the shop, this 1950s black party dress, has been chosen for Etsy's "Loviest Ladies" poll. The items with the most votes will be featured in a gift guide and on the Etsy blog. Please go here to vote (it'll just take a second)!

[And honestly, if this fit me there'd be way no way it could leave my closet. I adore the sheer shoulder and arms, and the way they dramatize the strapless bodice. Perfection.]

bits of a new place

The last few weeks have been a blur of the unending job search (great market right now, really) with a debilitating case of food poisoning thrown in for good measure. I am hoping to update the shop as soon as I can trick my boyfriend into playing photographer again. In the meantime, a few bits of my new locale:

coastal iceplant as seen on a Saturday hike to the butterfly migration point

my African violet, plus one of the house dogs in the background

my beautiful craigslisted antique desk (the zappos box is from my best purchase in recent memory, these slippers)

classic little bow clutch purse

I'm finally finally starting to get settled in here. I'm still job hunting, but am getting into enough of a routine where I can start thinking about my shop again. Here is a darling little 1950s or 1960s black clutch purse I posted yesterday. It's so neat, it's actually two clutches that snap together in the back (one with a silver clasp, and one with gold), so there are actually three options of wearing it!