Tuesday, January 25, 2011

little red



Excuse the awful awful hair! It's my day off from life (no work or class!) & I didn't have any reason to be overly concerned about the state of it. Or anything else.


I finished sewing this cape this morning. I designed it myself because I couldn't find a pattern I liked. The arm slits were the finishing touch and now I can wear it all I want.
Being new to sewing & pattern making, I'm still learning as I go and so, next time I make something similar, I will: make the hood slightly bigger, choose either a drawstring or a collar (this is simply gathered), and add a lining. I was so silly not to put a lining in!


Now that the cape is done, I'm not sure what to do next! I think I'll make my dog a coat. Yes, I know, I'm such a nice puppy owner. Especially since he puts runs in all my tights & never lets me eat in peace!


Underneath, I'm wearing my black work sweater with a black slip over it. The slip has the most pretty hem to it, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of it.

As far as school goes, I'm not enjoying it. School is dumb, I'd rather be watching Cary Grant movies! But I guess it has to be done. Hopefully I'll reach a mid-semester-zen. I've found that I've reached a calming zen-mode about work, in which I don't care where I'm placed, when I get break, or any of the such. I'll just go to work, finish my shift, and be completely calm and happy about the whole ordeal. I hope this isn't one of those temporary zens. I like it, I want it to stay!
Ooooh, I got a package just now! Two new pairs of shoes. I can't wait to introduce these babies to the rest of my wardobe. But first, I should be responsible and do my classwork.
shoes - vintage Donald J Pliner; socks - DSW; tights - ModCloth; slip - Heritage 1981; sweater - second hand; belt - H&M; cape - made by me

Sunday, January 23, 2011

stuff I want on my body

It's really super cold out lately (Friday was -13°F/-25°C without windchill) and I've taken ill and lost my voice completely! All in all not a great week and I'm so darn cold and tired of wearing the same thing, I thought it was about time for a post of stuff I want on my body right now.


Asos. This looks super warm, especially the boots & socks and cardigan!


Emily Browning is such a doll, and the whole '70s school-girl-vintage trend is causing my hippie upbringing (which I've been supressing since middle school) to resurface.


Maybe it's the bright colours, maybe it's the fat little crayon shape, maybe it's the word "moisturzing", but something about the new Clinique chubby stick has my cold winter heart yearning for every colour of this new product.


Vogue UK December '10 issue, "Star Signs"


Marc by Marc Jacobs (f/w 2009, I think?)
I've never needed a pair of boots so bad in my life. Those burgundy lace ups are wonderful, and the rubber bottom is definitely eye catching.


Cheap Monday cardigan, photo from Asos.


Unknown source (if you know, tell me!)
I want to go tumble around in the snow (& possibly go ice skating) in that anorak and pretty little dress.

Lillian Gish


Marc by Marc Jacobs f/w 2010.
The furry hat? Yes please!


Generra f/w 2010.
I need a bit of colour in my wardrobe so badly right now! I loved all the sweaters and skirts in this collection.


Taylor Momsen shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes


Marc by Marc Jacobs f/w 2010.
I want an anorak with a faux fur collar so badly right now! The only anorak I own is huge.


Generra f/w 2010.
The bright blue anorak with the fur vest looks super super warm. Again, I love the colours and the flouncy little skirt.

Frida Gustavsson.
The colour and patterns and textures are just perfect. Plus, her hair is marvelous! I would wear all of this without question...but right now Downton Abbey is on! Has anyone else been watching this? It's such a wonderful miniseries (as most PBS Masterpiece Theater shows are) and the clothes are beautiful.

Photos: style.com, Altamira, Asos

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

who's afraid of the big bad wolf?



Part of my agreement (with myself) for 2011 fashion is to try new things (fearlessly) & pull out some stuff from my wardrobe that I bought but never or rarely wear. Let's call it a fashion resolution.
One of those things is this grey poncho. I bought it in autumn at Forever 21. I never ever go in that store when I'm out shopping - it's just too big, loud, and cluttered. But I was shopping with a friend who's addicted to F21, so we went in. I found this poncho & fell absolutely in love with it! It's super duper soft and comfy. I happily bought it, but then never wore it.


I'm really into capes & ponchos right now though, and have been loving all the fellow bloggers sporting them, so I decided to give it a go. I felt a bit like Little Red Riding Hood, if she was sort of a dark little emo girl. I felt like the red lipstick & rose pendant made it almost gothic-like. I like it a lot. A bit vamp-y, a bit '20s-ish (think Theda Bara).


The rose pendant necklace is actually my mum's. I own hardly any jewelry at all. I wish I had a larger collection. My mum has some nice pieces though, such as this one, which added a nice woodsy, outdoors touch.


My boyfriend saw me in this today & referred to it as a number of things, including "dark", "witch-y", & "trashy." Hmmmm... He's always had a great distate for a lot of the clothes & makeup I wear. In all honesty, I just wanted to be comfortable today, as I'm spending the day in getting stuff done before classes start tomorrow!


This semester I'm only taking 12 credits: two French classes, geography, and self defense. I'll also be working about 30 hours a week & sewing intensively (or so I plan to). Right now I'm working on a red cape. Obviously I've been drawing a lot of inspiration from fairytales.


Thanks to everyone for the book & author recommendations! I'll write them down & look around the next time I'm in a book store. Yesterday I read "What Would Audrey Do?" for an hour or so & I'm almost done! Hmmm what will I move to next?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

molly ringwald, I love you


When I woke up this morning, there were big, wet snowflakes swirling all over and it looked like a winter wonderland. I squealed with joy and texted my boyfriend to say that when he got out of class we must go play in the snow!! But he has a work meeting & it's stopped snowing now. Oh well, it was pretty while it lasted!
After lunch, I went out to take photos of my outfit for today. However, it was 11°F (which is something like -12°C) and so I only lasted about 15 minutes before my hands went so numb that I couldn't feel my fingers.


I recieved an American Apparel gift card from my sister for Christmas. I went to the shop in the Mall of America the other night after work and picked up a lace shirt, 3 bottles of nail polish, and these socks. They looked so warm & I wanted one of every colour, but I ended up just getting navy blue (they're so expensive!).
Everything in AA is super costly, and for the most part it's all stuff that one can sew pretty easily for only a few bucks. Also the girl working there...I guess she was nice & helpful, but she was super unfriendly! I don't understand why unfriendly people work in retail.

The dress is by a brand called Motel Rocks & I just got it in the mail today from one of my favourite online shops, Fred Flare. I also ordered a couple of books with the dress. I've had the overwhelming need to just read & consume knowledge lately. So I'm reading "What Would Audrey Do?" which my mum got me for my birthday last June (or maybe the June before that?). What has everybody been reading lately? Any recommendations?
Anyways, underneath the dress I put on a slip er...lingerie top so that there was some lace peaking out from underneath. I was channeling the '80s here, so I added the hat (which always makes me feel either like Molly Ringwald or Charlie Chaplin, depending) & my name necklace!


I think this is enough!! I've wrote so much for this outfit & don't want to bore everyone with my rambling. Till next time friends, stay warm!
p.s. Thanks to the readers who let me know about Pond's animal testing. I read more about it on their website & have decided to find a new rich moisturizer for the winter months!

Friday, January 7, 2011

stuff I like

Very Hollywood by Michael Kors / Sweet Lips sugar scrub by Lush / Revlon nail polish in Silver Screen / bra from Victoria's Secret / Dark Kiss body lotion from Bath & Body Works / mixed CD from my friend / Princess by Vera Wang / Nicole by OPI in Show You Care

I love good smelling stuff, & I recently got this Michael Kors perfume from my sister. The bottle & packaging is so pretty.
I love Lush's sugar lip scrubs! It tastes so good & is great for chapped winter lips.
I'm also obsessed with silver nail polish right now. It's perfect for winter (which is never ending in Minnesota).

The Dark Kiss collection from Bath & Body Works is so brilliant. I recieved the set for Christmas from my boyfriend. It's a very sexy scent of berries and vanilla and musk.
My best friend Rachael made me a mixed CD, which is so lovely. Chris Fox, who I also love, made me a couple of compilations recently, too. Thanks to him I'm now listening to the same 4 or 5 songs on repeat.

Victoria's Secret was having their semi-annual sale so I got this beautiful purple, pink, & blue lace bra. I love very dark, girly colours. And lace. And rhinestones.
In addition to all the yummy smelling stuff I already featured above, Vera Wang Princess is my absolute favourite scent. I love vanilla everything, & the original ads featuring Camilla Belle are so pretty.
The dark purple nail polish is a colour called "Show You Care" which is so gothic and sexy. A very old man who I helped at work the other day asked "Is your nail polish black or purple?" And when I told him it was sort of both, he called it "cool" and then gave me knucks before leaving on his way. Keep in mind, he was probably about 90 years old.


Bûche De Noël by Lush / The Brothers Grimm / When Harry Met Sally / Pin Up 2011 Day Book / coin purse from Brazil / Charity Pot lotion from Lush / Pond's face cream / hair pins from H&M and Goody / R&B by Lush

If you haven't seen "The Brothers Grimm" yet (it came out in 2005 -__-) then please do! It's so wonderful, an extremely creative, enchanting movie with handsome men, witty comments, and a great story to it. "When Harry Met Sally" is also another current favourite of mine. It has wonderful quotes & the dialogue between the characters is so relateable.
My 2011 day planner is full of pin up girls! I love pin ups, they're so sexy and cute. Maybe it's a little weird that I like them so much, but I don't mind that people know. I don't believe in hiding parts of your personality from people, & my interest in lingerie, pin ups, etc. is therefore nothing to hide.
The little coin purse was brought back from Brazil for me from a friend who backpacked South America for half a year. It's so cute & painted on a coconut shell.

During harsh winter months, skin & hair needs a bit of TLC! I love Lush's Charity Pot lotion because proceeds go to charity. They had a special limited edition mini-pot in which you could choose where the full $5 was sent to. I chose Beauty's Haven Farm & Equine Rescue because I hold animals so very close to my heart & am flat out against animal abuse. It disgusts me. Charities like this one give sanctuary & love to animals who haven't been able to feel that before.
Pond's makes my favourite face cream. Very gentle and basic with no smell. I lather it on every night after the shower, before I tuck into bed.
For my hair, I love Lush's R&B. It smells like a tropical cocktail and moisturizes dried out locks like no other. Good bye static! I'm also pinning my hair up a lot. It's now long enough to pull back into a ponytail, but I still need to pin a lot of the shorter sections back. I can't wait for long hair again!

Lush's Bûche De Noël cleanser, a Christmas special (unfortunately), is my new favourite face cleanser. It's super moisturizing but also exfoliates so my skin feels so smooth and refreshed when I jump out of the shower. It smells really rich and booze-y, which I love. I wish they had this year round!
Anyways, those are a few of my favourite things at the moment! What are you guys into at the moment? What kind of stuff might I like? I'm also looking for new beauty products to try out, new movies to watch, etc.