Thrifted

I drive past the Salvation Army store in Syracuse all the time but I've never actually gone in it. It's kind of in a shifty neighborhood, but I finally caved and went. Not going to lie, I was pretty impressed. When I go to Goodwill or SA in the suburbs, everything is so generic and normal. I definitely found some interesting pieces and things I would consider “vintage” opposed to simply second hand.

Things I managed to leave on the racks: A few velvet dresses that I considered modifying, but ultimately they were too big and I didn't want to mess with the seams too much. I also left a black body suit with a sweetheart shaped top and long sheer sleeves. Sounds like something you'd find in LA thrift stores for $50, right? I left it because it had a stupid turtleneck neckline and there was a zipper up the back so there was no way I could cut it off. Booo. I also found a shirt that had a Parisian scene of a lady walking her foofoo dogs in front of L'Ard d'Triumph. I couldn't figure out if it was that “trendy” style of artsy graphic shirts, or if it was just old lady style. I left it because it had some dumb rhinestones and a few stains on the sleeves that I probably wouldn't be able to get out.

But here's what I * did * get. I picked up this sheer shirt with a satin collar and cuffs, which is super trendy right now. Examples:

Now this is something I'd classify as straight-up vintage because of the tag. It's also labeled as nightwear which I found humorous. It's about mid-thigh length, so I mind end up chopping it and possibly chopping it to short sleeves as well.

I fully believe that the best thrifts are found by accident as you're about to leave. This dress type thing was left on the leave-what-you-don't-want rack outside the fitting rooms as I was about to dump my leftovers (that's how I found my mint-condit Doc Martens). It has a high waistline that is about 10 inches to big for my body; nothing a running stitch and a good yank can't fix. I also need to replace the bottons with something black and not '90s hideous.

Not deserving of a photo is a simple grey sweatshirt that I plan on modifying. My options are between a tutorial I found on A Beautiful Mess for felted elbow patches OR inserting color blocked panels on the arms and back with leftovers from chopping the first top.

All in all, everything was pretty black and meshy. I guess I'm on some kind of gothy kick. Maybe it's from listening to too much IAMX and drooling over pics like this on lookbook.

(Bebe Z)

(Kryzu U)

Nails

Five days without a post and I feel like a terrible, terrible blogger. I apologize. I think the 5 hour commute to NYC twice a week is starting to get to me. I had planned on having people visit me in the city for my spring break, but I've become set on going home to the Windy City. I know NYC is big and bustling and all... but Sweet Home Chicago will always have my heart.

Oh, right! Nails is the title of this post! I'm kind of known for always having my nails done. Getting chips annoys me and I would rather completely redo them. It's relaxing for me. I'm just sitting in bed on my laptop anyway, so that means I won't be touching anything and messing up wet polish. I usually keep them pretty plain: solid color, French or vintage manicure by way of reinforcement holes.

I am by no means a nail polish goddess. I just like keeping them neat and clean. However, I have come across someone who IS drop-dead fabulous and gives a whole new meaning to the term "nail art." 

This is Adrienne Anderson (follow her political blog here), whom I know from my undergrad at Illinois State University. She was a member of the same fraternity as me (Phi Sigma Pi! Brothers are we!!), but she rushed when I was a senior so I didn't actually know her very well. Clearly, that was my mistake since we could have bonded over our love of perfection nails.

Look at that detail! I don't know how she does it. She must use nail polish pens because that amount of precision is not possible with the whacking fat, round brush that comes attached to the cap. Or the revolutionary flat brushes that some brands have now. I know Rimmel uses them. In my opinion, the flat brush is the greatest thing to ever happen and I don't know why it hasn't been thought of before. In comparison, you wouldn't paint a wall with a round brush, would you? 

She should be hired by Burberry for this. She should get paid thousands to manicure all their models for their fall runway shows. How is it even possible to paint lines this straight? I would need a ruler.

 I saved the best for last! She created these to match her favorite scarf, which makes a perfect background.

...I think I have just been inspired. Polka dots are in my future.

OUTFIT VII

Mirror shots are quality photography, right? Right? ...WRONG.

A Favorite Blogger: Jessica-Naomi

I'd like to share another one of my favorite bloggers Jessica-Naomi, although she isn't exactly a “style blogger” like the rest of the popular blogspots that fashion girls follow. Her style is influenced by so many things: art, games, literature, and a lot of science.

She's interested in a lot of creepy scientific things like dissection, taxidermy, witchcraft, graveyards, etc. And her photography of all of her interests is beautiful.

But she also can have super girly style, wearing knee socks, platform wedges, corsets.

She has an etsy store of the most amazing things. She's a great crafter and seamstress. She makes these boxes filled with natural things she finds, necklaces (the blood drop one is my absolute favorite), scents, bound notebooks... beautiful, handmade things. I think she's just an artist of everything with a brilliant mind.

I wanted to share Jessica Naomi because I've been thinking a lot about my own definition of beauty. To some people (maybe people who don't take a great interest in fashion), beauty is “pretty,” like flowing dresses and smiles and clothes that make you feel happy. And that's all well and good. But I can also look at someone with a staggering amount of body mods or someone with rainbow hair or an outfit that is so completely avant garde... and I still think it's beautiful. I'm figuring out that my definition of beauty contains a certain amount of disturbingness. Because strange makes me smirk.

I think there's beauty in everything. Everything.

Jessica Naomi might know what I mean.

Victoria Beckham Fall 2012

Here it is, the collection everyone is talking about: Victoria Beckham's RTW Fall 2012. Even I agree with comments made about these garments. They're clean, classy, and cohesive. Lovely shapes, not over designed... just all around amazing. And it's good to see that collars will still be trending by fall. These are my faves, especially the last one! 

(^favorite)