birdbaths

indian summer

2009-08-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

some outfits i've been wearing recently, plus a photo of my impression of a seahorse.

everything is either vintage or from h&m. the weather here has been wonderful, san francisco doesn't get a true summer until august but it was worth the wait!

hats off

2009-07-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

here's an outfit, pre-haircut, that i happened to photograph the other day while wandering around the Mission district of San Francisco (which also happens to be the best part of the city, which also happens to be where i live)

hat: vintage, MARS vintage
shirt: f21
jeans: cheap monday via buffalo exchange
cardigan: vintage, flea market

reawakening

2009-07-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

HELLO INTERNET!

in the past few months i have moved to a new apartment with

no internet, gotten myself a job, and finished a summer class. but enough excuses! i am back, planning on re-vamping the blog layout ASAP, and excited because i finally feel like i exist in the fashion world once again. Having a regular paycheck and some free time can do wonders for your wardrobe!

not to mention the fact that i finally took the plunge and

chopped off all of my hair last week. it was scary at first but i absolutely love it, and the best thing about a new haircut is that it is like the ultimate wardrobe-booster, it makes everything feel new! i have found myself putting clothes together in different ways

and generally being more creative and confident. anyway, here are some photos:

BEFORE:

AND AFTER:

Curiouser & Curiouser

2009-04-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

my poor blog has been so neglected! this semester has been rough, very busy and distracting. but i'm finally getting back into the swing of things, and hopefully my blog will start looking a bit more lively!

recently my dear friend Amy Nelson, a fellow fashion major at my school, made an Alice in Wonderland dress for a school project - and she asked ME to model it for her! talk about a dream come true. As if there was anything i'd rather do than dress up as Alice and wander around in the woods all day having tea parties!

we took over 100 photos and they all came out amazing, here are just a few:

fascinate me

2009-01-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

2 more new items up in the etsy shop:

fascinator headbands!

confessional

2009-01-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 2009, BLOGWORLD!

ok! so i must admit, i was a horrible blogger in 2008. I could waste your time with excuses but well know you aren't reading a fashion blog just for an earful of excuses SO! one of my only resolutions for 2009 will be to improve this blog! i had high aspirations for it when it started and i know this little blog can still live up to its full potential!

today i bring you some brand new items in my etsy shop!

brand new! red robin's nest headband, there will be more nest headbands but each one is unique and one of a kind!

dewdrop peacock headband, a new take on my peacock headbands, embellished with genuine swarovski crystals!

November

2008-12-06T18:57:00.000-08:00

Inspiration for November:

masquerade

2008-11-26T23:22:00.000-08:00

i recently stumbled upon Tom Banwell's amazing etsy shop and had to share it with you guys. He's an artist in CA who makes these amazing, intricate laser cut leather masks. and the best part is that they're totally affordable, starting around $35! Personally, i'd kill for the Black Bird Cut Out mask. Now if only i had a masquerade ball to attend...

fall fancies!

2008-11-17T13:09:00.001-08:00

recently i custom-made a few puff skirts for the fabulous Michaela at Reflections Of An Urbanite. She was a great customer and even better, she loves her skirts and looks amazing in them! i've been keeping up on her blog and loving all the different ways she's found to style her skirts! here's a few examples of her genius ensembles:

variations on the beige linen skirt:

and the plaid skirt she ordered, which ended up being truly amazing! i love the plaid for fall.

ALSO, here's a great photo of my friend/roommate Amy wearing one of my peacock headbands for her flapper costume on halloween!

pssst, a handful of peacock headbands are currently available in my etsy shop! plus, expect some brand new headband styles and other exciting new fancies in my shop around Thanksgiving!

Hallow's Eve

2008-10-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

happy halloween! it is every fashion-lover's favorite holiday, a chance to dress just as crazy as you'd like without anyone thinking twice! it also happens to be the last day of october, and time for me to post some of my October Inspiration!

dark romance, gothic details, smokey eyes, haunting images and lots of mystery.....

recent projects

2008-10-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

i finally got around to taking some photos of a few of my recent projects. the first dress is a dress i designed for my Sustainable Fashion class in school - my goal was to create a convertible dress that was something classic and cute enough that people would actually wear it. I feel like most convertible clothing is more novelty clothing than actual wearable fashion, and i wanted to create something that was timeless, neutral enough in color and style that it could withstand several seasons, but still cute enough that it isn't boring. I ended up making this Little Black Dress out of linen. it has 4 drawstrings running at different heights so it can be made into an empire waist, a high-waist, a drop waist or a bubble hem. Or, of course, you can play around with pulling more than one drawstring at a time! I'm excited with how it came out, although there are a few things i'd change if i made it again - maybe add a little length, and some cap sleeves!

from the front, with no drawstrings pulled

from the side, with all the drawstrings pulled

here's a couple photos of some skirts i've made out of some fabric i LOVE, i'm really into checks and stripes right now and these skirts have been so fun to make. also, i have enough fabric to make more of each of these skirts so definitely let me know if you'd like to custom order one!

lumberjack

2008-09-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

i've been pretty busy sewing custom skirts and school projects lately, but i finally got a chance to make myself a skirt the other day! i made it out of some great black and white gingham check cotton. i absolutely love it! this is a pretty awful photo (thanks photobooth) but i promise some better photos of this, and other recent projects, are coming soon!
also! i have more of this fabric, enough to make at least one more skirt! feel free to comment, email me (birdbaths@gmail.com) or message me on my etsy if you'd like to talk about custom ordering one!

scholastic

2008-09-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

it has been a shamefully long time since i have updated this blog. i have been a bit overwhelmed with schoolwork and sewing ceaselessly. however! that does mean some good news for the etsy shop! the return of the PEACOCK HEADBANDS, as well as new bow tie necklaces and some new styles of puff skirts coming your way! this week i received a photo from a customer who recently bought a navy blue puff skirt and a black bow tie necklace - i absolutely love it when customers send me photos of them wearing my goods, it's amazing to see how each girl gives them her own feel!

housewarming

2008-09-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

the other night i attended a lovely housewarming party for my (absolutely gorgeous) friend Reba. little did i know that among the beautiful, perfectly-dressed-and-groomed guests i would meet that night (seriously one of the best-looking groups of people i've witnessed), one of them would be Interweb/San Francisco royalty, miss Zana Bayne. I've admired Zana's impeccable personal style, clothing taste and art projects through various websites for a while, and have been following her blog Garbage Dress religiously since she started keeping it a few months ago. Not only does she have an amazing, refreshing perspective of the current fashion-meets-art world, she's also super friendly and totally amazing in person. it's always exciting to realize people are even better in "real life" than they are in pixel form!
here are some photos i've grabbed from Zana's blog from the night of the party:

what i wore to the party: a vintage dress and chloe-inspired flats, with my vintage pyrex dish as accessory
(the bean dip was delicious)
ps: why do i look like i'm 12? maybe because i insist on wearing vintage children's clothing. i had to convince an incredulous acquaintance this night that i was, really and truly nearing the ripe old age of 23.

the hostess Reba, always gorgeous and so classy

the food at this party was to die for, hand-dipped chocolate strawberries, cheese and crackers and stuffed mushrooms, oh my!

check out some photos of Zana and her work:

it's always exciting to me when young people are doing new things with textiles, art and clothing, and this girl is definitely pushing the envelope in some amazing ways.

( & you can see more of her work, exhibitions, etc, on her website!)

girl of my dreams

2008-09-02T00:07:00.000-07:00

magazine lovers, rejoice! issue 7 of lula magazine will be hitting US newsstands a week from today on September 8th! The arrival of Lula on bookstore shelves only happens 4 times a year and is something i look forward to like a day at Disneyland. if you haven't discovered Lula yet, do yourself a favor and splurge on the $20 magazine - with its large format, thick glossy pages, beautiful fonts and layouts, amazing articles and gorgeous lolita dreamland imagery, it is worth every penny, and without a doubt my favorite magazine in publication. plus, this issue has 2 absolutely gorgeous covers to chose from! here are a few preview shots i snagged from the moldy doily, these scans make me so so excited for fall, for orange pumpkins and grey skies and purple wooly tights and warm cups of tea, oh my!

COVER #1;

COVER #2:

august inspiration

2008-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

has it really already been a whole month? apparently august has come to an end, without me being completely prepared for it. regardless, although i'm sad to see this last day of the month - and nearly the last day of summer - i am also excited for all the changes coming my way. school is soon to start, lots of things will be moving and shaking and changing in my life and hopefully for the better! here are some of the images i've collected for inspiration over the month of august:

marilyn monroe, kate moss with pink hair, vintage ladies, high waists, full skirts, muted pastels, old school glamour, moth wings and red lips!

the king of pop

2008-08-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

i recently dug up an old copy of michael jackson's moonwalker and first of all, it may just be the oddest movie i have ever seen. lots of sequins, leather, and weird creepy 80's claymation. HOWEVER, once you looked past the confusing plot line and the strange time warp feeling, there is no denying the fact that michael jackson circa 1988 was a fashion icon. the way he referenced the 1950's greasers and teddy boys, combined creepers and motorcycle jackets and threw some sequins on top was totally new and totally amazing. of course, like everything groundbreaking, he may have been a little extreme - but i don't think it would hurt a bit to borrow a few tips from the man who invented the moon-walk.

my mj polyvore:

how would you work a little mj into your wardrobe?

city streets

2008-08-22T11:00:00.001-07:00

yesterday i had a mini photoshoot, photographed by my boyfriend joshua, who is wonderful with a camera (check out his flickr).
all of these dresses are going straight to my new etsy store! i'm super excited about how the photos came out, and playing dress up on the streets of san francisco. i'm also pretty excited about my new etsy shop - new beginnings and all of that!

ALL DRESSES ARE FOR SALE HERE!

adventures in hair color! part II

2008-08-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

as some of you may remember, somewhere around a week ago i attacked my platinum hair with a bottle of red hair dye and ended up loathing the results. FORTUNATELY, i am a very lucky girl with very amazing friends and family who were all immediately willing to help me out of my hair troubles! my lovely hair-stylist friend michelle recommended that i get a good deep conditioner and start washing my hair with dish soap to fade the color. after a week or two of following these directions, my hair is now a very bizarre, but VERY faded, shade of peachy-red. observe:

even though this isn't exactly, well, a real color, it does excite me because it's faded so fast and so well! i am currently in the process of setting up a consultation with an actual, professional(!) hair stylist in order to fix this whole debacle! it's been years since i've given my hair up to the hands of a skilled professional, so this is very exciting! i am still not sure exactly what color i would like, especially since i dont exactly know what colors are possible at this point, but i am considering going platinum again OR possibly going with my own natural hair color??

oh, decisions decisions!

ch ch changes

2008-08-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

there have been some big changes going on with my etsy shop! i have been debating moving my etsy shop to a new url for a few months now, and i've finally done it! this means that things may be awkward for a little bit, as i am going to leave the items in my "old" shop available to buy, as well as listing items in my NEW shop, so i will effectively have 2 shops for a bit. but i do feel like this is a good and necessary change, because now my url is consistent with my shop name!

pretty pretty please come by and check out my NEW ETSY SHOP!

circus seals

2008-08-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

2 new vintage-bow-tie necklaces up in the etsy shop!

san francisco

2008-08-15T15:34:00.001-07:00

the san francisco weather has been so nice! it's been sunny but a bit chilly, and i've been really enjoying the opportunity to wear coats and tights again.

what i wore to wander around the parks of san francisco:

polka dot dress, thrifted
leather & "fur" coat, vintage
red belt, vintage
mustard cardigan, f21

dream shoes

2008-08-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

oh be still my heart,
i'm pretty sure i just found the world's most perfect pair of shoes:

platform! pink leather! hearts! heels! gingerbread sugary goodness!

but if i must (ha!), i guess i would settle for pretty much anything created by the magical miss Minna Parikka. a few more examples of her perfection:

i think i am in love...

buyers remorse

2008-08-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

have you ever made a huge, impulsive hair mistake? welcome to my past week in the adventures of hair dye. now don't get me wrong, i have certainly had my fair share of bad haircuts and strange hair colors in the past. somehow, though, i must have thought that was all behind me after a year or so of lovely, well-behaved, long-ish platinum hair. but something this past week possessed me, took hold of my thoughts one day while i was out on a walk - maybe it was the change of scenery and weather, maybe it was the approaching autumn - and i promptly came home, dug a bottle of hair dye out from under my sink, and proceeded to dye my hair RED. yes, red. aka, the hardest color to remove if you end up hating it - which, of course, i did. i realized i'd made a mistake as soon as i started washing the dye out, and then came that sinking feeling in my chest - that, oh god now i have ugly hair forever feeling i'm sure we've all experienced at one time or another.

now it's not so much that the color itself is awful - i mean, if i were the right person with the right personality i'm sure i could pull it of just lovely. but the real problem is that my outsides don't match my insides, does that make sense? i've always believed that personal style should help us communicate on the outside how we feel on the inside, and i certainly don't feel bright magenta. however, i've gotten myself into quite a pickle by:

a) dying my hair the single hardest color to remove/dye over (of course)
b) being far too broke to pay for professional help

so the next few days will be full of me decided how and whether to fix this little "problem"...expect many eventful hair adventures along the way!

black tie

2008-08-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

my blog, as well as the rest of the internet, has been poorly neglected for the past week or so - but for good reason! i've made my final move of the summer, packed up my car for the final time and trekked the 400 miles north from orange county to san francisco! for those of you who don't know, san francisco is where i live during the school year to attend school at california college of the arts. i live in the city in a little 3 bedroom apartment above a dry-cleaner's shop. this summer has been pretty full of nomadic adventures and living out of my suitcase but i am excited to finally be in a place where i can hang my clothes up in a closet and feel a bit more solid! the past few days have been mostly spend getting readjusted and reacquainted with northern california, but now it's time to settle down a bit and get back down to business! i've been making some new batches of bow tie necklaces for the shop and working on some custom skirt orders. it's good to be somewhere i can call home!

July Inspiration

2008-07-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

it's that time again! here are just a few of the inspirational photos i've been saving over the month of July. lots of glitter, taxidermy, dried flowers, photomicrographs, and dusty dresses. as much as i love the sunshine and the summer, i definitely cannot wait for fall, with it's tights and cardigans and layers, oh my!

politics

2008-07-30T11:44:00.001-07:00

so when this blog was in it's first stages, as in, when it was simply a tiny plan hatching and growing in my head, i had big plans. i mean, this was going to be the best blog around! the finest blog in the whole wide west! and so one fateful fay i registered a name, i made a banner, and finally, i even made a first post. and as things went, summer lethargy started to set in almost immediately - i was either too "busy", too "tired", or to "hot" to take good photos, to make a worthwhile post, etc. But i've come here to day, no more of that! so far i have blogged simply about fashion inspiration or, occasionally, what's going on in my own wardrobe. but from here on out, there will be much more to look forward to! some ideas that will be put into practice sometime in the hear future:

♥ weekly etsy shop highlights! etsy is probably the best place on the internet these days, in my honest opinion, and there are some shops i've stumbled across that are far too good to keep to myself!

♥ weekly fashion inspiration posts! this has already been happening, but expect more!

♥ daily, semi-daily what-i'm-wearing posts. this summer, a combination of heat + no money have made me into quite the boring dresser. but this is a fashion blog, is it not? therefore i should start putting forth the effort to dress well & document it!

♥ blogger of the week! i will start sharing some of my absolute favorite blogs that i read on a daily basis, so you can read them too!

this post is more of a self-reminder than anything else, but now at least you know what you may have to look forward to!

PS: this is going to seem like a silly question, but i am still a semi-n00b to the blogger world SO: can anyone tell me how to reply to a comment? i've had so many lovely comments left for me lately and have had no way to respond!

thank you, dear readers, and happy blogging!

bow tie

2008-07-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

so i have a thing for bows. especially big, inordinately sized, ridiculously fluffy bows. but i also love small bows, and medium-sized bows, and everything in between. I've been known to tack them onto dresses where others probably would think they don't belong, but i can't seem to help it! i love them dearly. and i love the idea of wearing bow-ties in feminine ways, so every since i picked up a handful of amazing vintage bow-ties a few months ago i've been brainstorming all the ways i could prettify them. first, i wanted to make them into headbands - which i may still do. but THEN i got the idea of making them into little necklaces. i love jewelry that mixes medias, and i love the aesthetic of the hard brass chain mixed with the soft vintage fabric. but i also love the idea that making these bow-ties into necklaces has stuck true to their original intent while still feminizing it! i've posted these 3 up in my etsy store, and they are certainly one of a kind, so grab them while you can!

also, i've spent the past few days covering myself in fabric dye, fabric paint, spraypaint, and a myriad of other hard-to-wash-off substances in an attempt to make some t-shirts for my boy's band - so far they're coming along quite well! if all goes according to plan i will be selling them at his show in LA tomorrow night! pictures of the process, and the finished result, coming soon!

cream puff

2008-07-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

the last few days i've been a good little girl, and spent most of my time toiling away at the sewing machine. i've been finishing up some custom skirt orders, and making a few to sell! as much as i sometimes complain about sewing, i have to admit i've really loved seeing how each different weight and texture of fabric drapes once it's all sewn up into a skirt! here's a few photos of the skirts i've made, for custom orders and, of course, for the shop!

mustard cotton

navy cotton

black linen

black satin

natural linen

i'd like to make a few floral print skirts soon, for the tail end of summer, but i've also started thinking about fall colors and patterns - i'm definitely thinking some nice wool or flannel plaids would be comfy and amazing for autumn!

kids on holiday

2008-07-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

this week i've been on vacation with my family, and it's been a true southern california vacation. san diego sun, the boardwalk, and the beach right outside our back door! plus fireworks every night over the bay, it's honestly been amazing. i have to admit, lately i've felt like a) my lack of funds and b) the hot summer sun have been stopping me from dressing well, in fact, most days i get that feeling where i just want to throw all my clothes in the trash can and start over, become one of those girls who can wear a t shirt and jeans every day, life would be so much simpler. ALAS, i am not one of those girls, and so i continue to try to come up with new combinations in my tired old wardrobe.

today's outfit:
sun hat: thrifted
striped tube top: urban
skirt: you know where
sandals: urban

dreaming

2008-07-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

what i WOULD be wearing today, if i had a bit more money at my disposal:

justin roper boots

led zeppelin tee from vinvan77 on ebay

american apparel raw denim circle skirt

or perhaps this:

forever 21 floral dress

this is definitely how i'd like to be dressing, plus a pair of strategically ripped up tights, come fall.

edit: a polyvore, because i can't get the ghost-world-90's-punk-spring-luella (so sue me) thing out of my head.

separation anxiety

2008-07-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

this summer i sublet my apartment in san francisco and stuffed all my "necessary" belongings in a single suitcase, in order to live the nomadic life for the summer. unfortunately, this also means i had to leave lots of beloved items, clothing and otherwise, behind. one of the things i miss most, and cannot WAIT to be reunited with, is my dear, dear serger.

i still have my sewing machine, thank goodness, but i can't seem to stop daydreaming about making lovely things that only my serger could assist, with, for example, i'd love to make a dress inspired by this photo, complete with body-conscious silhouette and amazing tribal pattern:

oh serger dearest, distance really does make the heart grow fonder.

pin up

2008-07-16T19:49:00.001-07:00

lately i've felt like, due to the summer heat and my empty bank account, my daily outfits have been much less than exciting. however, the other day i got dressed to run some errands and spend some time at the bookstore - i wore my brand new thrifted dress and i actually bothered to put on some red lipstick so i took a couple quick pictures!

black & white polka dot dress - thrifted
red belt - thrifted
black kitten heels - payless

ALSO, this bag is pretty epic! my boyfriend's mother found it for $5 at the thrift store and as far as i can tell, it is an authentic gucci! i'm not usually big on labels but i love this bag to death!

black tulips

2008-07-11T22:53:00.001-07:00

i definitely have to admit that i am one of the many adoring fans of miu miu's spring 2008 line. the fabrics, the textures but most of all, those silhouettes! for nearly a year i've been daydreaming of tulip-shaped mini skirts and jewel toned lolita dresses. of course, there is no chance in the world of me being able to actually own a miu miu (ha!), but i realized long ago that all i really needed to do was spend an afternoon with a few yards of fabric and my sewing machine. it's taken me a while but today i finally got a chance to put my creative juices to work and a couple of hours later, voila! i have my very own tulip shaped circle skirt!

this one is made of a nice, shiny, drapey floral-embossed black polyester. i also managed to get my hands on a few other weights and textures of fabrics from the fabric warehouse the other day, and i can't wait to see how they're going to drape!

(pssst, this skirt is up for sale on my etsy, and i'm also taking custom color/size/fabric orders!)

buffalo exchanging

2008-07-11T16:22:00.001-07:00

i've said it before, i'll say it again: thank god for secondhand shopping. i haven't bought a brand new item of clothing in years, and i plan to keep it that way! thrift stores suffice for most wardrobe items, but Buffalo Exchange is definitely a lifesaver for things like designer clothes or more expensive items! i was so excited the other day to find this pair of black natural comfort wedges in my size! after selling a few old items from my own wardrobe and using my store credit, these puppies (which are originally $100 shoes) ended costing me a mere $7! i've been lusting after a pair for years, and i can't wait to work them into my outfits! and the best part about natural comfort is that they won't KILL my feet in the fall when i'm trekking around san francisco on foot!

the living dead

2008-07-07T00:47:00.001-07:00

if you are in or around the Los Angeles area this summer, please make sure you find a way to attend at least one of the screenings at the Hollywood Cemetery! this event, put on by Cinespia, is definitely one of my favorite southern California summer activities! first of all, the cemetery itself is absolutely gorgeous and full of old Hollywood names. Last year my friends and I arrived early, waited in the long (but so worth it) line, wound our way through the beautiful grounds of the cemetery and finally sat down on the lawn as the sun was setting. my friends and i brought a blanket and food, some people brought their whole dinners! when it is finally dark enough, the movie is projected on the wall of the mausoleum! the summer air and the crowd of amazing people and the atmosphere of the cemetery, it's honestly something you can't miss. plus, there are two incredibly AMAZING, very fashion-inspirational films coming up in the next few weeks!

VALLEY GIRL
JUNE 13TH

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
JUNE 19TH

check out the Cinespia site for more info!

lady lovely locks

2008-07-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

as i get older, i'm realizing how much of my fashion inspiration stems directly from the books i read when i was little, and the characters that ran so rampant in my imagination. For example, one of my very favorite books when i was younger was story about a character named Lady Lovely Locks - she was a beautiful girl with long, gorgeous, golden hair, which she combed every day with a golden brush while she sat in sunny fields. and she lived in a magical land where every living creature had long, flowing, luxurious hair in every color imaginable, and some of these little critters would crawl into her hair, their long tails adding pinks and purples and blues and greens to her shining golden tresses. i mean really, how amazing! To this very day, i long for and dream of rainbow-hued, princess-long lovely locks.

what were some of your strongest fictional fashion inspirations from your childhood?

BRB

2008-07-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

dear e-lovers,

today i am in the middle of packing my car full (and i mean full) of crates and boxes and suitcases, in preparation to make the drive from Phoenix, Arizona to Orange County, California. that's right, it's time to make the pilgrimage back home after nearly a month of cavorting around arizona with no job and no purpose in life except to be YOUNG and ADVENTUROUS. but the real reason for this post is for me to apologize for the extreme lack of posts recently, and to let you all know that as soon as i am settled back safely in California there will be daily-ish posts once again! hopefully you will all forgive me for my short little hiatus, and trust that i will be back as soon as possible!

as a very wise theme-song once said,

We've been on the run
Driving in the sun
Looking out for #1
California here we come
Right back where we started from

see you soon,

ashley

June Inspiration

2008-06-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

last month i told you about my habit of dragging & dropping any inspirational photos into a monthly folder on my desktop. I know it's a a few days still until June actually ends but i'm way too excited about all the inspiration that's been buzzing around lately. I'm itching to spend a few quality hours with my sewing machine, or maybe a good day of thrifting, but instead i spend most of my time drooling over my favorite photos in my June folder:

location, location, location

2008-06-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

Over the years, and my limited travels, i've noticed that location has a drastic effect on my wardrobe - and i'm pretty sure i'm not the only one. Even though the individual items don't change, the way i wear my clothes, the way i accessorize, and my general "look" changes from city to city. I grew up in Orange County, and still spend a lot of time there with my family. I've attended school in San Francisco for a few years now, and even though it's only 400 miles away from my home, the differences between how people dress is in each city very distinct. This summer, i've been spending a few weeks living in Phoenix, Arizona and once again, i've noticed how much the effect of location, and everything from weather to economic status, really has on how people dress -- so i've put together a few examples of how i feel like each different city changes the way i put clothes together.

ORANGE COUNTY

when i'm in Southern California, my style is pretty relaxed, casual and natural. the sun is almost always shining, so bare legs and bare shoulders are basically expected. I rarely leave the house with even as much as a sweater, and definitely never have to worry about coats or layering. Dressing in Southern California is extremely casual - lots of denim, colorful clothing, lots of natural fibers and comfortable fabrics. Silhouettes are loose and easy-going, body conscious but not highly structured. Wearing heels, tights, or too much black immediately makes you look formal. hemlines are short, the beach is nearby and whether you're into the beach scene or not, the proximity of the ocean has a subconscious effect on us all.

SAN FRANCISCO

there are 2 major social groups in San Francisco : the artists/hippies and the businessmen. This strange combination is part of what makes the city so amazing, but it also makes for a very unique fashion environment. Even though it is still in California, San Francisco's weather is distinctly different from Orange County. There is fog, sky-scrapers are constantly casting shadows, and there is always always wind. In this city, it would be inappropriate to walk around with bare legs unless you were aiming to be the object of cat-calls all day long. Because of the unpredictable weather, you cannot leave the house without at least a sweater, and layers are crucial. there is also more pressure to "dress up" a bit more, or look a little more "professional" in general for me, this means more pencils skirts, darker colors & neutrals, more heavy fabrics, and more structured silhouettes. it also means tights almost every single day and incorporating them into the outfit, since wearing a skirt with bare legs in that wind is basically unthinkable.

PHOENIX

i've only been here a short while, but i can tell you this: HEAT is the number one decision-maker when it comes to wardrobe. regardless of how cute an outfit or an item may be, if it has sleeves, if the fabric is too heavy, if it is too close to your skin - FORGET it. it's 120 degrees outside, the goal is to have as little fabric touching your body as possible (what would be considered completely innappropriate in San Francisco is daily routine in Phoenix). This also means black is basically out of the question except for in very small quantities. hair is always up and out of the face, make-up is minimal because it will melt off anyway. My own wardrobe has become much more simple, i rarely accessorize, and my daily wardrobe consists almost entirely tiny sundresses, tank tops and mini-skirts. American Apparel is my best friend, i avoid anything with sleeves and pants are entirely out of the question. i've also found this city to be more colorful, wardrobe-speaking, than anywhere else i've lived; my own outfits are much more full of bright colors and patterns than they ever have been before.

i think these changes can happen outside of location, as well: often we change our wardrobes depending on which friends we are seeing, what's going on in our lives, or whether we're going to school or out for lunch. does anyone else notice how their life & location effect their wardrobe?

hair peace

2008-06-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

to quickly catch you up: i have lived my entire life in California, bouncing between Orange County and San Francisco (where i go

to school for Fashion Design). But for the past 3 or 4 weeks, i've been "living" in Phoenix, Arizona. let me tell you something about Phoenix: it is hot. very hot. like 120 degrees every day hot. it does weird things to your skin and hair. Despite the countless deep conditioners, leave-in treatments and an effort to protect my hair from t

he elements, it still constantly feels like a dry bale of hay, and looks about as good. Needless to say, i'm excited to get back to the California coast where my hair actually behaves itself. I've been lucky enough to have the chance to swim in a pool (luxury!) the past few days which was lovely, but the chlorine managed to strip almost all of the blue right out of my hair. so it's already back to platinum (or, really, at the moment, a very very strange shade of blonde and blue) and i am back to a clean slate! please observe the effects of arizona on my poor hair:

i recently picked up these two shades of temporary hair dye from Sally's, and i can't decide which to do next!

i think i am leaning toward the pink, it's just so dreamy and romantic a la some of my favorite fashion icons: gwen stefani circa 1999, and marie antoinette:

this photo of rachel mcadams reminds me of 80's Barbie, so so good.

but i also really, really love the lisa-frank wonderfulness of this girls bangs, and it would utilize BOTH colors, hmm...

opinions?

ps: soon to come, a post on the effect of LOCATION on a peron's wardrobe. i have noticed i dress in distinctly different ways depending on whether i am in San Francisco, Orange County or, now, Phoenix, and i believe it has to do with more than just the weather. have any of you found this to be true?

live fast and dye your hair

2008-06-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

maybe it's something about not having a "real" job, maybe it's the fact that it's summer, or maybe it's just the fact that it had been over 6 months since i last changed my hair. but for the past few months i've been considering trying some marie-antoinette, cotton-candy inspired pastel hair colors. additionally, i've recently been a little obsessed with Ghost-World, Luella-spring -08 inspired fashion, and i've been craving some 90's punk influence mixed into my typical wardrobe.

since my hair was already pretty white, i just picked up some temporary hair dye from Sally's Beauty Supply last week and dove in head first. i mean hey, it's summer, what better time than to potentially mess up your hair? fortunately, it turned out really pretty much exactly how i'd hoped. a few examples of how it's looked the past few days:

it's always been my secret wish and life goal to have mermaid hair, and i feel like this may be the closest i'll ever get. this color should wash out in the next week or two, and next i'm thinking of trying more pastels, especially pink and purple. i'm loving these two shades from Manic Panic.

what do you think?!

punk rock changed our lives

2008-06-21T13:32:00.001-07:00

so for the past half hour i've been browsing my new obsession: VinVan77's amazing screenprinted t-shirts and tote bags on e-bay. if you know me, you know punk and grunge aren't a part of my daily wardrobe but that's not to say i don't love me some doc marten's and a good, worn-in t-shirt every once in a while. and with this selection of perfect tee's and canvas totes basically as tall as me (eco-friendly grocery shopping, anyone?), i'm practically salivating. ah, i miss the days when i had money to spend on clothes (aka, pre-college, oh my).

check out these & TONS MORE on their EBAY STORE

gatsby

2008-06-21T01:19:00.000-07:00

just wanted to post a quick note that my etsy store is currently stocked with a fresh batch of Black and Brown Peacock Headbands as well as lots of vintage goodies, and there is more on the way in the next few days! be sure to check back often, i'm excited about all the new items!

thanks babies & happy shopping! ♥

the lost girls

2008-06-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

hello dear world wide web, i finally have an internet connection here after nearly 2 full of weeks of no internet connection at all, and as sad as it may be i have to admit i started to feel a bit like i was drowning. but i am finally back and it feels so good, and i have so much to tell you about! first, maybe most excitingly (although so many exciting things are happening), is the news i read recently about the new GREY GARDENS film, based on the original documentary, that is currently in filming. i may be a bit on the slow end of receiving this news but oh my goodness! if you love any of the following - fashion, eccentric humans, beautiful women, crumbling old houses, show-tunes, vintage anything - YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM.

most of you will have heard of Grey Gardens by now, so i will only give a short summary: a documentary in 1975 was released, starring Edie Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and her daughter "Little Edie" (not so little, being somewhere around 65 in the film), distant cousins of Jackie O. The women live in a large, once grand, estate that is now literally crumbling to pieces under their feet. They rarely leave the house or the grounds, and instead choose to live in a strange, romantic, eerie sort of solitary existence. They sing and dance classic show-tunes all day, and reminisce over days gone by. The film was particularly noticed when it was re-released in the past few years by the fashion world, and many designers have admitted to being hugely inspired by Big & Little Edie's eccentric, dramatic, rag-tag style. Only a few years ago, shortly after the Criterion Collection release of Grey Gardens, the Criterion Collection also released The Beales of Grey Gardens, a whole second film made up of extra documentary footage which was just as fascinating as the first.

and NOW there is a feature film movie in production, based on the lives of the Beale women, set for release in November of 2008. The film Grey Gardens will be starring DREW BARRYMORE as "Little Edie" and Jessica Lange as "Big Edie", and i could not be more excited about these choices.

IMDB summarizes the goal of the movie best: Based on the life stories of the eccentric aunt and first cousin of Jackie Kennedy (both named Edith Bouvier Beale aka "Big and Little Edie") raised as Park Avenue débutantes but who withdrew from New York society, taking shelter at their Long Island summer home, "Grey Gardens." As their wealth and contact with the outside world dwindled, so did their grasp on reality. They were reintroduced to the world when international tabloids learned of a health department raid on their home, and Jackie swooped in to save her relatives.

with this & the Chanel biopic on their way, this year is looking to be pretty exciting for fashion on the big screen.

(and of course, my Little Edie inspired polyvore:)

vacancy

2008-06-13T21:31:00.000-07:00

dearest internet darlings:

in the past 7 days i have embarked on my summer journeys, adopted a nomadic way of life, and driven the 400 mile drive from Phoenix to Orange County (and back) 3 times. I am slowly adjusting to living (and dressing) in a world where 105 degrees is a good day. I must apologize, my lovelies, for the lack of updates: i have been sadly without internet for at least the past week and my blog and journal have been poorly neglected. but no worries! within this next weekend, i will be back and posting with my usual (maybe pathetic) furiosity! i'd love to start documenting what it's like to try to dress attractively in the sweltering summer heat. an adventure, to say the least! for now, i leave you with an AMAZING fashion inspiration, as well as just a really generally good movie, which you should go out and rent IMMEDIATELY:

please take note of Sarah Lyons' amazing wardrobe, celebrating the delightful tackiness of the wrong end of the 90210 in the mid 90's. i am especially in love with her perfectly permed hair, and oh, of course, those amazing platforms. just my luck, i managed to pick up a perfectly Slums-inspired pair of platforms today at the Goodwill for only $2.99. Now i will be able to live out my mid-90's hollywood dreams, just like i've always wanted.

summer love

2008-06-05T14:50:00.001-07:00

today orange county decided to grace us with 90+ degree weather,

so i am wearing a very simple, very light outfit to cope with the heat:

leopard print sunglasses: urban outfitters

white lace dress: secondhand

white slip: american apparel

acid yellow wedges: target

My Sweet Lo

2008-06-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

The second i started reading Vladimir's novel Lolita, i was instantly in love. For its literary value alone, this book is absolutely amazing - Nabokov's prose are ecstatic and beautiful, rolling off the page and off the tongue more like a lengthy poem than a dry old love novel. However it is not only his words that make this story so enchanting - it is also the story, a story of love versus lust, and its characters: the humble narrator Humbert Humbert and his peach-fuzz child love, Lolita. Throughout the book, Nabokov takes great care to describe Lolita's childlike wardrobe: her full petticoats, her slouchy bobby socks, her saddle shoes, and through the years several different film versions of this classic have taken on these descriptions and made them into full on icons.

who can forget Stanley Kubrik's 1962 famous rendition, where he showed us Humbert's first view of Lolita (played by Sue Lyon): sunbathing in her 1950's bathing suit and sunhat, and of course peeking with sultry eyes over a pair of now-iconic red heart sunnies.

Then there was the 1997 remake, when Lolita was portrayed as a young, sunny, russet-haired & long-limbed Dominique Swain, complete with braids and braces.

Lolita has long been my biggest fashion inspiration,

and lucky for me pinafore skirts and heart sunnies are plentiful these days.

trends can kill nearly anything,

but something tells me this icon will stand the test of time.

jellies & jams

2008-06-04T14:14:00.001-07:00

of course we all remember jellies. how can we not? first, we wore them in our happy childhood summers. then, we got a blast of nostalgia when they showed up again a few years ago on the shelves of Urban Outfitters and other trendy retailers. and then, we got sick of them as we watched them go on sale at Target and Payless. But leave it to Madame Vivienne Westwood herself to take something we thought was done for good, and revamp it into something i'd kill to get my hands on. Yes, it's true, Ms. Westwood has ingeniously created her own full line of plastic "jelly" shoes, in absolutely amazing styles including her classing t-strap maryjane pump, some gorgeous jewelled flats fit for Cinderella, and even some amazing wingtip oxfords!

find out more, or purchase yourself a pair (and let me live vicariously through you, please)
here
and
here.

Sew U Take 2

2008-06-03T22:47:00.001-07:00

by this time there is almost no one in the world of crafty fashionistas that hasn't heard of Wendy Mulligan (of Builty by Wendy fame) and her amazing basic how-to sewing book, Sew U. The sprial-bound book managed to close the gap between thousands of fashion lovers and their intimidating sewing machines. it taught us the basics, from sewing on buttons and cutting out patterns to customizing our own designs. and now she's done it again! Wendy has brought us a new book, Sew U : Home Stretch! The book covers all the basics on how to sew with stretch fabrics, no easy feat! Just like its predecessor, it even comes with it's own patterns from size XS to L. Which means it's time to hit the fabric store, buy a few yards of stretchy lame and jersey-knit and forget about spending way too much money at American Apparel when we can just make our own stretch basics!

(ps, find out more or buy the book at built by wendy)

eye candy

2008-06-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

every month, i start a new folder on my desktop and any time i see a photo of something - anything - that inspires me, i just drag & drop. the finished result is a really great archive of inspiration, for any time that i have a deadline for a Fashion class and i'm hard up for ideas. so here are some of my favorites from May's folder:

kelly bundy

2008-06-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

lately i've been feeling the delightfully trashy, always exciting style of the 90's sitcom fashion icon Kelly Bundy. oh, Christina Applegate, nobody can pull off skin-tight leather, obnoxious florals & bleached hair with 2-inch roots like you.

the outfit i wore today, channelling the great ms. bundy:

top: undershirt, available everywhere

belt: thrifted, $6

skirt: united colors of benetton, thrifted & gifted

The Thermos Song

2008-05-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

it is an inarguable fact that 1979's The Jerk is one of the best movies, ever. period. And after watching (and re-watching) this movie countless times, it has become exceedingly clear to me the immense genius of the wardrobe of Marie (played by the lovely Bernadette Peters). Her guileless charm is a perfect mixture of naivete, femininity, a sense of humor, and an uninhibited sense of adventure. I admire everything, from her perfect poodle hair to her heart-shaped pout, And oh her wardrobe! Pastel colors, peter-pan collars, hearts and flowers everywhere but never overkill! I think it's high time she got the fashion recognition she deserved. Today's Fashion Inspiration post goes out to Miss Marie Kimble Johnson.

& of course, my own polyvore take on the timeless Marie:

etsy update!

2008-05-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

so i've spent the past few days combing thrift & vintage stores and hunched over my sewing maching sewing my fingers off! of course, Sex & the City was on the whole time to keep me company (don't forget the movie comes out THIS WEEKEND, ee!). The result is one awesome etsy shop update!

amazing Balenciaga-esque red vintage blazer!

the perfect vintage summer sun dress!

a nice little blue summer dress i reconstructed :D

& my personal favorite, a babydoll summer dress i designed & reconstructed out of vintage materials!

check out my etsy shop for more vintage & handmade goodies!

happy shopping lovelies ♥

www.houndztooth.etsy.com

chanel is dead

2008-05-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

so, so excited for this biopic film on Coco Chanel, played by who other than the perfect Audrey Tautou! The official title is Coco avant Chanel (Coco before Chanel), and it will focus mainly on Chanel's childhood & "early womanhood". The project is currently still filming and should be released sometime in late 2008/Spring 2009. It's been rumored that both Demi Moore and Keira Knightley were considered to play the part, however i think it is fairly safe to say that miss Audrey will be absolutely amazing!

cry baby

2008-05-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

what better way to kick off the new blog than a fashion inspiration postt! in the past few weeks since summer started, i've found that i'm far more inspired without school breathing down my neck. for example the other day on a warm & lazy morning i stumbled across the John Water's film Cry Baby on my OnDemand. Directed by the infamous director of Hairspray and Female Trouble, set in the 1950's and starring Iggy Pop, Ricki Lake & a young Johnny Depp, i was convinced it would be a good way to spend a few hours. Needless to say, my head has been dancing with images of candy-bright colors, va-va-oom curves and mile-high hair ever since.

reason #1 to watch the movie: young Johhny Depp as Cry Baby, a tough guy with a soft side. delicious.

reason #2 (and the real reason inspiration for this post) : the absolutely fabulous style of Wanda Woodwand, a bad blonde bombshell in stillettos and leather. She's a real heartbreaker, with a sweet pout and a rotten mouth, this girl is seriously sexy.

and of course, my polyvore ensemble dedicated to the genius of Ms. Woodwand: