Starship Narcissus

xmas

2011-12-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

happy holidays!

Social Suicide

2011-12-15T22:40:00.000-08:00

skirt: h&m coat: thrift town blouse and heels thrifted

I am back in Sacramento. Thank goodness. I was inspired to dress up for a local fashionista style group that I attended this evening. Unfortunately I failed to have a drink...

Thanksgiving Regalia

2011-11-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

gifted gunne sax. vintage coat for $1 at bows and arrows sale. sparkly shoes from a random store in new york.

I am not shopping much lately. I am appreciating the clothes I have and with each season they are renewed. I'm totally digging this Laura Ingalls Wilder look.

Modeling Coats at Crimson & Clover

2011-11-13T21:11:00.000-08:00

It took some willpower to not get one of these vintage clutches for only $12 a piece

The coats are to die for here. Faux Russian Princess Coat $26

Vintage Mink(?), my personal favorite

ok we got this for Bea for only $5

The warmest coat in the world

I haven't been blogging much here but have been busy with modeling and photography (on my other blog).
I haven't been shopping much for a variety of reasons (time, money, transportation) but went to one of my favorite vintage stores to try stuff on. You can check it out for yourself and bedeck yourself for the cooler holiday months at 1617 16th st in Sacramento for guiltless shopping fun.

my favorite game

2011-10-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

I've always loved dressing up despite the fact that it is almost never premeditated. Heck half the stuff in my closet could probably be considered costume appropriate. I found this dress at thrift town and decided to center my costume around it as a high priestess druidess, or something like that.

Channeling Audrey

2011-10-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

She was my first girl crush.

The Incredible Disappearing Shirt

2011-10-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

blouse:crimson and clover,skirt:thrift town

was quite an ordeal for me to photograph this blouse! White is not such an easy color to self photograph and I nearly gave up. I am back in Sacramento recovering from my modeling trip. I have amazing plans for the blog that will include parties and informative articles. Stay tuned...

dress addict

2011-09-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

I found this dress at thrift town the other day and the fit is divine. Since fall starts late in Sacramento there are still plenty of days left for sun dresses and the colors fit the change of seasons. I am gearing up for another trip to Atlanta and New York City modeling in just a few days. Looking forward to fall on the east coast, I hear it's incredible.

living the life of an enchanted fairy tale through the eyes of a child

2011-09-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

dress thrift town

My daughter turned 4 this weekend. I feel so lucky to have such a delightful little girl. Her enthusiasm for life infects all those around her. She is also a serious little girl at times, intent on learning as much about the world as she can. I am also inspired by her fun sense of fashion. Sparkly shoes, polka dot dresses, stripes, baby doll dresses all fashion ideas that I love for myself.

celebrate whenever possible with a party frock

2011-09-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

dress:gift

Sunday was quite the grand party day. It was my dad's 70th and then we went to another party for Bea's friend Harvey. Ange looked smashing as per usual. I have such stylish friends!

The children had a dance party.

dress: crimson and clover

take care of your body and your mind will follow

2011-09-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

shorts-diy, blouse-vintage crimson and clover, sandals-thrift town

People blog for many reasons. I blog so that I will not wear the same sundress day in and day out. Secluded and away from prying eyes I have little impetus to put clothes on but they make me feel and act oh so more productive. I put the hat on for the photos only. I like hats for 5 seconds and usually want them off me despite the fact that wearing a hat in public is like compliment candy.

It has been a productive week. I got to shoot 2 models in one day!

The lovely Boots...

and Keira who also took some lovely photos of me...

Beatrix is turning into quite the photographer too!

being fashionable is charitable

2011-09-09T02:03:00.000-07:00

From New York City to apparently Sacramento, fashions night out. I didn't know about this event until a few hours beforehand. I managed to convince my friend to tag along and check it out. I never go to fashion events. actually I never go out. I'm a bit of a shut-in except when jet setting across the country. I thought I had so many clothes until trying to get ready for a fashion event as a fashion blogger. Suddenly everything I owned seemed so last year or last century.

shorts: bows and arrows, shoes:thrift town shirt:vintage

This was my second outfit I was going to wear. I was having a bad hair day or something or it just didn't seem dressy enough for a fashion part, even if only in Sac town. My first choice was this top with the shorts. but I liked it a lot after I ripped off the sleeves like this after.

cheap monday jeans: buffalo exchange

I'm convinced (almost) everything looks better sleeveless. I ended up in a dress, a sari restructured.(I am actually pretending I was more fashionable, it isn't actually hemmed but it would looked better shorter with those shoes...oh well)

I was finally ready to hit the pavillions, camera in hand. It isn't the suburbs or anything technically but is is a bit more far from midtown than I like to be... a bit stepfordy. Anyhow I met a few lovely and stylish ladies before the event.

I love the retro feel. pumps, pencil skirt, red lipstick, clutch. oh so sexy.

Kimberly's outfit stood out. It was definitely a favorite of the night. I'm such a sucker for vintage.

This girl was so friendly, I had to take a pic. She is in fashion design school. Loving the pumps and pearls, on the fence abut the bebe dress. It seems to be the popular choice though. I call it the cupcake dress.

It was hard to get any great pics from the runway and it was not very couture but this mad men inspired dress is very classic and beautiful. I found out later the event was to get people to shop so all the styles were worn by normal people, oh well, at least it got me out of the house.

This "model" looked so familiar and then I realized I used to cut, I mean shave his hair back in the good ol' hairstyling days.

sparkly stuff is cool

cute!

after the show this red dress caught my eye. it is from nordstrom but definitely has a vintage vibe.

So how is fashion charitable? The event raised a ton of money for the children's hospital. Fashion makes people feel more confident and feel better about themselves which makes them more likely to give to others. Seemingly superficial things have a lot more impact on our behavior than we give them credit for.

My Favorite Sacramento

2011-09-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

1. Charles Shaw $2 Chuck. Recession Proof.

There are other things I like about Trader Joe's: the friendly service, the cashews, the heirloom tomatoes, but the clincher is the cheap good quality booze. I was a wine snob. I used to go to Trader Joe's and was quite disappointed in the selection, not a fan of barefoot, went wine tasting every weekend, you know the story and then I discovered the joy's of $2 Charles Shaw wine that tastes like a $10 dollar bottle! (disclaimer:some batches are better than others) I still love Chateau Montelena's $100 dollar Cab the best. It is worth it and tastes like a bouquet of flowers in your mouth and all that but 2 buck chuck is decent and saves you a whole $98 dollars. They also have great Russian $10 vodka that rivals vodka twice its price. You don't have to pay for the advertising.
2. Zelda's Chicago Style Pizza

This place is a midtown institution. It is like pizza crack. I just got back from New York and Chicago and did not find pizza better than this. It is Chicago style without being overly thick. The decor and atmosphere make it worth a trip to sit in, but order your pizza before you show up so you are not waiting in agony. My favorites are the spinach or the pesto, so garlicky. It was once known for the rather curt service but now it is very good. but don't take my word for it.

having fun is the cause of and solution to all your problems

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've been purging my closet but today had the bright idea of cutting sleeves off of certain dresses and transforming them. It was so fun! Then I went used car shopping and what a shady business that is. I wanted a grandpa car, vintage and substantial and very hood. The first car was a 1987 mercury grand marquis.dark red. Still a possibility. It was such a smooth ride just not in the best condition. Then there was this powder blue 1991 cadillac de ville that sounded too good to be true. and it was. Three young men met is us in a parking lot to sell us "deceased grandma's" car from texas. yeah right young hooligans. that is not a pink slip and we are not retards. So buying a used car for under 2k is a very shady business. wish me luck!
On to the renewed vintage project I undertook on a whim today.

Before

I got this vintage dress online and the sleeves were literally falling off.(Even so my good artist friend Adam is using this photo for an oil painting he is working on)

I had it in the giveaway pile and had decided to try to fix it. ta da.

The renewed version

I absolutely loved this 60s schoolgirl outfit from bows and arrows but could never wear it for some reason and had almost given up on trying, until today I realized that the sleeves were the awkward part of the dress.This was a blog post from last year and the only time I wore the epicness,

now...

yes I like mini skirts... a lot. whatevs.

you don't have to be rich to look like a millionaire

2011-09-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Just got back from New York. I still wear clothes just haven't posted an outfit in forever. This summer has been insanely busy.

It was fun to watch the kids play in the fountain and get dirty snow cone faces.

blouse is vintage. shorts bows and arrows. sandals used but awesome. fake tattoo courtesy of beatrix.

I am considering changing my blog name so might be moving locations soon, we shall see. I am a bit tired of the pure vintage aesthetic although I am not over high-waisted. I am considering blogging more. I want to do everything and style blogging has such an amazing community as well as gives me impetus to be more awesome. I do want to blog about more than clothing. I have tons of opinions on just about everything and have been frequently told I have very astute observations. Taking photos, modeling, writing, conversation, art, learning, improving. I want to conglomerate the diverse passions I have into something incredible.
some of what I have been up to this summer...

coat $1 from bows and arrows. photographer: in la who is amazing.

photographer bruce martin

in vintage slip

LA in goodwill sweater and guess stilletos from freestyle.

Yes I wear used shoes. who cares?

shoes:thrift town. shorts: crimson and clover. top: vintage

bodysuit: am appy

photographer: jmeister chicago

kevin rolly awesomeness

I have been very busy being part of art modeling and am also planning on having a showing of my photography work in the near future. These will be exclusive, never before seen photos and not available online.

Pyramid Rock

2011-06-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

My life has changed so much! Some of my new work...
Los Angeles

kevin roley

alejandra geurrero

western waters san francisco

Painted Ballerina

2011-05-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

peripheral vision

Robert Blackburn

Noel Marrero

I have been having a ton of fun working. I got body painted for the first time and am hooked. I am planning on traveling a lot this year. I have plans to go to LA, Portland, Chicago and New York City modeling. I'm so glad as I simply adore traveling.

Life As An Art Form

2011-04-19T23:31:00.000-07:00

photographer and model: Adam Holzrichter

Model: Callan

model: Wing

I have had an amazing month work wise. My art modeling has finally taken off allowing me to make beautiful art, meet interesting people as well as apprentice with amazing photographers and artists for my photography. I am so happy to have found something that I am passionate about!

The Fabulous Five- Spring Edition

2011-04-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

I was perusing through some of my favorite blogs and found a theme. Look at all the wonderful vintage sweaters, a spring wardrobe necessity. I am in serious need of a trip to the thrift store.

1. Meghan of Out Of Order

Not only does Meghan incorporate lot's of vintage and secondhand goodness in her outfit posts but she goes a step further and makes her own clothes. I just adore this cardigan and the comfortable vibe of this outfit.

2. Unyime of Expressions Realia

I am always learning something new about vintage fashion when I read Unyime's blog. His website is so well put together as are his outfits like this one, this cardigan is amazing, n'est pas?

3. Mitzi of Night Lights

I just adore Mitzi's style ever since I discovered her on chictopia. The girl is such an artistic fashionista!

4. Marie of Lemondrop Vintage

This dress is just fantastic and the girl is a vintage wonder always finding lovely things and having giveaways:)

Oh I sort of diverged from the the theme a little for this dress...

5. Amber of Violet Folklore

What a perfect spring dress to wear over and over again. Amber's blog is amazing with her adorable daughter and she also has an amazing Etsy store with the most divine dresses.

What I've Been Up To

2011-04-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

Duncan Hall

Tyler Gourley

Le Voyeur

The good thing about being sick/allergies is it slows you down. I had a blast last month running around modeling and photographing. Mendocino was magical. I feel so renewed for the rest of the year.

I've been having so much fun being the photographer on various photo shoots!

My daughter continues to amaze me with her loveliness. All the pictures can be found by clicking on each name.

Wishing everyone love and if you are in the Sacramento or Bay area and would like to be photographed let me know.

Lisa

Where Does The Time Go

2011-03-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

blouse: crossroads, shorts: crimson and clover

I never know what to write but I am still wearing outfits. If anything I like my style a lot better than last year and it is nice to see it evolve. I did so many outfit posts back in the day. I can't believe this month is half way through. This year has been absolutely crazy but I've managed to keep my composure. Things can always be worse and I've actually am at an amazing point in my life and I am going on a much needed vacation next week.

In April I am volunteering my time for free yoga classes and am taking teacher training in June. Let me know if you are local and would be interested in attending a free daytime class taught be me. I am so thrilled! I'm of the opinion that it matters not so much what happens but how you react to life and yoga is actually very helpful for many people to do just that.

Haunting

2011-03-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

photography:Sean Lai

I had a photo shoot at a historic house in Oakland last week. I adored the dresses I got to wear.

Default

2011-03-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

These are my default clothes as of late. When I go out I like to get decked out but during the day I have been addicted to this dress. I probably wore it 3 times last week! My sister-in-law found it for me at thrift town a few years ago. It is so comfortable and easy to throw on in the mornings. I found the camel coat a few months ago at Crimson and Clover and I wear it all the time. Went to a blogger meet-up hosted by the lovely Bella at Shady's tonight. It was great to see so many fellow fashion bloggers out and about (and yes I wore this dress:).

Expression

2011-03-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

It's official. I have a photography studio in my house.

Swoon

2011-03-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

I adore dresses. In fact I probably own more fancy frocks than everyday wear.

Here are some vintage ones to admire...

Christian Dior 1959

Dinner Dress by Dior

Vintage Christian Dior

Coco Chanel 1929

Alexander McQueen

These I find perusing through Modcloth

I'm very interested in neutrals at the moment

Happy Spring

2011-02-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

Tyler Gourley

Khanenkov

JFD Photography

Anthony Kearn

I don't have a ton of new work up but here is a little I've been able to do in my spare time. I love how early spring starts in Sacramento. Just wanted to do a quick post so I don't completely neglect my blog.

Rendezvous

2011-02-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

shirt:(both)crossroads, jeans:am appy

Had a spectacular day of exploring and also got in some photography and an outfit post! It has been much too long! I love doing photo shoots with my husband because I am very comfortable around him and therefore more creative modeling. I never have much to say on my blog. Perhaps I should change that. I haven't been thrifting as much lately and so tend to go to consignment shops that are a little higher priced but have a better selection when I get a chance to shop.

Dream

2011-02-09T23:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the photos I took by the river with Tessa who is absolutely gorgeous. I need to shoot more so any locals hit me up for photos.My best day is Wednesday for photo shoots. I have been quite busy between art modeling and school but really want to do an outfit post soon. I've been doing a lot of dance inspired shoots which are really fun.

Portraits

2011-01-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

My little baby is all grown but I'm glad this dress still fits her. She just started preschool last week and adores it. Since my classes started I've been able to devote more time to photography and art which makes me feel very fulfilled. Earlier this week I got to do some portraits for my friend Crystal, who also happens to have fabulous vintage style.

Obsessions Du Jour

2011-01-19T00:50:00.000-08:00

1. Dita Von Teese- I was thrilled last weekend when I got to wear one of her black corsets for a photo shoot and just love her very glamorous vintage style.

2. Chai Tea- has been my default drink as of late. I love all the aromatic spices, so perfect for cold weather.

3. Fishnets-I love wearing tights in the winter and luckily live in a place where fishnets are an option. They have such a classic look.

4.Ballet Flats- These are so Audrey, classic and comfortable. They also go with pretty much anything.

5. In The Mood For Love- I recently saw this movie again and still want the wardrobe. She has on a new jaw dropping cheong sam in each scene. Wong Kar Wai know how to make gorgeous movies.

6. Cucumber Gimlet-I haven't made this one but had the best one the other day. I am in constant search for cocktails that aren't overly sweet and this one fits the bill. It reminds me of summer too:)

2 Large Cucmbers

1/2 cup gin
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup ice cubes
4 lime slices

Slice four 1/4-inch-thick slices from 1 cucumber. Peel and coarsely chop remaining cucumbers; transfer to processor and purée until smooth. Pour through fine strainer set over large bowl, pressing on solids in strainer. Discard solids in strainer.

Mix 1 cup cucumber juice, gin, lime juice, and sugar in pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves. Add ice; mix well. Immediately strain mixture into 4 small Martini glasses. Garnish with lime and cucumber slices and serve.

7. Watercolor- I haven't had as much time to paint lately and am thrilled to be taking a watercolor class this semester. It baffles me how CA is trying to cut the arts when it is a top industry for our state and fosters creativity which is essential to nearly every industry.

8. Black Swan- I've been wanting to do a photo shoot based on this movie and it sort of happened accidentally last weekend. I just adore the costumes.

mousevox

9. Capes- I discovered the most delightful red cape at Crimson and Clover that I still have to post. They are so delightful and whimsical when done correctly.

photographer- Hellofoto

10. Modeling- This has been my obsession as of late although this is the only new photo I have that I haven't already posted. I'm very excited to be going to LA in a couple of weeks for a shoot and love learning about photography, working with artists and making beautiful images. I also love this shirt I purchased at Bows and Arrows.

Kirill Khanenkov

2011-01-11T21:17:00.000-08:00

skirt-thunderhorse vintage, heels-bebe buffalo exchange sf, blouse thrifted

I normally don't love so many photos from a shoot. Kirill is so talented and I am definitely planning on making more room in my schedule to work with him again. This was an impromptu shoot by the beach that was accomplished in little more than an hour. He used film as you can tell from the quality of the photos.

In Memory of My Beautiful Sister Christianne

2011-01-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

Born December 25, 1976

Died November 30, 2010

My life was
lunacy until
this moonlit night

I'm in the middle and Chrissie is at my right

Rosemary and Christianne

one month before her death

My shame in this world
will soon be forgotten
springtime journey

(Japanese Death Poems)

Life is not easy for anyone but for my once vivacious sister it was especially difficult. She battled with a very difficult mental illness heroically for 12 years that we were aware of and still managed to be the most loving, generous and nonjudgmental person I have had the pleasure of knowing in my life. I remember as a shy young girl admiring her powerful vivaciousness for all who knew her then loved being around her. She experienced such psychological anguish in her last months we found out after her suicide. In death she is now completely free of pain and for that I am grateful. I am inspired to fully appreciate each moment for all of us will die sooner or later and now is all we have.

Chapel of the Chimes

2011-01-02T01:17:00.000-08:00

photographer-Zen Renaissance

I did a photo shoot in The Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland last weekend. It was redesigned by the famous architect of Hearst Castle, Julia Morgan in 1928. I would recommend a visit if you are ever in the are as the building is breathtakingly beautiful.

2010 The Alaric Edition

2011-01-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

Alaric's style has evolved and matured so much this year. He went from a disco eclectic disheveled style to a more refined and fitted 60s classic inspired look. He is planning on starting his own style blog soon.

2010

2010-12-31T15:04:00.000-08:00

Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.

~Anais Nin

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

~African Proverb

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.

~Shakespeare

I'm so glad I started blogging. This year I have gained confidence stylistically and I helped me develop and progress myself in a community that understands that style is an art form. Thank you and have a wonderful new year!

Wrap Me Up

2010-12-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

40s style 60s wrap dress:estate sale, granny sweater:goodwill, flats:vintage gift

I need to get up earlier in the morning and go to Estate Sales where I found this gorgeous wrap dress. I originally tried to sell it on Etsy but it didn't sell quickly and a month or so later I tried it on and just had to keep it. I wasn't expecting to blog so much at the end of the year but here I am with some unexpected free time. I also have an end of year outfit montage coming up tomorrow. Who knows, perhaps the new year will inspire me to post more. The past few weeks I have been cleaning out my closet so expect an awesome anniversary giveaway in the new year.

2010 The Beatrix Edition

2010-12-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

It was quite a stylish year for my daughter Beatrix.

Loved Despite of Great Faults

2010-12-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

Fur Coat: Thrift Town, Photographer: Matt Haber

This is the aforementioned fur coat I found a few weeks ago. The month has gone by in a beautiful painful flurry. I look forward to the new year. It is always so exciting for me. I have changed and been through so much this year. I've learned so much about myself and others. I am stronger and more independent than I have ever been in my life. I am someone that I can be proud of and next year is going to be phenomenal. I really appreciate all my readers who have stuck with me despite my infrequent posts. I truly enjoy catching up on your blogs and wish everyone a beautiful New Year celebration.

Julia Comita Dolls

2010-12-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

I worked with an incredible team In San Francisco a few weeks ago to get these editorial style photos. The other model is Candace (aka Wenchi). I am just absolutely in love with everything in this shoot :the set design, concept, photography, hair and make up, ornate scarring, the vintage styling. Julia was absolutely incredible to work with.

Aliens

2010-12-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

photography by Sean Lai

Here are some photos I did for a shoot by the ocean. It was so cold!

Back Seam

2010-12-09T20:53:00.000-08:00

blouse, skirt and shoes thrifted. tights-Prevues

The thrift gods smiled on me today. I found another pair of ballet flats (I'm obsessed with them right now, they are so Audrey) and a gorgeous vintage fur coat. I was determined to not have another casual outfit day and I even went for daytime smoky eyes, a look I haven't attempted in quite some time. I finally got a pair of back seamed pantyhose. I think it makes them so much better. It is amazing how little details turn something from average to incredible.

Obessions Du Jour

2010-11-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

1. Stars- the sky is immensely beautiful every day I look at it, even in the city, but I still often think of
camping in the desert when I could see the stars so clearly it was magical. We are all stardust after all.

2. Cigarette Holders-I don't smoke everyday but enjoy fine tobacco cigarettes occasionally and recently got gifted a lovely vintage cigarette holder. I've been wanting one for awhile. They are so glamorous and I can't wait to have occasion to use it.

3. Martinis- My new favorite drink is a Hendrick's Dirty Jalepeno Martini. I love the way the glasses look as well.

4. Fire-We finally had our first fire in our hearth. There is nothing like it on a wintry night.

...the only people for me are the mad ones...that

burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles

exploding like spiders across stars...(kerouac)

5. Popcorn. There is nothing like making your own popcorn and then eating the whole bowl:)

6.Veronica Lake. I'm very into 1940s hair and makeup lately and she does both so well.

7. Red Dresses- These are definitely on my wish list. It is such a powerful and sensual color.

8.Faux Fur- I just love how luxurious it looks and how warm it is. I do not advocate buying new fur, or leather for that matter.

9. Black Lace. This is a classic that I just can't seem to have enough of lately.

10. Red Lipstick. I love this classic look. Unfortunately I have to be very careful as I have pouty lips and it tends to get on my nose and chin, not a good look:)

all images via we<3 it

Ordinary Life

2010-11-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

blouse:vintage gift, jeans, belt and shoes: thrift town

Decided to do an impromptu outfit post. It was a really nice sunny day today. I'm still in love with my 99 cent jeans. Hope everyone had a lovely holiday. That was a long weekend that I am only just recovering from:)

An Outfit Post!

2010-11-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

vest:goodwill outlet, jeans: thrift town, blouse:vintage boutique

pixie!

dress: crimson and clover

This vest reminds me of something my mother would wear. I thought I would post an outfit where I am dressed very casual, a rare occurrence for me.

Warm November

2010-11-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

dress:secondhand, sandals:thrift town

jacket and shirt: crimson & clover vintage, jeans: crossroads sf, shoes: buffalo exchange sf

(more photos from studio la donna) 1960s dress: goodwill outlet, purse: bows and arrows vintage, heels: thrift town

I haven't forgotten about my blog. I have been focusing on building my art modeling portfolio though. As much as I enjoy taking photos for my blog it is nice to not have to take the photos myself and it is fun to collaborate with fellow artists. Consequently, I'm going to be traveling to the bay area more often in the next month which makes me very happy. I love San Francisco. Tomorrow I'm working with Robert Blackburn in Berkeley doing a film noir 1940s photo shoot.

Studio La Donna

2010-11-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to San Francisco and modeled for Alex. Here are some of the unedited results.

faux fur coat: thrifted, black ring: porkchop rules crimson and clover vintage

A Lady And Her Butterfly

2010-10-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

red dress: goodwill, heels and sandals: thrift town, butterfly:secondhand via ebay

Bursting The Seams

2010-10-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

shirt:goodwill outlet, jeans and heels: thrift town, ring:porkchop rules at crimson and clover

Since I haven't done an outfit post in so long I though I'd indulge in one today. I just purchased these amazing jeans for 99 cents at thrift town the other day. They are so perfect for the change of weather.

Panache

2010-10-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

I'm seem to have not been in the habit to take photos of my outfits on a regular basis which is a shame because I feel that my style has only been improving. I have been taking photos of other things in the past few weeks though. Here are the highlights. Life has been incredible lately despite everything. In the next few months I am going to be involved in modeling as well is photographing. It finally feels like fall and I am so excited for all the end of year festivities. 2010 has been challenging and incredible and I look forward to finishing it off with panache.

Bea's birthday 3rd Birthday Bash

morning at the river

watercolor, acrylic, and wax

oak park

flashlight party

Orlando Shih Show In San Francisco

2010-10-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

Here are the photos from the fashion show I did a couple of weeks ago. I really loved the dress I got to wear, so pretty. It was on tv apparently but I only saw a really bad quality version. It was at Minna Gallery and there was some really amazing art up for the RAW artist event that the fashion show was a part of.

I ran into the lovely Meghan of Out of Order wearing this adorable outfit. I apologize that my crap camera doesn't do her justice.

Good Ol' Fashioned Outfit Post

2010-10-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

I feel like it has been forever since I've done one of these and I even have a way better camera now.

yeah my hair, I know:)

shorts:crimson and clover vintage, shirt:gift,sandals:thrift town

If you live in Sacramento you know why I'm wearing shorts today. Despite it being October the weather has been quite warm and I am planning on going for a lengthy stroll in the afternoon. I actually was going to wear my fave 70s heart pocket jeans but alas they are a bit too large. So are these shorts but I was able to pin them. I've been very aware of tailoring and proper fit lately. They make the clothes look so much better and I really don't mind the pinned look but at least I'm starting to hem stuff because that is super easy.

Sacramento Stylista:Interview With Brie

2010-09-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

It seems like this local interview post is going to be a monthly addition to my blog. There is no shortage of beautiful fashionable people in my town and I am lucky to count many of my friends among them. I love doing this feature as I get to be go to pretty locales and take pictures with my new camera. I've seen Brie's style evolve in the last few years and she is so inspiring. Shortly after the shoot I spotted some killer heels at Thrift Town and just had to have them and we both share a love for vintage dresses. Not only does she have enviable style she is also one of the sweetest people ever.

How long have you lived in Sacramento?
I've lived in Midtown for 3 years now. I grew up in Truckee and went to High School in Roseville.

Favorite local hangouts?
I'd probably say Shady Lady because i like the atmosphere and it's always fun getting dressed up to go there. Other than that i'd say Townhouse and Press Club because that's where the majority of my friends go.

When did you start getting into vintage and fashion?
Definitely when i moved downtown. The girls here are pretty fashionable.

What are some of your favorite vintage and thrift stores?

My friend Marley told me about Bows and Arrows when i first moved here and fell in love with it from the second i walked in the door. Trish and Olivia are sweethearts, so it makes me want to shop there even more. I think the majority of my closet is from there and Cuffs. I'm not too picky about where i shop. I shop at thrift stores like Goodwill, Deseret, SPCA Thrift store..I shop at the local vintage stores, and I shop at forever 21 and Nordstrom even.

How would you describe your style?
I wouldn't consider myself to have a specific style. i think it depends on my mood and where i'm going to be going. I think it would be boring to stick to one type of style.

What are your favorite fashion accessories?
I'm not really too big on accessories. I usually buy a few pieces of jewelry and wear them until they break or i lose them.

Who are your style icons?

Besides my Grandma, i wouldn't say i have a specific style icon. I usually get inspiration from people i see around and friends. I think a lot of the girls in Sacramento are very fashionable in their own ways.

What are your other hobbies?
Other than my horrible shopping addiction, anything where i get to spend time with my friends. I like apartment hunting a lot and i think that's why i move so much. I have no intentions of moving, until i see an awesome place, and I'm like, "i have to live there. I've moved 5 times the 3 years I've lived here. I used to ski when i lived in Truckee and i've only snowboarded a couple times but this winter i think i'm going to take it on.

Favorite books, tv, movies, and music?
I can't say I'm much of a reader. I don't have the attention span for it and it always puts me to sleep after reading 2 sentences. I browse blogs online and read articles here and there but i think i spend most my time listening to and searching for new music. I love finding new bands that i haven't heard of before. There's so much music out there, it's overwhelming sometimes. Right now, I'm hooked on FM Belfast, Local Natives, Fever Ray, and Star Slinger. My "favorite" bands constantly change but I think my forever fav is Arcade Fire. As for TV, I don't own a television. I think it's better that way because when i have friends over, instead of turning on the TV and getting sucked into pointless reality shows, we actually sit and talk about our own reality. If i really want to watch a show or movie, i can just watch it on my laptop. I love Californiacation and i think my favorite movie is probably Marie Antoinette. The soundtrack is amazing.

How has your fashion sense changed over time?
Growing up i was self conscious of my size because I've always been taller and bigger than the other girls. I wouldn't wear heels even because i would tower over everyone. Over time I've learned how to dress for my size and say, fuck it, and wear heels anyways. I dress pretty girly. Tights, dresses and skirts. I don't wear jeans because not only are they uncomfortable and feel restricting, i find them unflattering for my body type.

What are some of your favorite pieces in your closet right now?
I have a few dresses in my closet that i bought a long time ago but I'm waiting for the right time to wear them. My grandma gave me this big fur coat when i was in Junior High and i thought to myself, "Thanks Grandma, when and where the hell would i ever wear this?' I went through my old closet at my moms house about a year ago and found it and had a fit of excitement. I'm soooo glad i didn't get rid of it.

What is your favorite season fashion wise?
Fall for sure. i feel like i can wear 2 outfits at once. I can have a coat/jacket and a scarf on then take it off inside and It's almost like a wardrobe change haha.

What is your favorite time period for vintage?
The 50s. I really like the pinup style and dresses like an hourglass. I think their style was very classy looking.

What fashion trends do you wish would never come back?
Guys in girls jeans, Uggs, Crocs, pre-ripped jeans, jerseys, xxl tees on boys that should be wearing a medium, and sweatpants with words on the butt.

What are your tips for finding good vintage and thrift finds?
Patience. I shop with an open mind, never really going into it with a specific item in mind.

More photos from the shoot here.

Smashing Success

2010-09-27T00:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended the first Sacramento blogger fashion meet-up at Crimson & Clover, my favorite vintage shop in Sacramento, hosted by the lovely Bella Q of The Citizen Rosebud. It was so nice to meet my fellow local bloggers and be in such stylish company. I have renewed love for my city's vibrant art and retro fashion scene.

Bella looked amazing in her signature polka dot print and pill box hat.

So nice to finally meet Kari of Juniper James (great blog full of local fashion tips) and Kerry of Fashion Farms and Freedom .

I also met for the first time two bloggers who I was not yet aware of, Lorena of Sac Cycle Chic and Jen of Wade and Associates. They both have lovely blogs as well! I actually found this floral 80s party dress and the store that day and couldn't resist buying it, I do love floral prints so. It was a scorcher that day and I had defiantly wore my new mod long sleeved mini dress but it was sooo uncomforatable in the heat, I'm ready for fall weather.

Kari, Bella Q and Natale of Evelesco. So nice to finally meet her as I follow her blog and she scored this gorgeous yellow top at C&C that day..most of us fashion bloggers did a little vintage shopping understandably.

This is the inside of the store, gorgeous right? They also have the best prices for vintage boutiques in Sacramento even beating many thrift stores! They always carry pretty stuff that meets a certain aesthetic too.

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to photograph everyone that attended the meet-up but since the first one was such a smashing success I'm sure there will be more and Bella also posted about it on her blog.

SLAM Interview

2010-09-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot to mention I was interviewed earlier this month for S.L.A.M. by the lovely Nikki and you can check it out here if you want.

This week has been crazy busy as per usual. I am going to a fashion blogger meet-up today hosted by my favorite store, Crimson & Clover and the lovely Bella Q and Beatrix's 3rd birthday bash is tomorrow. Earlier this week I want to San Francisco to be in a fashion show for Orlando Shih and ran into a fellow blogger, (for another post). Last weekend I attended a wonderful ballet performance choreographed by my friend Zara Hayes. If I find some pictures I might do a post. I should have taken pictures,the costumes were incredible! I'm not going to even have time to update my Etsy this weekend as my house is turning into a cupcake factory for the party. Just wanted to drop in and say I will be updating and catch if with my blog reading soon. I have several posts in the works. I also update a bit more on my blog's facebook.

Return to MoMa

2010-09-20T02:44:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we spent taking in the Fischer Collection at the MoMa in San Francisco. I took my parents to see the collection. I am so inspired. I love my new camera as well and am pretty much addicted to photography.

We took the train part of the way to the city

We stopped by this Richard Serra sculpture but unfortunately the building was closed, it made an amazing photo through the window though.

dress: crimson and clover, shirt:thrift town

Tony Cragg, Guglie

dress:thrift town

Beatrix, who is learning all the state capitals, started sing "Little Rock, Arkansas" around this piece (cornish standing stone circle by Richard Long)..adorable!

Bea dancing in front of the Bruce Nauman

She is obsessed with jumping..even in art museums.

I really enjoyed this Lee Krasner, Polar Stampede.

There are more photos but I shall save that for a subsequent post.

Sold/For Sale

2010-09-20T02:04:00.000-07:00

The shop has been taking lots of my time lately. I've had some fun photoshoots as a result of it so I thought I'd share some of the items that I've already sold...

1940s Dress

1970s Coat

1980s Dress

1980s Boots

1950s coat

...As well as the items that are still available in the shop.

1960s Dress s/m

high waisted shorts s/m

1960s Skirt xs/s

Gunne Sax Dress s

1980s Dress

1980s Dress sale $10

All available on my Etsy Store.

I'm so glad I started the shop finally. I love selling a beautiful product that is unique and good for the environment for a fair price.

Prosecutors Will Be Violated

2010-09-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

Dirt Cheap 100 % Thrifted Outfit For $5

Today my family and I spent a lovely day meandering around the Delta. We found lots of lovely photo spots along the way.

Both Bea's Outfits 100% thrifted

We took some photos for the store including a Gunne Sax and a 1940s dress in the lovely little ghost town of Locke. They even had a lovely little vintage shop there and I tried on this absolutely amazing 1940s swimsuit as well as a breathtaking lavender dress, both out of my price range at the moment unfortunately. I'm so glad I started the store as it is impetus to wake up early and go to Estate Sales, something I would probably otherwise not do.

shorts and top:bows and arrows, shoes thrifted

The above photos were taken last weekend and for some reason I didn't feel they merited their own post. I really like them though but the lighting leaves something to be desired. I haven't completely abandoned regular features but for now am focusing on the Sacramento Stylista feature. I just did a photoshoot for the lovely Brie and her interview will be posted soon. I haven't wanted to spend too much time online as the Etsy store requires quite a bit of time online already and that is why I am perhaps postponing some of the other features 'til i get the hang of it. This Saturday we are again going to visit the MOMA in San Francisco. I can't wait!

Mirror

2010-09-07T01:42:00.000-07:00

dresses and shoes: thrifted

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday weekend. I had a lot of fun with friends and family. Besides pictures of Bea I haven't taken many other subjects for my new camera but I have quite a few collaborations in the works, which will be fun. I think I'm also going to collaborate with some other photographers as a model. My Etsy store is finally up and these fabulous heels are the only things up at the moment. I'm still working on getting most of the items photographed properly.

Aesthetic

That is the name and link to the store if you want to add me on your favorites there. I'm pretty excited to finally have a shop and I've already made a sale.

Kittens and Bunnies and Unicorns..oh My!

2010-09-01T23:37:00.000-07:00

dress: thrift town, shoes: kenneth cole from forever ago, tights: thrift town in package

I wasn't planning on doing an outfit post. I was originally going to a karaoke bar tonight but when the babysitting fell through I told my husband to just go. He had already picked his songs and everything and I can never decide until last minute. It turned out to be an opportunity to update my blog. I feel like I haven't done an outfit post in forever. I wasn't planning on buying an outfit for myself either. The past few days i have been thrifting in a very disciplined manner for the Etsy store. However this dress isn't vintage and I just fell in love with the print. I'm so glad to have found these white tights too. They even have a lovely criss-cross detail on them. Beatrix found the cutest "Madeline" hat as well today. Unfortunately we didn't have time to take her pictures before she fell asleep. We were so busy today shopping, painting and making rice crispy treats that we ran out of time. What a day. My life is as busy and productive as I want it to be and I love it.

Makemake

2010-09-01T00:40:00.000-07:00

My blog has been lagging a bit. I have just been so busy lately since my return from New York City. I'm working on getting my new Etsy store, Aesthetic, up and running as well as making lots of art. I wanted to post a few pictures from my new camera which is awesome. I'm so excited about it! Bea got this swimsuit today while thrifting. It's a bit big but perfect for next year.

This is the Nara haircut I was referring to by the artist Yoshitomo Nara, that Beatrix chose.

Here is some art that Bea and I have been up to lately.

Juice by Beatrix Opal

Makemake by Beatrix Opal

Process Art #1

Dirt

For me, the best part of art is the process of making it. It is so fun to burn and smudge and stamp it. My two artist muses right now are Anselm Kiefer and Marina Abramovic.

Shimmer

2010-08-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

I've been and always fascinated with how simple clothing can be. So lately I have been experimenting with large scarfs as dresses. I wore this last night to a local art reception. I gave Bea a new haircut to match the Nara calendar she got at the MoMa in New York.

Epiphany

2010-08-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

I already miss the culture in New York City immensely. It is a very intense and vibrant environment. As a result of my trip I decided to not continue school in the fall in order to spend more time with my daughter and to become an artist. I am going to do some conceptual and process art as well as fashion vintage photo shoots and start an etsy vintage store. I'm not planning on making money through art. I just love it and feel happy when I'm doing it. It is the most exciting and scary thing I've ever done. I just realized that I didn't want a distraction from my daughter. She is a very amazing little girl and we both love fashion and art and can do it together. I seriously miss New York. I've never felt so at home in a city. I would suggest if you want a guaranteed reply from me to contact me via email: starshipnarcissus@gmail.com. My life just got way more intense and I couldn't be happier.

Museum of Natural History

The Met

MOMA

New York City

2010-08-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

(images via we <3 it)

Just packed my bags. We are leaving tomorrow morning. I'm so excited!

Every Day is Dress Up Day

2010-08-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

shorts and brogues: crimson & clover vintage, blouse: thrifted
shirt: thrifted, shorts: american apparel
dress and shoes: thrift town

The first photo is what I wore yesterday and the red dress I wore earlier this week. Bea is rocking her new thrifted shades hardcore. This month may not have many regular features as traveling and prepping for school has left me little time for creating inovative blog posts. Finally rocked my gorgeous brogues this summer. The weather has been relatively pleasant surprisingly enough. I've been accruing quite a collection of board games for our game night tonight from recent thrifting excursions: balderdash, outburst, scattergories, and trivial pursuit. Haven't been finding much summer attire lately. It is not that I don't have enough clothes for NY I just wanted a beautiful summer dress, maybe I will find it there, which would be even better. I'm so addicted to pretty dresses.

Mondrian Cake

2010-08-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

Piet Mondrian

Henri Mattisse

Ellsworth Kelly

Chuck Close

Frank Stella

Sam Francis

Bea's dress: Once Upon a Child

Orange Vintage Dress: Thrift Town

San Francisco street Style (I really want her glasses and shoes, adorable)

Here are the rest of the pictures from our trip to the MOMA in San Francisco. I wanted to get them all in before we go to the MOMA in New York City next week. I am beyond excited about the trip! It will be my first time there. The big red crescent was by Kelly, one of Bea's favorites. For this kind of art it really helps to be there in person to feel the full effect. I can't believe school is starting in 2 weeks. This summer has been incredible but I am very excited to start my classes.

Diametrically Opposed

2010-08-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

gingham dress: thrift town, shoes: crimson & clover. skirt, sandals and top: crimson & clover vintage

I majorly scored at the Crimson & Clover sale yesterday. My complete outfit was a whopping $9. Today Bea and I scoured all the vintage shops in Sacramento for sunglasses. I've broken or lost all of mine this summer and am in dire need. I couldn't find one pair of vintage shades! All the stores had a huge selection of new ones, but I wasn't feeling them at all. Tomorrow Bea and I will continue our search. I didn't know this was going to be so challenging. I still am so backlogged on posting photos so I'm going to do quite a few blog posts before I go out of town so when I come back I can have a fresh start.

Pyramid Lake

2010-08-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

These are some of the photos from the camping trip. It was so beautiful I didn't want to leave.

Brick

2010-08-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

blouse: vintage thrifted, jeans: american apparel secondhand, shoes: thrifted

pearl necklaces: thrift town

dress and sandals: secondhand

Just got back from camping yesterday and it was epic. I actually saw stars like the ones in my blog background. There were no trees at Pyramid Lake where we camped so the whole sky was open to view. It was overwhelmingly beautiful there. I took these photos last week and loved how the brick wall looked. I love brick houses especially. There are quite a few in my neighborhood.

You Will Love Each Other

2010-08-04T22:33:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit backlogged on posts but I always want to show my most recent work. Today was a great day for California. CA got a bit of it's dignity back after Judge Vaughn Walker overturned Proposition 8. I had a bit of an unplanned contention with a someone in my life (not my husband, he is so very happy about this) who disagrees with the judge's decision. I took the photo shoot shortly after and I think the expressions I made in the photos had a little more depth and meaning than usual (you be the judge). I want through a gamut of emotions today, elation, anger, forgiveness, and sadness. Today was just one of those epic days that went by so slowly and I feel as though I'm a stronger and more empathetic person as a result. Sometimes to truly love someone you have to be confrontational.

shorts: bows and arrows vintage, sandals: thrifted, tank: crimson and clover, dress: thrifted

I totally thought most of these photos were rubbish but I was pleasantly surprised with how quite a few of the them turned out. Goes to show you never can tell- at least from that tiny screen.

Sacramento Stylista: Interview with Jordan

2010-08-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

This is the first of a series of interviews and photo shoots I intend to do on the stylish people of my town Sacramento. I had lots of fun doing the photo shoot for my friend Jordan at this beautiful cemetery off broadway. I find them to be so calming and serene. I've always loved Jordan's style. She manages to look oh so comfortable and effortlessly chic and has such gorgeous vintage pieces. She blogs about her life at Jordan Redskin.

How long have you lived in Sacramento and where did you live before?

Except for a two year period as a toddler in which my parents were attending school in Texas, I grew up here. I moved to San Francisco for some college, then to Berlin for a year. I’ve been living back here since July 2009.

How did you start getting into vintage and thrifting?
My mom. She was always dragging me to thrift and antique stores as a wee one, and I always hated it. I don’t know when the turning point was, but apparently there was one.

What are some of your favorite vintage and thrift stores?
In Sacramento, I love the two sketchier Thrift Towns. Also, Deseret off of I-80 is gigantic and incredibly cheap -- I scored a pair of two dollar kilty/tassel loafers there less than a week ago. The owner of Bows and Arrows once called me “a regular”, so I guess I go in there a lot too. Online, I love Twitch Vintage (and I read Robyn’s blog), and Etsy in general. I guess this doesn’t count as thrift or vintage, but I do love the site achachliebling.com for jewelry -- it’s all handmade in the bay area.

How would you describe your style?
Oh god, I’m not sure. I think my style is just really easy. I don’t consider myself a great stylist, so I usually just try to buy pieces which by themselves are cool; that way, I don’t have to do any work. I do prefer to look a little bit fallen apart rather than completely put together, which makes job interviews a struggle. I love imperfection in style. I find it very inspiring.

What are some of your favorite style blogs?
I read yours, as you’ve probably realized. I began getting really into street style blogs before personal style blogs, and the one that really sparked my obsession was Hel Looks. I also love Another Day to Dress Up, Calivintage, the SF Style, and the not-too-oft updated blog Captain Darjeeling, the writer of which is a good friend of mine from San Francisco (now based in New Mexico). There are so many more that I hate to leave out, but it would just take up too much space.

Who are your style icons?
My friends, mostly. And anyone who makes head-to-toe black look interesting.

What are your other hobbies?

I love journaling, thrifting, sewing, and trying to teach myself how to do different crafts (like upholstering). I like reading, but have no patience for books that don’t grab me with a chokehold within the first few chapters. I also get really into TV shows, and spend a lot of time speculating about them and telling people to watch them. So those of you who haven’t seen Party Down or Arrested Development, make it happen! Oh, and I love cooking. I somehow made myself into a good cook in less than a year, and now I’m having a great time with vegan recipes. I also ride my bike a lot, but that’s more out of necessity.

Favorite food and drink?
I absolutely love Indian food, but can never make it very well. I’m just crazy about fruit (nectarines, blueberries, and cardamom together make the best dessert), and regularly eat spinach sautéed with Tofurky Italian sausages. My favorite beverages are home made iced tea/lemonade, and a good hefeweizen. Germany made me into a beer snob (sometimes).

Favorite books, tv, movies, and music?
Black Hole by Charles Burns is a comic, but a favorite nonetheless. I also really enjoy Roald Dahl, whose kids stories were a big part of my childhood, and whose stories written for adults are wonderfully twisted. My favorite TV shows are Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks, and Party Down (all canceled, by the way. My entertainment is their bad luck). Hedwig and the Angry Inch has been my favorite movie since it came out. I don’t get all that creative when it comes to my music taste, but a few of my favorite artists are Apples in Stereo, the Pixies, Wire, and Buddy Holly. Oh, and David Bowie. I should stop before I get too into listing bands for the necessary street cred.

How has your fashion sense changed over time?
I didn’t start wearing dresses or skirts until my junior year of high school. For a while in college, all of my vintage pieces were polyester. I think I’m feeling more comfortable in simpler outfits, instead of trying to alter and accessorize so much that it hides the piece I loved to begin with.

What are some of your favorite pieces in your closet right now?
I’ve always loved that blue and white dress with the attached necktie. It’s been my favorite for four years or so. I have a gorgeous pair of lace-up kilty boots that I’m excited to wear again in the fall, which are like Doc Martens with a narrower toe. I wore Docs a lot in Germany, because winter shoes are a big ol’ deal there. Wearing something like Chucks in the winter, you will get stared at like a rambling lunatic, even if it’s not snowing. California did not supply me with those instincts, but now I have them forever.

What is your favorite season fashion wise?
Fall. I love tights, and they’re really practical for bike riding.

What is your favorite time period for vintage?
I love mod style, which is funny, because I don’t have many mod pieces in my wardrobe. I like the simple patterns and bold colors. That’s probably also where my obsession with loafers comes from.

What fashion trends do you wish would never come back?
I really don’t like the look of those over-styled, over make-upped scene kids. It’s something I was into when I was much younger, so maybe that hatred is fed by embarrassment. I think that I’m automatically turned off when someone’s look appears to have taken a lot of effort.

What are your tips for finding good thrift finds?
Learn to sew, and find your way (using elbows, if necessary) to a sewing machine! It opens up lots of options for altering clothing that would otherwise be unattractive, particularly if you have specific taste in hemlines like I do.

Stele

2010-08-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

Local Designer Edward An Dress

Stele by Ellsworth Kelly

dress and coat thrifted

Man by Alexander Calder

Prop by Richard Serra

1-1-1-1 by Richard Serra

I love this dress because it is so balletic. Tulle makes everything better. People in the museum were freaking out about this dress. The Elsworth Kelly Sculpture in the rooftop garden of the MOMA is very impressive in person. It is gigantic! Richard Serra's work is so incredible. These pieces are not welded together but gravity holds them in place, no easy feat.

The Fabulous Five

2010-07-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Each month I feature five beautiful outfits* from other style bloggers. Before I forget to mention it, I was recently featured on the Thrift Town website here. I apologize if the descriptions are a bit brief as this weekend is a bit insane (I'm hosting a Mad Men Cocktail Party tonight!) and I wanted to get the feature in on time. Without further ado, here are my July picks of fabulousness.
1. Avalonne Summers of the girl from hk,ldn & sf. I'm a sucker for high-waisted trousers and Avalonne wears them with such panache with a crisp white dress shirt. What a perfect canvas for that gorgeous vintage brooch and shoes. They really stand out well with such a classic pieces. I've been reading her blog pretty much since it's inception and it is an absolute must read, full of gorgeous photography and her unique innate creative sense of style.

2. Arielle of Old Hat Diary. I find so many amazing people from chictopia although the editors seem to despise my style 50 percent of the time. I'm constantly getting taken off the style gallery for good quality photos but I digress. The important thing is I've found some amazing bloggers like Arielle. She wears hats and vintage ingeniously. I love the way she puts together her outfits. That bag and hat with that dress, perfection!

3. Anne of A Cup Full of Sunshine . This photo reminds me of the classic western, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, in the best way possible. That hat is amazing paired with her flowy white dress. Absolutely stunning!

4.Meggstatus of Another Day to Dress Up. I love the way this outfit flows together. The hat and the shorts really complement each other. She is so good at making thrifted and vintage look oh so current!

5.Kelly Lauren of Kelly Shoestrings.I love the scalloped shorts and the bold blue accessories but that shirt is my favorite. Such a distinctive piece! Kelly has a knack for finding incredible vintage.

Thank you everyone who participated in this months edition. You all have incredible personal style.

*predominantly vintage and/or thrifted

Interview: Carys & Amelia of La Vie Inconnue

2010-07-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

I was very pleased that Carys and Amelia of La Vie Inconnue agreed to do an interview for me. They have such a delightful blog and amazing vintage style.

You live in London, are you both from there originally?

Carys-I have lived in London all my life, but my family is Welsh on my dad’s side and Scottish on my mum’s side. The name Carys (pronounced Kariss, because Welsh is spelled quite weirdly) is actually Welsh, it was originally meant to be my middle name, but I liked it so much and I thought its welshness was so cool that I use it as my first name instead.

Amelia-I've never lived anywhere except for London. I rather like this big old grey city but next year will probably be my last year here for a long while. My parents are originally from Ireland, Cyprus and England and I have many relatives in all three places

How are the thrift stores and vintage shops there?

Carys-We don’t actually have thrift stores like they do in America, I am always so jealous of American bloggers! The vintage shops can be quite expensive when you look any older than 1950s, but I often get some good charity shop bargains. If you’re more into retro stuff, like mid 60s and later, it is much more affordable on a student income, and there are some great shops around Brick Lane and Camden with really cool 80s sportswear. If I really want to go on a vintage shopping trip, I head over to the isle of Wight, I never come back without at least one amazing find.

Amelia-The vintage shops here are wonderful but being rather broke most of the time I usually shop at charity shops. It being England there aren't really any thrift stores but the many charity shops sort of make up for it I suppose. It's really easy to live a completely high street shopping free existence in London due to the wealth of vintage shopping opportunities. Some are far more expensive than others and it is becoming harder and harder to snap up bargains but London is still very much a vintage haven.

Carys

How long have you known each other?

Carys- Since we were 11. We were once asked to say how we knew the person next to us as a class activity, and as a really weird joke we thought it would be funny to say that we met when we were six in the park because I taught Amelia to ride her first bike. The actual way we met was in year seven. We were basically really weird when we first started secondary school, and for some reason a group of us decided it would be funny to write a musical about our teachers. This was the first time we spoke to one another. The highlight of this creative experience was me in the middle of the classroom holding a sign saying ‘I am Mr Tyler’, Mr Tyler walking into the room, and me just standing there. To this day, I have no idea what he thought of that, or if he even noticed. He never liked me though…

What got you into starting a blog?

Carys-It is a really weird story actually; I was sitting in my psychology class doing a presentation on type A personalities, when suddenly I had this epiphany; I didn’t want to be an actress at all, I wanted to own a vintage shop! I started thinking of how to achieve this (whilst giving the girl next to me a running commentary of this life-changing experience-sorry Anna!), and decided to start a vintage blog! I don’t really know why this epiphany took place, but of all my impulsive decisions, I think it was a good one.

Amelia-I think Carys and I were motivated in part by being bored during a study period at school. I was also inspired by the first few blogs I read before I had even considered starting my own.

Amelia

What got you interested in vintage clothing?

Carys-I was fascinated by the French street music and chanson of the 30s, and was (and still am) totally obsessed with Edith Piaf at the age of 15. Seeing how much her music, and all music of that time reflected the personal experience and lives of the singers, I wanted to find out as much as possible about the culture in which these songs were written. An inevitable part of this was seeing the clothes-after watching La Vie En Rose, I was just amazed by the costumes. I cut my hair into a 1930s bob within the week, and swapped all my jeans for tweed skirts and berets. I know it sounds quite strange, but something about the 1930s music and consequently the clothes just totally captured my imagination.

I have also always had a typical 1950s figure, which I absolutely hated until one day I saw a 1950s summer dress-not really in keeping with my 1930s-y style at the time-and it fitted perfectly. It sounds quite weird, but not having to have a dress altered was a totally new experience for me. At first I deemed it a fluke (and of course bought the dress!), but then I saw a picture of Elizabeth Taylor in an amazing 50s dress, and decided to branch out into 50s fashion. Every single dress I tried on from the 1950s fitted like it was made for me, and that made me realize that it wasn’t me who was the wrong shape, but the modern clothes I was buying.

There is something quite strange and amazing about putting on a dress from ages ago and realizing that someone my exact height and measurements had been walking around 60 years ago, looking like me. I don’t know how to describe it, I know it sounds a bit weird, but it’s thinking of the memories in the clothes of the women who treasured them that makes me love vintage clothing. When I see a homemade dress, it is definitely the shopping jackpot for me, thinking of the woman who sat down and spent hours making a dress she would then treasure and care for so well that it still survives today.

Amelia- There hasn't ever been a time when I haven't worn vintage. I remember being given a duffel coat from a charity shop when I was about five and being so excited that it had already belonged to somebody else. There was sand in one of the pockets and I whiled away many hours imaging the various exotic locations my coat had been taken too before it met me. Since then it's been a wonderful love affair, I just haven't looked back.

How would you describe your style?

Carys-Amelia used to say that I looked like a French orphan, because I always wore berets and my coat had no buttons for a while, so I used to tie it closed with a shoelace (long story). It totally depends on what is going on in my head on a specific day, and often I’ll swear never to wear a certain decade, and then somehow find myself in it the next week. I have a really short attention span, and the only time that comes in useful is with clothes-the only link between my outfits from day to day is that I only wear vintage (or it looks like vintage).

Amelia-A few years ago Carys told me that my outfit looked like "a sailing granny, in a cool way, I mean a cool sailing granny" and this is still largely true. I guess part Victorian orphan, part geography teacher at the beach, part pensioner and part five year old sailor is the best way of describing it.

Favorite musicians?
Carys-Edith Piaf is basically my favourite ever singer, I don’t think any other music could come close, but I do enjoy a lot of other stuff too. I can be really stuffy and boring about music, but I am not one of those people who enjoy that nice, relaxing background music-it has to really mean something to me. Amelia introduced me to the band Beirut, I absolutely love what they do, I love how much you can hear the influence of other cultures in the music-particularly the French Chanson!

Amelia-I have a tendency to get rather obsessed with a particular band or artist and be able to reel off far too many facts about them for it to be sensible. Then a few months later I'll move on to someone else only to rediscover my earlier favourites. Despite my changeablity Regina Spektor, Beirut, The Smiths, Bob Dylan, The Doors and Jacques Brel will always have a place in my heart.

What are your favorite book or authors and why?

Carys-There are so many! I went through a phase of not reading anything, and it was reading blogs that made me remember just how much I enjoy reading. My favourite books when I was growing up were Harry Potter and Darren Shan, and I still love them and read them today. I actually realized I had never read Lord of The Rings, so I am reading that at the moment and really enjoying it. I found a lot of my favourite books from studying them in English lessons actually. Greengage Summer is probably my favourite of these, it has the most beautiful imagery of the French countryside, I would really recommend it. We also studied Anita and Me, and To Kill A Mockingbird, some more of my favourites.

Amelia-I've always been a bit too bookish, when I was younger I often endend up offending various relatives and friends when it seemed as if I were choosing books over their company. Last year I went through a phase of reading written in or indeed anything to do with the 20s so it was difficult to tear me away from my Evelyn Waugh and F.Scott Fitzgerald. Apart from the continuing 20s obsession I'd count Flaubert as one of my favourite authors. When I'm feeling sentimental I read my chidhood favourites; Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Le Petit Prince.

What are your favorite movies and television shows?

Carys-I don’t really watch tv shows as much as I used to, since I spend more of my free time playing my guitar or Accordion, and blogging, but there are some shows I have really loved. I was so into Ashes to Ashes and Life On Mars (I think they have different versions of these in America?), and I do watch family guy with my sister most mornings, it’s a sort of routine. I know it’s totally childish, but I think Jackass is absolutely hilarious-for someone who falls over so often you’d think I wouldn’t find watching other people fall over, but I do.

My favourite films are Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, Batman, Walk The Line, Atonement, Pirates of The Caribbean, La Vie En Rose, La Fille Sur Le Pont, so many! Some films I love for the costumes: Marie Antoinette, An Education. Films are one of my biggest sources of inspiration for clothing.

Amelia-Despite trying to cut back on TV of late I could never abandon Peep Show, Doctor Who, Curb Your Enthuiasm, anything made by Louis Theroux, anything made by Chris Morris, anything made by Charlie Brooker, and QI.

Favourite drink?
Carys-I am such a typical English person, it would have to be a cup of tea.

Amelia- My hot chocolate obsession is well known but I also love any fruit juice especially anything to do with raspberry. I'm also a big milk fan.

What do you do for fun?

Carys-Play my Accordion or guitar, I recently took up the harmonica, thinking it was so small I could take it everywhere with me and never be bored, but it just made my friends slightly hate me. To be honest, there is nothing I enjoy more than blogging. People ask me if it affects days out, if I feel like I have to put on a complicated outfit, and stop to photograph myself doing whatever it is that I’m doing that day, rather than just enjoying myself. I did wonder about this, but then I realized that the blog actually makes me do much more fun stuff. I used to be quite lazy, sitting around my house and wishing I could be bothered to go out, but now I have to constantly find new locations, new things to post about, and it makes me more adventurous, and I have discovered how much I actually enjoy things I never thought I would.

I often have to travel quite far to find good places for photos, which is difficult during schooltime, but it is so worth it. Since starting blogging, I have able to just sit and read my book outside for hours after taking my photos, which I would never have done otherwise.

Amelia- Aside from thrifting and vintage I love to read, go for walks, watch films, eat lots, make cakes, attempt to alter clothes I bought at times when I overestimated my sewing abilities, I'm also a bit of a photography nerd. In fact I'm generally quite nerdy about most things so you'll find me in front of BBC 4 or carrying far too many books.

How has your fashion sense changed over time?

Carys-Although looking back now to when I first began wearing vintage styles, it was much more modernized 1930s than I wear these days, it was my first deviation into any sort of unusual fashion, I had always dressed more or less like everyone else, so to me it was a massive and very sudden change. I feel like my vintage outfits are more accurate these days-I much prefer wearing the everyday fashions of the time which normal women wear than the glamourized versions seen in period films. For example, the 30s is remembered for the silk bias-cut gowns and the 20s for the sequined flapper dresses, but I much prefer the simple, crocheted dresses of the 30s, or the canvas beach shoes of the 20s.

Amelia-I'd say that the only major change is that I now approach what I wear with more of a sense of humour and fun. I still wear the same sorts of things that I have done since my parents begrudgingly allowed me to choose my own clothes. Being quite young I expect that my sense of style will definitely change in the future, perhaps finally becoming somewhere near grown up at some point.

What are some of your favorite pieces in your closet right now?
Carys-It changes every day! Right now, I have a dress I got recently in a blogger swap which I want to wear all the time but the weather is too hot for it. I have the most amazing 50s ballgown ever, it is gold and floor-length, and it looks like something I imagine princesses would wear. I also got an amazing coat recently, it is burgundy, and has a hood-which I for some reason find very exciting-and it is the one thing consoling me about the end of summer. I found some really weird clogs in one of the charity shops in the isle of wight, they are actually carved out of wood, I can’t describe how amazing they are! They are a little big, so I was going to sell them, but I can’t bring myself to do it, because I know I’ll never see anything like them again. Even though they make the loudest noise due to the metal nailed onto the heels, and they’re so heavy I constantly lose my balance, I love them!!

Amelia- At the moment I'm still living in summer dresses and ankle boots but my favourite pieces are a 50s blouse that my mother bought as vintage herself when she was 14 or so. I'm also rediscovering the brilliance of shorts during summer.

What styles are you planning to wear this fall?
Carys-I have a beret for every day of the week, and I wear them in the winter a lot. I love the idea of layering knitted jumpers with wool tights and knee high boots, and going for long country walks.

Amelia- I can't wait for the colder months, I'm looking forward to wearing greens and reds and cable knit jumpers and warm socks. I'm planning on wearing lots of folk prints and patterns as well as dressing a bit like a farmer. I also have my army jacket from the Berlin airlift that is just perfect for autumn.

What fashion trends do you wish would never come back?

Carys- Fur. I never, ever wear real fur, not even vintage, and would never sell it either. Any fur you see on my blog is fake. I do understand why many people wear vintage fur, since it isn’t increasing the demand as buying modern fur does, but I personally never would. I always think ‘oh god, why did anyone ever wear that?’ about many trends-basically the whole of the 90s-and then I see someone else wear it and look amazing. Basically, my style up until the age of 14 should probably be hidden away never to return.

Amelia-The only thing that I think should never come back are silly high platform shoes. This is partly because my feeble ankles stop me from wearing all but the most practical shoes but mainly due to the inherent dangers of such frivolities. I mean imagine the effects of falling over or tripping up. Being far too clumsy this is of especial concern to me.

For vintage clothing what is your favorite time period and why?

Carys-I tend to wear mostly 40s and 50s, but I will always have a love of the 30's French street culture and clothes. I think that 30s-early 60s clothes suit my body shape best, but I do have a few 70s maxi dresses I bought while I was in a summery mood. I love the 20s because of the cultural significance, how the styles represent the freedom of women from the strict Edwardian society.

Amelia-I love the 20s but unfortunately I can't really wear anything from then without looking rather rotund. I wish I could pull of the grown up structuredness of the 30s or 40s but I'm too clumsy and silly so I'd have to opt for the 60s for winter, the 70s for summer and the 50s for spring.

What are your tips for finding good thrift finds?

Carys-First of all, the best thing you can do is go to places where vintage is unfashionable. Firstly this means that people will write it off as being weird or unfashionable as they don’t know the value of it, and just give it straight to charity shops. And secondly, nobody buys it, so it ends up in the bargain baskets and you can get it nice and cheap! Another thing I have found helpful is to look for newer revivals of old styles. For example, the empire line shape of dresses in the early 40s was repeated in the 80s, many 70s separates had a very 1920s feel to them. I now have three dresses from the 70s and 80s which look really 20s, for a fraction of the price, and they are in much better condition. Lastly, being short. Many vintage clothes are quite small, so being little enough to fit them is a massive bonus. You can often get stuff cheaper too because not many other people will fit it (since most people, unlike me, grow after the age of fourteen). Being able to fit very old clothes is the one thing that consoles me about the fact that I will never be elegant and statuesque.

Amelia- My main tip for thrifting would be to never be afraid to ask questions of the people working in the shops. My second would be to remember to take some answers with a light dose of salt. As always I suggest wearing practical shoes. My usual downfall is buying anything cheap just because it is cheap rather than on the basis of quality. I hyprocritically advise against this. Finally stick to the old Scouts' code; Be Prepared.

Don't forget to check out their wonderful blog, La Vie Inconnue.

Two Dollars

2010-07-26T23:04:00.000-07:00

shorts: american vintage($1), top: crimson and clover vintage($1), bowling shoes: thrifted gift

shorts: diy, shirt: goodwill(25 cents), shoes: thrifted gift

dress: thrifted, shoes: gift

I decided to take a break from museum series and post some outfits I wore this summer. I found the red shorts on my trip to LA. Summer is going by way too quickly.

Deep Gradient

2010-07-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

dress and heels thrifted, shirt and pants: thrifted, boots: gift

These pictures were taken outside the MOMA. This is yet another dress I adore but seldom wear. I still have more posts from the Museum and of course some regular features are in the works. This summer has been pretty intense. I'm looking forward to school starting but I already have more than enough projects, books to read, parties to plan and attend, photo shoots to dream up, and art projects and play dates to attend with Beatrix. My daughter Bea loves painting so much. My life is full of interesting people and places and every day is an adventure I do not take for granted.

The Spirits That Lend Strength Are Invisible

2010-07-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

Ocean Park #67 by Richard Diebenkorn

The Spirits That Lend Strength Are Invisible Part I by Sigmar Polke

The Spirits That Lend Strength Are Invisible Part II by Polke

Note One (of Three Notes from Salalah) by Cy Twombly

Rome, 1971 by Twombly

Academy, by Twombly

dress: crimson & clover vintage, heels: thrifted, disco shirt: thrifted

When I entered the room containing the works by Sigmar Polke I was instantly enthralled. The Polish-German artist just died last month but we can only hope his work will be around for a long time after. It changed my mood to reverent immediately. I was bathed in golden light and felt so much better about life. These pieces were the most moving to me that day. The canvas is metal (tellurium and nickel, respectively), a very difficult surface to paint on but so worth it. We are definitely going to get a membership to the MOMA in San Francisco. We are only a couple of hours away. I can't wait to go back as there was so much art I didn't have time to appreciate. The place is enormous. I still have more posts from that day that I am very excited to unveil. I just found out that the Fisher Collection will be a permanent addition to the MOMA in SF! Only 1/7th of this collection has been shown thus far, so even more impetus to come back as much as possible.

Black Milk of Daybreak

2010-07-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

 The poem that inspired Anselm's painting was written by a Holocaust survivor, Paul Celan.

Death Fugue

Black milk of daybreak we drink it at evening 
we drink it at midday and morning we drink it at night 
we drink and we drink 
we shovel a grave in the air there you won't lie too cramped 
A man lives in the house he plays with his vipers he writes 
he writes when it grows dark to Deutschland your golden hair Margareta 
he writes it and steps out of doors and the stars are all sparkling, he whistles his hounds to come close 
he whistles his Jews into rows has them shovel a grave in the ground 
he commands us to play up for the  dance

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night 
we drink you at morning and midday we drink you at evening 
we drink and we drink 
A man lives in the house he plays with his vipers he writes 
he writes when it grows dark to Deutschland your golden hair Margareta 
Your ashen hair Shulamith we shovel a grave in the air there you won't lie too cramped  

He shouts jab the earth deeper you lot there you others sing up and play 
he grabs for the rod in his belt he swings it his eyes are so blue 
jab your spades deeper you lot there you others play on for the dancing 

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night 
we drink you at midday and morning we drink you at evening 
we drink and we drink 
a man lives in the house your goldenes Haar Margareta 
your aschenes Haar Shulamith he plays his vipers 
He shouts play death more sweetly this Death is a master from Deutschland 
he shouts scrape your strings darker you'll rise then as smoke to the sky 
you'll have a grave then in the clouds there you won't lie too cramped 

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night 
we drink you at midday Death is a master aus Deutschland 
we drink you at evening and morning we drink and we drink 
this Death is ein Meister aus Deutschland his eye it is blue 
he shoots you with shot made of lead shoots you level and true 
a man lives in the house your goldenes Haar Margarete 
he looses his hounds on us grants us a grave in the air 
he plays with his vipers and daydreams der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland 

dein goldenes Haar Margarete

dein aschenes Haar Shulamith

Life Death / Knows Doesn't Know

2010-07-18T01:03:00.000-07:00

cheongsam: thrifted, shoes: vintage gift

Today I spent taking in the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection at the MOMA in SF. I took a few of my favorite fancy frocks to take pictures with the art. What an inspiring day! This was one of the first pieces I saw and one of my very favorites. This week on the blog will be featuring some of the incredible pieces in the museum along with some very pretty dresses worthy of such an environment.

In Memory of Benjamin

2010-07-16T00:33:00.000-07:00

One of my husband Alaric's dearest friends, Benjamin passed away a couple of days ago. He was only 24 and it came as a great shock to us. We have been going through some intense emotions in the last couple of days. He was a very talented artist with incredible style and a wonderful friend and will be greatly missed.

Jumping

2010-07-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

chucks: goodwill, dress and leggings: secondhand

My daughter Bea has been picking this dress out quite a bit for summer. I never have to take that many pictures of her because they all turn out so cute. But I do anyways. I just added an album on my facebook for photos that can't fit on the blog.

American Vintage

2010-07-13T01:18:00.000-07:00

necklace and top: crimson and clover, skirt: American Vintage

I'm back from my trip and especially in retrospect it was quite an epic adventure. Missed my darling family though. I didn't get a chance to do outfit posts there as I had food poisoning for half the trip. The other half was pretty awesome though including Crystal's birthday party, vice magazine's world cup party, Santa Monica's gorgeous beach, and finding the American Vintage Shop. We also had a celebrity sighting at Swingers Restaurant, Pete from Mad Men (which is where I got aforementioned food poisoning!) This skirt was one of the finds in the dollar bin of American Vintage in Los Feliz. I wished some of the 60's dresses there fit me, they were also amazing.

I can't believe I was worried that this hat wouldn't match my clothing. It has been matching a plethora of outfits lately much to my delight.

Morning After

2010-07-08T00:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of lipstick, a local awesome dance party. I woke up in the same dress and decided to take some photos. Here is how we looked pre-party saying bye to our Agnes.

Alaric's awesome vintage shirt via thrift town as is my dress.

There was a sale on sunday at thrift town and Bea got some new shades.

banana split dress: vintage gift from her incredible aunt, shoes: thrift town

I really liked how the pics turned out. The lighting is pretty cool in the morning when I rarely take pics. Modeling my clothes I think will really help me out when I start to photograph others, which I'm really excited about. I have two features of some local fashionistas coming up on the blog and I'm doing their photos! So exciting.

I'm going to LA tomorrow for the weekend with a couple of friends so my blog will be on a brief hiatus. Also I finally started a facebook page for my blog if you want to check it out<3