destitute fashion

The end

2009-06-25T15:53:00.008-07:00

367 posts later, I think this blog has served its purpose. I started it four years ago simply as a way to record my thinking about fashion, which for me at the time was a process of exploration. I was thinking about how I wanted to appear to the world, and how to achieve it. In a sense, it was a record of my search for personal style.

If I look back through it, I know I'll see awkwardness, superficiality, and materialism. When a friend of a friend was told about my blog, his response was, "what's the point of it?" Fair enough. But it wasn't meant to be interesting to anyone else besides me. Still, I'll keep it up on the web as a record of an imperfect time in my life, when I was looking for beauty and hoping some of it might rub off on me.

I have started a new blog that continues to explore my interest in fashion, vintage, and food (the latter a rediscovery of an old passion). It's a bit more presentable, I think, than this blog was ever meant to be.

The end of anything is sad for me. Even when it ends with a sense of completeness.

Granola chic

2009-04-29T18:23:00.004-07:00

My students this quarter have taken to my clothing style. It took one, an older Russian lady, to break the ice. In her thick accent, she said, "I like your shoooz." I asked her if it was too granny, which solicited a chorus of responses from the surrounding students--mostly no, but one yes. The "yes" from the one who had said that he noted my style on all the locals during his visit to Japan, a kind of granola chic.

Since then, a couple times a week, someone says something nice. A's all around!

Anthropologie aims for a younger demographic

2009-04-03T19:52:00.003-07:00

I visited a store the other day, the first time in months. The music was loud and jumpy, not the usual swingey French tunes. Today, I notice the website has a picture of this 20-something girl hawking their "Newbies" line.

I wonder why the company has decided to edge their target demographic lower. Whatever the reasoning, they must be doing something right because I hear their stocks are still rising.

New old resolution

2009-04-01T08:02:00.003-07:00

(pic from the cherryblossomgirl)

Back when I was a wee, poor mouse, I had a rule about clothes: I'd wait half the number in days of the price of the clothing. So for a 20 dollar skirt, I'd wait 10 days, in other words.

Well, that old rule has held me in good stead lately, since I find that my desires vacillate so often.

Here's what I crave now, but it's likely to change.

- cord shorts in seafoam green
- black mini skirt
- black leather skirt & pants ... to be worn with my dorky librarian clothes (kinda embarrassing to try these on in the thrift store)
- a few patterned chiffon tops, most likely from Banana Republic
- whatever goes on sale at a.p.c., especially in tops, skirts, and dresses ... I like to herald the spring season with a new dress from a.p.c.

Destitute

2009-03-09T20:22:00.003-07:00

The Washington Post, "From Rei Kawakubo, Adding Layers of Meaning" by Robin Givhan

Kawakubo didn't abscond with that indigent woman's actual identity -- the designer probably has never even seen this particular woman. But Kawakubo appropriated the one thing that forcefully announces the presence of the disenfranchised in the world, one of the few things that keep them from disappearing: Belongings. The rainbow of fabric in a Sudanese refugee camp, the piles of broken shoes in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, a stack of jackets and parkas in a coat drive. We might not see the individual, but we see their plight. We see something.

Okay, I changed my mind

2009-02-10T19:18:00.002-08:00

The outfits I like are the two at the far right and the one on the far left. I decided against the Russian dress because the scarf is not attached, which makes the dress a simple henley. And I hate henleys. I like the black cutout one because I have a new fervor for black, and the cutouts add just the right amount of detail. Then ditto for the dark dress with the flowers. Perfect slouch.

Waiting for the Sale

2009-02-01T15:16:00.004-08:00

I have a few items bookmarked (mentally) for the A.P.C. sale. I'm thinking that with this recession, the store will again have an early markdown for their Spring collection, just as they did with their Fall collection. So despite the fact that A.P.C. often sells out early, I'm going to wait for these things.

Plus a few items I can't find an image of: the Hamilton dress, the Hamilton top, the Web belt, and the Pocket Skirt. But only if they are marked down. Without a discount, it's only the striped top and the russian dress (above, in the middle) that I really, really want.

Makeup

2009-01-31T12:54:00.002-08:00

Stopped in Sephora today, killing time. Was followed by four separate Sephora ladies around the store. Made me feel quite jittery. I had not a single minute without someone "straightening shelves" nearby or pacing back and forth down my aisle.

Still, I tried on these products:
Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream
Benefit Posietint
Benefit Rose Lip Balm

And I fondled these:
Urban Decay's Lid Liner in Smog (a kind of sparkly grey-green)
Stila Convertible Color in various colors
Giorgio Armani Gio
Marc Jacob for Men
Burberry Touch

Thrift Triumph

2009-01-28T17:16:00.000-08:00

It's only my thrift-store finds that garner compliments.

a.p.c. dresses

2009-01-18T16:56:00.006-08:00

love their dresses. simple cuts, so they're easy to layer. the only fancy touches are the location of the waistline and the prints and fabrics. there is a naive quality about them as well, where they betray their french pedigree.

the ones that i have earmarked for spring: the simple smock with the tie neck and another with ruffled sleeves.

new idea for a uniform

2009-01-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

mini skirts
long cardigans
thin tees

all in black...

international students from asia

2009-01-18T12:48:00.004-08:00

at school, the international students wear the cutest outfits. two styles in particular have recently caught my eye:

* the very colorful, very "kawaii" style--full of tee shirts, animal iron-ons, childish prints, etc.

* the high-maintenance babe style--louis vuitton bag, heels, skinny legs, and immaculately pressed clothes

Left behind

2008-12-10T23:53:00.002-08:00

"I love Tokyo" t-shirt
plaid flannel button down
green cotton military parka
hanging ceramic plant pot
homemade painting, badly mounted

oh, recession. you leave me with regrets.

taking a break

2008-10-15T12:31:00.001-07:00

i have to reconsider what i want to do on this blog.

2008-09-28T21:53:00.002-07:00

Buying clothes lacks the pure pleasure of a few years ago. The recession comes into play, of course, but only in indirect ways. My personal income is the same, and I don't fear losing my job any more than at any other time, but it feels unseemly to carry on in the same blithe way.

The real loss of pleasure comes more from an awareness of why I buy things--to fill a void. It's not a tremendous revelation, but only so when applied personally.

The more things I have, the more aware I am of the emptiness that all these things cannot stem.

Still, I buy far less often now but with a great deal more care and thought. And that is where the pleasure derives, these days. Now when I acquire something, there's greater knowledge of myself involved, that I know what I like and don't like.

Labor Day sale

2008-09-03T08:29:00.002-07:00

I went to the Value Village on Labor Day, during their 50% off sale. After much trawling for goods, I came up with a tailored grey wool blazer (found miscategorized in the boy's section), Bass Weejuns loafers with tassels, and a striped scarf (very very outsized...I plan to pile it around my ears come this winter).

Fall list

2008-08-22T21:34:00.004-07:00

black capsleeve sweater
pencil skirt
sweater(s)
wooly cardigan in a dark neutral, like grey or mushroom
wooly cardigan in a nordic knit
clarks wallabees
wooly tights

wants

2008-08-14T05:47:00.000-07:00

desk
sofa
filson backpack
travel/camping supplies

Since the A.P.C. sale

2008-06-23T20:44:00.001-07:00

I have seriously curtailed my clothing acquisitions. I placed a big order during the summer sale (I anticipate this sale for months ahead of time), some of which I plan to decide upon and return once they arrive. So now I think I am mostly finished with summer stuff. It never gets that warm here, anyway.

I also have to reserve my funds for other purchases, like camping gear.

college style

2008-06-17T15:07:00.002-07:00

been thinking about how i used to dress in college. i was more in tune with my personal style then, and less in style. didn't follow trends.

instead, my small wardrobe--which fit into a cardboard box whenever it was time to move--consisted of:

tee shirts
one pair of jeans
a few skirts
overalls
flower print dress (which I still have)
one pr of oxford shoes with lug soles
one pr of birkenstock

my look, such as it was, was kinda crunchy granola.

at some point, i decided that i liked the "coltish" look and so acquired a few skirts and some chunky shoes (see above) and wore that much of the time.

overalls

2008-06-17T11:50:00.003-07:00

i've found the perfect pair. oshkosh b'gosh, kid size 12. it's sturdier than any pair i've ever had, but not stiff. there is a green taping ribbon reinforcing the bottom. the sides are low, with only two buttons (much cuter than any tapered overalls). and the length is perfect! no overall puddle at my feet.

simple

2008-06-16T02:13:00.009-07:00

part of my inspiration to go cheap is from noting the style that i admire in the blogosphere.

just a simple vintage nightie worn with a slip. i think the belt pulls the outfit together beautifully.

another example of her repetition of a theme. in the earlier shot, the caramel color of her accessories. here, the ruffles in the top and bottom.

nothing extraordinary in the pieces. since i've noticed how important belts are to finishing an outfit, especially one based around skirts or dresses, i acquired another one today. a large woven leather belt handmade in turkey.

just the sort of simple vintage silk dress that you always hope to find in your thrift store circuits. it's the will o' the wisp of the thrift world: the piece elusive but much sought after, that keeps you going when all you keep finding are duds.

money

2008-06-15T23:46:00.003-07:00

i've come to the decision that money isn't that necessary for a good wardrobe, and in fact can be detrimental to personal style.

a little bit of money is good. it's elevated the quality of my clothes, and i'm less likely to see someone walking by in my outfit. i like being able to afford clothes in anthropologie, my favorite clothing store. i couldn't find a similar style in the gap, for example.

but beyond the occasional $50 item, and the quality leather goods like shoes and handbags, i don't see the need to spend a lot for clothing. i've returned to thrifting, and i'm finding again unique pieces that speak more to my personal style.

so my new spending goal? thrift. spend less on stuff. less impulsive buys. really love what i get. and only splurge on a.p.c. basics and (sometimes) the stuff i couldn't find in f21 or other store.

i regret the wastefulness of the past few years, but i guess i was figuring things out. i have a big pile of things to take to the used clothing shops this week.

Apple pendant watch

2008-06-12T11:28:00.004-07:00

I originally wanted the cherry version, but this is pretty cute too. A little pop of red, a little dose of metaphor (the teacher's apple), a little bit of time.

Practical gaps in my wardrobe

2008-06-02T16:25:00.001-07:00

hoodie
hanes white tees for jogging
fleece zip up
wool underlayer
another pair of hiking socks

Orla Kiely

2008-05-28T22:45:00.003-07:00

I preordered this handbag. Originally offered on the Anthropologie website, soon after spotted on the streets of Seattle, and located long after the fact for jacked-up prices on eBay and then on Revolve for less than Anthropologie prices.

favorite brands

2008-05-26T12:55:00.003-07:00

clothes:
a.p.c.
anthropologie
american apparel
forever 21
(wishlist: see by chloe & marc by marc jacobs)

shoes:
clarks
converse
repetto
a.p.c.
worishofer
sven
(wishlist: chie mihara)

handbags:
marc by marc jacobs
miu miu

jewelry:
forever 21
tiffany's

favorites

2008-05-26T10:54:00.002-07:00

in heavy rotation. at the moment.

faded denim cropped overalls (jordache, thrifted)
3/4 layering tees in white and yellow (j.crew and c&c california)
suede desert trek shoes (clarks originals)

short hair

2008-05-26T10:20:00.002-07:00

i like this haircut on michelle williams.

cute little bob. flips at the end.

running

2008-05-26T10:06:00.003-07:00

going to start running as an exercise regimen. picked up a pair of addidas running shoes, 25% off at macy's. later this week, i'll get a pair of interlock running shorts from american apparel, in grass green, and some athletic socks.

more madness

2008-05-24T04:12:00.004-07:00

anthropologie
high-waisted denim skirt with tie ... kind of a casual french feel
canvas tulip skirt ... perfect for work, nice with my clarks
brown jersey top ... earthy

forever 21 during a speed shopping jaunt
stiff denim puffy mini ... it's gotta be a knockoff of something

urban outfitters
white tee with girl's face on it ... i got it simply for the pink in her hair
studded belt ... subtly beaded, another one that needs hole punching

anthropologie online
wide leather belt ... to cinch the waist over skirts and dresses
green striped top ... i saw this full price months ago

insomniac order

2008-05-23T04:10:00.001-07:00

Getting to a uniform

2008-05-09T01:43:00.002-07:00

I want to have a uniform. so that i can minimalize my closet, streamline getting ready in the morning, have everything coordinate with everything else, and reduce the number of wrong purchases i make. if i know what i really love to wear and how i love to wear it, it will also make shopping easier, and i'll feel less guilty about buying big-ticket items.

Rachel Comey Gimlet Wedge in Black

2008-04-23T21:32:00.001-07:00

Rachel Comey Gimlet Wedge in Black, originally uploaded by Impulse Seattle.

this grew on me.

it's so odd but lovely. the carved wedge heel is the best part. i won't put in on my wishlist, but i wish for it.

Bonus

2008-04-23T19:19:00.004-07:00

So I may be coming into some unexpected cash soon.

possible wishlist??

-trip. NYC. or else. out to the country and the islands!
-marc by marc jacobs sunglasses. i wanted a pair last year and was dissuaded. still want.
-wait for the a.p.c. summer sale.
-transmission fluid change for the car.
-nikon d40
-sex and the city dvd set.
-motorcycle jacket...a real one for the scooter.
-open face helmet
-goggles.

hmmm...it's like christmas, trying to remember all the things i wanted that i tried to forget, since i had no moola to get them.

2008-03-18T15:18:00.001-07:00

trying very hard not to buy any spring or summer things. just not practical in this cold and wet climate. besides, i still have all the summery things i hauled up from texas.

Regrets

2008-03-17T00:57:00.003-07:00

I wish that I had gotten the Isabel Marant short wool skirt this winter. It went on Thanksgiving sale for 30% off, but I was hoping for more. As it is, I see that the choicest offerings from Isabel Marant rarely goes on deep sale.

So now I know. Add that skirt to the list of waited-too-longs. Included would be the APC smock dress that I was hoping would come around again this summer, but it looks like no.

Oh well. That only encourages me to sharpen my thinking when it comes to clothes. I have to be able to discern when to strike, and when to wait.

This summer, I don't want to buy anything spendy at all. It's a waste for summer clothing. But I do want to invest in some good quality heels, either vintage or in the better end range. Have to save my pennies for that.

Wanted

2008-01-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

thick wooly ribbed grey or lighter tights

...

to wear with my new nerd-chic shoes

Yay APC

2008-01-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

I absolutely adore everything about this outfit.

- dove grey, muted color
- soft corduroy
- short skirt
- overalls
- trench coat
- kinder-block necklace

I love A.P.C. They provide the cornerstones to my wardrobe expansion.

Window shopping

2007-11-27T19:09:00.003-08:00

I'm dealing with a load of guilt lately, so I didn't buy anything although I went shopping/browsing today.

My current want list:

mini skirt in a thick material (wool or thick cotton)
teal tights
light purple tights
french sole sloop flats in metallic gold, brown, red, or blue

American Apparel

2007-11-25T03:07:00.000-08:00

casual, sporty, functional...in a retro brown color

the tri-blend is supposedly super soft and the holiest of holies, the perfect tee

i tried it on in the store several weeks ago, and still want it. it must be love.

short and skimpy

Magpie

2007-11-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I packed up another box of clothes to try to sell at the secondhand shop before they make their way to Goodwill.

I have adjusted my goals, though. there is no way that I'll ever just buy 4 or 5 pieces in one season (the so-called "French" method of dressing). I love shopping and acquiring too much. I'll be charitable and say it's the magpie in me.

But I still want to pare down my wardrobe to its most edited, functional form. And I still like the challenge of constant revision, if for no other reason than it makes me pull things out from the back of the closet.

Disaster

2007-11-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

My demise.

Feeling blue + free shipping = credit card disaster

Tights

2007-11-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

Could not find the burgundy or teal tights at Nordstrom today. The only colors hanging from the spinney racks were various iterations of grey or black. Well, there was a dark blue fishnet, but that was too Hot Topic for me.

List

2007-11-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

buy:
burgundy tights
teal tights
knee high socks

to do:
returns
bring leather goods to cobbler
sell clothes to secondhand shops
bring leftovers to Goodwill

Favorite eBay seller

2007-11-10T10:36:00.001-08:00

Her thrift finds are on-trend, but not really all that remarkable. But her styling is superb, though. I visit her store just to see how she puts together the look, almost like an editorial.

Her favorite props:
knee high boots or
pixie boots
vintage or indie jewelry
fishnet stockings
gold-colored accessories

Midnight Special

2007-10-09T20:14:00.001-07:00

Loneliness late at night can be relieved by only a few things. Breakfast at Tiffany's, a light on at the end of the hallway, a midnight call to a really close friend, and internet shopping.

It's a sad fact.

And so. I have two C&C California extra long sleeve tees coming my way.

I love the extra long sleeves because I can pull them over my thumbs. I feel a little more invulnerable with my wrists covered.

The theme this winter? Warmth. Both physical and psychological.

Warmth

2007-10-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

I'm obsessed with warmth.

Before style, comfort or function, I want to know, "is it warm?"

First official winter piece

2007-09-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

I'm holding the purse strings close, but I adore this sweater. Shipping was free, and the coupon was expiring, so I ordered it.

I love the thick-knit, smooshy wool. The quirky, outsize details. The childlike frills and furbelows.

I want to feel like I'm wrapped in a big and warm blanket all winter.

Recent purchases

2007-09-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

smock top (I love the high school art teacher look)
indian-print housedress
cap-sleeve keyhole top

I am trying my darnedest to be more focused and relevant in my purchases. So while I am drawn to and habitually buy dresses and flats and things like that, I hardly ever wear those things. So instead, I'm really trying to fill in the gaps in my wardrobe. That means warm sweaters, cotton tees, and other layer-able tops.

Thift stores

2007-08-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Today I went on a thrifting expedition. My notes on the experience

Salvation Army (SODO)
- clothes: disorganized
+ housewares: varied, extensive
+ prices: cheapie
the tall black man gives discounts and freebies (I got a free CD)

Goodwill (Burien)
didn't look too long, but nothing much

St. Vincent de Paul (Burien)
+/- clothing: good for some vintage, not so good contemporary
+ books: usually good
+ housewares: varied
+ knicknacks
- prices: on the high side for a charity shop

Goodwill (main location)
- clothing: bad
+ books: really great
+ prices: good, especially compared to others
extensive selection, but dirty

Constantly revising wishlist

2007-08-24T23:08:00.001-07:00

1. black pants. 3-season weight. no lining. cotton. $$$
2. oversized, slouchy sweater. $$
3. layering tees. (j.crew.) $
4. winter shoes. ankle boots or oxfords. leather. lace-up. $$
5. medium-size handbag. leather. shoulder worn. cute. simple. $$$
6. blouses. simple. layer-able. cotton/silk/wool ... natural material. $
7. scarf. windable. $
8. maybe high-waisted denim

must resist dresses, sleeveless tops, more jeans.

So following my new spending calculus, less for tops, more for leather goods and bottoms.

Rain

2007-08-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

I've become taken with the idea of rain hats. It came about a few weeks ago as I was dashing out the door when it was drizzling out, thinking how nice it would be to have a cute little bucket hat to cover my head. This idle thought reached a fever pitch the other day when I was caught in a heavier rain whilst walking around outside for a good 20 minutes. By the time I got indoors, my hair was a frizzball.

At first, I thought a little Coach hat might do the trick. Yes, it's logo-ish, but when the weather is adverse, I think people forgive questionable fashion.

But if I wanted to really take advantage of that fashion rule, this Noreaster hat makes the absurdity of 30 days of rain (like last year) a little more fun.

I briefly considered a 3.1 Phillip Lim rain slicker as a high-fashion alternative. But I think it's a little too much and I would get tired of it by day 27.

So I ended up with a Land's End kid's hat in yellow, not blue as pictured here. I think it's functional, cute, and cheap. Can't beat that. (Psst. I might still get the Noreaster hat. It's just too fun.)

Likes and dislikes

2007-08-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Finding your personal style is such a vague, amorphous, fluctuating enterprise, but it begins simply enough with just figuring out what you like and dislike. I try to keep tabs on my likes and dislikes every few months so that I can adjust my shopping accordingly.

Likes:
necklaces, scarves, neckties
layered tops
subdued colors (but trying to push at this a little bit)
bare legs
quirky but comfy shoes
cardigans

Dislikes:
changing earrings
dangling earrings
textured shirts
button downs
flip flops

What I think I like but don’t:
dresses
complicated outfits
handbags
tee shirts
corduroys
flats
knee socks
spaghetti strap tank tops

What I think I don’t like but do:
cowl neck sweaters
high heels
jewelry, as long as they’re semi-permanent

What I think I might like and will try out this season:
brooches
rain hats
oversized sweaters

Spending calculus

2007-08-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

More on pants, outerwear, accessories like shoes and handbags
Less on tops, tees, dresses, prints

because

It's harder to make well-fitting pants than it is to make tops and dress.
Prints look dated quickly.
Cheap leather shows in quality and comfort.

Style folder

2007-08-21T23:00:00.001-07:00

I organized my digital style inspiration folder today. By the end of all the pointing, clicking, and moving, my fingers were sore.

But now I have an organized file of the images that move me in some way. I have them organized in several subfolders labelled thusly:

Hair
Editorials/Models/Runway
Muses & demi-muses
Beautiful things
Candid photography from various blogs
The Fashion Spot

These are a few random images from each of the subfolders.

Fall wardrobe needs

2007-08-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

The clothes that get the most use in my closet are the ones that I bought after having identified a gap in my wardrobe. That is, when I would get dressed in the mornings, I would be thinking to myself how nice it would be to have "X" to pull together my outfit. I think for this winter, these are the "X" factors.

I really need another pair of winter shoes. I wear the same old tired Doc Marten sneakers day in and day out. That's because they're comfortable and keep my feet warm and dry, but surely there must be others that might fit the bill? I have beenthinking about ankle boots or simply another pair of oxfords. I really like the versatility of the Clarks desert boots, but they don't import the women's version to the States.

I also would like to get one or two thick, cuddly sweaters. I'd like them to be oversized and slouchy, perhaps even falling off one shoulder. I'd like to also find a vest cardigan and a cardigan in neutral colors that I can layer.

Besides that, I think I need at least two more tops that I can wear to work. Cotton will ensure that they get worn. While I love the idea of silk (it seems like the most romantic of fabrics), I never actually wear silk tops. Too fussy for me in real life. This tie-neck swing top from Phillip Lim is just the kind of beautiful, simple top that I actually would wear and love wearing.

My layering tees from J. Crew get constant rotation, so I plan to get a few more to replace the ones that have gotten stained and holey.

And I would love to get a leather jacket. But I don't know if I'll find the perfect one, and I'm only willing to drop the dough on a perfect one.

The operative word this winter is WARM!

Waiting for the mid-season sale

2007-08-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

The Fall/Winter collection at A.P.C. this year looks fairly redundant. Partly, it's their schtick to offer basic, well-made pieces, but this year looks so much like last year, you have to wonder why you even need anything new. Conclusion: I don't. Except for these three things that I'll wait for the sales to acquire.

The cable knit hat, except in grey, on the girl at the far left. I like the idea of skull caps, but they look funny on my skull. I think this version looks more wearable, warm, and effortless.

And the reptile-print wedges on the girl second to left. Reptile prints go with everything. Perfect.

The black smocked dress, which I adored the minute I saw it. I love the severity of it, for those days when you want to skulk around in the rain. Reminds me of Jane Eyre.

Vintage, you are no friend of mine

2007-08-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

I preferred the days when vintage was simply "thrift" or "secondhand" clothes. When my sisters would cry "ewwwwww!" at the thought of wearing somebody's castoffs. When I could riffle through the racks on a Saturday afternoon with only a few Mexicans (it was Texas, ya'll) and frazzled moms as company.

Because this meant that you could find things for cheap. Nowadays, you have every impoverished trendwhore and hipster wannabee in the shops with you, beating you to the good stuff. Damn them.

And you find that the belt you bought for $3 at Goodwill is being sold online for $75 because it's been labelled "vintage."

Wishlist

2007-07-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Minkoff date clutch
I want a large, daytime clutch that I can tuck under my arm when I go on my errands. I like the idea of a beautiful, simple piece of leatherwork as a handbag. Will wait until it goes on sale somewhere.

A.P.C. black smocked dress, Fall/Winter collection
The collection this Fall season is rather watered-down and disappointing. Too much like past seasons in some ways (the things that I don’t need), and too little like them in others (in the things I do, like crepe-soled boots or a fantastic winter coat). Of all the things, though, I am enamored with this little black number, with its moody inkblot color and monastic lines. Will wait for the Winter clearance sale in mid-December. Still a lot of winter remaining then!

I’ve changed my budget to reflect a birds-eye view of my sartorial acquisitions. So now my budget spans several months (two seasons in Seattle: rainy, and summer) instead of one month, and that allows me to buy more strategically. Perhaps I’ll spend more than one month’s budget on one item, but I’ll get less items overall, and I’ll be sure that it’s something that can work for me the entire season at least.

The contraction of my budget has forced me to dive deeper into my existing wardrobe. I come across items that I don’t really love anymore, and I find that the next time I go shopping, I have a better idea of what will hold up in my affections. But I’m also moving through my wardrobe more as well, and I wear things that I had tired of. I do like the idea of wearing my clothes until they grow tatters.

Evolution

2007-07-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

I've become a major online (window) shopping addict. It hasn't always been this way. I was an 80s mall rat like the rest of my generation, cruising the air-conditioned stores with my high school friends. But as I see it, several key events came together to turn me away from the stores and on to the little square screen. Catalogs were the first step.

In graduate school, catalogs were the only passive entertainment available to me. And between reading two books and grading 50 papers every week, I needed some passive entertainment. Television was not around, my internet was rudimentary (dial-up for God's sake!), and even my movies were foreign and required me to read.

I particularly loved the Oilily catalogs. They seemed magical to me, with little rosy-cheeked Dutch tots in a perfect world of colorful textiles and old-fashioned playthings.

What I like

2007-07-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

It's good to take an inventory now and then of what you like and don't like, what works for you and doesn't. Now that my budget has changed, my purchases have slowed down A LOT, and I find myself picking things much more carefully. While the price tag of individual items hasn't gone down by much, the number of things has.

What works for me:
Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes -- I have a pair of glittery platform sandals from last summer that I still love. It feels like the arrival of spring when I pull them out from their box.

A.P.C. -- I like the simple, quiet, and versatile aesthetic that permeates the collection. And I can use this brand to expand my wardrobe with foundational pieces, especially since most of their items go on 50% sale about midway through the season. (But you have to act quickly. The summer sale occurred about a month ago, and the choicest items sold out within hours online, but I did snag a few new items.)

necklaces -- Of all the accessories that I own, I switch out necklaces the most often.

What doesn't work for me:
Earrings, bracelets -- I wear the same Tiffany diamond posts and jade bracelet every day.

handbags -- Nothing ever really grabs me and holds on. Yes, I get feverish crushes now and again, but they all end up fizzling out almost immediately upon procurement.

dresses -- I think they're the prettiest little things, but I never wear them. I think they feel heavy on me, and drag me down.

And here's a new test of what I know I won't end up liking...If I find that I have to persuade myself into an acquisition, especially if I picture myself in some sort of glamorous setting, then it's a no.

I'll add more observations as they come to me.

The mailman

2007-07-16T17:05:00.001-07:00

...has started saying, "I'll see you tomorrow!" when he hands me yet another package.

Oh the shame.

Oxford shoes

2007-07-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

I wear oxford shoes all the time in the winter and often at all other times because 1) I like comfortable shoes 2) I don't hem my pants. Flats look terrible when your frayed hems are dragging along the ground.

But I get tired of them sometimes. So masculine, so clunky. Sometimes I want an in-between alternative.

Like these, which I hope will work. They are modeled after 1920s tennis shoes. Cute, huh?

Summer girls

2007-07-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

They reappear this time of year like little woodland nymphs reemerging after a long winter season.

This picture of Brigitte Bardot summarizes to me what they try to capture when they put on their pretty things: ephemeral beauty. That dangerous nymphette charm that Nabokov wrote about.

But why try to capture something that is ephemeral? It's a losing proposition, after all.

I might quote a friend and say, it's because of the whiteness of the whale. The railing against certainty and death--the certainty of death, yes, but also just certainty itself.

Perhaps both men and women hunt for an elusive thing. Though these things might seem so different--to kill one thing, to hold another--the reasons are one and the same. And both, fairly impossible.

Cupid

2007-07-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

Kind of like the grey kitten that I wished for as a child and expected just to appear one day at the end of the sidewalk, I had some idea that somebody would wander on to the Saks Web site, find this necklace, and realize that it was just right for me.

But I ordered it myself yesterday on sale. Almost as good.

Good things come to those that wait

2007-07-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

What is it about fashion that encourages obsession? A few months ago, perhaps back in early fall, I fell in love with a handbag. I've fallen in love with handbags before, but not to this degree. I saw the bag, I loved it from afar, I collected images off of purse forums, and I waited. During a first markdown online, someone had beat me to it and I lost my chance on getting this handbag on a deal.

Through some fortuitous Internet sleuthing, I found out who had bought the handbag. She was a member of an Internet forum I visit sometimes. She planned to return the handbag. From the online reps, I found out how long it took for a returned item to be reposted. I bookmarked the product page and waited. I checked daily for months. But alas, the bag never reappeared.

Many months later, the only change I ever saw on the product page was a second markdown. It was moot, though, since there was no item to buy. I came close to deleting that bookmark, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I had grown to enjoy checking up on my bag, like a little Internet pet. I suppose it's just one of the strange attachments that the Internet breeds.

So anyway. I idly opened all my bookmarks a few days ago, and lo and behold, the item had reappeared under the summer clearance! I hopped on that junebug!

So it's on its way to me now, at last.

Actually, I fully expect NOT to love the bag once it arrives, but what is it that they say? It's the journey, not the thing in itself. In this case, it was the waiting and the pining that was the most excruciatingly, exquisitely enjoyable.

What to pack for hot weather

2007-06-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

1 sheer long sleeve shirt in white, for layering
2 casual skirts
1 dress (at most)
1 pair sandals
1 pair flip flops
1 pair dressier shoes
1 pair jeans for airport
3 pairs shorts
2 loose tanks
3 tee shirts
1 dressier blouse
1 floppy, collapsible sunhat

and, for comfort...
tin of black, green, and chamomile tea
journal
pens

buy books and magazines on the road

Plane outfit

2007-06-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

overalls
white tee
grey cardigan
oxfords

Now I'm in a clime 30 degrees hotter. So, still the white tee but with shorty shorts and sandals.

When she saw the Birkenstocks, my sister was like, "you still wear those things?"

I said, "yes, they're my thing."

Hausfrau shoes

2007-05-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Ironically, my orthopaedic shoes from Germany are giving me blisters. Or actually, two raw, exposed circles with a flap of skin hanging off.

I am wearing them for the first time today since buying them last year just before winter (sale. 'Nuff said). I love them. They're bright red with a tiny cork wedge.

I like the idea of being in the shoes of a German housewife. I picture her, sturdy and stout, standing in the frameway of a door, wearing a housedress with a calico print and holding a wooden spoon. So far removed from the actual use of these shoes in my life, as they take me through broken-up sidewalks, past graffiti-covered walls, and to my school with the high security alert set for tomorrow.

Fashion gives me license to dream.

Givenchy Nightingale

2007-05-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

It's the bag of my dreams. Quite literally. I dreamed last night that I was shopping at a discount luxury store of some sort (Off Fifth? Last Call?), when I came across it. It was on sale at about 75% retail, but in a shocking pink color. In my dream, I tried it on but decided against it because of the color.

Here's the color that I love, the blue patent.

On the TFS thread, a member described it as a handbag having "moxi" because of the long, thick strap with a zipper running along its length. Apparently, it resembles a bondage mask. Sometimes it's even called the "bondage bag" instead of its actual name, the Nightingale.

This bag sings to me.

Silver cart

2007-05-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

When I first came to Seattle, I worked at a pushcart in a downtownish market, selling silver jewelry. There were three main girls who rotated shifts at the cart: me, a punkish blonde, and a ditzy brunette. The other two girls were about 19, and I was many years removed from 19. Still, they were nice enough colleagues to pass the time with--gossipy and vaguely sweet in that 19-year old way.

I saw the formerly punkish blonde last night at the mall. She works for the same people, but now she's stationed at a cart located in a suburban mall, the market having been remodelled into a grocery store. Last I heard, the owners had made her an assistant manager. I doubt she finished the pastry cooking school (pastry, because she was vegetarian) she had enrolled in just before I quit. These days, instead of wearing all black clothing and heavy eyeliner, she sports a poodle perm and cotton dresses from Macy's.

Eyelet

2007-05-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

I don't even like eyelet, but I find myself the owner of two expensive eyelet blouses. This situation goes against everything that I stand for in shopping.

1. I spent a lot of money on summer clothing. (Typically, summer clothes are bright, trendy, disposable, and cheap.)
2. I acquired something that I don't love.

Perhaps it dates back to an image imprinted into memory from my college days. I remember standing at the bus stop next to a girl in a thin, almost sheer blouse. The sunlight shone on her, and she seemed so girlish in an unassuming, fragile way, there in her summery cotton frock. I've always loved that image.

Scooter jacket

2007-05-22T16:16:00.001-07:00

Now, this one is perfect, except that it's for men. Even the smallest size will likely be too big for me.

But I love the tight, tough fit.

That's how I want to seem on my motoscooter. Tough.

Grrrr.

Scooter vocabulary

2007-05-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

I got a scooter last weekend, and so now I'm looking for gear to go with it.

In the world of motorcycling and its various iterations, moto-specific clothing is called "gear," not clothing. And when you add things on to your bike, it's "modifications," not accessories.

Men.

Tops

2007-05-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot of tops in my closet. Rather, I have mostly jeans and skirts and other bottoms. It stems from a pattern of buying acquired in my teenage years.

It used to be that I got depressed about my looks every time I looked in the upward vicinity of my body, and so when I tried on tops, I usually just gave up and put the item back on the rack. And it had always been so difficult in finding proper jeans that fit when I was younger, that I'm still conditioned to purchase pants whenever I find something "close enough."

So now I have to make a conscious effort to balance out my acquisitions. More tops than bottoms. It's slow going, but currrently I'm enamored with the idea of pussy bow tops like this one. I like the irony, the slight tinge of 1950s working girl. And I think it's cute.

Consuming fashion

2007-04-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

I went into the Gap looking for high fashion. Three hot young designers were commissioned to create riffs on the iconic white shirt, and I was in pursuit of Rodarte's petal blossom tank and trapeze top. The SA whom I called urged me to "come in as soon as possible" because he couldn't guarantee how long they would last.

So I took the bus into downtown today. Found them, tried them on, and put them back on the rack. Then I wandered down to Anthropologie and didn't even try on a single thing (excepting shoes. of course, shoes...).

An odd moment for me. While everything looked nice, nothing grabbed me in the had-to-have-it kind of way. Nothing sparkled. Nothing caught my fancy.

I think it's the fact that I haven't been browsing lately. Perhaps the whole "consuming fashion" business relies on induced desires bred by imagery and aspiration. It's a partly hypnotic state, because otherwise, it seems completely foolish to spend a few hundred dollars on a few squares of fabric.

Texas

2007-04-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

I look forward to summer immoderately. Not because of where I am now, in the eternal grey blanket of the Northwest, but because of where I have been, the land of sun and ten-gallon hats.

So despite all cues missing, I am stocking up for warm days and light breezes. I seek out dresses with flippy hems, sleeveless tanks, and flat sandals.

It's the only bit of summer I can have so far.

I dreamed of two

2007-03-29T19:40:00.001-07:00

Tsunami
To see a tsunami in your dream, represents that you are being overwhelmed by some repressed feelings or unconscious material that is rising up to the surface. You are experiencing some unhappiness and emotional instability in some waking situation.

From the Daddy Likey blog

2007-03-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

How to Wear a Scarf Without Looking Like an English Teacher

I know an English teacher who favors scarves. She often looks like that representative picture on the posting.

Now that I'm poor

2007-03-27T02:04:00.000-07:00

I shop by eBay. Where you can find a cornucopia of random, off-season NWT items to your heart's content.

I'm super cheap and I want a mondo-bargain, so I have missed many good things. I don't mind so much because I hate the idea of not being able to return. And as anyone knows, a good shopper is a good returner.

Moving

2007-03-24T08:04:00.001-07:00

The clothes were one of the first things to be unpacked, but the last things to be accessible.

Need

2007-03-13T01:09:00.000-07:00

. almost to the knee black skirt in semi a-line
. white and black v neck tees in 3/4 sleeve
. black pants

eBay

2007-02-27T16:04:00.000-08:00

A parade of items lost lately:

And one item won:

Mulberry Bayswater

2007-02-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

I love this handbag more and more, as it breaks in and grows smooshier. It's like a teddy bear for grown-up girls. I can sit it on my lap and hug it.

I love it despite the fact that it is causing me great physical pain to carry on my shoulder.

Yoox

2007-02-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

A few items.

. The men's style oxfords I've been looking for. I hope the bi-color leather will be whimsical, rather than clownish.

. A thin wool sweater in black. I tried this item on months ago, but passed at that price. Now that the price is a third what it was then, I'll try agan.

. A wool v-neck sweater vest in cream. I find myself layering with vests this winter just to keep warm.

Vroom

2007-02-18T12:14:00.000-08:00

If cars are indeed extensions of the body, my body has recently gotten lighter, faster, and cleaner. Gone are the bags of clothes meant to be taken to Goodwill, but instead left inside the leaky trunk to moulder and mildew. Gone too are the broken-down radiator, can of paint (though the ring of rust stayed), Tupperware with half-eaten potato chips rattling inside, assortment of forks and spoons, cassette tapes, and gallon jugs of water. I vacuumed the inside clean of spilled dirt, shredded leaves, and sand, so now every seat can be occupied. As a sign of better days to come, I have a pocket trashcan designed for cars on the passenger side, and a new visor organizer to cover up the gaping hole in my old visor, where the mirror used to be. Into the visor I've tucked a spare pair of sunglasses, three CDs, a stick of honey lipbalm, and an emergency granola bar.

Boutique

2007-02-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

Went into one the other day, dragged in by the gal friend. I only meant to window shop, but then she wanted to look inside, and then I spied the sale rack.

I walked away with a Three Dots grecian-inspired jersey dress with vertical pleats. It's maroon colored and drapey. I got it in the large size so that it would be loose and slouchey, as opposed to the small size that I tried on, which was more summer date-type dress.

I realized that Anthropologie is modelled to be like a boutique, in the quaint details and boudoir setting. Recently, the store has widened their aisles to let the SUV strollers through. Drat! Like the store needed more bored housewives flipping through the racks.

I avoided going in last night because I am horrified that the SAs recognize me. *hangs head in shame* I realized that the major major problem with shopping in these mall stores is that you always see yourself coming and going.

So I might be visiting the small boutiques more often, especially as I think I'm succeeding in the buying-less-but-better endeavor.

Proenza Schouler payoff

2007-02-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

I came home after school yesterday, logged into The Fashion Spot, and found out that a hidden link existed whereby the holy grail of the Go International Collection, the iconic silk bustiers, was available for sale.

I was on it like duck on a junebug.

In short order, I had dispatched an order for both the Grape and the Boy Blue bustiers in sizes XS and S, and for kicks, I had also added a few other items that I don't intend to keep.

And it's a good thing I did. Within a few hours, word had spread on the Internet, and all the small sizes were sold out. Amazing, considering that these items had never even officially appeared on the Target website.

I am a master hunter and gatherer. Huzzah!

Prouenza Schouler for Target

2007-02-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

After much delay, the collection was finally put out on the racks. I called this morning just to make sure (I’d already made two fruitless trips), and by the time I arrived around 12, a few sizes had already sold out in the most popular styles.

A different Target customer was hovering around the area. Silent, serious-eyed, and aloof. Generally older, and better dressed. There was one very pretty woman wearing an expensive silk dress and high heels. She had gorgeous curly salon hair. Never seen the likes of her in Target before.

Better start saving up my pennies

2007-02-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

3.1 Philip Lim

He's only been out a few seasons on his own (he'd been the designer for Development heretofore), but he's already garnered a reputation for cool, clean, downtown-y looks with a well-made approach.

I'm loving these looks from his F/W 07 collection.

The cropped motorcycle jacket. Retains some of the toughness of a black leather jacket, but with the refinement of a lady's cropped topper.

Or maybe this patent leather number instead.

Simple but rendered in luxe leather. I like the short length of the wide shoulder strap, which is a bit more modern. Although I've seen a couple of iterations of this bulging crescent shape, I like this one best for its unpretentiousness.

The skirt. Structured, but short and sweet.

Less

2007-02-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

I have been shopping less lately, I think. Or at least more judiciously. I have a much higher standard of what to keep. Sometimes it pains me to do so, but I'll send half-loved items back with the thought that when I do actually find something I really like, I can get it no matter the guilt or cost. So of the items I listed in the previous post, I only kept the Velvet dress, which had been something I'd been eyeing since it was full price.

The list of things I'm looking for:
. black pants. unlined, cotton. slim fit. nice material but casual enough for everyday.
. small cute handbag. casual, but with good leathers.
. cotton tops for work. with sleeves.

No more

2007-01-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

In order for the new quality over quantity equation to work, I actually have to reduce the number of things I buy. I've already upped the quality (and the price). That part is easy.

I turned away so many cute things this weekend. Didn't even try them on. But my willpower fell when I stepped foot into Anthropologie, specifically when I ventured near the sale rack. I had already decided not to get any more Anthropologie brands (the in-store brands that is their bread and butter), but only actual designer brands that get marked down cheap there. Last night, though, I came across a lot of bargains that I usually don't find.

. Joe's jeans ... marked down to $20 from 158
. wool maxi skirt ... marked down to $30 from 218
. Venera Arapu wool vest ... $30 from around 158
. Velvet jersey dress ... on sale (that's all you need to know)

With savings like that, it was practically free.

However. I have a shameful confession to make. The salesgirl recognized me from my place of work because "I always see you wearing Anthropologie clothes." Arghhh! I vowed then and there to start frequenting thrift stores again. That's the problem with chain stores. They're like one night stands.* Cute and cheap, but everyone is wearing them.

* not first-hand knowledge

Gryson

2007-01-28T07:44:00.000-08:00

I finally caved and ordered one the other week. This was the handbag that I've been coveting for about 6 months, and I was getting worried that the stock would run out entirely.

Yes, the leather is love. But being a first run, there are some quality issues with it--the leather binding around the handle had become undone, and there were faint smears of glue on the handles themselves.

In addition, the double straps were awkward, and they got in the way when you tried to get in and out of the bag. The zipper didn't work well, either.

Like all things, a handbag should be functional, not just pretty.

Camo

2007-01-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

So of the latest wave of online purchases, I'm only keeping a few things:
. Mulberry Bayswater handbag in chocolate. It's a classic bag that I can use for work.
. A.P.C. inverted pleat chino miniskirt
. A.P.C. sheer merino wool sweater

I've really fallen in love with A.P.C. stuff. It's a cultish French label that's known for its under the radar logo, high quality materials, and cool simple designs. It was the pleated top that I got last year that started me in my "investigation" into better quality clothes.

I like to think of it as an investigation, or research, because this past year wasn't just about getting cute things. I think I was also looking into the accoutrements of adulthood, these indicators of your status, experience, and place. Along the way, I made some mistakes in the things I've acquired, but as a whole, I'm satisfied that I've learned a little bit more about how one assembles a visual self to present to the world.

I've long thought of clothing as camouflage. And before I could figure out what to put on, I had to discover the place I was a part of.

Compliments

2007-01-25T09:32:00.000-08:00

Perhaps I'm too testy about it. But when women compliment me on my clothing or appearance these days, my hackles go up. My guy friends say that I am overly suspicious, but they haven't been a women for all these many years, and they don't know how competitive women can be with each other.

Maybe if someone well-dressed said something nice to me, with a smile, I would be able to accept the compliment.

But when I hear someone preface their compliment with, "I thought I had good fashion until..." or "you can wear anything and make it look good...", then I think. Oh oh. Insecurity alert.

Or maybe it's just me. Having been not complimented for so many years--geez, so many years--it seems odd and disengenuous to hear it these days.

Refurbishment

2007-01-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

color palette:
creams, whites, browns, yellows, and bright blue. a shot of red in small accessories.

to fill out my wardrobe:
long necklace
ankle boots (prob vintage, for the look and price that I want)
structured, well-made short skirts
new handbag. something smaller and v. cute.
unstructured bras

Lucky

2007-01-18T14:54:00.000-08:00

When the magazine first came out, they tried to entice me to get a subscription by asking whether "I felt lucky." Uhm, no.

So I didn't get an issue, at least not immediately.

At the time, I was in my late twenties, entering the workforce, and absolutely clueless about how to dress myself. I had never paid attention to these things when most girls did, in middle and high school and college, and I felt far behind the bell curve.

During a phone conversation with an old friend, she advised that I solve my clothing confusion by taking out a subscription to the magazine. So I did.

And X years later, I still have a subscription. I still like flipping through the magazine to get ideas and to see what's out there. One difference now though is that I can actually afford these items. In fact, I've recognized some of my recent acquisitions in some of their spreads.

When a girl's thoughts turn to spring...

2007-01-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

After a week of being snowed in, it's finally starting to thaw. The snow is running in streams down the gutters, the moss is peeking out from under rocks, and the temperature is slowly rising.

Spring and summer has always been so much more fun for me to dress for than winter. I drown under my soggy woolens.

But I'm super excited about getting to wear, perhaps soon:
* my red orthopedic sandals from Germany
* my bright blue high-waisted shorts with the u-pockets
* a short cotton gauze dress with yellow butterflies on it
* a brown jersey swing tank with an adjustable string tie
* my collection of slip dresses and mini skirts
* the knee-high boots sans tights

Thrifting again

2007-01-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile. Recently, I've been researching higher-end goods and shopping at nicer stores, at least nicer for me. After which, thrift stores started to not look so good. The smell, the film of dirt over everything, the time investment without payoff--they didn't seem worth it. And I got rid of so many things that I had acquired at a thrift store only a short time before. I was determined to break that cycle.

But I've gone back for several reasons. I've decided I need to slow down on the spending (as soon as winter sales stop tempting me, damnit!). I think a few original, quirky pieces will really perk up all these higher-quality items I've been getting. I've noticed that my favorite wardrobe items are all thrift store finds.