Get Ready ...

Sometimes I am soooo cliche, which is very bizarre, since, most of the time, I can't remember a cliche to save my soul!  There you have it: cliche challenged but still cliche!

Last night, I ordered some stuff from a new (to me) seller on Etsy.

The sellers on Etsy that I have purchased from have all been ones that I have been introduced to in the blogosphere.  With one exception (I think), all of them even maintain their own blogs.  Usually, I become a regular (more or less) reader of an Etsy seller's blog, then I venture to their Etsy shop.  So, when I eventually purchase from their Etsy shop, I feel like I know them and trust them to deliver the goods (so to speak).  Of course, the reality is that you can never really know someone from their blog and, even in the blogosphere, there must be marketing, whether conscious or unconscious, so when I buy from a blogger's Etsy shop, I really don't know that they will deliver the goods.  (Positive feedback with respect to the shop helps somewhat, but can I really rely on it?  Do all Etsy shoppers leave feedback (I know that I am guilty of not leaving feedback).)

All of which is to say that, when I shop a new Etsy store, even though most of me thinks things will turn out great, a little part of me still worries that I have just thrown away some money.  I guess with my latest shopping venture on Etsy, time will tell (fingers crossed though)!

With one exception (my bag, which was purchased this Spring/Summer), everything that I wore today came from my closet.  My dress is H&M, my vest is Zara, my scarf is Old Navy, my boots are Aldo and my bag is H&M.

Vagabond Chic

Yesterday, while trolling the blogosphere for new (to me) personal style blogs, I came across some photos from a fashion editorial in the April 2010 issue of Fudge, a Japanese fashion magazine (for girls, according to its website).  I first came across the photos on Rosemud, where they were sourced from Clever Nettle.  According to Clever Nettle, the editorial was titled "Wandering Trip" (featuring new American traditional clothing by Ralph Lauren).  Immediately after seeing the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2010 ready-to-wear collection, I put it in my inspiration book.  Early in Spring, I styled an outfit based on the collection (click here to see it).  The fashion editorial from Fudge reminded me of the collection.  In fact, I could say that the editorial really brought the collection to life for me.  It really made me fall in love (again) with vagabond chic.  I say "again" because reviewing my ever growing inspiration books/files -- which I have been keeping since I left high school -- I note that vagabond chic -- or street urchin style -- or hobo chic -- has been a recurring theme since time immemorial, i.e., since I started keeping an inspiration book/file.  In any event, here are the photos from the editorial.

Nothing Ever Happens

The goodies that I had wanted to arrive last week arrived yesterday.  Yay!  Of course I tried everything on immediately.  I hope to wear each and every piece over the next week or so.

I have to say that I was bang on about that lime green plaid dress that I thought I had missed out on but (luckily) didn't.  It is uber adorable.  And it goes so well with a pair of Fluevogs that have been resting in my closet for too many years now.  It's almost as if they have just been waiting for this dress to come along.  Now that it has, they can come out and rejoice!

I have been offered the services of a personal clothing shopper on at least a couple of occasions (is someone trying to tell me something), but I have always scoffed at the idea.  Why on earth would I give up the pleasure of shopping for clothes?  And, while I don't profess to have the greatest or most unique sense of style in the world, who would truly want to understand that style sufficiently enough to be able to shop for me?  Well now I can say that if I was ever to consider retaining someone to clothing shop for me, I think I know who I would ask.  Of course that would never really happen ... .

When I got home this evening, a surprise was waiting: another package.  While I was expecting the package, I was NOT expecting it to arrive so soon.  This package contained non-clothing items (although clothing-related items).  And I was as excited about their arrival as I was about the arrival of the goodies that came yesterday.  Each item was immediately removed from the box and examined.  I can't wait to savour each and every one over the months and years to come!

One last thing:  I visited the Fluevog store after work today.  I went to see if a pair of shoes (that were on the Fluevog website) had arrived in the store yet.  Sad news: they hadn't.  But, boy, did I get an eyeful!  I love the Fluevogers at my Fluevog store.  Thanks so much for whetting my appetite!  I love you guys!

On the pocket of the dress that I wore today, there is a print of a tree.  Beneath the tree, there are printed the following words: "nothing ever happens".  Don't those words seem apt today?

jacket: Gap, from my closet
blouse: Gap, from my closet
dress: Susan Harris Design, from my closet
socks: Hue, from Macys
boots: Fluevog
bag: H&M

Bluebells

I am not at all clear as to why this may be, but when I put on the outfit that I wore today, the first thought that popped into my head was, "Bluebells".  Now, as I write this, I can't help but think about the Rorschach inkblot test and what might be made of my free association.  What exactly is the connection between the outfit and bluebells, other than the obvious, namely, the colour blue.  Clearly, I am taking style to a whole other level.  Or am I?  Isn't style about the expression of self?  And doesn't psychology factor into self expression?  Whatever may be the case, this line of discussion is probably a bit much for a Friday!

Someone told me today that they really liked me in navy.

I have been wearing a lot of blue lately, which, if I give it any amount of thought, is really odd for me, because I have never been a fan of blue, particularly navy.  But here I am, wearing endless amounts of blue, with no end to this personal trend in sight.  What on earth could be driving this?  Is it the hair colour?  Is it my affinity for all things school related?  Is it my glasses?

jacket: JCrew
shirt: American Apparel
sweater vest: American Apparel
bow: fabric belt from an Anthropologie dress
jeans: Old Navy, mens
socks: Hue
shoes: Frye

P.S.  Oh me, oh my!  I think this may be one of the rare instances in which all my clothing is new, purchased in the current season.

Nancy Drew

So everyone and their dog has now done a post on the Dear Creatures Fall 2010 collection.  And I too love the collection.  But what I find most intriguing about the collection, and what makes me love it that much more, is something that I haven't seen much mention of: the inspiration behind the collection.  Here is the "concept" of the Fall 2010 collection, quoted straight from the Dear Creatures website:

"Fall 2010 carries on Dear Creatures' panache for all things nostalgic and narrative.  A collection inspired by Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, the clothing reflects curious girls' and guys' instinct for smart and timeless fashion, the same instincts they assign to their crime solving adventures.  Elements of plaid, straight and A-line silhouettes, and clean, precise tailoring are pragmatic but not lacking in the brand's signature whimsy.  A line of utility bags, savvy enough for the most dexterous mission, also makes its debut alongside the consistently charming women's pieces and ever-growing collection of menswear.  Dear Creatures Fall 2010 sparks a fascination with mystery, intrigue, and visual optimism at it's finest."

Among many other books, I grew up reading Nancy Drew, the old books not the new ones, and I still love Nancy Drew, the old books not the new ones.  I definitely consider myself a "vintage young reader" lover.  So this Dear Creatures collection, inspired by something that I love so dearly, and rendering Nancy Drew so closely to my own rendition of her, strikes a particular chord in my heart!

All images from dearcreatures.com

Too Busy To Think About Clothes

I am in major organization mode.  What put me into this mode was the realization that I had as many clothes lying around my house outside my closets and wardrobes and chests of drawers as I had in my closets, wardrobes and chests of drawers.  While I (obviously) like clothes, and I don't necessarily have to have them hidden away, I do like them to be "neatly displayed" if they aren't stowed away, and I do like them to be organized and easy to find if they are stowed away.  So I am presently busy stowing away certain clothes, making those that are "on display" neat and tidy and organizing all stowed away clothes.  Some paring down of my wardrobe is also happening.

Because I was so busy tending to clothes that I wasn't wearing today, I didn't find any time to think about the clothes that I did wear today.  All I can think to say about today's outfit is that it was very comfortable and I liked it.

vest: American Apparel
shirt: Urban Outfitters
jeans: H&M
belt: Gap, from my closet
socks: ?, from my sock drawer
boots: Frye
bag: H&M

Wants And Thanks

I would have loved it if the shirt/blouse that I wore today had come in white.  (Apparently it doesn't.)

I would have loved it if the store where I usually purchase my Fryes had had the pair that I was eyeing today in my size.

I would have loved it if I did not have to wait before I could shop LLBean for that sweater.

I would have loved it if I could have figured out what I should wear tomorrow.

None of the things that I would have loved today matter though.  What stands out about today are all the people who said all those nice things to me.

Thanks to every single one of you!  Every single nice thing you said to me meant a lot to me!

jacket: Zara
blouse: American Apparel
skirt: American Apparel
bow:  fabric belt from an Anthropologie dress
socks: ?, from my sock drawer
shoes: Fluevog, from my closet
bag: H&M, from my accessories collection

The Many Faces Of Plaid, Much Better, And A Real Life Hype

This morning, at a loss for what to wear, I decided to wear a dress that I had worn about two months ago.  I wasn't particularly happy with how I had styled the dress two months ago, so I thought I would style it differently this time around.  I had an idea of how I might style the dress different from before, but that idea wasn't working out too well this morning.  I finally settled on what you see here.  In my books, better styling than before.

While I was trying to figure out how to style the dress, it occurred to me in how many different ways plaid (and tartan) clothing can be styled.  In my case, I wear plaid (and tartan) clothing in a school girl way, in a western way and in a girl's guide to hunting and fishing way.  Is that weird that plaid has so many faces?

What I am about to say will only make sense if you know that I post on LOOKBOOK.nu, where your looks are hyped.  I got a "real life hype" for my look yesterday.  A "real life hype" is a complement paid by a person in the flesh (usually a stranger) on my look or an element of my look.  It is really nice getting a "real life hype".  Of course, every once in a while, I get the opposite of a "real life hype".  In that situation, the person's taste in clothing obviously doesn't match my own, but the person can't just leave it at that and feels the need to belittle the way I have elected to express myself.  I both understand and don't understand why anyone would do this.

jacket: JCrew, from my closet
dress: vintage, from Leproust Vintage on Etsy
socks: ?, from my sock drawer
shoes: Fluevog, from my closet
bag: H&M, from my accessories collection

P.S. Sadly, the days are getting shorter.  While I may now be looking forward to dressing for Fall, I am not looking forward to losing the opportunity to take my outfit photos outdoors.  It may be back to my "wardrobe" for taking photos sooner that I want!

The Many Shades Of Yellow

I felt distinctly Marc Jacobs today, circa Fall/Winter 2010.  This can be attributed to the wide, flowing skirt on the dress that I wore, as well as to the pointed flats that I wore (with socks).  The cinched in waist (as cinched in as I feel comfortable with) and the fitted, cropped sweater didn't hurt matters.

Notwithstanding how I felt today, my look today was not inspired by Marc Jacobs, circa Fall/Winter 2010.  I have, in fact, been wearing a variation of today's outfit for the past couple of Summers.  I honestly cannot remember what inspired the outfit in the first place.  But whatever it was, it could not have been the Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2010 ready-to-wear collection; it just didn't exist at that point.

In the past, when I have worn this dress, I have accentuated it with red -- red belt, red socks, red sweater.  I think that this may be the first time that I have worn the dress in a monochromatic way.

Can I just confess that, for about five seconds this morning, while knowing that it was feeling about 30 degrees celsius outside, I actually thought forward several months to when I will be wearing a parka and the thought made me smile?  Maybe I will remind myself of this moment when several months from now I will be wearing a parka and definitely not smiling about it (although, right now, that is hard to imagine)!

sweater: Club Monaco, from my closet
dress: H&M, from my closet
belt: ?, from my accessories collection
socks: ?, from my sock drawer
shoes: Fluevog, from my closet
bag: ?, from my accessories collection

P.S. How old does something have to be before it can be called "vintage"?  Ten years?  Twenty years?