Dark Paradise

How ludicrously charming is this lil ensemble?  The dress with its little print and cute sleeve buttons...the Audrey kitten heels...the lace gloves...the back-seamed pantyhose...

I've worn this dress before, but this is the first time I had a crinoline to go under it.  I never even realized how incomplete this dress was without a crinoline!  Holy moley! 

The cuteness factor was raised by, like, a billion percent.

And I'm really feelin' it in these pics...Can you tell?  :)

Found a new place to take pictures: I can balance my phone on my nightstand and stand in front of my BLUE wall. 
Just a little bit blue, right?  haha Yeah, this crazy color is actually in my apartment.  For now, it's confined to just one wall of my bedroom, but I have a sneaking suspicion this happy color just might overflow onto the rest of my bedroom's walls soon...

Nerd Life

 
My Secret Recipe for Nerd Life 
(serves many, but few well)

First mix together:
1 Canadian tuxedo
1 pr. big, awkward glasses
1 pr. loafers

Then add in:
1 netbook
A pinch of dorky Polaroids
1 big, awkward dog

The secret ingredients:
1 neck scarf a la Audrey (any color)
1 hair pouf that puts Snooki to shame

Saturate with confidence.
Frost generously with WI winter snow.

Kind of a bizarre look, but that's just how I was feeling that day!
What do you guys think?

Scarf: thrifted (at E'Collectique) || Top: thrifted (at Goodwill) || Tank: H&M || Skinnies: Forever 21 || Loafers: thrifted (orig. Target) || Spectacles: Forever 21

THANKS FOR DROPPING BY! 

 

COME BACK SOON!

Valentine's Day Outfit

SORRYYYYYY I haven't posted in so long! 

Yes, I am just now posting my outfit from Valentine's Day.  :)  I didn't do anything romantic-looking, 'cuz I didn't see my husband, but I love holidays, so I at least dressed in red.

I struggle with ways to wear these bold pants; they're just TOO MUCH AWESOME to style easily.  ;)  But this is my favorite way I've styled them so far.

They're oh-so-punky, and not really in a couture way, 'cuz they're Abbey Dawn--Avril Lavigne's line for Kohl's.  Anyone remember Avril???  Where has she gone???  I loved her music when she first emerged onto the American music scene (in her awesomely baggy '90s grunge pants).  I'll admit it!  I was obsessed with the songs "Sk8tr Boy" and "Complicated."  Dude, I'm pretty sure I still know all the words. 
#guiltypleasures

 And these equally awesome shoes are definitely going to see a lot of wear, so be prepared, my dear readers, to see them up on the blog a lot!

They're right on trend right now: a pointed toe, ladylike silhouette, and metallic cap-toe.
 
<3  Love at first sight...

I lusted after them when they were at Target, but didn't want to splurge (they were like $39 or something, and I have what I call "Secondhand Syndrome:" if the price is double-digits, it's high.  lolz).  So I drooled and drooled to myself while watching the price drop as they first went on sale, then clearance, then final clearance, and then--lo, and behold--I found a pair in the color I wanted in my size with the tags still attached at my local Goodwill! 

Don't get me wrong: the shoes are definitely worth the original asking price, but God saw fit to let me get them for $6!

Hat: thrifted || Button-up: thrifted || Coat: oldie but goodie || Pants: thrifted (orig. Abbey Dawn) || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Target)

THANKS FOR READING!

 

Tell me what you did for Valentine's Day! 

Hope it was sweet!

Bummed-out face. 
(It was right after choir rehearsal, and I just really missed my Valentine.)

Drawrings

Hello loves.

I decided to share some of my drawings with you. 

I know that generally you're expecting outfits when you check into my blog.  Well, I designed the outfits my drawings are wearing, right?  So that's something, I guess. 

I used to draw a LOT...like, I'd crank out two/three pictures a day back in high school.  I hardly ever pick up a colored pencil anymore (as you can see, my litle "signature" still has my maiden initials in most of these), but whenever I do, it still feels good.  :)  I miss the chronic stains on the pinkie side of my hand.

Hope you enjoy!

"Lydia" is from back in college...freshman year, maybe? 
She's simple, but one of my faves.  I just loved how sweet and unassuming she is.

"Little Hat" was drawn a couple years ago, when
I had just discovered the fabulous work of Ophelia Overdose.
She'll get colored someday...   >_<;;;;

"Dark Geometry" is from back in high school when I was obsessed with
Phantom of the Opera and drawing ball gowns.  She is all No.2 pencil, no ink.

"Dogwalking in the Afternoon" started out as an easy sketch last year. 
You can see my anatomy is rusty, but when the background just sort of happened,
I figured I should still try to take her a bit seriously.

"Adventurer" has long been a favorite of mine.
I love her hands and her vibrant character and hair.  :)

drawn all in ballpoint pen up at my family's cottage

drawn all in ballpoint pen at a family reunion: inspired by the American Pride and Prejudice film

That's enough for now.  I have more I'd like to share with you, but I'll wait and do a second post later. 

Would you like a second drawings post right after this one? 
Or should I stick a few outfit posts in between? 

Let me know in the comments, please!

Also: I'm starting this series soon, so I'm posting this spiel once more:

If you have a piece of art that you like, please tell me the name of it and its artist (you can email me or leave it in the comments below).
I want to do a series of outfits inspired by pieces of art (not where I try to look like whoever is in the painting, but where I wear an outfit in the same color pallette that attempts to evoke the same feeling).  If I choose your idea, you'll definitely get the credit for it and a link to your blog/site in my post.

 

I'm going to be starting this series soon, so please please please leave an idea!!!!

For a bit of a preview: the first piece that I'll be tackling is "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt:

Sweet Tooth Suicide

Be prepared for a lot of photos in this post, 'cuz it's basically two looks.  "Basically?" you ask. "What's that supposed to mean?"  Well, here, I'll show you:

 



Coat on.

Coat off.

Haha  :D 
It's amazing how a look can change when you put on outerwear.  It's amazing what properly accessorizing a winter coat can do for a dreary day!  And it's amazing what wearing fishnets can do to a girl's self-confidence level.  AND it's amazing that black is the new black again this year!  There is no substitute for black.  Black is amazing.

Anyway, now that all that amazing-ness is out of my system, let's take this one more time, ladies and gentlemen.  Ready?  Three...two...one...

Coat on.

Coat off.

I called this post "Sweet Tooth Suicide" (lyrics from a song by Shinedown), because I loved the juxtaposition of the ice-cream sweet outerwear look and the black ensemble that lay underneath (like a sweet-faced person trying to hide a dark soul...or something a little less cliche).

Never thought I'd wear baby pink and fishnets together. 
Never thought I'd wear fishnets to church, either. 
Well, I did both of those things on this illustrious day.

Mmmm my backseamed fishnets...I feel like the high neckline and knee-length hem of this dress kept the overtly sexy nature of the fishnets from really presenting itself, which is why I felt comfortable wearing them out of the house (to church, nonetheless).  They added a little edge, but--more importantly--some neccessary texture to the outfit. 

Lots of textures, here: fishnet, patent leather (belt), suede (shoes), fine knit (sweater), silk (dress).

I took inspiration for this outfit from Audrey's all-black ensemble in "How To Steal A Million."

Expect to see a lot more all-black ensembles from me in the near future.  All-black is trending right now, and I'm of the opinion that there is never a chicer color palette.  So be prepared for me to take advantage of this fashion fad while it's around!

Really quickly before I go, I need to shine a special light on these, my marvy-fab new shoes:

Found them on clearance at JCP for $12.00.  $12.00!  Who lets shoes as gorgeous as these Cosmopolitain for JCP heels hit final clearance?!  Well, luckily for me, all the other shoppers at JCP did.  :)
Also: my coat was thrifted from Goodwill for $4.00.  Shop Secondhand First!

Dress: thrifted (orig. GAP) || Sweater: ancient || Belt: White House | Black Market || Tights: old || Shoes: Cosmopolitain for JCP || Coat: thrifted || Scarf: old || Hat: thrifted || Bag: thrifted

Things that make a girl strut down the street

1.) Combining vintage and mod styles (successfully).

2.) Berets.

3.) New haircuts.

4.) Leopard print pumps.

These are definitely some of the things that make girls strut down the street.  :)

Skirt: H&M || Blazer: thrifted (orig. Target) || Bag: thrifted || Beret: old || Jewelry: Charming Charlie || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Steve Madden)

Anyway, lovelies, before I go, there are two more goofy photos I wanted to share:

Here's what I looked like before my haircut:

I cropped my head out, 'cuz my hair was
just that bad...but my coat's pretty fly.

Annnnnd here's what I looked like after. 
YAY JAMMIES! 
(I just couldn't be parted from my new t-shirt!)

Little Disclaimer:  I made this shirt myself.  I figure it's not gonna get me in legal trouble or anything, though, 'cuz a.) I'm not selling it, b.) I didn't get crazy accurate and directly copy the precise measurements of the logo, c.) I'm not telling anyone it's "real."