Out Of Order: March 2010

Quotation Marks

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot

today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn

a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick,

at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.

~Buddha

Fashion Therapy - Maxi Dress Misstep

I'm sick in bed with food poisoning (I think?), so I don't think I'll be getting dressed up today, though I have to go to work at some point. Blah. So I decided to post this outfit from yesterday even though I didn't really end up liking it. I've had the dress for two years and have never worn it, and of course decided to try something new on the day it decided to start raining again. Before the drizzle started though I went tramping around the levee for pictures, which was pretty silly in a maxi dress and flip flops.

blazer - macy's | dress - ucsb vendor stall

When I was in college, I was frequently ambushed by the cute shoe and clothing vendors who would set up their little tents near the student center. They sure know how to pick a location! They also accepted credit cards, darn them!

In this photo, the sky really was that color and not a result of my faulty photography skills. My mom said I looked like Nicole Richie, which to me isn't really a compliment. She really has grabbed the long dress thing by the cojones. Good thing I didn't tie a lanyard around my head... I love the peacock feather print though! This dress will now go back into the closet for another few years, or until I get invited to a fancy southern California beach party - ahem, never.

I hope you are all having a fabulously healthy Tuesday!

Quotation Marks

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

~Oscar Wilde

Photo of the Day

*by my lovely friend angelina santana

Quotation Marks

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples,

don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious.

~Bill Meyer

Fashion Therapy - Patterns at Play

I'm so happy to be saying goodbye to March, last week was a rough one. I was feeling kinda quirky today—a new week, new chances to be nicer, happier, more productive! Wardrobe-wise, not only am I wearing polka dot tights with a striped shirt, my sunnies are mutli-color plaid. I rarely wear prints, let alone several of them at once!

earrings - thrifted | top - forever 21 | shorts - unknown | tights - new york & co. | shoes - payless

Today was one of those days where I felt like a freak walking down the street; does anyone else get paranoid that people are staring at their tights?! I thought I'd traded these shorts away at Crossroads during an "I only want short-shorts" phase, but I just found them jammed into a drawer and I'm so stoked (the short-shorts phase has passed). Good thing my subconscious overrode my need for fast cash ;]

5 Things That Made Me Yay Today

♥ my adorable puppy dog who rolls onto her back for belly rubs whenever anyone comes near ♥ new episodes of The Simpsons & Family Guy ♥ an amazingly pleasant workday, for the vast majority ♥ singing along to Lady Gaga's "Speechless" at top volume on the drive home ♥ a bizarre yet beautiful moon shining in a purple twilight sky

Fashion Therapy - Spring Neutrality

For many, many years I've counted on black, grey and white to see me through. I still love black, but thanks to this blog and seeing all the wondrous outfits on other girls in communities like chictopia and weardrobe, I've really opened up to colors and pastels and become more confident wearing what I want in a sea of black jeans and black hoodies. Right now I am so in love with nude and pale grey. I recently found those perfect patent nude pumps that I'd been hoping for, and I have to keep myself from wearing them every single day.

top - charlotte russe, 4 mo. | skirt - self made, 5 mo. | belt - thrifted | shoes - steve madden, new

The feel of wearing a full skirt, sheer shirt and bare legs in the sunshine is so delightful! The dandelion print of this skirt still makes me so happy whenever I wear it. Dandelions hold a special place in my heart, and finding this fabric was serendipitous. When I think of neutrals, I think of Switzerland (dork alert) and this sheer top does have something like Swiss Dot on it! Woo hoo!

♥ Thank you gals for your comments on this blog, it really means a lot to me to read them. I entered this outfit into Weardrobe's Neutrals contest. If you are a member and like this outfit, I would LOVE if you could give me a vote! I'll link to it here.

Quotation Marks

If you don't get everything you want, think of

the things you don't get that you don't want.

~ Oscar Wilde

Fashion Therapy - this levee ain't dry

I am just stunned by how long this spell of beautiful, warm sunny weather is lasting! It rained one night, but the days are filled dawn 'til dusk with clear azure skies and degrees over sixty! I headed to the levee behind my work (I drove my Camry though, not a Chevy) to get some photos in the gorgeous afternoon sunlight. This really is my favorite time of day.

I felt very vintage in this outfit, even though they aren't vintage pieces. The pleated pants and frilled white sleeveless shirt paired with girly wedges made me feel like I should be at a neighborhood barbecue circa 1957, one hand on hip and the other swirling a highball and clutching a cigarette while idly watching the kids run around.

top - crossroads, 1+ yrs. | trousers - uo, new | shoes - new york & co., 10 mo.

I love pants with pockets you can easily delve into. I've discovered that these pant legs are hemmed unevenly; that explains their presence on the sale rack. Oh well, a little folding and a little jumping, and who can tell? Not me!

I hope you're all having a delightful, lovely and amazing weekend!

Scenting a Lead

I'm the kind of girl who loves perfumes; I love smelling good, and I enjoy it when other people smell yummy when you hug them. I've got a disgusting array of scented lotions and body sprays in my bathroom drawers that end up unused. I usually grow tired of a scent before I use it up (the only perfumes I've bought more than once were Ralph Lauren's HOT and some pink drugstore Olsen perfume). Scent becomes tied in with certain times in life, and I no longer enjoy any of my perfumes and their associations...

THEN I discovered this dinged up, adorable little bottle flying around the back of an Urban Outfitter's sale cubby last month. I've never smelled a peony and I doubt it's true to life anyway, because what this smells like is my favorite cocktail, the St. Germain (champagne, elderflower liquor, lemon)! It's amazing and I'm posting this because I need your help in helping me find out how I can get more! The clerk said it had been part of a set, so that's about all the information I have: Urban Outfitters, part of a set they don't sell anymore, Peony.

Can any of you lovely ladies tell me if you have this perfume or know the brand? I'm not even halfway done with the bottle, but I'm already becoming very sparing with it. I like wearing it to bed, but then I don't want to use it during the day, too. Wow, I am a freak. Help a freak out!

Links a la Mode

DIY NATION

Edited by Fashion Pulse Daily

It seems that across the board, there has been a resurgence in DIY, as we are very much living in a world of 'Do it Yourself' everything; ranging from creating or updating or garments' silhouettes and decorative details to showcasing our own versions of runway looks, virtually styling with tools like Polyvore, tackling self-photography, and of course self-publishing via our blog platforms. We reign supreme in the DIY world on a daily basis, and I only see this trend gaining momentum. The roundup of this week's links is definitely an indication, directly and indirectly, of the incredibly creative, innovative, persevering, motivated folks that are part of the new DIY frontier, and of course, IFB!

As expected, there was a fabulous round-up of links in the forum as well, all worthy of your eyeballs!

Links à la Mode : March 25th

Alex Loves - The Chanel Tattoo Cast
Alice in Stilettos - DIY Faux Fur Ankle Cuffs Inspired by Thakoon
Denim Debutante - How Would You Change the Denim Industry?
Despising Life is so Passé - Spring Cleaning: Detox your Space
Fashion Pulse Daily - The DYI Glue-On Pedicure: Reviewing Revlon’s Perfect Pedicure Kit
Fasshonaburu - Vyque & Alyssa review the "Project Runway" video game and give you a chance to win your own copy!
For Those About to Shop - Designer NADA's Fashion future - how about a 3D film?
Haute World - My real life encounters with Balmain and an exclusive tour inside the label's only boutique in the world.
Idiosyncratic Style - The Personal Style of Fashion Designer, Breeyn McCarney
Independent Fashion Bloggers : Evolving Influence business, ethics, and the future of fashion blogging videos.
Inny Vinny - See No Evil, Hear No Evil: Jezebel exposes photographer Terry Richardson
Lady Peach -The men that have shaped the fashion scene... 5 Male Style Icons
M.I.S.S. - Interview with Gabriela Hernandez, founder of Besame Cosmetics
Retro Chick - How Vanity Sizing is damaging your health
Shrimp Salad Circus - What does color do for your life?
Skinnypurse - Skinny Cargo Pants: Love Them or Hate Them?
Style Eyes - The Wang Effect - A discussion about the phenomenal popularity of all things Wan
Style Symmetry: Style Me Challenge! Wear an Outfit Styled By Someone Else
The Working Wardrobe - Show this rainy season who's boss!
The Coveted - Do you alter vintage?
Tweet - Dark and intricately sculptural clothing by a young, Hungarian designer named Dora Mojzes with an amazing talent
Ventures of Jenn - Vice interviewed Karl Lagerfeld; I broke it down

Quotation Marks

If you do not hope, you will not find

what is beyond your hopes.

- St. Clement of Alexandra

Fashion Therapy - Gold Guns Girls

Wednesday night I went up to the Fox Theater, both because Metric is awesome & for my friend's birthday!

But first, I took outfit photos. Concerts provide some challenges for me: one, I'm short and do not enjoy staring at people's shoulder blades while listening to good tune-age, and two, I'm usually cold because I don't worm my way into the front. Hence, I doubled up on sweaters and wore my favorite new platform boots to brave the Oakland night.

Put up your dukes, I love gooooold.

I love this wrap sweater; the open knit lets in too much chilly air to wear on it's own, but it'll be perfect for balmy summer evenings. The belt is tooled leather with roses and western silver hardware - so dreamy!

I won this sweet purse from The SF Style's Purple Deer Vintage giveaway and it arrived in the mail RIGHT as I was heading out. What perfect timing! The purse is absolutely gorgeous, thank you Melissa, JT and Dyanna! It even has little lion FEET on the bottom, how awesome is that?!

Emulating the cool art in the elevator of The Frank Hotel.

I know I've got like, the most amazing photography skills. I mean, look you can kind of see...not much! The singer was wearing white feathers and a silver sequined skirt and danced/headbanged all over that stage the entire night; they were fabulous, played my favorite songs, and were incredibly conscious and grateful to be there, performing music as their job. I love when musicians seem to genuinely enjoy what they're doing, even though they've been doing it for years. I hope someday I'll have a job with passion like that.

Five Things That Made Me Yay Today

♥ sleeping in, then lying in bed eating Lucky Charms and catching up with google reader & Chictopia ♥ receiving my vintage purse prize in the mail and discovering it has FEET! ♥ eating a piece of SF pizza with the most amazing light crust, in front of a mural titled "Somewhere in Italy" haha! ♥ not getting lost more than once the whole longgg night (we live about 75 miles south of the area) ♥ stopping at In-and-Out on the way home for a late night cheeseburger animal-style, mmm. ♥ oh yeah, did I mention how great dancing to Metric was?!

What's one of the best shows you've been to?

Fashion Therapy - Jailbreak

It's a good thing I don't own those cool striped sheer tights from American Apparel. I would have been tempted to wear them with this dress, and then would probably have looked like an insane escapee from Alcatraz! Or maybe a really tame extra from Lady Gaga's Telephone video ;]

Instead I wore these new, electric blue tights. Tights have become even more important an accessory to an outfit than jewelry or scarves for me. I'm almost sad it's nearing the end of tights season, since my collection has really expanded, thanks largely to the leggy stylings of other bloggers. Then again, when the weather has been as beautiful as this, I'm not really sad at all. And it's still cool enough inside work to need at least a cardigan or tights (or both) at all times.

cardigan - tresic, 1 yr. old | dress - forever 21, 2 yrs. | tights - hue, new | shoes - steve madden, 1 mo.

What's your favorite pair of tights?

Fashion Therapy - Suture Up Your Future

Sometimes, there really is nothing better than a t-shirt, blazer and heels.

I am in lurve with this blazer. It's made of sweatshirt material! So comfy.

blazer - macy's, new | shirt - queens of the stone age concert, 3+ yrs.
jeans - macy's, 3 mo. | shoes - steve madden, new | watch - new york & co.

Quotation Marks

You will never find time for anything.

If you want the time, you must make it.

- Charles Buxton

Fashion Therapy - Peter Pan[dora]

I am so happy to have found brown tights! I've spotted them on several bloggers and love how they look; less severe and ashy with skin shining through, unlike black. Now I just need a white dress to go with them! It was actually so warm this afternoon that I took off the sweater, which is amazing since I'm usually freezing when everyone else is comfortable.

(Hrmm, moving pictures are fun but so grainy! Does anyone know of a better generator?)

cardigan - old navy, via crossroads, 1 yr. old | dress - self made, new | belt - wet seal, 9 mo.
underskirt - self made | tights - hue, new | shoes - unknown, old

I think I'm going to turn the dress into a skirt. I felt a bit too much like Peter Pan in this. Where are my lost boys? (Speaking of, fun fact: much of the 1987 movie The Lost Boys was filmed in my hometown!) I liked how the zebra print cardigan complimented the uneven two-tone stripes on the underskirt. Plus, brown tights and brown ballet flats? Did I mention I heart being matchy-matchy!?

5 Things That Made Me Yay Yesterday

♥ my puppy bouncing & chasing after bugs ♥ spotting a Cheshire moon after seeing Alice in Wonderland

♥ discovering my tax return was direct deposited earlier than expected ♥ winning a cool vintage purse from The SF Style giveaway! ♥ pepperoni pizza, The Simpsons & Family Guy

Fashion Therapy - The New Muumuu

What I wore yesterday to dinner and movie. I don't know if there's anything better than people watching, chicken tikka, garlic naan, mango lassi and Alice in Wonderland, but I highly doubt it!

cardigan - h&m, 2 yrs old | top - self made, new | jeans - wet seal, 9+ mo. | shoes - steve madden, new

Stopping at Macy's and magically finding the nude heels, boyfriend blazer and brown tights I've had on my list for days is also up there on my list of awesome things! Good thing I had a gift card. I could not believe it, especially since I really only went there for Bare Escentuals, haha. Isn't that always the way?

I don't know if it's bad lighting or the angle of the photos or the print, but the shirt kinda turned out looking like a muumuu! For my first attempt at a hanky-hem top it's not so bad though; super comfy and perfect for summer. In the words of Margaret Cho, it shall heretofore be deemed my "eating dress."

What did you enjoy this weekend?

Links a la Mode

Rants & Raves

Edited by Ashe Mischief

I was taken aback when going through the submissions this week– there were so many powerful, strong, opinionated pieces that I felt really taken aback. With overwhelming positivity or negativity, the fashion community is finding it’s voice– and making themselves heard! The fashion community is great at sharing the voice of others, and we’ve got several fabulous interviews to prove it. From Derek Lam at Poetic & Chic and White Rabbit’s interview with Irish woman Sinead Doyle (along with my own interview with Amelia Arsenic at Dramatis Personae), there are voices for everyone. We’ve got bloggers ranting on the lack of premium denim in plus-sizes at Denim Debutante (hell yeah!), and some showcasing inspirational figures like KOOS (at M.I.S.S.), Philip Crangi (at Eternal Masquerade), and Maria Felix (at Jewelry Whore).

There were so, so many great links this week, it really was hard to narrow it down to 2o. Check out the full listing of Links à la Mode here.

Links à la Mode : March 18th

Bachman's Sparrow – DIY post on how to use bleach to revamp your “unloved” clothes!
blackdog finds: – How To: 10 Creative Ways to Revive Less-Than-Loved Clothing
Denim Debutante: – Guest Blog: Is there Size Discrimination in Premium Denim?
dramatis personae: – Amelia Arsenic’s Miss X Aesthetic Laboratories & Interview
Eternal Masquerade: – How I Met Design Duo of Giles & Brother, Philip and Courtney Crangi
Fashion Hippo – Win Marc by Marc Jacobs Leola Bow Wow Handbag
Fashion Pulse Daily: – Not Your Daughter’s Jeans: Fit for a Mother AND a Daughter?
fete a fete: – Whiisical spring designs from Camper shoes
Forty Not Out: – Louis Vuitton – Fall Winter 2010/2011
Grechen Blogs: – are you incorporating video into your blog? how is it working for you?
Independent Fashion Bloggers – A New Map of the Two-Way Street: Why Giving Back to the Blogosphere is Key to Growth
jesse.anne.o: – How do you swap, thrift or buy resale and NOT get bedbugs?
Jewelry Whore: – “The Fabulous Jewels of Maria Felix, La Dona”
M.I.S.S.: – Eyes To The Sky: Before BOHO There Was KOOS.
Obsession: – How I Met Design Duo of Giles & Brother, Philip and Courtney Crangi
Oranges and Apples: – Sustainable fashion part 2: thinking about speed
Poetic & Chic: – A candid interview with Derek Lam, fellow San Franciscan and fellow high school alumni!
Pretty Shiny Sparkly: – It’s leather. It’s quilted. It’s a computer, for fashionistas.
Style Symmetry: – Interview with the Stylish Sisters of Beckerman Bite Plate
The Thinking Fashionista: – An in-depth, critical look at the Russian Futurist themes of Viktor & Rolf’s Fall 2010 show.
The Working Man: – Incorporating Spring Into Your Working Look
White Rabbit: – An interview with Irish fashion Designer Sinead Doyle and the inspiration behind her S/S 2010 collection.

Keep On Truckin'

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind.
Think big anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you might get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

- Anonymous

Fashion Therapy - Layer Cake

Well, I got my birthday weather wish! People tend to assume Santa Cruz is like Hawaii, but even in summer it's often overcast or we're drowned in coastal fog, which makes this week of amazing sunshine even more wonderful!

This is what I wore on my 26th birthday to meet up with some friends for drinks and wimpy burgers (that's just the particular establishment's funny name for sliders) and a quick game of pool. So yummy. What's even yummier was not needing to wear tights!! Until the sun went down, I was even a little too warm in a sweater and two skirts, though my teeth were chattering by the time I made my way home.

My dog did not want to be caught for picture taking. Running after her in heels must have looked pretty funny!

top - forever 21, 3 mo. old | skirts - self made | shoes - style & co., 3+ yrs.

I love this top. The underwear-as-outerwear thang is pretty cute when done right, but in reality it's not a look for me. I wish the red extended around the back, but hey, you can't expect too much from Forever 21. While trying to decide on which skirt to wear, I liked the look of the layered skirts and just left them both on. I felt a little princess-y! The leopard print heels are my favorite "special occasion" shoes; they only come out a few times a year. They're surprisingly comfy, though. It's nice to really dress up and feel special.

5 Things That Made Me Yay Today

♥ managing to sleep until 1 p.m. (quite a feat for someone who usually wakes up around 7:34 each morning for no reason whatsoever!) ♥ my friend leaving an epic birthday song on my voicemail, then singing it again when we talked later ♥ slices of giant fruit tart with strawberries & mandarin slices ♥ a lovely walk on the beach & spotting a tiny ladybug in the sand ♥ discovering this bridge nearby that I didn't know existed

Fashion Therapy - Leprechaun Legs

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I wore my minty new pair of tights to avoid people threatening me with pinches all day long. Sheesh this holiday makes people a little crazy. I'm watching The Rescuers instead of drinking beer, ha!

I couldn't resist testing out my new boots today! There is something interesting about being on eye level with people; they treat you differently! Not being accustomed to heels, I started limping around work after about five hours and changed into flats. I know my legs will get stronger if I keep wearing 'em, but I still really look with awe upon girls who wear high heels on a daily basis. To me, that shows dedication and grit, no matter how "girly" it's meant to look!

cardigan - h&m, 3 mo. old | dress - self made | belt - crossroads, new | tights - uo, new | boots - uo, new

Five Things That Made Me Yay Today

♥ steaming hot chai latte mix from Trader Joe's ♥ feeling the sun's warmth for the fourth day in a row (fingers crossed it lasts through the week!) ♥ getting a tank top all cut out & ready to sew ♥ knowing that my weekend is sure to be exciting: birthday, flea market, hair-cutting party & alice in wonderland are all lined up ♥ nacho fries & a mango-vanilla soy shake for lunch - yum!

What made your day?

Quotation Marks

To accomplish great things, we must not only act,
but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

- Anatole France

Fashion Therapy - Dark & Light

I went to work three hours early this morning, whoops. The one time my schedule changes this year, and I didn't notice. So now I'm back home, drinking the loveliest cup of decaf green tea with peach, mango & pineapple out of my penguin mug. I kind of dressed like a penguin today. What's better than black and white?

Oh yeah, my brightly colored shoes! Such an amazing find at the thrift store. Flower power to keep this lovely weather going through the weekend, i.e. days off & my birthday! The sweater is my new favorite item, supersoft and only $5 on sale.

cardigan - uo, new | jeans - wet seal, 8 mo. | shoes - thrifted

Fashion Therapy - Rock the Casbah

The way of the pant took a turn into jeans-and-tee-town this morning. I rarely wear actual blue denim jeans; I like my black and gray pairs much, much more. These are a cheap pair a few sizes too big, found at Crossroads. They are nice and comfy, but it's hard to ignore the fact that cuffed anything and short legs equals stumpy. Jumping in the air repeatedly or standing on trees wearing pointy flats seems to lengthen the leg better than heels!

I had to dump on the gold with embellished flats and a clanky necklace. I'm not a big t-shirt wearer, especially involving writing or anything that causes people to stare at your midsection, but this one from Obey is my favorite. I may not be bold enough yet to don a turban on my head, but on my shirt, yes. It's a cool brown and super soft, and you can't tell but the sleeves are longer than regular t's, which I love.

cardigan - new york & co., 3 mo. old | tee - obey, via crossroads, 1 yr. | jeans - element, via crossroads, 6 mo. | shoes - crossroads, 1 yr. | jewelry - forever 21, 1+ yrs.

I love Spanish moss. I never really noticed just how much of it there is around here before; I first began spotting it while taking outfit photos on the train tracks behind my house, and now I see it in different trees all over town. I love the creepy bayou feel it gives everything. Oh how I love Southern stereotypes—according to wikipedia it gives a "gothic" appearance to the landscape and loves southern cypress and live oak, which also grow all up in this chunk of the West Coast, hrmm...

4 Things That Made Me Yay Today

♥ this year's warmest, balmiest, most beautiful dusk so far ♥ pepperoni pizza ♥ pleasant interactions with practically every stranger I encountered, and several really really good ones, which is unusual and absolutely wonderful ♥ shopping successes exceeded all expectations today: on my lunch break I thrifted the cutest pink shoes, picture frames & sweater, and after work, while walking through the aforementioned lovely evening I found the greatest boots at uo that scanned on sale, as well as getting a $48 cardigan for $4.99 because "oh well, it's not in the system." Sometimes the system does work in our favor!

Photo of the Day

I can't stop obsessing over this outfit. (via tommy ton)

Fashion Therapy - Sweet Cream

It's been many weeks of wearing skirts. Now, I love skirts. I've become enamored of them; the swing of full, pleated fabric, the instant girlification. However, I am really sick of tights. I'm usually so afraid of getting chilly that I wear two pairs, or tights over leggings. Since it's not nearly warm enough to go without, I'm trying to put together outfits with jeans that don't make me want to pull on an old hoodie and forget about it all.

Sheer fabric, jewelry and ruffles are always a good way to feel good. The top is too big, but it was $5 on clearance. Yes, sometimes I follow the falsehood "on sale is always the right size." If being polka-dotted and the perfect pale peachy cream color is wrong, I don't want to be right. I like anything that reminds me of food. I have an out of control sweet tooth, mostly in terms on food, but also sometimes jewelry...

The weather is beautiful, nice enough for me to wear sandals without my toes freezing. I am extremely happy about daylight savings! I got out of work this evening and the sun hadn't set yet, woo hoo! It's like a whole new world.

5 Things That Made Me Yay Today

♥ waking up before my alarm and feeling well rested ♥ peach pie with whipped cream (see a pattern??) ♥ getting my paycheck direct deposited a day earlier than anticipated ♥ gaining 4 new followers this weekend (hello lovely people!) ♥ finding a parking spot right in front of work ♥ bright, warm sunlight glinting off warm metal (jewelry)

What made your weekend sweet?

Quotation Marks


The meeting of two personalities is like the contact
of two chemical substances: if there is any
reaction, both are transformed.

- Carl Jung

Video Rodeo - B&G

Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce, and Beyonce featuring Gaga. How cute.

and now, for something kind of, sort of different...

I'm not a big fan of the Beyonce song. I've got to shamelessly plug Gaga for teaching me a lesson I just never got before: someone calling you and ruining your good time for their bullshit is controlling and not acceptable!

Links a la Mode

Spring Fever

Edited by Jennine Jacob Do you get spring fever? Oh man… the itch to run around outside in flowery prints and frilly laces gets greater and greater each passing day. To heck with chunky sweaters! This week we have a load of great spring style posts, Holier Than Now checks out cape coats, if you’re strapped for cash Out of Order gives the perfect 45min spring skirt tutorial, so cute! And girly clothes not your thing? The Demoiselles has a great homage to genderbending unisex looks. I’ve been thinking of doing a couple of days in menswear myself. Well, as soon as I learn how to tie the half Windsor knot.

There were so, so many great links this week, it really was hard to narrow it down to 2o. Check out the full listing of Links à la Mode here.

Links à la Mode : March 11th

39th and Broadway – Death By Over-Scheduling
Agent Lover – Mad Crushin’ on Pebelle
Bobbins and Bombshells – Shop News…Hand Recovery Sale AND Give-Away!!
Denim Debutante – Denim Advice: Why Should I Buy Premium Denim?
Diary Of A Girl Left Behind – Sorry We Don’t Have Your (Shoe) Size
Fashion Pulse Daily – London Fashion Week: Vivienne Westwood, Mark Fast & Burberry Prorsum
Fete a Fete – The Frye Company SS 2010
Glossary – Sipping tea with Sandra Beijer
Grechen Blogs – Isabel Marant, the Internet & Social Media
grit and glamour – Return to pretty, please!
Hello Beauty! – Shu Uemura Spring 2010 Égérie Collection: Sparkling, rock star chic (with makeup lesson video)
Holier Than Now – Spring (Transition) Shopping : Caped Crusaders
Independent Fashion Bloggers – What does your ideal workspace look like?
M.I.S.S. – Women Making History: Elisa Palomino
Oranges and Apples – Sustainable fashion part 1: conceptualising the issues
Out Of Order – DIY Tutorial – Spring Skirt
Previously Owned – a PREVIEW of Private ARTS la shooting for MINT mag!
Retro Chick – Vintage Hair Video Tutorial
SF Indie Fashion – Good Looks: Moody Winter-Almost-Spring
Shrimp Salad Circus – how to rock orange lips
Smiles Go With Everything – How to Search Effectively on Etsy
The Demoiselles – Gender-Bending: Menswear

**So honored to have my tutorial chosen!

Quotation Marks

Kindness is always fashionable.

- America E. Barr

Photo of the Day

That is almost too much awesomeness.
photo: tommy ton

Fashion Therapy - Grow Up & Blow Away

The past few days have been sunny, even though there's still a cutting cold wind. I am unbelievably excited about daylight savings in a few days! Baby steps, baby steps! I'm struggling with taking photos in direct morning sunlight with my point and shoot, until I can get a new CF card. Birthday money soon ;]

I love the buttons on this cardigan (I also have it in blue and white)—they look like delicious little cake decorations. I have a special place in my heart for dandelions, so when I came across the grey and white with the flowers dancing across it, I was super excited. I can't wait to wear full skirts with bare legs come summer!

cardigan - new york & co., 4 months old | belt - wet seal, 8 mo. | skirt - self made, 3 mo. | shoes - payless, 3 mo. | layered tights

P.S. The post title is a Metric song, whom I'm going to see in two weeks from tonight. Can'twaitcan'twaitcan'twait! Check out my slightly fan-girlish post about the lead singer's style & their music here if you dare ;]

5 Things That Made Me Yay Today

♥ warm showers; it sounds so basic, but nothing is better than a nice shower to warm you when you're cold, soothe your senses, and make you smell good ♥ a.m. sunshine to add sparkle to the ocean on my morning walk ♥ that morning walk; I want to get in shape and feel stronger! ♥ peach pie with whipped cream ♥ waking up and realizing I'd slept a lovely nine hours while the rain came down and washed everything clean

What made you go "yay" recently (out loud or just internally)?

Quotation Marks

The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be

seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.

- Helen Keller

Fashion Therapy - Liz Lemon

My love notes to black and gray seem to be written weekly. I love these two non colors so much, it's ridiculous. The largest sections of tops in my closet are the black and gray tops. Surprisingly I haven't found any gray shoes to complete my collection of drab uniforms. By drab I mean amazing, of course.

I just got the yellow belt via trade at Crossroads and the dress has tiny yellow flowers on it, so it was an outfit made in lemon heaven. I almost went with basic black tights per usual, but some wise, quiet voice in the back of my mind said no, go gray. It's kind of weird that wearing gray tights with a black outfit was such an "aha!" moment, but it was. Oh universe, continue to guide me onward toward greater states of being and better wardrobe choices!

Some guy was walking by and remembered me from last week. I think he thinks I'm doing on a project about train tracks or something. When the self-timer went off, he'd commented that I'd been working on this a long time, and I was saying "It changes every day!" in an effort to not explain what I'm really doing out there at 9:30 every morning. How do you deal with strangers intruding on your outfit documentation? Saying "I take pictures of myself and post them on the internet" doesn't quite capture the right tone...

cardigan - tresics, 9 months old | dress - self made, 8 mo. | belt - crossroads, new | shoes - steve madden via ross, 2 weeks

(I'm still missing an "a" key; this copy+paste business is so frustrating!) I've got to be more proactive about appreciating what I have (a job, plenty of food, a roof over my head, my own bathroom) in order to draw my focus away from what I feel I lack (a rewarding career, my own apartment, financial security, an environment where I feel like me). So in addition to my daily outfit posts, which bring me much joy, I'm going to start counting my blessings: at least five things every day that I am grateful for or that made me smile. I've tried this before, and I keep a little journal of them throughout the day too, but I want to set it in, well, the internet is probably the least stone-like medium out there, but anyway I want to make it a habit.

6 things that made me "yay" today

♥ Noticing those pretty blue flowers flourishing by the train tracks. ♥ My car; sometimes I zone out on my way to work, thinking grumbly thoughts about the workday ahead. Today I really appreciated the luxury of my nice toasty car, even though it was taking me somewhere I didn't want to go. ♥ Going for a little walk on my break & discovering a box full of free Interview magazines from the late 1980's; such times, such blog inspirations! ♥ Being early for once and having time to pick up my favorite chai with honey & soy milk, mmm. ♥ Getting a raving (in a good way) compliment on my hair (why is it the older ladies who love the crazy curly 'dos??) ♥ The biggest yay of the day is discovering that one of my favorite bands, Murder By Death, is on tour and coming to a town near me (San Francisco) early next month! I am asking for tickets for my birthday.

I have seen them a few times over the years and they are always fantastic to experience live. Their musicianship is flawless (the cellist often plays her parts while switching over to the piano and back mid-song), their sound is lush, and the singer has one of the most expressive voices out there. If you haven't yet, check them out, and don't be discouraged by their name, it's not what you might expect!

Quotation Marks

Fashion is made to become unfashionable.

- Coco Chanel

Fashion Therapy - Poppy Field

I found this bright, cheerful poppy print fabric and knew it would warm me up for spring! I keep wanting to pair skirts with cute tank tops and sandals. My brain has a hard time staying in the moment apparently. Still chilly chilly! I chose this multi-metal link bracelet to add some edge, and 'cuz it's so interesting!

top to toe | cardigan - new york & co., 4 months | skirt - self made, diy tutorial
shoes - vans | bracelet - new york & co., 6 months