Once upon a late springtime’s eve, I found myself flouncing ‘round Manhattan’s west village wearing a delightful crème romper, which I borrowed from my pseudo-twin, Lydia.  Lydia and I are congenial souls—we have a great deal in common including (but not limited to, dare I say!) our tiny stature and taste for vintage garb.  I spotted this seer-sucker romper hanging daintily in Lydia’s closet and it spoke to me, begging me to wrap myself in its luxurious cloth… “Ani,” it began, “I am a very special romper, a very special pant-top conglomerate worthy of only the most special borrower.”

I was hesitant at first—indeed, so was my sister-from-another-mister—because it was just too perfect. I must be dreaming, I thought at first, there is no such thing as the perfect garment. After swearing to high heaven that I would take excellent care of this perfect romper, I slipped it on and felt its tender swishy touch embrace me like a warm hug from the fashion deities. This was a once in a lifetime borrow.

Its back is open (my favorite way for a back to be) with an absolutely perfect trim like a butter cream frosting on a friggin’ wedding cake, made specially for the marriage of Kate and Will. I wore this crème delight with an a beige Nanette Lepore shall, an oldie but a goodie, given to me in the 8th grade as a graduation present. Back then, I thought it was pretty hideous,  as I wasn’t yet a proponent of the grandma chic. Nowadays, however, I am full of love for monotone outfits, lacey, seer-suckery goodness. And for my fluttering feetsies, a glorious pair of beige sandals I found on the give-away table in my dorm (narf!) on the last day of my final year.

Suffice to say, I know it’s been a while…but with this outfit I do declare: I am BACK!

-A

PS: In case you’re wondering, the glasses are for seeing AND for fun. A steal at 14$ from www.blubelle.com

I'm officially done with this cold weather crap.  I have decided to start ringing in Spring, beginning by willingly ignoring the rules of seasonal congruency.  I don't care if you're not supposed to wear floral print in the winter, this blazer was calling to me from its location in my closet, crowded deep within a rack of wooly sweaters.  "Keely," it said, "get me out of here!"  And so I did, and not once did I cower in shame for having brazenly broken the laws of winter wear.  In fact, the bright flowers put me in a damn good mood, and made this blazer totally worth the $3 I spent on it at Hayward Thrift in California.  Because this particular floral print is nearly neon and fairly large in size, I kept the rest of the look slick and blacked-out -- my favorite LBD, something I got at Forever 21 a century ago, a skinny vintage belt that cost but a few bucks, and my thigh-high Jeffrey Campbell flat boots, which never fail to make me feel vixenish. The hardware on the boots and belt provided all the bling I needed considering how busy the blazer is. The next opportunity I have to break the rules of a given season I will not hesitate. Fur in the spring? Velvet in the summer? You've met your match.  

In this outfit are several items that have become surprising staples in my wardrobe.  Firstly, I would literally wear these black motorcycle boots (purchased on sale from Dolce Vita) with everything if I didn't feel neglectful of the rest of my footwear.  There's nothing like a pair of motorcycle boots to add the right kind of rough edge to a girly outfit. Then there's this nifty, plaid vintage jumper dress, which I reach for weirdly often, especially considering its too short and gapped at the side to be worn as a dress.  That problem, however, is easily remedied when I wear it over a black slip as I'm doing here.  The super-soft vintage suede jacket with waist tie consistently makes me feel ladylike, and these knit black thigh-highs are an absolutely vital part of my winterized outfitting.  Thigh high anything also inevitably makes me feel a bit like a saucy minx, which is, in my opinion, never a shame.  And then there's my new favorite accessory-- these silver stud earrings that look like, well, studs, the kind you'd find on a punky belt or edgy handbag. They're a little sweet, a little tough, and a whole lot free (thanks mom!) so I'm finding them hard to resist.  

 It's always a plus to get a little extra-seasonal wear out of a seasonal staple, in this case, jean shorts.  Just about every summer I buy myself a pair -- dark wash, cuffed, higher rise -- and wear them like crazy.  These shorts, $9 from a consignment store, have the added detail of some well-placed pleats on the front that give them a bit more structural integrity.  There is something so cheeky and sharp about wearing shorts in the winter, with the necessary legwear layered underneath of course.  I wanted to show a little bit of leg and the weather on this particular day was...not quite as glacial as usual...so I opted for semi-sheer tights.   

In keeping with the theme of the day I decided to wear something else that is usually warm weather restricted -- a tube top, free, courtesy of my closet-cleansing housemate. The spandex blend material means this top fits like a glove so it stayed perfectly smooth when tucked into my shorts.  To reorient this outfit toward winter, and not freeze to death, I wore my velvet Marc Jacobs blazer, a long-ago purchase from Maribel, a consignment clothing store in Oakland, CA (with a pretty solid selection of designer treats, if memory serves me correctly).  Jeffrey Campbell studded oxfords, a vintage, chunky chain rope necklace, and my enormous winter coat (too enormous to picture here) finished off this outfit.

To top it all off, I have this pair of boots which I got at forever 21 (no kidding, right?) and which I can’t seem to get off my feet. The combo of silver, studs, and seductive wine-red pique (which feels delicious on my skin) is a wonderful, glorious, natural-feeling thing. And just to make sure I've covered all the bases, I am rocking brownish-red nail polish which I purchased at a drug store. It's by Brucie, called Creme De Coco (yum, do they make edible nail polish yet?) I guess I just need to enjoy the last days of summer, roll around in some green grass (you know, it will only make the color of my romper more vibrant—AHHH! the color wheel) and watch the sun go down on the final nights of this hot and totally nucking-futs summer.

Apparently the lead singer of Tokyo Police Club also got the jean-jacket-on-black memo.  Great minds.

I woke up last Friday morning in my bed with an abominable hangover, utterly confused from a rather rough night (three margaritas from a friend who just got himself a job and a free shot of tequila from some Greek dude with something to celebrate, oy!) as my roommate’s cat nibbled on my big toe…and it dawned on me…I moved all of my clean clothes to my new apartment in the village…What to do, what to do. ..
I quickly hopped in a cab and took it down to w 10th where my luggage is currently living and grabbed the first thing that came to mind. So I guess this is what we’d like to call, going with your instincts. Choosing this outfit was a gut reaction to a pile of clothing, which, to an outsider, might look like a big ol’ mess. But as my hand reached passed through the heap of cotton, seersucker and the like, I felt a gentle lick from an old pair of pants I had almost forgotten about. This is where the story really gets interesting…

I have finally accepted that summer is never coming to the Bay Area this year.  Call me a defeatist, but my hopefully summery outfits the last couple of weeks have only left me out in the cold.  Literally.  Still, I refuse not to wear hyper-saturated colors (note the florescent shoes in my previous post), bare legs, or floral prints.  So I have to layer, and jackets are key.  I found this cropped forest green pleather jacket at an Oakland yard sale, in what I can only describe as an artist's commune.  I actually bought it in June on a gloriously sunny day (sobb...sun! where are you?) but I was determined not to surrender to the fog and wear the jacket... until today.  It was just $15 and I am totally in love with the color, the wide lapels, and the super 70's white embroidery.  I'm not actually certain it's made of pleather, but it's sure as hell not real leather.  I wore it with a vintage floral dress that I scored for $4 at the Alameda Vintage Fair (the frugal trick is to go late, when retailers are more desperate to get rid of their loot). And then there's the shoes -- green velvet and faux-navy snakeskin platform and stiletto -heeled oxford / mary-jane hybrids from L.A.M.B.  They were a splurge several years ago but I'm still in love, so I can sort of justify the extra bones.  Sort of.  

-K

Maybe I’ve gone a little overboard with my recent obsession with nude, taupe, beige and the like…today I am head (skip the legs, of course) to toe in creamy goodness. I can’t really say what it is…maybe it’s the fact that my two favorite pairs of shoes this summer are of this color family, including the ones I have on my feetsies now (by H&M a gift from Zsuzsi, as if that is something new), which I have worn at least once a week all summer. They’re just perfect, and not solely (pun intended) because of the color. I’m not a huge lace-up lover, however, these are simple and discreet. I love the little wooden stack heel and the fact that they have a wide brim.

The shirt I picked up after I realized the consequences of not having done laundry in what seems like a century; I literally paid two dollars for this YSL top on the corner by my house from this enormous dude who sells “every-tin por dos pesos” (I must do an expose about my neighborhoborhood shopping soon, I swear, it will have everyone moving to Washington Heights). The best part about the top (apart from the taupe) are the buttons which, in glorious conjunction with the shoulder pads, make for a remake of an eighties blouse one might see his or her mother wearing in an old photograph.  And don’t even get me started on the shape; the way this top is longer in the front than the back, the way the front has a triangular hem and the way it flows on a hot summer day in the city… Golly!

To make sure I didn’t burn up while running errands at the office and to avoid feeling as though I have been tossed into the freezer like the uneaten scraps Thanksgiving turkey when I arrived back from those errands, I wore black-speckled leggings…a gift from my mother who must have worn them when she was a student at Parsons…I won’t date her though, because she is in veracity a young-mama, but I will say that I can totally see her rocking this same outfit back in the good-old-days.

-A

I have discovered a new color.  Lest I take too much credit, I should explain that I'm not the first person to fall for this particular hue.  I am, however, damn surprised to say I'm smitten with florescent yellow.  Yellow has never been high on my list of flattering colors, but this yellow is way too frisky to ignore. The exact shade is usually called "citron" and is an especially vivid, lemony-yellow.  I couldn't resist these citron sandals with a sliver-wedge heel, from Dolce Vita footwear.  Plus, they were on sale for only $30, so I really couldn't resist.   

Lemony-licious

The problem then became how to wear a pair of screamingly bright neon kicks to work.  First, I resisted wearing black (a challenge in and of itself) since the contrast with the yellow would be too jarring to be in the makings of an office-casual ensemble.  Instead, I opted for my favorite pair of indigo wash J Brand jeans and a loose navy blazer.  But the shoes were still popping too much so I added some visual interest up top with a long gold ball-chain necklace and this metallic LaRok tank.  It is the loveliest shade of silvery-taupe, and the keyhole back is so cute (and I got it at a great markdown from Sola Lucy, a consignment shop in the Montclair district of Oakland).  My taste must be changing because this top is another unusual object for my affection -- the first trapeze-cut top in my arsenal.
 
-K 

Lately, I have been feeling fond of fancy (or perhaps more accurately, faux-fancy).  I want gilded flatware, powder blue and pink furniture worthy of Marie Antoinette, champagne with a splash of creme de violette, velvet in the summer....basically, anything delectably rococo that I can mix with the uber-modern. Oh yeah, and I want it all for real cheap.  This black lace cocktail dress by Frock! for Tracy Reese proved to be a great starting point in my attempt to draft a delectably (and excessively) fancy outfit for dinner out.  The elaborate lace, geometrically seamed bib panel, floaty ruffles and alluringly scooped back are oh-so-frou frou, but the length makes this little number quiet wearable.  And I still have enough money left to afford a tank of gas. A modern miracle! Well, actually, it's the result of some good ol' bargain hunting.  Frock! by Tracy Reese dresses usually run around $200, but I found this frock for $50 at Sola Lucy, a consignment shop in the Montclair district of Oakland.  For this outfit I aimed for polarized accessories -- the very vintage meets the mighty modern (a quirk that kind of makes this dress, n'est pas?).    

-K

I am obsessed with the back of this dress.

A dose of modern: Pour La Victoire heels with insanely architectural cutout heels, the same ones I'm wearing on The SF Style blog.  And they're actually comfortable (I swear).  

So I’ve been having a onesided and nonconsensual (that is she doesn’t know) fight with Rumi after that post with the fringe shirt thingy…I guess this is more for me, but I am definitely out to prove a point to all the impoverished fashionistas out there. Basically I’ve been inspired to show y’all just how many ways you can use one plain article of clothing in a bunch of different ways…So, as you know from yesterday's post,  I bought a three pack of Hanes cotton crew necks for gentle-dudes and I got to editing. Today’s garment: a tunic which I’ve altered from its original t-shirt form simply by cutting off the sleeves and the neck seam and added a bit of pattern with a few sharpies found in my beloved office supply closet at work (thank you Saffron!).

Really, this took my about ten minutes and cost me about 3 bucks when you consider the t-shirt and sharpies—which in fact I didn’t pay for—and the scissors—oh, wait, I didn’t pay for those either.

I finally got my nude patent “Lacie” pumps (forever 21) back from the shoe repairman today after my evil roommate's fatty cat Chairman Meow attacked them while I wasn’t looking (I actually like the cat by the way, he can’t help the fact that his brain is pea-sized and covered in blubber). I bought the pants back in 2008 from Urban Outfitters…and let me just say, they were the ONLY purchase from Urban that I’ve paid full price for but already they’re falling apart SHEESH! So I’ve got this long tunic creation to cover up the fact that the pants are missing buttons and I’m set, a little bounce-bounce and a twist for Sophia Coaxum my photographer friend and off I go into the land of glorified tshirts! God I love arts and crafts. Wait until you see the shirt I made for tomorrow! Bring it the eff on Rumi Neely, I bet you'd pay a grand for that stupid shredded Comme des Garçons top which, to me, is the biggest fop in fashion history...and hey I too can get a professional to take my picture and add a touch of photoshop lighting to make it look like I'm not trying to look that friggin cool, though someone else undoubtedly is.

-A

This is not going to be one of those nasty posts in which I shit all over an icon because I am envious of her toothpick legs and unlimited budget; because I don’t hate fashiontoast creator Rumi Neely for having an amazing photographer BF who helps afford her an unlimited amount of shoes and what not… No, I won’t get into all that… But I will lodge my first complaint-solution against one of her recent posts.

Girl more or less said, “like omigod I was totally stumbling around my loft in LA trying to answer a ringing doorbell and I forgot to fully put on my Amer Appar tri-blend romper and like when I finally managed to answer the door I was like omigod I look great, now I’m obsessed with not wearing the romper as a romper but as shorts weeee!”

And she shows us what she means with another romper paired with this shredded blanket thing she’s wearing as a shirt. Of course, she is pictured in the rolling hills of southern Cali, making the whole outfit look perfectly natural for some reason, and I admire her for that. But because I know that her budget for clothes is relatively unrealistic, and because I have my own fashion blog, I decided to take on a nice early-morning, arts-and-crafts challenge. I wanted her shirt, but definitely could not afford it (wherever she got it… it can’t have been the Sal Army or anything…), not with my paycheck coming in NEXT Friday…

Anywho, so I crashed at my friends’ house last night and definitely didn’t pack appropriately, so this was the perfect opportunity to show off my last-minute outfit skills. I went to Duane Reade (open 24 hours!) and picked up a 3-pack of men’s Hanes crew neck tees for ten bucks. I put one on immediately, just for the subway ride to work and then whe I got to work, immediately grabbed a handy pair of scissors and began slicing. This is not a difficult task when you have a good pair of scissors, but trust me, staples brand snippers are not meant for fabric, so this took me quite a while. This kind of tee can look sloppy if you do it wrong, and plus, I was trying to replicate a very expensive top—I didn’t want it too seem like I pulled an old shirt from camp Na-Sho-Pa color war or something…. Anyway, I think I did a good job, I reeeaaalllllyyyy do wonder though—Rumi this question is directed at you—how much was that top?

Basically, I took about 20 minutes to make this. I cut off the sleeves but since the shirt was HUGE it looks like a cloak top or shall(see, Rumi! I can show my bat wings too!). I cut off the collar because a men's crew neck is not the most flattering on my flat chest. I finished up by tying knots in the fringe and occasionally twisting and double knotting two pieces of fringe together for an extra bite out of Rumi's expensive apple. 

Just curious…because you made your name blogging under the Forever 21 name, and I need to know that your accurately representing the brand. You know…just ‘cause.

-A
PS This is the second post in a row in which I'm wearing the Ebay shoes...they are just to shweet to not repeat.

...Or My shoes for that matter. I thought this bit of advice from Lyle Lovett, Texan country singer was too good to be true. Basically, this singer wrote a song about how his lady (or ladies) were simple, transient, and totally irrelevant in comparison to his beloved John B. Stetson. What he means when he says "if it's her you want I don't care about that, you can have my girl but don't touch my hat" he means that his favorite accessory is worth more than any relationship.
Pretty Manly. Here are the shoes I've been waiting patiently for, purchased on ebay for a grand total of $36 (that includes shipping!) and this awesome hat I bought on sale at Target for 4 bucks on Saturday during my visit to Saratoga Springs. The shirt was 2 bucks on the corner of 170th street and the skirt, well....it's actually a shirt that I bought at a store called "Beauty Supply and General Merchandise" on 171st and Broadway...
I know right...my neighborhood rules. I'm never doing laundry again.

For the Fourth of July I got a big, swollen right foot.  It ain't cute.  However, I refuse to let my damaged hoof keep me from my fav summer footwear.  I have also decided that the limp with which I am currently walking is an endearing addition to my usual gait, perhaps imbuing my stride with a sort of hip-hop inspired swagger.  Okay, maybe not, but I did rally today and take myself to see The Solitary Man at a local theater.  While I wasn't sold on the idea that any young woman would choose to sleep with Michael Douglas, I am sold on my new(ly stolen from my mother) Strada backpack.  It's exactly what I've been looking for as an alternative to my usual shoulder bag or clutch.  And yes, new Strada bags average around $300, but this baby was a TOTAL steal at $20 from the Oakland Museum White Elephant Sale (in my opinion, the best rummage sale in Cali).  I also bought the double-layer rhinestone bracelet I'm wearing from the OMWES. I've also got on my go-to oversized navy blazer and cuffed short shorts from Hayward Thrift (both only a few bucks each), and another staple: my nautical tank from Crossroads.  The headscarf is vintage, and the hot-pink patent leather sandals (mmmmm, I love them) are from Dolce Vita.  Another new addition to my wardrobe: the fleshy-peach faux ostrich wallet from Deena and Ozzy pictured below.  It even has room for all five of my Peet's coffee cards!

-K

After work today I hung out on my deck with my favorite little man, Duffy.  He makes quite the co-model, no?  In fact, I'm concerned he may be stealing the show. But focus people.. here's the backstory to this ensemble:  I re-worked this striped, short-sleeved minimal coverup to make a new work outfit.  It has no sort of fastener and so it hangs open, but I realized I could wrap it around my waist and cinch it in place with a little leather and beaded belt, adding some more texture and visual interest to my favorite LBD.  I kept my jewelry minimal since I'm wearing my newest (and very flashy) purchase in my hair -- an oversized, sparkly, bright gold bow on a hair barrette that I snagged at the All Vintage Everything event in SF.  The sleek, vintage woven leather shoulder bag was a recent gift from my mom, and has proven itself insanely handy with its myriad of neatly packaged inside pockets and crevasses.  And then there's the shoes from Dolce Vita.  Pretty much my ideal shoe (and accordingly over-the-top): Sliver wedge heels, peep toes, rich black leather, metallic gold hardware, zippers and lace-up fronts.  Thank you shoe gods, for reading my mind.  

Legs for miles and miles on a hot summer day, I can feel an extra bounce in my step when I put on my little black dress, which I got for free when I first started as a sales associate at American Apparel (go figure). The key to a little black dress in my humble opinion is timelessness, not trendiness. It is a staple to every chic woman's wardrobe, because it can be worn again and again (it's black after all) and because it fits juuuuust right. Sometimes I can't even get one leg into this poly-cotton stretch (I have it in a size large, but if you know anything about American Apparel, that doesn't mean shit) because I am bloated with collegeness, or something. Other times, like this hot summer day in downtown Manhattan, it fits like Michael Jackson's jewel-laden white glove. And to give my favorite black 'glove' a new twist, I've paired it with a beige, faux-snakeskin, leather belt with these enormous black jewels, courtesy of my high school sweetheart's mother, who used to pass these sorts of things along to me back in the day. To top off this dress-noir, I'm rocking my favorite beige boots. They've got just enough of a heel to make me look sexy, though not like a victim of Dov Charney's wandering eyes.
-A

I have made contact with a fashion fantasy...and my gams are grateful.  I am embarrassed to say that I had actually given up my search for the perfect pair of trousers.  Every pair I tried on was either too baggy, too tight, or too short (thus inducing "diaper syndrome" ie. the effect of misplaced / ill-fitting draping on a butt). And then they appeared: a viscose-blend vision loitering in the center of a rather empty Crossroad's rack, pants that were a rebellious combination of nonchalance and structure.  Okay, so perhaps it was a more prodigious experience in my memory than in reality, but the point is that these black Ellison trousers have changed my life (or at least my wardrobe).  They are exactly what I was looking for -- pleat-front, tapered, slightly drapey, simultaneously relaxed and put-together.... and only $25.    

The greatest thing about these pants is how brilliantly detailed they are.  And really, isn't great workmanship always all in the details?  Below there's a close-up of the faux back pockets, which keep the look of these trousers classic without ruining the line and fit across my bum with any added bulkiness. And of course, the well-chosen injection of bling.  You can't see it very well from the picture below, but the tabs on the high hips of each pant leg are fastened to the back of the pants by beveled chrome buttons.  It adds such a feisty and fresh hit of interest.  It's true love, ladies and gents!  To compliment the menswearish vibe, I wore a feminine, lacy shirt that was fitted enough to balance the drapeyness of the trousers.  Plus, this blouse has the coolest, vaguely victorian shoulder thingies, like little lacy spikes.  So rad for only 11 bucks!  Before heading to work I stuffed my cell, wallet and a tube of lipstick into this cream-colored vintage clutch with a pretty gold clasp that I purchased at the Alameda Vintage Fair a few years ago.

-K
You are such an effin' babe. Looks like you've found that perfect pair of trousers?
-A

How do I love getting packages! Today at my office, the UPS guy came with my newest purchase (not a splurge of course!) the nude patent leather 'lacy' pumps that I ordered from forever 21. All I can say is that they aren't as painful as I thought, in fact, they hurt more when I am sitting than standing (explain that one, seriously) Anyway, here's the outfit du jour. Since I was anxiously anticipating the arrival of these puppies, I planned an outfit that would allow me to change shoes in case they arrived today...thank god they did. I am SO excited!
-A
photo credit: Sophia Coaxum

 I need to do laundry. This is day two of denial of laundry-needing...Luckily for me, I have enough clothing to build a fort to live in (or is it enough to start a consignment shop like I've always wanted?), so I can put it off until the weekend comes and I have a second to breathe. 
At the very bottom of my suitcase, I found these long forgotten harem pants. They don't have a tag, so I can't remember where I actually purchased them, but I can guess they're from forever 21 (duh, I need to go to rehab I think). I decided to go all out in a statement against lame laundry-day outfits--you know, the kind you put together because you have NOTHING to wear, so essentially they are totally wack--and made this outfit as wild as possible. The pants have a very high waist so I decided to make my legs look even longer by pairing the pants with black nylon dress socks that I got at the deli around the corner from my office and my favorite go-to patent platforms from Payless (no, not Price Chopper, Natasha) I looked like MC Hammer on stilts, but boy did I feel super cool running errands faster than the birth of Lady GaGa's image. 
-A
PHOTO CREDIT: SOPHIA COAXUM

To my great delight, someone informed me the other day that Sharon Stone believes leopard print is a neutral.  Preach!  That woman may be relatively insane, but she is a legendary sex kitten so I trust her take on animal print.  Of course, I'm talking about imitation here, not the real thing.  And it doesn't get much more faux-fur than this 70's polyester leopard print (or some amalgamation of several prints to be exact) button-down shirt.  I found it at an amazing yard sale at an artist's compound by the harbor in Oakland, where I purchased a number of other polyester oddities, all for $5.  You'll hear more of those in outfits to come, no doubt.  I also purchased the big, butterscotchy bracelet I'm wearing from the yard sale, for $3.

I wanted to work a bit of a saucy vibe so I tucked the blouse into my fav dark wash cuffed jean short shorts and put on the only shoes in my closet that I think qualify as seriously come-hither heels (pictured above).  They're by Oh Deer! and cost under $100, which is great considering they resemble very nearly a pair of Yves Saint Laurent heels that I lusted after prior to finding these -- same gold hardware, gorgeous red lining and heavenly horse-hair straps included (although, the hair is real on the YSL's and fake on these).

-K    

June 15, 2010. A member of the production team for the latest cancer vaccine advert paid me the loveliest compliment the other day. She said "Ani never wears the same thing twice" and that when I complimented her dress for the AICP awards it made her day. Well, I have to be honest here, I haven't worn the same thing twice in front of her because I haven't done laundry since I've been back to the city (don't get me started, the nearest place is a half mile walk WTF?), save for a few pairs of undies in the sink--but I won't go there.
Anyway, so I bought this skirt the other day for a friend's birthday party but neglected to get a shot of the way I wore it that night. On Sunday I decided that the only thing I could do was to make this very nighttime skirt daytime applicable. I've paired it with a basic white v-neck and a white pair of Jeffrey Campbell kitten-heeled booties care of Zsuzsi (duh!) I am also wearing socks, which one of my boss ladies said she thought was a silly fashion trend last year. I wonder if she changed her mind after today? I shouldn't flatter myself.
-A

PHOTO CREDIT: SOPHIA COAXUM

Quick outfit update: I had no idea what to wear to work today, but I was determined to be faithful to my strict "think before you dress" rule.  Luckily my rise-and-shine soundtrack this morning included some Zappa, and when Catholic Girls came on I ended up drawing a little inspiration from the Catholic schoolgirl uniform (sans Britney-Spears-esque slutaciousness, of course).  It seems to me that a uniform is a fun starting point - it utilizes pieces that work together for a reason, whether that reason be functionality, propriety, recognizability or whatever.  But it's only a starting point - you have make it your own to make it fashion, no?  

I started with a mid-thigh length, high-waist slate grey pleated skirt with a flat front, a little row of off-center buttons, and subtle pinstripes. It was a thrift store find from a little dive by the Russian River in Northern California.  The cardigan (gifted) and button down (from a free bin!) fit right in with my uniform of choice, but the buttery cashmere of the cardigan and cute round collar and multi-directional navy and white stripes on the blouse helped to luxe the outfit up a bit.  To concoct an unconventional combination, I added the little navy straw hat pictured above (which I snatched from my mother's closet) and my highly favored, glittery silver chainmail-y choker ($17 from Pretty Penny in Oakland).  Oh yeah, and those slouchy Jeffrey Campbell short western boots.  They were a slight investment, but I've gotten a good amount of wear out of them and they really changed the whole aesthetic of this particular outfit. 

-K  

Ooh la la... new headwear!  I am making it my goal this summer to amass an eclectic and extensive (oh yeah, and reasonable) assortment of hats.  Being a powderpuff shade of pale white means I'll take any good bit of accessory-related sun protection I can get.  On this particular day, that first entailed reaching for these oversized cat-eye sunglasses from Pretty Penny in Oakland.  When I bought them the gold stripes (don't think you can see them from this pic) had almost completely worn off so I took a lipstick brush, dipped it in some gold acrylic and retouched the stripes.  But back to hats!  My mother actually found this hat in the giveaway pile at the university where she works.  That's right...one college student's trash has become this college student's treasure.  And it was totally free!!! It doesn't get any better than that.  The bow is so pretty and the lining is ballet pink -- such a nice touch.       

 I wore it with my fav soft v-neck tee with a great Oakland homage on the front (also from Pretty Penny), the thrifted green leopard miniskirt I wore in Skidmore's own progressive fashion show, and patent leather gladiator sandals.  Next up on my hat to-buy list:  a straw boater hat, a super 1920's wool felt cloche hat, a thousand fascinators*.

*fascinators are the little headpieces that attach to your hair with a comb, headband or clip and are often made with feathers, flowers, beads, or some fabulous combo therein.    

-K  

So I recently jetted off to Boulder, CO during study week to attend my older brother's graduation from CU Boulder.  Sure, I spent valuable finals-studying time drinking Basil Hayden's Bourbon and eating excessively with the Fam, but hey...my brother's only gonna graduate from college once.  At the time Boulder was having some pretty freakish weather (we're talking actual snowfall in early May and weird bursts of sun and rain) so I had a tricky time deciding what to pack.  I ended up with this outfit for the actual commencement ceremony.  The dress is Marc Jacobs - I found it at Buffalo Exchange a few years ago with the TAGS STILL ATTACHED for just over $20.  sweeeeet.  The hem is heavy so the dress always falls in just the right way and I love the mismatching browns and quirky color combination (brown + coral + lilac = fun).  Plus, I love the row of buttons all down the right side of the dress.  There's nothing quite as endearing as arbitrarily added fasteners.   

I wore it with a black cashmere cardigan and a pair of lace Kate Spade tights that I rescued from a post-christmas sale at Ross.  The brown leather lace-up perforated peep toes were another under $5 find from Hayward Thrfit in CA.  Later, I added the paisley umbrella to fend off the rain.  Below, a picture of me with my fancy graduate brother who looks kind of like he belongs in a gospel choir without the cap.  Check out the prettiest thing in this photo (no guys, not me, but thanks)...the view of the Rockies that literally curl up right next to the campus!
-K

It's been a while since I sat down with a tub of buttery popcorn and a vat of ice cream to sooth my woes with a little Sex and the City therapy. Because I live in a house full of dudes, I rarely have a chance to slip away and watch my four favorite fictional New York City single ladies in action...I'd just never hear the end of it ("they're just a bunch of middle aged, materialist sluts" as one of my housemates said). But while I was watching Gossip Girl (again, don't make fun, there is a reason I watch that show too...it's for the blog I swear) I saw a preview for the second SATC film, during which I was reminded fondly of the fart episode from the first season. I won't go into the plot, because it's certainly not my favorite episode, but I will say that there is one split-second part in which Carrie flees Mr. Big's apartment after she falls from her goddess-like grace with a little slip of flatulence. She's wearing these jeans that are just SOOOOO perfect, they fit her like a glove...and I've been looking for my own pair just like the ones she rocks in that brief and humiliating scene. I had all but forgotten about my quest until I came across the pair I'm wearing (right) from...you guessed it...forever 21. They were only ten bucks, so when I put them on, I was shocked at how perfectly they fit. I'd been waiting for the moment when I finally found the perfect denim bottoms a la Carrie in this episode (below).
What do you think?
-A

I'll admit, when your in college, shopping is generally off limits as far as budgets are concerned. But since I got paid on Friday, secured myself a place for next year, and finished one out of three final papers, and there was a huge party to attend last night, I decided to treat myself to a brand new dress. And when I say "treat" I don't mean "splurge"...I visited my favorite store in the area (what else... forever 21) and found this amazing cotton dress for under twenty bucks. I also wanted an accessory, and have been dying to get a headband that would allow me to pull off that flapper chic look that is slightly last season (but who cares?), yet perfectly timeless. 
Apparently the combination of the white sun dress and the headband made me look more like my friend's "mom in the late sixties" than a flapper girl...and I was asked if I was trying to be a flower child. Whatever this "style" actually was, I am deeply satisfied with my purchase and my night... The headband got me some great compliments and a free t-shirt from DAs. I guess I am cute either way...not to toot my own horn or anything! See you in 1920...or maybe 1960!
-A

There are few things that I like more than incredibly inexpensive, yet awesomely chic finds at thrift stores like The Salvation Army or Buffalo Exchange. That said, nothing--not even vintage treasures--top home-made clothing. My best friend Tessa and her boyfriend Tayloe live and create together in New York City, and for my birthday, they gave me a sample of one of their very own silk-screened t-shirts.
Now, because I am not terribly fond of the high-collars that come with standard men's t-shirts, I did a little editing myself. I have been searching high and low for a casual shirt with a t-back and halter top, but alas, nothing thus far had been quite right...so I made one myself. I cut the sleeves off of this basic t-shirt and cut part of the back off. Then I cut strips with the remaining fabric and braided them into a t-strap.
Now, I'm not quite sure whose face is silk screened on to the front of this shirt, but I do know that he looks (with my apologies to my friends in So-Cal) hella cool.
Thanks a whole bunch, Tessa and Tayloe, this shirt made my day (maybe my week, month and year too!)
-A
**EDIT 5/4/10: Tessa has informed me that the face on the shirt is the character Omar from the wire. HOLLA!



I see nothing wrong with "hella".  Its hella cool.
-K

As I mentioned in a previous post, my camera abuse prevented me from documenting my outfits for a few weeks.  Luckily, the mysterious creators of Skidmore's own Skidtorialist tumblr were there to capture these shots of the getup I wore on a particularly fine day.  I found this dress at Buffalo Exchange in SF a few years ago and it still makes for a nice pick-me-up.  The pucci-esque print is delightfully swirly and that rich royal blue is still one of my favorite colors. Plus, it's nearly impossible to find a great longer-sleeved dress, but I can't get over how versatile they are.  I layered a hip-length black knit vest (permanently borrowed from my friend Lucy) on top, and cinched in the waist with a thin, black leather belt that once belonged to my mother. 

As per usual, my $2 old-man black booties from Hayward Thrift seem to go with everything.  As do those tortoiseshell shades.  They're actually legit Giorgio Armani wayfarers, but don't worry, I didn't splurge.  I discovered them, rather abandoned, in the glove compartment of my dad's car a few summers ago and decided to give them a better home (despite the fact that they were terribly stretched out by my father's mondo noggin).  Apparently, someone left them at our house after a cocktail party once upon a time and never claimed them... you snooze you lose!  Those babies are mine now.

-K  

No one pays attention to socks.  The only socks I ever see in the masses milling about on campus tend to look like afterthoughts at the very most -- tube socks in rubber sandals on the athletic population or thick wool socks shoved into booties.  It's no excuse that socks as a clothing item rarely see the light of day.  The La Perla lingere or Calvin Klein boxer briefs that you've been eyeing (you know you've been eyeing them) are similarly unseen, but for some reason undergarments get a lot more attention than socks. Enough of that! 

I have amassed an embarrassingly large collection of patterned socks, most of which were gifted to me by my mother on some holiday or another.  The fabulous Betsy Johnson socks pictured in this post were a gift to my housemate Eliza for her 21st birthday (happy birthday kid!) and I was IMMEDIATELY raging jealous.  The stripes, the houndstooth, the cheeky ruffled ankles and lipstick hued toes....my feet are in love!


-K 

I told myself that if the canned cavi-yard sale was a success, I'd buy myself a little treat as a reward for that long day under the searing sun. Thanks to all those who came, you made it possible for me to score this sweet pink sear-sucker dress.
The top half reminds me of the kind of dress I'd wear for a pre-double digits birthday party at Chuckie Cheese's while the bottom, pleated skirt portion makes the dress more age-appropriate. I never wear pink, but I couldn't say no to this tasty little cake of a dress...After all, it was only ten dollars, which is probably slightly less than a similarly delicious tart or cupcake at Mrs. London's.
To make sure I kept everything PG, I wore a red cotton spandex tube dress from American apparel and navy blue tights. For shoes I chose a great pair of Jeffrey Campbell kitten-heel booties: hand-me-downs from my good old pal Zsuzsi.
-A

So I realize I haven't posted any of my outfits in a while.  I own two cameras, a point-and-shoot for which I'd lost the battery charger, and a DSLR with a broken auto-focus, also my fault.  As a result, I haven't been self-documenting as religiously as I could have.  But, with my point-and-shoot back in action, here is a getup I wore on this day of fickle weather.  My mom originally purchased this blouse for herself, but (luckily) she was displeased with the fit and thus.....mine!  The pretty 3/4 length sleeves are a sort of updated version of poet sleeves, perhaps the only form of poet sleeves I think I'd ever wear.  I tucked the blouse into my trusty high-waisted denim skirt (which I am getting a little tired of, in truth) from Buffalo Exchange in Berkeley, CA.  

You can't tell very well from the picture, but the DKNY tights I'm wearing are actually a shimmery, metallic gunmetal grey.  I kept my jewelry minimal because the multiplicity of silver buttons involved in this ensemble, and the sparkly tights, are embellishment enough, I think.  My woven leather booties are from Dolce Vita, and are just borderline falling apart from wear.  This southwesterny-patterned wool blazer with assertive shoulder pads may be the next thing I wear to death.  It looks just like a Pendleton coat, but instead of costing around $130 (seriously, Pendletons cost that much on average) I unearthed this treasure at a thrift store in the Bay Area for $10. 

-K 

Can you believe it? Finally my obsession with wearing boots year round has been satisfied! After receiving a C+ on a paper today, I decided to put my tax return to good use, and do a little shopping. I stopped in Luccia on Broadway in the little mini mall, and discovered that my two year absence from the place allowed me to miss the fact that the store now carries vintage items (by the way, if you haven't done so already, now's a good time to check out our guide to thrifting and vintage)!
I saw these little booties with cut-out flower patterns and fell in love! Okay, I'll admit, I was GOING to buy sandals but these soft black leather puppies had to be adopted. They have everything I could ever want from a boot this season: from the just-above-the-ankle, asymmetrical bootie cut, to the fringe, to the silver studs.... Gah! What more could a girl ask for?

-A

I've paired these new steals (my goodness, only 25 dollars!) with an old favorite shirt from the salvation army, which I found at the bottom of my shirt drawer. I am also wearing a great pair of gunmetal-gray, shiny leggings from American Apparel.

After a two day stint in my big comfy bed (I had one hell of a cold mates) I decided to rain in this new day (no pun intended, it is going to rain later) with a cute little pair of bike shorts (American Apparel) thigh-high white socks (Target) and a sweater that I'm absolutely in love with (found in my closet after a party...hmmm) To match my white socks, I've added a pearl necklace (for all you perves out there NO PUN INTENDED!) It's good to be back. I think it's time to walk to school in this great weather. Missed yall!
-A

Thanks again to my good friend Zsuzsi, I have had a reason to allow my inspiration to clothe me. She took me out for drinks as a birthday present and told me in a rather cryptic message: "this goes without saying but dress cute!"
I have to oblige her, after all, I owe at least 50% of my wardrobe to her generosity!
She took a few photos of me on a brown-stone-lined street in the west village, the perfect place to prance around at night in my Lady-GaGa-inspired patent leather platforms by Alice and Olivia (for Payless!) matched with black leggings (I'll allow the reader to decide whether or not the hole was intentional) and a great dress that I got in china town for like...17 bucks!
What do you think? I am absolutely obsessed with the neck line!
-A

Oh and PS mates, Zsuzsi took these photos for a sort of work in progress...we'll let you know when more details are available!

My sista Zsuzsi just got back from a week-long trip to Japan during which, she discovered the meaning of the word "cute". Everything in Tokyo is miniature, bubbly, brightly colored and just plain adorable. 
I took a class in Japanese Anime, where I too learned (albeit from a distance) how important it is to be kawaii. 
Since it was my birthday last week, homegirl brought me a bunch of really adorable things, including my new favorite accessory, a pochi. In the spirit of all things cute, I planned an outfit ala Harijuku, but left in my NYC twist, as I can't look too playful at work. The pochi is like a kawaii version of "pocketbook", its made of rubber, and honestly, if it had a little smiley face on it, I would tell everyone its my newest pet. With my new purse as my focus, I planned an outfit that is both cute and sophisticated. This blue dress showed up in my closet freshman year, the tag says H&M. I am also wearing a green hugo boss cashmere sweater which was another gift from Zsuzsi (a long time ago), and my favorite navy blazer. Since I work in TriBeCa, the land of chic, I'm rocking my most comfortable (I know, they don't look it!) platfrom shoes by Alice and Olivia for payless.
Someone told me on the train this morning that my dress was cute, but too short. In the spirit of NYC, I put on my best "I-haven't-had-my-coffee-yet-so-shuddup" face and replied "Yeah, well so am I...."
-A

A Wise man once asked... "Donchyou like mah chayne?" I certainly do. I've paired my favorite hand-me-down blazer with a hand-me-down shirt. I'm wearing black leggings from forever 21, priced at just 2.99$. My necklace was purchased from one of those street vendors that sells the same shit as all the other vendors on Broadway in SoHo, so as to add some "hood" (my hood, that is) to my outfit. To top (or shoudl I say bottom it?) it all off, I show my thriftiness and ebay-skills with my black pirate slouch boots, which costs me but six bucks.
Keep it real like Gucci Mane!
-A

Yes, this vintage stole is real mink fur, but ladies and gentlemen I assure you that it is more than 70 years old and a family heirloom.  So rest easy, it's been dead for a while. 
-K 

Keely's attire here calls to mind the classic fairy tale of the fairest maiden in all the land. Her blue corduroy jumper combined with that stunning fur stole and white puffed sleeves takes us for an enchanted walk through the woods, like our favorite princess. In this modern retelling of Snow White...the only difference is we'll encounter our fellow college students getting blunted in Northwoods rather than a pack of diamond-hunting dwarves.
-A

 
            
        I must say, I am rather skilled in the art of finding cheap attire. I created this outfit after feeling utterly inspired by this happy leather coat which I picked out of a crate labeled "free box". Why someone would give away such a great jacket is beyond my own comprehension, but after wearing it everyday, all I can say is thanks for helping to confirm my belief that recycled clothes are the very best things that money can't buy.
-A



The black boots Ani is wearing have such cool velvet insets.  If it weren't for my oversized stompers I would be borrowing them.

-K

In this outfit: My lovely housemate Eliza's fabulous wing-sleeved striped shirt that makes me feel like Jean Seberg in "À bout de Souffle" (a girl can dream) and the royal blue knit hat that I stole from my friend Amanda (pictured in "what we see" on March 4).  The suede tie-waist blazer was a gift from my mother and is supple as all hell.  So effectively, a 50% free ensemble! Check out the necklace above.

-K

I had been searching for what felt like an eternity in the hopes of uncovering the perfect 80's sequined top, without the 80's shoulder pads, when I came across this gem in Mars Vintage of Berkeley, CA.  It's ideally drapey and the white flower appliques, esp. on the shoulders, are just right.  Good thing my friend loaned me that turquoise purse - the pop of color made this work.  

I purchased this little jumper dress at my new favorite vintage store in Oakland, CA.  Its called Mercy and is conveniently (dangerously?) located a mere two blocks from the place where I work when I'm home in the Bay Area.  The buckles on the shoulder straps and front pockets are black patent leather *gasp*.  The thigh-high knit socks I'm wearing are Betsy Johnson and are quickly becoming my go-to accessory.  Oh yeah, and I 'borrowed' that jean jacket from the lost and found on campus and added the phone to the back with a stencil and some spray paint.  It turned out so well that it briefly made me stencil-crazy.  

-K

Vogue said recently that plaid was making a strong comeback this season. It is no wonder then, that Keely has juxtaposed the classic schoolgirl look, against that of the funky, refreshing bad-girl embodied by her light wash denim jacket. Her look suggests the fusion of Rebel Without a Cause with Gossip Girl. She ties it all together beautifully with sexy thigh-highs and hip black bootie shoes. The telephone on the back of her demin jacket and that coy little glance down at her feet seems to say "call me, but only after the nuns release me from school"
-A

I would be surprised to find someone who didn't agree that the "artfulness" of a given expression -- linguistic, visual, or otherwise -- is taken to new levels of eloquence through the introduction of contrast.  Hard and soft, rough and delicate, vintage and modern, flowy and fitted... oppositions like these are understandably alluring for any member of the fashion-obsessed.  


In this ensemble for a night out (which in Saratoga Springs requires a substantial amount of cold-proofing) Ani mixed together a tasty little cocktail of contradictions: A sweet bow in her hair and a girlish skirt offset cleverly by geometric tights, a punky grommeted top (actually a tucked-in dress) and a saucy leopard coat worthy of Mrs. Robinson.  


-K 

Bow-licious: A perfectly unexpected addition.  I wish everyone paid a little more attention to headwear, myself included.

-K

Dear Jeffrey Campbell.... will you marry me?  Most people who know me know that a) I have an undeniable shoe fetish b) I have taken over an extra closet in my current abode in order to house the spoils of this shoe fetish and c) right now there is no greater object of my fetish than Jeffrey Campbell, the LA-based designer.  His footwear is playful and assertive, sexy and offbeat, and reasonably priced (emphasis on reasonably, they're not cheap).  These over-the-knee black leather four-buckle boots are my newest JC purchase and I'm already having to stop myself from repeatedly reaching for them.  They are the perfect amount of saucy and practical.  Yes, practical; they are completely flat and comfortable and understandably warm.  

I rarely wear shorts, as I have the distinct sense that they emphasize my arse to an absurd degree, but these dark blue denim shorts were $3 at Hayward thrift in CA, so I figured I could take the risk.  I'm pretty sure I ended up wearing them every other day this summer.  Paired with tights and thigh-high boots, I discovered that they can actually transition fairly well into winter wear.  I'm wearing a vintage button-down with a tiny black and pink floral print, under a cashmere cardigan and a big, soft circle scarf. 


-K

There is nothing more ironic than wearing gold in college apart from wearing gold in college when the world is only beginning to see the light of recovery from economic crisis. I have always been attracted to gold--I collected a box full of my father's unused Gaudi Gold  once in high school and since then have been mildly obsessed with the idea of these tacky treasures. Now, I am no pirate, so I know that most of what I have is painted or plated or bound to turn green after a while, but today I thought I'd be a bit silly and wear as much gold as I could without feeling absolutely ridiculous. It was sunny today, so I guess my gold brought out the best in the weather. In these pictures: A bracelet that my brother made when he was 5 (I know right! He is one talented sunovagun) a necklace that I purchased half off at Beacon's Closet in Williamsburg Brooklyn which was broken when I got it, and another necklace that I have been slowly adding to for years. Being Puerto Rican, my mother gets these solicitations from the Catholic church begging her to attend local churches. They always send these awesome little keychains with pictures of saints and holy folks, and my mother, knowing me very well was just like "Here! I don't want this shit" (she is more of a New Yorican than a Puerto Rican) and gave me two of these keychains. The rest of the trinkets on the chain have been found over the years, most likely on the ground somewhere. I am a dirty little treasure finder!
UhKnee (March 2, 2010)

Recently I have been doing a lot of running around. Between my busy class schedule and long hours at work, I sometime have to skip a shower or two. Now normally, a lack-of-time-to-shower only makes me feel icky: even when I put my hair up in a tight pony-tail, I still can feel people's eye's drift upwards toward my greasy brown crown. I have no way to remedy this other than by putting baby-powder in my hair to remove shine (a cheap trick, so maybe you'll try this for yourself?).
I never expected that having to cover up my heavy locks would give me an excuse to experiment! Recently, my favorite fashion era has been that which was populated by bob-rocking, swing-dancing flapper chicks. I was watching a film rendition of Lady Chatterley's lover when I was struck by the beautiful turbans that the sexy Lady C wears so well. Now, having been raised on yoga, a red-meat free diet and a love of Krishna, I am no stranger to the desire to want to place miles of hair into a tight, neat and fabulous turban. My mother used to show me pictures as a kid, and I was fascinated by the complexity of the folding and wrapping which my mother was so good at. This has all come to a head recently, this desire to turban-time. The combination of my love for the flapper generation and the curry-spiced patterns of Indian fabric have given me a great excuse to tuck in my greasy locks, trading my baby-powder for a scarf...any scarf.
So last minute, last week, when it had been a day or two since I last washed my hair, I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately I was too busy running from the Saratoga Police who threatened to arrest us all for a bit of Saturday night fun (I mean come on! It was only 11:30!) to get a snapshot of my 30-second turban. I tried again this week and had a blast recreating this timeless headpiece for myself. Using a headband, a ring which I bought for a dollar at a NYC street fair many years back, and a vintage scarf that I stole from my mother in high school, I think I may have pulled it off. Lucky for me, I fashioned this headdress just in time for a party that involved painting on some rather silly facial hair, my pal Nick let me wrap a turban around his head too. I think the turban stole the spotlight from my curly 'stache, but I'll let you decide!
-UhKnee (February 28, 2009)