Dance Attack - Numbers

I've had an insatiable urge to get back in a ballet class and I keep skipping the Sunday adult class because things come up. Today I went to the DC craft fair "Crafty Bastards". I'll post photos tomorrow. But for now, I'll post photos of completely impractical American Apparel leotards, to help ease my guilt. They may have no support in the boob area and would probably be give you the worse wedgies known to mankind but gosh darn it do they look cute (and bright). Maybe I'll buy one just as a novelty.

But I'm totally buying this cardigan. I've had my eye on it for a bit.
(photos: www.americanapparel.net)

Money Folder - Madvillain

It is time for a new wallet (my current one is tattered and filthy), and I've already decided on one of these stylish money folders from Comme Des Garcons (who never lets me down with their stylish accessories). But which one?

The caught-your-eye red? (Do I really want to attract that much attention to my wallet?) :


The green which makes me feel happy and light as a cloud?


Or the professional but oh-so-cool black:


Oh decisions, decisions. . .
A little help please. What do you think?

Grow Up And Blow Away - Metric

I have been lucky with the freelance jobs since I've been back in DC. They have been in abundance. I've not had time to sew and relax like I wanted to. Today, I worked on a crew for a documentary with my Dad. It was really cool and I saw Master P and Barack Obama (who is very handsome indeed). I always have a hard time getting dressed prefessionally. I look stupid in suits and I hate boring dress shirts and trousers. My Dad always shouts "It's a job interview, not a garden party!" This was the best I could do for the semi-professional dress today. Atleast it's all mostly black . . .

I had no idea Master P was on Dancing With The Stars. . .
(photo: www.yahoo.com)

What is (s)He Thinking? - The Streets

This little gem has been brought to you by theSuperficial.com, who makes me explode with laughter at least once a week. I normally have no issues with Victoria Beckham. . . she actually seems kind of funny and sweet, maybe even a little misunderstood. But what the hell was she thinking?

Marla - Grizzly Bear

And sometimes, when I feel I have been very good, worked very hard, been creative and productive, I treat myself to Dazed and Confused magazine. However, it cost $10.99 at my local Barnes and Noble, so it's not a monthly treat for me. But it is such a treasure to flip through it, I practically absorb the articles like a sponge. They even featured the band Chrome Hoof this month! My ex boyfriend Will (who is still a good friend of mine) took me to see them when I still lived in London.


But more, I bought it for the luscious Selma Blair who is not only my girl crush but someone my Dad happens to think is striking too. I hate the idea of buying a magazine that no one will read but you. Knowledge is to be shared. Luckily, my Dad's pretty hip in his own way and we end up swapping magazines a lot. This picture I took of a magazine rack in his room. There are some pretty familiar titles snuck in there.

There is a downside to sharing magazines though. When you want to keep one pristine and in good shape (because your two best friends from London are featured in it), you have to hide it from your family. And often that is not worth the battle, because they will find it and the magazine might end up cemented to the hood of your car from being left out in a rain storm (I know it was a mistake Dad, but it still makes me laugh).

Prescilla - Bat For Lashes

Federico always made me smile when he would give me that devilish smile and remark "Italians always ruin everything". Federico is Italian and he captured my sentiments in regards to Americans in that statement. IKEA and Orla Kiely. . . when the rest of America jumps on the bandwagon, I just lose interest. . . I can't help it. Maybe it's that it loses it's exotic appeal. Now IKEA hasn't been exotic for atleast ten years in America. . . but in the 80's, it was a well kept secret. Once upon a time IKEA gave me clarity and peace of mind. Today, it gave me a headache. Meanwhile the Uptown Yummy Mummy's of Manhattan have KILLED the Orla Kiely bag. But I still like my Orla Kiely t-shirt, when I remember to wear it. And I still like IKEAs sticky buns (as you can see from my potbelly).

And, I suppose if someone gave me this bag as a present, I wouldn't return it to the store.

Today's outfit is pretty blah. IKEA certainly isn't the place to dress your finest. When you're done lifting, grunting and putting boxes onto a flat bed truck, instead of worrying about your general appearance, you're more pleased with yourself for wearing functional, decent underwear, since your jeans were slipping the entire time you were lifting, giving the people in the next parking space over, quite an eyeful. (In the above picture you can see my Paul Frank Julius underwear peaking out from under my shirt).

Come A Day - Beth Hirsch

I spent the today doing favors and hanging out with my Mum. She's become my new photographer and I think she's actually doing a pretty decent job. I've been out of it all day, I feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I forgot to put out the "sign in" sheet at my sister's Open House.

Later we went to H&M with the purpose of returning a shirt (which I left in a chair in our living room). My Mum and I have completely different opinions when it comes to taste and styles. She shops mostly at a second hand store and her wardrobe has many a pair of sweatpants and oversized t-shirt. But she offers some much needed sobering advice when I go into ridiculously overpriced stores. Sometimes she's right. Sometimes the stuff just isn't worth what it cost.

However, I'm not sure what both of us were thinking when I left H&M with this too small cardigan and penguin pants. While the cardigan is a pretty color, it runs small and is kind of flimsy. The penguin pants I actually like a lot. . . but I don't think I can pull them off. So it all goes back to the store tomorrow. If I change my mind about the penguin pants I might buy them later. They'll still be there. It's northern Virginia and I don't see the masses fighting tooth and nail for this trend.

A Certain Someone - Bjork

A certain someone always inspires me with the photos that she takes of her clothing. That certain someone is Agathe of http://stylebytes.net. She's good. And good at putting together some awesome outfits. So I'm going to try and be more like her on the documenting side. I think it's worth it. Just so you can look back and watch your evolving style. The problem is, I always feel like such a knob, having my picture taken in public. I'll just have to get over that.

Yesterday's outfit:

(Top and shirt from H&M on sale, shoes from Payless. . . doesn't get cheaper than that. . . bag Urban Outfitters)
Today's outfit:

(Dress from Rami Kashou bought on sale after having lusted after it for so long, cardigan Old Navy, shoes Nine West, belt came with some cordoroys that I no longer wear from Old Navy)

Button Up - The Bloods (I love this song, it makes me wanna dance)

Every year about this time, Anthropologie introduces a fantastic pair of shoes which fall under the price of $200 (which is a refreshing change from their usual fare for footwear). And if you pay attention to trends and price, you will know that these shoes will sell out immediately. High fashion, low price. . .in Anthropologie? Unheard of! If you're clever you order early. . . if you're not-so-clever, you wait until February to own them or buy them on eBay. I'm quite convinced that they order small quantities just to see if we really will kill each other.

This year, I got smart (or so I thought). I flipped through their catalogue and like a pro, zeroed in on what I thought to be the winning item and ordered immediately.
"So what if the heels are three inches high. . . they are sturdy and thick. . . I'll be fine", or so I tried to convince myself.
But when they arrived, I had to face the cold, hard truth.
I would definitely break my own neck within three hours of wearing these shoes.
They went back to the store today.
Sometimes I feel I just can't win.

But Not For Me - John Coltrane

So as promised, I went to try on the Alice Temperley stuff at Target today. I'm almost pleased that everything fit me horribly. . . it means I won't be spending money (as I'm trying to save so I can have a nice life when I go back to New York). In the picture below, I am literally moaning "oh no". I was hoping for an english rose look.


Instead, I got Margaret Thatcher.

(Thatcher photo compliments of: www.britannica.com)

Tradition - Kathryn Williams

My favourite aspect of the fall is the feeling of starting over fresh and new . . . harvest and change.
Old hair:

New Hair:

Change is good.

You Never Had It - The Magic Numbers

(photo: www.peoples.com)
It struck me as true some time ago, that People's Magazine wasn't exactly the gospel when it came to fashion news (I don't claim to be either). But I was especially irritated when I read their list of 2007 Worst Trends and Wayfarers was number 1. I mean you can disagree all you want, but Wayfarers are definitely a classic which will keep coming back. . .

Anna Wintour made them a staple in her wardrobe from the 80's and on. . . (it's rumored that she never takes them off because she has very poor eyesight and her's are prescription). But my Dad wears them, Marvin Scott Jarrett wears them, everyone in the office has a pair and it's not like people are going to throw them away after this season is over. . . because before you know it. . . they'll be back again.

I have two pairs. The pink and black I got in a Nylon party goody bag. The green are mine from childhood. . . age nine to be precise. I dug them out of my trunk in my closet in June and haven't taken them off since. I am so happy I held on to them!

Maybe, Maybe Not

For The Roses - Joni Mitchell

The Alice Temperley for Target collection has a nice touch of English rose sprinkled throughout the collection. And the minute I get home from the city, I'm running to Target with my credit card in hand. . . (and maybe that dress I purchased from the Libertine collection, because if I see something better, that dress is getting swapped). Here are the pieces I like:

For Free - Joni Mitchell

Listening to Joni Mitchell is only the most appropriate thing you can do during this time of the year. And who doesn't love something for free. . . whether it's free street music or free material possessions, getting it for nothing kind of sweetens the deal.

Just like husbands shouldn't give their wives housewares for birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, if you have an older lady in your life that you love, you really shouldn't give her night gowns for her birthday. It's not very exciting and it makes her feel older. My Grammy had a birthday recently and got flooded with night gowns. Although she was very thankful (always thankful, my Grammy is), I could tell she was a little disappointed, a couple of them were quite "elderly" looking. But she gave my sister and I some beautiful silk nighties that she no longer wears. They're so beautiful and classic.

My Papa recently returned from his summer vacation to England and France. The man really knows how to do it up nicely when he's not dragging extra baggage wth him (extra baggage being his daughters). He stayed in four star extremely modern hotels and travelled on Brish Airways business class. At least he brought me one of the British Airways business class goody bags. . . I'm a happy camper!

My Favorite Things - John Coltrane

And suddenly, I feel it. The nip in the air, the crisp night breeze, the golden sunlight which spills over the payment, the morning which make you worship your down duvet. . . autumn has crept up and arrived without ever announcing itself. I felt it yesterday when I went to the Town Centre and wished I had brought my jacket. The skirt that I'm wearing can be easily converted to a dress, was made out of discount fabric and is ridiculously easy to make and doesn't require a pattern. My sister wants one too so maybe I'll videotape myself and show everyone how it's done. No one should pay for something that can be made in under three hours.

Don Gon Do It - The Rapture

I'm back in DC metro town after a rather uneventful trip to NYC. I didn't do that "thing" I'm doing. . . and I looked at a couple of places to live, loved one but am not sure if I got it. Hence. . . uneventful. I noticed however, while DC still has warm, humid days with somewhat chilly nights, New York's autumn has pretty much arrived. The air is crisp and cool. I felt out of place in the summer dress, I wore yesterday as I wandered around the city. Everyone's broken out the autumn dresses and old boots. . . but it's fine, I've been wearing my Minnetonka's for weeks already.
Bonus points if you can tell me which Nylon magazine cover girl these Minnetonka's belong to:

My friend Kelly at the magazine, got me into them. That slender, young lady could wear a burlap sack and look smashing. Now I've inspired both my sister's to get a pair too. (And I kind of want a pair in brown too). I like Minnetonka's because they are beyond comfortable, go with everything I own because they're not really suppose to match anything in particular, and they aren't played out to the point where I want to barf thinking about them (uuuuuuggs. . . ). . . or maybe they are and I just don't know or care. Having said that, I do realize Kate Moss has been sporting similar boots in the past and I do see an awful lot of models and LES girls sporting them.



Most important, I think Chewbacca would approve. . . and really, that's all that matters. . .
(photo: www.bostonglobe.com)

More, More, More - Kylie Minogue

DKNY S/S 2008. . . I'm really liking it a lot. . . not ground breaking but all of my favorite things, blocks of colours and stripes!
(photos: www.style.com)

Inside and Out - Feist

Detox my body, detox my wardrobe. . .

Goodbye old shoes. You've served me well .

Hello shiny patent leather flats, just in time for fall (Target, $14.99)

My tan flats were falling apart at the soles. It broke my heart to throw them in the trash today, but you have to be strong. . . parting is such sweet sorrow. . .