Zombie Lace

springtime in the winter

2012-02-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

I don't wear a lot of these straight-up vintage dresses anymore, but these warm springy February days just seem to scream out for them! This sweet little violet number was purchased in Austin, Texas several years ago (here I am wearing it in 2009!). I fell in love with the big peter-pan collar and the subtle tribal print, the latter of which makes it kinda perfect for this day and age considering the tribal craze going on! All the more reason to give this dress another outing in the sun. I try to keep from being too costume-y by pairing it with my ole faithful lace-up military boots.

These kinds of dresses exist for simplicity; throw them on with a ribbon for a belt and you are well outfitted for lunch dates with lovely sisters and mothers. These photos were taken right outside of Leon's Full Service in Down Town Decatur. Eat their french fries. Right now. Do it.

Wearing:
Vintage 50's dress from Austin, Texas
Gray tights
Lace-up military style boots from Underground Atlanta
Mustard cardigan bought in China
Tapestry clutch from thrift store.
Ribbon for belt and in hair.

Bunny Through the Mirror

2012-02-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

I'll never have my portrait drawn in human form again! I have a thing for bunnies, so naturally when I discovered the tumblr blog Bunny Through the Mirror, I was an instant follower and fan. It's full of original sketches of an assortment of things, but mostly preciousness and of course, bunnies. And how fortunate that its creator, Luiza, is both talented AND sweet. She gladly indulged me when I half-seriously requested she interpret me as a bunny. Needless to say I was tickled pink!

Recognize the inspiration??

Stop by her tumblr and her Deviant Art page! I'm sure if you ask nicely, she'll draw you as a sweet little bunny, too.

Bunny Through the Mirror Tumblr

Luzia's Deviant Art page

lbvd - little black velvet dress

2012-01-30T07:42:00.000-08:00

I love everything about this little black velvet dress from Festivity... particularly the part where I got it for 20% off! It has the sweetest little shape with an open back and exposed zipper. The only thing wrong with it? Not enough occasions to wear it.

Playing with color is fun with a black dress, so I paired it with my favorite shade of lavender lace bra and green tights. A Chinese friend gave me the latter straight from her shop, deeming the hue "unacceptable" to Chinese girls. Fine by me!

Wearing:

Velvet dress from Festivity in Virginia Highlands

Lavender lace bra from American Apparel

Green tights from China

Golden snitch necklace, gift from my sister

Black bracelet from a friend's give-away pile.

twinkle nail

2012-01-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

Just another weird little manicure by yours truly. This one is done in a pearly pale pink, with just a dash of fairy dust on the ring finger. This combo makes me feel kind of princessy and feminine, and I firmly believe sparkles add a wintry loveliness to EVERYthing.

I used "Skin Food" brand polish (from Korea) for the pink base, and Essie "Set in Stones" for the accent nail. I'm finding it hard to paint my nails without at least a touch of the latter these days. What's your favorite winter nailspiration?

my heart runneth over-- teacher outfit

2012-01-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

I'm going to sound like such a sap, but did you know I have the best job ever? In my world, one must dress prepared for impromptu dance parties and sneak-attack hugs. And sometimes a combination of the two. Today was one of those days I thought my heart was going to leap straight out of my chest and swallow everyone up, it was so full of love. How fitting that I wore my dorky little patchwork hearts sweater on such a day! To accompany it, the pants I can only describe as "sweatings", a chimera of jeans and sweatpants offering the necessary freedom of movement for Russian dance kicks and squatting low to boogie with small ones. Hope you all found something to love today <3

Wearing:
Patchwork hearts knit sweater from Last Chance Thrift Store
Sweatings/jeggings/pants from Festivity
Boots from Underground Atlanta
Collared blouse (underneath) free from university give-away pile.
Brown ribbon in hair.

lana in lace

2012-01-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Lace has been "in" for awhile, but I was reminded why when I saw Lana Del Rey perform on SNL this Saturday. I had never heard of her before, but her old Hollywood glamour and pouty lips immediately got my attention. Her songs were not my usual thing, but they were interesting: more like poems. Anyway, if the music was a little sappy, I didn't care because I was staring at the yards of gorgeous lace trailing just-so to the floor. It was like watching a 40s era diva... minus Judy Garland's pipes. See her on SNL here.

Did anyone else catch Saturday Night Live the other day? What did you think of Lana?

ellis island chic

2012-01-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

I think I need to take it more seriously when my outfits inspire comments like "You're looking very Russian Immigrant today." I'm the first to admit that I can't resist a long hemline, or that wrapping a scarf around one's head sounds like a perfectly acceptable way to keep warm to me... but I should probably be mindful that I am treading on dangerous ground when I throw fingerless gloves into the mix. All I can really say when faced with all this logic is, whateva. Babushkas can be hot. And these clothes just happen to be perfect for chasing down children all day. Russian grannies know wussup!

Russian immigrant sisters at Ellis Island circa 1906 (source) and myself circa 2012. Ok I am beginning to see the resemblance...

Wearing:
Hat and dress (worn as shirt) bought in Korea
Skirt: Vintage, I think bought at Clothing Warehouse warehouse
Thrift store tights
Minnetonka fringe trampers
Fingerless gloves a gift from my ma

back to blizzards

2012-01-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, there weren't exactly BLIZZARDS greeting me upon my return to Atlanta... but after being in Florida for two weeks, that's kinda how it felt! So I had to bundle up. Sweet cheap accessories of Asia, I thank you for aiding me in this time of need.

Wearing:
Hat bought in Seoul, Korea.
Glasses from Sears??
Angora granny sweater from a thrift store. Can't remember which one!
Boy's shirt (worn underneath) given to me by someone at school.
Drop crotch pants, fur collar, fingerless gloves all bought in China.
Minnetonka fringe moccasin boots.

These are my numba one stunna pants. I haven't photographed them much before, but I will confess they are rarely absent from my weekly rotation. I bought them in China and they have been my go to lazy-pants every season since. I love the drop crotch and the droopy pockets and getting to feel a bit like a genie. They can be worn to yoga, or paired with some boots for a cool, militaristic running around town look. Basically, they're perfect.

The moccasins were a gift to myself in Florida. I know, it's perfectly normal to buy some eskimo looking boots while visiting a tropical wonderland. Whatever. Minnetonka shoes are something I plan to continually wear to shreds for the rest of my life. Do you have any "old faithful" garments like that?

big bling 2012 / why all my friends should have style blogs

2012-01-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

The supply of possible New Years plans seemed limitless this year, but somehow the decision was finally made to spend the eve at Stankonia Recording Studio, a cool little spot in the West End owned by none other than Atlanta's famous hip-hop duo, Outkast; The event boasted an open bar and a champagne toast at midnight, for no small fee of $35 in advance, $50 at the door. This probably had visions of Long Island Iced Teas and partying with hip hop legends dancing through our heads, but these dreams were quickly squashed.

The bar was packed with thirsty desperate party-goers, with a selection offering no better than the grungiest of chest-hair sprouting tequila... straight up. Forget you ever learned the word "Patron" and forget about a chaser. Morale was low over by the kegs as well, where a sad ever-lengthening line resembled the DMV more than a chic Atlanta party spot. And surprise surprise, at midnight, no Moet did it rain.

It hardly mattered. I was too busy tearing up the dance floor with my bests to notice the absence of champagne. Thank goodness the music was good and I was in the best possible company! Inability to get a cab towards the wee hours even turned out to be a blessing, as we found ourselves standing directly across from Big Boi himself! What a badass. I take it as a good omen for 2012. Big Boi at least guaranteed we started our year on a high note ;)

I only took the one crappy cell phone pic at the actual event. So instead, enjoy a slew of photos from our pre-party! Isn't it ridiculous that these girls don't have their own fashion blogs?? The tall blonde in the amazing technicolor dress and the girl with the super cute braided up-do both have wonderful tumblrs you should check out. Anyone's Road and Florence Alan, respectively.

florencealan.tumblr.com

anyones-road.tumblr.com

Wearing:
Festivity blouse
Lace ruffle shorts from China
Sparkle tights from China
Wedges from Underground Atlanta
Vintage broach
Gifted bracelet
Hornet ring from Fort Myers

Big Boi also made sure to wear his gold and glitter this NYE ;)

sun dance

2011-12-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

Wearing:
Vintage swimsuit from Kudzu Antiques
Oversize cardigan stolen from mama
Vintage scarf
Anne Taylor Loft outlet flip flops
Vintage Tennessee Aquarium canvas tote uncovered in parents' attic.

I call it a dance because I balanced my camera, set the timer, then pranced into the frame for a quick shot before retreating back into the safety of shade again. As you probably know, I prefer to stay more covered up under the UV rays, but I just had to show off my vintage swimsuit! I got it at Kudzu Antiques in Atlanta for pretty cheap (I think around $10); the cheapness was probably due to the strange bra-shell. It's got a firm lining that's a bit puckered and wrinkled with age, but that kind of thing doesn't really bother me. It's got plenty of peach-toned preciousness to outweigh the flaws. Maybe next summer I'll treat myself to an Esther Williams original.

P.S. I know for a woman who claims to shun flip flops on principal, I've been wearing these Anne Taylor Loft ones a lot lately. What can I say? I dig the bows, and December in Florida changes a person. Perhaps the sun has gone to my head :)

Stay warm, lovelies!

Christmas Island

2011-12-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, friends! Since a lot of people have asked me about my pink ukulele in the past, I thought I'd offer the gift of song to you all for this holiday. As you'll see from the video, I am no ukulele genius, but I do have an awful lot of fun with it. So I hope you enjoy! No matter if you have a traditional or a wacky or a non-observing day, I hope it was filled with merriment. Xoxo

As you can see from our "Christmas tree" we are a family with wacky holiday traditions. We don't do egg nog and Christmas hams, but instead we go on fantastic vacations during the holidays! Normally we wouldn't even exchange gifts, but we thought it would be fun to go buy each other some tchotchke to exchange. Thanks Real Simple Magazine for providing me with my "wrapping paper" this year... go green!

For my fellow uke enthusiasts (I'm thinking of you, Linda!):
Christmas Island chords (adapted by me from those provided here). Also, if you aren't familiar with some of the chords, use this super awesome chart that I live by.

C F C D7
(C)How’d you like to spend (F)Christ(C)mas on Christmas (D7)Island
G G7 C
How’d you (G)like to spend your holiday (G7)way across the (C)sea
F C D7
How’d you like to spend (F)Christ(C)mas on Christmas (D7)Island
G G7 C C7
How’d you (G)like to hang your stocking on a (G7)great big coconut (C)tree(C7)

F C
How’d you like to stay (F)up late like the islanders (C)do
D7 G G7
Wait for Santa to (D7)sail in with his (G)presents in a (G7)canoe
F C D7
How’d you like to spend (F)Christ(C)mas on Christmas (D7)Island
G G7 C
You will (G)never stray for every day your (G7)Christmas dreams come (C)true!

the pirate shorts for me!

2011-12-23T05:09:00.000-08:00

Wearing:
striped shorts from thrift store
crop top from China
Floppy sun hat stolen from mama
Vintage scarf wrapped around hat.
Bracelet gift from friend in China
Anne Taylor Loft bow flip flops (I am wearing flip flops in public?? Florida does strange things to me).
Ribbon worn as belt.

I actually didn't even think of these shorts as pirate-y until my mom called me out on them. I bought them in a little thrift store in a North Carolina mountain town for about a dollar. I wasn't sure how I was going to make them work, but they lept out of my suitcase this morning and demanded their turn in the sun. I couldn't deny them.

the skirt, the sea, the sun

2011-12-21T06:45:00.000-08:00

I hope you don't easily tire of windy gifs... or pictures of girls in gigantic sun hats and flowing skirts looking pensively towards the sea... because I just can't help myself when it comes to some things!

Wearing:
Floral maxi skirt found in a thrift store in NC
Lace crop top: Easy peasy DIY with scissors and thrifted top
Sun hat: stolen from mama with a vintage scarf wrapped around

The sun is my friend. I love the sun. It grows the food I eat and allows Jupiter beach to be 70 degrees in late December. But I'm not very into "getting sun" as you may have surmised. I actually removed my giant black cardigan for the pictures, but when I'm under the rays, you better believe my arms are covered! I would even carry a parasol if it weren't so windy out!

The skirt is a bit looser than I like. Ideally, I hold to the I Dream of Genie standard... I don't care for exposing my belly button (I actually tried to edit it out of these pictures, haha). But in Florida, I don't mind somehow! Either way, I have to give a shout-out to long loose garments, for letting the breeze in and keeping the rays out. <3

winds of Jupiter

2011-12-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

Wearing:
Striped maxi dress: China
Tropical tank: H&M (in China)
Oversize cardigan: Stolen from mama
Hat: Also stolen from mama, with a vintage scarf tied around it.
Bracelet: gift from friend in China
Moccasins: Cherokee, NC

Oh yes, it is windy, but it is also wonderful. My flowing clothes today were excellent guards against sun and winds, but I soaked the hem of my dress when the surf caught me off guard! No outfit is perfect, I suppose. A dusk walk along the sea with my two favorite people more than made up for it. I feel sorry for all my fellow ATLiens out there freezing right now... I extend salty Floridian sunbeams your way! xoxo

to Jupiter we go

2011-12-18T06:14:00.000-08:00

My parents and I arrived at Jupiter Beach, Florida last night, where the weather was balmy, salty, and perfect at 65 degrees. We wasted no time running out onto the nighttime beach, and I wasted no time in taking the cliche beach pictures we've all seen a thousand times. Oh well. Here they are again, this time through my lens!

This morning I woke up at 6:30 and walked outside to watch the scene above for an hour or so.

My heart just overflows with gratitude in moments like these! My life is truly a gift. I hope I can pay it forward into the cosmos before it's all said and done.

Thank you, beautiful inspiring people who read and comment on my little blog. My heart overflows for you, too. xoxo

nailed it

2011-12-14T04:59:00.000-08:00

How about a little gray and gold for the holidays? It's been a while since I've shared one of my silly manicures so I thought I'd go ahead and show you this not-so-great photograph of my latest nail job.

My sister and I were on a sister-date, and we were going to go to our usual haunt, Sugarcoat in VH... but they were full! So we quickly rallied and took our crying cuticles to Midtown Nails where they treated us right. It was more of your typical asian nail place, with a lot of activity and the sound of a TV on in the background, but they were super sweet and did a great job. A slightly older lady did my hands, and she threw in a nice shoulder rub. Fabulous!! The price is right, and there are plenty of technicians available (is that what you call nail salon employees?), so no worries about a wait.

minnie mouse dress

2011-12-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

Are you more t-shirt or dress, big red Minnie Mouse garment? Doesn't matter. You're perfect for throwing on with tights and boots. You keep me warm but you don't constrict me. I could do the twist in you all day long. Thanks for being a friend.

Wearing:
Dress: thrift store
Boots: Underground Atlanta
Scarf: France

I notice a trend in myself where I stop blogging as much in the winter. I think it's a mix of being sloth-like in the cold, and the lack of satisfactory daylight by the time I get off work. Perfect circumstances for browsing all your blogs underneath my electric blanket, but not so great for setting up tripods and photographing myself in my dusky apartment. I did manage to get the photos above with the help of a neighbor's car and some interesting sharp afternoon light.

Stay warm, lovelies <3

paisley playground

2011-12-05T04:30:00.000-08:00

Best job ever? One where your day might include catching a little air on the ole neighborhood swingset. You have to dress prepared for these things!

I broke my usual pattern of dresses and oversize sweaters to wear some old favorite jeans unearthed in my parents' attic. I modified them into skinnies years ago by sewing up the inner legs, and just recently my knee popped through. That happened to another pair of self-made skinnies too. Weird! As for the shirt, I found it a few months ago at Last Chance Thrift Store in Decatur. It's a little like a turtleneck and a lot like a glorious deep ocean of paisley. Expect to see more of it once I figure out more ways to wear it!

Smiling faces blur.
Hi, sky, going up. Hello,
woodchips rushing down.

Wearing:
Dollhouse brand self-converted skinnies
Paisley shirt from Last Chance
Sunglasses found in school basement costume box
Sparkly black Toms.

Farewell to Fall

2011-12-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

At least winter was gentlemanly enough to hold off until December. I'll miss the pretty colors and mild weather of Autumn, but electric blankets and hot water bottles should get me through.

Above, is not me. I thought I'd give you a break from my ugly mug all over this blog. Instead, feast your eyes upon the adorableness that is M of Good Day Sunshine (almost every image on her blog was taken by her). I love her outdoorsy, bright, sweet style, so full of color. And she gets her best clothes at thrift stores. Can you believe those boots? Pretty sure they're from a thrift store, too. Enjoy!

the only thanksgiving dress you'll need

2011-11-28T17:55:00.000-08:00

Nice and baggy, yet made of warm chocolate corduroy, it has to be my favorite dress. And I'm a woman of many dresses. I have to practice restraint not to wear it several times a week; It's perfect for every day, all the time, even sleeping. Feeling a little chunky, or planning to after a thanksgiving feast? Well, it's perfect for that occasion too.

This dress is one of the few not-dirt-cheap things I bought for myself in China. I did most of my shopping at places you can barter, little shops or stands where I'd spend something like 50-70RMB for a dress (7-10USD). The dress above, however, I bought in a shopping mall, at this ultra cute girlie shop called Honey. It was more like... 200RMB (30USD). I LOVED the clothes at Honey. They were always very feminine, yet kind of dust-bowl farm girl looking. Unfortunately, they were also expensive in Chinese prices. I brought home 2 pieces by them, but drooled over dozens.

Here it is in action this Thanksgiving...

Sitting with the lovely sister helping to cook by stirring that for 5 seconds.

I hope your meals were as tasty, and your waistlines as forgiving as mine were this year! Thanks for all the comments on my last post. You lovely readers and your inspirational blogs are some of the things I counted among my blessings this holiday. <3

P.S. Does anyone know anything about Honey? I can't find a website. The tag on the dress says "Cinema Club" but all I can find in searches is this Chictopia post.

wonderfully witchy

2011-11-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

How I love to wade in a sea of fabric all day! Oversize scarf, oversize sweater, loose cotton dress... It makes me feel wonderfully witchy when paired with my lace-up boots. I can hide in these safe folds and spy on the outside world as much as I please. I'm still a young witch, though, so I make sure to remember my gold leopard leggings.

Wearing:
Leggings and boots: Underground Atlanta
Dress: H&M (in China)
Oversize cardigan: Stolen from mom
Oversize scarf: bought in France

The boots and leggings are both from shops in Underground Atlanta which I feel really bad for not knowing the exact names of. I know UA might seem rough around the edges or too touristy and cheesy, but I swear by their accessories and shoes! Ghetto fabulousness is still fabulous; they always have that little bit of sparkle you're looking for, and so cheap! I can't vouch for the quality of everything, but these leggings are going on their third season with me... and being a member of my wardrobe is no gentle experience.

As a "teacher" outfit (this distinction is beginning to fade), these clothes fulfilled all my requirements: Comfortable, modest, and fun... As a teacher of small ones, you WILL have your clothes pulled on, you WILL be occasionally groped, and you WILL spend much of your day squatting to talk to short people. You might also get to run around and maybe even climb something if you're lucky. There are many things to worry about throughout the day, and inadvertently flashing one of these short people shouldn't be one of them. I'd love to wear pencil skirts, but not here I'm afraid; I'm bag lady all the way!

Georgians-- How amazing is this 76 degree weather for Thanksgiving?? Everyone else-- Hope you're finding your own special ways to stay cozy and content this week. XOXO

Fall is not just for leaves

2011-11-19T06:01:00.000-08:00

Photo taken by M of Good Day Sunshine

Wore my yellowest of yellow skirts and happened upon this pretty sea of petals. I love when nature decides to compliment my outfits. My friend took this with her iphone which I hardcore covet; I need instagram. She has other really adorable pictures on her new blog, Good Day Sunshine, which I recommend looking at if you like babies, beer, and being in a super good mood!

Happy Saturday!

Plain jane

2011-11-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

Wearing:
Oversize Lacoste: Thrifted at Clothing Warehouse warehouse
Sweatpant jeggings: Festivity
Bow, circle scarf, slipper shoes: China

Yet another frumpy chic teacher outfit.

On mornings when you awake with swollen eyelids and a general need for comfort, reach for the faux glasses and the big slipper shoes. Oversize Lacoste sweaters will keep you cozy and ready to play polo at a moment's notice. Drink plenty of tea and practice calming breathing exercises. Stretch aching thigh muscles often. Count banana colored leaves on the playground. Count blessings. Repeat.

I love this gigantic bow my chinese BFF gave me for my birthday. I'm not sure it's as acceptable in America for a woman in her 20s to wear such a childish accessory, but sometimes I just can't resist.

balance

2011-11-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

Wearing:
Gray skirt: Dug up from storage; I think it was a Clothing Warehouse Warehouse find.
Boots: Underground ATL
Crop top and scarf: China
Crochet knee socks: Target

I'm beginning to see the small results of yoga and kung fu; once touching my toes was a distant fantasy and now I reach them with ease. And balancing on one foot has become an activity that can last more than a few seconds. I hope this balance will spill out into other aspects of my life; i.e. MY APARTMENT.

One wonderful thing about having all my old clothes dug up from storage is access to old favorites. This gray skirt with its bell shape and deep pockets has more structure than I am accustomed to wearing lately, but structure is just what I need. It's a bit of my old self paired with a bit of my new self, a crop top purchased in China. Voila: Balance.

comfort in chaos

2011-11-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

Oh yes, that mess is real. And it is in my living room. TONS of vintage clothes and other junk from my parent's attic that has finally outstayed out its lease. Guess what's in the brown paper bag? Yeah, more clothes. In times like these, I find serenity in chamomile and mom's homemade pumpkin bread and apple butter and my most faithful of comfortable moccasins. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Frumpy Chic

2011-11-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

I've been calling my style "frumpy chic" since high school, though I must admit there's always been a stronger lean in the "frumpy" direction. I get a little flak for it at work, as some of the older teachers like to tease me for my giant ugly sweater collection. I just brush my one-exposed shoulder off.

Wearing:
Pink granny sweater: Salvation Army on Marietta St.
Boots; Underground ATL
Striped maxi dress: China
Ruffle scarf: Festivity in Virginia Highlands
Shades: Found in old costume box in school basement ;)

Enter the Tiger

2011-11-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

It's no secret I miss China. Well, in a spontaneous fit of nostalgia, I did something a little crazy: I signed up for KUNG FU!! I got in the mood for my first official lesson yesterday by wearing this badass tiger sweater. Tiger is one of the 5 animals kung fu movements are based on, chosen by the Shaolin monks for its power, strength, and courage. I hope challenging myself to do kung fu will bring out these qualities in myself. Why not begin with knitwear that reveals my intentions? Though this sweater and these ramblings also probably reveal that I am a nerd.

More proof:

Wearing:
Oversize tiger sweater: Salvation Army on Marietta St.
Boots: Underground ATL
Jeggings: H&M

Open Door November

2011-11-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Atlanta, for being a city where a slightly exposed midriff is perfectly feasible in early November. Thank you for chilling the leaves enough to set them ablaze in color, while warming my afternoons for wide-open doors and fresh breezes. Someone told me that wispy clouds in the sky signal a coming frost. So I suppose this is both a thank-you and a goodbye. I love you, Atlanta Indian Summer <3

(Blogging can be hard and uninspiring without a good camera, which accounts for my unimpressive image quality and sporadic updates lately... Thank you all for continuing to read and leave your sweet comments! Just a few more weeks til I make a grand investment that should improve this blog a thousand fold!)

Knitiful -- the hem, the boots, the knit

2011-11-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

A teacher outfit featuring some of my favorite things this chilly season: Long hemline with tall boots, knits, scarves. I found this long yellow skirt at a church garage sale in Cincinnati amongst wide brimmed hats and bold costume jewelry galore.

Crayon yellow skirt
long as a giraffe's neck and
warm like easy mac.

Wearing:
Knit skirt from Cincinnati church yard sale
Lace up boots from Underground Atlanta shop
Old gray shirt
Knit vest given to me by a friend
faux fur circle scarf from China

It certainly is pitiful the way I use our class camera to sneak pictures of my clothes during down time. When dressed in shoulder-to-ankle knit, I guess that makes me knitiful (I deserve to lose some readers for that one). Stay cozy this weekend!

Inspired

2011-10-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with this photograph the second I saw it on my tumblr dashboard (via iamfrombarcelona) and couldn't wait to try it for myself. I just love the way the yellow collar is poking out of the dark blue sweatshirt, both for visual pop and the nerdy schoolboy connotation (I love dressing like a nerdy schoolboy teacher sometimes, though a slightly older coworker said "I think I wore that exact outfit when I was in 8th grade!").

Usually I'm not a fan of layering sweaters because they have to have perfect proportions or else look unflattering and bulky, but I admire this combo on so many other people, I decided to give it another try. My version doesn't have the amazing pattern on her collar, nor the amazing lips with which to boast a lovely deep lipstick shade (I actually am wearing a deep maroonish brownish lipstick but my lips are so razor thin the camera can't even pick it up!)

Image Source

My version.

Wearing:
Sweater: $1 at a roadside sale in N.C.!
Blouse underneath: Love Culture
Brown schoolboy shoes: Last Chance Thrift Store
Pants: they're like sweat pant jeggings. I got them at Festivity in Virginia Highlands for 50% off with Scoutmob! Most comfortable pants in the world, I want to go back and get them in brown!!

Overall I was satisfied with this outfit! I'm picky about what I wear to teach in, and this fulfilled all my requirements. I'm sure I'll wear a variation of it again sometime, when the nerdy schoolboy within needs another day out. Could be as soon as this weekend!!

China Archives : October 25th, 2010

2011-10-25T13:52:00.001-07:00

I love any excuse to talk about China.

Which is why this China Archives thing might become a frequent occurrence!

When I look back on these pictures I think... "I can't believe I'm not there right now."

I also think... "What am I wearing?"

I love reviewing the outfits I wore. I can still remember exactly what I was thinking when I made certain choices, like "I want to wear these tough new boots!" And in some cases it's interesting to see the unintentional absorption of my surrounding trends, i.e. "I'll top it off with a neat little ballerina bun and a girlie bow!" (I still go for the bows... have for a long time... but I've accepted that neat structured hair styles are not for me).

Wore:
Black boots: China
over-garment thing: Love Culture
Vintage silk undershirt
Betsey Johnson bag
Leopard leggings from Underground Atlanta.

I wouldn't wear this outfit again. The hair is all wrong and I think it's just too young. But it was perfect for going out to "play" with my new friends; Chinese people are so cute sometimes by saying "play" when a better word would be "hang out" :)

Don't I look like a goliath next to them? I swear I'm only 5'4.

Then there's sweet S and her birthday!

It was one of the first nights I really felt like I had a "group of friends" to do awesome chinese things with like hot-pot eating and KTV (karaoke). She's still my Chinese BFF and I send loving vibes her way! Too bad she'll never get to see this blog without a VPN... oh China.

And last of all, an outfit I absolutely WOULD wear again, messy high bun and all:

I still feel like the person in that photo, though she probably doesn't feel like me... for one, she couldn't imagine WANTING to be in China. Yet I miss it so much lately! It's bittersweet going through the old photos, reliving last October. I hope it won't be my last and only one there. Do you pine for any foreign places?

I Spy 90s Navajo Print Gold

2011-10-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Don't judge me, but I've been rewatching the cheesy soapy glory that is Boy Meets World. Not even cute childhood BMW, but the later high school years wrought with all its delicious drama and corny humor. I do this for a number of reasons. The catharsis of heaving all those pent up sighs, mourning never having a love as pure as Cory and Topanga's, sure. But just as importantly is the super fun 90's fashion spotting. Like so:

Here's Angela from Boy Meets World (1997) wearing a sweet Navajo print fleece hoodie. Since I can't marry my preschool sweetheart, now my only wish is this thing will turn up during my next thrift store visit! Do you have any guilty pleasures in TV land?

Chuck Town Loves -- outfit

2011-10-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

My photographer friend, Rachel, was so sweet about taking little pictures of my clothes all day. How much better would my life be if she lived in Atlanta where she could take my outfit pics all the time? No more mooching cameras from friends and making an awkward scene of myself with the timer! You can check out her other work, here.

Wearing:
Burgundy wild horses maxi skir found at a thrift store OTP Atlanta
Fringe suede wedges: China
Bag with FAKE tail: China
Lacy crop top: It was just a top from Last Chance thrift store, but I cropped it that morning before walking out the door ;)
Bow: China
Socks: Dodie's Antiques in Sylva, NC

Chuck Town Loves

2011-10-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hot tea, Indian food, shopping, old friends... just a few of my favorite things, and last weekend was full of them! On a beautiful whim, my two gal pals from Charleston decided to trek out to Atlanta for a visit, and I am so glad they did. They were perfect house guests and terrific company for strolling around the Atlanta neighborhoods, snapping pictures. (The picture snapping was done mostly by Rachel, who is an amazing photographer and has her own lovely blog here).

There's really too much wonderful about a laid back autumn weekend spent with gals like these, I can't put it all in to words. Instead, here's a few snaps of 24 hours:

DAY

Hot tea at Java Lords in Little 5. Don't you love B's hair flower?

Recognize these heels? Well I ended up giving them to her because she looked so dang foxy in them.

More hot tea back at the nest, resting our aching walking feet.

NIGHT

Wine and instax mini.

A moment for jumping on the best walk home ever.

Rachel's necklace: Libertine in Little 5. Bought that afternoon... I might have to go get myself one!
Blouse: Fish Boutique in Little 5. Also bought that afternoon :)

I hope I'll see my Chuck Town loves again soon!

xoxo

Maggie May

2011-10-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

Wearing:
Boots: Underground Atlanta
Jeggings: H&M
Socks: Target
Oversize black top: ?? Discovered it in my clothes pile in China
Wild horses coat: Last Chance thrift store in Decatur, GA.

While my sister was on her honeymoon, I was able to bond with her doggie, Maggie May (whom I promptly renamed "Meatloaf"), and of course, the impending Fall. Luckily, I was well suited to face crisp winds with this fleece from Last Chance thrift store. There's a reason it's my lucky thrift store!

Wild horses gallop

in with the changing season;

keep your body warm.

Teacher outfit -- flowers for the children

2011-10-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the easiest thing is to just throw on your most comfortable floral pants and the most gigantic cardigan in your wardrobe, and call it a work outfit. When not having a good eye day, glasses do the trick, sending out that important message, "I'm watching you, children."

Wearing
Floral pants: China
Long tank: H&M (Suzhou)
Oversize cardi: belongs to ma.
Ballet flats: Target

the shades that got away

2011-10-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

I fear I may be suffering under a curse.

For every time I fall completely in love with a pair of sunglasses, they are inevitably and tragically torn from me.

Meet Number 1: My first sunglass love and the ones I'll be pining to recreate my entire life. First purchased in a sort of costume shop called Junkman's Daughter way back in high school (see natural hair color below), they were my first pair of interesting shades and shielded my eyes from the sun faithfully and fashionably for years. They'd still be with me if it weren't for one unspeakable day at the aquarium some 3-4 years ago. I lost them. It's a day etched into my heart with a dagger called regret.

Number 2: Maybe they started out as a rebound... but real lasting love did develop. Originally purchased at a costume shop in Charleston, these rose tinted beauties were going to be part of an Annie Hall costume that never panned out. Instead they became a featured part of the Katie costume I wear daily, and I feel secure in saying, helped mold me into the woman I am today. They were snatched from my face by the cruel sea mere minutes after this last photo with them was snapped. The experience was as cold and shocking as the wave that caused it.

In China, I experimented. I tried square frames and oval lenses. I tried fray bans and rhinestones. Eventually I settled on this round tortoise-shell dream... And this is how that romance brutally ended:

Just when I thought all hope was lost, the Cobra Shop and their wealth of eye accessories entered my spectrum of awareness. This little slice of badass is called the Janice and I want to make her mine as soon as possible...

Source: the Cobra Shop

source: we heart it

China Archives : October 1st, 2010

2011-10-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

I thought it might be fun to do some archiving of my year in China, where I had a job teaching English to adorable kindergartners (and some primary students too). It's a "lost" year of Zombie Lace due to the blockage of Blogger, so I wrote a China blog (May Go Wren) instead. I've been back in America for about 3 months, but I still spend a lot of my time reflecting on China; Fall is so bittersweet for me in that way, making me wistful for old friends and old haunts.

The following is taken from the original May Go Wren... a Wordpress blog... that was later also blocked, leading me to the ultimate Weebly one:

It’s National Holiday and I have a week of vacation! My passport arrived in proper China time, the DAY OF my trip to Chengdu. I have one confusing and frightening voyage to the airport in Shanghai, and then I will be amongst good friends and faux family! I have a vague understanding that we will visit some mountains and some ancient city, but I’m used to tagging along for things with Chinese people adorned with the appropriate blank expression on my face. Knowing what’s going on is overrated.

See you all in a week! I’ll tell ya all about it.

Wearing:
H&M Jeggings
Target blouse and flats
Betsey Johnson bag
Vintage scarf
Glasses from a Chinese fashion shop

And this is what I wore the same day this year, which I spent running errands and dropping by Down Town Decatur for a King of Pops salted chocolate popsicle. My friend, (we can call her the Princess of Pops) pushes the cart and sells the frozen treats around town. She was kind enough to snap a few of these photos:

Wearing:
Floral maxi skirt: thrift store in NC
Crop top: China
Mustard sweater: China
Boots: shop in Underground Atlanta
Fur purse: someone's souvenir from Scotland, given to me :).

I suppose some things don't change; like a penchant for hiding behind big florals and fake glasses, while other things do: I feel like where you live strongly influences your mode of dress, or at least that's true for me! China has a lot of super feminine details and a fancy polished-ness allover, and I definitely started to absorb some of that by October of last year.

Have you ever noticed your style evolving as you settle into a new place?

the dress that wore itself

2011-09-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

During the rush of the wedding weekend, I had no time to go back to my apartment for a change of clothes before the day-after brunch; (if you're wondering whether all my family does is eat and drink and make merry, the answer is yes).

Luckily I have some of my old vintage dresses still stashed away at my parents' house. I don't wear these 50s silhouettes as much as I used to a few years ago, but every now and then, it's just what the doctor ordered. This extremely light cotton dress was always one of my favorites, found in a vintage store in Cincinnati. I threw it on along with my new favorite wedges and voila. Instant brunch-wear.

Wearing:
50s shirtwaist dress
Wedges from Underground Atlanta

Do you like my monogramed tote? It was our bridesmaid gift from my sister and I am obsessed with it. The pockets on the front and back make it exquisitely perfect. You can also see the charm I won at the previous day's brunch being worn as a bracelet. It's fun to match the decor when you can!

Wedding Day -- Outfit Edition

2011-09-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

This is what I wore for morning mimosas, hair and makeup, and general madness the day of. I made sure to don my comfiest little dress and a good luck charm to ensure a smooth day. It worked!

My necklace is a locket found at a flea market with a feather earring clipped onto the chain. It's one of my favorites at the moment. Guardian angels I can just throw on in the morning! Also, the sparkly Toms were the perfect flat shoe for the occasion: on me and on the bride!

At brunch, we played a game where each bridesmaid pulled a string from under the cake, and received a charm with a fortune. Mine will probably come true any day now.

Wearing:
Jersey dress from Target
Oversize sweater: borrowed (stolen?) from my mom
Sparkly Toms
Tote: Bridesmaid gift
Locket: flea market find

Wedding Day -- Shoe Edition

2011-09-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post because today is my sister's WEDDING DAY!

Some of you may have been following my bridesmaid shoe saga: my mission to learn to walk like an adult in these bamboo heels. Well having failed to practice, a few weeks ago I lost courage and bought these AMAZING wedges from a shop in Underground Atlanta. They're really tall and easy to walk in and we are virtually inseparable.

Then disaster struck. My poor sister bride fell down some stairs a few weeks before her big day. Thankfully the damage was minimized to a torn ligament, but still. Gone are her dreams of floating down the aisle in sparkly Enzo Angiolini heels. But being the practical bride she is, rather than let it ruin her day, she has opted for the next best thing: Sparkly Toms!

Ani gif maker

Being the good, sweet, empathic maid of honor I am, a day before the wedding I went out and bought my THIRD pair of wedding shoes. My very own Toms (my first pair). We shall both be walking down the aisle in sparkly humanitarian flat comfortable glory.

Now for yummy bridesmaid brunch at Einsteins in Midtown!

the heidi

2011-09-20T04:50:00.000-07:00

Made my first attempt at a hairstyle I've been fawning all over since last summer: The romantic, chic, playful, sweet, perfect Heidi braid. My hair isn't as long as would be ideal, but with the help of these two youtube tutorials (the second by fellow blogger Aya of Strawberry Koi), I managed it.

This one is really good and makes a super pretty braid, but my hair wasn't quite long enough to start the braid low and close to the nape of the neck like she directs. Tips I did take: Braiding a bit more loose and messy, using your fingers to loosen up the hair at the scalp, using your finger as a braid-folding tool, pinning down the puffy bit behind the ear when done. (I actually just discovered she has a pretty amazing blog, too, which I intend to follow here).

This video by Aya is also really good, especially if you have shorter hair. She shows you how to start the braid closer to your ear and gives good tips on the best types of bobby pins.

It took me about 4 tries and 45 minutes to get a heidi braid I am satisfied with, combining wisdom from both of these ladies' generous gift of youtube knowledge. I want to know... how did anyone ever learn to do anything before internet?? Wish I had better pics to share of my final product. Commence Photo Booth parade!

good morning, children

2011-09-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

We just completed our 12th day of school, yet this is the first time I am sharing a "teacher" outfit.

Maybe this is because the first few days I limited myself to a uniform of bermuda shorts, a blouse, and ballet flats. I was eager to make a good impression on parents and coworkers, and I like how these professional looks make me feel so competent and counteract my naturally young looks. But they also kind of bore me after awhile.

As I'm getting more settled in my school routine, I find myself more confident about expressing myself sartorially. This seems to be a habit of mine when adapting to a new setting, and I don't think it's a bad one; I just keep my weirdness contained while everyone gets to know me, then slowly let it seep out as time progresses!

First thing in the morning, before the hustle and bustle begin.

On the playground, after our busy day.

Later shopping in Underground Atlanta with a friend. Changed into these bridesmaid shoes to force myself to practice. It didn't go well.

Wearing
100% thrifted!
Lace blouse: Last Chance thrift store Decatur, GA
High waisted denim skirt: thrift store Franklin, NC
Denim tote: Humane Society thrift store Franklin, NC
Flats: Target brand, thrift store Cincinnati, OH
Ribbon for a belt.
Feather in hair: a playground gift ;)

Thanks to my pal Billie Joy for snapping my pic (except the first blurry timer pic)

feeling foodie

2011-09-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm hanging out with too many food bloggers, or reading too much Asian Cajuns (who are seamlessly merging their amazing outfit posts with delicious bites around town), but I've had the impulse to photograph my meals lately.

After our strenuous day of beautification at Brock Cassidie, our ever generous mother took my sister and me out to lunch at Anis Cafe and Bistro in Buckhead.

Their outdoor patio combined with refreshing white wine was a thing of perfection this late summer day.

I had a delicious croque salmon with sweet tomato, soft goat cheese, roasted Bermuda onion, and capers. The soup du jour was some yummy squash soup.

Upon hearing it was a special occasion (when is having beautiful wedding-day hair and makeup done not an occasion?), our sweet waitress brought us a much un-needed sampler plate of deserts. The tiny bites of creme brulee were made right in the spoons... they were so good, they didn't survive long enough for a photo!

tumble me 3

2011-09-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I look back at my tumblr and the images become just a bare thread of a story beginning in the edges of my subconcious. I love when that happens; to me it's evidence of the inspiration board working its magic on my mind. It's the whole reason I have tumblr!

source

Brock Cassidie

2011-09-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

One highlight of a weekend filled with highlights: A visit to Brock Cassidie Salon and a fancy Old Hollywood hairdo to sport all day! My sister chose this adorable Buckhead salon to ensure beautifully primped bridesmaids on her big day. And lucky me! I got to tag along to the trial run to see what the stylists over at Brock Cassidie are made of.

First thing to note about the salon is the location: on a side street in Buckhead, where the charming little houses are home to several businesses.

The interior was equally charming, with lovely little touches of color and whimsy.

Our fearless stylist, Rheanna didn't even bat an eye at the bedraggled state of my hair.

Before:

From "Good Gracious!"

She flung her bobby pins and whipped her curler about, and tamed these unruly strands into gentle, cascading curls.

After:

To Grace Kelly :)

And my beautiful sister was somehow made even more radient by Rheanna's expert makeup job! I sincerely tried to absorb tips as I watched her, but some things are just a gift.

We were utterly transformed, and our day was, too! Thanks Rheanna and Brock Cassidie Salon!

Wearing:
Shirt: world's easiest DIY crop top
Skirt: jazz skirt, swapped
flats: China

under the weather

2011-08-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

Time to put on my silk robe and float around the apartment on a cloud of self pity and Theraflu, pausing to sigh in every room. This is one of the only times I allow myself the shoe normally shunned from my closet: the flip flop. I don't have the energy to get into it now, but let's just say this footwear and I are longstanding enemies. I refuse to wear them. Perhaps out of spite.

Although on the other hand, these I bought yesterday from the Anne Taylor Loft outlet are actually pretty cute (for flip flops). Something about the dainty little detail of a bow allows them to pass my test. It could be the cough syrup talking, but I might even consider wearing these out in public someday.

Until then... Nothing to do now but take self portraits and drink every liquid in the apartment and tell unpacking it will have to wait just a bit longer.

atlanta farm girl daydreams

2011-08-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

Did you know there is a place right outside Atlanta where you can live out those fantasies of being a farm girl from another era? (I can't be the only one with this delusion)... It's called Serenbe, and it's complete with rustic barns and an old swingset. As they describe themselves in their twitter profile they're an "1,000 acre sustainable residential community just southwest of Atlanta with organic farm, three restaurants, art galleries and boutiques." The organic farm features goats, an overweight pig, and some unfortunate looking chickens with raw bottoms.. I tried to ignore the featherless bums and pretended I was Fern from Charlotte's web for the afternoon.

I talked to the animals...

Sat in window seats and read stories...

And of course there was field-running and tree-climbing.

Wearing
blouse and bow: China
70s prairie skirt: Clothing Warehouse warehouse (East Point, Atlanta)
Moccasins: Cherokee, NC
Clutch: Thrifted in Atlanta
Betsey Johnson shades: Found them in my car... if they're yours just let me know!

lovely sister

It was a beautiful afternoon to spend eating fresh food and wandering down gravel paths with my loved ones. If you want a day off from the city grind, this is a lovely place for a day trip, and even lovelier for a weekend away, I'm sure!

shoe love conquers all

2011-08-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

It even conquers my usual thriftiness when it comes to dropping serious dough on unessential items.

Enter: The Lita (by Jeffrey Campbell). I first noticed this mammoth of a shoe on Twitch Vintage's blog here, and they have been dancing through my head like glittery bone-crushing sugar plumbs ever since.

source: solestruck

They come in countless colors and designs, but I like these ones that look like they were made out of an old musty carpet bag. There's something delightfully witchy about them for Fall. My finger is hovering over the trigger button, ready to BUY BUY BUY! But this annoying side of my brain who calls herself Practicality keeps reminding me that they cost over $100 and might not fit in well in a 3rd grade classroom. And I'm saying to her "But But But... there's always weekends and after school and I can always bring a change of flats along with me!"

Oh what to do, what to do?

denim and long, all fall long

2011-08-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to wearing this calf-length denim dress for Fall. It has pockets; and is of the darkest most loveliest of worn down denims. I envision it as one of my "teacher" outfits for when I start my job as a 1st-3rd grade teaching assistant, layering it with tights and a blouse. Picture playground romps and carpet-sitting with books. Perfection! I found it on Saturday at Last Chance thrift store in Decatur while on the hunt for something completely different... so it goes!

the shorts, the shoes, the sun

2011-08-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

Wearing
Shorts: thrift store (NC)
Crop top: China
Moccasins: Cherokee, NC
Fray bans: China

Bless you, Floridian August afternoons. I can think of no better way to blow a kiss goodbye to summer than to spend a few days with your oldest friends at the beach (one of whom was kind enough to use her fancy iphone to snap my picture). This is a yearly tradition since high school, and in subtle ways I can see how we've grown! For one, our grocery cart was full of grape tomatoes and whole wheat pasta instead of ramen noodles and frozen pizza. Two, we lathered on 50 spf instead of taking our chances for a tan. And then there was one whole night where we didn't stay out til 4am! What changes will I record in 6 more years I wonder? Do you have any longstanding traditions with your childhood friends?

photo diary of a mountain maiden

2011-08-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

Wearing
Dress: Francesca's
Hat: thrift store in Cincinnatti
Shades: Chinese street market

Breakfast on the back porch: Avocado and heirloom tomato toast.

My mom shares my love of junkyard antiques and thrift stores, so we made it our mission to strike every one!

One man's junk......

Is my treasure! Humane Society Thrift store in Franklin, $30 love seat!

Lunch and iced herbal tea at a vegetarian restaurant in Franklin. Heaven.

A few more treasure sightings...

Then home to ponder my good fortune.

Oh to be a maid

in the mountains every time

the grass is dewey.

learning to walk again

2011-08-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

My sister is getting married in the Fall, and as a bridesmaid, I am required to wear some black shoes. At first I bought some very charming little rouched flats in China, but my sister didn't seem to like them. She hinted at this ever so politely with the question "Are you sure you won't feel left out as the only one in flats?" Hint taken. So when I saw THESE beauties on sale for $15 at Lulu in Little Five Points, I snapped them up. They are Bamboo brand platforms with a super chic scale-like sheen.

Issues: I admire so much all the bloggers and fashionistas who never seem to bat an eye at wearing heels to scurry over any terrain (Rebecca of The Clotheshorse comes to mind.... what is she doing in such secluded nature preserves in such marvelous heels? And why does she look so good doing it?) But I myself feel more comfortable donning flats for on-my-feet days, which seem to be most days.

Basically, if I am gonna rock these Bamboos in September without looking like a baby giraffe learning to walk, I got some practicing to do!

Wish me luck.

P.S. This is the bridesmaid dress. I love it! Certainly a re-wearer and a lovely staple as a LBD, no? Good call, bride-to-be sis.

Source: Maggy London Strapless Bead Bodice Dress at Nordstrom

Nesting

2011-07-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

While staying with my parents is a life rich in stocked fridges, direct TV, and childhood memories, I can't help but long to build a little nest of my own. I want to hang my own knick knacks and spread out the creative projects that tickle my whim, and curl up with a book in a beautiful space all my own. And lucky me! I'm moving into my own lovely little two bedroom the first of the month!

Source: Valspar

The colors above are my palate. I'm going for light creamy pastels, colors that harken to sweet fairy tale cottages or maybe even Marie Antoinette's bedroom. But I also want to set it off with plenty of rough wood and charmingly chipped paint... I want a shabby chic kind of rustic little grandma's country home. I picture mason jars, kerosene lamps, gingham, burlap, pastel quilts, dusty old books, birds nests, maybe some iron horse shoes or even an animal skull adorned with daisies? You know, rustic... but feminine and comfortable. And bookish. If you don't know what I mean, look at the images from my Pinterest inspiration board:

The site Pinterest has been so awesome for letting me collect inspiring image for this project. If you don't know what Pinterest is, it's basically a virtual bulletin board. You come up with a topic, and then you collect images from other pinterest users or ANY website using a little bookmark thing. You can see my home decor inspiration board here. Almost all of my images are from pinterest or Etsy.

Now my only question is........ how to I put it all together??

WearingRacerback tank:Aerie
Sports shirt (underneath): REI
Denim lace trim skirt: China
Moccasins: Cherokee, NC

Santa Cruz Sunrise

2011-07-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

Another Summer manicure, also meticulously done by the ladies over at Jazmin Spa in Little 5. Each nail is a different zesty citrusy orange or yellow. Makes me want to drink pina coladas on a beach all day! Maybe I should call it the Miami Sunrise. Do you ever take any crazy chances on your nails?

WIS.

2011-07-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Summer days spent in
back-porch shade with lavender
tea and lemonade.

This maxi dress and crop top combo is very fashionable in China right now. I've Americanized my rendition by adding moccasins and my vintage macrome bag, where a Chinese girl might style it with wedges or even converse all star, and a big square clutch in a lovely bright color. Possibly.

I love the random little "WIS." on the breast pocket. Lots of clothes in China are adorned with "English" words, and I frame that in quotations because they often aren't quite words. Like "WIS.".... what does it mean? Why the period? Is it short for Wisconsin? Or did that combo of letters just look neat to someone?

Wearing
Dress and top: China
Moccasins: Cherokee, NC
Hat: Thrifted
Bag: Was my ma's
Dog: Belongs to my parents

Ah beautiful back-porch lounging, interrupted only by the occasional trip to walk the dog.

Cocktail Tuesdays: the Sidecar

2011-07-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

"It's like lemonade for adults!" --My Aunt, after tasting her Sidecar.

My dad has this little project where he makes a new cocktail every night from the book Old Man Drinks: Recipes, Advice, and Barstool Wisdom By Robert Schnackenberg. I know, very Jules and Julia, right? I thought it would make a great blog project, but he's not really one for blogging, so I took it upon myself to chronicle one of the daily drinks per week. This week is the Sidecar.

"Veterans of the Great War will remember this one, first whipped up by the bartender at Harry's New York Bar in Paris to satisfy a U.S. Army captain who used a motorcycle sidecar as his principal means of transportation. After a few of these, you'd storm a trench for General Pershing, too" (Schnackenberg 136).

My aunt was right in calling it lemonade for adults. This drink is so summer; light and refreshing, sweet but not too sweet, and complete with a cognac kick. So perfect for back porch evenings still lit by that late summer sun.

Ingredients:

1/2 ounce cognac

1 ounce Cointreau

3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

Lemon twist

Shake them all together with ice to get it nice and cold, then poor into your prettiest cocktail glass. Optional: Sugar the rim and garnish with a lemon peel!

Mint Chocolate Chip continued

2011-07-25T12:30:00.001-07:00

Speaking of Mint chocolaty delights, check out Yokoo's tote of the same name. Someday I will have the money to buy a real Yokoo original so I can support my number one girl crush rather than just stalk her flickr page! She's a local ATLien but a self-proclaimed hermit, which is good for me because I would be completely twitterpated if I ever ran into her.

Here's another picture of her with one of her luscious handmade circle scarves, a hue whimsically called "youthful sage" but close enough to mint to satisfy me. Someday, Yokoo knit products, someday....

mountain life polaroid series

2011-07-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

I have this super cute Fujifilm Instax Mini that I bought in China for around 75 USD. It produces tiny little polaroid prints that are so much fun! It can be a challenge because the viewfinder doesn't show exactly what the camera will photograph, and since the canvas is so small you want to make sure the image is perfectly framed... so that takes some tinkering around... but I really enjoy it! This past weekend I went to the mountains around Cherokee, NC with my family and I used it as an excuse to take some Mountain life themed prints.

I set them up in this vintage cake stand my mom bought, but in my fantasy of being a real photographer in an exhibit somewhere, I envision lining them up on a mini clothesline with mini clothespins and offering the voyeur a big ole' magnifying glass with which to walk along and observe them. I'd surround them with mason jars full of lights that resemble lightning bugs and gingham tablecloths.

gingham fantasies

2011-07-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

I impulsively want to buy this retro Esther Williams swimsuit for $74 dollars. Which I know is crazy when Target has some perfectly fine, if not perfectly gingham, more affordable options (this one at $35).

But the imitation is just not doing it for me! Is it crazy to spend 50 extra bucks just to fulfill some Mary Ann a la Gilligan's Island braided hair and denim wedge beachside fantasy? Someone talk me out of it! Or into it....

edit: Look what just appeared on my tumblr dash!

source: fromme-toyou

The swimsuit is apparently ModCloth's "Cherry Pie" and costs a whopping $90 (pictured below).

Source: Modcloth

Source: ModCloth

Delicious name and of course the styling wins hands down... I'm already adding a straw hat and a basket of blueberries to my fantasy... but the price is making the Esther Williams version even tastier.

Plus, she's Esther Williams! She is this swimsuit. It feels wrong to go with an overpriced imitation when you can buy from the bathing beauty herself.

Source: flickr

Oh decisions decisions! What would you and your bank account do?

Mexican prints for summer

2011-07-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Something that did not change in China: Georgia Summers are freakin hot! So I've eschewed structured clothing and opted for nice flowing breathable pieces like this simple top from Love Culture. I went through a hippie stage in High School and never imagined I'd be going back, but I am just loving these Native American esque prints I'm seeing around.... it makes me want to buy one of those Mexican wool blankets (zarapes) and decorate my new apartment with cow skulls and dream catchers on my walls.

Image source: Mex and the City

I'm not the only one who is in this mood. One of the only things I've posted on tumblr to go "viral" (I might be using that term loosely) is this "Aztec Pastel fabric leather backpack" I found on Black Luna's flickr. It has over 4,000 notes on it, which, even though it's not MY backpack, still instills me with a little ridiculous pride.

Home Sweet Dress

2011-07-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

This is an outfit I wore last week to go to dinner and a play, my welcome home celebration with my family. The play was Avenue Q at Horizon Theatre in Little Five Points and it was amazing, if not amusingly awkward to watch puppet sex scenes while sitting next to your father.

This outfit is a very "Chinese" Summer look due to the ultra-feminine, almost childlike cut of the lace dress, and the towering heels. The only American touch is the addition of my vintage fringe bag. A Chinese girl wearing this outfit might pair it with some kind of super trendy purse with lots of little trinkets hanging off of it. Also the hair is a bit plain for China, lacking all the sparkly or adorable clips and barrets I grew to admire over the past year. Despite the Chinese influence, I'm still a sucker for a simple low side-pony.

Thanks for taking the pics, ma!

Mint Chocolate Chip

2011-07-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

From Kikicoco's flickr

Ah, mint chocolate chip. I don't necessarily enjoy eating it, but I do love the color palette, which inspired my summer manicure.

Too bad I didn't get a picture when it was fresh, but the folks over at Jazmin Spa in Little 5 did a bangup job. The lovely nail technician didn't even bat an eye at my weird color request. If you have some cash and your cuticles could use a lil TLC, I highly recommend Jazmin Spa! Cute shabby-chic decor, nice smelling interior, and peaceful babbling brooks 'n flute type music (no blaring TVs or small children running around). Oh and need I add massage chairs?? Also, the gals were so meticulous about the paint job. I've never had such perfect nails. She didn't even fuss at me when I immediately went and scratched one of them and she had to do a patch job ;)

USA USA USA

2011-07-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my sojourn in China, and what better season to restart my long neglected blogger blog than in the apple-pie cookout and lemonade season of July? I can't believe it's been nearly a year since last I blogged here. Living in China, blogspot services were blocked (along with lots of other nice websites many of us enjoy such as Facebook and YouTube), but that doesn't mean I was silent! I had so many adventures and there is just so much I want to say about Chinese fashion and what it's like to readjust. If you're curious about that 10 month gap, check out the weebly blog I kept during my time in China, May Go Wren. I'm also using tumblr regularly so please follow me there!

I never lose an opportunity to go all out in theme, so naturally this 4th of July was no exception. I'm wearing old faithful cutoffs, which might be approaching the end of their lives evidenced by the slowly expanding holes including in the butt-region. Also a crop top tee that I purchased in China and slip on shoes also purchased in China. The bag is vintage macrome and fringe. I think I was going for a kind of 70s free spirit wild child kind of vibe.

I'll be honest. It's kind of hard being back. Everything is weird and different to me, somehow both the same and not quite how I left it. But I am super happy about starting a new kickass life here and getting reaquanted with all the old blogs and maybe some new ones too. If any of my readers are still out there: Thank you!

travelin travelin travelin

2010-08-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

I'm in Korea for a few hours on my way to China, and thought I'd take this last oportunity to update my blog. This is what I'm wearing for my almost 24 hour journey:

My comfiest outfit without resorting to my personal pet peeve of sweats, flip flops, and t-shirts in public. Ick.

Batwing blouse and biker shorts from Love Culture

Thrifted nude pumps (btw i heard Project Runway bashed beige heels and they can suck it! I love my beige heels so much, they are coming to China!)

I'll miss you all! Please come visit me over at May Go Wren. Click on the category "zombielace" to filter out all non-fashion related posts.

Things to miss: My life partner, Tate

2010-08-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

I am transitioning to my Wordpress blog; in a few days, I will no longer have access to blogger. It's going to be hard going through withdrawal from all my favorite blogger blogs, but I gotta do it! Along with facebook and other google related creature comforts... But please check me out there! May Go Wren: China Blog. Fashion/vintage/style related entries will be categorized as "Zombie Lace"so click on that if you want to filter out unrelated stuff!

Today's post (since I don't have a lot of time what with packing and preparing etc) is dedicated to my cat whom I am cruelly abandoning while I travel the East. Praying my two friends can take her, but that's not going to be a sure thing til later today so KINDA nervous on that! Made this video to encourage them:

(if that doesn't work, try here for youtube)

And this is what I've been wearing to pack and move and hustle and bustle:

100 % Thrifted (something else I'll miss doing in China!!)

take a romp outside the box

2010-08-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

Here's another one of my pieces photographed by Susan Mucino;

The polkadot 80s romper halter.

I got this two summers ago in Austin and I used to wear it CONSTANTLY. Haven't really felt it much this summer at all, though, and really only wore it for these pictures. I'll probably end up selling it in the shop, but with my departure to China only... FIVE DAYS AWAY?!?... it'll have to wait until my return

I feel like this piece brings out my silly side, and just makes me want to hop around and make faces at the camera. Everything about this garment and these pictures reminds me of having no shame in joy and just all around breaking freeeeee!

Meet me by the tracks, love

2010-08-11T05:39:00.001-07:00

As my departure date for my year in China approaches, I am forced into the loathsome task of sorting through my (considerable) clothing collection and downsizing. I can't stand it!!! I am something like a clothes hoarder, and the idea of leaving any of my darlings feels like betrayal. Luckily, I had my beautiful talented photographer friend, Susan Mucino, to make the task a little more fun. We got together some of my favorite vintage pieces from my personal collection and had a little photo-shoot. I found it kind of therapeutic to immortalize these pieces in photographic form although I'll have to say goodbye to them for a year. Here is just one of the dresses we shot, and I will be the first to say I am DEFINITELY not a model, but Susan's skill produced some lovely pictures nonetheless.

This series of pictures is kind of whimsically romantic to me; I think it's a shy girl who goes alone by the train tracks every afternoon to read romance novels and dream about her love. She knows he takes the commute on the train behind her, so she wears the red dress, wishing he'd look out the window at just the right moment and see her as a streak of red.

Vintage 80s oversized shirt dress

Flats from Target
Clutch: hand altered from an old one by me!

what's in your notebook?

2010-07-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

I want to be a more active blogger, but my lack of camera is a major barrier! So I decided to take advantage of having access to one at work and took some pictures of the contents of my notebook. Now you'll have something (hopefully) interesting to look at though not fashion related.

Do any of you carry a notebook around for ideas and doodles? I never leave home without mine! I have a weird little hobby of writing syllabic poems (mostly haikus and tankas that I put on my tumblr), and I like to jot them down immediately as they come to me. Here you can see a bit of my writing process! Also, you may not know this about me, but I'm a wee bit of a cartoonist... not that I'm ready to be featured at the Louvre or anything, but I do enjoy it if just for my own amusement. So for your entertainment, here is a sneak peak at the contents of my notebook (which disturbingly might reveal the contents of my mind!):

PBR portrait, the drink of champions and the love of my life.

Some strange cowboy cat that came out of my imagination after several of the previous doodle.

Hey, Arnold! Because I can.

A creepy looking portrait of my hand. Ugh, more incentive not to smoke: my skin could really look like this some day!

Quotes I liked from a magazine article.

Poems being born.

I dunno, why the heck not?

Haha, a little doodle I drew to shame my PMSing boo.

Bare with me while I await the arrival of my camera's replacement charger and there shall be pretty clothes galore!

platfornication

2010-07-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

Weird title, I know, but I've been lusting so hard over platforms lately I kind of wish I could do them. All night long.

(the Kork Ease platform wedges owned and frequently rocked by Calivintage)

One of the hardest things for me about moving out of the country in a month is trying to keep my clothing collection under control. I feel like I've been purging and purging my wardrobe, yet can't seem to muster up the self control to keep new additions from sneaking in. Some things I justify, by making myself get rid of three items for every one I add, or telling myself how useful all the blouses and blazers I can't resist will be for teacher outfits in China.

But then there's shoes. Oooooh wonderful shoes. I know a lot of girls can relate to the warm fuzzy feeling, the pitter patter of the heart, the cold sweat that erupts at the sight of a beautiful pair of shoes. Platform shoes are one of those highly impractical items to lug halfway across the world, being bulky and heavy by design. And just as the nature of eros in classic greek thought requires the beloved and the lover to never actually unite for "love" to exist, so must I be sundered from the object of my desire thus intensifying these pangs of plat-love.

(Sappho, thinking about the sequined Louboutins she can never afford.)

This feeling has inspired humans to create art about it for thousands of years, like Sappho immortalized in her fragmented versus on eros. I was similarly seized by inspiration when Margaret from the blog Shine by Three wrote up designer Irene Brandt, and I got a load of these incredible platforms:

I don't know why I am so in love. Maybe because they remind me of space-monster boots except super chic in lovely soft gray suede, and that they would make me taaaalllll!

I wrote a haiku about them for my tumblr blog:

You kill me, Irene,
with your fab ankle boots. Note
to Self: MARRY RICH.

Okay, so I'm no Sappho. But I do find it therapeutic to fantasize about all the platforms in the world that I shall someday make mine without actually indulging the urge. I already have more crap than I can bring to China, and must remind myself that China is a glorious mecca for all things trendy and fashionable and inexpensive... I can buy as many platform wedges as it takes to fill the void in my heart once I'm over there. I do have one really awesome pair already that are absolutely coming with me though. They're familiar and comforting (if not terribly comfortABLE). I love them even though they're far from designer. I picked them up for something like $30 in one of the ghetto fabulous boutiques at Underground Atlanta.

H&M blouse

Thrifted hawaiin print skirt

Sam Moon bag

Platforms <3

I don't have a good picture of them by themselves but here they are featured in these outfits. I wore this when my three best friends from childhood and I were on a trip together. As it happens, all three of them are TALL, like, grazing the 6 foot margin. At 5'4 I'd say I'm average, but somehow always feel like a twelve year old when the four of us get together!

(I'm the short one)

One more reason to declare my devotion to the plats: They make me feel like one of the girls instead of a little sister! As long as the rest of them opt for flats, that is...

(sorry for the quality and slight irrelevance of my images, my camera is still out of service so I worked with what I had!)

stars and stripes and outfit evolution (in reverse)

2010-07-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

I think I'm going to be one of those embarrassing moms or kindergarten teachers who has a dress and a broach and a pair of earrings for every holiday. I love dressing in theme, and have the most fun ever preparing the right dorky outfit for the right occasion. Naturally today was Fourth of July! My camera is out of commission, but I had some fun with photobooth this gorgeous day of independence. Here's the evolution of my outfit (the top pics are the result I settled on).

I started with last year's Walmart tank, cut up and reshaped, but I didn't feel classy enough with the torn up T and shorts and braids.

I reaaaallly wanted an excuse to wear that amazing jacket I found forever ago at a thrift store.... but Atlanta in July is just not the place to pull that off. Plus I wanted that class-factor like I mentioned.

I got really happy with this old plain blue t-shirt; that with the paisley granny shorts and flats made for a sweet 50s picnic look, I thought. Plus I pinned up the french braids Heidi style. I'm using plain black sewing ribbon for a belt and my necklace is an anchor with an American flag design.

Hope everyone else looked festive and ate plenty of our national foods and mayonnaise and PBR etc.

refuse to be nailed into just one color!

2010-06-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

Image from Funky Trend.

One of my favorite ways to funk up a look is to be a bit creative with nail polish. The days of getting to choose only one color to suit your mood are over, and now we see trendtastic ladies donning all kinds of shades and variations on their nails.

I first started doing the accent ring finger last year, having seen it on some of my more fashionable classmates and fellow campus rats, and always considered it a kind of hiphop glam Atlanta thing. (Being from here, I have a soft spot for hiphop culture fashion and like to incorporate it into my looks). My boy and I have a photobooth photo diary thing we like to do, so I happen to have some shots capturing a few of my past nail designs. Blue and orange was just for fun, but mostly I like to do a somber color on the majority of the nails and one bright pop on the ring finger like in the last picture.

Yikes, please ignore the greasy, hungover, rolled-straight-outta-bed faces and focus on the glorious nail polish in the foreground!

When considering the origins of this trend, I think it's inspired in part by wacky nail variations in the 80's, which explains why 80's glam lover and fab nail pioneer, Rihanna, started switching up her colors as early as 2007 (in the picture on the left). Since then, she's taken her nail beds to even more dizzyingly eye-catching heights. Here she is earlier this year with leopard print and stick-on bling. And check out the pure sparkle middle finger accent. Swoon!

Images from All Lacquered Up and glamour.com

With my conception of this trend as a hiphop glam thing with ATL roots, imagine my surprise to stumble across the glorious hands of Molly from Chimerically Yours all the way in Scotland!! I like how she just went with the one fingernail on the left hand. I'm dying to know where she first saw this done or if it came out of her imagination!

The lovely paint job on Molly's hands from her blog, Chimerically Yours.

With a little searching, I also found the amazing nail polish blog, Kawaii Nails by Zahra all the way in Bermuda. Way back in May of '09 she sported the incredible design on the left. More recently, she posted a picture from a Japanese fashion magazine featuring a delightful combo of glue-on bling and accent nails.

Images from Zahra's blog, Kawaii Nails.

Now my theory of this as a hiphop culture, Atlanta based trend is even more questionable. It seems like the crazy accent nails are scratching up notice all over the place! Once again, my faith in the fashion collective unconscious is renewed.

I've also seen accent toes, particularly the big toe (though I don't really like that on my own feet). I am planning to get tiny little rhinestones or pearls to glue to my own big toe for a little sparkle in the summer heat without the added weight of jewelry! Here are my current accent toes, a more subtle hue change to suit my taste.

Do excuse my not so cute feet and not so neat paint job...

Having been inspired by the nail freedom and creativity of others, I decided to dig through my nail polish collection and try a new combo. I had some pastels that remind me of the American Apparel shades going around, and went with a pinkie accent.

Side note: my polish is years, we are talking YEARS (maybe 5?) old and is thus very thick and goopy. I tried adding a bit of nailpolish remover to the bottles and shaking them up, but does anyone else know any remedies for over-the-hill polish?

So, has anyone else seen these nail styles around their city, and if so, where do you think they originate?

Other fun nail sites: Nail Gal, All Lacquered Up.

shirt swallow me whole

2010-06-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

This shirt was kind of an impulse buy at H&M... I don't know if any of you remember my resolution about not buying mass-produced clothing anymore, but I kind of fell off the wagon. It started earlier this Summer when I entered a store called Love Culture in Cincinatti (an even cheaper even trendier Forever 21 type deal), and my resolution was burried under a pile of cute blouses and accessories. Also, it's where I got these sweet biker shorts that have been serving me well all summer. I've tried to be good after that binge, and have been up until the H&M incident, for which I do feel a twinge of guilt. But luckily that guilt is drowned in the sea of fabric making up this hilariously gigantic shirt.

Shirt: H&M

Biker shorts: Love Culture

Shoes, bag, necklace: Thrifted

Glasses: Costume Shop

Pretty people I SCENE in the A

2010-06-07T06:14:00.000-07:00

Yeah yeah yeah, I know people give "scenes" a hard time, and the well known Cabbage Town dive bar 97 Estoria may be a breeding ground for this criticized demographic, but you have to admit that "scenes" can be the best place to run into the most attractive, interesting people!

Just check out these adorable fellow Estoriafest attendees:

(this photo stolen from Myss Bond on flickr)

I am always impressed with how we ATLiens find ways to cope with the heat and still look cute. I saw lots of adorable rompers and lightweight 80s dresses converted into minis. I hope this girl in the yellow flats didn't notice what a stalker I was standing behind her.

It also seems pretty typical for creative types and artists to have some of the best looks, like local musician Brittany Bosco (above), looking perfectly effortlessly delectable in her summer cutoffs and kitschy cat-eye glasses. Her friend there doesn't look half bad either with his black Buddy Holly thing goin on.

And then of course as soon as the Coathangers came on stage, I developed an instant obsession. These girls are bad ass. Not only do they scream and stomp like dirty punks with extreme daddy issues, they dress cute while doing it. I dig the monochromatic thing. And notice that they switch up instruments throughout their sets! So awesome.

Sharing the elixir of life and beverage of choice for Estoriafest, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Before the night was through, I had a belly full of PBR, ears full of good noises, and eyes full of pretty people. In other words, I was beyond satisfied.

Your humble narrator.

A Bronte Sister Summer

2010-05-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

I bought this dress for the shop intending to hem it slightly below the knee, but pulling it out for alterations and photos, I kind of fell in love with the length! My informally appointed photographer, German and I had so much fun taking pictures and he did such a great job that I thought I'd share some.

It's just oh so Victorian Summer with its fullness and girly ruffles (though an authentic dress from this period would be a bit more modest with the skin on top), and I like to picture my favorite sibling authoresses in similar garb as they stroll the wild moors of Haworth.

(photo by Abigail 709b)

The long standing "Bronte Myth" has popularized the image of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte as country bumpkins raised in the wild moors and cutoff from society. This began with the very first Bronte biographer, Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote during Charlotte's lifetime, and even Charlotte herself somewhat encouraged this myth in her introduction to the second editions of her late sisters' works, claiming that any flaws in the novels were due to their innocence and lack of worldly experience. However, the truth is that Haworth was deep in the throws of industrialization in the 1840s, and the girls lived only a few miles from a bustling urban center. Closer to reality than a walk in the country, perhaps, is a walk in the city!

I feel very Catherine in Wuthering Heights here!

Even in their home, the Brontes were far from sheltered from the social and literary movements of their time, being avid readers of many popular journals and magazines from childhood. This exposure informed their "Juvenilla," the name for their collection of childhood writings including their brother, Branwell's contributions.

I love the contrast of old and new, and the pictures we took of this dress capture the contradiction nicely with the whimsical style of the clothing and the backdrop of urbanization.

Do you ever have fun dressing up like your favorite literary heroes or characters?

the graduate who didn't walk

2010-05-17T11:24:00.001-07:00

I decided to spare myself and my relatives the dullness of an official graduation ceremony, and skipped walking. I had a small twinge of regret seeing all the buzz on my campus. All the families were dressed to the nines walking around Atlanta looking hilariously lost, and I felt like an outsider peering in at my own life (your graduation is supposed to be this like monumental event, right?); but my regret was quickly drowned in my buddy's swimming pool. Laying out for the afternoon was far superior to sitting through a drawn out ceremony, which at a school as large as mine, is devoid of any individual attention or actual "walking" anyway.

In lieu of graduation, my family prepared a little happy hour in my honor. I was so surprised pulling up to their house and seeing graduation balloons on the mailbox and the dining room decorated with festive themed items such as chopsticks and Mao postcards. We had appetizers and champaign with strawberries, it was both personalized and the cutest thing ever.

No graduation is complete without gifts. We're an energy efficient family and naturally we recycle, so my mom used my old head shots from when I was a kid as wrapping paper. It's sort of a family joke because we ordered those head shots in bulk and barely used a fraction of them, and of course I grew out of the picture in a few years and grew to despise it! I won't say it didn't give me some satisfaction ripping into it.

Blogging (and everything else in life) will now be abazillion times easier with the contents of this package... the most spectacular awe-inspiring graduation gift of all time: A MAC BOOK PRO!

The angels sang as I removed it from its box and whispered "Excalibur."

That evening was my choice, hibachi and sake, of which I am still reaping the benefits of the leftovers.

By the end of the evening, I couldn't believe there had been a moment that day when I had actually regretted my graduation choices. With such an amazing family and so many blessings raining down on me, I must conclude that I am the luckiest little graduate that never walked.

Zombie Lace -- Not Completely Dead!

2010-04-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

As it happens, I had to admit to myself that as much as I love fashion following and blogging as a hobby, I can't let it get in the way of my concrete goals for life. I had to back off the blog for many reasons, from losing my digital camera, to feeling plain uninspired about writing about outfits. There's something to be said for dressing from the subconscious, without analyzing or over-thinking my choices in context of blogging. Not having a camera aided this, and I actually think the respite was liberating in a way!

I did get some random snapshots of outfits here and there. To update you, here is kind of what I dressed like over the colder months.

I suppose I sort of oscilated between glam-loving granny and Victorian school girl. Lots of colorful skin tight bottoms and oversized sweaters. I altered some sequin pants from a dance costume long ago, and I pretty much lived in these leopard gold leggings I found in the ghetto-fabulous treasure chest known as Underground Atlanta. Seriously, the best cheapest place to fulfill your blingtastic needs.

I found these 80s lace-up boots at an awesome little Antique store off Highland Avenue and I got a ton of use out of them this Winter. I think my Victorian looks were inspired from taking my very last class of my college career, the works of the Bronte sisters.

Speaking of my very last class of my college career, I guess now is a good time to reveal my post-graduation plan. In August, I am moving to China to be an English teacher!

And so brings me to the new direction of this blog. I know I'll probably lose some people (and I so hate to lose you, but I understand this is a FASHION blogging community so it only makes sense!) but this blog is going to evolve to reflect my journey. I'll be facing a unique set of challenges, and I plan to be dressed well while facing them and to continue to gush about clothes and antiques and insane bargains, but Zombie Lace will become less geared towards fashion and more towards Teaching Abroad.

My last few months in Atlanta, I will cross all my i's and dot all my t's and say my farewell to the Atlanta scene. I'll also record my experiences as a young Western graduate preparing to ship overseas and hopefully my awkward disasters and mishaps will serve as wisdom and guidance for the voyagers who come after me. Once in China, I will be unable to use Blogger.com, and will then switch to some platform acceptable over there. I hope I can bring some of you with me along for the ride.

Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me this long! I can't wait to start getting reaquainted with your blogs and stealing your outfit ideas.

When Vintage Gets Personal: Joyce's Highschool Sweater

2009-10-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

What really excites me about antiques and vintage clothing is the way they make me feel connected to the past. When I put on a wacky 80s prom dress, I think about the girl who picked it out 30 years ago and what her prom was like, who her date was, if she lost her virginity that night... Old hand mirrors and dolls from the turn of the century make me think of life as a little girl back then. Was it her favorite doll? What did she name it? What did she grow up to be and when did the doll pass from her possession? Usually the answers to these questions are left up to the imagination, but in some special cases an imprint of the individual is left behind. I love finding a book with a ticket stub in it or a personal note written on the inside cover.

I enjoy rooting through the boxes of old photographs in antique stores too, and on some level I feel sorry for the people in those pictures. I feel like they are lost in a way, with no record of who they were, where they were being photographed, or why their pictures are in this bin and not in a descendant's photo album somewhere. I also wonder: Will pictures of me someday end up in an unmarked box like this to either be thrown away or taken home by some stranger? As you can tell by the layout of my blog, I really cherish old photographs of my family. I hope when I'm gone, someone will cherish my photographs and the stories passed down about me.

Now get ready for the crazy part: I truly feel compelled to "rescue" these kinds of items from their unwanted anonymity. It depresses me to think that things that were once loved can end up forgotten and detached from their past. Like this box!

I found it at a thrift store outside Atlanta. When I opened it and saw the note on the inside, I absolutely had to adopt it.

Poor Patty! What could have happened that this personalized gift from 1984 would end up on a junk shelf in 2009? Did Patty and her sister have a falling out? Did her sister die and the box got tossed out after the estate sale? Either way, you kind of have to laugh at the irony of finding a box inscribed "sisters forever" in an anonymous Value Village.

These Laura mugs are also from a thrift store. There is a small copyright dating them at 1976 and they look it! I like imagining Laura as a hip flower child, sipping tea form her psychedelic mugs in some kitschy, colorful apartment.

And then there's Joyce. I found her sweater in an antique store in NC and immediately had to snatch it up for the shop. When I was cleaning and examining it later, I noticed her little name tag pinned to the inside.

She also sewed up the sides to make a more snug fit. I was going to remove her not-so-professional alterations, but for some reason I just can't! More of my superstitious weirdness, but I feel like when I found the sweater, I found a piece of Joyce. To me, this little letterman sweater contains an imprint of a 1960s southern high school cheerleader, who smoked cigarettes behind the bleachers and kissed boys in backseats, and checked her hair in her compact mirror and ditched class with her friends. I'm responsible for her now and removing her name tag and alterations would somehow make her vanish completely! Is that crazy? Either way, I think she was a fun girl because I get this fun vibe whenever I put on her shirt.

I really do feel like used clothing has a story to tell and deserves to be loved and remembered. Maybe that's why I'm so sentimental about the things I sell on etsy. Maybe this is creepy, but I always ask the buyers to send in a picture of themselves wearing the garment. Consider it like an adoption follow-up; I want proof that the relocated item has found a happy loving home across the country. It gives me tremendous piece of mind! I was so elated when one of my buyers actually did send a picture of herself in the dress she bought. Thank you, Heather!! (Psst. She also has a cute inexpensive etsy shop!)

Fashion Undead or OFF WITH ITS HEAD?

2009-10-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

If you're still out there, sorry for the radio silence! My mind has been brimming with post ideas, unfortunately my schedule and camera have not been so cooperative. So I thought I'd do another one of these features to get back into the swing of things and see if anyone is still interested!

Today's featured item is kind of a tribute to the last breath of Summer:

The Funky and Fabulous (or Frumpy and Fugly?) High-Waisted Denim Shorts!

Usually I'm neutral or unsure about the clothes I put in Fashion Undead, but this week I have to admit I am biased in favor of these 80's shorts! I've worn them myself several times and always feel super giddy and fun when I have them on and ready for summer mischief. I actually had to wrestle with myself a bit to put them into the etsy shop, convinced that they would be scooped up instantly. Not so. In fact, no one so much as "hearts" them! This combined with the lukewarm responses of my friends and family whenever I say "Don't you love my shorts?" has got me reevaluating their awesomeness.

They are obviously kind of dorky. The biker-short length with the lace, the high-waistedness with the pleats, let's just say it doesn't contribute to a sex-kitten silhouette. But am I the only one that thinks there's something kind of appealing about the dorkiness? They remind me of something a character from the Baby-Sitter's Club would wear while riding her bike in a safe, well-manicured suburb in 1989.

But of course the point of all this isn't to try and convert everyone into 80's shorts lovers, but to find out the opinions of all the varied stylish ladies and gents of the blogiverse! Do these shorts deserve a sentimental place in the denim history museum? Or should they be banished into an unmarked box in the basement for another 20 years?

Fashion Undead or Off with their HEAD?? (Please visit these shorts at Chictopia to participate in the poll if you are so inclined).

Responsible School Girl Outfits

2009-08-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize for the radio silence on my end, but as the title suggests, it is now that time of year when I must shed my summer frivolity and become a responsible school girl. That combined with an internet crisis at my apartment made it difficult for me to blog and to comment on other blogs. (I've never been as consistent and frequent of a blogger as some of the other amazing dedicated ladies out there, and I hate to say I'm going to become even less active as the semester consumes me). Thank you to everyone who wrote me to ask where I was! I am so touched people worried about my well being! Your comments, no school on Tuesdays, and a shiny new internet cable bring me here today.

As depressing as it is to say so-long to summer, I can't pretend I haven't been excited about dressing the part for the school year! Nothing helps me get my mind in the right place like the right outfit, so last week I specialized in responsible school girl looks. Here are two I managed to document:

Skirt: Swapped Skirt: Hand Made by me :~)

Glasses and Scarf: Sam Moon Pearls (totally fake): thrifted

Chinese Slippers: China! Flats: Vintage

Bag: Sam Moon Bag: Sam Moon

I know everyone has their little back-to-school resolutions and rituals and I am no exception. Here are the things I've been all about for fall.

My Must Have School Girl Accessories:

Comfortable flats!

I love heels but they aren't realistic for running around all day and for showing up for my outdoor center job in. I've been living in sensible flats like these, especially my chinese slippers!

New School Bag:

Every year I treat myself to a new school bag. I love this satchel style one with gold chains, something about the shape and texture just says "no nonsense hot mama" to me, which is a vibe I want to embody as the school year gets tough! I got it at Sam Moon which is this amazing gigantic wholesale accessories warehouse in Dallas. If you're ever there, hit this place UP!!

Up-do's and Pearls:

My hair is waaaay over grown at this point; in fact, I'm embarassed to report that it may be treading dangerous mullet territory very soon. To counteract this, I have been pinning it up with a million bobby pins and clipping different little bows and barrettes in it. This combined with pearls just makes me feel dang classy and ready to take important notes and meet with influential people!

Other than that, I've just been sure to bring my water bottle and a cardigan with me everywhere. Has anyone else started a nasty old school year? What are your rituals?

How to tie 40s scarf

2009-07-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

I didn't even think to include a "how to" on my last post about 40s style scarves, but Eyeliah from Style Symmetry nicely asked me to elaborate so here is my "tutorial." I'm no vintage hair genius like some people; in fact, I just kind of made this up so I have no idea if this is how they really did it. But it works for me so I might as well share! If you try this out, you might have to play with different scarf sizes and ways to tuck it in but eventually you'll get it and add your own flare too!

Step one: Fold scarf into triangle.

Step two: Put triangle over your messy overgrown backwoods bush of a head, pointy part towards forehead. I have a small scarf so I am staying behind my ears, but you can also go over your ears which is more authentic.

Step three: Bring other two corners around to front.

Step four: Tie loose ends over triangle point. At this stage, you might need to adjust, maybe pull middle part forward more, or for bigger scarves tuck in the extra fabric on top. You can also pin flaps down.

Step five: Tie ends in a bow or tuck them in along sides. Adjust bangs to your taste, stuff offending loose hairs beneath scarf. With bigger scarves, if the middle part is going too far over your forehead, you can fold it back and hold it in place with a broach or pin.

Step six: Await the emergence of your inner smokin 1940's vixen. Feel fabulous. Do house chores or put rivets in a metal sheet.

Taa daa!