the clothes 2011

In honor of Halloween here's an awesome streetart installation by Olaf Breung in the Garden of Villa Medici. Don't the facial expressions on the statues suit the addition of skeletons?

via Wooster Collective

When I first saw The Brothers Bloom in theaters I fell in love with Penelope (the epileptic photographer and potential smuggler) and her quirky fashion sense. She paired 60's style sack/shift dresses with heavy black boots, hats, and opaque tights. Following the film I finally felt the call of the grunge and Doc Marten trend, but I have a hard time investing in shoes so outside my usual style. So, these were actually purchased from Forever 21 on the cheap with that gift card I won. Now I'm dressed like Penelope, so hopefully I will soon start having similar adventures with less than scrupulous characters...
Outfit details: jacket- Forever 21, dress- H&M, tights- street vendor, necklace- Talonalia, boots- Forever 21

This is what all your pretty shoes like to do when you're not looking...Nasha was eager to get in on the action. She's quite an agile Labbit and loves a good samba.

A short while ago on Chictopia, I won a gift card to Forever 21. This immediately led to trolling the F21 website and exhaustive mental debate over what to order. As soon as I saw this dress, one item was decided. The dainty, whimsical print of unicorns, bunnies, cats, and some strange creature wearing a hat was not only too sweet to pass up, but distinctly reminiscent of the most recent Miu Miu runway. Knock-off, "inspired by," or whatever, I really felt a need for this dress in my closet...

Outfit details: cardigan- H&M, dress- Forever 21, tights- Fred Flare, shoes- secondhand, necklace- Yellowstone National Park gift shop

I would like to live in the world that Mads Teglers creates in his images. Dreamy lighting, sequined clothes, and romantic spaces? They're like a beautiful dream. I would also greatly appreciate one of those opulent masks this Halloween...

all pictures by Mads Teglers

The best kind of outfits seem to be happy accidents. They pull together pieces from different shops, were bought years apart, and yet seem meant to be worn all together. It can take me forever to dress, because I just start pulling things instinctively. It is rare for me to have an exact picture in mind, which often leads to a pile of discarded extras and accessories on the floor. The end result though, can feel as nicely composed as this outfit...

One of the best places to find dainty, whimsical charms at reasonable prices is Anirtak; which also happens to be the sponsor of this week's giveaway. From leaf lariats that call to mind autumnal beauty to pearl necklaces that can be worn a variety of ways, Anirtak offers some simply lovely pieces and a few quirky ones as well. There's a sense of timelessness to many of the pieces, as well as personal charm--distinct designs that could become you "signature" piece of jewelry.

This giveaway is for the Baby Lone Hopper necklace in silver. It features a darling bunny with detailed features on a delicate chain. A really sweet piece to easily be worn with anything in your wardrobe.
To enter: leave a comment below telling me your favorite piece in Anirtak's shop. Open to international readers and the winner will be drawn by random on November 1st.
P.S. The winner of the Much Love giveaway is Eleanor. Congratulations!

If you were coming in the fall,
I'd brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn,
As housewives do a fly.

If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls,
And put them each in separate drawers,
Until their time befalls.

If only centuries delayed,
I'd count them on my hand,
Subtracting till my fingers dropped
Into Van Diemen's land.

If certain, when this life was out,
That yours and mine should be,
I'd toss it yonder like a rind,
And taste eternity.

But now, all ignorant of the length
Of time's uncertain wing,
It goads me, like the goblin bee,
That will not state its sting.

~Emily Dickinson

Outfit details: jacket- H&M, dress- ASOS, tights- We Love Colors, shoes- secondhand

When I was studying Greek language in Athens my instructor had the habit of saying "mysterio" every time someone had a question that would consume too much class time to answer. The intriguing photographs of Ellen Rogers who experiments with dark room techniques reminds me of that...it is as if there is a rhyme and reason behind them, but we aren't given a direct answer.

via Ellen Rogers