the clothes 2011

This dress (from eBay) is such a stunner I didn't want to detract from it, so I kept things simple with black tights and shoes; threw my black trench on top and was out the door. Beyond the delightful pattern, the shape also has nice details--note the puffed sleeves and a-line skirt. I think this dress would be perfect for an art gallery opening, or just for wandering through an art museum; however since I am not invited to any galleries or other parties to show it off, I wore it to class.

I just stumbled across these pictures from Denise Grunstein and I am deeply and helplessly enamored. Even more wonderfulness can be found here.

I'm always at a loss on how to wear this skirt. It is embellished with embroidery and sequins, but tone-on-tone; so it feels formal but very much one color. I usually just throw on a black top and tights and am done with it, but today I thought I'd attempt to take it to the next level with blues. I'm not sure all the colors "work" together, but I've decided this is a week for breaking color rules. Rules, especially fashion rules, are meant to be broken, no?

My favorite movement in art (however brief it was) is Art Nouveau. One noted illustrator from this period is Aubrey Vincent Beardsley. While much of his work (especially the earlier portion) can tend to be sinister in nature; the images are dark and subversive (making him perhaps the most controversial artist of the Art Nouveau movement) they are rendered in such a delicate and fluid style that I admire.

I think today is a continuation of my play on colors from yesterday, but on a much gentler note. I like to think this combination of colors is slightly unexpected.

Completely unrelated to this; My friend and I are doing a little word of the day activity. Every other day I send her a new word and the days in between she sends me one. I focus on rich and unusual words; the point is to expand our vocabulary and have an every day little pick me up. Some of my contributions have been: ambrosial, flippant, spendthrift, and pulchritudinous. Bonus points if we manage to use the words in every day conversation.

Need an instant feel-good comedy with stunning images, a wardrobe that will blow your mind and a plot that will having you rolling on the floor? The answer to this issue is: "What a Way to Go!" Starring Shirley MacLaine; watch our heroine go through multiple marriages, each with its own set of costumes and filming styles. We see Chaplin black and white, to continental erotic film, to fashion-heavy eye-candy film, and it even touches on big Hollywood musicals. Wikipedia offers a very good write-up on this film, the link is above. I highly recommend it for the fashionable and the frivolous. Plus, can you ever really go wrong with Shirley MacLaine?

Inspired by the dreary weather and my new purple jeans, I decided to dress especially colorful and bright today. Maybe a little over the top, maybe a little juvenile, but a whole lot of wonderful, in my opinion. I like to think the scarf ties all the colors together. The shoes might push it to the extreme...

Some pictures from the weekend. Finding the art in the ordinary.

I am completely and utterly exhausted. There is far too much to do before Thanksgiving, there's too much to do before tomorrow for goodness sakes! Once Thanksgiving has come and gone then everything will be a mad rush before Christmas. Will someone please give me a time-out?

My sister Emily took the picture on the left and I took the picture on the right. Both remind me of the Aurora Borealis, which I desperately want to see one day--probably the only reason I will go to such cold distances is for that sight.

I walk slowly across campus to the library, intent on checking out a Madeleine L'Engle novel, specifically the bittersweet coming of age story Camilla, because it feels like it will be a L'Engle type of weekend. As I stroll across campus I breathe in the crisp, clear air and absorb all the sensations the short journey has to offer. I pass the building where they are taking senior portraits, every few seconds a flash bulb goes off and the light bursts through the window. The flashes come quick and fleeting, I wonder if any of the seniors draw parallels between the swift snapshots and their college years. Ahead of me a tree has cast millions of yellow leaves onto the ground; a boy veers off the path to walk deliberately through them, sending out rich crunching noises and a flurry of leaves that float and settle in his wake. I pass a group of girls talking and overhear one of them confide "I wish I had a sister," in a wistful tone. The campus garden is now a flattened "winterized" box of dirt where one week ago stood tall, drooping sunflowers, bright and overripe tomatoes and rows of lettuce lined up like small green soldiers. Someone has forgotten their ball cap and it lies a bright patch of color in the mound of monotonous dirt. The library welcomes me with its smell of old books and the whispers of pages turning travel through the air as loud as the voices of people. On my ipod The Shins play and my book is in. I think it is definitely going to be a Madeleine L'Engle weekend. Related to that I will not be positing Saturday or Sunday, but should return by Monday.

The Sartorialist might have an admitted addiction to stylish people on bicycles, but to me there is nothing like the sweet, sweet sight of a moped. Style it vintage and coat it in a sickly-sweet pastel paint and I'm in love. I can still remember distinctly this image (though I can't recall where from) I have of a city-slick fashion magazine employee perched beside her moped, looking so stylish and sleek. Admittedly I have never driven nor ridden one and I am frightful of hat hair, but a girl can dream right?

I just realized something, my adoration might go back to that scene in Roman Holiday...

What's your stylish dream ride?

I'm loving these pictures from Patrizio di Renzo. These images remind me of the ones I take and show how sometimes going wrong can be so wonderfully right. They are out of focus, sometimes the subject is missing, yet still just so stunning.

I just received this fabulous vintage swimsuit in the mail from Upside Dive and since it was too cold to swim, yet too beautiful to resist, I decided to wear it as a top. I layered it over a tee, so hopefully it is not shamelessly obvious what I am doing. But how darling is the little diving girl? Does anyone remember that diving girl print that was on the runway a couple of seasons ago? I can't remember if it was Diane von Furstenberg or someone else entirely; I remember loving it!

Very like the classic Jantzen diving girl, no?

I've signed up for most of my classes for next semester, I am still trying to work my wiles to get some classes I haven't met the prerequisites for, hee-hee. Also, since talking to my advisor it looks like I will be able to study abroad next Fall. I am super psyched (this will be my second study abroad in college, the first was to Japan), but nothing is set in stone; I still have to apply and get accepted. This does mean I will be studying abroad during my senior year of college, but it's only the first semester and who can turn down travel? Here's a few hints as to where I'm trying to go:

And here is my appropriate wish list; this Rodarte dress will help me blend in with the locals:

And I'll also require some appropriate foot and head gear:

And as long as we're dreaming, I'll take this too , as long as it fits in my luggage:

Hey, thanks to everyone who told me I was on Painfully Hip--I never would have known otherwise. It's crazy seeing your photo on other's peoples sites, no? Don't worry though, I promise to not turn into the next Cory K and move to Hollywood in an attempt to claim fame.

Here is today's outfit (I would probably write more, but I have to sign up for classes):