the clothes 2011

Some outfits make me excited about clothes/style, and this is one of those outfits. I bought this vintage wrap skirt ages ago and I do wear it, but the length is a bit difficult for me. It's too short to wear as a dress (a girl must be modest! ho-hum!) and then I thought--layer it over another dress you dummy! So I did and bound it with my vintage leather belt, completed it with grey crochet tights and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to show off my new bowling bag. I bought it on eBay and thought it was a bowling-style bag, but it arrived (so fast!) and was a legitimate bowling bag, sans ball. The metal structure for the ball popped easily out, leaving the lining intact and I was left with a tooled leather delightfully shaped bag. Sigh.

This is why I love my college (sometimes): boys in boxers (and nothing else) running around campus and singing Christmas songs. Nothing wrong with seeing some half-naked men singing (and shivering) while wooing all the girls' dorms/floors on campus, is there?
The boxer club and their annual "boxer caroling" might be my favorite group on campus, followed shortly by the viking club which wears boxers and viking hats and runs around raiding dorms and wreaking havoc.
Thought: Why on a Christian college campus are the men so eager to get nearly naked?

Some pictures of icicles I took around campus.

I attempt to limit myself to two posts a day (sometimes there's a lot of inspiration, sometimes there's only a little), but sometimes I can not restrain myself. This is another "snowflake" post, only this snowflake is an op art creation by Andrea Dezso (and you thought your little snowflakes cut-outs were cute). Other cut-outs he has done is this series, which mixes the whimsical with the sinister: aliens, fires, natural disasters, etc. Unlike typical cut-outs these are layered one on top of another, to create these eerie and wonderful effects.

Those cut-outs remind me of these pictures I took in hall lounge which was decorated for Christmas. The twinkle lights inside the room, the reflects of the hall lights behind me and the odd light that was cast upon the snow, all gives this layered and interesting effect to these pictures.

I'm beginning to catch Blythe fever. Sure there is the appeal of the creepy color changing eyes and the quaint manga-like faces, on top of that there is the opportunity of customization: self-made clothes, wigs, glasses, etc. These dolls are like Barbie on acid. But the greatest appeal to me are the opportunities photographically. I can see myself now toting my Blythe doll everywhere and setting her up for the perfect image. However the $100+ price tag is making me queasy. For now I shall watch eBay in hopes of an affordable one and enjoy pictures like these from Gina Garan:
Since most of you who commented don't seem familiar with Blythe dolls, I am mentioning now that they have a very interesting history. They were only sold for one year (1972) in the United States and were very unpopular. However, now they have gained a cult-like following and the prices have soared. Originals can cost in the thousands, thankfully for some addicts they are now producing some new ones which come at the slightly more reasonable cost of around $100. Still too much to justify buying a doll right now, but definitely on my wish list.

I played the board game "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" the other night. It was a really fun game and did a good job of stimulating dialogue between the sexes (as I surmise was the goal). We started playing around 10:30pm, a pizza and bag of oreos later we were still talking at 4:00am: basically, everyone had a great time. I also got to connect with a different group whom I don't know well or see outside of class. Who knows, I might be moving to NYC after college and sharing an apartment with one of them!

And for what I'm wearing. I like the color combination of black, white, and green over the more common black, white and red; I think this play is more subtle and playful. I wore both outfits, changing as it suited my mood. The houndstooth sweater is H&M from over a year ago that I only wore maybe once, until today.

When did melty beads become the must-have accessory? Definitely pushed forward by DIYers and the young and young at heart. Left Facehunter and right Elinkan.



Eep! I've exceeded by bandwidth allowance on Photobucket. I will still be able to add new pictures because I opened another free account, however the old ones won't be back for a month! Sorry for the inconvenience.
//EDIT:// I upgraded to a pro account for free for accepting a trial from another program. Now when I cancel that program in under 14 days will the pictures disappear again? We shall see...

This is a new vintage dress I bought this weekend at Fairy Godmothers (my favorite vintage store). The color doesn't really excite me, but it fits like a glove and has beautiful seaming. I always find things that fit wonderfully at Fairy Godmothers, even though I don't need anything. I rolled up the sleeves, but those fit wonderfully as well.

To prove just how not-vain I am, I strung my vintage handheld mirror on a chain and wore it as a pendant. Theory: whenever people look at me, they will actually be looking at themselves. It also goes to show that I will turn anything I get my hands on into a piece of jewelry.

I'm quite pleased with the loot I have added to my hoard from the weekend thrifting. My favorite addition would be these new shoes:

In other news my flickr account got de-activated, so I'm working on starting up a new one. I think I will just start fresh and upload new pictures and let my old ones rest in peace on my old account. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Their flickr blocks them, or says it is deactivated???

I also took some pictures from a street of houses the family has dubbed "Candy Cane Lane," so please enjoy the garish holiday spirit.

I feel like there should be a "Blogger Support Group," not a group to help you learn html or draft a good post, but a group that boosts your confidence. If I had received all the positive comments I get daily on my blog in high school, those years would probably have gone very differently. In day to day life I get little or no feedback on my clothes, style, or craziness; yet, I can write two posts a day (which I often do, because I seem to live more virtually than I do in reality) and receive nearly a dozen comments within twenty-four hours that are if not complimentary, then inquisitive, constructive, or intriguing. With all the positive energy most bloggers spread, how can anyone with a blog go through the day down-hearted? (I've spoken to my sister relatively about this topic and she replied, "don't you wish you had started one awhile ago?" And my response was, "Why didn't I???")

On a separate topic, I thought instead of posting a movie pick, I am posting book pick. My theory is with the holidays you have more free time--why not spend it reading? In light of the season, I suggest Jack London. And in light of practicality I suggest a collection of his short stories--can't sit down and read an entire novel? No problem, tackle one short story at a time. His tales are thoroughly engrossing and if you're dreaming of a white Christmas, his ones set in cold locales will definitely make you fill the chill.

I'm visiting my favorite vintage shop today, as well as going thrifting, stopping by a delicious German deli for delectable goodness and rounding off with dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Don't you love weekends? For now, check out my mad posing skillz (spelled with a "z" because they're just that good or maybe that ridiculous), click for larger version:

This particular example of snowflake imagery is really pushing the definition of snowflakes. I hope you can see the connection between the natural symmetry in these images and the symmetry found in snowflakes.

Ernest Haeckel was a notable scientist and accomplished artist. He traveled the world and did on-the-spot drawings of plants, animals, etc. His work is a prime example of naturalist illustration and some have said his way of idealising nature with fluid lines are examples of early art nouveau.

These particular works of Haeckel depict different organisms and show the symmetry found in plant forms. Even if you can't see the connection to snowflakes (I admit it is a stretch) at least you can admire the artistry.

I only own one pair of boots (my family has lived in Hawaii for the past three years and North Carolina before that for three years, so there wasn't much call for them) and I am already bored of wearing them...