the clothes 2011

Apparently I have been slowly going blind. Perhaps, I am being dramatic. However, I just failed a recent eye exam and the doctor gave me a prescription, so enter new glasses. I will be wearing them fairly regularly (and yes that is a specific designation), but I can't really get used to seeing myself in glasses in the mirror--let alone in pictures, so don't get too used to seeing them on me.

The glasses came just in time because I went on a day trip to D.C. yesterday. Took so many pictures (as always), here are a few of my favorites. I had a bit too much fun with the wide-screen function.

So, I mentioned this briefly before but one of my resolutions for the New Year was to dress "edgier." I am far from being what I term a girly-girly (I can't bother with difficult hair, my make-up is the epitome of basic, I can't walk in heels, etc.), but still my outfits feel usually very soft and feminine. I don't want to be stuck in a fashion rut so I am intentionally looking to buy clothes outside of my usual patterns, namely: menswear inspired looks (vests, suspenders, trousers), darker and more stark colors (more black, grey, navy), heels (or other shoes with edge, no more ballet flats! or maybe just a few more...), stream-lined silhouette (pencil over a-line), etc. That is the basic concept. I can't abandon my style completely, I can't afford to throw out my closet for one, the idea is just to dress with more variation go from girly to tough in 48 hours.

Real way: some Facehunter ladies that are currently inspiring me:

Runway: the Givenchy Spring 2008 runway is a perfect inspiration to me of this idea. Maybe it's the giant grommets, maybe its the basic color palette, maybe its the "gladiator sandals on acid," either way I think the models look edgy and dangerous, despite often rocking skirts and dresses.

I like all forms of subversive art and actions of originality that occur outside the realm of normalcy (and oftentimes legality), but this particular act of nonviolent vigilantism is perhaps the coolest. Guerrilla gardening is political gardening; the group believes land reform and land rights (made up mostly of environmentalists). Basically, they move around mostly at night to plant vegetable gardens in empty lots, they drop seeds in soil along sidewalks, turn cars into greenhouses, and put up flower boxes anywhere. In several instances empty lots have been turned into gardens over night (involving the participation of 1000 people or more).
In one extreme instance a group of guerrilla gardeners lived on unused land owned by the Guinness Company, trying to show poor usage of land (especially in the midst of lack of affordable housing). Perhaps the most telling and interesting fact is that they lived there for five and a half months before being evicted!

When your family moves (from HI to PA) your third year of college the house they move into does not have a room designated to you. This means you are ostracized from the rest of the family in a chamber in the basement. Your room might have a door to the crawl space under the house in it, but it does not have a door to itself, meaning a curtain will have to suffice for privacy. Another necessary amenity your room will be missing is a closet. So you will cross the basement and hang your clothes on the exposed pipes in the laundry room. To make lemonade into lemons you might decide to do an impromptu photo shoot in your new "closet."
And to show you're not bitter, you might bake the whole family cookies:
P.S. I'm trying to organize my link lists, so if yours appears to have disappeared please make sure it is not just moved. And if it has been accidentally removed, please inform me.

We drive out, turning onto the freeway and leaving the city behind us. As the rain continues to fall down I find myself once again peering into the windows of the vehicles that we pass or pass us. Feeling like a spy I study the interiors (bobble heads, swinging crucifixes, faux flower leis) and candid expressions; witnessing lip-synching, arguments, laughter and silence in a multitude of stranger’s faces. As someone finally looks back at me, I turn swiftly in my seat cheeks flaming embarrassment (or guilt) and study my hands. Purposefully, I turn my mind back to various plane flights. As we landed and took off, I would stare out of the window and look down to the cars driving far below like children’s toys. I would try to envision the people and their lives, so many separate beings from myself experiencing lives that would never touch my own. Were any of them looking up at the plane? It can be terrifying and make one feel desperately small to realize how alone we sometimes are—for all the people we ever meet how many more we will never know, but also how close we are to knowing them. We drive beside them daily, move within feet of one another and they remain strangers.
It’s a dream of mine to one day create a series of photographs of people’s kitchens. I’ll take the photographs while driving across America and into all the small towns I come across. Around prime dinner time I will sneak up to home’s windows and take a snapshot, then run away. In those images I want to capture the room as it is decorated (is there even cooking ware?), candid family portraits, and perhaps even loneliness.

The gingerbread is on sale now and so we have a ton. I quickly laid claim to this delightful little box, saying once it was empty it was mine. It is a complete little house and the windows even open!!!

It made me think of some of the most decadent architecture around the world I would like to one day visit. Saint Basil's Cathedral in Russia is at the top of my list:

What building would you like to see?

I wore this outfit around the house whilst making these ribbon/headbands. Initially I wanted to make hair clips using the petals from fake Christmas poinsettias, but I bought pins by accident and used ribbons instead.

I get much of my inspiration for posing from dancers, so today I bring you the delightful Ann Miller. Known for her long legs and tapping skills, this lady earned her place among the Hollywood starlets of yore.

Last night there was quite an adventure...My mother and I drove 3o minutes to the nearest theatre that advertised showing "Atonement." Only once we arrived there we were informed that the movie would not start showing until tomorrow. This is why it is bad to live in Nowhereville...
Oh, and apparently the kitchen has the best lighting in the house.

I'm afraid I have been the ultimate in laziness lately. Since I haven't been going out much my clothes are a bit of a mish-mash of randomness and I haven't taken the time to take worthwhile pictures. I have been hemming skirts (no more frayed ends for me) and plotting my DIYs (I haven't converted any stockings yet, I'm too attached to the ones I have at the moment to risk them). So, in the spirit of laziness I thought the ultimate style to express this would be slip dresses and night-gowns as outfits. Runway inspiration is drawn from Christian Dior Spring 2006:

Real way by Liebemarlene and Gabba_A:

I do adore thrifting. For example, these grey, slouchy boots (with the smallest heel even I can handle) combined with a skirt only cost me $3. The gold bird-cage item was an impulse purchase since I have no idea what to do with it. And then we have the men's brown fedora and a lady's grey hat.

One of my resolutions for 2008 was to dress edgier (girly dresses and floral skirts are sweet, but I don't want to be too candy-coated). These accessories however might be taking it to the extreme, an irrational jump from where I am fashion-wise. I want my clothes to be sharp, not shoot people to shreds...