the clothes 2011

The last couple of days have quietly passed away in Athens. I have done so much traveling since my arrival here that it is nice to slowly savor the city that will be my home for the next few months. I have acquainted myself with some of the major shopping streets, befriended the local pigeons, and tasted enough Leonidas chocolates to rot my teeth.

Who wouldn't like to return to childhood? Let's just take that rather loaded question at face value and bring a piece of childhood back into our lives today with: coloring books. Or rather this coloring book for adults. Peer is advertised as a collaborative art experience. The book is composed of 25 self portraits created by 25 different artists.
So, let's all just forget about complications for a moment and take a flight to Never-Never-Land through our markers...

I'm the kind of person who doesn't just feel alone in a crowd, but feels downright lonely. I find loneliness in forced groups far worse than loneliness when one is alone, because it isn't expected or understood. Lately, it has been a slight struggle for me in a such a large group and a constant sense of misunderstanding and intangible distance. Exposed zippers I sewed myself into my clothes raises eyebrows and incomprehension--and after awhile trying to explain the thought process behind your outfit to someone who just dresses to protect themself from the elements gets old.

Outfit details: dress- Urban Outfitters, bag- secondhand, shoes- Urban Outfitters

However, I have somewhat sucessfully chased my melancholy away. It has involved coming up with individual cheers/chants for the members of my group (you didn't know I wrote songs, did you?) and a rap for myself. These are best utilized when sung on the subway in English. And large quantities of sugar devoured in honor of a friend's birthday.

We dressed up for the event and I wore my tiara. I was surprised when it met with so much approval and now I must be on the lookout for thieves who would like it for themself...

dress- White House Black Market, shoes- Urban Outfitters, tiara- ChicAllure

P.S. Athens Fashion Week is going on right now and Fashion Architect has an inside view...

This girl (on the left, to clarify) snapped by the Facehunter looks suspiciously like Chloe Sevigny to me... Regardless, I do adore her modern meets retro vibe and the subtle yet powerful pink and red color mix.

When I feel so full (as I do now) of stories and experiences, I don't know how to begin--to start a subject that if allowed free reign could go on for days. For there are days worth of experiences that have not been shared. I have been on a three day trip to be exact. I walked in Corinth, dove and swam at Monemvasia, climbed a mountain at Sparta, and even spent some time in Olympia.

Trying to express in some small way a piece of my experiences just reminds me of how little we will ever know about anyone. Each of us is so complex and so full of unique experiences that to fully grasp the other would take a lifetime. It's a rather frightening thought really and marvelous too in it's own way. Considering all of our differences and inability to properly communicate it is a wonder we can form friendships at all...

My pictures have no particular order and many of them are not my favorites of myself, but sometimes one must make do...

P.S. My camera has suffered a number of illtreatments lately and is on it's way out (no more shutter...), so if some of the images have strange effects this is probably why.

While I tend to tire of sculptures (even ancient ones), paintings, and other forms of art, photography is one medium I find endlessly appealing. Right now, thanks once again to Foto_Decadent, I have found another photographer to obsess over: Will Sanders. These are the type of photographs I would like to take if I was a fashion photographer myself. I adore the mood they evoke: the mix of realism and whimsy. They can be appreciated visually for color and composition, but also have an element of a story to them--as if the photograph is merely a beginning or perhaps a snapshot of some grand adventure...

We went on a trip to the Acropolis and it was majestic...majestic is the word I keep coming back to in reference to many of the sites I see here.

While I was there I was sitting on the steps, absorbing the sights and waiting for my group, when another group of tourists walked by... They kept looking at me and next thing I know, one stepped forward and handed me a one euro coin. I just stared dumbfounded as they walked on...what a random exchange. Also, photographic proof I did not look homeless:

Nasha is a bit mad at me at the moment, because although I brought her with me to Greece, she has been unhappily left behind on many of my adventures (my bags are too small even for such a petite Labbit as she...). However, I may be winning back some of her graces with a photoshoot around our crowded apartment; since she is slightly conceited and narcissitic.
She likes the poppy and bright bedspread, which in someway seems to match herself. Also, the neatly lined up ballet flats under the bed are pleasing to her eye.
From our balcony she admires the view and likes to walk precariously along the rail--remember she is an adventurer. When she does laundry she intends to hang all of her "intimate" items in the front in view of the street, in hopes of making some less than appropropriate friends...I however, will not being following suit. The bathroom is a delight in pink tile and Nasha is far too tough to complain--but she has yet to take a hot shower; the heater seems to be malfunctioning.
In the kitchen she was bemused to find shot glasses left behind from past residents--a thoughtful, welcoming gift, no doubt! And very useful for her first taste of ouzo which received mixed reviews. The fridge is quite barren, but a nice snack of yogurt is her favorite to reach for between meals or during "siesta" time.
This might have appeased Nasha for now, but I think I will have to bring her out with me more, so she doesn't get too lonely and bitter staying locked away...

From day trips to Delphi to explore the ruins of Apollo's temple, walks through quaint villages, shopping in downtown Athens, and dancing until 5:00 am, to say I am keeping busy might be an understatement. Usually this sort of activity wears the introvert in me out, but lately I have been flinging myself at every opportunity and not regretting a single moment. After all, you can rest when you are dead...

I rather shocked the people in my group when I wore jeans for our day trip. After numerous people had asked me if I ever wear pants (to which I responded, "you've only seen me for less than a week") I decided it was time to bust the skinny jeans out.

Outfit details: pants- some shop in Japan, shirt- Forever 21 (customized by me), tank- American Eagle, bag- secondhand, jacket- Urban Outfitters, aviators- Stadium Swapmeet in Hawaii

Clearly, minimalist (sometimes I wonder if I can apply minimalist to laziness...) looks are appealing to me at the moment. The weather has been cool and rainy, but now it seems we are in for clear, warm days. I can't really be bothered with too much complication when we are walking so much.

Outfit details: dress- H&M, shoes- Urban Outfitters, bag- Ruche

To label either of these females as cute does strike me as lessening the impact of their elegant and thoughtful ensembles. And not knowing their height, but knowing my own diminutive stature I doubt they are shorter than me, so this may seem ridiculous--but I saw them and wanted to pick them up and place them in my pocket. Something in me screamed both adorable and "copy this!"