20 Years Old & Still Playing Dress-up

I'm twenty years old today. I guess I have to remove the "musings of a teenage fashion blogger" bit from my header.

The other day I was doing some last minute Hannukah shopping at Target when, lo and behold, the Rodarte collection was already on the racks! I didn't have much time and I was supposed to be shopping for other people, but I managed to snag a skirt. I think it's quite beautiful. Clearly lingerie-inspired, and the way the tulle hangs over it is raggedly floaty enough at the hem to give off that Rodarte vibe. A pleasant surprise!

I also tried on the coral-colored slip dress, which I thought was fantastically gorgeous, but alas it is meant for someone with a smaller chest. The lace-print dress was nice, just not very Rodarte-ish nor especially flattering in fit. The lace cardigan was pretty, if you can deal with the fact that it's scratchy. As for the stuff I didn't try on, I'm kicking myself for leaving behind the yellow skirt, the legwear was not present, and nothing else really did it for me. And that's my take on the whole thing. Still, I liked the collection a lot more than past designer collections for Target, and I really love my new skirt.

God, I can't believe I'm done being a teenager. It's about time.

Denim Jacket Revival

I've had a denim jacket for years, and I almost never wear it. Sometimes I get jacket envy when I see cool girls wearing denim jackets on street style blogs, which is totally irrational because I happen to have practically the same jacket these girls are wearing. What I really envy is the fact that, unlike me, they actually wear the jacket. I appear to lack this ability. When I see these girls wearing flannel and denim it looks great, but somehow, standing in front of the mirror in the morning, the pairing doesn't quite have the same flair. On me, it looks plain and easy. I'd rather wear flannel and my leather jacket if I'm going down that route, because at least leather has a bit more of an edge. So the jacket hangs from its hook (or, to be honest, lies crumpled on my floor somewhere) and is rarely taken out for a spin.

What I'm getting at here is that I think I need to make some changes to my denim jacket in order to actually wear it. My first idea on the subject was studs - I mean, you know I love me some studded denim - but that feels so done these days. I see that everywhere. Ditto chopping off the sleeves and making the jacket a vest. Ditto bleaching it. So what's to be done? I dipped into my inspiration folder and emerged victorious! Check out this lovely little jacket:

I believe the model is actually wearing a patched vest over a torn up jacket, but it's the combo that gets me. I love the ditzy florals and the way the rips temper the girliness factor. I think something similar could even be done with lace, although I really am partial to the floral prints.

However, if I lose my nerve when it comes to making such a feminine addition to my jacket, I think I could make a slightly punkier compromise.

Now don't get me wrong - the jacket is staying a jacket. I can't quite tell what is going on in this picture - it appears that either there is some kind of denim corset or the denim is actually cut into strips and attached to a blazer - but I'm not really concerned with the details. I like the ragged, contrasting strips of fabric and even the lopsided stars.

I've been home from school for about a week, and I'm getting fairly bored. I think it's about time for a new project. Denim jacket resuscitation time, perhaps?

Mixing It Up

Hi darlings!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written. I have no real excuses, but I've been spending my time adjusting to the college lifestyle, pulling some good grades, making some good friends, and trying out slam poetry. You know how it is. Now that it's winter break, I'm determined to be a better blogger. So here goes.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to meet some other Boston-based fashion bloggers at a mixer run by PunkyStyle, New Brahmin, and Jen Loves Kev. We kicked off the event by mingling at Luna Boston, drooled over some handbags that will be for sale in the spring, did some shopping on Newbury Street, and gathered back at Luna to raffle off some fun items and mingle some more. It was a pretty good time.

Even the name tags were fashionable.

Everyone was really nice, not to mention super stylish. I immediately felt underdressed in my black dress and red flannel.

I did, however, manage to add to my outfit with a fringed jersey scarf I picked up at Lit Boutique. I got a bit tongue-tied when discussing my new purchase with Amy of Punky Style and managed to inform her that she was creepy (she isn't.) It was not one of my finer moments. Lesson learned: try to avoid minor freak-outs when meeting long-admired bloggers. I'm pretty sure I made quite a fool of myself in front of Kristina of Dreamecho as well...she had the absolute coolest creepers and pixelated leggings and draped dress, and when she made it clear she had read my blog I'm fairly certain I grinned and screeched like an idiot while staring intensely at her shoes. Not exactly the impression I was hoping for.

It was too cold to take pictures of my entire outfit when I thought of it, but I liked the look better with my coat on anyhow. I picked up the coat just the other day; it's Laundry by Shelli Seagull. I'm also wearing spiderweb tights by Betsey Johnson, Payless leather ankle boots, a studded purse from Kofuku Gift Shop in Harvard Square, a scarf from Lit Boutique, and an H&M flannel shirt. Not pictured: A black H&M dress.

It's good to be back. I'll keep you posted on all my fashion-related musings for the break if I can; I'm turning 20 on the 20th, so at the very least I'll let you know what I was able to grab from Rodarte for Target. Being completely excited for the Rodarte collection, I have already used my Birthday Girl sway to enlist a friend to brave the Christmas crowds with me in the early morning. I have my eye on a slip-inspired skirt, a certain dress, lacey cardigan, some cute legwear, and whatever else draws me in. Hopefully the clothes will be less disappointing than Anna Sui for Target; I've been hearing good things. Fingers crossed!

How Awesome

My Parents Were Awesome has awesome vintage photographs that showcase awesome style. Isn't that awesome?

What tickles me is that not one of these outfits would look out of place on the street nowadays. In fact, the one on the upper left looks totally modern to me. It's true what they say - fashion recycles. In case you didn't realize it or something.

I am busy with school, but happy. Thanks for your patience, loves!

SHOES

Ahem, how amazing were the shoes at McQueen?

PRETTY FREAKING AMAZING!

That is all.

In Which I Demonstrate That I Still Wear Clothes

Hi gang.

It's getting pretty freaking chilly out. My cold-weather uniform hasn't changed much from last fall. I wore this outfit to a comedy show at the campus coffee house. (Yes, I am the girl in the picture. I did not go to college and get a sex change.)

(Hat: Target. Flannel: Target men's. Faux leather jacket: H&M.)

The cool part of this photo is that I didn't tweak the lighting or coloring at all. My crappy phone camera just came through for once.

What has changed is that instead of wearing my motorcycle boots (don't worry, they're still a staple of my footwear collection), I wore these adorable suede All Stars purchased, as apparently most of my outfit was, from Target. I love them. So comfy, too.

Another part of the outfit that isn't visible in the picture is these great Rivet De Cru jeans that I was sent to review over the summer. I've been meaning to write about them for ages, 'cause they'd win hands-down in a coolness battle with all my other jeans. Seriously. I mean, they have black studs on them, a laid-back grey color, and a perfect fit. Well, now that I've had them hemmed at least. My legs aren't that long. Sheesh. I'm not Chanel Iman. Or Iman, for that matter. I'm pretty sure each of those models has legs the length of my entire body.

Eh? Eh? Check out them studs on the seam above the pockets. Ain't life grand?

Actually, ain't fashion grand? I mean, have you seen the results of this current Fashion Month? I knew something was up when I was staring at Style.com for hours, muttering phrases involving the words "stunning" and "want" over and over again.

Win

Why hello, you lovely dolls.

I thought I'd let y'all know that college is treating me well. My classes are interesting, I'm making tons of cool friends, I joined a few clubs (am watching Lagerfeld Confidential with the Fashion Design Club on Thursday, woot!), and am generally happy.

Of course, my success here was sucked into insignificance when I saw this little snapshop on Altamira NYC.

So much win it almost hurts. I am thoroughly enamored with each of these girls, both through their blogs and excellent personal style. Also, I am jealous of Tavi because I wish I were anywhere near as cool at age 13. Or now, even. How does she do it? (Okay, I realize Tavi got cut off, and I do not have time to fix this. So click on the link above the pic to see her awesomeness.

Ahem. Back to, um, studying. 'Cause why would I do anything other than studying on a Friday night? I am a college student, for your information. That's what we do. Cough cough. Ahem.

So...

(Photo of me taken by my friend Sherry.)

Well, munchkins, this is it. I'm not done with this blog yet (although I realize the frequency of my posting leaves something to be desired), but I am done with this stage of my life. Tomorrow morning, bright and (way too) early, I will finally begin my freshman year at Brandeis University. I'm not sure what this will mean in terms of my blog, but I'm not willing to bring my little chunk of the internet to a close even despite the busy days I know await me. You'll be hearing from me again.

Thanks for sticking with me. It means more than you'd ever realize.

Stay stylish, sweet things.

That Mystery Girl

Hi gang.

I am occupied by a mystery.

A few years ago, a friend of mine (who was in Spain at the time) mailed me a letter. Inside the letter, she enclosed a cut-out from a magazine she had recently flipped through. The cut-out looked like this:

Now, you wouldn't think this was anything special unless you knew what I looked like. But as it turns out, the model in the ad is the spitting image of me. I mean seriously, I'm sure her nose is smaller than mine if you look at it from the side (she is a model after all), but from the way she looks in this picture, we could be twins. In fact, a good friend of mine once saw the ad sitting on my desk and scolded me for failing to tell them I had been doing modeling. Which I hadn't. But you get the idea.

Anyway, I tried to look up the model, but I couldn't even read the name of the brand the ad was for. So I gave up. But I rediscovered this ad in a pile of papers earlier this week, and today I saw a girl in a Stussy shirt in August's Nylon and realized that Stussy was in fact the mystery brand.

Stussy turns out to have a fairly comprehensive website full of old ads, most of which I like a whole lot. It's actually worth a look, what with campaigns shot by the likes of Juergen Teller, Kenneth Cappello, and Terry Richardson.

But alas - the girl with the parrot is not to be found. She is remains an enigma.

Anyone know who she is? Any ideas?

Eeeee!

Think back, dear children, back to a time when we were young and free. Let the nostalgia sweep over you, memories holding your mind hostage in the past even as your body is stuck firmly in the present. Remember that time, back when I was posting more frequently, when I excitedly announced that Anna Sui - pretty much my favorite designer ever - would be creating a collection for Target. Ah yes, those were the days.

Ahem, anyway, the preview photos are out and they look great - very Anna Sui, not hugely watered down - so I declare that these, in fact, are the days. No more longing for the past, grasshoppers, when the collection is very lovely and funky and increasingly real in the present/future.

I would like to add one more thing: YAY!

More photos here. What do you think?

Let's Party

Does anyone else feel an inexplicable need to buy clothes they will not have occasion to wear? No? Well, I do. I am always drawn to kick-ass party dresses, despite the fact that I am not a "party girl" and my idea of a wild night doesn't get much more exciting than driving around super-late, running around in some woods in the dark, and skinny-dipping. Umyeah. Did I really just admit that in a public forum? It's okay. I live in a really, really boring suburban area and I'm mostly pretty content to hang with my friends or my laptop or my books. The truth comes out.

Moving on.....

My latest party dress obsession? This reasonably-priced little number from Twelve by Twelve:

Cool, huh? The tan layer is actually mesh, which makes it, at least in my mind, a little rock 'n roll. I'd wear it with my black ankle boots, messy hair, and maybe a studded cuff or two.

Now that I think of it, the outfit is a bit reminiscent of the Courtney Love look that Little J is rocking in the videos of her band, Pretty Reckless, which I have been watching a wee bit obsessively. It's just...who knew she had that in her? I won't pretend it's brilliant, but I like it. Can't believe that voice comes out of that little 15-year-old girl we're used to seeing in Gossip Girl. (Yes, I watch it. I am not proud.)

Oh, Anna

ANNA SUI FOR TARGET?!!!!!!!!!

She is, like, my favorite designer. I think I can die happy now.

They Make It Look Easy

Hi munchkins!

I'm so, so, so sorry for being such a bad blogger and not posting more often. My excuses are that a) I've had a lot on my mind, and b) I've been a bit lacking on inspiration lately, and I like my articles to be fueled with passion instead of obligation. You understand, right?

Well, even if you don't, it's my blog and I can do what I want to! If I were more childish, I would stick my fingers in my ears and wag my tongue. Too bad I'm a mature young lady of nineteen who would never even think to do such a thing. Ahem.

All kidding aside, let's take a moment to fill ourselves with cool hair envy.

Yes, I am still obsessed with that partially shaved look. However, I have decided these ladies make it look misleadingly easy to pull off. The right attitude is definitely a must, and they have plenty of that, not to mention they are all gorgeous. But damn, if you're braver than me, you should definitely go for it! Life is too short to wear your hair long - that's what I always say!

Okay, not always. In fact, it is possible that I am a long-haired  hypocrite who just made the saying up this very minute. But it sounds like something I might always say, and that's what matters.

Photos of cool partially-shaved hair made possible by: Karla, Arvida, some model from egfashion.co.uk, and Wasson.

Nail Polish That Doesn't Hate Me

Nail polish is not really my thing. As a kid, I used to paint a few sloppy coats of pink all over my fingers. Theoretically, it was meant to go on my nails, but in reality my aim was not so good. I moved onto the gee-I-like-how-it-looks-but-hate-how-it-feels phase, during which I swore off nail polish all together, and in the recent years I've worn it occasionally. My reasons for less frequent wear are simple:

1) While my aim has improved since childhood, my nail polish-applying skills are still sorely lacking.

2) This is not helped by the fact that I am always too impatient to let the nails dry fully before I move on to some other task. This always ruins the polish further, but at least it saves me from spending ten minutes with my hands draped uselessly in the air in front of me.

3) I am not so fond of the smell.

While I'm fairly certain the smell can't be helped, my first two issues have been resolved. How, you ask? Well, meet my new friends Nicole by Opi Nic's Sticks:

Being a fairly low maintenance girl, at least in terms of beauty products, I have no idea who this mysterious "Nicole" is. I'm familiar with Opi, but I've always been too cheap to go for anything but the 99 cent pots of NYC polish. Today, however, on a leisurely stroll through Target, one of these nail polish sticks begged me to buy it. Specifically, Home by Midnight, a black shade that doesn't appear to be available online. Since my old black polish had long since been sacrificed to the cause of costuming in a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, I slid the nail polish from the display and bought it.

Long story short, I am a fan. It's super-easy to apply, because it's pretty hard to end up with too much polish on the brush, which just happens to be the perfect width for my nails. It dries in maybe 30 seconds flat, which suits my impatient nature well. Two coats, a total of maybe two minutes, and my nails were completely done. 

Clearly I will be picking up more Nic's Sticks in some other colors. And Nic, whoever you are, if you want to be my best friend, I think that can be arranged.

American Apparel: The Want/Need Edition

I'm liking some of the new styles trickling into American Apparel:

1) Cotton Seersucker Bloomers. $25 for a pair of cutesy undergarments that, should they come into my possession, would be worn as shorts. I'm not the cutesy type, but I'm sure I could toughen 'em up a bit.

2) Tie Dye Interlock Pencil Skirt. Pencil skirts are typically part of fairly put-together outfits, while tie dye is by definition relaxed. So yes, I'm a fan of the contrast in this skirt.

3) Unisex Denim Jacket. I like denim jackets, but the black color here makes it classic and more chic than the typical pale blue faded denim.

4) Super Sheer Circle Scarf. I was lusting over this scarf in solid form, but the sheer version is even cooler. Not to mention more appropriate for the upcoming warm weather. 

I guess a trip into the city to the nearest American Apparel is in the cards. I wanna see these babies in person before I shell out the cash. My head is swimming with ideas for that scarf. What do you think?

Sara Sanskara

I'm really glad this street style photo of Sara Sanskara caught my attention, because I think her clothing line is quite beautiful.

Pretty, huh? I love how the lace, ruffles, and floral prints are tempered by asymmetrical hems for a sorta funky hippie appeal. I'd wear these dresses with chunky, tough-looking boots and messy hair. Yum.

Chloe Sevigny for Bass

I cannot stop thinking about these shoes. Love the many silver-tipped straps, the shiny black leather, &  the sky-high wedge that would cause me to fall considerably more often than usual. Love that they're not feminine or masculine, that they aren't casual or dressy; they are wonderfully ambiguous. 

Also, I assume, expensive. 

Pshh, keep your wonderfully ambiguous / assumed expensive shoes, Miss Sevigny! For the sake of my bank account, I will drool over my keyboard and write love letters blog posts on their multi-buckled glory.

Oh, how I suffer.

GAH Photobucket hates me! Don't worry, lovelies, I'm working on it!

Statues 'n Plaid

Today, as I was walking around the sculpture park at the DeCordova Museum with my family, I stopped to pose with a statue for my own personal amusement. My dad whipped out his Blackberry to snap a photo, and it suddenly occurred to me that I haven't done an outfit post in a while. I was wearing my basic winter uniform of flannel, jeans, and boots, but I asked him to take a photo of the look for my blog so I can at least give you an idea of what I've been wearing these days. It's my version of sweatpants - cozy, comfy, and easy - but less frumpy. 

Not the best quality, but there you go. I'm wearing a men's flannel button-down from Old Navy over an Alternative Apparel tank, Delia*s jeans, Charles Albert motorcycle boots, and an H&M faux leather jacket. I'm carrying my Jumeau bag. The flannel and boots have seriously been my winter staples, because they are perfect for anything the New England weather might throw at them.

And because I love you guys, here's the initial Kori-posing-with-statue picture:

Instead of copying the statue's pose entirely, I amended the position to fit my lame sense of humor. Whereas her right hand is holding an apple, index finger extended, I have my right hand in the Spiderman manner. My left hand is not gracefully curved as the statue's is, but rather forcefully signaling forces of evil to stop in their tracks. Roar, justice is served.

This Is How It Goes Down

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Okay, children, here's the deal. A bunch of us will agree to shave our heads like the brave and gorgeous people above. We will all do it. You know the whole "strength in numbers" thing? Well maybe a large number of fellow partial-head-shavers will give me the strength to actually go through with it. 'Cause damn that's a cool look.

Okay, probably not happening. Never say never, though. Wow, I'm on a roll with the overused proverbs tonight.

In other news, I checked out Alexander McQueen for Target today.

Most of my dressing room pictures sucked (bad lighting and all), but here you can see the studded shorts, black cropped blazer, and one-shouldered swimsuit. Alas, the swimsuit didn't accommodate my overly long torso, the blazer was not something I'd get a lot of use out of, and the shorts were a bit pricey for a tiny scrap of denim. Oh well. I also quite liked the cropped black trousers and printed gray dress. If I buy one piece from this collection, I'm betting it will be that sweet studded denim jacket, but I didn't see it in the store. Oh, and the harness bikini. I'll check back, though. The quality and cut of all the clothing actually seemed pretty high.

Alright, I've got a stack of magazines to flip through (including the new Teen Vogue and a copy of Indie, which I've never read before), so I'll catch you cool cats later.

Coraline & Creepers

Long time no see, grasshoppers! I missed you!

Has anyone seen the movie Coraline? I watched it last week, and I found the animation absolutely breathtaking. The first half of the movie was completely amazing, and although I think the story became a bit forced or rushed or something in the second half, I still loved it. Go watch! 

I should also mention that Coraline's style sensibilities were excellent.

See? Girl was rocking a police hat so well it made me want to do the same. In fact, Daria wore a similar cap in March's Vogue Paris. Coraline also shone in a star print sweater that reminded me of Spring '08 Chanel, and I really loved her blue bob, which reminded me a bit of this street style snap of Katie Schillingford. Well done, Little C!

Also, I made this collage for personal inspiration maybe a week ago, but I think it's worth sharing:

Yep, I'm liking creepers lately. They are so, so hideous. I'm not sure why I like them. Yikes.

Because the collage wasn't originally gonna be posted up here, I didn't save the sources. Sorry, folks. But I do remember taking photos from Style Bubble, Style.com, Nylon, and Lookbook.nu. The shoes on the bottom left are definitely Dior, and I definitely love them. I believe the top right is Nathan Jenden. The multiple ways these shoes can be styled is baffling, no? As is my terrible taste, because man these are ugly.

Mad Linkz, Yo

I know I've been horribly bad about updating lately, and I'm sorry. I have so many things I've been dying to show y'all (including the acquisition of a sweet faux leather jacket!), but I never quite seem to get around to it. Busy life and all of that. Anyway, I'll share some amazing links for now, and hopefully I'll have a post with some actual writing in it up soon.

♥ This is probably the best thing I've seen in a while. Seriously. I am absolutely blown away.

♥ Some crafty fashionistas have been hard at work lately. Care to make a hole-y scarf? A Wasson-esque harness? Some Alexander Wang-inspired chained jeans (another sweet option here)? Some kick-ass tights? A split belt? A braided neck scarf/necklace/thing? Yes?

♥ Missbehave is going completely digital. Sad! This means that you should sign up for their Weekly Newsflash if you wanna stay on top of things. Also, read their rad blog, will ya?

♥ Style Copycat does a really great job of breaking down trends into different categories of photographic inspiration. So much eye candy it's almost overwhelming.

♥ The way these boots are styled pretty much makes my life. Okay, I exaggerate a tad. But they do look fantastic, no?

♥ This photo shoot is so, so great.  Embroidered patches, buttons, and denim? Yes please!

♥ The jewelry here makes me happy. Although to be perfectly truthful, the jewelry here will always come first in my heart. (Just not in real life where my price range does not allow for it.)

♥ Oh, hello, sleek modern-day version of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz!

♥ I really love Ellen von Unwerth. Especially when she does shoots of Liv Tyler that look like this.

♥ I just finished watching seasons one and  two of Skins here. The show is great. Check it out, if only for Cassie's wonderfully dreamy/girly style.

♥ I've really been appreciating Fake Karl lately, and this comic is very fashion, hmm?

♥ 22 reasons to love Stockholm. 

♥ Is it just me, or does Danny Roberts get better and better? His work is always amazing.

Alright, that's all for now. Can you tell I've been saving up for a post? I am infinitely grateful for the tag system on Google Reader.

A Beautiful Headcase

Hello, lovelies! Sorry I've been kinda MIA lately. Double ear infections and broken laptops are not exactly conducive to blogging.

Last month I was gushing about how, after a disappointing downward spiral in quality, Teen Vogue appeared to be getting its fashion groove on once more. The March issue proves it. I don't know what changes have been made in the offices, but whatever they are, they are seriously working. I loved every one of the photoshoots in this issue. Innovative and adorable, they are just what I've come to hope for (and possibly now, expect) from Teen Vogue.

My favorite one, Beautiful Dreamer, showcased outfits styled around mens' pajamas. I'm pretty sure the editorial was inspired by Spring '09 Dolce & Gabbana, and I found it very creative, not to mention beautiful. I'm not sure if I'll be wearing mens' pajamas out, but the fact that I'm even considering it means Teen Vogue deserves serious props.

Check it out (apologies for the lousy photo quality...my scanner was acting up and I couldn't find scans on the internet so I had to use my camera):

Beautiful and dreamy indeed! See the March issue for the rest of the shoot.

I also really appreciated Head Case, which focused on semi-outrageous, playful, and girly head accessories. Look how cute!

Source: TFS

This shoot just makes me want to pile on the colorful accessories and giggle with girlfriends. Reminds me a bit of iCiNG's old catchphrase; "Dress up, leave a false name, be legendary." Very Betsey Johnson - meets Luella - meets Marc Jacobs, I think.

No, I don't work for Teen Vogue, although frankly I wish I did. I just have much love for the publication. Keep it up, li'l Vogue!

What is it About Michelle Obama?

Today I had a college interview. Amid sips of tea, nodding as I recounted my experience as a fashion blogger, my interviewer leaned forward to ask a question. "How do you feel," she began, "about Michelle Obama?" She set her tea mug down with a thunk and gazed at me curiously. "Is this a big thing in fashion? Why is she so important among your generation and your industry?"

I paused to think for a moment. Most people hate interviews, but I tend to enjoy them. I am often asked questions I am unprepared for, questions that nudge me along a new vein of thought. These questions help me to learn more about myself and my thoughts, and I generally find them interesting.

I twirled my mug around in my hands as I thought, then set it down decisively. "I'm not sure how others feel about her, but speaking for myself, I see her as this amazing role model. She's a gorgeous woman and everyone can see that, and yet she's not stick thin. I think it's great that younger girls will be able to look at her and find her beautiful instead of the emaciated models in magazines."

That was pretty much the extent of my answer (hey, I was put on the spot), but now that I've been thinking about it more I've decided there's a lot I could have added to it. Sure, she's not the norm of beauty in our society. She's not a size zero, she's black, she has shorter hair. None of these things are typical on the runway, magazine pages, or even little girls' dolls. And yeah, it's fantastic that we can all see her as beautiful not just despite these things, but because of them. But it goes beyond that. Michelle is a strong, accomplished woman. She's a successful lawyer, she worked hard on her husband's campaign, and she does a lot of hands-on charity work. She will no doubt continue to work hard for our country. I love seeing a woman who is so smart, so driven and hard-working, illustrate what it means to be female in this day and age. In the past, women have had to take on certain "male" characteristics to succeed in a male-dominated world. And yet Michelle dresses in a stylish, feminine manner, openly acts the mother to her children, but never sacrifices her career and strength. 

I'm proud that today's children will be able to grow up with such a role model. 

(Obviously Barack's a great role model too, but this post isn't about him.)

(Photo taken from Mrs. O)

Inauguration Day!

Today was amazing.

I'm not even talking about fashion when I say that, but since this is a fashion blog I might as well comment on the new First Family's outfits. Barack looked dashing in sleek black suits, Sasha and Malia were adorable in J.Crew, and Michelle really dazzled in Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu. Both of Mrs. Obama's outfits were designed specifically for her, and I think she looked freaking amazing. The Jason Wu gown especially was stunning. When Barack asked the crowd at the Neighborhood Ball, "How good-looking is my wife?" I wanted to cheer. And their first dance as a First Couple. . . sigh. I am such a girl.

I am thrilled and excited to see what comes next for our country. Yay President Obama!

Huh?

Just saw this on the Forever 21 website. Does anyone else find it odd that the news didn't leak out through the blogs before the official announcement? And doesn't Forever 21 already have a "boutique line" of sorts aka Twelve by Twelve? And, um, what makes this unoriginal pink t-shirt, sweater, and denim miniskirt combo (I kinda cut the skirt out to make this pic fit on my blog, sorry guys) "boutique"? 

Guess we'll find out soon.

A Different Kind of Dress-Up

Yesterday I decorated a shirt, but it was not for fashion's sake. In fact, the shirt was absolutely nerdy, and not in a remotely chic way. No, my shirt was a basic Hane's sweatshirt, which I used markers to emblazon with the message, "Don't Legislate Hate." And I wore it to a DOMA protest run by Join the Impact MA in Boston, along with two cousins/friends.

I've never been to a gay rights protest before, but the experience was great. The crowd was smaller than expected - only two hundred people or so showed up due to the 16 degree (Fahrenheit) weather - but there was a lot of energy. We listened to speeches, cheered and booed at the appropriate times, and then marched down the street past the state house. Everyone was so friendly, so united for the cause, and there was an amazing gay slam poetry performance to end the event. Everyone was beyond freeeezing, but it was worth it to us to be there. A great experience!

Ha, I almost took a picture with the girl whose sign said "Nerdy Straight Girls for Marriage Equality," since I am indeed a nerdy straight girl in favor of marriage equality. I truly believe that everyone should have the right to marry the person they love and experience the benefits of an officially documented marriage. It's terrible that gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and generally "queer" individuals are treated as second-class citizens in this day and age, and in this country. I'm glad that it's in my power to help forward the goal of "liberty and justice for all."

The top two photos are mine (okay, okay, my cousin took them), but the bottom three are courtesy of Tom™5.

The protest was part of a nationwide movement. Join the Impact in your city/state!

A Winter Photo Shoot

Today my friends Sherry, Monika, and I had a photo shoot. We  tried on lots of random clothes, semi-wrecked the looks by covering them with jackets and such, and jumped around in the snow. Lots of fun!

I wear an old velvet skirt from TJ Max, Old Navy skirt as a one-shouldered top tied with a scarf, self-ripped Urban Outfitters tights, Wet Seal jacket, Target hat, and combat boots from Kohl's. 

Sherry (black hair, big smile) wears an H&M dress, velvet vest, plaid jacket, Forever 21 hat, key necklace from a swap, and Charles David motorcycle boots.

Monika (light hair, fab poses) wears an Express flapper top and skirt, ombre turtleneck sweater, black leggings, Forever 21 sequin headband, and awesome leather boots.

Okay, so the shoot wasn't exactly high fashion, but it was full of laughter and some serious dancing. When the snow started falling, we were excited to have its presence in the photos! 

I challenge anyone who says fashion isn't fun to a snow-dancing duel. 

Update: Aren't Sherry's kicks amazing? She colored in the comics herself!

Target Musings

The Target Go: International collections haven't done it for me lately. I haven't been to see Thakoon in person, so I suppose it could be better than expected, but I'm honestly just not interested. Not really my style, thankyouverymuch. Private Label Collection 5, however, appeals much more to my slightly punkier sensibilities. I'm not gonna pretend it's anything special, but it looks a lot more promising than Thakoon, at least for me. Asymmetrical hemlines, grungy denim, fitted tops, zippers, studs, and black - yes, please.

Although if I'm gonna be honest here, I could reaaallly do without the horrendous puffed-ponytail-and-hoop-earrings combo the model is sporting with a lot of the looks. Target isn't so on target (har har, Target on target) with the styling, methinks. 

While we're talking about Go: International, I guess I should mention that BETSEY JOHNSON FOR TARGET WOULD BE BLOODY BRILLIANT!

Whoah, I said "methinks" and "bloody." I am turning into a Brit. I blame my daily reading of Style Bubble.

Flowers for the Head

I have a problem.

Today my friend Ellen and I stopped by Anthropologie. I found a hat and a headband I was sure would look supremely unflattering on us. I put on the hat, she put on the headband, and . . . 

. . . they were not only flattering, but comfortable, cute, and suddenly exactly what we needed.

Both cost about $40 and were therefore out of the question. So out came the cell phone to snap a few pics to remember the headgear by before we had to leave it behind.

The problem? I love that hat, and I can't stop thinking about it. I want to have its babies. I'm going to attempt to make Ellen a similar headband, but I have no idea how to recreate the hat. 

To end this post on a less whiny note, I should mention that if you are less cheap than me, you should totally go for these. Ain't they jes' divine?