Gone Fishing (For Swimwear)

The one thing I dread most about summer (apart from the mosquitos) is bathing suit shopping. I've been told countless times that the "ideal" body type is skinny with a large chest. Well, as a skinny, large-chested girl, I can assure you that it's not all it's cracked up to be. When it comes to swimwear, I am always forced to mournfully pass over all the cute string bikinis for a plain halter-style one that provides more coverage and support. It's a tragedy.

This year, however, things will be different. I have scoured the web for suits that meet my criteria. I want a suit that is cute (NOT boring), flattering, provides enough coverage so that my beach look doesn't scream, "Hey boys- I'm easy!", supportive, and doesn't look like something that a) my mom, or b) an old lady, would wear. This also means no obvious underwires or anything that would give me the dreaded "uniboob" look. Also, my swimsuit has to be fairly cheap. To summarize: I am one tough customer.

You wanna see the best swimwear I found? You got it. And for all you girls with smaller chests, I'm not leaving you out. I think that my four best swimsuit finds will work for all women, regardless of chest size.


Backless halter suit, Newport News
This is my favorite find. And it's only $20! SCORE!!!


Le Mystere Polka Printed Swimsuit, Smart Bargains
This plays a close second in my affections. And while I think my mom might actually wear this one, I can't help but like it. Only $23.39, too.


Red & White Retro Bikini, Miss Brache Etsy Shop
Okay, so this one's more pricey. But it's custom-made according to your specifications, so it's actually a great deal. Plus, it's thrillingly adorable. $72.


Ruched underwire top with skirted bottom, Victoria's Secret
Also slightly pricey, but very cute. Lots of color options. $71 total, but the top and bottoms are sold separately.

Happy beach-going!

Whoops

Okay, to those who read my post on Planet Lulu...Sorry. I got confused. It wasn't tonight. I have to buy something though, since I got all pumped for it. So I'm buying those motorcycle boots I wasn't sure about.

Two Trendy Shoes

I am not a trend whore, fashion victim, or copycat. I wear what I like. I chose my outfits based on personal taste, and not on what's in style. Lately, I've been slightly disoriented by the fact that the current trends really appeal to me, especially when it comes to shoes. I live in the suburbs, a dull and fashionably un-enlightened place where the uniform seems to be flared jeans and t-shirts. This means that the jazz shoes and gladiator sandals I've been coveting would elicit a lot of stares in my town, regardless of the fact that they are actually "in." In fact, I can guarantee that my footwear would seem totally unique. Or at least that's what I tell myself as I spend hours searching for the cheapest versions of my desired shoe styles. Repeat after me. "I am not a trend whore. I am not a trend whore. I am not a trend whore..."

Gladiator sandals:
Inspiration:

Photo courtesy of Facehunter.
I actual find gladiators extremely ugly, but for some reason the ugliness actually appeals to me. They add edge and quirkiness to an otherwise normal outfit. I want them desperately.

My pick:

$44.99 from La Redoute, but you can get 25% off with the code LRVOTE.
These look pretty much the same as the sandals in the inspiration picture, which is good because this is the only kind of gladiators I actually like. Alloy has a nice, similar pair in gold or beige, but sadly they don't have my size in the gold, and I hate the beige.

Jazz Shoes:
Inspiration:

Photo courtesy of Facehunter.
For some reason I only like jazz shoes in gold or silver, especially silver. I love how they are totally unexpected (unless you're wearing a jazzy ensemble or top hat) and sleek.

My pick:

$28 at Urban Outfitters.
These babies just arrived at Urban, and come in red, black, teal, and silver. I am psyched about the $28 price tag! There were already some jazz shoes on the site, but none of them were in my price range. Until now. Hooray!

Other cheap things I'm digging: This jacket, these shoes, this bag. Oh and stock up on these t-shirt dresses (Marked from $45.99 to $9.99!).

To Buy, or Not to Buy

I can't decide whether or not to get these Charles Albert motorcycle boots, and it's driving me crazy. They've been marked down to $19.99 at Alloy, and now I even have a 20% off code. For new leather boots, that's a complete steal. And while they're not the world's most attractive boots, I can totally picture them toughening up girly skirts and dresses, like in that Vogue editorial with Keira Knightley. The thing is, how can I know if I'll still like them in the fall? Who's to say I won't regret buying them? Ughh I wish I didn't make myself feel guilty for spending money, even when it's only a little. What do you think? Should I go for it?

A Revelation on Accessories

Sooo...guess what? I took the night off from working on my novel, and now my fashion blog inspiration is back! I think I'll be alternating from now on to keep both projects going.

Speaking of inspiration, I always take a lot of inspiration from street style blogs - in particular, Facehunter and the Sartorialist. This morning I was browsing through the photos that the street style fairy miraculously posts every night while I'm asleep, and I noticed a common thread between most of the outfits. Most people probably noticed this long ago, but I gasped in shock at the sudden realization that the accessories made the outfit. My favorite photos would have been slightly quirky, but not particularly notable, had it not been for a main, eye-catching accessory. For example:


The parasol is key to this look...it catches the eye, provides contrast against the yellow, and adds a certain "fullness" to the woman's appearance. (photo courtesy of The Sartorialist)


This woman would look amazing even if she had to give up an accessory, but I think that the little veil across her face takes the outfit to an entirely different level of fabulousness. On a side note, I love how she took all these pieces with a sort of "old glamour" and updated them with her edgy hair and things. (Photo courtesy of Facehunter)


The shoes and the shades are both vital components of this look, but I think losing either one of them would detract greatly from the outfit. (Photo courtesy of Facehunter)

It seems I should take a cue from these fashionable ladies and stock up on eye-catching, slightly out-of-the-ordinary accessories to make my outfits really pop.

And there you have it...my revelation for the day. On a somewhat related digression, does any one else wonder about the outrageous outfits that sometimes appear on Facehunter? Like, do these people see a Native American headdress in a store, think "Wow, that'll look amazing," and wear it to their next party, or are they just trying to get attention by wearing something outrageous? Is it a joke? Is it a statement? I can never tell. It makes me want to march off to one of those parties and demand to know the meaning/reason behind peoples' clothing choices. If you are ever at a party like that, please think of me and ask them! And then shoot me an email. My curiosity is at an extremely high level.

A Letter to Wet Seal

Dear Wet Seal,

I am sorry to inform you that your dress seems to have sprouted a pineapple.

Sincerely,

A girl without fruit attatched to her stomach

Inspiration?

Lately I've gotten into the habit of posting at least once every day, and it's a habit I'd really like to keep up. It's really incredibly easy for me to come up with a post each day, because usually I'll come across something fashion-related that I'm dying to tell someone about, and I write it here so that I can share it with people who appreciate fashion (unlike most of my friends and family). But for two days, I've found myself uninspired when it comes to writing posts. I've failed to find anything that I truly wanted to share. Two days may not seem like a lot, but for a girl who is usually excited about fashion several times a day, it is. Yes, I posted the day before yesterday, but it wasn't a post I was too happy with, and I couldn't bring myself to post again yesterday.

I bet you're wondering why I'm telling you this.

Well, here's the point. I have finally found the reason for my seeming lack of inspiration, and it is strongly linked to the fact that I've been working a whole lot on the novel I'm writing. I've been pouring all my appreciation for asthetics into the descriptive passages of my story. My characters aren't very concerned with fashion, although their clothing definitely mirrors their personalities, but the setting is very wild and beautiful.

Ok, I still haven't gotten to the point. I realize that. Sorry if I'm boring you.

It's just that, rather than post something uninspired, I'd prefer to post something inspired that isn't quite related to fashion, but is related to design. I'm not designing clothes, but I am designing another world. So I thought I'd give you a short descriptive passage from my story:

I stole across the lawn, bare feet padding steadily against the ground. My nose filled with the sweet smell of freshly-mown grass, and the trembling orbs of dew that adorned each slender blade flickered like a thousand stars as they reflected the glow of the full moon. I paid them no mind, treading gingerly while I approached the place where the plants grew wild, eyeing the chaos of twisted leaves and branches and feeling that trickster excitement grow in the pit of my stomach.

My main character is actually in her pajamas for this scene, but if I could be there, I'd be in a frothy white dress with bare feet and flowers in my hair. There's something about grass and dew and full moons that screams "white dress" to me. I believe I even made a post on the topic not so long ago.

Fashionable posts resume tomorrow, or today if inspiration strikes.

I hope you guys like what you read, because I loved writing it. And now I'm totally nervous about your reactions. It's way more nerve-racking to post my dreams than my thoughts. You can read the beginning of my novel here, although you won't find the passage I just shared. That passage was from the middle of the story, and since I'm writing out of order, it would be difficult for you to understand the rest of the scene.