Young Love

I decided long ago that when I grew up and made my millions (as an English/Creative Writing major, laugh all you want), I would buy a single expensive handbag. I would use that handbag forever, thus justifying it's ludicrous price tag. In a previous life, this handbag would be a Balenciaga City motorcycle bag, which I fell in love with after realizing that the cheap bag I carried til it fell apart was a knockoff of the $1,445 original. (On a side note, will you look at what I'm wearing in the post I linked to from "cheap bag"? Things have changed so much - including my style - and yet I'm still wearing those same over-the-knee socks.) Anyway, the realization that my beloved, yet sadly shredded/disintegrated bag, was available in long-lasting buttery leather was enough for me. My desire for the Balenciaga bag was born.

This love, as I mentioned was in a previous life. I have transferred my affections to something a little more special, something not cradled on the arms of countless Hollywood celebrities.

My new dream bag is $567 - still something to buy after I make my fortune - and made of supple (I imagine) black leather. The hardware is gold. There are buckles, zippers, and several pockets. There is an option to wear it over the shoulder or across the body. My new dream bag is...

....drumroll....

The Eva/Harris bag by CC Skye. And it is glorious.

Ain't she jes' a bewt?

Ah, to be young and in love!

Swapping It Up

The clothing swap/Boston blogger mixer on Thursday was positively epic. I started the night a bit bedraggled due to the intense wind that determinedly buffeted my hair around and blew up my dress as I trudged around Porter Square.



I wore a dress from Nordstrom, my trusty Steve Madden combat boots, and Target socks. My studded bag is Nine West.

My friend Elizabeth braved the wind with me as well, but somehow she managed to look fresh and neat by the time we got to the swap location. Unfair!



The blogger mixer was fun, but the real excitement was the swap! We spent a few hours gazing over the balcony at the calm before the storm.



...and then the swap started. It was an absolute madhouse. The rows and rows of racks were devoid of clothes within minutes. Every time I blinked, I swear some item I was eying disappeared. It was all gone so fast!

So what did I score? Here are the highlights:


A long gray loosely woven sweater, layered lace top, and printed tunic.


Pink skirt by 120% Lino, Elie Tahari printed top, and H&M tunic.

My favorite item was the skirt. Just look at the gorgeous detailing!



In addition to swapping, there were a few vendors in attendance. I was gifted the raddest belt by Proxy Apparel. It's made of soda can tabs and is both 100% recycled and 100% fair trade. I was a huge fan of all the things Proxy had to sell, especially when I found out their mission is "to empower and employ women in a sweatshop-free sustainable world." So cool.



As the evening wound down, the bloggers gathered in a makeshift dressing area to put together outfits made of swap items. It was not easy! We then walked the runway to the cheers of watching swappers. It was an experience, to say the least. Lots of smiles.

Elizabeth's outfit consisted solely of swap items. It was very '70s.



My outfit was entirely swapped too. And yes, that is a jacketless hood on my head. No big.



Phew, what a night! We left tired but happy. Check out The Swapaholics on flickr to see more snaps from the night, including the chaos of the swap itself, the amazing looks put together by other bloggers, and a photo of me on the runway in which my face looks like a grandmother's.

Excitement

Hello, my darling grasshoppers.

Let's talk about what I'm excited about:

♥ Nicole Lee bags at Target. I know nothing about these, except for the fact that they are way more detailed than you'd ever expect at a store like Target.

♥ Boston Fashion Week. With my busy class schedule, I don't have time for many events, but I am hitting a clothing swap and blogger mixer Thursday evening. Cannot wait. I will, of course, bring my camera and share the madness with you! (unless it interferes too much with grabbing the best swap goodies, that is.) If any Bostonians are reading this blog and end up attending the swap, please come find me and say hi! I'll be the one with messy hair and scuffed combat boots.

♥ Finally hearing what some of my favorite bloggers actually sound like. I've always known that Susie Bubble would have a great British accent, but after watching this video I want to be her best friend. She seems like such a doll, no?! And Jane Aldridge seems so young and bubbly in her Style Like U video. Plus, look at her closet, will you not? Good lord.

♥ Spring 2011 Pucci and Cavalli. Both are absolutely glamorous and gorgeous and unique and iuhniugfoijfnew. Plus, there is a particular pair of lace-up over-the-knee boots from Pucci that I want to lick. Or wear. One or the other.

♥ The absurdity of The Pyramid Collection. I unexpectedly received their catalogue in the mail and opened it to find a collection of clothing, jewelry, Halloween costumes, and ... sex toys? Yeah. I'm super amused. Even though there are quite a few things from the shop I'd be happy to own. Like this ring, for example. Or this pretty little number. Or my future wedding dress. Not to get carried away or anything.

♥ Nullnetwork's cheap, unique jewelry. I saw their stuff, expected a hefty price tag, and gasped with joy when I realized they were more than reasonable. Score! I am eyeing the octopus ring.

Alright, time to read some Freud. Or go to bed. I need my beauty sleep for swap success tomorrow! Wish me luck!

In Which It is Too Early to Write Coherently

Dear Readers,

I am writing to you bright and early this morning because I was woken by a startling realization: my fashion sense is going down a scary route called Country Farmer. Okay, yes, the heat in my dorm coming on at 6:45 am with a horrendously loud clanking has something to do with my early wake-up. And okay, yes, my burnt fingers are throbbing a bit as I type this (Why must I always investigate possible heat through touch?), but the literal wake up call that my styling sensibilities lean toward the Old MacDonald end of things makes for a much more dramatic story. So let's go with that.

Anyway, if you're a longtime reader, you know me to a certain extent. I was already halfway there. I live in plaid flannel and jeans. My hair is perpetually messy. I have a soft spot for motorcycle and/or combat boots. But oh, it gets worse.

Those shoes I was lusting after the other day? It didn't take long to realize that I didn't really want winter wedges. Inconvenient for walking across campus, and - let's face it - I tend to wobble a bit on anything taller than about an inch. What I really wanted was another pair of lace-up boots. Brown ones. Ones that didn't come up as high as my combat boots. Ones that were a bit more rugged. Ones like these:

I ordered them last night. And I'm excited about them. Real live work boots made by a company best known for selling "hand-crafted, authentic cowboy boots since 1879." Oh, the shame! But you have to admit, the details on the front are pretty damn cute. Can't you just imagine them with black tights, thick socks, and plaid flannel?

See? Farmer, farmer, farmer!

Please don't shun me.

And It Happens Again

These shoes have caught my eye in a major way.

Aesthetically pleasing, comfortable-looking, versatile, and on sale for $44.99. At Kohl's, of all places. Am seriously contemplating adding them to my winter shoe collection (let's face it - boots are the best kind of shoe), but...

Can a poor college student (me) with three pairs of boots that merit regular rotation on her feet actually drop $50 from her dwindling bank account? Not until I get a job, I think. Which I am working on.

This is part of the reason my blogging isn't as regular as it used to be. I need the funds!

Also, let it be known that I lust over shoes on a regular basis. Only, these ones have me extra excited. Is it just me, or are they kind of perfect to pair with flannel on chilly days?

Backpack Love

Hi, lovelies!

(photo via)

Last weekend I'm pretty sure I found Fashion Heaven. Not High Fashion Heaven, mind you. Nothing neat or tidy. I'm talking gritty, fun, exotic fashion. Messy and bursting with color. Bohemian. Overflowing from little shops out onto the street. Kensington Market in Toronto, folks, is Fashion Heaven indeed. The feel of the neighborhood alone had me hooked, but the jumble of vintage and Indian pieces for sale had me salivating with greed. Attractive, no?

I could've spent hours and hours there, but sadly I had to make it to the airport. I did, however, score a fantastic (Guatemalan?) woven backpack from a little army surplus store. Today I managed to snap some photos for you. Look how pretty it is! Loooove!

Wearing: Love on a Hanger tank via Nordstrom Rack (best cut tank ever!). Gap chambray skirt. Steve Madden combat boots. Urban Outfitters print belt. Forever 21 chandelier earrings. Army surplus backpack.

Off to school in four days! Summer's finally coming to a close. I'm simultaneously packing, savoring my final days at home, and excitedly anticipating the new school year. It's seriously busy around here! The only reason I had time for this post is because I am an expert procrastinator. Truth.

Gone Cloggin': The Affordable Edition

Photo source

Thanks to Chanel and Miu Miu, the fashion crowd has been embracing the new clog trend whole-heartedly. Well, not entirely whole-heartedly. There are definitely those who can't seem to look past the hated clogs of yesteryear. I understand, but my main hesitation when it comes to putting those backless babies on my feet has been entirely different. Sure, clogs are clogs, but I like 'em. Have you seen Alexa Chung in them? Super cute! My problem is that they're always so darn expensive. And yes, in my opinion, $100 Jeffery Campbell shoes are expensive. So what to do? As an obsessive online fashion geek, it was a simple matter to troll the web for some cheaper options. And since I made the effort, now you don't have to! You're welcome. Check it out:

1. Payless, $24.99. I'm rather partial to this pair, actually, although I couldn't tell you if they look really cheap in person. I do like that they're a reasonable height, though, and you know I'm always down for anything with studs.

2. Target, $24.99. Studs again! And they're from Target, aka my faaaavorite store! Clogs, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

3. Baker's Shoes, $69.99. These ones look a lot more like the Chanel ones people have been raving about. Only they're about a million times cheaper. Go get 'em, Tiger.