Some Girls Wander

Hollyberry Chapeau

Dress - styleshake
Hat & Bag - vintage
Tie - refashioned from an old sash
Cardigan - JCrew
Tights - Hue
Shoes - Biviel

 

There is something very sweet and easy about a simple white or cream-colored dress with a colored sash or bow. I suppose that's why it was one of Maria's favorite things in The Sound of Music. I should follow her lead and pair this one with a blue sash one day!

 

I am very pleased with this new, slightly-smaller-than-my-usual bag. It's from the incomparable Allen Company. Her shop always kills me. I just noticed that she's got this dress newly for sale...oh, be still my heart.

Fair-isle & Moss

Sweater & Beret - Forever21
Dress, boots & Layering tee - Anthropologie
Arm warmers & Tights - Sock Dreams
Underskirt - vintage

 

This outfit was just a chilly, errand-running-day outfit. The sweater is so cheerful! I knew it would help me TCB (take care of business).

I also like to wear boots when I need to run a bunch of errands/TCB. Maybe it's because I'm foreseeing puddle-splashing coming into the picture? Plus, it's just a nice break from heels.

And, oh! That moss! It's one of the things I love most about Portland.

Crosshatch

Dress - vintage
Cardigan - JCrew
Layering tee - Anthro
Knee socks - Sock Dreams
Shoes - Chie Mihara
Bag - vintage

 

I recently ebay'ed this dress for a song - that's always such a fun feeling. I love the big top button on the tab/collar, and the crosshatch print. I've been keeping my eye out for prints more lately, since I don't have many printed things and, well, I'd like to fix that! The dress, even though its made of a sturdy cotton, is a little light-weight for Fall/Winter...but I just layered it up.

When I looked at these photos later, I thought "my goodness - that day was a very Exene-ish day".  But I need some bangles - some big plastic or bakelite ones.
And crazier hair.

The red lip here is another of my Fall obsessions - I believe it's "Heat Wave" from Nars. It's a matte orange-red, and it is just the bee's knees.

See you soon!

Little Mushroom

Coat - Saltwater UK (buttons swapped out by me)
Socks - Sock Dreams
Dress - Anthro
Blouse - JCrew
Bag - Vintage
Oxfords - Chie Mihara

Just last week, we had these dear little fawn-colored mushrooms growing all over the yard.
Now they're gone! So sad.
But we did get a kick out of them while they were around.

 

I've been wearing lots of demure colors lately - navies and greys and, now that I've got my mushroom colored wool coat, that too. I have to phase in and out of things - I'll be wearing lots of color, or lots of frills, or lots of neutrals, and then I'll rebel against myself. 

 

But then I inevitably rebel against that rebellion. And so it goes!

New Blue Pals

These deep blue Chie oxfords were my big shoe purchase for Fall. I only found them in one or two places online, though I think the boot-version was sold on Anthro's website. I just couldn't resist the sculptural, cherry-colored wood heel or the excellent color - but I had no idea how much I would actually, really and truly wear them.

Here are just some of the dozens of times since Summer's end (you can click to enlarge each one):

 

They've become my most-worn shoes...they are so comfortable, perfect for all sorts of outfits, and oddest of all, they are easily the most compliment-getting-est shoes I've ever owned!

Truly, from teenage girls at mall stores, to ladies in the produce section at Trader Joe's, to shop-girls at the American Apparel store. People have been so sweet and complimentary about them, it prompted Josiah to remark "I just never knew people paid so much attention to shoes before!" Then, of course, because I never pass up a chance to tell people about Chie Mihara, I try to pronounce the designer's name and explain who she is and where you can find the shoes, etc.
This is never completely successful.

But I do so love my blue shoes. 

Green-y

I've been chastised in the comments for not being back yet, but I'm trying to get back into the mode of taking outfit-photos! This is a bit harder right now, because the sun sets at 5 pm - but I will try my best.

So, it would appear that I find myself wearing lots of green lately. Sometimes I have a hard time finding clothes in a green that I really like, but this year has been good on that front (I've added a blouse, two sweaters, and a dress to my green-arsenal!). This dress is a newer find, and it's such a nice combination of dressy and not-so-dressy.

 

Cardigan - JCrew
Dress - Anthropologie
Bag - vintage
Tights - JCrew
Boots - Charles David
Beret - Forever21

Those Charles David boots are also newish...they replaced my old riding boots that had holes in the soles. They also had bad memories ingrained in them from my sprained ankle days last Spring, when they were all I could wear.

I love the new ones! They are perfectly sleek, and fit my calves...and as some of you...ahem..."athletic calf" owning ladies surely understand, that can sometimes be a tricky proposition.

This Just In: A Dress

I just saw this dress in my favorite of favorite vintage Etsy shops, Allen Company Inc., and I felt I must post it - self-imposed hiatus be damned:

Photo credit: Allen Co. Inc.

I mean, come on! The little collar? The yellow + grey combo?

It's so good.

Hiya

I miss posting here! But it's clear that my favorite month (this month) is just not the month for it. I've got an enormous project I need to work on and complete, Halloween soft things to finish for my shop, and Christmas to get ready for. This blog is purely for fun, so it has to take a rest sometimes. I hope to get back to clothes-related-hijinx sooner rather than later.

I'll be back in November!

Souvenir of O'Donnell, Texas, Part One

My heart stopped a little when I found this album at the old-things store few weeks ago.

 

I'm not sure quite what it is about it...the small size (it's less than 5" wide)? The darling girl who appears throughout? Heck, it even has this subtle, nice smell. Whatever it is, it was object-love at first sight for me.

It begins with these beautiful, hand-tinted photos of our mystery girl (I think she seems like a  Margaret):

I think that little imp on her left might be her sister. And I think that's her again here:

The beret photo! Oh, goodness.

I think that's the definition of "winsome".

This leap-frog picture just kills me. The shadow? It's such a gem.

And these little fellas look up to no good...

I just don't know what it is about this little book. I think it's a combination of the girl's sweet face, the faint, mysterious old smell, and the mix of photobooth and formal portraits with funny "scenes" from her life. You have to wonder...did she take the leapfrog photo, or is she in there somewhere? Who are the little boys? Just neighborhood bandits?

I'll post the concluding half of the album in the next day or two! I really love the hand-colored two at the beginning, but my real favorite is yet to come!

xxoo

Y o u W e r e A l w a y s M y F a v o r i t e

Do you remember Alison from Project Runway Season 3?
(She's the cute fair-haired one on the left, pictured below)

I do. She was my favorite contestant ever, and she was robbed in her elimination. Hmmmf.

And, small world that it is, now she's on Etsy! They ran a Storque piece about her today, telling a little bit of her story.  They also highlighted some of her Etsy fashion-picks...and, of course, she's got wonderful taste.

Here are some pieces from her line, Dahl, in her Etsy shop:

 

I especially love this dress:

 

It might have to continue the "blue odyssey" that this fall's purchases are swiftly becoming (more on that soon). I love that so many little/big designers, artists, etc. are finding their way to Etsy...it really lends the site some extra cred - and selfishly, it's lovely to have them at such easy access for shopping purposes!