{Almost daily outfit of the day} Cornflower 3.30.12

1950's shirt dress from Archive Vintage; thrifted Bruno Magli heels; thrifted python bag; thrifted rose gold Michael Kors watch; Forever 21 & Neiman Marcus bracelets

The main story on the news these days is the half a billion dollar lottery drawing scheduled to take place tonight. Sometimes, when I'm having trouble falling asleep, I fantasize about what I would do if I won. I'd likely behave exactly as most would if they suddenly came into money -- I'd travel, and pay off debt, and probably purchase a larger house. I'd treat my friends to a lavish vacation and help out family, and donate to various charities. I'd open a vintage shop and host dinner parties, and hire a housekeeper to do my laundry.

It's nice to sit and fantasize about the what-ifs and could-be's of lottery drawings. But truth be told, if I really was to win the lottery, my first priority would be to hire a tailor to create 100 copies of this dress in different fabrics, colors and sleeve lengths. It's that perfect.

cat on a hot tin roof

I’m mad about this editorial with its kaleidoscope of colour and explosion of print from the latest issue of Elle UK. Featuring photographer David Vasiljevic and stylist Anne-Marie Curtis, this April editorial celebrates a riot of prints & patterns by Yves Saint Laurent, Moschino, Stella McCartney and DSquared2. Happy weekend to you all!

images via fashiongonerogue

Thrifting 101: Do you thrift and tell?

We all have our secrets.

We might take credit for a recipe that came from Paula Dean. We may dye our hair in the bathroom sink and claim its gorgeously glossy color as our own. On occasion, we pretend to love the National Geographic channel when we'd much rather curl up with Mob Wives. There are those who swear allegiance to their spouse's favorite football team but really, really, really hate football. And let's not forget the plethora of secrets we keep from nosy neighbors and suffocating in-laws. Those are better left to ourselves.

Amongst thrifters, there's a different kind of secret. It's the hushed voice, the inquisitive glance, the pinkie swear that what is spoken will not be shared. This is the kind of secret many thrifters keep from their best friends and closest relatives -- the most guarded information which they squirrel away in the dark, twisty recesses of their brains.

It's the name of our favorite stores.

I was at a blogging event last spring when I found myself chatting with a fellow thrifting enthusiast. She was wearing the most incredible vintage skirt, and I asked her where she got it. "I'd rather not say," she stated, eyes cutting left and right. "It's my favorite thrift store. You understand." I spent a good fifteen minutes trying to pry the name of the store from her before giving up. I was so baffled by this incident that I wondered if I was committing a grave error by freely sharing the names of my own favorite stores. Would I benefit by refusing to share the stores I shopped at the most? Was I breaking some sort of cardinal rule by inquiring about where acquaintances thrift? Are we thrifters expected to keep our favorite shops a secret?

Since I started my Thrifting 101 series a year ago, I've received a countless number of emails from those both in and outside of Dallas asking where I thrift. I would never consider keeping the names of my favorite stores a secret. Why? First of all, I love being part of the thrifting community. I love sharing my scores with friends, and discussing the best way to remove stains from silk (Oxy Clean Max Force gel stain stick and a gentle spin in the wash...trust me). I love planning group thrifting excursions, and I adore celebrating the special pieces my friends dig up. Part of the joy of being a thrifter is sharing the excitement of a treasured find with a like-minded enthusiast -- someone who loves thrifting and vintage as much as you do. There is a real sense of community among thrifters, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Secondly, we when thrift, we are all looking for different things and in different sizes. My preference for sequins and 1950's dresses with full skirts might not be yours. Your budget might not be the same as mine either, and our reasons for thrifting could be dramatically different. As a result, we could  thrift at the same store and have totally conflicting experiences. Purposely choosing not to share favorite stores transforms a treasure hunt into a competition. And why would we want to do that? There's more than enough thrift fun to go around.

Now I ask you: Do you share the names of your favorite haunts, or keep them to yourselves? Has anyone ever refused to share their best stores with you? Do you keep thrifting secrets?

(P.S: Curious about the ginormous Goodwill pictured above? It's located at 2010 North Graves Street in McKinney, Texas and is one of my favorites!)

sweet paul: spring issue

The latest spring issue of Sweet Paul is lovely. It’s packed with beautiful styling by Paul Lowe & his talented contributors who share fresh ideas to make, bake & decorate.

The palette & palate pleasing styling below by Alicia Buszczak is artful and delicate. This feature really stood out for me:

Gorgeous shades of cobalt, ultramarine, turquoise & denim blue are fresh & inspiring:

all images from the spring issue of sweet paul

{Almost daily outfit of the day} Triumph of the dowdy 3.28.12

Thrifted silk blouse; thrifted chiffon skirt; Steve Madden pumps; thrifted vintage python clutch; Forever 21 & Neiman Marcus bracelets

Friends, there is a fine line between looking modest and mature, and appearing dowdy. When I first put this ensemble together I was thinking more "Enchanting, Whimsically Youthful Fashion Blogger in A Polka Dot Skirt" than "Matronly Retired Accountant Who Eats Lean Cuisines In Her Basement Apartment While Listening To NPR And Lamenting Her Youth." I think my sensible pumps pushed me towards the latter. Before you know it I'll be watching old episodes of Matlock while stirring Metamucil into my instant coffee and yelling at neighborhood kids to get off my lawn.

Snarking aside, I have to admit I felt pretty in this silk blouse and drawstring skirt, and received a few compliments from random strangers. So you win, dowdy outfit. You win.

a full circle

a little sneak peek at my guest post over at Freeworld Design Centre today…

I’m a firm believer in the cyclical nature of fashion. New collections create a catwalk induced buzz but often these innovative and fresh looks have their roots in decades past. Very seldom do we set eyes on something that has never been seen before and is completely new. Even if that moment of déjà vu is the memory of a vintage detail or a retro silhouette. After all, Coco Chanel once stated that “Only those with no memory insist on their originality.”

But this grand dame of fashion also noted that “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” So this nod to the past had me perusing some of my favourite vintage-inspired street style looks and wondering what makes these modern muses different and irreplaceable? Certainly the print of the fabric or the way a piece is styled gives it a contemporary vibe, but also the beauty of unusual detailing bestows a much desired unique and inimitable quality to a designer’s collection.

So with a subtle wink, I thought they might enjoy a little company from some sweet vintage patterns...

click over to see my matches.

An open letter to Spanx

Dear Spanx,

As someone who considers herself "fashionable" and "stylish" and "having a vagina" and "possessing the nearly uncontrollable need to bind her wobbly bits into submission", I suppose I should love you. Lord knows a lot of women do. The shapewear industry is worth $812.5 billion, and annual retail sales grew 10.6 percent to $848.3 million from March 2009 to February 2010. Women are now building shapewear wardrobes of basic and specialty pieces like control camis, waist cinchers and all-in-one body shapers, much in the same way as they’ve made bras and tank tops wardrobe staples.

Spanx, your seemingly magical ability to smooth and slim is the stuff of legends. Women yank you on and feel, well, better about themselves. They speak of your power to their friends in enraptured voices, gushing over the way you make five pounds mystically disappear from their hips. It's no lie that I, too, have fallen prey to your seductive siren call of smoothing and shrinking. Frankly, I'm somewhat stunned by the way you concealed my food baby from last night's pad Thai dinner. That, my friend, is nothing short of a miracle, much like those visions of Mary people occasionally find on their toast. Sometimes I even look at my reflection in the mirror when I'm wearing you and think, "Damm, girl, you look good." (Most of the time my reflection says things like "You should really get on the treadmill today, fatty", or Maybe you shouldn't of had that second glass of wine last night, eeeehh?" because my reflection tends to be kind of condescending and bitchy.)

But here's the thing, Spanx: you hurt. Oh my God in heaven, do you hurt. You hurt like the wrath of a thousand white hot burning suns. Your godforsaken sucky-inny undergarments are no picnic to wear. Octavia Spencer, stunningly gorgeous Oscar winner and style goddess, wore THREE PAIRS of you to the SAG awards, a torture tactic I wouldn't be surprised to see at Guantanamo. Octavia told Ellen DeGeneres all about her painful experience:

"I could not party that night because I was being pinched in places that I didn't know it was possible. I ran into Melissa [and] said, "Oh my God, Melissa, I'm about to die. My Spanx are killing me." She said, "I just went to the bathroom and took mine off!""

Been there, done that Melissa. Spanx, I too have heaved a sigh of relief upon peeling you off at the end of the day. And when I do, I wonder why so many women are now flocking in hordes to shapewear. Is it because more of them are struggling with obesity than ever before? Are fashion trends dictating the need for the smooth silhouettes shapewear creates? Or is vanity sizing, and a lack of sizing guidelines in the United States, the source of your success? There is definite confusion among female consumers regarding what clothing size they are, as it is nearly impossible to accurately determine what size one needs to wear to guarantee optimal fit.

So what is it, Spanx? Why are you so damm popular? You're a modern day girdle who is so mainstream that middle and high school athletes are donning you underneath their uniforms and doctors are reporting an increase in stomach and digestive trouble as a result of your medieval constriction. Women are putting themselves in pain all for the appearance of a flatter stomach and smoother hips. Personally, Spanx, when I wear you, I often feel fatter than when I leave you in the drawer. It's the truth. You are a reminder that I wish I looked differently than I do.

There's something about you, Spanx, that makes me have a lot of questions and wonder why women like me wear you despite the pinching and compression and stomach ickiness and low self-esteem. Are you really worth all that? What is the point, after all? So we can pretend to have the figures we dream of having and hold ourselves up to an unrealistic standard? That's messed up, Spanx. It really is.

Until I figure things out I'm going to just go ahead and keep you off my body. I hope you understand. It's not you, it's me. Well, actually, it is you. You're just no good for me, Spanx. No good at all.

Sincerely,

Elissa Stern

(Do you wear Spanx or other shapewear? If so, do you find squeezing into it painful and humiliating, or does it boost your self-image? What do you think is behind the popularity of shapewear?)

Snap!

hello! I hope you’re all well. I’m on holiday at the moment, so I’m just popping in with a Snap! which I thought was geometrically gorgeous with its beautiful chevron patterns. See you around soon!

beaded necklace & graphic print

{Almost daily outfit of the day} In which I face my own death 3.26.12

Thrifted Thomas Pink shirt; thrifted Anthropologie skirt; Old Navy belt; Steve Madden pumps; vintage estate sale clutch; Forever 21 and Neiman Marcus bracelets; thrifted Michael Kors rose gold watch

On Saturday night I was driving home from a perfectly lovely tapas dinner with Stephanie, Erin, and Hilary when my front tire blew out. I've spent quite a bit of time behind the wheel, as evidenced by my long history of speeding tickets and traffic violations, but I've never gotten a flat in such a spectacular manner before. In case you're wondering what it's like to have your own front tire blow out, here's what happens: there's an ear-cracking BOOM! followed by uncontrollable swerving into the opposite lane and the terrifying realization that OH MY GOD, I AM GOING TO DIE, LIKE LITERALLY DIE A HORRIFICALLY PAINFUL DEATH RIGHT HERE ON THE FREEWAY AND I HAVEN'T MASTERED PATTERN MIXING YET AND I'M GOING TO MISS THE SEASON PREMIERE OF MAD MEN SWEET BABY JESUS AAARRRGGGHHH.

Of course, everything turned out okay. I made it off the freeway and my husband picked me up and had the car towed. When one emerges unscathed from such a treacherous event, pattern mixing doesn't seem so challenging after all.

Not Australian//

On Sundays I Smile - Week in review 3.25.12

On Sundays I smile. 

I share these moments with you.

Enjoy.

 

One of the things I miss most about living in NYC are the bagel shops that dotted every corner. I'd order a cinnamon raisin bagel the size of a hubcap and a steaming cup of coffee, read the New York Times, and study the atmosphere. The bagels at my local shop aren't quite up to par, but they'll do.

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do was ride my bike around my neighborhood with a book in the basket, looking for the perfect shady spot to read. When my daughter asked to get the tires on her own bike fixed, I became so inspired that I decided to break mine out for a spin. I have not ridden my bike in four years. Hilarity ensued.

I met my friend Erin at the Grand Lux Cafe, where we ate things like goat cheese caesar salad and potato stuffed spring rolls and skillet macaroni and cheese with bacon and I ogled her rhinestone collar necklace which she wore with a vintage rock tee and looked amazing.

I continue to be haunted by this incredible vintage Charles Jordan python bag I spied at Archive Vintage Clothing in Dallas. Of course, I have no need for a vintage python Charles Jordan bag, but I want it all the same.

Yesterday I jogged six miles. Just kidding I ate pancakes.

I was interviewed on the blog 33 avenue Miquelon this week for it's Follow Friday feature. Drop by and check it out!

Now it's your turn. 

What were the best parts of your week? Leave a comment and share your smiles!

Some photos taken with Instagram: dresscourage

{Almost daily outfit of the day} Twinkle 3.22.12

Thrifted J Crew blazer; thrifted J Crew button down; beat up thrifted Seven For All Mankind jeans; Gap belt (clearance); Nine West pumps; estate sale clutch; Forever 21 rhinestone collar necklace

The other day, while embarking on a laborious mission to clean out my closet, I stumbled upon a photograph of myself at six years old. I am costumed in a stiff mint green tutu and shimmering leotard, rosy cheeked and sweaty, grinning maniacally at the camera. Rows of silver sequins and rhinestones dance around my waist. This photo is all that remains of my brief, yet illustrious career as a childhood tap student. Lacking both talent and equilibrium, I was the type of dancer who careened into walls and refused to practice and preferred to hide in the back of the class, chewing on my hair. I confess that my only impetus for sticking with those long, arduous classes was the opportunity to wear that recital costume. Silver and rhinestones were, and continue to be, hard to resist.

L'Morph//L'Express

Thrifting 101: Shop Talk with Pocketful of Pearls

At the Texas Style Council Conference, I was privileged to speak with three other bloggers on creative consumerism. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what the term creative consumerism meant. I concluded that it's a philosophy defined by responsible shopping with a nod towards eco-awareness. As I was preparing for the panel, I realized that I could be making much more of an effort to be a responsible consumer. Though my wardrobe is approximately 90% thrifted, I don't pay nearly enough attention to supporting local small businesses. And while my clothes are overwhelmingly secondhand, I am largely uneducated about the impact clothing overproduction, specifically in the "fast fashion" category, has on our environment (a topic I hope to explore in next week's Thrifting 101 post.)

With this in mind, I'm introducing a new feature within my Thrifting 101 series called Shop Talk. I'd like to highlight small businesses that specialize in vintage clothing and accessories, whether based in my local community or on Etsy. If you have a vintage store, or online shop or business that specializes in creating apparel, leather goods or jewelry from secondhand or recycled materials, please contact me - I'd love to feature you and your business!

To kick of Shop Talk, I'd like you to meet a Dallas vintage enthusiast named Michelle, owner of  Pocketful of Pearls. I first met Michelle at the Dallas Flea and was immediately struck by both her amazing personal style and well-curated shop. Pocketful of Pearls has been featured in D Magazine and specializes in offering a wide range of sizes, which is an unusual and welcome feature in a vintage store. Read along and get to know Michelle and her wonderful shop better!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your background?

My name is Michelle Parker and I was born and reared in Arlington, Texas but my cultural/ancestral heritage is of Sierra Leonean decent (West Africa). In 2003, I moved to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University and have lived here since I graduated. I would describe my personal style as evolving. I like to dress according to my mood that day and I try to incorporate at least one statement piece. I also enjoy mixing vintage and retro pieces, similar to what you will find in my store.

How did you first get introduced to thrifting?

I was first introduced to thrifting in college. I became obsessed with the idea of finding quality, eye-catching clothing and accessories at a fraction of the cost.

When did you become passionate about buying and wearing vintage clothing and accessories?

I've always had an interest in clothing and accessories from different era's but my passion advanced when I began to develop my own personal style. I love the fact that when you shop vintage, you know you are getting a limited, if not one of a kind, item. I also enjoy the thrill of the hunt! I can walk into a store with no expectations and, with a little patience, walk out with a beautiful Victor Costa jacket or a signed Miriam Haskell necklace.

What inspired you to start Pocketful of Pearls?

P.o.P. developed from the excitement of “treasure hunting” and the premise of standing out while saving money. Through conversations, I realized there are lots of people that have this same interest, however they do not have the time or patience. As an online shopper myself, I also felt like there was a void with vintage/retro online boutiques that also carried a full range of sizes.

The P.o.P closet is all about variety and personality. I wanted to create a place for people who want to add eye-catching pieces to their wardrobe and aren't afraid to step out of the box. When you visit the site, you will find an eclectic mix of handpicked vintage and retro. Expect to explore a new way of shopping that is based on your current mood or the mood you would like to convey.

Any current projects you’re working on?

Yes! I’m so excited to be a part of Dallas Flea again on April 21 which is a fun shopping event showcasing several Texas vendors. I will also be a part of a pop-up shopping event hosted by Chastity from The Curvy Girl's Guide to Style in May. The easiest way to find out about future P.o.P events and exclusives is through our Facebook page (Facebook.com/pocketfulofpearls).

Do you have any helpful hints for those new to thrifting and buying vintage?

If you find one or two favorite thrift stores, find out about their sale days. Some stores have entire days where their inventory is 75% off. Also if you if you have a flexible work schedule, weekdays are a great time to stop by these stores. Most importantly, have fun! Try getting out of your comfort zone and explore new options.

How would you describe thrifting in Dallas? Do you prefer thrifting in smaller charity shops or larger, more corporate-based stores?

Expanding it to DFW, I would say “lots of options”. The good (and sometimes bad) thing about Dallas is that we are so spread out. Thrifting has definitely become more popular in the recent years, however because Dallas has so many options, you still have that feeling of thrill for the hunt. I personally prefer shopping at small charity shops because I like supporting non-profit organizations doing good work.

{Almost daily outfit of the day} In the trenches 3.20.12

Thrifted Norma Kamali trench coat; Gap Outlet jeans; thrifted Gap chambray blouse; Ellen Tracy heels; thrifted Coach "Willis' satchel; Old Navy belt; Forever 21 bracelets

I want you all to know that I tried very hard to prevent this post from dissolving into a discussion about Downton Abbey, but I am so obsessed with that show that I could not continue without it. I am convinced that Netflix added Downton Abby because they're planning to take over the world while the rest of us get nothing done. If you haven't seen Downton Abbey, the show captures the behavior of an aristocratic family and their meddling but loyal servants against the rigid societal boundaries of the Victorian era. Today's photos, containing my recently thrifted trench coat, instantly reminded me of the intrigue and diabolical manipulation at play between Downton characters. Let's hope the show doesn't kindle a longing for corsets. That would be too much.

It makes me smile ....

                                                                                                CLICK TO SEE MORE

                                                                                                sneakers: h&m,
                                                                                                jeans: pull&bear,
                                                                                                t-shirt: primark,
                                                                                                scarf: h&m,
                                                                                                cardigan: non branded,
                                                                                                bag: marc by marc jacobs,
                                                                                                sunglasses: ray-ban,
                                                                                                ph. Maja

Don't you just love weekends? Sunny day by the river, family lunch at my aunt's house, lots of laugh, happy faces and good food of course! ;) Perfect for me!
I was wearing one of my favorite ripped jeans, great for spring/summer , mixed with striped shirt and floral scarf. Relaxed outfit for a day like this!
Thank you for your lovely comments in previous post, i am  glad that you liked the outfit! You also asked me about my lipstick, so check this old post Here to see the color! ;)

p.s. if you want something to purchase on Sheinside website ( my military coat is from them) , you can use discount coupon code: Vanja20 at checkout to save 20% off, it is valid till April 30th!