glinda?

So, I like the Jeffery Campbell Litas as much as the next fashion blogger, but...

I am not Hipster Charo.

(image via Nasty Gal)

snip snip?

I've got the itch to do something CRAZY to my hair. I always get stuck in these hair ruts...I'll do something drastic, and then get stuck with that routine for a year. First there was my colored streak (first blue, then purple, then gross faded coral orange, now blonde and partially grown out). Then came my blunt bangs, which I adore but have had for almost a year. The way I see it, my options right now are these: dye it or cut it.

First, the dye. Apart from my colored streak experiment, I've never dyed my hair. I'm still a little leery about dying my whole head, partially because of the commitment and partially for practical reasons: I have tons of hair (expensive to dye) and the upkeep would be murder. So I've been thinking about the less-is-more approach to hair color that has completely permeated the fashion industry of late. After much combing of Into the Gloss and Garance Dore, I've narrowed it down to these choices:

1. BALAYAGE

Even though my favorite beauty blog, Primped, has declared balayage O-U-T, I just think it looks so beautiful in the summer!

2. DIP DYE

Part of me really doesn't want to jump on this bandwagon, but when done right, dip dyes just look SO COOL. Wouldn't it be great for summer? An extreme blonde one (like the woman on the right) with some blue creeping in at the ends? Very mermaid-like, at any rate.

3. FULL-ON DYE

Like I said, this is probably never going to happen, but there is something so alluringly drastic about the thought of dying my hair Taylor Tomasi-style red...

Next, there is the option of not saturating my scalp with toxic chemicals and instead just getting a different haircut. I'm quite attached to my mid-torso-length hair, but recently I've noticed that it may be toeing that dangerous line between "princess mermaid" and "scraggly bag-lady." Despite my love of long hair in summer, it might be time for a change...

1. TRIMThis is basically my haircut minus eight inches. Sleek! Maybe a little too sleek for my tendency to become a dirty hippie in the summertime...

2. ALEXA CHUNG BOBThis would allow me to try a different length and dye at the same time! I would so much rather have this sort of shaggy cut than a curvy, French-looking, "traditional" bob.

Thoughts?

I'll probably agonize over this for weeks...

My Week in Pictures:

1. OPI by Sephora in Mermaid to Order 2. Today's outfit: vintage paisley silk blouse, vintage belt, Anthropologie shorts. 3. Braided with a (barely visible) green ribbon. 4. Azaleas. 5. My precious floral docs 6. Springtime trees

splash

I really need a new swimsuit. Soon. And I've decided that I'm going to go in a different direction than my usual teeny-tiny-bottoms and too-skimpy-top strategy. To hell with tanlines - I want a vintage-looking, high-waisted maillot!

1.

Airborne Bikini (Anthropologie)

I love this swimsuit. It's bound to be flattering, and there's a teeny little ruffle along the bottom of the...bottoms...that might make it seem as if I actually had hips. Perfect.

2.

Long Soak Bikini (Anthropologie)

I love this one, too. I feel like if one was to go on a yacht, one would want to wear this swimsuit. How cute would it look with a ship captain's hat? Just saying.

3.

Esther Williams Zen Garden Two Piece (Modcloth)

I have a feeling this would look good on literally anybody, and it also has one of the most supportive tops ever (which I really need to take into account when shopping for swimwear). So cute!

4.

Esther Williams Beach Blanket Bingo Two Piece (Modcloth)

I like this one because I'm pretty sure it's in every 1950's beach movie ever made. My only concern is that it's a little too Minnie Mouse...

5.

Betsey Johnson "Tea Party" Bikini (Nordstrom)

The details on this one are so mind-bogglingly girly, I don't know if even I could handle it...but I do really love the color and the shape. The question remains, though...could I actually swim in it?

Decisions, decisions...

grrrrrr

I am a serious student, an athlete, an artist, and a feminist. I love learning. I memorize Shakespearian sonnets for fun, and spend my leisure time engrossed in Tolstoy or Garcia Márquez. From June to August, I am a volunteer counselor at my childhood summer camp. This is who I am. But because I am female and interested in fashion, most people (particularly those within the academic community) assume that I am somehow less scholarly than one who doesn’t express herself through clothing. I battle typecasting every day. Because I follow a seemingly superficial industry, I am often dismissed as shallow. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. I love design because it is a captivating subset of the art world. If my critics considered it, they might realize that the fashion industry is a complex, multi-billion dollar business that balances art, sociology, international trade, and human rights issues. But the transition from unawareness to understanding requires a willingness to see past the exterior. Stereotypes are born of ignorance. Those who fail to look beyond my vintage skirts and high heels make uninformed judgments and are in peril of fulfilling their own behavioral prophesies for underestimation. Succumbing to stereotypical thinking feeds complacency, allowing discriminators to be outwitted by those they undervalue. In other words, they may be working for me one day! It may be easy to conform, but I am so much happier when I like what I’m wearing – I see no point in compromising my individuality to assuage another’s misapprehensions. My scholarly successes are even sweeter when they defy the expectations of the doubtful. I am glad that stereotypes don’t define my existence – I find fulfillment by setting my own standards.

Fall/Winter 2011: shod

I had such a wonderful experience with the Idyll store! Now, it's time to address the long-neglected Fall 2011 collections. There were so many beautiful details this season, but I want to start with my favorite shoes:

Alexander McQueen:

So crazy and sculptural - and somehow the heather grey and little loop make them just feminine enough for me to love them. (P.S. How long until these end up on Lady Gaga?)

Givenchy:

I love the dark pansy print, and the ankle-bangle strap is so lovely and delicate. Graphic floral prints are my addiction. These classically shaped shoes were the perfect anchors to this crazy collection, too!

Fendi:

It's like these were MADE for me. I literally can not picture a more perfect shoe for fall.

Comme des Garcons:

Saddle shoes meet clown shoes? So very cute and cheeky - the little bows on the toes are one of the surprisingly feminine details that make me love Comme so much. And the patent leather, which I usually detest, looks so very appropriate and Shirley Temple-esque here.

Chanel:

Standard Chanel, but I absolutely adore the shiny finish. The cap toe and Victorian buttons keep them ladylike and classic, but there's a dark, nearly destroyed quality about the material that make them more accessible and fun.

Burberry Prorsum:

Wouldn't these be incredibly fun to wear? I would fearlessly clop around the city in these.

Miu Miu:

I had to shamelessly rip this picture from geometricsleep, because the detail shots of this show aren't up on style.com yet. Glittery! Curvy!

Prada:

Snakeskin usually repulses me, but it feels so right here as an accent. The shape of the heel kills me - these would be incredible with black tights and drapey sweater dress.

I need these to further my efforts to dress like Madeline.

hell freezes over

An outfit post? Yes. I really like this color scheme a lot - it reminds me of butter scotch and a lion's mane and a tree trunk. Next time, I'll try and take better photos than these hasty late night snapshots:

J.Crew t-shirt, vintage belt, Forever 21 skirt, Hue tights, shoes stolen from a friend, earrings from Anthropologie (and a Christmas present!), Van Gogh: not authentic.

I'm totally wearing this on Monday.

Fall RTW 2011: Prabal Gurung

I am absolutely in love with Prabal Gurung. Last season's curve-hugging collection was one of my favorites, and I think I like his latest offering even more. In my opinion, Prabal does undone even better than fitted and lengthly. And even though the Fall 2011 collection is drapey and diaphanous, I still think it's drop-dead sexy. I mean, look at Karlie:


So. hot. That dress is going to take red carpets by STORM this season. And even though I'm not exactly a leather-and-pants suits kind of girl, I still really loved just about every single look in the collection.




I especially love that last dress. I would wear it at every opportunity - the detail is mindblowing. These are clothes that truly celebrate every aspect of womanhood, and I love Prabal for that.

yes.

Carine wins.

silver dove

I'm working on setting up a very low-tech blog store - it will be up and running as soon as I can take pictures of all the clothes I'll be selling! Until then...

















I'm really all over the place lately, inspiration-wise.

Photos from: Lula Scrapbook, vi.sualize, other spots that I can't remember.