Madness, Madness, I Call It Gladness

Dinner-come-Huey-Lewis-dance-party on Saturday night. Flopped around in this A. Wang dress, which embodies summer comfiness, as far as I'm concerned. I could wear it to bed if my bedwear didn't consist entirely of t-shirts and gym shorts no younger than the early '90s.

Alexander Wang dress
vintage Ferragamo belt
Givenchy boots
Lauren Merkin clutch
Hermes bangle
vintage cowboy boot necklace

Therapy Needed

I have problems. Big fat problems. I ordered these shoes, because I honestly just wanted to touch them, but that's very much like going to the animal shelter and saying you're just going to pet the puppies and kittens, but not bring one home. Needless to say, the shoes now have a home. Damnit.

Ok, I know I've gone hog wild with the bike shorts, but they just seem to have endless possibilities! This was another dress that had a tendency to go all Marilyn-Monroe-on-the-air-vent at inopportune times, but now the bike shorts have freed me from skirt-flipping anxiety. I should start a support group or something.

Major thanks to Daddylikey for the shout out. I'm such a fan of her sartorial musings, so you can imagine my surprise to hear she's a fan of my blog, as well.

Sunner dress
Topshop zipper belt
vintage bike shorts
Givenchy boots
vintage cowboy boot necklace

The Altogether

For quite a while now, I've been searching for the perfect mesh insert dress. Initially, I was Hell-bent on a white one, but I was looking at my Helmut Lang tunic the other day, imagining its infinite possibilities, when the light bulb went off that a black one was already within my grasp. And I love how wearing a strapless dress underneath shows off the spinal shape of the tunic. If I had any doubts about my investment in this piece, they have since disappeared.

Helmut Lang top
H&M dress
Maison Martin Margiela shoes
Hermes bangle
Lauren Merkin clutch

PS Yes! Yes! Yes!

Fribble

It's hard being being back in the city... being an adult. Naples, NY was so pretty and relaxing. I don't think I'm cut out for this whole "working" thing...

American Apparel tank top
Forever 21 tank top
vintage skirt
turquoise necklace made by B's dad
vintage sunglasses
Labatt's beer

Lollypop Farm

This weekend I...

...consumed more fabulous wines than I can wrap my mind around.
...went swimming in the cleanest pond I've ever come into contact with.
...fell in love with upstate NY weather (in the summer).
...went water skiing/tubing and managed to not injure myself (too badly).
...discovered that water tubing is much more entertaining when you wipe out (badly).
...accumulated more bruises than I ever thought possible.
...reaffirmed that I want a dog.
...consumed an absurd amount of food.
...learned that K got a cat from the "Lollypop Farm" and it wasn't imaginary.

How was your weekend? As frightened as I am that summer is coming to a close?

H&M sweater
Cherry Tee tank
DIY shorts
Sweet Life sandals
Ray Ban wayfarers
necklace from a boutique on Nantucket

PS More photos, etc. to come!

Hotter than a Microwave... Wave

I apologize for the lack of posts. Just got back from an amazing trip to upstate NY and I am beat. I took a bunch of pics, though, that I'm looking forward to sharing. This outfit is from Wednesday, when a night of high-end beer sampling turned into a slightly longer night than usual. I'm so stoked about how these DIY shorts turned out. Recently discovered the seam ripper makes these DIYs SO much easier. A few slits + a run in the washer and magic is made.

James Perse t-shirt
Forever 21 vest
DIY cut-offs
vintage bike shorts
Zara booties
boot bling from some western store
vintage bracelets
necklace from a jewelry store in Colorado

Summer '09 Playlist

So this has my go-to playlist this summer. A lot of these are old, but we might as well get it out on the table now: I'm living in the past. At least we're being honest with each other.
(I did my best to link as many of these as I could find.)

"Ten Commandments" - Prince Buster
"Montego Bay" - Freddie Notes & The Rudies
"Dylan's Hard Rain" - Ryan Bingham
"Deadbeat Summer" - Neon Indian (thanks to darling darling for this one - I'm hooked!!)
"(Keep Feeling) Fascination" - Human League
"Self Destructive Zones" - Drive-By Truckers
"Chillin'" - Wale feat. Lady Gaga
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Live)" - David Byrne
"Holiday Road" - Lindsay Buckingham
"Tristesse/Joie" - Yelle
"Cut Your Hair" - Pavement
"Is This Love?" - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
"Lady Don't Tek No" - Latryx
"Tracks of My Tears" - Smokey Robinson
"Touched by the Hand of God" - New Order
"I Feel Alright" - Steve Earle
"Outdoor Type" - Lemonheads

What would you add to this? I've got a road trip this weekend and I need some tunes. Something tells me you guys have some choice suggestions.

PS You owe it to yourselves to watch the Holiday Road video.

Did you ever have a touch to lose, man?

I don't know who owns these precious animals, but these dogs should be models. They appeared out of nowhere as we started taking pictures and just owned it. No complaining, no special requests, no need for direction. Totally professional.

So in Exhibit B, you will see the fabulous sunglasses I found at the Georgetown Flea Market for $10 (talked the lady down from $20). I feel like a secret agent from some old movie when I wear them. Do not ask me why.

vintage sunglasses
vintage necklace
Forever 21 tanks
Trovata shorts
Mellow Yellow shoes
Bally bag

and the young'uns all turned to karaoke, hanging all their wishes upon disregarded stars

I've had this top for a couple years, but seem to keep finding new ways to wear it. I love it, because it's like wearing a beautiful scarf that you can tie multiple ways. For some reason, I felt kind of rockstar-ish in this outfit, though I definitely didn't act it on this particular evening. I drank too much wine at a bbq and wussed out minutes after arriving at Russia House maybe around 11:30 (though I don't even think it was that late). Lame.

Also to file under Lame: my arm is very sore from playing the sword fighting game in the Wii Resort. I swear our generation will have a definition for Wii elbow in the dictionary.

Foley and Corinna top
Forever 21 vest
Mango jeans
Betseyville shoes
Chanel purse
necklace from a boutique in Hoboken
Hermes bangle

PS Ambar, thank you so much for the very kind shout out!

ventilated

Here's a quick and dirty DIY if you have an awkwardly-fitting tank top lying around. The only ingredients required are a tank top and one pair of scissors. I paired mine with the bandeau top because it was so damn hot and gross today, but I think it would look equally cool layered over a dress or a top (a la Rodarte).

DIY tank
Rag Doll bandeau top
vintage jewelry
True Religion jeans
Theory sandals

get it together and we'll get it undone

B and I had a couple friends over for a very elegant dinner on Saturday (made by B; I made salad, which required remedial preparation, at best). I like playing hostess, because I can over-dress in bizarre costumes, like this one :-).

I was so flattered that Modcloth featured my look on their blog! They have some really inspiring looks from other bloggers so be sure to check it out. Also, Blueberry Bike had the sweetest post about my blog. I was so glad to see that she appreciates bike shorts as much as I do!

Also, thank you so much to Fab Blab for the award and the Sydney Girl tagged me to do things about me. I'm running out of interesting things to say about myself so I'm going to do some things I'm currently obsessing over, instead:

• making the perfect summer mix - I'm going to enlist all of your help very shortly, so get ready
• anything with a zipper on it
  
• finding the perfect pair of black boots for Fall
• drawing in my sketchbook - I hope this lasts, because I really want to get back into it!
• Bravo and its terribly addictive programming
  

Zara top
vintage Ralph Lauren necklace
vintage bike shorts
vintage Ferragamo belt
Pour la Victoire shoes

land of hope and gloria

Sooo hot on Sunday. B and I braved the Georgetown Flea Market and I got this tiny little cowboy boot pendant (slightly visible above) and a sweet pair of vintage sunglasses I'll have to photograph soon. This tank was included with a Topshop order a while ago and it didn't really fit quite right. The scissors solved that.

I want to thank the lovely WendyB for featuring me on the Francis blog today. I just about died when she told me she was going to show my look to Christian Francis Roth! I can't even wrap my head around the idea of being the vitual presence of a fashion god!

PS The original belt on the Francis dress was an equally cute patent one. I just wanted a touch of gold with that look.

Rag Doll bandeau top
customized Topshop top
Abercrombie and Fitch shorts
Boyy bag
Sweet Life sandals
vintage jewelry
vintage sunglasses

My name isn't pretty-pretty. It's Barbarella.

I love how bike shorts make any dress instantly more mobile. Wore this to Poste (excellent cocktail and cheese selection, btw) on Friday for a friend's bday and could not have been more comfortable.

Also, Delectable Swank featured me as her Delectable Blog of the Week. Check it out!

Mara Hoffman dress
vintage bike shorts
vintage Ralph Lauren necklace
Forever 21 shoes

Tuxedo Tuesday

First, I am a bad little blogger. I apologize. Nothing else we can do now but move on from this.

Second, K is the devil for making me go to the Farinelli's sale, where I bought not one, but two very cute dresses that I did not need, but will still love unconditionally. Damnit.

Third, yes, this was from Tuesday. I am a bad little blogger, but let's not dwell in the past.

Francis dress
vintage Ferragamo belt
Maison Martin Margiela shoes
Chanel purse
Hermes bangle

PS I was so stoked to find this dress in its dramatically reduced condition. It's from Christian Francis Roth's new line, Francis, which I have been super-excited about. Oh and I decided to switch up the belt with one of the gems I got at the thrift store - vintage Ferragamo, baby, yeah!

not for all North Carolina

I was unsure of this biker short trend at first, but Stylish Wanderer and Stylorectic have shown me the light. Also, here is a (somewhat) closer look at my necklaces for those of you that wanted to see them.

Thanks to Janneteria, Orchid Grey, Lilli, My Life in Clothes, and archiving fashion, who all tagged me to do things about myself. Here goes...

1. I love going to the opera.

2. My friends and I take an annual trip to New Orleans and I'm stoked for this year's adventure.

3. I miss having a front porch, sometimes so much that it hurts.

4. I had a radio show in college, which focused on electronic music.

5. I've been craving cookies a lot lately... not sure what that means.

6. I cannot, for the life of me, get the song, "When Smokey Sings" by ABC, out of my head and it's slowly destroying my life and personal relationships.

7. B told me to say that I'm "very good at busting [his] friends' balls."

And thank you so much to Bonbon Rose for the shout out today!

vintage and needlepoint turquoise necklaces
vintage bracelets
James Perse t-shirt dress
French Connection tank
Forever 21 vest
Boyy bag
vintage biker shorts
Forever 21 sandals

in the highways, in the hedges

photos courtesy of K

Seeing a theme here? I wasn't lying when I said I'm all about the country western influences right now. I guess you could also say this is a homage to Kate Moss, circa 2006.

vintage tank
vintage/DIY Levis jean shorts
sequin jacket from South Moon Under
vintage belt
Hermes bangle
necklace from a Hoboken boutique
Zara booties

PS I am an absolute tag delinquent. I have not forgotten who has tagged me, but don't want to answer questions in a zombie state, as I will sound like, well, a zombie. I very much appreciate them and promise they're coming!