Look of the Day: Off-Shoulder Dress & Life Changes

I'm baaaaaaack! Whoo boy, what a year it's been. For real, though, we're already half way through it! I've spent the past 7 months doing many things:

- Coming to terms with our new Reality Show Government

-Listening to NPR obsessively

- Changing jobs!

- Buying a condo!

- Building elaborate paper flower arrangements

- Waiting for the NW winter to finally end

If you're not from Seattle, then you probably don't know that we had the wettest winter since the city started recording rainfall in 1895! As of February, we'd had more snow than Minneapolis. It was a dark winter, and needless to say, made it very hard to get outside for photos. 

I thought I was going crazy in January, so I took a week to mope and then got myself started on some new projects. First off, I subscribed to Illustrator and turned some of my hand lettering into feminist greeting cards. 

In April, I joined the team at Wayward, a brand new Exploration-centered store based here in Seattle. It's been an adventure, for sure, and a learning experience! I'm one of the shopkeepers, but I've also had the luck of going on a vintage buying trip with our assistant buyer. That's right, we also carry a bit of vintage fashion! 

The past couple of months, I've also been working like mad on crepe paper flowers. I build each bloom by hand and use a Cameo or punches to make the leaves. It takes forever, but is so incredibly rewarding. If you're in Seattle, you can see some of my work at Beats & Bohos in Greenwood.

Vintage dress - Madewell scarf - Vintage slides

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Lately: Autumn 2016

 I hate to start a blog post by talking about the weather, but it affects my posting so much, I can't help it! This October has been the rainiest on record. Boo. 

This time last year, I had 4 posts published in October, and was ramping up on Etsy for the holiday season. I noticed the other day that my product views were way down, mainly because I hadn't listed anything new on Etsy. That's when I realized I hadn't gone out to take photos with a real camera (not just my phone) in weeks, resulting in zero new listings and zero blog posts! I'm hoping November is a little drier (or a little snowier?!) so I can take some actual outfit photos!

My favorite accessory right now: the handkerchief.

My newest card features a hand-carved tiger moth stamp. I think I'll carve a whole series.

Taken on a day that was dry enough to bring my camera out.

This is Otto's nervous look. He hates the car.

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Look of the Day: Denim Shirt Dress & English Tan Coach

Yet another dress I bought with the intention of listing on Etsy, but, instead, have given it a home in my closet. Such a perfect fit in a lovely indigo blue. 

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Look of the Day: Plaid Shirt Dress & Coach Bucket Bag

By far one of my favorite Value Village finds, this dress makes me feel cool enough to be in Ferris Bueller. I'm now always on the look out for 80s-era plaids similar to this one.

 The Coach was in immaculate condition when I found it at Crossroads Trading but of course I've put a few miles on it. It's rare and the cognac leather just a shade darker than the classic English Tan. The minute I saw it on the wall behind the cash register, I knew it was going in the collection. It was a steal at $35!

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Look of the Day: Linen Gingham Babydoll Dress

These pictures don't quite do this dress justice. I just love the simple fit and the fact that it's linen! It's cooled off a bit here, but you can bet I'll be wearing this all the time once the summer heat officially arrives!

I only wish it had pockets.

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Look of the Day: Plaid Shirt Dress

 I fell in love with this dress at Value Village, despite all the repairs it needed. It's from the 1960s, possibly late 50s, and a few of the seams were just falling apart. I overcame my dislike of sewing and repaired them as best I could. We'll see how long they hold up!

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Look of the Day: Debbie Downer & a Feather Vest

 Ugh. I'm grumpy. I'm mad at my hair. I'm mad at myself for eating crappy food. And I'm mad that this vest isn't as flattering in photos. It's so flufffffyyy.

It's kinda been one of those weeks where you pick out things about your body to rag on and then, when you say them out loud, you realize how ridiculous it is. For instance, my knees have muffin tops. How dumb does that sound? That's not even a thing. Thanks a lot, sub-conscious insecurities. 

Thank goodness for amazing bloggers like Dana Suchow of Do The Hot Pants. She's a huge inspiration and voice of reason, especially when it comes to body image and body love. She calls out societal bullshit but isn't afraid to discuss her own instances of low self-confidence and negative body image. It's just so comforting and reassuring to know that someone this gorgeous struggles with the same things that I do. Not that I want her to be miserable or that I think that it makes the negative thoughts okay, but it's nice to feel like you have a comrade. The solution? Love thy self and do things that make you happy and fulfilled!

Everything is thrifted from Value Village!

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Look of the Day: Summer Blues

 Always in search of the perfect baby doll dress. This is may be it. I love the color, the simpleness; and it's the nicest lightweight chambray.

F21 Chambray Baby Doll - Old Navy Oxford Scarf - Thrifted Aeropostale Platforms

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Look of the Day: Little Denim Dress & Chunky Sandals

 Much more sensible than my last outfit, right? I'm really on a roll with these outfit posts! It helps that, this time of year, I almost always have an empty apartment that's in between tenants. All the other apartments have way better natural lighting than mine. 

This dress is one of those pieces that I love, keep in my closet, then decide to finally give up. It's too short for work and doesn't quite fit me the way I'd like it to. I'm still so in love with the idea of it though! Time to find it a new home. The strappy sandals I'm wearing are also up for grabs. They're made of the softest leather!

Vintage Denim Dress - Vintage Basket - Vintage Arizona Sandals

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Look of the Day: Plain & Simple

 Stripes and denim. That's all I need.

Vintage Overalls - Zara Shirt - Thrifted Flats - Tiffany Bracelet 

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Look of the Day: Double Denim & A Hat!

 Well, I think this is the last time I'll wear these mom jeans. They're too big, which is a pain. It takes so much work to find pants and jeans that fit me the right way. Maybe if I just track down a smaller size, but they're vintage so that's easier said than done.

I've been getting sick a lot. I feel like I go to the doctor once a week. It's more obnoxious than anything, though. Lordy, I need a vacation! Trevor and I are thinking Palm Springs in June. Have you been? Also, I'll probably go visit Trevor in the Bay Area at the beginning of next month. I can't wait!

 The top is courtesy of Oasap. I love the little white polka dots!

Vintage hat - Oasap Polka Dot Blouse - Vintage belt & bag - Thrifted mom jeans - Vintage American Optic Sunglasses

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Look of the Day: Moss & Cashmere

I want to apologize in advance for how badly these photos might look on your own computer. The lighting in my neighborhood is atrocious this time of year, and my computer's colors seem to be off. I finally (finally) got a new computer to replace my sad, old laptop, but I think it needs to have it's colors calibrated or whatever. Stuff that looks fine to me, looks really weird on any other screen. Feedback would be appreciated! Do they look hecka yellow?

 Enough tech talk. I'd been lusting after these moss green pants at Anthroplogie for a few months, and happened to find my size in the after-Christmas sales. Thank goodness Anthropologie always carries a million of each thing.

I'm so glad green is back "in style". It's always been one of my favorite colors, and now stores are finally carrying it again! Green accessories have been on Spring wishlists in years past, but it's been nearly impossible to actually find the color. Filling up my closet and my jewelry box as we speak! The malachite pendant is vintage, but you can still get the faux malachite cuff from Madewell. 

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