Happy New Year!!!!

Gidget [my precious pug] and I want to wish everyone a happy, prosperous, peaceful, new year!!! I can't believe I've been blogging for almost six months -- and loving it even more now than when I started! I feel so lucky to have made new friends and communicated with some of the most amazing, interesting people through my little blog...

Cheers!Joy!Salut!Proost!Kampai!Saude!Slainte!

Here is what I wore last night -- my camera isn't the best, so it is difficult to see the sequin details on my sweater and the allover fringe on the dress. I tried to combine as many textures as possible: patent leather, lace, fringe, sequins, and feathers (in my hair). Thanks to my sister for the gorgeous lace leggings!! Also, thanks to beautiful Spring for this one-of-a-kind vintage purse!

Last night was fun [even though my man was missing], and I came to the realization that people love an excuse to pose and have their pictures taken! Here are some shots of a few of my amazing, gorgeous, funny friends [and you might recognize a dress in there somewhere...]:

I don't like the word "resolution" [it already has the connotation of failure in my mind], so I like to make "goals" instead. Here are my 10 goals for 2009:

1. Continue my organization streak.

2. Donate money to a worthy cause (a pug rescue?)

3. Work on enjoying my academic obligations more...thus working more efficiently and regularly.

4. Keep up more regularly with a healthy diet and exercise regime (notice I did not say lose xx amount of pounds?)

5. Save more money.

6.Spend my money more intelligently -- buy fewer items, but buy items of higher quality.

7. Keep working to make my blog a success (and a pleasure for myself and others).

8. Keep experimenting with cooking.

9. Work on techniques for overcoming procrastination.

10. Get an academic article published or present a paper at an academic conference!

What are your goals for the new year???

Alexander Wang pre fall 2009

Do you ever feel torn between two loves? Ever get the funny feeling you might have multiple personality disorder?

No? Maybe it's just me...

Let me explain: a few weeks ago [you may recall] I was drawn uncontrollably to the glittering opulence of Lagerfeld's pre-Fall show -- gold, fur, jewels, emboidery, shiny headpieces. This week, I am completely smitten by Alexander Wang's newest collection: minimal, wearable, sleek, tailored-yet casual. I find myself wondering how I can reconcile these two tastes. At times I wish I were one of those people that had a very distinctive aesthetic and approach to dressing. But, I'm just too changeable, curious, restless. Maybe this is actually a force of inspiration and creativity!? Do you ever feel torn between various styles, or do you just let everything inspire and inform you?

[Wang images from Style.com]

Cloche Call

[Oh lord, I get worse and worse with my corny titles...I just can't help it.] I have been reading about 20's fashion quite a bit as of late, and I feel so inspired! The problem is that I'm a rather curvy girl, and the long, lean looks of the 20's just don't quite do my figure right! After momentarily lamenting this fact, I remembered that I had a very 20's-style cloche hat that I had never worn. Since my hair was looking frightful, I decided to give it a go. I received a compliment from an older gentleman at a coffee shop, which I took to be a good thing, indeed! I might have to slowly work some 20's items into my wardrobe more often...

[Boots, Urban Outfitters. Leggings, Banana Republic. Dress, Old Navy. Cardigan, Target. Cloche, Forever 21.]

By the way, I am feeling quite proud of myself for keeping up with outfit posts, but that is probably going to stop for a while because my boyfriend/photographer is going out of town for a bit. So sad. I really need to learn how to use my camera's self-timer! I do have a lovely outfit planned for New Year's involving fringe/sequins/lace/feathers -- yes, all at once. I will definitely force one of my friends to take some shots...though I will be feeling quite sad not to have my man to kiss at midnight.

Villainess Soaps

The Victorian/Pirate feel of this packaging makes me want to clear off all the girly products from my bathroom counter and replace them with these slightly sinister soaps, lip balms, lotions, and perfume oils from Villainess. The catchphrase for Villainess products is "redefining bad," but despite their bad-girl image, they are actually very devoted to creating products that are natural, safe for the environment, and animal-friendly.

Pullling Out My Poncho...

My mom gave me this poncho ages ago (like, 15 years ago...)and I was never quite sure what to think of it. I decided that I would give it a try the other night, and I am loving it! It is soft, cozy, and feels quite classy, even with my favorite ripped-up jeans and my vintage Minnetonka moccasins (it also reminds me a bit of APC's looks for Fall). I feel ever-so-slightly like a retiree from Santa Fe, but whatever, it works! Thanks Mom ;)

[Moccasins, vintage. Jeans, Express. Shirt, Gap. Poncho, vintage. Bag, Target.]

Have an Eye-Opening Weekend

I came across these lovely, bizarre cubist fashion photographs by Torkil Gudnason and just had to share them...and of course, because I am a bit research-happy, I had to find some Picasso portraits and a cubist poem to complement them. The thing that is most fascinating to me about cubism is the notion that an artist can paint (or write) multiple perspectives and angles simultaneously --that somehow by representing all the many pieces of a person or thing, you can create a whole. Of course, this is impossible, but the very attempt is radical and eye-opening...and strangely beautiful.

I hope you have an eye-opening weekend!!

Cigarette papers datebook and tobacco pouch

Life

Ought to be like painting

Still And literature

A hairless head

Eyes straight

Comma

A flat nose a plane
On the forehead

My portrait

My heart beats

It's an alarm clock

In the mirror

I'm full length

My head smokes

[STILL LIFE-PORTRAIT by Paul Reverdy, c. 1920's]

Holiday Dressing: What I Wore

As I've mentioned before, despite the fact that this blog is heavily fashion-obsessed, I feel quite self conscious about posting too many pics of myself and my own outfits. I think this stems from my constant insistence that I must not be too focused on the exterior [and because I just find things outside myself to be far more interesting...]. But,I also realized that perhaps doing more outfit posts would interest OTHERS and help readers to make some kind of connections between my tastes and interests and my own personal style (?). Point being, I'm trying to be less self-conscious and I am going to try to post outfits a bit more regularly...and hoping this will inspire both you and me!

This was my Christmas Eve ensemble -- I felt very pirate-princess in this! [Dress, Target. Tights, Marshalls. Boots, Penny Loves Kenny (Zappos). Flower clip, Forever 21.]

My Christmas-day-cozy ensemble... [Boots, Urban Outfitters. Leggings, Banana Republic. Sweater, Marshall's. Turtleneck, Target. Necklace, Forever 21. Wrap, Marshall's. Beret, Urban Outfitters.]

I always sort of wished I needed to wear glasses -- I think this is because I feel left out when hanging out with all of my bookish, be-spectacled friends. So for fun, my boyfriend bought me some naughty librarian glasses, which I quickly proceeded to break when trying to adjust them. I then realized my ears were crooked, not the glasses...grrrrrr. [glasses, Claire's].

This was my outfit last night...for dancing and imbibing. [Jeans, Topshop (I cut them myself). Shoes, Payless. Shirt, Express. Necklace, Forever 21. Jacket, Express. Purse, Vintage.]