New Blog Is Up and Running

Hi all! Just a short note: I've started an additional blog with a different direction and content. If you are interested in vintage advertising and magazines, art or art history...or simply, inspiring pictures, you should check it out: http://labellerevue.blogspot.com/ I will try to post a new vintage magazine image every day, and hope to focus on women's fashion and beauty, art deco, art nouveau, flapper culture, surrealism, dada, cubism, etc. Here's a taste:


Illustration from The Owl, No 2., London, 1919. (Modernist Journals Project).

Off to NYC for My Birthday...

I don't intend for this blog to necessarily be a diary-style production; I want it to be as much about the readers and the world outside of myself as it is about the clothes I wear or the things I do. That said, I am going to indulge today in a bit of "me, me, me" talk. My birthday is in a few days, and I suppose this is the one time during the year when I feel like I can be a bit self-centered. I've already received two lovely birthday gifts, YAY! My grandmother bought me this perfectly-classic Citizen watch with a leather strap. I hope to get many years of wear out of this beauty:

My mother, who works for Neiman Marcus, gets me cool knick-knacks that I could probably never otherwise afford, like this fancy Rosenthal paperweight (she knows I like shiny things).



My theory is the older you get, the longer and more fabulously you should be allowed to celebrate your birthday! So, I am starting a few days early (my birthday is on the 17th), leaving for NY tomorrow with my boyfriend, and will continue celebrating there with my younger sister (who lives in Brooklyn).

I am so thrilled to actually have a reason to dress-up and be a bit more creative with my clothes in NYC. Case in point, this is how I look most of the time lately:


Ok, it's comfy, but geez people...

I will be bringing along two new thrift-store purchases. These white leather gladiator-esque sandals are so comfortable -- great for the airplane or a day of H&M marathon shopping in the city:



I also found this over-sized green suede bag that should carry all my travel essentials like a scarf, umbrella, water bottle, etc:



As a house-warming present for my sister (she just got a bigger place), my parents are sending along this adorable 50's plastic table set...I am pretty jealous!



Now I have to decide what reading-material to bring along. I truthfully just want to read trashy magazines like People's style issue, but I have to keep up with a very strict reading list if I want to be ready for my PhD qualifying exam in December...



Despite my excitement, there are always a few anxieties involved in traveling. One thing that freaks me out is the limited amount of stuff I can actually bring. I am so accustomed to having options, particularly when it comes to accessories like hats. But hats just don't travel well -- you can't really wear them on the plane (the seat and the hat don't get along), and if you try to pack them, they get crushed in the suitcase. Hmmmm...I am going to have hat withdrawal:



Lastly, leaving behind my pug Olive is the hardest part of vacationing. We got her this giant stuffed monkey just to appease her until we return:



Well, thanks for listening -- now back to packing. There will be plenty of travel/shopping/eating details to come...

Fancy Stockings, Victorian Inspired

I found these images of original Victorian stockings on Flickr. Can you believe they are still in such good condition? Striped and patterned stockings were quite popular in Victorian England. John Tenniel was picking up on the trend when he did the famous drawings for Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass (1871), depicting Alice in her famous black and white striped tights.


Originally uploaded by thegatherings on flickr.com



I've been thinking about tights, socks, and stockings as of late. I suppose this is some sort of masochistic, heat-induced behavior. I'm just really excited to add some texture to my wardrobe with lace, pointelle, wool, knit, patterned, and crochet stockings. But alas, I will have to be patient for cool fall breezes. In the meantime, I can make a stocking wishlist, right? Free People has a great selection of interesting textured stockings and socks for the fall. Here are some Victorian-inspired samples that I can't wait to get my legs into:



Freepeople.com, Ribbed Surprise Over the Knee socks, $24


freepeople.com, Creeping Flowers Crochet tights, $34


freepeople.com, Paisley tights, $28

Free People Over the Knee Pointelle, Urban Outfitters, $24

Free People Crochet tights, Urban Outfitters, $38

It's My Purple Party Dress

Not since elementary school, when I would sport my purple corduroys (french-rolled, of course) with my purple KangaRoos sneakers, have I been so obsessed with the color purple. I don't think this is a color I could wear every day, but something about a purple party dress sounds really appealing right now. It has a regal-mixed-with-yummy quality, like King Louis eating grape flavored Now-and-Laters (ok, that's a weird image but I really like Now-and-Laters candy ). Forever 21's slightly more high-end clothing line, Twelve by Twelve, has several purple-hued beauties that I have my eye on right now. I would pair these with some black lace tights and patent high-heeled Oxfords...and a glass of Merlot.


Ruffle Front Dress, $49


Cowl-Neck Tired Dress, $39



Twisted Knit Dress, $26

New: Quicksilver for Women

I'm always on the lookout for simple, comfy basics that I can wear over and over. The new Quicksilver line for women has some very cute, practical pieces that are great for layering and can easily make the transition easily from summer to fall. I like the fact that they are stepping outside of their "surfer" image and experimenting with a more fashion-forward approach. The only complaint I have is the prices seem *slightly* high considering the simplicity of the pieces (and my limited budget) --keeping my fingers crossed for a sale in early fall!


Nora Dress, $74


Kayli Dolman Sweatshirt, $54


Erin Shirt, $78

French Women Have Perfect Hair

I am having hair issues...I'll just admit it. Please excuse me if I talk about hair and hair-related anxieties a bit over the next week. I am going through this weird phase right now: I really want my hair to be its "natural" color. But, I've been coloring my hair for so long that I'm not even sure what that natural color is. My stylist and I tried to make our best guess (light brown-ish?), but I'm just not sure I like it...I keep thinking it looked better when it was dyed dark brown. But, I AM SO SICK of coloring my hair. I need a break from all the messy, smelly dye right now; I will start turning gray and have no choice but to color my hair soon enough...
This brings me to a nagging question: I just want to know why French women (actresses & singers, to be more specific) have perfect I-don't-color-it-or-style-it-but-it-still-looks-awesome hair??? Just take a gander at the perfection of Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin [Update: I know now that Jane is British...I just associated her with french music and the French films she starred in -- the French sort of adopted her I suppose. But, yes, she was born in England. I am blissfully imperfect from time to time...oops.] , and Lou Doillon. They all look like they have their natural sunkissed-haircolor -- just the right shade between brown and dark blonde. Mon dieu! Why can't I be French?