Literary Loves

This post is not really about fashion--maybe "style" would be a better word. I have been thinking a lot about a different kind of style lately...that is, writing style. In the midst of studying for my exams, I am feeling both a sense of gratefulness for the work I have chosen to do as well as a sense of being overwhelmed and inundated by words. When things start getting tedious, or the words start running together, or I feel like I am suffocating under an avalanche of library books, I have to figure out ways to put things into perspective. For some reason, it always helps me to look at pictures of the authors I am reading (and since most of my favorite authors are women, I get to admire their ensembles as well). I like to picture them leaning over their writing desk, sitting at their typewriters, or jotting notes on a napkin in a cafe. It is interesting to try and decipher some kind of connection between their pictures and their writing...or to see if the personality of their works comes out in their pose, the tilt of their hat, or their facial expression. By seeing them as I read, I form some kind of sympathy with them -- a mutual understanding of their work. I like to imagine meeting these women, having a conversation with them about what drove them, what inspired them, and what challenges they were able to overcome (or not to overcome, and why). I suppose this is a form of procrastination, like many of the things I find myself doing during the day when I should be studying, but somehow it feels more productive, and it helps me understand and discern the torrent of words swirling around in my brain. So, I thought I would just share a few photos of some of the most intriguing, talented, provocative modernist women -- women who pushed the envelope of style and subject when it came to the written word, and who each, correspondingly, seem to have had an equally strong grasp on unique personal style...


Zora Neale Hurston



H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)


Katherine Mansfield


Margaret Anderson



Jean Rhys


Nella Larsen


Djuna Barnes


Anais Nin

A Shopaholic's Guide to Pinching Pennies

I don't know about you, dear readers, but my wallet has certainly felt the strain of the economic crisis over the past year, and with all the doom-and-gloom talk on the news lately, I just haven't felt willing or able to splurge much on fashion (or at least as much as usual). Despite these limitations, the fact remains that I am a shopaholic -- a savvy shopaholic, I like to think -- and I always devise ways to make myself feel like I'm getting a treat while not breaking the bank. I thought I would share with you a few of the little things I can count on to take my mind off that "sale" dress on net-a-porter or those new Frye boots at Urban Outfitters...because, alas, they will not be mine any time soon. What little things do you treat yourself to when you feel the need to shop, but can't spend a lot?

I've heard that nail polish sales go up during economic crisis -- perhaps because it is a small luxury women can still afford. OPI's new "La Collection de France" has the most rich, romantic colors for Fall:




(left) Parlez-vous OPI? (right) Eiffel for this Color.

A great new hat always makes a tired outfit feel a bit more exciting. Forever21 has some cute accessories for Fall and and winter that are amazingly cute and inexpensive:


Blue felt cloche, $12.80. Pointelle pom beanie, $8.80.

A new lotion or bath product always lifts my spirits, especially if it has a great smell (and it's cheaper than perfume). I want to try everything on the bath product specialty site ebubbles.com -- it even lets you choose your product by favorite scent.

Daub & Bauble Arriba Cacao and Spice Hand Lotion with Shea Butter - 10 fl. oz. $9.00



Alba Hawaiian Coconut Cream Body Wash, $8.95.

I'm no shoe snob -- A cute shoe is a cute shoe, whether it's from Payless or Nordstrom's. These new Payless boots look far pricier than they are, and they would make my old standby jeans and dresses feel new again.


Raven platform lace-up, $39.99


Zoe patent button boot, $37.99

A new lipstick is almost as good as a new haircut when it comes to making you feel revitalized. I'm so glad dark, moody shades are back.


Urban Decay lipstick, $22.

Can This Be Made into an Outfit?

It's that time again to use Polyvore as a tool of artistic procrastination and unveil the second edition of my Domino magazine-inspired post series. This time, I thought it would be fun to imagine an ensemble appropriate for the bustling streets of Berlin, circa 1914 -- inspired by the bold paintings of Expressionist painter Ernst Kirchner. MOMA's new exhibit "Kirchner and the Berlin Street" runs from August 3–November 10, 2008. According to the MOMA description, the "charged atmosphere and energy of the city was felt in an expression of acute perspectives, jagged strokes, dense angular forms, and caustic color. The street life in Berlin, in particular the familiar presence of prostitutes, identified by their elaborate plumed hats, captured Kirchner's eye and inspired this spectacular series."
So, I guess I should really call this post, "How to Dress Like an Early-Twentieth Century German Prostitute(?)" Of course, I included cigarettes and a bottle of Absinthe to complete the ensemble. Seriously though, I want all of this stuff... except maybe the Absinthe.

Kirchner. Berlin Street Scene. 1913. Oil on canvas.

[From bottom left, roughly clockwise]
Dark Romance Night lipstick. Harrods.
Low Lace-Up boot (grey and black). Victoriassecret.com.
Tracy black dotty blouse by Malene Birger. Net-a-porter.com.
Navy Blue 1950's leather gloves. Stardustonline.co.uk.
Ivory chiffon ruffle jacket. Charlotterusse.com.
Vintage black hat with feathers. Ambersattic.com.
Frye Adrienne Lace-Up boot (black). Urbanoutfitters.com.
Bottle of Absinthe (i.e. the green fairy).
Blue bow neck coat by Dorothy Perkins. Dorothyperkins.com.
Camel Fox fur collar vintage coat. Poshgirlvintage.com.
Black feather and net headband. Forever21.com.
Scarlet Woman red coat. My-wardrobe.com.
Sobranie cigarettes. Cheap-cigarettes.org.

Inspired by Kirchner by Nothing Elegant

We've All Got Them. Here Are Mine:

Dear readers, I've been tagged! This is my first tag, so I'm ridiculously honored and excited. The answers are, as is usual for me, long-winded and wordy. Oh well, I guess there are a few people who don't mind!! Thanks Saavy-Mode!

6 Unspectacular Quirks About Me:

1. I love watching people (i.e. staring). When I lived in NY, my sister would pinch me when we were on the subway because she was embarrassed by how much I stared at people. I just like trying to figure out what people are all about (or at least making up stories about them in my head).

2. I like mixing things together. I think that if things are good by themselves, they must be even better when combined. For example, I will mix three different hair products together in my hand before putting them in my hair – I figure, maybe something magical will happen (?)

3. I don’t like my legs at all, so I rarely wear short skirts without tights or leggings.

4. I actually enjoy organizing and "purging" my closet(s). I am not a pack-rat (though I do have things I keep for sentimental reasons). I probably go through my two closets once every 2 months and take out items I no longer like and take them to the Goodwill. It makes me feel both organized and generous at the same time.

5. I’m not a phone person – I much prefer e-mail or texting. I think I have phone anxiety. I don’t mind a quick chat, but the possibility of a long, drawn-out phone conversation kind of freaks me out. I would rather just hang out in person!

6. I am obsessed about my teeth (too bad grad students can’t afford dental care!). I can’t live without my Sonicare toothbrush and my whitening strips. I just recently purchased this stuff called Oraparx that is supposed to remove as much plaque from your teeth as a dental visit. My other career alternative (to being a college professor, which is the one I chose) was being a dentist. Yes, strange.

I am tagging Sharon Rose Vintage , Cupcakes and Cashmere, Loveology, Stylish Bug, Sarah Millionaire, and Little Molly Cake, because I want to know their quirks too.
1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers blogs letting them know they've been tagged.
6. You can now display this charming dalek image Songy that Style Discovery created when tagged!

Dark Glamour: Halloween Fashion

I was a bit of a morbid child...
My dad loved horror movies, and I always wanted to watch them with him, even though I would close my eyes in terror through half the film. I also distinctly remember getting in trouble for hiding a copies of Dracula and Edgar Allan Poe's short stories under my bed to read at night when I was supposed to be sleeping. As a teenager I became fascinated by the goth kids I would see at the mall, coffee shops, and clubs. Needless to say, it was downhill after about 16 -- my dad nicknamed me Morticia, and I don't think I owned a non-black item of clothing for about 5 years. Of course by now I have LONG grown out of the notion that I need to belong to a certain style tribe in order to express myself, either fashion-wise or value-wise. Despite the clarity that comes with age (and the ever-present pull of the "real world"), I am still not-so-secretly obsessed with all things dark and macabre. It's no surprise then that Halloween is my favorite holiday, and what better time to indulge my dark fascination?

[I collect vintage Halloween postcards -- I wish I had this one. The owl perched on her head is too cool.]


Thanks to a tip by the ever-clever and informative Bobble Bee, I have become obsessed with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) online museum, particularly the current exhibition curated by Valerie Steele entitled, "Gothic: Dark Glamour." One of these days, I swear I am going to go all-out and splurge on an amazing, elaborate Victorian gown for a Halloween costume, but until that day comes, I will just have to be satisfied by looking through FIT's collection of Gothic-inspired fashion. Steele does a great job of putting the clothing into a historical context, with emphasis on mourning traditions, goth/punk music, and subculture fashion.
Here is a seductive sample...if you are in the NY area, check it out before it ends in February.

Alexander McQueen
Hooded suit and thorn necklace
Black silk crepe, satin, and silver Spring 2007, Sarabande collection, England

Mourning dress and hat
Black silk taffeta
1870s, USA
Lent by Evan Michelson, Obscura Antiques

h. NAOTO
Elegant Gothic Lolita ensemble with Angry doll
Black silk satin, lace, chiffon, faux bone, metal and patent leather
Fall 2008, Japan
Museum purchase, 2008.57.1

Rodarte
Evening dress
Hand-dyed silk gauze
Fall 2008, USA
Museum purchase, 2008.55.1

Bat belt buckle
Gunmetal with paste
Early 20th century, Europe
Lent by Collection of Mark Walsh Leslie Chin: VINTAGELUXURY.COM

Jean Paul Gaultier
Dress and neckpiece
Black striped silk and leather
Fall 2001, France
Lent by Lee Sheppard

Yoshiki Hishinuma
Evening dress
Black and burgundy polyester
Fall 1996, Japan
Gift of Yoshiki Hishinuma, 2007.33.1

Givenchy (Riccardo Tisci)
Evening dress
Black felt, silk tulle, wood, glass, and leather
Fall 2006, France
Lent by Givenchy

Back in the Saddle, Part II

I recently got a western-inspired fix in a very unexpected place: JC Penney's!? I have to admit I probably hadn't stepped foot in that store since middle school, but on a recent therapeutic shopping excursion to the mall with my sister and stepmother, I came across several surprisingly cute tops in JCPenney's American Living collection. The line is sort of a cross between 70's Ralph Lauren and a dressy cowgirl -- I purchased the top below, and it looks great with my riding boots and a long cardigan:


American Living Ruffle Front Shirt, $41.25.

Many of the American Living tops remind me of the latest Built by Wendy collection, but without the heftier price-tag. Here are some other cute tops from the collection (obviously I'm loving the plaid right now!)


American Living puff-sleeve shirt, $55


American Living ruffle-front shirt, $48.75


American Living tie-neck shirt, $60

Here are some of my favorite western pieces that I already own and love --

My perfectly worn-in boots from Nashville:


A vintage western blouse from the 40's...even better, handed down by my grandmother:


My suede vest that just screams "Young Guns":


My garish red cowgirl hat -- given to me by my boyfriend:


(Don't worry. I don't wear them all at the same time.)

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the emergence of fall weather -- now is the time to throw on your western digs and have a backyard bingo party. Or if you'd rather stay cozy indoors, pop in one of these amazing westerns:

One of my childhood favorites -- Young Guns!


Lonesome Dove:


Bonnie and Clyde:


Deadwood (pretty much the best show ever!):


And of course, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (no two more handsome men to be found in Hollywood):

Back in the Saddle Again

I'm back!! Thanks for your patience with me everyone. Things have been a bit tough over the past few weeks, but I am trying to get back in the swing of things -- studying for exams while still trying to have some fun and keep my blog updated. I hope you are all well and thanks for your kind comments while I was away. I've been working on a two-part post in an attempt to make up for my tardiness...hope you enjoy!

I feel like so much has happened over the past few weeks, both in my own little world and the world at large. First, my poor little pug Olive is no longer with me -- she was only 4 years old, but became ill last month from a heart defect, and was not able to recover. On the positive side, I am going to a pug fundraiser this weekend in Oklahoma City, sponsored by Homeward Bound Pug Rescue. I hope to adopt a rescued pug! I am very excited!

As you undoubtedly know, the very handsome, kind, talented, and generous Paul Newman passed away. This got me thinking about the film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (one of my favorite Newman movies), which, in turn, got me thinking about other Westerns I like...

Have you noticed over the past few years the Western is really making a big-time comeback? (Deadwood, There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, etc.) My theory is that when people begin to feel the U.S. is in a downward spiral -- which I think many people have been feeling lately with the economic crisis, war, presidential elections --that nostalgia begins to set in, and the western genre suddenly seems appealing again -- perhaps because it represents a younger, more hopeful America, or maybe people just like to fantasize about taking the law into their own hands, ala Bonnie and Clyde.

Fashion also seems to be heading West in a big way, and I have to admit I'm loving it. Of course, in these parts, cowboy boots never go out of style, but I'm noticing the trend in accessories, dresses, and outerwear too. Here are a few things I'm craving right now, all inspired by resurgence of nostalgia for the American West:

[All from Urban Outfitters: Pocket Watch necklace, $28.00, Silence and Noise Tapestry vest, $34.99, Suede Stitched Gloves, $38,We Who See Field Bootie, $128, Cocktail Hair Clip, $24, Quetzal Patterned Cape, $48, ]

Sorry for the absence...

Hi all -- just a note about my absence. It has been a very hectic week; my poor little doggie has been sick again, so I have been in and out of the vet and worried sick about her. I should be back to posting regularly by next week. Thanks so much for your patience, and don't forget to check back!!

Smell-O-Rama, or, a Long-Winded Tale on the Secret to Perfume Combining

People often ask me what perfume I am wearing, and that can be difficult to answer straightforwardly, because I love to mix and combine perfumes. I definitely have an obsession with mixing things -- I mix my shampoos and conditioners, I love to mix diet and regular soda (I trick myself into thinking this is not cheating), and I even mix my pasta and salad together -- weird but yummy!

One of my very first jobs was at a perfume cart at the mall -- Le Parfum Boutique (pronounced Lay-Parfoom-Bow-tique, with our Oklahoma accent). Whenever business was slow, I would smell and re-smell all the perfumes, trying out the ones I liked and mixing various scents out of curiosity. I began procuring quite a collection of perfumes, and when I would get bored with a scent, I would mix it with another to achieve an entirely new and unique fragrance. I have sort of become addicted to combining my perfumes now.

I'm definitely not one of those "signature scent" girls, in fact I'm a bit of a perfume slut. In other words, I get bored easily and move on. But, I do have certain scents that I keep coming back to (after a bit of a break), refreshing them by trying them out in combination with new stuff. There is some rhyme and reason to my combinations, and the secret to perfume combining, for me, is to mix a crisp/fresh scent with a sweet/oriental scent. This seems to give the smell a bit of complexity and balances out the two extremes.

Here are a few of my favorite recent combos, with the sweet/oriental scent represented on the left and the crisp/fresh scent on the right:

Brown Sugar & Fig, Bath and Body Works + Burberry Weekend.
Brown sugar and Fig is a very warm, sweet fragrance; it reminds me of something baking in the oven. Weekend is fresh and light, with a bit of tangerine.



Pink Sugar by Aquolina + Mandragore, Annick Goutal
People want to lick you when you wear Pink Sugar, seriously. It smells like cotton candy, vanilla, and caramel, all rolled into one. Mandragore is totally different -- very sophisticated, tangy, and mysterious.


Samsara by Guerlain + Lights by O Boticario
Samsara is a perfume I've worn off and on for a very long time; it's main note is sandalwood -- so soft and exotic. Lights is the absolute freshest, loveliest floral perfume I've ever encountered (O Boticario is a Brazilian perfume company, but you can buy their fragrances online).

Two days ago I went to Ulta and bought two new fragrances: Dolce and Gabbana's Light Blue (literally the longest lasting perfume I've ever worn!). It also won Sephora's "Best Of Sephora" award. This would fall into my "fresh" category. Description: Sicilian Citron, Bluebell, Granny smith apple, Jasmine, Bamboo, white Rose, Cedarwood, Amber, Musk.

I also wanted a sweet, yummy smelling body lotion, so I took a risk with Jessica Simpson's new fragrance line, Fancy. While you may or may not be a follower of Jessica Simpson's career (I'm rather ambivalent, really), this scent is truly lovely!! It reminds me of a perfume called Hanae Morie that I used to wear, but it is less expensive. It just makes me feel flat-out pretty. Description: pear, apricot nectar and red fruit, leading to a delicate bouquet of gardenia and jasmine intermingling with distinctive notes of almond, caramel and vanilla creme.

And, yes, I plan on seeing how these smell when combined...