Friday, August 6, 2010

I suppose that wasn't completely true

I suppose I have bought some new things this summer. And I know I can still put together an outfit when I set my mind to it.

Kater recently wrote a nice post about "saving outfits" and I think that is exactly what I do. I don't want to "debut" an outfit without feeling like there's a purpose, sure I dress for myself first and foremost but it's nice to think that someone will see what I'm wearing and appreciate it as well, and lately there just haven't been too many such occasions for me. I go from gym clothes to my funny work uniform and it often seems a waste of clothing (especially with how lazy I am when it comes to doing laundry...) to put something different on in between.

I suppose I felt the need to pull this particular outfit out again to photograph because I have tried to "debut" it twice in the last week and failed. The first time I was on my way out to dinner (all you can eat mussels at The Flea Market Cafe... not sure I can remember that last time I was that full, good grief!) with a friend and dropped my mascara brush down the front of my outfit while I was getting ready. Smooth. Luckily I was able to save the skirt completely, and after much labor the stain on the shirt is just barely noticeable any more, but obviously I had to change clothes for that evening. The second time I was supposed to meet a friend at a bar and just as I arrived she told me she had suddenly gotten sick -- food poisoning or an allergic reaction perhaps! -- and couldn't come. I puttered around a bit and did end up running into someone else I knew, but all in all only stayed out about an hour, not long enough to feel that I really did the outfit justice.

Anyway, for my own personal records if nothing else, here it is. These were also supposed to be the first outfit pictures taken with my DSLR but the darn thing was out of power (I must have left it on or something? ... I plan on sharing the scenic pictures I took last time I used it soon) and I wasn't about to file these clothes away yet again, so out came the point and shoot. (Ironically I'm not sure where my point and shoot's charger is and it's almost out of batteries too!).

And of course the sun came out all bright and shiny as soon as I was done with my little outfit shoot.





Wind always poses a bit of a challenge on the roof.




{vintage skirt, h&m shirt and glasses, urban renewal belt, BC sandals,
vintage watch, Essie nail polish in body language}


The skirt was a lovely vintage find from my semester in London (only £10!) but was previously about a foot and a half longer than this. I didn't have a sewing machine abroad so I filed shortening the skirt away as a summer project... and then took over three months to get around to it. I'm glad I finally did.

The shirt was an H&M purchase from early this summer and is something I have been living in. It works great with jean shorts and sandals for my lazy, non outfit creating self. The sunglasses were purchased at H&M around the same time.

The shoes too are new this summer (though also from a while ago) from shoegasm, one of my favorite shoe stores, and were bought in an attempt to replace an old, falling apart pair of summer sandals. Unfortunately I can't really rock a heel on a daily basis (though I'm starting to wish I could). Though as far as heels goes, these are pretty easy... and I ended up with the clarks I love since these didn't work for every day. So I do suppose it was a win win though I'm still sad about the demise of those old sandals.

Also the time is an hour off in that last photo... haha, whoops.

Anyway, time to pack up my clothes for work and be off. Hope to be doing some more blog reading and writing soon.

Regards,
Freddie

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Disillusioned with Style

Lately I've been feeling rather disillusioned with style, or with my own style in particular. I feel like I just don't care that much about it these days. I can attribute this partially to the fact that half the time I leave the house I know I'm going to have to change for work - I'm waitressing at a Mexican restaurant (Diablo Royale Este) this summer and our uniform is the kind of torn up band shirt you probably thought was really cool and "punk" in middle school (or maybe that was just me?), black bottoms, and beat up converse -- my hand studded pair are serving me well here at least (remember when I really wanted black converse to put studs on? Well I finally did it and lived in them all semester in London).

I'll confess I am having a little fun with this uniform because in some ways it's like I'm putting on a costume - I get to be a slightly different person at work than I usually am. I mean, I would normally never wear anything like this out of the house (I generally wear something different and change when I get there, but I'm lazy with what I wear there because I do know I'm just going to change.) I suppose I could say it helps me get into "character." And I have a lot of fun chatting with people at tables in a way I don't think I could do in any other sort of situation.

Anyway, speaking of putting on a costume - I was also just in a show, yet another thing to have to change clothes for. It was a tiny, experimental project (the show was this past Thursday and one night only) but somehow we ended up in the New York Times! If you feel inspired to read about it, please be my guest.

That's me all nice and shiny in the back with the mask on.

So this stuff has kept me pretty busy which I suppose has contributed to a lot of quick throwing together of outfits as I run out the door in the morning (I spent a lot of last week out all day bouncing from rehearsal to work and having to carry multiple "costumes" with me at all times). I never would have thought that I, the girl who almost cried when she learned her job last summer required shorts (no skirts or dresses) and closed toed shoes, would this year self-impose a summer uniform of jean shorts and a tee, or maybe a flowy blouse when I'm feeling fancier. I mean, I sometimes dress like this even when going out, and in some ways it feels great, it's nice to not care so much, but at other times I'm just getting so bored with my wardrobe and my outfits.

I do finally have a great (and comfortable!!) pair of sandals though.
However, other than these, I've been doing very little shopping this summer - trying to save money and all that - which is, of course, contributing to my boredom. It has also been DISGUSTINGLY hot and humid the past few weeks -- though it's gotten much nicer over the past couple of days -- making comfort the top priority. I guess I'm just not sure what my style is anymore, and that's ok... but I do really want to get re-inspired. Maybe going back to school will help with that? There are only 3 weeks left of my long and somewhat lazy summer after all. I return to Ithaca for my final year (scary) on August 21st and I will confess I can't wait.

In other news, I thank those of you who expressed your concern and support after my last post. My aunt was in a terrible bike accident -- no one knows exactly what happened but she went over her handlebars going very quickly down a trail on a mountain or hill. She has been out of the critical stages for a little while now, and my mom who spent about two weeks at her side is now home, but she has aphasia and has a lot to re-learn - it will be a long road. However, wearing a helmet saved her life. So please, don't be too cool and fashionable to wear a helmet. I used to think I was and didn't wear one but never again. It's sad it took something like this for me to realize how silly my vanity was, but I just bought a pretty blue helmet from nutcasehelmets.com.

If you buy one today you can enter code "OPRAH" for 30% off! (haha, thanks Oprah!)

They also have some pretty adorable printed ones but they were out of my size in my favorites and I decided maybe I should get something that will still feel appropriate for me to wear in a couple of years? Though I may very well have ended up with one of these if they hadn't been sold out of the Small/Medium:
And I fully encourage purchase of a fun, colorful and silly helmet... as long as you wear one!

This girl also hand paints some really gorgeous head-protectors but they are a bit out of my current price range.

Anyway, I don't mean to preach, but long story short: do get a cool helmet, but don't be too cool for a helmet.

Maybe (probably) I'll do another bike related post at some point, but if you want some more bike candy for the time being, check out this shop.

So I suppose that's all for now on this odd two-topic post... I'm still here, floating about, and I suppose we'll see where the rest of the summer takes me fashion-wise. I do have a bit more free time now that my show is over, and I'm only working about 3-4 days a week. Perhaps I will allow myself to shop a little? We'll see.

Oh, also I got a hair-cut that I'm not thrilled with (it's about shoulder length now) ... yet another contribution to my current fashion blasé. But I know, I know, hair will grow.

Regards,
Freddie