Learn

I may not be Nelly but I think that band-aids make sort of a cool accessory - especially in bright colours. Beware the perils of office work...deep papercuts! Thanks goodness bright band-aids and Revlon Red are a match made in heaven.

I suppose I should be doing some sort of 'year-in-review' post, right? 2008 was a year of new beginnings, like how I left home to go to University and the States got a President that actually knows what he's doing. It was really high time for both of those things to happen.

Speaking of Presidents, I am quite flattered that no less than three former US Presidents (Richard Nixon, Abe Lincoln and George Washington) took the time out of their busy schedules to comment on my last post. I am much obliged, gentleman. You readers are excellent. Even the anonymous who thought it was sad how I have no style and am ugly. You know what is sad? Anonymous hate comments. Please send your bleeding heart sympathy to someone who actually needs it, like cancer victims or refugees. In a fucked up world like this, ugly people like moi should be the last of your worries.

Love to everyone, see you next year.

P.S. -In my opinion, the worst Top 40 Song of 2008 is by far 'I'm Yours' by Jason Mraz. His earnest warbling makes my ears bleed in a very bad way.

Oh My Golly!

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was excellent! Since I got some Value Village gift certificates I felt compelled to spend some of it immediately and came home with the most AMAZING sweater haul. A grandpa cardigan, tie-dye long sleeve shirt, fair isle cardigan are now mine. All mine.

But the best piece I found was this 80s phoenix sweater. Its got the perfect amount of slouch to it - damn, I can't wait to start experimenting with all these new sweaters!

The most ironic part of my 19th birthday was NOT being asked for ID when ordering a drink at the restaurant. It felt so anti-climactic! I don't look that old, do I?

River Euphrates

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and that the Christmas elf made all their dreams come true. To everyone out there shopping on Boxing Day - good luck... I was a lucky wench this year, as I am most years, and got the important things I wished for, them being; brown crocodile print Doc Martens, a polar bear sweater, some Clinique make-up, sewing stuff and Surfer Rosa by the Pixies.

What I call my Christmas suit (wearing everything new you got at once!) is probably going to end up my favourite outfit of the winter.

I also went out this morning and braved the crowds for a few short minutes to pick up insoles for the Doc Martens, because they...ummmm... aren't very comfortable. (Seriously, they are way too wide and cut into my ankles. Ooops. If your feet are even remotely narrow, do not buy Doc Martens. Unfortunately, these were bought on eBay so its not like I had the chance to try them on before buying them, which really blows.) But I really only a wanted a picture to show off my new Betseyville bag that was an early birthday gift from my best friend. I love it! How could she go wrong with leopard print and studs?

Now I am off to do some winter sledding with the possibility of hot chocolate in rural Ontario. Cheers!

Palestine

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I know these pictures are completely unrelated to each other, but each one has some sort of mysterious quality that draws me to it and just makes me want to stare. Whether they are politically sensitive (ritual suicide of Vietnamese monk protesting war), majestic (Sitting Bull's portrait), full of raw energy (Crystal Castles concert) or just plain beautiful (the Cherry Blossom Girl's floral Doc Martens!) - I cannot really explain why I love them, I just do. So here you go. Posting magazine editorials is fruitless for me, because a single picture can capture so much more.

You give it away like free samples.

Yesterday, my little corner of Ontario got hit with a fuckload of snow. I thought I was going to die on the drive home from work! It think it was about 10 cm? Seconds later, I realized that wearing a skirt was completely stupid and changed into pants to shovel the driveway.

But of course I couldn't leave you without a detail shot of my chandelier-inspired thrifted sweater.

Speaking of Photobooth, taking silly-face pictures is my second-favourite hobby after knitting.

Okay, this is just getting narcissistic...

Touch Me I'm Sick

I've been doing a lot of knitting lately. Using Rodarte as a reference point, I'm up to the armholes of my very own hole-y sweater. It isn't nearly as destroyed as the original but I'm hoping it will look how I want it to after the requisite wear and tear.

The colours are pretty distorted by the flash here (and much too dark in the non-flash pic), but you get the picture. I'm using a lovely blue/gray/burgundy variagated wool on 10mm circular needles in case you were curious about all that technical stuff.




Good news for non-knitters, you can buy your own Rodarte-esque sweater on eBay for only slightly more than what I'm paying for wool!

Christmas Jell-oh

Does anyone out there make a 'Christmas Wish List'? I have mixed feelings about the subject. You see, I dislike how materialistic it is (even though I clearly am somewhat materialistic, writing a fashion blog and all) but when you come from a family of... modest means, Christmas time is really the only time you can look forward to getting stuff. Despite my mixed feelings, I am a compulsive list maker and probably would have made one even if I didn't show it to anyone at all. Now I will share it with you all.
1. Needles 'n' thread so I can make do and mend when away from home.

2. I don't care if everyone who religiously wears tan Uggs owns this sweater too - I like it... Because isn't it so annoying when people pretend to hate their favourite band after they go 'mainstream'? No matter how irritating popular this sweater is, I still like it

3. Surfer Rosa by the Pixies. A cd I wouldn't mind owning the hard copy of.

4.Croc print Doc Martens. These haunt my dreams...

P.S. -Outfit posts will be nil for a while because when I go to work it is dark, and when I leave work it is dark. No light for picture taking means no pictures!

Pills

This is my Susannah Kaysen/Girl, Interrupted outfit. It's because I remember frowm two different movie scenes she's wearing a blue and white striped sweater and a beaded cardigan. So I just pulled those two nuggets of inspiration together and created a simple boring outfit for a perfectly quaint day. I went with my mom to a little town fairly close to where we live to pick up yarn and thick needles for the Rodarte-esque sweater I am attempting to knit, look at junk shops and eat portobello mushroom sandwiches. While at lunch I saw the most amazing dressed old woman, definitely a candidate for Advanced Style. She was wearing this massive grey (faux?) fur coat, black leggings, chunky knit socks and these pink and purple boots that looked like a cross between bowling shoes and Doc Martens. She was so badass! I can't wait to look like that at 75.

Q&A: My Return

Exams are finally over and I am now curled up in a house with no heat wearing two pairs of pants, a sweater, a bathrobe and a blanket just trying to get warm. Now is the perfect time to answer all of those questions you've been itching to get the answers to. Well, not literally I hope.

Personal
Q: Want some Baileys?
A: Yes, but only if drunk out of a shoe.

Q: Which major political figure do you think had the right stuff in 2008.
A: Are you expecting me to say Obama? Bam! Ralph Nader because he did a public lecture at my school and it was wholly inspiring.

Q: What would you like to do late in life, a specific job?
A: Hmmm, I’ve thought a lot about working for an environmental non-profit like the Sierra Club or Greenpeace. But as of late, I’ve been rather enamored with the idea of being an independent energy policy analyst.

Q: What University do you go to?
A: Here's a clue. If you do your homework you will find out. According to Macleans 2008 Annual Canadian Universities Survey, it ranked #1 in three categories: most innovative, leaders of tomorrow and best overall university in Canada. Just Google it and you'll see.

Q: What's your favourite Hole song?
A: This one is easy! Plump, followed in a close second by Jennifer’s Body. Live Through This is such an amazing album!

Q: What is your favorite non-fiction book?
A: The last non-fiction book that really affected me was The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf. Even though it was written almost 20 years ago, it is still frighteningly relevant when discussing modern beauty ideals et cetera.

Q: What cartoon character do you most relate with?
A: I do love Enid from Ghost World, though I've been told that I’m pretty similar to Daria. Just look at our spectacles and steely stare...

Fashion-Related
Q: Who utilizes fashion better in their overall work, Kevin Barnes or Noel Fielding (the guy who plays Old Greg).
A: As much as I love Old Greg’s pink tutu, shiny leggings and mangina (which is a fashion statement, for sure), I am much more familiar with Kevin Barnes. After all, I have seen him wear nothing but peach hot pants. So Kevin Barnes takes the fashion cake overall.

I'M OLD GREGGGGG! I'VE GOT A MANGINAAAAAA!


Q: What ancient society do you think was most fashionable?
A: Probably the Egyptians, because they balanced out a simple loincloth with lots of luxe gold jewelry. Those Egyptians really knew how to mix high-end with low-end, ya dig?

Q: What SECRET society do you think is most fashionable?
A: That one from the Simpsons that rigs every Oscar night and keeps the Martians under wraps. Was it the Stonemasons?

Q: Who would win a fight between Donatella Versace and Vivienne Westwood.
A: I'm rooting for Vivienne, but its probably an even match. Donatella has fake nails and lots of rat poison in her body from all that botox, but Vivi is real feisty.

(Donatella is ready to THROW DOWN!)

Q: What are good winter boots for men?
A: Sorels are good winter boots for everyone.

Q: If you had to get rid of your whole closet except for one item, what item would you keep?
A: The most adored piece in my wardrobe is my vintage sequin cape that I got last Christmas, but I’m terrified to wear it. So I would probably keep my American Apparel tri-blend grey cardigan because it is freakishly versatile.

Q: Do you know what happened to Yoncto's blog?
A: She deleted it, sorry guys.

Q: If you could go back to the first year of high school and slap yourself for wearing a certain outfit, what would it be and why?
A: Ohmigod, do you know what I wore the very first day of high school? These awful flare jeans, a wallet chain not attached to a wallet and a t-shirt with fake paint splatters on it. Yes, I look back with shame.

Q: If you could switch styles with any of your friends for a day, who would it be and why?
A: This one is so hard! I had a really fash friend in high school named Katrina and we really bonded over our mutual love for basically everything fashion related. She has the best wardrobe I’ve ever seen!

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers?
A: I love the bloggers with the more wacky/daring aesthetic as opposed to basic black and white. Shout out to Style Rookie, Susie Bubble and Kingdom of Style!

Q: Do you think starting a fashion/style blog is a good way to introduce yourself to the fashion industry? and do you have any advice on fashion/style blogging?
A: I think fashion blogs have been the start of quite a few good careers, but I wouldn’t depend on a blog to get your foot in the door. In fact, if its too obvious that you are trying to go somewhere in “the industry” with your blog, it might not go very far if you don’t seem genuine. My advice? Post what you like, what you hate and what you wear? Though I wouldn’t discount them in any way, I’m personally not a huge fan of blogs that dissect runway looks and nothing else. Inject yourself into the blog, that’s what really matters!

Random Stream of Consciousness-type Questions
Q: You are on a desert island, starving, and driven mad by the overbearing sun. The one bit of food that you have seen in days is a sizable crab. Now assuming you are hungry enough to kill and eat the thing, it strikes you that "Hey as long as the crab is dead, I have the shell, and I brought a mod kit with all sorts of cool craft items along with me, I might as well make something out of it". In that hypothetical situation, what crustaceous couture would you make.
A: I would cover the crab shell in glitter glue and gems and turn it into a couture headband.

Q: If said crab was a mother, would you raise its young like as if they were your own?
A: Right to remain silent, please.

Q: Steel Cage Death match, who would win:
-Oprah or Martha Stewart
-Tony the Tiger or the Trix Bunny
-Clown Shoes or Latex Leggings
A: -Martha, ‘cuz she’s done hard time.
-Tony the Tiger, purely because Frosted Flakes are way better than Trix.
-Latex legging could whip clown shoes. (insert dominatrix joke here, please)

Q: If you could deplanetise one planet, which would you choose.
A: Uranus, so people will just stop laughing!

Know Your Product

Usually the term 'clown shoes' brings to mind this type of thing...

But contrary to what you might suspect, I found the greatest clown shoes in existence on eBay today. They totally remind me of the whimsical type thing that Fashion Forestry would love. They're a size six, which I certainly wouldn't fit. Hopefully these clown shoes find the fashionable feet they deserve.

P.S. I have a lot to do right now, so if anyone is interested in doing a 'question and answer' type post that are all the rage right now, I'd be much obliged. Just leave a comment asking me anything. Preferably in good taste. ;)

If you want some laughs that are not in good taste, please watch this video. I'M OLD GREGGGGG.

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground.

Exams have descended upon me with the ligning speed of a fanged furry animal, so yesterday I felt like wearing some tight pants to counteract all the loungewear I've been...lounging in lately. The cardigan is American Apparel, I tie-dyed the shirt myself, the jeans are Cheap Monday and the moccasins are thrifted.

I kind of like how my hair looks when I straighten it - I suppose that's because I rarely bother to do so.

I discovered Kurt Cobain's list of Top 50 albums and have been discovering a hell of a lot of good music that I'd never heard of (like the Saints and Fang), plus some old favourites (like Black Flag and Bad Brains).

Incinerate

Aldo is actually torturing me with these badass boots. I know that they are basically just Marc Jacobs knockoffs, but I adore them with a fiery, uninterred passion. Why must they cost $200? I might have to wait until supersale time, but these beauties WILL be mine. Oh, and speaking of badass boots - do these Chloes haunt anyone else's dreams? At least I am willing to accept that these are unattainable...

And for those who ask, ye shall receive... Rachael Meckling's blog!

Shadow no more.

This is going to be a stupidly random post because I have a bunch of pictures saved up on my computer that have yet to be showcased.

To start with, this Hel-looks girl is reading my mind with her epic cozy combination of fair isle, grey tights and large neck cowl.

I really want to know how she made those pants because they're completely awesome. I love how she moves to the beat of her own drummer, not anyone else's.

My good friend Rachael Meckling does beautiful fashion illustrations and I agreed to showcase her talent. Isn't the call girl lovely?

I think its truly amazing when a photograph can capture the exact feeling that music can provoke. Looking at this concert photograph is almost as good as listening to a Minor Threat song itself.

I hope its not too much to ask my knitting expert Aunt to make me a Rodarte-esque sweater for a Christmas/Birthday present...

Finally, the pants/ slippers matching job I did yesterday was too perfect not to post!

They tried to sing the Violent Femmes.

Some creepy and most likely very unhealthy recipes tell you to "just add water". Lately, my foolproof outfit ideas have been "just add thermal socks". The outfit would be fine without them, but its just so much better with them. I don't think my life would be half as joyous as it is now if I didn't own any thermal socks, or have friends to bond over the comfort and awesomeness of thermal socks with. Thermal socks WILL change your life. Not to mention ruffles of nubby knits.

Tonight my residence had this Community Dinner that was themed 'anything BUT clothes', so I came decked out in scarves. I think I look pretty good for not wearing clothes.

People ended up getting pretty creative with the theme. Some came wearing towels, garbage bags, carpets, newspapers, beer boxes and two creative young gentlemen came dressed as Christmas trees!

When will I grow up?

I just finished creating this big excel spreadsheet entitled 'Life Plan' that lays out my entire University career. It sounds nerdy and perhaps freakishly organized (and totally is) but I just really needed to make sure that I had time for a Major, and Minor and an Option. Luckily, I do.

On a lighter note, isn't this cartoon the cutest thing ever?

Must get out.

I took a morning jaunt over to Value Village with some friends today and our timing was Mary Poppins-perfect. I didn't manage to find any worthwhile clothing, but we bought loads of old records that we can make funky bowls out of. I really need to get out like this more often, but exams are next week so that probably won't be happening.

But if you ever have a spare afternoon and some records that you wouldn't mind destroying, then heat up the oven and let the records melt over a bowl - you shape it once its out of the oven.