the fashion void that is DC

Just like the last time I got a haircut, I've had the urge dress slighly more manly-ly. This pretty much just involves collared shirts and pants.



Except, no wait, I'm not wearing a collared shirt here. Anyways, I usually don't post on certain days of the week because on those certain days, I only have one morning class and... don't really feel like thinking of what to wear. *gasp* On those days, I'm pretty much wearing something simple like this.



I like the look of puffy/furry vests over up top of blazers (as Gap usually does so prodigiously with their runway styling). This one is a bit bulky though.

So I was just having a conversation about gift giving, which tangentially reminded me that it's been a while since I've expressed my insatiable lust for material goods. Even though I don't believe in the holiday season starting until Black Friday. However, I am also avoiding work.

As usual, Etsy is a swirling instigator of said lust. Mostly for some of the in-sane vintage shoe selections some sellers have out right now. Check out these animal-print beauties:



All from James Rowland Shop. Rather pricey, but. Incredible. The whole shop is extremely covetable; these are the kinds of sellers that make me wonder where they pick their goods up in the first place.



Left: Zebra fur print, pointed toe, winkle picker style from Time Echo Vintage. Pretty much everything I could ever want from a shoe. I'd possibly be getting out my credit card now if they were in my size. Damn every shoe-that-is-not-my-size. *shakes fist*

Right: Not always a fan of slip-ons, but these lacy doily ones from seller GoodEye are bizarrely appealing. I don't know, maybe because they remind me of these embellished Keds I saw a while ago in a Baltmore vintage store. There's something endearing about hand-made doilies and beading on shoes.

But let's move away from shoes for now. I think most of the blogosphere knows of Yokoo, though I've never brought up her knitting majesty.



Her hats and scarves remind me that it will, one day indeed, get cold around here, even though right now it's friggin' 70 degrees in November. Mmm, Sweetheart Chain... chain link knit scarves are still all the rage, at least in my mind.

And finally, I ganked this from Kingdom of Style -- as a graphic design major, I am emotionally obligated to be attracted to this helvetica necklace:



Oh, the design world's most blessed and cursed typeface. I don't know how I feel about the letters being so kerned together, however.

Since I didn't post yesterday, you get two outfits jammed into one post!

Yesterday I went to a fashion photo exhibition opening called Immortal Style! Basically the space featured some works from local fashion photographers. Part of Foto Week DC, a week-long DC photo fest.

As usual, I had trouble coming up with what to wear, since party-type dress usually involves not-so-many layers.

Oh, and also, I got my hair cut. Right at the peak of people of the coming up to me and saying, "I saw someone in ______ place with the same hair as you!" period. I realize I'm getting rid of my "trademarked" rip-off style and now no one will recognize me anymore but, hey. I do what I wan'.



Pros of hairstyle: For the first time in years, I have my full range of vision returned to me, now that bangs aren't blocking the tops of my eyes. It was, funnily enough, discombobulating at first. Like, I got dizzy while driving.

Cons: Hair no longer disguises my huge, chronic, purple eye bags.

Hair does not, however, make my head look huge, as this picture suggests. I'm just leaning against a wall.



Met cool local artist BK Adams, asked to take a picture with him. Failed Blue Steel attempt part 2. Arggg eye bags.



Only pic where I don't look like a zombie.

There were a bunch of people there with great personal style. I did not get any good pictures, unfortunately.

Marc by Marc Jacobs gold sequin and purple dress, Zara sequin cardigan, H&M faux fur stole, We Love Colors sparkly fishnets, secondhand Hill and Dale shoes

And today:



Not terribly exciting, but I snapped it nonetheless.

Sorry for the harried tone of this post, now to get to work.

I wasn't really what the lyrics were to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" until I heard it being sung on South Park. What, this was the first thing that popped into my mind.



Alrighty, extremely vague throwback to Halloween, in that I am wearing black lipstick. I would like to wear it more often, but since it's kind of a pain to put on and maintain over the course of the day, I can't be bothered most of the time.



Also working in this furry sweater I received a while ago from my former employer. I was thinking of the whole gorilla arms thing back then, which was all the rage. The rage lasted for about a minute, but I can still dig it, dammit.



Also formerly trendy: this no-longer-available Peeps skirt, which I ALSO still dig. But rarely wear. Alas.

On the bright side, I'm finally breaking out of my plaid fixation! I think!

Secondhand furry sweater, nude fishnet top and ankle boots, Peeps skirt, H&M leggings, Subversive for Target gold bauble necklace

I live!! And sorry, I have failed. I failed to do anything for Halloween. In my defense, this year's Halloween was uneventful anyways, relatively speaking. I mean, c'mon, Heidi went as a friggin' crow? Compared to Shiva the Destroyer last year? Taaame. In the meantime, I sat on my ass and ate fair amounts of chocolate liquor candies.

Anyways, my excuse for not posting this past week is busyness. Back to our regular scheduled programming.



Aaaand nothing changes. Still having a thing for plaids.



What more can I say? I guess this is the first time I've worn a vest over a jacket.



The only thing remotely Halloween-y going on here is that it gave me an excuse to paint my nails black. I've refrained from doing this for two years, and it's totally passé now, and I do not care.

Secondhand everything except Violet & Claire striped blouse and plaid tights from China

PS: And to the inquiries about my friend in the last post... he wasn't trying to be anyone in particular (though I must say the "Michelle Obama" answer I got would be hilarious), just an attractive girl. A much more convincing one than many girls, I must say. I'm sorry I didn't get to see the costume come to fruition on Halloween. :'(

Sorry, picture quality's bad today.



Ahh, well, nice and fall-like, regardless. The check-ing spree will not end. Had to go to College Park for a school project, hence this is 10pm down in the Metro.



This looks like a badly photoshopped background, but no, it is indeed the Metro train moving behind me.

Secondhand coat, hat and dress, Kimchi & Blue blue sweater vest, We Love Colors tights, boots from China

Oh and on a random note, here's a fun game for all of ya'lls to play. I got a friend to dress up for Halloween early so I could take pictures. Can you guess what the costume is? edit: Alright alright, no guessing. Ain't he adorable though?



This is my Gap cardigan that I lent to the costume.



As an additional hint, the one on the left is the (my) bf. Aaand this picture is amazing.

In a check pant mood again.



More wardrobe digging -- this H&M coat is great lookin', but it's thin as paper. Also, everyone has it.



Photo context: this was right after one of my late classes, and I set my camera up in a seemingly empty hallway. The second I pressed the timer, someone came walking down the hall. In a sad attempt to save face, I sort of leaned against the wall awkwardly in hoping he wouldn't notice the camera sitting there. And, that is my current shoddy school bag.



Of course, he left soon thereafter.

H&M coat and pants, leopard print dress from China, DIY harness, Seychelles heels

Last night, I tried for the 3rd time to mix me some Chanel Jade nail polish... and once again, I ended up with a soapy color. I think it's because I'm missing a white polish. Really, mixing nail polish is similar enough to mixing acrylic paint -- it just dries much faster and stinks much more like a mofo.



Anyways, I feel a certain joy wearing pants. The vest is extremely tight, it feels more like a corset. It's tight in the chest, which is something I thought I could never say about an article of clothing.



This girl in one of my classes was like, "You should have a blog where you tell everyone where you get your clothes!" To which I replied, "Uhhh actually, I kinda have one..." and left it at that. I dunno, maybe it was standoffish to not give her the url, but. I feel odd. Although, girl, if you've found it by now, ...hello!



Oh, and these sunglasses -- just got them today from the folks at Gilt Groupe! From the Dries van Noten SS 08 runway, by Linda Farrow. The whole cat-eye aviator thing going on is pretty neat, though I don't think it fits my face very well. Or.. hair or something.



Secondhand everything!!! And Linda Farrow for Dries sunglasses

Yessiree, post #500! To commemorate this achievement, I am... posting this outfit earlier than usual. Damn straight I am.



Did some closet digging and decided that I have not worn this jacket and these DIY'd leggings in a while. The reason for the leggings is because, while they are attention-getting, they feel like tiny pebbles slowly sanding off your already peeling skin. So, you know, uncomfortable. Also, all the terrible sewing errors I made back then are revealing themselves more and more with rippage.



In the meantime I threw some animal prints in there.



Secondhand jacket, shaggy vest and blouse, H&M dress tied as skirt, hand knit scarf, DIY leggings, secondhand Paloma ankle boots

So in my design classes, the professors occasionally make fashion references (which is to be expected)... today, one of my profs was talking about integrating logo design with web site design or something. She said something along the lines of, "They don't have to match per se, but they do have to 'go' together, like you can wear a brown shirt and.... not necessarily brown shoes. But they still go together." ...I felt that if she could transport thoughts into my mind, she'd be saying, "you do that with what you're wearing, so why not with your friggin' design..."

They're different I tell you!!

I just realized, this is my 499th post. The next one will be #500. Part of me wants to do something about it... and part of me knows it'll just be the next daily outfit post.



I think I was getting more "crazy cat lady" looks than usual, though not like I haven't pulled that in the past. Might be the glasses. My contacts have been itching me.



The rainbow layers have more to do with the weather being cold and me just arbitrarily piling them on. Although, my photo class did do this portrait session, and all I had to do was stand there awkwardly instead of being forced to take posing directions 'cuz they were distracted by the clothing anyways.

Classiques Entier jacket, Uniqlo turtleneck, Gap knit vest, secondhand rainbow crochet dress, secondhand hat and scarf, We Love Colors tights, Steve Madden loafers

Oh yeah, and thanks for ya'lls help on my poll! I figured I'll follow most of your advice and get a cheap one here and invest there. Joelle asked me what I was looking for so maybe I could get some suggestions on where I could go -- mainly a big leather bag that's sturdy enough to carry a laptop and books with a long strap (messenger style or otherwise). Something with a basic shape, but in an interesting texture of color. I feel like I'm describing the PS1 here. Except I can't afford that. Ho Ho.