the fashion void that is DC

Since the semester ended last week, my daily activities have consisted of: wake up in the late afternoon, forage the fridge for food, go back to sleep, wake up in the evening, lay around semi-conscious until early morning, wash, rinse, repeat.

So this morning I am proud to say I saw the light of day toyesterday!



Though I must say, it's very difficult to motivate oneself to put on clothes when you've spent the past few days in the same, crusty old pajamas.

I did it, though, for this Stargazer hood that Davinia of the label Plastic Heaven was kind enough to send me. It is grey with black ropes winding all around it, so naturally, I styled it with... grey and black.



I don't know if today was just bizarrely warm (I wouldn't know because... I haven't been outside), but it was warm enough to do THIS:



NO SLEEVES. WITH UNNECESSARY GLOVES. Truth be told, I wish I were hip and cool and wore gloves just for decorative reasons, but I just don't have the will.



Also hip and cool: my mom discovered these 20 year-old sheer dot tights in her wardrobe. And sheer-dot tights being oh-so-trendy right now, I couldn't help but gank them. Indeed, what goes around comes around......d-duh.

Plastic Heaven hood, Zara leather jacket, secondhand Express top, secondhand DKNY ruffle skirt, secondhand tights, Seychelles ankle boots

With the semester coming to a close and stress and agitation building, I've taken it all out on a spending spree lately. This outfit is a result of such a spree:



Sequin hat, striped shirt, shoes, check check check. You might think it folly to be wearing shorts what with, uh, snow and all, but it wasn't all that cold that day, I swear!



Also pictured: Davinia of the local label Plastic Heaven was kind enough to send me a few goodies from her most recent collection! I'm wearing the Stargazer in "More than Mars". It's a little hood/cape with strategically placed buttons for endless draping opportunities!



The shape and the red and grey twisty rope thingies sewn onto the fabric reminded me of a deranged Little Red Riding Hood (I mean that in the best way possible!) so I posed as such. Thanks, Davinia!

Plastic Heaven cape, Zara sequin cardigan, F21 sequin beret and striped shirt, secondhand shorts, We Love Colors tights, UO shoes

By the way, I was asked about the comfort of the shoes -- after walking around a bit on the wet snowy sidewalk I do have to say that they are comfortable enough. And by "enough" I mean they rub up on my toe knuckles a little but not enough to impede walking. I imagine they'll be fine and dandy one they're broken in. They're perfectly fine for, at the very least, a brisk walk. And the color's fantastic.

So, it's snowing outside. I wish I could build a snowman, but my fingers are already getting numb by the thought of it. Moving on!



It's been fairly not-cold for the past few days, so the snow came as a vague surprise. On the subject of the outfit, I've had this hot pink mohair skirt and hot pink mohair cardigan for a while. I just never thought of putting them together until now. I don't know why that is. I belted up the skirt, hence the unseemly stomach bulge.

Later on, I wandered over to Georgetown. Went to the MAC store and tried on a purple lipstick, Cyber:



Secondhand Ralph Lauren blazer, secondhand pink cardigan and skirt, Gazebo black sweater, Gap knit vest, Zara leggings, secondhand hat, secondhand Hill and Dale shoes

When I'm not feeling so broke maybe I'll pick it up for myself. Although speaking of brokeness...



I was overcome by the urge to purchase shoes, so in a fit of calculated impulse, I blew fifty bucks on these teal pointy toed oxfords. Can I just say that the Urban Outfitters in Georgetown is really well stocked right now? And that it's much easier forking out big bucks in store versus online? I'm just sayin'.

Well well well. Exams start next week and I'm about to be crushed this weekend. But enough about that, I'm 2 days late in posting. I'll get to Budapest eventually, but for now I'm playing catch-up of a different variety:



Upon acquiring some polka dot leggings in Budapest, I naturally had to pair them with more polka dots. That was really kind of a "duh".



Close up of polka dots. What more can I say?

Secondhand Rickie Freeman polka dot vest and skirt, Violet & Claire blouse, Retrock leggings, secondhand Paloma ankle boots

And about this coat:



All I did to it was bunch up the bottom portion and sewed it together. I've done the same exact thing with two circle skirts. If you go to this post (scroll about halfway down), I drew a little diagram of how to sew it. Except for the coat, I only sewed up two portions (one on each side seam of the coat) plus sewing up the front two corners.



It's super easy-peasy and lazy. I would imagine it only works on coats with a fabric that's thin enough -- this one's a fairly light to medium dense wool, any heavier and the fabric probably wouldn't drape properly.

I mean for outfit posts. Back from Budapest, in which I am extremely saddened to find that I still have a substantial amount of schoolwork to do. However, instead of doing that, I am doing this.

November 25 part 2: After we got off the plane, I decided to change and go with emo glasses for the rest of the evening.



This picture really has little to do with that, but can I just comment that Hungarian subway escalators are FAST? They're probably at least double, if not triple the speed of the escalators at home. As a tourist, I'm surprised that more people haven't tripped on them. Or maybe it's just me.

November 26: Went to a small town in Western Hungary and then went caving. Dressed like KGB for occasion.





I have a series of pictures where I'm interacting with life size restaurant characters. This one is lesser in terms of stupidity.

November 27: Did some stuff, tried to check out some shops. Was mostly a failed endeavor.



My sister and I both coincidentally dressed in disproportionate obnoxious color clashing ways, so we took disgruntled pictures.



I did a bit of DIY on this shaggy coat. I bustled up the bottom, whereas before it hung straight around my calves. It's a pretty good way to shorten long coats, especially if you want to add a bit of visual interest as well.



Foolishly posing as a mannequin at Retrock Deluxe, a sweet little boutique carrying the likes of Hungarian designer Je Suis Belle, etc. Truth be told, I was looking for the adorable wool and net hat Queen Michelle got, but alas, it was nowhere to be found.

Went to the other Retrock, which was a more affordable, half vintage, half vintage recon shop. Got some leggings in a hurry. More on these shop matters later.

November 28: Wearing said leggings here.



Kinda boring, but we went to a Communist Statue Park, where we imitated all the statues and got ripped off by lame tourist trap Communist souvenirs.



Alrighty, more on this subject later.

Hullo, my little sister has been completely worn out by her European travels, so this is Brooke's older sis taking over.



Secondhand sweater, blouse, pants, Corsina shoes, Gap vest.

She wore this for two days in a row, what a filthy girl. Her smarmy smile is because she knows she can get away with being unhygienic just because she's cute and fashionable. Well, let me tell you, in person, she's quite crusty.




Everything secondhand, except boots from Chengdu.

More importantly, Mr. Kao is wearing: Caterham Motorsports fleece, Lucky Brand jeans, K-mart scarf, vintage Sperry shoes

Our father makes his debut in this blog! Look at him energetically posing for the camera while sister stand frigid and unmoving. I quite liked this outfit because it was almost all black, so she reminded me of a preppy and chic witch, especially with the pointy boots and the shirt made out of a dull, garbage bag-esque material.

I have nothing else to say about this picture other than that it was taken in the labyrinth under Buda Castle in Budapest.

Whoops, I've been slacking off here again.

Someone recently asked me about tips on DC nightlife... let me just make myself clear on this. I apologize if I've ever lead anyone to believe that I have a cool, hip social life. Because I do not. What I do with my free time usually involves bumming around, and not of the druggie variety.

That being said, that's why communities like washingtondc exist, to answer such questions. Moving on!



Speaking of bumming. Not very exciting, but I figure I should make one last post before I head off to Budapest for the week! I am visiting my dear sister who is currently studying abroad there.



This pullover is in response to the weather. These pictures were taken post-being-waterlogged twice. As you can imagine, the fur smelled great at that time.

Anyways, I'll ~probably~ continue posting in Budapest? Hijacking sister's Internet, etc. There are a smattering of shops/designers based in Hungary, and I'll be sure to take a look-see while I'm there.

Secondhand green coat, DIY "NO!" pullover, leopard print dress from Shanghai, cK tights, secondhand fur stole, secondhand Corsina shoes

Man, the shoes I've had my eye on since the last time I talked about shoes have been slowly dwindling. Even the super sekrit ones I chose not to post about! Yes, I am terrible in that regard.



Finally -- it's been a while since I deliberately dressed loudly. I've just been *gulp* putting comforting over appearance lately. Not that I'm grossly piling on the layers here. Just a lot of patterns. And things squeezing at my waist. And I'm still pretty much dressing in vaguely neutral/nude/brown(?)-black tones.



These Linda Farrow for Dries sunglasses fit my hair now better, I think.



This picture is totally random, but I was camwhoring a bit in a dressing room and I thought the expansive space looked kinda nice.

Linda Farrow for Dries sunglasses, American Apparel dress, DKNY leggings, everything else secondhand

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.

Norma Kamali for Walmart blazer, Gap vest, Evil Genius fishtail top, secondhand pants, secondhand Corsina shoes

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.