Repeat after me

 

Dress: Tabloid, summer 2006;

Camisole: Aeropostale;

Shoes: Zigi Soho;

Jade bracelet: Finder's Keepers.

How I've worn the dress before: here.

Don't hate me, but I basically plagiarized myself and have worn this exact outfit once before. I can't help it -- I know there are many ways I could've layered this dress to make it look new, but Dress #6 from The Dress Project is basically one of the Queen Bees in my closet and just wants all the attention when she's worn (yep, this dress is a she). It's got this vibrant print that instantly makes me feel happier when I wear it because it reminds me of some faraway, tropical locale.

These photos were fun to take yesterday. In the first photo, I'm trying very hard not to indecently expose myself while also trying to balance on the wobbly fence. First I copy myself, and then I almost flash you all. I'm a jezebel, I must admit.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, dear friends in bloggoland. I'll be catching up on my Google Reader the next couple days, so prepare to be bombarded with comments from yours truly.

Stealing picnic baskets

Top: Vintage, thrifted;

Skirt: Ralph Lauren, thrifted;

Red belt: Ann Taylor Loft;

Heels: Tayla platform sandals, Target;

Bag: Thrifted;

Jade and black bracelets: thrifted, Finder's Keepers;

Silver bangle: gift;

Hawaiian bangle: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI.

How I've worn the top before: here.

How I've worn the skirt before: here.

How I've worn the heels before: here.

Today was an exercise in being alone. I didn't have Jeremiah, my trusty photographer husband, with me, so it gave me a chance to test out the new tripod. I was really hesitant in going to the park by myself --- even thought this particular park is idyllic, our area of town can be really sketchy sometimes. I went anyways and brought my cell phone and decided that if anything bad might occur, my tripod could double as a weapon for defense. Does anyone else think that when they take blog photos by themselves? Maybe I've watched too many CSI episodes, I don't know. The park ended up turning out okay (a few older couples walking around), so I felt comfortable enough to stay longer than I had originally intended. I really liked how the photos turned out, especially the still lifes.

About this outfit. I liked the color palette a lot and I thought I looked like a walking picnic basket, which reminded me of Yogi Bear, which kept me singing "The Yogi Bear song"  that I learned at summer camp all afternoon. I don't usually wear as many bracelets as today, but there was something so fun about hearing them jangle on my arm. Gotta love wearing things that make you feel silly in a good way.

Afternoons in Agora

Dress: vintage, In Roads,
Agora, Athens, Ga.;

Belt: Ann Taylor Loft;

Shoes: Aerosoles.

This would officially be Dress #46. Yep, that's right -- I bought another dress to add to The Dress Project collection. One of the great things about visiting Athens over the weekend is the vintage shopping. During my first couple of years of college, I didn't spend a whole lot of time visiting vintage stores -- I mostly did discount shopping at the mall, but after awhile I was pretty bored with it all, and wanted to add more quirky, fun finds to my repertoire. The only problem was that most of the boutiques around town were expensive, and the vintage stores that I had heard of were all in Atlanta, about two hours away.

 I finally found a vintage store called Agora during my junior year of college and promptly spent a couple hours perusing through all the aisles before I found my white dress for a banquet event. It's one of those places that you could seriously spend an afternoon and not see everything they offer --- they feature lots of vintage clothing, jewelry, designer pieces and home accessories. Airee, the manager of Agora, was kind enough to let J and I take pictures on Friday for Sidewalk Chalk:

 

My favorite items to look for are dresses and jewelry, and they always seem to have lots of items from the 1960s-1980s. I tried on quite a few spring dresses and rompers before settling on this black number. I really love the flower pattern and the bell sleeves, and I definitely think it's going to make a few rotations in my wardrobe this summer because it's so different from the others in my closet. I feel a bit hippie, a bit Laura Ingalls in this dress.

Well, my lovelies, what are your favorite vintage finds, if any? Do you prefer to shop local or online?

Twilight in a small town

Friday afternoon/ night

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft;

Shoes: Zigi Soho;

Bag: thrifted;

Bracelet: Finder's Keepers.
How I've worn the dress: here.

 

Saturday

Dress: Maggy London;

Trench: Banana Republic, gift;

Shoes: Naturalizers.
How I've worn the dress: here.

And I'm back, albeit very tried but pretty happy. This weekend was just what I needed -- time with friends in a city I love. 

I was so glad I got to see the Twilight Criterium this year for many reasons. My friends are graduating from college in two weeks and are going off to various graduate schools and cities around the country, so this is one of the last few times we had to hang out in the town where we all met. It wasn't as big a deal when J and I graduated last year because we ended up moving an hour away, and we took for granted all the times we'd get to see our friends; now that they're leaving, it's a little more poignant than it was this time last year.

I was determined to make this Criterium memorable, with lots of friends and spending almost all weekend outside. I didn't take as many photos as I thought I would, mainly because I was having too much fun to document it all. Friday was blissful: Jeremiah and I spent most of the afternoon walking around downtown, shopping, eating at Doc Chey's and meeting up with our friends Amanda, Susie and Cleveland; we also spent some time at Little Italy's and a few bars downtown. Saturday started out a bit dreadful, because the weather was so disgusting: 100 percent rain for most of the day. We got some lunch at Barberito's with Amanda, did some shopping and got back in time to the house before some serious downpours.We met up with J's sister Rachel because it was her birthday weekend, and we ate some yummy dinner at RuSan's, this awesome Japanese place. Afterward, the rest of the night was a wet, windy blur: J, our friends and I watched the races as it rained, and spent some time indoors catching up over drinks and food.
There's nothing like standing in a downpour with your friends and sharing stories all weekend to make everyone feel closer to each other. It was such a great couple of days, and just what I needed.

Some more photos:

 

 

 

   

 

Style lessons from Barbie

Taking a break from the regularly scheduled outfit post, I thought I'd share with you some of my childhood favorites: Barbies.

 From l. to r.: Barbie Loves Elvis Barbie, "I Love Lucy" Barbie, Wedding Day Redhead Barbie, Sugarplum Fairy Barbie and Scarlett O'Hara "Gone with The Wind" Barbie.

This past Easter, I visited my mom's house, where I rediscovered my Barbie dolls and decided to save some of them from their closet confinement. Growing up, they were my first obsession, much like anyone collecting baseball or Pokemon cards. I loved dressing them up and creating complex personalities and life choices for them. Some of them were doctors, journalists, actresses, gymnasts, surfers. Sometimes they would ride in the Barbie RV and go camping, until something went horribly wrong (the Kelly doll would mysteriously go missing) or soap opera-ish (Ken would propose to Barbie; she would break off their monotonous relationship to elope with the Prince from "Beauty and the Beast."). The Barbie Birthday Party at Disney World got played ad nauseum in my home VCR ("In Barbie's world, there's nothing you can't do!"). It was a lot of fun with this collection growing up, as cheesy as it sounds.

I had quite a few, but many met their destiny during the Great Migration To The Attic of 2000 and the Great Purge of 2003 (done by my parents while I was at summer camp -- good thing I wasn't there because I would have hoarded like crazy). These are the only ones I have left from those days, mainly because of their collectible status and that they were in original packaging throughout most of my childhood. In a fit of impulsiveness in my teens, I took them out of their boxes and haven't regretted the choice because I can't see myself ever selling them.
Though they get more shelf time than play time as I've grown up, they've served as good childhood reminders and sartorial inspiration over the years.

I thought it would be fun to take a look at them again:

"I Love Lucy" Barbie

Acquired in 1998 as a birthday gift from my grandfather. I think I had spotted her at the toy store and wanted her for months. I think a few Lucy-inspired Barbies were introduced that year, but this one is based on the iconic Vitameatavegamin "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" episode. I adore this doll because of the classic, always-in-style  items she's wearing: pearls, suitdress, peeptoes and hat. I love the 1950s aesthetic here and especially love the asymmetrical design of her dress. This Barbie also introduced more of Lucille Ball's work to me, which was a huge plus. 

"Barbie Loves Elvis" Collector Edition

 Acquired in 1998 as a birthday gift from my parents. This doll came with a dancing partner -- specifically, the aforementioned Elvis with a guitar, microphone and swiveling hips. I couldn't find Elvis in my closet when I visited home, but I know he hasn't left the building and he better still have his guitar. Anyways, about Barbie. She's obviously based on the classic, vintage style-doll with the cat eyes and bangs, and I think she looks a bit like a Hitchcock heroine (would look even more so if she swapped outfits with the Lucy Barbie). I love her cashmere sweater, pearls, scarf and saddle shoes and think all of those items could work in various ways today. I covet her whole outfit.

 Wedding Day Barbie

I love this one. I got her probably around Christmas 1997. She's based on the original 1961 bridal Barbie. I loved her dress so much growing up that I had it in the back of my mind when I went dress shopping for my own wedding (although I ultimately went with something else). I love that she incorporates something old, new and borrowed with her pearl necklace, earrings and veil. Her something blue is a flowered garter (see above photo). That seemed so provocative in my 10-year-old eyes. Nevertheless, she was the star of many jilted, "will-they-or-won't-they?" soap opera episodes in my anthology of Barbie tales.

Sugar Plum Fairy Barbie

Acquired around 1997. I think she was originally Nikki's doll, which would explain why she isn't wearing her original dress. Nik was more into costume swapping than I was. Anyways, I love her show hair and ballet slippers. For some reason, her chest is a different color than her body, and I think it was like that when we bought her and not due to aging. She looks a little like Taylor Swift in the "Love Story" music video.

Hollywood Legends Collection "Gone with the Wind" Barbie

I saved the best for last. I got her for my 10th birthday as a gift from my parents. I spent six months or so scoping out this particular doll at KB Toys. I am a pretty big fan of the "Gone with the Wind" book and movie (I even visited Margaret Mitchell's home recently), and loved Vivien Leigh's work as the female protagonist Scarlett O'Hara. There were many versions of Scarlett made in the Hollywood Legends series, and my sister had the Barbeque Scene Barbie (whose head popped off at one point). This particular Scarlett is based on the scene in which Scarlett has to confront the town at Ashley's birthday party after some unsavory gossip about her and the birthday boy. She doesn't want to go, but her husband Rhett Butler forces her to go and makes her wear the most dramatic, seductive dress in her closet. Of all of my Barbie collection, she was always the Queen Bee; the doll just seems to ooze authority and beauty all at once. Mattel got every detail right from the movie with this doll -- the chandelier earrings, satin gloves, bejeweled gown and curled updo. The only downside to this one is that her dress of "feathers" likes to shed red fluff around the house, but other than that she is still a great doll. Maybe one day I'll get her a Rhett Butler doll to bicker with...

Do you have any Barbie or favorite toy memories?

Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too

Listening to: "Peace Train," Cat Stevens.

Dress: Connected Apparel;

Shoes: Aerosoles;

Bag: Vintage, thrifted;

Necklace: thrifted.

How I've worn the dress: here.

The funny thing about the park yesterday was there were multiple people snapping pictures of others in their groups. It was like we were all trying to capture our own version of the park's beauty. It made me feel less narcissistic when Jeremiah and I started snapping away.

About this outfit. I felt like such a lady in this outfit. I've had this bag for years and actually got it during the same thrifting trip as my little leather saddle bag. Who knew I would still love something I picked out at 15? The necklace is a find from the Salvation Army -- I like the little tiles, and the design of it seemed slightly Egyptian to me, so I got it. The dress and the shoes matched really well, and I like how the modernness of the shoes balances out the rest of the outfit.

Actually, I felt like this would be something my paternal grandmother would have worn when she was younger. I didn't know her growing up because she died when I was five, so all I know of her are pictures and snippets of stories passed down. She used to be a bit of a clotheshorse and apparently wore open-toed heels all the time, even while making dinner. Something about this attribute is very comforting to me, because it makes me feel like there was someone in my family who shared some of the same traits that I have. I wonder what she would think of this whole blogging thing. She also apparently chewed ice and ate her meals very, very slowly, which are things that I've always done. It's really strange how very weird traits can skip generations and manifest themselves. It makes me feel connected to someone I love but never got to know into adulthood.

I'm really excited about tomorrow because Jeremiah and I are headed to Athens for the weekend to see our friends and to watch the Twilight Criterium. The Criterium is an annual bike race/street festival, and it gets so crazy that it's one of the busiest weekends of the year (well, besides football season). I've really been looking forward to this weekend for many reasons --- one of the bad things about this limbo year was having to move to the suburbs away from all of our friends, and I'm hoping this weekend will provide some clarity, peace and fun. I have a scheduled post for tomorrow and I'll be back on Sunday, hopefully with lots of pictures with which to bombard you.

Hope you lovelies have a great day! What are your plans for the weekend?