It runs in the blood (Dottie)

Over the holidays, I coincidentally came into some old family photographs on either side of my family. It's so fascinating seeing pictures of people in my bloodline who I've never met yet am so connected to. Even more fascinating was seeing photos of my two grandmothers, Mary and Dottie, when they were younger. It's both frightening and beautiful to see how they've changed and how they've stayed the same. It almost makes me excited to get older and view my life in retrospect.

Here are some pictures of my father's mother Dorothy. She is the most modest down-to-earth woman that I've even met and yet she has one of the most interesting pasts (I'll go into that some other time). She once told me that fashion was "never really anything that interested" her. Looking at these pictures of Dottie, the young vivacious actress that moved to New York City by herself after college, it's hard to imagine that that's true.


This is Dottie during her time in college. I love her Peggy Olsen-esque bangs (only they look much better on my grandmother).


This is from her wedding day. Rumor has it that this dress was made by the same people who made Grace Kelly's wedding dress!


And this is my grandfather whisking her away the day after they wed. Once again, I think that this dress is so Grace Kelly that I can hardly stand it. Seeing this picture makes me pretty sure that I need a dress like that if only to twirl around in front of the mirror. I also love the corsage and how big it is. What she remembers best is the camel-hair coat that she deems entirely "impractical," but so "lovely." And the shoes. THE SHOES!

I haven't scanned the photos of my maternal grandmother Mary yet, but look forward to those to come!

I only have four-eyes for you

Bespectacled people, prepare to be enraged. I'm a little bit jealous of you. Yes, this is an ignorant statement. I'm very grateful for the services that my good vision has provided for me and, given the option, I'd keep my 20/20 over a sweet pair of tortoise-shells. Still, I just love glasses so much. I do need them to read (my eyes over-focus and cross, giving me headaches. No joke!), but have never had to give glasses a full time gig. I guess what I love about them is how, no matter how the rest of you looks, a cool pair of glasses can make you look cool by association. Plus, they hide dark circles and you don't have to wear eye make-up.

I recently found my dream glasses at the Moscot website:



I love the way they give off a retro-geek vibe, but steer clear of over-sized hipster goggles. They sort of remind me of Anna Karina's glasses, only I think that the Moscot silhouette is a little more me and a little more functional.

The good news? They make them as sunglasses (although I do like the idea of clear lenses better)!
The bad? They're $175 for the frames alone. That's not too bad of a price if I were wearing the frames all of the time because I needed them to see, but it is quite a bit for something that, in this grey Wisconsin winter, I'd only wear sporadically. Besides, there's a recession on! Maybe if I pinch my pennies, I'll be wearing these puppies come June.

If you know of anywhere that I can get similar frames on the cheap, help a sister out!

The Lake City Lake Girls Teach Gym

Those who can't do, teach, and those who can't teach, teach gym.

Sometimes in winter you want to stick your head in the oven just to get warm. And maybe die, too. Along with dry skin, frost bite and gray skies, winter also comes with a limit of sartorial choices. We're not sure if we're in a position to guide you, but no one else is stepping up to show you how it should be done (or how it shouldn't be . . . ). Class is in session, so it doesn't matter if you have your period: you still have to play. To the courts!

Lesson One: Just because you wear AA doesn't mean that you have to look like an asshole.

Jersey (the fabric, not the state) is nice for winter. It's breathable and easy to layer, it comes in many colors, and you can easily wear long underwear with it (yay for stretch!). Unfortunately, one of the largest suppliers of this miracle fabric is American Apparel. Here, I demonstrate (ideally) that just because you buy an item or two at AA, you don't have to look like one of Dov Charney's personal prostitutes.


dress: aa
leggings: aa
jacket: target
boots: frye
necklace: thrift
pose: icecapades

Lesson Two: Embrace the fat layer winter gave you.
We all grow a couple extra chins during the cold months. Instead of being an annoying whiner who complains to everyone with ears, saying "God, I have to go to the gym. I'm so fat!" why don't you just embrace the extra? Look at the added pounds as a reason to love yourself more (now that there's more of you to love!). But even though you might look like you're stuffing a few acorns in your cheeks doesn't mean you have to dress like it. Find shapes that compliment your body type!


tee: thrifted
vest: anthro
skirt: old navy
leggings: target

Lesson Three: Layer with different textures
One way to add flair to a weighted down wardrobe is to wear different textures. It's even better if you wear various silhouettes from different eras and sexes (winter is perfect for a little androgyny), always keeping in mind the age-old mantra that less is more


blouse: old navy (i know, right?!)
vest: vintage
jeans: joe's
loafers: thrift
tam: marc by marc jacobs (only 17 dollars, yall)
necklace:vintage

Lesson Four: Be a weirdo.
Having to wear a coat often makes one question the point of looking nice. Why dress up when you'll be covered by a bulky coat? Think of a bulky coat as an opportunity--to be weird. Under the cover of a coat, you can wear things you would never consider in summer. Look at this as an opportunity to experiment: with menswear, bright colors and funky pleated pants.


purple sweater: limited via marshall's
mustard blouse: bcbg
pin: vintage
pants: thrifted

Lesson Five: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid).
There are enough things about winter to make us uncomfortable. Why add you wardrobe to that list? Wear longer shirts (preferably in a color that compliments pale skin) so that they don't ride up and make your back cold. It's also nice to do this in a breathable fabric because, believe it or not, you can sweat in the winter. Adding a simple pair of straight-legged pants and a nice pair of boots (f.y.i., Fryes have NO traction on ice) makes for a comfortable, yet polished look.


shirt: target
jeans: levi's
vest: thrift
boots: frye
earrings: uo
pose: sexytown

Lesson Six: Be soft (and warm!)
Sometimes winter is beautiful, right? Like when the snow falls in bits instead of blizzards and the branches have white coats. I'm trying to write this with a straight face but then I look at the photo below. Maddie described it as: "You look like you're in Narnia! Not that that's a bad thing." Well anyway, I feel soft, draped in boiled wool and muted colors. So try it out, bitches, and get off my lumps.


sweater: anthro
blouse: anthro
skirt: anthro
guess who shops too much at anthro: me


The bell doesn't dismiss you! WE DO! Alright... Go ahead.

Individual Fur Pattern: Yesterday

Hey Flog Readers!

Yesterday I met up with Maddie and we went shopping on Ye Olde Near East Side aka Her Side of Town. We haven't seen each other since school let out, so it was a pleasant reunion, albeit a cold one. We had had plans to do a photo shoot, but the negative temperatures pushed us into thrift stores instead. Here's what I wore underneath my coat, which I never took off:



Shirt: Anthropologie (I just got it, isn't it cute? It has pinstripes)
Belt: thrifted
Black skinny pants: UO
Boots: Nine West


Ever since I got my hair cut really short again I've been feeling a bit man-ish. But that's ok because lately I like to dress like a man. In fact, I'm bidding on a few pairs of beat up men's levis on Ebay. Also, I like to be smelly and greasy and walk into nice stores. I can't explain.

Maddie and I have a photo shoot planned for Monday, so be on the lookout!

Today's Individual Fur Pattern (aka outfit post)

If I could pick an outfit that described my personality, this would be it. The sweater is 100% cashmere (a Christmas gift) and has pockets! Most of the time you see cashmere presented in a very traditional way, so when I saw the bizarre shape of it, combined with the total luxury of cashmere, I knew it had to be mine. That's what I like: ugly comfort. You could say this sweater is totally unflattering on me--I'm too short to wearing something so long--and I might even agree with you. I kind of look pregnant. But that's what I like about this outfit: it doesn't really give a shit about that. Plus the stone-washed jeans which are the throwback I like to include in every outfit, and my boots which rarely leave my feet. Oh, outfit, how you complete me.

Necklace: Zoe Chicco
Cashmere sweater: Velvet from Anthro
Gray stone-washed jeans: Cheap Monday
Boots: Nine West