Gilda and Gene

Rachel and I will often post on the same day. It's weird, like we have a strictly internet-based ESP.

Anyhoo, I've lately been in a strictly jeans and t-shirt mood. Anytime that I try and dress all fancy-like, I look in the mirror and think, "Damn girl, you are trying waaaaay to hard." I think that it's this bipolar weather that we're having. Last weekend, it was in the seventies and last night it snowed. I CANNOT KEEP UP. So, in protest (?), I'm more relaxed about being fashionable these days.

Luckily, something came in the mail the other day that allows me to combine my need for basics with pure awesomeness. I give you (drum roll)...



... A GILDA RADNER/GENE WILDER T-SHIRT!

I bought it from that hot mess of a Built by Wendy sample sale that I mentioned a few weeks ago. Now that it's on my back, I know that it was worth the eleven dollar shipping and two week (plus) wait. I even feel okay that the company ran out of the other shirt I bought and failed to tell me until the package arrived. Why? Because this shirt is the definition of greatness. I've worn it for the past three days and I'm about to do a load of laundry so that I can wear it for three MORE days.

Top o' the mornin'

Do remember going to school on Saint Patrick's Day as a kid and other students would pinch you for not wearing green? And they would pinch hard past the point of necessity? I always hated that because I would ALWAYS forget to wear green and would ALWAYS get stupid f'ing pinched. Maybe that's why now, despite my Irish heritage, I NEVER wear green on St. Patty's.

Rant over. Real post beginning.

Yesterday, I was in Chicago looking to find some kick-ass Spring boots. Frankly, my search was sort of half-hearted, so I didn't find them. I did find a pair of beautiful red shoes at a store in Wicker Park and while I may not get to use them for tromping through puddles and mud, I will get to wear them for Saturday strolls to the Farmer's Market once it gets a little warmer.

Lucky for me, I don't have to wait until the end of April when the market starts up again to wear them because today was in the seventies! And what did I promise you? I promised you that with nicer weather comes more outfit posts, so here we are.


shirt: thrifted
skirt: ok47
belt: thrifted
shoes: corso como

details:

Doppelganger Doubt (Alliteration Awesome)

Tonight, my dad took my brother and I out to dinner to belatedly celebrate my birthday. As we were about to order our drinks and meals, the waitress blurts out that I sort of look like Hilary Duff. I wasn't really sure how to respond, so I muttered a stammered "thank you." The more I think about it, the more I think that it was a flattering compliment. Resume and Aaron Carter aside, the Duffster is quite a pretty girl. Still, this is probably one of the most random and surprising you-look-like-so-and-sos that I've ever gotten. Let's look closer, shall we?



The girl on the left is me at a wedding (wearing a dress that you helped me pick). The girl on the right is Hilary Duff. Just needed to clear that up because I'm sure that some of you are confused. I guess that I don't really see it, although, for the sake of full disclosure, I did have a slight, albeit unintentional, Lizzie McGuire faze:



Yes, that's 18 year old me. I was living in Italy at the time which explains the alien tan.

Just because I'm putting off doing what I should be doing (hello midterms), here are the other celebrities that I have gotten compared to in no particular order. For the record and humility's sake, when people tell me these things, I think what they really mean is "you look like the homely sister who's working as an assistant for..."



Maggie Gyllenhall was another one that came completely out of the blue. It's probably weirder than Hilary Duff.


I've been compared to both these ladies. Oddly, I think that Rebecca Hall looks a lot like my mother. For Scarlet (who I actually can't stand outside of Lost in Translation), see "homely sister" remark above.


This is probably the one that I see the most. Funny enough, my mom was told that she looked like Molly Ringwald back in the 80's brat pack days.


And this is the one that I find most flattering.

Readers, please take advantage of commenting and tell me who you're most told that you look like. Or tell me to fucking get over myself. You know, either way.

Spring has arrived...ish.

Well, it is just beautiful outside and it's taking every ounce of my will to be grateful instead of focusing on the colder days to come. I'm doing a pretty good job I think. Today I managed to wake up before 10:00 and scrounge up an outfit. Not only that, but I also walked downtown and got an iced tea... which I drank OUTSIDE! It's crazy what a 50-degree day will do to Wisconsinites in February. In some parts, 50-degrees is considered down-right cold, but here it brings people out in t-shirts and flip-flops (I am not one of those people).

Anyway, between all of the galavanting in the sun, I got my act together enough to take some pictures of my threads. Enjoy it because it might be the last of this sort of thing for awhile (March, we say hopefully).

I'm not sure if I quite trusted the sunlight at this moment, so I stuck in the dark close to the organ.



But I eventually warmed up and moved to the sunnier kitchen. In this photo, I was unsure if my self-timer was working, so I was looking at the camera with crazy eyes. They had to go.



Braver still, I moved to the front porch and realized that there was nothing to be afraid of. This bike is not mine. It's my roommates, but I do have a matching one in red. Her (the bike, not the roommate) name is Francoise and she lives in the house during winter.



And then I made myself comfortable.



sweater/blazer: anthropologie
dress: vintage
wedges:vintage
bracelet: found
porch: my house

Dear Readers,

Sorry for being a big loser of a blogger. I guess the mission of the blog failed, as my spirit has certainly been crushed by winter, hopefully not for good, but definitely for now. Here's the kicker. We're just finishing up a weekend in which it was 40-degrees and felt practically like summer. While it may have lifted my spirits a little bit, my fashion spirit is still pretty low. I've been going through this whole routine where I put on a cute outfit, look at my dirty snow boots that I have to wear because it's wet and slushy outside, and think 'what's gall darn point?' before changing back into black pants and a stretched out sweater. Other than that pathetic ensemble, the only thing that I've been wearing is my bed (always in fashion). Yep, I've been clockin' in some Zs much at the expense of my homework.

Over the next few days, I'll try to put some post-worthy outfits together, but no promises of anything spectacular because EVERYTHING in my closet looks staler than the loaf of bread that I just threw away while cleaning out my cupboards. Anyone else having this issue? I'm not just talking winter wear; it seems like every piece of clothing that I own has been worn to death. Blerg! Why do I own so many freaking cowboy shirts?! Or boring t-shirts? Or ripped up sweaters? Why do I only own one pair of good walking shoes and why do my frye's give me blisters every time I wear them?!

Alright, enough of me whining. How about I introduce you to a new fashion blog that I just found? I think that it's very inspiring and it's from Australia, which means (taking a moment to adopt the voice of Oprah) SUMMMMMMMMERRRRRR! It's called Esme and the Lane Way. To get you interested, here are a couple of images (taken without permission) that I found in a few short minutes of browsing:



Must... get... yellow... shoes... for summer... or... will... die.



I love the idea of stripped socks and heels. And swings.



Mmm, green.

Alright. I'm off. Books by 19th century women authors beckon me along with, yes, more bed.

XOXO,

Maddie

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.

30-Degrees, Batman!

dress: portobello road market, london
leggings: aa
boots: frye

Today is a little bit warmer than it's been, so I felt obligated to run a comb through my hair and slap on something decent. I'm pretty sure that all I'm doing today is going to my mom's house to watch some Lee Pace movies, so this awesome little dress won't get much exposure around the public. I bought it about two years ago when my friend Elly and I did the "grand tour" around Europe. We ended the trip in London with practically empty pockets, which is very sad because that city ain't cheap! When I found this little number, I had to throw concern for finances to the wind. I pay for it every time someone asks me where I bought it. I feel like such a pretentious a-hole when I answer back "London, dahling!"

On a side note, here is the view from my window:



Happy Holidays, y'all!

Holy Holidays!

Sorry for the hiatus, everybody. Like I've said, finals week kept both Rachel and I pretty busy and I'd be lying if I said that I had been typing away at papers wearing high heels and a cute vintage sweater. Truth is that I've spent most of the past week in pajamas, hunched over my desk while I worked on this! Good news is that my holiday party for work is tonight and that means that I'm going to get gussied up.


dress: banana republic
tights: gap
riding boots: hand-me-downs
doppleganger: vampire maddie

I've shown this dress before, but tonight it will actually be appropriate! Well, maybe not. It's likely that I will be the most dressed up girl at the party, but that's okay by me.

A funny thing about the boots is that I've had them since I was about nine and a friend of the family gave them to me for dress-up. I even wore them at my fourth grade Star Wars themed birthday party when I dressed up as Luke Skywalker (I was too young to know that Hans Solo is totally more badass). They are currently about a shoe size too small, but what are you gonna do when there's a few feet of snow on the ground and the day's high is 3 degrees fahrenheit (yeesh)?

Handmade Pledge

Sorry that we've been a wee bit bad at posting these last few days. It's the end of the semester and, I won't speak for Rachel, but I'm up to my ears with Paradise Lost term papers, creative writing revisions, scansions, and more. Come next week, I'll be sure to whip out some outfit posts!

Have you heard of the Handmade Pledge?



Are any of you doing it this year? I'm sorely tempted, but it sort of throws a monkey wrench in some of my holiday plans. Can I half take the pledge? Or maybe I could start my own more self-centered version called the "Handmade (when convenient) Pledge."

Thoughts?

Fashion in Action: Las Vegas Addition

I was in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving to visit some family and it rained for only the second time that year. Here's what I wore to get a cup of coffee and a croissant at the Bouchon Bakery and have my picture taken in fake Venice:




beret: local hat store
scarf: vintage
blazer: vintage one that I always wear
sweater: uo
black jeans (?!): gap
bag: uo
backdrop: The Venetian

And no, I did not win big.

Carpet does not match drapes...

Just back from getting my hair did!



I decided to get a warmer richer color for winter. That way, my hair won't run into my face a la Daniel Craig. The bangs are a little jarring for me, but maybe that's just because I no longer look like Cousin It.

What do y'all think?

Girlfriend needs a haircut

I just gotta make it until Monday without shaving my head in a fit of rage and frustration.

Dear Dream Closet,

I know that we shall meet, but when?

November Just Kicked Us In the Nuts

scarf: clothing exchange
bird pin: vintage
blazer: vintage
belt: vintage
sweater: uo
dress: vintage
tights: gap
booties: seychelles



hat (which Maddie says is called a 'tam'): Marshall's
sweater: Anthropologie
white blouse: H&M
belt: thrifted
skirt: Anthropologie
tights: Wet Seal (ew)
boots: Nine West from Marshall's

Details:

Another Sunday post

Like Rachel, Sunday brunch is one of the things that make me most happy. Sundays in general make me happy. It's the one day of the week that I have entirely to myself. Today, I celebrated my weekend with my roommates by making a trip to the nearby bistro for a croque-madame and a glass of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. So pleased was I with the prospect that I even managed scrounge up an outfit despite the 30-degree weather.


cashmere sweater: vintage
dress: vintage
belt: vintage
tights: gap
shoes: etienne aigner
pot belly: ham, gruyere, egg

I found the dress at a garage sale this summer in the heat of my Mad Men obsession (the heat hasn't cooled, in case you were wondering). Since I can't wear it to work at Sterling Cooper, Sunday brunch will have to do.

Since this site has been a little deprived of "what I wore" pictures lately, here's the number that I wore yesterday:


striped shirt that makes my boobs look huge: h&m
pencil skirt: tj maxx
tights: hue
flats: dkny
hindquarters of a german shepherd: fergus


Monday, it's back to looking like crap. Why can't everyday be Sunday?

P.S. While taking the picture of this Sunday outfit, my tripod fell over and the lens of the camera that I was using (my dad's camera) broke. Do you see the cost of this blog? Do you see what I'll do for you people?

Maybe I'll get lucky and freeze to death before it really gets bad

I'm a fashion fraud. Here I come, all hoity-toity, telling you that I have fashion cred and can tell you how to dress. And then what? The weather drops below forty degrees and I'm all about leggings and converse. Didn't I claim to own a sea of vintage dresses that I was just longing to show off? Well, my 1940's sundress doesn't mean a damn thing when its chilly and rainy outside. I don't think that I used to give up so easily. I'm pretty sure that last year I hung in there at least until mid-December. It's probably that last year's winter kicked the emotional crap out of me and seeing this one coming just makes me want to die in a sea of down coats.

I've spent the last hour scouring the internets for inspiration. Something, anything that will act as a beacon of light and help me get through the week (I'm not even asking for the whole season). First, I turned to film. The problem with most movies set in winter is that they seem too unrealistic. I think to myself, "They live in upstate New York? They don't even zip up their coats all of the way! Humbug!" Over the summer, I watched the now-defunct series Wonderfalls and couldn't get over a scene in which Lee Pace wears a hat that doesn't cover his ears. The show took place in Niagara and in the dead of winter. I mean, really! That one little flaw almost ruined the show for me.

So with movies out of the way, I've begun focusing on real people. One person who I found particularly helpful was everyone's favorite fashion Finn, Piksi.



(please note that this collection of images was taken without permission from Art of the Steal. if the author would like it taken down, let me know and it will be taken off quicker than you can say "copyright laws")

I'm hoping that I can dig up more people on my search because, believe it or not, I think Wisconsin gets even colder than Finland in the winter and the ice alone will prevent me from galavanting about in heels. And anybody who suggest wearing skirts and tights when it's -10 degrees outside should have their brain checked.

Maybe what I need is a brightly colored coat to combat the atmospheric gray. I even have one in mind:



What's that you say? It's $498.00? Okay then. I'll pray that I can track down a thrifty alternative.

Wanna help save a budding fashion blogger? Tell me where you get your winter fashion inspiration! Movies! Magazines! Websites full of boots and coats! Flickr links! Anything!

Goin' to the chapel

I recently read an article about how women are now looking at their weddings like their one chance to walk the red carpet like a celebrity. While I hope that they also look at it as a symbol of their love with their partners and a chance to celebrate that love with their friends and family, I can sort of understand it. I love weddings and one of the main reasons that I love them is because I get to get dressed up and hang out with men wearing suits and ladies in high heels. I haven’t been invited to enough weddings for them to become tiresome, so every time that I’m invited to one I’m thrown into an absolute fit in which outfits are thrown around my room willy-nilly, leaving mountains of dresses, slips, and shoes that are hard to walk in.

This upcoming weekend, I’ll be attending a friend’s wedding all the way in Indiana. Having gone through the usual routine of late night modeling in front of my mirror and still feeling unsure about what I’ll wear, I’ve decided to tap into a new resource: you fine people.

So here are the choices. Let me hear your votes!

1.






Okay? It gets more complicated still as I will probably need a sweater for the ceremony.

1a.



1b.



2.


(looking at these pictures, I realize that I should have maybe worn a slip underneath)

I know that there's the whole "you shouldn't wear white to a wedding" thing, but the dress does have a pattern on it. Does that still make it inappropriate?




3. This isn't really a choice because I KNOW that this one is inappropriate for a wedding, but it's so fun that I thought that I would post it anyway.





Thanks!