of leather, florals, and hype

Having purchased my first pair of leather boots, I had to find out whether that wholly ubiquitous floral-dress-and-tough-leather-boots combo was worth the hype, so for my boot debut I had to had to had to try it. Aaaand...

It isn't, really. I find it pretty predictable and somewhere between somewhat and kind of boring.

STILL! Boots, how have I lived without you for so long? I think I need to get a longer pair of laces so they can actually be tied and don't have to flop around fecklessly. (Ho-ho, see what I did there, New Year's Resolution?)

Floral dress: hand-me-down. Purple cardigan: Uniqlo. Light pink thermal: Old Navy, gift. Black and white polka-dotted belt: Forever21, gift. Black tights: generic. Black lace-up boots: Steven by Steve Madden.

mama needs a new pair of

It's been a long time since I've dropped any money on real shoes that don't come from Payless or ... or Payless. I tried to buy a pair of Toms in June but ended up canceling my order out of post-purchasing guilt. I know these aren't the best of the best or anything, but as leather boots, they are investment items, so. NO REGRET.

Above, Steven by Steve Madden lace-up boots

HERRO!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Above, from my family dinner on New Year's.

Sluggish Start

So I know I've been lacking in my posts and that's a crappy way to start off a new year of blogging but to be honest I've just been so busy and on top of that- I feel like a fat pig after all the crap I've been eating over the past month. Blah.

To make matters worse, I wore my Proenza booties for the first time yesterday- took pictures and then went to start this blog post only to realize that Jane at SoS had JUST posted pics of HER Proenza boots but WAY better pictures obviously because I have shitty lighting in my house especially with this time of year and (do I sound like enough of a whiney baby yet??) I feel like my thunder was stolen.

Hmmph.

Ok- pity party over! Let's try this again...

HEY GUYS! Happy New Year!!!!!!! I'm so excited to se what 2010 has in store for us! :)

I had a meeting with the lovely girls over at bebe yesterday and wore my newly acquired Proenza Schouler boots that I obsessed over until they went on sale. Yippee!

I love these and have loved them since I first saw them. They are a shoe person's shoe for sure. And what I mean by that is that I feel like people who don't really "get" shoes wouldn't understand these. Lots of people will probably find them hideous but they are just so cool and different that I can't help but love them! They're like an art piece.

SPEAKING of art piece... did you see that adorable pink painting up there??? Wanna take a closer look?

I've been dying to show you guys this amazing piece Ben had commissioned for me for Christmas but I'm really having a hard time with my camera and the lighting and I really have no clue what I'm doing so until I learn this picture will have to do. It doesn't really do it justice :( but you get the idea.

(click image to see larger)

TAH DAH!! Lynne Naylor is one of my favorites. I love how she draws girls and I can not believe how cute this is!! I am so happy and feel really lucky to have it in our house :) It's a cuter sexier version of me and I'm so glad she included Banksy and Stella. Too cute.

practice random acts of kindness

So, sleeveless sweaters are one of the most senseless creations ever... and by senseless I mean they're senseless acts of BEAUTY, because I love my sleeveless gray Esprit sweater with tie-neck more than life itself, except when life involves Thai curry.

...This is why I should not be allowed to plan my own poses.

P. S. I barely have any idea what Me and Orson Welles is about, but I really want to see it. Yessss Zac Efron + costumes.

three ways to propose to me

I've never window-shopped at shopbop before because the first time I tried, the (old) layout was so off-putting I couldn't get past the first couple pages of apparel (not to mention the rather off-putting prices), but in order to lead my imagined life, my wardrobe would definitely need these additions:

Above, Town Peep Toe Pumps on Broken Platform by Velvet Angels, $147.50 at shopbop. For those days when platforms that look structurally sound just don't cut it.

Above, Una Sweater from Marc by Marc Jacobs, $198 at shopbop. In which to go sailing because sailboats are nautical, and there is nothing like themed dressing, even if sailboats don't use anchors.

Above, Twig Cluster Ring by Elizabeth and James, $125 at shopbop. I don't think I've previously expounded on how much I love oxidized silver and gunmetal, but I DO. SO MUCH.

haute (tranny) mess?

I don't know where the Haute Mess Award originated, but OH, is it clever. I love wordplay.

I was recently tagged to receive the (EPIC) label of Haute Mess by Camille, the lovely blogger behind owl wings, and I'm supposed to share seven things about myself. But because I really liked the way she set up her post, I will copy her. Thus, a collection of visual inspiration, followed by seven things about me that may or may not be apparent from my blog:

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[I totally forgot the source... email if you uploaded the original and want credit or want this removed.]

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1. I spend more time picking out my clothes than on Facebook, but I spend more time on MLIA than I do picking out my clothes.


2. I don't actually own anything directly from American Apparel or Urban Outfitters.


3. This image saved on my computer shows the extent of my nerdiness. Not much more, not much less.
   
   
4. I am now a firm believer in gapingvoid's Sex & Cash Theory. (If you don't feel like clicking, it has to do with creative types having a pay-the-bills job, not with prostitution. Although that would pay the bills.)


5. Laundry is my favorite chore, closely followed by ironing, but I have a deep dislike for washing dishes.


6. I'm not subscribed to any fashion magazines.


7. I am completely terrified about this coming semester.

I never have any idea whom to tag, so tag yourself and let me know, if you are so inclined! And if you're feeling clicky, check out the other tagged blogs: the perfect shade of blue at fashionrocks, a beautiful dress at thelittledeer, incredibly photogenic girls in floral at raita 2, an amazing DIY sequined cardigan at For A Delicate Few, some all-black inspiration at Bijou's Style, and OMG THESE SHOES at style bird.