grunge without the teenage angst

Oh, grunge wasn't always all about the melancholy void of commercial existence. After all, one of the biggest fashion trends circa Singles-era 1990s were lovely calico frocks for the ladies, and what's so melancholy about calico dresses?

All I'm missing now are biker boots, a Blossom-esque bucket hat, and contempt for authority. Plus, that smile needs to be replaced with a scowl, pronto. What was I thinking?

top:
Vintage calico circle dress
Lacoste grey cardigan
etc:
Target Missoni sandals
Urban Outfitters skinny belt
Fossil locket
Kohls turquoise ring
Vintage silver leaf wrap ring

Mind you, my favorite band is Soundgarden, and I love me some Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana, so of course I do own a few grunge-tastic flannel shirts (knowledge of which would make Kurt Cobain want to blow his tortured brains out all over again). I might sport one when I catch Pearl Jam at Austin City Limits later this fall. Hmmm...

wannabe parisian

Neck scarves always make me feel like I'm in Paris. Nevermind that I have never actually been to Paris (someday!), and I don't know why I think of Paris when I wear them, but all the same, neck scarves equal Paris in my mind. So do baguettes. Mmmm... baguettes...

I took the whole "wannabe Parisian" thing up a notch with a striped shirt and skinny black pants. Now that I look at it, I was one pair of white gloves away from mime territory.

top:
Cotton On grey cami
GAP striped scoopneck shirt in navy
bottom:
Earnest Sewn skinny black jeans
etc:
Vintage neck scarf
Fossil locket
J.Crew faceted gold bangle
J.Crew cluster ring
Steve Madden Pasion flats in black

I know some people have issues with mixing navy blue and black, but I do it anyway. Not because I'm a rebel, but because my room is so dim I can't tell the difference.

maybe sparrow

I read in an article that wearing bright colors on gloomy days unconsciously lifts the spirits of those around you. If that's true, I'm doing everyone a favor in these dreary, rainy Houston days that herald in the year's hurricane season.

Ugh. Hurricane season.

top:
J.Crew slub cotton wrap-front tank in grey
GAP quarter-sleeve cardigan in lemon yellow
bottom:
Earnest Sewn black skinny jeans
etc:
Steve Madden Pasion flats in black
J.Crew cluster ring
Forever 21 Songbird Pendant Necklace II

First, please ignore the peep of my lime green bra. I didn't realize how unlady-like I was until after I had this uploaded.

Second, isn't this little bird necklace the cutest? I found out after I bought it that Forever 21 actually ripped the design off from Modcloth (which I also frequent, ironically). Given that F21 basically makes its killing knocking off the designs of others, I wasn't too surprised, but Modcloth seemed an unlikely source of "inspiration," especially since the original necklace wasn't pricey anyway.

those colors don't even match

I love me some bright colors, and J.Crew's classic leather belt in neon orange is b-r-i-g-h-t. I would describe it as a radioactive traffic cone kind of orange. Is it wrong that I decided it looked positively delicious paired with an aqua blue pencil skirt?

top:
Cotton On grey cami
Cotton On black cardigan
bottom:
J.Crew double-serge cotton pencil skirt in tropical aqua
etc:
J.Crew classic leather belt in neon orange
J.Crew Augusta heels in soft apricot
Forever 21 white flower ring

she eyes her discarded flip-flops with suspicion...

I love love love these heels, which I got for a steal from JCA's Great Weekly Exchange. Unfortunately, the left shoe was a bit loose because my left foot is apparently smaller than my right, making all slingbacks kind of a problem. -grumbles- I wore these to work before getting heel grips to fix the problem (I'm impatient), so I was clacking away as I traipsed around the office.

I bet every time I got up to go to the cooler that there was a volley of "OMG SHE'S UP AGAIN" IMs being sent around. No one complained (out loud), but I'm sure they'll appreciate that my heels now fit properly.

monocles, anyone?

Meh, today was one of those days where my hair decided that no amount of flat ironing, fist shaking, or expletive shouting (which is really not that profane, seeing as how my favorite words to yell are 'FOODLE!' and 'BLIMEY!') would tame it. Ah well. Anyway, here's my inaugural outfit of the day!

top:
Marc Jacobs silk and cotton blouse
J.Crew ringspun cotton cardigan in navy
bottom:
DVB skinny jeans (yes, I have Ms. Beckham's denim... they fit with minimal hemming!)
etc:
Forever 21 white flower ring
J.Crew gold faceted bangle
J.Crew patent Jolie flats in stone
Monocle necklace from a friend

(Yes, that is a Backstreet Boys poster behind my head. In my world, it's always 1999.)

The monocle was a gag gift from a friend of mine. I once told her that I wished I could be as dapper as Mr. Peanut, the mascot for Planters. Here he is for the uninitiated:

The shiny black shoes with spats! The top hat! The shapely yellow shell! I could go on and on here, folks. Well, mon amie decided to give me a lovely monocle so that I may begin my sartorial transformation into Monsieur Peanut. Now to figure out where I can acquire a top hat and cane...

hellloooo, hi there!

I've attempted this blogging thing a few times before, and hopefully this time I will make this one last. I'm very optimistic because I'll be talking about some of the things I love the most: J.Crew, fashion, shopping, and random smatterings of my oh-so-exciting life (it's not that exciting). If you somehow found yourself here, enjoy your stay and leave a comment so I know who's watching! (er -- reading!)