Victorian Revisited

If Victorian style has a season, it’s got to be fall (and maybe winter, too). What better time is there for all those heavy, sumptuous fabrics and high, lacy collars?


Jacket, New York & Co. Blouse, Newport News. Skirt, Express (thrifted). Tights, We Love Colors. Shoes, Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Bag, H&M. Necklace, Macy’s. Sunglasses, Xhilaration.


My lower half is dressed 100 years ahead of the upper.


Speaking of time warps, here’s how today’s outfit compares with the one I wore on this date, five years ago:


Same jacket and same shirt (but in a different color)


Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Basically Thrifted

I go to the thrift store to find whack-a-doo items. I look for sequins, velvet, and odd prints. I want leather and silk and lace. I’m searching for items the previous owner found unsuited to “real” life. And I pounce upon decades-old clothing, last seen moldering in an attic.

Sometimes I worry that I scare other people off from thrift shopping since I seem to leave with a bag full of crazy lady clothes each time. When I dressed in entirely thrifted clothing today (except for the shoes), I was pleased to note that my shirt is quite normal.


Shirt, Mossimo (thrifted). Skirt, Herman Geist (thrifted and shortened). Necklaces and bracelet, thrifted. Bag, Liz Claiborne (thrifted and gifted). Shoes, Fioni.

Thrift shopping is the easiest, cheapest path to an eclectic wardrobe, but there are plenty of basics to be had, as well.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Everything was thrifted from a shop in the Cincinnati area! Today, I’m wearing Goodwill, St Vincent de Paul, and 2nd Street Boutique.

Book Ball

Four years ago, I paired this velvet(een) dress with a button-down shirt and called it my “librarian look.” So, I guess today’s outfit is more “mild-mannered librarian goes to the Book Ball and reveals her inner can-can dancer.”


Shirt, J Crew. Dress, New York and Company (shortened). Metal belt, thrifted. Tights, We Love Colors. Shoes, Steve Madden. Earrings, World Market.


I’m sorry I have no high kicks for you. This bookworm needs a few drinks, first. (Or at least a cup of coffee!)

Violet Blue

I was always confused by the Violet Blue crayon. Is it blue or purple? I think the color is something like the one created by layering these tights. Or is the effect closer to the Blue Violet, instead?


Jacket, Cami. Dress. I Heart Ronson. Blue leggings, Forever 21. Purple tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Miz Mooz. Hair stick, Ramayana. Earrings, World Market.


Hair done in the Lazy Girl’s Updo.

Pins-A-Lot

I had planned on piling on the necklaces today, but I couldn’t bear the weight of them around my neck. Instead, I wore seven brooches on my lapels.


Blazer, New York & Company. Vest, Cherokee. Skirt, Peyton Place (thrifted and shortened). Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Nine West. Brooches, all thrifted except the owl who is borrowed from Tina.

Block

I had a hard case of "dresser's block" on Sunday evening. As a result, I planned only one outfit for the week (and was still not happy with it). It seems fitting that the single ensemble is color-blocked.


Jacket, Forever 21. Blouse, Judy Bond (thrifted). Dress, NY & Co (shortened). Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Rampage. Earrings, Jana’s Designs.

Eden Prairie

Greetings from the frozen north! Oh, Minnesota, why do you have to be so very very cold?!


Jacket, Fang. Dress, I Heart Ronson. Tights, Forever 21. Socks, Target. Boots, Nine West.

These open-weave tights were totally inappropriate for the below-freezing temperatures, icy wind, and intermittent flurries. Knee-high socks didn't help much.