Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year!  I'm off to go have a glass of champagne surgically attached to my left hand...

Dress - thrifted A.J. Bari

Pearl collar - vintage via eBay

Brooch - thrifted

Tights - TJ Maxx

Shoes - Tracy Reese

The back...

The details...

The coat...

Coat - thrifted (for $1.50!)

New decade, old dress

I'm sure you're all aware that New Year's Eve is coming up and there is so much pressure! I don't know what to wear! I dug through my dresses and pulled out quite a few options... so HELP ME! What should I wear? I am going to a "Fancy Pants Cocktail Party" at my friends Matt and Jim's house... It's indoors so I'm not too worried about being warm...

Option #1

Dress - vintage (1950s) from Junk Bonanza

Option #2 (I had to show the back on this one!)

 Dress - thrifted vintage (1980s)

Options #3 and #4

 Good vs. evil

Options #5 and #6

Dress - Hayden Harnett                       Dress - vintage (1950s) from antique store

So these are kinda rough ideas, I'm not totally sure on the tights and jewelry and etc so feel free to throw your two cents in the comments on ideas or things to change!


EDIT: Thanks for voting! Dress #2 narrowly won (by only 6 votes) over dress #5!

Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.

(That's a quote from Lucy, in A Charlie Brown Christmas, FYI)

It's Christmas Eve! Which is a bigger deal in my family than Christmas Day. We head off to IL to see the extended fam, including 8 aunts and uncles and about 20 cousins. It's crowded and loud and usually involves jello shots and white elephant gifts.  We do a million appetizers and desserts instead of a "real" meal which is awesome. It also generally means my grandma will demand we all sing the 12 Days of Christmas, but everyone's had too much wine and no one remembers how many drummers are drumming anyway and it is the funniest thing ever. So here's my Christmas dress:

Dress - secondhand vintage from Everyday People (consignment store)

Sweater - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Tights - Target

Shoes - Unlisted by Kenneth Cole, hand-me-downs from sister

Oh yes, look at the velvet and rhinestones... it can't get more festive than this:

I feel like I had a version of this dress when I was about 6. The red velvet Christmas dress, a classic!

So Merry Christmas if you celebrate it, Happy Weekend if you don't!

Old Man Winter

Yes, it is officially winter. And when it is winter I tend to dress like an old Russian man. I saw an old man wearing this exact hat the other day and we exchanged a knowing look. A look that says "I am warm and I look goooood." And then my friends who where there mocked me for days for secretly being an old man.

Hat - thrifted

T-shirt - Target

Sweater - sparrow

Jeans - GAP

Shoes - thrifted Enzo Aniolini

I have never set foot in an Anthropologie. 29.3 years of commitment and it's all down the drain. There is one across the street from my house and I finally went because I needed to buy a gift there. Which I did. Then I bought myself a sweater and three shirts. Clearance. What can I say? I'm now an Anthro sheep. I don't think I'll go back though. Too expensive. 

Otherwise I'm enjoying my break so far! I've seen some friends who are in town for the holidays and it's been awesome but sad... It's hard to say goodbye again. Why oh why does anyone leave the frozen tundra? What else have I been doing? Oh you know, just hanging out with Chi Chi LaRue...

Ignore the fact that I cropped out a few friends and I am so sweaty, I had been dancing to some Metallica/Lady Gaga mash-ups in a very crowded gay bar before this picture was taken. Amazing. God bless us, every one! (especially the drag queens)

Polka Facts

 It's my last day of work for 16 days! Hooray!And I wore pants for five days in a row, which must be some sort of record for me!

Glasses - Prada

Blouse - thrifted Kenneth Cole
Sweater - thrifted Boundary Waters
Pin - thrifted
Jeans - GAP
Shoes - eBay (brand is worn off)

I was so pumped when I found these shoes on eBay for $10... I needed a pair of lighter brown closed toe, not insane heeled shoes and these are amazing! I'll have to bring them to my cobbler to get the heel taps replaced, but oh well! Still a fabulous bargain!

I got tagged by D'Andra from Sable & Sage to share seven facts about myself and it's been a while since I threw some random factoids at you so here we go:

1. When I was about six, I really wanted to go on a motorcycle ride. My dad agreed to let me sit on his lap and we'd ride his dirt bike slowly down our little street. After a few feet I decided we were going too slow and pushed my hand against his thumb that was on the accelerator. We took off so fast that we did a wheelie down the street and that was the end of the motorcycle rides for me.

2. I hate the feeling of static more than anything, which is why I'll never have a cat. When they do that thing where they come by and rub their side on your leg and it transfers static onto you I get soooo annoyed. But I do like cats so I'd like one of those hairless Sphynx ones, but that will never happen since they are so expensive!

3. I'm one of those odd people who will always pick vanilla over chocolate (be it cupcakes, ice cream, or whatever.) 

4. My dad taught me to shoot archery, handguns and rifles. It was pretty much what I did every weekend from 3rd-7th grade, I'd hang out in the huge field next to our house and shoot targets. I was a very fashionable tomboy. (Don't worry, I've never shot an animal, nor will I.)

5. I hate movies. I do. I cannot watch a movie in a theater. I can watch them on DVD at home, where I can stop them every half hour or so and do other things for a while, but even when a movie is super good and I like it, I get bored. There are so many classic movies I feel like I should watch, but I just can't bring myself to try and do it (It's a Wonderful Life, Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, Citizen Kane, etc)

6. My handwriting changes drastically depending on what kind of pen I'm using and whether or not the paper has lines.

7. I am always aware of when there are other redheads around. I don't know what it is but I always notice (only if they are real redheads not from a bottle). It's weird cause I feel awkward talking to other natural redheads or sitting near them in public. I don't know why.

My posting will be irregular the next two weeks as I won't be working, will be going home for a few days, and seeing some old friends. I'll be sure to at least post my awesome vintage Christmas dress and whatever I wind up wearing on New Year's Eve for the "Fancy Pants Cocktail Party" at Matt and Jim's house. Toodles!

Simply simple.

I simply want to be WARM today (or at least, non-freezing). So I kept it simple.

Cowl - crocheted by me

Sweater - thrifted Crystal-Kobe
Pants - thrifted Express
Shoes - Target

I am anxious for my 16 days off work to start! And for my friends who live in other states to get here already! The next two weeks are going to be so fun and relaxing, I can't wait!!!

The Royal Tenenbaums

 Hair scarf - thrifted
Camel hair blazer - thrifted
Seed bead necklace - thrifted
T-shirt - Target
Pants - Express (10 years ago)
Shoes - Bakers

I couldn't figure out why I kept getting a Royal Tenenbaums vibe off this outfit this morning and then I realized...

Richie    +    Pagoda    =    Christine

I also don't know why I keep wearing bold pants... it's a phase I guess. A phase that will have to end because I don't think I own any more crazy colored pants (but I did dream that I thrifted a really cool brown plaid pair and woke up disappointed). I tend to go through phases a lot, usually with food. This summer, I ate a mango every day for about two months. Haven't touched one since (maybe because they are out of season). Right now I want to eat brussel sprouts every day, but it usually only happens like three times a week. Does this happen to anyone else? I mean, except for like five year olds.

Pink ruffles aren't usually my thing...

 Sweater - thrifted Land's End

Blouse - thrifted California Connection Inc.

Belt - thrifted

Jeans - GAP

Shoes - thrifted Joan Helpern Signature

Even though we had school yesterday, there were hardly any kids who actually came to school, only maybe a third showed up! I had THREE kids come to my office all day. THREE! There are usually like 40. I guess I can't complain, as much as I'd like a snow day. I spent a few hours reading the paper then watched two episodes of Antiques Roadshow on my computer (and got paid to do it!) Then last night I met up with a guy I dated for like three months seven years ago to watch the Vikings game. Not in a sexxxxxay time way, just in a guh, I've been cooped up in my house all weekend from the snowstorm, I need to see humans sort of way. It was actually really fun (even though they lost, as I knew they would). Tomorrow is book club and we're doing it at my condo since I've got a fireplace so I need to spend the night cleaning up! I got into super-crafty mode during the blizzard but didn't feel like cleaning it up when I was done so my living room is covered in sketches, embroidery floss and beads. Oopsy-doops. On the upside I have a few drawings ready to make into new screens so I can finally make some new t-shirt designs! Whoopie!

P.S. My Google Friend Connect thingie just hit 200! Wahoo! Hmm, gimme a day or two to think of some sort of giveaway or something... I know there are blogs who thousands of people read but to little ol' me, this is a big friggin' deal! Thank you to everyone who visits my little corner of the internet! 

You're going to have to do better than that

We got 17 inches of snow this weekend and it was -7F when I woke up this morning and with the wind chill it feels like -22F. Awesome. Actually and sadly, I didn't think it was that bad. Friday night I went out to a local art college, to see the senior films. My friend is a film major and will be graduating next year and he had assisted on one of the films, and it was really neat to see them all! Then we all went out for drinks and the snowstorm hit MPLS around 11pm. I stayed over at my friend Amber's house as I am not one to drink and drive, especially in a blizzard! The next morning there was already like six inches of snow but I dug my car out and took a meandering 45 minute drive home (it should take 10 minutes). There were so many streets blocked with stuck cars, tow trucks, snow drifts, etc. so I had to keep turning off onto random streets and slowly wandering toward my house. I was so happy when I got home and got my car in the garage. I hunkered down for all of Saturday which is too bad since some friends were having a dinner party that night and some more friends were having a white elephant party later in the night. But I spent the day watching The Walking Dead and started reading Infinite Jest. I stayed in all day on Sunday too since the roads were still not plowed well. I was hoping for a snow day off work today, but no such luck, so I sadly trudged out to the bus stop this morning.

Glasses - Prada

Sweater - thrifted J.Crew

Blouse - thrifted Liz Claiborne

Pants - thrifted

Shoes - Bakers

Oh yes, cashmere sweater and wool pants, you make it all better (Don't worry, I wore my big ol' snowboots to work and changed shoes once I got here. Thank God for the skyways.)

No Color Day

It's the last day of Spirit Week at the school where I work and today is "Color Day" where every grade from K-12 is assigned a ROYGBIV color. Since I work with the whole school (in the nurse's office) I decided to wear all neutrals today, so as not to pledge my allegiance to any grade in particular or hurt anyone's feelings. Last year I wore turquoise, since technically no one had that color and the year before I wore head-to-toe silver and grey.

 Polo - from when I worked as a bev cart girl at a golf course

Sweater - GAP
Vintage tie - gift from my ex-boyfriend's mom, it's from a church rummage sale in S. Dakota
Shorts - Paul & Joe for Target
Tights - TJ Maxx
Shoes - Michael Kors

Zee best skinny tie everrr and shoes (which have awesome hexagon shaped heels!)

I went to the Hollidazzle Parade last night with my special needs client Daniel. We've gone every year for the past 9 years! Daniel LOVES Christmas. He was in an after-school and summer program that I ran for special needs teens and when I got a different job, I started working with him one night a week, just because he was my fave and we got along so well! Singing carols is his favorite thing on Earth and when he was turning 17 he didn't want us to sing "Happy Birthday" to him. He taught us to sing (to the tune of O Christmas Tree) "O Seventeen, O Seventeen, How lovely are you, Daniel." It was amazing. Anyway, I am usually kinda bah about Christmas until Daniel and I start rocking out to Christmas music and go to the Hollidazzle Parade and see all the kids who are so excited about the parade and Santa. Ok, now I'm finally ready to do some Christmas shopping.

Mary-Kate

It's Spirit Week at the school where I work and today is "Dress Like A Celebrity Day." So I picked Mary-Kate Olsen from when her hair was red and she was doing that whole hobo-chic thing... or is she still? I don't exactly read gossip mags... So here's my best head-down-hand-up-avoid-the-paparazzi pose...

 

Hat - Some hippie store in Colorado when I was snowboarding and lost my hat in the woods
Sunglasses - thrifted Anne Klein for Riviera
Sweater - Old Navy (10 yrs ago)
Plaid shirt - thrifted
Necklaces - both thrifted
T-shirt - Target
Bag - vintage via etsy  (www.myart4wear2007.etsy.com)
Jeans - Levi's
Boots - Modern Vintage

Whew! That was quite a list! And don't you worry, I picked up the most important accessory of all once I got to work... a venti Starbucks Coffee. Hmm, it's going to be weird wearing sunglasses inside all day!

It's '80s Day!

It's Spirit Week at the school where I work and today is '80s Day! So I'm putting on my best "Like, gag me with a spoon!" face and rocking a side ponytail!

Sweater dress - thrifted

Tights - Target
Legwarmers - ??? I think they were from an '80s party when I was in college.
Shoes - Seychelles

Unfortunately I missed '80s Day last year because I was home in Wisconsin for a funeral, but two years ago I rocked a pretty awesome "corporate bitch" look... This is my favorite dress-up day! There is nothing like seeing a six year old girl in sweatbands and legwarmers with her bangs curled up and hair-sprayed or an eight year old boy rocking a Miami Vice suit and spiked hair to brighten up your Wednesday. They all look so cute (I think because most of their parents, like me, actually grew up in the '80s!)

I think I'm going to have to continue this '80s theme tonight and watch some "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" while I make dinner later!

Imagine

It's Spirit Week at the school where I work, so there are dress-up days all week. Today is "Twin Day," where the kids are supposed to dress exactly the same as a friend. All the staff are dressing the same by wearing our school shirts (it says "IMAGINE" on it) and jeans. I can't "imagine" a harder thing to wear in a stylish manner than an oversized orange t-shirt but here you go! 

 Blazer - thrifted, little boys section, pins added by me
T-shirt - from my school
Jeans - GAP
Shoes - thrifted Santorini

I'm excited that you can buy flared leg pants again because I love the look, but man does it show off the fact that I am bow-legged! Oh well! I wore the fitted blazer to hide the way too big sleeves! While this is not as cute as when I wore the blazer last time, it's not too bad considering I had to work in the orange shirt! 

Some safety pin detail shots from last time I wore it... I just left the pins on the lapels because I have another  plain little boys navy blazer, so this one can stay permanently decked out! 

Mismatch

It's Spirit Week at the school where I work so there are dress-up days this week. Today is Mismatch Day. I didn't plan an outfit in advance and I could not sleep at all last night, so you get this. I could have gotten way crazy with the mismatching, but decided to keep it pretty tame so I can still take the bus and walk around downtown without looking like a weirdo. 

Cardigan - hand-me-down from a friend
Dress - thrifted, handmade
Tights - Target
Shoes - Bakers

Oh my, I am so tired I can't even pretend to write something here. Guh, not sleeping is the pits. I used to have a lot of problems with insomnia in college but I've been pretty good for the past few years. I think this was just a fluke thing (I hope)! 

Brave Friday

People usually have "Casual Friday" at work but I wore ripped jeans to work yesterday, so what could possibly be more casual than that? Rather than having Sweatpants Friday, I decided to have Brave Friday. I've had these pants for like two years and I've never worn them but I've never sold them either. When Mondo made those awesome purple pants on Project Runway, I thought about these pants and vowed to wear them or sell them. I finally feel good wearing them today.

 Cardigan - inherited from aunt, Bloomingdale's brand
Tank - little boys Fruit of the Loom
Belt - thrifted
Pants - thrifted, Bleyle for Hooper
Shoes - Sak's Fifth Ave brand

I generally avoid suede shoes like the plague, but these were on ultra-mega clearance at the end of last winter and ultra-mega cute so I caved. 

Reason #2 I am being brave? I broke up with the boy. It's been in the works since like September, but it takes a while to end 3+ years of dating plus a year and a half of being "step-friends" before that (you know those people you see all the time because they are friends with your friends but you aren't actually their friend and don't have their number or hang out with them without the intermediary friend being there? Step-friends. Acquaintances. Whatever.) Anyhoodle, it's finally official. I am single. Time to start having spaz attacks over going on first dates again. Guh. It's exciting but scary!

In the boy band of life, I am the bad boy

I kinda feel like I should be hanging out with '70s rock stars today...

Corduroy blazer - thrifted, The Villager brand

T-shirt - Target
Jeans - Levi's (like 9 years old, the yellow thing on my left thigh is a butterfly and those navy things on the bottom of the legs are flying birds)
Boots - thrifted Ann Taylor Loft

I feel like I'm not rock'n'roll enough to be wearing this outfit (although I do go to an awful lot of concerts). I guess the most rock'n'roll I ever got was dating the lead singer of a prominent local punk band when I was 21 and he was 26. His Hot Topic-esque groupies (guh, oddly, they exist in real life) were super mean to me about how I was "a prep" (what is this the 1950s? Saved by the Bell?) and he thought it was funny rather than sticking up for me. So I stopped returning his calls. Oops. I ran into him at a bar like a year and half ago and he bought me a drink and wanted to talk and I was like Nooo.... not dating lead singers of punk bands anymore. I am a Grown Up. Whatevs... anyway, I think the point of this story was... I am not rock'n'roll? Despite the old rock vibe of this outfit... I'm new school. Like the Backstreet Boys. Which is why I do this signature bad boy pose:

Not really, I just wanted to show you my awesome suede elbow patches on my corduroy blazer and figured this was a much funnier way to do it than just standing regularly! Ok this post is a mess. I'm out of here. I need to go throw a TV through a hotel room window.

I'm a loser, baby

I fell in love with the nerdy proportions of this outfit... the cropped vest with a longer t-shirt hanging out and cropped pants with super nerdy white socks sticking out. Love! And to finish it off, I guess what has apparently become synonymous with my style - a grouping of pins!

 Vest - eBay (came with matching cardigan)

T-shirt - Target
Pins - all thrifted
Pants - Marni (secondhand from The Garment District in Boston)
Shoes - thrifted Enzo Angiolini  

The pins:

Whenever I wear these pants I remember the old secretary at my work who said to me, "Christine, only you could make flood pants look cool." And I replied, "No, only Marni." And she said "Marni? Who's Marni? She doesn't work here does she?"  Oh, how sweet and oblivious...

The bloggiest blogger

I feel like if I had to stereotype bloggers and come up with one winter outfit... this would be it. Big grandpa cardigan, floral dress (which should be courtesy of ModCloth if we're stereotyping, but it's not), tights, oxfords. I'm missing the milkmaid braids with thick bangs, fake geek glasses and red lipstick, but still!

Cardigan - thrifted Kentfield

Dress - thrifted Petite Sophisticate
Tights - 2 layers, one is DKNY, one is Target
Shoes - thrifted Joan Helpern Signature Collection

I stayed home sick yesterday because I had a bad cold for all of Thanksgiving break. I went to Thanksgiving dinner at my friend Kai and Sarah's house along with about eight other friends. Though I wasn't feeling the best I also went out Friday night for dinner followed by dancing at a gay bar for my friend Matt's birthday. I stayed in bed like all day Saturday and Sunday watching TV on my computer and napping, which was awesome in it's own way, don't get me wrong! But I seriously wrenched my neck some time during a NyQuil nap and so yesterday I just stayed home. I still feel like my head has a few pounds of crap in it and my ears are super plugged but I will persevere!

New vintage (shirts and capes and dresses!)

Updating the etsy with all this and more tonight and this week!