Most of my clothes are packed away in boxes, but I'm still here, and still getting dressed.
Pink leather coat: unmarked (thrifted)
Dress: Old Navy (thrifted)
Burgundy skinny jeans: American Apparel (thrifted)
Boots: Two Lips (thrifted)
Necklace: unknown (thrifted)
Hair ornament: eBay
I like how this outfit came out! I think next time I would like to wear a chunkier-soled shoe or a color that is higher contrast with the jeans. This is probably my love of large chunky shoes/boots talking. I would also like to get the sides of the coat taken in so it's less boxy. The coat, a very lucky thrift find, appears to be vintage, and made in Italy. A keeper! Alterations will happen when I have moved and worked a bit to refill the tuition-and-rent-drained coffers. :D
I love the comfortable fit of this thrifted dress, and I've searched in vain for more of them, but the styles change each year, and the brand Old Navy isn't high end enough to be worth reselling on eBay.
I can't decide if I feel comfortably sexy with the back cut this wide and low, or just weird to have a giant piece of backspan showing. This being San Francisco, I am always wearing at least a jacket and a scarf over it though, so it's not something I have to deal with in public.
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We're finally getting some much-needed rain here in California, after the driest year on record. (that's right, in 163 years!) I'm trying to be water-responsible while appreciating the weather anyway, since I have no control over it. It's the first year in Daly City that my apartment isn't growing rampant mildew/mold on the walls, so on a personal level it's nice not to walk around attacking the trimming with a spray bottle of vodka every day.
Personal style has been in flux due to circumstances. First, I packed away most of my Steampunk items along with my fairweather clothing when temperatures dropped in November. Then temperatures went back up and it never rained/got cold again, but all I had in my closet were my cold weather items. Then I finished school and started packing and now everything is in boxes.
I hope to someday live in a place large enough for me to unpack all of my clothes, because having gone through the whole Aya wardrobe and packed it in 4 cardboard boxes now, I must say: I have nice things! Some cool combinations occurred to me while I was putting everything away that I hadn't thought of because stuff just can't all be out at the same time.
I should have known you and I wouldn't work out, San Francisco: the minimalist wardrobe is not for me, and you won't date anyone that doesn't make the millions of dollars necessary to afford a single family home. It was fun while it lasted; so long, and thanks for all the thrift.
Silly question, but . . . you know how there's a thrift-store smell? Maybe I'm overly sensitive, or possibly just nuts, but in the last month or so I've been to three thrift stores in two states, a total of more than a hundred miles apart, and everything smells exactly the same. Throwing stuff in the washing machine once or maybe twice does the trick for washable items, but what about leather goods? Do you usually have leather items you thrift cleaned professionally, and if so, does it remove that thrift-store smell?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question! The Goodwills around here tend to do a thorough wash-job, but I know the collective humanity sort of smell you're talking about very well.
DeleteIt's kind of gross, but I sniff everything before I buy it, especially the lining of leather items, because often they're synthetic, so they won't breathe and they'll capture smells. I haven't gotten this coat professionally cleaned and it didn't have an odor when I bought it, but as a refresher I'll blot a 50/50 mix of distilled vinegar and water and, after it dries, (cheap!) vodka on the underarms of clothes that can't be tossed in the washer.
You had me at pink leather coat! That IS a find to treasure. From this angle, the boots you have on look great, but we're not really seeing the full effect in the photos above. I do love the deep scoop on the Tee; I've also seen women wearing a lace or contrast coloured camisole with t-shirts like this. Works either way for me. And! Just wanted to say that your hair adornment is so pretty. I can totally see you playing that up with steampunk clothing. Thanks for commenting on the pants length on my recent post. I am going to leave them as is!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's a great idea! I have some racerback tank tops that are lace in back that would look nice layered under this. Never thought of that, thanks Sue!
DeleteSo where will you be living?
ReplyDeleteI'm moving down to Orange County for the nonce; got a job offer there and I'm hoping to find a volunteer/research opportunity to do at the same time. :D
DeleteGood luck with your new home. Moving is always terrible, but making a new home is fun. I hope you keep us updated on the changes in your life.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your job offer. That dress looks like it was made for you and best yet is it's still comfortable. The back is stunning. And lucky thrift find on the pink leather coat. Great tip about the vinegar and water. I'd never heard of the vodka trick before either! Ha. My friend returned a very old leather jacket because of the smell.
ReplyDeleteOMG. Brilliant outfit, and every item a winner. Here's the thing ... I'm trying hard not to get socked in to one style, and you know you can go minimal, or Steam, or anyway you want. That's some kind of versitile style-sense, and I admire it.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather cut my head off with a rusty spoon than go through the process of a major move, but sometimes ya gotta go. The next time, I will burn all but the basics in the pasture.
I get that whole pack away clothes and take them back out type thing, I have to do that with the seasons too. It's frustrating.
ReplyDeleteI must say I love your pink jacket!!
I love the jacket, and the combo of the pink and burgundy. I have been wanting to try it myself. It definitely makes a difference having all the clothes out in plain sight. Worth it for me even to have less clothes, not sure if that's minimalism or just laziness.
ReplyDeleteThat dress looks fabulous on you - you have such a tiny waist - and the low back is sexy! I didn't even notice you were wearing jeans until you mentioned it. And the pink leather coat is a great find. I wonder if Febreze can be used on leather. I use it on jackets that I've bought that had a musty or thrift-store smell, and it works great.
ReplyDeleteI love this dress and the back cut is definitely one of its charms. Looks great on you. The colour combination in this outfit is also nice - pink, burgundy, blue! Love your accessories here too, both the necklace and the hair ornament are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI adore the instantly eye-catching and immensely pretty way you've styled your hair here. One doesn't seem ornamentation worn below a bun like that nearly often enough. It's gorgeous, unexpected and very memorable.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
*PS* Thank you very much for your sympathetic comment on my post about USPS's rate hikes. I too have been putting the ol' grey matter into overdrive for a viable solution for folks (sellers and buyers alike) on both sides of the border and beyond those mentioned in my post (which aren't solutions, just possible ways to help reduce the sting of the problem at hand), haven't come up with anything yet. I think it's a matter of the postal systems realizing that mega corporations aren't the ones who still use their services to send parcels. Plenty of everyday folks and small businesses alike need to be able to avail of the postal system without doing so causing them to go into the red!
I just wrote you a comment and then blogger messed up somehow and it didn't come thru >< !
ReplyDeleteAnyway - good luck for your new home, and I do like your outfit. And the hairpiece is fab! And I'm not a minimalistic wardrobe person either.
That was it in short :D
I love the pink coat!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips on how to get rid of the smell. I have that problem all the time. I'm going to add it to my How To Shop Thrift series. In the summer I find if I just hang them outside for a few days it'll take care of it, but right now it is -10 or something so that won't be happening for months yet.
That belt you asked about on my blog was a consignment store find and very pricey. I think it was $60, but it was so cool and unique I couldn't leave it behind. It is made in Italy and I have a feeling might have been custom made.
Good luck with the move and new job! It all sounds exciting : )
bisous
Suzanne
Congratulations on the job offer, that's great news. Love that little dress, especially the scoop back, and the leather coat is a great find. Thanks for the tip about the vinegar and vodke - but I agree, only the cheap stuff, don't want to waste it! xxx
ReplyDeleteOMG that is too funny about the bear! LOL
ReplyDeletebisous
Suzanne
I love this outfit--that is a good color for you!!
ReplyDeleteGreat dress on you, Aya, and awesome jacket. FYI, "Verra Pelle" means "real leather" - it's not a brand! :)
ReplyDeleteNice post love reading it
ReplyDeleteWomens Leather Biker Jacket
Womens Leather Jacket
Womens Leather Blazer
First tks for your comment Aya on my buzzed head! wanted to do it for a while -
ReplyDeleteWhen i move there will a lot of boxes fill with my clothes, it's awfull how much stuff i have..it will be more than 4 boxes for sure - I never really noticed how tiny your waist is - A pink leather coat, OMG! major score!
Good luck with the move Aya and best of luck with the new job
Arianexo
I just spent the better half of an hour looking at your blog and I wish I didn't have other things to do! I wish I could comment on so many posts, but each one would require thought and introspection, sadly neglected in these harried days. Let me just say that I love your style, your personal narrative, and I wish you much, much happiness as you relocate. I didn't see anything about it as I jumped around, but I look forward to catching up as you move forward.
ReplyDeleteI love the scooped back of the dress. Cover it when you want to, and enjoy it when you don't. The pink coat is a great find, too. I laughed at your comment about SF being for minimalists. Guess I won't fit in there either. :-)
Wow, thank you Jean! I've lurked on your blog admiring your sewing skills for a long time, and finally worked up to leaving a comment. :D
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