Sweating Bullets with Butterfly Wings

Know what they call lace-up boots with a skirt in Orange County?

... a rookie mistake.

I tried to change up the shorts-tank-sandals routine a little and feel more dressed-up. Result: profuse calf sweat. NO ES BUENO.

Tank top: Diesel (Las Vegas outlet)

Pleated denim skirt: London Jean (thrifted)

Lace-up boots: Report (thrifted)

The Diesel tank top is thick material and double-layered too, so it was also not an ideal garment in the heat. Even my summer clothes are summer-in-San-Francisco clothes. I last wore this tank top with denim too, looking back on it!

I love the purple flowers & butterfly or feathers design on this shirt. I got a close-up of the silver speckles that cover it, but it wasn't easy. All clothes on the floor now exist for lounging. Ahem:

AHEM:

Your blog is now about me.
Australian terrier mutts are a greater market share blah blah shareholder value maximization.
... what, you didn't get the memo?

My transformation into one of those people that anthropomorphizes and shares endlessly about their pets is complete. How did this happen? I remember being cool-headed and reasonable about this in the beginning.

I used to wear boots with skirts and dresses all the time without thinking about it. Well, I wear boots with everything. Something about a good solid pair of chunky boots fills me with comfort and outfit confidence.

It wasn't until moving away for several months and visiting the SF Bay Area that I realized it's totally A Thing there. Every gal does it! Sometimes we need to get some distance from ourselves in order to see more clearly. (:

Down here, not so much of a thing. And now, as I swab out the shafts of my Report boots, I know why.

Fedora Blues

Fedora: Stacy Adams (available online)

Top: Edme Esyllte (eBay)

Locket: Express (v. old)

Boots: ALDO (thrifted)

I still don't know how to style this fedora, but I've had it for several years now, so I'm trying it with anything, so long as it doesn't clash. I originally bought it because my boss at the time had one from this brand and I thought it looked snazzy.

I think some of the difficulty is that the fedora is a warm saturated navy, while most of my clothes are cool and low brightness/saturation.

Tried this purple Edme Esyllte top, since it also doesn't go with anything. I thought it looked kind of military/Steampunky, so I purchased it, only to have it languish in my closet because I can't find something to wear on the bottom. (Skirts don't work because of the empire waist.)

When in doubt, put a bunch of random crap you like together and show Southern OC that there are other things than workout clothes to wear! As my friend says, "You know that feeling you're having? It's called dissonance. It means learning is taking place!"

It's been 95F/35C all summer, and while there's nothing wrong with a tank top and shorts, they don't feel very dressy to me, and I haven't put together anything creative. Most of my clothes are still in storage, and blocked off by a literal ton of 80s television equipment. Sigh. Lately I've been turning on the AC for the dog and escaping to a quiet café to work during the day.

I miss my wardrobe, but I've invested a little money thrifting some things to wear in my new desert climate, to be featured soon. And while my life has been in a slump sartorially, other things are fine to dandy. :D Here's a picture of me at the 626 Night Market with the world's largest cup of boba:

Suddenly my own drink did not seem to measure up

Fresh lavender lemonade

Two really nice ladies sporting outfits from Japan

Tripp Through Your Wires

Weather is warm enough for skirts, too cool to go without a jacket. I can dig it.

Military jacket: Tripp NYC (thrifted)

Skirt: KOMMOTiON NY (eBay, size M available)

Triple scarf: OzzOn Japan (Japan)

Shoes: Rieker Antistress (thrifted)

 Origami Earrings: fake Anthropologie (eBay)

I find military jackets plus floaty skirts so appealing. Or maybe it's just that I like those two things so I smash them together into outfits.

I found the jacket at a thrift store my friend Cathy took me to in Huntington Beach. It's the light cotton type that I completely jettisoned from my wardrobe when I moved to SF. I used to wear them all the time when I lived down here over a decade ago.

The brand Tripp NYC appears to be a goth/punk brand. Big shock that I ended up with it, haha. My friend actually found it. She pulled it from the rack after just seeing the sleeve because she figured it would be my style. I am consistent. :D

There was an awesome cropped bomber jacket there too, but when I zipped it up I garroted myself in the armpits and couldn't lift my arms, so I had to let it go. -_-

I was worried that when I got down here I wouldn't have any place to go shopping, but it's looking like that won't be the case, after all. (:

Who can resist a handkerchief hem? Certainly not I.

Twirly action!

Do you ever combine contrasting or seemingly disparate styles into an outfit?