Shades of Gravender

I backed the camera up in an attempt to avoid the lens flare and backlighting. MISSION FAIL.

I made this outfit for Spygirl's 52 Pick-Me-Up challenge: layers. Also because it is freezing in my room. Man, I look so proportional when sleeves are the correct length. Japanese clothing all the way.

All the dangly pointy bits of cloth made me feel like curtsying.
I hope I did patron saint of masterful layering Shawna proud.

Where to begin?

Purple heattech undershirt: UNIQLO (gift from Mom, Japan)

Grey bamboo dress: Natural Life (Purre at The CAMP)

Double layer vest: MOUTH valley (thrifted, Japan)

Outermost long vest: LUX (clothing swap)

Wide belt: pellemelle (thrifted)

Jodhpurs as leggings: Ariat (thrifted)

Boots: ALDO (thrifted)

Cloisonne necklace and enamel earrings: unknown (thrifted)

If you haven't seen these before, that's right, jodhpurs! (Thanks, Excelsior Goodwill!) They are by the company Ariat and so comfortable and warm. They also have deep front pockets. Rich people really know how to live!

The wide leather belt is one I thrifted a few weeks ago in SF, by pellemelle. The end has a tendency to start slipping out of the buckle, but otherwise I am really happy with it. It's comfortable, the right size, and the soft leather has enough stretch that I don't garrote myself in the midsection when I sit down.

The outfit was so neutral that I tried to add a little color with the cloisonne jewelry, but overall I think it's still pretty "Look, ma! I'm greyscale!" That isn't to say I don't like it; purple and grey is one of my favorite combinations*! I'm just obsessed with trying to up my color game recently and I don't want to feel like I was backsliding.

* In fact, know what I'm gonna call it? Gravender. Shut up. Clever! ᕦ(ಠ_ಠ)ᕤ

Style or Die! challenge : bamboo dress

  During this challenge I've sometimes dressed like a deranged person while flailing wildly in Experimentland, but I like how this waterfall layering one turned out. I'm linking up to Spygirl's layering challenge.

Bamboo jersey dress: Natural Life (Pürre)

Double vest: MOUTHvalley (thrifted, Japan)

Belt: Kimchi Blue (thrifted)

Jodhpurs as leggings: Ariat (thrifted)

Lace and bead necklace: Forever 21 (thrifted)

Boots: ALDO (thrifted)

  The back of the vest is much shorter, so unfortunately it looks a little odd from behind. I managed to French braid my own hair though, to make up for it. :D

  This dress was bamboozling me for a while because its asymmetric hem means the skirt almost always needs to be layered over leggings or a skirt, but its plain v-neck top is too thin to be worn on its own and needs to be layered under something. This means it cannot go under most dresses.

  Oh, and it's a size L and billowy cut, so I need to cinch it somehow to avoid rocking that pregnant look again.

  This dress is a keep, but not for the usual reason. I'd send it to one of you, but after I wore the outfit a few times, the dress, which was in brand new condition, started pilling all over, something I expect will just get worse. Gah stupid cheap jersey material. One of the worst types of fabric, I swear.

  When it wears out it will probably be made into a pattern, and I'll alter the top to be easier to layer. And use a fabric that isn't so terrible!

Style or Die!* challenge: Intro

* Please note challenge does not involve anyone or any thing dying. Or even dyeing.

  This weekend I started yanking things out of my closet I never wear and decided I will try to style them or donate them. In another few weeks, I'll probably have photos of clothes I'm thinning out of my wardrobe, and if you all are interested, I'll put a list here and let my blogging friends have first pick.

  If you have any suggestions, or if you covet anything, please let me know!

 Jolt school/military style blazer. I was charmed by its slanted pockets and fabric-covered buttons. Haven't worn it.

   Miken grey moto cloth jacket. Got it as an underlayer to my leather jackets, haven't worn it for a long time

   Natural Life bamboo dress. Jersey material's too thin to be worn by itself, and its unusual hemline makes it difficult to layer under other dresses

   Old Navy lavender peacoat. I have multiple peacoats. This is likely the one I wear least.

   Rave military denim jacket- despite my love of jackets and of military styled things, I never wear this. I probably have a bias against denim jackets I was trying to overcome, and failed to.

   Triple Five Soul pinstripe vest. Love the details, cannot figure out how to wear it without feeling like office wear.

  Twenty One long vest. I tend to wear skirts higher when I'm doing vests, and the length of this makes it awkward. I also took it with me during my last trip to Taiwan/Japan, and I have a bad habit of getting sick of clothes after I wear them for two weeks or more, and never wanting to see them again.

  One of the cool things about blogging is looking at pictures of my outfits gives me a better perspective. When I look in a mirror, I automatically focus on my face. I can get around this by letting my eyes go out of focus and looking at the proportions of the outfit at a distance, but using the photos of this blog is even better. I also notice startling resemblances to family members. Do you see things in photographs of yourself that you don't notice in the mirror?

  So that's the list, folks! I will try to make outfits around these, time permitting (it takes me a long time to figure out outfits) over the next several posts. Suggestions are, as always, welcomed, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Research projects permitting. (*digs a breathing hole through large pile of ADHD articles and books*)

Lab Fashion

  I think I've figured out a lab-appropriate outfit with some personality!

  The shoes don't match, but I don't have many shoes I can walk in for 13 hours.

  Around mid-July in the SF Bay Area, weather turns humid, grey, and windy and stays that way until September/October. Adding insult to injury they ventilate the lab something fierce, and I'm numb and shivery after 4 hours in there.

  I need something layered and warm, something I can walk miles in, and fabric that won't dissolve/burst into flames if when I sweat (the school is a mile uphill from the train station.)

  I love this cropped cardigan by BIZZ. It's got a flattering crop cut for the long of waist, slightly princess sleeves for the broad of shoulder, and a warm stretchy collar that turns up against the wind.

  And check it out, the embroidery goes all the way around! I love it when that happens.

  I didn't realize the back seams of the two garments would line up like that, but I like it.

  I am also wearing a stretchy bamboo fabric dress. It's big and made of that useless super stretchy style cloth that's too thin to wear on its own, so it's always an underlayer. I'll admit it does make a great underlayer. I'm almost certain you can't see my midriff through it, but in case you spot it, please let me know and I'll make sure it gets packed safely away.

  Whatever happened to the bamboo fabric trend? I have a few pieces, and some sets of sheets that are bamboo, and I really liked it. Then it all went away.

  The bottom button was missing, but I kind of like the twin points it makes at the bottom. And I can always move the top button down, since I've never buttoned it up to my nose before.

  Random question: do you find yourself noticing how you resemble family members as years go by? I look at a lot of photos of myself for this blog, and I feel like I'm seeing it more and more.

Cropped cardigan: BIZZ (thrifted)

Dress underlayer: Natural Life (shop at The CAMP)

Skinny jeans: ZARA Basic

Shoes: Hush Puppies Hatha (old)