Governess-esque and an aya scarf

  As promised last post, I took some closer photos of my new scarf. It's a gift from one of my dearest friends, who found custom-dyed yarn named 'aya' at a local shop. :D She knit me this gorgeous scarf out of two skeins. It is a scarf made of aya for Aya, and it cannot be beat for niftiness. I love the colors more each time I look at it.

  The foray into fancy things has been hella fun (there is a NorCalism for you all) but I've been feeling the call of a Ye Olde outfit (fantasy, not history) more and more this weekend. And some mornings you wake up and want to dress like a governess. The endless fog has put me in the mind of Heathcliff and Catherine walking on the moors. Odd, since I didn't even like that book.

  Does this jacket scream 'governess' to you? It does to me. I was surprised to find a Twenty one label when I pulled it from the thrift rack.

  I think it would go best with a long tapering skirt with a flare/bustle at the back, but I don't own one of those*, so I went with a stretch denim mermaid skirt. I love blue and brown together.

  Bare calves look kind of odd to me in Ye Olde outfits, so I added some leggings. The side lace is saucy enough that I guess I am a rebellious governess that has a pint and maybe goes dancing after work. Or a prostitute, since my hair is uncovered. Um, that got uncomfortable quickly.

  I wouldn't worry about a scandal, though. These blasted buttons are such a pain to unfasten I suspect it's the reason this garment was donated in the first place. The little loops for them are so undersized I had to yank at them with my fingernails. I've shoved pens in them to stretch them out.

  My trusty jeweled locket from Express strikes again! Strange that if I hold onto it long enough, this thing designed to look vintage will actually become vintage. Is there a term for old things that were made to look even older?

  It's another long week of huffing uphill with a giant backpack for me, but I've queued up a post for Wednesday so I won't feel left out from all of the fine folks style blogging during the week. I hope you all have a lovely week, and if your week is unlovely, that your weekend comes soon.

* The trouble, I've found, with looking for certain cuts of clothing online is that it crosses over into 'costume' territory and from there into 'fetish' really fast. I don't want to be a Victorian dominatrix, but power to anyone who does.

Governess jacket: Twenty one (thrifted)

Blouse: edme & esyllte (thrifted)

Skirt: realities (thrifted)

Jeweled locket: Express (very old)

Suede hair clip: unknown (Taiwan)

Side lace leggings: cheap junior store

Lightning boots: Naya (zappos, old)

Mullet Skirts

  I have a confession: I like mullet dresses.

  At least, that is what I have been calling this cut since they made their appearance:

  This one is from Doublju, a Korean clothing company that sells some items through Amazon. I've recommended it to a few male friends of mine because they have some interesting urban pieces for men. Tricky in that the clothes tend to be cut for Asian proportions, though.

  I haven't decided how I like the look on me, yet. You may find this odd, seeing as how I've owned this dress for like four months, but that's my other confession: clothes that enter my wardrobe get worked into outfits slowly.

  I think my conclusion is I love how the color matches my scarf (a handmade gift from one of my bestest friends Meghan), and the cut is all right, but I hate the fabric. It's that cheap very stretchy thin fabric that seems to make up all junior clothing nowadays, that is good for draping and nothing else. You can see the lumps of my leggings waistband outlined under the material, and this dress is not in any way tight.  It also means in the back, where I feel this cut should fall in a graceful curve, it hangs limp and folded. It will probably be made into a pattern.

  It was fun to layer under, though. I went with a black lace tank top under the back cutouts and black side lace leggings because the front of this thing is cut pretty high.

  I am linking up to Patti of Not Dead Yet's Visible Monday. It was great fun meeting folks last time, and I hope this week I'll have time to check out more personal style blogs.

  I ran out the door for a ramen appointment with friends and did not get close-up photos of my gorgeous scarf. I'll put some in my post tomorrow.

  How about your wardrobe turnover? Do new things get used right away, or does it take time to integrate?

  Also, if you want to know why outfits take time for me to figure out, it's because the process involves making this:

  ... so I have to make sure I have some time free after getting dressed to put everything away again. This is why every outfit gets logged in a notebook and on this blog now. I'm hoping there is a better way.

Scarf: handmade (Meghan)

Dress: Doublju (Amazon)

Black cincher belt: unknown (thrifted, Japan)

Black lace tank top and leggings: cheap junior stores

Lark boots: Naya (eBay)

Victoriaya

 Tried another Ye Olde style outfit today. I'm feeling a punk mood coming on, though, so tomorrow I'll probably switch it up. Nm, just got invited Steampunk shopping in the Haight tomorrow.

  I took an H&M plum velour skirt (stretchy with pockets!) and paired it with a lace button down shirt. The shirt is not opaque, so I layered it over one of my ubiquitous lace back racerback tank tops. I thought bare calves might look odd with the skirt, so I wore white side lace leggings under it, and my Naya Lightning boots.

  I really like side lace leggings. It seems like a great way to add a touch of sexiness if you're showing a few inches of leg. Too bad I have only found them sold in the cheapest of junior retail establishments, so garment construction is not stellar.

  This shirt is kind of odd- it came from another cheap junior store and the lacing in the back doesn't make sense. The narrowest part of the "corset" lacing is right under the shoulders. If you've ever tried tightening something around that area, you might notice you have these things called ribs in the way. The lacing ends where my waist begins, so there's no way to take it in around the waist at all. I like it enough to keep it, and one nebulous day when I have money and time I would like to draft a pattern and make a garment like this, only that fits.

  Now, I hear what you're saying. "Aya, this outfit works fine for people who go out and do productive things like work, but what about the everyday student anxiously frittering away the last days of vacation before a summerlong blitz of Chemistry? How could she kick this up into a costume?"  For that I say: ACCESSORIES

  Fascinators got a lot of hate in fashion articles, which is hilarious because it was one of the few times I really liked a trend. I love fascinators. I love hats, and a little fancy hat attached to a headband so for once I don't have to worry about fitting it over my big skull? Delightful!

  With my fancy hat and kid gloves I felt like I could take afternoon tea out on my balcony. I also wore sterling silver & garnet flower earrings, my trusty Express jeweled locket, and a glass bead bracelet.

  Do you find items that fit your fashion tastes or needs in unusual places? Do you find yourself dressing with a theme in mind, or do you assemble outfits in another way?

No profit on links, just love:

Shirt: Amor (similar with sleeves or sleeveless)

Skirt: H&M (thrifted)

Leggings: zenana outfitters (similar)

Boots: Naya Lightning (old)

Fascinator: Cara New York (old)

Jewelry: Express locket, glass bracelet from Paris, old earrings