A weekend of San Franthriftco

I recently visited the Bay Area for the weekend. Thrifting was involved, so I'll report back on what I did there. :D

Here is my first successful capsule wardrobe:

Citizens of Humanity sweatshirt (thrifted)

7 for all Mankind jeans (gift from brother)

ANAC mesh top (eBay)

OCCO Paris teal top (free)

Nancy Giallombardo denim skirt (thrifted)

Fitzwell Laura sandals (6pm.com)

I also had my trusty New Balance sneakers. Everything went with everything else! First time I've been able to do that. (My usual method of outfit selection is 'waaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh I wanna wear thisandthisandthisandthis') I also figured since I'd be thrifting during my time up there, that I could add stuff if I wanted.

I actually went up to visit my favorite Joe (srsly. I have met no other Joes I like better.) for his band's show and EP launch. The band is called The Hangover Brigade, they have a folk rock sound, and they are immensely talented and fantastic. (Which is good, because it'd be really awkward if I thought they sounded terrible.)

You can listen to the entire EP on CDbaby (they are also sold on iTunes, Amazon, and other large vendors) and you really should. I had the first track stuck in my head for 48 hours after the show, and that's an endorsement.

The Hangover Brigade's last show!

Here's their cover of No Diggity, that they played as an encore:


Before the show, we drove into the city and walked up and down Haight St. looking for gig-type clothes and accessories for Joe. The only thing more fun than thrift shopping for me is thrift shopping for someone else. Even competing with the pre-Halloween crowd, we had great luck!

Here's what we found:

Exhibit A: grey 5 button vest from Goodwill

Exhibit B: Fuzzy black J's Awake shoes from Wasteland. The soles are red!

Exhibit C: Marshall Collins flatcap from Goorin Bros. Not thrifted, just awesome. I'm pretty sure flatcaps were put on this earth for men with van dyke beards.

We also found these low grey Alfani boots and the following day Joe found the sweet Olympique Marseille track jacket at one of my favorite thrift shops. Soccer's his favorite sport, so extra win. It was in great condition, with a plastic tag loop still inside. I think it was new! I found another picture of it online:

Happily, Joe dug my style suggestions, and the things I thought he could rock he totally rocked. I thought he looked great, he thought he looked great, happy shopping vibes all around.

The items are all multipurpose and can be used for music gigs, work, or everyday. There was a coat with tails briefly tried on at a Steampunk shop because when it comes down to it, I think everybody should wear Regency style clothes, but maybe for another time.

And because I had a few hours to kill during soundcheck before the show started, I tootled back to the Goodwill down the street and went shopping for myself this time. >.>

Whee! My haul from two thrift shops that weekend:

I've been looking for mustard skinny jeans or jeggings for a long time to wear with sweater dresses & boots in the winter. I'm slowly taking steps into the world of color. Thanks to style blogs, I know colors I'd never wear near my face because of my complexion can be worn on my lower half.

These jeans are by Margaret M, and still had the tag attached. I found out it's a Canadian brand that makes their products domestically. Any northerners heard of the brand?

The wide leather belt is by Pellemelle, and thanks to alert readers, I know 'pelle' is Italian for leather. :D Italian leather, it says on the inside, and made in the US.

The grey and black checked vest is from TRF, which I think is a collection within Zara. It's size L, but it has criss-crossing straps in the back that let me cinch it in to the correct width.

The Forever 21 Japanese print shirt shell was a go back behind the counter that I pointed to excitedly as we were checking out. Instant sell! I'm not sure how I feel about the red lace, but the print and the long square fire hazard sleeves absolutely do it for me.

Check out the luster on these fake pearls! I don't often have luck thrifting jewelry, but I thought I hit it big with these. I want to wear the blue pearls with the lace-feather-ribbons flower pin with my dark blue OzzOn dress.

Lastly, these Candie's green and brown platform boots fill another hole in my wardrobe- casual sturdy boots in the brown color palette. My thrifted Doc Martens chafe my Achilles tendon something fierce, so onto eBay they go.

I put so many holes through my October budget that it's curled up in a corner somewhere licking its wounds, but I regret nothing. Sometimes I've thrifted things and gone 'aww crap, that wasn't a good idea' but this time, all items feel like practical fits within my existing wardrobe. Vest, wide belt, shirt shell, boots, jeans... this is basically Couturgatory right here in one thrifted heap. What's your latest treasure or your latest 'aww crap' purchase?

All Dress Weather, All the Time

Good news: when I picked out clothes for my limited closet space, I brought a bunch of warm weather dresses!

Bad news: a dress is an entire outfit, so once worn, I feel like I can't wear it on the blog again for a while. I haven't featured this dress on the blog since-holy crap-almost exactly a year ago though, so I guess it is okay.

Dress: OzzOn Japan (secondhand, Japan)

Cropped blazer: Isaac Mizrahi for Target (thrifted)

Tensha bead earrings: The Thorn & Rose (etsy)

Bracelet: Foreign Exchange (old)

Sandals: Fitzwell (6pm.com)

It's not showing much, but I'm also wearing a perfectly-sized racerback underdress that's the same shade and that conveniently covers any gaps in the hem that might flash too much thigh.

It also enabled me, while attending my friend Athena's wedding, to take the dress off in the parking lot and offer it to a near-stranger who was admiring it so she could try it on. Alcohol was definitely involved.

Athena, incidentally, was the very one who introduced me to this brand! The day we met, I noticed two things about her: first, she was intelligent and outspoken (three things?), specifically on the topic of an awful textbook that had been required reading for one of our introductory courses, and second, that she was wearing a jacket that was sweeeeet beyond all recognition.

I complimented her jacket and introduced myself in the ladies room. And the rest, as they say, is history. :D

East by South East

  Ariane at Style Sud-Est is doing a linkup with a Japanese-inspired theme and I was all, "I'm Japanese! I'm inspired!"
  I'm going to link this up to Patti's Visible Monday, as well.

Look, fire hazard sleeves! My favorite.

  This is my latest shirt shell from the thrift shop. It was like, "Look, (non gender-specific) bitch! FANS."

  and I was like, "Hells yeah." *reaches for shirt*

  I took one of the lovely button flowers Megan Mae gave me and used it as a kanzashi hairpin.

Kimono-style shirt shell: Zero Zero (thrifted)

Skirt: Express (thrifted)

Button flower: Megan Mae (gift!)

Laura sandals: Fitzwell (old)

Necklaces: gift from brother (Okinawa), rice necklace mall stand (very old)

  The only wee problem with the shirt: the way it's folded right now, I am a dead person. I'm going to have to take apart the ribbon under the bust and switch the fold to left over right. I am not at all superstitious, but I keep worrying a Japanese person will see me and be mortified. (haha!)

  It is SO HOT and sunny in the Bay Area right now! Of course by hot I mean it got to 85 the other day. I know all of you languishing in summer heat are staring daggers at me right now. I can feel them. Poik! Poik! Poik! Ow.

  I love this weather, though I can't spend a lot of time in direct sunlight because starting in my late twenties-early thirties, I started freckling instead of tanning evenly. NOW I know why fobby women shield themselves from the sun as if they were puddles.

  Last weekend in Sacramento, my friend got married in the California Automobile Museum. It was really cool! We could walk around and look at the exhibits in between the ceremony and reception, and there was Vic's ice cream for everyone. I never thought of myself as a car-lover (though I enjoyed working on them with my father growing up and in high school) but the collection there is amazing. There are interactive demos, old cars you can climb into and take pictures in, and free tours. I really loved it.

  I thought of Ally especially so I took some pictures of the classic cars. (click to enlarge and scroll)

  I hope all of your weekends are as gorgeous as mine. (:

A sash by any other name

Shirt: BKE boutique (thrifted)

Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft (thrifted)

Sandals: Laura sandals by Fitzwell (6pm.com, old)

  This full length Ann Taylor Loft skirt is new-to-me. I got it on the same thrift trip in which I found my shrug/cropped blazer.
  I was all, "Sweet, TWO things I've been looking for! Thanks, SF thrift store!"
  And the thrift store was like, "Don't worry about it, Aya. Congrats on summer school. See you next month."
  "Hey do you think I could also get-"
  "You're pushing your luck, kid."
  I might alter it to be narrower, more of the straight skirt look I want to wear with AZN tops like this one, but it was $5.50, lined, and the correct length for me. O.O  The plastic tag connector was still in it, so I suspect it's new. I think there is a well-off woman (or man!) in San Francisco with a 25" inseam who donates to that store. I donate some of my things in the hopes that s/he may find them and like them, too.

  I fell in love with this shirt when I found it a few years ago, but I haven't worn it much. I really, really like the sash because it looks kind of like an obi. Trouble is, it sits on my lower ribs, so I can't get it to lie smoothly. It's too tight when I inhale and sags when I exhale. It can be cut off and moved, but it sits on a full circle seam around the shirt's empire waist. I'm used to my wide belts sitting at my natural waist or just below it. Can I consult with all of you and get your suggestions? Sheila? Megan Mae?

   I'm mostly bed-bound for a few days due to an illness I put off for a month to smash through my chem courses. Don't worry, yesterday a wonderful PA-C took care of me and told me in no uncertain terms to never do that, and to take myself to the emergency room on Sunday if I haven't improved by then. Then she said my shirt was really pretty. I would have hugged her if I thought I could get away with it. So if I look a little stiff in photos, we can blame my kidney and not my camera shyness. :D
  I'm wearing my stash of soft, stretchy shirts while I am on the mend, because I can't physically do all the stuff involved in designing new outfits. I'll just sketch out new ones in my head to try later. :D

  Side-track!
  Patti of Not Dead Yet Style tweeted this link, a tutorial titled DIY kimono, and I like the looks featured, but I gotta say I disagree with the nomenclature the author used. In fact I believe the first words that came out of my mouth were, "Dude, that's a robe."
  I don't mean they aren't lovely ways to style the item, and I understand you'll probably get more hits and it sounds cooler to say 'kimono', but seriously, I think that there is a robe.
  Robe:

Kimono:

Robe:

Kimono:

  You're welcome.

Discount Kimono

  I understand why people get excited about vintage clothing, now.

  I found this kimono for a ridiculously low price at Trendy Boutique in Berkeley. I'd never even seen kimono on sale in a shop before. The nice gal behind the counter asked if I was going to hang it on the wall as art. "Nope!" I announced in my voice that I never remember to modulate for delicate social situations, "I'm going to wear it!"

  Ever since the amazingly fashionable Judith at Style Crone posted a photo of herself in a kimono here and Megan Mae mentioned owning one, I started thinking, "Why don't I own a kimono? I want one." I'm normally shy of vintage or ethnic clothing, and this is both, but whatever, it's my ancestry! I'm throwing caution to the wind! I don't know which side goes on top! I don't have an obi so I'll use a scarf! Etc.!

  These are my old Nike dri-fit athletic pants that I bought because they reminded me of hakama. How appropriate. I've had them for about 10 years and I sure hope they don't wear out, because I have no clue how I'd replace them.
  I am linking up to Patti of Not Dead Yet Style's Visible Monday, because a kimono is pretty visible. I am also going to try styling the trousers three different ways in a week for Anne Bray of Spy Girl's challenge. I was contemplating trying the challenge with the kimono, but then my brain tried to crawl out one of my ears.

  These are Laura sandals by Fitzwell, along with tabi. The short, blocky platform looks a little like the platform on traditional Japanese footwear. I think I'm going to keep an eye out for something like these Hush Puppies sandals (they come in wide and extra wide! whee!) that have something of the traditional footwear shape with more modern support, because I'm not wearing geta and walking three miles a day.

  It is an older woman's kimono, because the sleeves are short. The pattern is a subtle one of bamboo leaves, some flowers delicately outlined in gold, and here and there, a hint of peach.
  I am determined to make a functioning outfit so I can wear this to school, because while this is clearly not the fashion equivalent, it is the comfort level of a bathrobe. Also, and I want to say this with the proper emphasis of someone who has been shivering miserably since 2005- wearing a kimono and an extra layer of silk wrapped around your waist is warm. It is so warm.
  I'm kind of at a loss for what to use as a jacket over this though, save another kimono. I probably need to look into an actual belt rather than scarf, too. Any suggestions you have for the outfit are welcome.
  Do you have vintage or ethnic pieces you like to wear?

Kimono: vintage (Trendy Boutique)

Athletic pants: Nike dri-fit (old)

Laura sandals: Fitzwell (old, 6pm.com)
Scarf: etsy store
Tabi: Ichiban-kan, San Francisco

Homework for the Holidays

  I spent the 4th and 5th from morning to night working on problem sets for my classes, so by Friday I was feeling burnt something fierce. I made a deal with myself that if I finished all of my homework on time, I could go thrifting for an hour or two.

  It was coming down to the wire, but I finished! It was too late to go to my favorite shop, so I nipped out to the one near my apartment, and took along some bags of things to donate.  Here's the outfit I chose for thrifting:

  It's important to have a skirt that is easy to try things on over or under, and a tight-fitting tank top. The cardigan is open in front so I can pull it on or off quickly, and the shoes are slip-on.

  Every time I wear the Fitzwell Laura sandals, I'm taken aback at how much longer my legs look. If you're in the market for elongated calves, I definitely recommend them. The easy fix I implemented to stop them pinching back in May worked great. 

  I enjoy the strings that can draw the back of the cardigan up, depending on the waist of skirt/jeans I am wearing. What are these things called? They remind me of the classic curtains in theatres.

  Forgot to take a close-up of the material, so here is a zoomed photo of the gorgeous pattern on the skirt. I love it. I sometimes take it out of my closet and just look at it. >.>

  One of those cheap "Your name on a grain of rice!" capsules (I was 17) and a charm to protect one at a crossroads from Okinawa. My brother had our family name inscribed on the back. A gal that worked in a very nice boutique in Newport Beach once asked me if the necklace combination was Chan Luu. I had to look her up because I am bad at brands, but it made me feel very fashionable. (:

  I ended up finding a few awesome pieces at the local thrift shop that I will post soon, time permitting. Then I went for a run for the first time in weeks and it was the best run ever. It was 30 minutes of not being stressed out and I wanted to go on and on forever.

Skirt: ecoté (Urban Outfitters, old)

Cardigan: Candie's (thrifted)

Bustier tank: (cheap juniors store)

 Laura Sandals: Fitzwell (6pm.com)

Necklaces: grain of rice (very old), omamori (gift, Okinawa)