With Abandon

Turned out spectacularly well considering how slapped together this outfit was.This was one of those days that I "dressed with abandon" and surrendered to inspiration garnered from the Universe. Not to sound too New Age. 


My precious baby (clarification - my Canon EOS DSLR), the mysteries of whom I am still exploring (read: pressing random buttons in rapid succession and hoping nothing breaks), took these wonderful pictures. The focus, however, is not my woolen skirt or my new sweater, but my red pout. Where has lipstick been my entire life? Like any color-obsessed female, I have always felt drawn to makeup, but my large eyes are too much for most eyeshadow, throwing me into the welcoming arms of lipstick. Kate Moss' new line of Rimmel cosmetics is amazing - wearing one of her creations.

The idea was Industrial Decay, but somehow it got twisted into Brunette Marilyn Monroe shots.

Wool skirt - Kensie

Sweater - Bar III

Tights - Cynthia Rowley

Lace cami - American Eagle

Rimmel lipstick in 08

Booties - Naturalizer

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Inspiration : Chocolat

 When marooned in such an in-between season such as January - February in Nashville(and marooned at home due to a tepid snow day), I find my fashion inspiration turning to the enchanting and ultimately posh world of chocolat. C'est l'art, n'est pas? I can easily see the bows, the frills, the neutral palette filling my wardrobe at the start of the year. 

As a side note, I need that mug.
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Dearly belated 2011

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I beg forgiveness as I am still in time for Russian Orthodox Christmas (January 7th), Old New Year (January 13th) and Chinese New Year (January 23rd).

Amidst the gifts, and rosy-tinted hues of time spent with family and friends, I have had a marvelous break from the real world. Shopping is also in an exalted stage this time of year - picked up this breezy, loose-fitting Kensie shirt and Chinese Laundry tube socks. I cannot play around with these two pieces of my wardrobe enough! Also picked up an amazing dusty pink pussycat bow Express tunic, to be debuted this Friday.

I have made it my New Year's resolution to improve the quantity and quality of my posts!

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Let Them Eat Candy!

Let no one say that a sixteen-year-old cannot go trick-or-treating! And not many people did, most were distracted by the huge creation that was perched on my head 24/7. After nearly a decade of experience in the candy-hunting arts, teenagers have got it down to an exact science/ beautiful art form. The excited clacking of Mary Janes was followed by innocent smiles and a "I like you house/dog/kid(s)" as well as a resounding chorus of "Trick or Treat!" and the sound of VICTORY - candy in your makeshift Forever 21 bag. 

I think this was a high point in my costume-making career. As the fashionable martyr of the French Revolution, the wig proceeded to win my school's costume contest. Why is it that you get more creative on Halloween as you get older?

I was not the only one to utilize the creative juices. Here we have the mandatory Harry Potter character (Luna Lovegood), Catniss from the Hunger Games, the epitome of the Nashvillian stereotype/cow girl and hipster at its' best The Raven from Edgar Allan Poe poem of the same name.

 Dress - Thrifted

 Shirt - Express

 Shoes - Aldo

Wig- Party City

Bow - ripped off stockings

   

Bisous, mes chéries!

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La petite ballerine sauvage

Granted I've been gone more than a month, but hopefully now I'll be overflowing with interesting things to share. These were taken a few weeks ago a la usual understated chic I choose to wear to school.

However, all that was eclipsed by my role as Drowning Girl in my school's haunted house. Incredibly profitable - since my school is a 100 years old and everything is naturally creepy and dilapidated, no decorations needed. The basement even floods, which is where I spent 2 miraculous hours freezing in a mod swimsuit, tights and vintage nightgown.Before you avert your gaze in disgusted amazement, my fellow compatriots and I decided we weren't really scaring anybody and so went off with a knock-off version of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, performing to cheering audiences.

 

Reminicsing mandatory 3rd grade ballet lessons (if you were a little girl in America, you know what I'm talking about) with an arabesque.

I've realized grace is a virtue I do not posses. Although flexibility is.

Cardigan - Guess

Lace cami - American Eagle

Skirt - Express

Tights - from Russia

Flats - Enzo Angiolini

Necklace - from Germany

Clips and earrings - from Kazakhstan

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Paper Faces on Parade

Once again kudos to you if you got the Phantom of the Opera reference from one of my favorite songs.

The long over due Masquerade post. What can I say? It was absolutely lovely and posh - most everyone got with the spirit and came in masks. In an underground cellar, amid twinkling lights and grandiloquent glints of glitter, we danced the night away, sans masked intruder/passionately crazed Opera Ghost.

I ran through downtown on my return in the throes of a magical night, clutching a heavy candy bag.


And now to unveil the dress. In the esprit de masquerade, I affected minor Victorian gothic elegance. Mostly, I felt like a vine (please note the floral black lace). A very poofy vine. I came upon it by chance in my favorite thrift store. Like most things I treasure, I discovered it when it was furthest from my mind. 

 

A few loosely curled strands and a smudge of kohl and voila :

 For inspiration, look no further than Natalya Pushkina, the wife of the father of Russian literature.

Although I must admit my imitation was paltry, I kept with the program. I also decided to throw on a crushed velvet cover-up to enhance my errant 19th century Russian countess look :

 Dress - Thrifted

Shoes - Enzo Angiolini

Jewelry set - Givenchy

Mask - Earthbound

Petticoat (I had to have one) - Party City

Take your turn.
Take a ride.
On a merry - go - round
In an inhuman race.

Eye of gold.
Thigh of blue.
True is false.
Who is who?
Curl of lip.
Swirl of gown.
Ace of hearts.
Face of clown.
Faces.
Drink it in
Drink it up
'til you drown in the light.
In the sound.
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds.
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you!

Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads.
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!

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A Little 20's Magic

Junior year is EXACTLY what everyone said it would be constitutes my petty excuse for my 2-week absence. But now that I'm bemoaning my existence lying in bed with fever and chills, I might as well be productive. I am also bemoaning my over usage of the word bemoan (Getting it out of my system, 'murdering my darlings' as Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch advised).

I realize I owe you the Masquerade post - which went beautifully, by the way, but seeing as my reasoning is impaired at the moment, I will skip ahead to the events of this past Saturday.

I and a few of my friends careened into Green Hills Mall on a wonderful Saturday afternoon as part of a support team. My best guy friend was getting his ears poked by needles and I was torn apart by conflicting emotions. I snapped a few incriminating pictures of him hugging the bear that all little girls getting their ears pierced at Claire's get to hold. Blackmail? I think yes!

As for the outfit, truth be told I am sick of summer and the sweltering weather it includes. Decided I was in dire need of some autumn hues and a touch of the '20s. Dress for the job you want, not the one you have. I think the same thing applies for seasons?

And as usual, my darling artistically-gifted friend Faith snapped most of the pictures.

 Hijacking the Tailoring Station in the Men's Fitting Rooms:

 

Followed by couch-jacking and other shenanigans :

 I found a turtle!

 Jazz....Booze...Boys....It's a dangerous combination.

It's 1923...and anything goes!

(I wish)

Props if you recognized the back cover summary of one of my favorite modern book series - The Flappers.

Even more props if you're ardently awaiting to read the next installment, Ingenue :

Bobbed hair. Short skirts. Cool jazz. Dark speakeasy. Anything goes.

 

Dress - American Eagle

Shoes - Gianni Bini

Purse - gift from Argentina

Cloche - Target

Glass necklace - gift 

I have a gnawing suspicion that I was born in the wrong decade/century.

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