what's new?

My phone finally died awhile back and I had to replace it. I got a second job so I now work 7 days a week, roughly 8 hours a day. I'm a zombie. I let myself have a tiny bit of a social life this week and took a day off and saw Kyary Pamyu Pamyu at the Showbox and hung out with my dad. I got my hair cut (24" off!) and colored it redd-er. And I've been working on this pair of fingerless mitts/wristwarmers and they're shaping up nicely.

blog redesign

I was getting a little sick of the harsh black background and overall dark look of the ol' blog, so I switched it up! What do you think? I went with a light, vintage, crafty vibe. I'm so not tech savy, so I actually made me header by hand, on paper, and then scanned it. I used a faux bois stamp with a pretty light turquoise-y ink, washi tape from Uwajimaya, and my blog's name is handwritten. I also scanned a vintage dress for the background. I'm really excited to have a fresh new look, but because I also changed the layout I'm going to have to go back through all my old posts and fix the overlarge photos. So far I've dealt with the first couple pages, but if you happen to see some funky looking older posts, I'm so sorry and I'm working on getting those fixed.

not dead yet

My lovelies, this sucks. Both my camera and my computer are currently out of commission. I feel like every other blog post these days is whining about why I can't post. I swear, the second I get these things fixed, I'll get the ball rolling again. I really do miss blogging. In fact, I feel so guilty about not doing it that I haven't even been able to read my favorite blogs, so I'm also missing my bloggy friends. Posting should resume soon! In the meantime, I'm drinking wine in the bathtub while reading Infinite Jest and finding cute art in dive bar bathrooms.

ladylike

Since I've been home from my trip (I'm working on the pictures, I promise), I've been dressing super vintage and girly. Well, not all the time, but every time I've bothered to take pictures. Never fear, I will never leave my combat boots, short skirts, and flannel behind entirely. I am a Seattle girl, after all.

skirt - h&m (old), sweater - icelandica, sunglasses - topshop, tights - target, clogs - jeffrey campbell, purse - thrifted coach

See? While none of this is actual vintage, it has such a vintage look/silhouette. I got this skirt ages ago, when I was like fifteen in NY. H&M did not exist on the west coast yet, so we were crazy excited for cheap, fashionable clothes. I never really figured out how to wear this skirt because it wasn't really my style.* It's seersucker, super full and pleated, and awfully fun to wear. It actually has suspenders, which I didn't wear in this outfit, but I might try something soon with those. 

The sweater is from Iceland and was my most expensive purchase from my travels. On my way to Iceland, I read a little and watched a video about the country. Both mentioned Icelandic wool sweaters and their super traditional designs. I loved the look of them but totally didn't think I would see tons of people wearing them. WRONG. Oh my god, at least a quarter of all the people I saw in Iceland were wearing some variation on this sweater. Pullover, cardigan, zipped, dress, oversized, cropped . . . they all had the traditional patterned yoke. This particular one is actually a child's sweater because I couldn't afford the adult sweaters. I think it works as a kind of cropped, three-quarters sleeves sort of way. Right?

I also bought the sunglasses while traveling but I'll have more detailed pictures of both those and the sweater in coming posts. Although I haven't been super faithful with the photo taking lately, and have been absolutely abysmal when it comes to actual blogging, I'm feeling like I'm ready to get back into it and make it a regular thing. Unusually, this blogging break has not coincided with a slump in my style, which kind of makes me feel like this blog's purpose has been fulfilled but I honestly miss blogging so I think I'll stick around.**

*Ha! Like I had style when I was fifteen.

**Woah! Too much alliteration, entirely unintentional.

guys, I've been an absolutely wretched, deadbeat blogger lately. It's been, what? two weeks since I last posted? So not cool, and I know it. I'll get back on the wagon I swear. I don't know what's killing all my motivation but I'm gonna have to snap out of it at some point.

i wear my wardrobe

I joined weardrobe! Finally. It seems really cool, although I'm having a hell of a time figuring out how to set a profile picture. Well, it seems pretty obvious but it's just not working for me. Anyways, there's some super fashionable people with great photos on there and I'm pretty excited about it. Check it out/follow me? I'll probably end up posting photos there first since I don't bother writing much. I take a little more time with a post on the blog.

Just so this post isn't ALL words, here are two pictures I took over the summer with a vintage Yashica 35mm SLR from my mom's aunt. The photos make me miss being unbearably hot and having dirty toes.

Happy Thanksgiving! (almost a week late)

If my computer hadn't gone all craptastic on me, this is the post I would have posted on Thanksgiving day, or the day right after. Above is my food. It was delicious. Below is my outfit.

sweater - american rag, jeans - gap, shoes - thrifted

I adore this sweater. The color, the awesome batwing shape (I think the sleeves connect somewhere around my waist), the lacy detailing, the cute little crocheted balls on the drawstring, the smocked waist. Really, everything. I don't usually pay full price for clothes, but I'd just gotten paid and I fell in love with this. Not my usual style, but I think that's cool too. Definitely makes me want some high-waisted seventies bellbottoms.

The jeans are also new. Gap jeans are officially my new favorite for skinny jeans. They fit amazingly. I'm not sure I love them with the sweater, but I do adore them with the shoes. The jeans/shoes combination makes me feel like I need a guitar. In a Bob Dylan sort of way.

By the way, I think only four people have entered the contest, so you still have a really good (understatement) chance of winning. Enter!

100 posts! (and a contest)

Wow, I can't believe this is my 100th post! And nearly a year of blogging as well. I'm digging it more than you can imagine.



So in honor of my 100th post I thought I'd have a little contest. I'm not telling you can win, except that it's a surprise package of some of my favorite/awesome things.



To enter the contest, simply leave a comment telling me what your favorite outfit/picture I've posted. I've posted a selection from the last year but if you remember one that is not in this post, feel free to share it. The contest will be open for about 2 weeks. Make sure you leave your email address as well so I can contact you if you win. I'll also post the winner on the blog.

alone at a party = awkward evening

cardigan - thrifted, belt - thrifted, tank - gap, skirt - jack by bb dakota, tights - dkny, shoes - target, necklace - thrifted, earrings - claire's, watch - vintage

Tonight I went to blogmeetblog at BoConcept. It was really fun! Kind of awkward at first, since I went alone, but I met a really nice couple i hung out with for the evening and bunch of interesting people. I actually didn't take any pictures while I was there...not sure why. But it was a really fun event and everyone looked amazing. It was hosted by Needle+Thread and The Clothes Horse and they did an amazing job putting it all together.

Anyways, I just got this skirt last week when I was shopping with Justina. I found it on sale for $10, down from $50 at Macy's. I also got a sweet sweater and a pair of jeans from the Gap, which I love. I obviously love plaid, so this skirt makes me really stoked. And the belt is just so freaking pretty. I picked it up at Value Village on the way to that Deftones party a couple months ago and it's one of my favorite thrift store purchases.

plaid, plaid, plaid

jacket - target, sweatshirt - volcom, flannel shirt - thrifted, hat - target, jeans - pacsun, shoes - converse

I took three pictures today because I thought it was funny that everything I was wearing on the top half of my body had some sort of plaid. The sweatshirt pattern is pretty faint, but it's there. Anyways, I really apologize for the lack of blogging lately. School has been kind of crazy and my hours have been increased at work (which I'm actually really stoked about). Ugh, also, I got in a car accident on Tuesday. It was very, very minor, but now my door is stuck locked and I have to climb through the passenger side door instead. So wearing skirts is not really happening right now.

Anyways, I don't have a whole lot to say, other than that I'm really excited for Blog Meet Blog, a northwest blog meet-up that's occuring next Friday in Seattle. It should be really fun!

NEW BLOG!

So I've decided to move my blog. Originially the Era Vera one was supposed to be about crafting and cooking, but when I got interested in blogging about fashion I just started doing it there. Now I feel like my fashion and crafting need separate places (although there will probably be some overlap) and so am starting a new blog (with all my fashion posts from Era Vera imported over here, yay).

Anyways, I have pictures of what I wore last weekend. I went to a family birthday (my stepdad and two uncles) and wore a ridiculous shirt.


shirt - thrifted, pants - express, shoes - vans

I bought this shirt at a thriftstore in Ellensburg when I was there for the jazz festival several years ago. My mom, grandparents, and aunt and uncle were going, and I brought Justina and this guy, Seth, we were hanging out with a lot back then. (Who neglected to tell us he was vegan until we got there, despite the fact I asked if anyone had any sort of dietary restrictions that we needed to account for.) We camped and it was lots of fun, although the jazz itself was pretty boring. But we did a lot of swinging on swings late at night and Seth taught me to finally jump off a swing while it was still moving.

The shirt reminds me of something that would be a uniform for a someone working at a fast food restaurant/burger joint in the 50s. Not sure why. It's really king of a gross shirt, it's a little shiny. Seth totally disapproved of me buying it. But I like it in this outfit and only wish I had higher waisted pants to wear with it.



(by the way, if you get what the name of this new blog is indirectly referencing, you are cool. and no, simply translating it will not tell you the answer.)

just thought i'd mention....

not only have i not been posting on my own blog while i was freaking out over finals (dude, it's been awhile since i've taken school seriously, so give me a break if i freaked out a little more than necessary) but i haven't been checking up on my regular blogs to read. i just did so, and it was a joy. something about seeing all these wonderful creative people is so inspiring and a good blog post can really make my day. i'm not going to mention each of them by name, but my regular reads are all pretty much over on the side there. there's about a million new things i'm thinking and excited about now, so a general thanks to everyone that inspires me. thank you.