Fashion for everyone

it has rained for the last two days here in texas, making me thankful for having found this vintage trench coat while thrifting with my sister last week {though i plan to change its buttons to black as soon as i'm back in NYC}. if you're ever in the austin area, the goodwill on lake austin boulevard is a secret goldmine of goodies.

this getup got me through the bad weather bog, but since the sun's finally come out again, leaving everything lush and gooey green, i'd better get off the computer and enjoy it!

wearing: gap hat, vintage jacket, lanvin silk t-shirt, j brand jeans

i recently mentioned that my family loves tradition ~ but our 'traditions' aren't terribly 'traditional.' one of our favorite things to do is come up with nonsense words/sayings and integrate them into our shared daily lives.

last year, my brother painstakingly put together an illustrated dictionary of our familial inside-slang, called 'the dictionary of dude' {note: we call our patriarch 'dude' instead of dad}. anyway.... one of my favorites from among the family vernacular is 'TOP10,' which is officially defined as follows:

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we use this phrase a lot ~ as in: 'wow, those enchiladas mom made tonight were totally TOP10.' or, 'OMG, that skirt is so TOP10; you have to buy it!'

although, by definition, 'TOP10' rarely bears any relation to real numbers, i thought that ~ as we come to the conclusion of my first full year of costume blogging ~ it would be fun to actually outline TEN of my favorite 2009 costumerlies {click any pic to jump to its original post}:

bette davis eyes {left}: eleven months later, i still love the combination of this balenciaga dress + self-made fur chubbie / the last glamourai {right}: this pic represents how i felt this year ~ like i finally became a 'real' new yorker (it took a few)

i love short shirts {left}: my preferred proportions of 2009 ~ the crop top + pouf skirt / cyberpunk gypsy {right}: this top is so special that i only wear it about once every year ~ but it's easily one of my most TOP10 pieces!

bands of bling {left} & on a jet plane {right}: this was THE year of the pouf-pleated harem pant. thus, they deserve a double mention.

among my favorite designs of 2009: twinkle toes {left} & glamourwraps {right}

my top2 of the top10 head-to-toe looks: hair, bare, and every wear {left} & two tone / new tone {right}

finally, because i have a hard time playing favorites in my own wardrobe {and because the definition of 'TOP10' is so fluid}, honorable mentions belong here, here, here, here... and HERE

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and that, mes sœurs, is my style in 2009! big thanks to those readers who have been following long enough to remember them all!

which was your favorite? did i leave anything out that you really loved? have you any words of wisdom for the new year?

in my family, we're big on tradition ~ especially at christmastime ~ and every year, the list of holiday rituals grows. we love adding new ones! indeed, since last year {when my sister and i coordinated in salt + pepper ensembles} we have decided it will forevermore be customary to wear lace on christmas day:



glamour jr wears: 'in god we trust' headband, 12by12 blouse + skirt, vintage + the glamourai jewelry, guess shoes

{vintage glasses littered about the house}

wearing: f21 earrings, rodarte for target shirt, helmut lang bandeau, ports 1961 skirt, target socks, colin stuart shoes

the last few days have been a frantic flurry of getting ready to leave new york for the holiday season: finishing jewelry orders, shipping gifts, and tying up a year's worth of loose ends. the payoff for this mania will be nearly three lovely weeks off ~ during which i'll be checking in from texas, new mexico, and who knows where else along the way?

anyway, i've got to finish packing now {warmer weather wear, yay!}, but here's what i've been wearing nearly every day for the last week:

vintage sunnies, coat, belt & gloves; h+m tights; coach boots

i took these pictures last week, when the weather was still fairly warm {for december in new york, at least}. by now i can't leave the flat without a wooly winter coat, so they're a nice reminder of a milder time.


the obi i'm wearing is a prototype for a new line for shrimpton couture. i'm hoping to debut them soon! the socks are the result of a recent weekend trip home to texas, during which i went a little nuts in the hosiery department at target. they had so many cute bow-bedecked styles! unfortunately, not anymore; i think i cleaned em out.

wearing: vintage hat, the glamourai pink peony glamourwrap and reversible obi belt, rogan shirtdress, vintage 1930's tap pants, target socks, bebe boots

i'm working on a little line of reversible obi belts for shrimpton couture, and begged them to lend me back a couple glamourwraps for color matching.

they generously acquiesced, and ~ well, you know me ~ i couldn't resist wearing this spotted slate version to a casual client meeting yesterday:

i love that it's basically a blazer ~ but a bit more boho.

this particular kimono has been even more difficult than most to bid adieu to ~ it actually came from my personal collection. happily though, i know it's destined to go to a good home, since shrimpton couture clients are all so chic!

also, i'm pretty sure this is the first time i've ever worn a proper pair of blue jeans on this blog {probably because this is the only pair i own}. these miss sixty's have been with me for at least six years, but i only recently salvaged them from storage and reinserted them into my wardrobe rotation. i love that they're so firmly fitted through the top, and so absurdly flared below. why is finding a perfect pair of bell bottoms such a rarity?

wearing: coach sunnies, vintage earrings, elizabeth + james blouse, the glamourai spotted slate glamourwrap and gunmetal begonia ring, miss sixty jeans, rachel rachel roy bag, d+g boots

i'm karate-kicking around town today in my favorite full-leg pants!

whenever the weather worsens, these double-wide drawers quickly come out of my closet. they're made of the thickest pleated knit, and magically feel both weightless and warm.

lately, i'm also loving this asymmetric blouse. it one of those rare garments that automatically imbues nonchalant chic ~ the perfect combination of elegance, ease, and just enough edge.

wearing: h+m cap, calvin klein collection sunnies, the glamourai for shrimpton couture necklace {coming soon!}, joie leather bomber, rachel rachel roy blouse, silver stephanotis ring {left}, silver blaster ring {right}, vintage pants, aldo shoes



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while you're here, don't forget that today's the last day to vote for your favorite finalist in the corvus noir / alice in wonderland challenge. i can't wait to see who wins!

today's proportions make me feel like a pastry ~ in the best possible way!

i knew i wanted to debut my freshly fancied bag, and so created a costume around it, glorifying all it's newfound girlish joie de vivre.


wearing: D&G butterfly sunnies, vintage velvet jacket, reworked morris moskowitz bag, F21 skirt, kenzo for wolford lace tights, aldo shoes, the glamourai brass buttercup ring {left} and crystal tinsel ring {right}, antique elgin wristwatch

i got caught dashing out the door today, en route to drop off the dry cleaning {look closely and you'll see yesterday's dress peaking out of my tote bag} and pick up some groceries. as such, i wasn't properly 'costumed' ~ just clad in whatever could be quickly clutched from my closet.

i know i'm not the only one that has 'those days' when you can't be bothered to think about what you're wearing, right?!



this skirt is pretty much my uniform for non-dress-up days; it's like my version of a love-worn blue jean. somehow, over the years, i've convinced myself it goes with everything. don't even try to tell me otherwise.

the boots i bought on a whim last winter, to save a fancier suede pair from a sudden, unexpected rainstorm. i figured they'd last a month ~ tops ~ but somehow their rubber has proved impressively indestructible. they remain a solid option for kicking around casual-town.

the type-printed nylon tote goes everywhere i go. it folds into an itty-bitty little square when empty, so i always have it on me to carry whatever collects in the course of a day. i can't even fathom how many plastic bags it has kept out of landfills.

come to think of it, this whole haphazard look has been heavily recycled in some way or another. hurray for sustainable chic!


wearing: custom sunnies, joie leather bomber, vintage flannel shirt, F21 skirt + tights, the glamourai for shrimpton couture rock candy ring, rogan tote bag, coach purse, patricia field for payless boots

late last night, i returned to nyc from a blissful thanksgiving holiday with my grandparents in western pennsylvania. it was lovely to spend a few days cuddled up with their cats in front of a roaring fire, drinking tea and eating myself silly. but by golly, i missed my high heels!



wearing: D+G butterfly sunnies, self-designed glamourwrap, leather love necklace, maltese marigold ring {below left} & cathedral ring {below right}, F21 dress & tights, topshop boots




while i was lazing about in silky pajama sets, many of you donned much more impressive ensembles in honor of the alice in wonderland / corvus noir competition. i LOVE the photos i've received so far; please keep them coming! there are still 2 days left to enter.

meanwhile, we do have a winner for the crafty crow caftan: congrats to fiona m!!!

as hinted by the new kingdom of hearts collection, i'm on a bit of an alice in wonderland kick this week!

it could have something to do with wanting to inject a little march hare into my november mood. maybe it's because thanksgiving is coming this thursday, which means there will be lots of little temptations entreating 'eat me!' and 'drink me!' perhaps it's the fact that, in my family, playing croquet is as intrinsic to the holiday as turkey. either way, this outfit felt appropriately like one part alice + two parts mad hatter ~ all with an obligatory nod to the queen of hearts of course!

wearing: custom sunnies, self-designed velvet heart necklace, vintage escada jacket, vintage dress

a few evenings ago, i met the creative couple behind corvus noir for drinks at my favorite tea room. as indie designers and vintage aficionados, we instantly clicked! it's always great getting to know like-minded folks, and i felt so flattered when they gave me this gold pocket watch necklace from their new line. it's an honor to wear round my neck!





wearing: corvus noir necklace. versace sunnies. vintage boy's blazer, marc by marc jacobs shirt, g.star belt, h+m skirt & stockings, d+g boots, coach bag

i felt a bit like a modern-day, downtown holly golightly in this look. but while she had a croissant in her breakfast bag, i stashed chocolate-covered coffee beans in mine instead. what a way to start the day! those things are like hyperactive power-charge injectors.




wearing: h+m hat and sweater dress, 12by12 sleeveless coatdress, d+g sunnies, self-designed jewelry, nicole miller striped tights, loeffler randall boots