"There's gunna be a party down at the moon tower later"

 Pretending to be a teenage burnout circa 1976 was all I hoped it could be...even if this took place at an elementary school. I've always had a sort of false nostalgia for the 70s, which is rather strange considering I wasn't even alive in the "me" generation (I don't think I'm alone here). Basically, I just can't get enough of the flashy and somewhat garish images and clothing of the times: bell-bottoms, vests, furs, aviators as huge as your face, paisley, sky-high platforms, hot pants, lots and lots of hair. Of course there's the music, too...there's always the music! And I'm not talking about that pansy-ass disco nonsense, I'm talking about rock legends like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and David Bowie...along with his eccentric brand of glam androgyny.

So, obviously on this particular day I felt that intense need to dress like an extra from Dazed and Confused. The prospect of wearing high-wasted jeans always scared the living crap out of me, but this stretchy (keyword!) pair made me quickly overcome that silly little dressing fear. Oh and I'm in love with this vintage Chanel scarf that I luckily found at my new, favorite Austin boutique, Laced With Romance-it's what I imagine shopping through Stevie Nicks' closet would be like. And Litas really are as comfy as they say; I could wear them for hours-they only look terrifying, I promise!

          

Jeans and vest: F21

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Litas

Scarf, belt, sunglasses, bag: Vintage

"Let's Start The New Year Right"-Bing Crosby

Prior to 2011, I had never seriously made New Year Resolutions. This is probably because I knew I would break them when considering my sparkling lack of self discipline. Paradox? Self-fulfilling prophecy? Ha...I'm afraid so.

Anyways, this year I have made an extensive list of annual declarations that I'm determined to follow through with. I'll spare you the tedious details and just say that they include a new business venture and posting on my little house in cyberspace regularly. Strangely, I feel overwhelmingly optimistic all without the teeny-tiniest bit of surliness (fingers crossed).

Hello 2011!  

Faux Fur Coat: Express

Dress: American Apparel

Necklace and beanie: Forever21

Boots: random store in my home town

Karaoking With Kenny Rogers and What-Not

I know I really need to post more, but the holidays and my health have finally caught up with me.  Saturday was spent doing some extreme Christmas shopping ALL day long with my boyfriend, through which I did find a new amazing vintage store (will post about the store and my new goodies later).  On Sunday I goofed around at an office party and then somehow ended up singing my lil' heart out at the Highball in the freaking Kenny Rogers themed karaoke room (of all the rooms), complete with an epic velvet painting of the bearded country dude.  In my karaoke experience, two songs that are top notch for obnoxiously crooning along to are, in fact, Heart's "Magic Man" and Linda Ronstadt's "Blue Bayou"-no matter what I will always sing these two gems.  And of course Sunday night I sang with a little too much amateur heart as I ended up exacerbating an already sore throat and worn out body, and to my dismay woke up with the full fledged sickness the next day.  To put it bluntly...I feel like shit, but on the upside I'm not at work!

This is what I wore while I was pretending to have the vocal range of Ann Wilson and this look is pretty much a uniform for me-white t-shirt, denim cut-offs, boots, loads of accessories. I found these beat-up boots at Buffalo Exchange about two summers ago for only $20. So what if they are two sizes too small for my Wiley Coyote feet? Let me reiterate-they were only $20, plus my abnormally large feet have stretched them out since their purchase-it only took a countless number of blisters! And this scarf...don't even get me started! I heroically won this Alexander McQueen beauty about 3 years ago for $40 after stalking it for months upon months online. Isn't ebay great? Nothing beats the feeling of winning something designer for a significantly lower price!

T-shirt and blazer: Forever 21

Shorts: Thrifted Levis, DIY

Scarf: Alexander McQueen

Boots: Buffalo Exchange

Belt: Express from a billion years ago

The Knife, Leopard Print, and Mexico

These shots were snapped before I met my friend for coffee and some impromptu vintage shopping on Sunday. I honestly wasn't planning on buying for myself as I'm in the process of searching for the perfect gifts for others with the holidays just around the corner and all. While harmlessly browsing around Blue Velvet I looked to the back of the store and saw a girl trying on a faux fur leopard print coat complete with a hood (I'd been looking for the perfect one for about 2 years now). The queen deep down inside of me screeched for joy and anxiously waited for that girl to TAKE OFF MY NEW COAT! She did and rightfully put it back on its hanger, so I, of course, ungracefully made a dash for it. I ran to the mirror to try it on and gawk at my lustrous find, then something truly serendipitous happened. The very moment I pulled the fur over my shoulders The Knife's "Pass This On" blared over the speakers-in other words, it was meant to be! 

The rest of my Sunday night was spent preparing for a small party/large gathering at mi casa for my friend's Mexican-themed birthday party to take place that same night. We went on a hilarious trip to Fiesta to find all of the necessary accoutrements-a piñata, loads of Mexican candy, Jarritos soda for mixers, Dos Equis, and chips and queso of course! For the event I ditched the pictured knit sweater as I had to wear my new purchase-not very Mexican I'll admit, but I just told people I was in the Mexican mafia. I will definitely be taking pictures of the ridiculousness that is my new fuzzy coat/robe real soon.

  

Dress and tights: Urban Outfitters

Over-the-knee socks: Target

Sweater and hat: Forever 21

Boots: Some random store in my hometown

Amber necklace: Gifted from my mom from Mexico

"Engine Driver"

The sole purpose behind heading out to a random spot on the railroad tracks to shoot some pictures is these here combat boots. The whole utilitarian/industrial feel of my clunky, functional footwear suits the cold desolation of a pair of meandering steel tracks methinks (even if that desolation is right smack in the middle of Austin HA!). I wore this to dinner with co-workers, then out to a wee, tiny playhouse in east Austin to see a rendition of "Steel Magnolias". Yes, it was originally written and performed as a play only two years before the likes of Sally Fields, Julia Roberts, and my beloved Dolly Parton starred in the film adaptation released in 1989. The ladies at the City Theater did a beautiful job and certainly made some patrons shed a few woeful tears.

As for the rest of my ensemble, I pretty much always gravitate towards a neutral color palette (the gloomier the better) and I tend to add a tinge of red, my favorite. Red lips are definitely new to me, but oh-so much fun! I should have bought some ruby lip rouge years ago, but have never been a huge make-up person. MAC wins my vote for best lipstick because it lasts forever and this particular shade (MAC Red) somehow looks amazing on every skin tone.

And my poor tights! I'm convinced that every sheer pair I own until my demise will don an annoying, singular run, as you can see in the pic above. I suppose I don't really care THAT much given their inevitable, destruction-prone nature. Like ripped jeans, slashed tights are just as acceptable these days. Hooray for not living in the prim and proper, restrictive 50s!

Aviator Jacket, Socks: Target
Tights: Urban Outfitters
Skirt: Sola (local boutique)
Boots: Steve Madden
Necklace, Oversize Shirt: Forever 21
Lipstick: MAC Red

"Gyspsy"

This look was inspired by none other than Stevie Nicks-hell the whole reason I bought this caftan was because the overall shape and flutter reminds me of the lovely, whimsical minstrel and her ability to always dress with such light-as-air caprice. However, the acid cool-aid colors and giant psychedelic paisley print definitely scream 60s as opposed to the more subdued 70s Stevie. I can't help but notice that caftans have come back in a big way. Just take a gander at some of my favorite vintage haunts, like Spanish Moss or Feathers (where mine is from), and you'll find an array of these loungers. HA when I first bought this particular piece and proudly showed its brilliance to my boyfriend he reluctantly told me that it looked like something you are only supposed to wear around the house or over a bathing suit. He was right, but that made me love it even more because vintage is all about reinventing under-appreciated treasures and showcasing them in a whole new light.

I'm ALWAYS initially drawn to bohemian-esque garments and jewelry, but make it a point to toughen-up the etherealness of said style with harder elements (preferably anything with a rocker vibe). So to mix things up I decided to pair the caftan with these semi-shiny, python-textured leggings and studded heels. On the whole it's all very comfy and I'm pretty sure you can see me from a mile away with this loud, punchy tunic. 

Caftan: Vintage

Leggings: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Target

"A Fool For Your Stockings"

As soon as I found out that thigh-high stockings were back in fashion, the 11 year old girl inside of me jumped for joy! I remember watching the cult classic, Clueless, as a wide-eyed child of the 90s and could not wait to go to high school so I could wear the aforementioned leg-wear along with plaid mini skirt "suits" while clutching absurd, feather tip pens. But of course that trend was loooong gone as I entered my much anticipated teenage years in the early millennium.  

Obviously, the phrase "what goes around comes around" definitely applies to fashion, as well. I'm extremely appreciative of this repetitive aspect of clothing design because I'll ridiculously get to wear my favorite trends from decades past (even the not so far off 90s) and see them reinvented time and time again. I just hope trucker hats don't come back...EVER!

Now back to thigh-highs: What to pair them with has proven to be a bit of a daunting task. One wrong move and the outfit could look a bit Catholic schoolgirl/kinder whore-ish or even streetwalker-esque. Therefore, I find it imperative to keep the top half of my body covered up a bit to avoid looking down right slutty. But hey, if you see the world as your boudoir and that everyone in it is a potential, seducible suitor, then by all means rock those stockings like a giddy lil' playboy bunny...someone will appreciate you for it.