color me

sources: oh geez I'm so bad at this... the selby, because I'm addicted, stylebubble, aaaaand I wanna say kingdom of style. lmk if I'm missing one...

probably because the chill is creeping in, but currently inspired by bold, bright colors. actually, I guess I always am. just more pronounced when I realize I'm about to be cold for the next 5 months straight... oh hey there winter =(

House of Organic

Through a family friend, I had the privilege to attend the House of Organic presentation of their Fall 2010 collection a couple weeks ago. The design collective presented outfits created a combined mix of their pieces from a handful of designers and artists who all carefully and fairly crafted their clothing out of organic and renewable materials.
I was struck by the simple sophistication of many of these items, in particular a classy but subtly quirky wool coat (unfortunately I didn't get a good photo) and these stunning yet delicate hand-painted pieces a la photos above.




Knowing that these pieces were carefully constructed, adjusted, and perfected individually (and for a large part, by hand) made me really miss this intimate, creative part of sewing and crafting. I've grown up oil painting, crocheting, and scrapbooking -all extremely hands-on activities, and while Photoshop is bomb diggs and all a lot of times it just doesn't feel intimate enough... I don't connect strongly with what I'm creating.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is I wish I could have hauled my sewing machine and painting easel across the country.
...oh well, I'll figure something out soon enough.

CdG inspired skirt

an unpolished version. This is what I had been working on back in California before I left, so it's rather rough around the edges (literally). I want to work on the concept and play w/ different materials and layers... I feel like it def has some potential. Love CdG's sheers and all the interesting different silhouettes Rei experiments with. Guess this is my poor man's ode to that?

It's basically several panels of grey chiffon overlapped sewed together to allow for a drawstring in between. I used thin ribbon since I wanted to keep it light and pretty - it wasn't my first choice but I was having trouble thinking of something else to use. Anyways, these drawstrings allow you to play with the lengths and amount of ruching in different areas of the skirt.


Hopefully it'll be a great layering piece (obviously... it's so sheer). I can see it paired with leather leggings and some killer black heels, no?
Thoughts?

that universal mind control

Jessica Simpson riding boots, DIY zipper fringe necklace, top from Urban Outfitters, F21 floral skirt and fence tights, fur-trimmed coat from my ancient wardrobe

forgot where i found these editorial pics (i think they're from L'Officiel?) anyways, great inspiration for adding pattern and color to the standard black+grey winter outfits...

bold prints

my crowded necklace rack and a new pair of peeptoe pumps ($25!! thank you marshalls)
an editorial from an old UK Vogue (via fotodecadent via nothing but a pack of cards)
another lovely Sartorialist shot
cool image from the UC Berkeley walkout that took place yesterday morning

also, thank you to Maria for putting me on Chicisimo =)

it's friday afternoon!!! hello weekend, i welcome you with open arms

eyeglasses to get your party on

i bought this skirt a couple months back and have been meaning to wear it out, but everytime i contemplate throwing it on... it always strikes me as wayyy too colorful and girly to actually have to wear and look at for several hours.
i finally wore it out this weekend when we went out one night as a good-bye-you-are-leaving-taiwan-before-the-rest-of-us-because-your-university-is-lame-and-ends-summer-early celebration. ...with the perfect accessory -- my dork frames! =) i've been looking for pair of completely unnecessary frames to wear for fun and found a decent pair a couple weeks back at ximending. they're a combination of sexy secretary and harry potter (if that's even possible)

p.s. sorry for the crappy lighting in this bedroom and horribly yellow-ish photos

top and skirt: H&M, really old (wet seal?) chain necklace worn as a bracelet, eyeglasses from street vendor in Taiwan

some eyeglasses inspiration ---

garance dore, cupcakes and cashmere, yayeveryday

craving autumn

fall fashion is the best. drapey fabrics, layers and layers, leggings or tights, some ankle boots, cinch is all together with a belt and throw a scarf over it all. mmmyeaaa

garance dore, sartorialist, face hunter, olsens anonymous, lookbook, other blogs

it's probably because of the typhoon right now and my limited Taiwan wardrobe of shorts, skirts, and tanks, but i'm really ready for fall. you always want what you can't have, huh?

Sensory Overload

Seriously.

Because I keep finding more and more blogs, and reading through more and more fashion, and saving more and more great images and inspirations.

I need to keep this obsession in check... especially when I have other things I need to do too, like study for my GRE, go to work, explore Taiwan, sleep??

Anyways, here are a few of my recent favorite outfit photos -mostly stolen from streetstyle blogs, lookbook, personal blogs, editorials, etc.

Even if it weren't this hot, I don't think guys in Taiwan dress like this... sad

I don't know who this is, but she is absolutely GORGEOUS

Cuuute... navajo without being too aboriginal

Hmm... I usually don't like Kate Spade

I still need to find my fedora
What? Since when did F21 do cute statement jewelry? (although this piece definitely has cheap tacky potential) It's still really cute - reminds me of the DIY bibs the glamourai makes...

Speaking of which... how cute is she??

YSL Fall 09, great proportions.. and of course those famous cage heels