Comfort creature

I've been trying to rationalize a certain pricey runway purchase, so far unsuccessfully. It's very hard not to lust after vintage Prada and uncomfortably high studded Louboutins. I'm sure I'm not alone. Yes, and the reasoning is rather lacking. Blowing my vacation savings on shoes?

Why is it hard not to want a pair of hazardously high stilettos? Hmm, they do give you a sense of power and femininity that almost nothing else can compete with, really. The shapes themselves are sculptural and impossibly glamorous. And, well, half the fun of shopping be it a for piece of art or for piece of cake, is wanting it, and coveting it, and obsessing over it.

Who does not like to covet their proverbial neighbor's possessions? If it were not normal, there would not be a whole commandment about it... Call me crazy, but I do covet impossibly uncomfortable stilettos, however far they may be to my taste or need.

Either way, those red soles would be destroyed on campus, and it's too bad we don' live in a marble and carpet world. So for now, the sturdy soles of these pumps are, well, sturdy, and oh so comfy! Yeah, can't help it. Who does not like things that are soft and comfortable?



I bought this vintage slip at a thrift store here is Tucson for 45 cents! After my germophobe self hand washed it with soap and antibacterial solution several times, i love it! It makes a t-shirt dress feel so much easier and feminine. Even when dribbling a soccer ball.
Seriously comfy!

Once the Louboutin infatuation fades, i will be thankful that i did not make that terribly expensive mistake. I am not saying that is a pair of red-soled stilettos showed on my feet i would not be happy. So, while fashion may equal pain, style is comfort. And right now I am bicycling creature of comfort. So i practically live in these Sofft pumps and might even add some studs.

Gray t-thirt dress, Gap; black braided belt, mens department; Nude slip, Vintage; Black Pumps, Sofft; Green hair bow, borrowed from mom;

Thank you for reading!

The girl at the Atelier's Closet

The Little Old Lady who lived in her Hat.

Ver tantos disenos floridos y romanticos no es bueno para mi salud (estilistica). Estoy comenzando a obsesionarme con todo que se asemeja a las colecciones de verano 2005-6 de Marc Jacobs. Lar flores blanqueadas, lavadas, y desmenuzadas son últimamente my interes. Sin mencionar la sensacion de los años 1920.

Seeing so many florals here is not good for my health. I’m starting to love everything that look Marc Jacob spring 2005-6-ish and I am so into these bleached, color washed florals lately. Not to mention the 1920s vibe.

Quiero tan intentar incorporar este sombrero de fiesta que compré en "Desert Vintage" aqui en Tucson, pero me temo que parecera que llevo disfraz.

No se por que me gusta tanto este sombrero. La cosa es que éste no es el tipo de sombrero que uno usa casualmente como los elegantes playeros o de ala corta estilo caballero. Éste es el tipo que se usa para un “coctel" o "fiesta de jardín” pretendiendo ser una damisela. ¿Pareceria un disfraz usar un sombrero de viejecita?

I am so into this hat. The thing is that this is not a floppy or a cool fedora-like type or hat. This is the type you wear to a “cocktail/garden party” hat like a lady. Is it too costumey to wear an old-lady hat? I so want to try this party hat that i bought at Desert Vintage, but im afraid i might get too carried away and look like some kind of costume.

También conseguí estas bufandas, puesto que no estoy a casa en Cambridge todavía. Ahora las llevo tan a menudo que me siento desnuda si no tengo una puesta. JAJAJA. pues a veces peinso, ¿Que te pasa, muchacha? Talvez si soy una viejecita alocada y debo quizá usar mi sombrero de de viejecita a las fiestas de té y croquetas con mis gatos imaginarios y mis mantitas de crochet.

I also got these scarves, since i’m not home in Cambridge yet. Now I feel naked and violated if i don’t have one on. Seriously, girl? Maybe I am a crazy old lady and should be wearing my old-lady-hat to tea parties with my imaginary cats.


BELOW IS MY NEW LOOT:
French Souvenir Scarf, Oscar de la Renta Japanese Samurai, Japansese Silk Floral, graphic print by Ann Klein, French chiffon by Lally Efee, and my new floral hat.

Awesome Little Shop!

I'm always coveting several pieces from Jane's Attic every time I visit. Like these fringe earrings that I'm dying to have but never will, or this banana bunch table lamp, this treasure box, and this moose clock.

























The Girl at the Atelier's Closet had a chance to interview Jane, herself!
AC- When did your doors first open and what was your motivation?
Jane- These doors first open in November 2002. I was always a junk addict, you could say. I've always loved resale and thrift stores, so i wanted to run my own! I love it here.
AC- So it has been 7 years and a half! Are there any unusual stories about this store?
J- Well, I live upstairs on the second floor. Haha. sometimes i feel like the stuff is in my own house but it's never mine. That's what happens with consingment.
AC- Wow, so do you have a specific taste or things that you like to bring more than others?
J- Well, you can see lots of interesting decorative items. Our customers will look like they spent a fortune, but really did not. Contemporary, high quality, expensive-looking pieces go really fast. For example, silver plated or stainless steel items go fast.
AC- I can see that. Everything is so gorgeous and so inexpensive. Thank you so much for being so open to the interview.
J- You're welcome, any time! Thank you.

New Twitter Account and Tubac's Art District

I just joined the bandwagon and opened a twitter account !!! I suspect it will never replace facebook, or the real world. Partially because i love touching things and browsing and walking. Speaking of browsing, there are some many art galleries and little shops Tubac Plaza. There is a feature on this really good one. And one of my favorite shops is Janes Attic. I can't wait to write about her shop.

I’m always coveting several of the pieces in Jane's Attic and I’m dying for this pair of earrings in the last picture. I thought it would be an impulse buy and also i'm on a shopping ban since i won't be able to carry stuff back home. Still, I’m wishing that I got the fringed beauties. At the time $20 for a pair of gorgeous earrings was above my shopping limit. Especially because I had no idea how to wear them everyday. But oh, how I want them. Now, all I do is covet those silver and leather fringe pieces of Southwesterness. I'm still happy with this really bright “Latina scarf” like my friend calls it. Haha. Well I love it because it keeps my hair from ruffling up too much under my gigantic “roof” floppy bronze hat.

Vintage Shopping in Tucson

Guest Style Inspiration: Shop Girl at Desert Vintage

Since the first time I shopped here, I've had such positive experiences with the staff and the prices that Desert Vintage is my favorite vintage shop anywhere near the southwest.

Walking in to this shop is very much like being Alive in Wonderland walking into a timeless treasure chest. Time and space simply vanish. Past vintage handmade silk saris will be a series of crinolines and tutus, past vintage Mexican sundresses, past an exquisitely beaded art deco gown from the 1920s, past a row of 1950s pinup sundresses, past 1970s hipster apparel. The girl at the Atelier's Closet had the chance to introduce you to the owner and the shop girl at this hidden treasure chest.

Atelier's Closet- When did Desert Vintage first open its doors and what is the history behind it?
Shop Girl- Katheen came from New York with her sister in the mid 1970s. They are both vintage enthusiasts. Her sister opened the store across the street, called, "how sweet it was".
AC- That's so cool. I like that store too.
SG- Yes. They're sister-owned shops.
AC- What makes you like working here? are you a vintage enthusiast as well?
SG- yeah, definitely. I've always been interested in vintage clothing. I've shopped here since i was a teenager. And so i knew the owner because i came in so often. One day came back from vacation and ended up needing a job. So I just talked to her and she was very friendly about it.
I love working here because I really appreciate vintage and fashion history.
AC- This is really fun because the owner wants to do this and has been open for more than 30 years.
SG- Yes, exactly. And there are so many people in town who love her shop.
AC- So all this time. what are the best sellers, the things that people usually come in and ask for?
SG- in our shop, especially in the summer, people love the Mexican vintage dresses.
Those go like hot cakes, really fast. Then go the pieces from the 40s and 50s that are really hard to come by and the 50's day dresses. Costumes are popular in the fall. The flapper and gypsy clothes go really fast for Halloween.
AC- Is there one thing that you want to put out there for all of us?
SG- Oh, gee, that's a lot of pressure. A closing statement. Come in and check out or shop. It's full of really special pieces.

3 Dollar Silk Scarves!!!

I've been wanting a crinoline for so long. I really, really want this blue one.
I'd wear it in so many ways, under and over all my dresses, and skirts, and leggings...

I want this crinoline so bad! I had already bought so many scarves and a hat.
I still want this one.

Me Trying on a Native American tribal woven Belt

These saint's bracelets are so Latin American outdoor market. Each saint is meant to protect you in a different way and bring prosperity, romantic love, and find things lost.


Can you see the address?

Guest style icon, art gallery co-owner/painter Willow.

There is no one chicer and more elegant than the girl from the art gallery. It is even chicer when her husband makes her jewelry and a lot of the art in the room.

Willow is one of those girls who seem to sleep, breath, and eat stylish an impossibly unpretentious and subtly sexy way. If the combination is possible, this English emigre's style is demurely fun, so elegant/boho-chic at this. Surprisingly, she has to be one of the humblest, kindest artists that I have met. She was surprised when asked for a picture of her outfit. The look in her eyes was an "ah? Me? Clothes?".




These artdeco/modern earrings are so unusual. Even more unexpected is that these earrings are part of a bigger concept: Sustainable living. You would not believe that you are supporting such a wholesome cause with these wickedly stylish pieces.


The girl at the Atelier's closet had a chance to interview the artistic couple for you to meet.
Atelier's Closet- Where do you normally shop?
Willow- Well, I got this top from walmart, but most of my clothing is recycled secondhand. I get a lot of it from clothing swaps. The women in our community bring clothing that we don't want and then we just pick.
AC- I can't get my eyes off your earrings.
W- Kamon, my husband made these. The blue stones are turquoise, and these are seeds that we spotted one day and they were just so beautiful. He also made these beautful earrings. and the pieces look almost sacred. All of the materials in his pieces are organic. And all of the art here is donated. The proceeds go to sustainable living and to local non-profits.
AC- How long have you been in business?
W- About two years.















AC- Is there an inspiration and an artistic statement behind this collection?
Kamon- I want others to see the divine patters in nature. I want to rearrange things in a way that people would notice the beautiful things that they otherwise would not. To bring people together past any barriers.
AC- That is a beautful message. Do you have a particular creative system to proyect this message?
K- Well, not really. It's more intuitive. I'm a minister above all else, so my art is an instrument for the Creator.
W- All the proceeds go to support our brothers and sisters and you can bring this hand made beauty to your homes.