Come on, come roaring!

Been really obsessed with beaded and embellished pieces lately. This is one of my absolute favorites. A friend got it in India for mon birthday. Yaaaayyy! J'étais très ecstatic! Still am! It was loose on top, so after some needle work, it fits.

The first thing that came to mind for a day look was this Ann D. Jacket from her Spring 2005 collection. Speaking of which, can't wait to show you a certain new vintage little short sleeve jacket! Somehow the best beading embellishment comes from either India or tiny Eastern European countries. Haven't figured out how to wear the beaded jacket other than with jeans or a t-shirt dress. What do you think? How would you do it?

Black sunglasses, polarized, Marc Jacobs; Beaded flapper dress, silk and sequins, Chaudry Sport; Cream and gray peeptoe pumps, patent leather, Nine West Air; White blazer, cotton, Ann Demeulemeester;

My new bright sky

Blue dress, silk, Alice+Olivia; Gold sandals, leather, Sofft; Earrings, yellow and white gold, gift  

Leaving Arizona is harder than one would think. The colors look so much brighter against the blue sky. Just having the sense of sight is enough to make a girl happy!

So stepping off the plane into the gray city of Boston was a fantastic excuse to stop by the Bloomingdales sale floor. Je suis so happy now!! The ruffles on the bottom are like the wind and the blue is like the bright blue sky. By now you know i'm a sucker for touch! It's super soft. It's also a perk that it's fluid silk, and very wearable. I can't wait to pair it with raw denim and converse or widelegs and hazardously tall platforms, or with heels and drop earrings for a date. It's perfect for future travels. AHHHH can't wait!

   

I added this Ann Demeulemeester white blazer for the night chill. What do you think?

Time went by so fast!

It's already time to pack up and go back Northeast. 4 weeks go by so fast! There are so many fun and beautiful places in Arizona. Fortunately, there are still a few days left. The sunsets and the mountains are incredible. Thank you Tucson!

The narrow brick roads await in Europe-like Cambridge. Oh, those steep hills covered in reds and greens are so easy to get lost in! haha. A good reward after will be some yummy crepes or maybe falafels, or fresh white tea!

Je got this long cardigan yesterday because Boston is going to be very chilly (compared to 103F !!). Je suis thinking that it can be fancified in some way, because of the amount of detail that it has... Just not sure how. Dressing things down is so much easier that dressing things up. For mon personal taste, it's fine to look eccentric. What do you think?

Long detailed cardigan, Vintage; Black sunglasses, Ray Ban; Hair clip, gift from mom; Bag, Coach; Sandals, Sofft; Earrings, Givenchy

Clunkyty Clunk

Je was so lucky to get these awesome super comfy platforms yesterday! The shape of the solid block of wood is so unusual and so cool. They're surprisingly light because of the cut-out in the center. The clunkity clunk is such a lovely sound. There is nothing like hazardously high platforms that are also super comfortable. Yes, Je peffer comfort over fashion, of course.

Missing Icicles at 5pm

So I went on the coolest, most aimless bicycle ride today. Bicycling is something that i will miss the most here. The second thing i will miss the most is being able to eat popsicles in the afternoon. This one is made with real chunks of organic strawberry.  Yum!

Wild Summer

Summer is definitely the wildest season of the year. The events are so random, je suspect, because of the less structured nature that life takes in several aspects.

Je found this Vintage Leopard silk dress in one of my random trips around Arizona. It is a size 8 and almost left it on the rack (because I'm a 2). But it's vintage so it is actually a contemporary 2, as the wise words of mother once said, "Just try everything on! We have all day, anyways."

Do you, sometimes, find yourself in those situations where the role of fortune seems unbeatable, with an almost ancient-Greek-literature effect? The good irony seems to beat well thought-out decisions.

Je changed the high crew neck into a one shoulder and now je just love this dress. It makes moi feel kind of bold. Je might have it altered and have the neckline lowered a bit. Perhaps this is the beginning of an ardent affair with leopard. Some of us used to be kind of shy with this print.

Do you own anything animal print?

Leopard Dress, silk, vintage; Golden gladiator sandals, leather, Sofft; Mahogany patent belt, leather and brass, Kenneth Cole; Brown sunglasses, acetate, Cole Haan.

Upon pilars of salt, pilars of sand

Je found this kelly, grassy green, odd dress at one of my favorite shops! I'm not the kind to wait. So moi just had to wear it asap.

It's no shocking news that I'm a total sucker for shirt-dresses. The idea of simply throwing on a shirt and just walking away is not just kind of cool in my book of cool things; it's as easy as my lazybones get.

This little piece is definitely not just another shirtdress. It has a weird, architectural shape! I have never before seen a shirtdress like it. The huge kimonoish raglan sleeves are neither short nor long and the shape tapers at the bottom as a pencil mini skirt (1960's Saks). It's the kind of man-repellent dress that I cannot resist. Yes, definitely mon taste!

I will put on some leggings and bicycle around downtown today!

Viva La Vida is such a gorgeous song! Love this part "and i discovered that my castles stand upon pilars of salt, pilars of sand. I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing..."

Dress, linen, vintage Saks 5th Ave 1960's; Sunglasses, polarized acetate, Ray Ban; Shoes, leather, Sofft; Necklace, pearls; Bag, pebbled leather, Coach.

Air Guitar on the Roof is Totally Like a Concert

So I was serenely taking pictures when these songs started playing... I realized...

Whoever said that playing air guitar didn't count as a concert was, um, incorrect! It totally does if just for a second! Nevermind musical talent and/or skill. There are some songs that just make me want to do this: bada-bum waunnng maunnng!

Gosh! The melodies are just so contagious that, for a second, that you just turn into a (n imaginary) rock star. Nevermind the passerbys who look at me like I'm a crazy Martian. It's all worth it. Baum, maum, maum, waunnnn!!! Yeah, I know. I laugh at myself too.

Happy Birthday on a Rooftop!!

There's something funny about birthdays. It's nice to celebrate my existence, but It really is the anniversary of when my mother was in labor forever. So while this is the day when to get just about everything I want, the one who should really is Mother.

She sound like every other mom, but that's just about where the stereotype ends. The woman is brilliant with numbers, finances, economics, etc. Can she sit through a movie, or a book, or a 3-sentence note? Maybe not. Is she awesome? Yes. I still miss her gorgeous fitted suits in every color under the sun, her nice Nina heels, and the flowing, long, silky wavy honey brown hair, and the newspaper social pages with her in her corporate looks. Most of these looks included something thrifted or custom made. We still do thrift store weekends when we happen to be in the same town.

Today mom called to ask if i ate. Unlike her, I'm no cook. Good thing that my date cooked. So I said yes. He set up the dining room on the roof-top. Kind of cool huh?

Black acetate sunglasses, Ray Ban polarized Wayfarer; Cotton Tunic, French Connection UK; Spandex leggings, ???; Black pumps; Sofft (I swear by this brand); Cream Bag, Coach Chelsea (it's so beat up and scuffed, totally been through absolute hell and the leather is still buttery soft).

Peachy Daytime Sparkly Beads

I'm so lucky to have found this dress yesterday! The bicycle broke down in the middle of nowhere in north Tucson so I walked into a store, relieved, and asked the girl clerks if they knew of any taxi cab service to go back home. Of course, all i got was a snotty remark about the bus, although no one knew where the stop was. And there was a computer since it had internet, but no interest. Said bus stop was 2 miles away... up-hill. Thank you, ladies, for the extra excercise!

So, at the end of the day, I wandered into a store and was so lucky to find this vintage beaded dress! At first, it looked like something that granny used to wear with a little purse, and her straight blondish hair up on a knot. Oh, man, that was so long, long ago. We all wanted to wear her clothes, so much that some of us ended up scolded in the corner with rouge all over our faces and tangled, knotted hair, and a trail of cookie crumbs and marmalade on the pretty floor.

The long sleeves are so airy and sheer-ish, the cuffs are folded and beaded too. Oooh, and the shape is really, reeeally loose with so much drapey fabric, but it comes with a matching sash so it could be a mumu, or an empire waist, or a mid waist, or a low waist... So it would fit just about any figure. I can see it going down the family tree with so much ease!

Can't wait to dress it up with a blazer, a nice black bag, belt, and pumps for the office or with strappy heels, a clutch, and a glittery head piece for a formal event/party/date.

Peachy nude beaded dress, Vintage; Golden gladiator sandals, Sofft; Brown gradient sunglasses, Cole haan.

Under the Sea

With all the marine inspiration, I've become a lot more conscious about not destroying marine life. I've been craving seafood and seaweed (only somewhat random?). But more relevantly, this dress is so flowy and swirly and the print has this swim-like movement. I first saw it in a vogue advertisement for Neimans with the BCBG page. Of course, i could not afford it until it went on ebay. I've had it for three years now and it goes in the suitcase for every summer trip.

I think we all have these favorite summer items that unexpectedly go with everything. What is yours?



I found this random ceiling with a hole. I can imagine someone was alking on it and shot right down =). It's like a person-sized hole. So i could not resist the temptation.

(not) Another Harem Pant Post

While my love for slim and structured pants will never wane, I could not resist this lavishness! There is so much fabric on these that i almost tripped twice-- just walking in the house.

This is the only way i can wear green as it stays away from my yellow face. Frankly, I'd have bought them even if they were tired and unfashionable because of my not so secret obsession with silk and all things Arabic. Yes, I have yet to learn the language and foods of my matriarchs. But for my clothes horse self, these are just right!

They were such a lucky find, though! I'm so in love with the extravagant amount of fabric and the pleating. Also, they were mixed in the $1 pile at the church's thrift store. Score.



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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.