Stylish Thought

Looking through the archives here, I’ve realized that I’ve never done a post on Irregular Choice…. blasphemy! The British shoe label, known for their quirky and playful design sensibility, is world renowned and hailed amongst die-hard shoe lovers. Not your typical shoe, Irregular Choice specializes in concave heels, vintage aesthetics and playful colors. These are not shoes are not for blending in!

These shoes are the epitome of uniqueness and the price point is great! I’m eyeing a few to add some Irregular Choice to my shoe collection. Do you own a pair of Irregular Choice? If so, do you love them?

Buffalo Exchange thrifted dress/ H&M black turtleneck/ Beauty store stockings/ Black Thigh Highs/ Talonalia necklace/ Jeffrey Campbell Suede Shoes

I call this my Zoey Dress because it reminds me of Zooey Deschanel, who’s style I admire.

I’ve realized that I have a serious love/hate relationship with plaid. Partly because I hate the lumberjack association, but seemingly I’m drawn to plaid print because it finds its way into my wardrobe. Oh well if I have to be mistaken for a burly, bearded Wisconsinite because of this amazing ruffled wrap dress, so be it.

I bought these suede Jeffrey Campbell lace-tie wedges (not very clear here) and they’re soooooo comfy they are quickly becoming my favorite shoes. Maybe I’ll pair this dress with a pair of boots for a full-on autumn look.  What do you think?

Vintage Dresses

Like au courant fashion lovers, I have a serious relationship with vintage clothing; a relationship that began before I was born and has stayed with me to this day. I didn’t initially wear vintage because it was hipster thing to do or; for me it was sheer necessity and force. My mother made us wear vintage clothing because with 5 children to clothe, thrift stores and consignment shops were the natural solution.

At first I rebelled, being a typical child wanting to blend in with my peers; no one was wearing polyester blend pants in the 3rd grade. But my mother soon allowed us to come on thrift store jaunts and Saturday flea market trips with her. Not only was this bonding time but I became transfixed with the power of vintage. Here are my reasons why I love vintage clothing.

1. It never goes out of style: Fashion is constantly repeating itself, so why waste money on new reproductions of old styles when you can wear the old styles themselves

2. It is one-of-a-kind: While this is not completely true, you’ll still be hard pressed to find someone wearing the exact same piece, albeit, in the same way.

3. It can be inexpensive: I’m no Daddy Warbucks and while I’m waiting on my lottery winnings, I’ll spend my coins on the inexpensive vintage that I love. There is higher-end vintage and when my winnings come I’ll buy those pieces as well

4. It has a unique smell: So I know I’m probably alone on this but I love the way Goodwill and Salvation Army stores smell. It’s intoxicating and gets me amped to go through racks after racks of clothes

5. It’s environmentally friendly: I’m not the biggest eco-champion, but I try to do my part. And wearing vintage recycles clothing and stops wasteful spending

6. It reminds me of my Mom: My mom introduced me to fashion and vintage clothing and while our styles differ greatly, flea markets always remind me of our Saturday trips when I was younger

7. It’s like jumping in a Time Machine: Let’s do the time warp again! Playing dress up with vintage clothing is like stepping back in time and being someone else for a day

8. It’s the Thrill of the Hunt: Finding a gem out of a hundreds of pieces is like a modern day treasure hunt and makes it much more treasured

9. It’s a great Business Model: There are thousands of vintage business stores because there are millions of vintage pieces floating around the world and Read #1 and #2

10. There’s so much Variety: Vintage encompasses so many eras and time periods that there is a style for all types of vintage lovers; 40’s retro, 80’s hipster, 20’s flapper and the list goes on

How did your love affair with vintage begin? What are you reasons for loving vintage?

Fashion seasons are times of rebirth. Time to renew your wardrobe and hopefully renew your love of dressing. It’s a time when the fancy of summer gives way to the seriousness of fall and your fall personae emerges from it’s cocoon. Going through my wardrobe I’ve noticed a lack (void quite frankly- where the hell did all my clothes go?) of adequate pieces to carry me through the fall and realized that my own wardrobe was is in need of rebirth and renewal.

I’ve made a checklist of items I need to renew my wardrobe and sartorial spirit.

BDG Suede Pumps/ Mina Flat Boots / Topshop Studded Gloves/ Gold Mine Skirt/ Whistle Printed Dress/ Moody Blue Coat/ Kooba Drawstring Bag

What’s on your Fall Fashion Checklist?

This is just a story I felt like sharing…the thoughts I think

I have a confession. No, not an altar boy, murderous plot type of confession, but a confession nonetheless. Somewhere between college graduation and the fourth season of America’s Next Top Model, I became a party girl. Not a coke snorting, no panties wearing party girl, but a girl of the night nonetheless.

I lived for going out, getting dolled up and consuming insane amounts of alcohol, only to dance myself into a frenzy and ultimately nurse a hangover the next morning. I went out during the week, on weekends to every bar/lounge/nightclub imaginable. While my partying wasn’t interfering with my work life; I managed to be on-time and productive most days, my partying wasn’t contributing much to my life either.

It was like Cheers, “where everyone knows your name and they’re always glad you came” except after a summer of incessant partying, I wasn’t sure why I came. I began to feel time spent going out religiously could have been better spent creating lasting things in my life like a solid career path, my own business or a memorable relationship. I felt lost amidst the fellow frequent party-goers

After that dizzying summer 3 years ago, I abruptly stopped “clubbing” . The fun had ceased and I became extremely decisive about where I went and who I went out with. Friends called me to go out and my answer was always ”No thanks”. I didn’t see the point in doing something as unproductive as partying, I had been doing it for 3 years and I was no closer to my goals than before. I went out maybe once every couple of months and never had much fun (probably because of my attitude toward it) and resigned that I was done with the “partying” life.

It wasn’t until I became a total hermit that I realized maybe it wasn’t the having fun and partying that was a problem, maybe it was the options and places I frequented. Last weekend, after what seems like 6 months of not going out, a gal pal and I went out. I needed to dance, drink and have a good time, so a nightclub seemed the natural option. While I didn’t have the earth shattering time of my life, it was actually fun. I put the notion that I wouldn’t have fun in the back of mind and freed myself up to have.. (dun, dun, dun) a good time.  It certainly wasn’t like old partying days, but it satisfied my urge and even opened my mind up to what being a “reformed party girl” means.

I’ve come up with a “Reformed Party Girl” Creed and Rules… so that if  I ever feel the urge to party I can address it, maybe get out and boogie and not worry about having anything but a good time.

Tables are made for Dining not Dancing !

Just because they MIX it doesn’t mean you should DRINK it!

Thou shall not be Peer Pressured!

Girl’s Night’s Out are the exception and sometimes the rule

Twitter is the hottest nightspot and it never closes~~~

Respect the power of the Dance floor; don’t worship it

Partying out of town is like cheating out of town, it doesn’t count

If Free b4 11 is the only incentive; Stay Home

Sometimes the hottest club is the one with only 4 guests: You, your bed, remote and TV

I can’t be the only “Reformed Party Girl”?  Do you have a love/hate relationship with partying?

There’s a certain kind of girl I love; the kind that wears sequins in the daytime, studs her own sneakers, has a sleeve of tattoos full of cupcakes and Care Bears and collects vintage furniture.

Well it seems that I discovered a store owned by just this type of girl. Moxie Jane Jewelry, located on 2nd street in Northern Liberites (The Piazza) is a dynamite selection of sequins headbands, customized and studded Chuck Taylor All Stars, racks of vintage clothing and divine vintage furniture straight from granny’s attic.

Moxie Jane Jewelry
1001 N. 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123