Roadrunner, Roadrunner

I've been listening to a lot of albums that I typically reserve for summer and wondering when the cold will come back. In the meanwhile, The Kink Kontroversy, The Velvet Underground Loaded, Modern Lovers (S/T), and Sleater Kinney's Call the Doctor provide my life's current soundtracks. Do you choose the music you listen to based on the time of year/seasons?

I could have titled this post, "this is what it looks like when worlds collide." You see, I wore this to guest lecture for a campus writing course on blogging. It was fun to pay such a visit and share my enthusiasm for blogging with undergraduates. I also pointed out that I'm by no means an expert but I did the best I could to share what I've learned. I hope they enjoyed it because I know I did!

Outfit specs:
Anthropologie rosette dress (called Bold Boutonniere) (Similar here and here)
Anthropologie Cartography Cardigan (Can't find similar options but I love this beautiful but pricey map print scarf)
Miu Miu flats (similar here, here, and here)
MBMJ Softy Max Satchel
Misc. Jewelry from Redraven Studios, Carolee (c/o), Linea Pelle, KJL, Target

End of Fall outfit

Chloe dress

Anthro belt

Miu Miu flats

MBMJ bag

KJL, Linea Pelle, and misc. bracelets

I wore this to the First Friday gallery events for December and to grab some late evening drinks at Salt of the Earth.

A little bit country

 Old Navy dress

Linea Pelle belt and double wrap leather bracelet

Miu Miu jeweled flats

Anthro necklace

I wore the above denim (chambray) dress from Old Navy to campus on Thursday. I worried it was a little short for my personal comfort zone so I paired it with tights (as it was brisk that day!). I promise that I haven't already retreated to security blanket hosiery for good this year. But I must admit that I was glad to not have to worry about inner thigh chub rub, having perfectly smooth legs, and somehow masking the constant shin bruises I tend to accrue from being clumsy.

This outfit felt countrified and that is no surprise, considering my recent social calendar. On Saturday Chris and I went to the North Side to celebrate Johnny Cash Day, which is an annual event at the Elks Lodge where local bands and musicians come together to cover Johnny Cash songs for charity. (I wore a plaid Reed Shirtdress and fit right in but got no photos, sadly!). It is something we support every year and have a great time doing so. In preparation for it and to honor September 11th, two of our friends dj'd a classic country night, that Sunday at the Brillobox. All of these events had me feeling particularly American and reaching for classic shirtdress shapes.

Finally, I want to encourage everyone to read the reflections on Mascarade, which is authored by one of the administrators from Fashionism (the forum where Anjali of Golden Means, Kim of Anthroholic, myself, and many others first encountered the dishonest, manipulative behaviors that led to Anthrogate).  I know many of us were wary when we saw the launch of the personal shopping business and some of the members of Fashionism tried to issue warnings by commenting and publishing blog posts. In retrospect I wish I had done more myself but none of us could predict how widespread her services would be used and how much money she would access due to the trust her readers placed in her. Furthermore, as the Mascarade points out, many of us hoped she had learned from getting caught doing this on a much smaller scale a year ago.

Sorry for the Silence! Anthropologie Sales, Chicago, and Outfits!

In the middle of the month I was in Chicago for a conference and meant to update but had little time in between conferencing, mingling, and catching up with friends around town. Before I knew it, it was Thanksgiving and I was thrilled to host dear friends from Brooklyn and visit family.

While in Chicago, I stayed at a very lovely place called the Hotel Monaco and although it wasn't a conference hotel the location was great for my needs. I bid for a the 4 star on Priceline in the Loop and was delighted with the results. They had L'Occitane soaps and a free wine hour with fresh fruit and other complimentary snacks. The helpful staff offered free starbucks in the morning and NY Times newspapers. We were a block and a half from an Intelligentsia cafe if we wanted great coffee. Pets were permitted to stay for free which made me miss Speck even more (since she couldn't come on the plane). Their funny plush robes came in zebra and leopard prints. And the space was decorated with art deco touches throughout. It was seriously my favorite hotel yet! Around the corner was ample shopping and plenty CTA options. A+ would stay again!!

The room was somewhat small (which I've found to be common in larger cities and have never had the luxury of being a suite person), so this GIANT mirror in front of the bed seem that much more vulgar and comical to me and Chris (who came along).

I am glad we've taken to conferencing together. It makes the work you put forth in developing a paper and putting your ideas out into the academic community that much more rewarding. Plus, afterwards you can celebrate with the person most supportive of you! And we did just that. We went to many lovely restaurants, including Publican and Rick Bayless's new Xoco.

Before the trip, I decided to make a suburban Anthropologie run since I heard rumblings of a great sale. I ended up picking up these dresses at significant discount!

Left to right: Moulinette Souers Color Drenched Dress, Burlapp's Bold Boutonniere Dress, and LA Made's About Town Dress.

They came in handy while at the conference and elsewhere! I wore the LA Made one to the airport on both bookends of the voyage. Burlapp's dress fit in nicely with Publican's rustic but contemporary decor. And the Moulinette Souers Dress when paired with a cardigan was a sunnier silk alternative to the sea of mostly bland conference fare.

I've been rotating each of them regularly since. I took a cue from Michelle Obama and belted the navy Ann Taylor Loft cardigan I picked up in Chicago, to wear for dinner with Chris's mom and stepdad.

Linea Pelle braided belt with Chie Mihara t-strap pumps and a Marc by Marc Jacobs chunky stone necklace and Huge Hillier hobo.

And I wore this to Saks to browse in anticipation of the post-Thanksgiving discounts.

Linea Pelle studded double buckle belt and Giuseppe Zanotti silver studded flats.

I hope the holiday shopping season has brought forth many deals and steals!

Feeling Lucky, Punk!: Trendspotting Studded Accessories

Over the last year or so, the movers and shakers in fashion colluded to resurrect, yet again, aesthetic elements from the punk music subculture. The iconic signifier of choice this time around was the metal, raised stud juxtaposed with leather. While this trend has been around for decades, designers and mass retailers are adding key components that embody sophistication and luxury.

My favorite of the more contemporary punk inspired offerings was the Marc Jacobs winter resort collection from 2007 (I think), which featured the "Sweet Punk" bags. Each bag was named after an icon of 80s punk (Sid, Debbie, Siouxie, etc.).

These bags were pretty rare and had an obscene retail price point so I've never laid my hands on one. But I continue to covet them! This particular photo makes the leather look pretty bad. I've seen nicer, non stock photos on The Purse Forum.

Because I haven't won the lottery and still don't have a time machine, I have settled for other items that pay homage to the subculture of my youth.

I was fortunate to know someone who attended the recent Linea Pelle sample sale in LA. My friend, Sandy (aka Lilykind from Fashionism.org), went with the intent to help out all her far away pals in need of a sophisticated stud fix. And she didn't disappoint! Here is the haul purchased on our behalves:

I bought the black double buckle pyramid stud belt and a double wrap cuff in crimson.

They've already become staple accent accessories in my wardrobe! Thank you so much to Lilykind!

I immediately wanted this Burberry studded watch but knew that the obscene price point would make it an impossibility.

Thankfully, Betsey Johnson must have had the studded watch idea a few seasons ago because I found this style on deep discount at the Nordstrom Rack in Shady Grove, MD.

The yellow gold tone sets it apart from the masculine leather cuffs and studded accoutrement I wore as a teenager. I discovered she also made them in a pewter black and possibly silver. The price point was about 5% of the retail on the Burberry.