in which i also create things

Well, it has been quite a long time coming, but I finally properly completed it: The Tie Skirt. It feels like I've been working on it for aaaaaages, but really it's only been like two months, and out of that, it was only really about two-weeks worth of evenings.

I didn't use a pattern, but with something like this you don't really need one. Just make sure you got the ties at the right length, pin then to a ribbon big enough to fit around your waist (or your hips, if waist-height's not your thing), and then sew all the ties together. Use any leftover tie ends to fill in the gaps, and you're done!

today i am a señorita

vintage sheer red shirt (Nadia's House of Serendipity)
vintage Spanish skirt (Gilles Street Markets)
mustard flats (Betts)

Today's outfit was inspired by a) it being waaaaay too hot to wear yesterday's clothes*, and b) this bag from Gary Pepper Vintage.



Most of the time that's how I choose what to wear. It's not usually a case of weather or practicality. It's more like "this is awesome and I need to wear it today, like right now. How can I make this happen?", and then hoping you have the right skirt/top/belt/whatever to help pull it together.

Of course, sometimes, it doesn't work, and I end up with half my wardrobe** on the bed. But I've found a way around that as well. I close my eyes, take a deep, calming breath, and think about the clothes. Then I put on whatever combination that occurs to me***. Most of the time, it's the first outfit I tried, but with a different vest/belt/etc. But whatever happens, it's always infinitely better than standing in front of my wardrobe in my underwear, being frustrated at my clothes.



* 30 degrees in autumn/winter! It's crazy.
** okay, not that much (because that would be a lot of clothes), but a big pile of clothes.
*** try it next time you're stuck on what to wear. I swear, it helps.

what i wore today

Okay, I have now officially started my new years resolution*, which was/is to take a photo of every new outfit I wear.

'Don't Give Up' t-shirt (Print Liberation)
Mink Pink distressed dark denim mini skirt (second hand)
tartan stockings of awesomeness (Sportsgirl)
red ballet flats (Rubi Shoes)

Okay, so far, so good! Hopefully, this shall continue, and I shall get better at using a camera.



*hey, it's better to start doing them late than to not start them at all right?

recording my clothes for future generations

People have said to me that they rarely see me wearing the same thing twice. This is an easy phenomenon to explain: I have a lot of clothes. I own more clothes that I do anything else (even books). Even so, if you had five different kinds of the basics (5 dresses, 5 shirts, 5 skirts, etc) and kept up with your laundry, you could probably wear of different outfit for a good month of two.

I don't think I'd like to be the one testing that though*. I like my variety.

Don't Ask Amanda sheer floral shirt (eBay)
Anise high-waisted denim skirt (Gilles st Markets)
vintage cord belt (Nadia's House of Serendipity)
Betts mustard flats (Betts)

*and there are people putting similar things to the test. The Uniform Project dares people to wear one dress for a year (washing it occasionally, of course).

Ouch, my wallet

Although internet shopping can unearth some terrific bargains, it can also be as dangerous as walking into Review (I love everything in there, even the mannequins with their incredibly tiny waists).

Yesterday, while avoiding my uni work (or "taking a break", as I like to put it), I came across this site. Les Queues de Sardines* has the most amazing tights ever made. EVER.








Despite trying to do my best to not to spend all my money (and despite the fact that the only online ordering places were in French), I did give in and buy one pair of the rain-cloud tights. I hope you're happy internet.



*Which roughly translates to "tails of Sardines", in case you were wondering.

Shoes

I have a lot of shoes. In fact, it's something of a joke. As in, "Oh, you're such a stereotypical woman, you have lots of shoes lol". After going to The Way We Wear Fair and buying yet another pair, I decided to count.

I have 58 pairs of shoes. Don't believe me? Well, I bring proof.

I told you so. It's really quite amazing that they fit into the bottom of my wardrobes*.


Edited to add: My grandmother (who is an even bigger shoe addict than me) gave me another pair of shoes today. So that makes it 59.


*I say wardrobes because I have the use of one whole one, and then I share half of one with my boyfriend.