(vintage dress, H&M tights, Sam Edelman boots)

It is pouring rain right now and I love it, as much as all of Socal can't drive when it's wet out. Here's what I wore yesterday, craziest vintage sweater dress ever. I couldn't even believe this sequined/mesh spiderweb collar when I saw it.

I get a lot of questions and emails about if/how I wear this stuff out. It would be a pretty exhausting waste of time and effort if I didn't actually wear my clothes, wouldn't it? And as I always say, other people aren't dressing to please me and in turn I see no need to take them into account when dressing myself. I've actually never had a stranger negatively comment on anything I wear though, mainly people just remark on my shoes. I think you guys think people are a lot meaner than they really are? The internet, however..a whole different world.

Off to eat lobster mac and cheese with truffle oil at a restaurant Colin found, ohh am I excited. It's going to be really weird or really, really good.

(Alexander Wang thermal, vintage jacket, Forever 21 necklace, Sam Edelman boots)

Well winter blogging offically sucks, as soon as the days start getting longer again in a week things should pick back up. But ohhh man I love this thermal thing, which I couldn't get out of my head after seeing it in the resort collection months ago. So slouchy comfortable and sloppily me.

What I've been up to the past few days:

• Went to see Third Eye Blind on Thursday, a band I will always love. I am obsessed with so many of their songs, but somehow hardly any of them are the main singles that come to mind. I was so, so happy to hear Motorcycle Drive-by and Slow Motion live. AND they played a few off their new album (after a million year hiatus??) coming out next spring and they were good..really good. Only then will the 90s officially be back. Ursa Major will be mine. Thank you for the tickets Matt ;)
  
• I fiiinally got my roots taken care of on Friday, oh how I hate sitting in salons. I guess my hair looked horrifically light to some of you in the last post (which was actually pre-color), but hey as long as my mom doesn't disown me I think I'm good. Dyeing my hair does not mean I'm denying my Asian side..and if it does then about half of Tokyo is in trouble from what I've seen.
• It was actually COLDish this weekend, Colin and I spent a good portion of it gathering potential firewood in alleys and treed areas and smugly sitting by a blazing hot fire. Good thing he's better at tearing up palettes than I am.
• Getting excited about going up to SF soon to see the parents and brother. Plus I think I miss the place.
  

Well honestly my family and friends hate buying me stuff (me? picky??) so I mostly end up getting cash from the family, which suits me just fine. Here's my really delusional wishlist.



Eres by Repossi jewelry - God I love these pieces..I have an earring similar in concept but this one looks more secure and is so so good on.



Frye Motorcycle Boot - I've been idiotically putting off buying these for years now and really need to just get it over with. My collection of flat anything is pitifully small. The fact that Colin has these and I see them lying around our place all the time just reminds me of this constantly.



Bebe cage heel - Yet another pair of skanky heels. Honestly I was out this week and saw this extremely tanned cornrowed lady wearing these and fell in love. I asked her where she got them and...BEBE. Of course. Apparently I need to schedule routine stops there.



Topshop leather shorts - I've posted these before but I love them that much. I tried a leather shorts search on eBay and the results scared me more than anything else so I'm going to be patient for this one.



Alexander Wang SS09 - The perfect dress, the perfect sweater.



Alexander Wang backpack - Because backpacks are the bluetooth of the bag world..my Chanel version has actually kind of changed my life.



Past season Emma Cook - I don't really know what I would do with these but I kind of love them. Waterworld done right.



Urban Outfitters Corset Bra - Actually I already have this but had to post it because I love it so much.



American Apparel long sleeve u-neck - GENIUS.



Silver chair - Because Colin and I are one random chair and some obnoxious lighting away from our dream living room.



Capri Blue Volcano candle - Best overpriced candle ever.

(sources: elle, style, frenchieinteriors, zappos, shopbop)

First off, I want to thank everyone who spent the time to make me a header, I had no idea that so many of you were so good at this stuff! So thank you for the emails, the links, and even taking the time to ask me for HQs hahah! Sad thing is I feel really horrible since it's nigh impossible to use them all :(

I (along with a few others) really like this one left anonymously, but another reader that prefers to remain anonymous as well emailed me a couple I really liked too..I promise to decide shortly, and thank you SO much again for all of your help!! I seriously suck at that stuff.

And at last I am united with my 06 Balenciaga knockoffs in my size...you know that feeling when you buy something that makes everything in your wardrobe ten times better? Yeah...and I was a little scared after reading reviews that they're vertiginous to an unbearable degree but I find them pretty walkable in reality. Maybe my existing collection has provided me with sufficient training for the holy grail of ankle boots?

But due to a little sizing confusion, I got a pair in a half size too large first, so I'll be putting them in the store tomorrow most likely..if you're a 7.5/8 you're in luck. These suckers run big.

(ETA: the listing for the boots is up..I think there was a little confusion - don't worry, the ones I'm wearing/keeping are a 7 and fit great..if you're a true 7.5 or a smallish 8 these should work perfectly for you..also up are the Topshop studded heel boots that are UGH too big for me why did they send me a 38 when I ordered a 7??)

And, of course, what I wore to test drive them..I'm leaving the quilted chain harness off of them for now, I'm still deciding which way I think they rule more.



(Kain shirt, vintage faux fur jacket, Forever 21 macrame gloves, H&M necklace, Topshop patent leather skinnies, Sam Edelman boots)

(RVCA tank dress, Urbn cardigan and back seam tights, DIY studded Zara boots, Givenchy bag)

• beach pigeons are seasoned warriors so brave they didn't even attempt to scatter when I stomped over - luckily I'm only a little terrified of birds
• I've been living in this tank dress this weekend..the fact that it's pretty much just a slinkier version of a wife beater is very ideal for me (the top version)
  
• the cardigan I ordered last week that's just the cozy piece I was looking for
• if anyone wants to make me a rad new header I will love you forever
  
• yesterday it was a magnificent 80 degrees so the look was a little more..bare

(RVCA dress, Chloe boots)

Hot Topic is henceforth my favorite place to buy jeans. Such a perfect fit, and $40 a pop? Mmmmmmk. And I think I'm entranced by that mutant silver zipper.

The only problem being that after I placed my order online, I had to call and verify my identity before they would ship it. Apparently they have a lot of kids going to town with their parent's credit cards? So funny. But seriously, no one should have to go without Twilight merchandise and fluffy black petticoats, right?

I am exhausted after a crazy day with Kristin and Colin working on something that we're all SO EXCITED about. Sleep has never sounded better.

(vintage shirt and Chanel backpack, Korcula necklace, Topshop patent leather skinnies, Monrow hoodie, Marc by Marc Jacobs boots)

Death stare II. I could not possibly be more excited about these Topshop pants..but after buying American Apparel's lame leggings, Kate Moss' wet look skinnies, and now these suckers, I think I'm going to cut myself off from the shiny stuff. I'm also going to start repenting for long neglecting these boots, which were one of the first pairs of expensive-ish boots that I bought as a blogger..previously I had pretty much kept to MJ too actually. I've only been turned astray due to a depressing lack of soaring heights and platforms in his recent collections. I promise I still love you Marc! Just give us the good stuff. I'll have to see if the cross-strap wedges I used to be so obsessed with are at my parent's house when Colin and I are in San Francisco in a few weeks. And I'm totally out of touch with everything Bay Area so if you have any New Year's Eve suggestions in the city, let me know!

(secondhand mesh top, Erin Wasson for RVCA tank, Kate Moss for Topshop jeans, Aldo boots)

Man that's quite the camera stare-down..I don't think I was that angry. Maybe just sick of lurking in a tunnel with oddly tan-enhancing lighting. I think everything I'm wearing here is wardrobe favorite status..after some scattered online purchases I made today hopefully the pool will be expanding. I'm not sure why it is that I shop so much less at stores these days, but it's gotten to the point where the UPS guy expressed shock today when delivering something for Colin instead of for me..after which he assured me that I still "have him beat by far".

What I've learned:

• don't just blindly Google..Shopstyle delivers results from everywhere that matters
• buy two sizes, return the unwanted
• learn to gage an item outside of the box ie. what will look good oversized, if a dress can be made more casual with a sloppy shirt worn over it..pretty soon you'll be able to look at a piece and tell if it's the length you want just on it's proportions in the photo
  
• check often, as in before Topshop runs out of your size..again
• perhaps not specific to online shopping, but before you buy makeup, check Makeupalley's reviews..since I'd much rather spend money on shoes than lip gloss, I just do a quick scan for the highest percentage "would buy again" from a drug store brand I recognize and then trustingly purchase it..this works out pretty much always, to the point where I haven't had to even try anything new in ages
• sporadically make a really frumpy/weird/pseudo-ugly purchase - these often end up being my favorites..speaking of which, the sweater in the last post is indeed vintage..sorry!
• Yoox is the designer shoe whore's best friend..I get a lot of questions about my Chloe wedges and well, I owe it all to Yoox
• don't knock the not-so-obvious stores..who knew that Bebe made, put on sale, and sold out of a pair of sandals that weirdly channel Balmain ss09..or that Bakers has a pretty amazing pair of studded boots reminiscent of..do I even have to say it? PS Hot Topic has some of the most amazing selection of skinnies for like a cent..paint splatter, leopard print, lace-up..
  
• eBay is the eternal hotbed of standout pieces, even/especially for things like 70s camera straps and tiny magnets (look up "neodynium magnets") that will make your inspiration board that much better...randomness is key
  

• I don't think I'm going to be penning any literature on how to dress in the boondocks anytime soon
• a few of you asked about these boots - the verdict is that they're more comfortable than most flats and they run a half size large...personally, I'm in love
• I got the bandage dress at Forever 21 a couple months ago - freaking love the gold (functional!) snaps and cutout back
  
• it might be time for me to update the wardrobe with a few things..all of a sudden I feel like I don't have anything to wear..maybe I sold it all? hmmmm..
• I think I miss Julian already
  

(Forever 21 sweater, secondhand silk shorts, H&M tights, LD Tuttle for Urbn boots)

Colin and I have been in Julian for the past couple days - he used to come here with his family to camp and wanted to show me the closest thing to a quaint countryside that we've got. It's absolutely beautiful - a lot of things like golden light passing through leaves, vintage-y candy stores, what is apparently the best apple pie around, and even a post office that looks like a schoolhouse from the 1800s. I never really think to myself that I want to get away from the beach but it's definitely a fun change. So far we've picked up chocolate covered espresso beans, marinated mushrooms, pistachios, blackberry honey sticks, and apple cider. I'm serious.

I randomly packed this sweater I got a couple years ago, which I'm pretty sure I used to wear as a dress (SO short??) - as you can see, the cowled section has a tendency to change its mind about how it lies every three seconds. Which is probably why I don't wear it more often...I'm not into clothing that has to be constantly adjusted. Oh well. At least I'm saluting December with my festively red shorts.

(vintage sweater, Levi's shorts, Forever 21 tights, Colin Stuart boots)

Wow it was actually sort of cold yesterday. I've never really found meshy tights like these to be warm whatsoever and I'm actually pretty sure they're irrelevant to one's overall body temperature. Iced vanilla soy latte...maybe not.

But more importantly, I've been hanging on to this PVC paneled sweater for a while now waiting for knits to feel more appropriate. Though Colin swears I stole it from Michael Jackson, I'm into it's futuristic vibe and off center elbow patches, as hard as it is not to absentmindedly touch the shiny stuff from time to time. Nothing like a questionable sweater to mix up one's winter wardrobe.