new and improved

I actually got my Marc flats back a couple days ago, but I haven't been able to put up pictures until now.

The guy did an amazing job! The original leather soles are now protected by a layer of rubber. The rubber adds a teensy bit more height, but the eighth of an inch is practically unnoticeable. Now I won't be fazed by wet sidewalks and bumpy cobblestones.

I think it was worth the $31.90 to save these shoes. I may go back and get a couple pairs of vintage sandals rubbered up.

H&M slub cotton tee, Forever 21 shorts, Marc by Marc Jacobs flats

the long and short of it

Today the high in my area was 106 degrees. Because my store has already made the transition from Summer to the Back To School season, we are no longer allowed to wear shorts or skirts while on the sales floor. It's crap. We are still selling mini skirts and shorts that are not yet on clearance. I just think that we should be able to wear any of the stuff we sell. And the dress guidelines DO state that we are to dress appropriately for the weather, i.e., no wool sweaters in the summer. I would think that 106 degree weather would mean that full-length skinny jeans are not weather appropriate, don't you?

If I had my way, I'd be running around in this outdoors as well as in.

Gap European Collection top, Abercrombie & Fitch shorts

I only look miserable because my house doesn't have air conditioning.

naughty secretary

In sixth grade, I was a goth for Halloween. I wore a burgundy wig and Hot Topic-esque Nine West boots. The icing on the cake was a pair of pleather pants from Gap Kids.

I'm revisiting the pleather (sans vampiric makeup) with this mini skirt from H&M. For the record, I would never wear a tight white polo with the skirt out of the fitting room... It just gives off a kinky secretary vibe that I do not want to be associated with. I think it goes without saying that I won't be donning my glasses with it either.



The material isn't the best, but I liked the cut and I'm interested in mixing textures of black. It'll do.

P.S. I wear color sometimes! The blog will look less like a White House/Black Market catalog soon!

working from home

I didn't have work today. Trust me, my work outfits are not worth taking pictures of, much less blogging about. I work at a clothing store that is not fashion-forward by any means. Even though I probably won't go out tonight, I felt like trying on an outfit that I can't wear at my store.


AA racerback dress, vintage Norma Kamali vest, Marni wedges
Those shoes are my latest splurge, and will probably be my last for a long while. They have yet to strike pavement. I'm so worried about grinding the soles down!

I would like to mention that those bruises are work-related injuries. I have to climb up and down ladders countless times every day to pull merchandise down for customers and re-fold tank tops.

I was productive today, though. If you're one of the few who have visited my blog before, you might notice that I did some layout work. I'm much happier with this design than my more simple previous one. I'm not one to be satisfied for long, though, so I'm sure I'll be toying with things here and there soon.

crew-zin'

WHOA. Who knew that J. Crew had a designer line? I always knew they had bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses, but they also have some higher-end stuff on their website.

From what I can tell, J. Crew's definition of "high end" is sequins and beading. They're selling a sequined jacket for $3,000 and a beaded cardigan for $2,800. I think that's a little much, especially for a non-premier label. Even so, there are a couple pieces that I like quite a bit and seem worth the price.


Washed-leather Claudette jacket: I still have a hard time grasping the concept of a short-sleeved jacket. When would I wear this sort of thing? I suppose when my shoulders are freezing but my arms are too hot... The leather looks very thin and soft, and I like the cut of the sleeves.


Fontaine dress: I might only like this because it reminds me a lot of my M by MJ prom dress. I love the ruffles and both the pine green and beige-y brown colors. It probably looks better on someone bustier than myself.


Crepe Mimi T-shirt gown: I can't tell if this is meant to be part of J. Crew's wedding collection or what. The train throws me off. I admire the unexpected cut out on the back. I've fantasized about a wardrobe consisting only of cream and black, and this could fit right in.

Do you think the 10% college student discount applies to these items? Hahahaha.

photos from J. Crew -- poor quality their fault, not mine

tortured sole

I haven't grown in basically any dimension since seventh grade, so pretty much everything I used to wear could still fit if I wanted it to. Shoes, pants, dresses... Everything is still the same size. I suppose I fill certain pieces out a bit more, but I'm basically the same stick I have been for the past six years. Thus, there are very few things that I must add to my wardrobe. I get really excited when I can make a justifiable purchase.

What I need is a pair of shoes that will last. Though my school has a relatively small campus, my shoes get worn out very quickly by just walking to and from class. Take for example my poor Marc by Marc Jacobs flats.



They're the best flats known to man. Not a single blister from these. Unfortunately, after less than ten outings, the poor soles are wearing out!



Do notice the most significant damage, on the right heel. The sole has ground down all the way to the wooden part of the heel, and some of the black paint is wearing off. I suppose part of this may be due to my walking pattern, but still! I haven't worn these shoes in three months because I don't want them to get too worn out.

The only shoes that have been good to me are my Rainbows. They're super comfortable, but they make it difficult for me to appear stylish. I feel like I'm constantly just throwing on the college student uniform. Also, my dad thinks they look absolutely disgusting. But they don't smell, promise.



Tomorrow I'm getting the Marcs resoled. I've never been to this place before, but they've got an average five-star rating on Yelp. They specialize in cowboy boots!

bring it back

I'm starting to compile lists of things that I'm going to bring back to school in the fall.

My parents send me a monthly allowance to pay for groceries, toiletries, and other supplies I need at school. Most of it this past year went towards clothes, of course. Having some extra cash at my disposal led to buying a lot of SHIT.

NO: bought in LA, not bringing back



KR3W hoodie - A bunch of my male friends in high school either had or were dying for this hoodie. It has a gold foil print all over, and it zips all the way up the hood! Yeah, awesome, I know. I saw it on sale at Active, and I bought it because it was a good deal. Sometimes, boy clothes look cute on girls. This is not one of those times.

Lux shirtdress - It's actually more of an indigo color. There is a new TV commercial for Clean & Clear acne product and one of the girls in it is wearing this same dress. I'm still debating whether this stays in the Bay or not. To bring: acceptable for both day and night; loose, hides fat from all-cereal diet; I don't really care if it gets dirty. To leave: not very cute; requires ironing; dry clean only.

Billabong checker hoodie - I have a habit of buying things just because they're a good deal, not necessarily because I love them. This hoodie retails for $70, but I got it on sale at PacSun for $20. It has strange fur inside the hood, and the bottom of the zipper is poky and irritating. Yes, it fulfills its purpose of keeping me warm, but it's unattractive.

Analog tee - Quote from "Boyz-N-The-Hood" by N.W.A. Good song, not good t-shirt. I got it on Whiskey because it was cheap. Had I bought it in a medium, I could pass it off to the boyfriend. Unfortunate.

YES: purchased over summer, must bring back



AA acid wash v-neck - We've all seen this before. I want the v-necks in every color because they fit me so perfectly. The only thing holding me back is their price, which is a little steep for a girl with a mediocre minimum wage summer job. This organic food store called Mana Foods in Paia, Maui was selling them for $12 each! I don't know how they do it.

Gap white tank - This tank has the most amazing fit ever. The flower applique is not amazing, but it'll pass. It is soft and slinky and I am just in love with it. Another piece that I would buy in multiples.

Esprit wool skirt (secondhand) - I've actually had this skirt in my closet at home for years, but it hasn't fit properly until this year. It's more charcoal grey than black, and I find it to be pretty flattering on my bare legs. Hopefully my tan lasts a while.

Alternative Apparel cardigan - I found this in the clothing section of Mana Foods as well. It's made of a very soft jersey. I like that it's lightweight and can be stuffed easily in my bag, but still has enough substance to keep my arms warm. The color has more purple in it than the photo suggests; it's something like this. Bonus: it's $38 online, but Mana was selling it for $16.25.

I am dreading going through my crates of stuff stored down south. After my parents drop me off at school, they'll probably be bringing half of my wardrobe back with them. The only constant is change.