thirty days hath September

What better day than the last of September to break out my hummingbird dress? I will miss it during these next cold months, but I'll be glad knowing that it's waiting for me next spring.

I paired the light dress and jacket with the darker patterned tights, shoes, and hat to make it more fall friendly.









dress- courtesy of eShakti
jacket - H&M
hat - Charlotte Russe
tights - Target
shoes - Famous Footwear
purse - vintage



I bought these shoes with some birthday money and I am in love with them. Their shape and color are so classic - I'll be able to wear them with everything!

Check out the lion holding up the bench...



It was a lovely fall day - very windy (my hat kept wanting to fly off), but sunny and just the right amount of chill in the air. There are already so many leaves on the ground - I can't believe it! Happy last of September.

"a picture is a poem without words" - Horace

I really appreciate that quote from Horace. Similarly, I believe the same about an outfit - it is poem without words. What does it make you feel? Everyone feels something different, and that is why self expression is such a powerful tool.



dress - thrifted Studio Ease
jacket - H&M
Hat - vintage
shoes - So

I believe that you are a blank canvas at the beginning of each day and what you choose to adorn yourself with is your expression. Your work of art - what you wear and how you wear it - says something about you, the same as a painting comments on the painter.

she got the moon in her eye

A thrift store is the place to go if you want anything in velvet. Jammed onto the clothes racks you can find bits of every shape and size. And that's exactly where I found this beauty. Long. Black. Velvet. Perfect. I really appreciate the long and practically shapeless silhouette.

An especially perfect addition to my witchy wardrobe.



dress - thrifted
necklace - vintage
shoes - Charotte Russe
bow - vintage



I'm starting to crave ghoulish accessories - talons, beetles, webs, skulls, ect...I'll have to peruse the craft store for some DIY materials...

there is no wind that always blows a storm

Tea in the park - don't forget your umbrella! What a gorgeous blustery day it was! The wind was whipping around so fast I though I might take flight a la Mary Poppins. It was overcast and dim...at any moment the skies could have opened, but I would have been protected thanks to my trusty bumbershoot.



Of all my jackets, this is my favorite. I love the bright red against the navy - so classic. The design is unique, too, not at all like a traditional blazer. The three-quarter sleeves are also a great alternative to full length, especially in the fall weather.













dress - vintage Katie
jacket - H&M
tights - Target
shoes - H&M
ring - vintage
umbrella - vintage





It was so relaxing to have a lazy afternoon in the park. There was no one around to disturb my reading and the windy chill added amazing atmosphere - the kind mostly found in books.

the correspondence college of witchcraft

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday witches...I mean wishes! Well, speaking of, witches are my number one inspiration for the beginning of fall. Today, I went for rich colors and wild hair, sort of an apprentice witch look, perhaps?



I bought this amazing Halloween watch at a thrift store a couple years ago. The witch flies around the face as the second hand.







dress - thrifted Forever 21
vest - thrifted Miley Cyrus / Max Azaria
scarf - vintage
tights - Kmart
socks - Target
shoes - Charlotte Russe
jewelry - thrifted
purse - vintage Coach





This season I'm looking forward to mixing gypsy wanderer style with dark gothic pieces that emulate vintage witch prints and childhood storybooks. I have a couple of gorgeous black velvet dresses I'm dying to style...

scrambled eggs all over my face

After a hectic week, a feverish weekend, and a couple thrifting adventures, I'm back!



I bought this beautiful butterfly at the craft store. I hot glued a barrette clip onto it, and voila, a haunting gothic nod to the vibrant summer butterfly.





shirt - H&M
skirt - thrifted
shoes - Charlotte Russe
tights - Target
belt - thrifted
necklace - vintage
clutch - vintage



My boyfriend is flying down especially for my birthday tomorrow! It's going to be quite a full day, but any day filled with amazing family and friends, crab legs, and cake is all right with me!

Also, new post on the inspirations page!

a work of art is a confession

The air is cool and crisp. In the mornings the mist hangs low in the valleys, almost too beautiful to be real. Summer is nearly behind us.

I am loving being able to mix fun textures together as the weather turns cooler. This ensemble was particularly fun because of the leather fringe on the vest. That mixed with the light floaty tunic, the wool hat, and the suede boots made for a delicious outfit.



I felt like I should have been carrying around some sort of musical instrument, but I settled for a large leather bag.

I found this pretty hat at Charlotte Russe last winter for $.99. Needless to say, I snapped it right up. I love end-of-season shopping. It feels so good to break out something new when it's season appropriate and know that you didn't spend a small fortune for it.





hat - Charlotte Russe
tunic - thrifted H&M
vest - vintage
tights - Target
boots - Kmart
purse - vintage
necklace - vintage
bangle - Wet Seal





The fringe on this vest is beyond cool. It sways when I walk and makes the coolest sound. The vest was a hand-me-down from my godmother - it goes with this skirt.

watching the masters at work

Michael Jackson once said, "The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work," and, well, speaking of masters, I have been itching to see This Is It again. This outfit was inspired by Michael and his unique sense of style.



When I was in middle school, one of my friends "invented" what he called "The Locker Lean." It looked like this (above) - leaning on the locker, casually, feet like so. He liked to use it to woo the ladies, acting all casual and the like. Hmm...he never did have much luck with that.

There, speaking of Michael, what? There he is on my shirt!





tee - Kmart
jacket - vintage
leggings - Target
shoes - Forever 21
brooch - vintage
belt - vintage
bracelet - vintage



Saw these shoes and had an I need to have those on my feet now moments.



I'm starting to think I have a thing for red blazers. I was closet-consolidating this afternoon and discovered that I had about six in various styles - one for almost every day of the week?

"dancers are the atheletes of God" - Einstein

Though I believe that second-hand stores are the best places to find a good deal, I never rule anything out while bargain hunting. Take this outfit, for instance, the whole thing cost less than $25, and all, save the purse and necklace which were hand-me-downs, came from contemporary clothing stores.



I ventured down to a breathtakingly beautiful cemetery for these pictures. It was so peaceful and serene. I think cemeteries are such great places for creative minds to work - they spark the imagination and cater to the senses.



When I got dressed I thought the outfit needed an extra something...a little oomph. I think these socks (on clearance from Target) are the perfect touch.





top - H&M ($5)
leggings - Target ($5)
shoes - Charlotte Russe ($10)
socks - Target ($1.50)
purse - vintage (my mom's)
necklace - vintage (my grandma's)





This photo shows the pretty draping effects of this top. It's lovely muted pink color paired with the unusual cut are what attracted me to it on the sale rack. I feel like an off duty ballerina in it, which I think is what prompted me to do a top knot and use the dainty accessories.

archaeologists do not dig up dinosaur bones

This beautiful vintage Gap dress is what I decided on for my second day of classes. The corduroy texture and the beautiful rich color are perfect for back-to-school weather.

I've found that two of the Goodwills near where I attend school are popular dropping spots for the Target Superstore in the area. I've found flats, wellies, belts, and designer for Target items in large quantities the last few times I've visited. This belt is one of the ones I've found - with original price tag still on - only $1.99.



dress - vintage Gap
blouse - vintage
tights - Merona
shoes - Mossimo
purse - vintage
belt - thrifted
earrings - vintage



Here's a snippet of what I learned today:
"Archaeologists do not dig up dinosaur bones. Write that down. Underline it. Study it. Learn it. That will be on the test."

the little voice? remember the little voice?

Someday, I may wear this outfit out in public. Pairing it with minimal makeup, a longer hemline, and only two inch heels helps keep the sexy factor turned down.

I thought this outfit called for something red, hence the clutch. I think the color and size helps detract attention from the sheer blouse.



top - H&M
bralette - Express
skirt - vintage
shoes - attention
clutch - vintage

I found this blouse jammed onto the sale rack at H&M for a meager $5 and thought...why not? That's one thing I love about sale racks...they allow you to reach out beyond your comfort zone, will little monetary consequence. Would I have bought this sheer top for full price? Definitely not -I would have breezed right by. Even if I never bring myself to wear it sans any cover up, it will still make a great layering piece. Another $5 well spent.

make a little birdhouse in your soul

I felt like a dose of color today. I've spent the past few days weeding out spring and summer clothes to be trucked down to the basement for the next six months, so I decided to give a last colorful hurrah before labor day.



dress (worn as a skirt) - H&M
sweater - vintage
belt - thrift store
purse - thrift store
necklace - thrift store
shoes - Faded Glory

I will definitely miss my white sneaks...they have served me well these past warm months.

I can see you, girl, can you see me?

Fall is almost here. Technically, it won't even be fall until the third week of September, but I can feel it. I dropped a whole 20 degrees in the course of the night to bring us a gray and windy barely over 60 degree (F) day. I love it - I could live in this weather for the rest of my life.

Not only was the weather perfect, but it was my first day of classes (as if summer was never even here...). I walked out the door sans any type of covering over my dress thinking that the temperature would rise a good twenty or so degrees in the course of the morning. However, when I stepped back outside after my last class it was still quite brisk.



Secretly, I was glad for the cool to stay on because I've been longing to wear this beautiful trench ever since I bought it a couple weeks ago. Now this is the kind of item I don't mind paying full price for. Since this coat was from H&M it was relatively inexpensive ($35), but that's still quite a lot for me to spend one one item, especially if it isn't marked down or on sale. However, this is quite a classic I've got here, and the many times I will wear it in the future make it well worth the price.





dress - vintage Katie Mfg.
trench - H&M
shoes - xhilaration
purse - vintage



My pictures today were taken in a local tennis court in honor of the U.S. Open (go Rafa!).