make it work

I have had this suspender bodysuit for a very long time and have been wanting to wear it, but wasn't really sure how.  I guess just basic black works, but it kinda makes me feel like a mime or something!  Jeans look weird, I thing a full black skirt would be cute. . .  I don't know.  Maybe it is not as great as I think it is.  You know how it is when your gut tells you that something is good, but you just don't know any practical applications for it.  Perhaps this bodysuit will just be paired with bright tights someday and a belt for a play session and that will be it.  If anyone has any suggestions or examples for making this work right let me know.  If it sucks, no sweat.

I hope you have a very lovely weekend!

COMMENT OF THE DAY:

 Mad Junkie said...

Ha ha ha.....I think the suspenders look good in all of your pics....I really like your shoe collection BTW. I laugh because I understand when a piece may not be as great as you originally thought. I have been putting not so great outfits together a lot lately and then wearing it in PUBLIC because of no time to change! Keep the piece, keep working on it and I know you will WOW us just as you always do...all in good time :) Peace Girl!

Ask me anything

I wanted to call attention to the comment of the day yesterday.  It was from Anonymous.  They followed up on their previous comment and it made me feel this Searing pang in my stomach.  Please don't feel so bad.  I had just finished my Acupuncture apt when I got that first comment and just finished telling her how I wish I had 10 bodies for my heart to get all its work done, and she had just assured me that I was not a super hero, and said to forgive my body,  and so when I got home, my heart was all open and vulnerable so your comment struck me harder than it should have.  Please don't beat yourself up.  You are a human too.  I would still like to make it right though.

Due to this situation, I went through all of my emails for the past couple of days and checked my spam folder.  I have no Idea who you could be, but there where HUNDREDS of unread emails in my spam (most from Weardrobe giving me updates! I had no idea they sent notification emails when you get comments or followers!)  among them were a few emails that just bounced there.  To TRY TO avoid anything like this happening again, I created an "ASK ME ANYTHING" place.  All you have to do is click on the link in the right hand column and ask away.  You can do it anonymously ABOUT ANYTHING (if its Raunchy I will probably ignore it! Pervs! . . ) And you can see ALL of my answers to previous questions.  It can be technical or about randomness, or whatever.  I was going to go through and collect all the questions I have not answered yet (yes they were leg warmers yesterday, I don't know the brand of my jeans the other day because I got them at the thrift store and the tag is gone, etc.) But instead if there is a burning question I have not answered, would you add it to the list?  I will dedicate a few days a week to answering them.  (I got this FORMSPRING idea from a very wise fellow blogger that I actually called on the phone for help yesterday! You know who you are sweet girl! Thank you so much!)

So, about this outfit.  I am wearing another playsuit from Target that my Son actually coaxed me into buying! He is dangerous to shop with! And I really wanted to wear this little vintage hat from the collection, but I couldn't find any pins this morning and it keeps falling off!  Oh well! I was probably trying to wear it wrong anyway!

COMMENT OF THE DAY: Do I know you?  It is a very strange coincidence that your name is Kornrose.  Maybe there is a specific reference that you are referring to that I am not familiar with, but the spelling and combination of this blogger name is has a VERY specific application and story in my life.  Hmmmm.  The only other person that knows about this doesn't really seem like you though.  I am SO intrigued right now.  Do you by chance have wavy auburn hair?  This would be a very strange coincidence as well. The suspense is killing me.

 kornrose said...

I've been checking out your blog for a few weeks now, but haven't posted. You are my newest girl crush & style inspiration. And yes, you are a super hero for all the energy you're putting out. I'm a married, working-mama too, so I get it. LOVE those playsuits...I a-gonna have to find me one!

on a mission

A Discussion that took place in my email last night right before I went to bed:


"Hi!

   I discovered your blog today and fell in love with your [entire] wardrobe and your inspiring photos and styling. Which leads me to my dilemma: I recently purchased a pair of Steve Madden Frenchh Engineer boots on sale.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3016793

In Cognac. 

BUT I have half a mind to return them because I have no idea how to pair them! I bought them because I've lusted over the idea of durable flat leather boots but I have no idea how to pair them. Please let me know if you have any ideas! Thank you!!!

                                                                                              Verdant boot-aficionado

                                                                                                         Alison"

"Allison,

Hmmm.  Lemme see if I can cook something up for you.  I have a pair of mid height frye moto boots that have a similar feel to these, more squared toe, but same chunky feel.  I have hardly worn them since I have actually had trouble styling them as well!  It is so sweet that you have faith in me though!  I will try a few things and get back to you!  Perhaps with some pictures even.  In the mean time, my inclination would be a floral playsuit, dark tights in gray maybe, and a layer of to the knee socks bunched down so they are just peeking over the boot, a warm, oversized cardigan over the playsuit and a brown scarf belted at the waist under a braided leather belt.  I Think you just helped me pick out my outfit for tomorrow!  I will try to get it posted before I am out the door at 8:00 tomorrow!  Hope it helps and thanks so much for finding me!

Christina Marie"

Any time you have a dilemma like this send me an email if you want to and I will do my best!  I hope this helps Allison!

{EDIT: An Anonymous commenter just stated that I don't return emails to other girls not asking for fashion advice, and that they are "Let down".  I am not sure what you are referring to exactly, but it hurts my feeling very much to know that you feel that way.  I must have failed to return an email to you.  It is absolutely possible.  I try as hard as I can to address specific questions and emails, but sometimes I miss things.  I never want anyone to feel I have over looked them or that I don't care.  I am just the kind of person that faces what is right in front of me and I try to hold all of the strings of things that get behind me.  Sometimes I drop strings.  I forget to put my husbands laundry in the dryer even though he asked me specifically to do before I leave the house. I forget to grab things to give to my mom when I go over to hers, I for get to return calls , schedule appointments, get milk at the store and return emails.  I am a human being.  With my odd jobs and family and friends and obligations, things are bound to be forgotten.  This doesn't mean these things are not important, (because the things that require the most grace are usually put on the back burner till I can be in the right frame of mind to address them, that frame sometimes does not come until another pressing thing enters my brain) SO ANONYMOUS, Please accept me as a human.  I am sorry I have failed you, but you are not the first and not the last and you are in very good company.   Trust me, I try, but I am not a super hero. }


COMMENT OF THE DAY: Anonymous, You are a human too! I Never intended to make you feel bad.  I just was hoping for a little understanding.  Please don't feel like you fail others.  I am sure you are under a great amount of stress right now.  I completely understand where feelings like this come from.  I hope you feel a little better today. 

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately I am the same anonymous from earlier. I am extremely sorry for the comment and regret it terribly. Sometimes I guess we all take our frustrations out on random people that do not deserve it at all. I apologize greatly and I will continue to be a loyal follower to your amazing blog. You have not failed me one bit, but reminded me that we are all human, and that I am truly the one who actually fails everyone else.

Some like it blue

Ah!  Here is the Vintage swimsuit I was talking about yesterday!  It is just a tad too big (well kind of a lot too big) But NO matter!  I still love it!  I thought it was such a coincidence that one of the vintage hats  she lent me as well, matched PERFECTLY with my WeLoveColors.com Teal Tights!  I couldn't help but pair them for this little play outfit!  Speaking of play outfits, I have posted three of them here now and I need to invent a place to wear them.  Dirty Hair Halo likes to do play outfits as well, and she suggested maybe opening a bowling alley or nightclub where we can all go wearing out fantasy play things and just party in them.  Any other suggestions?

I love the color of these tights though and can't really go about in a crazy blue hat and a bathing suit, so I toned it down with this mixed animal print dress I hemmed last weekend.  It is DEFINITELY from the 80s and had HUGE shoulder pads (which I cannot rock no matter how cool they get again) and a below the knee length.  I think It is WAY more wearable at this length and with this woven belt.

I very Bewilderedly was featured by Jessica on What I Wore yesterday and am flabbergasted that she even notices me!  I have to use big words to describe my amazement.  I checked them in my dictionary and I do believe I am using them correctly to describe my feelings.  So, wow, thanks Jessica!

COMMENT OF THE DAY:

 Call A Spade, A Spade! said...

I absolutely LOVE the tights and they go SO well with both outfits. I think the bathing suit is great. Who cares if its a bathing suit. Put a little skirt with it and wear it like a leotard.

If you get something setup where you decide to have a fun place to wear the fun outfits, let us know. I am sure there would be lots of us that would come out to see your outfits and to wear our own funky outfits

Keep up the great work!

Maddest freaking Hatter!

I HIT THE JACKPOT!!!!  ok calm down. . . Phooooooeeeewwww.  So yesterday, wait, well first let me preface by telling you that while I have told you that I work with the screen printing class in the high school, I failed to mention that I also work in all of the ceramics classes teaching whistle making and conceptual sculpture from time to time.  My degree had a concentration in Ceramic Sculpture and I have had tight relationships with every ceramicist I have ever met since high school (I have called all of my teachers mom more than once) So now that i am an adult I am still making friends with ceramic teachers and yesterday I had a play date with the one I work with at the the high school (she and I are almost the same age and have kids in the same preschool! And she is cool as hell) ANYWAY, while I was there, she was like, "I have these things I have wanted to give you," and brings out this bag of clothes and amongst the clothes is her GRANDMOTHERS CLASSIC BLACK ONE PIECE BATHING SUIT FROM THE 40's!  You will see that tomorrow, but even more exciting is that she has let me have for as long as I would like, her vintage collection of HATS!!  SO MANY AMAZING HATS!!!  This Cloche is from the 20's and is the most MIRACULOUS thing I have ever seen!  You have NO IDEA how much fun I have had this morning!!

I also got these shoes in the mail yesterday!  I won them from Brittany at Finders Keepers!  The hat and the shoes were so pretty and fancy that I thought a vintage gypsy paisley shirt and boyfriend jeans would be just the ticket, and for warmth, my knitted granny blanket!  ALSO wearing my Clyde's Rebirth Necklace again!  Love it!!  I feel like a million bucks today!

COMMENT OF THE DAY:  I loved this comment from Catherine Sr. (SHOWN BELOW) but I also had a question about my blog formatting from C'est Moi asking how I get my pictures big without getting them cut off by the blogspot, or some such, The format I use is Minima Stretch.  In blogger just go to customize layout, pick new template, and scroll down to Minima Stretch.  WARNING!  Changing your template will reset all of your color and formatting preferences.  But it will allow you to post larger pictures.  Hope that helps!

catherine_sr. said...

You look awesome in that hat! I love the ombre ribbon. And the way you are wearing the granny blanket has given me an excuse to buy this rainbow shawl I want but had no idea how to style!
My uncle is a ceramicist, too... he recently published a book about ceramics artists in Singapore. Taipei, where I live, also has an amazing ceramics museum... every time I go there I am inspired by the art on display.
the renegade bean

Catch up!

I kind of seems like I am constantly playing catch up lately!  I think it is impossible for a single person to do all of the things they intend to do exactly when they intend on it.  Does that make sense?  I think I am the kind of person (and I know I am not alone here) who's heart promises things the body can't always provide in a timely manner.  So many Variables exist in this life! I often just wish I had telepathy or wish there was a twitter program that displayed what your heart was feeling at any given time.  I guess the fear is that if I fail to deliver what I have promised, I will be thought of as a flake, or that I simply don't care (both I KNOW are not true, but I realize I have the capacity to appear that way.)  When I feel this way I make lists to avoid dropping important strings of promises.  I have been using the list format a lot lately (reflecting my worry that I will forget something Important!)

1. The outfit above was worn yesterday for an outing to IHOP with the two handsomest men in my life. Wearing Mel's Milkmaid braids again!) 
2. I am packaging and sending out the compilation CD's to my 20 winners today (though it may take me longer than I anticipate so it may be tomorrow)
3. I was interviewed and featured at two really amazing sites this weekend!!!  Lauren of Jewels of Saraswati  featured my Etsy Shop on Indie Smiles where I answered questions about my obsession for vintage, how and why it got started, and my embarrassing hoarding habits.  Then, Anna at Have a Cute Day interviewed me about my personal style evolution and inspirations.  Both sights are really wonderful and I am so honored to be featured there!  THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH!!  
4. I AM definitely going to New York!  Thank you all so much for your support!  I will not find out if I have won the contest until Wednesday, but I am going to the conference regardless!  I have sold so many of my things thanks to you and I am just so incredibly thankful!  I still can't really believe it is really going to happen though!  Its like I am saving my overjoy-ness just in case, so I don't get heart broken or something!  
5. Please note the outfit below:

The outfit above was the final outfit of my closet play day and what I WANTED to wear today.   I got this necklace from Merl At Clyde's Rebirth!!  Merl finds second hand gold and silver chains, vintage jewelry and beads and designs and creates these amazing, one of a kind, multi layered masterpieces to sell at her Etsy Shop.  Her passion for design (her speciality and background) shows in every piece!  I am also very fond of this piece!  Oh la la!  How would you like to wear this at some tropical topless destination!

COMMENT OF THE DAY: Comments are never too long!!  

 Anonymous said...

I just read your interview on Have A Cute Day and had to comment on how it inspired me! I too was always into fashion and it seemed like the moment I got pregnant with my son I forgot how to put outfits together! I'm so excited to hear that you went through the same thing because I would have never known by looking at your pictures! I love your style and look at your blog all the time! My son is now 2 and has a new little sister and although I don't always have a lot of time to get myself dressed I'm finally starting to get my personal style back! Maybe one day I will start my own blog! Thanks for the inspiration and sorry for such a long comment! Have a blessed day!

Playing in the closet

So while my son and husband were out spending time with Granny, and While I was SUPPOSED to be folding laundry (don't worry I got it done, well,  it is in process) I stayed home and played in my closet today.  Usually I don't take pictures of every combo, because it is tedious and ridiculous for me to do that, but I thought maybe I would today to record a little bit of my process.  I purposely withheld the FINAL OUTFIT that I came to because I will probably wear it Monday and don't want to be redundant.  I absolutely DO NOT plan every outfit this way, but I had the time today, and its fun sometimes to be completely unproductive.  These elements are things I am playing with in anticipation of spring. Some are working, some are not.  Some I thought were working but now that I see them in photographs I am not so sure (top Skirt looks too big or boxy or something, and not sure if the mix of black and brown leathers work either.)

I am in desperate need of a hair cut and color, so I hope to do that and video tape the cut tomorrow.  In the mean time, Happy Weekend!

COMMENT OF THE DAY:  Today's pic was difficult since there were so many VERY sweet comments!  And a lot of new blogs for me to check out!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!

 my name is lauren. said...

i just rediscovered your blog...don't know how it slipped my radar for so long, but i'm glad i found it again so i can follow all of the lovely fashion inspiration you have to offer.
i may or may not have just gone through the last.... oh ....maybe 10 pages of your blog. you are absolutely beautiful and a complete fashion inspiration. the way you pair things is so fresh and lovely. and i actually adore the first outfit in this post. the juxtaposition of the leather skirt with the floral and the unexpected bit of brown leather. i think it's perfection...but that's just me.

so glad to have (re!)found you! xo
{Lauren}
thelittlethingswedo.blogspot.com

Lots to cover!

I got home from my pole dancing class last night to find these GORGEOUS new tights waiting for me!! OH MY GOODNESS!!  They are my new FAVORITE TIGHTS EVER!  I got them from WeLoveColors.com along with two additional bright colored tights (will debut soon!) Can I just tell you that I have been lusting over tights from this company FOR YEARS!  Before I ever even knew what a blog was, when I just wore jean all the time, when colored tights were a fantasy of mine, I had the ad from Lucky Magazine (the one with the girl wearing blue tights with an orange dress!) cut out and pasted in my inspiration notebook! To finally own a few pairs is a dream come true for me! (its the simple things really!) These ones are called Nylon Tights (metallic) Silver and Gold Rain.  They are the best tight I have ever owned.  I took these pictures last night while I was still glowing! 

Tips for a very successful pole dancing class:

1. Cowboy boots with a sturdy heel
2. Daisy Dukes
3. Split of Korbel Champagne 
4. Christina's Pole dance disk (Scroll to the bottom of this post to win this compilation disk!)
5. Dim lights
6. Red lips

That did it for me.  I felt like a rock star last night!  I have to build more upper body strength but I have mastered the keys to this thing!  I bought 6 more classes though to make it second nature.  I have no idea if these skills will ever come in handy, but it is nice to have a special talent tucked up your sleeve.  

Now on the subject of lists, I have very graciously been given some pretty sweet blog Awards! They all mostly require the same things, A list of facts or single word answers to a list of questions.  I think Awards like these are cool for getting to know bloggers, but since I sort of Ramble on about myself all the time anyway, I thought maybe I would just talk a little about each person who awarded it to me.

Haute Mess Award from Annie at Time enough for Drums.

I met Annie on Chictopia before she had her blog and was immediately drawn to her adorable glasses and sincere comments! She loves vintage and is creative and fresh in her styling.  Thanks Annie!

Kreativ Blogger award from Perfecta at Another Fab Day.

A quote from this stylish woman ""Every piece in your wardrobe should make you feel Fab and carry a story. Mine do." Very Well Said! She blogs in two different languages and is an expert at layering! Thanks Perfecta!

Your blog is fabulous From Jolie at Senorita Fashionista.

Jolie is a Very fashionable woman and a very talented Makeup artist to boot! She gives reviews and tips for make up application and shows things that inspire her as well as her own style!  Thanks Jolie!  

Kreativ Blogger from DIRTY HAIR HALO.

Every time I get a comment from this girl I get a little squirm in my tummy and feel like I just got a short, cool note from my hugest boy crush in Middle school.  NO, she does not look like a middle school boy.  She has MAD style and makes me literally laugh out loud when I read her blog.  So yes,  Thank you insanely hot girl. 

Over the Top award from Corie at My Taste Indeed.

Corie not only has an amazing personal style and a killer Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction Hair Cut (which she does HERSELF!) she also is a very grounded, down to earth, wise and philosophical person.  Thanks Corie!

Best Blog Award from Tiny Quirks.  

This girl is completely adorable, a student, and a very sweet sister!  She has a very nice blog cataloging her outfits (layers leggings, ruffles) and her search for the perfect prom dress.  Thank so much Sweet girl! 

So, according to all of these awards I am supposed to grant awards on to like 50 other bloggers or something crazy like that! (I am not into arithmetic) That is like my entire blog roll!! Instead I am  going to do a big giveaway.  Hope you are not mad.  I am giving away 20 copies of "Christina's Pole Dance Disk" a compilation of songs you can't help but love ranging from songs by Wanda Jackson, to Bob Dylan, The Beatles, the Stones, Micheal Jackson, I mean the list goes on!  And they are all VERY danceable songs you can play while you take your outfit photos for your blog, or for a cool dinner party!  To win simply be one of the first 20 people to EMAIL ME at secondskin19(at)gmail(dot)com WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!!  I can't stress the address part enough!  I will send a confirmation email to let you know you made it in the first 20, and may send more depending on turn out! 


TIME STAMP 1:05  only 4 disks left!!
TIME STAMP 1:37 only 1 disk left!!  But if you were too late, I will still send you a disk if you send me a self addressed and stamped envelope to me first!!  Email me for specifics! Congrats to all the winners!  They went quick ya 'll.  


COMMENT OF THE DAY:  

 Christen said...

I need those tights. No joke, I need them. They are quite possibly the most awesome tights I have ever seen.
And can I just say that I adore you even more now that I know you are taking pole dancing classes? You might be the coolest person ever. With the most awesome tight ever. :)
(Sorry for the silly comment, I'm in a goofy mood *smile*)