Late, late, late!

So this is an outfit post, but it's actually what I wore yesterday!  I totally and completely neglected to take a photo on Sunday (which I wholeheartedly regret, because my costume was fab!), and thought I took photos yesterday, I'm just now getting around to posting them.

This gorgeous silk dress was actually borrowed from my fabulous mother - she has some fantastic pieces in her closet, and I'm sure you'll be seeing more and more of them in the upcoming weeks.

sunglasses - Urban Outfitters
white jade earrings - eBay score
sterling flower earrings, knotted chains - belonged to my grandma
chain scrap necklace - self made
belt, sandals - Gap
silk caftan - borrowed from my fabulous mother

 

This self-same fabulous mother went with me on a shopping spree today, during which I picked up some amazing items!  I got some impractical shoes (the best kind of shoes, in my opinion), some gaudy costume jewelry, various diaphanous tops and dresses, and the perfect pair of black harem pants.  I've been resisting the harem- and hammer-pants trend for the last three or four seasons, because generally, billowy bottoms don't look good on me.  However, I spied a pair today at Charlotte Russe that were cut just so, and they are really quite flattering, as well as ridiculously comfortable.  So, expect to see all these things showing up here pretty soon, along with a few surprises!

And Miss Mack can't NOT help with my little photoshoots - she thought the click of the camera shutter was something that she needed to be concerned with.  At least it produced a bit of a smile from me!  

Until next time - cheers!

 

reading/"listening"/watching - Resident Evil

It was nice to have a reason to get dressed today, after being cooped up with conjunctivitis, even if it was just for work.  To wit, here is my outfit:

Completely opposite of what I was planning, but that's usually how it works with me.  Best laid plans and all.  Ah well, at least I got to rock my new pleated trousers!  Which, incidentally, are the very love object I was alluding to in my last post.  I love them!  I never thought I could rock pleats, being so bodacious and all, but 

I've always wanted to, so I decided that there is no time like now.  And you know, they kinda work:

I'm also rocking a new haircut.  It's always my plan to let my hair grow long, but usually about the time it reaches my ears (sometimes sooner), I get an itch to chop it again.  I always cut my hair myself, so whenever I feel like I need a change, I head to the mirror and see what I can accomplish.  I'm also rocking my new self-made necklace and ear cuff:

I've been hankering for a lovely little ear cuff ever since I saw the amazing collab between Rachel Roy and Estelle for Rachel Rachel Roy.  Do you even know how hard it is to find one of these things?!  When you search for "ear cuff" all you get are the traditional cartilage cuffs.  All of the over-the-ear cuffs I've found have either been feathered, beaded, or covered in chains - in other words, tacky.  So, I figured I may as well try my hand at making one.  It was super easy, and though it doesn't look as nice as I might like, it does the job.  The necklace is simply all the spare chain bits that I had lying around from other projects.  Easiest necklace ever, if a bit time-consuming.  So here's what's up:

sunglasses - Old Navy

necklace and ear cuff - self made

agate ring - eBay

garnet ring - belonged to my grandma

silver cuff - gift from my mother

cowl neck halter - Rue21

belt and trousers - Gap

shoes - Nicole via Ruche

I really liked today's costume - here's hoping that I have a successful ensemble tomorrow, as well!


reading/"listening"/watching - The Gift

I'm still here!

Wow, that was quite a (completely unintentional) break!  The truth is, I've basically been bumming around the house the past couple of days because I got conjunctivitis.  Yes, that's right - pinkeye!  Gross.  I got some bugspray in my eye on the fourth, and it got infected.  That's icky, huh?

Anyway, this is a no-picture post, mostly just to remind myself that I actually DO have pictures to post later tonight.  How is that for twisted logic?

Also, I'm in love with...well, you'll just have to wait and see!

reading/"listening"/watching - Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk

Sometimes you see something that you know you can't have, and you know that it exists just to punish you for some distant wrongdoing.  The universe holds grudges, and when you behave badly, it offers up the perfect whatever that you've always wanted, and then says "Screw you, jerk - you can't have it!"  I'm waxing melodramatic, but seriously, would you look at this freaking perfect dress?!

I mean, are you kidding me?  A beautiful taupe color, the kind of vine-y print that I swoon over, AND AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES TO BOOT.  If you knew me, you would understand why the pricetag on this amazing dress is the ultimate cruelty to me - $185.  Click the picture to visit the dress in VintageFrocksOfFancy's Etsy shop.  If I had a couple hundred extra dollars lying around (that wasn't already earmarked for an upcoming tattoo), I would be all over this dress.  As it stands, I'll have to drool over it on the internet until some other lucky lady scoops it up.

I've always wanted to go to an old-fashioned carnival.  I've never even been to the circus!  Unless you count the time when I was two years old that my mom took me to a traveling circus on the mainstreet of my tiny town, and I rode an elephant, but I don't, because all I remember is the elephant.  I want a real sideshow-having, cotton-candy-selling, weird and scary carnival (I just learned that the word "carnival" means "farewell to the flesh" - how awesome is that!?).  Needless to say, Carnivale is one of my all-time favorite television shows.  If you've never seen the show, stop reading and go find it.  Seriously...right now.

So, there was no outfit post yesterday, because it was nuts here - I only had to work for two hours, but there were SO MANY PEOPLE at my house when I got home!  I had been wearing some skinny jeans and the Kissimee dress I posted about a few days ago (as a tunic), but I tore a hole right in the rear of my jeans.  So, when I got home, I threw on some blue-and-white striped linen shorts in place of the jeans.  It was over 90 degrees, anyway, so I needed to ditch the jeggings.  It sounds atrocious, but it was actually pretty cute!

Even though the circus dress is a bit out of my grasp at the moment, I do have another amazing vintage dress find coming my way via FabGabs' Etsy shop.  But it's a secret for now!

Okay, off to dream of ferris wheels and winning giant stuffed creatures for the imaginary girl of my dreams....


reading/"listening"/watching - "Moon Over the Freeway" - the Ditty Bops

I haven't mentioned this yet, but I am the absolute queen of dressing inappropriately for weather, place, and occasion.  Usually, I'm over-dressed.  Take this afternoon, for instance:

It was definitely 85 degrees outside today, and I wore a beret.  Why?  Because berets are my favorite.  I also love fedoras, bowlers, straw hats, flat hats, derby hats....  I love hats.  The right hat can make any outfit go from repugnant to resplendent instantly.  They're also perfect for covering my oh-so-slowly-growing-out undercut.

beret - Forever21

teal necklace - made by me

chain necklace - thrifted

big silver ring - On and On ring from Modcloth

crocodile ring (AKA new favorite ring of all time) - Forever21

blouse - ELLE for Kohl's

jeans - Gap

shoes - mom

I tried out a new spot for pictures today, and I'm totally enamored of it.  This is a clearing in the woods behind my house, with little trails leading into it.  It's so beautiful - my precious little dog, Cuddles, was buried here after we put him down two weeks ago.  That was incredibly hard on me, because I've had him since I was ten, but it's nice to be able to visit him in a place like this.  My other dog, Miss Mack, likes this spot too, despite the fact that it's plagued by mosquitoes on hot days like today.

Time to rest up for the holiday festivities tomorrow, which include work; taking care of Paco Bill, my best friend's dog, while he's away; and party at my house.  It doesn't sound like much, but for a homebody like me, that's a busy day.

reading/"listening"/watching - "The Con" by Tegan and Sara

Okay, so I may have a bit of a shopping problem (as in, I do it WAY to much), but there are just so many nice things in the world that I must have!  This dress is no exception:

Forgive the weird pose and bare feet - I was feeling very quirky yesterday.  This dress is from Modcloth, and it just arrived in the mail a few days ago.  I bought it thinking that it wouldn't fit, but to my happy surprise, it did!  The only issue I had was the bands on the sleeves - they were way too tight.  As you may notice, I'm not a petite lady by any means, and my arms are a particular trouble spot.  Solution?  Remove the bands.

hat - Gap

dress - Kissimee dress from Modcloth

belt - thrifted

shield ring - On and On ring from Modcloth

citrine druzy ring - eBay

It was a Mod-tastic day, I suppose.  Seriously, though, I adore that big old ring.  I wear it almost every day.

And a picture of me and my beautiful dog, Miss Mack, just for fun.  I put a slip under the dress for work, because it's so short.

It's almost time to get ready for work again (I feel like I live there).  I work at a Gap Outlet, that's why I have so many pieces from Gap brand stores.  Plus I just love Banana Republic.

I'm pretty humorless today, huh?  I'd best make my escape quickly, before I cross over into the dreaded territory of "Oh my goodness, nobody cares!"


reading/"listening"/watching - "Moon Over the Freeway" by the Ditty Bops

So, I went through this phase in high school where I thought I was a hippie.  Looking back, consciously entering that stage was probably the single worst decision I've made in my life.  (Okay, maybe I exaggerate, but it was really bad).  So it's no wonder that when my mom brought home this lovely skirt she found at a garage sale, I paled a bit at the memory of that year of poor choices.

But, I tried it on somewhat reluctantly while I was fretting over what to wear that day, and lo! it was glorious.

I don't know what it is, but I just adore the fit.  It's a wrap skirt, and I think I may make a pattern from it and make one or two of my own in less...earthy fabrics.  The embroidery is really pretty, though, and I love Indian textiles.  It came with a top, but it's a backless halter, and I just can't hack that.

A better look at the embroidery and a peek at how I take my photos.  Remote shutter FTW!

straw bowler - thrifted
sunglasses - Urban Outfitters

cami - Banana Republic

 teal necklace - made by yours truly

vintage chain, knotted - thrifted

sweater - Gap

skirt - thrifted

moccasins - Target

I suppose that's about all for tonight, internet.  I need to get some rest - this is WAY past my bed time!

reading/"listening"/watching - Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

Introduction

I suppose it's about time to get this party started, eh?  Here are some facts:

• Sarah Marae
• 23
• rural Michigan
• obsessed with style and, occasionally, fashion
• less-than-svelte
• socially awkward

How's that for a crash course?  I feel very iffy about the etiquette of inaugural blog posts.  What should one say?  Should one state one's intentions for said blog?  What if one has no specific intentions?  So many questions.

But, here is what I know - I love getting dressed in the morning.  Sometimes, I love it so much that I feel the need to document it pictorially, and this blog seems as good a place as any to keep record of these days.  I'm sure there will be other things I will feel the need to keep record of as well, so please bear with me as I figure this thing out.

Here I go, jumping on the bandwagon!  Are you ready, dear aether of the internet?

It's me!  Well, it's some of me.  I wore this the other day for breakfast and movies with my best friend.  Here's what's up:

dress - Banana Republic

moccasins - Target

leather belt - thrifted (handmade in Italy)

scarf-as-sash - thrifted

knotted chain necklace - thrifted

You may recognize this get-up from the header up there.  I'm sure I'll come up with something better soon, but until then, we'll just have to make do.

Ta for now, ghost readers.

-Sarah

reading/"listening"/watching - CSI:  NY