Vain & Vapid

Here are a few images from the Vain and Vapid summer lookbook, created by designer (and blogger) Julie Chesler. Hers is one of my favorite shops on etsy, and if I could afford it, I would scoop up everything she makes.





Her shop has weekly updates throughout the summer... I know I'll be keeping a keen eye out.

sometimes Bullets are all that will do

This outfit incorporates all of my favorite things at the moment, to be told in bullet form to avoid run-on sentences (I'm feeling a bit long-winded today, and apologize in advance):

• My white rabbit brooch: nicknamed so because it reminds of the White Rabbit, who constantly has to check the time, and while my boyfriend has his signature pocket watch, I have my brooch.
  
• My new secondhand striped dress: my newest etsy purchase acquired from one of the loveliest sellers out there, Harbour District Vintage
  
• My secondhand Laredos that have been patiently waiting in a box back in Massachusetts since I bought them in February off of eBay for $10. It took me a while to convince my mother to send heavy boots all the way to London (something the seller would not do) but she caved and even threw in a whole ziploc bag of Splenda (my white stuff). I've been wearing them nonstop since getting them last week. (ps. I have to thank one of my favorite bloggers, Ringo, for posting on her own search for Justin Roper boots a bit ago...I only had an idea of what I wanted but didn't know any brands to search for, and had been constantly searching for "toe-fringe boots", which didn't end up too well. A week after her post, I found my boots! Although I didn't end up with Justins, I am very happy with my find)
• Last but not least, my floppy hat! Something that I wear constantly inside, a little too afraid to wear outside, but venture outside I did (if only for a moment, the wind, made it impossible to wear).
  

Phew! That was quite the outfit round-up! A little exhausting (and exhaustive) but there you go...

Prints

I love etsy. Normally I use it to find vintage clothing, but recently I have been scouring people's pages looking at all the amazing prints that are available. There are so many talented artists out there, and it's nice that they have a platform to show and sell their work that is so accessible. I'm thinking I need some more wall-hangings for my apartment, and these are the prints/artists currently on my mind (in no particular order):

Caitlin Shearer



The Paper Apartment



Champignons


Justin Richel

Initial(s) Reaction

Is it narcissistic to say that I have a thing for my own initials? Not to say that I particularly like the alphabet combination (D. [F.] W. ) but it functions well enough for a nickname or, say a blog sign-0ff...but anyway, I like having little items that have letters on them, letters that I identify with myself. I have the bracelets pictured above in the bottom right; and I wear them often, though never together. I've also had my eye on the tote bag from loyalty and blood, for no particular reason other than I like totes, the font is pretty wonderful, and D is me. And now, I have happened upon yet another item that feeds my initial desires (ha!) -- a ring made out of an antique typewriter button (which you custom order your preferred letter). I'm thinking of embracing my middle name and going with the unexpected F...

It seems that some designers are also into labeling as initials/monograms showed up on the runways of Miu Miu, amongst others for fall. I still haven't quite figured out why I like this theme...(motif?) as much as I do. Personally, I think it goes back to 9th grade seeing everyone carrying around those L.L. Bean Monogrammed Backpacks...I never had one (a Jansport girl) but I was faced with them day in and day out for four years of high school... (anyone know what I'm talking about?) Maybe, the idea of labeling one's stuff after oneself was cemented then. Or I could go Freudian and go further back into my childhood when my mother used to write my initials into the tags of all my clothing....

Pop-psychologizing aside, whatever the reason, I'm all for letting the world know, if I am anything, at the very least I am "DFW." So say my accessories.

ERM... an etsy shop

Sometimes I like to lie in bed for an inordinate amount of time, watch old episodes of Project Runway on youtube, drink tea and intermittently browse etsy. Yesterday was such a lazy day, and while browsing I discovered, and subsequently purchased three pieces in a mad fit from the lovely jewelry shop, ERM Originals. (Etsy always makes me into a nervous/compulsive shopper -- what if somebody scoops up what I just favorite-d? At least on eBay, I can watch for 7 days before deciding to purchase. Normally I slowly come to the realization that I can neither afford/need the coveted item in question by the end of the watch period...) Anyway, back to ERM. First of all, I think she may have the best initials ever. Mine are DFW -- which always just sounds like BMW, and really, that's not saying much. More importantly, she creates the most lovely pieces of jewelry (123 pieces in the shop as I type) -- they are so quaint, and charming, very romantic and vintage in feeling (and all for a reasonable price). Go! Browse! Support the handmade craft!

A sampling of some of the (many) things I wanted, but refrained from getting...









All images via ERM Original's etsy shop