dotty is so close to being done

[wearing]

confetti tie-neck blouse: thrifted

stripes: target (exactly)

blazer: gap

skirt: from a forever21 dress

sweater tights: target

boots: forever21 (similar)

and

this was totally inspired by anna of sparkplug minuet who also included a tie-neck blouse in her thirty.  

oh, and thrift stores are flooded with tie-neck numbers like this one.  most of them are white and involve some sort of mock-neck with buttons or lace, but seriously...every single secretary from the 80s is apparently clearing out her closet and there's a fairly good chance that this will not be the last one that comes home with me.  note to all my shirts that cannot tie into bows, you have been warned. 

dash of weekend update

[wearing]

sequins: lauren conrad (exactly)

mustard: brooklyn industries

cranberry scarf: souvenir from london (similar)

desert boots: forever21 (similar)

[wearing]

boys blazer: thrifted (similar)

pinkness: queen esther (similar)

orangeness: self-knit (similar)

jeans: forever21

80s-style scrunched socks: target

desert boots: forever21 (exactly)

and 

i am officially on spring break!  

i've got tons of thesis work, a little trip to chicago (that's right...same climatic zone), and cooking something involving artichokes planned. 

yup, it's party time.  

dash of fridayness

[wearing]

grandma sweater: thrifted (similar)

grandma blouse: thrifted

young person's belt: old navy (similar)

dress underneath: pins and needles

gray tights: kohl's

boots: chinese laundry (exactly)

[going]

early class, group meeting, and studio.  

all while enjoying the wonderful lightness of freshly layered hairs.

why did i wait so long to fix up my last (terrible) haircut?

and fbff is doing blog awards this week:

1. Creative Juices - most creative: vanessa of snappy and savvy
serious color done seriously well.

2. The Real Deal - authenticity: lyddie of chic on the cheap
i feel like i can hear her talking in her posts.  like an awesome voice-over.

3. Spark Notes - most helpful: danie of no guilt fashion
total sweetheart.  with matching mini-sweetheart daughter.

4. Newbie - best blogger less than a year old: alessandra of mood modes
remixing queen.  great taste in music.  has an an awesome varsity cardigan.  and she started her blog two months before i did.  

5. Can You Hear Me Now - most connected: liz of lizzypunch
amazing commenter.  also amazing at accessorizing. 

6. If I had a Hammer - best DIY: kiera of a pretty penny
she's been re-styling up a storm lately.

7. Tribe Leader - blogger who leads others and brings bloggers together: suze of miss vinyl ahoy
first blogger i met in real life.  therefore winner.  and her pattern mixing will knock your socks off.

8. Practically Perfect - most fashionable: shen of shen dove style
this girl is so elegant that i imagine that she has a british accent. 

9. Paint by Numbers - best beauty blogger: mae of there after-ish
she makes makeup tutorial videos.  and her makeup truly does look that good in person.

10. Renaissance Woman - best all-around blogger, fashion, beauty, lifestyle: hillary of by hillary
she's big into cupcakes.  and takes her photos in library stacks.  and has an adorable kitten.  and yeah, i heart her blog. 

dash of blue

[wearing]

top and jeans: forever21

coat: old navy (similar)

scarf: thrifted

flower: h&m

boots: forever21 (exactly)

[going]

to get my hairs cut, my oil changed, and then to studio.

and it wasn't actually warm enough to not wear my marshmallow coat. 

dotty mixes patterns

[wearing]

print blouse: thrifted (similar)

skirt: thrifted and altered (similar)

belt: thrifted (similar)

boots: chinese laundry (exactly)

scarf: souvenir from london

[going]

class and studio.  and probably some snow drift scaling in order to get there. 

i can't seem to find shoes at thrift stores.  they always end up being my sister's size (half a size down from me).  but this means that she has an awesome collection of odd-colored heels. 

dash of bowties

helvetica condensed bold text and a bowtie

dash of lightness

[wearing]
cardigan: j. crew
top: club monaco
lace skirt: target
sweater tights: target
boots: target (exactly)
necklace and ring: dotty-made (similar)
bracelet: thrifted in vegas


[going]
to studio for a very long time.
with a little bitty thesis meeting somewhere in the middle.  
but mostly just sitting in front of a giant mac screen attempting to learn after effects.
and wondering how i convinced my wimpy arms to spend several hours yesterday shoveling my driveway.  

dotty takes names

[wearing]

dress: joie (exactly)

blazer: gap (similar)

belt: thrifted in vegas (similar)

necklace: dotty made

tights: apt. 9 (similar)

boots: chinese laundry (exactly)

[going]

to meet with a professor, mail some packages, and to work on my thesis movie at studio.

and this tights+boots combination felt much cooler than me.

dash of the weekend

[wearing]

boy's blazer: thrifted (similar)

sequin dress: lauren conrad

maroon tights: welovecolors

tall socks: target (similar)

boots: forever21 (similar)

scarf: forever21

[going]

out.  

this feels a little bit trendy to me, but i'm totally hearting the little stripe of maroon tights.  sometimes i feel a bit muppet-like when my legs are super saturated, so this is a great alternative. 

[wearing]

skirt: rescued from a forever21 dress (similar)

top: forever21

sweater tights: target

boots: target (exactly)

scarf: forever21

jacket: michael kors (almost exactly)

[going]

to catch up on the week while the weather outside becomes frightful. 

apparently i'm big into mustard-ochre-golden colored scarves lately.  

dash of friday

[wearing]
that lace skirt: target
cardigan: old navy (similar)
top: forever21 (similar)
scarf: souvenir from london
sweater tights: target
boots: forever21 (exactly)

[going]
early morning class, lunch with my planner friend from undergrad, studio, pig roast, bad lecture on eco-conscious clothing (sorry folks, there will be no algae sweaters around here anytime soon)*

*i have nothing against the use of renewable materials, but i do have a problem with the heavy marketing of products as "green" or "ecological" without a transparent explanation of the energy-intensive processes used for production and distribution.

dotty with jazzy knees

[wearing]
grandma sweater: thrifted
magenta tights: welovecolors (similar)
belt: thrifted
plaid skirt: thrifted and six inches chopped off (similar)
boots: target (exactly)
necklace: made by me (similar)


i've had these tights for several years and have finally figured out what to wear them with.  apparently, the answer was taupe boots and a plaid skirt.
or maybe that's the question--jeopardy style.  and the response is "what are bright magenta tights?" i bet watson wouldn't get that one right. it must be his lack of knees.

dash of orange

[wearing]

sweater: old navy

jeans: forever21

belt: thrifted

boots: forever21

scarf: vintage, from my mom's collection

[going]

to class to talk about consumption.  

one time i mentioned to my mom that i wanted an orange scarf.

and then she gave me this one from her collection.

dash of numbers

impact text

dash of neutrals

[wearing]

boy's blazer: thrifted

stripes: gift (exactly)

that lace skirt: target

belt: a high school hold out (similar)

sweater tights: target

boots: forever21 (exactly)

[going]
to read a ridiculous amount about middle-class culture in kathmandu because i left the last seven chapters of the book until the day before the class, a meeting with my thesis advisors, and then i'll probably still be reading tonight. 

and yeah, this is a post-valentine's anti-saturation outfit. 

dash of valentine's day

[wearing]
red skirt: thrifted (similar)
pink tank: queen esther
cardigan: old navy (similar)
boots: chinese laundry
scarf and gray belt: forever21 (similar)

[going]
to studio for more thesis since i'm meeting with my advisors tomorrow.  but, i have candy hearts and am seriously holiday-themed in this outfit.  

and my living room branch is dressed up for valentine's day too.  

(the glitter hearts are from ikea)