a change of pace

I'd call these... abstracted outfit shots, a little like in this old post. Can you spot each item? I realize how useless these are as they severely lack the context of a person wearing the clothes, but as always this is just me musing aloud to myself.

1. Thrifted Bally loafers, AA seed stitch socks (mustard!), BDG cigarette jeans, hand-me over pullover from sister, Gap hoodie layered under Gap anorak.
2. Topshop jeans, flea market studded belt (which you cannot see here), thrifted black & white striped pullover.
3. 8 eye Dr. Martens, Cheap Monday jeans, Uniqlo sweater, YSL necktie as pseudo scarf because I was cold and don't know how to tie a tie. All thrifted except for the Docs.

As a creative type I'm as moody as they come and so often last year when I felt like nothing but lazy my outfits would consist of black jeans, Vans and a pullover. My personal style was nonexistent because I was too busy juggling school, work, visits with my boyfriend, and adjusting to living with a new roommate, and though I always thought about dressing better I never put my heart into it. Now I'm not claiming that I'm doing any better - I still feel as clueless as ever but I've definitely been experimenting since the year began and I gained this weird new thirst to express myself through what I wear. More often than not I don't look exactly the way I want to but what's important is that I'm having fun and staying comfortable.

at last I have found you.

With the unusually windy days L.A. had this past week (are they the Santa Anas? they seemed a little cold...), especially on Tuesday, I was so glad that I had this leather jacket to keep me protected and toasty! What a difference from faux leather - my sister did tell me she read somewhere that leather is the only material that is totally windproof, or something like that. So Dan and I were strolling around the stalls at PCC, and I saw this sweet little thing hanging up at the front of a vintage stall. I looked at the tag... $35. Not bad. The leather in good condition, no big rips, cracks or scuffs. I tried it on. Dan said it looked good! I liked the feel of it. And the best part is it has that belt around the waist...perfect! So in one fell swoop I'd spent all the money I had on me that day but I couldn't have been happier! And I have to say, the next morning when I put it on before I left the house I felt like a Ramones groupie from the 70's, and I hummed "Jackie is a Punk" to myself on my way out. Coveted fashion item #3, fulfilled.

I was never a punk.

I wore an old army shirt/jacket all the time in high school - think of the one Lindsay Weir donned from Freaks and Geeks but not nearly as oversized or baggy. I'd affix one, two, or three buttons to the front and change them as I got bored. I never wore them all at once like this though! I went to a public high school so I probably wouldn't have been sent to the office for violating dress code, but that didn't stop teachers and peers from commenting on what I wore. The strangest thing ever was getting featured in the style section of the yearbook my senior year, but I think I only got thrown in because I was one of the two "quirky" girls who looked like they didn't give a damn, hahaha.

So looking at the array of buttons, you can tell who my favorite bands were, my favorite movies, and leading men. So, an ice core look at who I kind of was in high school. yeahhh...