Orla Kiely

Whenever I know I don’t have an extra penny to spend on fun things like clothes and shoes, sometimes it’s just better to stay away from the internet. There are too many tempting things to lay my eyes upon. So, to be on the safe side, I’m just looking at lovely things that are so very out of my price range I know I can’t actually be tempted. Torturous, right? Take, for instance, Orla Kiely. I adore her mid century modern-esque prints and playful color palette. All of the looks are styled to perfection with thick tights and platform sandals. And that luggage?! Yes, please. I’ll take two. And how much easier would it be to pick your pretty luggage out from all the boring black bags when you’re standing at baggage claim? I suggest you go to their home page and watch their little slide show of images. Each new photo made me squeal with delight – both the clothes and the photography.

Looking at these reminds me that I’m lucky enough to own one Orla Kiely dress. I got it from Anthropologie a couple of years ago on super-duper sale. I had a fancy-schmancy fashiony event to go to when I was living in LA and wanted a cute new dress to wear. I got a couple of compliments on the dress and one girl even asked where I bought it. When I answered Anthropologie she gave me a snobby little laugh, turned up her nose and walked away. Ha! So very LA!

The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde

Bonnie -
skirt: vintage
sweater: Anthropologie
beret: Miller Hats
shoes, belt & scarf: vintage
gun: Toy Arsenal

Clyde -
pants & vest: vintage
shirt: Banana Republic
hat: UO
shoes: Moo Shoes
gun: Toy Arsenal

As promised, here are a few of our photos from Halloween. It was a beautiful night out and we had a blast hanging out at the creepy old Elk's Lodge, playing duck pin bowling and enjoying everyone's costumes. Perhaps the best part of the night though was when Tom, um, I mean Clyde, and I were leaving we snuck up to the top floor of the Elk's Lodge where it was dark and empty to snoop around and take photos.

Shadow Puppets

For the most part I try to keep the focus of this blog on fashiony things and personal style. But from time to time I run across other fun things I’m tempted to share with you. I’m never quite sure where to fit those things in because 9 out of 10 times they have absolutely nothing to do with fashion. So… I’ve decided to dedicate my Saturday posts to what I’m calling Random Goodness: good things I find that I don’t want to keep to myself. It could be illustrations, photography, music, design, movies or whatever happens to tickle my fancy that week. It could even be something as random as shadow puppetry.

Happy Halloween

dress: vintage (the one I bought in NYC)
tights: ??
shoes & purse: vintage
mask: vintage

My favorite local vintage store put out a collection of vintage Halloween masks. When I saw this creepy little bunny I couldn't resist. If you want people to think you're a little strange, set up a tripod in public and start taking photos of yourself. If you want people to think you've completely stepped off the deep end and are ready for those nice young men in their clean white coats to come and take you away... get all dressed up, put on a bunny mask and then run around a cemetery taking photos of yourself. Happy Halloween! ;)

All Hallow's Eve

Halloween, perhaps my favorite holiday of the year, is right around the corner. Perhaps it’s my favorite because it’s connected in my mind with the changing of the seasons, vibrant fall leaves, crisp cool nights and getting together with friends. Not to mention getting to dress up in costumes! I’m quite the costume snob in that I really dislike all of those pre-fab plasticky store bought types. And don’t even get me started at how overly-sexualized all Halloween costumes have become, even for children. If you want to dress up as a nurse, it has to be a sexy nurse! A sexy pirate! A sexy fairy! A sexy witch! Ugh, gross. I’ve always enjoyed putting together my own with bits and pieces from thrift stores, using a little sewing and old fashioned ingenuity to come up with an original costume. In the past I’ve been everything from an Edward Gorey character to Strawberry Shortcake (and no, not a sexy Strawberry Shortcake!). Sadly, I think the days that I’m willing to go out in full hair and makeup are over. This year I’m taking it a bit easy and simply raiding my own closet to come up with a costume. My boyfriend and I knew we wanted to go as a couple, but who? Travis Bickle and Iris? Johnny and June? Leon and Mathilda? I decided to let a trip to the thrift store decide for me. When I ran across a perfect three piece grey pinstripe suit in just Tom’s size, I knew we’d have to go as Bonnie and Clyde. We’ll be sure to snap some photos for you!

In the spirit of Halloween, I was researching (read: trolling through Flickr) to find vintage costume photos to post. I couldn’t decide whether to go in the direction of über-creepy kid costumes or adorable Hollywood starlets. Hmm. Decisions, decisions. Let’s do a bit of both, shall we?

Back before icky chain stores started pumping out pre-fab costumes of all the latest super heroes and Disney princesses, kids used whatever they could find to dress up as witches, goblins, hobos and clowns. It certainly made for a much creepier Halloween! Let’s just say if any of these kids ring my doorbell on Halloween I might not open it. Yikes!



On the complete opposite end of the spectrum you have pretty Hollywood starlets doing their best stage-lit renditions of Halloween jesters, frisky felines and swashbucklers. Pretty, sure, but not nearly scary enough for me!

My Favorite Coat

I just had to give you a better look at my very favorite piece going up for sale tomorrow. Isn't it just darling?! I'd keep it for myself but my closet's already overflowing. See everything else that's going in the store down below. :)

This Week at Sally Jane Vintage

All of these items will be going up for auction tomorrow at Sally Jane Vintage. Thanks so much for hanging in there with me during the last crazy week or so. It should be business as usual from here on out! Remember, if you see something you like, you can click the photo to see it a bit bigger. Love ya! - SJ