School House Rock

Jeffrey Campbell's "Lindy" is the cutest effing saddle shoe I have ever laid eyes on. Urban Outfitters had them on sale. Being the shoe junkie that I am...a few days later they arrived on my doorstep. Although they have a wide range of options for a statement shoe. I wanted their first paring to be sort of retro/ school inspired. This of course did not mean I dress like a stripper's interpretation of a catholic school girl. Just taking a few elements. Crisp collared shirt. Short but, clean silhouetted skirt. A school inspired jacket, and of course the saddle shoe's best friend, ankle socks. My actual school bag was thrown in the mix too...for school purposes, I guess. The finished look?! Yay, not a stripper! Just a something a bit fun.

Jacket & Skirt: Forever 21, Shirt: Wasteland

Jeffrey Campbell "Lindy" shoes: Urban Outfitters, Socks: Forever 21, Vintage Coach bag: Thrifted.

Highlighters and Sunburns.

A recent trip to the beach left my ghostly white legs, crisp. Through no fault but my own, they were exposed to ridiculous unprotected hours of sun. Thanks to my dad, I've got some Latin spice. I tan like a mo fo. Therefor my burnt legs quickly turned to a rad base tan. Just in time to enjoy the summer sun wearing colors that compliment a tan. NEON! While breaking at work I wandered into a 3rd st. promenade shoe store. Iced coffee in hand I roamed the floor, admiring, but no plans to purchase. Wouldn't you know it, I spotted something irresistible. Patent leather oxfords in a few colors. One of those colors, a beautiful neon pink. At 50% off of $50...there was no question. Highlighter shoes and the starts of a summer tan. Happy camper.

Blazer: H&M, Neon top: Thrifted, Lace shorts: Thrifted, Necklace: Forever 21.

Hot pink oxfords: DB shoes, Santa Monica.

Badass Revival

I spent part of my teenage years attending punk shows in my town on a weekly basis. All dolled up, with fishnets and a red mohawk. Feeling like a badass when I would be told by older women how pretty I was, then asked why would I do "That" to myself. "That" being my hair and a variety of facial piercings. Possibly my shaved eyebrows as well...In any case I liked it. Identifying as a punk rock girl, rather than the girls that tried too hard to be considered "pretty". Years down the rode here I am grown up a bit, but still punk rock at heart. The strange part is that the identity I cherished as a youth, is now "trending". The fact that I bought this shirt from Wasteland says a lot about what is available to fashion fiends. Ripped tights, band tees, colored hair, black lipstick, studded EVERYTHING. Sure it would have bothered me as kid. Feeling the scene you identify with being stolen. As an adult, I oddly enough find it charming. Girls putting holes in their clothing and shaving parts of their head to identify as "pretty". It's okay, keep it trashy :) All I can say is I sure hope the girls buying Slayer shirts off Nastygal know how to headbang.

Sheer Pink Dress: Cotton On, Black Flag Tee: Wasteland, JC Lita "España": Solestruck, Sunnies: eBay

Jacket: Forever 21

Boot Math

Lita was neither cheap, nor thrifted. She was $160 of well spent dough. Although it was not my first JC purchase, it was indeed my first stomp into the shoe cult that is "Lita". The perfect black bootie (pun...intention? where?) I felt was what my collection of goods was missing. I lusted after UNIF's "Hellbound" like a crazed stalker. Talked myself out of it because those mutha effas is tall for everyday use... oh and $242. The all black Lita, always sold out and I wasn't entirely in love with the look. Then Solestruck drops Lita "España". The collection of minorly adjusted spanish boots was FLAWLESS. The all black (heel included) was too perfect to pass. When they arrived I was majorly impressed with the quality. The suede was perfect, the height was perfect, and more importantly the fit was...you guessed it, perfect. Aaaannnd the award for most practical stunner goes to, Lita España!

So it's been over a month and I've worn em everywhere from dancing, to shopping. The suede just gets better the more you beat it up. So what next? I asked myself. Another pair of Lita's? Ummm no. Bitches got bills to pay! Experiment with your shoes ladies (and gentlemen). To keep my shoe marriage fresh, I spiced things up a bit. So here you have it. Some Lita inspiration. Shoe math. 1 pair 4 ways.

Pink Laces: H&M, Highlighter socks: Urban Outfitters

Green Laces: H&M, Ruffle Socks: Forever 21

Grey Laces: taken from my Nike Dunks, Fishnets: Halloween store

Shiny thigh highs: eBay, JC "Lita España" (the way she comes): Solestruck

I won't throw it away.

There is a top in my closet that I just cant seem to let go of. It is a white, over sized American Apparel "Sexuality" Tshirt. It started as the softest most glorious piece of cotton I had, viscose to be exact. Over time and a shit load of washes the shirt completely lost it softness but remained flowy and glorious. I cut the hem into a high low sort of deal. It was cool. Holes began forming in a few spots, some of which were small stains that I simply cut out. Further down the road the shirt looked nothing like the beautiful tee, I'd purchased years before. So I gave it yet another transformation. Bingo! Like another shirt again. It hung even more lovely. Oh the ratty shirt that just keeps giving. Sure to most it looks like I'm wearing a cleaning rag, but I know better. Most people have that thing they just won't throw away and nobody seems to know why. Don't throw it away. Keep it until it's hanging by a thread. Here is how I wear mine.

Jacket: Forever 21, Shorts: Thrifted & altered, 80's Pumps: Thrifted. All paired with my ratty little AA tee.

Blouse: Thrifted, Leggings: American Apparel, Booties: Dolce Vita for Target. Again, paired with my little ragga muffin top.

Entirely Thrifted, and grown up.

Thrifted from head to toe, while remaining put together. Yes my friends it can be done. A lot of what attracts my second hand eyeballs are pieces that stand out in a quirky way. Funny t-shirts, retro dresses, ultra distressed denim, 90's anything, ect. Occasionally though,  I look for pieces that wouldn't be accessorized with cheap beer and grungy Instagram filters. I look for items to be a grown up in. That way your grandma doesn't  have to ask you what "Slayer" is at her birthday luncheon. You can attend a baby shower with out feeling like "that one friend so and so has". Sure this can simply be done by going to a Macy's or shopping love 21. The thrifting option is just more challenging. And you know what happens when you conquer a challenge...You feel like a straight up G or a champ or like you saved some dough. Here is what that might look like.

Blazer, Blouse, Pants, Heels: Thrifted.

Outer, under garments.

Ahhh, the bustier. It's ability to shape, push, and conceal is what has attracted women to this undergarment for decades. The eighties hit and pop culture had women opting to wear their underwear on the outside. A trend that would continue into the early nineties. As fashion history always does, 20 years later the bustier repeats itself. The great thing is that as a non bone baring lady, the bustier is very forgiving. So while the weather kicks ass and it's not a "fat" day pulling it off feels good. Although I wont be wearing my outside bra to my grandma's. I'll for sure continue to experiment with my bustier's  versatility. Here it is pretty plain and simple, sporting it to a Downtown L.A. bar helped lessen the hooker feeling. Try it you might like it.

Bustier: Somewhere in my older sister's closet, Cutoffs: Thrifted, Hat: Target, Necklace: F21, Booties: Jeffrey Campbell