Sunday, July 27, 2014

"Groove is in the Heart"













   I used to be kind of a hippie.  Wait scratch that, my personality was never one of a hippie.  However, my style sense has always been heavily influenced by hippie culture.  Basically, you put a patchwork design on a rat's ass and I will want to wear it.  When I was younger, and a lot more idealistic, I believed that wearing crochet vests and moccasins made me closer to the often romanticized generation of my parents.  I would daydream about the kind of individual I would have been back in the 1960s and lament the passing of time and my unfortunate position in it.  Now in the year 2014, I get misty about the 1980s and often wish I had payed more attention to life at that time.  Isn't that ironic?
   The fact still remains that I am extremely obsessed with the past.  As I have stated in previous posts I am not an individual who enjoys surprises.  I seek comfort in the expected and often believe this is why I am such a nostalgic individual.  This nostalgia is reflected in many aspects of my life.  My personal style is probably the most apparent thing.  However musical taste, movie and TV preferences, and technology practices are also areas that are affected.  I think I must be one of the last people out there without a smart phone!
   What it comes down to is I am a true romantic when it comes to the past.  The day I took these photos I found myself reminiscing about my younger self.  I fondly thought about my days in high school when I would wear bell bottoms and clogs among a student body saturated in Wranglers and Ropers.  I smile when I think of that young girl defiantly marching to the beat of her own drum.  I salute her bravery and persistent idealism toward being part of a culture she did not fully understand.  I know now I am much too boring to be a hippie.  At the same time, I am much too nostalgic not to try to look like one.  Similar to the feelings one experiences when hearing a beloved tune, fashion can spark something special within the self.  I truly believe one's, "groove is in the heart."
-r.  



Shirt:  Lux
Shorts:  Thrifted  (Upcycled with patchwork details and embroidery by Me) 
Flip Flops:  BCBGeneration
Purse:  Lucky Brand  http://www.luckybrand.com/
Bracelets:  Craft fair purchase
Sunglasses:  Gas station purchase

Sunday, July 20, 2014

"Country roads, take me home..."

















   I am a true believer that style can be influenced by almost any aspect of life.  One's sense of fashion can be a very personal thing.  Those who are fashion conscious often use their personal style as a way to represent how they perceive themselves to the rest of the world.  In my opinion, this perception of self is a product of the many experiences, passions, and ideas that one collects during their life.  It just seems reasonable that this collection would then be reflected in one's appearance.  We have all heard things like, "wow, it looks like she's had a hard life," or, "she always looks so put together."  Let's face it, appearance plays a large role in how the public perceives us.  Huh, that got kinda deep.
   On a lighter note, I have a rather entertaining theory regarding personal style.  As I have mentioned before I am employed at a local greenhouse.  During my many years of service there I have constructed the idea that women tend to buy flower colors that coordinate with their handbags.  Now I know this is a pretty ridiculous topic to actually spend time thinking about, but I have to state I have found it fascinating.  Since I am an individual who is quite interested in the topic of handbags, I tend to check out what the public is carrying around.  I have to state that I am impressed by how the Midwest represents themselves with handbags.  Apparently, a lot of ladies focus on this accessory only.  I cannot tell you how many times I wait on a customer in sweats and sneakers carrying a Louis Vuitton bag.  Now, whether these bags are actually authentic is sometimes questionable, but I give major points for interest alone.  
   Alright, I have strayed off topic here.  My point is that I have noticed a strong trend in ladies matching the color of their handbags to the color of their flowers.  This makes sense when one thinks about it.  Often we are drawn to our favorite colors in fashion.  It stands to reason that the same would be true with our flowers.  Finally, I couldn't stand it any more and I started to present my theory to the guilty parties.  Many of them laughed heartily stating they didn't even realize they were doing it.  
   For this particular post I decided to test my theory in reverse and construct my outfit using some of my own annual pots as inspiration.  I found this to be a delightful way to design an outfit.  However, I did find fault in my theory.  My flowers only matched ONE of my purses.
-r.



Shirt:  Thrifted
Jeans:  Miss Me
Sandals:  MIA  http://www.miashoes.com/
Purse:  PAPAYA!  www.papayaart.com
Necklace:  Amrita Singh
Sunglasses:  COACH
Title of Post:  I also have a theory that plants grow better listening to John Denver's music.  

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Blogzilla














   Sometimes small things can get so out of hand they take on a life of their own.  Often, I think this blog may be one of those things.  I find myself thinking about future posts while at work.  I daydream about possible topics while driving around town.  While thrifting I think things like, "how would this piece photograph?"  Most disturbingly, while talking to friends and family I seem to be able to steer any conversation back to my blog.  Could it be that this hobby of mine has made me a tad narcissistic?   Better yet, is it possible to have a personal style blog and not be a little, "into yourself?"  I guess what I am really getting at here is that I believe my new found obsession for blogging may be getting serious.  I seem to have created a monster.  Fortunately for me, it is a monster I quite enjoy.  Yep, me and Blogzilla have hit it off very well.
   Now of course, I do not always enjoy all monsters.  As an example, take the classic character, "Godzilla."  On the day the above photos were taken my parents and I attended a showing of the new version of this classic movie.  Now this particular film is an example of a monster that needed to die.  Unlike my friend Blogzilla, whom I find creative, therapeutic, and at times even witty, "Godzilla," was boring, cliche, and a downright disappointing nod to its prior self.  I mean come on, this monster only shot fire out of his mouth during one scene!  That would be like me photographing a handbag for only one post!  One should never ignore their best features.
   The saddest thing about the new, "Godzilla," was witnessing a classic kitsch monster morph into a crappy construction of what it once was.  Thank goodness Blogzilla is still a brand new baby eager to mature into something grander.  Hopefully during this transformation Blogzilla's mother will not herself transform into a classic kitsch monster.  Although, it did work out well for, "Godzilla's," ego.  How else would he have had the guts to star in such a ridiculous movie?
-r.



T Shirt:  Thrifted
Jeans:  Silver Jeans  (Upcycled with patch details by Mom)
Shoes:  Converse by John Varvatos
Purse:  Monserat De Lucca  http://www.monseratdelucca.com/
Necklaces:  Knife Necklace:  Antique pocket knife (Upcycled into a necklace by me) 
Wolf Fur Pendant:  Dead Things  https://www.facebook.com/objetsdelamort
Sunglasses:  Versace
Victim of a Crappy Movie Pictured in Last Photo:  Dad
   
   

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Lautrec?...check.















   I think I've mentioned a few times before I find myself a tad geographically challenged when it comes to cultural events.  Don't get me wrong, the Midwestern community that I reside in has definitely started to make an effort in drawing these kinds of functions.  However, unlike those lucky urban citizens that can attend fashion shows, art exhibits, or concerts any day they like, this girl has to be patient and wait for these snippets of cultural entertainment.  I like to think this fact just makes me even more motivated to attend these special events.
   An example of this was when I recently went to the traveling exhibition entitled, "Toulouse-Lautrec and His World," at the Washington Pavilion located in Sioux Falls, SD.  This amazing exhibition included around 150 of the artist's prints and sketches.  Many of the featured pieces were prints of iconic posters from the late 1800s.  Several of these posters were commissioned by the celebrities of this time in order to advertise events like recitals, plays, and even albums.   An example of this is pictured in the second to last photo of this post.  An interesting fact about this particular print was that is was stored in an attic for approximately 107 years before it was unexpectedly discovered in near perfect condition!  
   Basically, what I realized after attending this exhibit was that Toulouse-Lautrec was a pioneer graphic artist.  Many of his pieces were illustrated in order to advertise a specific person or product,  rather than an abstract idea or emotion.  Not only did I find this fact intriguing, I also was entertained by the idea that the artist himself seemed to travel in this circle of celebrities.  Upon further research of this artist's biography, I found that he played an integral role in the birth of modern printmaking, as well as the explosion of nightlife culture.  Apparently, Toulouse-Lautrec was part of the, "in crowd."  While at the exhibition I found myself daydreaming about this elite society of celebrities.  Actors, singers, writers, and artists all congregating at the same hangouts in order to, "blow off steam," or, "toot their own horns."   Oh what a spectacle it must have been, each of them vying for fame while feeding off of one another's creative eccentricities.  Yes, I wonder at those times full of so much creative genius and wish I could have been alive to experience it.  
   At the same time tragedy seems to follow creative geniuses like Toulouse-Lautrec, who died at the young age of 36 from complications due to alcoholism and syphilis.  Apparently, being a celebrity over a hundred years ago was not much different from being one today.
-r



Shirt:  CHAPS
Jeans:  GUESS
Flip Flops:  BCBGeneration  http://www.bcbgeneration.com/
Belt:  Anthropologie
Purse:  Matt & Nat  http://mattandnat.com/
Necklace:  Thrifted
Ring:  Craft fair purchase
Sunglasses:  Gas station purchase
Venue:  Washington Pavilion  https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/Online/