Fixing Fall's School Uniform

With the temperature dropping to glorious, chilly lows, I find it only appropriate to post a warning about cold weather clothing. Although this trend hasn't reached epidemic-like levels yet, I know it will. After all, it isn't that cold in St. Louis yet.

But eventually, it will be, and eventually, this will happen. Sigggghh. Because this always happens.

The North Face Jacket + Expensive Leggings + UGG boots. It's expensive, it's ugly, and it's way too common. I understand each piece separately, kind of.. Leggings are good when worn under things; they're warm and more comfortable than tights. North Face Jackets and UGG boots are made to be practical, warm, and durable. Alright, that's fine. I get it.

But seriously, this is just trashy and wrong. It doesn't look good. You don't look hot. How did this become the university uniform of the majority of campuses between October and March?

I have four guesses, and I think they're all sort of right.

1. These girls are "too tired" to put together a real outfit
2. These girls "want to be comfortable"
3. These girls want to look identical
4. These girls want to show off how foolishly they spend money

Now let's break this down, piece by piece. Being "too tired" every day is the same as being lazy. I have no sympathy for you. "Wanting to be comfortable" is a cheap shot made by damn near half of everyone. It's an okay line when you're explaining why you don't want to rock stiletos on a walking tour. It's not an excuse for never getting dressed. The vast majority of clothing can be comfortable if you find the right fabric and the right fit. As it turns out, oversized fleece is neither of those things. I don't have much of an explanation for the last two reasons, as I think they stand alone pretty well. Sad, right?

To add to the humor, I see this look often worn with a bed hair bun (I assume to combat the static caused by the fleece), impeccable make-up, and fancy earrings. I would have added all of that in, but I think this is funny/awful enough as it is.

You know what's coming now. It's the second part of the glorious this-or-that. As it turns out, there is a whole lot more you can buy with $400. Go fucking figure.

Wanna bitch that this isn't as good as your craptastic outfit? Bring it.

The Gap coat is wool (ahem, warmmm) and done in a timeless shape, making it appropriate for every occasion. The scarf/glove set is warm and cute (notice the bow detail!), but practically priced at $7.50 from Forever 21, as gloves tend to go missing. Next we have the peachy-colored sweater dress by Silence & Noise, found at Urban Outfitters, which more likely than not would feel like being wrapped in a blanket. The dress can be belted with this adorable Top Shop belt, which adds a touch a whimsy. Underneath there are leggings that are $12 for a 2-pack paired with slouchy boots, both from Target. And, because $400 is so much money, there was leftover cash for designer accessories. The Betsey Johnson earrings play off the shiny hardware of the belt and the color of dress, while the Fossil bag adds another neutral to round off the look.

Oh yeah, and everything I found was regular price, so clearly I could have done better if I had wanted to.

Way to fail, rich girls.

Boo! Ahhhhh! Eek!

I love holidays. No seriously, I looove them. I love them so much I use italics to explain the swoon-ey voice I'm using in my head when I think 'I love holidays.' I love themes and themed parties and themed baking and themed décor. Oh, and costumes, but we'll save that post for closer to HobGob.

As this Halloween is my first decorating opportunity in my new apartment, I found it only fitting to take full advantage of the season. It might be more eclectic + seasonal than spooky + deathly, but hey, this place is too pretty to turn into a graveyard.

My extra long living room triple window sill is perfect for decorating (and the landlord removed my window AC unit just in time!) Yogurt isn't thrilled that his sunning spot is covered, but he still has the bathroom sink, which he enjoys way too much.

Above this is my rad-tastic collection of 90s McNuggets. I couldn't take a proper picture, though; my windows are east facing, and it was too sunny to have them show up. I just wanted to share that I love Halloween McNuggets, even if I've never eaten the real things, because I find them that adorable.

Halloween vignette atop my kitchen display shelf/room divider. My spray roses from the Soulard Market two weekends ago are perfectly dead, making them ideal decorations. And my adorable black bird pie vent fits right in as a scary (okay, not really scary) crow.

Here's hoping everyone else is in the spooky mood! Hip hip, Halloween!

Thanks, Target.

Have you checked the date? It’s the 20th of October. I know. Take a minute to panic. I can’t believe it’s that late in the year either.

Don’t worry, though; lots of good comes with the new season. The best holidays are almost here, which means good cooking (and, if we’re friends in real life, it means pumpkin cookies!) and decorating. It’s time to start wearing boots and leggings and sweaters and layers. I get to see my boyfriend soon-ish. Okay, so maybe those are all just good things for me. BUT WAIT. It also means the Mulberry for Target collection is out.



In case you’re not a Target addict (or, heaven forbid, you don’t live near a Target) here is what the display looks like. I decided against buying one, at least at full price, but they’re still pretty damn cute. Almost all of them are sold out online, so if you wanted one, you better get to gettin’.

No Excuses.

A few weekends ago, while at the STL Galleria, I noticed there was something different—something not quite right. Near that weird, pond-like thing in the middle of the mall was a kiosk-turned-store I hadn’t noticed before.

Yes, that’s right. There is a Crocs store. Because those giant, double-wide kiosks weren’t enough. Unless you’re gardening, swimming, at a job that requires slip resistant shoes, and so on, Crocs are not okay. I’m not going to explain why, because it should be given. I don’t care how comfortable they are. Crocs are on the same list as Ed Hardy, the vast majority of everything made of velour, and the word “jegging”; they’re just wrong.

Benet by Crocs, $99

I do have to admit that the YOU by Crocs line is decent. Judging by the pictures online, they are basic shoes—simple, normal, women’s shoes at stupid prices. $89.99 for leather thong sandals? You’re joking, right?

Julia—1, Crocs—0.

Get Excited.

Midterms are done. I would have blogged during, but, y’know, my brain was fucking exploding. And I can’t mock much during exam weeks; if your head is too full of chemistry or anatomy or something equally terrible that you can’t remember to put on shoes, whatever. I spent more money on caffeine than cigarettes and food combined.

Apparently the combination of exam stress and lack of sleep is rather intense, as I am now sitting in my pajamas at home, sick and pathetic and chugging juice. Lucky for you, I have plenty of things I’ve been waiting to write (cough, rant, cough) about. Funnnn.

Who needs lipgloss?

So if you happen to know me in real life, you know I wear very red lipstick every day. I am a woman of routine, and one of my most favorite routines is making my lips redredred.

It used to be a three-step process: lipstain, lipstick, and tinted balm. However, there were flaws in that routine, the first and foremost being this awful ring of red around the outside of my lips. It looked very 90s, like perhaps I'd lined my lips a few shades too dark. Also, the process of using all of those products takes a lot of time. I suppose that's why most women save red lips for fancy occasions. I would put on the stain, wait for it to dry, put on the lipstick, dab it, put on more lipstick, dab it, put on more lipstick, wait for it to dry, and put on balm. I don't always have time for the dabbing and waiting, which leads to it fading away or leaving marks on my cigarettes and coffee cups. If I was in a real hurry, I would skip the middle step. However, most lip balms seem to rub the lip stain off my lips, making it fade even quicker.

But now, I have found the solution: Smith's Rosebud Salve.

Smith's Rosebud Salve, $6 at Sephora

For a mere $6, this amazing balm makes me lips super soft (no seriously, they were icky chapped on Saturday and perfectly smooth Sunday morning) and keeps the stain on all day. I colored my lips at eight this morning and they still look great. There was no mark left on my coffee, nor is there a ring around the outside. The color survived food, drinks, a nap, and 15+ hours.



It smells like a mix between flowers and baby powder. It isn't sticky; my (very) long hair hasn't stuck to it at all. And I can't stop using it. Sorry Burt's Bees.. You've been replaced.

FOUND.

Hey, so guess what. I found myself a lovely camel bag.

It's not exactly what I thought it would be.. There is only one strap, it's not really leather, and it's kind of small by my fucked up standards. However, it was something like $27 at H&M and I love it. I was shopping with a friend from class when I saw a girl grab this lovely handbag. Tragically, it was the last one. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her set it down. It became mine before she had the chance to change her mind.



Hello, new purse. Siiigghh.


Clearly, the size isn't a huge issue, as I can still fit a ton of stuff in there.

What's all inside? Well.. Keys, Vera Bradley ID holder, Jacobs by Marc Jacobs key fob, Moleskine planner, Liz Claiborne checkbook wallet, UO sunglasses, BIC highlighters, Five Star notebook, Marie Claire magazine, Baekgaard leather envelope (full of coupons, because I'm a crazy coupon lady at twenty), LeSportSac cosmetics bag, SLU parking passes, Double Bubble bubble gum, Stride chewing gum, Marlboro Reds, "Show Me Yours & I'll Show You Mine" lighter, vintage gold bracelet, Timex watch, Smyth's Rosebud Salve (amazing new addiction.. post to come), Blackberry Bold, giant headphones I just found at TJ Maxx.

Call me crazy, but I find it fascinating what people carry with them. Maybe it's the taboo that you never look inside a woman's purse. Maybe it's me being overly curious. Maybe it's the same reason I like house tours on design blogs, House Hunters on HGTV, and the last page of Marie Claire magazine. And maybe, since you clearly are reading this, you find it interesting, too.

Because adorable things make a happy Julia.

I promise, I'm not forgetting my blog yet again. Blogger has been acting funny, and I am exhausted and way too busy.

A quick and simple way to cheer myself up is by looking at pretty things on the internet. Virtual shopping is a wonderful, mood-lifting hobby, even if I don't ever go for my credit card or add anything to my cart.

What kind of internet eyecandy can possibly do the job when I'm this stressed out? Happy, silly, kitsch-ish items. For example, cartoon jewelry.

I am as picky with cartoons as I am with purses. Really, I think I'm just picky about a lot of things, but there's no need to go into that (yet.) There is a fine line between cute/sweet/fun and tacky/cheap/unfortunate. I've noticed most of the cartoon jewelry I adore is enamel, or something similar (cough, rarely plastic) and a bit muted in color. Simple charms with a single, cheeky icon make me as happy as Saturday morning cartoons.

Tarina Tarantino Large Crystal Barbie Medallion

Tarina Tarantino does a great job of making characters look more like pop art and less like quarter machine finds (although, I have found a few great quarter machine deals.. I'm personally a fan of the ridiculous, attachable mustaches.) Her Barbie, Alice in Wonderland, and Hello Kitty lines are adorable, excluding a few waaayy too over the top pieces and the hippy-inspired crap. I love the necklaces and earrings, but seem to be let down by the bracelets. For that price, I feel more comfortable with chains and clasps, as opposed to elastic bands and slip-ons. But back to the positive.. Who doesn't love Barbie? Especially retro Barbie? She's a doctor, she's a teacher, she's a princess, she's an astronaut, she's on the beach looking modest yet seductive. She's Barbie, c'mon!

MBMJ Miss Marc Large Pendant Necklace

Do I talk about Marc Jacobs enough? Probably not. I am sort of kind of madly in love with his Miss Marc character.

Juicy Couture Ice Cream Dish Charm

Although technically not a cartoon, Juicy Couture's sweet charms add the same level of holyshitthatscute. I have a thing for charm bracelets, and would love to start collecting theirs, starting with this ice cream dish. You can't beat the little details.

Speaking of the little details, I have a handful of itty bitty assignments due soon. Back to work (for now!)

Oh, Project Runway.

Oh, so, funny story, while watching Project Runway the other day (I'm super behind.. I have class on Thursdays and have to watch repeats) I realized A.J. himself and his sort-of weird/totally awesome designs looked familiar.

So I Google'd him. Because what the fuck else do you do? (I also realized I say Google'd too often.)

Turns out, he's from St. Louis, and was part of the Trashbiscuit line I saw at last year's STL Fashion Week. I also think Michael D. looks really familiar, both face and fashion. He's also from St. Louis, but I haven't found anything about collections he's done.

On a side note with Project Runway, I think half of the designers are loving the highschool, let's gang up on someone, mindset and they're kind of awful people. Go Michael C.!

That's enough T.V. rants for Julia.

Reason #9072172818273 To Love Target

It's is finally the weekend, sort of. I'm nauseatingly busy between school and work, but I get to go to a show this weekend and have a few good magazines to catch up on. Oh yeah, and a new mattress topper that makes my bed so comfy I'm contemplating never getting out of it again.

Last night, in an attempt to relax, I read Marie Claire. It was an all-around good issue, I suppose. I thought it lacked some real meat, but it was the beauty issue, which I always dislike.

In it, though, there was an advertisement. For purses.

Mulberry Oversized Alexa, $1250

For Mulberry purses, in fact. The above bag is the first Mulberry bag I ever noticed and is why I am currently hunting for the perfect multi-strap camel bag. I love this one. However, I don't joke around with prices like that. In my world, that's a car payment, that's a few months rent. That's not a satchel, no matter how buttery the leather is.

Mulmerry for Target Ad

But then everything changed when I read the fine print. Holy crap, Mulberry is doing a line for Target. Yes. Will the leather be as buttery or the details as grand? I'm sure not. Is it a much more affordable option, and will I more than likely have to get one? It's looking that way.

Thanks for kicking so much ass, Target.

Yogurt in Marc.

And I thought I was crazy about handbags.

This is Yogurt, my 4.5 month gray tabby. He is slowly turning me into a crazed cat lady with his cuteness, and I'm pretty okay with that. Other than his need to sleep wrapped around my neck like a scarf, he's a pretty rad roommate.

Awful, ankle-biting dog in your purse or adorable, sleepy kitten in your purse? NO QUESTION.

"We'll All Sleep When We're Dead"

I may or may not have mentioned on here that I have a little bit of a purse problem.

While grabbing lunch with an old work friend/new school friend (apparently us Borders girls are actually huge school nerds... Who would have guessed?) on Friday, the topic of handbags came up. Thankfully, she too is a purse addict. Neither of us could explain why they, of all fashion accessories and articles, were the most alluring. Here's hoping someone else agrees.

I am unbelievably picky with handbags. I am a firm believer in the bigger-is-better bag rule (my excuse is I need to carry textbooks, a sweater, a drink, and possibly my laptop to and from classes.. In reality, I just like giant bags.) I pay a weird amount of attention to the hardware, strap length, stitching, and feet. And most importantly, they must go with my everyday pair of black boots.

So that means they need to be black bags, right? Or colored, or maybe white? Possibly gray? Kind of.

I'm slowly warming up to brown. It's taken me long enough, but I'm starting to like it. Maybe it's because of the absolutely wonderful and comfortable camel semi-perforated, cut out oxfords from Bakers I just found on clearance that I can't stop wearing. Maybe it's my "Old Man Hat" that I bought off Tomas for 50 cents in 2005, which Yogurt (another fan of accessories) is currently asleep in. Who fucking knows. All I know is, I'm on the hunt for a multi-strap camel carryall on the cheap(ish.)

Top Shop, $170

Top Shop, $80

Hmm. I'll be on the look for a while. On an unrelated note, I can't stop listening to the Star Fucking Hipsters album, Until We're Dead. I can't tell if the Naked juice or loud music or lovely bags or cigarettes that have me so half-asleep+wired. Perhaps now, since it is 2 AM, I should be sleeping. Maybe.

Triumphant return, or something.

Hello, Blogger! So much has changed since I last logged on! I'm no longer a sophomore at SWIC with a hamster living in the Metro East. I'm now a junior at SLU with a cat in St. Louis. I'm loving my new apartment, new school, and new pet (RIP, Tort) but have definitely found a few issues thus far.

Living in St. Louis is genuinely cheaper than Illinois except for one minor thing: groceries. The price difference from store to store and item to item is staggering, and has lead me to start shopping at multiple locations. I think I was spoiled by the ungodly cheap 24-hour Super Walmart in Collinsville. Thankfully, there is a Target/Schnucks/Walgreens intersection that makes my three-stop bargain hunting doable.

The stadium-like classrooms with 200 students and a mic'd professor are also a new concept. Weirdly enough, I also have classes with possible 11 others. It's a mind-boggling combination after two years of 35-ish per room.

And finally, it seems as though I missed the memo on what to wear to school. Maybe it's because I commute, or maybe it's because I think good skinny jeans are comfortable, but apparently there is a uniform. The very popular decorative hoodie + running shorts + flip flops + stretchy headband combination is so common, I'm sure I see 5 girls in it for every 1 who got dressed. I understand you want to be comfortable, I understand you probably live a few buildings down from class, I understand you might be hungover, I understand you're still half-asleep, and I understand that sometimes you just don't give a shit. But every day?!

College is meant to prepare us for the real world, yeah? Well here is the truth of it: before you leave the house, you should be wearing real-world appropriate clothing. You want to slack off and wear "loungewear"? Fine. I get it. But c'mon, not every single day. We're three weeks into classes and I'm starting to doubt some of you own pants.

The worst of it is I don't think it's just that ladies are wearing their pajamas out and about. I honestly think some people got up, showered, and decided this counted as an option Monday-Friday.

And so, to prove my point that wearing real clothing isn't so bad, I've prepared a little This-Or-That segment. For the price of your fancy workout clothing you could have a comfortable and appropriate outfit. It's just as easy to wear, it's just as easy to put together, and it will leave you with enough money for some lovely accessory (or three scrumptious espresso drinks, or a handful iPhone apps, as those seem to be more popular on campus as well.)

See? Not so hard.

Speaking of university, I should get back to my newspaper articles before Mad Men starts. But I'll be back on you, Blogger. I've been missing my rants and rambles on clothing and the like. And clearly I need more tools of procrastination.

I'll always be your Wendy Darling.

I have many legitimate excuses for my blogging hiatus, but I see no point in listing them. Life is a little messy right now, and I have been throwing myself into meaningless chores and work to cope. And somehow, midst the shit and drama, I forgot about my poor blog.

My sincerest apologies, dear friend.

Since my last post, I hosted my Thanksgiving. The 23 lb. bird was a complete success, served with all of the trimmings. The menu was as follows: turkey, bread stuffing, red skin garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon, garlic butter rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cookies, spiced maple pecans, and apple pie.

The party was a hoot, and I think everyone enjoyed their evening. It is a night I'll never forget, and not just because I spent hours and hours over a stove.


Dress, Free People [I think?]; Apron, vintage; Boots, my old riding boots.

Post-Thanksgiving, and post-extreme house recovery, I have been focusing on work and school. There are, shockingly, only three days of classes left before finals. The semester’s last issue of the newspaper has been sent to the printers and should be arriving on Wednesday. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I’ll be spending the majority, if not the entirety, of my holiday break back in my hometown this year. I’m packing the Jeep, bundling up Tortoise and heading out as soon as I turn in my last exam.

Despite my anticipation for going home, I do not think Tortoise is very excited for a car trip. Or to be staying in a house with cats.

Even though I will technically be home for Christmas, I still decorated my apartment with full force. My teeny space fits three trees, each of which I adore in a different way. The living room has an “apartment-sized” tree, featuring vintage and vintage-look-alike ornaments. The kitchen has a 2 ft. aluminum tree, covered in small antique Santas and gift tag decorations. And then there is my secret vice—my bedroom 4 ft. aluminum tree, which is covered in Hello Kitty. I keep it tucked away from the general area, since it clashes with the general décor (and since I am an adult with a fucking Hello Kitty tree.)

In between writing final essays and presentations today, which shouldn’t take too long since I am ahead of schedule as it is, I plan on cleaning the apartment again. I would like the place to be in perfect condition before I leave, so I am not greeted by a messy apartment upon my return. I will have to snap a few pictures.

I have also managed to finish my holiday shopping, and stay within budget. The wrapping is even complete. I suppose there isn’t anything that makes you more productive than having nothing to do.

Dance till you drop. Or your face meets someone's elbow.

Ska is Dead IV proved that, contrary to popular belief, ska is alive and kicking. Scratch that—skanking.

I haven’t danced through an entire show in years. Today I woke up with a sore back and a partially bruised and swollen eye. Oh, the glories of the pit.

Today, partly because of my exhaustion, I did not accomplish much. I paid my electric bill (woo-hoo!) and ran a few errands.

I decided to try the bareMinerals Mineral Veil Buffering Brush from Ulta. This line of make-up has single-handedly cleared up my skin in less than two weeks. I don’t care if it’s pricey, it’s worth it. However, it is a huge pain to carry around. So far, this little brush seems to work perfectly.

I also went to TJ Maxx to check out discounted home items. I snagged a great, and gigantic, casserole dish, a few Hello Kitty blown glass Christmas ornaments, holiday cards and an early gift for my mother.

After, Ricky and I grabbed dinner and ended up watching movies at the guys’ house. All around, it was a fun, but non-productive, day.

Hence I am now working on some pieces for The Eye of the Storm.

As pictured in my previous post, I recently snagged a sweatshirt-material motorcycle jacket. I had been looking for one just like it for months; it seemed they were only available in unflattering colors or at ridiculous prices. But lucky me! I was wandering Target, killing time, and spotted one left in my size. When I brought it to the register, I was informed it was 25% off. The woman in front of me, while collecting her bags, even congratulated me on my smart shopping skills while I jumped for joy.

The elbow to the eye from last night is staring to hurt again. Perhaps it’s time I caught up on my sleep.

Get ready, get set.

Leftover Crack is blaring on the record player.
I'm hyped up on coffee.
My purse is small and holds only the necessities.

There must be a show tonight!


Jacket, Converse One Star; Shirt, Dylan's; Belt, vintage; Skirt, H&M; Boots, my old riding boots.

Ska is Dead IV, featuring Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Toasters and Mustard Plug, is tonight at Off Broadway. Tommy should be here soon, and then we're off.

Nothing beats a great show.

"I remember Hallooweeeeennnn.."

Halloween this year was fantastic. Ricky and I dressed up as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz… from beyond the grave!

The costumes were relatively inexpensive. We found my dress ($14) and his tuxedo jacket ($45), both vintage, on The Loop, and I hand-sewed the apron. Everything else we already owned.

The party was hilarious, and the entire evening was a total ball. But now Halloween has passed, and it is time to start planning Thanksgiving.

My first dinner party was last year’s Thanksgiving. I was very proud of how everything turned out, excluding the mashed potatoes on my ceiling that thankfully no one noticed. I plan on making this year’s event bigger and better; a larger bird, more side dishes, and homemade desserts. I’m ecstatic.

We’ve been cleaning the apartment from top to bottom in preparation for such a large gathering. I’m finally getting rid of my junk drawers (and junk boxes and junk bags and junk piles..) and installing real organization systems into our lives. The place is starting to really come around.

In doing all of this cleaning, we’ve also realized we do not need to buy disposable lighters until 2011, at the earliest. So far we’ve found approximately fifteen, and there is still a bedroom and a closet to clean. Ha!
But for now, we are relaxing. Tonight is a night of Instant Netflix marathons and staying in our pajamas. Speaking of which, I had better get back to "work."

Tasty Treats & Three of a Kind

A mixture of copy editing, poker, working at the bookstore, baking, tutoring on campus, Mad Men and newspaper layout overtook my last week. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel—the paper will be out tomorrow. And on the plus side, I managed to become pretty damn great at poker, semi-addicted to Mad Men and a few dollars richer.

Last night we all hung out, playing cards and watching the Food Network, aka the only channel that makes me miss cable. I made Beth a batch of low-calorie, yet totally scrumptious, Halloween-themed birthday cupcakes.



Low-Calorie Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting..

• 1 box Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Classis Yellow Cake Mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 container (or less!) Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Reduced Sugar Chocolate Fudge Frosting

By replacing normal cake mixes and frostings with ones from the Reduced Sugar line, using a small amount of delicious frosting (as opposed to a large amount of decorative icing) and substituting applesauce for cooking oil, the calories were drastically cut. Now that’s sweet.

Saint Louis Fashion Week - Surface

My sincerest apologies for not updating sooner. Apparently my previous week and a half has caught up with me in the form of the cold from hell. After 36 hours of sleep and a gallon of orange juice, I think I’m doing just fine.


Vest, BDG.; Skirt, H&M; Shirt, Forever Twenty-One; Jewelry, vintage.

Saturday’s show at Fashion Week was wonderful. Due to ride issues, I took a taxi into the city and hung out at the Lumière coffee shop, Peet’s, until the before party started. I enjoyed my last evening of free hors d'oeuvres and Borbas, which I am seriously now addicted to and wishing they weren’t insanely overpriced. I managed to snag a few brief interviews, asking all how the designs shown this week could transition for college students.

Tinypants, the men’s designer and sales/marketing director of Love Brigade, recommended the versatility and comfort of jersey-knit onesies. “You could throw a jacket over it and dress it up.”

Allyce King, head designer of Allyce King Designs and DIY Style, encouraged more college students to sew their own clothing. She explained the costs of making a jacket from scratch as opposed to buying one brand new. She also recommended “a lot of exposed zippers. All you have to do is slap it on and stitch around it.”

Jeff Stevens, TRIM partner, explained how each piece of TRIM clothing has a piece of interior fabric from a vintage car. “Bringing back vintage styles, mixing and mashing it up,” said Stevens, while giving his style advice. “What’s the next thing?”

I also ran around like a crazy person with business cards, networking myself to death in a final attempt to take advantage of the wonderful situation. Fashion and journalism have a lot in common; it’s all about selling yourself.

The show, Surface, included designers Skif, Wrath Aracane and Nice Collective. Skif’s designers reminded me of the occasional sweaters you can find on one of my guy friends; a bit tattered, thin and worn, loosely knit. The oversized, drapey garments were paired with large 1980s-themed jewelry. The entire look was rather homeless-hippie-chic, and reminded me of resort-wear in winter.





Wrath Aracane’s designs were practical and wearable; they were casual comfort with a slight twist. For example, my favorite piece was a men’s button down shirt with a black stripe going down the chest. It was like a mock skinny tie. Their pieces also included double pockets and necklines, which I really liked.



Nice Collective seemed to mainly include natural colors in unnatural fibers, such as a soft white cotton top mixed with black shiny plastic-looking bottoms. The collection included a lot of dark seersucker and angled pockets. The overall effect was oversized military casual.





Since then, I have been asleep. I guess I knew somewhere in the back of my head that living like this couldn’t last forever. Sleeping when I can and getting 75% of my daily vitamins and minerals from black coffee can only last so long.

In my hazy, cold-medicine state, I was able to realize something of the upmost importance. Thinking I’m going back to my real life of working and studying all God damn day is a terrible way to look at things. Who says this wasn’t real life? Maybe if I keep kicking my way to the top, this will be nothing more than the average work week.

I love my life.

Saint Louis Fashion Week - Emerge (Pt. 2)

Last night's show was, to say the least, spectacular.

I did not have a ticket for the show, meaning I would have to stand in the media pit. They were still for sale, but I couldn't justify spending that much money to sit for an hour, as opposed to standing and seeing the same thing for free.

But apparently it was my lucky day.

I got to the before party a little late. Of course, MLK bridge was shut down earlier this week, making going from Illinois to the Landing quite a joy. Once I arrived, I grabbed a Borba at the bar (seriously, I don't care if they clear my skin, they're delicious) and wandered the STL Craft Mafia booths. I picked up a pair of beautiful metal flower earrings and a small coffee cup and saucer ring. After, I decided to run to the powder room and then head up to the show.

To my surprise, in the powder room, next to the sink, lay a single ticket. I looked around, and no one was there. I picked it up and noticed it was for tonight's show, and it was front row.

However, I'm not that asshole who can just find something and call it my own. So I took it back to the ticket sales desk. That's where I was told "You snooze, you lose. It's yours."

Sitting in the front row was a different expierence, but definetly one I enjoyed. Espically because I fell a little in love with one of last night's designers, and being front row made my lusting a little more understandable.

The show began with TRIM, a rockabilly-meets-mechanic brand. The occasional woman's outfit that was shown featured skin tight jeans and pomped up hair. The men wore somewhat tight, straight leg jeans with a single cuff at the bottom, and either a western or a work shirt.



Next was Love Brigade. For the most part I enjoyed their collection, but I found some of it to be a little too free spirited for me.



And saved for last was Bolongaro Trevor, aka my new favorite brand. The show was paired with songs from The Sex Pistols and David Bowie, to name a few. It featured muted burgondeys, greys, plums and navys. There were countless additions of stripes, plaids and gold accents. I was also very impressed by the men's suit jackets, which feautured new and slighly odd straps and bands thrown in.













Neither Ricky nor Mitch nor Beth won anything at the casino last night. We still went out celebrating, and grabbed dinner at The Burger Bar. I had the most delicious coffee milkshake of my life, and will have to fight myself on getting another one.

Tonight is the final show, Surface, featuring Skif, Wrath Arcane and Nice Collective.

What to wear, what to wear..