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.

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."

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. 1)

Dress, Lark & Wolff; Necklace, made myself; Bracelet, Marc Jacobs; Bangle, vintage; Watch, Merona; Belt, Forever Twenty One.

Tonight's show is Emerge, featuring Trim, Love Brigade, and Bolongaro Trevor. It should be fun, espically since Ricky, Mitch and Beth are coming to gamble.

Dinner after? Hopefully.

Saint Louis Fashion Week - Project: Design!

Last night was the first show of this year's Saint Louis Fashion Week. To my surprise, it was even better than last year.


Dress, H&M; Belt, Hot Topic; Bracelet, Marc Jacobs; Earrings, Liz Clairborne.

The reception at the Lumière was very entertaining, with the mix of local painters working, massages being given, and barely-legals downing their complimentary Bud Lights at record speed. The beautiful heels worn were only overwhelemed by the undeniably tipsy wearers.

But enough sarcasim. It really was an absolute ball.

I was lucky enough to snag a second row seat again this year. It was great seeing the models up close, but it was even better seeing Stacy and Clinton from What Not To Wear!



Yes, that's right. They came and ambushed a poor girl who appeared to desperately need their help.

The show started after finishing some "reaction shots." Wednesday's event was entitled Project: Design!, and was hosted by Project Runway season 4 runner up, Jillian Lewis.

The first collection, Evil Kitty, featured a few details I fully enjoyed, like exposed zippers and cap sleeves. However, the rest of it seemed to be light blue velour gone wrong. The designer's pieces I had seen prior to the show were beautiful. I'm not sure why she chose these.



The second collection, Jelek, won the $30,000 grand prize. I was fairly disappointed. Although the tightly pleated bodices were very impressive, the skirts on most of the outfits seemed poorly constructed.



Next came Jennifer Neal Clothing, one of my personal favorites. It was like gothic hipster bondage (quite a mouthful, eh?) and I adored it.



After that was by far the most wearable collection, Katie Kantley. The shirt dresses she made looked unbelievably delicate, and her choice of coordinating muted colors was perfect. I had my fingers crossed for her.



Then came Kristian Cortez, a collection that seemed beautiful and perfectly made and ever so slightly lackluster. Perhaps I was still just lusting over Katie Kantley's minidresses.



The final contestant was a collaboration entitled Trashbiscuit. The outfits were half-naked and possibly hot-glued. But it was amazing watching it all go down the runway. There was a fantastic pleather dominatrix stewardess number that I somehow did not get a photo of. I think I could have watched their stuff all night. Fuck, at least it is something different, y'know?



After the finalists finished, Jillian Lewis showed her latest collection. In my opinion, it was very hit and miss.

For example, she had several tops including this abstract ribbon pattern, which I adored.



On the other hand, she made several huge mistakes with knits, including wide-knit nude Daisy Dukes and this pointed shoulder sweater dress. It looks like an outfit made for cybor-grandmother.



After the show ended, Ricky (who had been playing poker, and won $50)and I headed over to Fubar and saw The Creep Show. Hell yes.

Can this week get any better?

"I Love Livin' in the City."

Here I sit, in by far the most beautiful Chicago apartment I've ever seen. Kudos, Twin, it looks fabulous.

I am taking a break from preparing vegan dishes for tonight's party. Miss Lexy has out done herself, I do believe.

My train ride was fantastic, despite the fact that I had to wake up at 4 AM. I was able to sleep for almost three hours on the way here, curled into a ball. Oh, the glories of being petite!



It's a smidge gloomy today, if you can't tell.

The view here is astonishing. I can't believe it took me this long to come visit! Also, I was finally able to give Alexis her Barbie-themed birthday present, which I think she fully enjoyed. We're a bit nutty for themes.


[Sweater, yard sale; Tank, Target; Skirt, vintage; Belt, Hot Topic; Leggings, Hot Topic; Boots, Nine West; Silver bangle, thrift store; Watch necklace, Marc by Marc Jacobs.]

I'm back to baking.

Blue Jean Baby.

[Blazer, H&M; Tank, Hanes; Jeans, Express; Belt, vintage; Watch, Merona; ID Bracelet, TJ Maxx; Purse, Kimchi Blue; Pumps, Madden Girl.]

It was a long, good day.

We all fall down.

[Shirt, Hot Topic; Skirt, H&M; Leggings, Hot Topic; Boots, Nine West; Bag, Tommy Hilfiger; Silver bangle, thirft store; Studded watch, Sanrio; Gold bracelet, vintage; Studded bracelet, vintage; Rings, vintage.]

Tonight should be a good night.