While I was on a thrifting adventure recently, I found an amazing long grey dress, probably 70's, and knew I had to get it. I didnt know what I was going to do with it yet, but I would figure it out! Then, while brainstorming halloween costume ideas for this year, I thought I could use the dress and either be Cleopatra, an angel type creature, or something more grecian... a goddess? There is just so much I could do! Here are some beautiful images pulled from The Commons on Flickr that I used for inspiration.





Eventually I decided on Athena, goddess of war. I just love that last image above of the young woman dressed as a warrior. Her shield and little golden skirt are so precious. I hope she is not actualy planning to go to war! Anyways, I will definitely post pictures of how it came out soon! How about you? Do you have an amazing costume idea this year??

But I am totally having a thing for beautiful editorials with romantic looking women in them. Naked women in them. I am obsessed with naked women. There are some really amazing things going on right now with photographers using young women, frills and lace, lingerie and sexuality as their themes. Very narrative and very intriguing. I dont know, is this tmi??






(The first few are by photographer David Hamilton, more on The Valentine Journals, then Wendy Bevan via Ringo, Have a Banana)
Its times like these that I wish I could draw or paint and make some ethereal portraits of women I'm inspired by OR EVEN have the balls enough to make self portraits. How amazing are some of these nudes by Anna Bongiovanni? (website here)



These next ones are work by the lovely Hannah Metz, of Hannah&Landon.




I mean COME ON, look at some of these old photographs of scandalous ladies! Who wouldnt want to photograph them?!? Well, I would.




Yes, I would love to just lie around half-naked in a bathtub please. In a very large house in the woods... (These images from a past issue of Vice, via Clever Nettle).

My dear friend Emma and I went to a Vintage Clothing Show and Sale at the Minnesota State fairgrounds this past weekend, and wow was it fun! I have never seen that much amazing vintage in one place. Most of it was affordable, and the stuff that wasnt had VERY GOOD reason to be higher priced. (Swoooon!) AND this sale was all devoted to clothing. No digging around at different vendors booths filled with glassware and vintage Christmas decorations, looking for that one good piece of clothing.





This was amazing! I probably saw the most amazing collection of twenties and thirties clothing from a vendor called Go Vintage, who has a store in St. Paul that I have never been to! I will have to go back and see if they still have this perfect 40's navy toggle coat that I wanted so badly... I can't stop thinking about it. Emma also found a coat with a black and white pattern on it that she fell in love with.


At the end of the day, just when we were about to leave (and I was about to buy this great 50's cherry red dress for $65), I spotted the perfect silk dress with matching jacket, in my size, for only $25. Obviously, I changed my mind. The lady I bought it from was named Susan, and it was her dress when she was my age! I love it when that happens. Here she is (below) wrapping it up in paper for me. I will find some occasion to wear it soon, and will be sure to post some pictures. Thanks Susan!


All in all it was a blast, and nothing like I have ever experience before. If you live in or around Elgin, Illinois, you should get ready because that is where the next show will be held in February 2010. And of course, tell me all about it when you go!

10.21.09, originally uploaded by allison the valiant.

stealin' some vintage for mahself yo.

This is a jacket that I purchased at the very first estate sale I went to this summer for the shop. I've been hoarding it to wear for fall ever since. I think it is of some sort of scandanavian origin, because of these little elks or deer all over it, but I cant be sure. All I know is that it is very thick and upholstery-like, which also makes it kind of structured. I like it a lot.

Worn with my recent splurge, H&M Sqin jeans (I have another pair and LOVE them because they are just high-cut enough)). I decided I had to go back for another pair and get rid of some that show my buttcrack when I bend over. Sick of that. Over it, Time to stay warm.

I've been so tired these last few days/weeks after work and between listing the armfuls of items Ive been collecting on etsy, and trying to get dinner made and photos scanned, that I havent had the energy or inspiration to open the lappy and make a blog post... I am very sad about that. But I have been doing some MAJOR window shopping on etsy in my down time, and MAN are there an infinite amount of cute things out there (and super-cute shops too!). Someone take the "i heart this item" button away from me!

Some of my recently discovered favorites for your mutual enjoyment:


This cute little fur collar from one of my favorite sellers, Kennedy Holmes, only $25!


The most adorable printed dress that LOOKS like it is a child's dress, but is actually the perfect measurements for me! ($35 from Jennie's Junque)


I've been keeping my eyes peeled for the perfect fall cape, and at $28 THIS IS THE ONE. From SugarSpunVintage.


I can't get enough of boots right now. I already have ... 6 pairs? and I want these too (unfortunately they have already been sold). They are from another of my favorite sellers, allen company inc. Besides every one of their pieces being drooooolworthy, they also have amazing photography and design to round out their perfect shop. Cute.


And for something unvintage, this circle scarf looks perfect for keeping me warm (and fashionable) in my ice-box office. $50 from Under Reconstruction.


And last but certainly not least, something from the wonder woman herself, Sally Jane Vintage. At $48 this jumper is a little too expensive for me, and a little too big unfortunately. But I am falling in love with simple corduroy and wool jumpers... This is no exception!

Off to etsy, peeps.

When life gives you lemons, wardrobe remix.

jersey dress/tunic: ON clearance
red jacket: vintage, .50 cents from Blacklist Vintage's Bday Rummage Sale!
belt: Madonna for H&M
random tights.
boots: appepazo, from Opitz Outlet

Iv been on a thrifting kick lately (and by kick I mean that I think about thrifting 90% of the day, and only go thrifting twice in the last few weeks, you know what I mean, its ALL CONSUMING). Ive mentioned it already but I really did make away like a bandit at one place the other day (its a secret! haha jk lollllsters)...

Let me just say that I LOVE it when thrift stores set up their Halloween "Boo-Tiques" in October. Basically, that means that there will be lots of old, vintage stuff that no one else wants and that theyve been stockpiling all year. Sometimes its funky 70's bridesmaid dresses and bad 80's formals, but once in a while you hit the jackpot. Behold, here are just some of the things that Ive managed to photograph for the shop.








There is a bunch more that I have to sift through as well, and decide when I can post them on Etsy (we already have a bunch of fall stuff up now). PS: Emma, I've also got a few things that are just for you. I am saving them until you can take a look!

In other less exciting and more nerve-wracking news, I just found out when my panel review session will be for a recent Arts Grant I applied for. There are 68 other applicants all vying for the same thing, yikes! I know for sure that I have to go and watch what the panelists have to say, but am super-nervous all over again. Oh well, Ive got a few more weeks to ignore the mere thought of it...

In the meantime, I plan to go to the apple orchard, carve pumpkins (with or without Alex! He doesnt like to), and make lots of soups and stews in the hand-me-down crock pot I got from my mom! I know these plans are the same for everyone else out there, but gosh darnit its time. Its FRICKIN SNOWING OUTSIDE TODAY. I kid you not.

These shoes. are. amazing. Someone buy them, quick (you can find them here in hippyofdoom's etsy shop!

10.9.09, originally uploaded by allison the valiant.

Working on washing, sorting and photographing a ton of new stuff for the shop. I'm in the total thrifting vibe right now, man... Should be posting soon.

cardigan: random, ON?
vintage tee: Value Village, $1
vintage Guess jeans: Savers: $7
leather flats: VINTAGE CHISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, from Lost & Found Thrift, I kid you not...

What a nice little mention of the little blue dress from Hello Ladies Vintage there is on the Liebemarlene this morning! Thanks, Rhiannon! PS: I just scored a ton of stuff for the shop. Ill be posting some previews of those as soon as I can get them washed and pressed. Have a nice day!

Okay. So mayyybe I've been starting to think about fall a leeeettle. I admit it! I've been home sick these past two days and its been the perrrrfect fall weather for being home and eating soup on the couch all day. This is what put me over the edge!

Every season - or basically once before the summer, and once before the fall - I make a list of essentials that I need or want for that season. I've talked about this before, but I really think that this KEEPS ME from buying everything I fall in love with, and makes me stick to a simple grocery list.

And although I said just a short while ago that I wasnt thinking about the fall at all, I have also been hit with a ton of young, fashionable art kids now that I work at MCAD that are already transitioning (and as well they should be, school has started and students mostly walk and bike to class around here).

I am getting all sorts of inspirations, and am starting to build my fall list! This is what I am planning to dig for.

First of all, cherry red tights ala the Fall 09 Built by Wendy Collection,
I LOVE THEM! At first, I had a hard time finding this color red, and not a bright red. But it looks like these ones from TopShop will do.


Warm wool or knitted Ponchos, like the super-fun ones My Solitary Consignment snagged awhile back, and some other great ones on etsy. My work is very cold already and I need a warm blanket I can throw over anything to keep me warm!


And lots of boots. Lots (I am already getting a head-start on this one). A moccasin bootie would be nice as well, like these ones from Moccasin House!


Obviously, there are more things on the list. But these are the ones I am really dying over. What about you? What do you need for fall (and have you gotten it already?!)?