stay tuned...

I got this dress at Savers recently, and although it is pretty bright for me, I do love the little flower print it has! Not only the print, but the cut and matching belt immediately made me think that this was vintage when I found it. Not so! Its from J.Crew, if you can believe that!! Props, J.Crew on this adorable thing.

I wore this to Blacklist Vintage's Birthday Diggers sale this past weekend, and it was a blast! They had tons of bins full of pieces priced at $5 and under (I should probably show you what I got there soon, huh?), hot dogs, lemonade, cupcakes and DJ Jake Rudh spinning summer tunes! It rained for a brief moment, and then it all went away and it was beautiful. I miss those Blacklist girls...

Anywho, I've been working hard on a Minnesota State Arts Board grant application the past week or so and haven't had much time for my brain to comprehend anything other than my work... which basically means that I'm fried. Im in the home stretch and plan to drop it off on Thursday, so hopefuly Ill be back in action this weekend (back to my regularly scheduled applying for jobs and hangin out with friends routine). Wish me luck!!!

Her simple (yet badass) menswear-inspired (boyswear-inspired?) pieces and the way she piles on the denim are where i want to take my fashion cues for the rest of the summer... i love her so much (even though she doesnt wear underwear)!

Here are some things I thrifted at a Salvation Army in NE Mpls that I fell upon while dropping my good friend angie off at the car place to pickup her newly-fixed car (hopefully)! Some items will probably go into the shop, others I will keep in my greedy little clutches, like the jeans-dress!! In that first picture, its the cute 60's blouse that I purchased (not the dress).

As much as I love working at SES and lazing around and feeling like I'm at summer camp for weeks at a time, I've lately been feeling like I need to do something more grown-up soon (sorry kids, you're lots of fun too!). Shorts just arent cuttin it. Perhaps a nice dinner or dancing, or a shmancy art opening (I go to art openings often, but no shmancy ones of late)... Maybe us girls could get dressed up and have a girls night?? What do you think?

Its girls like these that make me wish I lived a more fabulous life, or at the very least, had something I could get dressed up to go to!






pc: Le Blog de Betty, Cocorosa, Karla's Closet, Elenita, and Sea of Shoes

Prada has created some formidably awesome shit for their Fall 2009 lookbook. HOW AMAZING ARE SOME OF THESE IMAGES (photo-illustrations? photo collages? photographs?)!?!? I am having trouble even focusing on the clothes. Go here to see more of them.

(and of course, some poladroid) the following are some photos I have been stashing away in my pictures folder, because I think they are kinda neato. hopefully I will be making some actual artwork soon.












In order from top (in case you want to know), Alex at Summit Avenue Park in Saint Paul MN, furry boots at an antique store booth (?!?!), painting the office last year (Alex looks like a ninja about to chop my head off), a "sexometer" game Emma and I spotted at a flea market in Elko MN (we both scored very high fyi), early morning self portrait, perfect red radio flyer at the little bean studio where I work, a bunch of knees while we sit inside a spaceship sculpture at the MCAD Commencement Exhibition this May, Alex and Monkey, a large tree stump stuck in a chain link fence in Chicago, mugging for the camera in front of the Goodman Theatre, and some people checking out the winning photograph (MINE) at the MSF opening last summer. (phew!)

I made Alex take some outfit photos at Bastille Day yesterday. He did a pretty good job right? It was so much fun, lots of good local bands, and great food and beer from Barbette's and New Belgium Brewery. Delish! I also ran into Ellen from the Minneapoline, and we kind of chatted! I look forward to seeing her street style photos from that day.





I figured that the socks with sandals would be extra-comfy with all of that walking on asphalt, and it was so good! Better than I expected, in fact. And I love the cable-knit pattern on them.

tshirt: H&M
shorts: thrifted, Savers
chain necklace: vintage, from a random antique store
cable-knit socks: discarded by the boyfo
gold sandals: ON clearance
bag: vintage from Buffalo Exchange, with a strap borrowed from another leather bag (the old one was falling apart, and I have been putting off getting it fixed for so long!)

now i really like bright colors and neon (i want yellow!!), i think its because the rest of my look is usually so androgynous and simple, never overtly girly. this may balance that out a little?

And when I say recent I mean not very recent, but things that I've been collecting for awhile and meaning to post about on the blog. I LOVE to thrift and bargain shop, and have always wanted to make that a major focus for dotluv, but feel like I've been lacking in that department! So here are some things that have recently made it into my wardrobe in some way or another.


There are two in this picture! The shorts are 'Republic Denim' and I can't tell if that means they're related to Rock and Republic, or just a coincidence, but I LOVE the carpenter's hook and the deep slit pockets on these shorts, not to mention the unique blue/grey wash denim and high waist! They were $6 at Savers. The platform wedge sandals are also thrifted (I guess) from Opitz Outlet for $10! They sell really cheap designer shoes, like these MICHAEL KORS, for cheap due to wear, damage or overstock. And I had been coveting Michael Kors' shoes for so long, but had never found a pair I could afford... check.


Both the floral vest and jeans in this one were thrifted from Savers. The vest was .99 cents, and so even though it is pretty 80's, I thought I'd give it a go. I really like the light cotton/rayon feel to it, and want to try more color in my wardrobe for summer (which so fa, I have not been succeeding at...). The jeans are vintage, probably from the 70's. Originally I got them to cut off into the perfect dark high-waisted cut=offs. But after I brought them home, I thought that maybe I shouldn't tamper with them. They are pretty awesome jeans as is... I don't know, what do you guys think??


I'll probably wait until the fall to wear this one. Plaid, and all... It was a really long dated maxi dress, but I cut it off and still need to hem it. I just love the little belt detail on the front! Also, do any of you out there know how I might wear this dress so that its not so 'school-girl?' I guess the grown-up heels help, but I'd like a few tips on how to wear it in the future.


I got these vintage red sandals on a two-for one shoe sale at Savers recently. They're definitely genuine red leather, there's an italian made marking on the bottom with the european size 38. However they are very old, probably from the sixties, and I feel like the inside synthetic-type insole (?) may soon begin to fall apart under my sweaty summer feet! But they were worth a try for free! I can't wait to wear them with some cute vintage dress, possibly to a friends' BBQ this weekend (hi boys)!!!


Last but not least (in fact, this may be my favorite piece in a long time!), I found this vintage 50's housecoat or jacket on the vintage rack at Savers. I AM SO IN LOVE with this gorgeous red cotton print! And the short cuffed sleeves, so indicative of the 50's! There are also adorable detailed gold buttons down the front. I didn't know what exactly I was going to do with it/wear it with, but now I think that I can button it all up and wear it as a dress! Or maybe as a jacket in the fall over a complete outfit, we'll see...

I have a busy weekend ahead of me. Tonight is my only night off, but on Friday we take the SES-ers to Uptown which is always my favorite outing, however fast it goes by! We staff usually do a little shopping on our own, or duck into The Uptown Bar for some cheap fried eats while we watch the kids walk around Calhoun Square ogling their new finds. It's very relaxing after a week of work. Then on Saturday, some friends are having a BBQ/housewarming party at their new place (it CAME WITH a picnic table out back!). Some out of town friends will also be there, making it a sort of reunion!

Then on Sunday, Alex and I plan to attend Bastille Day at Barbette. They host an annual "block party" for the occasion with good local food, beer, a street bazaar and live local music! Very home-grown and lots of hipsters, but we went last year and had a lot of fun. AND I was also photographed by Ellen at the Minneapoline for Vita.mn! Lots in store for me, so I'm not sure how much blogging I'll be able to do, honestly. But I'll at least try to get outfit pictures!

Peace out /// a

A little late to be talking about, but I would live in these clothes all summer if I could. Especially all of the ones in nude and gold sheer fabrics. Beautiful, beautiful.

It was cloudy and cool today, too cold actually. So I felt the need to be comfortable in a new pair of slouchy jeans I thrifted at Savers the other day. They're Armani Exchange and cost me a grand total of $6. Funny because these round glasses are also Giorgio Armani also thrifted from Savers! (see Armani on wikipedia)

I originally fell upon the glasses section when I was looking for my last pair of new glasses (the clear ones that I ended up getting at Visionary Optical). Then I fell in love with these round ones. I decided to get them for the $2 a while ago, even though I didn't think I'd be getting the lenses for them anytime soon. Lately, they've been STARING AT ME and I've been WISHING I could afford getting the prescription. Don't I look so smart?!?!?

yellow shirt: H&M
stripey dress worn as a shirt: hand me down from Emma!
Armani jeans AND round glasses: thrifted from Savers!
sandals: Urban
giant cocktail ring: vintage, from a flea market

(ps do I look like a boy?)

I've been getting a little behind in blog posts recently, but I really wanted to make sure I posted about my Independence Day festivities before it was too late. Its kind of a good story.

Alex and I decided to go see the St. Anthony Main fireworks display (not the Powderhorn display, even though those are much closer to where we live), but could not find any parking even though we got there a half hour early! We ended up driving around throughout the whole fireworks display, missing them, until we finally just put the flashers on and caught the finale. Disheartening to say the least, especially since we were getting super stressed out. But following the fireworks was the '10 Second Film Fest' put on outside the Soap Factory, one of my favorite local art joints. That ended up being a lot of fun. There was lots of beer, lots of films, lots of people I knew, and one friend from high school who won for 'Best Metaphor' (there were prizes!)! What a co-inky-dink! Luckily we went home more than content, instead of grumpy and fireworks-less. Here are some pictures and one not so flattering one of me holding all of the stuff.






(ps I swear Ill get around to that shoe jewelry diy eventually!!!)

Emma and I went to the Elko flea market today even though it was raining the whole time. It was totally fun anyways, and she and I ended up getting a few nice things. You can see my outfit here if you want.




I was considering finding a vintage alarm clock perhaps like one of the ones above, as my alarm clock is ugly and on the fritz. Then I saw a red felt deer that would have been a silly purchase but it seems as though we collect them now. And I also saw a set of Modigliani cups that I was in love with (as I am in love with Modigliani!!), but they were just too expensive.

Aaaand then we saw the CUTEST PUPPY ON THE PLANET. She gnawed on my finger for a little while while I asked the lady what kind of dog she was, and then I got to take a picture of her!! LOOK!


Tomorrow begins the next installment of SES, so I will be again posting from the dorms, and will be having a lot of time on my hands during the day. Although I do have to keep digging for jobs, follow up on a couple that I've applied for, fill out some submissions and a grant application, and perhaps get a new cell phone, so I guess I'll be keeping busy.

Today so far has been spent sleeping in, reading the magazines that came in the mail (can I just say that I'm still upset about Domino? Okay.), and then going to the parents' house to go look through some things. It turns out that they have finally gotten around to redoing my old bedroom, even after years of knowing that I would never be using it again! It was up to me to select anything I wanted to keep and clear out anything I don't. Not hard, being that a lot of old stuff in my room was garbage. Old movie tickets and the like, you know.

Although, I did find AN AWESOME photo of Alex from high school (still debating whether I scan and post it or not! such a wittle babyface), a few dollars, and some important rings (like birthstones, class rings, and other memorabilia).

And I got to say hi to the kitteh.




Gosh, could this outfit be just a leeetle bit inspired by the lovely and adventurous Karla, with her skyscraping platform heels and vintage flair?! YES, I love her! And I've really liked her last few outfits. Check it out.

Also, I haven't really been wearing jeans much until this week, but it has been so chilly lately! Where is the sun and the heat and why am I not at the beach!? I thought this called for the BOYFRIEND jean, not really the boyfriends' of course... he's tall.

blouse: vintage Lloyd Williams
belt: vintage, from Blacklist Vintage
jeans: thrifted, from Savers
heels: Miss Me, traded at Buffalo Exchange

i will find any excuse to wear them. especially digital retouching at the studio all day.