I know just about everyone is buzzing about the fall already, but not me. I definitely foresee myself being the last one to get on the fall fashion boat! Don't get me wrong, I love scarves as much as the next girl, but I just don't think I would ever tire of breezy summer dresses, ice cream cones and lazy days on the beach... I guess life is just not that simple, is it?

Although on the other hand, the only reason I don't like the fall is because I know that it wont last long and that it will be harsh Minnesota winter before I know it! Maybe I should just jump right in to plaids and tights, and take full advantage of it instead!? The truth is that I get cold very easily (I have been known to wear several long-sleeved shirts and layers of tights INDOORS) and on top of that I get thoroughly BORED with winter. Not being able to go anywhere, and being cold and miserable if you do. I am such a fussy little baby!


Oh well, I am going to fully enjoy this last week or two of warmer weather, gosh darnit! And on that note, this dress above has been one of my favorite summer dresses this year. I wore it to work for my very first official day of work at MCAD today (even though I've been training in for two weeks)! I was definitely nervous about it, but I think it went pretty well.

dress: vintage, from the Antique Mall of St. Paul, I removed the original tie belt and used a different one to make it a little less summery
belt: thrifted from Goodwill, originally from Jones New York
authentic Minnetonka Moccasins: Northern MN shop
cardigan: who knows! it is such an old friend...

apparently he's modeling for Band of Outsiders, (as well as Marisa Tomei for their womens line), he's a gem isnt he??

Man, is the summer over already?!? But but I just found the summer dress I want to spend the rest of my life in!






I can't believe I found the dress I've been dreaming of all summer at the END of the summer! I should probably just be grateful that I found the perfect something flowy, pretty and in ivory (white is too white i think). There are little flowers embroidered on the bodice, but its not too elaborate and fussy! Also, dont you love the little petal sleeves????

dress: vintage, from a garage sale for .75 cents!
boots: Etienne Aigner, from DSW

My 23rd birthday is coming up on Wednesday. And well, I'm the kind of girl that usually has a hard time making wish lists for birthdays and xmas because I honestly don't ever want anything, or I cant remember what little mental notes I make of what I do want! So this year I thought I would make a special Birthday wish list! This is of course, a fantasy wishlist, because I cannot justify spending the $200 on that gorgeous gold-dipped quartz necklace down there!!! HOW AWESOME IS IT THOUGH?



Urban denim-look leggings (fall is a-comin!!), quartz necklace by Laura Lombardi on etsy, a Birkin bag in slate gray (knock off from iOffer.com, of course!), these adorable but ridiculously nerdy pillows by diffractionfiber on etsy, Polaroid film in BULK via ebay, and a new Fuji Instax camera set (so I can compare it to the Polaroid!).

I'm also thinking of getting The Sartorialist's new book, which came out earlier this week. It would be so nice to see his beautiful photographs in print, don't you think?

//What are you guys wishing for??//

8.22.09, originally uploaded by allison the valiant.

emma and chance invited alex and i to hang out with wine and cheese at chance's summit avenue house tonight! i love hanging out there and wanted to dress nicely, but we were planning to go to the red stag block party beforehand, so not TOO FANCY. Also, DONT I LOOK TAN?!?! awesome.

tank: ON
belt: thrifted, from Goodwill, originally from Jones New York
skirt: vintage, from the Blacklist Vintage Bday Diggers sale for $1!! (i had to fix the closure)
sandals: Urban
oversized black clutch: vintage, also from Blacklist's Diggers sale for $1!

ps: my ankle is on fire!!!

As promised (albeit a few day behind schedule), here are some photographs from my trip to the cabin! I had a great time lazing around and spending time with friends. Alex is even obsessed with getting a pontoon boat now... even though we would have no place to use it!!

Nice to dream about for someday though.

A few weekends ago, I was photographed outside the Blacklist Vintage Bday Diggers Sale for the City Pages (turns out they have a street fashion photographer too, although they only post the pictures online). /// Speaking of which, Ellen from the Minneapoline has been getting some serious press lately! Interviews with Glamour magazine and street fashion website The Midwasteland... I have enjoyed reading more about her, congrats Ellen! ///


Anyways, as I was going through that weeks' slideshow of pictures, I noticed this guy was photographed. Alex and I dropped off his (borken) car at the car place last weekend, and this guy worked there! He complimented my necklace, and I his (he was wearing the same key necklace at the time). What a kah-winky-dink!


Gotta love his "slash"-ing good looks, haha! (I know this isnt the outlet for my bad puns, sorry :)

Also, I just got back from the cabin this past weekend, and it really was so relaxing and fun to hang out with some old friends. Just what Alex and I needed! I will be updating you all with some pictures from the trip later this week (I took digital pictures but I also took a bunch on film, something I've been trying to get myself back into the habit of... so it might take awhile to develop and scan in a ton of pictures!!)

/// Stay tuned! ///

Wearing a vintage cotton day dress from B-Squad Vintage that was basically MADE FOR ME. And this couch!

Here are my new shoes, my glorious glorious new shoes from Office that I've been coveting forever! As you can see, I chickened out on getting the fuschia ones, and went with the more practical black ones. The long story is that I went to go and buy them when they went on sale a few months ago, and they didn't ship sale items to the US!?! And they didnt tell me until I tried to checkout?!?! I was very upset of course because I had waited and waited until they went on sale, and then my whole plan was foiled.

BUT THEN a very nice girl named Shini, over at Park&Cube, offered to purchase them for me (as she lives in the UK most of the year) and then ship them to me!! It was definitely the most generous thing anyone I've never met in real life has done for me.

Thanks again Shini, and Ellen! I love them very much.

Via the Snail and the Cyclops, I found a blog called An Apple a Day. Adorable blog overall, however she posted what I think might be my dream end of summer. An old cottage with screendoors that are always open, red and white print wallpaper in the kitchen...



...and a clothesline out back with the sweetest little unmentionables IVE EVER SEEN. Im smitten (and looking at east coast getaways now for funsies)!

However, Alex and I were asked to an old friends' cabin for the weekend. I plan to laze around the lake (they have a pontoon boat too!!), eat all of my meals outside, and maybe do some rural exploring... Hopefully it will be everything I want it to be! Ill let you know.

Okay. So today was rainy and cold this morning, and I was feeling very disappointed that it was going to be an awful day. But as I am sure all of you Twin-Citians already know, it got HOT AND STICKY soon after. I'm talking 90's and humid, but it made for a much better day for gallivanting around the cities than rain would have!! CLASSIC Art Hop weather, for sure... poor Art Hop go-ers. So after having breakfast at the Egg and I (yummy!), Alex and I were forced to shed our outer layers. Then we spent the rest of the day hanging around St. Paul going to Fringe shows (well we tried, some were already sold out gosh darnit!!! we're going to try for some again on sunday), stopping in antique stores on the way, and grabbing a beer at the Bulldog NE. Very very good day! Best in a long time.

Here are some great pictures from an architectural salvage store we wandered into. It was so interesting! I dont remember what it was called, but it was kind of around the corner from the Bulldog fyi. AND THERE WAS A KITTY THERE! We liked him a lot.