1.30.10, originally uploaded by allison the valiant.

Errands day! And then Alex took me on a spontaneous really fancy dinner date. It was awesome!

sweater: Urban clearance years ago
belt: vintage, from Goodwill
jeans: H&M
suede leather booties: Jessica Simpson, from DSW

1 I need a new fur collar. A different one. One that is small, detachable, and preferably with a cute little string tie. Like Cali Vintage's (below)! I passed one up on Kennedy Holmes Vintage a great while back, and regret it almost every time I visit the internets...


2 WHAT. I spotted this photo of a gucci briefcase over at SF Style and it struck me as almost identical to the brown $2 Savers version I have (and was obsessed with this spring - need to bring that puppy back out soon!) Even right on down to the floppy handle and unique metal clasp. Its like I am automatically drawn to knock-offs at the thrift store unconsciously. What does that say about me?!


3 I NEED to get out of Mpls. Yes I really do love you, but am going a little stir crazy with the cold, gloomy, dark. Alex and I do have plans to go to scenic (yes, even in winter) Duluth in a couple of weeks, but maybe a California Getaway is in order. At least Duluth will give me an excuse to finally wear this perfect pink number I scored at Blacklist Vintage forever ago. I was hoping I wouldnt have to wait until Valentines Day to wear it, but I am cool with wearing it at LEAST then. Alex, we need to go somewhere appropriate to wear it... hint hint!


4 PS: Blacklist Vintage is MOVING! I tots picked that up from Facebooks. Although, not to worry, they are only moving a block and a half away to the old corner salon location. Should give them A LOT more space for the overflowing stock they have there. Can I expect an Opening Party, ladies??

5 I am getting DANG GOOD at the drums on Beatles Rock Band.

That is all (for now).

Everyone has their home improvement projects and upgrades they need to make to their apartment. Since Alex and I have moved into this place two years ago, we've gotten all of the new furniture, have built all of the shelves and made modifications to generally personalize our living space to our liking. But I am always looking for more to do! I get inspiration from design blogs, apartment therapy, and all you go-getters out there. So today I finally finished a a couple of projects that I had been meaning to get around to all year.

I received a garment rack from the container store from my mom for Christmas! Now I can finally hang all of the clothes for the shop! No more wrinkled piles of clothes on the ground. No more mixing up items that have been listed and items that have just been purchased and need cleaning. Its also great because there is a shelf underneath for shoes, bags and shipping materials. Not to mention I can hang them by color and make it look like a rainbow in my studio! I am totally loving it (even though I have less wall space for my wardrobe_remix photos).

Also exciting, is this cute little wall rack I purchased from Hunt and Gather awhile back. It only had three hooks on it, but I figured that I could easily find more hooks to match and add them myself. Well I finally found some and and added them today! I can I just say that I am absolutely loving this. I only have a couple necklaces on each hook, and they're never going to get all tangled in the morning when I am trying to get to work again. Awesome! As you can see, I also organized these by length (Is my nerd showing?).



I have nothing next on my list, but I am sure Ill find something soon. I just love projects! What are you guys currently working on around the house? Anything? Am I just crazy?

On Monday I got a haircut. Which is big, since I've been cutting/trimming my own hair forever now... For some reason I just have a hard time spending $50 every 4-6 weeks for a haircut when I have so very little hair (and can do it myself). Although now that I have a job, its not like I cant afford it, I would just rather spend it on some drinks with friends or a pair of nice shoes!



And not only that, but I got it colored AND I GOT A MASSAGE! Alex, the sweetheart, got me a gift certificate to Sanctuary Salon and Spa in the warehouse district for Christmas, and it was wonderful! I got to wear a fancy robe and drink fancy tea and they even used HOT TOWELS. I would highly recommend anyone even thinking about getting a massage to go there. It feels so nice to have a professional haircut, nice and clean and fresh, with brand new color! LOVE IT!

1.16.10, originally uploaded by allison the valiant.

I am not fully certain that this dress I got recently is actually vintage. It is so soft and new and clean looking! It could be that it was made from a new fabric in a vintage pattern... but if it is vintage, MAN IS IT PERFECT.

Alex and I had a great day yesterday (which is when I wore this dress for the first time). We slept in, went to breakfast (although we ended up eating lunch) at Citizen Cafe (because Colossal was closed for remodeling!?), then headed over to the mall to redeem Alex's Banana Republic gift card (he didnt end up finding anything, but I did of course) and to Ikea to get our living room a new rug! Then we came home, watched some football and ate chicken nuggets 'n tots with barbeque sauce. THE BEST EVER.

dress: vintage, from Everyday People
belt: vintage, from Rewind Vintage
tights: gift from my sis, from American Eagle
socks: Alex's dress socks, they are so soft!
Minnetonka Moccasins: brand NEW, thrifted from Value Village

I got these boots at Opitz Outlet recently, as a nice little gift to myself. They are Guess by Marciano and the funny thing is that I had been coveting them last season when they were popular, and were on all of the blargs... I never thought that I would see them in person! Much less at an affordable price, thanks Opitz! (and thanks grandma, for the xmas monies)





I keep trying to convince everyone that they're functional for winter due to the heavy duty construction and thick rubber grip sole (I've been wearing the things to work, duh?). But of course, because of the giant heel, no one believes me...

The nice people over at City Pages were kind enough to name me one of the best dressed street styles of 2009! I loved the event I was photographed at, the Blacklist Vintage Diggers sale... I have to say. And apparently some pretty famous local stars are also featured on the best dressed list. Head on over to Jahna Peloquin's blog to read more about that, and to the City Pages to view the full slideshow!


Thanks CP!

I came across an amazing thing today. This closet, which belongs to the lovely girl of the Snail and the Cyclops. I find myself constantly inspired by this girl, always so feminine and in lovely vintage things! But now I am officially JEALOUS. Seriously guys, why cant I have that closet space? Not to mention all of those sweet delicate vintage clothes! I am getting desperate for more closet space around here... srs.

I took a cue from some of my favorite bloggers, such as Sally Jane and Clever Nettle among countless others, and have compiled a list of my favorite outfits from the past year! I have been doing wardrobe_remix now for two years and it really is so interesting to look back and see what you were wearing, and how you've changed since then. Its also fun to see what you liked, and to remind yourself to remember to do it again! And with me, to see my hair color change!


In 2009 I found myself wanting simpler and simpler clothing, and began stocking up on staples like the perfect pair of jeans, plain tees and simple dresses that can layer. I allowed myself to spend more on these staples too, instead of cheaping out and needing to get another pair a month later. This REALLY helps with jeans... No more thrifting cheap pairs of jeans that dont fit exactly right! I also tried duh duh DUHHHHH the leggings trend for the first time and have been especially loving them this winter. Under everything!


I also delved further and further into vintage clothing this year even though Ive loved vintage FOREVER. I did this by not only looking for show-stopping vintage dresses when I go, but also for simple vintage separates and pieces that really fit me perfectly. Now I am able to put down an amazing vintage piece if it doesnt fit me correctly, which I dont think I was as capable of last year. I always thought I could MAKE IT FIT...


I then began purging like Ive never purged before! I cleaned out my closet in early 2009 - originally because Alex and I have almost NO closet space in our current place and I needed to downsize - and never looked back. I regularly pick out things I hardly ever wear and bring them to the local Buffalo Exchange to sell them (and buy one or two relevant pieces in exchange!). I find this to be the best habit I have ever gotten into. They are just clothes, and I will just replace them as my tastes change... dont be so nostalgic!


ps: Can you tell that I (and my outfits) prefer warmer temperatures?? That last one (below) is from November, and the other three from the same set are from August!! I really need to work on my winter outfits...


As far as New Year's Resolutions go, I dont think Im going to really set any for myself (I never do), except to remember to tell myself to be more spontaneous! I have to try to remember to take risks in my personal, professional, and artistic lives and not hold myself back because I am worried of what people might think, or what might happen, or if I will regret it someday. From now on, if I want to do something really badly, I am going to MAKE IT HAPPEN. I seriously need to adopt that. What about you guys? Do you set New Year's Resolutions?

Lets depart from the shopping and fashion and clothes for a little while and talk about art. Some things have been happening lately, and I thought I would share them with you...

First of all, the most exciting, is that I was fortunate enough to be chosen to take part in a community arts grant project awhile back called FEAST. Funding Emerging Artists with Sustainable Tactics was begun in Brooklyn last year, and the FIRST FEAST MPLS was held a few weeks ago at Traffic Zone Center for the Arts building downtown (you can go read more about the really cool event process and read the artist proposals at their website) I didnt end up taking home the grant money, but it was so refreshing to actually talk to other artists vying for the same grant, with project organizers, and with all of the enthusiastic voters that came from all walks of life, all interested in hearing about your socially engaging (social experiment in most cases) art proposal. It was great. Here are a few pictures!

(PS: I met a wardrobe remix friend in real-life and in-person at the event and we chatted, how cool!?)




Next, I am going to direct you to my Flickr photostream (and below) to see a large batch of 35mm photos that I took over the course of this summer when I found a 35mm point and shoot, put in a new battery and gathered up some film! It really felt good to be making pictures, which I havent done in longer than I would like to admit. Hopefully I will continue to shoot more and find some sort of project out of this. Ive never functioned as a photographer this way before, as I usually know what I want to shoot, how I want to shoot it, and then go out and shoot it that way to fit my artist statement. This time, Im not going to write an artist statement, and Im not going to have a project first. I am going to have the photographs first... We will see what happens.






And then I wanted to briefly share one of many artist's websites that are in my current hypothetical inspiration folder right now. Carla Rodriguez is a friend of mine, currently working in New York at the famous 20x24 studios (jealous!). Her website is simple, dark, and dreamy (as is her work)...

For my next post, I have decided to compile some of my favorite wardrobe remix pics from 2009, a la several blogger ladies out there such as Sally Jane and Clever Nettle. Stay tuned and welcome to 2010!

Our family xmas picture this year (barf), coming to you LIVE IN 2010!