July Wishlist

It seems like all the contemporary stores are gearing up for fall, forcing me to dream about wearing darker colors, tights, jackets, and boots. But with the tightening of my budget, I've also begun thinking about getting pieces that I can wear now (in the hot, sweltering summer) and in the fall/winter with cardigans and tights. Here are some vintage items exclusively off Etsy that I've had my eye on....

1.The perfect white skirt should be a staple for the summer...but I still don't have one yet! This redesigned vintage skirt from Salvage Life is so perfect in its details! It would be an investment, but probably a worthwhile one. Something like this never goes out of style.

2. A cute little green cardigan will brighten up any drab fall, winter, or summer outfit. As soon as I get my next paycheck, I'm gonna snag this one!

3. I would like a pair of shoes just like these...unfortunately these sold before I could get my hands on them. Some call them buckle oxfords, or buckled brogues...They are fantastic!

4. Polka dots are making a comeback ...not that they really ever left, but that they are quite prominent in this fall season. I've always loved polka dots (not as much as stripes, but still) and this mustard colored dress seems great for the summer-fall transition period.

5. The two-in-one dress hasn't always been my favorite, but when it is between wearing this or separates (in a work-type environment), I would chose the dress any day!

6. I really want a cape! I think that this would be a really nice thing to have in the fall...perfect for chilly nights and brisk days.

7. A corduroy dress seems like a good, warm idea for the fall and winter, and while I normally might not buy one...this one really stand out to me because of its awesome dark magenta color!

8. Perhaps a bright floral dress (this particular one, I would hem)  could make it all the way through the fall and winter? In the fall, I can wear a cardigan with it...and once it gets a bit colder, I'll throw on some tights or stockings.  It might just be a nice way to remind people that spring is only a couple months away.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

I thought I'd do a post on some of my favorite non-vintage shops on Etsy. I've tried list some stores that have truly unique items...stuff that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else...Just to put an image in your mind: I am sitting at the dining table (in Worcester) typing away, whilst my cat is sitting on the table, haunched over a plate, gnawing away at uneaten pizza crusts from lunch. And now he is trying to drink my iced tea!

Bake it Pretty

For those of you who know me, you probably know that I love to bake awkwardly colored cupcakes and cakes.  Teal and lavender icing cupcakes and green tea, strawberry, and chocolate tricolor cake are just two of the awkward, yet delicious things I have made. Perhaps if I invested in some of these delightfully awesome cupcake wrappers...I might satiate my need for color! These pictures pretty much speak for themselves.

Decoy Lab

I can't say that people have much use for clocks anymore, what with cell phones and alarm clocks and the like. But if I ever needed a clock, these Decoy Lab analogs would be my first choice! My favorite is probably the faux-cuckoo clock...the hardest part is picking which color you like best!

Nothing Elegant

Nothing Elegant has some of the freaking cutest packing materials and office supplies you will ever see. If you are really into paper and tape like I am, this shop will be your mecca. And if you aren't, well, this shop will make you want to be. Search through this shops many pages and find everything you will need for next semester!

Valhalla Brooklyn

Valhalla Brooklyn is definitely out of my price range right now, but if you are willing to invest (around $300), they have some of the best looking handmade leather bags out there! Simple shapes, brass hardware, pockets...what more could you need?

Thief & Bandit

Thief & Bandit is a fun shop filled with colorful braided headbands, tiered necklaces, and really cool t-shirts. What's ridiculous is that I just realized I never learned how to spell the word "thief" properly. Poo. You can also find their stuff at Need Supply Co.

Nadinoo

Nadinoo has some of the most delicate and prettiest clothes I have ever seen. Both pictures above are from the current summer collection...filled with pastels, florals, and art deco inspired patterns.  I particularly love the "petal" collared shirt. How interesting and unique!

The Generation

I have always been a fan of the mary-jane and these canvas ones from The Generation take the cake. Eco-friendly, pretty, and seemingly durable these flats look perfect for everyday wear.  I think I might snag a pair of the olive green flats with the thick satiny ribbon!

Kate Durkin

These pillows are so cute! I actually got a small coral colored owl (it was one of my first Etsy purchases)...and while the owl is cute, my favorite part is the fabric on its back...little houses with coral roofs and little green trees, all nestled into a hillside. They are incredibly well-made and comfortable, and will look great in your dorm room or wherever!

Whitney Smith Pottery

I've already mentioned that I love to bake, but the one thing I don't have is a proper cake stand. Whitney Smith Pottery carries lots and lots of them! And they are perfect because they have birds sitting on them, little flowers, branches, and come in various sizes.  Don't you love the single cupcake stands? Impractical, yes, but just so magical!

June Wishlist

Ahh...July is almost here and that also means the summer is half over.  While it hasn't exactly gotten that hot here yet, I'm already thinking about fall clothes and colder weather.  But it really is way too early for that, so to get my mind back on track, I decided to show you some of my favorite items of June...things I would buy if I could...I think I might make this into some kind of recurring blog post on my blog. 

 Left to Right: ModCloth $107.99, Anthropologie $128, Anthropologie $138, ModCloth $51.99

These dresses are perfect! My absolute favorite is the red, white, and blue one from Anthropologie (perfect for watching fireworks on the 4th of July).  It also has an open back and an adorable bow...I actually got to try this on the last time I was in an Anthro...and it fit so wonderfully! I hope it goes on sale soon! I love the dresses on the ends, too, because they seem to transcend seasons...I can see myself throwing on a pair of tights or stocking underneath and wearing them all winter long. The second dress is not polka dotted, but rather polka squared...! Its unique and beautiful and casual.

Left to Right: Urban Outfitters $48, ModCloth $47.99, Anthropologie $98, F21 $27.80

I've recently begun to re-embrace shorts. I could never really find a pair that I liked or that looked good on me...Shorts just seemed like a boring staple or something you sleep in.  But it seems like people are starting have much more fun with their shorts! All the patterns and interesting cuts and bows from this past season were very refreshing. I am also pretty happy that the whole "scalloped edge" thing is catching on.  I wish I could have called it, but I got really into scallop edged clothing like a year ago, when there really wasn't much to pick from.  While I'm not too sure I'm the kind of girl to wear something shiny and silver like the dress above, I do love the shape and tiers of the dress! And isn't that crystal and gem encrusted bicycle necklace THE BEST?

Well, apart from shopping online, what else have I been doing? For one, I went to the Massachusetts RMV (why they didn't just use DMV like the rest of the country, we'll never know) and converted my current NY State learners' permit to a Massachusetts one.....making me an official resident of the state of Massachusetts! However, if you ever ask me where I'm from, I will say New York because I love being a New York and did live there for the first twenty years of my life. 

Other than that, I have been house bound for the entire week, while taking antibiotics for this thing I have on my right pinky finger.  I apparently got some kind of chemical burn which got infected, and now I'm in quite a bit of pain.  Luckily, the antibiotics I got yesterday should kick in soon, and get me back up and running in a day or two.  

I I feel up to it...I might even publish my first style post for the blog! Yay!

I've Got Traveling On My Mind...

Check out this great panda suitcase set from New Look (a kind of British forever21)...They might be a little too cute to actually use in real life, but I think I could manage, haha. This set is the perfect size for traveling light...which makes me dream a little dream about maybe going on a road trip this summer down south.

You can find them here and here.