In love with love and lousy poetry

I've never been a big Polyvore person. Sure, I've made a set or two - I just never learned how to get clever using images of both clothes and other various pictures. I used to love making collages as a kid, but there is something about doing it online that gives me the biggest question mark over my head. While randomly searching for items in "Leopard", I was suggested that 'Linalove was where I should go to find inspiration. Polyvore couldn't have been more right. I found 450 brilliant collages from a true fashion, photo and poetry junkie. This girl somehow turned every outfit I've ever wanted to wear into little works of art. There's no way I could look at all 450 sets, so I somehow narrowed down my 16 ultimate favorite sets of the hundred or so that I clicked on. Please take a look at her other collages here.

















P.S. I bought a camera a few days ago and it should arrive on Monday. Expect some outfit posts in the near future!

Naya

As some of you may know, I have wide feet and it's been a constant struggle since I was a young girl to find shoes that fit properly. On one of my many quests to find both fashionable and wide shoes on the web, I came across this lovely brand Naya. Not only do they carry shoes in wide width, they also carry regular and narrow width sizes. How awesome is that? Here are a few of their current styles for their Spring/Summer 2010 collection:



The best part about Naya is that they are environmentally friendly. Here is a list of the eco-friendly materials they use in their footwear:

• Chrome-free or vegetable-tanned leathers
• Natural, organic or sustainable fabrics
• Heels made from sustainable bamboo
• Biodegradable latex foam cushioning
• Natural cork and rubber footbeds
• Outsoles made with recycled materials
• Nickel free metal buckles
• Recycled paper boxes
• Water soluble glues and cements

I don't know about you, but I am sold! A lot of the shoes that are pictured above are up to 50% off at the Naturalizer website. I kind of want to hold off on summer shoes right now as I have plenty of cold winter days ahead of me in the Midwest. I am anxiously waiting to see what Naya has in store for their Fall/Winter collection!

And lastly, I'll leave you with this quick video I found on their website. I really, really, want those white floral heels! My self control really needs to kick in before I do some major damage to my bank account.

Wren

This always happens. I fall in love with fall lookbooks in the summer and all I can think about are future fall outfits. Never satisfied with the now. Always looking forward for what's to come.


{Wren Fall Lookbook via Refinery 29}

Mental wishlist: The perfect cape, the perfect easy breezy trousers, a detachable bowtie, small heels to wear with small socks, leopard, and sequins. I want it all.

Miss July

Have you ever had one of those moments where you randomly think of someone in your head, google news search them, and find out they've actually been doing some awesome things lately? Well that just happened to me with Miranda July! If you're not familiar with Miss July, you're 1. living under a rock! and 2. about to get schooled. She's a director. A writer. A-dorable (I went there). And an artist.

Right now she has an installation piece called "Eleven Heavy Things" in New York City's Union Square. It was originally created for the 53rd International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale, but she brought it this summer to the states. In typical July style, she creates a simple base for her extraordinary, yet ordinary thoughts and ideas. Some of the sculptures, though they have no text, allow the viewer (and performer, in some cases I'd assume) to have the opportunity of creating their own text through visual movement, expressions, and what have you. I hope I can make it to NYC before October 3, 2010, when the installation comes to a close. I'd love nothing more than to play around in an unfamiliar place all while eating Miranda July's brain for a day. Yeah. I'm a creep.


{Photo Credit: Art Info, and Flavor Wire}

And a quote,
"Look at the sky: that is for you. Look at each person's face as you pass on the street: those faces are for you. And the street itself, and the ground under the street, and the ball of fire underneath the ground: all these things are for you. They are as much for you as they are for other people. Remember this when you wake up in the morning and think you have nothing."
— Miranda July (No One Belongs Here More Than You)

Short & Sweet

I always aspire to wear a lot of different styles, but this is the kind of thing I end up wearing the most and it's the style I feel the most confident in. It's cutesy, girly, comfortable, and always vintage inspired.


Clockwise from left:
New Look Dotty Bird Dress
New Look tank top
Dorothy Perkins Floral Culottes
F21 Sailor Dress
Anthropologie Sunglasses
Urban Outfitters Kelsi Dagger Covered Heel Sandal
New Look Leather Sandal
ASOS Canvas Satchel
Madewell Sheer Cardigan

Get it, girl.

First off, I had an interview with the lovely Nay of Fashion in Pictures for her blog, which you can read here. Thanks for featuring me Nay!

{NOTE: If I had a working camera, I'd be all over the outfit posts from the weekend, but until then, I'll just talk music if you don't mind.}

This past weekend was the Do-Division street festival. I always love summers in Chicago because there are so many great things to do for free. I was so excited to see Warpaint live, and they did not disappoint. There's actually been a lot of buzz this year about Warpaint. Shannyn Sossamon used to be their drummer and her sister is still currently in the band. Needless to say, these ladies have the LA connections to get the media attention they've been receiving. But they deserve it! I didn't hear about them until my friend's ex-roommate posted their music video "Elephants" on her Facebook page. It's a pretty rad song. If you haven't heard it, definitely take a minute to listen!


Photo Credit: JenWhy on Flickr



Yesterday was the first free Downtown Music Monday concert in Millenium Park that I've been to this summer. She & Him were the headliners and I admit, I wasn't super impressed with their music before, but after hearing Zooey's voice live, I am no longer skeptical of her talent. She is incredible live! I left before their encore in an effort to beat the INSANE crowd that surrounded us, but I still got a chance to witness the genius-ness of She & Him's cover of I Put a Spell on You. You have to listen to this song. I can assure you, it's beautifully haunting and all kinds of wonderful.


Photo Credit: SFMoe on Flickr

Me and my magpie.

Dress: Buffalo Exchange
Necklace: Talonalia
Boots, Scarf: Thrift

First of all - I'd like to apologize for the banner photo and its less than stellar quality. Something happened with my camera and it toppled over in the middle of snapping pictures and now it barely turns on. I literally had to take this photo with my camera phone and tweak it in Photoshop! Anyway - It's just a little banner I made from Anthropologie textile swatches that I received in the mail a couple years ago. I wore this outfit the day I made the banner. The dress is usually something I'd wear with full length leggings but I opted for cycle shorts from Faith 21 instead (though you can't tell in the photo).

The magpie necklace is definitely one of my favorites from Talonalia. Obviously, it's a Pamela Love knockoff, but for $40, I can deal! I'm sorry I didn't get a detailed shot of it - there are more photos on their website along with other fabulous necklaces in several price ranges. The headscarf was something I wanted to play with, but I think it ended up looking more like Monique in Precious and less like one of those cute girls at Coachella. Haha, well, at least I can say that I tried!

Cool and casual

Cardigan: Target
Dress: F21
Bag: Thomas Paul, from Fred Flare
Necklace: Free People (gift)
Sunglasses: Buffalo Exchange
Ring, Shoes: Thrift

I wore this to pick up a few things at the the grocery store the day before Memorial Day. I try to not use plastic bags whenever I can, so I decided to use my Thomas Paul tote instead of one of my everyday bags. I try not to be that girl that uses a shoulder bag and a tote, but sometimes you can't help it!

I recently bought this dress and I love how simple and perfect it is! Every girl needs a go-to summer dress and this is definitely going to be mine this year. It's easy to wear, fits perfectly, and the colors are everything I love. What is your go-to item for the summer?