hippie for bunnychristmas

Christmas was pretty slim pickings this year (though lovely all the same), so I'm not overburdened with things to show. I had a bit of luck with antique shopping when I was up north visiting my family, before Washington kindly ushered me out with a little sleet storm. LA welcomed me back with wind strong enough to knock the power out for a minute last night, which was unsettling. It was cold today, but I wore this outfit without a jacket, because I'm a rebel that way.


Victorian top from an antique shop, nineties Anna Sui skirt, Doc Martens, antique scarf.







The top is kind of insane - you can see in the second picture that it's not really a proper top at all, as there are no real sides to it, just small bands at the waist. I've been on the lookout for a top like this, or rather just another Victorian or Edwardian top that would strike me like this one, and this definitely did. The fluttery sleeves are so pretty, and I like the mystery of exactly what the hell it is that's embroidered on the front - a flower? A bug?? It looks kind of like a bug!

After a week of jeans and sweaters in the great rainy north I had to go for a skirt, and this fluffy ruffly swishy floral party was the answer. On the way out of the grocery store an older lady complimented my boots and said, "You dress very unique," which is, when I put an effort into it, generally what I'm going for. So hey, success!

And finally, last week's rainbow seen from the Burbank airport, where many people, myself included, stopped to coo over how pretty it was:

the pink and the black?

I've been relentlessly hounding eBay lately, indulging my winter-born predilection for velvet as well as my obsession with 1920s-40s fashion, and naturally this quest and my inherent (excessive?) sense of drama led me to Capetown. One might even say I got lost there, as I've got another one coming, if FedEx ever stops dragging its ass and gets it to me (I don't want to assault your sensibilities, but imagine a lot of italicizing, bolding, and large font there to really properly express my feelings about this indignity).

Anyway, so I got this cape recently, and then found another thing, which combined with still another thing is going to result in the perfect outfit. I'm preparing you now, so when it finally arrives you'll be able to survive it. A friend demanded to see this cape straightaway though, so I gave in and rustled up another look so I could post. Now, there is something about capes that makes me want to take and then post many, many pictures. So I'm going to. Get stoked. (I know, too late! You're already as stoked as humanly possible!)

Credits first, so I can feel better about laying some inane captions on you guys: Alexander McQueen dress, 1930s silk velvet cape from eBay, vintage hat from an antique shop, Christian Louboutin heels. Alright, let's do this:


How do I pose to best show off this garment? Let me consider this, and indicate said consideration with an expression of disinterested ennui.


Let's show everyone the lining!!


More lining! All the lining!!


Time to check the weather. Is is still raining? Oh, it is? Cool. Great. Fantastic. >:(


Me @ this stupid weather.


Am I still wearing shoes? Yes? Whew.


Oh man, in the process of trying not to pose so you can actually see the structure of these insane shoulders, I just noticed there's a door there!!


Holy fuck, I love this door!


Rhinestone clasp, unbearably soft velvet, shiny lips, fuzzy hair, shocking pink, oh man, what more could you ask for from a photo?! Nothing! I know! It's all for you, faithful readers of my blog!

In other news of acquisition, I couldn't resist picking up ADR's fragrance:


Ridiculously delicate "bottle," hopefully less delicate perfume vial.

The literature that came with the package was all like "be careful! it's delicate! it'll break! you will choke to death on the glass shards of Anna Dello Russo's innate glamour!!!!" but I didn't really realize how delicate until I was attempting to open the bottle and actually smell the fragrance (buying perfume on faith and promises of biscotti - god, do I live on the edge) and in the process of doing so, managed to entirely extract the vial itself from the gold shoe. About three quarters of the way through this process, when I realized the sticky bits on the vial were glue, I realized that I probably wasn't supposed to take the vial out. It is, however, problematic that this party was put together so poorly that they couldn't even manage effective glue (not making stuff stick together: glue, you had one job, and you failed at it).

I kept going though, because I'd like to be able to maybe take this perfume with me sometime, and carrying it around in its natural home apparently constructed of spun sugar and fairy wishes seemed unwise. I got it open, anyway, and oh my god, it smells amazing! Happy ending to an otherwise troubling story!

It's very sweet, a true gourmand, which is my very favorite kind of scent, and in fact it reminds me strongly of my favorite libation, which I've raved about to more than one hapless friend: Pisa Italian Liqueur. Said liqueur is a combination of pistachio, hazelnut, and almond liqueurs, which all adds up to a taste kind of like marzipan wrapped around pure, sweet bliss. This fragrance reminds me very strongly of that, and thus I completely adore it.


This was the amount of packaging for a product that can fit in the palm of my hand. I appreciate the thought, Yoox, but I bought this for myself, so spoiler alert: I knew what it was.


BFF! They're practically cuddling; shameless, these two.

I may not post again before Christmas; if that's so, merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it, happy Hanukkah to those of you who celebrate that, happy Chrismukkah to Seth Cohen, happy Kwanzaa to Kwanzaa celebrators, happy Solstice to my Pagan pals, and happy Festivus to the rest of you! (Celebrators of nothing, well, it'll all be over soon?)

there's a place downtown

Things I have been lately:

1. Cranky.
2. More obsessed than usual with the 1920s.
3. Trying to write an article on how to dress for a date on Valentine's Day, an enterprise that leaves me feeling mopey at best and nihilistic at worst.

This perfect storm of emotion led me to this outfit.








1920s dress, eBay. Gloves, Comme des Garcons.

Paired with Docs for a teenage Morticia Addams vibe. Practically everything I've bought lately has been black. I'm either entering a Gothic phase or I need to stop dressing in tune with my mood. Red and pink for Valentine's Day, anyone?

i can't seem to shake this feeling

It's been a stressful last month or so, but Christmas is coming soon, so that should be nice. The shorter days drive me nuts, but it's so nice and sunny and warm here that it's hard to get too bummed out (confession: I still get bummed out. I want ALL the sunshine). Somewhere along the way I picked up a truly knockout cold, and then overdid it on Saturday night, going out instead of staying in, so on top of losing my health and my mind, I've lost my voice. Cool (hoarsely whispered) story, me.

I've been really into this dress lately, I love ivy. All part of my plan to eventually grow pale and fade into the forest.


Dress, Flat Black by Pegleg NYC. Boots, Gap.


Ring, Erica Annenberg.



I love the cut of this dress - it's tighter at the waist, which lets the top blouse out a bit, and nicely accents the skirt's flare. Plus it looks cute under cardigans and with white tights, which I skipped today because it was in the seventies out. Love it.

In praise of the sweet sweet sunshine, here are two shots: the sunset from my bedroom window, and a (zoomed in) view of the Hollywood sign from the top of the steps leading to my apartment.





Hope you're all seeing something just as lovely. ♥