Dumb blonde

I promised myself I wouldn't do this. Wouldn't do another style post until my hair transformation is complete. BUT... With autumn upon us, creeping in with its chilly little fingers, I realized that I'm running out of time to shoot outfits that require warmer weather. So, here we are. Hair is currently in Phase Three! I'm currently giving it a nice rest from all the processing, but it has not yet reached the look I've been envisioning. I think... I think if I had known from the start how long this would take, I might not have endeavored to try it. But I will press on! Sometimes I wonder to myself why I decided to do this. It's absolutely ludicrous, the trouble I'm putting myself through for the sake of my appearance. I don't know. Is there a reason? Should I bother trying to justify the marvelous misadventures of my youth?

Honestly, my head hurts trying to understand myself sometimes! But, gosh darn it, I'm having a lot of fun. I hope you are, too. Such is life.

Also, I want to shout out to my lady Ilse, who has been so patient and wonderful in helping me achieve my hair vision. This could not happen without her!

Wow. Ultimate brain fart. I have no idea what I'm wearing. My brain is conjuring the words "smock" and "hammock" (what the?). Um, if anyone would care to help my idiot self figure out what word I'm looking for, it would be much obliged. I blame the hair. Either way, that thing enveloping my torso is a gift from Christina!
Shoes- Hunt Club, thrifted
Bag- Dooney and Burke, seriously awesome thrifted gift from my mother-in-law, who is my kindred thrifting spirit

A few of my favorite things... collide!

Nothing beats the exhilarating feeling of worlds colliding. For some, it's new friends and old. For others, it's cake and lollipops. 

For me, it's the mighty pen and a stunning gown by Anthropologie.
I stumbled upon this wonderful short narrative piece by a blogger, JLgerhardt, and I couldn't resist sharing it!

"Why I'm Not Allowed to Daydream in the Dressing Room"

I’m at Anthropologie and I’ve already broken two of my cardinal shopping rules:

1. Do not go into Anthropologie.
2. Do not touch the merchandise.

Fingering the hem of a jewel-toned shift in raw silk, I break a third.


    3. Do not daydream about wearing the clothes.

Here I go…


When I wear this dress people will see me differently. I’ll step out of the background like an actress stepping into a lone spotlight. I will be respectable and mature but still fun and unconventional. I’ll look like I’ve just come back from a trip around the world, like I, only minutes ago, left a so-cool-you-don’t-know-it’s-name gallery, like I have class or, at the very least, style.

I may as well take it to the dressing room. There, looking at myself in the mirror wearing someone else’s clothes, I can step outside my stay-at-home-mom, covered-in-snot reality. I can be someone new.

I forget, conveniently, that the dress is dry clean only, that I’ll wear it once (to a pizza buffet, not an uptown soiree) and then throw it in a pile of clothes awaiting the day when I have enough extra cash to take it to the cleaners.

This dress will not change my life. It won’t fit my life either. It will make me painfully aware of the life I wish I were living. It will mock me from the dirty clothes pile. It will make me wish I had better shoes to wear with it, a more flattering hair color, daintier earrings.


Whatever it is I expect from this dress, I can be assured it will not provide.


But here in the store, holding it close to my chest, smelling that perfectly new smell, all I can imagine is a new me, a better me. In this dress.

I love it. I love the artistic vision behind the clothes we wear, the clothes that have yet to even come into existence because they are being conceived in the mind of a renowned designer at her drawing board in NYC or the Academy of Art student in his sketchbook. I love the potential for clothing to speak through us and transform us into someone new. Or even to reveal a part of ourselves we didn't realize we could be. The beauty of clothing? It is universal. Everyone is an artist in this way, even if you don't carry a paintbrush or hold a camera.

Her piece also got my brain buzzing about Anthropologie's fall catalog...

Hellooooo boots. Hello prints and colors like the changing trees and sunsets. Hello socks and scarves and full skirts. Hello mustard yellow <3!

A tip of my hat to creative writing, fashion, and fall in their beautiful marriage!
Gabrielle

P.S. My hair is currently in Phase Two! This is quite the process, let me tell you. But it will be worth it, I just know it!

Hair adventures!

Happy Saturday!

For some reason I have been waking up much earlier than I'd prefer to (especially after I've had a late night!). It's 8:24. What to do? Write a blog post, alright!

Anywho, I'm not going to be putting up any outfit photos for a while, at least a week or so, due to some drastic, experimental changes my hair is going through. I won't say what, although I'm sure those of you who bump into me throughout the week will have a pretty good idea. Also, I apologize in advance if you do, I'm currently in Phase One and it's a bit of a frightening sight. The ideal would have been to do it all in one go, but you can't rush this kind of thing. The poor mop needs time to rest!

If you're really curious, Lady Gaga alludes to what I'm doing on a certain song on her album, The Fame Monster!

Wish me luck as it all turns out!

Red drums

Skirt, belt, bag: thrifted vintage
Top: old Old Navy
Earrings: gift from my mother-in-law
Shoes: gift from Christina

Jumping right back in to vintage fashion again, my friends! Had some trouble modeling for this one thanks to a combination of wardrobe malfunctions and the wind. Hopefully that explains my closed-eyed, smiling shenanigans. I'm especially drawn to southwestern prints. So geometric! Geometry is probably the only type of math I have ever felt any kind of affinity for. Also! Gare was my photographer today! Didn't he do a swell job? Now I can be one of those fashion bloggers whose husbands does their photography. No more tripods and timers for me, wahoo!

I think I may be overdue for another trip to the thrift store. (Psst, want to come sift through orphaned clothes and granny shoes with me? Open invitation!) I really really really want to find some maxi skirts to play with for fall. Fall is right around the corner, you know! And it sure won't last long here before the snow rears its icy head.

On a more important, non-fashion related note, I literally just caught word about a horrifying plane crash at the Reno Air Races. As if this town hasn't had enough tragedy lately! My prayers go out to the victims and their families <3 :(

Geranium kisses

Wow. Hi, hello, blogging world! This has been quite the vacation, let me tell you.
Before I start shpieling about what's new, I first have to share this amazing surprise I discovered upon logging into Blogger for the first time in a few weeks:

Well, hot dog, that's ILSE! That's the very photoshoot we did back in May! As it turns out, a lovely lady, Natza, has featured my blog as one of her fashion influences on Polyvore! What an honor, my mind is just blown. Thank you, Natza!

Anyway, last we left off, I was about to get married! And now...

I am officially a Mrs!!! I think I have been subconsciously putting off this post because I am afraid I don't have the right words to do my feelings justice. The wedding was... it was just more than I had ever imagined it would be. All of the elements came together so wonderfully. The lace runners and fabric flowers, the yarn chandeliers, the bunting with our names, the perfect weather, the great food, the music, all our friends and family in one place at one time. (I promise I will make a special post with more photos, just as soon as we get the CD with all of the pictures.) It's so difficult to describe decently because it all happened so quickly, as for some reason weddings do when you're the one in the dress! I just remember feeling like I was an astral projection floating above my body the entire time, looking at everything going on around me as if I were dreaming. I cried, I laughed, I nearly starved to death before Gare and I were finally able to sit down and have a plate of food. All of a sudden the night was over and all I wanted was to keep repeating it over and over and over.

The very next morning, we were off on our honeymoon, to spend a whole week exploring in both Seaside and Portland, Oregon. More on that later!

And now, I am back in college, starting the year fresh. Except this time, I've taken up residence with a certain special man of mine ;) Living with my husband is somehow so natural to me. We have spent more consecutive waking (and sleeping!) hours together the past couple weeks than we ever have over the course of our three and a half year relationship, but it feels like we've always been this way.

It does seem a bit strange when I think about this life course I have chosen, especially in a world that doesn't have much support for it. In fact, it just recently hit me that I am one of the first in my graduating class to get married. People have asked me, how am I ready to make such a decision right now? To devote my entire life to someone so early? You might not be too surprised when you see that we're Christians. And young marriage is, honestly, something that Christian culture is known for. But the underlying reason behind why I feel like I can be able to unconditionally love and commit myself to someone like this is because Jesus has done exactly that for me (when I didn't even do anything to deserve it, what the heck?! haha). This marriage will take serious sweat and blood, and it won't be perfect. But what is life without taking some risks for what you care about? :)

So, that's the story. We're married. And excited. And grateful. And we love everyone in our lives so, so much. But enough about my life, I can't even WAIT to get back into vintage fashion! Stay tuned :)

All of my days

I could really use some help thinking of a title for this ensemble! There are a lot of descriptive words swimming around in my head, although I'm not sure many of them are suitable. Like, grungy beachy 80s Minnie Mouse love affair. My grandma says, Daisy Mae, but I don't think I'd flatter myself that much, haha.

My lesson learned today is how difficult high-waisted jean shorts are to photograph. Because I know how much you like lots of information, every other photo so sensitively highlighted my camel toe. (See me pulling down my shorts so inconspicuously in the first shot?) Can never be too careful, I tell yah. You should see my outtakes.

Today I went to the town rummage sale! It's the one everyone looks forward to all year, held by one of the ten thousand churches on church street. Met up with Christina, which is always a treat! There might be another Spoils of War post in the near future, but don't quote me on that. I still have a wedding to pull together.

Speaking of the wedding, EIGHT MORE DAYS!!!

Speaking of caps lock, I GOT THE JOB!!! You're looking at a new part-time associate at Apple Retail! I seriously cannot describe what a glorious feeling this is. Didn't think I would make it, I really didn't. Though if this isn't an unofficial initiation into hipsterdom, I'm not sure what is. It's worth it, though :) Can't wait to start next month!

Top, shoes, shorts, bag all thrifted/rummaged.

Have a beautiful Friday :)
Gabi

Artwalk 2011!

Art and music and culture and super cute local business in Reno? Believe it.

 Had a jolly good time with the girls of my bible study!

 A strawberry curiously resembling a non-organ of our body

Look at this adorable accordionist!

 Silks at Living Stones

My fondness for geometry

 The Hub!

 Spooky exhibits at The Holland Project

 He likes it.

Does anyone know the name of this band? Liked them a whole lot!

No fashion show is complete without the cookie monster.

Androgyny bravery

Thought I would pay an homage to Miss Victoria! Her stockings, brimmed hats, and button-up collared shirts make me swoon! The only thing that makes this outfit slightly unwearable is the tendency for these stockings to ride down, down, down my leg no matter how tight I pull them. But hey, they make for a decent photo, right?

Update about the job: did get a call yesterday. (By the way, thank you so much for all the support!) However, it's still inconclusive as to whether I got it. I get to go in next Wednesday for a nice chat with a manager. About what? I'm not entirely sure! Oh, when will the saga end?!

Can't wait for tonight! The big Artwalk downtown is tonight and I'm bringing Camille! With any luck, I will have some photos to put up tomorrow.

Shorts: cutoffs from old jeans
Hat, shirt, bag, shoes: thrifted vintaee
Stockings: cutoffs from old tights

Hope everyone is enjoying this blistering hot day! (Or cold day, depending on your geographic location)
Gabi

Gonna do a voodoo dance until you feel my power now

Hello hello hello!

I think this has to be one of my favorite outfits to date! Picked up this little number at the thrift store the other day; the vest, that is. Although I suspect it may also double as a dress should I button it in the front. Get a load of that print! Shrunken heads, tiki masks, and monkey's paw, oh my!

Also thought I would have a go at the high bun now that my hair is beginning to show some considerable length! I am so happy to be growing my hair out again. So many possibilities with longer hair!

Well, today is the day I'll be finding out whether I got the job I've been after for the last month and a half! The suspense, the suspense! I've invested so much into this that if I don't get it, it'll probably feel similar to a very nasty break-up or being rejected from the university of my dreams. Ah well. The Big Man has a plan!

Shoes, vest, bag: thrifted
Shorts: thrifted Bill Blass
Shirt: yard sale F21
Shades: Plato's Closet

Have a very lovely afternoon! <3
Gabi

A little bit magical

Before you say anything, let me first say this: I am not ashamed!

All of my life I have had a funny relationship with Harry Potter.

I remember the exact airplane trip when I was 5-6 that my dad started reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to me. I was hooked. Every book release was like discovering a delicious new flavor of ice cream. I had a Harry Potter bedspread, two journals, figurines of all the characters, a signed photograph of Daniel Radcliffe, a candy potion maker, a Sorting Hat pillow with attached house crests in its mouth, a Hedwig plushie, and a wand. When I was 11, I waited for my Hogwarts letter. That was the same year I accidentally hit my head on the edge of my dresser and obsessed over what appeared to me to be a scar-shaped scratch on my forehead. Began to draft a letter to J.K. Rowling about this tremendous coincidence. Changed my mind. Then I hit book five, right in the midst of an age where assigned readings in school made reading for pleasure not so pleasurable anymore. Also, I was annoyed with Harry for being such an angsty, whiny little fifteen year old. So, I stopped following the books and was content with just watching the movies.

As you know, last week was the release of the final movie. Kena (loyal to the end, she was!) and I decided we had to go all out. We dressed up, she as a Hufflepuff student and me as Moaning Myrtle. We baked Pumpkin Pasties from a recipe in her Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook. The premiere was a blast! When those end credits rolled, I knew it wasn't over. I mean, the series was over (and our childhood) and everything, but I still have a job to do. I have to finish those books.

What kind of friend would I be if I deserted Harry just because I thought he was being obnoxious! It's not like his parents died or had powerful dark wizards out to kill him or anything...

So, that's my current mission. Reading the entire series, beginning to end. Right now I'm on book three! What an incredible story. I loved the movies and everything, but I can't wait to truly finish the adventure that I started so many years ago.

If Moaning Myrtle had a Facebook... haha! She'd be really attached to her toilet.

I hope you like my costume! It was entirely thrifted except for my stockings, which I found in Walmart. My Ravenclaw tie was DIY, just used a normal blue tie and a silver sharpie.

/geek out