Getting Matchy

This vest is the one I was trying on when Katy Sagal told me how great it looked on me. I think she was right; it fits me like a glove and is perfect for my style. It doesn't get a ton of use, but I always really enjoy wearing it. Pairing it with these cropped pants and espadrilles turned out to be a perfect combination. Another Sheriff of Matchy-Matchytown-approved ensemble. What is it about these shoes that makes me get all matchy?


Vest: Steam Trunk
Top: Anthropologie
Pants: Cynthia Steffe
Shoes: DSW brand
Bracelet: Leslie Danzis

Gothic Lolita

I have a soft spot for Gothic Lolita style, partly because I've been to Japan twice, and partly because it's so unique and boundary-pushing. I also love the fact that it combines so many different concepts: fantasy, punk, cosplay, goth, and so on. And though it's not really a look I'd want to try out in its entirety, there are elements of it that I can incorporate into my daily wear, such as this dress. Actually I'd call it more of a jumper, since it really is designed to be worn over a shirt.

I ordered this jumper from Fanplusfriend, a company that specializes in all sorts of fun Gothic Lolita styles, as well as cosplay costumes and a lot of steampunk looks as well. All of the clothing is very reasonably priced, they can custom fit just about any of their items, and there are different options available for fabrics. The fabric I selected for this dress is called "tender fleece," something I hadn't heard of but which turned out to be similar in texture to a cotton twill. It has a nice drape and weight, and resists wrinkling.

Because it was custom fit, the dress did take several weeks to arrive (I'm assuming it was also due to the fact that I placed my order before Halloween, which is likely an extremely busy time for them). But I'm quite happy with how it turned out, and it fits beautifully. Worn over a button-down shirt and belted, it has less of a schoolgirl vibe and to me works perfectly well as a workday outfit. If you're interested in adding some Gothic Lolita or steampunk elements to your wardrobe for not a lot of money, I'd say give Fanplusfriend a try.

Shirt: thrifted
Dress/jumper: Fanplusfriend
Belt: Red Dress Shoppe
Boots: All Black

Edwardian Ball

A couple of weeks ago, Mark and I attended the Edwardian Ball at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. Not having a proper ballgown, I pulled out the next best thing: the skirt I wore as a bridesmaid in my friend Laura's wedding ( a wedding is sort of ball-like, right?). As it turned out, the skirt worked beautifully with this ruffled top by Sequoia and Gita, which doesn't typically get a lot of wear except for parties and going out; it's something even I wouldn't dare to wear at work. In order to give the skirt fullness and length, and also to bring in a little black, I layered the skirt and top over my black tulle-skirted dress, and topped the whole thing off with my brown and black waist cincher corset.

Mark wore some new high-waisted trousers and a button-down shirt that he got from Gentleman's Emporium; we were both impressed with the quality of these items, especially for the price (pssst: they have women's clothes too!). The vest was thrifted and embellished by Mark, and both of our hats were made by me, natch. I also made the hat that I loaned out to our friend Cat, who is in the photo above with Mark. The plume of burgundy feathers looked gorgeous with her full-length vintage gown (which you'll just have to take my word for, because I took these photos with my phone instead of a proper camera, and the flash wasn't strong enough to get any detail).

The ball was really wonderful, with a lot more going on than I expected. Whereas Steamcon was, well, mostly a steampunk convention, the Edwardian Ball was loaded with entertainment, interesting exhibits, and other delights. There were some great musical acts, a trapeze artist, an indoor croquet course and best of all, an absinthe bar! Not only that, but the costumes were simply out of this world; San Francisco is certainly a town that loves to have an outfit for every occasion, and people really lived up to that reputation and put a ton of effort and creativity into their outfits. The whole event was truly a feast for the eyes.

Next year we'll probably be looking to get a vendor table for our shop, because as expected, hats and other accessories were popular items in the vendor hall.

For some delicious eye candy, be sure to check out Neil Girling's blog The Blight for a stunning gallery of Edwardian Ball images.

The indoor croquet course. Note all the hat-adorned heads in the background.

SteamCon

Last weekend Mark and I flew up to Seattle for the SteamCon convention, and also as an excuse to go visit all our Seattle friends. As you can see, Jess attended SteamCon with us, so here we are in all of our steampunk finery. The convention was pretty fun; by far the best part was looking at all the great costumes everyone put together. There was hardly anyone who hadn't put some serious effort into their outfit, and many people went so far as to create elaborate props such as mechanical wings and ray-guns and such. The event took place at the Marriott hotel, so it was very amusing to to sit in the bar and watch the average business traveler enter the lobby and look around in amazement at the sea of Victorian bustle dresses, top hats, and pith helmets. If you'd like to see photos of some of the other attendees, check out the Flickr SteamCon group pool here.

Jess and I both sported Mark's harness designs; I'm wearing the Mistress Lucille, which is a new addition to the shop. Jess is sporting the Russian Princess style, which she also kindly agreed to model for us. The hats were all made by me, of course. Lately I'm having a lot of fun with the mini topper style, and Jess's hat is a new variation I've been working on. Look for more of these mini toppers in the Etsy shop soon.

While I'm at it, I should also mention that a few of my hats are now for sale over at Dark Garden Corsetry! It's quite exciting for me to see my hats displayed alongside their beautiful corsets, and a brick-and-mortar shop is really the ideal way to sell hats. Below are a couple of photos I took the last time I was in the shop. If you live in, or are planning to visit San Francisco, this beautiful shop is definitely worth a look. And finally, speaking of corsets, I picked up a gorgeous brown and black waist cincher corset while I was at SteamCon, which I am totally going to wear to work. 'Cause you know I'm adventurous like that.

Desperate Times

Thanks everyone for the outpouring of support for my recent work woes. I know it's not always feasible to comment, especially if you read a large number of blogs as I do, so I really appreciate your taking the time to stop by with kind words and encouragement. It's times like these that it's especially gratifying to feel a part of such a positive and supportive group. This work episode will pass, and thanks to all my virtual friends in the style blog community, it won't feel like the end of the world.

On to more important topics, such as shoes. As you can see, my selection of wearable shoes is growing, though my toe is still pretty swollen even after several weeks of healing time. I'm not sure I'd have thought of pairing these boots with the ruffled skirt, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and believe me when I say I was pretty damn desperate to get some variety back into my footwear. This new top, with its subtle pink stripes, was the perfect way to introduce the burgundy color to the outfit without the whole thing looking too somber. Burgundy and pink is a combination I've been attracted to recently, and I like the way the two colors work together for a balance of gamine and sophisticated.

The striped socks (they come all the way up to my thighs) are some I've had for quite awhile but haven't worn too often. Striped socks are one of those things that can take an outfit over the top pretty easily, especially in a steampunk-flavored getup such as this one, so I prefer to let just a small bit of them show. They're perfect with this skirt, which lets the socks just barely peek out as I walk or sit cross-legged.

Top: Clockwork Couture
Obi belt: Audra Jean
Skirt: Heathen
Socks: Sock Dreams
Boots: Miz Mooz

Flight Suit

Although I took this entire flight suit with me to Argentina, I never wore it with the shorts attached. The shorts were the one and only item I took with me on the trip and did not wear. I got loads of use out of the jacket and vest incarnations of this piece, and even did at least one quick change from jacket to vest or vice versa, with the sleeves stashed easily in my small travel purse. But for some reason the right moment never came to wear the whole thing, so I made sure to make up for it with this outfit. Plus I was inspired by the recent post of Kasmira's in which she rocked shorts with tights.



I didn't want to take away too much from the steampunk styling of the flight suit, but on the other hand I wanted to make the outfit unique from the other ways I've worn this piece. Therefore I opted to add a little color by choosing the red boots and scarf. The sheer leopard top brought in a pattern mix and added a little contrast.



Amazing five-in-one flight suit: Shawna Hoffman

Top: La Redoute

Boots: Miz Mooz

Scarf: H&M

Dress It Down

Well, you knew it had to happen at some point: I just wasn't going to be content with reserving this gorgeous vest solely for outside of work. It's way too pretty not to get regular use, so I went on a mission to figure out how to dress it down. The last time I posted an outfit with this vest, the comments were about 50/50 in terms of whether people felt it was too dressy for the office or not, so I'm curious to find out how well I did in my readers' opinions.

A suggestion from reader phantasnight was to try wearing the vest over a simple striped jersey dress, which I thought was a great idea. I don't have exactly such a dress, but I thought this navy and white floral was a fine substitute. The simple day dress makes a good casual backdrop for the vest, and with their matching shades of blue, the two almost look as though they were meant to be worn together. I added the scarf in order to bring out the olive green stripes of the vest and add a funky ethnic vibe. Finally, I wore low-heeled, combat-style boots to dress it down another notch.

If the reaction of my coworkers is any indication, I must have done alright, because nobody said a damn thing about the vest all day. So at the very least I've proven that it's not too dressy for my workplace; however, since I could probably show up for work in a tutu and a top hat without getting any sort of reaction, I realize that's not saying much.

Scarf: local import store
Vest: Attila Designs
Dress: Noa Noa
Tights: Foot Traffic
Boots: Doc Martens

Carny

This isn't exactly how I wore this outfit to work; I went hatless during the work day and put the hat on later to meet Laura and her father-in-law for a couple of drinks after work. I felt the hat was a little too showy for the office, but it was great fun for an evening out.

I made this hat several months ago and finished trimming it only last weekend. Sometimes hats have to sit around a little while before they're quite ready to be trimmed; each has its own personality that doesn't always reveal itself right away. The idea of a bowler style for women is something I've been playing with since I first started making hats, and I even have a couple in the shop, but this is the first I've done where I added a hat pin. I also made the hat pin myself; this is a new craft I've taken up recently that I'm having a lot of fun with. I like the way the pin and the feathers give an elegant touch to what is otherwise a casual, daytime men's style. The band is made from a vintage necktie.

This is the first time I've worn this vest and skirt combo, though I bought them together with the intention of wearing them this way. The length of the vest is just right for the high-waisted skirt, and the two of them together certainly have the steampunk aesthetic that I've been drawn to lately. The whole outfit with the hat has sort of a carny vibe, most likely inspired by my recent addiction to the now-defunct HBO series Carnivàle. Mark got me hooked on it and we've spent the last few weeks devouring the entire series via Netflix.

Top: H&M
Vest: Heathen
Skirt: Skin Graft
Shoes: John Fluevog

Floral Over Stripes

Last week I paired a floral pattern with plaid; this time I'm showing you how to pair a floral with stripes. In last week's example, the floral was the simpler of the two patterns, whereas here it's the busier one. In both cases the two patterns have some overlap in the color scheme, but not entirely.

With this combination, the only true color match is the black, but the green and brown shades in the top relate well enough to the olive stripes in the bloomers that the two pieces go together without having to match. They have that great formula of 2 different colors plus the combination of both: here I have brown, green, and brownish-green. Another example of this approach to color is shown here.

I selected this short-sleeved jacket as an intentional contrast to the bloomers. The jacket has a structured, business-like look, while of course the bloomers are irreverent and fun. If I replaced this very suit-like jacket with my cropped leather one, I'd have quite a good steampunk look that could transition right into evening.

Jacket: BCBG Max Azria
Top: Mica
Bloomers: Wild Card
Shoes: John Fluevog

One of a Kind

Today I thought I'd share an outfit from a recent Girls' Night Out with my friend Laura. I've mentioned this vest before, but this is the first time I've worn it. It was made by the amazing Tiina of Attila Designs by custom order. The silky fabric is a deep midnight blue with tiny pinstripes and olive green trim. I'm fairly certain that it will remain one of the few items I own that are strictly for wearing outside of work, but then I guess anything's possible. What do my readers think -- is it possible to dress this beauty down, or is it just too fancy to wear during the day?

The vest has a very clever design, with strategically-placed snaps that allow it to be converted into several different shapes. Bringing both sides straight up bustles it up around the thighs and shortens up the length in the back. Criss-crossing the ends makes the back of the vest even shorter and shifts the volume towards the hips. And then it can be done asymmetrically as well, with one side straight up or crossed over, and the other side down. For this outfit I ended up wearing both sides down because I thought it had the best proportion with the skinny jeans and boots. It also shows off the vest's lovely blue-gray lining, which gave a little contrast against the dark jeans.

Working with Tiina for the custom order was a lot of fun. She changed up some of the detailing from the original Etsy listing so that the vest would truly be one of a kind. One of the things she added was this little picture of the queen at the back of the neck, which I think is adorable. Now, exactly which queen is a mystery to me -- I'll admit I don't know too many of my monarchs by sight.

Vest: Atilla Designs

Shirt: Max Studio

Jeans: Joe's

Boots: Modern Vintage

Investment

This outfit just wasn't complete without my beautiful new jacket, which is making its first appearance on the blog today. The soft buttery leather, the flattering cut, and the amazing detailing make me want to wear it night and day. Surprisingly, though it's quite short the jacket is really warm because of the nice thick lining and extra-long sleeves. It was quite an investment but the craftsmanship and uniqueness make it well worth it.

Brown t-shirt: H&M
Tunic: Porcelyne
Belt: Chico's (thrifted)
Skirt: Noa Noa
Boots: Bata
Jacket: Skin Graft

Made of Stone

Bloomers at work? Of course I'm wearing bloomers at work -- I mean, you knew it had to happen sooner or later, right? What other wacky clothing item could I try, having already sported an apron, a cheerleader top, and 70's pimpin' patchwork boots? What was really left for me to try to surprise my colleagues with? Bloomers, that's what. And true to form, nobody said a damn thing about them except my boss, who merely commented, "Cute outfit!" These people are made of stone, I tell you. Stone.

The bloomers are from my new favorite store, Five and Diamond. And though they do push the boundaries a little, I think I managed to make them look pretty reasonable for the office by pairing them with the button-down shirt and flat shoes. They're a fun alternative to cropped pants, are the perfect weight for summertime, and are super comfy to boot.

Striped shirt: Promod
Black shirt: Max Studio
Waistcoat: Promod
Bloomers: Wild Card
Shoes: Bobbi Brown

Origami

Here's another fabulous item from Attila Design -- this 'origami' skirt. The skirt has two threaded channels that allow the length to be adjusted up or down. I had a great time playing around with it; adjusting the length and turning the skirt this way and that to find just the shape I was going for. The skirt is light enough for summer, but will also look great with my tulle skirts layered underneath when the temperatures drop again.

On a somewhat unrelated note, I recently discovered pettipants (sort of like bloomers) and have found them to be a revelation. Was I the only person on earth who didn't know about these things? They're like a slip except that they're shorts, so they keep skirts from getting caught on your tights and bunching up when you walk (not an issue with this outfit, but frequently a problem for me). I bought some of the silky kind, but I also got a couple of cotton pairs for warmer days when I don't need tights or leggings.

Top: Susina
Velvet vest: vintage 90's dug out of my closet
Skirt: Attila Design
Boots: Mia

Made in Finland

The northern European countries seem to have a few things in common: they consistently rate among the top 10 happiest countries in the world, they have an exceptionally high proportion of strikingly beautiful people, and they contain some of the most incredible fashion and design talent in the world. Living up to her country's high bar, Finnish designer Tiina of Attila Design is certainly no exception.

I contacted Tiina a few weeks ago because I wanted a vest of hers custom made to go with this skirt. But of course while I was poking around in her shop listings I found plenty of other items that caught my eye. Knowing that I still needed more items in the steampunk/neo-Victorian vein that would be wearable at work, I bought this gorgeous little top and a skirt (which you'll see later in the week) as well as the vest.

As for the custom-made vest, it is truly a sight to behold. Done in a midnight blue silk with olive green trim, it looks beautiful with this skirt, as well as loads of other things in my closet. The vest with this skirt is probably too dressy for work, but I think it would also look adorable even with jeans, which I might just be able to pull off for an office ensemble. I'm sure it won't be long before it makes its debut on the blog, either as part of a work outfit or for an after-work outing.

But let's talk about this outfit for now. Normally I don't think high-waisted bottoms look all that great on me, because the waist sits above my smallest section, which is just above my hips. Without any color contrast at the natural waist, my figure ends up looking boyish. But in this outfit, all the ruffles at the shoulders of the top and the hem of the skirt add volume to my upper and lower halves, which counteracts the straightness of my torso. The ruffles of the top are removable, and in the back the ends of the ruffles are free, like little wings. Plus the coral-y pink is such a flattering color, soft and feminine without being garish.

Tiina has loads of other wonderful things in her shop, and she was really sweet and wonderful to work with. It was such a fun experience to get a truly custom-made piece; my only concern is that she may have ruined me for 'ordinary' clothes forever!

Top: Attila Design
Jacket: thrifted
Skirt: Skin Graft
Shoes: Bobbi Blu

Ruffled

Remember how yesterday I said I was lacking ruffles in my wardrobe? Well, I lack them no more. After I decided to steampunk up my wardrobe a little, I also decided that I needed more ruffles in my life, and that I needed to do something about it pronto. So the other night Mark and I checked out an awesome store in the Mission called Five and Diamond; I wanted to buy pretty much everything in the place, but limited myself to just this skirt and a waistcoat. I also custom ordered a truly phenomenal denim jacket, which hopefully will be here in about a month or so.

Selecting this skirt proved to be quite an ordeal. It also comes in black and gray, neither of which the store had in my size. So the choice was to either custom order one of the other colors and wait for it, or to choose the olive green and have it right away. I did my utmost not to let the option of having the skirt right away influence the selection of color, but I have to admit it was tough to be truly objective. However, just as I was on the verge of ordering the gray because I thought it would go with more things, I reminded myself that: (1) I like my outfits to be colorful, (2) black and gray are 'safe' colors, whereas green is a little more unique, and (3) when have I ever had a tough time making things go together?

Waistcoat: Promod
Shirt: J. Crew (thrifted)
Skirt: Skin Graft
Shoes: John Fluevog

Incidentally, thanks everyone for all the compliments on my new haircut. I got my hair bobbed last time but couldn't quite put my finger on why it didn't look as dramatic as Louise Brooks' style. Then I looked at a few other photos of bobs, and noticed that the really striking ones have 2 things in common: they have very heavy bangs (aka fringe), and they seem to divide the face equally into thirds, from the crown of the head to the bottom of the bangs, from the bottom of the bangs to the bottom of the hair, and from the bottom of the hair to the chin. Hmm, I'm sure there's an equation in there somewhere...