i like it raw

wearing Raleigh Davie straight raw stretch jeans, Madewell denim shirt, Soludos shoes, hat from random shop in New Orleans, Reliquary ring

I finally bit the proverbial bullet and invested in a pair of raw denim jeans. You wouldn't believe (okay, you probably would) the degree of nerding out that came along with this important decision. I raked through "Fade Friday" posts on the Rawr Denim blog searching for the perfect pair. I researched the difference between sanforized and un-sanforized denim. I figured out what the fuck 'selvedge' is. And I finally settled on this pair from Raleigh Denim, a company that eschews mass production in favor of traditional construction methods using local materials.

If I can refrain from washing them the first 6 months, I'll end up with a fade pattern that's like a fingerprint--completely unique based on points of stress where the dye fades more quickly. Stay tuned for this exciting transformation! Or for my hilarious attempts to clean them by putting them in the freezer. Either way, it's bound to be a good time.

halloween ideas pt. 1

Since it's been two years (!!) since my last shameless drag queen opportunity, I'm wanting to do it up hard this year. The only question is, as what? Or whom?

For one, I'm toying with the idea of transforming myself into the rare, exquisite 80s icon Brenda Dickson. Brenda played Jill Foster Abbott on The Young and the Restless from 1973-1980, and most famously made an ill advised foray into lifestyle and fashion advice with a vanity film called Welcome to My Home, which of course gave rise to one of the most glorious internet memes ever, along with the phrase that pays: "Remember, when you eat you're just a vacuum with nipples."

Lee press-on nails, big hair, magenta eye contouring, and a loud-ass hawaiian print muumuu should do the trick.

instant life

1. Summer ice cream in a favorite ASOS dress, Terry de Havilland wedges, and H&M necklace
2. In the woods in Pelican Lake, Minnesota
3. New thrift store find from Fargo--only $2!
4. Orange gradient nails from a few weeks ago
5. Messing around with deer antlers in my office

yeah, I guess it's some kind of music festival

Coachella: The music festival where girls with impossibly long femurs convene in a bunch of Wellies and perfectly ripped denim shorts to get photographed for Street Style blogs. I'm pretty sure it exists only to document what Kate Bosworth is wearing every year.

Don't mind me, I'm just sipping haterade because I didn't get to witness the holographic zombie Tupac perform with Snoop Dogg. That must have been a bad moment to be on drugs.

is there a doctor in the house?

wearing vintage coat, Madewell shirt, vintage/UO necklaces, Leif leather pants

A predictably hipster outfit I wore to a friends' birthday a couple of weeks ago. Sometimes you just need a uniform.

I'm hopping down to LA this weekend to see a good friend and visit the Denim Doctor. I've heard GREAT things about the place, so I'm sincerely hoping they can mend my favorite black J Brand jeans. There is nothing quite so depressing as having fabric succumb to expanding flesh.

alamo square

wearing vintage skirt, thrifted jacket, Gap t-shirt, necklace from consignment store, thrifted bag, Swedish Hasbeens for H&M

Enduring blustery winds in Alamo Square for the annual Alamo Square Flea Market. Missed out on an overpriced pair of woven leather loafers when someone swept them up before me but came home with a sweet 70's tie-neck dress and Alpaca sweater along with a couple of super old framed photographs to add to my bathroom collection. I think I could shop at flea markets for the rest of my life and never miss the mall again.

a van down by the river

Went camping this weekend near Colfax, CA at a spot right on the American river. The water is all snow melt from the Sierras, so it's clean as fuck (and pretty cold) but perfect for relaxing with a beer. Inner tubing not recommended unless you want to end up 10 miles downstream. Come to think of it, it's amazing that no one drowned. I think the worst injury I saw was my friend whose legs got mauled by one of the swimming dogs.

Sigh, back to real life.

blue valentine

wearing: Christian Louboutin shoes, AA nylons, Vince pencil skirt, Tiff lace shirt, random silk tank, AA bra, Banana Republic gloves, vintage bag, ASOS leather jacket, and vintage fur collar

We celebrated Valentine's Day a day early to avoid the crowds and the dumb overpriced prix fixe menus. I got my boyfriend "This is NPR", and he got me a new wireless router. And yes, I am aware that we practically belong in a sketch on Portlandia.





Tomorrow I'm off to stay with Kobe while my parents visit my sister in New Orleans. I'm kind of excited to play house somewhere with a stocked kitchen and DVR. It'll almost be like a vacation--except I'll still have to go to work.

it's the most wonderful time of the year

wearing Kryolan aqua color makeup, thrifted skirt and top, Saks Fifth Avenue scarf, earrings made by my sister, DIY tissue paper flowers (Tara is one hell of an Indian warrior princess)

Halloween eve had me navigating public transportation with a bunch of horny costumed Chilean Miners, sneaking into a party via a chain link fence and a parked van, and dancing to godawful hipster techno on a rooftop. If this was any other weekend I would consider it a resounding failure. But it's not. It's Halloween. Stakes is low.

My makeup turned out pretty awesome if I don't say so myself. I had a dry run on Friday at a work costume contest, where I took home the top prize of a new ipod touch, which I desperately needed so, WIN.

Also, my friends were Two A-holes from SNL and in character all night. It was awesome.

the ghost who walks

wearing Gap sweater, aa t-shirt, infiniti scarf, thrifted leather shorts, unknown thigh highs, made by elves booties

I've removed the picture from my header (that's soooo 2008, y'know?), and now I'm photoshopping (Gimping, actually) pictures of myself into colorful nature photography. I think this blog has officially jumped the shark.

I feel this is an appropriate time to use the Chuck Palahniuk quote: "Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I have ever known."

just dance

Halloween '09 turned out to be a magical adventure that had me stalking the streets of the Mission in a thong, getting lost in an apartment building that may or may not have once been a hospital, and doing coke off of a stripper's ass. Ok, one of those things may not entirely be true. Take your pick.

My only regret is that I went to a hipster party dressed as Gaga. If I'd really wanted to fit in I should have been Max from Where the Wild Things Are. Wardell went as a scary zombie creature, and Tracey transformed herself into Peggy Olson, thanks entirely to clothing I wear on an everyday, non-costumed basis. I don't know whether to be proud of or worried about this fact.

My favorite moment of the night: when Tracey told a guy dressed as Don Draper that she'd "see him on Monday morning." Close second: stuffing my face with a burrito after a week-long hiatus from carbs, sugar, salt, and anything remotely delicious. I can't wait to dive headfirst back into my 3-croissant-a-day habit.

For your entertainment: Eric Cartman's version of "Poker Face." I think he does it better than Lady CaCa.

his n hers

All looks, Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Fall 2009

I often find myself digging into my boyfriend's closet for perfectly worn-in tees and slouchy cardigans. I know I'm not alone. How much sweeter would it be to reach into his closet one day and find all the perfectly androgynous looks above? Honey, are you listening?

LOL at the fact that the models above even kind of look like us. Does this mean it's meant to be??