Arnie and Sly.

Yesterday I traipsed off to the mall endeavoring to spend up my Anthropologie gift card.  However, I didn't buy anything because they didn't have these spectacdicluous shoes in the store. 

 Everything thrifted except jeans:  NY&Co.  and Tank underneath:  Urban Outfitters.  See my keeton?

Resignedly, I poked through some other stores.  Now, as you may or may not know, I live in Columbus, Ohio.  This weekend was the weekend we all wait on with baited breath; The Arnold Classic.  For a week, our bars, hotels and streets are flooded with guys and gals who could crush our heads--but won't-- wearing TapouT t-shirts and Diesel jeans, inspiring reactions from subtle amusement to outright awe.  Arnold Schwartzenegger presides over this motley crew and he comes to our burg to judge the competitions.

Well, as I was considering big earrings vs. gargantuan earrings at Aldo, the girl behind the register says to the girl on the floor-- "Ohmigod, what?  What? I have to see this!"  The girl on the floor says, "He's out in the hall!  He's coming!"  I say, "What-- who?" The girl behind the register says to the long line of customers, "I'm sorry.  I have to do this."  She runs out of the store and I soon see why-- here comes Arnold Schwartzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, ringed by cops, enjoying ice cream cones.  It might be worth it to note here that both men eat ice cream using their lower lips as scoops.  The girl who ran out screams, "Arnold!  Arnold I love you!!!"  He looks over, smiles, waves and she dissolves into consonants and syllables, nothing more. "Guh-guh-bu-spluh."  A huge wave of people followed them obediently, as if they expected them to turn those ice creams into wine.  I couldn't help but feel some glee, myself, but I forgot my phone, and you know if you don't Tweet it, it doesn't count.  Ah well.

One thing I am making count is these tasty Eddie Bauer oxfords I thrifted the other day.  The only other things in the mall that people were a bigger fan of were Arnie and Sly.  These shoes are one of those magical things, besides pizza and money that appeals to all ages, races and creeds.  I was stopped by a Forever 21-shopping cougar, a black teenaged boy, the Pakistani guy who runs the news-stand, and a girl that looked like the heir to the Urban Outfitters fortune to ask me about them.  So I'll tell you.  $1.99.

Guh-guh-bu-spluh,

Elissa.

Sketchy

I felt moved, on my way back from work, to scribble up a "Love x Machine Guns" tee-shirt. Click to enlarge.

I learned a lesson today-- I have two overhead projectors in the back of my car.  My Sweets and I won them at an auction for $4 apiece, and we have a plan to use them to project a sweet stencil onto the wall to trace.  Well, today, I parked my car in a nice, sunny lot and went to the bank.  I came back to my car and threw the literature they'd given me in the back seat, on top of one of the projectors.  Then I pounced off to the grocery to pick up some lint rollers, because I'm wearing a lot of black lately, and my cat is white... and sheds like she's got a deadline.

I came back to my car, and saw a guy with a puppy.  I thought, "Man-- I can't wait til it's summer. --sniff, sniff-- wow, somebody's roasting marshmallows or something, it smells delicious out here! --in here!!!"  I suddenly became aware that my car was completely filled with smoke.  I took a panicked inventory and saw a tasty little fire brewing in my backseat.  My first thought was that someone had broken into my car and started a fire in there, but no, my own laziness, an overhead projector and some solar serendipity worked together to create a little ambience in the back of my ride.

I grabbed the papers and threw them outside into a puddle, but geez-- if I'd spent more time in the magazine section contemplating Mariska Hargitay's supposed bikini fails then I might be looking up bus routes now.

Projectors.  Who knew?

Yours a la flambe,

Elissa.

Love Times Machine Guns.

Yep, nearly the same outfit as yesterday, but I'm running a semi-reality racket here, folks.  And besides, I've improved. Everything thrifted, but the shoes are Miz Mooz.

This week is smacking me up with its busy-ness.  Not least of which, I've contracted to write 4 papers for someone on varied classic movies and it's not as much of a cake walk as I imagined.  Because I'm a flippant child of the present day, I find watching the classics to be arduous work.  I'll never get my eyeful of great old, Hollywood costumes; nor will I ever tire of repeating lines back to the screen in a transcontinental accent.  But the conversations themselves are pretty much un-followable.  So... winding, and... innuendo-ed.  My understanding of most scenes is pretty much suspended until someone gets slapped or chloroformed.  He bad.  She good.  Me like hat.

So it came as a pleasure to me to overhear the following short conversation today between two, energetic young men:

Fred:  I still haven't seen Where The Wild Things Are. 

Harry:  Eh, it's alright.

Fred:  Do you think I would like it?

Harry:  I dunno, are you a hipster?

Fred:  Well, sure, I guess.

Harry:  Then you would probably love it "times machine guns".

I nearly convulsed with laughter.  It's so... ironic, expressive, timely!  Love times machine guns.  Well, classic movies may not be exactly my thing, but as long as I'm invested as I am in finishing this project of mine, I might just learn to like them...times tommy guns.

Yours,

Elissa.

Urge to thaw rising... risingggg!!!

 

Ahh.... It's a beautiful sight to see, isn't it?  Thaw... spring's baby bump.  Ha!  Today I did some very revelatory thinking early in the morning, so it set me up right for the rest of the day. 

I'm 100% Thrifted today, baby.  Except for the tights.  I don't do the thrifted tights.  I did once thrift an unopened package of 80's L'eggs and they literally disintegrated as I wore them, that and the waistband was so aged that it felt like I was wearing the ring from a jug of milk. 

I was able for the first time to whip out the trench coat I thrifted in San Francisco--- I gotta imagine that would be the best place to go for cast-off trenches, right?  Speaking of cast-offs, I descended on one of my local thrifts today and it was definitely the right decision. Nautical cardigans, a khaki bell skirt a la this J. Crew one that I've been lusting after, a pair of suede Hush Puppies and a hilarious Simpsons tee-shirt featuring Mr. Sparkle!

 

And oh yes!  The clogs!  I thrifted these last summer, prescient thing that I am, and much as I love clogs, I'm finding these rather difficult to style but I think it has to do with my distinct lack of leg.  It doesn't matter.  They're silver, and rhinestone-encrusted, and Michael Kors, betch, so I'll keep practicing til something fashionylicious develops.

Til later,

Elissa.

The new bohemians.

Bohemian, yes.  Boho, eff to the no.  If it features embroidery, gauze, tie-dye, gigantic sunglasses or even the faintest whiff of California, I'm out.  But if you can manage to project a loose cool despite, I am absolutely in.  Here, a round-up of a few things that make me want to take smoking up again.

First up:  Blankets.  Warm on the bed.  Cool on the streets.  I'm sorry I just made a hot/cold reference.  Such is the cliched world of fashion prose.

via Stockholm Streetstyle 

Although the execution is a bit severe for my tastes (my how fickle I am!), it definitely makes me hanker for a blanket from Pendleton Woolen Mills all the more.  Why not just use an attractive blanket as a poncho/cape/wrap?  I'm starting to rethink the fashion value of Bed, Bath and Beyond. 

 

via 5 Inch and Up

This is just too perfect for words, and makes me abrade myself for being such a slave to actual garments.  This is Highland Biker at its pinnacle of chic.

Next up:  Layering in the louchest of ways.  A sub-category of this one, might just be my fanship of Sandra, writer of 5 Inch and Up. It's a relatively new blog, but she is pretty much a genius with blankets and layers and super beautiful to boot.

via 5 Inch and Up

Speaking of "boots", my other recent blog find is India Rose Knows, and this girl can layer like a mo' and the fact that she is merely 17 makes me want to start looking into retirement communities.

via India Rose Knows

Thirdly:  Few can attempt to say her name, but nemrešpobjećodnedjelje's outfits have always been completely original but lately they are knocking my wintry, woolly socks off.  Bonus, her great taste permeates her etsy store as well.  Get some.

 

This "insolent gypsy" ensemble smacks of Nicole Richie, but to my mind-- a bit better, sans iniquity.  I like the glamourously wrapped, unglamourous scarf and gigantic boots.  Legit.

Just woah.  The intersection of severe and organic are too good here.  And the tie-dyed dress tied with what looks to be a piece of cord?  Could it get any better?

The entanglement of scarf and belt are what are doing it for me, here. 

Blankets, tie-dye and sequins, oh my!,

Elissa.

Honey : delish :: honey-inspired jewelry : megawant

 I used to hate honey.  After I learned in school that it was essentially, bee vomit, I refused to eat it.  Since I'm now avoiding sugars and sweeteners, I figure that nature couldn't possibly be wrong and so I've dipped my toe back in the honey-pond, so to say.  Now, I can't get enough.  I put it on yogurt, toast, berries, in tea, and hopefully, soon... around my neck.

Roosevelt Necklace by Stone and Honey 

I love this series of necklaces; each one is organically put together, with each hexagon slightly misshapen.  I'm diggin' the "drippy" look of it. 

Newport News "Cluster" Necklace 

For those who prefer a less dainty approach to jewelry, this bad boy is a delightful metal mix-- always a plus in my book-- and also looks like something you could put together if you went bananas with some hex nuts from Home Depot.

The Harbinger Company Horizontal Honeycomb Necklace via Moxsie

Back to little things, The Harbinger Company actually makes versions of this necklace from tiny-tines here, to full-on bib.  I appreciate the regular, digital rhythm to this piece... the stark geometry of it all takes on a lightness with the abundance of negative space. 

Dixon Necklace by Stone and Honey

Swoon, die.  I'm in love.  Put this in my mailbox and I'll be your paparazzi.

Alanna Bess Raw Amethyst Slice Necklace via Gilt Fuse

This one actually has nothing to do with honeycombs, but after I found the last piece, I got into the agate-zone and couldn't get back out.  But seriously.  Look at this thing.  It's like an agate... dipped in honey.  Mwah. 
 

Til next time, 

Elissa.

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