Christmas morning

My Christmas consisted of croissants, orange juice, presents, cookies, tamales, Silver Lining Playbook, and happiness. I've saved this sweater since November especially for Christmas Day, for I couldn't put it on without thinking about how perfectly it fit the holiday. I picked it up at the Rose Bowl Swap Meet, and my only concern is that wearing the shoulders against bare skin is uncomfortably itchy. A simple and always helpful t-shirt fixed that problem. Obviously the best part of this sweater is the neckline. I've grown to adore neck pieces, meaning not exactly collars, but the more extravagant doily-like materials. Not only is the detailing gorgeous, but it highlights the neck and draws people to the face, not to mention how adorably vintage the style is. I later paired this with my forest green sweater and looked ultra-Christmasy. By the way, Silver Lining Playbook was a perfect movie.

Sweater from the Rose Bowl Swap Meet

thrifter

hat from Nasty Gal, thrifted sweater from Iguana's, UNIF shirt, thrifted dress from Wasteland, socks from Urban Outfitters, Elizabeth and James shoes from DSW, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag

I often find myself mixing and matching the same basic pieces over and over again. I wear this sweater basically every other day, and although this hat is brand new, I've already worn it two days in a row since it arrived in the mail. I absolutely have a problem. I also believe variation comes with age as we accumulate more and more clothes. Yet when styles change we stop wearing pieces as well, and end up getting new staple pieces we wear over and over again. This outfit was spent on a very worthwhile day.  My best friend Allie Scott and I did our annual Christmas gift exchange, along with a celebratory outing for my own birthday, which is today, the 23rd. We went to American Apparel and Urban Outfitters and what not on Ventura Blvd and then made a quick stop at Salvation Army, which is practically my second home. I adore thrifting. It's a possible addiction. Anyway, I enjoyed this outfit because I actually wore heals with it, and it was simple but made the eye on my shirt truly pop. This shirt is really fantastic, and thank goodness for fashion festivals with sales. I love UNIF and wish I could afford more than two shirts from them. Just a heads up, I'll probably dedicate a whole post to the hat I'm wearing in the pictures above, for it's literally my new favorite possession. Hope you noticed the full Salvation Army bag I'm holding behind me!

Photos by Allie Scott

cloud kid

dress from Runway Bandits, bracelet from Disneyland

Yes, I'm weather challenged. Or season challenged. Today, although still cold, was sunny and I somehow found it appropriate to wear this dress. I ordered this dress online from Runway Bandits and was utterly pleased when it came in the mail.....except I don't think it was made for 5'9" almost-16-year-olds. It's much shorter than I'd prefer, but I don't mind considering how fantastic the cloud pattern is. I feel like a fairy or something, not to mention how extremely comfortable it is. My boyfriend photographed this around the little playhouse in my backyard, my favorite spot until I grew taller than the doorframe. Now we use it for storage, but it still reminds me of a fairytale.  

Photos by Timothy Toda

the last day of school

Thrifted sweater and shorts, Dr. Marten boots, kimono laces from a Japanese Garden in Portland, Mom's socks and tights, gifted necklace from parents

The sweaters have come out of hiding, finally. I definitely have too many, and continue to buy more in every thrift store and swap meet I visit, but they're my favorite piece of clothing. This particular sweater looks a lot warmer than it actually is, which is slightly a bummer but makes it great for multiple seasons. I mixed a couple seasons within this outfit, for a sweater combined with shorts isn't particularly cohesive. I used to be completely against the shorts-with-tights but it's grown on me. I no longer put away this summer essential, but instead pair my shorts with a simple colored pair of tights to highlight the color or pattern of the shorts. These purple beauties are some of my favorites. They fit well around the waist but are enormous in the thighs, which highlights the waist and makes my legs look skinnier, especially when I wear them in the summer. With my staple boots, I was overall happy with my last day of school garb. 

Photos by Timothy Toda

schoolday

 skirt from American Apparel, vintage shirt and sweater, Dr. Marten boots with my personal kimono laces, random tights 

I thought it would be appropriate to center these first few photos around school, considering my life practically revolves around my time there. It was basically empty by 5 pm, making the hallway an almost peaceful photo opportunity. I wore this exact outfit to school yesterday. I tried to fuse a few styles into this single syncretic one, with a youthful bright pink skirt, a more elegant aged top, a grungier sweater, tights with the slightest tear, and clunky badass boots. I was pleased with the outcome, especially how the gorgeous lace shoulder piece of the shirt was highlighted over the darker sweater. I dug that little white baby out of my closet and surprised myself, considering how it's probably been months since I've worn it. If you're going to mix styles, go all out. Use many different ones and little touches to put them together, or make two different styles very prominent so that their clash creates something completely obscure. Only later did I realize that this shirt was almost western cowgirl.

First five photos by Timothy Toda