What I Wore: Weekend

Today was errands day, which is not something I think is fun. So to compensate, I made a fun outfit to wear for it, comprised of all my favorite garments. That simple fact made grocery shopping and going to the eye doctor into a fun sunny-afternoon outing instead of a lengthy chore.

- Block Party Panda Tee, from ModCloth.com
The best shirt, ever. It has batwings that are big enough to evoke memories of that favorite cozy oversized tee, but not big enough to look like accidental signal flags. It has an instantly flattering fit for any person. It has a soft, stretchy, but sturdy texture. And the panda on front is absolutely adorable.

- Puddle Jumping Shorts, from ModCloth.com
The best shorts, maybe not ever, but at least that I own. They have cute button detail and classy pleating, not to mention a cozy but not overly sweaty woolly knit. They zip up the side, eliminating pesky extra cloth at the front, and can play either dressy with a nice shirt and heels, or casual with a tee and sneaks. I wear them like I would a skirt, over tights, and never feel overly revealed.

- PB 'n J Tights from ModCloth.com
These are the kind of tights that my supervisor Lacey and I both knew we wanted to own as soon as we opened the receiving package. They are a nice, buoyant thin knit that tuck nicely around my heel, then open to let my foot peek out ... and best of all, they are two-tone, golden yellow on top and dark purple on the bottom. It is like wearing boots or legwarmers without the extra bulk or warmth, perfect for transitioning between cold and warm seasons.
My favorite part about these tights is that they don't slip down, bunch, or shift during the course of my day. I even wore them to sleep as an experiment, and they didn't move at all! I highly recommend these tights to fellow bold, discerning connoisseurs of legwear.

- Penny Lane Loafers from ModCloth.com
I like shoes that give me fancy feet, and these are possibly the fanciest of all. The name isn't just a Beatles pun -- these shoes are shiny copper foil like newly minted pennies. They can be a bit difficult to match (they're best with dark tights or jeans), but when they match, it's dynamite. As a bonus, they are comfortable; I wore them all around Brooklyn two weeks ago, and never once suffered from sore feet. I've found that they can be a bit hot in the warmer weather, but a light pair of socks or tights ought to solve the situation nicely.

- Chasing Feathers Bangle in Cream (shown here in green), from ModCloth.com
Bangles please me because they are chunky and fun to play with, and this one is an exceptionally safe bet. I can play with it all day and never fear of breaking or scratching it. Shown here in green, it has a sweet feather detail that looks almost real.

- The Side Saddle Purse, from ModCloth.com
I used to ride horses, and this handy bag does remind me of a saddle! It is made of soft, vegan faux leather that is supple and water-repellent, and sports a roomy pocket to hold all of my traveling supplies -- even a change of clothing. I'm a utilitarian when it comes to purses, and this one has me pleased: good looking, practical, big enough to carry what I need but not too big to make finding what I need a hassle. If I could squeeze my laptop into it, I would never need another bag, ever.

- Gold and Purple Dangly Earrings from whiteapple on etsy.com
These earrings are in two of my favorite colors, and they handily match the PB 'n J tights, providing a nice contrast to the grey tones of my shirt and shorts.

- Secondhand white aviators, from ebay
These shades were a free gift with a vest I purchased off ebay, and I wear them more than I wear the vest! They're typical hipster sunglasses, with a shape that flatters my jawline ... and lenses large enough to conceal the fact that I wear prescription glasses underneath them.
They also make a cute headband when I put them atop my head for safe keeping, as long as I can remember that I put them there.

And before the sun chased the cold away:
- The Violet Femme Jacket from ModCloth.com
This jacket combines many good things into one: the color purple, great big brassy buttons, an asymmetrical fit, soft and delicious fabric, a super-indie designer label, and a Violent Femmes reference.

My companion on these errands was a boy, and he rocked out (among other garments):

- The Debate Team Blazer, from ModCloth.com
This blazer is classy and cute, and it also fits boys as well as it fits girls! Skinny indie boys ought to look into a size medium, and those who have shoulders could rock a size large. The darted waist adds perfect fit and the pinstripes, to quote, evoke "a pimp in a French circus." (They also add height and automatically create the illusion of good posture.) This jacket is good for riding bikes, going to vegan cafes, or simply looking fly. It earned plenty of compliments both in Bloomfield and East Liberty!

What I Wore Today (II)

Today was Easter, which for me has traditionally meant lounging about and eating food. This is what I wore to help me do that!

- The Mirage Romper, from ModCloth.com
I have not had a romper since I was seven years old and outgrew my footie pajamas, but this one won me over at the warehouse. It is soft, stretchy, comfortable, and cute. I rock it over tights as loungewear, or throw on a belt to take it to the streets. The color goes with almost everything, and it does feel like my favorite old p.j.'s -- but with grown-up style.

- Comfy Sweater Knit Tights in Violet, from ModCloth.com
Some of my perennial favorite tights, soft and warm enough to accomodate a day spent doing nothing. Not to mention, the color goes smashingly with my romper!

- "Why the Long Face, Emo Horse?" tee, from Topatoco.com
One of my favorite webcomic artists has a tee-shirt store, and this funny, adorable tee comes from their sale. It has long since sold out, but it is brick red and features a shaggy-banged, long-faced horse sporting thick Buddy Holly glasses. I wonder why the long face indeed!

What I Wore Today

"'Which of these things is the most stylish thing to wear?'
And the correct answer is: 'Hey, whatever I select.'"
- Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies

Well, I know that the "What I Wore Today" blog format has been well used, but I work for an amazing company called ModCloth.com, and I'm so excited about some of the things I've purchased from us that I would like to talk about it!

First, ModCloth is a Pittsburgh-based company that used to operate out of owner and founder Susan Kroger's basement, three blocks from my own apartment in the neighborhood of Friendship. Since their inception, they have upsized, and are now located fifteen minutes away in Pittsburgh's Strip District (so-called because it is a long and thin row of businesses tucked between a mountain and a river).

I've been a customer of ModCloth for several years, and it has long been my dream to work for them. Recently, I succeeded at securing a position in the Intake department, and it is truly the best job I have ever held. Not only are we absurdly indie and stylish, and patronize small designers, we are also a very positive and fun workplace. Several Swedes I met recently described it as "incredibly Danish", as Denmark is apparently renowned for its laid-back, healthy, yet productive work environments.

I've been a thrift-store girl for most of my life, and am very good at stretching a dollar as well. ModCloth items fit my very picky bill, as they are all of high quality, superior fit, and superb texture (there is nothing I like better than a nice lush fabric!) for a very reasonable price. Hence, I'm expanding my wardrobe a lot now that I work there, and wish to share some of my favorite pieces with you.

This is what I wore today:

- The Renegade Bomber, from ModCloth.com
I restocked this jacket a few weeks ago, and really liked it. Then Casey, one of my coworkers, bought one, and it looked so fabulous on her that I jumped on the bandwagon as well.
This is a lovely, versatile, practical piece. It features zipped pockets (good if you tend, like I do, to lose things of value ... like cell phones ...), a high neck (just like a built-in scarf!), and soft, flexible vegan faux-leather. The lining is pretty sweet, too!
It is warm enough for Pittsburgh spring, and suited me quite well in Brooklyn this past weekend as well.
Apparently, everyone in New York is wearing something like this ... but not everyone's is this cool!
(A DJ told me I looked like Billy Joel in this, and when I replied that I was going more for James Dean, he outright bought me a drink.)

- The All American Jumper, from ModCloth.com
This is one of those unexpectedly amazing garments that I really didn't look twice at until I saw it in person, and now I cannot get enough of it.
The fabric is SO. SOFT. It looks like regular denim, but is lush and thick like a sweater. I couldn't stop petting it in the warehouse, and had to restrain from doing the same when it was actually on my person ...
The cut is quite cute and flattering as well. It doesn't bunch or ride up, like some jumpers do, and it has just enough stretch to hug but not cling (which is important for someone like me, who is small and slender but curvy). Also, the pockets are at just the right height and are just the right depth to tuck my hands into on chilly nights (like last night).
Alas, while a bit tipsy, I accidentally spilt a bit of hot wax on myself ... that is to say, a whole lot of hot wax. I despaired of ever getting it out, but a touch of hot iron followed by a wash cycle brought it right up! The color didn't fade, the fabric didn't pill, and only a little tiny bit of slightly-fuzzier fabric remains to tell the tale of my wax-capade. I am going to buy another of these jumpers so that I can wear one to work and one for nights out.


- Comfy Sweater Knit Tights in Purple, from ModCloth.com
I bought these tights before I even worked for ModCloth, and now I have two pairs. They are thick, warm, cozy, and (as the name suggests) comfy! Even while trekking about a chilly Pittsburgh at late-o'clock at night, my legs stayed nice and toasty -- about the only part of me that did!
Not to mention the rich, lush color, which gets lots of compliments on the streets.

- The Aster Beret in Purple, from ModCloth.com
Dainty berets are amazing these days, and this beret is among the daintiest. It makes me look very bohemian-chic and like I belong in Manhattan. The fabric is soft, comfortable, and flexible, and the color is standout. I throw it on almost every day!

- Girl on the Go Scarf in Blue, from ModCloth.com
Is it an Isadora Duncan-style scarf? Is it a cravat? Is it a keffiyeh? It can be any of these things, depending on how I tie it. But at all times, it is bold, vibrant, and deliciously soft, yet warm. I have it in both colors.

- Thrifted turtleneck short-sleeved sweater in golden yellow, by Divided from H&M
This beauty is in one of my favorite shades, and features slightly puffy Victorian-style short sleeves. I found it at a thrift store and it is proving to be a great piece for both winter and spring. The turtleneck can be rolled down to show off a necklace and a bit of collarbone, or rolled up to keep out the chill. I feel that Emily Dickinson would have rocked this shirt, if she could have -- and if she had ever worn anything other than white.

- Spectator-style flats in black and white, from Urban Outfitters
Honestly, I don't really like UO, because I feel they are overpriced for the quality. However, I do like to go there once a season for the sale, which is where I bought these shoes.
Even half-priced (twenty dollars), they were still a bit too much for the quality, but they are comfortable and look amazing with everything I own. They look like something Zelda Fitzgerald would have worn, and I can even wear them as slippers.

- Vintage cream, beige, and coffee pearls, from etsy.com
This three-stranded short necklace just arrived in the mail yesterday and I've hardly taken it off since. It is simple and says "effortless class", which are two things I deeply appreciate in jewelry. I will be sporting these to everywhere from brillobox to Brooklyn to the warehouse and Art All Night!

- Purple and golden yellow dangly earrings, from Whiteapple on etsy.com
Whiteapple is one of my favorite Etsy sellers, and she created these earrings for me on custom commission. They are sweet and simple, but also bold and bright, and I wear them with almost everything.
Whiteapple also loves ModCloth, and has a style blog as well. Check out her Etsy shop!

And, after hours,
- Warm Up Legwarmers from ModCloth.com
They really do warm me up! I wear them at work to keep the cold cement from giving me leg cramps, and they transition well into the outside world. I wore them for sleeping, and they kept my gams nice and toasty.

Photos on the way as they become available!