Chi-Town: 2 days in 20 pictures

What was Lovely for December 27, 2010:

I'm waiting for a train, a train that will take me (fairly) far away to Chicago for a couple of days. 

One year and a day.

What's Lovely for December 29, 2010:  

Remembering that a year and a day ago, Toast was made. And what better way to have spent that day than in a particularly windy city? 

Thank you, everyone. :)

And to all a good night.

What's Lovely for December 24, 2010: 

Christmas Eve! I think that's all I need to say. Happy holidays, everyone! I need to go work off the turkey stuffing calories by an invigorating schedule of sitting here and watching movies and TV shows... 

It isn't much, but it's home. And delicious.

She must've sensed I just ate fatty goodness...

A Robber Who Pays for Everything

Guess who my sartorial inspiration was?

What is this, an honest to Gandhi outfit post??? I have to say, getting back in the saddle felt good, even though the saddle was remarkably dusty. And yes, I'm still talking about a figurative saddle. Aaaaand that's honestly all the pseudo-witty things I have to say for today. I believe any and all possible one-liners went out the window once I drank that salted caramel hot chocolate from Starbucks today. I hypothesize all that sugar went straight to my head and sucked out all funny things to say-- but that could just be the sugar talking. 

Sweater- 2890 (warehouse sale)  ::  Scarf- garage sale  ::  Skirt- secondhand  ::  Tights- We Love Colors  ::  Beret- Mom'd  ::  Boots- TJMaxx

Winter's officially here

This fur stole that my mom found is the only thing standing between freezing-my-neck-and-ass-off and tolerably-being-comfortably-warm. It's a very tricky and thin line, especially during the long winter. 


What keeps you warm during the cold months? If you say it doesn't even snow where you are, I just might throttle you.


Just kidding. I really won't, truly. I mean, I like snow, until it turns into this cold, amorphous, gray, gross, slush. Concrete slushie, mmmmmm. 

I think my face here succinctly sums up "why the frickfrack am I standing out here taking photos to pass the time?"

Also, a question for y'all. I took my outfit photos in several different locations, some outside (for the sake of natural lighting) and some inside (for the sake of convenience). Putting them side by side, which do you think turned out better? Which one do I look most pained in? I give myself points for keeping the same awkward bent leg pose in each picture. 

Turtleneck- American Apparel  ::  Skirt- secondhand  ::  Tights- We Love Colors  ::  Cardigan- H&M  ::  Boots- TJMaxx  ::  Fur stole- Mom'd

Try to Keep a Cool Head

Beret- local thrift store  ::  Scarf- H&M  ::  Blouse- secondhand  ::  Skirt+Shoes- Thailand  ::  Tights- We Love Colors+Target  ::  Coat- Gap

What's Lovely for November 29, 2010:  

Some sort of "Pimp My Ride: Low Budget Bicycle Edition," where one of the wheels looks vaguely like a Pokeball... 

Ahem. First off, how was your Thanksgiving? Were many thanks and calories had around the table? Did you watch the Macy's Day parade? Were you disillusioned by it all? Did you at least eat well?

What's nice about straight-up outfit posts are that after the song-and-dance of editing and uploading them, I can simply throw them into a post, say a few words that I hope are in coherent English, and be done with it. Unfortunately, a part of me is usually loath to do just this because it lacks personality, though it's also a matter of letting the clothes "speak for themselves." Oh, if they could talk... 

Getting rid of that nasty spot

What's Lovely for November 24, 2010: 

Pretending that this Wednesday is really a Saturday, indicated by the fact that I started off the day in Hello Kitty pajama pants and am ending it with leg warmers. On a scale of lame to Barney Stinson, how cool am I? 

Top- Nasty Gal (on sale!)  ::  Bottom- would you call these gaucho pants? either way, they were a gift, I believe  ::  Boots- TJMaxx

Fun fact that you never bothered to know: These pictures were actually taken last week, but I never found the right opportunity to post them. Until now. Ugh, being away from the blogging world for about a week in real life seems to translate to six months. It's like when time goes faster in Narnia, only I don't get to go through a mothball-filled wardrobe that's really a portal to a new world where a satyr that looks oddly like James McAvoy greets me with nothing on but a scarf. Wait, can this please be just like Narnia?

Accio Deathly Hallows (and the rest of my childhood)

"As thrilled as I am to be so uncomfortably close to you, you really need a manicure, Voldy." 

You've heard it on the news. You've listened to your friends talk on and on about it. You've seen all the statuses on Facebook. And you'll hear it here, your number one source for Harry Potter fandom mania from a dorky, loud and pop-centric Asian who likes to dress up every once in many while.* In this post, I show what I did that fateful night when I was lucky enough to score two midnight tickets at the last minute. I spent a lot of the pre-show like this:

Yes. Be excited.

*I still have yet to find my niche.

Go Ahead, Try Something New

What's Lovely for November 16, 2010: 
After having a talk with my professor that left me a little frustrated, I discovered that simply switching up a daily routine-- whether it was finding a new spot to take photos or paying an unexpected visit-- can end up surprising you. 

Blouse- thrifted at local store  ::  Vest- remnant from Pink's closet  ::  Jacket- JouJou via TJMaxx  ::  Skirt- Forever 21  ::  Tights- We Love Colors + Target  ::  Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell from Thailand 

What I've been up to...

What's Lovely? 

From enjoying pumpkin lattes in inordinately warm November weather (yesterday)... 

(Blouse- magic?  ::  Dress- Beacon's Closet in Williamsburg  ::  Shoes- Old Navy)

... to artfully skinning knees like I'm an eight-year old tomboy again (today). 

Against the Bright Sun

What's Lovely for Nov. 4, 2010:  

Trying out this new, almost obnoxiously bright coral pink, lipstick. This outfit was something I like to do-- black and white with pop(s) of color. Speaking of pop, I want pop tarts. I know they're terrible for you, but you know what? I'm cravin' me some artificially-flavored sugar, dammit. 

Blouse- Mom'd  ::  Bow- magic?   ::  Skirt- secondhand  ::  Tights- We Love Colors  ::  Wedges- Bandolino via TJMaxx  ::  Lipstick- Love That Pink by Revlon

Oh yes, it's the return of the just-as-obnoxiously-bright yellow tights. Hello, Banana Legs.

Werewolf Bar Mitzvah, spooky scary

Two costumes, one dress. Secretly, I was really a person who remixes her clothes for Halloween, but that would've been much harder to explain.

Aaaaand it's the Halloween episode! I mean, post, it's the Halloween post, several days late. Blame it on the barrage of exams and projects, since there wasn't any a-a-a-a-alcohol to be had (disclaimer: that was a reference to a bad song, I've yet to be a raging alcoholic). 


Anyway, onto the fun costumes. Meet my alter egos: 

Lini P. Vixenberger. Channeling Liza Minelli from Cabaret who was channeling Charlie Chaplin. She dislikes pecans and likes cocktails with suggestive names. She's a sweetheart.

One doesn't receive a kiss and tell *exaggerated wink*

The Crimson Shadow. Identity unknown. Powers unknown. Honestly, not much is known about her, except that she's definitely not a sweetheart.

In which I try to look like a total badass super villainess, but when I look at these photos, I realize that it can never be because a) I couldn't run in high heels/wedges and b) I don't have the impossibly large bust/tiny waist body ratio of a typical comic book female.

Calling Mr. Stewart, need my sanity restored

What's Lovely for October 28, 2010:  It's not every day you can pet your clothing (though it's quite easy to put clothing on your pet) 

Top- Goodwill  ::  Skirt- Aeropostale survivor  ::  Tights- We Love Colors  ::  Jacket- gift from incredibly generous friend  ::  Belt- Thailand  ::  Shoes- Old Navy

Fall Uniform

Blouse-Target  ::  Skirt-Forever 21  ::  Belt-secondhand  ::  Boots-TJMaxx  ::  Scarf-from Pink (coincidence?)  ::  Jacket-gift from Korea

What's Lovely for October 21, 2010:

OMIGOD THIS SONG. I saw this musical tonight and must I say-- never have I enjoyed a musical that puts a little bits of chauvinism, stereotyping and pink more than this. No really, it won me over with this infectious song. I honestly think it's a disease that's burrowing a heart-shaped hole into my brain. But it's fine because TOTAL MAD PROPS I LOVE YOU GUYS. *squeals*

Omigod you guys caffeine makes me go ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Start wearing purple, wearing purple

Guess why I donned all purple for today?

What's Lovely for October 20, 2010 (10/20/10!):

In continuing my penchant for finding things in unexpected places, I'd like to point out this heart made out of ... space fabric wrapped around heater. Screw Valentine cards, nothing's more romantically sweet than this.