I try to avoid the debate between store bought (ahem, lame) costumes and DIY (ahem, rad!) costumes so when someone asked me how to ensure a costume was vegan I said DIY! The other advantage of DIY is the ladies can generally avoid looking like every other girl dressed as a stripper.
It’s hard to look slutty when you are wearing a hula hoop, approximately 4,500 staples, 150 safety pins, 12 yards of material, a ratty wig and 6 sets of LED lights.
Wow, i don’t think very straight at 3-something in the morning. Go figure. So the voice woke me up and I couldnt go back to sleep was the whole point of my meanderings. Like you care. Anyway…
For all the rockers, can you believe there are dueling vegan guitar strap-makers out there? Now that’s one market I would never have thought of to corner.
At 1:45 I was awakened by a deep, male voice booming “HELLO!!!” I like to imagine if the cats or the dog could talk, this deep, male voice is not how any of them sound. Maybe it was my guardian angel. The one that the tarot card lady I paid to read my cards 9 years ago said would someday present to me.
Before I move on to my experience at Forever 21, which was was obviously so fantastic it is keeping me up nights, I just had to put this bright, kelly pea coat out there. 100% cotton, warm, cozy, and your peeps won’t lose you in the holiday shopping crowd.
So, what I found at Forever 21, at the least in NorCal, is what’s in store is very different than what is on the web site. That’s probably true for most since I assume all other F21’s are as insane as ours. Anyhow some good finds…
- Smooshy v-neck sweater. This baby is soft and squishy and seems surprisingly well-put-together. So’s I got me one! Watch out for these though – they have about 10 very similar v-neck sweaters, a few of which are wool blends.
- High-waisted v-neck sweater with tie. This sweater would look great with those high-waisted pants I see in the magazines, yet haven’t really seen anywhere else, because it would cover them up.
- Luvva, luvva, luvva this unexpectedly sophisticated hoodie. Whoda thunk it?
- Fun tunic to wear with boots. Not a fan of the ‘keyhole’ in back but for $15.80, I’ll allow it.
Coatwise, there was just too much going on. Tons of cute coats but when you try them on, the cut is really weird or the fit just ‘off’. OK, again, for $50 what do you expect? But there were a couple of goodies:
- Bright red hip-length jacket. The one I tried on had really wide shoulders but no room for the average rack. Of boobs, that is. Cute enough to be worth a little discomfort though.
- Or not. Sorry, don’t see any of the other coats/jackets I tried on in-store online!
My eyes are maybe, possibly, hopefully drooping so I will leave off here and try to get at least some sleep tonight. Back with more goodies (’cause there were more!) soon.
Zzzzzz….
OK, ok, I admit it. I love F21. They don’t sell fur! And, even though their clothes fall apart after a wear or two, maybe three, definitely can’t withstand an amorous encounter, oh my goodness…what am I even…anyway… Their quality SUX. But for $20, you get three whole wears of good stuffs. If you’re lucky, more. It’s like H&M on sugar water. Anna Sui on saline. Betsey Johnson on dewey cardboard. Sooooo…I spent hours online to pic out goodies and found so many things I overwhelmed myself (which is the point of this whole thing, right?) so am going to F21 tomorrow to make sure these things exist one, and make sure they are at-least-one-time-wearable, two. Standby kittens…
And thank god I am not 21 anymore. Or forever, for that matter. Hallelujah!
This prayer goes out to whoever you are up/out/down there, you goddess/being/bright white light of what’s considered ‘in fashion’. Please, please, please, PLEASE, i beg of you, for the love of all things flattering and comfortable and progressive and camel toe-proof, DO NOT BRING BACK THE HIGH WAISTED JEAN.
amen.
Today is blog action day and apparently something like 16,000 bloggers are blogging about things people can do to help the environment. If you read this blog, you’re already probably way beyond that. So, in deference to your green living ways, I pass along some great, green, fashion!
Note: these designers aren’t vegan per say, but some of their items are.
First, naturevsfuture. It’s hard to find this stuff online but if you can track something down it’s worth it. I love the inventive sustainable fabrics (seaweed!) and the surprise angularities of these clothes. Fashion-forward but nothing too mad max.
Bahar Shahpar. I absolutely love the little dresses, skirts and even suits from this sustainable designer. Hard to find outside of NYC but you can find some gorgeous goodies online.
Sworn Virgins makes dresses out of the softest bamboo. Bamboo? Soft? Oxymoron? Yes! No wait, no. It’s the softest, purtiest stuff out there and these dresses rival your comfiest pair of sweats, yet look absolutely hot!
And when it comes to the green ethic, remember buying local is a must so don’t forget about local boutiques that specialize in recycled clothing. Off the top of my head I think Velouria in Seattle, Olipom in Sacramento, Ahab Bowen in Dallas. You don’t need an excuse to go shopping at these places because this is known as ‘helping.’ You are helped by looking cute, supporting local small biz owners, clothes get recycled, carbon footprint is teensy…you get the picture.
Happy blog action day.
OK, so I don’t know where I’ve been but today my faithful shopping scribe Elbee took me to Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse. I walked up and down EVERY SINGLE AISLE drooling over the sheer mass of it all. The first few pairs of shoes I picked up were sadly not vegan but then I came across MUDD shoes – and every single pair I looked at were ‘made made material’. Hallelujah! And now my wallet is much, much, lighter. But my heart is so, so, so much fuller. Now, I just need somewhere to wear all my new pretties to!
Next up, conquering Forever 21. If that place overwhelms you as much as it does the average human, how about sharing some hints on sweaters sans the sheep?
With the change of leaves comes the great anticipation of all things COLD! Our hommage to the coming of Winter begins with CUTE FALL COATS!
Cute Roxy 3/4 sleeve dealie
Blue motorcycle jacket
This Roxy jacket is also absolultely fab. Everyone needs at least one plaid coat. And this one even makes your boobs look bigger, while covering the belly resulting from an all-you-can-eat Ethiopian food buffet. Mmmmm…shiro wat. And speaking of The Queen….
…on to bags. I am absolutely salivating over the Matt and Nat beauty called “Queen”. It’s expensive, but it will last forever. Plus, looking like a Queen has its costs, as we all well know.
On the less expensive side of things, delias has some rad bags so take your pick from www.delias.com. My favorite, and soon to me mine, is this little black and white graphic tote. Another sweet little number I adore is this jewel-tone corduroy charm bag.
Totally diggable boots from delias include this strangely ugly, yet incredibly alluring boot. These simple, flat, slip on boots are a good practical basic. Lastly, and I may need to end here because I am at a coffee shop and getting totally grossed out by the people next to me. For chrissakes lady, if you need to sit on your man’s lap and lick his face, do it somewhere other than right beside me.
Maybe a bright pair of heels will make me feel better. Sigh.
