Knit It Black!

This is a bit more relevant to my knitting audience, but as this blog has often celebrated the wearing of black, I figured it was appropriate to post here too! I am currently running a Kickstarter to help me produce an all-black knitting pattern collection that aims to raise awareness and funds for black shelter pets, who are adopted less often and euthanized more often than their lighter-colored brethren. Amazingly we are almost at the goal amount, after only two days...BUT if we can hit the stretch goal (another $2000) I'll be able to realize the long-dreamt dream of putting out a small ready-to-wear collection, which will also support the same cause (and also be pretty darn heavy on the black, heh heh heh.)

For more info, click the video above, or you can click through here to read all about it!

Skirtember's End, Sept 23-30

Hat: Heartbreaker

Cowl: Bandana-Rama

Shirt: One Step Up

Skirt: Stoosh

Tights: Michael Stars layered over solid black

Shoes: Aldo

Plaid shirt: Forever 21

This is around the point when I started getting sick of Skirtember and pushing it a bit farther. I wanted to make sure to work in some of these slightly trickier skirts (though I'll admit there were a few I didn't get to.)

Hat: This one

Jacket: Vintage Paul Louis  (my mother's! Unfortunately she's shorter than me and was itty bitty, so it's a bit small.) 

Dress: Rewind

Tights: Unknown

Boots: Mossimo

Purse: The Sak

Necklace: Precious Hardware

Bats! They are very important. And adorable. 

Hat: Fave

Jacket: Theory

Sweater: Abound (seems to be a Nordstrom/Rack brand?)

Skirt: Windsor

Fringe Slip: Val Mode (vintage)

Tights: UO

Boots: Minnetonka (similar)

Necklace: Unknown

Jacket: Bebe

Flannel: Merona

Dress: Balance Collection (by Marika)

Tights: these- they're not quite leggings, not quite tights.

Boots: Freebird by Steven, "Drover"

Necklace: found on Fab.com, but I don't think it's this one.

Back view of fun legging things:

Whew! Well! That wraps it. I've got another post in progress where I do a little naval gazing about this whole skirtstravaganza, but in the meantime... time to turn our attentions to the great month of Halloween. Or October. Or whatever you want to call it. 

Feelin' Skirty, Sept 10-22

Hat: Fave (handknit)

Shirt: OP (as in Walmart, I think... I got it second hand and it's my favorite ever.)

Skirt: Windsor (old, but they've got a lot of pencil skirts.)

Tights: xhilaration (probably? I don't know, I own a lot of opaque black tights.)

Boots: Minnetonka (these are a few seasons old, but these are similar.)

Hat: Suture (handknit)

Sweater: Mossimo

Dress: Lux

Socks: unknown, but probably from Sock Dreams

Boots: Mossimo

Sweater: Roxy

Dress: H&M Jersey Dress 

Socks: b.ella, I think. Believe it or not they are different from the last pair.

Boots: Freebird by Steven "Drover"

Shirt: The tag just has a bunch of spiderwebs on it instead of a name (?!)

Dress: H&M Jersey Dress

Tights: cheap random-ass nylons like the kind you buy in an egg or whatever

Socks: unknown, but probably from Sock Dreams

Boots: Blue Suede Shoes (I find it disturbing how many brands just straight up don't have a website. At least TRY, geez.) 

This was my Halloweenified outfit for Hell's Hearsefest, an event that anyone in the area should absolutely attempt to attend someday.

Clearly, I had estimated the aesthetic of the event accurately.

Hat: Fave (handknit)

Sweater: Old Navy (ancient)

Skirt: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Socks: Urban Outfitters (similar)

Boots: Freebird by Steven "Drover"

I think when this month is over, I'll feel a lot more comfortable wearing skirts (which was the goal) but I'm also going to be really freakin' sick of it. And this is without even going out everyday...and having a few cheat days (because it's really hard to get all gussied up JUST to go to the post office, y'know?)

Skirtin' along, Skirtember 2-9

When you see how few outfits I have to show for September, you'll really grasp the full extent of how much working at home isolates you, haha. It appears that I left the house 3 times in 8 days (yikes.) In the interest of honesty, I did cheat and run two quick errands in jeans, though. So, 5 times.  (I've been posting these on Instagram as I go, so if you follow me there you've probably seen them. Look for the #skirtember tag.)

Hat: Garage sale find of the year, whoop whoop!

Tank: Thrifted and tagless, whomp whomp.

Shirt: James Perse (TJ Maxx always seems to have these, in various colors, for way less than that.)

Skirt: Vintage, no label

Tights: Urban Outfitters (Don't buy these ones if you're tall- they want to slide down so that the line is on or below your knee.)

Shoes: Ole standby's from Payless

Tank: H&M
Cardi: BDG
Skirt: Gap (thrifted and ancient... Gap is super excited about black denim right now though, FYI)
Tights: xhilaration 
Boots: Soda (I bought these for my halloween costume... scroll down a few posts and I bet you can guess what I'm planning to be, haha. I looked everywhere for a real leather pair but didn't want to spend $100+ on halloween cowboy boots, so, oh well.)

Let me tell you something about pestering your significant other to take pictures of your outfits: Eventually they may start getting bored. As a result this is the best picture I have of this one, haha. But that's an awfully nice ice cream truck, right??

Top: BDG
Skirt: MICHAEL Michael Kors
Tights: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Aldo (I wish they still sold these- they look like black-on-gray wool chucks and I love them so, so much. I'm going to be devastated when they wear out.)


I'm a little ashamed that I've worn the black skirt twice when I still have plenty that I haven't touched. A lot of them just feel a bit more... formal, I guess? Ah well, I'll have to tough it out. For science.

Remember, Remember, the First of Skirtember....

Somehow, it's already September. This month means a lot less once you're out of school- especially if you're childless- but I'll never shake the urge to buy new notebooks and pencils. It also has the perfect weather for a little experiment I've been cooking up...

I have a pretty healthy collection of skirts, dresses, and tights, but I almost never wear them because tossing on jeans is so damn easy. So I've challenged myself (and you, if you want to play along) to celebrate the holy month of Skirtember.

The rules are simple: No pants outside of the house until October (exceptions can be made for things like manual labor, horseback riding, etc. But otherwise. Skirt 'em up.)

I'll post all my outfits, either here or on Instagram (bombasinedoll, btw) under the #skirtember tag (I thought I was being terribly clever with the play on words, but a quick Google search indicates that I am far from the first to think of it. Ah well.) Since I work at home there won't necessarily be an outfit everyday, but I'll try to drag my sorry ass out of my pjs at least a few times a week ;-)

Today's outfit is nothing to write home about, but it's hot as balls (and twice as muggy) so I wasn't really feeling "layers" or "tights" (I loathe having bare legs, so you KNOW it's gotta be gross out for me to go without.) 

Shirt: Bozzolo

Skirt: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Shoes: Aldo

Sunglasses: Garage sale junk

Necklace: Satomi Studio

Dogs: Out of frame because it's WALKIES TIME, dammit. 

(Speaking of dogs, do other people's leashes manage to get riddled with impossible-to-untie knots? Or are we just really talented?)

If you're feeling a bit skirty as well but need some inspiration, I've been hoarding pantsless Pins hardcore the last few days. Please do join in! 

Metrotimes Mention

Kids, if you befriend a goth-souled pre-journalist in your adolescence, sometimes later this happens. Thanks Lee!

For context, the "midnight somewhere" was a response to his protest that it was too early to hang out ;-P We all know I'm actually in bed by then.

Peonies and Off-Blacks

Peony Gardens/Nichols Arboretum

I love peonies, they're so darn fluffy. I found this hat at a garage sale for $1 the other day- it is measurably improving the quality of my life (and cutting down on my anxiety about burning the top of my head- I've done it before, and would rather not repeat the experience.)

OOTD: April 22nd

Shirt: James Perse

Pentagram Cage Bra: DIY, here

Leggings: From GoJane, but weirdly unlabeled

Shoes: Modesta (similar to these)

Black velvet photographs so strangely- it doesn't seem to reflect any light, so it just turns your legs into black holes, haha. Good to know, I guess, if you ever wanted a really rich (and probably expensive) black background for photography...

These shoes are pretty but they're almost unwearable. They're from Modcloth, but not the ones I linked above- maybe those are better. 

Packing List: 3 nights in NYC

I have to admit, I am absolute crap at packing light. This is mostly because I'm a klutz, and by the time I take an item of clothing off, there's a pretty good chance it's not fit for another day's wear. So even though I fawn over other blogger's "capsule wardrobes" and what-have-you... there's just no chance I'm going to manage a 3-day trip with one pair of pants and two shirts.

But still, I love peeking into other people's suitcases, and as long as it still fits in the carry-on.... hey!

The list:
- Comfy jeans (for the plane)
- Black jeans
- Blue jeans
- 3 tees
- 1 tank
- 1 flannel shirt
- 2 sweaters
- 1 hoodie (for the plane)
- Leggings (for sleeping)
- Leather jacket
- Water resistant jacket (for the day(s) it was supposed to rain)
- Knee-high boots
- Black flats, just in case
- Scarf
- Hat (I ended up bringing a yellow one and a brown one, rather than black)
- All the requisite socks & underthings

If I'd wanted to pack lighter I could've reworn more of the clothes and only brought one jacket, but even so all of this fit into a carry-on easily.

Other tips for hopefully-not-having-to-check-a-bag:
- Hoard bath & body samples like it's your job. A lot of natural-ish food stores will occasionally have them (one of the shops near me periodically does a "spa day" even where they give out a ton) and they are so great for short trips when even a little bottle full of shampoo is too much. Also hoard tiny bottles- anything that you don't have a sample size of, stick it in a tiny bottle. I even brought about 1/2 a square centimeter of liquid foundation in a tiny plastic container that once held a lotion sample.
- Bring the smallest device you can get by with. In my case, my phone was fine. It would've been nice having my laptop, but not worth the trouble.
- Leave space in your suitcase, or bring an extra bag just in case. You're probably gonna buy stuff, c'mon.


Here's how the outfits played out:

= 

Sunday night: insanely good BBQ with friends

Jacket: Theory
Shirt: OP
Jeans: Grane
Boots: Franco Sarto
Tee: BDG
Hat: a modified Bivouac

=

Monday: Checking out shops, lunch with a friend. Notice the room around me getting messier as I go.

Jacket: Green with Envy (it was supposed to rain this day, though it barely did. Old coat, can't find a website.)
Sweater: Roxy
Jeans: Hollister (I can't go within 100 feet of their stores because they reek of perfume, but I found this pair used and it turns out they're crazy comfortable around the waist while still being good 'n tight. Score.)
Boots: same as above
Glasses: no clue
Hat: Corone

=

Tuesday: Meetings of a secret and covert nature in the fashion district. You can't tell, but there is a small amount of dog slobber on the jeans- I TOLD you I can't be trusted to wear things twice! Luckily it wasn't very noticeable.

Sweater: ABound
Jeans: Grane again
Scarf: Collection 18
Hat: same
Boots: same
Ended up wearing the waterproof jacket again as it was lookin' mighty misty.


I'll spare you my flying outfit- let's just say I prioritize comfort, heh.

I didn't take a ton of pictures during the trip (as you may have surmised from the shitty mirror selfies, the only camera I brought was my phone- packing light, see?) but I did take a few- I'll post 'em up tomorrow :-)

OOTD: April 5

Tee- J Crew 

Leggings- Helmut Lang 

Shoes- Aldo 

Pentagram bra- DIY, link here 

I am off to New York in the morning, on top secret business that may or may not stay top secret, depending on how it goes. Also gonna bum around in some cool shops I can't afford. There's a fair chance I'll end up blowing all my money at the Strand and then not be able to get all the books home. These are the risks you take.

OOTD: March 25

Shirt: James Perse

Tee: Mossimo

Jeans: Grane

Shoes: Aldo

(None of those are direct links since I think all of these things are from at least one season ago. Sorry. Slow fashion! Woooo! (I don't think that's what slow fashion means.))

Good 'n Casual.

OOTD: March 10th. Batty bat!

Sweater: J Crew 

Shirt: cheap Chinese knockoff 

Jeans: STS Blue 

Boots: Rampage 

Hat: A sneakpeek of a new design that'll be out very very soon over at Dull Roar

Pink and purple, not a common color scheme for me (or at least, adult me. Six year old me was ALL ABOUT pink & purple.) I find that lately I'm very drawn to both blacks and charcoal grays and other very-dark shades, and super pale, borderline super feminine colors. Only certain ones, though- salmony and peachy pinks, "tea-stained linen", rosy-beige, foggy-gray-blue, seafoam green. 

OOTD: March 4th

Plaid shirt: OP/Ocean Pacific 

Tee: Random shady vendor 

Jeans: Grane 

Boots: Franco Sarto

The tee is from a random, print-to-order t-shirt vendor at the Gibraltar Trade Center, which is a place that sort of...defies description. Picture a strip mall mixed with a warehouse mixed with a flea market... kind of. I call it "Five Wolf Moon".

In any case it amuses me to wear a bunch of super cheap-o clothes with nice boots. This plaid shirt, which I realize now is probably from Walmart (I got it at Plato's Closet, I think) is one of my all-time favorites, fraying hole in the seams and all. Ditto the jeans- a cheap Macy's brand that I also got at Plato's and love the crap out of. I'm terrified of the day they finally fall apart.

OOTD: Feb 23

Shirt: James Perse

Pants: STS Blue

Shoes: Guess

This is about as formal as I get. I've been stalking these shirts at TJ Maxx for months- they were $50 for ages which is still too much for this pauper. Then finally, they marked 'em down to $25. *happy dance*

OOTD: Feb 19

 

Sweater: Mossimo 

Leggings: Alice + Olivia 

Boots: Guess 

I love these leggings but they're extremely difficult to get into, and even harder to get out of- I keep worrying that the house will go up in flames while I'm half-dressed and hog-tied, trying to drag the tiny ankle openings over my heels...

This sweater has great legging-butt-coverage (as I am so elegantly attempting to demonstrate, here.) Unfortunately the neck is unravelling, which is very annoying. 

Not entirely sure WHAT is going on, here...

Outfit: August 14

 

Shirt: Cha Cha Vente
Shorts: Cisono
Tights: DKNY
Boots: Hunter

I'm always a little proud of myself when I actually remember that rain calls for some sort of alteration in dressing procedures. I'll happily prance around in my boots on days that are barely damp, then when it's pouring, tell myself that sneakers and jeans will be just fine and totally won't mean my legs are cold and wet all day.

(I also like that everything but the boots came from discount/dirt cheap stores (hence, no links.) We'll talk about that soon.)

   

Here it is with complete bundling for optimal warmosity. Clashy sweater is "Maurice's" (I want to say it came from Victoria's Secret or something... it's really old. Need to get some new cardigans. Ehhh.) Hat is Sproinger.

   

I am super into this shorts-with-tights thing (as my pinterest will attest.) I like shorts, but hate having bare legs. I like tights, but am not super gung-ho about skirts... so basically, this is perfect. I'm so glad we're getting into the season where I can wear such a combo without looking completely insane (especially since Michigan decided that fall begins in August this year. I actually saw a tree changing colors already.)

   

 ^^^ and of course, the secret weapon to protect the toes of your tights. It won't, however, stop this from happening. Damn dogs. I really liked those tights, too :-(