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.

OOTD: Solstice

(I'm a few days late posting, ah well.)

Pretty much everything in this outfit is cheapy-cheap, old, or both.

Tee & shorts are some generic brand from those chintzy, dirt-cheap, most-likely-made-in-China stores. I don't love buying that kinda junk-food clothing, but I looked EVERYWHERE for a perfect pair of black shorts that actually fit me, and lo and behold, these are the only ones I could find. I also stocked up on basic tees at one of those places years ago, and they're still going strong- holding up a lot better than the ones I bought at UO around the same time, actually.

Boots are second-hand Mossimo

Hat and sunglasses are from garage sales. Good deals both, though the hat needs a little reshaping with the ole steamer. (I took a millinery class years ago, I should get back into that...)

The tights are similar to these, but I've had them for at least ten years now (um, wow) so who knows. (Proof- note the date in the address bar!)

The necklace, which you can see better here, is made of crystals and comes from a seller at the Rust Belt Market called Precious Hardware- unfortunately I can't find a website for her stuff.

Fashion Icon: Marceline the Vampire Queen

I feel like Marceline's style really resonates with me- simple, comfortable, darkish but not exactly goth. Lots of gray and red, and boots. I guess after 1000 years you pretty much get your schtick down pat. And can we take a moment to applaud the creators of Adventure Time for actually having characters wear different clothes sometimes? (Not so much Finn, but hey. At least he's got a nice hat.)

The boots are the wrong color, I know, but I couldn't believe I actually found heeled boots with tiny bows!

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. 

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 Feb 25- Flashdance, but with more leather

Shirt: Lovely 153

Leggings: Helmut Lang

Shoes: Sansha

I recently gave in to my weird desire for actual ballet shoes. I had forgotten what a pain sewing on the elastics is (having not had any since I was 12)... but they are lovely for puttering about in. I don't think I'd wear them outdoors, but this time of year I can just slip 'em into my boots.

Also, I've never actually seen Flashdance, is that bad?

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...

This is Halloween, Halloween, HALLOWEEN

Thought you guys might want to see the pentagram cage bra in action:

Even though I was too busy to decorate this year, and it's raining, and I'm considering eating the small amount of candy that I bought rather than figuring out how to give it to children without the dogs escaping.... I love this holiday. (Unfortunately my house is very dark at night, and the brightest place (which is still dark) happens to be this super attractive kitchen doorway. I put some cheesy filters on to help. Ha!)

For the interested:
Dress
Socks
Wings (yep, they're Pog's...and they were not very comfortable.)
Boots - they're really old so I'm amazed they still exist, but there they are! The hooks for the laces fell off of mine awhile ago so they're laceless which I like better anyway.
Bra
Horns from a Renaissance Festival, but they're made from Fimo and rope. 

Outfit: September 3rd

 

Shirt: Cynthia Rowley 

Pants: Blue Spice 

Shoes: Vintage, "The Touch of Nina" 

1. I love gray. 

2. How is my hair doing that!?!? 

Here's a slightly better look at these crazy shoes- I found them at some secondhand place in Portland. Love love love. 

   

In the interest of science (yes.... science... that's it...) I also tried some dull but reliable nude heels (Madden Girl- I don't actually recommend these, I have to tape them onto my feet to keep them from slipping off.) 

   

 Acceptable.