"You look like Minnie Mouse" - another style diary entry

Summer is the season for style diary entries, methinks.

So, in my last entry, my lovely friends Deb and Breige commented on how I only seem to wear red bottoms (skirts, tights) and no red tops. I thought to myself, "Hmm. That can't be - I know I have at least a few red tops!"

Well, here's one of them. I've had this top for ages - I bought it from a girl in Asia (can't recall if it was Japan or Taiwan) before I even had Paypal! The thing about this top is that it's quite short, so I can't find too many ways to wear it. The perfect solution for this cute top? Pair it with a high-waisted skirt - it pretty much eliminates the possibility of any belly-baring.


Red/white polka dotted top
Black scalloped edge high-waisted tulip skirt - Lux/Urban Outfitters


Skirts avec pockets = the best.


I bought this skirt from UO for $5 or $10 (I pretty much only shop their sale racks!), but it's a large. I had to safety pin the back in two places for it to fit properly. Definitely a sewing project in the works when I get motivated.

And the entry title comes from what my sister said when she saw my outfit. I would tend to agree! (more so about this top than I would with my boyfriend's classification of the red skirt from my previous entry as a "Minnie Mouse skirt.")

I guess Minnie Mouse is just one of my fashion icons, y'all. Nothing wrong with that. I do like red, white, polka dots and bows, so it works for me.

Style icon: Zooey Deschanel

It's honestly no secret that I really, really adore Zooey Deschanel. What's not to love, really? She has amazing style, she's a talented singer and musician, AND she's smart and funny to boot. I know a lot of people scoff at her popularity and dismiss her as that stereotypical "manic pixie dream girl" trope or gripe about her "twee"-ness. But - haters to the left. This is a style diary post, so I'm going to focus on the fashion here. I can't think of any other celebrity who inspires me, style-wise, as much as Zooey D. I know it's silly, but one crazy dream of mine is to go thrift shopping with her.

Anyway... I really dig Peter Pan collars - on blouses, shirts, dresses, tunics, YOU NAME IT... if it's got a Peter Pan collar, I will probably love it. I also really dig puff sleeves and a-line skirts. These fashion loves basically sum up this outfit. Though it may be two very basic pieces and simple lines, it also features two, bold and bright primary colours.



Cobalt blue puff sleeve Peter Pan collar blouse - Dr. Denim (from Singapore)
Red a-line skirt (with big white buttons and pockets!) - Lux/Urban Outfitters
Red wide stretchy belt - H&M
Black tights - Old Navy
Black oxford flats - Aldo (not pictured)
Red heart ring - Pauper's Bounty on Etsy
Rainbow cocktail ring - Harbourfront Centre gift shop
(all photos can be clicked for a larger version)


Warmer weather allows me to let my hair air dry, which results in these lovely waves! I wish I lived somewhere where blow-drying my hair wasn't a necessity in the winter (else you catch pneumonia/end up with icicles for hair).


A better look at the detailing on the blouse.
I seriously LOVE this skirt - it's the perfect shade of red and I adore the big white buttons (my bf calls it the "Minnie Mouse skirt," even though a Minnie Mouse skirt ought to be red with white polka dots). Plus skirts with pockets are the best!


I wear my rainbow ring pretty much every day; I usually wear this heart ring (it was a birthday gift from my boyfriend) - I also have it in pink.
Also, I realized that though I wear my watch every day, with every outfit, I never credit it in any style diary. It's by Fossil and it was a university graduation present from my parents.

The inspiration from this combination came from an outfit I've seen Zooey Deschanel wear, most notably at a ceremonial presentation of the "key to the city" and plaque for Angel's Knoll in Los Angeles. I believe her blouse and skirt are from Dear Creatures, as featured in their Celebrity/Press section. Seriously, browse the DC site for ten minutes and if you know me at all, you'll be exclaiming, "That is SO Wini!" over every outfit. If I had the money, I would buy all my clothes from them....




(both Zooey Deschanel photos are from ZooeyDeschanel.net)

Step into my office, baby (or, another edition of red, black & white)

The remaining days of wearing skirts and dresses are dwindling down as the temperature drops. What a bummer. The transition into colder weather isn't completely lost, as I have an extensive collection of tights that I can wear until it just gets too cold.

I prefer to keep my style more on the quirky/kitschy side than the conventional. While I do work in an office, I don't necessarily dress very corporate-style. I have quite a penchant for secretary blouses and when paired with a pencil skirt, that look can be downright Wall St. (or Bay St., if being geographically accurate to my city). I aimed to offset this with vibrant red tights. Simple but statement-making (I like to think so, at least!).





Black & white striped secretary blouse - thrifted
Black high-waisted tulip pencil skirt - Forever 21
Red tights
Black flats (not pictured)

Red, black & white; polka dots & bows.

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for polka dots and bows. And I wear so much red, black and white that I've been told on numerous occasions by various people that I dress like a "lost member of the White Stripes" (which is fine by me!).

On Saturday, when I was getting ready for a day in Toronto with my boyfriend (plans included the annual Vegetarian Food Fair at Harbourfront Centre, record shopping, squirrel watching and dinner), I put on this polka dot top and jeans. Then, I decided to snazz up the monotony with a red bow pin. I looked outside and it was sunny. I thought, Why don't I dress up this outfit and ditch the jeans? And so I did. (I did eventually have to add a cardigan as the sun departed, and a jacket by nightfall.)

 

Black & white polka dot button-up - Forever 21
Red bow pin - Primark
Red bow belt - H&M (clearly I love this belt!)
Black asymmetrical tiered skirt - Luella for Target
Black tights - Old Navy
Black flat oxfords - Aldo
Rainbow cocktail ring - Harbourfront Centre gift shop
Squirrel necklace - anirtak on Etsy

Two more photos after the jump...

Sweater weather in September?

I feel like it's been a little while since I last updated and for that, I apologize! I had a bit of a momentum going, but alas, I must say that I lost a bit of steam that I'm still trying to grasp back.

The past three days have taken a slightly chilly, fall-like turn, prompting me to contemplate some weather-transitioning attire.

It bums me out knowing that soon I won't be able to wear cute dresses and skirts (even with tights and boots, as I'm quite a wuss when it comes to cold weather!) with the dropping temperatures. But I've been working on a acquiring apparel that will keep me warm in the colder months, but still feel cute and feminine.

I think the following sweater falls into that category! My colder weather outfits tend to fall on the side of simplicity, but I don't think that it detracts from the look itself. Also a plus, I bought this sweater in July for $5 in Urban Outfitters big clear-out sales!





Grey/white striped ruffle sweater - Rendez-Vous by Paul & Joe Sister for Urban Outfitters
"Mod" heart pin - thrifted
Straight leg jeans - American Eagle

First not-music post.

I think I had sorta promised I'd blog about stuff beyond music. Fashion, I think? Well, here we go. I was really good about keeping a style diary last summer, but I haven't done as well this year. However, I liked my outfit yesterday so much, I made the time to take a few (crappy Photobooth) photos.



Cream pintucked/eyelet blouse - Forever 21
White tank top - Forever 21
Red bow belt - H&M
Navy w/ cream polka dots tiered skirt - Urban Outfitters
Cream cableknit tights - Gap
not pictured:
Silver flats - Sears

Three more photos after the jump...