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The Reoccurring Dress and Belt Combination

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A while ago (I think it may have been for FBFF) I said I didn’t really have a go-to outfit.  That’s not entirely true: I don’t have one, but if I’m pressed for time and don’t like anything I’ve put on yet I tend to repeat at least 50% of something previously worn.  I’ve photographed this exact same belt and dress at least twice before on the blog and I can tell you I’ve worn it at least six more times than that (both of these are so old I’ve had them since before I started taking photos).

Also, have you ever felt like you’ve just had a bad hair month?  I feel that way about March.  I’m still hoping for that “out like a lamb” weather to happen… March, you have 14 more hours.

 

The Last of the Snow is Behind Me… I Hope

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26 March 2011

As of Saturday there was still snow on the ground.  It’s gone now though, but still.  Gah.  Despite how lovely and sunny and springy the first photo looks it was actually cold enough for gloves and way too cold to be in summer weight fabrics with cap sleeves.

Practical dressing is really not my strong suit.

These are my new jeans, they’re what I was braving the ice rain for in SoHo last week (they were on sale, I had to go- $15 off!).  They’re the new(ish) Levi’s Curve ID and the fit is a lot better than I expected, almost perfect for me.  They’ve stretched out more than I hoped for though so I might buy the next size down as well for a slimmer fit.  Designer denim is apparently just a huge waste of money for me, if you want any of it let me know, I’ll be purging most of my collection this weekend.

So excited to be wearing heels again that I’ve been wearing these boots nonstop.  My feet were hurting a bit today and I took the Dr. Scholls foam insoles out… somehow they’re much more comfortable without them?

March Summer

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18 March 2011

There was a random heat wave day before Black and White week… when the temperature skyrocketed to 78 degrees.  I planned to wear tights (it was only supposed to hit 70) but as soon as I stepped outside I went right back in to change.  I got this dress last year at the end of summer so I’ve sort of been anxious to wear it more.  It was a really good deal from one of Rue La La’s Sunday Night Styleathons.  The only thing I don’t like about this dress is the waistband’s tendency to collapse if I don’t constantly pull it straight.  I guess that’s what belts are for!

I sort of feel like I should be going to a music festival in this outfit… maybe I actually will this summer?

Last Minute Change

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25 March 2011

I’m wearing most of this, I swear, I just switched out the skirt last minute for a new one I got at J.Crew for $19.99 during the ice storm on Wednesday (seriously, I had to seek shelter).  The new skirt is a washed black cargo, similar to this but chino instead of denim.  It also looks a little less ragged and grey than my old Urban Outfitters skirt, which is a definite improvement.

This is the same scarf necklace that I wore here.  It looks very different depending on the way I tie it and I really enjoyed the versatility.  I may borrow it again for the weekend!

This week has made me want to revisit the idea of turning this into a black and white photography only blog.  I really really like black and white photos.

Join us for the last day?  Yesterday Lydia wore another fab skirt she made!

FBFF: Thought Provoking…

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Full disclosure: I’m not really sure that I identify as a feminist.  A few years ago I definitely would have, but now I’m not so sure, the more I explore feminism the more I begin to think it isn’t friendly to someone like me.  I am good at cooking, cleaning, running a household, makeup, hair, dressing…  and I am far more likely to wear full skirts and dresses than anything else.  I don’t mind men holding doors or elevators, or insisting on picking up a check (out of politeness you can only demur three times).  So, I don’t know, and I don’t want to write 500 words on this, it isn’t really the right forum.  Onward.
1. Do you think there is an incapability between feminism and a love for fashion?
I have to be honest, I don’t really know how to answer this question.  I definitely think feminism and the fashion industry (note: not “a love for fashion”) are often at odds with each other.  And Lena Chen gives me hope for fashionable feminists, The Ch!cktionary is also among the first tumblrs I followed way back when I started blogging on that platform. 

2. There is more to each of us than a love for fashion, how do you incorporate every aspect of yourself into your blog?
I keep Delayed Missives really personal style-based, but I try to be as honest as I can about everything I post here.  And sometimes I let personal details slip through, I’m still working on that blog award from Shenneth, I swear, I just can’t find any photos of myself from high school (am still unsure if this is actually a bad thing).

3. With the fashion industry still being a male-dominated profession, how do you think it would differ if women played a larger role?
I don’t know how to answer this because I’m not an industry insider and I’ve never done an academic study on gender in the fashion industry.  It makes me hesitant to answer this question because I feel like I don’t have enough information to give an accurate answer.  Maybe LVMH would acquire less luxury labels? (ha.  P.S. There’s a really good article about Christian Louboutin in The New Yorker that eventually led me to think that mindset is the only thing that separates the high heel as a form of oppression and the high heel as just another shoe.)  Anyway, I actually don’t think women are doing too badly in the industry.  I do realize that there are more men designing than women (at least I think there are) but I don’t consider the gender of a designer when I select clothing– especially because I think gender is such a product of the society we live in.  I think we hold gender norms up and make them sort of the be-all and end-all when it comes to interacting with people, which isn’t necessarily a good thing to do.

4. How is your self-image and the way you carry yourself informed by your beliefs?
I tend to wear what I want to and in the end I really don’t care what other people think.  I wear skirts a lot — and dresses too — despite the number of “dressed-up” (you know what I’m talking about) comments I tend to get.  I do find it very insulting that someone would believe the only reason I would be wearing something other than sweatpants is if I were going to see a man.  As if I care at all what a man would think of what I am wearing.

5. Do you think clothing/makeup/hair helps communicate the truth about yourself or are those things superfluous add-ons?
For me, I think it’s superfluous because my outside appearance doesn’t always match up with my personality.  Clothing and whatever is more like a study in art and aesthetics to me… maybe I’m communicating a few truths about myself instead of all of them at once?  I can’t imagine what that would look like, definitely a fashion disaster!

Interested in joining FBFF by ModlyChic?

Email katy_rose1@yahoo.com or join the FBFF Google Group!

Spring Outerwear: Pink Coat

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19 Mar 2011

I may have brought out this coat a little too early… I don’t think it’s spring trench weather quite yet (especially because it rained ice on my head twice today) although clearly last weekend I thought it was.  I’m just very happy to be able to have a little more variety with everything I wear.

I hope your first week of spring is… well, springy.  I know I could probably do without pelting by ice chunks.

Black and White Week!  If your skies are looking a little grey why not post in monochrome?

Coach scarf and coat, Anthropologie shirt (under there somewhere), LOFT skirt, Commando tights, Deena & Ozzy/Urban Outfitters shoes.

Black and White Week: So Dark

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I can’t believe it was this dark around 5pm before Daylight Savings.  Yes, I took these a while ago.  I typically never post on Wednesdays, I’m throwing off my schedule and I hadn’t posted these yet.  I decided to experiment with the red filter setting in Aperture (I usually use yellow).  Red seems to have more contrast, the darks hold but the lights definitely appear lighter. Interesting.

Borrowed this cool necklace from my internship.  It’s made with a vintage scarf!

Visit Chic on the Cheap too see what Lydia’s wearing in black and white too!

ken + dana Jewelry and Alexander Wang Sweater

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22 March 2011

This is one of my favorite sweaters because it’s loose and comfortable… and it can double as a dress with a good slip dress under it! It’s also one of my only sweaters. I always tend to think they’re itchy, so I hardly ever purchase any. But I have to admit, Alexander Wang does a pretty good knit. This one has such a beautiful finish in person.

Trying to get some close up photos of my bracelet.  Definitely failed in the close department, but I liked how this one turned out!  I get to pick free jewelry from my internship and this bracelet is a strong contender.  I like its darkly romantic vibe.  It’s also called the Dream Weaver bracelet which you know… just sounds cool.  What do you think?  See it in color on flickr.

Alexander Wang sweater dress, H&M dress underneath, Assets by Sara Blakely tights, Jeffrey Campbell boots, ken + dana necklace and bracelet.

It’s Black and White Week!

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17 March 2011

So far March is definitely living up to the “in like a lion thing”.  It’s been really windy with no hope of normal-looking hair. Also whenever it’s rained, it has rained.  I’m thinking it’s going to be decidedly soggy this week, which is too bad because I wanted to walk around with my tripod.  But I’ll freak if my camera gets wet… are there raincoats for cameras?  I feel like someone must make those…

It’s Black and White Week so post some black and white photos with Lydia and me!

P.S. Sorry about the awkward lens flare.  It’s green in color so it’s actually kind of festive– I wore this on St. Patrick’s Day last week.  Also, first sandals of spring!  My feet are not in shape for open toes anymore, could definitely feel a blister coming on.

It’s Beginning To Be Spring

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This necklace was an amazing piece to borrow.  It’s rose gold, which I’ve never had the opportunity to wear before.  I’ve decided I like it better than yellow gold.

So.  One last color set before Black and White Week starts on Monday.  Visit my partner in crime at Chic on the Cheap to see Lydia’s black and white photos too!

Grab the banner and join us!

You may have noticed my absence yesterday on a day that I normally always post.  I participated in For Japan With Love, a bloggers day of silence to raise money and awareness for the situation in Japan.

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I think I’ve probably shared this already, but I studied abroad in Japan for spring semester 2008 during college.  Japan is also one of my top international destinations: I’ve been three times.  None of my friends live farther north than Tokyo so I’m relieved that they’re well out of the disaster area.

I wasn’t blogging yet during study abroad and none of my photos got viewed by anyone other than probably my sorority sisters and neighbors.  I’m finally sharing my adventures now, these photos were all taken with my old Sony and I so wish I had the Canon then, can’t even imagine the amazing photos I would have gotten!

In rough chronological order from January to May 2008, click through if you want to see them larger on flickr.

Fushimi Inari, the shrine of the god of rice.

Looking out over Kyoto, taken somewhere near the top of Fushimi Inari.

Kobe, near the harbor.

In Chiran they don’t decorate the sidewalks with something as common as grass… no, they have koi ponds between the sidewalk and the street.  Of course they do.

Standing at the bottom of an active volcano looking back towards Kagoshima, a southern regional capitol.

Sakurajima (an active volcano) in the background.  Sakura were just beginning to bloom in the south.

Shops in Gion (a district in Kyoto, also the setting of Memoirs of a Geisha) during the sakura viewing festival.

Sakura and a traditional gate in Gion near Yasaka Shrine.

View from up top in Roppongi Hills (Tokyo).

And because this is a fashion blog I’ll point out three fashiony photos from Tokyo: (1) Takeshita Street is one of the main streets in Harajuku.

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(2) Yohji Yamamoto storefront in Omotesando.  It’s very austere inside.

(3) Tsumori Chisato’s super cool window display in Omotesando.  I really regret not getting photos of the inside of the Comme des Garçons store, it looked like the MOMA.

The always bright Dotombori district in Osaka.  Tsutaya is like the Japanese Barnes and Noble, there are even Starbucks in most of them.

Sunrise over the rooftops on my last day in Japan.