LOOKS I WANNA LIVE IN

man oh man am i loving these looks i put together over on polyvore. hints of neon, black crop tops, high-waisted, wide leg trousers, statement jewelry from kelly wearstler and marni and some pretty mod and 90s influences. i would live in these looks all summer if i could.

view the products here::
set one :: lime crimes
set two :: 90's child
set three :: hot lips//hot pants

IT'S A GIVEAWAY!!!

The fantastic curators of Dose Market are hosting a Wanderlustings' giveaway! The prize you may ask is this limited edition statement necklace, Star-Crossed Lovers, inspired by The Great Gatsby film coming to theaters May 10th!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE.

TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!

LN-CC is like my kryptonite. and these toga shoes they have in the shop are making me melt.

they're made for, gee, i don't know, other than me i'd say alt cowgirls or maybe goth girls with a southwest fetish. maybe even a bit steampunk flare mixed with spaghetti westerns. either way, it's a very beautiful thing.

un // deux // trois

THANKSGIVING WISHFUL THINKING WEARDROBE

i'm a vegetarian and i rarely am allowed to make anything besides a side dish for thanksgiving at my mom's house. so i like to just kick back, relax, catch up with family and dress sassy, yet comfortable so i can not only chase around the newest little members of my extended fam but hide my post-dinner food baby as well.

these items have been endlessly taunting me on my pinterest 'wanted' board. so i thought i would vicariously coordinate my thanksgiving outfit with those items and hopefully work some of that lust out of my system. people, especially friends, not just randoms off the street, ask me for fashion advice. i honestly don't really have any besides: be different but be you.

i don't follow trends. i just don't. i like to be comfortable but above all, i really value being unique and being true to myself. i like items that feel like treasure. and to me that means they are or remind me of something that has been unearthed from the past. i love history and let's be honest, they really don't make things like they used to. rarely is something handmade by one person that spent days laboring over that one piece. i appreciate that attention to detail.

hence why i built this entire outfit around that odd fellows jacket. i'm asking for it for christmas...so please don't buy it - haha! but no, seriously, please don't buy it. okay, okay. the shoes were next - holy cow do they transport me back in time. but they're actually modern and available at modcloth for only $45! yes please! i could talk your ear off about the rest of the items but honestly, it would become a novel on here. so go, browse - seek out these new treasures.

what would your perfect thanksgiving outfit entail??

1910 odd fellows jacket
wooden tortoise shell glasses
rgb polish in cognac
kate spade woodpecker clutch
j brand distressed boyfriend jeans
cranberry candy lace-up flat
odette new york rib cage ring
dallas maynard cameo studs
'my indian childhood' perfume

'dillas, dolls and tenenbaums at the museum

i am still going through endless amounts of photos that i have taken, downloaded and then just forgotten about left it my dreaded iphoto folder. and in my opinion, there are some pretty interesting/funny/amazing/horrific photos that i feel the need to share on here.

like gratuitous armadillo handbag shots.
or portraits of victorian activities that resemble something more out of a wes anderson flick than anything else.
or portraits of children that look like they're all dolled up for a pageant.

this needs to be let loose people. so here it is in all of it's weirdly awesome glory.

all of these were taken on the 4th of july when my friend christina and i decided to skip town on a road trip and head to the milwaukee art museum. brilliant idea, christina. best fourth of july to date.

sneak peek :: my style shoot with the urbaness

photo courtesy of Jazmin Corona for The Urbaness

I was so excited when the sweet Lizzie approached me about doing a style shoot with her new site The Urbaness. Today is the official launch of the site and I am so excited to finally start reading it! The Urbaness is Chicago's premier city guide and lifestyle website. 

The Urbaness will be updated daily and cover a range of topics from style {but of course!} to green living, the arts and around town. Their main goal is to inspire the everyday Chicago girl to fully embrace the city, within her means and in style. How wonderful, right?! It will be so nice to have a REALISTIC perspective from all types of Chicago girls!

Here is a bit of their official statement - I loved it too much not to share:

Inspiring adventure. Inciting curiosity. Emboldening the city girl to seek the world outside her door...Call it a city guide or call it a love letter. The Urbaness celebrates -- in photos, in-depth interviews and advice from experts -- the spirit community that set the Windy City high above the rest. Look to us to incite a spur-of-the-moment urban adventure, to fall in love with a tucked away boutique or to find calm and balance while living your life in one of our nation's busiest cities. --The Urbaness

It sounds amazing! I am so intrigued! 

Be sure to check it out here.

a new lease on life {for your wardrobe that is} :: new form perspective's versatile pieces

talk about looking at your wardrobe differently. i love that with just one piece from new form perspective, you can turn an otherwise bland outfit into a really interesting statement. all of the lovely abstract, geometric shapes it takes on the body is beautiful. some of the draping and lines are phenomenal and at times playful.

the more utilitarian pieces remind me of what katniss everdeen might wear while hunting in the woods. and for that fact alone i love it. my wardrobe could be pushed so much farther with a few of these pieces...hmmm....

new form perspective

become a humanoid :: amazing art + apparel

i am so in love with this collection and lookbook. all of the clothes fit so wonderfully comfy and casual yet have a sharp design to each one so as not to make you look like you only dress for comfort.

humanoid is a netherlands brand nearly 30 years matured. which amazes me to no end because the designs and vision seems so beautifully modern. leave it to the dutch, eh? started in 1981 by sandra harmsen and hans boelens, a creative and a financial director respectively, described the brand as a good person - two feet on the ground, comfortable and happy with yourself.

boy, does this ideal translate seamlessly into their brand. the designs were taken over in 1998 by the current designer in chief cecile bleijenberg who has certainly crescendo-ed for me with this collection and lookbook.

photography:: anne dokter
art:: anouk griffioen 

90s child :: karla spetic a//w 2012

i just about fell off my chair when i laid my brown eyes upon karla spetic's autumn winter 2012 collection. the graphic lichtenstein covered prints, bold colors mixed with pastels, fuzzy sweaters, overalls and sneaker heels remind me of my teendom...in a good way though - let's make that clear.

god, this collection is just gorgeous. karla always has a knack for her bold, dramatic flavor but this is just incredible. hands-down one of my favorites a//w 2012 collection.

and timely for me too, seeing as i just posted about my visit to the lichtenstein exhibit. i love it when art influences fashion and vise versa.

mara hoffman 2012 :: from bali to brazil

mara hoffman has always been known for her around the globe designs. her collections scream tribal, folk and otherworldly all at the same time. her spring/summer collection is no exception. i am loving all of the designs. they look so comfy and totally catch my eye. i love the hairstyling in this shoot by the way. it looks like the models have luch, exotic plants growing from their noggins.

so wonderful. keep up the excellent work, mara.