Columbus Monthly Photo Shoot

Last month I did a photo shoot for the September issue of Columbus Monthly magazine. I was really flattered to be included. Three women and 3 men were featured as local snazzy dressers. (Thanks to Josh at Tigertree for nominating me!)

I had to put together a casual and a dressy outfit for fall. I have to admit, I was disappointed with how the spread (can you still call it a "spread" if it's only 1 page?) turned out. For starters, they only showed my dressy outfit. While I like the dress, I think that the casual outfit was cuter and captured my personal style better. And the photo chosen to appear in the magazine just wasn't flattering... I mean, there was a fan involved... the chiffon and the hair were blowing. Too bad it couldn't blow my apparent double-chin out of the way, as well. heheh.

But overall, I was flattered to be included and was grateful to get to do a professional photo shoot. I've included my favorite two photos here.


This is the most beautiful dress that I found in Hong Kong (there's a funny story that goes along with it, as well). It's by Tsumori Chisato, who's a wonderful Japanese designer known for her playful, kooky designs and amazing prints.
The shoes I'm wearing are by Kenneth Cole, and they are my "save-the-world" shoes. I say this because I get compliments on them from all sorts of people--literally from fashiony types to bums on the street. These shoes really seem to bridge the gaps in the world. Maybe I am naive, but I think that the level of understanding between people of different races and backgrounds that these shoes afford could really make the world a better place. Drop them off at a UN meeting; see what happens. :)

The fishnets are gold and sparkly (from Hue).

The purse is my most favorite in the world. It's by Patch NYC. My friend Jimmy once named it Kamir (C'mere); he also once stuck it down his pants.

The necklace, can't really be seen, is my great-grandfather's vintage pocketwatch.

This is my casual outfit. Not as much to say about the individual pieces here, but I just love the whole look. I was going for a playful take on a tuxedo--the skirt has an attached cummerbund and I pinned a flower on my left wrist for a corsage effect.

Blouse vintage, skirt Surface to Air, flower pin gift from a friend in Korea, tights Hue, shoes Dolce Vita, bow ring Tatty Devine.

The sky is falling

This is such an easy dress to throw on.

Dress sample from my old job (Able Leader cotton dobby), necklace from American Rag (can't remember the designer's name... I have to get better with that), shoes Devotte.

Wooden beads + crystals = fabulous!

Close-up of the fabric of the dress...

Cochino catnip

We bought Cochino a catnip plant over the weekend. It is not safe anywhere inside our apartment because she is obsessed with it. We don't have a balcony or a porch or a window ledge, so we've strung it up so it hangs outside our window but is attached inside. Classy.

A trip to the sun

The glasses and bag look like I'm going on a journey.

Glasses ?, tank Splendid, foil-printed skirt sample from my old job, shoes Jeffrey Campbell, bag Hayden-Harnett. And the collar! The collar goes with a tank dress in the same print by Natalie Wood. I got it in HK.



Cochino politely respects the amazingness of this bag.

Polyester garden party

This dress predates my current rule to no longer bring home any vintage/thrifted polyester clothes. (I am trying to focus my love on natural fibers from the vintage world.) I probably would make an exception for a dress this lovely, but really unless the print or silhouette is just amazing I'm leaving the poly dresses for other people. I've been through enough of them and they just don't have as much appeal to me as they once did. They just feel cheap anymore...


The print on this dress is amazing--flowers (with the botanical names) and bugs and lacing in the back.


Dress vintage, bracelets vintage, shoes Opening Ceremony.



I could alternate these with the beige Theory shoes, and I'm set for the summer!

I'm obsessed with this print...

Note the blue bug!

Tea time

I wish I had a tea party to go to. Or at least some tea sammiches to eat.

Dress Tara Jarmon, tank Gap, shoes Theory, bracelet... can't remember the designer, got it at the cutest boutique in Hong Kong. It's right next to the big Bauhaus store at the corner of Yiu Wa and Matheson Streets in Causeway Bay. They always have the best selection of jewelry, some of it culled from Paris. There's a fantastical, whimsical quality to most of the pieces.

I could wear these shoes every day. Not so keen on the current polish, yet it remains. I'll try to do something about it this weekend...

I know I've shot this bracelet before, but I just love it. I put Cochino's photo in the locket. I'm a cheeseball, I know.

Indie Alexis Carrington

This jacket is *so* Dynasty. And the necklace captures Alexis Carrington's sentiments exactly. Headed out to the Handsome Furs show...

Jacket vintage (thrifted--I'm sure the prom dress it originaly accompanied still doesn't quite feel itself); tank H&M; necklace... can't remember the designer's name but I got it in Toronto, where he's a local; wire fabric skirt J. Crew; shoes Jeffrey Campbell.

Close-up of the amazing taffeta jacket (the ruffled collar is very evil Disney queen) and the necklace, which has been obscured just so (this is a G-rated blog) but you can probably figure out its message. heheh.

Haze

If I was a really stylish American Gladiator, Haze would be my name and this would be my outfit.

Romper Janine Stewart (purchased in Hong Kong), "necklace" a piece of "rope," shoes Dolce Vita (Chloe rip-offs).

Love all of the detailing... especially the pockets.

These shoes are starting to wear, but I still love them.

Queen Anne's Lace swiped while walking on campus.

Margot Kidder's cat

I've been thinking about Margot Kidder these days. Not crazy-cut-her-own-hair-off breakdown-style Margot Kidder, but that sexy '70s/'80s fawx Margot Kidder. This outfit reminds me of her, but she probably would have worn it with some mahogany side-zip boots instead of with some ethnic-inspired sandals. That's where we differ, I guess. That, and I haven't any mahogany side-zip boots.

Sweater Urban, sweater tank Laundry, high-waisted skirt vintage, belt vintage (from Mom), scarf Hayden-Harnett, sandals Dolce Vita, bracelet Jami Rodriguez.


Close up of the "jardin" scarf from Hayden-Harnett. It has the cutest print of earthworms on it, complete with the part that protrudes more and is the sex gland or whatnot. (My freshman bio knowledge has gone the way of the dodo.) Sounds gross, but it's totally cute!

Bonjour!

This was my favorite dress last summer. I still love it, I just haven't worn it as much. I love the font of the "bonjour", as well as the fact that it was garment printed so it's all effed up at the seams. I think it would have made the sassiest stewardess dress in the '70s... imagine it printed with an airlines logo instead...

Sweater dress Spring & Clifton, cardigan Dace (both from Tigertree), boots Classified, ring 31 Corn Lane (thanks to Niki at Tigertree).



So over-the-top and fabulous! This ring didn't make the cut at my favorite local boutique so it was gifted to me. (I'll wear anything! Almost...)

Beethoven's cat

What are you looking at?

Vintage tee embellished by me, skirt Old Navy, shoes Dolce Vita, bracelet vintage.

Fraulein... where are you off to?

Shirt Sky, tank Old Navy, skirt vintage, shoes Theory, bandana bag vintage, glasses vintage.

Close-up of the lacing with velvet and lace trim.

La comedienne

If I did stand-up comedy, this would be a great outfit to rock on stage. The plaid ruffle is the stylish cousin of the squirting boutonniere.

Sweater BR, under-tank Gap, ruffle tank Petro Zilia, skirt Ruehl, shoes Dolce Vita.

Close-up of the ruffles and vintage buttons.

PTA redux

This is totally an old teacher's jumper (I just know it!) that I thrifted and had shortened. I was attracted to the print originally, but I love the way that the sides are open, as well.

Jumper vintage, tank LA Made, necklaces vintage, shoes Opening Ceremony.

Pheasants and whistles!

THE FAIR

Went to the Ohio State Fair this weekend with our friends Robert and Derek, who really know their way around a fair. It was our first time, so we were thankful to have such great guides. We didn't miss a thing! Behold, some shots of the fair:

You can actually rent a motorized scooter for the day. In case you left yours at home or just didn't feel like walking.

Getting ready for the show.

We had to try a deep fried Twinkie (also shared a corndog, some friend mac and cheese and a vanilla shake). Note the other things available deep fried. (Yes, that's a _deep fried_ PBJ sandwich!) The woman unwrapped the Twinkie, dipped in batter, and then set it into the deep frier for a few minutes.

(Note that this stand also sold Mylanta.)

The deep fried specimen. We had to wait a few minutes for the molten cream filling to cool. It was actually pretty good--not as sweet as I'd anticipated. It was similar to a doughnut, really.

The butter cow... one of the main attractions at the fair. Yes, it's carved entirely of butter.

Step right up! Get your Roast Beef Sundae here!

The lovely Holstein Queen.

Derek and I check out a very large hog.

Head of hog, body of man! (Note the lack of sleeves on Robert's t-shirt. I told you they were hip to the State Fair scene.)