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New start at Erin Off Duty

My interest in this blog began to wane as my tastes/stories/life changed.  I've moved houses to a better blog hosting site and hopefully better blog than this one.  It's more of the same witty/catty fashion cometary plus a lot more original content.

Xo

The (two) White Dress(es)

I'd wear this iteration by Fashion Girl exactly as is with a little goofy hat and black leather sandals.  Perhaps brown leather would be less harsh than black, but the later keeps it a little punk and out of little girl territory (read: bad way to wear a white dress over the age of 13 unless you're trying to look like a baby which is LAME). 

I'm perennially attracted to The White Dress, but I've only ever bought two in my life.  Usually I stick to bold colors or patterns.  A certain boldness is what attracts me to try on an item in stores.  It has to be eye catching enough for me to bother with the hassle of the dressing room.  I always see white on girls in street fashion blogs and it makes me want it too.  For some reason though white looks boring on a hanger and I never reach for it when shopping.  I also like easy fashion.  Items that are fierce, but I can wear them anywhere, get dirty and throw in the wash.  White scares me.  Remembering to put a Tide pen in your bag seems like such a pain.  

The first time I ever bought a white dress  was inspired by a man I was in love with for years.  He was one of those guys who would give you enough of the perfect flirty attention to make you want more (and fall totally in love with him), but really had no intention of anything beyond screwing with you (in both meanings).  He told me once that he had a dream of me and him on a beach and I was wearing a white dress (OMG SWOON screeches!!!&%% my inner teen girl - and no, I was into my 20s at the time).  I was shopping later that weekend and his DECLARATION OF EVERLASTING LOVE (err dreaming of you in a white dress does not a marriage proposal make) inspired me to try on and buy a Rather Expensive White Dress.  It really was beautiful, but of course I never wore it and eventually put it in a charity bag with the tags still on it.

In case you're wondering his assholery eventually went to a whole new level (i.e. multiple personalities whole new level) and we haven't talked at all in about a year.  He also un-friended me on Facebook.  What the hell!  The sex was worth it though.

The second time I bought a white dress was not nearly as fascinating.  After wearing it for a few months I decided it was tired (and that the iteration of the dress - an empire style - made grown-ass women look like toddlers) and gave it to charity.  Both went to the same fate.  I'll let Fashion Girl stick to The White Dress.

Take it away again Fashion Girl;

-E.

Colour lust

I'm really into hair dye and its transformative effect.  Almost two years ago it was an ever increasing shade of ditz (that's blonde).  It started with highlights and I got hooked.  By the time I was ovah it I almost had Barbie hair.  It was killer hot, but I tired of it.  I went a slightly-more-bright-than-natural-without-looking-angry-teen shade of red in the fall.  Also got bored of that too and died my hair back to its natural medium-dark brown.  The red still comes through when the sun is shining and it's pretty decent.  I had to give it a rest though both for the sake of my poor head and poorer pocketbook.  If you've read this blog for more than 5 seconds you'd gather I'm not the type that does DIY on my person.  I'm aiming to grow out my hair completely and have it quite long for the first time in years.  Sexy.

I learned that DIY = hot mess one really intoxicated high school night that may have included one or more Substances of Pleasure.  A Dear Friend and I thought it would be a Fabulous Idea to DIY with her head (and dignity).  We coloured the tub and the towels red and got her hair a tri-colour of blond, brown and green.  Go figure.  Chemistry was never my strongest point.  More like non-existent point.  We had to sashay (err sway) over to Shoppers (said Dear Friend's hair in a shower cap under a hat) and stagger through attempting to explain to the Cosmetics Department Lady what we did and ask how to remedy it.

I've been trying really, really hard to hold off on another dye job.  I always feel blonde in the summer.  It's just so. much. damage. And $$.  

Behold, inspiration to re-fry my locks:

I lust over how it's a subtle, yet substantial, shift from her natural brown to a warm weather hue.  It even looks hot growing out (might be the sexy faced model).

Alas, in all likelihood I'm going to exercise some of that ever-elusive restraint and leave my head be.  Fierceness can be left to someone else for now.

Via Studded Hearts

E. 

ARSE

Back

 Front

Via Studded Hearts

E.

Teen girl squad

Via Fashionsquad

-E

Room inspiration

Cleaning out my closet.  Literally.  Figuratively.  Blah blah blah. 

I moved back home when I finished uni and had to get everything I own into my Teenage Room and 6 huge plastic boxes.  Fun fact:  everything in my closet is flowered (it's a colour!), black or dark green.  

I'm slowly working on getting rid of everything I don't need or have a serious attachment to.  And trying to break serious attachments to things I don't really need.   

Via Fashiontoast

Said Teenage Room was dark and brooding (indigo blue walls, black carpet, maroon sheets) and overly cluttered with antiques and other sentimental doo-dads and collectibles.  It's also in a dark and rather  (imho) uninviting corner of the basement of our 1920s family home.  I hate it and spend little time in it.  I'm thinking of off white, slightly warm tone of white/cream with natural wood detailing and hardwood floors.  Perhaps throw in some muted tones of gray and gray brown.  And everything light and airy.  I also want French doors that open on to a balcony.  

Ok, I live in the basement.  There is no hardwood down there.  Or light.  Or air.  (I do have French doors, but they are on my closet).  Still, a girl can dream.  I don't like clutter or distraction in my bedroom.  Or darkness.

Behold, inspiration:

My bathroom was redone a few years ago and is still pretty alright, but still:

I'm also lazy as all fuck.  I'll never get around to painting it and getting new crisp white sheets sheets.  It's probably not worth it considering the relatively short period of time I'll be here and how much I avoid my room regardless of how chic and clutter free it is.  I'll probably continue to reside in my dark and dingy corner of our 1920s family home in my Teenage Room until I get a (real) job and GTFO.

-E

Can I just say

Fucking anything is better in green tea flavour.  

Behold, green tea donuts:

I don't even like donuts and I'd eat one of these (if I was really drunk nom nom nom).  I'd consider eating a donut sober if Whole Foods sold them in gluten free, sugar free, vegan fair trade organic green tea flavour.

They're from Japan.  Obviously.

Excuse the posting break.  I've had a bit of an extended existential identity crisis.  I'm not sure what that means.  I'm also not sure if posting again means it's getting better, but I sure do hope so.

Via Fashiontoast

Xo

E

I'm back bitches. And I. Bought. Clogs.

Before I get into THAT HAWT MESS....

Hello again my lovely dahlings.

I've been MIA.  Your reader feeds have been absent the sequins and jazz hands my musings provide.  Lament no longer.

I was occupied finishing university.  Fuck you Renowned Institution of Higher Learning.  Now give me my $30,000 (more if you count in books, living expenses etc.) 81/2x11 certificate of Knowing Some Shit.  And it better be on some fancy high grade copy paper too.  For a lot of thousands of dollars I* lined your broke-ass coffers with I want some thick cream paper with a marble design, a fancy wax stamp and some signatures done in real ink.  Also, throw in a frame would you?  And none of that bullshit flimsy Zellers crap.  I want a frame with the Renowned Institution's name on it.  And someone famous and smart to smile and shake my hand while my Dad gets a picture and Mom cries.     

*And by "I" I mean Daddy's money

When I was done playing typewriter monkey and musing on a bunch of crap to get some marks I moved home.  Free rent in a sweet 'hood!  Free food! Lots of shit from parents who think my life is OVER because I have zero intention of going to grad school (even though I have a life plan)!  I did some entrepreneurial action to make my own sweet job.  5min walking commute and flexible hours for the win.  This is to support my shopping habit/paying down the student loan while I wait out the paperwork process for le dream job.

I also acquired some arm candy that makes my heart feel like it has been overtaken by a horde of butterflies (barf).  Like an actual Facebook-certified boyfriend.  It's kind of a long story, so I'll sum it up.  So there was this guy in two of my classes and I paid no attention to him whatsoever except for the few times we ran into each other on the bus because I thought he was kind of...different.  And then through a sequence of events (culminating in a lot of booze) I realized what he already knew about me: OMG I LIKE YOU SO MUCH.  And it's all been rainbows and unicorns and blue skies.  We even discovered we disagree on something (the Queen), which is totally awesome.   

I'll probably write another post in some length of time about how he BORKES MY HEART and cross out all this text as a giant FUCK YOU.  Or maybe I should be less cynical.  Barf, I know.  Most people don't give a shit when other people are happy.  There is so much cruelty and misery and wasting of lives that a little hint of  the beautiful really is so important.    

RIGHT THEN.  I. Bought. Clogs.

Yes, I know dolls.  I said from the second Chanel sent them down the runway at S/S 2010 that they has a massive case of FUG.  And I wined about them over and over.  And then they grew on me.  Now I would cut a bitch for some Chanel clogs (not the dark brown ones though...that color still has a case of the fugs). 

How'd this happen?  As noted in my last post I was having a crisis of the freshness right now.  I feel like I'm both on a precipice and in a no man's land between the old and the new unsure of where to proceed to where my exterior mirrors how I feel inside (which is the entire existential aim of style and fashion).  I've tried out a few directions with little real success.  In times of uncertainty I tend to gravitate towards the classically stylish (trenches, pear studs, detailed flats and a good lipstick) which makes me feel presentable, but my interior is less staid.

Among other things I was evaluating my spring/summer footwear options.  I resurrected my classic black leather flats, chucks and gladiators from last summer (the later COULD be overdone, but my style of them remains au courant).  I bought a pair of light brown leather knee high 5 inch heel boots in February that cross all the seasons, but I can only pull those out when I know I won't be walking far as FIERCE as they are.  I was looking for something lighter and fresher to add to the arsenal.  Of all my options the only ones that said HEAT were the gladiators.  I needed something lighter and more current.  I bought a pair of tan leather flats with a classic leather woven detail for both fun and profit (ie work interviews, which I do a lot of).  The black flats are classic, but were looking a little 'hood (i.e. used up and dirty no matter how much I polished them) and....black.  Black is not a summer shade.  I needed something else.  Something to wear with my plethora of summer dresses and shorts and pants if need be.  Something that is FRESH, but comfortable for the everyday.  I felt no inspiration walking through the isles of the stores in (and out of) my price point.  Woven "tribal" sandals, gladiators and other options abound, but none of it was anything of note.  None of it was an accessory I could don to pull me out of this precarious position in this void of style nothingness.   

BEHOLD:

OK. OK.  So they don't have that often so questionable wooden heel.  I would still call them a clog style (as did the queer salesman @ Browns where I got them).  Have you ever REALLY tried to walk in those Dear Readers?  They don't bend!  My general rule for shoe buying is you have to be able to use them for their intended purpose (walking).  With these I get the fierceness of the fresh stylz sans the questionable heel.  These bitches were SOLD OUT all over TO in the the good color, so I tried them on for size in another colour and ordered them online.  They are set to arrive early next week and it cannot be soon enough!  I never really would have considered the "slide" before, but these are so unique.  I even exercised some patience and waited over a week between spotting them, trying them on in another color and buying them online to see if they're really an object I want in my life on a permanent basis ( for serious I spent less time deciding on which boyfriend I wanted ;).  They get the silhouette of the clog anyone who's relevant will recognize and nod to.  They have a heel that is ever-so-required to walk with more swagga' without making your feet, and by extension disposition, into a giant boo-boo.  All around LOVES.  They don't necessarily look like much, but I was instantly drawn to them and they make me feel like a million bucks in them.  I am so excited to wear these with printed light and short summer dresses and distressed jean short shorts with flowy tops. 

Xo

Erin

I'm questioning my freshness

So last week I did a post about army style and how to do it right.  It's not that I think the look is irrelevant a week later, because I don't, but I feel like it's almost approaching overdone as it's getting going.  Normal people I'm sure are not feeling this yet, but I live and breath the industry and it already feels......like it's approaching expiry.  I check the industry websites and news feeds, fashion blogger and photographer sites and watch the magazines, streets and industry advertizing every day.  I'm seeing it everywhere.

Kind of like this I just saw today at Garance's blog. 

I mean...it's a pretty fresh take on the green army jacket.  Mine isn't this fresh or (highly likely) as expensive.  But....I'm just not feeling it.  I feel like such a tool all of a sudden wearing mine.  It was pretty fresh too....I got it from Urban Outfitters in February.  It just doesnt feel fresh right now.  And I only do fresh.

What's next?  I feel like I'm having an identity issue right now.  I have to go to TO tomorrow (yay eye surgeon appointment....not) so I'll be on the lookout for a new spring/summer topper.  I'm really feeling something Swedish......Swedish design is beyond fresh, but Acne might be slightly out of my price range right now.

I'll keep you posted on what I determine to be the freshest fresh.

-E. 

Masculine/feminine

Via Jak and Jil

-E.

All white for the win

Some things I like only in colour.  

However, I've had this little fantasy going about having a house in which absolutely everything visible is white.  Not my clothes or the people it in or nothin', but all the walls, furniture etc.  How chill would that be?  It'd also make it a giant no brainer to design.

Via Design Sponge

I want everything to be white, except this huge fuck off painting in the middle of the living room:

Via Terry's Diary

Some ridiculous art fag paid a bazillion dollars for that fuckery.  If I had a bazillion dollars I'd be that art fag buying ridiculous shit.  Until then I'll just get a massive canvas and some spray paint at an art store and make this shit up.  It says "Holy Shit" btw if your ass is feeling dyslexic looking at this fuckery. 

I have more taste than I know what to do with it, so I push it on you special people.

E.

Shoe porn (?)

So these are shoes from Miu Miu S/S 2010.  The fashion blogosphere is going fucking insane over these (probably on par with the clog fuckery).  I'm not even going to link.  If you care google it.  Freekin' Alexa Chung wore them too. I blame her for this fuckery like I blame her for the clog fuckery.  I love Alexa as much as the next girl, but bitch needs some better shoes taste me thinks.  

Are you feeling it?  I'm not so much feeling it.  The shape and pattern looks really......90s.....but dare I say not in the good way.  I'm pretty sure when I was 12 I had a pair of mary janes in the same silhouette and a tacky printed top a pattern along the fuggery that are these shoes.  So my tacky 12 year old self combines to Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2010.  Swell.  Just swell.

With so any other fabulous shoes in the world why choose these?

Thoughts?

E.

DICTATOR BABIES

You know why I love the internet?  

It never fails to provide me with bizarre content.  So there's this woman in Denmark who dresses her baby up as dictators and takes photographs.  She's got some sort of artistic/academic justification, but I don't really care.  If you care you can seek to undertand dictator babies here.

On to the important shit.  

Behold dictator babies:

You really want a close up of baby Hitler, don't you?

Yeah, me too.  Baby Hitler is like "did I do all that evil?"  Cute, eh?

E.

My mother at three

Her in Vienna where her family escaped to during the Hungarian Uprising in '56. They were on the last train out before the borders were sealed. Her and her parents lived in refugee camps along with 200,000 others while they applied to emigrate to the West. Canada let in a lot of refugees from that fuckery with the Commies.

 

All the first gens I know came here in '56-'58 as they got the paperwork to get out of the refugee camps.  They, like Mom, lived downtown. There used to be a lot of Hungarian restaurants and delis. The last Hungarian deli, Elisabeth, was still open when I was younger and I remember it fondly. Country Style Hungarian Restaurant on Bloor is still there. That place is the king shit for old school Hungarian food and is pure nostalgia to me.  I haven't been there in a while.  I think I'll go next time I'm in TO.

 

The second gens assimilated, spoke accentless English and went to university.  They weren't so keen on carrying on the delis, bakeries and restaurants so they closed as their parents retired. In some ways its too bad really.  Now my Mom and I go to the Russian stores in the North of TO to find the stuff you used to be able to get at the Hungarian places.  It's pretty cool because you can find stuff from all over the former USSR even though it split a while ago now. 

 

E.

How to wear a leather mini without looking like a hooker

So I have this really short black leather mini.

I mean.

NO, I REALLY DON'T DAD IF YOU'RE READING THIS.  I SWEAR.

Ok.  I digress. 

Knock knock.  Who the fuck banging at my door?  Is it abstract commercial or hardcore?

Where was I? 

Right.

Black leather mini.

The other day I was going through my closet in preparation for the change in season.  I bemoan nothing about the end of winter except that I consider(ed) it a season in which one does not sport leather so much.  The reason for this, Dear Readers, should be quite obvious.  However, a brain wave hit me like a ton of bricks this morning.  My google reader directed me over to a new post at  Columbine Smille's blog.  She posted a pic of herself in a black leather mini with a fresh, loose white top.  THAT IS SUCH A FRESH IDEA.  Why didn't I think of that?  I always considered leather something you wear with dark heavy knits or other winter garb.  You can totally take a black leather mini to summer by doin it rite like Columbine:

 

Although Columbine is doin it rite, it's a hard garment to wear without looking like a cheap hooker.  Exspensive hookers don't wear leather minis, at least not to work.

Firstly, consider that you have leather tightly wrapped around your ass.  Keep your top loose.  What Columbine is doing, a light knit, works for this time of year.  A cotton oxford in a size or two up from what actually fits you is super chill too.  You can get these oversized shirts cut for women.  If you're on a budget, and your BF/brother or Dad are not insanely bigger than yourself, borrow one from them.  Leave the top two or three buttons undone AND FOR GOD'S SAKE ROLL YOUR SLEEVES for a chic sexy look, but keep it classy Dear Readers.  Knock yourself out with colour as long as you stay out of hooker territory by keeping everything subdued (various shades of nudes or dust colours are particularly relevant).  I'll be doing this with an off white or nude/peach shirt.  Hell, you could even do a slightlty oversized and worn light jean shirt.  There are options dahlings.  I strongly suggest you consider your age and size when leafing through these options.

If it's not lined seriously consider wearing tights under it.  One, to not show too much skin HOBAG.  Secondly, because it will stick to your ass if you dont.  Trust this bitch knows what she's talkin' 'bout.

I tend to steer clear of vintage because I hate the old stuff smell.  Also, my schedule does not permit the time to dig through piles of crap to find something that needs tailoring.  HOWEVER, you can find real leather skirts at reputable vintage emporiums.  The benefit of vintage is that you can find a good enough quality leather skirt that is both real and lined and no longer at its original price point.  The old photos of my mother's friends - you know who you bitches are! - tell me these were pretty fierce in the 80s and early 90s, which is a spot on silhouette for this season.

With few exceptions this is very difficult to do with heels.  Take a cue from Columbine and keep the heel, if any, low.

Like your footwear, keep any accessories, makeup and hair simple.  Your ass wrapped in leather is enough adornment for one time. 

Now knock yourself out bitches.  Don't blame me you end up looking like a hooker.  I prepared you for success.

Xo

E.

RED SOLES SHOE PORN

Via Stockholm Streetstyle

E.

Erin philosophy

So I was thinking

My cynical self

Thinks all relationships fail

So if you don't call it one

It can't fail

Think about it

E. 

Knock knock who the fuck is banging at my door?

Is it abstract commercial or hardcore?

Xoxo

E

Florence and the Machine FRESH

My inner fan grrl goes FUCKING CRAY-ZAY for Florence and the Machine.  I actually own a 3D version of her CD.  I mean the thing with the case and disk.  I bought it in the airport in London before you could (legally) get it here.  I loved her before anyone on this side of the pond knew about her.  Yeah, I'm cool like that.  You can check out her Youtube Channel for more of her.

She's also crazy hot.  I always had a major hate on for gingers (with the exception of Prince Harry) until her.  Check it:

I could write a dissertation on this woman, but I'll have to save it or I'll be late for class.  How much I love her:  I paid 89USD for each for two tickets to see her concert in TO 10 April from ebay.  Yeah, over 4x the original sold out price.
 

Now that's devotion.  And it'll be worth it too.

 

Anyways.....she released a new vid last week for Dog Days are Over.  She's had a video for it for a long time, but she says she had to remake it when she could finally afford a non-ghetto vid.

While I actually like her original vid, I can see why she thought it needed a do over.  When I first watched the new one I was like "what in the fuckery hell is this?"  Then I realised its FRESH.  So FRESH.  I don't so much dig her fro, and there is a lot going on, but DAMN YO SO FRESH.

The original was kind of....hood.  And not in the good way per say.  I really like the tribal thing going on in this new version.  Especially the dancing drummers and the part where she runs with the flag in a caveman getup.  Hot.  It is really beyond the sphere of this blog post (exactly what I say in essays, except "beyond the sphere of this essay..." when I want to brush over why I didn't address something that's probably important because I'm lazy or late).  I digress.  Where was I?  Oh yeah....umm....I really don't have time to analyze it.  I don't even think it really needs analysis anyways.  
 

Now my inner fan grrl needs to chill out and go to school.  Ya know.  That "finishing school" thing is somewhat important on my list of things to do.

I'll have more fuckery for your enjoyment up later.

Xoxo

Erin

Grown ass bitches

If you read my post on grown-ass women you'd know what I got respect fo'.  There comes a time in every person's life when its time to present themselves like an adult.  There are two style philosophies I hate more than anything.  Firstly, it rubs me the wrong way when people think they have to compromise their "personal style" when they reach adulthood, so they dress like a teenager their whole lives.  The second thing I hate is when people think they have to get boring when they become an adult.  You can, and very well should, express yourself while displaying maturity.

Here's some ideas for what to wear to work or when you want to look fierce without looking boring or like a foo'. 

Here's some ideas for what to wear to work or when you want to look fierce without looking boring or like a foo'.  

Via Vanessa Jackman

Via Stockholm Streetstyle 

Via Yvan Rodic

 

Via Jak and Jil 

 Via Karla's closet

Xoxo 

Erin