We've moved!

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

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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