wintersleepers

Winter solstice is behind us. The days are finally beginning to grow longer. And, yet, as much as I want to make the most of my daylight hours, exploring the towns and neighborhoods around me, I still find myself in a sort of hibernation. The arctic chills obviously play a major part in this, keeping me lingering in the toasty hallway instead of bounding out the door. Sometimes, I hurtle myself out into the hardened, glacial world. Other days, I turn back to hunker down in the cave of my blankets, with sipping chocolate and an well-worn Cynthia Voight book.

I wore this early last December, when the temperature was hovering at freezing. It was one of those infrequent moments when I pushed through the inclination to remain wrapped in my domestic cocoon. Headfirst into the frosty night, Partner and I voyaged to Porter Square for indecipherable Japanese snacks and BBQ veggie burgers.

As we head into the chilliest days of the year, I find myself wondering whether I will continue to nest and heal or be racing to meet the cold. Often, it seems like a test of the spirit to live in these bitter climes.

To slumber or to rise?

To surrender or to defy?



Outfit: UO black/white striped longsleeve tee, H&M black/white striped sweater, vintage Levi's cutoffs, UO shiny navy leggings, H&M black socks, vintage brown oxfords and side ponytail – I guess the winter brings that out in me?

i want to ride my bicycle, i want to ride my bike

During most of elementary school, bike shorts were a fundamental part of my daily getup. Whether beneath baggy carnation-print shorts or striped skirts, these thigh-skimming leggings were essential for modesty as I scaled the jungle gym and chased cute boys in faded surfer shirts around the playground.

I'm an adult now, insomuch as willingness to accept responsibility and ability to support oneself goes, but I still have an arsenal, albeit a diminutive one, of cycling shorts. American Apparel's basic jersey bike shorts are a staple in my wardrobe; I've had them in black, nude and white for a year or two now. However, it was Refinery29's astute observations of the upcoming spring trend that provided the final nudge I needed to purchase the AA Shiny Work Out Short in gold dots/black.

There's an unavoidable trashiness to the cycling short, but that's kind of the great thing about them. To counter the vulgarity, I teamed them up with oceanic ruffles, sheep-esque faux fur, "Don't mess" blazers, ditsy florals, cozy knits, spectators and ethereal white draping. Though I lean towards utilizing these characteristically cropped leggings as a layering device, I took the risk with some looks, donning them as – what else? – shorts. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but eff it. Like learning to ride without my training wheels, I'd rather have tried and wound up with some scrapes and bruises than have never given myself the chance to figure it all out in the first place.

(Above, left) H&M baby blue chiffon ruffle top, Zara faux fur vest, AA gold cycling shorts, Aldo black/white patent spectator pumps. (Above, right) Topshop black feather top, Express black blazer, AA black cycling shorts, Nine West black ankle boots.



(L) Vintage Betsey Johnson black sheer sequin dress, AA blue lame skirt as capelet, AA black cycling shorts, Converse gold sneakers, Gap black/white scarf. (R) Deborah Sweeney floral bow blouse, AA gold cycling shorts, Nine West black gladiator sandals, Linnea Pelle brown leather belt.



(L) Zucca white top, DKNY Jeans white sheer top, AA nude cycling shorts, Ferragamo black patent pumps, INHABITstructures time necklace.



(L) H&M mauve tank top, H&M gold sweater vest, AA gold cycling shorts, We Love Colors hunter green tights, Jeffrey Campbell gold caged platforms from Solestruck, F21 brown beaded necklaces. (R) H&M baby blue chiffon ruffle top, Rebecca Taylor taupe origami blazer, AA gold cycling shorts, Tripp NYC studded black ankle boots, gold/pearl brooch from Fashion Nation.





(R) H&M black/white graphing paper oxford shirt, AA nude cycling shorts, vintage Levi's cutoffs, Ferragamo grey pumps pumps, Gap brown leather belt.

snow crash

In the big scheme of things, there isn't much that I feel justified in despairing or grousing over. Sure, it burned to lose out on a multitude of eBay finds, but ultimately a woman's just gotta re-align herself with her core values and move on.

One thing that has been putting an cramp in my blogging style lately, however, is the weather. Between the subzero temps and state-sanctioned-stay-at-home-worthy storms, indoor photography is the method of choice for many of us right now. (That is, unless you're Tavi and are willing to brave -6 degrees for your readers. Personally, I find my limit for prolonged posing to be around 40; at least, such was the case when shooting for The Globe last November.) There are some added challenges for me doing photos indoors; I lack visually appealing homespace and we don't wear shoes inside*. As much as try to work with what I have, resorting to collages to hide my lackluster stove/couch/bathtub in the background, I occasionally fret over my photography's regression from the new territory that it covered over the summer. In the end, though, I do what I can with what I have, and that's all I can really expect of myself.

That being said, the snow has not yet ceased to amaze me. Its properties, its texture – simply fascinating. I made Partner take a photo of me during the massive, pre-Christmas storm (below) and then promptly plopped myself amidst the fresh whiteness to make snow angels. For all that the winter taketh away in scenic fashion photography backgrounds, it giveth back in a whole new world of apparel (Coats! Boots! Scarves! This tropically-bred mind still boggles) and the opportunity to frolic in a winter wonderland I'd only previously dreamed of.

* This is standard practice in Hawaii, although I've been pleasantly surprised to find that most Mainlanders I visit do likewise.

sifting for sea glass

One of my favorite things to do in Hawaii is comb the beaches for sea glass. I squat down, toes buried in the sand, examining green glass by brown glass, ultimately casting off those shards that have not been properly ocean-worn.

I think one has to apply a similar methodology when searching for clothes on eBay; there's just so much stuff available on there now that one really has to have a discerning eye. Even when one does successfully separate the wheat from the chaff, there's still all the other bidders to contend with – bidders who are willing to shell out anything to triumph.

Last spring, I uncovered this dress in the oversaturated waters of eBay, from Black Luna Vintage. As if the frock's uniquely printed blend of sea glass and Italy's Murano glass wasn't already a catch in itself, the auction went uncontested – something almost unheard of nowadays. Like scouting for sea glass, sometimes all that sifting through eBay pays off, yielding the perfectly formed, perfectly colored find.

Outfit: Vintage Murano glass print dress, Jeffrey Campbell white jazz shoes, H&M studded belt.

pixie stix

The level of bubbly devotion and desire to emulate that many females express for their girl crushes is one that I tend to reserve more for online boutiques. (Of course, in the case of a store, it's not so much emulate as it is acquire.) Bona Drag is probably the best example of this; I nursed quite the infatuation over the store, doodling about it in my notebook in the manner of "dreamecho luvs [fill in obsession's name here]".

As with all crushes, one is allowed and, more importantly, able to have more than one at a time. Good thing, too, because Pixie Market has wedged its way into my heart. Or, more accurately, my heart has expanded to embrace Pixie Market – after all, the heart grows bigger as it loves.

And so, apparently, does the closet when dreamecho finds such a retailer of zany prints, architectural details, uncommon silhouettes and foreign lines unavailable elsewhere in the US. To be sure, I've been browsing through and buying from the online store since last summer. (I haven't made it down to the brick and mortar in NYC yet – a matter that shall soon be rectified.) Featuring the store on my blog at this point is more out of a desire to document my perpetual wonderment at and relishing of Pixie Market's offerings than an effort to be news-y and cutting-edge. Up to the minute headlines aren't what I typically do anyway. If anything, this might qualify as a Conspicuous Consumption post as well, because I already have in my posession the sequin capelet, drop crotch jeans and polka dot romper.



A word of caution: I read in Lucky a while ago that pieces were available in limited quantities, and that has indeed been my experience. Items and sizes often run out quickly, especially for the good stuff. I pretty much stalk the What's New page weekly so I don't miss out. Also worth noting is that even if an item or size gets sold out, there is still hope. I've checked back for items that I missed out on and found them back online a month later.

hot pink fall nights

This photo was taken on an exceptionally warm night in November. It was so warm, I was really overdoing it with the wool jacket. We went to Finale for greens and molten chocolate cake, i.e., the gooey subject of this photo that simultaneously disgusted and whetted some of your appetites.

Attempting to compose any sort of caption or story about an outfit worn two months ago is rather awkward; most people who feature photos of their daily wear usually post the photo on that day, if not by a few days later. If you've been reading dreamecho for some time now, however, you'll know that I don't follow that practice. (And I especially don't follow it during the winter, where I spend all prime-photo-taking-time (i.e., daylight hours) at work, camera-less.) Mostly, I don't have a problem with it, except that it puts me in the quandary of deciding whether to rehash an older event or elaborate on my current state of affairs/mind.

If nothing else, I've managed to solve the dilemma, in this post anyway, by detailing both what happened the night I wore this outfit and telling you what's on my mind right now.

If only every Outfits Quotidian post were this easy.

Outfit: AA grey tri-blend cardigan, H&M black wool jacket, APC pumpkin corduroy skirt, AA tricot magenta leggings, Nine West black ankle boots, H&M black scarf.

Photo credit: Partner.

day in, day out

All I have to say is that this is a template for many a dreamecho fall/winter outfit.

Outfit: H&M blue plaid oxford shirt, AA grey tri-blend cardigan, vintage black/white checkered sweater skirt, AA black lame leggings, black ankle socks, Jeffrey Campbell brown wingtip oxfords, eBayed spider web pin, Target light brown skinny belt.

Background image: Pen tips.

sock hop

Up until now, I've been satisfying most of my hosiery cravings online. Though Boston's stores abound with stockings, I'd never found an outlet stocked with the sorts of whimsical prints and color spectrum that I favor.

Vintage Etc. in Cambridge's Porter Square, however, has changed all of that. The store specializes in socks, tights and clogs, and I do mean specialize. I'm talking floor-to-ceiling foot- and legwear. Brands include Falke, SmartWool, Max Mara, Ozone and b.ella; prints range from the geometric, Tetris-inspired to illustrations of animals. In my opinion, though, the purveyor's showpiece lies in its wall of Hue colored tights. Never in all my time here in Boston have I seen so much of the rainbow represented in hosiery as in Vintage Etc.



After surveying the store, I decided to take advantage of the Hue 3-for-$15 sock option. Martini and I had just done an impromptu dress up session at H&M a few days ago, wherein we discovered that her grape-juiced toned socks packed a perfect punch no matter what the outfit. So, I decided to snap up a violet pair for myself. Stripes (a no-brainer!) and hearts rounded out the trio.

Meanwhile, I also needed to beef up in the "practical" department. When I first moved to Boston, I interrogated several of my coworkers on how to dress for the cold. One of them took the opportunity to discourse on the benefits of wool socks, particularly of the SmartWool variety. Since then, I've tried them; indeed, wool makes for warm feet, even when damp. (That is my oh-so-subtle way of referring to sweaty feet.) And, as my coworker asserted, SmartWool socks are made exceptionally well, justifying their pricey-ness. I picked up a couple of pairs at Vintage Etc., to add to my existing meager and insufficient collection.

At this point, I've got all my bases covered: I've got my quirky socks taken care of and my SmartWools to last me for a few years. Should I be needing another pair of purple tights (lavender, this time?) now I know where to "hop to it" – "it" being Vintage Etc.

se7en

Anthea from Clothes Line Finds has tagged me to reveal seven details about myself. Without further ado....

• I get confused when people ask if I'm into sports; I like to play them but I'm not into the spectator aspect of it all.
• I'm totally craving a molten chocolate cake/chocolate lava cake right now.
• Speaking of food, I also like mangoes and Greek yogurts.
• I stopped painting my nails when I was 13 or 14 but started painting them again this past summer. On occasion.
• When feeling absurd, I belt out the lyrics to various Toni Braxton songs, usually the ones from her eponymous album.
• I thought all this Twilight hype was in reference to the 1998 movie with Susan Sarandon. I was, like, why all these young girls getting so excited over a decade old movie? Then the tween vampire film of the same name released, and it finally all made sense.
• I don't know if "Chuck Bass" is the name of a real person or a character on Gossip Girl, and I don't really care.

Now it's time for me to tag seven others. In my own twist, I'm going to pick the first seven bloggers that commented on the Jeffrey Campbell vs. Aldo post whom I have not tagged before. (That gives Ms. Blue Floppy Hat from Nonsense on Stilettos a pass.) The lucky seven:

• copperoranges of little boat
• Miss Victory of Tea for Two
• sk of viva la sk
• Mirthe of The Great Book of Fairy Tales
• Tara Diane of TulipSociety
• Miss Urbanita
• and last but by no means least, Sal of Already Pretty

Go forth and share, ladies!

Photo: Molten chocolate cake.

happy new year!

Hope everyone had a good one!

The holidays passed this blog by with nary a mention, but I did share some reflections on the season over at New Brahmin. There, I attempted to regale readers with tales of sales and then divulged my optimistic outlook for 2009.

As for my New Year's celebration, I ended up braving the heavy sideways-blowing snow and below-freezing temperatures for First Night. The evening gallivanting included everything from the Mapparium (a three-story high, stained glass globe that you walk through) at The Mary Baker Eddy Library, to fireworks over the Boston Common, to warm brownies and mesclun salads at the Miracle of Science Bar in Cambridge, to experimental music at the Hynes Convention Center. No worthwhile photos of the night exist, but it's not as if this blog is really lacking in images of me anyway. ;)