check me out — Painfully Hip

Category Archives: check me out

check me out: Schizo night on J St.

May 7, 2008 – 10:15 pm

Here it is, hands down our most colorful post to date…

I got to do another fashion show for a neon-themed party at Momo Lounge on Thursday night. The clothes were provided by a rad vintage shop called Bows & Arrows (L &17th) and included the most kitsch late 80’s / early 90’s flourescent confections I’d ever laid eyes on. The outfits were styled by the Trisha Rhomberg- designer of local reconstructed vintage line, the amazing Pretty Trashy (15% discount with code PAINFULLYHIP). Our hair and makeup was donated by GS Hair and was inspired by early 90’s rave. We looked a bit crazygonuts and the blacklights made us all glowy.

back

final walk

Afterwards, the ferocious HOTTUB brought things to a nice rolling boil:
hottub

chain gang

photo credits: Nick Avey

However, I missed them this time because I had tickets to see one of my favorite folk rock bands, Vetiver, right downstairs from the party- where things were rather sedate but also equally mesmerizing albeit in a much more subtle, close your eyes and soak up the ridiculous acoustics kinda way. So even though there were all of 40 people in attendance, the stunning melodies were not wasted on us. Wow, what a show…

harlows

Which made for an incredibly schizophrenic night all in all, but at least I got to show Andy Cabic (um, starstruck! that VOICE) what a crazy person looks like!

… And then proceed to go back upstairs to dance my face off… or try to anyway; I think turpentine finally did the trick with all that makeup.

Attention! Attention! Sacramentonians:

Andy Cunningham has a gallery opening this Second Saturday at the Inferno Gallery at 1109 22nd Street. Much of his work reminds us of a gigantic, colorful, and chaotic system, perhaps the one we might happen to live in. And as we drunkenly dance the night away, and marvel at the jumble of our own universes, we are constantly enthralled by his work. Do yourself a favor and check it out this Second Saturday.

*We have reason to believe that this blog is represented by the teal rectangular prism left-center*

By amber | Also posted in art, everyday is halloween, fashion, painfully scene | Comments (10)

Eve and Danny: Hip and Mobile

May 5, 2008 – 7:49 am

As promised, my new blue stallion and me:

And newlywed boy stallion heading off to work this morning (In English Teacher garb picked out by himself):

Ain’t he precious?

By Eve | Also posted in painfully personal | Comments (6)

dress yourself in the issues that matter

April 19, 2008 – 12:46 pm

Have you ever wanted to help a gigantic 80 year old tortoise be a little less lonely? Today’s your chance. Buffalo Exchange, the large purveyor of new and used clothing, is holding a $1 sale on all their sale wares and is donating proceeds to help bring Lonesome George some tortoise friends to his home on the Galapagos Islands. Lonesome George is the last Pinta tortoise in the entire world (I feel like America should be supplying the soundtrack to my day right now):

Awwww. Look at him! He looks just like Moorla on the Neverending Story! Except Moorla was sort of a dick and I’m pretty sure Lonesome George is the reincarnation of Ghandi.
Hang in there George, we’ll save you! Buffalo Exchange Locations here.

Another way to save the world by being hot is by buying an art screenprinted Quiet Hero Tee. They’re so effing hip and soft and flattering. “Art to Ride a Tiger in,” to be exact (best slogan ever). Operation Quiet Hero donates to such non-profits as the Central Asia Institute and Heifer.
I wore my deep-V spacehawk tee out this week and I managed to get myself a few looks…

Spacehawk Tee from Quiet Hero
grey Target skinny jeans
thrifted large gold geometric earrings
thrifted bright turquoise tennis shoes (not pictured)
80’s white digital watch from Furni

…Could be because this tee felt simultaneously comfortable and sexy, eye-catching and easy to wear.

Or it could be that after having drunk several Heinekens whilst watching 3 hours of hockey play-offs (GO SHARKS!) and then switching to $2 Pabsts afterwards at my local watering hole of choice (I realize that according to David Lynch that this makes me a beer hypocrite), I was feeling like a total Bar Star and dancing my face off.

I’m pretty sure I had a blast.

By amber | Also posted in fashion, painfully indie | Comments (8)

check me out: i heart free shit

April 9, 2008 – 4:31 pm

Painfully Hip’s Major Hip Replacement clothing swap in Chicago was so fun, it was painful. Painful to see all the amazing clothes that people were letting rot in their closets…
I loved the way the swap worked out. We set it up with a bartering system so it felt a bit like shopping but without the guilt, and with an easy, mingly cocktail party atmosphere. The fact that you were sorta being held responsible for the quality of your wares totally upped the ante on the selection. Another cool thing that happened was that in an effort to make a “deal,” the girls were encouraging each other to try new things by specially choosing pieces from their stashes for one another that they thought might be a good fit.

In fact, I am so stoked on my new, free wardrobe that I decided to show off my favorite pieces with a really fun shoot by my friend (and talented fashion photog for hire), Nick Avey. Everything is from the swap except the accessories, which were all thrifted.

This pearl-encrusted dress, in perfect condition, was in the unwanted leftover grabfest pile at the end of the evening because everyone thought it looked a bit too “Jersey.” So I staved off the “nouveau riche” vibe with some black accessories and flat oxfords. Now it’s sorta got a Little Orphan Annie feel, which, come to think of it, is quintessentially nouveau riche. Ah well.

In spite of the sour mug, I do love this outfit. The tea-length boucle pencil skirt was scored off of one of my favorite Chicago bloggers, Whimsical Nerd, who traded it for my green floral cotton skirt which on me was frumpsville but on her almost 6 ft frame it magically turned into an adorable high-wasted mini skirt. I hope I see her wearing it on wardrobe remix, she’ll totally be a thrift star that day.

No idea what I’m doing in that photo, but this is probably my favorite single piece from the swap. My friend Andrea brought it because it didn’t fit her, so she didn’t even ask for anything in return! It’s in beautiful vintage condition and fits perfectly! I love this dress so much I would trade my own grandma for it. It has these profoundly deep and gorgeous pleated pockets which satisfy me to no end. God, I think I have a pocket fetish.

By the way, I’m thinking about setting up a Painfully Hip Major Hip Replacement Clothing Swap tour. Which cities are most in need? Please vote in the comments, and we just might see you in your city (but only if you wish on a rainbow)!

By amber | Also posted in fashion, painfully personal | Comments (59)

check me out: ladies’ night

April 7, 2008 – 1:14 pm

Its really weird how I ended up spending most of my time with members of the opposite sex. I get along well with girls, but it seems like most of my friends are of the male variety, probably because I’m really bad at controlling noisy bodily functions (my belch will shake your knee socks off within vague proximity), so I think I just feel more comfortable around the less fair.

But being that I had been out of town and missed my roommate badly, we spent almost the whole weekend being ridiculously girly: wine and brie for dinner, girls’ night out dancing, bottomless breakfast mimosas, trying on each other’s shoes, and cooking up a huge meal of curry curry curry. It was giggly and disgusting. You’re probably glad you weren’t there.
Here’s what we wore dancing.

on me:
beaded knit beret: borrowed from Eve
cozy black tube top (in hindsight not the best idea for a night of vigorous dancing- if i didn’t continuously pull on it, it would’ve been my “girls’” night out, know what I mean?): clothing swap
red knit scarf: borrowed from Angie’s boyfriend
navy cords: $2.50, altered by me
vintage peeptoe heels: $4

on Angie:
cozy ladylanguage dress: clothing swap
orange wedges: bought on sale and actually comfortable for dancing!
Michelle at LadyLanguage brought this sickeningly soft blue-green sundress to the swap after I’d been eyeing it on her site for a long time. I snapped it up quicker that you could say “Studio 54″ but then quickly realized that it wasn’t quite my size and would look approximately 5 billion times hotter on Angie, who is not only the best roommate ever, but also the epitome of benevolent goddess chic.

Wait till you guys see all the other awesome scores I made at the swap! Chicago apparently is overflowing with hipness and needed someone to pawn it off on. Post upcoming!

By amber | Also posted in painfully personal | Comments (8)

hip replacement implementation a complete success

April 3, 2008 – 6:41 pm

We were having a time to out-do all others in Chicago, midwestern hospitality is the BEST. Painfully Hip’s Major Hip Replacement Clothing Swap was a ridiculous amount of fun so we’ll have to consider throwing more of these! Thanks to the benevolent help of complete strangers and friends alike, it turned out to be one of the most fun and stress-free parties ever! Mercifully so on account of the fact that we were blatantly hungover and exhausted from the previous night’s festivities; an epic house party thrown by our spectacular hosts.

Anyway, here are a few photos from the swap. I think we’d all agree that we made out like bandits!

The first photo is of the midwestern fashion bloggers that showed up: Michelle of LadyLanguage, Natasha of Whimsical Nerd -who has a great re-cap of the evening up- and Monica of Midwasteland (apparently we’re incredibly short).
and the best swapped outfit of the evening goes to…!
lil higgs

Lil’ Sarah Higgs in a teeny and profoundly adorable vintage dress and fur snow boots. She’s a russian princess about to break out in a carousing, vodka-induced rendition of “I am 16, going on 17” from The Sound of Music.

To everyone who attended: Please send us photos (painfullyhip at gmail dot com) of your favorite swapped outfits and you might win a prize from one of our sponsors! W00t!

We’d really like to thank the following peeps for making everything possible, hangovers included. Sarah for making lists and signs and getting shit done (happy birthday, kiddo!), Pat for your travel services and hospitality, Ira and Andrea for absolutely everything including the epic party and the gorgeous vintage dress that I adore, Billy, Tracy, Molly and your roommates for all your help and use of the awesome and totally perfect (i.e. right in the middle of the vintage shopping district) WoR loft, Michelle of Lady Language for driving so far and bringing your returned wares, taking so many photos and just being generally amazing, Danny for driving and support and logistical execution, Meg for the lovely cocktail party in your painfully hip apartment… and to everyone, thanks for coming! It was so great to meet so many rad chicagoans and to take so many hip duds off your hands.

By amber | Also posted in etc, fashion, thrift stars | Comments (9)

check us out: Goodwill Tour March 2008

March 20, 2008 – 7:44 pm

Eve and I had to run some errands to the shitty (we’re sorry Vacavillians, but it’s at least sorta true) town of Vacaville, so we decided to make a silk purse out of the sow’s-ear-of-America and go thrifting. And boy howdy, are we glad we did.

Eve:
gaggingly adorable red beret with blue wooden beads - $2
airy blue pin-striped blouse with ruffles - $7
twee and practical red woven leather wedge pumps - $3
I told her she looks kinda Bonnie and Clyde crossed with Funny Face.

Amber (…hm, I think next time I’m going to try this outfit with a mini skirt or a floaty dress instead of hurrying into ratty old jeans, this is looking a bit too “I wanna date The Strokes” for my taste):
crocheted flutter-sleeve V-neck - $2.50
extra long beaded chain necklace - $2
shrunken double-breasted blazer (from the boys’ section) and my favorite thing du jour - $3
Eve’s explosive pointy leisure-class Cole Haans with metallic cut-outs - $3

cole haan loafers

…We also got some cozy warm ankle boots, 3 silk blouses, some high-waisted black jeans, a pair of loafers, some cloud-like chocolate leather easy spirit jazz shoes, some 80s deco earrings, another pair of red pleated leather kitten pumps, a so-soft rugby striped thermal, 3 statement belts, 2 silk graphic scarves, a warm and delicious men’s coat for the hubby of Eve, a kneeling chair, some brand new fireplace pokers, a slouchy 80s sweatshirt and 2 lovely sweaters.
SCORE.

PS Chicago hipsters: Don’t forget to RSVP to our Major Hip Replacement Clothing Swap in Wicker Park on March 30th! We really wanna see your clothes… er I totally meant to say you there!

By amber | Also posted in painfully personal | Comments (10)

check me out: DIY cigarette pants and monochromatic chic

February 22, 2008 – 4:01 pm

“j” reminded me that i was going to alter some 70’s bell-bottom cords ($2.50) into cigarette pants to wear with my delish electric blue thrifted pumps ($4). so i did. and they’re my new favorite pants.

before:

after:

I’m actually leaving to go camping in Joshua Tree National Park in about an hour, but i just had to throw on these pumps real quick for the sake of monochromity? monochromocrity? monochromicity? The shirt is a relic from my childhood that my dad designed for the tiny farming town we grew up in (it’s a painting of a cow and a sheep facing off, an illustration of healthy small town competition between Gardnerville and Minden, NV). The belt was thrifted for $1 and the flight bag was 25 cents (!) at a garage sale. So that makes the grand total for this outfit less than $8.

Have a great weekend folky ones. I’ll be back on monday night. enjoy the oscars (go p.t. anderson)!!

EDIT:
Wow, thanks for all the great feedback you guys! “Talented?” “Amazing job?” You’re just lucky you can’t see the inside of these. One word: Janky. I warned you there would be futzing! Seriously, I would do a tutorial but it would probably do you more harm than good. I literally just put them on inside out, pinned where I wanted to sew (my first mistake- i have pinpricks up and down my ankles now), and then just sewed them up in as straight a line as I could manage. That’s the beauty of altering cheap thrift finds, if you completely wreck it, what are your losses? …A bit of thread (more than I’d like to admit in my case) and a $2 pair of pants that you were never going wear anyway. So my advice is to just try to have fun with it and learn along the way. And remember not to punish your sewing machine for your sad lack of skills, it was only trying to help after all.

By amber | Also posted in diy, fashion | Comments (27)

check me out: supporting local shops

February 3, 2008 – 12:31 am

The weather here has been pure SUCK lately and it’s driving me a tad stir-crazy. A single sunny day in the past two weeks made me want to make the most of it and go for a looong walk in the sunshine. Little did realize that there are enough awesome thrift shops, vintage boutiques and local designers within a 10 block radius to choke a clothes horse! Well, I knew they were there, just didn’t realize how conveniently close they all are. Apparently I’ve had tunnel vision since I moved here. So anyway, I didn’t get my looong walk, but I did end up with a pair of shoes and two awesome vintage skirts. A denim one and this lovely high-waisted number…

purple vintage skirt, local boutique Olipom $10
navy criss-cross top (worn with ties through belt loops), Ross $8
burgundy tights, don’t remember
mock crock satchel, Winner’s $30
scarf, traded for earrings at a bar
galoshes, Winners $100

I swear I’m not making this up, but a few readers recently asked if I could do more check me outs. For serious. I know, right? So that’s why you keep having to look at my ugly mug lately, but I aim to please (um, never mind the fact that these are the most fun and quickest posts to do, that’s none of your business anyway). So what’s your favorite P-Hip feature?

By amber | Comments (10)

check me out: attempting to claw my way out of a heavy funk

January 25, 2008 – 11:02 pm

The questionable weather, my 2nd contraction of a flu virus within a week, overwhelming stressiness, and the fact that apparently there’s a conspiracy to turn Sacramento into a retirement town (aka shut down the only decent dance club in the city) has really gotten me down. I could barely get myself out of bed this morning. So. Just to spite the suckage, I decided to put on the most obnoxiously bright, cheerful, and totally impractical outfit I could find.

sleeveless, cropped wool sweater: thrifted, $8
high-waisted mini skirt: thrifted 75 cents
electric blue belt: thrifted, $1
f$%&ing beautifully saturated vintage silk scarf (seriously the best thing ever): traded for my thrifted 50 cent earrings with a girl at a bar
electric blue vintage pumps with buckle detail: thrifted $4
pleather bomber: Le Chateau $80

(Currently istening to: Clinic)

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