Category Archives: painfully personalAs 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?
Hey Sacramentans,
Make sure you get outside (say what y’all want about Sacramento, but nothin’ beats our spring weather) tomorrow night for the Green Second Saturday Art Walk in stunning midtown (I’m not sure what they mean by “green,” I have a sneaking suspicion its just an excuse to party on Earth Day, what with the obviously unrecyclable glossy postcards that seem to be advertising it everywhere).
Considering all the pent-up winter blues everyone seems to be just starting to shake, I’m pretty sure its going to go completely unhinged! Besides an endless amount of parties being thrown, there’ll be “green-themed” local artist exhibits all over town and a “green” fashion show at Bows & Arrows including reinvented, screenprinted vintage couture by Trisha of Pretty Trashy, who sells her creations all over the planet and just launched her wicked online boutique!
If you find yourself there, scope me out walking in the show! I love to meet you guys…
UPDATE:
I don’t yet have a head to toe shot (GORGEOUS VINTAGE BOOTS), but here’s the one photo captured of me walking in the show (credit)…
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.
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)!
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!
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.
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
…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!
Be Hip. 
