I’m terribly sorry for being mostly MIA these last coupla weeks, and not in a good way. I’ve been all over the map, burrowing my way through a glut of writing assignments, and completely and totally camera-less. This fact was especially stingy through my recent Agent Ribbons tour… Those ladies know how to DRESS. We took Farmington, MO by storm, I tell you what!

Of course, I have been thinking about fashion. Always. And lately I’ve been thinking about bondage-inspired ankle boots. About.com asked me to write a few pieces for them and here is my latest.

In past decades, le dépêche mode (fast fashion) was our enemy when investing in the trendiest boots. Who wants to adopt an expensive trend that might stale at any moment? Ankle boots, however, have been huge for the last several years and show no sign of being set free from their prominence. In fact, the latest ankle boot trends show the opposite sentiment: a tendency towards bondage. If you’d like to dabble in this “fetish” without breaking the bank, here are my top 10 picks that feature a plethora of buckles, harnesses, straps, grommets, laces, studs, cuffs, and even cages. Let’s get chic!

1. Strappy Buckle Bootie – Overdose on buckles! Why not? These easy-entry suede boots with a back zipper are only $26.40.

GoJane.com, $26.40

2. Engineer Ankle Boots – Harness boots with a rustic flavor and unique gold studs.

Forever21.com, $22.80

3. Leatherette zipper caged heel – This style walks the line between Yves St Laurent’s famed cage heel and Alexander McQueen’s motorcycle zipper bootie. Either way, you’ve got this trend under lock and key for only $25.20!

GoJane.com

4. Black Patent Lace-Up Ankle Boots – Simultaneously practical and daring, these stunnahs are wearable, warm and only $44.

NewportNews.com, $44.60

5. Bunny Ankle Boots – Paired with black skinny jeans and a shrunken leather jacket, anyone could pull off these exaggerated cuffs with aplomb.

Forever 21, $27.80

6. Crinkle Leatherette Lace-up Bootie – Rugged styling with ultra feminine details, like tassels, macramé and a sky-high stiletto heel for a mere $29.40!

GoJane.com, $29.40

7. Multi Strap Platform Bootie – Edward Scissorhands himself might covet this boot, Just imagine how nicely they would toughen up that floral body-con dress you thrifted last week.

GoJane.com, $31.50

8. Greta Wedge Boot – These boots are probably my tamest choice, but only because the last pair whipped them into submission. I reckon these beauties will still be chic next year, so you’ll get your $32.80 worth and then some.

Forever21.com, $32.80

9. Finella Bootie – Wear this corseted peep toe with layers of tights to keep your toes warm in cooler climes.

Alloy.com, $44.90

10. Zipper Cuff Peep Toe Bootie – Like a motorcycle jacket for your feet! What’s not to love?

GoJane.com, $26.80

I’ve lived in close proximity to San Francisco (as it has to my heart) for most of my life, but I’ve found only one way to properly explore its bohemian charms.

When I came upon Laura Kepner-Adney’s glorious gilt organics line of jewelry, I was stunned. Jaw-on-floor. She uses semi-precious stones, but only the kind you’ve never seen before, and combines them with organic materials like shark teeth, delicate baby’s breath, oil slick beetle wings and diaphanous leaves dipped in liquid gold. If you are craving something real in your life, visit Wingflash. No photo will ever do these pieces any justice.

This shoot was my Tucson collective’s first shoot, taken in my living room and closet. I rather think we rocked it. Ok, well “we” might be a strong word, since it isn’t very difficult to style a partially nude redhead with the most beautiful jewelry I have ever handled. Let’s just say I have been over-fucking-whelmed by the tsunami of talent currently swarming about me.

photos by Ryan Mihalyi
model: Ashley Geiger
hair: Addam Moreno
makeup: Octavio
jewelry by Laura Kepner-Adney
styling by me and Addam

closeups (by request):

As much as I love to layer, the weather in Arizona has thankfully not gotten cooler than a 5 year old’s tepid dunking milk. So I have not of yet had occasion to wear any layers (not counting the occasional bf blazer over my high-waisted short shorts – gotta keep it classy) this fall. But one can always look, right? I have nothing against coats – just the weather they require to be useful.
(Click photos to check auction)

Bright Blue Wool Boyfriend Blazer from Erstwhile Style - current bid $42

Embroidered Wool Coat (are those SEAHORSES?) - current bid $38

Tweed Swing Cape - current bid $42

Green Wool Coat with Fur Collar - current bid - $64

60s Swing Coat - current bid $175

Its photoshoot day again!! My roving gang of artistic fanatics are at it again… we need to come up with a team name! This will be our third shoot since I moved here, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Upcoming this week: our beauty shoot for Wingflash’s sharktooth and gilt organic jewelry and our 70s school girl, Biba-inspired fall shoot. Here’s a wee teaser.

photo by Ryan Mihalyi
model: Katie Palmer
styling and concept: Amber Mortensen
hair by Addam Moreno
makeup by Octavio
wardrobe and additional styling by Diana Deaver
accessory styling by Jasmine Jarrett

I don’t know if a red carpet event qualifies as such if it starts at 8am at a discount department store and there is no booze or paparazzi involved… If, however, it means that a corporation spoils the spit out of you for 24 hours, then yes, I attended a red carpet event. In Glendale, California.

Thank you very much to TJ Maxx for inviting me, putting me up at the Hilton and then, so very kindly, offering to buy my “return” leg to Tucson. You could say that the price of my interstate move was on the dime of a corporation. That’s how I roll. Thanks again, TJ Maxx.

Two rad DKNY dresses. The one on the left is, like 99% off. Or was it the right one.

Anyhow. Style expert and TV personality, the lovely Alison Deyette, explained to us the ins and outs of why off-price retailers, Marshalls and TJ Maxx are so effing rad. In the words of legit wordsmith, Well-Heeled With a Mission:

TJ Maxx buyers travel 40 weeks out of the year to speak to vendors all over the world.

Off-price retailers engage in “opportunistic” buying, i.e. when forecasting mistakes, canceled orders, or overproduction result in more items that a full-priced retailer can buy, an off-price will come in and buy the merchandise at vastly discounted prices.

Most of the merchandise at off-price retailers are in-season, and are released at the same time as full-priced merchandise at department stores. (i.e., you can find a dress at Nordstroms and the same dress at TJ Maxx in the same week.)

Off-price retailers have a fast turnaround time of as short as 2-3 weeks from the time a shipment is ordered to the time that the products are delivered, processed, and shown on the floor.

Department stores have the option of shipping back merchandise they don’t sell, but off-price retailers’ purchases are final.

As you know, I am not huge into “labels” and “names,” but I do, indeed I do, appreciate quality and a good deal when I see it. At this TJ Maxx, I managed to score:

I am currently editing photos from the Preen Glam Rock Fashion Show! Here’s a teaser:

These WILL be joining the ranks of my closet soon enough. That is legit vintage python. BELIEVE.

So despite the fact that gladiator sandals are as omnipresent as the Jonas Brothers, they still hold the unmatched power to give any thrifted sundress that “I care, but I DON’T care” je ne sais quois. At the same time? I’m TOTALLY over them. What is the next incarnation? GLADIATOR BOOTIES. Are they a boot or a sandal? We may never know, but I am officially obsessed.

Jeffrey Campbell at Revolve $115

Bijux Shoes at Pixie Market $115

Mia Bootie at Revolve $215

Oh so expensive! What to do??? Surprisingly, Lacadia at Cuffs managed to find a vintage pair that’s almost there (50% fashion-forward / 50% podiatrist-prescribed), which of course sold out instantaneously:

See Ya Later Gladiator at Cuffs $28

Well, at least I know they once existed. I am on a mission now. If our Painfully Hip Roadtrip doesn’t turn up a pair, then I will be forced to give up and start saving.