Buckle Up

So, as most everyone knows, bike culture is huge in Portland, OR. People take huge pride in what bikes they ride (fixed gears, 'fixies,' are very popular here, but I prefer the classier road bike) and dress accordingly. Along with rolled up skinny jeans, I've noticed an inordinate number of Chrome messenger bags in this city. Chrome makes extremely practical, waterproof messengers bags that diagonally buckle at the wearer's chest, making it extremely easy to re-wear.

My beat up army messenger bag has proven a bit annoying to wear while biking. It moves around a lot, so much that I have to swing its weight back behind me at every opportunity I get. Now, I want a Chrome bag for myself.

I like the olive + red the best

Chrome's signature buckle.

Not a fixie!

lol.

-s.

Purchases

Aubrey, update, because I'm reaching for straws here. Well, not really, but I think your updates are better than mine. Anyway, here are just a few things I bought recently.

Madras Smocked Sundress from Built by Wendy (summer sale!). Got it in purple, though, as navy was sold out. Multiple people have commented on the model ("the model's busted" and "that dress is cute, but the model is not.") -- I don't think she's ugly, just kind of weird looking with a weird nose.




FINALLY. I've been looking for a black leather, slim-fitting, racer/members only jacket. Fugly rainbow tank not included, fortunately.

-s.

Boyish Clothes

Hi, I'm back! And I still care about clothes.

I know I've already made a post about my love for boyish clothing for women. Seems like it's catching on these days.

I went to the new Opening Ceremony in LA with my aunt this weekend and found more extensive selections of the two lines I had previously enjoyed seeing at the NY flagship store: Schiesser (of Switzerland) and Boy (Band of Outsiders' female line).

Schiesser is a revival line, one that is 100 years old and mainly makes delicate, soft undergarments and pajamas. The company has not changed anything about what went into making its original line. Every detail about its basic henleys (tees and tanks), v-neck shirts, and underwear has been kept intact. Original blue stitching on the collar, simple buttons, etc. Even the packaging -- every Schiesser piece comes in its own individual box, the clothing inside wrapped in a single swathe of linen. Its color palette only consist of basic white, grey, light grey-green, soft pink, light sandy brown, and black.

I purchased a white v-neck tee. It is impossibly soft.

Schiesser

Schiesser packaging

Schiesser tag

I know very little about Boy. The salesboy at Opening Ceremony told my aunt that is was the female line from the makers of Band of Outsiders. From what I've seen, Boy makes traditionally "masculine" clothing, but in a feminine cut. For the unfrilly girl, this is a dream come true. Unfortunately, the dream comes with a pricetag that is, um, well beyond reach. One beautiful oxford shirt I saw at Opening Ceremony was being sold for $1300. Besides that, though, Boy is a beautiful understated line that takes pride in its simple details. I hope I can afford it someday?

Mode in Oxford cloth bib shirt. Hi, Owlie!

Zooey Deschanel in Boy.

Female model in Boy.

- s.

Graey.

Graey: more feminine loveliness. (casual this time.)


favorite.






sadly, i am a sucker for leggings.


casual but still romantic.

graeyny.com

-a.

The Modern Tomboy

I've always been a tomboy, partly due to the fact that I grew up with two older male cousins for most of my childhood, and partly due to my longstanding dislike of all things stereotypically floofy and feminine. It's only recently that I've come to realize that femininity can be utilized tastefully, but nevertheless, I'm still attracted to styles that harken back to my love of all things tomboyish.

These scans are from a Japanese fashion magazine called "PS (Pretty Style)."


Here, I love the overall English prep school boy look. Good Fall colors: dark green, browns, burgundy. Slightly disheveled but still very clean. Love the key detail of the fleur de lys on the tie.


Perfectly casual and the clothes have just the right amount of looseness. I love the vest and how it complements the long button down. Olive green slacks that are rolled up not too obsessively at the bottom.

What I particularly love about these outfits is that though they are distinctly tomboyish or masculine, they exude soft femininity without pushing the overt womanly envelope of, say, revealing cleavage, buttz, or even legs. These models are covered head to toe in clothing but still manage to look very much like women. Ignore whatever gender dichotomizing connotations those statements may have carried.

G-girl in me says, "Additionally, these half-asian models are really hot."

- s.