Sunny Stripes

I know it's a bit ridiculous to wear a scarf with a sleeveless dress. Think of it as a large, soft necklace! Or just consider me silly--that's fine too.

I'm proud of myself for not spilling anything today. In fact, it's amazing that I've had a yellow-and-white dress for a matter of months without splashing coffee in my lap, or dousing my front with salad dressing. Typically I try to avoid pale clothes because their ruination is inevitable. I can't wear a garment that's been blemished by even the slightest stain--I don't know what it is, but stains drive me nuts. Thank goodness for thrift stores, right? Secondhand shopping allows for insensible purchases that don't break the bank. When a clumsy mishap eventually condemns this dress, it won't be a tragedy.

My dad took me out for lunch at a Peruvian cafe/deli called El Mono, which is Spanish for "the monkey". Excursions with him are always a treat, no matter where we're headed. The restaurant itself was unremarkable (except for the cute name!) but hanging out with my dad automatically peps me up.



PS: I waited until early evening to take these photos, hoping for flattering shadows, but maybe a couple more hours would have been advisable. Google told me when to expect sunset, but I still felt paranoid that I'd run out of daylight...

June Pumpkin

This is why people try to avoid taking photos in very bright sunlight: weird, harsh shadows on the face. But every day I step out with my tripod around 2pm, because... I dunno, somehow it works best with my schedule? I may need to rearrange things to break that habit. Fashion Fragile is a visually-oriented blog, and I want it to be as pretty as possible.

Recognize the pattern on my tunic? I decided that I didn't like my dress/skirt creation from a couple months back, so I cut it up and used the fabric to make today's loose blouse. I am very pleased with the comfy, boho result, and also proud of myself for tackling the sewing machine. I find that darn contraption more intimidating than I'd like to, but apparently I can handle a few simple seams! Although I can't sew them straight. Not for the life of me. Perhaps after a bit more practice...

Linda Mar Beach Reflections

// Adam Isserlis //

Pacifica is a semi-sleepy town south of San Francisco, where X goes to surf. The local beach has mild waves, properly gold sand, and a waterfront Taco Bell. (Still exciting despite my ambivalence toward the chain.) X will throw his board and salty wetsuit into the back of his pickup truck, then drive a mellow half hour to the beach. Today was the second time I've joined him.

During our last excursion, he surfed while I got tipsy. I sipped cheap beer on a blanket in the sand, reading Bombay Stories, feeling warm and sleepy in X's hoodie. There's something about a boy's sweater--the comforting, complex scent of cologne and masculine sweat. It gives me nostalgia pangs.

This afternoon X didn't get in the water. We went for a run together, then sat on the tailgate kicking our feet, finishing sandwiches from earlier and drinking Modelo mixed with homemade lemonade. (Apparently shandies are fashionable right now.) Here's my sophisticated lemonade recipe: Squeeze the juice from four lemons or however many you need. Add a little agave syrup and some water. Shake it all up.

I love the soft colors at the beach. The sand melts from bronze to grey approaching the water, which is a dark teal that shifts with the tide, and white froth surges on the surface. The ocean has always made me melancholy, put me in a literary mood, perhaps because the classic vastness will reinforce one's sense of a miniaturized self.

// $20 //

// Betsy Bauer //

Can you tell that I've been reading Sylvia Plath's journals? Song of the day: "California Love" by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre (NSFW).

Sunburst & Eaten Apple

I rarely shoot outfit photos indoors because I haven't got the hang of it, which is probably a good thing--otherwise I would never leave the house. (Joke. Funny joke. No seriously, these days it actually is a joke.) But it seems odd that my bedroom, the one space perfectly tailored to me, almost never shows up on the blog. Today marks an exception!



This embroidered handkerchief was a gift from someone on Tumblr who has since changed their username. I wish I could credit them! Embroidery is an enduring interest of mine, as a feminized art form that is rarely given its due. When I started recovering from my nervous breakdown--A/W 2012 (lol)--I did a lot of decorative sewing, and it's still a hobby that I want to pursue. I enjoy crafts more than conventional "fine arts", because they marry aesthetics and utility.



I bought this necklace from Hot Topic a couple of years ago. It was part of a promotion for Snow White and the Huntsman (totally underrated movie). I just like the offbeat whimsy of a jeweled apple core.

Green Flower Fields

You can't tell from my serene expression, but I'm having a Joan Jett kinda day.

This dress used to be a button-down, but I stitched up the front so that it could slip on instead. I like hand-sewing because I know the knots will stay solid.

Underpants Ahead

// $7 pattern //

Karen suggested a roundup of cute panties, and I was like, "Okay!" Yup, that's the entire backstory. Unfortunately, browsing undies is a bummer because 99.99% of the models are really thin and pale. Can we plzzz get some diversity up in here?! Anyway, I decided to focus on artisanal, US-made, or fair-trade options (although one pair is merely organic).



Clockwise from the top left: Fair Isle, yellow, delicate floral, red heart butt, & lace side detail. Background by Evelyn Flint and rosebud by Audrey.

// $45 //

// $28 //

Pretending To Be A Model While Wearing Black & Pink

Whoa, I'm so dramatic! Fancy poses are cool sometimes. You know what else is cool? Pink eyeshadow that matches my skirt (but unfortunately won't show up in DSLR photos). I enjoyed the breeziness of today's outfit--my skirt danced in the wind so much that I almost flashed the whole street. I don't think anyone was watching me, but still, the sheer indecency of the prospect! Egads! ;)



Lately I've been doing a lot of walking around my neighborhood, going on rambles with the next-door dog, Button. My own puppy has arthritis and can't venture farther than down the block and back, but Button is a different creature (literally). She's steady rockin' all night long, leading me into nooks and crannies that I haven't visited for years. The exploring is fun! I bring along my phone and take pictures of people's weird garden art.

Bunny-Themed Society6 iPhone Cases

I ordered my rabbity iPhone case from Society6, a website that provides independent artists with a low-risk venue for selling their work as prints, t-shirts, and so on. (Read reviews from sellers here and here.) Society6 handles the products and customers, while the artists focus on being creative. At least two illustrators that I really like have shops there: rubyetc and Eugenia Loli.

Society6 is awesome for people who want to support indie artists, and the company is also making an effort in terms of ethical manufacturing. Many of their products are made or assembled in America, as well as being "produced when you order them, on-demand, to avoid waste and keep our business sustainable."

This case doesn't protect my phone the way an OtterBox would, but I'm not particularly hard on my gadgets so it's no big deal. I would recommend a Society6 iPhone case if you prioritize flair over security, and want a wide variety of designs to choose from.

Here are two more bunny-licious cases that I considered purchasing:



Alison Tsoi (top) & Lady Cardea (below).

Silly In Stripes

It just goes to show that I don't know what I'm talking about. A little while ago I felt done with pattern-mixing, but here I am wearing two different kinds of stripes and loving it. Fickle is my style! Which isn't a problem, because there's no rule that says I have to enjoy the same things all the time. Thank goodness.

Momspiration + Television

I'm a fan of Mom's new shoes, and they go well with the practical socks. Stripes in sherbet colors = yes.



Doctor Camille Saroyan from Bones, played by Tamara Taylor. She's rockin' that sleek haircut.

Japanese Maple & Hibiscus Pink

I haven't worn this dress for a few months, because I've been meaning to sew up the back. Things tend to sit on my mending pile for a looong time. Without a deadline to motivate me, I'm a champion procrastinator. That's true of most people, right? Anyway, I figured it's going to be quite a while before I get around to stitching this, and the dress is perfectly functional, so I might as well wear it in the meantime.

I tend to enjoy clothes that are "too big" for me, cut for a taller/bulkier person. Being swamped in fabric is somehow comforting, similar to shifting positions under cool sheets on a warm summer night, when you have the window open. If there's a breeze, it will settle on the sheets and keep you from getting hot. My dress feels like that.



I wish I had a joke to put here, because I look like I'm cracking up. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who can't remember a joke to save their life. Except for this one: "You know what they say about guys with big feet? [Pause.] BIG SOCKS!" I also have a rad joke about a chicken at an intersection, but I'll save that one for next time.

Hollie Point Vintage

Jennifer Brook Binns of Hollie Point offers "curated vintage for discerning lovers of timeless style". That sounds like you and I, right?



Fashion Fragile: Your specialty appears to be dresses from the '40s and '60s, often with defined waists and voluptuous skirts. Why do you gravitate toward that timespan and silhouette?

Jennifer: My love of vintage clothing developed early in life and was originally inspired by the old clothes hanging in my grandmother's closet, and by movies from the '30s through the '60s. I fell in love with the silhouettes of these periods and when I began to collect vintage I naturally gravitated towards them.



Fashion Fragile: Does your personal wardrobe resemble your stock? How do you manage to let go of so many lovely pieces? It seems that there must be heartache involved. I have trouble relinquishing clothes that I don't even like, so I can't imagine sending off one of your dreamy beauties!

Jennifer: It can be so hard to part with my vintage! Fortunately with clothes only a small percentage of them fit so some are easier to let go of than others. It's not unusual for me to begin listing a dress in the shop only to take measurements, figure out that it is just the right size for me and then hang it right back up in my personal closet. I have learned, however, to be very selective in what I keep. Most of my clothes are modern and I keep a small but fantastic collection of vintage that I save for special occasions. I also try to practice the "one in, one out" rule which helps me keep my collection pared down.



Fashion Fragile: What do you enjoy the most about running Hollie Point? How do you avoid getting burned out?

Jennifer: The best part of running a vintage shop is shopping! At least once a week I take a long day trip, sometimes to my favorite shopping spots and sometimes to brand new places that I have never visited before. I live between a major metropolitan area and a great rural expanse so it seems like there are always new places to explore and new/old treasures waiting to be found. The thrill of the hunt helps to keep my job exciting and fulfilling.

Hollie Point links: sale section, Facebook, & Twitter.

Summer Peplum

My pixie haircut hasn't turned me into an actual pixie, but the lace Armour sans Anguish top certainly makes me feel like one. #FairyPrincessLyfe! Tonight my gentleman friend is taking me to a Moroccan restaurant in San Francisco (not to be confused with the comedian). I will probably change into something more grownup when evening approaches, but at the moment I'm reveling in lavender and afternoon light.

Fresh To Death

When I examined myself in the mirror this morning, the song "Mannish Girl" popped into my head. Actually, I look more "boyish" than "mannish", and even that could be considered a stretch. Pink lipstick and the enamel rose belt buckle function as indicators of femininity. My facial composition and hips conform to the set of shapes that society categorizes as "female".

Fashion has a messy, inextricable relationship with gender expression. Consider how unusual it is to see an American man wearing a skirt. I'm not talkin' Utilikilts--no, something frilly and flowy. Any guy wearing that would be shunned or ridiculed. In fact, transgender people who don't resemble the stereotypical mold associated with "man" or "woman" are routinely harassed. The unfunny fashion police prevent safety in public restrooms.

Normally the way I dress is unambiguously ladylike, because that's the aesthetic I gravitate toward. Going a little more butch felt strange, although not unpleasant, and the new sensation caused me to reflect on social justice in the paragraphs above.

Now look at the cool thing the wind did to my hair!



MWAH! Closing note: the title of this post comes from Lana Del Rey's "Blue Jeans".

Red Meets Mint

I used to hate when a dress with a specific waistline--be it empire, natural, or dropped--was worn with a belt at a different level. It just seemed wrong somehow. But now I kinda like the effect. Look at me, rebelling against the designer's intent! Appalling behavior, dontcha think? ;-)

I thrifted this dress last summer, and it's become a staple favorite. Anyone who's followed my blog for more than a minute has surely seen it at least once. Sorry about that? I don't feel bad for wearing my clothes multiple times, but I do hope that you're not bored. The brand, Caroline Wells, appears to have lapsed out of existence, but Etsy and eBay still yield a few results. The necklace was a gift from one of my mom's friends, ages ago. Recently it's begun to tickle my fancy. I don't get to use that phrase often enough.

My sister likes to tease me that I'm turning into my mother--"You're such an old lady, Sonya!"--and to an extent she's right. I'm always turning down the radio in the car. "What are you trying to do, blast my eardrums out?" But I don't mind becoming my mom. She's a cool lady.



Kicking the grass. Take that, grass! I was trying to use a more dynamic pose, even at the expense of narrative cohesion.

Miss Tintin

Guess what--I got a haircut! Woohoo! My mom saw me and immediately commented, "You look just like Tintin!" She's right; my short 'n' flippy blonde 'do is similar to his, and I don't mind the comparison. Volume 2 of The Adventures of Tintin guest-starred in today's photos.

For those who are unfamiliar, Tintin is the crime-fighting "boy reporter" dreamed up in the 1920s by Herge, a Belgian graphic novelist. As a kid I loved Tintin's clever heroism, and giggled along with the antics of his hedonistic dog Snowy and his boozy sidekick Captain Haddock. (Cuthbert Calculus was another favorite.) Unfortunately, recent rereadings have left me astonished at the horrendous amount of racist caricatures. A few of the stories are too cringeworthy to bear. I still enjoy other parts of The Adventures, but it always shakes me to realize how much I missed the first time around.

This exact outfit has been on the blog before. Shhh, don't tell anyone!