Tuesday, July 29, 2008

...My My, How Can I Resist You?

So that van Gogh notebook got me thinking about Starry Night, and the beautiful colour combinations of the painting. I'm no artist, and my knowledge of colour palettes is limited to that little wheel I see at Blick and Office Depot that automatically matches colours for you. But even with my limited art knowledge, I can still appreciate the gorgeous tones of the painting.

Because my expression comes more from fashion than from a paintbrush, here's my own, Shopbop-induced 5-minute van Gogh.


Individual pieces (all from Shopbop sale):

Vivianne Dress, Dessous by Sophie Simmons


Flower Ruffle Dress, Moschino Cheap and Chic


Side Button Dress, Mint Jodi Arnold


Melissa Open Toe Slingback Pump, Modern Vintage Shoes


Celesta Satin Flat, Maloles

MoMA Mia, Here I Go Again...

I had the pleasure of seeing Mamma Mia this weekend...and I have to say, I loved it. I mouthed along with almost all of the songs, and even sang quietly along to some of the best ones (Dancing Queen, anybody?) with my friend who was sitting next to me. However, if you have no idea what the storyline is and don't know any of the songs, I definitely wouldn't recommend it. It's kind of overly corny and the theatric effects are kind of tacky, but for those who love the musical's songs, I would give this movie a go. Oh, and if you're planning on watching it...be sure to stay until the credits. There's a pretty...um...surprising clip. I won't give it away, but let's just say that it involves the lead cast and lots of glittery tight clothing...yes, including Pierce, Colin, and...um...the blonde guy.

A little birdie told me (well, actually, my trip to RetailMeNot.com showed me) that there was a sale going on at the MoMA store. Though I usually don't buy things from them, museum gift shops have always been a favourite place of mine. I love the fake "age-old" maps, souvenirs, cool little gadgets that have no real purpose in life, and varying postcards that cost way more than they should. So it was only natural that I perused over the findings at the MoMA store. They weren't exactly amazing, but I'd probably appreciate the items there more if I was, say, decorating a new house with a lot of modern furnishings. Their home accessories and office accessories are really sleek and modern, but they always have a little something strange about them that makes you take a second glance. I found two items that I would love to own: first, this strange little piggy bank that for some reason calls to me...I think it would make a great desk accessory, and the design is pretty genius.


There's also this little notebook with van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting on it. Here in Chicago, I suppose I could just meander over to the Art Institute's gift shop (a favourite of mine) and grab a notebook like this there, but it's actually marked down to a pretty good price -- good enough that I could order two or three and use them for school, once it starts.

Basically, Bobbi

Bobbi Brown's always been known for really high quality makeup basics. Sure, she may not have that crazy green eyeshadow that you've always secretly wanted to wear out with your girlfriends one night, but her makeup can go from nightclubs to country clubs without looks a tiny bit out of place.

Two products, which I encountered on http://discount.makeup.com, were a pretty pleasant surprise, just because I didn't expect them to be on sale. Usually, that makeup site stocks things in really unpopular colours. Not necessarily bad, but definitely not commonly used colours. This presents a problem in the world of B. Brown, because pretty much everything she makes is "commonly used." So you can imagine my surprise when I found two items that I know and love, the Cream Shadow Stick and the Cream Blush Stick, both at pretty good prices.


The Cream Shadow Stick is probably the less desirable item out of these two, because it only comes in two shades...and they're both really, really light. Iced Pink is a light peachy-pink, and Iced Ivory is just a plain off-white. This product makes a nice base for eyeshadow, and the stick form makes it really quick to apply. I also quickly dab it in the inner corner of my eye for an instant, non-caffeinated wakeup. It's $15.oo (originally $2o.oo), which is a pretty good deal, but if you don't really need any sort of light shadow colour or eyeshadow base, give this one a miss.


On the other hand, you should definitely not give the Cream Blush Stick a miss. These little sticks are genius...maybe not utterly original or different, but definitely worth your while. It's really easy to apply the blush, because you can just dab the stick directly on your cheek and rub it around a bit. The colour isn't too opaque and it isn't too pigmented, which is nice for when you want different intensities. And it isn't so goopy that you have to worry about your hair getting stuck in your cheeks. If you want something a little shimmery, you might have to dab a little bit of shimmery eyeshadow over the blush, because it's pretty much matte (as one would expect from basics-based-Bobbi). Just to warn you, you should probably check out the colour swatches on the Bobbi Brown website before purchasing one of these off of the discount makeup website, because some of their colour swatches are a little bit off. Some of them are discontinued though, so it might be hard to find those. I would personally go for either Sand Pink or Coral, depending on how dark your skintone is and whether you want a pink vs. a peach cheek tint. Both are equally versatile and wearable though, so really, it's up to you to pick whichever Bobbi makes you happy!

Monday, July 28, 2008

If I Was A Rich Girl...

It takes a lot for me to call a product "revolutionary," especially since the word itself is sort of gimmicky, but Bare Escentuals' Liner Shadow in You Can Never Be Too Rich Brown has come pretty close.


I was never really a fan of the idea of brown eyeshadow. The colour always seemed too muddy to me, so I always stuck with shades of grey and black for more neutral eyes. But, a little while back, I decided to pick up this eyeshadow/liner from Bare Escentuals because it had some pretty good reviews. And I have to say, I agree with all of them! When I use this as a liner (either with water or with mixing medium), it produces a beautiful brown colour that definitely lives up to the "rich" name. And when I use it as a shadow, the colour is really blendable and buildable. It's great for those days when I press the snooze button one too many times and I need something quick to look a little more put together.

In keeping with the whole "our-economy-is-dying" theory, you guys can head over to http://discount.makeup.com and grab this for only $9.50, which is about as much as a product from the L'Oreal HIP line, or other higher-end drugstore products. I would definitely encourage you guys to give this a shot, especially if you're like me and you're a little dubious about the benefits of a muddy brown shadow. Plus, the name is adorable...you really never can be too rich with this shadow!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Neglected NARS

My makeup brand of choice may be MAC (surprise, surprise...), but I do share some love for many other medium-high end brands. I don't spend tons on makeup, and I really only own basic colours (with the occasional bright red lip). Though Bobbi Brown may seem like an ideal makeup brand for me, since it favours natural colours, I've often found myself attracted to many of the NARS products. Despite their potentially-inappropriate nicknames, a lot of their colours aren't over-the-top.

I've found it very difficult to find a beauty bargain anywhere. Unless it's some sort of brand-wide sale, which hardly ever happens, the idea of beauty products becoming discounted is getting to be pretty rare. That's why I love http://discount.makeup.com. They offer a pretty good selection of discounted makeup, at least, in comparison to other beauty sales. Their discounts aren't huge (usually you would find $37.00 products for, say, $32.00, or maybe $25.00 products for $19.00), and their selection isn't that varied (I remember excitedly checking the Juicy Tubes link every time I went to the site, only to find the same loner "Raisin Plum" shade as the only one available), but it's not a bad place. NARS has produced a couple of really popular products, and I was surprised to find that many of the products that were on sale at discount.makeup.com had been on sale for quite a while (I'm a pretty frequent checker of the site). Here are a couple of my NARS sale picks...I wouldn't feel too rushed to get them, a lot of things at this site have been on sale for a while...

1. NARS The Multiple in Maui (Dusty Rose), reduced to $32.50 from $37.00.
This product is great for summer -- I keep one in my bag and bring it with me wherever, because it's great for both cheeks and lips. Personally, I prefer using it on my cheeks, where a small dab is just enough to spread around for some livened-up colour, but it's also nice to dab on your lips when your previous lipcolour is running out. But don't apply it directly! Use a finger if you don't have a brush -- and don't be put off by the fact that it doesn't have the texture of a typical lip product. This product may be steep, but I don't really like heavy cheek colour and I only use it on my lips as a refresher, so it lasts me quite a while.


2. NARS Cream Eyeshadow in Maracaibo (Violet Haze), reduced to $18.00 from $21.00
I wouldn't put this product at the forefront of my list, but this is a great basic purple eyeshadow that would liven up any pair of brown eyes. Because I have brown eyes myself, I've heard much about the glorious effects of purple shadow. For the paler people out there, this could make a nice, light, smoky eye that's perfect for day. But I wouldn't call this a staple.


3. NARS Blush in Gilda (Coral), reduced to $22.00 from $25.00.
This may not seem like a huge bargain, and Gilda's no "Orgasm," but I happen to like this basic coral colour. For those of you that like the texture of NARS blushes, this might be a good place to pick up some extras while saving a couple of bucks. Personally, I like to go for minimal makeup during the summer, and this light coral blush is a great way to do that. The colour's pretty buildable, so you don't have to put on a ton, and I've found that peach is usually quite a bit more versatile than pink, because pink usually only suits lighter skintones while peach can be used to liven up even much darker skintones subtly.


4. NARS Cream Blush in Turkish Red (Red Coral), reduced to $20.00 from $24.00.
I know that "Red Coral" might seem a bit extreme for those that are used to more subtle blush looks, but that's what I really like about this product. NARS Cream Blushes aren't particularly goopy, so it's really easy to dab a brush in with just the slightest bit of product and just swirl it around your cheek for a bit. It takes hardly any product to add just a subtle glow to your cheeks, which I love for summer because it feels so light. The colour can be darkened for those that want a more dramatic look, but this colour can be worn surprisingly lightly. Plus, $20.00 for a blush isn't bad at all! Oh, and don't be put off by the swatch on the retailer's website -- it's the colour of a really huge goop of the product, and even then it's a little bit more orangey than in real life.


5. NARS Lipgloss in Dolce Vita (Sheer Dusty Rose), reduced to $20.00 from $23.00.
If I were to get one product from this selection, it would either be the cream blush or this lipgloss. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the NARS glosses, because they aren't too tacky but they're usually pigmented enough to give your lips some colour without needing lipstick underneath. Dolce Vita is, to me, the more subdued equivalent to the Bobbi Brown Mauve collection. It's a cooler, darker pink that's surprisingly suited to most skintones, but isn't nearly as extreme as Bobbi Brown's quasi-gothic lipglosses that came out with her collection.

Proud to be an American

As much as I love really basic jersey pieces, I can't help but shy away from places like American Apparel, which is the poster child for no-frills fashion. I find myself browsing their store very often, but never actually reaching out and getting anything.

On my last post, I featured a mustard-coloured jersey skirt with an elastic waistband, which I have been strangely drawn to lately. I would probably wear it much like I showed it with the previous post's outfit -- white wifebeater, statement necklace, and statement shoes. I could also see this being worn with a really sheer white T-shirt and a dark tank top underneath (or just a bra, if you're feeling really confident that day), but unfortunately...not much else. This piece is trendy yet classic, which really confuses me but at the same time attracts me. The only thing detracting is the $30 price tag, which I would usually reserve for a piece with interesting detail rather than something to be worn with something with interesting detail.


But American Apparel has recently overcome my previous moral dilemma, and churned out two really unique things that I'm completely coveting.

The first one you may have heard about already -- it's a "thermochromatic" T-shirt, which means that it changes colour with your body temperature. I'm not one for really outlandish clothes, but that's really cool. American Apparel is clearly aware of this, as they've tacked on a $34 price tag to a splotchy T-shirt, but I'm still adding it to my "lust" list for clothes.


This next dress seems really gimmicky, and I never thought I would find myself wanting anything remotely like this. Far too often I've heard about "Dresses that can be worn 50 different ways!" only to find some strange jersey contraption that a. looks completely uncomfortable and b. in all of its manifestations, would probably only be worn by someone who clearly isn't a teenager but insists on dressing like one. And yet, when I saw this dress I was strangely attracted to it...despite the fact that its "ever-evolving" shape reminded me of the good ol' days of Pokemon.

Its original manifestation, which in Pokemon terms one might call Charmander, is quite cute on its own. I would actually buy this dress even if it didn't evolve into anything, just because it's a great basic and has an adjustable tie strap.


These first two "evolved versions" of the dress are a teensy bit gimmicky, but maybe that's just me. I'm not a huge fan of the dangly straps in the front of the first one, and the second one isn't too subtle about showing the whole changeling dress factor -- instead of looking like a whole new dress, it looks sort of like you tied your dress straps funny. The back is cool, though.


I really like this next version of the dress, which would be the Charmeleon to the original Charmander. It's simple and classy, and the halter style of tying the straps is really, really flattering. It's not horribly avant-garde or different, but it doesn't look like you tied your straps funny to achieve the effect. It really does look like a whole new dress.


Okay, so we're on our way to Charizard but we've got one more stop on the way. I actually don't hate this version of the dress that much. Sure, the front is a little iffy, but the crossing detail in the back is really interesting. We're almost there...


Finally! I wouldn't say that this is necessarily my favourite incarnation of this dress but it definitely is the Charizard to the original Charmander. It's got tons of wearability, but the cross-strap halter detail on the front of the dress makes it look like I wandered down to Wicker Park and purchased this from some edgy designer boutique where everything costs an arm and a leg. For those who don't know, Wicker Park is a really yuppie area of Chicago, filled with really overpriced but great fashion. I suppose that I would have to go down there to visit American Apparel anyway, but that's besides the point.


By the way, don't think I've completely converted to an American Apparel lover just yet. I do still wonder how exactly one goes about rectifying the bra situation when rocking any of these dress incarnations (strapless works for some of them, but for others you might have to use those detachable cup things...shudder).

I also bemoan the existence of the following pieces:




Friday, July 25, 2008

Is the Kooba a Keeper?

I'm sure that many of you guys have seen this little thing wandering around Saks/Neiman Marcus/Bergdorfs in the "Small Accessories" section. And yet, here at Bag Borrow or Steal, this little zipper pouch is being shown as a small evening bag.


I've always wondered to myself, being the bargainist that I am, whether it's acceptable to use zipper-pouch styled designer bags as evening bags or clutches. Many of them have designer labels sprawled all over them, and are often many times cheaper than their very similar wallet counterparts. And yet, every time I look at "cosmetics cases" or "zipper pouches," there's something in their structure that gives them away. And while it wouldn't be too hard to add a classy handle to turn them into wristlets, there's just something in me that says that I should spend the extra $40 or whatever it is for the actual clutch/wristlet.

This Kooba bag caught my eye not because it's something I would want, but because it just doesn't look right. It's almost like it belongs with all the rest of the "leather pouches," which are essentially pencil cases made out of leather with a label snapped onto them. But maybe I'm just going crazy, because many people loved this little Kooba goodie. But this made me take notice of companies and their clever marketing...not a single brand has made a cosmetic case that would look okay as a day clutch. Maybe it's insurance against people who would buy them and pass them off as purses...like me.

What do you guys think...is it bargain chic to use cosmetic cases as purses? Or is it just plain cheap?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Fierce Tassels

"Girl, you look fierce!" is a trademark exclamation of the beloved model-turned-future-Oprah Tyra Banks. Funnily enough, I often find myself with a mix of astonishment and horror on my face when I witness the looks that dear Tyra has given her seal of approval. Perhaps it's the contrast of styles...T. Banks is all about smiling with her eyes while rocking some ridiculously, well, fierce looks, while I'm all about small smiles while looking down at the ground, clad in pretty neutral and basic outfits with a little smattering of sugar and spice.

So today, I tried to venture into some Tyra territory and smile with my bargain-clothes-hunting eyes as I scoped out my options for an outfit where bargain basement meets Top Model. I suppose I sort of cheated with the $40 black studded gladiators, but they're just so...fierce.

What do you think? I'm pretty surprised, I kind of want this entire outfit now...not to sound arrogant or anything.

Outfit pieces: tank (7.90), skirt ($30.00), shoes ($39.99), necklace ($17.99).

A Junior Out to Lunch

Usually when people think of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, they think of fabulously expensive designer pieces that have been brought down to a mortal price range. When I think of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I think of relatively reasonable sale pieces going down to ridiculously small sale prices.

An example of one of those pieces would be this cute little black top, found in the B.P. Juniors section. I'll post on some other good finds from the Juniors section (and how they don't have to be worn by juniors) later, but for now, these next few pieces are going to be mainly for younger people. I love the ruffle detail at the bottom, and how the top plays with texture rather than colour.


This top is only $31.90, so I challenged myself to make a cute, casual, out-to-lunch outfit where each additional piece did not exceed the price of the top. Here are the results:

Outfit pieces: jeans ($25.90), bracelet ($12.95), earrings ($7.50), purse ($5.49), shoes ($6.24).

It's probably really hard to see everything, and I apologize for that, but I don't know how I can post larger images on Blogger. Can anyone help? Anyway, concerning the outfit, I tried to steer myself away from the Nordstrom sale and move into some other cheaply chic shops. The jeans are from the Nordstrom sale, but all other accessories reflect other teenage-y stores that have great bargains. I personally am in love with the leather bracelet and the bow moccasin-flat mix, because they're cute, but they also lend a very earthy-girly vibe to the outfit.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

My Big Fat Indian Wedding...Bradshaw Style

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I had the fortune of attending an Indian wedding, held at the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. For those of you non-Chicagoans, the venue was a very large room at the end of a pretty touristy pier. The entire event was beautiful and vibrant, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. One thing that really stood out to me during the wedding was the colour scheme. Perhaps I haven't been to enough Indian weddings (which is entirely likely, as this was my second), but the fact that the wedding centered on three colours which seem like they would clash entirely really astounded me. The three colours were a bright fuschia pink, bright yellow, and red. Though the wedding was mainly the pink and yellow shades, it managed to not be tacky and instead look very cheery and playful, like a true celebration. Everything, down to the rose petals sprinkled onto the tables for people to stand around by and sip cocktails, was in these three colours.

So, while I was shopping around the Saks dress section ("Dresses" is always my first click whenever I'm shopping anywhere, even if I know I really should be getting more practical things) I came upon this beauty, by Laundry by Design for $133.90.


Ordinarily, I would have completely bypassed this frock, deeming it "too loud" and "totally unwearable." But after having been a guest at the wedding held the previous Saturday, this dress seems like total genius to me. On the one hand, the bright colours ensure that you won't look like anyone else around you, and on the other hand, everything still manages to coordinate. This, to me, is an example of how fashion isn't just ditzy girls staring at magazines of beautiful people in beautiful clothes. Me considering this dress is me taking experiences from my life and injecting them into my own personal expression through clothes. Take that, fashion cynics!

After looking at this lovely dress, I was given a sudden burst of bright and colourful energy. I say "sudden" because now that I'm typing up the description for this outfit, it has sunk into my head that I would never wear such a thing, but this blog isn't just for wearability...it's also for having fun. I decided to build an outfit based on this dress, inspired by the colour scheme of that wedding. I haven't overstepped my boundaries though, and I chose not to include the red shade in this outfit because I really don't like the idea of a pink dress and red shoes. Anyway, here's the finished product:


All items are available at Nordstrom: dress - $189.90, shoes - $169.90, coat - $75.90. I'm still unhappy with the shoes, but I wasn't able to find anything better. This outfit was partially inspired by Carrie Bradshaw, just because she's a figure who would have the attitude to pull this sort of thing off. What I tried to do with this outfit was to let the colours speak, rather than anything details or texture-wise. The dress on its own is like a fresh and modern Audrey Hepburn, and the coat is a great, classic way to add some punch to your wardrobe. The coat was actually a pretty good find; it's a Michael Kors trench, which should last you a while, and it's only $75.90.

I warned you guys about the Nordstrom-themed posts for a while...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Are You Watching?

Sorry that I haven't been posting lately, I've been incredibly busy. We had to attend an Indian wedding (which was so much fun!), and I've had some work to do around the house, which doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging, sadly.

So, if you're a hardcore shopper like myself, then you've undoubtedly heard about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was completely wowed! There are SO many things to buy, I don't know if my card can take it! So, in case you were wondering...you should definitely be expecting a lot of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale blog posts in these next few days.

I wanted to start off the celebration with an item that isn't really associated with the Nordstrom Sale. It's not that there are specific items that are related to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but there are specific beauty launches and things that people look for specifically. So, to change things up a bit, I decided to base this first post on an item that is a great staple in every person's wardrobe: a watch. Oftentimes, I base my own wardrobe on classic pieces, and I really try to keep my budget low. But when I want to have a few "designer" pieces, I have to think of items that I'll really love and wear a lot...or else, to me, it really isn't worth it. What most people think of are bags and shoes, since those can go with many different outfits. The only thing that bugs me about getting a designer pair of shoes or a new bag is that I'm always conflicted. On one hand, you want to get a really classic pair of shoes or a classic bag that'll last and last. On the other hand, you want to get a really standout pair of shoes or a standout bag that will really show off its designer quality. I know I always have that conflict when I'm trying to sprinkle a little bit of designer quality into my wardrobe. I've found that a great way to treat yourself to a little bit of branding is getting a really classic watch. Which, surprisingly, I've found a fair bit of at the Nordstrom sale. There are a lot more to choose from, but these four are my favourites out of the entire selection.

This first watch, from Michael Kors is just a really classic, simple, silver watch. If you want something that will last, this is definitely up your alley. It's the cheapest of the four watches, at $106.90, and you really don't have to worry about it coordinating with almost any outfit.


This next watch from Emporio Armani is like the leather equivalent to the silver watch above. This watch reminds me of Levenger catalogs, antique globes, and other scholarly, classy office accessories. Something about the Armani name and the luxe brown leather strap makes this watch really classic, and gives off a very "serious" vibe. Like the Michael Kors watch, this is also a great piece that will go with almost any outfit. It's on sale for $129.90.


I'm sure many of you will dislike this watch immensely but for some reason...I kind of like it! My wrists are sort of small and skinny, so having a more delicate watch like this one is really nice and flattering. Even for people that don't have really small wrists, the great thing about this watch is that it can even be worn with evening dresses, because of its delicate nature. Yes, there's a really obvious logo on it. But personally, I think that the styling of the watch and the logo almost makes it seem a little bit vintage, which you all know I love. It's on sale for $129.90.


This final watch, which is the most expensive out of the four at $133.90, is from a brand we all know and love. It may not be one of the super-retro watches that Marc by Marc Jacobs usually stocks, but it's still got some interesting detailing and that lovely little logo on the watch face. If you've been hankering to get yourself a little piece of Marc, this is a perfect way to do it.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Blair Bands? Go Ask Alice.

Though this is kind of the "calm before the storm" in terms of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (so excited!), I was browsing the Handbags and Accessories section of Nordstrom's normal sale section and I found these two headbands I wanted to feature. Neither of them is very typical, but they're great for adding some extra spice to an outfit if you're daring enough.

The first one is inspired by a lovely girl whose style has been featured much more than I thought it would on this blog. Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl is notorious for her headbands, and I found this one from Tasha that's on sale for $44.90. The rich satin and the large rosette just screams "society princess."


Speaking of society princesses, do you remember Princess Beatrice's famous Alexander McQueen...thing...that she wore to the wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly? I don't know whether it's a bonnet or a headpiece but it sure was memorable. I was really not a fan myself, but that's just because my personal style isn't particularly ostentatious. I suppose it's slightly unfair to criticize her, though, because it's hard to tell what you can do to be stylish if you're bound by fashion restrictions of royalty. Personally, if I had to go for a prim and proper look I'd steal my cape outfit in my previous blog post and add the "Blair Waldorf" headband from above for some extra pizzazz. But again, if the only way to think out of the box style-wise is incorporating a crazy headdress, then by all means Princess B, go for it.


Getting back to our mortal world where we rock items from Nordstrom instead of from Alexander McQueen...sigh...right next to the "Blair band" was another headband that instantaneously put a picture of Princess Beatrice in my head. You can think of this as the "tamer" version of her headpiece, which one might actually to be able to wear outside! Well, the more daring out of us. Someone might exclaim that a butterfly just landed on your head, but if that's your thing then I would definitely suggest this headband, also from Tasha, for only $27.90.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Etsylicious Fashion

I've always wanted to be able to purchase clothes from places like Etsy and Ebay, which are kind of like the online equivalent to browsing out-of-the-way boutiques, yard sales, and thrift stores. Unfortunately, I often find myself wading through loads and loads of really awful clothing to try and find something that people would like. I'm not really sure what it is about clothes...but when I try and surf Ebay for cute bags, they always have a ton, but when I surf Ebay for cute clothes, the real gems are hidden beneath strange dresses that no one should ever be seen wearing. I suppose that's what makes it fun, sort of "the thrill of the chase."

In any case, I decided to show you guys two sellers I found while browsing Etsy's selection of clothes. Both sellers don't have highly stocked shops, but what they do have is quite lovely (and one of the stores even makes your clothes with custom sizes!)

The first seller doesn't specifically allow for custom sizing, but she does invite customers to "inquire" about it. The seller's name is aiguilleetfil (try saying that 5 times fast), and she's got quite a few frocks, each with its own interesting detail. I featured two dresses that seemed to be on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as her structures go. The grey parachute one ($90.00) looks much more expensive than it is, and the gold and blue one ($100.00) has a really interesting front detail that's perfect for hiding any unpleasant parts.



The second seller doesn't have much in her shop besides these two pieces, but in my opinion that makes them even more unique! The first piece is what seller kimenna calls a "Kimono Top," which I think is really fascinating. You can see a hint of Asian styling, but the different fabrics used and the button details really set this top apart (it's $72.00). This next piece...well, I kind of want it for myself! It's a dark blue denim dress, which sounds awful at first. But the denim is more of a faded, greyish denim colour, and from the pictures it appears to be quite light. I love the pleating detail, and I love that this is so wearable (it's also $72.00).