I BOUGHT THIS / I WANT THAT

     And so the vicious cycle continues. The influx of black continues even as the sun refuses to turn it down a notch. But when it does decide to scale it back a little, I'm definitely going to be prepared. I've been on a big multi-function sort of kick lately, so this sleeveless top with attached scarves from Diet Butcher Slim Skin was a natural draw. Add cashmere and silk and you've got one sold customer. For brisk fall days, I've got this Lad Musician jacket with a roll-away hood if I'm in a pinch. These April 77 Chelsea slacks are actually intended for a super secret event next week, but if I said what it was, then it wouldn't be so secret, now would it?

     But with every itch you scratch, you always wind up with another. And some of these itches are not easy to scratch. Maybe for a reason? Fiscal responsibility notwithstanding, I've still get my eyes peeled for what's next and — surprise, surprise — it's more black. I'm don't usually consider myself a big sneaker head, but these canvas high-tops from Diet Butcher Slim Skin's fall collection ($390 @ Blackbird) would give anyone reason to pause.

     As great as my current bag is, I can't help but feel the need for something a bit more professional. I'm not any big proponent of the green fashion movement, but I don't see any reason to pooh-pooh something just because it's vegan leather or anything. And the Jobs briefcase from Matt & Nat ($258 @ Alter) might make me turn over a new leaf. Everything from the zippers to the handle to the subtle branding certainly makes a persuasive argument for eco-friendly consumerism.

     Also, the jewelry hunt goes on (does it every really end, though?) and this acrylic feather pendant from Alex & Chloe ($48 @ Alex & Chloe) is just the touch of light humor that my slowly darkening wardrobe could use. Who knows? Maybe I'll really step outside the box and try it in fluorescent pink? Well. Definitely not. But I'd give the white version a chance. See? I'm trying to be adventurous.

     So maybe I lied. Maybe this isn't all black. This grey, high collar, double-breasted jacket from Endovanera has positively set my knees a shaking. I tried it on at Acrimony the other day and had a really hard time taking it off. Sharon, I blame you for any and all future calamity that befalls my checking account.

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Dunkin' Donuts Now Dyeing Garments

     Though he isn't one of the usual suspects for designers that drain my wallet, Kean Etro certainly has a clever idea for what to do with white shirts that you've ruined: ruin them some more. Although I'm a very careful drinker of coffee – black, no sugar, no milk – even I am not immune to the effects of overly full cups of joe. The founder and designer of Etro suggested taking any accidents to their natural conclusion by cooking your clothes in coffee. His recipes for how to properly prepare cuisine-inspired fashion also includes salt baked and blueberry soaked shirts, too. Très chic, bon appétit!

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Long-Winded

     Long time no see. Long time no speak. A variety of technical difficulties, scheduling fiascos, and overall lethargy have contributed to my extended absence. But I'm back, and in full force. Currently, my time is being spent divided between frantic attempts to finish my homework, sluggishly trudging through my classes, and working my ass off at my job. But the results are stunning. I just bought...

     ...(clockwise, from the top) Rogan henley, Engineered Garments t-shirt, Cheap Monday L.L. Vintage button-up t-shirt, , Uniqlo short-sleeved gingham, and Uniqlo short-sleeved chambray. Many thanks go to Connie for the Uniqlo shirts, which she got when she snagged herself an internship for this summer. Talented bitch.

     And on a note that doesn't remind of how worthless my career possibilities are going to be, I finished Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things for my post-colonial lit class and I am in delirious love with it. From her deconstructive approach to language to her fractured and demented play with chronologies and temporality, Roy does a real doozy for my understanding of what a novel can do.

     Any future delays in posts will probably be due to my inability to think of 5 pages to fill up on the Aeneid/my desperate scramble to interview someone for my journalism assignment/my ever-increasing hours at the boutique/my lack of the Adobe Creative Suite on my computer.

     Don't worry. Things will get better. Or at least I'll be able to afford things until they do.

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Head to Toe: Dressing Down, Dressing UP

(Click for full-sized image)

     So, going out with Connie only makes me realize how pathetically meager my own closet is. In the spirit of that (and Coors Light, Jäger bombs, Jack Daniels, and absurd 90s covers), I present my smart casual options for the coming summer. I love the idea of a muted palette for spring with a flash of color. I know that this hits a bit close to "nu-rave hipster steez" for some folks, and I understand that. But I also don't give a fuck and think that this is a great set of stuff.

• (one) Rogan Henley in black: I actually picked this up on sale at August and, let me tell you, it fits like a dream. It's fitted, but drapey, and the extra-long sleeve gives it such a great subtle twist. ($120 @ BlueBee)
• (two) Endovanera Carrot Pant: I can't help but love the idea of cropped trousers. Lord knows that no one needs to see my legs in their full untanned horror, so cropped trousers seem like a great compromise to the upcoming climate change. ($187 @ Oak)
• (three) Spitfire 83 to Infinity sunglasses in black/red: So, while I love the Ksubi shades, I can't help but think they're a little played out. No, I do not have any Gold Card hang-ups when it comes to clothes. But I like the idea of mixing it up. Black frames with a bold stripe of red certainly seem like a great answer to the increase in sunshine we've been getting. ($35 @ Tobi)
• (four) Raf Simons Canvas Fasten belt in grey: Throw in a bit of white to break up all those dark neutrals. And who doesn't love webbed canvas for a quick shot of texture? ($132 @ Oki-ni)
• (five) Driftwood Skull Ring: Moody? Sure. But you can't deny that this ring is a real eye-catching piece. Made of silver and finished with polished black enamel, the detail on this thing is absolutely ridiculous. ($93 on sale from $185 @ Active Endeavors)
• (six) J. Fold Weekend Bag: And the bag hunt continues. I'm honestly very surprised that I haven't just given up and grabbed the first Chrome or Puma bag that's come my way. But, truth be told, the seeking has been so much more satisfying than the finding. ($350 @ Tobi)
• (seven) Opening Ceremony Simple Dress Shoe in grey: If I love their jeans, it's not a real stretch of the imagination to expect that I'd love their shoes as well. Patent grey? The novelty wears off quick, but the lustrous and deep color certainly stays. The rounded toe is perfect for dressing up or down and the cut would be ideal for going without socks on a warm summer day. ($325 @ BlueBee)

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WANT WANT WANT: COACD shirt

(Blood is the New Black COACD.com shirt, $20 @ Blood is the New Black)

     I'm having a hard time containing my explosive desire to possess this garment. I literally squealed when it popped up on my screen. If I start talking, I won't stop, so I better just shut up.

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Head to Toe: Weekday Sleek

(Click for full-sized image)

     While I'm walking around and running errands, I've been staring at a lot of concrete. And I've been modifying my wardrobe to be sleek and comfortable, but versatile. So while I've been in cardigans and skinnies, my ideal choice would be a combination of tailored, but slightly off-kilter pieces. Endovanera's pull-back jacket provides the kind of streamlined silhouette I've been trying to emulate (to varied degrees of success). A pair of Raf Simons' pleated trousers with an untucked tuxedo shirt from Mjolk creates a casual sense of refinement perfectly suited for everyday chores. I love the proportions of those pants and the shirt's details, from its Peter Pan collar to its hem, keep the look casual without sacrificing any of its style. I've loved the Schmoove line of shoes for their bold approach to sneakers and their Jamaica Corso combines the comfort and sleek lines of a sneaker with wingtip detailing for a captivating clash between classy and casual. That's enough alliteration for one night, eh?

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Shopping Fever

     I would totally make a kick-ass collage out of this, if my Photoshop were working. But due to a series of unfortunate events, I am currently having to live without any part of the Adobe Creative Suite. Yes. This is a new emotional low for me. In return for being so patient while I (meaning Jon Ong) sort out the technical difficulties (which may or may not include getting Leopard), I promise something super fabulous. Paper doll patterns, mayhaps? Or maybe I'll be a bit more consistent with posts? Whatever. I'll probably wind up doing whatever I damn well please, no matter what happens.

     So in my mail, I got a refund from the school, saying that I had $600 in credit. Well, I'm never one to complain about receiving money, so I resolved to tuck it into my checking account and keep it for next month's rent, so I wouldn't have to ask my parents for the whole amount.

     But then I found out that Gargyle was having a sale.

     Fuck.

(Fred Perry 3 Color Check Shirt, $67.20 on sale from $96 @ Gargyle)

(Corpus Cadet Jacket, $225 on sale from $375 @ Gargyle)

(YMC Cropped Chino Trousers, $133 @ Gargyle)

(Umbro by Kim Jones Mork Aztec Sneakers, $108 on sale from $135 @ Gargyle)

(Umbro by Kim Jones Aztec Trim Weekender, $116 on sale from $145 @ Gargyle)

     Okay, so I threw in a couple that weren't on sale. So sue me. But now I have another candidate for my next bag. Ugh. I love the shoes and the bag by Kim Jones, who makes just some of the smartest fucking sneakers on the planet. Honest to God, if they had all my sizes in all the above items, I would totally just buy this outfit in a heartbeat. But I have (some) self-control, so the only things I'm seriously considering are the bag and shoes (and maybe the pants if they go on sale in my size).

     All this shopping is really just a way of congratulating myself on not only completely my English essay, but also getting over a fever of 100.3°F over the course of one night. Thanks, ibuprofen!

     Now if only there were some pill to get rid of all this fucking reading, then I'd be set.

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Rendevouz is Hard to Spell

     The day has been fruitful, which is a pleasant change from my usual routine of "wake/sleep/eat/sleep". My professional attire has doubled with the addition of two new dress shirts from Express. While I've made it quite clear how I feel about the brand (producing skank and douchebag uniforms for ladies and gents, respectively), I do feel that I must address their shirting. Now, it isn't perfect. The sides don't fit me as well as some shirts that I've tried on, and the fabric certainly isn't the finest around. But let's be pragmatic here. $20 for a French cuff dress shirt? To deny the fact that this is a deal would be snooty and unreasonable, considering my income and my circumstances. Thankfully, my zeal for mixing the high with the low (the Brits still do it better than anyone else) supercedes any disdain I have for the retailer.
     The first shirt I saw had a spread collar, the proportions of which suited my too-lanky frame perfectly, disguising my neck's tendency to resemble an ostrich's leg. I also liked the faint red and blue striping, which was subtle enough so that I could use one of my ties at home.
     Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I've been pining away for one of A.P.C.'s famed removable contrast collar shirts, as their construction, proportion, and colors are positively sublime. For a whole lot less, I've managed to find a contrast point color with thin black striping.
     But the more productive portion of the day was spent during my last few hours out. Angela had wanted to do a podcast, but I don't think either of us were really sure what a joint one would be like. So we just settled for some apple ciders (and a caramel macchiato for me) and seized the back corner of Starbucks. Not the most dramatic or artistic venue, given the abundance of corporate schlock all around us, but it worked out just fine. I don't remember everything we talked about, but I remember it was good.

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