Fashion from the perspective of a vegan with socialist leanings, but capitalist desires
A trip to the Goodwill a few days ago yielded a couple beauties. First, a perfectly serviceable pair of pants for work:
They need to be ironed, but you get the idea. Next, an adorable vintage dress:
with really amazing detailing:
All for a grand total of $9.61. Suck it, retailers.
Since Christy made the fair point that vegan shoes (well, any specialty item, really) can be pricey, this week is devoted to accidentally vegan shoes that come cheap like Crystal Palace (but won’t make you nearly as sick). This pair has every bit as much flash as the last, but they’re far more budget-friendly
Sure, they’re also less classic and more trendoid, but I do quite like the combination of black and robin’s-egg blue, and the patent heel is a nice, flashy touch that doesn’t overwhelm. Plus, at $24, these shoes are equally suited to champagne and Asti, and I think a lot of us can appreciate that.
I was seriously not impressed by the last Target Go International line (Richard Chai, for those of you who weren’t paying attention). Rogan had a couple gems, but overall, again, it wasn’t that exciting. Whatever came before that–well, I don’t even remember what it was, so it can’t have been THAT great. All evidence has been pointing to the sad fact that Go International, amazing as it was, is petering out.
BUT! Could Jonathan Saunders be our salvation? I popped in the other day (I know, I’m obsessed), and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. Adorable graphic prints, interesting shapes, and mod-ish inspirations seem to be the MO for the line, and it all works together remarkably well. See?
I picked up this darling:
And better yet? Alexander McQueen might come next! Be still, my beating heart.
The inconsistencies! They’re unbearable!
I know, I know. I am a very bad blogger indeed. It’s because I’m boring lately–I’ve been sick lately, so I haven’t been out and around, and have nothing of any consequence whatsoever to recommend to everyone. I’m even still reading A World Lit Only by Fire (it’s dense).
The good news is that I’m back to New York really, really, really soon, so I’ll havefar more interesting inspiration, and better posts to boot, I’m sure. So–don’t stop reading yet. I’ll get better, I promise!
It was Trendology who recently turned me on to Olsen Haus vegan shoes. Now, it’s not too terribly difficult to find leather-free shoes, but they’re often the cheapest of the cheap. Olsen Haus is a high-end, gorgeously designed line that keeps keeps the animals and the environment in mind. My pick:
They make me want to go out and party, and blow my paycheck on a $200 bottle of champagne. Isinglass-free, of course. (here)
…dresses that look like separates. It was Mod Cloth that first turned me on to their loveliness, and quite a few beautiful options they have. I really adore this one:
but since blonde and yellow are a hard color combination to pull off, I’d get this one first:
The unsinkable Marc Jacobs offers up a few versions, some of which aren’t vegan, but this one delightfully is:
I normally would not be cool putting a ruffle around my waist, but this time, I think it works! Finally, while I’m not normally the Ann Taylor Loft type (at all), this one is undeniably cute:
Of course, one could achieve these looks with more versatility by getting separates, but it ultimately all comes down to laziness: why put on two items of clothing when you can put on one instead? I’ll never say no to an extra thirty seconds of sleep.
Before:
A $1 vintage blouse with an amazing pattern & Peter Pan collar, but strange fit and waaaay too short sleeves. After:
Darts and banded 3/4 length sleeves. Next, before:
Uniform at the restaurant where I used to work. Conservative jeans and shapeless t shirt (one in white, one in grey). Not flattering (at all), but the t-shirts had pretty cool graphics that I wanted to hold on to. After:
Far more body-conscious jeans, and the t-shirts refashioned with the patterns in Built By You Home Stretch. The backs became the fronts, and the fronts became the back.
My favorite graphic
The tank top could obviously be taken in a bit , and I think I’ll shorten the straps too, but overall, I’m quite pleased. And clearly, I need a twelve step program for crafting, so expect more soon.
Call me stuck in the 80’s (you wouldn’t be the first), but I do love a good pair of ankle boots. To reiterate: a good pair of ankle boots. I think we can all agree that certain pairs are flat-out disasters, while some are simply sublime. Here are a few guidelines–based solely on my opinion–on how to avoid the disasters:
1. Get actual ankle boots, not the imposters. This means that the top should end at or a few inches above your ankle. Calf-length boots should hit you mid-calf. Anything between the two lengths is awkward and best avoided.
2. No heels. This is bold for a reason. Boots are fine with heels. Booties have heels by necessity. Calf-length boots, if done well, can get away with a high heel. Ankle boots simply cannot. In order to keep them looking simple and clean with a new-wave elegance, for the love of all things stylish, get flats.
3. Don’t go super-pointy. I love a nice almond-shaped toe on just about any shoe (sneakers included, if I could find a pair), and that goes doubly so for ankle boots. Still, I think that round could work well here, and possibly square-ish as well, but pointy… weird.
To illustrate my points, here are some that fit into the NO category:
Ugly
Cougar-esque
Awkward
And now for the good ones;
See? Follow the rules and you end up with as many lovely pairs of ankle boots as you will. Here, here, and here.
Someone found my blog the other day by searching for ‘Loeffler Randall knock offs.’ They found it because I compared the boots in this post to Loeffler Randall, and being as those are mainstream enough, I’m sure I could extrapolate upon the theme of knock-offs, and since Loeffler Randall isn’t exactly vegan friendly, I have no issue doing so. So, shall we?
Funnily enough, I seem to have already posted on a pair of Loeffler Randall knock-offs–see? The silhouette, the color, the mini-wedge–all the details are there. I did, in fact, get the Target boots, and I gotta say, mine are better because I can actually wear them in the snow without worrying over a $700 price tag.
Another absolute steal is this pair from Urban Outfitters. True, Loeffler Randall has yet to make a jelly sandal (to the best of my knowledge), but the lacy cutouts on this pair are quite similar. This time, I actually prefer the knock-off aesthetically: the originals are just too precious for me.
Loeffler Randall’s open-toed snakeskin (yuk) flats are neatly simulated in this cute pair from Fred Flare:
This time, the original is more slick, but thanks to leather and a $420 price tag, I far prefer Fred Flare’s version.
These stud flats find an unlikely clone at, all places, Charlotte Russe:
I would wear these; I wouldn’t wear the original. ‘Nuf said.
The only blog that I’ve hit up every day this week is Fifi Lapin. Because bunnies and couture? Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
Also, Paul Simon’s Graceland. “You don’t feel you could love me, but I feel you could.” No, really, I do feel I could! Really! Such a great album.
And for books? Bonk! The Curious Coupling of Sex and Science by Mary Roach. This has actually been on my radar for months, but it’s always checked out at the library! Hopefully, I’ll get to check out the curiosities for myself soon.
Finally, jeans with a turquoise-ish wash. I’m not talking of turquoise-colored denim, just regular, blue, somewhat broken in jeans with a turquoise tint. Like so:
See? Pretty! I scored mine cheap at Forever 21, but there are other purveyors as well.
