medium rare

a brooch, une broche, many-a-brooch:

Clockwise from top: thrifted mosaic pin (handmade in Italy), a very thoughtful gift from Banana Republic many years back, thrifted dragonfly, vintage fish à la Haight Street, yet another thrifted Italian blessing, a lovely something inspired by an art nouveau Fabergé egg (quite embarassingly from the Met Museum Store) and something of a lie (as this green heart is definitely not a brooch)

Tags: Banana Republic, Fabergé, Metropolitan Museum of Art, thrift, Vintage.

I have no right to complain about my quality of life when I can get away with wearing this to work, especially since I’m not working a street corner.  The little blessings in life are what truly matter, and – despite opening with a joke – I don’t mean to be the least bit sarcastic about that.

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Tags: Camper, Forever 21, thrift.

Since we don’t get to celebrate May Day here in the US, today is my self declared Play Day!  Who better to spend the day with than my beautiful Brown Nose Bear, who is not a brown noser.  His brown nose is of natural origins.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about how one benefit of aging is growing into one’s jewelry and accessories.  Age lends a look of worldliness that really legitimizes clusters of baubles, doodads and whatnots.  Unfortunately (or fortunately!?), I’m not there yet, so today I tried to wear a few pieces that are a bit youthful and inane.  I think they sit pretty well together.  The rest of the outfit is built for fun.  The silk-chiffon top is from a great French website that no longer sells to the US, and I got the skirt with suspenders from a market in Beijing last summer.  A simple replacement of the terrible glittery plastic buttons with the simple wooden buttons you see now… and VOILA!  A wearable skirt!

Here’s a closer look… grouse foot kilt pin from eBay, thrifted enamel gold ring, thrifted leaf/stone necklace, thrifted screw necklace (formerly plated in 24k gold).  I got the kilt pin at a steep discount because it’s pretty old and it shows.  I’m really happy with the creepy old vibe it gives off.  Plus, ones in mint condition will run you around $180.

Tags: eBay, grouse foot, kilt pin, night market, thrift.

It’s been a crazy week for the kids at FIT.  The senior class presented their garments for judging today.  I’m always so impressed with what we manage to whip out in the final hour.  Best of luck to my dear friends!

In true masochistic form, instead of catching up on all the other work in my life, I decided to play dress up.  The weather in New York City can be described in one word: bipolar.  Our fair City’s mood today?  Chilly, windy, a bit of rain… really a little bit of a bitch.  My reaction?  A final huzzah for wool pants and gray sweaters of course!

I’ve had these pieces for quite some time now.  The cropped gray sweater is Sisley.  I remember purchasing it in 1999!  The belt is thrifted from somewhere in the Haight, also many years old now, and the wool trousers are Allan Waller — a great Loehmann’s find from 2005/6.  Today is an oldies but goodies kind of day.

I initially styled this look with the following accessories but axed them when I felt cluttered.  The earrings and necklace are Givenchy fashion jewelry.  Though most people under 40 hate the DTM look, I believe that sets have their place.  Case in point being my little set right here.  That and amazing women in amazing power suits.  Someday I’ll get me that bright blue Thierry Mugler skirt and jacket from Amacord Vintage to join the ranks of those women…

Tags: Allan Waller, Givenchy, Sisley, thrift.