Wasted Wardrobe

Winter outfit, California style

2012-02-12T01:07:00.004-06:00

Thrifted camo jacket, denim vest & gold belt

Vintage tee from Standard Issue/F21 jeans

Boutique 9 loafers/JewelMint earrings

Scarf made by my lovely friend Natasha!

Wow, it's been a full two months since my last post. Slacker alert! Well, not really... 2012 has been keeping me busy, which is a very good thing. I've found that the best way for me to get through my brother's passing is to stay productive. I still think about him every day, of course, and nothing can really change that. For now, my thoughts run along two different tracks, one heading for the future and one for the past.

Speaking of direction, I seem not to have one for this post, so I'll leave you with today's cute little spectator:

I promise to have more focus next time. Hope the new year is treating you well!

My morning, noon, and night jacket

2011-12-11T22:15:00.006-06:00

(F21 motorcycle jacket/vintage sweater/By Corpus button down shirt/Boutique 9 wedges)

This weekend:

Two-hour hike around Elysian Park (sunny and 70, yay)

Coconut kale vegan smoothies from Naturewell (obsessed)

No haircut (once again)

Packers win (yes)

Hope yours was a good one!

His and hers

2011-12-07T02:19:00.002-06:00

(Vintage striped sweater/F21 jacket & jeans/Alexander Wang velvet loafers)

My schedule and the dwindling daylight hours after work have made keeping up with posts a bit of a challenge, but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.

Since I'm running around town all day, my outfits have become a lot more practical. Anyone who knows me can attest that practicality is not one of my strong suits, but here's my stab at it. Cozy sweater topped with a motorcycle jacket to fend off LA's chills (It gets cold here? Who knew?) and velvet A. Wang shoes that I somehow manage to kick my ankle bones with every single time I wear them. We're talking bruises here. See? You pay for practicality.

(Rag & Bone henley and pants/Scotch & Soda suspenders/Red Wing boots)

David's no slouch in the style department, but he just laughs off my suggestion of having his own little bloggity. So I'm just going to embarrass him by posting his outfits here from time to time.

See you when we get there.

2011-11-30T00:39:00.005-06:00

P for Paul

(Roxy sweatshirt/Alexander Wang silk romper/Boutique 9 wedges)

It's been a long month. I'm not even sure what to say about it, except for don't hold grudges and don't forget to tell your loved ones that you love them today, because tomorrow may be too late.

Photos by David, who has been incredibly supportive throughout everything. Love you! SMACK

Black on gold on black

2011-10-23T20:41:00.003-05:00

(Vintage hat, gold top & jewelry/American Apparel shorts & sheer pants/Bebe shoes/F21 jacket)

Currently panting over...

2011-10-12T01:31:00.005-05:00

This Balenciaga dog leash available in-shop at Satine.

For bitches who've got expensive taste. ;)

Photo by me

Out and about in LA: Hollywood Sightseeing Tours + Confederacy + Nylon party

2011-08-25T03:07:00.007-05:00

I consider Pee Wee Herman one of my personal style influencers… The shrunken suit tailored to a T, the pristine oxfords and, of course, the little bow tie. Do you know how much fun it is to wear a bow tie?? If you’re going to get dressed, why not make it enjoyable? I had better photos of this outfit, but somehow those are now floating around the universe.

Speaking of enjoyable, since moving to Los Angeles, life’s become pretty hectic, but only in the best way possible. Last week, I assisted on set for a music video, which was really exciting even though there was a lot to be done before, during and after. The workdays were long, but since I ~~liked~~ loved just being involved, the hours flew by.

On the weekends, the exploring of my new city continues. Feeling touristy, David and I went on a two-hour spin through LA with Hollywood Sightseeing Tours, whipping through the hills in one of those open buses that, thankfully, lets you appreciate the amazing weather we have here. Sunshine every day, people. What’s not to love about that?

After stopping by a primo spot for snapping a photo of the Hollywood sign, the tour guide swung us by the houses of the rich and famous (Jack Nicholson, Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio), plus the downright spoiled (Ahem, Paris Hilton). I’ve never seen houses like this in my life. SO big and SO fancy, sometimes too fancy to be tasteful (Sorry, Jennifer Lopez). I was hoping to catch Leo or ol’ Jack taking out the trash or something, but alas, neither one of them surfaced while we lurked. Next time...

We also stopped by Confederacy for a shopping event hosted by Shenae Grimes to benefit aid to Japan. All those patterns and junked up denim on that rack? Be still, my heart. A lot of secondhand here in LA is priced much higher than back home in Milwaukee, but the stuff here was pretty decent. See those little polka dotted shorts hidden away up there? I'm having non-buyer's remorse about those. Funny that I never seem to get buyer's remorse though...

And then there was the Nylon party at the Mondrian, which was stuffed to the gills with girls with great individual style, including Ms. Rumi Neely of FashionToast.

I'm in love with this girl's outfit. That crown is killing me.

Random work outfit

2011-08-12T02:12:00.003-05:00

(J. Crew denim shirt/F21 tee/leather skirt from Grace!/MIA heels/vintage necklace)

The camera doesn't lie... If I look tired in these photos, it's because I am! In the best ways possible, of course. Amazing opportunities have come my way since moving to LA and I intend to keep the momentum going. Once I wake up from my nap. Zzzzzz...

Still not over leopard

2011-08-07T03:55:00.003-05:00

(Thrifted Ralph Lauren leopard top/F21 tank & jeans/vintage hat & Bruno Magli heels/random locket)

I can't believe it's August already. In typical fashion, this summer has been speeding by. My busy schedule definitely has a hand in that feeling, as I've been taking on as much as possible, yet I still want to grab at more. Even though I enjoy working in fashion, I always need a writing outlet, even if it's tackling subjects that have nothing to do with my personal interests. I mean, I've written articles on road construction projects, for crying out loud. But somehow, I actually enjoyed that, so no complaints!

Anyway, at one of the events I attended not long ago, I saw a line of reporters talking to the actresses that were cycling through. Once the interviews were done, I approached a girl from UsWeekly to ask how she got started and she gave me her contact info, telling me to get in touch to pass my resume along for a freelancing gig. Maybe that'll prove fruitful, maybe not, but I'm trying everything I can to get myself out there.

Hmm, I think I'm tired and babbling. So toodles! Hope you all are enjoying the weekend!

Photos by David :)

Nylon party outfit

2011-07-31T22:31:00.004-05:00

(vintage onesy & gold purse/Fendi shoes/Forever 21 flower headband)

I attended Nylon's party at Skybar here in LA last Wednesday night and finally got to wear this vintage one piece scored from a lovely older couple whose daughter had been Miss Wisconsin back in the day.

I was also lucky enough to be on the list for the tenth anniversary party for Ella Moss at Eveleigh on Thursday and the Carrera party at Chateau Marmont last night. While all had celebrities wandering around minding their own business, the only one who really stopped me in my tracks was Nicole Richie, looking fabulous as always in a flowy, floor length dress at Ella Moss. Actually, no, there was another one I saw that freaked me out in a minor way— designer and Lady Gaga collaborator Nicola Formicetti chilling poolside in short shorts and a blazer at Chateau Marmont was a pretty good sighting too. Okay, I'll quit with the name dropping now. It's just that this whole Hollywood scene is surreal for this Wisconsin gal and I'm excited to share. :)

Fashion's day off

2011-07-26T01:12:00.006-05:00

As much as I enjoy busy city life, it's always nice to get away, even if it's only for a few hours. We're lucky enough to be only a short drive from plenty of great beaches, state parks and scenery. Speaking of scenery, I'm definitely not one to get all cutesy for the beach. (Unless I'm in the South of France. Then maybe... Pshht.) The last thing I need is to be digging through the sand for a rogue earring or chasing down the tide as it rushes off with a fancy sandal for that little hoarder Ariel's underwater cave. So instead the recipe is denim topped with this hoody that David bought me, which looks simple but feels fancy.

Last week, we rested our old bones at some hot springs in Ojai. I'm not supposed to reveal just where, per a local's request. I will say that it took two showers to get rid my skin and hair of the egg smell from the sulfur. A small price to pay for a relaxation retreat provided by nature instead of a spa.

Malibu was our destination du jour yesterday and I was ecstatic to see dolphins diving playfully through the waves. I may or may not have squealed and clapped my hands like a three year old. May or may not have. ;)

Photos by David

Good day, sunshine

2011-07-20T01:20:00.004-05:00

(Thrifted Hawaiian shirt/American Apparel shorts/MIA shoes/F21 headband)

Somehow I let one round of surfing go to my head. I've actually had this little Hawaiian shirt since times of snow and ice, but the light material is much more appropriate for running around in the heat and pretending I'm Gidget.

I am actually quite obsessed with surfing though. Being from Wisconsin, it's something that I'd always fantasized about and guess what? It's so much better doing it in real life, even though all the kicking, paddling and fighting against the waves sucks the energy right out of you. To my surprise, I managed to stand up on my board for a bit and that was it... hooked.

I now have two internships, one at Satine and another with stylist Laury Smith, so my weeks have become jam-packed, which makes my weekend exploring sessions that much sweeter. In the mean time, I'm soaking up the sights around the house and finishing up Twin Peaks, in addition to being a hippie and eschewing makeup. What is up with that?? Someone get me to the lipstick selection at the MAC counter ASAP!

From LA, with love...

Photos by David

I. Dye.

2011-07-14T02:14:00.004-05:00

Before

After

Oh, couch hunting, what a joy. I'm sure it's a fun activity when there's no budget involved, but if you're seeking out something affordable and attractive? Pahhh, good luck with that!

Originally, we wanted to go the vintage route, but were sadly left empty-handed after every trip. (I really wanted something in a leopard print. Oh well.) After much deliberation, we decided on the Kivik from good ol' IKEA, but weren't really into the color offerings. By default, white won out, even though we fully knew that it wouldn't last with our little four-legged rascal, a master of both couch surfing and dirt digging. And not more than a day later, lo and behold! Paw prints.

Rit to the rescue. From the limited color selection at the local craft store, we grabbed blue and black dye, layering them up on the couch covers in an ombre-like fashion. While wet, the hues looked pretty intense, but after washing, surprise! The blue lightened up and the black all but disappeared. One thing I've learned from my dabbling is that no matter what, the color will always end up lighter than anticipated.

So maybe it didn't turn out exactly as planned, but it's definitely got a more personal touch than the white. Plus I think it's kind of got that bleached out Dries Van Noten look going on, right? Right?!

There's always the possibility of another round of dyeing to up the oomph, but it can be such a messy ordeal that I don't see it happening anytime soon. I think some patterned pillows will be what ties it all together. Ohhhh, pillow shopping...

Blue valentine

2011-07-08T01:05:00.003-05:00

(T by Alexander Wang top/F21 bandeau/vintage pants/thrifted necklace & leather bracelet/Timex watch/Aerosoles (!) sandals)

Apparently, I'm really feeling American flag colors this week. I love the true blue of this pant and the pajama-esque fit. For a while, I debated over wearing them since there's so much fabric and so little of me, but in the end I just said screw it. I think they're way too much fun to hide away in the depths of my closet.

I bought these sandals a few years ago. They're Aerosoles, can you believe that? I usually associate the brand with old lady shoes, but these are the perfect sandals, I swear! Super comfortable, they're the perfect alternative to summer outfits that beg for a fancier touch that flip flops can't give. I love them so much that I ended up getting them in three different colors.

Greetings from the backyard again

2011-07-07T00:58:00.003-05:00

I'm posting these photos to help convince friends and family to come visit! ;)

Our yard has that whole zen thing going on and it's the best place to hang out.

Originally, I had wanted to move to New York, but that notion is completely forgotten now that we just bliss out in the backyard!

Okay, time to stop gushing.

Photos by David, of course!

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-05T01:11:00.006-05:00

(T by Alexander Wang top/F21 bandeau and striped skirt/Ann Demeulemeester sandals/RayBan sunglasses/random jewelry)

It was a hot one in LA today, so it was a perfect time to escape to Santa Monica and Venice. My dad was in town for the day and we had fun wandering around, taking in all the craziness. I can't really remember the last time I wore red, white and blue on Independence Day (I literally can't remember... I'm from Milwaukee, after all.) but I was feeling especially patriotic this time around. Red, white and blue and stars and stripes.

*Update: This outfit was selected to be featured on The New York Times website! Check it out here. :)

We got home just in time to take in the fireworks, which were exploding all over the city and since our house is high up in the hills, we could see them all. Turn your head one way, there'd be at least ten different sessions being lit off and the same going on in the other direction. Quite a cool sight. These ones here are at Dodger Stadium.

Photos by David :)

Backyardigan

2011-06-25T19:30:00.003-05:00

(Thrifted blazer, striped shirt, Levi's & gold belt/F21 socks & headband/Marc Jacobs heels)

It's safe to say that there's some healthy competition when it comes to thrifting here in LA... When the new bins are wheeled out to the sales floor, it's like meat being thrown to a pool of sharks. I've never seen anything like it! Time to brush up on my skills.

Happy weekend!

Photo by David :)

Impromptu

2011-06-24T19:45:00.004-05:00

Still can't believe that this is what's right outside our front door. It's especially pretty right when the sun is about to clock out for the night, as seen here with my fiery orange face.

Black and gold, black and gold, black and gold...

2011-06-22T02:22:00.004-05:00

(Thrifted blazer & vintage gold top/F21 skirt/Gravati shoes/Timex watch/RayBan sunglasses)

Hi, remember me? It's been a while.

Mainly for these reasons...

We just got internet service at our new place today.
The majority of my wardrobe here is still packed up in Space Bags.
I had to leave most of my hats, scarves and tights back home to be shipped over.
Almost ALL of my heels are waiting for a trip to the shoe doctor. Sniffle.

I currently have an Assistant Buying/Social Media Marketing internship at Satine, a boutique in West Hollywood, where I ogle Lanvin shoes and Isabel Marant skirts all day. :) This is a random work outfit captured while David and I wandered over to the Asian market to stock up on Sriracha, an absolute necessity in our household. Fun fact: I'm kind of obsessed with condiments. Wanna talk mustard?

Anyway, getting dressed without all of my usual frills (No wide brims? No patterns? How about no fun?!) has proven to be difficult, but slightly better now that we're in a spot that has a full length mirror. (PS, getting dressed without a full length mirror really starts the day off wrong.)

I have tomorrow free, so I'm really looking forward to getting my stuff all unpacked and organized. I'm like a whole new person out here! :)

Home sweet home

2011-06-13T02:59:00.004-05:00

We've finally gotten our new place!

Originally, we'd been looking at lofts in downtown LA, but when we saw this spot, it was pure love. It's got a quirky, island-inspired feel to it, completely surrounded by flowers and greenery. From the living window, nothing is visible but the bamboo trees outside, which sound amazing when the breeze passes by.

Back entrance...

And just outside of the bedroom...

This little fountain setup really sold me. How often do you run into places like this?

Back patio...

And here's what sealed the deal...

Apparently, a tenant from a few years back was a big Packers fan and left this little memento upon moving out. A sign, right? These cheeseheads sure think so. :)

It's all happening...

2011-06-03T02:11:00.005-05:00

(Thrifted striped tee & Ferragamo shoes/F21 pants & scarf/RayBan sunglasses/MAC lipstick in Girl About Town)

I'm finally in LA! It took me way longer than anticipated, but pretty much everything I own was evaluated and either packed up or shipped off. The process was a tad overwhelming, considering the amount of stuff I've held onto over the years. So. much. stuff. Especially and most obviously clothes. I was thisclose to calling up A&E to offer myself up for an episode of "Hoarders". It would've been the most fabulous episode to date! Except not really, because there were a lot of "what was she thinking?" moments getting thrown into the donation pile.

The whole ordeal made the idea of shopping a complete turn-off. For a moment, at least.

Most of my hats and scarves were left behind in Milwaukee, which has left me with a bit of an identity crisis. They'll be mailed to me shortly, but for the time being, I'm feeling quite naked. Shield your eyes.

Saddle up

2011-05-20T15:12:00.004-05:00

I've always maintained that I'm not a purse person, which seems pretty delusional considering all the bags I've unearthed in my prep to move. Give me leather, fringe and some one-of-a-kind detailing and I'm sold. This one, for example, has a closure made of horseshoe nails and Through love we shall fly to untold heights- '72 cut on the flap inside. Pretty sure I won't be running into another one of these anytime soon. :)

My life right now...

2011-05-13T13:25:00.004-05:00

Packed. Unpacked. Repacking.

My fellow thrifters, I've recently been hit with the realization that I have a bit of a problem.

My sartorial conquests have rebelled against me in my preparation for a cross-country drive, banding together to create an impenetrable wall in my backseat, a condition rendering my luxurious Honda Civic undriveable.

So while I should be slicing through highway, states away by now, I am still wading through bags of sweaters and sequins, slimming down my precious collection of who-knows-what until I have but a skeleton of my wardrobe.

PS, this skeleton is still rather large.

Can't wait to get dressed. :)

Lost in the trees

2011-05-04T18:35:00.004-05:00

(Thrifted top & belt/Marc Jacobs pants from Another Look/vintage turban/mom's necklace/BCBG shoes)

MAC lipstick in Impassioned

Pardon my squints! The sunglasses I would've worn have mysteriously wandered off.

MISSING CATEYES

Breed: Paul Smith

Color: Black

Comes to the name "Flatties"

This loving home misses them very much.

If found, please return to WastedWardrobe.net

No questions asked.

Anyway, Another Look has been providing me with plenty of scores lately. Like these ultra-fun leopard print Marc Jacobs pants that cost only $20. Plus the owner just gave me a pair of Dolce and Gabbana pants. What universe have I stepped into?

Also, welcome spring!

Late to the party as always, but we're so glad you decided to show up!

Good as gold

2011-04-29T21:00:00.003-05:00

(Levi's denim jacket/gold skirt & vintage hat from Another Look/Gap sweater/Marc Jacobs shoes/vintage scarf/thrifted bangles)

I've been a one-trick pony as of late, with that trick being my denim jacket paired with a skirt with a long-ish hemline. Oh well, it feels good for spring.

My brain is absolute mush right now because I've been sick all day with Royal Wedding fever. I thought I'd be watching simply to check out The Dress and the hats (my gosh, the hats!), but I can't believe how intensely I got sucked in once the telecast started. I swear, I could feel the energy of the event through the TV screen. At one point, I got so excited that I wanted to run and grab a hat from my room to wear with my oh-so-stylish pajama ensemble of sweat pants and a tank top, but couldn't tear myself away for fear of missing even one moment. I spent the entire time switching back and forth from trying to hold back tears to having the biggest nerd grin spread across my face. I'm so happy I watched! It truly made the day feel special.

Thank you to my sister Natalie for the photos! :)