Oh Yeah

So today is my BIRTHDAY and HALLOWEEN. I'm 20 now, and so far I like it more than 19.

I'm dressing up as Velma Dinkley from Scooby Doo, and maybe someday you'll see pictures. 

Dear Sally Ann,

I had forgotten how much better you are than the VV. I don't know what comes over me sometimes! Thank you for having prices that are actually great on the things I want to buy. Such as:

These fabulous Ray-Ban shades from who knows how long ago. They are way excellent. And only $1.49! Hooray!

And these most excellent oxfords. I already have a bunch of oxfords, but I just can't resist a nice pair of shoes that (semi) fits me! And, apparently mystery price actually = $1. Does it get better than that?

As a matter of fact, it does get better! I also purchased  Pointer Sisters and Saturday Night Fever records for only $1 each.

Magazines.

I have a definite love/hate relationship with magazines. Love in that I get to look at pretty pictures and read interesting articles and they are (sometimes) cheaper than books. Hate in that, unless they are meant for babies (AKA anyone under the age of 15) I really can't afford anything in them, except maybe hair clips or socks. I also find that it's really hard to find a really good magazine that you will actually still like in the future. Sometimes I will love, love, love one issue, but when I buy it again I realize maybe it was just a fluke because now it sucks. Or I will fall in love with a magazine that is published quarterly, or worse, bi-annually. I currently have mad love for super-expensive magazines that I really shouldn't be buying, considering the state of my bank account.

Like this lovely gem of a mag, POP. It's ridiculously thick and full of amazing pictures and articles, but it cost me $20! And, of course, it's only published twice a year. Disappointing! I want it more often than that, even if my wallet doesn't.

I used to have a major hard-on for Nylon, but I feel like it has really been going downhill in the last year or two-ish. I'm not entirely sure if the problem lies with me or them, but it just doesn't hold my interest like it used to. When I first started reading it several years ago, I felt the writing was good and the fashion was (fairly) edgy. They also introduced me to a lot of bands I still like now. Recently, however, I feel like it's become obsessed with pseudo-celebs like Cory Kennedy that I really couldn't care less about. The writing has definitely gone downhill, along with the subject matter. I don't even bother reading half the articles anymore, whereas I used to read it cover-to-cover each month. 

You may be thinking, why do you still buy it? The answer is, I usually don't. I only did this month because my super-ultimate, always-and-forever girl love Zooey Deschanel is on the cover. Sigh. 

Dear (most) North American Boys,

You really need to step it up. Jeans, a t-shirt, and running or skateboarding shoes really just don't cut it. Wearing a button-up shirt with the collar popped and ugly square-toed "dress shoes" when you go out shouldn't count as dressing up. And please, never wear your sweatpants (or, even worse, pajama pants) out in public. Nobody wants that, and it certainly won't help you to get laid. You shouldn't be afraid to wear something a little bit different. It shows you actually have a personality, and that you care about what you look like. It doesn't even have to be that crazy!

Maybe you could try some shiny pants. Or an interesting jacket? Even some unique (preferably leather or suede) shoes would go a long way.

You can even make a pair of jeans look snappy if you put a little effort into it. Skinny suspenders, maybe a button-up shirt...

And please, don't be afraid of wearing a suit every once in a while. Everybody looks good in a nice suit. And, if you really like it, you could go for a really awesome fabric.

(OK, I admit it, this picture is really only here because I am totally in love with Mark Ronson. He is amazing. Just look at that suit!)

Love,

Karen

Dear Urban Outfitters,

You know that I love you, but I just don't think that I can see you anymore. As wonderful as you are, I really can't see this working out, at least until you lower your shipping rates to Canada. I know that you have a lot to offer me, but I can't seem to get over the terrible sadness I feel every time I see a gorgeous pair of shoes on sale and in my price range, only to realize I will have to pay at least $30 in shipping just to get them across the border. While I know that you are an individual, and I will never be able to find anything quite like you, I think I'm just going to have to settle for somewhere else. Other companies are willing to offer me completely free shipping, without any minimums, all the way over the border. Even charging simply by weight would be an improvement, I just can't handle paying $40 just for shipping one pair of shoes. I'm really sorry about this, truly. I hope that one day, things can be alright between us.

Love always,

Karen

3AM (AKA: Dear Insomnia)

OK, so as much as I gripe about my terrible insomnia, it's really a good thing! People are always saying that I have too much time on my hands. Well, I have my insomnia to thank for that! If I'm really lucky, I could have up to twice as much time as an average person! Just think of all the things that I could get done! Obvs, though, I don't actually do anything productive. Mostly I just lie in bed wishing I was sleeping and getting bored of not sleeping. 

So tonight I decided to get dressed and take pictures. This is something I actually do a lot, minus the taking pictures part.

Keep in mind that I have hardly slept for the last week, so I probably think I look a whole lot better than I actually do. And maybe try to ignore my face because I'm not wearing any make-up.

My new boots! 

And my fab new traffic sign vest. Only seven bones! I love you, Divine.

I've had this jumper for a few years now, but I haven't worn it in a while. Actually it doesn't fit over my boobs anymore so it was really fun trying to zip it up.

Since you can't see my shoes in the last picture, here they are! I love them to death but they are trying to kill my feet. Seriously, I wear them for five minutes and already my feet are ready to quit the rest of my body.

New Boot Craving: Sated

SO these boots pretty much make my entire life. Ever since the first time I saw Breakfast Club I've wanted a pair of boots like the ones Molly Ringwald wore in it. I've also wanted to be able to dance like she did at the end, but that's beside the point. A month-ish ago I found boots almost exactly like hers, except they were a darker, burgundy-ey colour. They were old and kind of ratty and had something gross dried on the bottom. They were also a size 8 (I normally take a 10) but I was still able to squeeze my feet into them. But they were $30. THIRTY. VV, what are you thinking? Needless to say, I didn't buy them. And I was a little sad about it and thought about going back to see if they were still there.

Until today! 

My roommate and I were at the mall price-checking lava lamps (for a school project-don't ask). So, of course, we needed to stop in at Winners to look at purses and shoes. I had just about given up hope of finding anything remotely cute in my size range (9-11, I'm not averse to wearing shoes that don't quite fit) when I saw these beautiful, beautiful babies. They were a nine and I was a little (very) afraid I wouldn't even be able to get my foot in. But I did! And they fit like a glove, or, I guess, more like a sock. They were all I'd dreamed of and more! Reminiscent of Molly's without being obvious, a little grungy, and completely and totally gorge. And for only twice as much as the VV boots! Honestly, I probs shouldn't have bought them. But considering the fact that I haven't bought groceries for over two weeks now and I have enough food to last me at least another two if I'm careful, I can afford them. At least in my head.

P.S.

My mother is going to kill me.

Today I wore...

T-shirt & cardigan from AA

Skirt from H&M

Boots from Winners

Even though this outfit isn't really that exciting, I like it. It seems very autumn to me. Of course, the wind disagrees entirely, and I had to change or risk freezing my knees off.

First Things

It is currently two weeks until my twentieth birthday, and I have never really done anything particularly exciting or memorable. This is an attempt at at least one of those things.

I am a fashion student from Calgary, stuck in Lethbridge because I am too much of a slacker to get into Ryerson like I really wanted to. I don't really know what I want to do with my life, besides the fact that I want it to have to do with Fashion, and maybe writing. I pretty much hate everything, but those are two things that I genuinely love.

After my first pathetic attempt at a blog, (which you can see here) that was really more of a testament to my intense nerdity than anything else, I have decided to start a blog that has to do with my actual real-life interests and what I want to wear/do wear.

I care too much about what other people think about how I look and what I wear, and I need to STOP. So I'm going to!

No more being afraid to wear 5" heels just because I'm already the tallest girl I know!

No more being afraid of funny looks!

No more worrying about what other people might think!

Well, hopefully, anyways. I am a work in progress, after all.