NO NO NO!

I was just minding my own business, doing lazy sunday kind of things after an especially bonkerz night last night, when i felt a soft breeze on my right elbow. I looked down to find...

A HUGE hole in my favorite flannel ever! NO! It isn't even on the seam, so probs it will look really dumb when I attempt to fix it, but I don't care. This flannel is irreplaceable! It takes years of loving wear and (not) care to achieve this level of softness (in this case, by my father). I can't live without it. It's my favorite lazy day cozy times shirt. Words cannot express the sadness I feel.

Luuuurve

Ever since my mom got rid of our working typewriter, I've wanted another one. I can't recall I time I haven't been enamored with typewriters. I love everything about them, and have recently been thinking about how lovely it would be to have one in my life again. I was browsing them on ebay and found a few fab ones, but I'm sure it would be far cheaper to search locally and save on the shipping. i also stumbled across these (fully refurbished and functioning) beauties, but at over $500 apiece, they are far out of my price range. For anyone unsure of what to get me for christmas, this would be a most excellent idea. If not, I'll just have to find one for myself!

Wish List #1: Shoes

Christmas is a-coming! I just realized that there is only one month left until the terribly festive occasion, and here I am, with only one gift bought. I'm terrible at christmas shopping, I never know what to get anyone unless they give me a list (which no one does, obvs) and it certainly doesn't help matters that I'm broke. I do, however, know of a vast number of things that I would love to see under that tree come Christmas morning, while I'm sipping my champagne and orange juice. So, of course I'm starting with shoes, since I love them so much and certainly can't afford to buy most of these for myself, at least unless I don't want to eat for a month.

1. Vic Matie, $365 at Gravity Pope. 

Well, hello there, dream shoes. As soon as I saw these, I realized that they're exactly what I've been looking for my whole life. Shiny but not too shiny (no worries about getting the annoying crinkly effect that happens on super-patent leather), just the right amount of pointy, with the fab little metal detail at the heel. AND they're oxfords, which I obvs have a major thing for.

I think I'm in love.
2. Belle by Sigerson Morrison, $695 at Gravity Pope.

I have been horribly, terribly in love with these boots for well over a year now. About six months ago they were actually on sale, but still far out of my price range. They remind me of boots of my mom's that I have always loved, but never gotten to wear, only these are better. The leather is disgustingly buttery and soft, I die every time I touch them.

3. Chloe, $375 at YOOX. 

Yes, I do realize that these are horrible and probs the ugliest shoes ever invented, but I can't get them out of my head. They're haunting me and I really just don't understand it. I daydream in class about what I would wear them with and how amazing I would look. If I had these shoes, I'm pretty sure I would be the fiercest female in town.

4. Belle by Sigerson Morrison, $289.99 at Gravity Pope.

These are on sale! $130.01 off! These are the ultimate in sexy, feminine footwear. The shape is absolutely stunning, and I can only imagine how amazing they would look on my beautiful feet. Personally, I think toe cleavage is awesome, and I can already tell that these lovely ladies would show it off beautifully. They're also extremely classic, and I can see myself at 80 tottering around the nursing home in these, unable to let go of my youth.
5. Fluevog, $169.99 at Gravity Pope.

I've been lusting after these bad boys for going on six months now. I was this close to buying these instead of my Campers, but they were $235 then, and now they're on sale! I don't really have any brightly coloured flats, and am therefore in desperate need of some, and these are just the ticket. I absolutely adore perforated leather and have an (obvious) oxford addiction. These belong in my shoe wheel, without a doubt.

6. Melissa, $99 at Gravity Pope. 

You guessed right, these are made of plastic, and it's RECYCLED! Woo! Apparently the plastic is this special kind that's amazingly comfortable and conforms to your foot blah blah blah, but I don't care about all that. I love them because they look like something a retro flight attendant from the future would wear while working on a private jet, most likely with a Judy Jetson-style outfit. And white tights. 

7. YMC, $345 at Gravity Pope.

Honestly, I don't think these shoes need much of an explanation. They are effortlessly chic in every sense. Simple and classic, they could go anywhere, with anything, always.
8. Paul Smith, $329.99 at Gravity Pope.

These are just too cute for words. Worn with a little mod dress (like the wool one I already own) one would look like they had time travelled here, straight from the sixties, where their style icon was twiggy, they hung out all day smoking cigarettes while sitting on brick walls in London with their equally mod friends, and went out dancing every night.
9. Candela, $114.99(USD) at Urban Outfitters. 

Oxfords with tassel-ey bits and a perforated pattern. 'Nuff said.
10. United Nude, $150(USD).

You may be thinking, 'What's with Karen and her love of hideous shoes?' The answer is that I do not know. I used to despise wedges, and there are three pairs on this list alone, two of which are made of plastic. I have no idea what's happening to me, but that's beside the point. These shoes don't even have one! HAHAHA! (sorry) Mostly I just think these are totally adorable, and I love the white strap. I don't really know what else to say.

11. United Nude, $245(USD).

I LOVE ANKLE BOOTS. The overall shape of these is nothing short of fabulous, and I love the graduated stripes and the way the upper is composed of one strip that folds over itself in the front. I'm also a big fan of the heel height, at 2 3/4" high, they're far more manageable for extended wear than most of the heels I own, so I might even be able to wear them all day at school without having to change before walking home. Mostly, though, I just think they're frickin' cool.

Mad Mania

OKAY so I realize I am a little late on the uptake here, but I am pretty much obsessed with Mad Men, as is the rest of the world, apparently. When I was checking a couple weeks ago to see if the new GG episode was up on the CTV website (it wasn't) I happened to notice that they had both full seasons of Mad Men up. I've been told  by about a million different people that it's amazing, so I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did.

Not only is is well written and well acted, but the costumes are fabulous. I also really like how they actually tried to stay true to the time period, showing everyone smoking constantly, driving drunk, and being horribly misogynistic. That may sound terrible, but I find it very refreshing. I get so angry when people try to idealize a time that everyone knows was less than ideal, showing the late 50s/early 60s without those things would be akin to showing the 00's without crazed environmentalists and everyone constantly living in fear of "terrorists". 

On a lighter note, I am obvs in love with Don Draper. Really, how could you not be? Sure, he's a cheater and an asshole, but he's gorgeous and a man, in the true sense of the word. He's intelligent, smooth, and looks great in a suit. I'm pretty sure he's every girl's dream man, whether they want to admit it or not.

The obvious style icon of the show is Joan Holloway, as seen here. And rightfully so; she is disgustingly sexy and I want to be her SO BAD. She has a beyond enviable hourglass figure, and she knows how to dress it. She inspires me to wear more dresses and wiggle my hips, as well as make me wish they were bigger (not a first, fyi). So, I pretty much have the biggest girl crush ever on her-she's practically perfect.

Harry Crane here gets a shout out because he is wearing a bow tie. I mean really, a frickin' bow tie. That's pretty awesome. The fact that it's printed only makes it better. More guys should rock that, it's cute. Also, everyone should know that I'm a total sucker for a nerdy guy in glasses. I guess I have a pretty major TV crush on him. 

Dear Compliments,

My room is far too messy at the mo for me to take pictures of myself, despite my outfits being really awesome lately. SO instead of an outfit post, I will tell you about compliments I have received recently.

1. My classmate said she loved my shoes.

2. My classmate/friend said she loved my style and wished she could pull it off.

3. One of my teachers said she was very jealous of my height AND that I had legs that went on for days.

4. I have the best leggings ever.

P.S. Lady Gaga pictures to come...eventually...maybe...

What's this, a real post? NO WAY!

A couple weeks ago I bought some really fancy new lipstick for my birthday (actually I just really wanted it). If you are interested (most likely you are not) it's Kat Von D. for Sephora in underage red. And, for the record, I don't care if you think that's lame, because I love it.

Anyhow, the point is that it inspired me to dress up like a pin-up girl last saturday night. It may have turned out a little more housewife-y, but I don't care. I look hot so whatevs.

This is how it happened: Kirsten and her boyfriend and I were sitting on the couch watching TV or a movie, who cares. And all of a sudden I said "I want to dress up like a pin-up girl tonight." and Kirsten said "Me too!" so I said "Let's do it!" and we did. (those may not be exact quotes. So sue me!) I wore this lovely gem of a dress (it has pockets!) and lent Kirsten a dress that may actually have been more pin-uppy, but doesn't exactly fit me anymore. 
Kirsten just happened to have these lovely lovely fake flowers, so we bobby-pinned it up and stuck them in our hair, and it was liquid liner and red lipstick from there on out. Also notice how the hair flower matched the beautiful wall flowers. They are an exciting new addition to my non-stop action-packed life.
Seamed stockings! I've had these for probs about six months and only worn them once before this. What is wrong with my brain? They're hot! Obvs these are an integral part of the outfit, though I doubt anyone noticed without my yelling "LOOK! I'm wearing seamed stockings! SEE?" which I may have done. They are really real stockings, so I have to wear garters with them, which is fine by me. But you don't get to see a picture. No pictures of my upper thighs on the internets! Also the shoes are unimportant and unremarkable, which is why there is no pic. K?

Also, you may be wondering, if I took these pictures on Saturday, Why am I only posting them now, on Thursday morning? Well, here is why: on Saturday, after returning from our total non-adventure that consisted of NOT going to a bar, and instead going to RDD (mmm hot dogs and cherry coke) and then home, I was the opposite of sleepy, thanks to the red bull I had consumed mere hours before. So I checked to see if the new GG episode was online (spoiler alert: it was not) I saw that they had every episode of Mad Men on the CTV website. Everybody seems to be obsessed with it, and now SO AM I. It is so good and I am in love. I think I have three episodes left in the second season, and then I don't know what I will DO with myself! (Oh right, I will watch the Office. ALL OF IT.) The moral of this story: if you have not seen Mad Men, go do it NOW. I was going to link to it here but it's not working so never mind. Still go watch it though.

WHHHYYY???

H&M, how could you do this to me??? I love you, I give you my hard-earned money far more often than I should, I even go out of my way to visit you. And this is how you thank me. By bringing the COMME des GARCONS collection to only three Canadian locations, none of which are even remotely accessible to me. I got so excited looking at the previews on your website, anticipating the creative budgeting I would execute in order to maximize my purchases. When I checked the locations, however, my dreams were dashed into dust. Now I just don't know what to do.

Will I ever be able to trust you again? It's too soon to tell.

Flowers flowers flowers

I have a definite lust on for girly florals right now, especially ala Luella s/s 08. There's almost something subversive about wearing something so traditionally sweet and girly in a way that certainly doesn't feel particularly traditional or sweet. 

I would love to try some florals out in my own wardrobe, but I have extreme doubts about actually being able to pull it off without looking like a complete and utter fool. I know I have a floral skirt in a drawer somewhere that I've had since about grade 10 so I may give it a try in the privacy of my own (newly decorated/re-arranged!) bedroom. With the door locked.

 
I'll keep you updated...or not.

FREALS GUYS

I NEED THIS NECKLACE.

I need it so badly I don't even know what to do with myself.  I can't stop thinking about it. It's haunting me. I keep thinking about everything I could wear it with, and the extent to which it could add much-needed excitement and interest to an otherwise blah ensemble. I already know I would wear it all the time, considering how often I wear my camera necklace from the same site (read: a LOT). And really, it's not that expensive, it would defs come to under $40, including shipping from the UK and the US-Canadian exchange rate. If my mother didn't have to look at my credit card bill every month, I would gladly skimp on groceries for a little while to buy it. 

Perhaps this is the incentive I need to finally go out and get a job. But I still really really don't want to. Ugh.

You can check out the above necklace and a bunch of other awesome ones here. They're way lighter than they look, and kind of (really) look like tattoos from a distance. LOVE.