IF the Iceberg

Moving Day!

2008-06-11T00:44:00.000-07:00

I'm still doing some cleaning, but you all can take a peak at my new place if you'd like:

Ivy Frozen Productions

Same neighborhood; just moved down the street and upgraded a little bit. The new address is easier to remember and the space is a little more me.

Still to do:
I have about a million links to add, mostly those of Wardrobe Remixers from the most recent "Do you have a blog?" posts in the discussion area. If your blog was fashion/style related and had a clickable link, it's most likely on my list to be added.

Finish my how to sucessfully alter clothing series. I added P3, but there's still two more parts to go.

Fix some of the graphics.

Post my not really secret but still kinda secret news. Actually, I think I did mention it on there already, hmmm...

Start my new posts =) I've got lot's of ideas.

Moving on up,
Ivy Frozen

Still Alive

2008-03-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

I think I'm ready to start posting here again. I had blogger problems, then internet and computer and basically just got really annoyed and frustrated and thus stopped the posting. Plus, I've been working on a not really secret but still kinda secret project that will coincide with this change. I will probably jump ship to a new blog since I want a new name for the blog and a new look that will make me happier, and I hope you all will like it too. (and a much better address) Rest assured, the new blog will pretty much be the same as this blog only prettier. And actually updated a regular-like basis.

I am back and brimming with stuff to share with you all, and I think I've figured out more what I like and what I don't and how I want my blog to go. So stay tuned for the new link.

Only moving forward, dahling, never backwards,
Ivy Frozen

How to Successfully Alter Clothing pt2: Useful Things to Pick Up

2008-01-18T01:35:00.000-08:00

Before reading, see part 1: inspiration if you care.

Sorry about the latness of this one. Urgh. Just had some internet-computer-this site issues whuch hopefully won't be an issue again. Hopefully part three will follow much sooner. So, without further ado:

So, you have an idea. But before you can implement it, you need to do some planning and pick up some supplies. I'll leave it to you to pick out you more project specific needs; I'm going to list useful items that are more general and you might not think about having around.

1. iron

An iron is a very good thing to have and use on your projects. Use it to iron your fabric before cutting, to iron seams, to set iron on adhesives, on your final product, etc. You can get by without an iron, but you'll be surprised by the difference an iron makes.

2. iron on adhesive or fabric glue

If you're not so good with the needle and thread, iron on adhesives and fabric glue are great alternatives to explore. They're also great tool if you can handle your needle and thread. Use it to hold fabric in place while you sew, make your own appliques, and a dozen other uses I'm sure you can come up with. I like to keep some iron on adhesive tape in my sewing kit, though I also keep a sheet or two on hand for appliques.

Also, if you plan on button holes, iron on interfacing is a good idea. It will keep your button holes from stretching, making them look nice and work better. It's also a good idea to help reinforce waist bands and support zippers on light fabrics.

3. straight pins

If you plan on doing a bit of diy, get yourself a pack of straight pins. They're cheap and very worth it. Safety pins, though I love them, are no substitute. Get the longer ones; they stay in the fabric better. Plus, you can use the straight pins to pin your fabric into your carpet or corkboard, which may come in handy for you later.

4. thread

Dollar store thread sucks. Get yourself some good quality thread. It may seem like it costs a lot, but good quality thread is sturdier (& therefore will last longer), looks nicer, and is not wrapped in a retarded style that makes it impossible to use on a sewing machine and annoying to handsew with. Also, get the big spool of thread, at least a 100 yds. You'd be surprised how quickly thread goes, especially if you use a sewing machine.

Selecting a Color: It's hard to match fabric colors to your fabric sometimes. I find that a thread that is a little darker than your fabric won't be as noticible and prominent as thread that is lighter. When you can't find a color even mildly close to your fabric, try selecting a color that just looks nice with your fabric. Also remember thread color doesn't really matter that much in most cases since it isn't visible on the outside. If you're still learning and prone to messing up, you might want to use a contrasting color in non-visible places. It makes picking on your foul stitches much easier.

5. needles

There is a reason for all the different sized needles. if you're using a sewing machine, make sure you have the proper needle for your fabric, especially if your fabric is really heavy or light. If you're hand sewing, the needles are different sizes for functionality. If you buy a pack of hand needles, they usually say what the different needles are for on the back of the package.

On this note, if you're using a sewing machine, make sure you have the right feet and the right needles for your project. The information you need should be in your sewing machine manuel.

6. Seam Ripper

It's my favorite tool. It's so useful when you mess up and need to rip out stitches, moving stitches when altering an item, and it just generally looks cool and hardcore in your sewing kit. They cost like a dollar and are totally worth it. Beware though; they're very sharp and you can stab yourself with them.

7. sewing shears

While they don't necessarily have to be sewing scissors, a good pair of sharp, strong shears could make all the difference in cutting a straight line, and a wierd, choppy line. If you're having trouble cutting you're fabric, buying a new pair of shears might help. Dollar store sewing scissors seem to be decent, but they also seem not to last for lengthy periods. The rotary cutters work even better at helping you get a straight line, but the sets are also kind of expensive.

Alright, that's all I can think of. Wonder around your local sewing store and investigate. You'll find cool embellishments you can use and maybe some products you didn't know were available. (Grommets and hooks & eyes come on tapes!)

The dress on this post was made from a twinsize fitted sheet. The bubble hem and straps are formed from the stretchy portions on the ends. Really sweet and simple. Click on the image for more info.

Arrives precisely when she means to plus 15 minutes,
Ivy Frozen

Eco-mercial

2007-12-18T17:50:00.001-08:00

This is Ivy Frozen reminding you to support your local stores and industries this holiday season. Only YOU can save the magic.

Sticking it the Valdemart,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. Part two to successfully alter clothing will be up soon. We'll be looking at materials and know how before we can finally make the first cut in part 3.

How to Successfully Alter Clothing pt1

2007-12-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

I love making my clothes unique and how I want them. And in sharing my creations, I've come aross many people who admire my work, but are too afraid to go after their own wardrobes. Thus, I figured I'd do a few posts to reveal how truly easy it really is to alter clothing to make it your own.

In this, the first part, I'll be covering the first step and sometimes the hardest: figuring out what to do to the item of clothing.

Figure out what you like about the piece. What attracted you to the piece in the first place? Perhaps you just liked the color or pattern and nothing else. Maybe you're a sucker for ruffles like I am. Or maybe it was all about the lace. Figure out what you like about the item so you can figure out what you want to keep.

Figure out what you don't like. Is it too long or too short? Is it horribly unflattering on you and can you pinpoint why? Are you not feeling the pleats? Is it too plain or WAY too much fun? Figure out what you don't like in the item to figure out what NEEDS to be changed.

Figure out your style. Take a look in your closet and note the items you wear most frequently and why you wear those items so much. Also note your favorite items in your closet and why you liek them. Perhaps you keep a StyleDiary or post to other street fashion communities like Wardrobe Remix or Stylemob. If so, check out your outfits there. Find your favorites and take a look at what you wear. Figure out your style so you can make sure your new item fits into it.

Find examples and inspiration. Street style sites, fashion blogs, fashion magazines, phtography books, and diy sites and books are all great places for inspiration. I really like Wardrobe Remix, street style blogs, and fashion blogs from around the world for inspiration. I also love looking at costumes and antigue clothing. Etsy, craftster.org, and Threadbanger are places where crafty people gather and share (or sell) and thus are rich beds of inspiration. Stores, the runways, and art can all inspire you and help you know what you want to do.

Check out my list of DIY Links for some more inspiration and help with your DIY needs. Also check out my sidebar, which I need to update, for more inspiration and help.

In these posts I'll also include some of the stuff I made but haven't done a formal write up of yet.

This skirt,

also in the outfit at the top of this page, became

this dress:

with some scissors, thread, red ribbon, and two white buttons. Look out for a formal tutorial (with photos!) or maybe video when I make another one. That might have to wait until January though. It's really quick and easy though. Just take a maxi circle or a-line skirt, cut off the waistband. Cut the waistband at the point oppossite to where the closure is (or anywhere you'd like). To make the waistband bigger to fit your chest, simply add ribbon or a strip of fabric to the waistband. If the waistband is already big enough, you can cut out a portaion and replace it with ribbon or fabric. Sew the waistband back on the skirt. Use some more ribbon (I sewed two strips of ribbon together, side by side) to create straps. If you want, you can create button holes on your straps, but I simply attached the straps to the dress and sewed the big white buttons on for show. And voila! You have a sweet pinafore tent dress, which is perfect for the summer and with layering for the winter.

images: click on the images in this post to be taken to it's flickr page, where more sizes, outfit deets, and further info is available.

doin it herself,

Ivy Frozen

Icon: Snow White

2007-11-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

Not Disney's Snow White...

This Snow White is a Korean drama about a nerdy girl who falls in love with her best friend. He, naturally, does not know and thus continues to date other girls while rubbing our Snow White's, Young Hee's, face in it. Eight years down the line, Jin Woo, or leading man, shoves his delinquent younger brother on Young Hee while he dates the plastic beauty Hee Won. With Jin Woo getting serious about Hee Won, Young Hee must finally make some changes and confess her love to Jin Woo. But does Young Hee still love Jin Woo?
While I love the drama itself-- it's predictable with a twist-- I really love the wardrobe on all of the younger characters except Hee Won. (She would be the one int he blue dress. Her style is kind of boring.) Young Hee, Jin Woo, Sun Woo, Minako, Chu Lee, and the rocker couple with the babies all have great looks! Even when Young Hee is nerdy, I still coveted many of her clothes. I think when she gets hot she basically wears many of the same things.
Young Hee has this really quirky-sweet-girly style I love. I now need a jacket like the on e above and solid colored jacket the same color as one of the stripes to wear with all my stripey shirts. Btw, the title can also be translated as Taste Sweet Love or it's just also called that.
The scarf! And that cape/coat thing!

I love this whole outfit! Unfortunately, I can't find a picture of the whole thing. That looks like Sun woo behind her, and I love his outfit too!

Chu Lee has this AWESOME '80s style that I adore. It's hard to find pictures of her though.
Minako has crazy awesome Japanese street style. It's adorable! In this picture, I love her hat with the long white coat and how her hat matches her guitar, though this is far from her best outfit.

Jin Woo has a very preppie style-- he's a news anchor-- so you think his wardrobe would be as boring as Hee Won's. But Jin Woo manages to be preppie, casual, and hip.

I think his scarves and great use of color are the key.

Sun Woo is the bad boy of the group, but he doesn't get by on just leather jackets.

He wears snakeskin too!

Here, I like the pinstripes on just the cuffs and collar. I wish I could find a good picture of his formal event suit-thing, but the internet is being uncoorporative. I guess you'll just have to watch it yourself.

You can find the whole series, sixteen episodes, on youtube (& elsewhere), with lazy subbing. They don't translate when the characters are speaking sometimes, but they translate more than enough for English speakers to understand.

My homage to the ladies of Snow White.

Minako made me want to wear my hair in pigtails. Chu Lee made me want to go a little 80s and Young Hee was all about the scarf.

Images: HanCinema & me. Click mine for more info., such as outfit deets and more sizes.

Snow White,

Ivy Frozen

Trend Alert!

2007-10-21T00:41:00.000-07:00

This just in!

A lot of neck action...

Bra Outline Visible through a colored shirt.

A Sorta Fairytale with you.

This scarf...with EVERYTHING!

Business on top, party on the bottom!

The neck sees a revival of the double scarf but in a new (and exciting!) way. Instead of two knit-type scarves, I'm using a big rectangular one and a long one to create interesting arangements. It's like Marie Antoinette hairstyle, but for the neck.

For some reason, I've been loving the idea of a visble bra silhouette through a thin shirt. I'm not so crazy about it as white under white, but under a colored shirt is floating my boat.

I've also been feeling the Fairytale vibe after Gala Darling's fabulous post on the matter. That photo shoot was delicious, and implanted many ideas in my brain.
Recently, I've gone crazy for that scarf in my hair. I'm crazy about the color and pattern and how it interacts with the rest of my wardrobe. I wear it has a belt, around my neck, and even in my hair as there. In fact, it's in four of the five pictures in this post. I wonder if France is still relaxed about those marriage laws...

I also noticed in going through my photos that I have been relegating fun prints to skirts while wearing solids on top.

So, what are you wearing this autumn or just really itching to wear?

Images: Clicky if you have a mind to know where I got something, see more sizes, and some other info.

Setting her own trends,

Ivy Frozen

NewsReel

2007-10-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

I figured I might start a new feature, the Newsreel that is basically a place for me to share articles and news I found with you dear readers. So, without further ado, the headlines that caught my attention.

Dare to Bare: Are Indian Models Ready?

This article is about Indian models and lingerie campaigns. I found it while looking for something, but the article is interesting and has some lovely pictures. I especially love the one on teh second page. The whole site looks awesome and I saved it to my favorites to explore more another day.

Prada breaks free of the skinny model mold

I saw this and went to seek more. It seems Prada sent a curvier model down the runway. Unfortunately, a google search turned up little more. This blog post has a little more information. I'd love to see a bigger deal made out of it to encourage designers to start moving back up in model weights.

I was also happy to see this article from the first site I mentioned, saying India is ignoring the whole ideal body shape of disappearing behind poles and embracing a curvier shape. I especially enjoy Dr. Ghei's comment on body types on the second page.

AP: Sexual Misconduct Plagues US Schools

While it's not fashion related, I was greatly disturbed by this article. You'd think schools would take greater care to ensure child molesters weren't teaching our children than they do. I do understand the school's position in this; if it became public that a child was molested by one of the teachers at the school, it would lead to all sorts of other accusations and investigations, and possible punishments. That happened at my high school, and the event was used to fire our principal, who did a good job. (Our principal would fight for what the students want at our school, going against what the district head-person wanted. Also to clarify, or principal was not the child molester.) I was also pretty ticked about how lightly the teachers seemed to treat this. Just saying sorry and people believed they wouldn't do it again. You have to be pretty messed up to molest a child, especially the younger ones. There is no "I won't do it again."

I was also shocked at parents comments. "I thought it was just innocent ducktaping [of students and putting them in a closet]." No. Children are our future! Let's take better care of them. I'm sure the article exaggerates, but abuse of any kind has always struck a cord in me. The Michael Jackson story movie when his dad is going to beat him always freaks me out more than any horror movie. Abuse of any kind freaks me out.

Pix: As always, click for more info.

Reading Headlines for Once,

Ivy Frozen

DIY Link Love

2007-10-20T23:08:00.001-07:00

Now that Halloween's over, I figured I'd post a lot of cool DIY (do it yourself) sites I found. I know, too late to help with your costume this year, but the links include a plethora of DIY projects that can be used for daily wear, Christmas pressies, any other events you'd love to wear a costume too, and maybe just give ya something to do rainy/snowy/I just don't feel like going outside weather.

Note that all of the sites, regardless of category, offer projects or tutorials of some kind. At least, I'm pretty sure.

If you like that site I posted about before, with those demon-deal inducing dresses, you might be interested in some of the following historically accurate reproduction sites I found.

Modar University has a few tutorials on Medeival Clothes, but it's real strength is ALL THE LINKS. I haven't had time to explore them all, but how could something Medeival Russian clothing tutorials and Persian clothing patterns not be awesome? Join me in nerdy revelry! I drool, I drool! Scroll down ont he page and click on "Clothing" to find this treasure trove.

The DIY Guide to LRP has some great stuff to use for costuming projects and if you're bold, to wear eveyday. Unfortunately, a lot of the links aren't working and it places the tutorials uin the tiny sidebar. Maybe if you download the link...

Shira.net Belly Dancing Costumes page has some great tutorials and advice for costumes and everyday for the bold. I've been aching for a pair of full harem pants ever since I saw Aladdin when i was a little girl. I've got that project, from Ask the Costume Goddess, bookmarked for me to complete when I find some good fabric. And maybe I'll try some of the skirts, a veil, headress...

Dance and Shantall is another bellydancing costume site. Click on costume design for a few cool tutorials. What I really love is the guide on making the Turkish-Macedonian vest. I fell in love with it in Art history class and must now make one. Duly noted for self.

Katherine's Dress Site goes from the 18th century to the Edwardian period. Lots of inspirational eye candy, including fashion plates!, and some patterns. It includes instructions for making the items both the period way and the modern way. How awesome is that? Also check out Katherine's costumes. A+ from me.

Vintage sewing. info offers "offers free online access to public domain sewing books". Gotta love the advice in those old books. It offers information 1893 to the 1950s.

Sensibility.com has some awesome period costume patterns and tutorials. Check them out! I might try the Romantic era dress but make it shorter.

Tudor links! has a wealth of information on the Elizabethan Tudor period. Click on Textiles and Costumes for enough information to fill the historical clothing nerd within you with glee and keep you reading for several hours. The Ladies Treasury , somewhere connected to this site thoguh I can't find the right sequence of links to follow, offers these free Victorian/Eduardian patterns too, as well as articles on Victorian & Eduardian period dress. More drooling!

Check out this Custum Corset Pattern generator for Elizabethan style corsets meant to flatten the chest and not narrow your waist. So it's different from the more Victorian corsets that are popular. The wide skirt in Elizabethan dress makes the waist look smaller in comparison. It gives you a pattern and instructions.

If you love modern free patterns and tutorials, clap your hands. *clap, clap*

DaciaRay.com is a visually stimulating blog with a few fun tutorials to try out, like a yo-yo, wallet, and pear satchel. The lovely DaciaRay also has a useful tutorial on how to hem jeans. Worth a looksie.

Whatthecraft is one of my favorite places for tutorials. I use several of them regularly, although now I know them by heart. There's also a forum, contests, a blog, and some helpful articles and links. Check it out if you haven't already.

BurdaMode has some really cool patterns that I NEED to try. Click on Downloads to get there. They also offer suggestions for simply refashioning items you already have into the items in the pattern. Awesomeness abounds!

The glorious Queens over at Kingdom of Style have posted a few tutorials. Unfortunately, they're hard to find. So here they are linked: Tulip Hem, Cocoon Hem, Bubble Hem. Those are the only ones I saw; there might be more. Give me a holla if you find more and I'll add them here. Don't forget to check out their awesome fashion blog while you're there!

Get Creative! Conference Center has all sorts of crafting goodness tutorials and advice. It's more crafty and accessories, and less clothes, but it has a lot of information that I have yet to explore. I would say they could just a few extra pictures in the tutorials though, such as a picture of the finished project. Otherwise, check it out. Now.

Sewing.org has a lot of articles on sewing. Tips, tricks, techniques. It also has some cool projects to do. I'd say it's strength is crafty versus clothing. Click on fun projects; I really want to do the Dancing Diva project. Also, for the world concious among you, check out the charitable sewing projects. I might have to give one a go when I have more time.

that*darn*cat is a blog by a sewing and crafting mother with some cool projects for inspiration and some tutorials and explanations which might be useful. I bookmarked it for the quilted wallet tutorial.

13 Things You Can Make out of Your Old Blue Jeans. I think that's self explanitory. You should check out the rest of the blog too, if you're into thrift.

Martha Stewart, the DIY queen. Her emphasis is more on crafty, but she does have some cool clothing tutorials too, like this swimsuit, what to do with old bridesmaid dresses, and this flower hat.

One Hour Craft is a crafting blog which features quick and easy projects and inspiration. Love.

Super Eggplant has a simple tote bag tutorial. It's a great crafter's blog with plenty of eye candy.

Fitzpatterns offers free and low cost downloadable patterns. It's got some good stuff too. Scroll down and click on "free" for the free ones. I wanna make the cape!

Get Crafty! is a crafty DIY zone, with crafting-related articles and some tutorials. It also has some good articles on living cheaply. They also have a store, forum, and other things.

Costume Wardrobe has some cool projects for your costuming needs. I really want to make the cat ears, the petticoat, and the shoe covers! The instructions assume some knowledge of sewing. It's really more write ups of the costumes than full step by step tutorials.

If you need some help with sewing, you might take a look at these links.

About.com has some helpful articles on sewing techniques. All sorts of sewing related advice are there. Give it looksie if you're having trouble.

Expertvillage.com has some videos on sewing techniques and projects. I personally found them kind of boring. They basically say word for word what's in the articles, so I usually use the articles. You may find the videos more helpful than I do though, and occasionally I use the videos for the visual. Plus, I can listen to them while doing something else.

Simplicity.com also offers sewing help, tips, tricks, and advice. They also have some free patterns and projects online somewhere.

If you're in need of inspiration, motivation, and perhaps some new friends to talk shop with, you might enjoy the following DIY Communities.

BurdaStyle has free patterns, many tutorials, and plenty of inspiration from it's fabulous members. It also has a handy-dandy sewpedia, a forum, a blog... Basically everything you need for sewing delight. They are more foucised on clothing then say crafting.

Threadbanger.com. If you don't know them you should. Weekly videos with project ideas for stuff you already have or can get cheap. They've also got a banging forum with even more project ideas and a place to show off your creations, get inspiration, and get help. Check them out. They're image is hip, fun, and thrifty. They alsosupport independent designers and eco and world friendly stuffs. Great for crafty, though an emphasis on wearable stuff.

Cosplay.com is a HUGE forum for cosplayers and those interested in it. Take some time to browse it for some amazing costumes. For this post, I'm mostly interested in this link, which has a bunch of links to tutorials for various cosplay related things, which can also be used for other costumes or even everyday clothes. I really love the tutorial for feather wings and I hope to make it sometime. Unfortunately, many of the tutorials are in Japanese, which stinks since I can't read it. Hey! Maybe if I use the google page translater thing...

Craftster.org is a large forum for the crafters. It offers great resources for crafting and sewing clothing. It's the cosplay.com for crafters! Check it out for tutorials, advice, help, inspiration, and maybe some encouragement and companionship.

Me and Twinkle stayed up very late to write this post.

Be greatful, peons!

Pix: Click on the pic for more info, as always.

Tomyo Hime,

Ivy Frozen

Ivy Frozen Presents: How to Layer Ivy Style

2007-09-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

Layering is so last year. Toss grunge back in the dumpster from which it sprang. This year is all about ladylike looks.

Bwahahhahahahahahaha!

And once you're done laughing with me, let's forget that. I actually have no idea what bull they're pitching this year, but layering is always in with shizo California weather and temperaturaly challenged classrooms. And so, as my gift to you, I now present the proper way to layer.

Now I know, all those magazines make layering seem like a science. Or you know, you just wonder how the models can still move their arms since they've piled up enough clothes to rival the little brother in A Christmas Story's orange snowsuit.

Step 1: "I'm cold."

Step 2: Look in closet.

Step 3: Eyes land on tights and long socks; put on a pair.

Step 4: Eye sweaters and jackets.

Step 5: "But not that cold."

Step 6: Opt for a cropped jacket with short sleeves.

Because Ivy's have layers,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. Yes, that was a Shrek reference.

P.P.S. I know I've been MIA, but I've been busy with school and trying to make costumes this month. My return is forthcoming though. Cheer, masses. Cheer.

Everyone Else is at Style.com

2007-09-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

And where am I?

Here. An Antique dress gallery. But look at the lovliness that is there and you won't blame me. Like that dress above from swan lake. ::drool:: That's the lovliness that led me to this site. But I must confess,

it's this beauty that captivates me. ::drool, drool, drool:: Just look at the collar! I suppose my actual fascination with this coat is because I've had the image of a cape in my mind that has a collar like that. My "dream cape" came about before I saw this, and is actually extremely short and striped. But I want that neck on it!

Look! They even have accesories like hats and shoes. And they're actually selling this stuff, for hefty pricetags of course. That doesn't stop me from totally considering selling my firstborn child for an antuque dress. Not even the fact that I would probably be to scared to wear the item ever can dissuade the dark recesses of my mind from turning that idea over.

Images: Clicky!

Should Not be allowed the have children,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. I did not eat Yoda.

Fashion Fun

2007-09-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Lessons in shopping from Kelly.

#1: Forget it; just get it.

#2. Shoes. Shoes. Shoes.

As per usual, clicky the pix or video for more details, different sizes, etc.

Rad,

Ivy Frozen

Ivy Presents:3 Steps to Bubblicious

2007-08-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

How to bubbleify a skirt. Apparently, next year bubble skirts are out. In this heat, I like to take my long skirts and hike them up. I'll just tell them that I didn't get the memo. So, without further ado, here's my three step plan on how to take your maxi a-line skirts from this:

to this:

Materials:

long a-line maxi skirt
safety pins
(optional) needle and thread

Directions:

Step 1: Put on skirt.

Step 2: Grab a section of the hem and fold it inwards (towards you) and pull it up until the fold falls at desired length of skirt.

Picture of the inside. See how it hangs? I used six pins on this one.

Step 3: Pin from the inside or sew a few stitches to secure. And repeat until you're done.

Tips:

I usally start with one pin in each of the four main directs, front, back, and the two sides, then insert and extra pins.

It should only take about 15 minutes or less.

The skirts I use are cotton, which folds just right to get that bubbly effect. Other fabrics might not work as well.

You can probably thrift an a-line skirt, if you don't already have one.

Try to keep pins relatively at the same height, depending on the shape you want. It gets more jagged and crazy the more you vary them.

Less pins adds to the slouchy shape of these ones. Using more pins or actually sewing it up should be more uniform and neatly bubbled.

I haven't tried it with a circle skirt, but it might work.

I only used 4 to 8 pins and they're pinned to about the top of the pockets.

The same thing can be used on longer pencil skirts to result in a hem like this:

You want to put the pencil skirt on inside out to fold up and pin though.

Easy, no? It truly is. Just put on your skirt and go to town. I should warn, of course, that this could leave needle holes in your skirts. If you're having a tough time inserting a needle, try not to force it. Instead try removing the pin and then trying again to help prevent the tiny holes. The pin should go in fairly easy, depending on the thickness of the fabric.

My outfits: click the pics for additional details.

Bubblefied,

Ivy Frozen

Shirley Love!

2007-08-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

Shirley Manson, the rocking frontwoman of Garbage, has captivated listeners worldwide with her signature huge green eyes, red hair, and sultry voice. Apparently the looks that we all love earned her beatings from her schoolmates when she was a child. That caused her to go into depression and while she's overcome the depression through music, she still struggles with how she sees herself. I don't understand the whole beating someone up because you think they're ugly thing. I mean, I'd be more likely to hurt someone out of jealousy that they looked good. I mean, what's the point if they're ugly? Just my two cents that they were totally jealous, Shirley, and anyone else who suffered teasing about their looks!

Shirley is not just the vocalist and face of Garbage. When she first signed on to the band, she went through and heavily revised all the lyrics. She became their lyricist, and she plays guitar in the band. She is one talented and beautiful lady.

What I love about Shirley is that you can put her in anything, even the most conservative outfit, and she still gives off this rocker vibe. In fact, she often does keep it simple, and lets her hair and make up do the talking. Plus, she seems so fun in interviews and even in some of her videos and photos. And of course I admire powerful women, involved in music or otherwise, not afraid to do their thing.

I love her kind of Jetson/futuristic style in these two videos, for "Push It" and "Only Happy When it Rains". Push it might not be quite safe for work; it has some fetishy stuff and aliens. "Only Happy When it Rains" should be cool though. Love her brightly colored minidresses.

I was inspired by this, since I've been on a Garbage kick lately, and decided to do my own thing.

No, I am not widening my eyes to make them look really big. My eyelashes get stuck together and I widen my eyes like that to unhook them. It happened to be the picture that showed off the outfit the best. I kept it simple like garbage and added some fun rock accents. I also think the trash shirt goes well with my Garbage theme. I made those elastic bands on my feet and over the shoes because I've seen similar things built into shoes now, which I thought looked cool and I read somewhere that the trend originated from elastic bands used to keep models shoes on their feet on the runway. I'd say they work good. Really simple and cheap to make. Just some thick elastic from your local fabric store and stitch it into a tube, and you're good to go. Plus, I can wear them as wrist band-bracelet things.

My hair really has nothing to do with Garbage. I just felt like doing this to it. It was orginally going to be my usual ponytail with the front down, but I wanted the hair out of my face so I took the very front part of my hair and swept it back and pinned it with a bow.

Later on, I hiked the skirt up and tied it with a scarf.

Here, I simply didn't belt, despite my total love for the belt. It was hard, but it's for Shirley! I would have worn taller shoes too, but I was walking to campus from my condo for the fist time so I wanted to be comfy. Only took bout 15 minutes and I ran into Purple while I was there. I forget Purple's real name , it's something normal, but I dubbed him Purple since he has this plain purple tee that is just the perfect shade of purple. I earned my title as "Distracto Girl" again, since Purple always ends up passing where he's heading when he walks with me. Something to do with pirate ninja ghost zombie dragons, in disguise.

I leave you with various pictures of Shirley Manson throughout the years to the song "#1 Crush." ("I would die for you/I would die for you...") She's about 40 now and cute as a button, though I'd be wary about petting her...

Pics: Click for more info. The Shirley pic was on my compy and I think I got it off flickr. And the videos can also by clicked to head back to their youtube pages to see their info there.

Dressing for the MANson*,

Ivy Frozen

*Bwahhahahaha! I couldn't resist. Remember, I am a nerd.

Poison Ivy

2007-08-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

On her way to a tea with the Garden Club, Poison Ivy hears a strange noise. She goes to investigate and discovers it's a tree.

She talks with the tree for a while and discovers the horrors it has been sufferening.

Poison Ivy was pissed.

What she did, I'll let you decide. But she was very pleased with the results.

Poison Ivy was my supervillain of choice for Gala's International Dress Up Day (IDUD) #007. I've had a thing for Poison since Uma Thurman's ridiculously over the to portrayal of her in the Batman movie with the breeze. I think that was Batman and Robin. Love her scene with the weird monkee suit-dancers. I also enjoyed her in animated form on Batman, where she hangs out with Harley Quin and is a general bad girl.

I love her so much my name is derived in part from her (Poison Ivy --> Frozen Ivy --> Ivy Frozen) and I relate to her. She became a super villain because some experiments left her with the ability to resist all toxins, but also left her sterile and unable to have children. Since she was a botanist, she then began to think of the plants as her children, and that's why she's so crazy for them. As a female villain, she just can't be evil just because. In fact, she can't be evil. She can be bad though.

As such, I developed my own vision of Poison Ivy. I know she runs around in a green swimsuit/bodysuit in the comics, but she can't wear that all the time? Interesting enough, my childhood vision of Poison put her in a sort '60s time warp where she wore a shift dress made from dirt and wire from which live ivy grew and covered it and big sixties hair with a head band made of ivy. When I investigated her for IDUD, I found that she first appeared in the comics in the mid '60s. My slight psychic powers win again!

I actually developed a characterr off this vision of her, Ivy Vine. Her chracter drew more on the meaning of the ivy plant which is friendship. She mainly played a supportive roles in my fictional land of Nowhere, being the reliable friend in a world populated by really interesting (read slightly crazy/unique thinking) people. Because of this, she is often stuck babysitting Fairy, a siren whose concept of right and wrong is that if someone asks her to help them do anything, she's doing good by helping them. While she doesn't get enough page time to display this really,Ivy does have an aversion to men like her spark of inspiration, and she would probably choose plants over a man.

But anywho, for IDUD, I wanted to show her more ladylike. She may be a vixen to men, but she doesn't seem to have any particular dislike of women. Other then if they jack with her plants. so I did Poison Ivy on her way to the Garden Club. I think she'd adore it. No clear face in any of the pictures, because I wanted it dark and like the dark nature of women. So much imagery of Poison Ivy seems to be that, kind of a mother nature thing.

I suppose I actually did Poison Ivy's alias, Dr. Pamela Isley, but when it gets down to it, they are one and the same.

Pix: Clicky the middle pic for deets.

Poison Ivy,

Ivy Frozen

Josie and the Pussy Cats

2007-08-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

I've really been thinking about the Josie and the Pussycats movie lately. Come on, you know you love it too. It's up there with the Spice Girls, and we're all excited about their pending return, whether openly or secretively.

How the uncool girl was dictating to everyone what was cool reminds me of many, many fashion magazines. Take Seventeen's August issue. (I just read it because my dad neglected to tell me he gave it to me until recently, and he has my September copy.) Anywho, I love the section where they tell you the cutest stuff at the mall, so you don't have to work that tiny brain of yours to pick out something you like and put your own outfit together. I mean really, who has time for thinking for themselves?

That's generally why I stick to fashion blogs, although some blogs have the same sort of attutude, like they are Lisping Lisa trying desperately to be cool by telling you what is cool.

But, I digress. This post isn't about raking our practically zombie-ish society over the coals. I also love the movie for another reason. Shiny and leopard print, need I say more?

I actually totally adore Tara Reid's hippie sweet style in the film. Never thought she'd get fashion icon status, did you?

While she still does not have a bra on, I feel she shows skin at the waist in a chicly sexy way. It's really tough to do that. Most of the time, skin shown at the waist tends to make you look street whore rather than rich/classy/snob whore that I prefer. Unfortunately, there are a lack of photos online of her good outfits. I like the one in the picture above though. She's rocking those tie-tied, wide-legged pants with the simple, flowy top.

I also adored Paulo Costanzo's-- who played Alexander-- style too. It's actually a lot like a cross between the two brothers in The Royal Tenenbaums and/or Duckie from Pretty in Pink. You can see some bits of him in the videos I posted above, but they're like flashes. Just watch the movie. It's silly, and fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously. Just how I like my movies. It also has some great pop-y music. I got the CD, cried when I left it in the CD player of a rental car in Florida, where it was taken by someone, and cheered when I received a new copy via one of my sister's friends. It's nothing prolific, but good music to do something to, like driving or cleaning. It's got the generic pop rock feel to it.

Here's a better look at my outfit. Going a little boho with the scarf in the hair, but I just had to have that scarf hitting the shirt somehow. Too hot for pants, so I used a flowy tunic tucked inside the shorts. I altered the top of the tunic so it wouldn't fall off me, like it usually does. Gave it a whole new neckline which I love and might just make permanent.

Pix: Clix them for more info.

With the Pussycats,

Ivy Frozen

Grant Who?

2007-08-10T23:02:00.000-07:00

It was Fred Astaire vs. Cary Grant for the title of best dressed man of old hollywood over at The Sartorialist earlier this weak. As usual, I'm late to join to join the fun, but better late than never. If my title didn't tip you off, my vote goes to Astaire.

For Grant, his clothes are the frame. For Astaire, his clothes are part of the artwork.

Astaire's style manages to express his personality or the persona he wants everyone to think he is. Witty, casual, approachable: Astaire's clothes help convey all this. The Sartorialist says Astaire's less-than-perfect looks made him more relateable and attainable to male fans. I say that it goes beyond his genetically created looks and extends to his clothes, which also portray a more welcoming, friendly air than Cary Grant's.

While I admit to giving Astaire bonus points for pulling off that effortless casual chic look that I think is so much harder to pull off than polished formal looks, Astaire is just overall more creative and inspiring with his clothing. He mixes patterns and colors that even I hesitate to mess with, and that says a lot. Colors and patterns are much more difficult to work with, and Astaire handles them with aplomb.

I must also point out that in a google search of images for both actors, most Cary Grant pictures were headshots while Fred Astaire's more commonly depicted his whole body. While this may have been to showcase Astaire's big claim to fame in the dancing arena, it's also important to note that his clothes always seem like an extension of the dance and Astaire himself.

To be fair, I must also admit that I have far from seen all the movies of either of these two actors, etc., etc., and I tend to find Grant's films boring. He's kind of my male Audrey Hepburn: goodlooking, dresses nice, but I find them both terribly boring.

I do like the tie he's wearing in the picture above though.

Inspired by my posts this week discussing color, I decided that I needed to wear some more. The bush and I had a very good conversation in the picture above, by the way.

I've also been kind of on a personal mission lately to wear all the pieces I usually don't wear often because I find them hard to work into an outfit I like. This shirt tunic--three more inches and it could have been a dress!-- is difficult for me to wear because it does the same thing to my boobs as my last outfit. Basically, I think it make them look droopy. Blech! So I employed the same bow trick and voile! The girls appear as they should.

I lunched at Burger King and forgot I had this crown on my head, so I walked around with it for much of today. I kind of like it though.

My Outfit: Click the pics for details.

Other Photos: Yahoo and Google Image Search

Her King-ness,

Ivy Frozen

I just Can't Hide It

2007-08-09T19:05:00.000-07:00

I love shoes. The sexy curve of a high heel, the dangerous implications of red or leopard print, the sweetness a bow adds. Shoes are very talkative items of clothing. Perhaps it was the song "Meet Virginia" by Train that turned me on to them. Virginia is decribed as wearing high heels to exercise, which sounded and still sounds terribly glamourous to my young, impressionable mind, especially considering the rest of the song.

Regardless of when my love affair started, I have a deep appreciation for the shoe. Especially pretty, pretty ones! When I find a perfectly beautiful shoe, I get a warm feeling inside. It's like cotton candy or chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven without the carbs.

It's not surprising that shoes are popping up in my art.

It seems they're invading my home though too.

If you have a lot of something, don't try to hide it! Use it for decoration. An easy way to let people know what you love, and you no longer have to curse yourself for buying your large collection everytime you clean.

Jungle Dream Pagoda likes to use pretty vintage frocks for decoration. I personally prefer using shoes, although I will have some signed shirts on the wall soon. Perfect to showcase my book-nerdiness to all, even though my desk turned out to be a little Kim Harrison themed already...

They go great on the window too. The two pairs on the ledge keep the blinds from doing that annoying swingy thing too when it gets breezy. I put some little bow hair clips on those white shoes too. Me likey the results. One of the bows is messed up though and I'll have to get a hot glue gun to fix it, although I'm going to try just using some thread.

Pictures: Clicky on them for more information.

The 1000 Shoes of

Ivy Frozen

Movie Style: Dick Tracy

2007-08-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

Dick Tracy. It was a decent movie, but I'm crazy about the costumes.

The colors! That was a clip from a meeting of the bad guys. They may be mean, they may not be the most physically attractive people in the world, but each and every one is impeccably dressed. I need every coat in the movie. Seriously. Look at this old commercial for a McDonalds scratch and win game.

It's proof that the Dick Tracy costumes make everyone look better. Bright coats ad hats rule.

As for the whole film, it kind of came off as sub par despite winning three oscars with five more oscar nominations. It had quite a few of those radom music videos that films that feature music stars tend to have. Despite my love for the woman, I didn't really like Madonna in the film. She's just not a bombshell. She's beautiful, she's sexy, but she's not the boss's gal. I pictured more of a Jessica Rabbit type with some dangerous curves in that role. Plus, the character was kind of random, so it wasn't all Madonna's bad. But I do feel a different actress could have made it work. Al Pacino, playing Big Boi, was wonderful in the movie and his character was similarly a little random. But he made it work.

My favorite character in the movie was The Kid. He was awesome. Impeccably dressed, humorous, and a helpful sidekick. Think suspenders, knickers and newsboy caps all in the same deliciously bold colors seen in the clip above. I'd post some pictures here, but it seems that despite the movies fabulous visuals, which is really it's strongpoint, there arn't too many pictures or even video to be found. But, it appears you can find some of the old Dick Tracy series on youtube.

It's black and white, but the clothes are still luscious. I love every outfit the women in this clip wear.

As for my outfit, it not as colorful as the ones in the film, but it carries a bit of the same charm to me. I've had this top for a while, bought back during my ruffle obsession of 2005 maybe and have had trouble wearing it. I did wear it more back when I first bought it, but now I just feel it makes my boobs look weird. I decided to try tying that satin ribbon around my neck as a bow, and I like it works wonderfully! And the shorts I just love now that I took out the cuff in them. They suffered a similar fate as the shirt, since I decided I didn't quite like wear they ended on my thighs. When I tried them on in the store, I had the aist pulled lower down than it actually fits on me. The shorts are also the first jean shorts I have ever really like, since mose of the other ones in store have a trailer trash vibe to me: short and messy. The whole nice shorts treand that has taken hold is my favorite! I would wear shorts, miniskirts, and minidresses all the time if I could. Oh wait, I already do...

My outfits: click on the pics for more info.

The detective has missed her train,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. Anyone else excited about the upcoming Beowulf film? I'm a little worried though, with them employing the now standard ancient accent, because apparently long ago the whole world had the same English-speaking accent. It also describes Hrothgar as the corrupt king, and i don't remember that from the book. And with such great lines as, "I'm here to kill your monster," well... It does feature Angelina Jolie though, as the voice of Grendel's mother. I've never disliked Angelina in a film, and Grendel's mother promises to be interesting.

Burqini

2007-08-06T02:31:00.001-07:00

I always find it interesting to learn about other cultures; I really had no idea before spying this article that swimming in public was an issue for muslim women. But now I remember back in highschool, when we had swimming in P.E., some of the girls weren't able to swim because of their religion. How I envied them*...

But now Muslim woman can swim comfortably and protect their modesty with Burqinis. (Burka plus bikini.) Looks like Burqini was developed for Muslim Austrailian lifeguards. Of course, the burgini isn't just for Muslim women, or lifeguards, as mentioned in the article. Many people are hopping on the burqini train to protect against skin cancer, their burns, and their modesty. It's better than a wet suit since it's two pieces and has a looser fit. I really love that luscious green on the one pictured above.

Anywho, I remember when I was child. My parents would always buy me a one piece, which I thank them for, and I had no problem with except for the whole wet suit plus using the restroom issue. I was so happy when tankini's came out, so I could be covered and not have the hassle that a one piece is when you have to use the bathroom. Then, I saw all the other woman having fun and not caring in their bikini's, so I said, why shouldn't I hop aboard and me happy now =) specially when it's really hot out, and I really don't want to wear anything at all. I no longer fault popstars for skimpy outfits on stage because those stages get HOT as evidenced by their near melting sweat. But really, I just feel better in a bikini.

I imagine that's how muslim women feel, perhaps it's their tankini or even bikini. You can swim and be comfortable. A little pricy, but to be able to swim in public? In the heat, I'd gladly hand over the cash, thinking of it as all the money I never spent on swimsuits, to be able to jump in the neighborhood or local high school's pool. Then, I'd plan all sorts of beach outings.

More on the Burqini:

The Sydney Morning Herald

Buy a Burqini from Ahiida

Images: Click the pics for details

Bikini is still my -kini of choice,

Ivy frozen

*we had swimming, in an outdoor pool, in winter! In the rain! The pool may have been heated, but outside the pool was not.

Welcome to Verona

2007-08-06T01:31:00.000-07:00

Romeo and Juliet wrapped to the tune of "Welcome to Atlanta."

Verse 1:
Welcome to Verona where the Capulets hate
The Montagues and they fight almost everyday and dispute,
They hate each others guts and they fight
On stupid little thing like little purple tights

Verse 2:
It’s the Romeo and Tybalt killer fighting scene
These two are fighting hard but they ain’t fighting clean
We want em stop, but they ain’t gonna stop
And they’re all gonna be turned into the cops

Verse 3:
See Romeo and Juliet really like each other,
But their parents don’t really get along with one another
This is a problem for these two star-crossed lovers
Cause they’ll never get to spend time under da covers

Shouting part:
NO KIDS FOR THEM!
NO KIDS FOR THEM! (LET’S TELL THEM!)
OH YES!!! INCREASE THE VOLUME PLEASE! THANK YOU…..

Chorus:
Welcome to Verona where the Capulets hate
The Montagues and they fight almost everyday and dispute,
They hate each others guts and they fight
On stupid little thing like little purple tights
CAPULET! MONTAGUE!
What the ----? I don’t care do you?
They don’t stop, they keep on fighting
They go on till 3 in the morning!!!

Verse 4:
Benvolio is the peaceful one
He doesn’t like to fight with anyone
He doesn’t really want to have any fun
Now this character’s verse is done

Verse 5:
Here’s Mercutio Romeo’s main man
He likes to have fun and he wants Romeo’s hand (what??)
He was slain by Tybalt which wasn’t that fair
Know what? Romeo was mad as a bear!

Verse 6:
See one day Paris came for Juliet
And she was acting like a child in a basinet
She can’t marry Paris because she’s already wed
And she waiting for Romeo to come to bed

Shouting Part:
NO KIDS FOR THEM
NO KIDS FOR THEM
NO WIFE FOR HIMNO LIFE FOR THEM

CHORUS

Verse 7:
Art thou a man? That’s what the friar say
Like Romeo care; he just cry and stay
Run to Juliet this very night
And then run to Mantua and sit tight

Verse 8:
A sail, a sail! A boat's a coming
They say that to the nurse when she is humming
She usually helps Juliet a lot
But lately she has been a flop

Verse 9:
Mercutio’s line “a plague o’ both your houses”
Foreshadows the end of these two louses
We talking bout the Capulets and Montagues
Down with them and their stupid feud

Shouting part:
NOW THEY ARE DEAD
AFTER THEY WED
ON THEIR DEATHBED
THIS IS THE END

CHORUS

Gotta love the movie versions. If I remember correctly, Tybalt had purple tights paired with yellow pantaloons. His pants oddly reminded me of Disney's Snow White's puff sleeves. This is back from 9th or 10th grade English, composed with two buddies for a group project. Our's ruled.

Speaking of period costumes, check out The Costumer's Guide to Movie Costumes to get the lowdown on the luscious costumes used in movies set 100+ years in the past. Plus, it gives you a heads up on movies coming out in the future. If you love historical fashion as much as I do, it's well worth a look.

And for those sewers and crafters among you, check out The DIY Guide to LRP. I'm going to have to make one of the cloaks and the Robin Hood hat. If you're not so good with that type of stuff, you might also peruse it to see how some of the stuff is made. Of course, this is aimed for light role playing, not the hard core stuff. It's scary how awesome the hardcore role players costumes are.

My outfit: Click the pic for details. & no, I'm not really orange and related to oompa loompas, despite what that pic and my driver's liscence pic would have you think.

Peace Out,

Ivy Frozen

How can something so wrong be so right?

2007-08-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

Winona says they're wrong, but I love them. What's wrong with wings? How about a little sensitivity for our fairy friends?

But, seriously, it looks like that's just a shirt under the overalls, and the picture could be better. The model looks kind of like she's trying to stare me down and her left eye won't coorporate. Or she just slipped. Or she's having some trouble functioning. They were charging $269 for just the shortalls; they could have afforded to take a better picture.

But I love this outfit and how it suggests butterflies. I did my own inspired outfits, that don't really create the same effect, but I like them anyways.

This one went after the monocrome look, although the top has white dots on it. I'm holding For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison in my hand.

Browse Inside this book

Get this for your site

I was going to try to recreate that Tori picture, but I was too self concious and tired after hauling two packs of laminate up the stairs and into my place. And that's a fanny pack around my waist, not a belt. Viva la hands free revolution, baby!

In this photo, I just slipped myself and fell back against the wall, right as the timer went off and snapped the picture. I like the result though--a happy accident. This is the outfit I wore to go to Home Depot and do the same thing I did in the previous outfit. Beleive it or not, but the heels from the other outfit were comfier than these tiny wedge sandles.

Pics: click pics to be carried away for more info.

Dances with the dark side,

Ivy Frozen

Dress Up for Yourself

2007-08-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

Matching is vastly overrated.

Free the shoulders!

Because handbags are vastly overated too.

Viva la revolution, baby!

Why do we have to go out somewhere to dress up? In the first outfit, I basically stayed at home. I did run some errands earlier in the day, where I picked up those sweet shoes. (It's hard for me to find shoes that fit me perfectly --both size and budget-- since I have narrow feet. So when I find some, me must have!) But, if anyone I knew had been around when I had this outfit on, they'd be like, "So where are you going?"

On blogs everywhere I see women and fashion bloggers who talk about their wardrobe consisting mostly of PJs and other loungewear because they work from home for a living and thus don't bother to get dressed. And they say they don't buy nice things because they have nowhere to wear it.

I say let the madness stop! Dressing up is not strictly for going out. Dress up at home; dress up for yourself!

But, Ivy! I have kids to think about!

But, Ivy, I need to be comfortable!

All I'm going to say is where there's a will, there's a way. I spent all night typing out my short story Coffee at Midnight in the second outfit featured above. Sweatpants are not the only item of clothing in the world that is comfortable; there are plenty of pretty and comfortable things out there. Plus, this is about you not me. Dressing up for you.

What I Find Comfortable,

You may not.

I like short hemlines because I feel they give me ease of movement, since I hat stuff rubbing against my knees. Others feel that short hemlines inhibit movement, since they have to worry about flashing the undergoodies. Or perhaps they aren't as fond of their legs. And I like to wear those skirts with huge pockets for doing housework since the pockets hold so much. Either that, or I don my apron.

So, I also offer...

Find cool, interesting, or nice sweatpants.

Experiment and rock what you got!

Because when ya look good, ya feel good.

Featured Photos: Click all the pictures to be carried to their flickr pages where further details can be found.

Feeling Good,

Ivy Frozen

Sheet Ghost Skirt

2007-07-26T00:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a new skirt I made back at the beginning of July. It's my take on the high wasit trend seen on shorts and jeans. I might make some shorts or wide legged pants with a similar waist, if I ever find fabric I'd like to make them out of. The waistband on this skirt is high, thick, fitted, and has four little buttons in an upside-down trapezoid shape. I'll wear it again soon and have some better pictures up, but I was spending the day with my friend there since this is right before I moved back from my hometown to my college town.

Hmmm... I do love this skirt though.

Here you can see the buttons on the waistband better while I appear to be being choked by one of the ghosts I adore so much.

Here I like the shape the skirt has before I jump, the beautiful billowing. The fabric was made to be this skirt. It's actually a sheet, I think. I got the material for free from the campus recycling resource center. I might head back over there once fall session starts and see if they're still stalking the fabric there. They were talking about giving the fabric back to the Salvation Army since it was just there.

My outfit: jean vest- mom 70s/80s, orange halter- forever 21, skirt- me made =), shoes-old navy, headband- ross, friend- Highschool

Scarlet O'Hara ain't got nothing on me; although that drape dress was awesome, it wasn't made from sheets,

Ivy Frozen

Hats Off to Ya

2007-07-24T23:15:00.000-07:00

Edited since on my computer, I couldn't click the hat page for a larger, legible, version. Now, I uploaded it to my flickr so you can click it and view it at a variety of sizes.

Reading Dress A Day and blogger Erin's love for the old sewing books, I can't help but have an affection for them myself. So when I saw this little jem and the Salvation Army, I picked it up.

This would be the 1961 version. While it says it's to encourage women to learn how to sew by showing how easy it is, I think it doesn't exactly achieve that. It doesn't have simple step by step instructions and diagrams that would better achieve that purpose. It's still very helpful though, especially with my about equally retro Fleetwood sewing machine, and perhaps I'll go more into that later.

Today, I'm focusing on my favorite part of this baby, which is the fashion advice. It has a whole chapter devoted to telling you what's acceptable and what is not.

I didn't take a picture of that page, which makes their suggestions seem more like a mandate than a friendly tip, so the above page will have to suffice for now. I'm sure the other page will make an appearance here sometime in the future, while this one is one of my favorites.

If you've been following my flickr, you might have noticed my now ubiquitous big, Forever 21 sun hat I've been wearing practically every day. I love headwear, and since I began my campaign for it's revival in popular clothing, I've begun feeling half-naked without my hair up or something on top of my head.

Since I have such difficulty finding hats, since my hair is so big. And I see no advice in fashion magazines or even the blogs, despite the minor hawking of hats as coming back and pimping out of hats that YOU can wear, unless, you know, your hair swallows it, I was thrilled to find the rules of thumb for hats in the pages of this tome.

Because anything else is just not suitable, dah-link!

There's the attitude I was talking about and there's what the book has to say on hats, complete with examples and diagrams. Apparently my hat doesn't make the grade, being made of straw and metallic thread and not "feathers, flowers, felt, or fur." But the article does strike the nail right on the head with the whole balance thing. They key to a hat is balancing it with the outfit and your silhouette in the outfit. Plus, I think that sentence was just missing a little clause, since they later mention velvet as acceptable.

My outfit: Click the pic for outfit deets and the date I actually wore it.

Sun shaded,

Ivy Frozen

The Golden Flower

2007-07-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

My love of the East is well documented on this blog, and today that extends to the Chinese movie, Curse of the Golden Flower.

Watch it subtitled, not dubbed. The dub is terrible, I tell you. Terrible!

It's a movie about a beautiful and perfect looking family that is really rotton at the core and falling apart. Kinda depressing, but oh so beautiful!

The costumes are magnificent. I do wonder how they keep their breasts from falling out the top of those gowns; guess they top is just really tight and stiff. But Gong Li's (the Queen's) robe in that scene where the oldest son is injured is awesome. And the Phoenix and dragon costumes for the Chrysathemum festival are nothing short of divine. But what really sparked my imagination were the pins the court ladies (and the Queen, of course) wear in their hair.

Where Marie Atoinette got her inspiration?

They're actual sharp pins and remind me of brooches. So I decided to give it a go with wearing brooches in my hair.

I think it came out nicely. Since my hair is so curly, I decided to give it a go with my hair down.

Yup, my hair could hold it. The weight just felt a little weird. It also makes hair sink since it's heavier, but certainly do-able. Plus, it's something my curly hair is good for. This pin would have fallen straight out of anyone with straight-hair's hair.

Now is only I could go around in sumputous robes and wrapped in 40 + lbs or fabric, my life would be complete.

My outfit: Same deal as usual. Click the pic for outfit deets.

Standing next to the golden fire hydrant,

Ivy Frozen

Blog Tag

2007-07-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

I have internet and I am back, as promised.

It seems I've been tagged by that rockin' lady over at Punky Style. So get ready, ladies and gents, for 7 random things about me, even more random than my usual randomness. But first, I must wax on about the rules of this little game, as copy and pasted from Punky:

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.

Aight! Here we go!

Uno: I think almost everything is better in a foreign language. I'll watch foreign soap operas, but can't stand American ones; I like more foreign pop songs than American. I guess the foreign language factor just ups their interest factor for me, and cultural differences have always interested me.

Dos: I apologize to dolls, stuffed animals, action figures, and any other toy I step on, sit on, knock over, etc. Curse you Rudolph, with your Island of Toys that No One Wanted, and Toy Story.

Tres: I never cut my finger nails because I hate the feeling of when my nails are cut. They break off naturally before they start that creepy curve thing, and I keep them clean.

Quatro: I'm addicted to those shows where they talk about and/or investigate hauntings, but I hate most horror movies.

Cinco: I wish Fantasia and lived up to Walt Disney's original vision, where it would be continually updated and changed featuring new segments alongside old favorites.

Seis: Six is my favorite number and lucky too.

Siete: I love the first Pokemon theme song.

I have the CD and listen to it when I need a boost.

So there you have it, seven random things about me.

But wait!

It seems it took me so long to complete my first tag, that I have also been tagged by lovely The Happy Hippie.

What The Happy Hippie has to say on the matter:

I believe the idea is to post 5 little-known facts about yourself, and then tag
5 more people?

So, here's five little-known facts to go along with the seven random facts to make thirteen facts in all. But we'll just say the thirteenth is actually the fourteenth, to avoid the bad luck stigma and have something in common with hotel floor numbering. But, on to the facts:

1. When I was a little girl, I looked just like my mother when she was my age. Seriously. She showed me a picture once of her at my age and I thought it was a picture of me. Now that I've grown, I favor my father more in the looks department, although I'm still often told that I'm the perfect combination of my parents, both in looks and personality.

2. I do my best creative work after nine or ten at night. For some reason, all becomes clear to me at that point and work as one in a trance. On schoolnights, this is often around my bedtime, which makes it hard for me to sleep, since my brain is so active.

3. I don't smile in pictures because in previous pictures (mostly school pictures), I've been tired which causes my muscles to freak out. So when I'd smile for the picture, my cheek muscles would visably freak out. As a result, I formed a habit of not smiling in pictures, especially when I'm tired. My eyelid also twitches when I'm tired, as do my calf muscles.

4. I hope to open up an online shop, selling my original creations and refashioned clothing, and I just got a new sewing machine. ::insert mischievous look here:: I still need a dress form though. Anyone know where I can get a good one for a good price?

5. I've never been kissed.

There you have it. Now, since I've been tagged twice, and I really don't feel like tagging thirteen blogs--remember the unlucky thing!--, I'm going to tag six blogs--it being my lucky number and all-- because it's right in between the two. All ye tag can choose which of the two tags you wish to complete, if you wish to complete any at all. But beware, for he who breaks the blog tag chain suffers a 1,000 years of-- ergh, what? You won't live that long? Well, complete it or not. 'Tis your choice.

Now, I choose you: The Happy Hippie, Vintage Amore, Candid Cool, The Fray, The Cheap Chica, and I Like Her Style. Use your blog post attack!

My outfit: Same deal as always. Click the pic for outfit deets.

I wanna be the very best as I play with bolding text,

Ivy Frozen

I'm not Dead

2007-07-13T19:49:00.001-07:00

No, just without my own internet, so I have to bum campus's. Outside. In the heat. And it is hot. So, I'm not able to spend as much time on the internet right now, and much of the time I do spend is on searching for a job, and doing things for my new condo. But, fear not, for I shall return. Internet is scheduled to go in on the 21st, and I'll pass on my internet tag then.

Until then, check in with me at my flickr photostream and get some crazy street style kicks from wardrobe remix.

My outfit: From back before I moved. Clicky the pic for all the info.

Busy Bee,
Ivy Frozen

P.S. Stripes go with stripes.

Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear?

2007-06-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

Because me, that's why!

I'm Wonder Woman. See that hand behind me? Yeah. One knuckle sandwich coming right up!

Who said you could speak to me?

Two recent creations of mine, using that yummy fabric. I saw the fabric in the store and fell in love. It's seriously a lustworthy print. Am I the only one who goes into paroxysms of joy from a fabulous fabric, garment, or print? I get all warm and fuzzy, like I'm being touched by warm patches of sunlight, which is doubly good since I'm a warmth whore. Some like it hot; I like it warm. Twinkly [cat] loves our sunning time in the sunroom--the room I'm standing in in the above pictures-- every weekend. A good book and some warm sunshine has both of us purring. But enough about that; onto the garments with non-optional commentary!

Here I am jumping around with the top in the backyard. Poor dog wonders what I'm doing, especially since he's blind now.

I actually completed the top second, but I'm wearing it as I type, so it gets written up first. This top took me a while to get right, but I'm happy with the result. I just have to take off some things I put on it before I realized elastic was my answer, and cover the tracks with these seriously delicious apple buttons that I've been dying to pair with this fabric.

Once again, I did not use a pattern and have no formal training because I'm cheap, lazy, and love a good puzzle and being able to proclaim these garments all mine. One day, I will learn to make and print my own fabric, and have the funds to do so. Until then, I'll settle for what I can. Making a garment is like a puzzle to me, and I've always loved puzzles. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on SNES is my favorite video game of all time; in fact, I just beat it again but with all the weapons and items found. The best part about the game though is the puzzles that did take years for me to solve. The same is with this garments. Even as I scowl over their problems, like the evil satin I may have unwisely decided to work with on this piece, I'm loving it. Loving the challenge, the thrill of the brain stimulation for me to find a way to make it work.

For this particular top, the first top I've made, I originally planned a design that included puff sleeves. Unfortunately, due to a mess up on the first design of the top, I didn't have enough fabric to do that. I seriously spent my last dollar on the satin fabric, and had non left to do more. I really like my redesign, though, perhaps even better than than the original design. Well, it will be once I add the red apple buttons.

I actually did not know the tunic wasn't down in the back, but I like the effect. It'll be on purpose next time.

How I dreamed of this pencil skirt, with all the little blue birds. Then I made it, patternless, and had trouble wearing it. It fits at the hips, because that's how I pictured it, and I currently prefer the silhouette I get when my skirts are fitted at my natural waist. But this tunic is perfect over it, and I couldn't resist making it a little snobby when I added my sun hat. I was prepared to roll some heads at a store that I was having some difficulty in getting what I needed or rather running my dad's errands. I got a lot of stares at that store...

This skirt also gave me some trouble, and I had to dismantle the completed first version because it was very see thru and I have nothing that could fit under it to solve that problem. So, this one's double layered.

Go for the gold!

The bottom of the top is made from two half circles, so it's nice and flowy. Unfortunately, that also makes it likely to blow up in the wind. But, I usually wear a jacket of some sort when I'm going somewhere, and even if it blows up, the girls are still safely covered.

One last one just for Tyra. Leaning back against the window to make my legs appear longer and leaner.

I have one more skirt that is going through it's final edit, though it's in a different awesome fabric. Look out for that one soon.

My Outfits: If you care about anything in the pictures other than what I made--I mean really, the nerve!-- just click the picture to head to its flickr page where all that good info and then some is.

I hate birds but love them in a print,

Ivy Frozen

Street Fighter

2007-06-28T23:07:00.000-07:00

Who else is looking forward to Street Clash? It's a battle of international street style, with cities punching it out photo style to be declared the most stylish city by us internet voters. Looks like it has some great competitors, including some of my favorite street fashion blogs. It starts July 1st, and I'll be routing for my home city San Francisco, as repped by Street Fancy, although personally I think one of the European cities is going to win. You never know though, with the street photographers pulling out their best shots.

It's also a great place to pick up some new street fashion sites and when the clash begins, I hope to see a smoregisboard of awesome street outfits.

My Outfit: My laziness prevails. If ya like something in it, click the pick to head to its flickr page where all the info., which I could have typed in the same amount of time it took me to type this, lays.

Excited and Ready to Rumble, or you know, cheer peeps on,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. I don't actually know what they win if they win other than knowing they won Street Clash. No title, no nothing listed. Just assumed bragging rights.

Sarah Brightman: Hair Idol

2007-06-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

Sarah Brightman. Forget the voice; it's all about the hair. She has a wonderful voice, but I'm more envious of those locks of plenty.

Yes, long hair can make you look short. Yes, it can date you, but you see my friends, I don't think that's a bad thing. Plus, take a look at Sarah.

She can go from wonderfully gothic and dramatic.

To wonderfully hippie and butterfly and modern.

I've always longed to have hair like Sarah Brightman's, so long, it doubles as a shawl or cape. Fine, my actual fantasy is hair long enough to give Cousin It a run for his money. Alas, it seems genetics have spoiled all my plans.

I've never really cut my hair, and flat ironed straight it only sits around-ish my shoulder blades, as you can see above in a pic from Spring Break. My cousin who does regulary trim her hair and keeps it straight has the same problem. Curse you genetics!

While we're on beautiful hair fantasies of mine, I share with you a dream I thought was within my grasp.

These pony tails from an Ashish (I think) show. Wonderful on the model, horribly impracticle in real life. Tried it, and the things to wide, and flops about annoyingly. Curse you hair gods, curse you! Now watch as my hair comes out all poodle-ly tommorow...

Back to my hair goddess who should be pimping out hair products left and right, besides her voice, I also love her image. She's Diva-licious on stage, and I do enjoy who she does go from these darker, more gothic looks to these airy, ethereal nymph things. Drama, versitility, and sweet and sour contrasts: you're roottin' toottin' me likey!

As for her music, she did start on the stage and became big for starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, back when she and him were together. After that, she went for a solo pop career. She does a bunch of covers and a few original songs. I really love who she blends more classical sounds with more of a pop beat. She really has a lot of different sounds though, which I love in an artists. Keeps me interested, and I always know which song is which when it starts playing. My favorite album is probably Harem, and then Eden.

A clip show. But I like this version of her song, Eden. It combines two of my favorite musics: Sarah Brightman and Enigma. Plus it has some nice shots of her in it.

Delivery me, another favorite song of mine. Plus, you getta see her live-ish and dig the african imagery.

And for all of my lovely readers:

Beautiful. I love this song. It brings tears to my eyes everytime, because of the chorus. "Do you know/you're beautiful/do you know/you're beautiful/do you know/you're beautiful/you are/yes you are/yes you are" 'Cause I feel like that with a few friends of mine who struggle with self image, and I think they're so beautiful.

Plus, plenty of Sarah hair-uh time in this video, and I'm a sucker for violins.

Okay, I can link to fabulous Sarah Brightman songs in shabby you-tube quality infinitely, but if you like her, check her out and envy her locks.

Suffering from Hair Envy,

Ivy Frozen

My outfit: Sorry nothing new for today, but look-out for some new creation(s) of mine real soon. If ya fancy anything in the picture, clicky it to be carried to it's flickr page where all the info be.

Media Madness: from Lifetime to Heavy Metal

2007-06-26T21:55:00.000-07:00

I must confess, I love Lifetime movies. I know, I know, but they do cover women's issues and often provide links for more information or to help/get help. I usually love my corny, lifetime movies, filled with stupid woman, villainized men, and sweet Mr. Right. But I was totally ticked about the ending of their movie, Risky Behavior or Unruly Behavior, whatever it was called.

It was about this girl, who got a little wild on Spring break, and some guy spliced video of her together with other footage to make it look like she had engaged in a porno film. The film was then sold in porno shops everywhere and plastered across the internet. Our heroine, then lost her teaching job and was left out in the cold by her boyfriend, while she gained a creepy stalker. She goes to the police and a lawyer, but they can't do anything because of this and that, and as the lawyer says, "Who knows what kind of laws they have in California!?" Yes, us anarchtic Californians screwed her over. But basicly, this porn is apparently legal. Eventually, her boyfriend quit being a selfish jerk long enough to support her, as she heads out to LA to face these bastards on her own. After the porn distributor glows over her, thinking she came to work for him, and calls her a rare talent, he quickly turns to laughing at her, gloating over his victory, and dismissing her as replaceable as a porn actress, despite his earlier comments indicating the contrary to that last statement. Anywho, our heroine manages to snag the address for the guy who made the video by enlisting the receptionist's help. She then goes to his house, alone, and enters it, alone except for the guy. He threatens her, she laughs at him and smashes all his expensive equipment while he stands there, stares, and semi-yells "Stop!" Then when she's about to leave. he finally moves and steps on broken glass/plastic with his bare feet, and doesn't manage to hobble out to the street until she's already in her car and driving away, musing about how happy she is with the outcome because she still has her integrity. Just not her job. And maybe not a her boyfriend. And she can never go home again.

What was that? What was that? I mean, this is a disturbing movie, if what it says is true. Someone can take your image, and make a porno with it, and make money with it, and it's legal? And more important to those of us who fancy clothes, what about one comment one of the lawyers made, that a guy can stick a camera up a girls skirt at a grocery store and that's legal? What? If that's true, that needs to stop. Where are you lifetime, when we need you to mobilize us, educate us? Telling us we have our dignity, pfft. I always have my dignity. But that's not right, and I will look into if that is true or not.

To balance this post's chi out, kudos to VH1's Rock Documentary, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey. It made me think and look at heavy metal in a new way, with more respect. I always knew I liked some metal, but it seems I like a lot more than previously thought. Great interviews; Dee Snider was as entertaining as always when he was recounting his speech on censorship. Clothing related, I enjoyed the documentaries musings on the looks of heavy metal, which go from the very feminine looks of the glam rockers, to the very masculane looks of other metal genres, which are actually kind of homoerotic when you consider that 90% of the audience is male. And despite the attire, metal is considered very heterosexual and masculine. I also loved SlipKnot sitting there, being interviewed and talking all normal and intelligent while in their stage get-ups (maybe they where those for all public appearances; I'm not too up on SlipKnot.) It was just hilarious since in these freaky-zombie get ups, where you can barely see their lips moving when they talk (are those masks, or a combination of mask and make up, or just make-up?) and instead of the sort of gutteral voices and scary thoughts you expect to come out, they're just talking normal. It would have been perfect if they were sipping tea from some dainty little tea cups. I doubt they'd go for it, or maybe they already have...

My only quip was the Dio interviews. Did they really have to air so much of Dio just dissing Gene Simmons. I mean, we got the point, he doesn't like Gene Simmons and considers him very arrogant. I have no particular love for the man, either of them actually, but dude, let's move on. They could have used that airtime on some of the other points I was kind of fuzzy on, like women and metal. They had one women who was glad to have been a groupie and would encourage it in a woman who considered it. They also then had some of the guys talking about what pigs/jerks they were to these women, as they said. That just left me kind of confused. Of course, my cable kept frizzing on me so I missed some of what they said; maybe that would have cleared up my confusion. I also missed some parts since I changed the channel on their hour long commercial breaks. I mean really, I could watch a whole movie on one of those commercial breaks.

Other than that, great rockumentary. Gave some cred to metal by pointing to roots in classical composers like some guy who like his music low and restructured his orchestra by adding extra bases and even some huge cello/base thing that required one person on a ladder to hold the strings and another person on the ground to run the stick-thingy over the strings. I can't remember the name, and I really wanted to check him out. It also pointed to roots in the blues. I would have loved to see them reconcile this Metallica's attitude that all they did was play as loud and as fast as they could, although perhaps the comment by Metallica was taken out of context.

\m/ Rock on, \m/

Ivy Frozen

P.S. How do they keep banging their heads like that? I get a huge headache and the feeling of my head hitting skull. I love the movement of the hair though when the guitarists do it...

My Outfit: Built around my hat. click the pick to head to its flickr page for more details.

Fitting In

2007-06-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

Join me in my sitting room and we'll have a little chat today about fitting in. I've been musing over the issue lately, mainly because I tend not to. I know his must come as SUCH a SURPRISE to any of you readers who have taken the time to read a few posts here, but I definitely dance to the beat of my own drum. And I love it.

I mean, take the world outstanding. I mean, "stand out" is in the word. So, standing out, not fitting in, is outstanding!

Actually though, I have both a desire to fit in, as is natural for any community creature, but also almost an aversion to it. I hate ipods, Harry Potter, the Eragon series mainly because everyone else likes it*, and they're just everywhere. Some of my habits are picked up simply because they are a little off, and I love the oddities of other people. I think sometimes people misunderstand my love of their oddities though, since I might tease them/seem like I'm teasing them a little since I love it so much. I'm also simply attracted to things that are weird, since it makes them that much more interesting to me. I loved oxygen when they played those weird movies, like the one with the woman who ended up sharing her husband with her sister, the crazy cello playing genius or the one with the woman who tried to be a lesbian.

So why have I been musing on fitting in? Mainly because I joined this site, StyleMob.

Apparently, if you click that and join, you're automatically my friend. I believe the picture is from the very fabulous sjwhidden. As for the slogan on it, I have no idea what it means but it sounds sounds so aggressive that I just had to use it. Now that I'm done confusing you, StyleMob is another do-it-yourself street fashion site, and we all know I love to post up pictures of me in my pretty, pretty outfits on the internet. This site also allows for feedback, which me likey too, since my hair isn't big enough as it is. (Yes it's my hair that grows, not my head.)StyleMob also hosts contests. It definitely sets them apart from other street fashion sites I've seen, and I'm tickled pink to be able to say that they aren't scams. But what I was apprehensive about when I joined was that this site rates outfits.

I'm not a big fan of that for the selfish reasons I'm sure you can guess from the previous paragraphs in this post alone, but also because people have such different philosophies on what is a good outfit. Therefore the ratings aren't too helpful, especially for the "go big or go home", dramatic types like me. Also, I worry they can be discouraging to others and people may be a little overly negative. I'm all about wear what you want and who cares what anyone thinks; they don't have to wear it. Within reason of course, though. I feel you should respect places and situations. For example, keeping it work appropriate at work, and G-rated to pick up the kiddies at kindergarten. Beyond that though, go for it and don't care what I or anyone else thinks.

But, back on topic, I find though that the more people dislike an outfit according to their new voting thingie, the more I love it. Those outfits make me so happy when I look at them, since they usually include my crazy mixing and gross overuse of bold colors. Stylemob is definitely a community skewed towards certain looks and getting certain things from outfits, but I think any street style/fashion online community will have the same.

As for StyleMob, I'm actually pretty impressed with them since so far they've managed to keep it a positive place. Of course, it is still in friends-only beta mode, which is why you have to be my friend to join. I wonder how it'll fair once it's open to the masses, since there are some pretty cruel jerks out there. But, I will say if you enjoy street style to give StyleMob a go. While obviously I don't care much about the lower ratings, it's still fun to see how people perceive my outfits.

Most of the comments that I've received meant as criticism tell me exactly what I was going for in the outfit. Too busy? Or busy bliss? Skanky? Perfect. And this outfit seems to have spawned a debate over the bow. Love it or hate it? Either way, I adore it.

Anywho, if you like this sort of stuff, get on it. Just clicky the image way back up there and join.
Outstanding,
Ivy Frozen

My outfit: Clicky the picky for any details.

*They're everywhere and it seems everyone's talking about them.

Would you like some racism with your fries?

2007-06-12T00:51:00.000-07:00

Kind of a heavy subject for me to talk about after coming back from one of my random hiatuses, but I really only say something when I have something to say. Why many people think I'm cold because I really am not the type of person for small talk. But, let's not stray too far from the subject at hand.

So, Facehunter recently posted a post featuring what appears to be an Asian girl in a suspiciously KKK hood. Thus this post is about delving into rascist symbols for fashion. Certainly, Afrobella's recent post on racist videos had nothing to further my musings on this subject.

Now I know, in fashion this stuff is often not intended to be racist. It may be quite the opposite, a statement against racism. Doesn't matter. A message has whatever meaning the receiver of the message takes away. Thus if you say, "Sparkling Wiggles" but everyone hear's something, erm, somthing else, then essentially you did say the something else because that's what we heard, and that's what we're taking away. If you're totally lost on the "sparkling wiggles", check out the Afrobella post. I'd link to the questionable video, but I don't really want to give it more views. Why? Once again, it really doesn't matter that we all think the parents are jerks (or just some of us...) if we give it views. Views are views and views are good. In this case, people aren't united enough for us to bring out the modern version of the torches-- peer pressure and disapproving letters-- for us to get a tearfully fake public apology.

This brings me to the fact that many people find that video funny, and the KKK hood a cool statement, and think that people more of my opinion are overreacting. I do wonder how many of those people have ever been refused service or followed around by security guards, or suffered any of the hundreds of other petty injustices because they didn't look a certain way. And after suffering that, had to listen to people, who look what is apparently the "right" way, pat themselves on the back for totally patronizing or, even worse, insulting you in their misguided attempts at doing the right thing. While I do appreciate the good intentions, I still suffer the damages of these. There's still a huge gap left after the civil rights movements. We've got all these laws, but it never was simply the government that needed to be changed. It's society. Society, that still stamps the token black/ethnic person in every series so it's not racist. A society that needs special race and ethnicity channels, radio stations, publications, movies. A society that is still segregated in many ways.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not all about the melting pot idea, where everybody in America tosses aside their races and ethnicities and becomes simply American, 24/7. I'm simply pushing for more interelation. More communication, and less pretending the racist elephant bomb ticking away in the center of the room isn't there.

I'll also say everyone is so concerned about the media and the size zero debate and promoting public health. What about the media and race/ethnicity? For the whole size zero thing, I say it's all those exercise advertisements and slim down tips that get me. I see those, and find myself planning an exercise regimen and a diet in a way those ads with photoshopped models don't. Really, what the models promote is more disatisfaction with other areas of my looks such as skin and hair. I've mentioned before on this blog that I used to do everything I could to straighten my curls away. Why? Because there was never anything for curly girls. It was all about the straight hair. And of course dolls, those things girls look to so much in their childhood, all had hair quite unlike mine, despite my mother's best efforts to secure me only black dolls.

Now, hair tips in those magazines are still overwhelmingly focused for those with more caucasion locks, but there is the whitewashed token tip for girls with curlier hair. I haven't really found any magazines aimed at the teen girl with darker skin, so if ya know any, point me in it's direction. Dolls are as out of touch with this world as ever. (Anyone else wonder how old Barbie's mysterious mother is that she's still popping out kids 40-50 years after Barbie's birth, while Barbie still hasn't found the time to have some of her own between all the job hopping she's been doing-- vet to lawyer to Scarlet O'Hara to teenager-- and dumping over 30 years with Ken for some Austrailian surfer we've never heard from again named Blaine?) I am pleased with all the products especially for curls on the market now, but it's still all about catering the white America. My AP US History textbook had about two sentences on Malcolm X, one of which made sure to point out that he was a pimp and drug dealer. I think Martin Luther King Jr. managed to snag a whole paragraph.

But I think I've basically covered enough on this issue for today. Why not spend a little energy on positive things, such as Shrek the Third, and it actually relates to the rest of the post. It seems Shrek and the fairy tale villains were also victims of a sort of racism and prejudice, and has some good advice for all of us: trust in yourself. While the world may say you're a monster, trust in yourself to know what you are and aren't and be yourself, not society's idea of yourself.

This post's outfit is actually inspired by Shrek the Third's hippie high school teacher Merlin, even though the image on it features Harry Potter, and worn to go see the movie with friends.

Another kitchy dress made by me from a thifted pillowcase. I may not like Harry Potter, but enjoy the novelty of the print. Besides, I was originally attracted by the owl which now resides on the back of the dress.

BTW, Shrek the Third was hilarious, perhaps even better than the second Shrek. I do love me some Gingy and Puss though...

Outfit: From Thursday. I'm still lazy so click the images to be magically transported to the image's flickr page, which has more info. Be sure you are not currently bidding for the position of comedic relief sidekick animal and have your rival right beside you to avoid a Freaky Friday-esk switcharoo. Oh, and apologies for the typos as I'm writing a lot quite late.

Peace and Victory,

Ivy Frozen

Flip Flops

2007-05-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

Flip Flops, oh, flip flops
I don't understand your appeal
The smack, sucking sound
As you beat me on the heel.

As a shoe, you should
beautify and protect my feet
Instead you make them dirty
as I walk down the street.

As an item of clothing
you should enhance my look
Instead you detract from it,
like a petty crook.

Curse you, oh, flip flops
Cashing in on the heat
A true sandle you are not;
You are full of deceit.

I've never hated flip flops more than I do now.* In highschool, I adored them for a while. Soemthing about freedom, ease, and them being against school rules, but everyone wore them anyways until the school was forced to allow them. But being on a college campus, and seeing them rain or shine. Hearing them all day and then all night. (Dorms suck.) It was so (whiny, vally girl voice here) annoying when one of my professors wore flip flops to class. As she walked about lecturing, the pop-pop was annoying the shiznit out of me. (That's right. I'm wit it.) What annoys me more is when I see a cute dress and then the wearer has to wear flip flops. Ugly flip flops. Ugly rubber flip flops. Just ruins the look.

But, I know I'm in a minority. Nothing beats flip flops in the casual/summer department. Really, you can at least some nice looking slip on sandles. They look so much better! I'm really into anklestraps now. Since I have tiny ankles, I have no worries about them and they are invaluable at securing shoes on my feet. And look how sweet those sandles look with my new dress. "My new" as in "I made it myself" my new. Just imagine if I had worn a pair of these. Yeah, makes me shiver too. If you must buy your shoes from Old Navy, why not buy any of these? Any of those would look adorable with a sweet dress. My favorite gold espadrilles, which I wear all the time, are from Old Navy last year, so I actually think their shoes are quite cute. Aside from the $2/$3/$5 flip flops, which I probably wouldn't even wear on the beach. I sport something more like this on the beach.

Outfit Specs: Click piccy to be taken to flickr page for details. You'll porobably get a better post on this dress once I add pockets.

For Sandles,
Ivy Frozen

* This bout of anger has nothing to do with the fact that my favorite (and only) pair of flip flops now rub irritatingly between my toes and my favorite pair of sandles in a flip flop style now stab me (they draw blood!) in the toes.

From the Blogasphere Number Equix

2007-05-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

So, one of my favorite bloggers, The Bargain Queen, has posted the first ever Fabulous! Festival. It's like the Carnival of Couture, for those who remember that, except this one doesn't have a weekly theme. I totally want a weekly theme or question, but the bloggers hosting it for the week can decide to do that if they want, so yay! I try to participate one week... After finals are over....

But on point, through the Fabulous! Festival line up of posts, I found College Fashion.net College fashion! I thought. I'm a college student! It should be good for me! I totally ignored the fact that most campus fashion involves flip flops, pajama bottoms, and a college sweatshirt. Really though, fashion magazines tend to go from teen to professional woman, totally skipping those cellege years. It's like being a tween all over again. The kid's section or the junior's? The junior's or the misses'?

Anywho, I went through the posts and discovered their Tips for style and fashion. Oh! I thought. Let's see what they have to say. Maybe I'll find something useful. You can never have too many tips... While I'll second the first two, but tips three and four leave me cold.

Number four just really perplexes me:

Fashion and Style Tip #4:
How much money should you spend on a dress?
Since dresses are complete outfits in themselves, add up what you would normally spend on an entire outfit (minus shoes and accessories) to figure out about what you should spend on a dress. For example: jeans + tank + cardigan = dress.

What??? Am I the only one lost? It's kind of like those dictionary entries where you look up a word to find its meaning and then have to look up the words used in the definition of it. Really, the cost of a dress should depend mostly on the dress in question and yourself.
a) How often do you plan to wear the dress?
b) How nice is the dress? Special occasion or casual? Handmade, machine made, or mass made?
c) The craftmanship/construction of the dress. Material, design, stitching.
d) How much is the dress worth to you/How much do you love it?
e) What's your budget? i.e. how much can you spend and still be able to afford food, pay your rent, anything else you want to do, etc.

All those should be considered when deciding how much to spend on a dress. Unless you plan on buying jeans/a tank/a cardi to wear with the dress, I don't see what they have to do with buying a dress. Plus, adding together what you would "normally" spend on an outfit makes no sense to me, since I have no "normal" amount spent and my daily outfits vary heavily. Though hey, if you understand this system and it works for you, far be it from me to stop you. Apparently, I'm the one out of four who thinks that is one of the strangest things she has ever heard.

But then, Shoewawa quipped in with a similar thing, the "two for the price of one" philosophy. I also think that is BS since almost any item of clothing I own should be "two for the price of one" at least, or I won't buy it no matter the price. Items that can only be worn one way are rarly worn in my closet, and therefore it's basically junk preventing me from getting something I'll wear more often.

My problem with tip Number three is that it's not a universal tip.

Fashion and Style Tip #3:Buy your heels 1/2 size too big!
This is one of the first rules of high-heel buying. Since your feet naturally slide forward in heels, buying them a half size larger will make them fit correctly.
Wearing heels that are comfortable and correctly fitted will make you look a
thousand times better while walking in them.

Buying a half size up for me does not equal more comfortable. It equals shoes falling off my feet and possibly me tripping when the shoes do this. Like comenter Ann, I find going a half-size down works better for my feet. My feet then do not slip and slide in the first place and instead fit inside the shoe as if it's a second skin. Really, my actual size, 8N, fits the best, but 7 1/2 M fits a close second. Also not that I don't do pointy toeed shoes; round or almond is my pfreference.

My correction of this tip is to just try on shoes in various sizes. Every shoe and foot is different. Try your normal size plus a size up and a size down. Walk around the store at your normal speed to get a a good feel for how each pair feels on your feet, and buy the size that fits you best and is the most comfortable. Frankly, if shoes cause you a lot of pain, I advicate against buying them. Shoes should be pretty and comfortable, or at least not unbearably painful. I wholeheartedly agree with the last sentence of that tip though.

All the blogs linked to in the post are liked enough by me to:

a) read them
b) post about them
c) link to them

Outfit Specs: Click piccy to be taken to it's flickr page for more information.

The Outlaw,
Ivy Frozen

The Novice Dress Post

2007-05-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

What you've all been waiting for, all the dresses I've made together in one post for the first time. Five dresses you know plus one new creation! This post certainly has nothing to do with my sister wanting me to make her a dress. Certainly not so she could see what I've done.

I've been wanting to learn how to sew my own clothing for a while.

A) I could get what I want! My tastes often do not follow that of what is on, and my meager budget limits what I can afford to basically whatever the masses are feeling at the moment.

B) I do love being different. I despise wearing the same thing as someone else at the same event. I'm a spoiled youngest child and a territorial creature. I'm often the odd one out, so I made it my pride.

C) It seems more cost effective. In practice, it's not always.

All the people who sew say the best way to learn is to do it, so I jumped in!

Dress #1

The first dress I created and probably my fav of the bunch. I got the idea from seeing all those trapeze dresses on the runway, and thinking $160 dollars was a lot to pay for something so simple. My version cost about $6 and is so versatile!

It was probably my best fabric find. Clearance aisle, how I love thee! I love the movement of this dress. And to think how inadequate I felt going into the fabric store and being asked about what I was making by all the experienced sewers.

Extreme! Pinned back bustle and belted to emphasize that waist.

Layered for the fall and winter, and belted or not for spring and summer.

This dress is basically a circle skirt with straps and buttons sewn on.

Dress #2:

An a line dress that looks best belted like so on me. On this one, I took time to add pockets. This fabric was free, so this dress simply cost the price of the thread I used. And, I still have lots more left over, of both the thread and fabric. It was also my first attempt at a zipper, which was successful for the most time. I cut the slit for it curved so the zipper curves a bit.

Dress #3:

Same fabric, very different dress.

It's still versatile, though, with where I choose to belt it.

Drop waist working on me! Iit's a miracle!

Dress #4 and #5:

My Batman dresses, included into his post for the sake of completeness. They're also mosre complex dresses I tackled. They're both fitted, unlike my previous dresses, and the first completed one features puff sleeves, a cowl hood. They also show how I've improved with putting zippers in.

Dress #6

My lucky number dress. This dress was actually started either third or forth, but got put on hold for the other dresses, since I was having difficulty with it. This look was inspired by Tori Amos's Bouncing of Clouds--the shoe's model name is in fact "cloud"-- and Father's Son, which I choose to think of as a girl being her father's son since she has no brothers, and thus conjures up images a sporty but sweet girl. I love how she always manages to inspire me, since I like mess up the lyrics to some of her songs to work for me. Mishearings that I refuse to correct, in this case, "So it ends so it begins/I'm my father's son./Plant another seed of hate/in a trusting virgin gun [girl]." I switched "gun" from the original lyrics with "girl" and refuse to switch back since it would ruin all my lovly images of the song, and I'd have to create new ones. Probably why I tend to sing the most depressing songs with the hugest smile on my face... (Come on people, you didn't think I was through obsessing over Tori so soon?) And oo! Linkin Park has a new album coming out on the fifteenth. The snips on their website sound different from their previous albums, but it still sounds like it's Linkin Park. This is officially the best ambiguously defined period of consecutive time ever! I fear the backlash of the worst ambiguously defined period of consecutive time ever, but shall ignore said fear until said backlash occurs.

Back on topic, this fabric features little golf icons. I totally need to go miniture golfing this. It was thrifted, and I think it might be from the '60s since it since it says it's copyright "Custom Fabrics Inc. 1966." I made sure to include that on the hem, even if it's upside down.

I'm not sure if I'm quite happy with this dress. It might get altered again...

Reconstruction number 3...

pictured at top. It started off as a boring forever 21 empire waist dress that made my hips look big and showed EVERY line, and then I cut it at the waist, and took it up there to make it a baby doll. I used elastic thread, which gave the seam a scalloped edge I rather like. Black fabric paint for the design on the dress's left and the author of the book from whence the phrase came. Yes, I'm a nerd, but a pretty cute one, if do say so myself.

Outfit Specs: Click the images to be taken to their flickr pages where the info is and you can also see larger versions.

Dressed,

Ivy Frozen

I'm Batman!

2007-05-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Yes! This big post on super hero style! The batman dresses are complete!

The Batman has always been my favorite super hero because he's not really a super hero. He has no super powers, other than his keen intellect and powerful drive. Plus, he doesn't whine all the time about how about how hard it is to be loved worldwide, unlike some other superheroes. Despite his lack of superhuman powers, Batman is not only able to keep pace with the Man of Steel and other guys who shoot deathrays from their eyes, but he's at the top of the pack, featured with Wonder Woman and Superman as one of D.C.'s big three. Plus, Batman's costume is just plain cool. See what he's upto now on his D.C. site.

This dress was finished first, although I started the other one first. I might take in the band at the bottom a little bit. I used this as a reference and inspiration, but this dress was still pretty much made the same way as my others: make it up as I go along. I know what I want the dress to look like and use educated guessing to assemble it. The tutorial for that dress was pretty much figure it out for yourself, but it is pretty straightforward to make. I didn't use stretchy fabric, so my version has a zipper. The images on the dress are from Batman: The Animated series, and it features Batman, the Joker, and the Penguin. Picture taken at a MiniCon at my school. That's Asagi from Category Freaks beside me (cosplay).

This is the dress I started first, but finished second since I got frustrated that I sewed the top on upside down, and this had to rip out the seam and start again. I also ended up cutting off part of the top from the original design when I sewed it on upside down. So, I altered the design a bit and came up with it as it is now. I still have a bit of work to do on it when I get home, and hence have a sewing machine. That's right people: all the dresses I've made have been sewn by hand as in no machine. Those of you who sew or have attempted such must truly understand my bitter frustration over the upside down top now. Once again, this dress this dress was made patturnless and made up as I went along. The skirt part utilized variation one of the circle skirt tutorial from What the Craft, which I can't direct link to since it uses frames. I didn't use elastic and therefore ruching was horrible!

The secrets of this dress:

The white panel on the bodice was added because I cut the bodice too tight.

Ruching was horrible because for some reason I always cut the hole for my body too big.

The straps are too big, hence their hanging on the side. I decided to leave them like that because they look better that way than up. Although I might just make tie straps...

I performed my first darts on this dress!

Also note that I'm sporting a batman watch that you probably can't see in both pictures.

I'll probably save the hooded dress for funner occasions, but the grey one I shall wear more often!

Look out for another completed dress soon, and a post displaying my sewed creations! (Really, I forget which dress number I'm on yet... I really need a dress form.) Maybe I'll include why the grey Batman dress needs a bear and crossbones patch on it... Really ambiguous hint.

Specs: you can clicky these photos to be carried to their flickr page, which has the goods

I'm Batman,

Ivy Frozen

American Doll Posse

2007-05-05T01:03:00.000-07:00

Rox! Hard. & yes, this is another Tori Amos Rules! Nerdy, fan-girl post, so consider yourself warned.

I don't understand why some people are insinuating that fans are forcing themselves to like certain albums or songs. What is considered one of her weaker albums, Scarlet's Walk, is the album that first introduced me Tori and made me want to hear more from her. This is music, not math. People's likes and dislikes and appreciations vary. Big Wheel is a catchy tune that wormed itself inside my head and I must confess to rather liking it and thinking that it's the perfect song to start the album. I wouldn't say it's the best song on the album, but the first single and first song rarly are. If they were, it usually means the album stinks.

As for American Doll Posse as a whole, it is a return to hardcore, angry Tori and reminds me of Boys for Pele's and From the Choirgirl Hotel's hard rocking child. Ths album seems to have heard American women's cries and given them new voice. Well, she did say she was sparked by two women who told her to tell it like it is.

My Track Picks:

Big Wheel- catchy, upbeat, interesting and quirky. Sets mood for album
Bouncing off Clouds- on of her pretty songs but with a good beat and somewhat harder sound and fantastic images
You Can Bring Your Dog- dig the tune and randomness of this line.
Body and Soul- awesome lyrics and song!
Velvet Revolution- Hilarious! A little fun ditty, like Hello, Mr. Zebra but with more great and relevant lyrics
Dark Side of the Sun- fantastic lyrics! On war, specifically that of Iraq
Smokey Joe- more of and interesting, quirky song, again with Tori-licious lyrics. Imagine Tori doing a cover of Fergilicious. Yeah, I can't either.
Devils and Gods-great lyrics
Mr. Bad Man-the lyrics coupled with the tune

9 out of 23 is not a bad initial favorites or listening trak for me. Typically, I only like around three songs at first, and those are the singles I heard on the radio to prep me for liking them. Tori's always the exception. When I first listen the majority of songs, I'm like "Wtf is this?" Then, I listen a few more times and I'm like, "Genius! That's wtf it is!"

Reasons I love Tori:

Her voice sounds the same on album and live.
She has taken up the habit of including lyrics.
She packs her albums.
She does what she wants/her own thing.
Her songs don't ever sound all the same.
Neither do her albums.
Songs and lyrics seem made for each other, and can induce chicken or the egg type arguments.
Those Tori-licious lyrics.

BTW, I need that image at the top there poster size and hung in my future living room.

I bought the album yesterday, and it's already effecting me...

Today's outift inspired by Big Wheel. Note that I do adore misinterpreting Miss Tori's lyrics and imposing my own image and story over hers. It's more the sound of the song that gave me the colors, pieces, and pattern.

My Outift Specks: jacket- old so I forget, shirt- mom (70s/80s), shorts- kohls, belt- LuLu's fashion Lounge, tights- also forget, shoes- Old Navy, headband- Ross

The Links: The first link is to Tori Amos's official website. The second links to her myspace where you can listen to some songs, including Big Wheel.

I'm not an M-I-L-F; don't you forget,

Ivy Frozen

Are you a Lady?

2007-03-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

You Are 76% Lady

Overall, you are a refined lady with excellent manners.But you also know when to relax and not get too serious about etiquette

Are You A Lady?
Am I, now? BouncingOff ofCloudsWe were

It's not as happy

As it seems...

Wrapped in metal

Wrapped in ivy

Painted in mint ice cream

Anyone else not quite understand the picture that goes along with the result? And yes, more Tori/American Doll Posse references. You didn't think you escaped, did you? I couldn't resist select lines from Bouncing Off Clouds.

My Outfits: You should be able to click for larger versions and specks.

76% lady, 100% female,

Ivy Frozen

Kim Harrison, Super Hero in Disguise

2007-03-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

The day I celebrated my birthday (it's actually the last day of this month), two of my best and I went to a book signing by Kim Harrison. (Check out the Appearances page. There's a picture of me and Mashi Chan in both the Fistful or Charms tour and the For a Few Demons More tour, the two signings of hers we attended.)

Kim Harrison writes The Hollows series which follows Rachel Morgan and her journey to find happiness, something I'm sure many of us can relate to. She's sort of a cross between a private eye and cop. Ergh, it's hard to explain, but the hero of our tale is a witch, who's partners with a living vampire and a pixie, and who's legally part of a two person werewolf pack (for insurance purposes). If that doesn't get you, perhaps the villainous cast of demons, dead vampires, and smooth talking business men will. How about all the fun it pokes at Disney with curses like, "Damn it all to Disneyland!" and "Tink's panties!" and "Tink is a Disney whore!" Or how about the killer, genetically altered tomatoes that decimated about half of the world's human population? Humans getting tomatoe products on the down low? Illegal human genetic manipulation? Line dancing vampires? Come on, this series is just a whole lotta awesome! It's awesome prime! While I doubt it will be featured in the literature section of the bookstore anytime soon, this series is a great fun read. While it has plenty of serious and dark plots going on, Ms. Harrison injects so much fun into it that you never feel like slitting your wrist after reading it. You should hear her read it aloud too; her fun tone is very evident. Already on the fifth book in her series (I think), each book is just as good and if not better than the previous one and I have high hopes that she can keep the series up, unlike those series that tend to go downhill after a few books. Keeping my fingers crossed for the sixth book, although perhaps I should finish number 5 first. Dead Witch Walking is the first book in the series, so check it out if you need some light and lite reading and don't let the whole it being in the horror section thing scare you away.

But, this post isn't really to pimp her books out to you, this is about Ms. Harrison's style and her green-eyed dragon conjuring ability at looking good in photos.

Exhibit A) Pick up For a Few Demons More, her latest novel and first hardcover. Flip it over and look at the back of the cover where her author picture is. She made herself look amazingly tall with those black pants and the fun pose.

Exhibit B) At the book signing I went to, she had the coolest jacket. Unfortunately, this is the only photo I got with the jacket in it, and you can't see the awesomeness that is the back of it. It has a little bounce and a jagged hem. Now while that has little to do with the whole photogenic thing, I just had to mention it.

Exhibit C) Look at the picture at the top. She reminds me of a superhero. I think it's the flippy hair. And the stance.

Exhibit D) Doesn't she just remind you of a black rose here?

Here's a better look at my dress for the signing.

It's a Forever 21 dress. It had this annoyingly ugly, decorative and non-functional shoe-lace bow on the front, which I cut off. The length was also a little long for my preference, since it made the dress look like a lazy swimwear cover up, which the dress very well may have been. With the way it showed ALL lines south the bustline, I hope it was. You might be able to tell that's so not me if you've read even the teeniest portion of this blog. My solution? I ripped out the seem below the best (and cut the back which lacked the waist band) and cut a few inches off from the bottom portion of my cut, and then sewed it back up with elastic thread. I had to use elastic since I had to hand sew it quickly as the machine wasn't coorperating. I kind of like the scalloped edge effect the elastic thread produced.

As for the design, I used black fabric paint to post a line from one of the character's of the Hollows series, "For the love of Tink!" on it and then painted tiny foot prints since the character is a pixie.

In the picture on the top, Mashi Chan has a line by the same character on her shirt, which says, "Sweet Mpther of Tink!" She's also sporting a red bandanna as the character does at a point in the story as a simple of peace.

The Sabre Kitty right next to me in that photo is sporting a shirt that says, "Kissed by Kist," another character from the book. I swear she convinced all of Oakland we were gay lovers, by hanging on to me, giving evil glares, and enticing me to join her in Ipod Karaoke (which was actually really fun because it's totally what I want to do when listening to my mp3 but fear doing because I'm convinced I'll be stoned for it) because of all the attention I received for wearing my minidress. I mean, have the people of Oakland never seen a minidress before? On the BART this one guy just seemed mesmerized by me as I stood (coming into his view for the first time) and exited the train. If I notice it and can't argue it as something else, you're really bad at subtlty.

Anywho, back on track, the tee I'm holding up says, "It's All Part of my Master Plan," which is a reference to more of a theme in the book. Many of the characters have plans going on, but the original intent of the tee was to make it for Ivy, the character who gets screwed the most by Harrison. You know, the character who everything bad seems to happen to. I felt her pain, plus her first name is the same as my internet first name, while my full internet name wouldn't be out of place on her for the same reasons it applies to me. So, some Ivy Tamwood love, peoples!

The back of all the shirts (not including the dress) say "Go Turn Yourself!" A wonderfully fun curse from the book that I won't explain so as to not spoil the books for you anymore. You must understand why Ms. Harrison loved it so much she gave me and the friends charms.

The star fell on the ground and the guy that the friends and I assumed was a bodyguard (nice guy =) said it was bad luck. He told us to take one charm each, but I had picked up the star and tried to give it back, but my attempts kinda failed... (You know how stuff just kinda goes fast and you're just like, "Okay.") So I kept the star and the heart. I don't fear the bad luck though, since bad luck tends to turn into good luck around me. It's kind of odd; as Midoriko is for demon souls, I am for bad luck. So far, it just seems to give me an odd attraction to cats (one which followed me to the best stop this morning, demanding I pet it directly after running away from two other people who tried to pet it) and a general feeling of happiness. Kim Harrison must be some sort of super hero witch (No relation to Tarot), since she's always handing out charms and wearing cool that witch-chic coat... Maybe that's why her pictures are all so awesome!

Pictures: Click for larger versions and more info. The shoes in my outfit are these payless spray painted a softed yellow than they appear in the picture. Bakers has a slightly more expensive option in bold patent yellow (as well as other colors such a red) with a more almond toe than round.

"I'm going to be the master of disguise,"
Ivy Frozen

All Curls Are Not Created Equal

2007-03-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a lot of comments on my hair and questions on what I do to it, so I've decided to post the detail version here, so I can just give the basics and direct people here if they want the full story.

Now, we launch into a brief history of my curls to better understand them and make me feel more important. My mom (African American, Native American and a dash of Caucasian) didn't know how to deal with my curls when I was younger, and would spend hours every Wednesday combing them out, just like her grandma used to do for her. My dad always told my mom she should comb my hair while it was wet like he did (Puerto Rican with cork screw curls kept short), but my mom always said it didn't work since my hair likes to dreadlock. I didn't live in an area with a lot of people who had curls, so I always thought my hair was weird and should be straight. When I got older, I started using a light relaxer on my hair, but my hair was never quite how I wanted it; it was never straight enough, soft enough, and non-oily enough. I stopped straigtening my hair when I got burned by the relaxer on my forehead. (The burns still hurt when it's hot out and they're either oily or dry.) The double edged sword is that I have a low hairline, so the burns are kind of hidden in that, while it was probably trying to get that hair that caused them in the first place.

Well, it turns out my dad was right.

Ivy's Daily Hair Routine (all done in the shower.)

Materials: John Frieda's Curl Around Daily Shampoo and conditioner (The deep conditioner sucks.) and a wide toothed comb.

1. Hop in shower and drench hair. My hair curls up so thick, I have to pull my hair straight and finger comb it to achieve the drench. Otherwise, the water just sits on the top layer of my hair, leaving the inside layers and bottom dry. Keep water on the cooler side; warmer water creates frizz since it dries out both your body and hair. As a staunch fan of hot showers, I ignore this sometimes because I'm freaken cold and usually my hair gets me back for this. I suggest doing some light exercise to warm yourself up before you hop in the shower so you can keep the water at a lower temperature.

2. I usually wash my body next. If I'm doing a full wash on my hair, which I do once to twice a week depending on when my hair tells me it needs it, then I shampoo my hair once, wash it out, and then apply the conditioner to my hair (see step 4) and then use the comb to hold it up while I wash my body. It's also a good idea to put the conditoner in at this point if your hair's really dry or you want it weighed down a little more.

3. I shampoo just the roots of my hair around where my part is to keep my hair from being weighed down to much there.

4. Time to add the conditioner! I have so much hair that I divide my hair into 4 parts to add the conditioner: 2 in front and two in back with my part being the dividing line in the middle. I add the conditoner to all parts of my hair, including the roots, and finger comb it through. The conditioner is what's gonna hold my hair together, including taming those flyaways at the top.

5. Now, take the wide tooth comb and comb the conditioner through from roots to end. You can also use a smaller toogh comb, but I recommend the finger combing from previous steps and the wide tooth comb to get rid of major tangles before attempting to use a comb with smaller teeth. My hair is a known comb-breaker. I do get some nice, defined curls from a tiny tooth comb, but I'm too lazy to use it everyday.

As you're combing, notice the texture of your hair. It should feel silky and soft after the comb has passed through. If it feels dry or course, you didn't put enough conditioner in or you put in too much.

This is also pretty much the point where I style my hair, pretty much just based on the part.

6. Now wash out with warm to cool water. Water temperature will effect results; you should be able to feel it in how your hair feels. Cool water will result in more weighed down hair while warmer water will leave it fluffier. I usally comb through my hair has I rinse it, and use my hands to get that conditioner out of the roots, which are the stubbornest. It's okay to leave some conditioner in the hair; I usually rinse until my hair doesn't feel like it has conditioner on it and feels soft. If it's crunchy, you probably used too much conditioner and/or left too much in.

7. I squeeze the excess moisture out of my hair and may dab-towel try the dripping tips of my hair. I usually dry the rest of myself off and then put the towel over my shoulders to catch the drips off my hair. Then I change, careful to around things that need to slide over my hair hence I own no turtlenecks, and let my hair air dry.

8. My hair does dry funky, different parts often rising and drying before others. If my hair seems too weighed down, or I know it will based on the feel, I flip my head upside down and pull my hair at the roots. Then right myself and I'm ready to go! The flip is better to do with hair is dry or near dry. My hair is so thick it does take practically all day to dry fully, but only an hour or so to dry enough for the flip and appear dry. A nice breeze is great for drying the hair though and will usually add the right amount of volume for me. Staying inside, breeze free, my hair will usually lack volume so going out with wet hair is good for me.

Notes:

The Curl Around Deep conditioner is just absorbed by my hair and I swear it makes my hair drier!

I don't use jells or curl definers or anything because I usually end up adding frizz by trying to add them to my hair. Plus, they tend to make my hair plastic-y. When my hair gets messed up, it usually looks like it was intentional, so my hair kinda goes from day to night by itself throughout the course of the day. The exception to that is rainy day frizz. I usually done a hat, scarf, or put my hair up in a messy bun on those days.

If you really want this to work, I suggest trying it at least twice. The first time, my hair was not happy about switching rutines. Plus, if my hair is really tangly, it tends to come out frizzy. Also, there's the issue of my unreasonable love of sauna-esk showers, that actually sometimes leave me dehydrated (as in about to pass out dehydrated). But, by hydrating it, my hair comes out soft and less prone to dreadlocking and tangling, and usually just flies through the next time.

As the title says, remember all curls are not created equal! In addition, the result we curly girls are looking for varies too.

Photo: Click for more info.

Curly Girlie,
Ivy Frozen

Because 3 is a Magic Number

2007-03-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

So, the Catwalk Queen posted a post on airbrushing software being available on teen fashion websites and whether this was a good idea or not. I would have simply typed a comment, but my response to it was a little long for just the comment section, so I left an abbreviated version in the comments section and decided to expand over here. Because. I. can.

Now, this airbrushing business....

I think it just reinforces how fake everything is, and that this perfection we see in magazines is due to skilled photoshoppers and does not exist in the real world. It's almost empowering to see how you too can look like those "photos" in magazines, and those before and after shots show that those stars have imperfections too.

Also, in response to Julia's comment, I don't see why someone would see an airbrushed photo as something to aspire to unless they specifically airbrush it to use for that purpose. Even if they know their airbrushed it, many people will airbrush it to a point where they feel it looks like them (or their view of themselves.). These people probably do not have low self esteem though, and perhaps that's because they do see themselves as a "perfect version" of themselves. (Of course, this could start a lovely philosophicle discussion on what DO we really look like? Do we look the same to everyone's eyes? Can we ever truly see ourselves since even reflective surfaces like mirrors distort?)

As someone who takes horrible photos that really don't look like me, I do end up airbrushing a bit sometimes, such as airbrushing distracting shine out, sometimes weird shadows or spots from the image. (Yes, I do airbrush a bit sometimes but rarly and I'm sure those of you with better eyes than my nearsighted ones have perhaps seen the extent of my amateur photoshopping in PSP.) I've even smoothed out some odd wrinkles in clothes that were made more prominent in the photo than it was to the human eye. Cameras naturally distort, depending on the angle of the shot, lighting, etc. Sometimes, airbrushed or photoshopped pictures are closer to the real thing.

Take the picture on the top of this post for example, obviously photoshopped together. (Click on it for a bigger view) One me is even flipped. Look how distorted the middle image is, which just came out like that with no photoshopping done to it.

As for my background, I'm a person with high self esteem trapped in someone with low self esteem's body; i.e. while I have high self-esteem inside and certainly won't let anyone abuse me, my actions such as my shyness suggest otherwise. Plus, this shy low-self esteem and high self-esteem tend to switch often in being dominant in me to the point where I say that my reaction to something depends on the position of the moon and stars and the alignment of the planets.
I wore oversized jackets and sweaters (in 100+ degree farenheit heat) all through junior high and the early years of highschool. (For the first part of that phase, I wore oversized comfy clothes, but then I started wearing cute outfits but covering them with these oversized jackets because, well, fear and that low self esteem and even a little self loathing. I do think all those horrible pictures had soemthing to do with it too.) But, then I started seeing how all the magazines were airbrushed, and the stars really didn't look like that. (And well, other stuff too.) That helped me see how beautiful (that high self esteem peaking out again) I really was, so the oversized jackets and sweatshirts were ditched. And that lead to the steady grow of my confidence that I could wear anything I wanted and I wouldn't get stoned or something that really started happening in my senior year of highschool. (Like, last year.)

Not trying to attack anyone, just expressing my opinion straight from my head, and I will say that this airbrushing thing is really a double edged sword since people will take it and use it different ways, either as a postive thing or a negative thing.

Got your own opinion? Leave a comment here and/or over at Catwalk Queen. (I really just love these queens, don't I?)

My outfit: Click the pic for info

Keep the peace,
Ivy Frozen

More from the Blogasphere

2007-03-11T00:42:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my current pattern, a second post along a similar theme. Some blogger said that she never get compliments on her shoes from men. I think it was Daddy Likey, but I'm prone to totally making up memories this late at night. I actually get compliments from men on my shoes all. the. time. From my dad, my uncle, male friends, and even guys on the street. They all have a favorite pair of my shoes.

Thus, let's do one of those boring clip shows where I show you pictures of my shoes that I had lying around. But, I raise that by adding commentary about said shoes.

These are just my Happy Shoes. I really love all my shoes, but these just always make me smile, even if this photo is just a little sad. One of my guy friends was floored by these babies and ladies around the world can't help but agree with me that these shoes not only rock, but rock hard.

These are my first heels, and my dad and uncle adore them. Yes, I know these barely qualify, but dammit, kitten heels are heels too. Let's not forget them in the midst of the stripper heels. I like them simple, with a little button detail to amp it up.

My sis calls these my slut shoes. I couldn't disagree more. These are dangerously low campared to shoes on the market now. The wedge is not more that 3-3 1/2 inches and they're pretty comfy. Unfortunately, the ties won't wrap up my leg and stay up nicely. If they show you shoes that do this, they lie. The shoes that wrap like that do not exist.

The guys in my photo class didn't even know what this was. Let's hope all of you recognized it as an espadrille and my staple shoes last autumn. A comfy low wedge that's quieter than a sneaker and I like the fell of the more natural sole.

The lace up boots receive a lot of attention, especially since I changed the laces again to black ones that end at the ankle. When I wear these, a lot of people stare at my feet and I get a few comments from women. Good ones are spoken directly to me; those comments of a questionable nature are whispered behind my back in those loud voices that all the college people around here possess that officially cancels the whisper out and elevates it to just below a yell or shout. Random guy on the street yelled out "Sexy Boots!" to me, and he wasn't one of the creepy sort on congregate on every corner in cities and catcall anything female that walks past.

The other pair of boots is the favorite of one of my guy friends. I like thme because their warm, comfy, and don't make my feet look like they were pumped up with air.

Bronze heels I bought for a special occasion and never wore since I found better shoes to fit the purpose. They're true to size 8 1/2s and for sale, if you dig em.

Hmmm, no pick of on of my cowboy boots that one of my male friends adores lying around, so maybe I'll take a pic of them tommorrow.

Shoes: all mine, all by me. Click on them for details. Multi-image hosting sites here, so that's why they're so randomly sized. Bear with while I figure out how to get all the right sizes where they should be. Until then, enjoy oversized pics.

Maquis de Shod,
Ivy Frozen

To The Bargain Queen

2007-03-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

So, a bit ago, The Bargain Queen posted a series of posts about how the people generally considered fashionable don't follow trends. Certainly, I can't deny that evidence and must add my strong agreement. The only thing I have to complain about is that most of the people she showcased to support her point were boring.

Audrey Hepburn- Lovely woman, but she did play it safe. I've said it before, the the style associated with Audrey is terribly boring. Black, tailored, simple. I recall her in other colors, at least in her movies, but I've never seen anything in color called Audrey-esque. Oh, and total sacrilege but Breakfast at Tiffany's: I don't get it. Weird movie.

Corine Roitfeld- Once again she sticks to black, but she's the most fun icon the Bargain Queen mentioned. For those unfamiliar with her, she's the Anna Wintour of French Vogue. While she does stick with her black, she plays a lot with crazy shapes and textures, many of which would be a little much in say pastel pink. I actually hate her hair though and would really like to see her do something with it. It's just so stringy and limp, and she has such strong bone structure that she seems a little walking skeleton to me at times, especially combine with those fun shapes. Of course, I do have a history of random nightmares about family members turning out to be creepy skeletons and I can't watch Nightmare before Christmas without hurling. Literally. But, she obviously likes her hair like that, so she should keep rocking it. I can't totally despise it since I can't deny that it's very her and skeletons can be cool.

Anna Wintour- Too preppy for me. The Anna bob, the sunglasses, and the neutrals. I really just wish she'd play more with shapes, like the ones she's shoving on the rest of us, but that is not the Anna. Although once again, she does wear some color, but it's not really associated with Anna style.

So, my point? I agree, don't just follow trends. If you like one, and there's bound to be at least one or two possibly more trends that you like each season, then go for it. The most fashionable people don't follow trends; they follow their own likes and it shows. Really. Besides, do we all want to be fashionable or do we wanna look a certain way? By certain way, I mean I don't always dress to look "good;"sometimes I prefer cute, fun, sexy, relaxed, dark, funky, etc sometimes and I'm sure I'm not the only one. In short, be you and trust your own judgement. Mirrors lie, and if you have to ask about it, it's a no.

While I'm on the Bargain Queen, I must disagree with the post about saving shoes by not walking in them. While I'm sure it keeps shoes nice, if I'm buying expensive shoes, they damn well better take my daily beating and keep on eating. Otherwise, what's the point in buying expensive shoes? I can the same thing with cheap shoes and at least then I can justify it. Expensive shoes should be well made and thus able to take a regular beating, be comfortable, and look good. If they don't meat those requirements, I might as well find some nice looking but cheap alternatives.

While it may seem that I'm out to get The Bargain Queen or something, on the contrary I love her blog. Great tips for living low cotst without being associated with trash or being thought stingy. How to keep up with the Jones's for a lot less. Read, read!

My outfit: From way back in late mid February. Click for details if you care, including what song I was listening to. You can set this post (and this whole blog)to Poe's "Walk the Walk"

Walking to the beat of her own drum while staring at the Bargain Queen's,
Ivy Frozen

Spring Fever

2007-02-25T17:42:00.000-08:00

Ugh, with the last couple of posts, you probably think this is turning into a celebri-style blog, but fear not dear readers! This blog is all about me! Really, I'm not as narcissistic as that sounded... But, let's just move on, shall we?

What's up with the pic of flowers at the top instead of the signature pic of one of my outfits? You know I was feeling Spring quite a while ago, well the plants around here are telling me that Spring has arrived. While I still have my doubts--those clouds in the distance sure look menacing even in the bright sunlight---this is an image heavy post with outfits inspired by all the lovely blooms around and my desire for Spring!

The flower above translated into this outfit. If you can see from the close up. it has soses and other flowers all over it in an explosion that reminds me of the first flower pic in this post, at the top. I kept the rest simple though, like the sigle flower, though I couldn't resist the head band (it reminded me of Klimpt!) and I was testing out the shoes to see if they delivered on their promis of comfort, which they did. They have small heels, maybe 2 inches, but they're more comfy than some of my flats. While they can seem a bit grandma-ish, I think they work well with sort mod-inspired looks and also a certain '50s charm about them.

The thrid flower image above reminded me of these outfits of mine, back from when I was wish'n and hope'n and pray'n for Spring. That bold pink and the curvature are reflected well in these outfits. It's a little bolder than the flower in the fence.

With some Spring in her step,

Ivy Frozen

My Wildest Dress Fantasies

2007-02-25T16:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's Oscar time and all of my wildest dress fantasies are coming true. Okay, maybe not ALL of them, that would eb a lot to ask for afterall, but many of them are brought to life and the night is still young.

This pic is a little out of theme, but Lisa Ray (the one on the orangish-brown dress) looks stunning, just a beautiful woman in general. Deepa Mehda looks beautiful too, but I'm coveting that sari of hers. Beautiful colors and patturns, a dress fantasy brought to life! Likewise, Penelope is beautiful nd all that, but I'm coveting the dress more. Just look at it, the texture on the skirt, yards of fabric into the ridiculousness. Okay, maybe not quite as into the ridiculousness as my fantasy, but it's a good comnpromise. At least she can actually move around in this one so it will sweep so beautifully like that.
In this pic, the dress the dress definitely overshadows her, since it's a little dark. But look how it swirls in the front!
Love the silhouette of Rinko Kikuchi in this number. It reminds me of the ink lady from Batman Beyond, complete with the swirly hair. For those who think being compared to a cartoon character is less than optimal, it also reminds me of old fashion drawings from the '20s?. The ink connotation just really appeals to me though, like the dress is fluid she was dipped in and it's running off her. I just read that last sentence and realized it sounds a little creepy, but trust me, my admiration for the dress is nothing you should consider shipping me off to a nice, padded room for.
J Lo's keeping up with her older look she's adopted since her so far lasting marriage to Marc Anthony, and I'm still on the rocks about it. I kind of miss old, in-your-face-bronze-goddess J Lo As foor the fantastical dress, just look how airy it looks! And the neckline is gorgeous! And the chilled out J Lo looks like an icy siren, albeait a prenant one. Is she preganant? Really, I thought she was with this dress, but I could be wrong. It's not like I make it a point to keep up with celebrity gossip or anything; typically the stuff's shoved down my throat when I head to yahoo to check my mail or look around the grocery store. But I must say, can you picture J Lo singing "Jenny from the Block" is this dress? Yeah, I would have preferred my J Lo in this dress so thoughtfully picked out by the people at Dress A Day. She could still rock "Jenny from the Block" in that. Also, just click on the link to see more beautiful dresses picked out for the starlets, most of which rock my dress fantasy bone too. Now excuse while I finish my theory about Marc Anthony brainwashing J Lo into a Stepford Wife.

Images: Oscar Red Carpet pics from Yahoo. As for the pic of me, click it for a larger image and details if you care, or just leave a message bothering me for them.

In a dress fantasy world,

Ivy Frozen

Apologies for my Disappearance

2007-02-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, I dissappeared for a bit. But I have good reason! I was sick, my car broke down, I got sick again, my car got hit. But, on a more positive note, I was also in a very creative mood and doing some writing and other creations. If been furiously typing away on my new novel project. This one has been going around in my head for longer than the other one and has finally come to fruition, I think anyways. So, I've paused work on the other one as my main character in that one was too flat for my liking and taken up this one again. If you click that link, you can read the first chapter. The second chapter is also up, but I've made it so only members of the site can view it. Of course, you can always create a free account to view it if you want to; just don't say that I pimped the site out to you. Unless that's a good thing, of course. If you're bored, check it out and let me know what you think.

If you like reading and have some time to kill, I suggest checking the site out. Lot's of fabulous authors on there. I recommend WD Wilcox's port, after mine of course. But he's an awesome author with a little of everything in his port. Mine is filled with mostly fantasy and mythology pieces. Fancy that...

You can also see some of the fun I was having with Paint Shop Pro with the picture for this post, the closest I come to sweats by the way. Take that Juicy Couture! Click on the picture if you want more details on it. The background picure was actually taken by my daddy, so that's why it's so much nicer looking than any of mine.

But anywho, just an apology of sorts for anyone holding their breath for my next post,
Ivy Frozen

I Tip My Hat to You

2007-02-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

So, I'm sure you've all seen all the grammy pics and such already, if you didn't see the people live on t.v. But now you get to see a few choice pics from me again with commentary! And, it gets better. The commentary is by me! That's right, what you've all been waiting for.
Let's start off with Lean Rimes. Anyone else think she went a little far with the whole losing weight thing? I mean, she used to be all chubby and adorable. Then she lost weight, I was for it. It was healthier, it made her happy. But then I see this and I get a little concerned. I do love that dress, but it's falling off her poor frame! Perhaps it's just the dress. She is a beautiful woman though and just look at that smile!

Next, we have Matisyahu. I just love his style, and how he does his own thing stylistically, both with his clothes and music. In this picture of him, I like how only one cuff is peeking out. It gives him a bit of a haphazard look contrasted against the more refined look of the rest of his clothes.

Speaking of haphazard, I love Shakira's crazy hair in this picture. You didn't think I'd miss posting a pic of Shakira. I love her crazy lion-mane hair and wish I could get my curls to do that. As for her dress, it actually reminds me of a Christmas present, which is a good thing. She kept it simple as per her new look and I'm still loving it. Take that McDonalds!
The fourth pic is of Scarlet Johanson but doesn't she looks a lot like Madonna in this pic. Maybe it's just me... But, she still looks lovely as always.

I really wanted to post a pic of Nelly Furtado's dress next, but Blogger is being unfriendly so no pic of her. The top of her dress just looks so Klimt-ish though. I loved it!

The rest are pictures of people I've never heard of, but now must know more about. Proof of the power of clothing.

The first of this batch, and fifth picture of them all, is of Corinne Bailey Rae. I guess I've kind of heard of her; the name sounds familiar. She looks so lovely in this picture and I adore her hair. I'm far too chicken to attempt a homage with my hair though, especially since my ears stick out so I like to keep 'em covered with a little something. Lovely woman though.

The next pic is of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I've never heard of them but now I must! The pirate costume is too awesome, and I'm liking what I'm seeing of the guy to the left's outfit too. Keep it up boys!

The last pic is of Antonio Pantarelli. Never heard of him at all befor, but digging the coat and shirt. So appropriate with the violin, and it looks like he's having a good time with it.

Now, ergh, my outift. It's not up for deabate. I just reworked those boots with some black ribbon, but I didn't buy it long enough, so I only laced them up to the ankles and tied them there. I like the result though, and the laces are really on for show. Thank goodness for zippers! Click on the pick for more information.

The grammy pictures were taken from The Red Envelope's slide show thing on the grammies.

Tip hats not cows,

Ivy Frozen

DIY: Safety Pin Alterations P2

2007-01-30T16:56:00.000-08:00

Time for another installment of safety pin alterations.

Safety pin alterations is for anyone who is lazy or just in a hurry or unsure if she (or he!) actually wants to fully alter something. All you need is a pack of saftey pins and whatever you're trying to alter. In part one of this series, I discussed how to create a bustle skirt from a circle or A-line skirt. (I forgot to mention it works better with a flowy skirt versus a stiff one, but I'm sure anyone who tried it figured that out and no real harm to try it out real quick.)

In part 2, I shall go over shortening a maxi pencil skirt. This is a real quicky.

1. Put skirt on inside out.
2. Grab bottom of skirt and pull it up to desired length. The fold shall be your hemline.
3. Safety pin in pin in place. (Note: START WITH FRONT or FARTHEST AWAY FROM ZIPPER!)
4. Then pull sides snug in and safety pin. Work your way to the back (or zipper).
5. There will be excess fabric. Leave excess fabric to hang over zipper area and pin to hold.
6. Take skirt off, flip it right side in, and voila! Your new skirt is done.

It results in a slightly bubbly hemline. (Both skirts are actually about a size or two too big for me. The white one fits better, so I bet the pink one is two sizes too big for me.)

Watch out that you don't safety pin your clothes. Pull the skirt away from you! This is probably good for short term. If you like to keep it permenently like this, you should sew it. I'm obligated to tell you this, even though I'm too lazy to fully sew it myself.

Oh, and those people who say bubble hemlines are no good for pear shaped (i.e. biggest/widest at your bum and hips) girls don't know what they're talking about. Experiment and find what works for you.

Pictures: click them to view them larger and get info. on where I got the something, etc. & I didn't realize I was wearing the same shirt with the two outfits I chose to show. They just show off the skirt the best! Honest...

Safety Pin Queen,
Ivy Frozen

Public Service Announcement # 369: Animals Rule!

2007-01-24T18:03:00.000-08:00

Humans aren't the only ones with style. Today, I thought I'd showcase some stylish critters for some inspiration.

Some sharp looking werewolves. Love the color of that waistcoat with the jacket and shirt. Just a fantastic color.

Love for this cheetah's shirt. Again, great bold color, and you know I love my busy prints.

Anubis just looks cool. He IS a god, afterall. Gold and shiny blue were made for each other, and they are his colors.

Just like that red scarf on this chap. Compliments his fur tone beautifully.

Does that encourage you to wear that crazy concoction that you've whipped up somewhere in your dreams that involves that piece hidden in the back of your closet? Go know and put it on. If it goes over really badly, you can always say you lost a bet. If you've got more confidence and the energy to back it up, point out that you can wear what you want and you don't owe any one any explanations for your wardrobe choice. Quite honestly, most people are delighted by a fun outfit, although there are the usual sort (who I hope you don't particularly care for anyways) who will be mean-spirited about it.

Here's a few more folks to encourage you!

Look! It's Willy Wonka, sporting one of the coolest coats ever along with some pretty fly glasses and hat and let's not forget the cane, which is starting to make a come back as THE assesory to have. Or maybe I just really want one...

BTW, is it bad that I saw the movie and don't remember a thing from the actual movie except for the dancing oompa loompa?

And a Wicked Queen offering you the apple. Do you dare to take a bite?

Funded by all those folks I've been seeing around lately, asking for outfit advice (you know the answer!) and talking about not wearing items they love because of fear of others' gossiping, and of course,

Ivy Frozen

images: click them for more information and for a larger size. All of the pictures except the one of me at the top were taken at FURther Confusion 2007. And yes, that's a koala on my sweat shirt.

Just like the Movies

2007-01-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

I've been strangely entranced by colors in movies.

1st up, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

It features a kind of pale, washed out, old photograph color scheme that reminds me of a lot of the colors that went down the catwalks for Spring this year and last year. (Of course, we got some neons going on this year...) The video is about four minutes and is actually a music video, not a clip, but I think it shows off what I was talking about. As for the rest of the movie, I vote you go see it if you haven't already. Thumbs up from me. It's a bit of a modernized take on Odysseus's voyage (and I love my Greek/Roman mythology) featuring three men escaping jail in the south in the 1930s. Our main man wants to get back to his wife, but there's additional subplot about them searching for treasure. Plus, you know it's a good movie when they consider color. That shows some time, effort, and love put into the movie, versus the quicky sequels and blockbusters done just to rake in as much money as possible. Great movie, and it features George Clooney. Who needs more reason than George C. to go see it?

Alright, movie two is Under the Tuscan Sun

That's the trailer for it. It's all faded since it was uploaded onto youtube, so it doesn't really show you the colors I was talking about, but it gives you an idea about what the movie is about. To help you mentally see the colors, think vibrant sunflowers. I love the rich, warm colors it uses, and the fact that it totally supports my fantasy version of Italy. When I'm middle aged, I want to be like Catherine (the woman with the black hat and ice cream cone in the trailer). She is so awesome! And the white dress that Diane Lane's character buys to go visit her love interest is my dream dress for trekking around Italy. This is another good movie. I like that it leaves you with a warm, fuzzy, "I can do it!" attitude kind Legally Blond, but it also has more of an older/wiser/"everything is not rainbows and pink bunnies but that's okay" feel, if you know what I mean.

Movie number three is The Promise

Once again, crummy youtube quality, but the trailer gives you some idea of what it's about and even youtube can't totally distroy the beauty of this film. Beautiful costumes and color schemes! Designers should take note of this film. If it was an add campaign, I'd totally want to buy almost every clothing item in it. They made rags look beautiful! They convinced me that all men should were pink, flowery robes with impracticle long tails that trail so gracefully on the floor. I wasn't quite sold on the men in feathery poet sleeves though. Of course, that was worn by the villain, along with silver eyeshadow. This movie certainly had some conventions common in anime.

As for the movie, much of it seems devoted to creating etherealy beautiful scenes with flowing fabrics. It's not exactly a bad thing since I've been dreaming about incredibly beautiful but also incredibly impracticle gowns made out of yards of flowy fabric that moves as if alive for a while now. The story was interesting and certainly creative as was the special effects, costumes, colors, everything. I felt the ending was a little sudden drop off though. It didn't quite leave me questionless. (Hard to explain without spoiling it.) One more scene could have fixed that. Also, the general's character seemed a little random/flat to me. Why does he feel that way? Oh, because that's what the story needs. He goes from being hard and cruel, to kind of noble, to a whiny/mopey/childish crybaby, and then to hard and cruel again. I just don't get him, and I think a little more insight into him would improve the movie. I'd still say it's worth seeing though. Just make sure to watch it subtitled as the English dub is as jarring and disturbing as they usually are. Plus, who really cares about that other stuff with all the pretty, pretty colors and ridulously beautiful clothes?

And to end, the Spring/Summer 07 Couture shows are going on now and it seems Galliano is loving those Asian looks too. I think it's automatically breathtakingly beautiful if you do a show with inspired by or of traditional Asian attire. Memoirs of a Geisha, The Promise, and now Galliano's Madame Butterfly inspired couture collection. I know the Promise is kind of an outlier since it's Chinese, but Memoirs of a Geisha starred many Chinese actresses and Galliano certainly didn't use all Japanese models, so we loop it together. All outliers, but all together.

And of course, this wouldn;t be a post in my blog if it did not include pictures of the me. In my last post, I showed my Spring and Middle Eastern Asian inspired looks.

He's one inspired by Japan, with the kimono sleave top and Asian dragon. I also double belted for that thick belt look, like the obi. Of course, wearing a fully Asian traditional dress inspired outfit isn't me, so I made it fun with lace and a flirty skirt. And this outfit doubly applies to today's post since the colors were carfully chosen to reflect my persona for the event this outfit was worn to. My persona was Ivy Frozen: Dragon, which is a white ice dragon with very sharp scales made to stand out with heavy black outlines and green eyes and horns. Note, I represented with black, white, and a touch of green.

You can kind of see the dragon depicted on me badge in the first picture, as drawn by my friend wearing the kitty ears in the picture on the right. She didn't make the black lines thick enough or the green dark enough, but that's okay. Easily remedied if she hadn't lamanated it before I saw it... Anywho, those are two of my best friends in the pics with me, MashiChan in the first and SabreKitty/Vampire Writer in the second. I'm feeling generous today, so I'll spread the spotlight.

My outfit: Click the first picture if you care.

I want you to be free,
Don’t worry about me,
And just like the movies,
We play out our last scene,

Ivy Frozen (& apparently Alien Antfarm- Movies)

Into the Beyond!

2007-01-10T23:05:00.000-08:00

I'm ready for spring. Maybe it's all the pictures of the Prada ads, sporting the turban, that have been all over the fashion blogs lately. Maybe it's the spring trend forcasting. Or maybe it's because I'm a spring baby.

It started inocently enough, with a fascniation with those wide pants with tiny feet sported by the shinigami of Bleach.

Then, it grasped a whole Asian theme.

It retracted, keeping it's whole Far East Meets Middle East thing, but pairing it down to an obi style belt and the shoes.

Then it went for gold! Total airy boho, fit for spring. Yes, Boho is spring, as black and white is winter, and mixed patterns are autumn.

Spring is the season for nice flowy looks that will blow so beautifully as the wind accosts them, and will swirl so beautifully while you freeze because spring is taking its sweet time to warm up to summer and leave winter behind.

It also seems those Prada ads have influenced me, since I'm rocking a headscarf. It's actually a pratical thing for spring, since it keeps your hair nice and safe from the wind. Plus, you can just throw on a headscarf if you have a bad hair day, and you can also don one when you're in a hurry. Headscarf, a dress, and some shades, and you look classicly chic when you were really just lazy or overslept or something.

Watch, when spring finally arrives, I'll be over the whole headscarf thing and complaining about my allergies while I whine for summer to arrive.

My outfits: click the pictures if you care. The date on my camera is wrong, so they day they were uploaded to flickr is closer, if not the date, I wore the outfit.

A Ram-Lamb,
Ivy Frozen

P.S. Yes, I straightened my hair. It was upsetting me curly, not behaving right, so I decided to straigten for a bit. Usually when I go from straight to curly, my curls bounce back.

Obligatory Optimistic Post

2007-01-10T22:48:00.000-08:00

So, here's the obligatory optimistic post for 2007. It's going to be awesome. Global warming and all that.

Yay!

So, anywho, now that New Years is over, I'm ready for Valentines Day. Why, I do not know... It's not exactly like I have someone special to share it with or anything and it is a holiday for couples. Maybe it's just because I'm a pink bunnies and flying ponies kind of gal, and a holiday that celebrates love--the thing that makes the pink bunnies and flying ponies go 'round-- is worthy of my attention. Or maybe it's because I love to ham up holidays, you know dressing up and all that, and Valentines Day is one of those that lends to this.

Outfit (From 1/2): sweater- Aeropostale (gift from sis) I normally don't shop there, except for boxers. (Men's boxers are so much better than women's...), blouse- mom (70s/80s), jeans- Ross, socks- Walmart, red patent ballet flats and ribbon belt- Ebay

Conga!
Ivy Frozen

Obligatory Happy New Year Post 2007

2007-01-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

So this is THE OBLIGATORY Happy New Years post for 2007. So, Happy New Years! and all that jazz... I've never really been big on this holiday. Perhaps because I have yet to reach the optimal age for enjoying it i.e. drinking age.

But, since this isn't my favorite holiday, I shall not stiff you like other blogs. No, this post shall say more than just Happy New Year. It shall talk about wear that screams "Winter!" To me anyways... So without further ado:

I don't understand the whole "no white after labor day deal."

It started with Susie Bubble talking about all the pictures of Japanese girls in white made her think about Spring. Then my mom commented on my white boots when I asked her if she knew why everyone was staring at my feet all day.

"White in winter?" she said. "Doncha know no white after Labor Day?"

What? White not in winter? It makes no sense to me. Winter is black and white and greys to me. In fact, my latest outfits have been pretty much white, black, and grays with a little color thrown in to keep it fun. I also admit to being date-ily challenged in that I thought Labor Day was in May. Or is that Veterans' Day? Too many holidays that I don't particularly care for except for the time they get me off. No disrespect to anyone who celebrates these holidays; I'm just being honest.

Back to my white is winter debate, Snow Queens wear white and creams, not whatever colors anyone who supports such a barbaric custom as no white after Labor Day thinks are winter. Jack Frost is white and blue. Snow is white and snow is winter.

Considering I live in an area of California that does not get snow except for that one year, I don't think my white boots should cause such an uproar. Global warming makes them make even more sense. I could see if I lived somewhere where it was all snowy and/or dirty, but I don't. White is winter.

The offending outfit:

So, what do you think?

My New Years Outfit: blue cape thingy- mom (70s/80s), white lacy cami- Ross, black pinstripe knickers- Marshalls, white ribbed tights- JC Penny, black round toe pumps with feather & bow & and broach detail- Waltz, silver lightning bolt necklace- LuLu's Fashion Lounge, gold fire/leaves brooch- Great grandma

Happy New Year Y'all,
Ivy Frozen

I Love Klimt!

2007-01-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

Who Should Paint You: Gustav Klimt

Sensual and gorgeous, you would inspire an enchanting portrait..
With just enough classic appeal to be hung in any museum!

What Artist Should Paint Your Portrait?

Klimt happens to be my favorite artist, although I have random love for Monet. Klimt though has all the things I like in a painting. I love his use of patterns, his color palettes, the gold, and the subject. (Women are just funner to paint because we're curvy!) He also designed some clothes. So, yes, I do feel him as a kindred spirit.

I was introduced to his work by my art teacher in high school and she was spot on. I've used him as my artist of inspiration for several art projects, including the one above. (It would have been better if I had more time, but alas! I did not.)

Some of my outfits that remind me of Klimt:

These are more inspired by his time period (Late 1800s to Early 1900s). The last one is inspired a bit by his color pallettes, a lot of yellows, reds, and oranges.

These are all mixed patterns. I love mixed patterns! Much of my favorite music would appear as a mixed pattern outfit, I imagine. I love getting lost in all the tiny little rythms of various instruments in music. Mmmm.

And, my favorite dress here, which reminds of Klimt too. To me Klimt is Autumn, and you'll notice most of my Klimt-ish outfits are from then. The season of mixed patterns and fun colors.

My Outfits: Click the pictures and should be carried to a page with all the info.

To see more Klimt pictures, here's a Yahoo image search on Klimt. Gorgeous, no?

Painted by Klimt,

Ivy Frozen

Mami, Am I Fat?

2006-12-31T00:43:00.000-08:00

How many weight-loss commercials are there? With 2007 looming ever closer (like tommorrow...), the herd of weight loss adds have been released. Everything from those sketchy pills to Jenny Craig-like programs to joining the gym and buying work-out equipment.

My favorite commercial was the one for some weight-loss commercial where it says, "It's not your fault your fat. It's cortizones!" or something that my mind chooses to remember as that. The humor that I find in it is not that I think it's people's fault that they are fat-- complex subject that-- but that it blames it on your body and things designed to help people survive.

It also reminds me of Little Miss Sunshine when the dad was pretty much calling the little girl fat and trying to get her not to eat the ice cream. (So mean!) Really, if your kid is a little heavy and you're trying to get them to eat healthier, just take control of their diet. Tell them they can't have the junk food; don't tell them they're fat.

But back on topic, like much of America, I've made a fitness goal for 2007. My goal is not really to lose weight so much as to tone up and maybe gain some muscle. Really, I have like negative muscle...

I got some new fitness gear, and I have part of a plan started. I'm a runner at heart, or should I say legs, so at least a half hour run/jog/thing four days a week. I'm more of an endurance runner than speedy so it should work out fine for my cardio. Now, I just need to find some exercises to tone my thighs, bum, and abs.

Oh! & I really want this American Apparel tee, but not cropped because I don't have the hot abs yet and that's what I want it for, to work on those abs.

Sorry for the pic with the sex shorts? on, but this pic showed how it drapes so nicely and looks perfect for keeping cool when you have to wear a shirt while working out and it's hot.

I also want to better treat the part of my body I dislike the most due to its horrid temper, my skin. If I'm nice to it, it'll behave. It's so easy to mistreat in winter though, when it needs my love the most, since it ends up covered.

So, they we have it! Documentation of my New year's resolutions, going into effect after it's officially the new year. Chinese New Year, that is. Just teasing...

Outfit (from 12/20 dog walk around the lake)- cropped hoody and tunic- JC Penny, jeans and sneakers- Ross, rainbow tee and fanny pack- mom (70s,80s), scarf- Old Navy

Resolved Resolutions,
Ivy Frozen

Style Influence and Inspiration Pt. This One

2006-12-29T01:05:00.000-08:00

The Sartorialistwanted to know people earliest fashion influence for his contest. I would have posted this over there for the contest, but one of his earlier posts stopped me. He mentioned semi-stealing a signed copy of a magazine because it meant more to him than the person he got it from. (Theoretically...) And the book he had up for prize was a book that I'm sure someone else who actually entered would enjoy more than me. I might like it, but might is the key word. I certaily wouldn't treasure it like a true fan, so instead I bore you all with my answer to the question. Madonna. Lacey, but racy, Madonna. Madonna made fashion fun with her "I'll wear a tutu with combat boots if I want to!" look back in the 80s. I wasn't to crazy about her cone bra looks, but Madonna is constantly roaming style wise and she seems to get into niches like me. But, when hers don't work, she doesn't cry or keep shoving the same thing down our throats. She moves on to something else, and that's why she's still a pop queen, unlike Michael Jackson.

I do like more color and pattern mixing madness than Madonna who plays more with shape, although her latest incarnation loves shiny pastels. But, my more bold looks are firmly rooted in my childhood from seeing the lacy Madonna look with her biting additude. Love the contrast and still do. Sweet and Sour, baby!

And for those skoffing at her latest 70s roller disco meets the 80s workout gear craze, comparing Madonna to your grandma in statements something like, "I wouldn't want my grandma to wear something like that," your grandma don't look like Madonna. Your grandma is also not a rich performer and style icon. So, your comparison is, well, not working. Madonna can wear a leotard if she wants to. Heck, she looks better than me in one.

Madonna, making fashion fun again.

Now, some Madonna time:

A quick run through of Madonna.

A longer run thorugh of Madonna, including photos and clips from her movies and stage performances in addition to her videos.

One of my fav. Madonna songs and videos.

Bedtime Story. Right on trend. Flowers? (S/S) Check. Shiny? Check. Futurific? Check. Check. and Check.

Take a Bow. My other favorite Madonna song. I've always loved it, and love her classy but also real look in this video. Right on trend again. (Christina Aguilera is always channeling in her vids...)

1st outfit (from 12/18)- puff sleeve polo- Ross, cropped hoody and flats- JC Penny, Shorts- Lola/Rave, tights and socks- H&M, brooches- mom's grandma

2nd outfit (from 12/27)- shirt- Mervyns, brown cami (under)- Lola/Rave, belt- thrifted, skirt (rose patterned long prairie skirt taken up and bustled by me and a safety pin)- mom (70s), black thigh highs- Hot Topic, ballet flats- Nu Pair (BOGO-ed with my prom shoes)

Not just like a virgin,
Ivy Frozen

Nostalgia

2006-12-29T00:15:00.000-08:00

I'm alive and back to posting. Lookout for a stream... I started a bunch of posts and just have to finish them at odd hours of the night when I should be sleeping.

Everyone's doing top 10 and top 100 lists for 2006. I don't know why. Really, why 10 or 100? Because they're even? Easy to divide and count by? I don't know about you, but none of that is useful with any of the things I do with those lists. So, I present to you my favorite shopping rules of 2006. The list is as long as favorite shopping rules I have, which may or may not fall into these favorite numbers. Maybe next I'll do my top 6 looks from 2006 and the top 11 items I will not be sad to see go. Why? Because I like 6, but I'm not too keen on 11...

My Fav Rules of 2006:

1. If it's not exactly what you want, don't buy it. If you're like me, the substitute just won't do it for you and you'll still crave the perfect item, which you'll find later and then purchase and promptly shove the substitute into the dark corner of your closet along with all the other substitutes. Substitutes: just don't do them. And remember, good friends don't let good friends take home a substitute.

2. Think about when and where you will wear the item. If you can't think of any outfits made up of items you already own, if you can't think of several outfits, if you can't think of ongoing occassions and it's not for a very special one, then just say "no". It's okay.

3. Buy stuff that fits you now in all ways, not for when your feet spontaneously shrink half an inch or you finally lose those few inches. This also means not to buy that skimpy but oh-so-shiny top for the great nightlife you're planning to adopt. If these things actually do happen, you can always purchase those things. The world is not suddenly going to have a shortage of perfect items for your occasion. I know, it's hard to believe. I still have trouble believing it.

4. Just because it's cheap now, doesn't mean you have to buy it now. Sacrilege! Sacrilege! But true sacrilege. The reason why for this one, is actually reason #5:

5. Think about the clutter. As a messy person, I speak for all messy people who don't have some mold that at one time or other was pizza festering beneath their bed that my clutter annoys me at times too. The mess really comes from my attempting to organize my clutter on the biggest shelf in my house, all visible and within easy reach at once. Yeah, it doesn't work so well. And no, I don't think fondly of the pile of clothes waiting to fall on me when I open my closet or having to dig through it all for "that one top". Do I really want to add said item from #4 (typically multiplied over time) to all that just because it's cheap? Yeah. Not so cheap now, is it.

6. There is no Island of Clothes that No One Wanted. Rest easy knowing the item will go to a good home where it is loved (or tossed in the trash). I just need a moment to form a boring clip show in my mind, complete with cheesy and overly dramtic music of all the items that have been denied me this year via those rules T_T ...

Okay! Done!

Now that I've beat that into me, I'm going to try to limit my spending in 2007. Ultimate goal is $0 on anything I don't need or isn't replacing something worn out and/or broken. Of course, such a leap seems unrealistic for my itchy fingers. I might do alright the first part of the year as Christmas just passed and my birthday is in March, but towards the end, I'll need some retail therapy! So, perhaps I'll take it in month spurts and shoot for half a year. That's until summer. I think I can do that. Maybe... Possibly... I'll demand gift cards, ne?

Featured Outfit (from 12/11): romper dress thing- thrift store, long sleeve tee- Target, tights and belt- JC Penny, boots- Hot Topic, scarf- thrifted

Lock on her wallet est. 2007,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. Okay, so I totally ignored the rules for that that romper in the picture, but my sister bought it for me so it's okay. Plus, I did find a way to wear it...

On the 11th Day before Christmas, Ivy Frozen gave to me

2006-12-14T21:27:00.000-08:00

The truth about jeans: they ain't so comfy. Sure, there's that old pair that you spent years breaking in until all the spots that rub were smooth and nearly threadbare, and about ready for the trash can. I repeat jeans aren't that comfy. All that hardware, the restriction on movement, and that heavy duty-fabric just can't be, no matter how hard it tries. The real comfort of jeans is the mindset that you can do a lot in them. They're so practical and can look pretty snazzy too. They're a go anywhere, do anything garment. Paint in them, garden in them, do heavy labor in them, play in them, etc.

But, if you want real comfort, I much prefer trousers or leggings.

So, so many people --and by people I mean "fashionistas"-- protest the leggings (and ankle boot trend) because they tend to make your ankles blend into your calves producing the horror inducing word, "cankles." When I first saw the word "cankles" used, it thought it was some horrible deformity or disease. But no, it's just what you see in the picture of my outfit above, where the indent of my ankle dissappears. I'm really unimpressed. So what if the line of my ankle disappears? I'm not seeing the horror. If you look at my right leg, it's pretty obviously there. I see no problem with the "cankle" look and I shall continue to sport items that supposedly give me this, including shoes with ankle straps.

Stay tooned for more crazy silhouettes that I love and support!

My outfirt worn Dec. 7th: red tunic- mom (70s/80s), faux fur bolero- um..., black leggings- Lola/Rave, white cuffed ankle boots- Hot Topic, thick black waist belt (under my arms)- JC Penny

Cankles: ankles with a "c" for cool,

Ivy Frozen

Silence Must be Heard! DIY

2006-12-06T16:05:00.000-08:00

Not simply observed...

Okay, so didja really think I'd be over my Enigma obsession so quickly? Today's post is about playing with volume, as all the magazines suggest doing and talk about designers doing, etc. It's also filled with diy goodness.

So, in the picture, I am wearing a dress I made myself. It's the first item of clothing I've ever made, and I'm lazy. Anyone else get a headache when reading all that "use [insert name of stitch that is explained nowhere how to do] stitch" in those easy diy and beginner guides? Yeah, well I said I'll just work it out as I go. I used diy instructions for a circle skirt (pretty much just cut a circle how big you want the skirt out of fabric), sewed a band at the top, attached straps and some buttons (a few more than planned since it ended up a bit big; I allowed too much extra.) and voile! Unfortunately, the fabric I used ('cause it had plaid and was on clearance!) has a tendency to fray easily, so I also had to hem. (Many fabrics you don't have to.) But, here are some better pics of the dress. I do love the movement... But more fabric than I planned and the back is longer than the fron when I wear it do to tilting. I could always just hem up the back a bit though. But, here are the pictures really:

So, the second diy is a bustle. Once again, this is a bustle for the lazy person. Take a circle skirt pull some of the fabric from the sides back to create a bustle as you like. Then secure with a safety pin and you're done. Temporary but highly effective. Plus, your skirt is now two-in-one. I will say that bustles slim my hims considerably, as you might be able to see in the photo on the very top. Of course, I do tend to wear 3/4th length puff sleeved shirts with them...

Now, I haven't tried this with an A-line skirt, but it should work too. Also, with longer skirts and dresses, you can fold them up a bit to create an apron, then secure in back with pin to create a bustle and have more bounce to it (since there will be more fabric.) Otherwise, you'll end up with a more pencil/tulipy shape for the skirt.

My outfit worn Nov. 27th: puff sleeve blouse- mom (from 70s), plaid jumper/pinafore- made by me, long sleeve tee and boots- JC Penny, belt- Forever 21 (I like wearing it backwards!), tights- Target

Volume, it's good for you
Ivy Frozen

Go vintage, young girl

2006-12-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

Look into the mirror of your soul.
Love and hate are one and all.
Sacrifice turns to revenge
And believe you will see the face who will say,
"I love you; I'll kill you
"But to love you...forever!"
--from Enigma's "I love you...I'll kill you"

Vinatage. It's not just about the look. It's not just about not having to worry about some chick wearing the same thing as you. It's about history.

While I do like vintage for all of the above reasons-- I seriously HATE wearing the same item at the same time at the same place as some other person--I LOVE vintage because it's a connection to the past. I love history and it's neat to think of all the time the item has survived to end up in my hands. It's also fun to muse about past owners of the garment. Who knows; I might have been the past owner (and/or creater of the homesewn stuff) back in a past life. Some items just have that big a draw to me. But my favorite vintage items come from my own family. Well, my mom.

My mom is a huge pack-rat and hates to throw stuff away. She's convinced that she'll need it one day after she's tossed it out. She's worse than me in her pack-rattish ways. I think our house might just be filled to the brim with stuff if my dad wasn't a neat freak to counter-act my mom's ways. But, I do love all the old stuff she saved from the 70s. I also love wearing the costume jewlry from my mother's grandmother and great grandmother. She was raised by them. It just gives me a worm feeling. Unfortunately, I left most of the brooches from the grandmas at home, but when I'm there, I wear at least one almost every day. I just love the warm fuzzies I get from wearing. I also think they watch out for me (they're both dead. Really, and interesting concept for me considering my less than clear views on spiritual matters...) as I do tend to be lucky, especially when paired with negative energy.

Going with that, I also adore the two rings my parents bought me. I "feel the love" when I wear them. One, I didn't particularly carefore. It was a result of a "momism". <-- That term actually does not come from my own poor grip on language, but from my American Indian studies teacher. "Momism" refers to those things mom's do, such as insisting you bundle up before going out, the doting and chicken noodle soup when you're sick, and all that stuff that you're just like "Aw, mom!" about. In this case, that would be insisting that I should get this ring, that I don't particularly want, because my sister got one, that she wanted. The other ring is my birth stone and diamond. It's the only ring I've actually ever wanted. Aquamarine, diamond, and white gold: a stunning combination. It's so winter fresh, pure/innocent, and also springy; all images and ideas I relate to myself. My name IS Ivy Frozen and I told you I adore it and find it just so fitting. Also, if I ever get married (which would involve a little thing, like I dunno, a boyfriend first), I totally want my engagement ring to be aquamarine, diamon, and white gold! I'd marry that guy on the spot if I got a ring in with that combo. And he'd be getting laid when he wanted, how he wanted (to translate some more lines from Enigma) if the proposal also came with these shoes. Ah, now that's a dream.

In the picture above, I am sporting a color combo fit to match that ring. And that shirt used to belong to my mother, way back when she was about my size. (I think she was always a bit bigger than me, at least her boobs.) Gotta love that parrot! As for the Enigma lyrics, I've been playing Enigma and E Nomine music obsessivly lately (sign me up for their cults!) and, well, the lyrics relate to this post with how love and hate are somehow the same thing, while be oppossites. A very thin line between them. Or is there a line at all? Sometimes, I'd say no. As used in this post, yes.

My outfit (from Sunday): button up shirt with parrot- mom from 70s/80s, white with black dots shirt (under)- Ross, blue corduroys- Sears, wedges- Kohls (They have leaves on side of the wedge heel!), green waist belt- Thrift Town

I love you, I'll kill you
Ivy Frozen

Mood Swings, Mood Rings

2006-12-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

Just noticing how my dressing seems to be. I tend to go for more masculine (meets feminine) and slouchy/baggy looks when I'm grumpy. I go for sleek, classy and sexy when I'm feeling good, and I go for crazier stuff when I'm feeling bold/energetic. Anyone else notice their moods reflected in clothes? Colors don't really firgure too much into my feeling moods. Though you know I love a good sweet and sour contrast.

Oh my! It seems we have a new word for me to define: moods. See, I use "mood" as a word to refer to more than being happy, sad, mad, etc. Stuff like I'm in an ice cream mood (want ice cream), autumn mood (loving leaves, autumn colors, etc.), and sleek mood (I've been wearing sleeker, more classic outfits since I went home for Thanksgiving break.) Y'all know I need my fun though. I mean, what is the point if not fun? Or survival.

Now, I'll finish this off with test results you probably don't care too much about, but tests you might want to take. Both tests receive a thumbs up from me. I can see myself as the tests describe me. Actually, you probably do care about the results, voyeurs that we all are. So, here we go:

Glam.com's What animal (print) are you test:

The fact that a leopard can’t change its spots is not lost on you. Like the sleek and sensuous wildcat, you’ve wholly embraced your aloofness and penchant for self-indulgence and freedom. You live by your instincts, which comes in handy while exploring unknown territories, be they of the heart and mind or exotic places.

I luv leopard

Okay Cupid Enneagram test:

the Observer
Thanks for taking the test !

you chose BZ - your Enneagram type is FIVE.

"I need to understand the world"

Observers have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful.

How to Get Along with Me

Be independent, not clingy.
Speak in a straightforward and brief manner.
I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts.
Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable.
Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity.
If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place.
don't come on like a bulldozer.
Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy.

What I Like About Being a Five

standing back and viewing life objectively
coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects
my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure
not being caught up in material possessions and status
being calm in a crisis

What's Hard About Being a Five

being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world
feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all
being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be
watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally

Fives as Children Often

spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on
have a few special friends rather than many
are very bright and curious and do well in school
have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers
watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information
assume a poker face in order not to look afraid
are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict
feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected

Fives as Parents

are often kind, perceptive, and devoted
are sometimes authoritarian and demanding
may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate
may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
Harper SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

You liked the test? so please don't forget to RATE it...
but remember! it had only two questions!!! ;-)

you wanna know MORE?
so check out, what Wikipedia says about your type...

...even more you'll find in Google

Link: The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

My outfit (from Tuesday): Turtle tee- Sears, Long sleeve tee- JC Penny, Swing jacket- Lola, Pants- Uhhh... Back from my slouchy, skate-boarder/snow boarder/extreme sports player look days., Socks- Payless, Shoes- Ebay, Scarf- knit for me by a friend

Kid Tested, Mother Approved
Ivy Frozen

Naked

2006-12-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

Apparently, I want to carry a bag with me when I'm naked. Really, what is up with all the naked ladies selling bags? What exactly is the message? Buy the bag so the lady can buy some clothes? Nudist style: you may not wear clothes so assert your style with a cool bag? Just really baffles/annoys me, especially when I see it back, to back, to back by about twenty different brands in the same magazine. I flipped through to page 75 with only a page or two of actual content before that. Y'all know fashion magazines annoy me, and yet I most be a masochist for I buy one or two every now and then. This time it was Bazaar, since I tend to like their articles. Yes, JLO on the cover sold it to me as I was wondering why she was on the cover of a best dressed magazine, considering she's been looking, well, old, decrepit, and isn't exactly praised often for her style. I must say, I liked how they did their best dressed list, showing the pictures and then an article explaining the choices kind of generally. It points out that we all have a different idea of style, and few people would agree with the list. And also how one guy had a problem with the list because his wife dressed better than everyone ont he list and he didn't want to read anything that didn't have his wife in it (or something close to that.). These ideas gave me pause, because I too am guilty about those quick judgements and irrational/hypocritcal behavior despite this lovely blog promoting dressing outside of the common box they try to force you to use and inside your own box, even if it does include things from the other box. (Dun-dun-duuunnnn!) So praise to Bazaar for that! I'll keep that in mind as I wonder "what that famous person was thinking!" Should they really be held to different fashion standards than the rest of us? Must every famous person also be a style icon? Just something to ponder... I'll try to keep that in mind as my mind next time it's relevant to my thoughts.

But, even keeping that in mind, I still must wonder why Britney is going out everywhere in short dresses WITHOUT UNDERWEAR? I mean, does she like flashing her parts to everyone? Is she depresses about divorcing K. Fed.? (Although I could never see why...) I don't have much love for Britney, but I did think she could do better than that creep. And I kind of feel sorry for her now. Am I the only one to notice how evil Paris Hilto looks in all of their pictures together? Paris has got this evil-friendly expression on her face (of course, she always looks like that...) and Britney looks all sweet, and like, "okay. Yay! We're going out. And you're my friend Paris. I'm n ot sure about this, but you said it was okay and I want you to like me so, I'll do it." Then, we have Paris who looks like, "Yes, yes, Britney. You look very pretty. And I have you right where I want you my pretty, mwahahahha!"

Even with my sympathy, however, the no underwear has no excuse. She's a mother! Do it for the kids, Britney. Do it for the kids so they don't get into a bunch of fights because everybody and their momma has seen their momma's nether regions. Now, I wore a very light, floaty dress today and it was a bit windy. Not windy enough to make wearing this really stupid/impracticle, but my skirt did fly up once while I was crossing a field. It was no big deal though because I'm wearing boxers. (And underwear under the boxers.) Yeah, that's right. I think boxers and socks that go over the knee are the hottest and really comfy too. Mine are red Aeropostale with little monkey faces on them. About the only thing I'd get from Aeropostale. Men's boxers too, I believe. (I won them at a party.) That would explain why they're so awesome versus th oddity that is women's boxers.

No, for Paris, I took the liberty of putting together an outfit fit for an heiress.

It's a total kick to your face, without being a kick. It's a sample of what I would wear if I had a rich daddy. Of course, I wore this even though my daddy isn't rich... Well, anyways, I think that if we are forced to see Paris (believe I do not actively seek images of her and would prefer not to be force fed her less than sparkling image), then she should take some notes from Dita von Teese. You don't have to be an ass or a boob to be sexy. And from me, it doesn't have to be pink, fluffy, and/or covered with Hello Kitty to be youthful, cute, and fun.

I believe Sullen Girl lays out the incidents mentioned above very nicely.

My outfits: The 1st worn today: skirt worn as dress & brown crochet shrug- Ross, cropped trapeze jacket- Lola, over the knee socks- Wet Seal, gold espadrilles- Old Navy, leaf necklace- Lulu's Fashion Lounge

The 2nd worn on Wednesday: faux fur bolero- eh, I forget. Last year somewheres on sale, cream corset tank (that flash of white there)- Ross, black long sleeve tee- Target, black pencil skirt and grey tights- JC Penny, brown cowboy boots- Charlotte Russe, brown belt- Payless, roses brooch- mom; used to be her grandma's, freshwater pearl necklace- Hawaii

Fully clothed Thank You,
Ivy Frozen

Cheap or Cheap

2006-11-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

You all know I'm cheap, right? I really don't spend more than $30 on any clothing item. And I think that's expensive. I think Urban Outfitters, American Eagle, and even Old Navy are expensive, except when stuff is on sale. Of course, that leads to my massive collection of stuff... To be fair though, I must contest that a) Much of it is hand me downs from my sis or mom and b) I don't throw anything away. B is particularly relevent since I haven't changed size really since maybe the seventh grade, and I can still fit into tops from earlier than that. (My mom liked to buy my clothes big, saying I'd grow into them. I tried on a pair of jeans and they were falling off me. I showed my mom and she said they fit perfectly...)

In the spirit of the Holiday season, a starving student's budget, and my general cheapness, I offer my evaluations of some cheap mass retailers.

Kohl's- Cheap on sale and cheap in quality. Their button up shirts do that annoying thing where the buttons gap open (the even had a picture in one of their adds with an ill-made sweater doing just that) and is torn soon. Don't buy anything you plan to need for a while from here. Their shoes, however get a thumbs up. $5 shoes on clearance! Hold up nicely and look good! I;m typically gentle to my shoes though. (Just note what I wear each day!)

JC Penny- They get points for quality and price. Good sales and good pieces. I use to shop almost exclusively there. (The shop of choice changes with the fashion seasons and what shop carries what I like.) I don't shop their juniors department so much anymore, but I do like their misses collection, particularly their Bisou Bisou line. (Love my high waisted pencil skirt!)

Target- Target's usually good. Plus, their return policy rocks! 90 Days! If your stuff doesn't last at least that long, take it back. No questions asked. They also know what a clearance is versus sale, and have some rocken shoe clearances. $8 boots! $4.98 pumps! And their stuff looks good too. On the negatove, I hate the fit of their screen tees and long sleeve tees. Too wide in the shoulders for me. If you have wide shoulders, that may be good. Oh, and I'm not too impressed with their online service either...

Walmart- If you can brave this store (the one near my house is staffed mostly by immigrants who don't speak English very well and don't know anything about the store) then their are some good buys to be had. They are the monarch's of clearance with $1, $2, $3, and $5 racks. I have a few pieces from there that are still going strong a few years later. I do have to say that they lack a few things design-wise, but obviously nothing too bad or I wouldn't have bought much less worn the pieces as much as I have. Their shoes have also looked cuter lately, but don't fit my feet. Admittedly I have narrow feet, but in the shoes I tried on even a 7.5, which usually fits me right width-wise but is a bit tighter than I like length and toe room wise, was WAY to wide for my feet.

Payless- Cute shoes and quality and design has online gone up through the years. They also have great sales, and you can cheat by switching shoe boxes if you can avoid the eyes of staff...

Forever 21- Yes, I even count them as expensive. I can't resist buying a piece from here every now and then. They've set themselves up as THE spot for dresses. In fact, I bought my prom dress there.

Click for larger pic. I like my fancy dresses simple, without cheap looking glitter, colors that look like rainbow brite puked on it, and other cheap embellishments. I like design using the fabric of the dress, and doesn't look trashy. This refers to the stuff they usually toss at you around prom season. Also, several of my favorite pieces hail from this store. Their sales rock in terms of prices! Usually, the really good stuff never make sit their though. Their quality is also often not the best. Some pieces are good, others, not so much. I advise to always check seams and such at this store.

Wet Seal- Somewhat better though still wavering on expensive for me. They have awesome sales though! So tempting... I also like their jeans. Good stuff. (Designer jeans are a waste for me, since as you see, I rarly wear jeans and usually wear them to just fool around in.)

Charlotte Russe- Cute stuff, cruddy website, and check quality here too. Their shoes are great though and often on sale. Got my trusty cowboy boots are there and their still going strong, despite the abuse I heap on them. I wear them as rain boots, since rain boots are too heavy for my liking and also tend to slide off my narrow feet and tiny ankles/calves. Wore them all through last year's rainy season and they're still going strong. Only problem is they slip. Ugh. Lucky I have good balance though...

Rave/Lola- I like them too. Decent quality, though again I say check the seams. Decent prices, though yet again wavering on expensive. AWESOME sales though, and the cute stuff goes on sale.

Hot Topic- Way overpriced, but they've had some good sales lately--including 50% off boots!--and I'd speak well of their quality. Plus, the people are ALWAYS friendly, so they get love from me. (Unlike American Eagle et al.) I also love their accessories. I so wanted a couple of their guitarr pick necklaces! But, I'm a starving college student who needs to buy Christmas presents.

Oh, and by the way, exhausted this week (trouble sleeping on hard dorm bed from my nice, soft bed at home) so excuse my typos and lazy spelling.

Outfit from Nov. 14th: long sleeve tee and brown wrap boots- JC Penny, blue tank- Ross, jeans- Wet Seal, vest- mom (from 70s. I luve it!), red feather fascinator- Taissa Lada Designs (ebay)

Cheap, Cheap

Ivy Frozen

Yeah Yeah Yeah

2006-11-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

You've got questions? Today, I've got answers. Okay, so no one actually asked me specifically any questions, but I've seen a lot of questions asked elsewear that just make me go aye-yi-yi! So, today, I give you the answers.

Q. Should I buy this trend item, with the the risk that it will soon be out of fashion?

A. If the only reason you're considering buying said item is because it's a trend, then no. If you actually like said item, even if it were not a trend, then go for it. If you really like it, screw the trend whores and keep wearing them even when bubblegum girl with her Loreal locks perfectly on trend informs you how "totally out" they are, and even when fashionista iforms you they were so over [insert period of time] ago. If you really are that self concious but truly like them, when they go out, put it away and pull it out when it's back in style. Pretty much everything comes back in style one way or another, some person resurrects it and looks cool doing it.

Q. Does this go with this?

A. Well, that depends on what look you're going for. A single piece can be paired with other items that can give it so many diffrent "feels," shall I say, from kind of rocker tough to coming across sweeter. Of course, certain pieces speak louder than others. In terms of matching, matching is always good. And contrary to my sister's and color-matching obsessive people, I do in fact match. I just don't limit my matching to colors.

So now we get into the world of Matching!

Matching does not simply equal the same color or color schemes. I find it somewhat boring to limit myself to that. Come on! That's kindergarten level matching, though if you like it, rock on. I certainly do use that matching. It is the founding point of matching. But I also like to be more adventurous in my matching, which may include throwing in a contrasting color. It's still matching because said contrast color is thrown in there specifically for another color or colors in their and goes with them by contrasting and staying out. Typically, said color is bold and this technique is utalized by using mostly black and then the color or a pattern.

For example, I site the outfit included for today's post. My matching is more clear on the right where I stuck with bold, darker, richer colors. Blues on the top on nuetrals on the bottom. The belt is a earthtone bronve with a horse and horseshoe on it that matches thematically with the cowboy boots. On the left, the vest matches the striped scarf, as does pretty much everything else, and the blue scarf ties in to the blues. That's right! It matches! Cuz I said so. Plus, I was tired that day...

Q. Does the fashion rule go like this or this?/Can I wear this although it violates the fashion rules?

A. Fashion Rules? I don't recall anything like that being set in stone. The so-called fashion rules are more like guidelines and made to be bended, stretched, and broken. I repeat, where is the fun if they are not? Try it! If you like it, wear it! Do remember practicality and decorum though too.

Q. Last, a question of my own. What's up with Audrey Hepburn? I can see her as a style icon, but as an actress, she doesn't do much for me. None of her films (that I've seen) would make my favorites list. Breakfast at Tiffany's is memorable for the fashion (you know I love contrasts, perfectly exemplified by the openign with the Givenchy gown and a bagel, was it, while she hangs OUTSIDE the shop and stares at the wares within.) but I really don't get the movie. What exactly is it about? Audrey's character is crazy? Yeah, not exactly on my favorites, even with the clothes. (Of course, I think Mulin Rouge is a freaky movie. The way they filmed it gives it a horror-circus feel to me, with the music, coughing up blood, really fast and really slow scenes, lighting. ::shivers::)

Outfit from Friday, Oct. 17th: vest- mom from 70s, blue scarf and belt- some Chinese shop, striped scarf- Old Navy, cropped hoody- JC Penny, pants- Marshalls, socks- Wet Seal, boots- Charlotte Russe, shirt- Disney land from when I was a little girl. (Princess Jasmine and Raja. I want a pet tiger too...)

Needing a Joker suit,
Ivy Frozen

On Corsets

2006-11-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

Corsets. Old style, need a maid to tighten your waist to a hand spread (A hand spread! That's like half my waist taking the gentlest meaning of that.) corsets.

Kind of creepy. We envy those women their tiny waists but it's really kind of freakish looking. See, they look really cool in the clothes but they really ARE shaped like that. And their organs are shifted around.

It brings all sorts of questions to mind. How exactly did these women have children? What did they eat on Thanksgiving, because we know they couldn't stuff themselves with turkey? How was this sexy again when a guy could grab you about the waist with one hand?

And the descriptions of what the corsets do kind of made me a feel a little sick. The S bend corset forces the hips back and shoves the bust forward creating the S shape.

But then the article also points out that this was the way women sculpted their bodies the way women now-a-days do at the gym. Exercise wasn't big back then; dieting and shaping garments were. When you think of it that way, it's not quite so ludicrous... Also, I suppose it goes back to the helpless is sexy, man feels needed kind of thing that Marilyn Monroe was big on. She'd have the heels on her shoes uneven to increase the wiggle in her walk and make her appear more vulnerable or something. While I do love Marilyn style dresses and sweaters, her voice creeps me out. It's like Michael Jackson's, kind of creepy-childish. Not a bad likeness, as Marilyn committed suicide and Michael Jackson, well, might as well have done it literally.

And But back to corsets, I'll let you in on a little not-so secret: I have a thing for corsets. Now, I probably would not dig anything that required a second person to pull it insanely tight that it shifted my organs around and cmpressed my ribcage from a fudge-sickle shape to a jelly bean shape. But I do dig a corset that clings and contours to my body. I'm about comfort, but I do like things that cling and move with my body. Of course, the fabric should be soft too and no scratchy (no skinny jeans!). Just ask my mom; I am the pickiest about fabrics. I like soft, touchable fabrics. (Velvet, soft faux fur = love!)

I like this outfit. It makes me look thinner. My sis thought I lost weight. (I'm a bit wasp wasted in the pic on the far right... Not that thin equals beautiful. In fact, pretty much every female close to me has more weight than I. (I like some meat on my women ;) Of course, that then puts pressure on me to remain thin. It's kind of become part of my place, being the thin one. I really think I might flip out if I gained a bunch of weight. That seems unlikely though. I've pretty much maintained this same weight all through high school and I seem to get my weight genes from my father's side of the family. (About half his siblings are tall and thin including my dad, the other have is short and chubby cute.) Too bad I didn't get the height along with the thin gene. Honestly, I do think I look scrawny sometimes though and need to gain some more weight, especially on days when I look about twelve. Yuck! I'm pear shaped so all my weight goes to my hips, ass, and upper thighs. A bit goes to my tummy too, but mostly those easily disguised by an A-line skirt areas.

No before I talk myself into another jam (if I haven't already), let's end this post. Corsets are good when not laced too tight! Oh, and I'm mixing black and brown accessories and me likey! Take that fashion rules, which are really more like guidelines that tend to boring things up rather than promote good fashion.

Outfit from Thursday, Nov. 16th: long sleeve tee- JC Penny, vest- Mom from 70s, dress- Forever 21, boots- Charlotte Russe, striped scarf- Old Navy, leaves scarf- Thrift Town, tights- Walmart, heart shaped pin- Great Grandma

Question Authority,
Ivy Frozen

Hell P1:The Devil's Shopping Mall

2006-11-15T21:24:00.000-08:00

I hate ebay. Okay, fine I don't. I'm just ticked off that some devil person outbid me on a dress at the last minute. The ebay rubs it in my e-mailing me no fewer than five times to tell me I was outbid and keeping track of how many times I've lost at an auction. Really, what is the point in keeping track of how many times you've lost or even won? Is ebay some sort of game? Why, yes. I think it is. Run by the DEVIL!

That's right! Ebay's an evil trap. See, because after losing out on the dress, I then had to seek out more items to bid on to console myself. I tried to bid on another dress and was outbid yet again by the devil's spawn itself.

Continuing in this Groundhog Day loop, I then began searching out for a dream item of mine: a purple, satiny shirtdress. ::much sighing, wistful gazes. And how does the devil spurn me this time? I finally find the PERFECT dress, but by that time I had moved on to searching for something else. This dress hadn't shown up in my previous searches because it was plum, not purple (jerks...). And by the time I found it, 10 seconds were left in the auction. Needless to say, I did not get it!

But I did come to the realization that ebay is an evil place! It is a hell, the hell that Dante forgot! Or, you know, didn't exist during his time. Or maybe one of the existing just got a make-over and I didn't receive the memo... Regardless, I hate ebay and Bill Gates invented internet right? So I hate him too.

At least until I decide to sell some stuff on there, possibly in December...

Just not to be all negative, and for your daily dose of randomness, I luv my umbrella. It so pretty!

My outfit: dress- Burlington Coat Factory, belt (matches my earrings;)- Payless, capris- Ross maybe... (Embroidered flowers on them), socks- Target (They have a ladybugs on them), boots- Charlotte Russe, spotted scarf- Thrift Town (Unclear what the dots are... Could be leopard spots, leaves, or just spots.) , umbrella- UC Santa Cruz (Monet print on it.)

Even thinks she's crazy herself,
Ivy Frozen

I Lounge in Trousers.

2006-11-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

I don't own a single pair of sweatpants. That's right! Not a single pair! Fashionistas everywhere envy me! Bwahahahaha!

So what do I lounge around in? Well, typically if it's that lazy a day that I'm not even going out, I lounge around in my pajamas. Much cuter than sweatpants. But, for not quite that lazy days, I lounge in trousers. Yes, trousers. I love my trousers! They're much comfier than jeans and look nicer too. They feel so good!

As proof, there's a picture on the left from Saturday where I basically did nothing except overhear my roommates talking about me (I'm not sure if they undstand the concept of quiet). In their favor though, they did say I have cute shoes and didn't exactly say anything mean. Just some of those well meant but highly insulting to the hearer remarks.

I do like stuff like yoga capris though, and I need to get a some nice exercise wear for my runs. Something that's form fitting with a place for keys and a cellphone. I might have to just add a fanny pack of sorts though to carry my stuff.

And for your daily dose of randomness, anyone know who the girl in this:

painting by Christina Robertson (from 1850) looks like? I'm pretty sure it's an actress and I think from a movie. I can just see the girl with the same look as the one in the painting speaking, but can't figure out who it is!

My Outfit: Tiered Top- Walmart, a few years ago. Holding up really well, sometimes the adjusters for the straps dig into the back.

Pants- Ross, My mom hemmed them up but I think I want to let them down again.

Cropped Hoody- JC Penny

Shoes- Wedge Jellies from Lola. Black socks worn.

Necklaces- My dentist's office and Hawaii

Painting from: http://www.abcgallery.com/

Feeling Lazy,

Ivy Frozen

On Style

2006-11-13T18:17:00.000-08:00

Perhaps continuing my lovely versus thing I got going on, today is about style vs. fashion. (Post has nothing to do with the fact that I just found a bunch more cool sites today and I'll probably be adding some more links soon.)

First, on style, I ask you to check out Street Fashion: Life in Fashion Form. Scroll down to the weekly tip and read "Style is a Way of Life." While that's nothing new to me, they hook it all together so nicely. I'll quote the thing here since I'm not sure if (or when) they'll change it.

"Style is the way you put together clothes and make them represent who you are and how you want to portray yourself to the world. Its shouldn't be a matter of fitting in or trying to get attention. Keep in mind what you want to represent.. the music you like.. a way of life. When picking things out.. stop yourself every time you start thinking about what another person will think. If someones making what you want to buy.. you're not alone in your taste. Or maybe you are.. even better."

A lovely way to start out this post, no? But yes, obviously I agree with that sentiment and spread it to the four corners of the world as gospel truth. But, now I shall seemingly veer away from that, although I still support wear-what-you-want, child-like abandon in your dressing. What I wear is certainly not always flattering (although it usually makes up for that in some other way) and it's certainly not required for you to dress in clothes that flatter you, if ya have to wear clothes, you might as well feel good in them, and everybody loves a flattering outfit every now and then. So I present you with this article from Papier Doll. It discusses fashion from the days of old, and how each body type has had its time of being declared the ideal. Even better than that, it demonstrates how to take that knowledge and use it to find looks that flatter your shape. Awesomeness, no?

I have to say I'm very impressed by the articles I saw on Papier Doll. I've been rather bored with magazines lately as I can find everything they have to offer and report online, for free, and usually before I read the magazine. (Reading fashion blogs has tainted me.) In Papier Doll's About Us section, they state that Papier Doll was established to cover what Fashion magazines miss, and I'd have to say they do a great job at it. I'd pay for Papier Doll in hardcopy, although it being online means I don't have to flip through a million pages of adds to find the five pages of actual content.

Now, I'll actually put my tips, for those who trust me. The main thing that makes an outfit work is matching. I'm not talking strictly about colors or patterns here, you can also match thematically. If there are no words to describe a look, it's probably too random. But don't think about that. Get in touch with your inner child and wear what you feel! Contrary to laughing at ya, most people are delighted when they see someone wearing something different. Of course, there are always those close-minded, snarky people who apparently are the grand authority on all and ignore you when not gossiping and laughing about you. Ignore, rock your outfit, and you'll look great!

In the outfit featured in today's post (from last Thursday) I used a mostly warm tone palette with the jeans. Amid the orange, I have creams and whites which hook into the faded jeans. Keeps the look together. A familiar thing with a shorter sleeve top layered over a longer sleeved blouse is made interesting by me using a t-shirt. The scarf adds extra interestingness by giving this street/urban outfit a bit of an outlaw additude.

It would be lovely if I thought of all that while putting the outfit together, but I didn't. It was more like, "I wanna wear this orange top, cause I haven't worn it in a while and I love the skull bunny. I also want to wear a blouse but casualize it down. And I also should wear those capris because I haven't worn them at all and I brought them all the way here with me to college instead of my other capris. ::all pieces visualized in similar roles in different outfits:: Hey! Why don;t I hook them together!" I was actually originally going to where my black granny boots with the capris, but once I had the outfit on, my Happy Shoes seemed a more fitting choice.

My Outfit: Happy Bunny tee- Ummmmm..., blouse- mom, capris- Kohls, happy shoes- Heel and Sole Shoes, Scarf- Thrift Town

Encouraging you to wear what you want,

Ivy Frozen

The Skinny on Skinnies

2006-11-12T19:40:00.000-08:00

Vs.

A lovely commenter wanted to know my opinion on skinnies, given my apparent dislike of them from a comment I made in the post before my last post. That apparent dislike is in fact dislike. And not because of the usual "Oh my God! They're so overdone!" sentiment of many other fashion bloggers (then again, I'm about style, but who really differentiates that in their mind all the time?). No, I oppose them based on how freaken fugly they look on me. Yeah.

I figured my respose to the commenters comment wasn't quite enough, so i decided to expand and illustrate it. This post does echo my sentiments in my reply to the comment for those of you who are lazy like me and don't want to scroll down to the post before the last post and click the comment thing to read it.

So, what's the skinny on skinnies? I don't do them. I have hips and thighs. Chicken legs. Chicken legs and skinny leg jeans don't go together.

Take exhibit left. Those are dark wash, Old Navy straight leg (not even skinny) leg jeans in the right size for me. A size up is too big, a size down too small. Notice how tiny and stubby my legs look compared to the guitarr that makes up the rest of my body, going down to my thighs. Also not that adding the boots over is still not flattering, even if I stuck with black laces in them rather than changing them to white.

Now exhibit right. Much better, much chicer, much happier me. Case closed. No skinnies for me. Skirts rule!

Now, if you want to wear skinnies, be my guest. It's not my place to dictate what you wear. As I mentioned in my reply to the comment, I like them best on skinny girls who lack my thigh meat for that cool rocker chick vibe, though I've seen larger girls rock them too.

The pictures were taken in the Old Navy dressing room. Great clearance going on there and online right now. They have lots of jeans, including bootcut and flares for those of you also opposed to the skinnies, and if you've been coveting their boots, now's the time to act. I personally don't like Old Navy. It's always a trick to find my size, often many sizes bigger or smaller than my usual one. As for the boots, they feel really cheap to me, like plastic, which they probably are made out of. The click they give is unsatisfactory for me, more the tink of plastic hitting the ground than something more solid. If you want boots, I'd head over to Target and get the boots they have on sale right now. They're at about $7.50 at my local store and are in the style of some Lindsay Lohan was spotted wearing, not that I particularly care for Lindsay's style or lack there-of. The boots do get MY SEAL of cuteness though, which I'd rate higher than Lindsay's vote if I were you.

Today's outfit: long sleeve tee and belt- JC Penny, skirt- Sears, tights- Target, boots- Fashionbug, scarf- Walmart, heart pin you can just see under my hand- used to be my Great Grandma's

Chicken Legs,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. I apologize for having to show that picture. I just wanted to make sure we all understood how unflattering the skinny and straight are on me versus something that is flattering. A-line skirts all the way!

Inspiration 3: Street Style

2006-11-11T23:47:00.000-08:00

Inspiration is everywear, you uncreative types. I'm sure you creative types don't need me to tell ya that. Nothing is truly original anymore; humans have been around too long for that, but, that doesn't mean you have to be content to follow the same path as everyone else. (Unless, hey, that's what makes ya happy.) In case you couldn't tell, I prefer to dance to the beat of my own drum, so to speak. Or, forget the drum. I'm a string girl with a thing for the guitar, violin, and cello. Yeah. That's what I dance to. As blog things informs me,

Your Hidden Talent

You have the natural talent of rocking the boat, thwarting the system.
And while this may not seem big, it can be.
It's people like you who serve as the catalysts to major cultural changes.
You're just a bit behind the scenes, so no one really notices.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

That's me alright. I start things, you all can finish it. So anywho, both of these outfits were inspired by other members of the Wardrobe Remix group over on Flickr. The one on the left was sparked by .Ariel's use of a long skirt as a dress over a top, and the one on the right was inspired by lebonbonmulticolore's and liebemarlene's use of blocked color and vintage pieces (or in any case, a vintage pancil skirt.). Of course, you know I'm not happy with just blocked color.

Wardrobe Remix is probably my favorite Street Style site because it's updated regularly, as people upload their own photos, and is very diverse. You get crazy dresser to sophisticated and can tell these people dress a certain way more than once.

My other favorite street fashion sites can be found on the right there, with all the other links. You'd think I'd link some of the Japanese ones with the REALLY crazy dressers, who put me to shame as I secretly salivate over their gutsy Lolita and, well, no words to describe fashions, but the need to install a language pack to avoid getting computer dribble annoys me, so I leave those meager offerings. Hel-Looks is a particular favorite, although it's not updated as often as The Sartorialist and Facehunter. (Hint: Those are my top three.)

I actually spent some time translating the French comments on one of the Facehunter posts, as it looked like it was getting ugly about the cute Asian-French girl with the awesomest boots. Okay, so actually, I was wondering if any of them knew where those boots had come from, but it was still fun to see how bad online automatic translator thingies are. You practically need a translator for the translator. But on-topic, I like the fun of Facehunter's shots. Also, since his tend to be from parties, you get fun outfits. Fun = Ivy like!

The Sartorialist is another favorite since he posts pictures of dapper gentleman and goes for the more refined aesthetic, while still remaining street-smart about it. Plus, I always enjoy seeing a well dressed man. (My best friend is already picking out the suits her fictional future beau will where.) And double plus, I enjoy learning random things, like the formula for the perfect male suit outfits. Okay, it might not be a formula, but it's still way more constricting than female fashions. I find it interesting how woman seem to have way more freedom in so many areas than men. (Think hippie chic, which is really only attainable by a woman.) It seems guys are forced to keep to certain pre-approved/packaged looks, including the whole anti-sociatal look. But hey, some guys still manage to break these lame sociatal holds, though I'd still say women do it more. Perhaps because there's more of us?

Outfit on Left: Skirt worn as dress- Burlington Coat Factory (had tacky little rocks sewn onto the band so I cut them off)
brown puff sleeve blouse- Kohls (it does a weird riding up thing with the buttons even though it's in no danger of being small on me.)
goldy nude slip (you can see it under the shirt)- Thrift Town
grey tights- JC Penny (they're holding up REALLY well)brown wrap boots- JC Penny
Feather hair clip fascinator- Taissa Lada Designs on Ebay (Really great shop with great prices, pieces, and service. They sent this clip and another free with the fascinator I ordered!)

Outfit on the Right: scarf- Old Navy
blue turtle tee- Sears
rose v neck tunic worn backwards- Kohls
pencil skirt- ARC Thrift Store
Shoes- JC Penny
Belt- Thrift Town

Taking it to the streets,
Ivy Frozen

P.S. Bonus: Why my name is Ivy Frozen.

You Play it Cool

You're not in your face, smokin' hot... and it's all by design
You have a carefully crafted cool persona, leaving everyone wanting to know just a little more.

Are You Hot?

Well, part of it anyways...

On to the Movements!

2006-11-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

Yes, I live in my own world on this lovely iceberg. And is this world, pretty much anything I say goes. Yeah, that's right. I've mentioned several things that are particular in this world, such as Movements. Discussing them seemed a natural follow up to my last post or two.

Movement the First: Narcissism.

I think I mentioned this in a reply to an anonymous who thought they were clever by pointing out I'm self-centered. (Mini Rant: If you can't tell this blog is about me being self centered by a glance, then you're either a) blind, b)running a little slow that day, c)just slow in general, d) extremely optimistic, or d) all of the above.) If you can't be self-centered in your own blog, where can you be? Next ypu'll tell me I can't bitch to my friends or cook in my own kitchen.

But this is about the Narcissism movement, not harassing people who took the time to comment, which I sincerely do appreciate. Even if it's not all cotton candy and pink bunnies for me. Of course, I do prefer all comments to be positive. (That does not mean it has to be kudos for me. Constructive critisism follows under this vein too. I can take it. I'm on a writing site.) Really only comments like "You/your blog sux!" are not particularly welcome simply because they're so hard to take seriously. Phrases like that just bring images of some angsty fourteen year old, sitting in front of they're computer screen, and apparently taking the time to read a bunch of stuff they don't like and then spending even more time to type out "You suck!" to the person (oh! I'm sorry. "You suk") to the person, then laughing histerically because it's just that funny. Yeah. See my point? Particualrly because said people seem to like to remain anonymous. Forget prank phone calls and doorbell ditch! Leaving hate comments on blogs and personal websites is the new thing!

But I digress again. That really has nothing to do with the commentors here, but rather some comments I've observed on other blogs. But, The Narcissism Movement. Rymezone.com (a writer's best friend!) tells us that nacissism means "an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself." That is what I strive for and promote. Now, no need to take it to to the levels of Narcissus, our arrogant man of Greek myth fame who drowned himself when he fell in love with his own reflection by curse of Aphrodite, but the Narcissism movement is all about liking yourself, thinking that it's okay to like yourself, it's okay to state that you are beautiful, it's okay to be "imperfect," and existing outside of other's opinions of you. Not a bad thing to promote, yo? It also emphasizing having fun with it, so you don't become intolerably arrogant.

Idols:

Emperor Hotohori of Fushigi Yûgi. I don't think he's actually in the book I linked there, but it's the first one and you should always start at the beginning in a series. Unless you don't want to. Nuriko also has some of that Narcissism Pride going on. I won't ruin the fun and reveal what previous post, er, she relates to. (The main character, Miaka, can be annoying but it's worth checking out both the manga and anime.)

Marquis de Sade. He might have a bad reputation for being oversexed, but really he was doing the same stuff as everyone else. He just didn't feel the need to hide it. He also refused to compromise himself because "everyone else" disapproved. Narcissism idol! And rather entertaining. I recommend reading the timeline biography offered there (such as how he managed to escape being beheaded during the French Recolution) and his letters from prison that are translated on the site I linked for him.

Cher. I'm sure you're all familiar with her, so no link. And, you know you miss her on the red carpet. It's just not the same without her crazy costumes. She gets a lot of smack talked about her, but she doesn't let that deter her from doing what she wants or lower her self esteem. (At least for long.) Lover her or hate her, she's a narcissism movement idol!

Tori Amos. Come on, you knew she was going to make this list. She too does what she wants and has a very loyal fan following because of it. Check out her crazy dance. (Off topic once more, I put a song of hers on my mp3 player, which is not an ipod, and listened to it a few times, thinking it was the recorded version. I happened to glance at my player when it was playing one time and saw that I had accidently put the live version on! Now that's talent that I couldn't tell the difference.)

Most of the ladies on the Women-Worshipped-By-Gay-Men-Part-1 and Women Worshipped By Gay Men, Part 2. I'm sure y'all know who's not. *cough* Anna Nicole Smith. *cough* I'm pretty sure she doesn't understand our movement here.

Got someone who you think I should list as a Narcissism Movement idol, leave a comment with who and why so that they can properly be declared a Narcissism Movement idol (because they'll know and care so much.)

Now,

Movement the Second: Naturalism

The Naturalism Movement is all about being natural. It works with the Narcissism Movement, but is not a requirement necessarily of the Narcissism Movement. The Naturalism MOvement is about going natural. Simple. No fuss. Typically kind of peaceful. An acceptance of self as beautiful.

There are several ways to observe, but most importantly is no plastic surgery type of stuff. Also, pounds of make-up don't fly. Likewise for wearing ridiculously impracticle and/or painful items. I observe it by not wearing make-up, shunning plastic surgery for myself, and not dyeing my hair. Shakira observes it with her simpler look and "fresh-faced" make-up. There is no need to go "femi-nazi hippie" to observe the Naturalism Movement. Respecting the environment wouldn't hurt you though.

Saturday's (1st) Outfit: vest- mom from 70s (another of my fav pieces from her), cropped blue hoody- JC Penny, Skirt worn as shirt- Ross, Capris- Ross or Marshalls. (They have flower vines embroidered on them. No skinny jeans for me! I just pull my socks up!), Boots and plaid headband- Charlotte Russe, Scarf- Old Navy

Monday's (2nd)Outfit: dress- mom from 70s, cropped hoody- JC Penny, belt- Thrift Town, skirt- India, cowboy boots- Charlotte Russe

Ever Moving,

Ivy Frozen

The Issues

2006-11-08T22:17:00.000-08:00

So, I promised to weigh in on the issues.

Issue #1: Fashion and Weight

First, I direct you to our Lord and Master Foamy.

In the world, I believe skinny people are taking a lot of undeserved hate. Cries of "they're unhealthy!", "Anarexic," etc. are bandied about them like they have no feelings. Yet, apparently it's okay to be just as, if not more, unhealthily over weight. Anyone who comments on over-weight people are treated like they wore Nazi symbols.

In regards to walking the catwalk, I believe the catwalks should feature healthy models of various weights and body types. This applies only, however, if the models are also role models. Otherwise, who am I to dictate what can or cannot be on the catwalk. If this really was so horribly distasteful, I don't have to watch. If others did the same, designers who wanted to sell clothes more than they wanted to have skinny modals for them would appease the masses.

I would be very impressed by a designer who did manage this ideal, representing the average, tall, short, thinner and more curvaceous. It would take a lot of talent. I might be as dedicated to said designer as I am to Tori Amos.

Issue #2: Using Nazi Symbols

Don't design your clothes to resemble Ku Klux Klan robes or otherwise reference that group. Don't design t-shirts that attack some race or religious group of people. And don't design your clothes with Nazi symbols. Native Americans, who used the swastika as more of a peace sign, agreed to stop using the symbol in their basket weaving. Now this stuff is old craft that predates Hitler, has nothing to do with Hitler, and everything to do with them. Yet, they could stop using it. Why? Because no matter what you see it as, much of the world sees it as a reminder of the cruelty we're all capable of. So don't use it! Be a creative designer and find a better way to convey what you mean/want.

In short, brush the Nike-wearing devil off your shoulder and Don't Do It!

Issue (or non-issue) #3: Dove's Add Campaign

I'm sure you've all seen Dove's Dove does it for the money. Okay. Dove's image is pure, unfussy, natural. Kind of like what it's latest add campaign is supporting. That's not to say that the adds are bad; I like the message. But they do it for the money. They are not some great, savior brand. Just wanna make sure we all know that while we coo over the add.

I actually think the woman looks better before they alter her at all. She looks a little scary to me at the end. Of course, I also think the girls of the Pussycat Dolls look scary on this cover, especially the lead singer. Her thighs are bigger than her waist. It's like she was pieced together.

Yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of airbrushing. It's horribly misleading, and negative for both the person airbrushed and the people taking this as an actual image of the person. It must be disappointing to see someone so airbrushed in real life, and kind of "I can't be beautiful unless I'm airbrushed" for the person being airbrushed. You know?

Fashtastic.net has a great article on airbrushing.

And now,

My hands are clean and I'm done being the Know-it-All for today. Join me next time, like maybe tommorrow, to see

First Outfit from Thursday:
swing jacket- Lola
check tent pinafore dress- made by me
green shirt dress (under. You can see the colar and sleeves)- Punky Style
green tights- T.J. Maxx
Cowboy Boots- Charlotte Russe

Second Outfit from Friday:
swing jacket - Lola
dress- ARC Thrift Store
white skirt (under and making my hips wider as it has pockets)- mom from 70s
boots- Fashion Bug
Belt- JC Penny
fuzzy scarf- knit by my friend for me
lacy scarf worn as headband- Kohls

Curds and Weighed,

Ivy Frozen

Shakira, Shakira

2006-11-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

It be November! A lot of music award shows going on, the Latin Grammys and MTV awards. I think the people of the world unite in saying, "Shut up, Kanye." Apparently, the credibility of the Europe VMAs was ruined because he didn't win best video for "Touch the Sky." I watched the video. I was bored. The only part of any real note was when the song stopped playing in the middle and Joan from Girlfriends (I forget her real name... She's Diana Ross's daughter though, no?) was yelling at him. That was awesome. The rest was him walking around like he was so awesome with Pamela Anderson pouting. Real best video material there.

Maybe some of you find it more interesting than I do.

But now that we started off with some negativity, time to spread some positivity! We've got to stay balanced here! So, on the Europe VMAs, I was pleased to see Red Hot Chilli Peppers take best album and Muse take best alternative.

But, that's not the only recent awards show! We have the Latin grammys where my dad is very happy that Puerto Ricans seem to have dominated. But, the real dominator was not Puerto Rican, but I love her so it's okay. Yes, Shakira's hips certainly didn't lie as she shook them to earn four grammys. So today, we give Shakira mas love because she's more worth talking about than that guy I mentioned first in this post.

I've always had a certain like for Shakira, but the scantily clad, crawling in the mud image she had with her first English album kind of turned me off. However, with her two part album she came out with a fresher, simpler image which I adore! She looks so much happier and prettier without the pounds of make-up, blindingly gold locks, and trashy ripped costumes. Really! Check out MSN's Gallery and see. She may be smiling in those old pictures, but her smile permeates in the more current photos of her.

I also like her choice to go with the honey brown for her hair in this time when all the blonde celebs are going brunette. It's much better than that chocolate brown that girls A through Z and their mothers are sporting. (Lindsay Lo, Hilary Duff anyone?) It's a hard color to pull off, but few seem to realize that...

Anywho, luv (That's L-U-V not L-O-V-E) to Shakira and Naturalism on her part. It's beautiful! I love the article I read about her, a coupke months ago, about her at a photoshoot. She put on a robe or something to do the interview (she was in a bikini for the shoot) because she didn't want people thinking she went around in ab-bearing tops all the time; she just did that because it's kind of a requirement for bellydancing and thus her performance. I just think that's so cute. (Condescending, who me?) Anywho, luv for Shakira! And luv for the top she's wearing in the photo (from the MSN Gallery) that I posted here. And luv for that necklace with that neckline. I dig how she toughened up the feminine top with studs on the belt and cuff thingy. If you can't tell from my lovely skull with the bow up there in the about me section, I love a contrast between feminine, soft and something considered tougher, darker, harder.

Stay tuned for my next post shall connect back to this one (naturalism) as I weigh in on the issues going around the fashion world and blogasphere.

My outfit: Dress- Vintage Amore (Check my online vintage links on the right there. A lot of cool stuff coming in this shop all the time.)
3/4 sleeve tunic (under), came with scarf worn as headband- Kohls (I like the color on me alot...)
Green Belt- Thrift Town
Gray thigh highs- Wet Seal
Boots- Charlotte Russe
Earrings- H&M (They have nickel free, woot!)

My hips don't lie either,
Ivy Frozen

Me and Betsey Johnson

2006-11-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

Two words and an exclamation point: Bloomers rock! I'm in love with the bloomers I wore as part of my Halloween costume and kind of like them with the black long sleeve tee. I should try a tunic over them!

Apparently, I'm not the only one in love with bloomers. I heard Betsey Johnson, a designer close to my heart, had sent some down her runway. So I had to hunt down some pics, which proved to be futile. Really, finding some pictures of her Spring/Summer '07 collection shouldn't have been so hard. I can't remember where I saw the bloomers, but I saw them! Betsey and I are on the same wavelength in regards to that! (BTW, it's Betsey Johnson, not to be confused with Betsy Johnson who wants you to elect her for something or other.)

Betsey Johnson is the first designer I ever heard of. I was but an innocent babe when she made a guest appearance on some show. Perhaps it was Full House? In any case, I've had a special spot for her ever sense. Her fun, flirty, girly styles are very me! And I love her color! And just how she'd cartwheel down that catwalk. Fun woman and fun clothes equals love for me. She makes happy clothes for happy people.

Of course, I have been dressing a little more Prada-esque. (They were the ones with the huge helmet hats in their Fall/Winter '06 collection, no?)

I selected a more ladylike hat from Walmart though. (Walmart! Awesome hats at awesome prices! Go, now!) This outfit is from last Saturday, official Halloween Party Day over here. I wanted to buy this black hat with this huge mesh fan on it, but it went so tall, I wouldn't be comfortable wearing the hat anytime but costume time. So I got this green baby instead with beaded flowers and a more modest mesh bow. Trust I'll be wearing this around.

This dress I wore on Monday is also getting some inspiration from the designers. (Or perhaps the stylist...) I saw a photo editorial on what's (supposedly) new for fall and they had a draped dress similar to this one, except this one looks much better. The one from the Donna Karen collection in the magazine looked like a sheet knotted together and conveniently cut to make the neckline. The model wore it with some blue converse All Stars. Sometime in the future (when it's not raining) I'll try this dress with some sneakers.

My Outfits: 1st Outfit: bloomers- Thrift Queen, Long sleeve black tee- Target (don't like the fit in the shoulders, but needed something.), Shoes- Heel and Sole Shoes.

2nd Outfit:dress- ebay, belt- mom's from 70s/80s, Tights- Target, Shoes- MIA @ Kohls ($5! I added the ribbons), gloves- Thrifted, Hat- Walmart

3rd Outfit: dress- mom from 70s, Long sleeve tee- JC Penny, Scarf Belt- Forever 21, Slip (under)- Thrift Queen, Footless Tights- Wet Seal (cheap. Already have a whole in the bum.), Bangles- India

Betsey J. &,

Ivy Frozen

Halloween!

2006-10-31T18:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween! It's one of my favorite holidays (gee? I wonder why?) . You know I could not resist dressing up even if it's just to my classes. I was an ostrich this year, and hopefuly I'll improve the costume by next year. It's a ballet interpretation of the Ostrich, inspired by one of my favorite films, Fantasia. Great music and animation? The original music video. It's a great piece of film that certainly gets my spark going.

I pinned the boa to the long sleeved tee. I got the idea from a number from Swan Lake I saw performed on the Arts Showcase. I'm addicted to the channel currently as it's one of the few good channels I get here at college. The other is Discovery and the CW on weeknights.

Speaking of the CW, am I the only one annoyed by the whole "aerie by American Eagle" discussion thingy they do on Gilmore Girls? I mean, the girls make pretty obvious observations about the show and then they all act like the statements are so deep and insightful? I guess that's why I don't have many good friends my age... Ugh, I also hate that "My Life as a Covergirl" thing they put on during America's Next Top model. When they first started it, I was interested in it. I thought it would actually show their life. Imagine my disappointment that it was just a commercial, and a bad one at that, for Covergirl. Perhaps it's not so bad as it does make sure to get their name out there, but its annoyingly followed by another commercial for Covergirl.

But all that is beside the point. Hmm... What was it again? Oh yes! The Arts showcase and Swan Lake. Well, the ballerinas in it had some white furry things that resembled a thin, furry kind of boa attached to their arms. Much more graceful than the way I did it; it draped on them. But, the ostrich is a bit sturdier than a swan, no? Also, they wore white feather headbands. I'm thinking I should havebought the black and white feather headband I saw at the e-bay shop where I got my fascinator. The thing I have is hard to keep on my head. It would stay better if I put my hair up, probably. But, I do have to say I got it for cheap and the seller included two extra hairclips/pins. And it's holding up nicely, especially considering my abuse of it.

Check out the shop, Taissa Lada Designs . Some gorgeous pieces in there, though they're not for the meek. She has some headbands just like the ones I saw in the Swan Lake ballet number and some very Seussian creations. Perfect for any costume parties and Halloween for next year! In addition, many of her auctions start dirt cheap at $.99! That's right! I saw feather pins at a store around here, not half the size or awesomeness of the designs in this shop, selling for like $35! I got my stuff for around $7 I think, due to someone bidding against me and driving the price up right before they would have overtaken my cheap self too. So for those of you who covet such things as these, go forth and bid! Don't let the call to Drag Queens throw you off. No one will mistake you for a drag queen just because you're wearing something from that e-bay shop. (I'm so going to go on a spree there when I actually have a job and thus money! Of course, there's all those other things I covet...)

My Costume:

fascinator and feather pin- ebay

Corset top- Forever 21 (I wouldn't recommend it if you have hips like me, as it rides up to my much smaller waist and ruins the shape of the boneing.)

Blac cami w/ lace trim- ??? Some little shop

Long sleeve tee & feather boa- Target (don't dig the fit in the shoulders) I'm pleasantly surprised by the boa though, as it came in some plactic baggy packaging and looked really squished, but it came out nice and full.

Tutu and bloomers- Thrift Queen

Fishnet Thigh Highs- Hot Topic

Shoes- Ebay

bag- Tara Jarmon for Target

The other graphic was done completely by me in Paint Shop Pro X.

I luff Feathers,

Ivy Frozen

I luv the 90s!

2006-10-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure what 90s trend I'm supporting here, grunge or miniskirts? It's enough to make Cher Horowitz's head spin! But, speaking of random like, I love Tori Amos even more than the 90s.

It all started with the radio. I heard her single, A Sorta Fairytale, and liked it. So, when I saw the CD at my library, I decided to check it out. It was free anyways. Love! Then I saw her perform live on the Wayne Brady Show (who I also love! He's so talented. Funny and he can sing and make up songs on the spot!) and became a true fan. She is amazing live! She's the only artist that I may like better live. Most artists sound better in their recordings, often with their live voice being hard to recognize as the one on the album. But Tori has an amazing stage voice and presense and her voice is the same beautiful one on the record, often put through even more beautiful sounds in the live versions of the song.

Now, many put criticize her as being a little random, but really, I could listen to her babble on about nothing all day. Her voice is just so powerful and beautiful. But, if she wasn't wonderful enough as is, her songs are packed with meaningful lyrics and images. Tori's got a song for everything. And they don't all sound alike. She has so many different sounds and none of her songs really blend into each other, like other artists.

So why am I posting about her here? I waqs watching her on youtube yesterday (which certainly did not influence today's outfit...), so I give you two youtube videos of Tori that do in fact relate to the subject matter of this blog, unclear as the subject matter is. It's a live version of the song Crucify and also the video for it.

The music video for the song has some interesting images. At one point she holds up a pair a heels. Is that a form of crucifying ourselves? She also sports kind of an old style collar at one point. Is she saying fashion is a form of crucifying ourselves? Interesting to think about. Also, she hops in a tub with an expensive looking dress on and looks so much happier when she comes out all wet! Also, the little dancing/marching/cheerleading Toris at the end look so much happier since they ditched the heels.

In the live version, I love her outfit. It's so flowy and looks magnificent on her, as she sits at the piano. It drapes so nicely! Also, it fits with the song as she plays it. (Also, pay attention at the end for an awesome addition to song for this live version. Just the emotion as she references her rape. Powerful woman. I could never do something like that onstage, for hundreds possibly thousands of people to see.)

Today's Outfit: plaid shirt- Charlotte Russe, Long sleeve tee and boots- JC Penny,Miniskirt- Forever 21 (1st thing I ever bought from there.),Tights and Scarf- Walmart

Luv Tori,

Ivy Frozen

Oh no!

2006-10-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

Oh no! I forgot to post on ANTM! ::spoiler alert for those who have yet to see this weeks episode::

This week got me excited because I have random like for Dita von Teese. Extremely random. I have no idea why I like her, but I do. I mean, she does Burlesque shows; you'd think I'd be as indifferent to her as I am to Pamela Anderson, and yet I feel that such a comparison is like comparing an apple and a banana. Dita does do some, urm, stuff sure not to appear in a Disney flick anytime soon, but she carries herself in such a ladylike way that it bears no comparison to the likes of Pam Anderson and Paris Hilton.

Oh! And did you see those models standing near her? She was tiny compared to them! I read some where that she's my size, though slightly smaller in the chest area (I have yet to verify it though. I think it was wikipedia...). Anywho, if she really is my size, I feel very tiny. I mean, she was standing next to them in heels and she still looked child-sized.

As for the other guest celebrity, Fabio, I don't have random like for him. Or any like. I associate him with old women, and his face reminds me of a Mastiff. Just watch when he opens his mouth. Feel free to bestow random like on him if that's your thing. I will say he's got a nice body and seemed to have a nice personality. Friendly guy. I suppose he has to be with dimestore romance novel reading women chasing him all the time. So, he gets more like than I had before for him, and I apologize to him for laughing when I heard that his nose was broken by a bird when it smacked into his face when he was riding a rollercoaster way back when.

As for the elimination of the night, I have no opionion, really. Brooke always faded into the background for me. The fact that she got so much airtime this issue, with her graduation and Fabio talking about her being so young kinda tipped off that she was going home. Oh well. They all end up models anyways.

As for my outfit, feeling a little Bubbles from the Powerpuff Girls with all the blue. Fitting for this post as everyone was talking about Brooke being the youngest and inexperienced. Not my most flattering outfit, but that's never stopped me before when I wanna wear something. But actually, the pants do make my butt look nice...

Thursday's Outfit: swing jacket- Lola, Corset tank- Ross, Capris- Forever 21 (gadzooks), socks- Walmart, flats- JC Penny, scarf bow- off pants from Kohls, Belt- somewhere... (old), Pocket watch necklace- Thrift Town

Influences 2: Books

2006-10-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today, looks from Monday and Wednesday.

Wednesday's outfit was inspired by Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter. It's a series of books by Laurell K. Hamilton. (The first five rock; after that it starts going downhill.) I finished re-reading the first three books in the series on Tuesday, plus the comic book came out recently. The books feature a vampire named Jean-Claude, and I wanna raid his closet.

See, supposedly most readers want him out of his clothes for a very, erm, shall we say "triple X" reason. I, on the other hand, want him out of his clothes so I can wear them. Lace! French cuffs! Thigh high black leather boots! He can keep his little peek-a-boo shirts, but imagine really, really old French shirts! In silk! Pure awesomeness, that's what. The outfit on the right there was inspired by that series.

I must also mention that I want his bathroom. HUGE bathroom. Perfect for me, for I, like him, spend a good amount of time in the shower. (Half an hour to an hour showers.) Yeah, I need a good hour to get ready for anything. And I want his bed too since it's huge. Imagine what a great trampoline it would make! And I want his house because it has a circus in it, and it's not Michael Jackson-y in any way. I'd mattress surf down the oddly-spaced stairs. Yes, I am a book person and a little fan-girlish about that series.

The other outfit on the left there is from Monday and it reminds me of Harry Potter. Ignoring the fact that Hogwarts does not exist outside of JK Rowling's mind and the pages of the books and movies, I'd probably still be tossed out of the school for not having a British accent. Or, you know, totally ignoring the random and stifling dress code a.k.a school uniforms. Take a bunch of money so they can kidnap your kids and dorwn them is their classmate fails to swim to them in time... Really, that last movie was horrible.

Yeah, so I don't read Harry Potter. You'd think it would be up my ally, but Harry really just annoys me. I think it's all the overkill advertising. Every store, even if they didn't sell books, had special bookshelves set up just to sell Harry Potter. I mean freakin Payless had a few shelves. I think I saw some at Neiman Marcus too. Okay, so I'm exaggerating, but really, the books were everywhere. They were like jean miniskirts worn with black leggings and uggs.

So, my outfit reminds me of Harry Potter, but like I'm the cool kid at the school who would beat up and torture Harry Potter much better than that annoying albino kid what's-his-name. And now that you all hate me for talking smack about a fictional character who got a thumderbolt scar on his forehead from having a stick pointed at him and who's arch nemesis is an Imhotep from The Mummy wannabe, who Harry beat to a pulp as an innocent babe, armed with nothing but his mother's love, which is not at all cheap writing and a more than a little corny, I end my post.

My Outfits: Right: black button up lace shirt- Target, blue w/ white polka dots corset top- Papaya, knickers- Marshalls or Ross..., brown houndstooth flats w/ velvet bows and black lace flowers- JC Penny, belt w/ Nordic dragon- off jeans from a discount store... Family Bargain Center? I think..., freshwater pearl necklace- Hawaii, lacy scarf bow- off jean capris from Kohls. Left: sweater- mom from 70s/80s, button up shirt (underneath)- Mervyns, Skirt (came with the leopard print belt)- Marshalls, Tights and flats- JC Penny

A Book Person,
Ivy Frozen