who were we kidding?

Shoes: black friday deal $5 each @ urban outfitters! haha!
Sweaters: Pendleton & Anne Klein both vintage.
Pendleton look: UO shorts, UO shoes, black wool tights, French connection chambray, and mother's vintage bolo tie.
Anne Klein look: Topshop Shorts, UO shoes, plum tights, vintage hat, and gifted watch

HEY HEY kids! Whose ready to get back into action? I know I missed you all greatly as I assumed my holiday roles. I must tell you thanksgiving dinner was a blast! I think this was the best one yet! It was a intimate time with my family, which I enjoyed and I even got to go to bed early, while the rest of my family went out to get black friday deals at midnight.

I'm a bit more traditional in my black friday madness, what's the point of having it at midnight when you can have it at 4AM where everyone is full on carbs and deranged from sleep deprivations. That's were the REAL FUN begins. That's what me and my friends did anyway. I hit up all the haunts, Urban, Topshop, H&M, American Apparel, hoping to get an AWESOME SAUCE deal. I even drop some money like it ain't no thang, but then once the hysteria was over I was like "Who am I kidding? I don't need all this...stuff...."

I felt myself buying, just to buy, versus items that can accentuate my wardrobe, and said "YES THIS IS SO BIANCA" I was just buying things just to have them, and outside of UO, the sales weren't that miraculous.

SO. I RETURNED EVERYTHING, except gifts and what I actually felt i needed/wanted. And I felt SO MUCH BETTER. Plus, on saturday, I did what I should have done, went THRIFTING and found some AMAZING PIECES. (Yes, the thriftstore is having a holiday sale THROUGH the weekend, everything 50% off!)

I found that original vintage Pendleton sweater $1.45, and that Anne Klein extra soft piece? $5! Plus all those Urban shoes, five bucks each! Yes, I think I did much better, than feeling I needed to buy a bunch of not that great stuff because everyone else was. I thought it would be fun to do a little Sunday Inspo by taking my favorite thrift & black friday finds and imagining some possible looks!

I learned my lesson this year, from now on, I won't believe the hype but I'll follow my heart! ♥

addiction: menswear

hot pink blazer: vintage
pants: vintage Pendleton
shoes: F21
shirt: LUSH
watch: geneva

I'm sure you were all dying to find out how I took my day look to night, and here it is! It was a simple task of removing the sweater and adding a fancy collar necklace. Perhaps I should've rocked heels but you all know I love a little bit of androgyny (or a lot of.....)

I was pretty stoked on how easy it was to take my look from day to night. I've always been fascinated by Japanese fashion and how they can take classic pieces and expand it for the whole month! I think it inspiring me for a project I'm setting up for the 2012 new year! But I'll explain more of that when it gets closer to the date!

Oh and as for that party I supposedly went to after work.... well i bailed after a few minuets & got sushi instead--because im tres awkward lol! Dont be fooled by this "cool" facade im actually quite a big dork!! Oh you knew....n/m...........

Anyway so glad to have the rest of this week off!!! I'm going to eat my brains out and spend all my money friday morning, cause thats what we do! Lol honestly, I'm looking forward to a home cooked meal, that I'm actually making. My mom just makes THE BEST desserts, my eldest brother makes the turkey cause I don't eat meat. I actually don't mind cooking, I love cooking, its so therapeutic, plus it helps out my mom because one of her biggest shows is the first week in December.

I just wanted to add that I'm truly grateful for such awesome new followers and people who support me to be such a big nerd on my blog , thanks to dave and pat for taking my pics, and thanks to you for your endless support. Oh and thanks for a job amirite???

ok ok, I think I rambled on enough....

give thanks guys! ;)

happy thanksgiving xxoo

addiction: pink

polka dot sweater: vintage
pants: vintage Pendleton
shoes: F21
shirt: LUSH
watch: geneva

clearly I have an addiction to this color, I feel like I wear it too often, but I LOVES IT- OMG. It's so bright and loud, and you can't help BUT stand out. I am also addicted to color blocking..aka can't stop won't stop. I love looking like a crayola! ♥♥♥

Plus I did a little experiment with this particular combo. This is the "day" version of it, because I had a party to attend after work, and I didn't want to go to work full throttle. I also wanted to consider comfort, by day I am a graphic designer, so I'm sitting most of the time, which is why I love high waisted pants, no coin slots,...can my badonk-a-donk sisters give me a what what~!...=_="

Needless to say, pink and blue are my new favoirte color combos btw, or at least hot fuchsia and minty blue. Oh and plus who doesn't love a fancy new watch, again another addiction of mine.

ya know what else is addicting, this song "addiction" by medina...I HEARD IT EVERY WHERE in new york, every store I walked into felt like a euro club, and normally I'm like SUPER HIPSTER ONLY LISTEN TO INDIE MUSIC, but I have a secret crush on dance music, perhaps it strands from my anime days, who knows....

whose happy this is a short week!?

cause you were all yellow

jacket: Vintage Pendleton
mustard turtleneck: F21
highwasited linen pants: French Connection
Boots: Vintage
Yellow Socks: A.Apparel

I'm feeling rather chill lately, I needed to push the SOPA thing to the back of my mind because I allowed it to distract me from doing what I love best~BLOGGING, plus I only have two weeks left in school this semester, so the work load is on the UP AND UP. BUT-I'm all about getting things done before the weekend. Weekends are for party partying not for mulling over a dissertation on retro futurism till sunday night :/

When I'm feeling bum or stressed, I WEAR MY FAVORITE COLORS. I'm so glad color blocking is "in" because without the "guise" of fashion, I would look strange, haha jk I look strange regardless, especially out in Roger Park last weekend. Dave and I took his little sister to a campus tour at Loyola U. Boy it brought back memories of being SO STRESSED over which college to choose, will I make any friends, etc etc. To be honest I feel like college is basically like high school, people are still the same, I was still the weird kid. BUT I LOVE BEING THE WEIRD KID. I think college does encourage you to be you though.

Regardless, It was SUCH a beautiful day on the lakefront! It has dropped down to the 30s now. I almost regret not choosing a school not closer to the lake, although when it snows, GOOD LUK!

I'm just happy I NEVER have to think about COLLEGE again for another 25+ years when my future kids are ready to accumulate some debt, till then~

PS WHOSE JELIZ OF MY AWESOME POKEMON FIND, ZOMG #nerdalert

super stressed

I have so many great things I want to show you ~ ♥ and wonderful opportunities that have come up for me that I want to scream about from the mountain tops, but this recent state of events with this SOPA act--IS STRESSING ME OUT. I just can seem to focus on blogging today when the idea of all this work I've put into my lovely blog may get shut down (from things like my Selina Kyle post)

I love the internet, I truly do, I love how the internet is about sharing ideas and inspirations. I love how it has allowed me to build great communities, make wonderful friends, open amazing doors for me, the list goes on!

Without it, I'm back to being that weird kid in the midwest! They did say 2012 would bring the end of something massive, I hope it's not the internet......

reeses pieces

(what i'm wearing: caramel swirl sweater: H&M, elaine blazer: halloween thrifting, jewelry: all gifted, high waisted pants: vintage, shoes: pay half, belt: vintage , dave is wearing vintage ralph lauren)

Can i admit that I am addicted? I swear to you, I don't have much of a sweet tooth, it rather comes and goes, but when it comes...IT COMES FULL FORCE. With all this leftover halloween candy I've been sugar crashing these past couple of weeks, until recently where I have to intentionally cut myself off! Although I think I subliminally dressed in the yummy tones of chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter candies, because they are reminiscent of the colors of fall. (my favorite colors!) Dave however, he loves his primary colors!♥♥

All this candy has been making me be a very strict vegetarian to counter act it. I keep my body very clean of hormones and processed foods (except for glorious donuts) but when I start eating candies, my body goes wild, my emotions roar, and I feel like I've gone coocoo for coco puffs! I think its time for a detox, especially before the unmerciful thankgiving FEAST.

Despite the sweetness of my teeth, Chicago has still been providing warm weather. It snowed last week for like a second, but this weekend the heat wave came again! I'm starting to worry!! Most people would enjoy warm weather, only I would find it suspicious.....ITS A TRAP

Sunday Inspo: Selina Kyle

If you're like me, somehow, somewhere, Tim Burton has touched your life. Be it through animated musical, or Johnny Depp, Tim Burton has a way with mise-en-scene.

One of my favorite characters from the Burtonverse, HAS TO BE, Batman Returns Selina Kyle by Michelle Pfeiffer. I mean, the curls, the big glasses, the nerdy brown tones! She was a beaut. And plus, who didn't beg their parents to take gymnastic classes to learn to do those kick-@$$ back flips! Sure, her catwoman is truly an icon, but her Selina Kyle, will always resonate in my heart and inspire me in my daily dress! I thought I give it a whirl (or a flip!) and try to recreate her iconic 1992 look, with fashion from today, so we can all be a villain in disguise!

It starts with an earth tone top
(mandy top & jones blouse by need supply)

topped with a billowy jacket or fur & high waisted earth tone pants!
(safety check coat & braden faux fur by nasty gal, Micro-Poly High-Waist Pleated Pant by American Apparel)

plus, the iconic glasses for doing your best secretarial work with a natural tone lip, and a tea service to impress a certain Bruce Wayne. (simply fabulous glasses by bonlook, chubby stick by clinique, and Michael Graves tea kettle by Michael Graves for target)

& there ya go! Don't forget the curls ladies! ♥♥

such great heights

I hope that title got that one Postal Service song WE ALL KNOW stuck in your head.

ANYWAY, one little thing I did Halloween weekend was go to the Sky Deck at the SEARS (er.."Willis") tower. Let me be honest and say it was the first time I've ever been up there, and in my 24 years of living in Chicago, it was probably the 3rd touristy thing I ever did in my hometown. I guess I just don't really think about it.

Everyone loved my shirt AND everyone loved how afraid I was, I really don't like heights, but I also really don't trust the construction. Dave's dad (who took us) was like "get over your fears" but I was like "ITS NOT THE HEIGHT, ITS THE CONSTRUCTION I DON'T TRUST" I mean glass floors, really? no me gusta....

Regardless, I'm glad my sweater put people into the Halloween spirit, I have a soft spot of what I classify as "teacher" sweaters, I think I would make a pretty awesome teacher ♥

off and away!

death of a salesman

(im wearing, DNKY blazer- vintage, silk colbat shirt- vintage, high waisted khakis- bershka, flats & belt- vintage)

I have my "angry eyes" on during this shoot, oh well, I just got done with an audition, and I think I was still nerves. I really love strolling down Milwaukee Ave, in Chicago. All these old Furniture stores that look unnervingly outdated. With gold lame tigers, and other really gaudy nonsense we don't need in our homes. Plus pre-plastic covered sofas, what more do you need???

Seriously though, I might buy stuff like this to decorate my home, just to be ironic, haha, maybe a gold jaguar holding up a glass table? It might need to be done. Truth be told, my parent's home did not look too different from this when styles like these were HOT HOT HOT in the 90s, I mean, they've gone all contemporary now, but when I look at old pictures in 1997 with all of us wearing tracksuits, I can only laugh.

Don't you love old neon parts of town? Makes me sad that people tear these neat little establishments down for another trendy cupcake shop, because that's what we need....cupcakes....or froyo

overcast

(what im wearing: button down: vintage, velvet leggings: gift, platforms: knock offs, gold chain: mamas, vintage bolero hat: awesome gift from a nice elderly woman, watch: geneva)
I feel like im modeling for my indie music album

Does this weather look familiar to you? Its been like this a lot recently, both warm and cold, but always cloudy. The only time the weather clears up is at night, which makes it absolutely freezing. But I try not to complain, the worst is YET to come, amirite??? Haha. Plus there's something so wonderful about crisp autumnal nights, you can see so many stars! Makes me forget I'm a city kid.

When I first put this look together I was also rocking a leather jacket and raybans, but I looked in the mirror and was like JEEZ U LOOK LYKE TWIN SHADOW (dave agreed), I must be listening to them too much. Its funny finding style inspiration in a man, but who cares, he's so stylish! Plus, its #newwavesnovember! I'm happy with putting my dorky glasses back on and just being ME, its fun challenging your look, but I feel its important to always be yourself. I don't think I started to love blogging until I learned just that!

PS, martha marcy may marlene was EFFED UP, nightmares FOR DAYS....but maybe I'm just too sensitive, but elizabeth olsen is GORGE.