desperately seeking suuuz

hully-gully skirt: c/o shabby apple
dotted crop: AA
jersey leather style jacket: stolen from my mother (hahah!)
creepers: F21

Gonna be honest, I've never seen that move all the way through, but I do know that it definitely "iconosizes" that 80s cool girl look trademarked by the 80s power houses like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. I'm not sure what came over me when I was getting dressed this day, but I was definitely feeling a little 80s punk. Big hair, polka dots, but with a little bit of edge with the jacket and creepers.

What a better look to throw rocks down the alley, pop gum, and get into some trouble?

paging: laura holt

detective laura holt by avecbianca featuring a fedora hat

If you take away ANYTHING from my blog and stereotypes about Chicagoans it's that we LOVE our classic television. We have channels upon channels rerunning everything from Mary Tyler Moore to The Rifleman. My new obsession. Remington Steele. I mean the premise of this show is all about girl power over coming male machismo. And what woman WOULDN'T hire Pierce Bronson to be their personal puppet. COME ON PEOPLE.

Stephanie Zimbalist's  Laura Holt is groundbreaking. She is one part McGyver one part Carmen Sandiego. All while keeping incredible poise and shampoo commercial quality hair that even makes Lauren Bacall quiver with jealousy. She is an 80s teen dream and I have the biggest crush of them all. She was one of the first of leading ladies who changed television to have more modern career women who are smart, savvy, and have beauty that goes beyond the surface. As I stated before I miss the idea of the career woman from the 80s. These days its all about being over worked, back then, it was about getting work. And today, I say, it's time to work it.

(ps, i wanted to add the necklace is a mini magnifying glass, how cute is that!!)

life in a northern town

burgundy blazer: vintage 
funny people blouse: vintage 
bolo + brooch: mother's (vintage) 
high waisted linen shorts: american apparel 
flats: UO 

With the Olympics still lingering in the air, I've been having a bit of a British invasion of my own. It feels as though London weather has jumped the pond and landed in Chicago. Nearly everyday since the Olympics started its been cold, dreary, rainy, and dark. Perfect weather to bust out your pre-fall items, listen to new wave music, and feel at complete peace.

When getting pizza with the fam (because Chicagoans do eat pizza...a lot) I heard a song on the radio that literally brought a rush of my childhood to me conscious memory. It was none other than The Dream Academy's "Live in a Northern Town" For the next few days I literally watched the video to that song over and over and over again. The style! The finesse! It was so british, so 80s and so wonderful. I had to dress the part.


I really feel like every girl should pull inspiring things that may not always be fashion related to their seasonal wardrobe. Especially if you want to have a certain consistency in your look, and you want to focus your wardrobe on key pieces and not a bunch of clubbing clothes from F21. I've already decided that I'm going to dream academy is going to be one of my major fashion points all fall and winter through. Large shoulders, stripes, bolos and brooches. Hair swooped to the side and dark jewel tones that nearly dance on a gothic side. And always layers layers lots of layers. Fortunately, this look seamlessly fits in with my Elaine, Woody Allen, Librarian look that I already love.

 AH HEY MA MA MA! HEY DEE DA NAYA! 

sally albright on acid

After leaving new york I find myself obsessed with the culture again. Watching late 80s early 90s sitcoms and movies, one of my favorites aforementioned is When Harry Met Sally. I mean this movie is one of the forefathers of back and forth banter and story lines about nothing.

One of the things I adore about this movie, besides the fact that it takes place in glorious Manhattan in the 80s, is the lovable Billy Crystal. Despite recent terms, Crystal is so cute in this film, so different than romcoms today where the leading man needs to be nothing more than a piece of dumb meat.

But beyond Billy, my all time favorite aspect of WHMS is...well...Sally's clothes. I mean c'mon she's predates Elaine Benes and follows in suit of Diane Keaton. She's loveable, anal, all around quirky, and her sense of style is TO DIE. She goes from Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa to full blown Annie Hall in 12 years time. Her curls are big as her smile, and I can't help but think I was subliminally influences by her as a child watching this film on late Saturday nights on WGN.

I took the ideas of Ms. Albright's clothing, modernized it a bit, and made it ready for Spring. But I kept all the classics in tow--hats, high waists, blouses, sweaters in summer, and of course oxfords. Even though Harry told Sally she would look much lovelier in dresses, I love how Sally holds true to herself in classic Katherine Hepburn way. If a guy doesn't love you this quirky, he'll never love you.

sally albright on acid by avecbianca featuring a cotton hosiery

Acne long sleeve top, $230
Carven button down collar shirt, $395
Miu Miu jumper sweater, $745
Rag bone tux jacket, $450
American Apparel pleated shorts, $54
High rise pants, $288
Acne high rise shorts, £150
By Malene Birger satin pants, $315
Brooks brother, $65
Happy Socks cotton hosiery, £8
Happy Socks cotton hosiery, £8
Mel brogue shoes, $64
Green loafer, £25
Nixon trilby hat, $40
American Apparel checkered sunglasses, $110
Mulberry buckle belt, $230
Paul Joe lip makeup, $29
The New Yorker Cover - January 30, 2012 Poster Print by George Booth..., $34

like sonia rykiel....

sweater: thrift
jeans: dollhouse
boots: vintage
glasses: bonlook
socks: jcpenny
silk shirt: vintage
navajo inspired watch: gift from dave

It's still sweater weather, and the weather is still...off. but hey some days its warm others its freezing, but always perfect weather for a sweater. This is more of how I dress casually, but with still a bit of amusement. With yet another awesome thrifted sweater find. I LOVE how LOUD it is, my mom remarked that it reminded her of Sonia Rykiel, and yes it does! I only wish it were one. but oh well! Plus these jeans I got many moons ago, I want to say maybe 6 years ago? Back when color demin was cool, I've held on to them hopping they'd come back in style and just my luck Gap is promoting colored demin this year! LOOOOVE this look by eat.sleep.wear. Plus, I thought I'd try Julia Topaz's signature bun. But I don't know...maybe I should try again....

Oh and by the by the is the last time you'll see me in these glasses, I decided they were not me, but luckily bonlook has a WONDEFUL exchange policy. Found a new pair that I simply cannot take off! You'll see.


*such a ham in these pictures today! :P OH AND THANKS for all the lovely words and reminsicng of our geekier days in my last post!! plus as always...ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

80s pop disco

sweater: thrifted
shorts: from hs probably
thigh highs: a.apparel
granny shoes: thrifted
bags: gifts & from japan
glasses: bonlook

Some days, you want to reminisce...you want to try something new. Or maybe you want to try something..."renew". As a teen I was REALLY into japanese fashion. Fruits style. This was before I was deeply into blogging, I did have a xanga (dear Lord....) but I rarely updated it, and it was more of a method of fighting with my friends over the internet....

I used to go to anime conventions dressed totally deco kei'd out! So for my own amusement, I decided to dress reminiscent of this style, but perhaps a little more fashion forward. I stumbled upon this GORGEOUS 80s sweater, I felt new age music start playing as soon as I put it on.

It was a fun day, I'll admit i did more stares than normal, perhaps I merely noticed because this isn't my normal look. But irregardless, it was an amusing trip down memory lane!

(oh and don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends soon!!)