Equus

Anyone who knows me knows that I really really dislike horses. I mostly blame this on not wanting to be another one of those clichéd girls who's obsessed with horses, but I will admit a big part of it stems from a best-friendship gone bad and my rejection of everything that has to do with that person. But even though I would never set foot on a ranch, get up in the saddle, or date a cowboy I can't help but love equestrian fashion. Case and point: my obsession with Ralph Lauren's head-to-toe browns (in mixed textures and patterns of course) and tshirts emblazoned with polo riders. And then there's the boots. The glorious riding boots. Besides biker boots (you know, the leather kind with spikes, straps, and studs) they're my all-time favourite pick for Autumn and Winter footwear. 

Ralph Lauren 3 by riella03 featuring ralph lauren sunglasses

Ralph Lauren 2 by riella03 featuring ralph lauren collection

Ralph Lauren by riella03 featuring a black blouse

Books, Glorious Books!

I found out something pretty amazing the other day. But I should really start at the beginning of the story...

So you know how at the public library you can request to borrow a book from another library outside your own library, and usually you don't have to pay for shipping or anything because that's how we do things in the Canadian public library systems? Well, universities (specifically my university) do this as well. But I always assumed that because they have a big list of loaning prices on their website that I would have to pay unless it was from another library in our region. So for ages and ages I found the vast Worldcat catalogue to be the worst booktease on the planet because they kept bringing up books I was dying to read, but were only available from libraries outside my system.

Then one of my classmates told us that as grad students (or library students, I can't remember), we don't have to pay those aforementioned fees because they build it into our tuition costs.

Wait up, wait a second; they build it into our tuition? So I've spent the last year and half paying for a service that I didn't know I had access to? WHAT. THE. FUCK.

As soon as I realized that I rushed straight to the Worldcat catalogue and ordered up some books from far away libraries, because really I'm paying for it anyways. Sure, I could probably get the books from the public library (which I pay for with my tax dollars), but I pay way more in tuiton than I do in taxes. Actually, I don't pay taxes because I'm poor/unemployed/a student. So I might as well make my university library pay for my expensive loans rather than the public library, because I spend more money on tuiton than taxes.

And now I think I'll go order some more!

Images from here and here

Crux: a Sunday Shoe Story

Cindy Says "Pasha" suede ankle boots

As the first flakes of December begin to spiral Earthwards a chill sets into my bones and into my heart. The trees have become barren of all but soot-winged crows, whose harsh voices harken the changing of the season. Frosts have begun to cover the grass each morn' and the brisk air of October has become heavy with the chill. Pumpkins have long since become rot and only imprints on cement serve to remind of the crisp leaves that used to crunch happily underfoot.

The world is slowing with the coming of the snows; it is ready for its hibernation, but still it remains awake to watch for the end. What is the moment of change if none are there to observe it? The voices of the North Wind's zephyrs whisper in the ears of the October People. With the first blanket of white they will be put to sleep, but until the crux comes their whispers will continue to spread a message of warning tinged with laughter. 

Frosted Fendi

Whether it's ice-filled drinks, morning frost on the grass, or a winter-themed fashion shoot covered in ice I love all things frosted. This does not mean that I actually like to go out in the frosty weather, it just mean that I think frost is pretty to look at. Therefore, I keep my frostiness comfined to my fingernails with gorgeous foiled metallic nail polish like "Sweet Peacock" from ORLY. This way I get to keep the icy sparkle without freezing!

The Boyfriend Sweater

There's just something about an over-sized sweater that makes it infinitely better than one that's made to fit properly. Before I stumbled over this fabulous Fendi number in the men's section of Value Village I didn't even own any sweaters. I swear: not a single proper sweater. Cardigans, hoodies, and jackets galore, but not a single knitted sweater. This one made me a believer, and now that I'm 6 boyfriend sweaters into a proper collection I'll never look back. Ironically, not a single one has actually been acquired from a boyfriend, though I have had a few try and talk me into sharing mine with them. Haha boys, that's not gonna happen!

Ps: I'm reading a first edition copy of The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany here, and totally loving it. Thanks to the Dalhousie inter-library-loans department for getting this book for me because it's totally awesome!

The Holiday (Shopping) Season

Let’s get one thing straight: I hate Christmas and pretty much everything associated with it. I hate the forced family time, work parties, the snow, the religion aspects, seasonal music, and having to be nice to people. But, I really really enjoy the shopping and the presents.

image from here

Are you really surprised? This is me we’re talking about. Shopping is my therapy and religion, and I actually really enjoy finding the perfect present for my friends. So instead of celebrating Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, or whatever other holiday you want to call it, I celebrate Present Day. A day that is dedicated to consumerism, glitter, and new things. Thrift store consumerism, and second hand things actually, but whatever. Regardless, I end up buying lots of things for other people and for myself.

image from here

This year is going to be pretty awesome, and I can’t wait for my friends to get their presents. I started seriously looking for presents in September, and it’s really paid off. I got some hilarious joke presents, some useful presents, and some extremely fabulous (think designer thrift store score) best-friend-forever mementos for my two besties. It’s not even December, and I only have a few more little additions to buy! Which means that I can spend all of December finding myself the perfect present to myself (haha no seriously)!

Running: a Sunday Shoe Story

Sometimes a girl just wants to start running. Away from the past, away from the present, and into the future faster than the present can get her there.

She wants to pack her bags and buy a ticket to ride. 

Take her empty thoughts and fill them with new adventures, new places, and new people. 

She wants to forget her phone number, not check her email, and find herself planning nothing. 

Looking for the open sky, and the city streets, and find that elusive crossroad sign that will take her to the place that she is meant to be. 

She knows she's stuck in the present, but she can smell the dreams of her future on the wind and until she catches up she'll just have to keep running. 

Shoes: "Dobbyn" by Aldo

Boarding School

I'm normally not a big fan of navy, but I totally fell in love with OPI's "Russian Navy suede" polish at first sight. It's just so... pretty... and proper... and Posh Spice aka Victoria Beckham. Maybe it's because it's a suede finish, or maybe it's just because it has a hint of foil sparkle, but this polish is definitely one of my top picks for the tail end of the Autumn season. My fingers might be busy type-type-typing away with tedious end-of-the-semester assignments, but at least my nail polish is keeping things interesting (if slightly distracting)!

Crunch (or Crush) Time

unlabelled belt & boots; Burberry dress shirt; Siren's tights

It's the tail end of Autumn here in Halifax, and school is only a few weeks from completion. Yes, I'll get all my assignments done on time, but I have no interest in being glued to my desk all the time. As a much needed distraction from my trials and tribulations of cataloguing, collections, and CSS style sheets I'm spending some much needed time with my wardrobe. As general rule, I tend to steer away from spring and summer wear because it gets pretty cold in Canada, but I've never really been into the whole long sleeved shirts, layers, sweaters, and socks thing either. Until now that is. I've recently discovered that I actually like cold weather clothing, provided that it's from the men's section, so to celebrate this discovery (and all the fabulous vintage finds I've been collecting lately) this whole month is going to be all about men's wear on women. Fabulous, right?

My top reasons for loving men's wear

• the men's section in thrift stores is usually chalk full of designer labels, and for super cheap
• dating someone? you just doubled your wardrobe without spending a penny
• the loose fits are super comfy and easy to wear
• you can style it up with some accessories, or leave it minimalist

Did I mention that Coco Chanel, Carrie Bradshaw, and a slew of other fashion-forward women have beeen rocking this trend forever? Maybe it shouldn't be considered fashion-forward anymore, but a wardrobe staple! Do you have any men's wear in your closet ladies? If not, my challenge to you is to check out the men's section the next time you're out thrifting and get with it!

Lost, an Unfinished Poem

It’s been a really long and difficult couple of weeks.

I don’t know whether I’m swimming, or drowning, or just floating through my life.

Regardless, time moves on at it’s own pace.

Oblivious.

The surrounding silence is deafening.

But not loud enough to drown out the questions in my head

Or to mute the tears cried into pillows in the night

Evenings are the worst.

The darkening sky brings up a blackness inside

Citylights wipe out the stars that can’t shine through

And the silent streets amplify my white noise.

A ghost sits, oddly smiling, in the other corner of the couch.

More ghosts stare out silently from emptied picture frames.

And inside, a ghostly feeling of separation from the world. 

image from Haute Fashion

Rubber Soul: a Sunday Shoe Story

You know you're not supposed to play favourites with shoes; they're like children, and should be loved equally. But this pair of Jeffrey Campbell's took a little piece of my heart when I saw them down the aisle in Winners the day after my 21st birthday. Of course, I immediately bought them, and even though I've only worn them twice (once on a coffee date with this guy - the shoes were special but he was not- and once to see Rock of Ages by myself on a random summer Tuesday) they'll always be special. Maybe it's because they remind me of Tsarist-era Russian ballerinas, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Alexander McQueen. Maybe it's because they're Jeffrey Campbells and I have an addiction to the fabulous footwear brand. 

But mostly, I love them more because other people think they're a little bit too weird. 

In other words: I love them because they're just like me. 

Apple Records

When I decided to do a Beatles-themed week I knew that no other colour could be chosen for nail polish than a beautifully sparkly green. Ironically, a good green nail polish is incredibly hard to find. Most of them tend towards forest green (yuck), celery green (even more yuck), or teal/turquoise (which isn't really green at all). Thankfully I found this fabulous polish by Fingerpaints (the house brand from Sally Beauty) called "Sketch n Etch!" Yes, the pun in the name is kind of tacky, but I love how shimmery this polish is so I shall forgive them. My only complaint is that it is definitely a 3-coater, or even 4, since the consistency is pretty thin.

Beatle-mania!

The Beatles are all over the place when it comes to fashion style, but when I was looking through the 2012 and 2013 collections from the major fashion players I noticed that there were some similarities between the new trends and classic Beatles styles from three of the seminal Beatles albums. These trends are manifesting themselves in three distinct styles: graphic prints in neon/bright hues which mimic the cartoon stylings of Yellow Submarine, velvet (often combined with baroque details) footwear  that makes me think instantly of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and futuristic suits that are so Abbey Road that they scream for a recreation of the album photo. I'm not sure if I would wear the blocky graphic prints, but the futuristic suits and velvet shoes are totally up my aisle!

Yellow Submarine by riella03 featuring lace up sandals

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by riella03 featuring jeffrey campbell

Abbey Road by riella03 on Polyvore