Thrift Eye

This is part of my on going series to “collect” together 3 items of similar but different appearances. You can check out the other posts HERE.

How many short and sort of flat black boots could a woman have? Apparently three. These are heavily in rotation during the week sometimes (the lace up ones on weekends only) because they’re easy to wear, comfortable, and match with almost everything.

A pair with a bit of a heel and zip up the back. These are by Sam Edelman and are the pair I wear the most right now. Given to me by my sister Diana after they didn’t fit her (thank you!) I can wear these with pants, dresses, shorts, everything! Black suede, simple, that’s all I need.

These short pair are really fun- I like the suede mixed with the patent leather piping and the pointy toe.  They’re from Fornarina back in the day when I used to work there. They’re less clunky and lighter than the pair above, definitely better suited for more walking days.

And these are my grungy boots. They were already worn when I got them at Buffalo Exchange in Vegas. I’ve scuffed them up even more. They’re my stomping, sometimes rain but not anymore cause they have a hole in the toe (got real rain boots now), butt kicking boots.

Similar, but for different days and different purposes. Will I be getting a black pair anytime soon? Not until one of these falls apart (and if I had to put my money on it, it’s going to be the last pair, ha).

Do you have a soft spot for black boots? Short ones, tall ones, leather, pleather, heels, flats? Cause I know you have a pair in your closet.

Foremost, let me explain that I was holding the exact same glass of wine in all of these photos, before it looks like I’m a wino.

We took a day trip out to Napa valley on an extremely warm day. I had another dress to wear but I instead decided to wear this dress that Lulu’s gave me back in the winter when there was no way I would be able to wear it. In fact, I was scared I’d never get to wear it because our weather rarely permits wearing things like this for longer than a few hours. So because the day was so warm, I took advantage of this possibly last chance to wear the dress for a while.

I’m not used to being so “on trend.” The dress has a really cool high-low hemline going on that I’ve been curious about trying but also a colorblocking thing going on (it looks like a separate top and skirt, but it’s a dress!)

I actually had a belt on too, but I had taken it off for the hour long drive then forgot to put it back on once we got out. oops.

Dress: gift from Lulu’s, brand is Lush. Similar dress here and here. Shoes: Target. Rings: vintage stacking rings from Alameda Flea Market. Wine: courtesy of Ma(i)sonry in Yountville.

Looking back at these photos, I’m cringing at how strange my  nails look with no polish. But it was nice to keep it pretty simple with my outfit, makeup, and jewelry but still feel a little dressed up. Now, if I could only convince to sun to never leave, I’d be set!

Finally found the time to make another one of my books into fashion collages! If you’re interested or missed the others, you can check them out HERE.

We’ll start off with the book people love to hate, Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews. Brother and sister, Chris and Cathy are forced to move with their mother and twin siblings after their father tragically dies in a car crash. They head off to their maternal grandparents’ home but have to arrive in secrecy. Their evil grandmother insists they all stay in the attic and maintain decency at all times, but they don’t understand. For years they live in the attic, growing older as their mother begins to drift away. They learn that their mother and father were related, therefore shunned by her father. Mother plans to keep them hidden until grandfather dies. But the story begins to get very twisted, and because they spend so much time together, Christ and Cathy become very attracted to each other. Until yes, they have sex. The worst (best?!) part is that this is just the first book in a series with equally strange books.

The next book I chose, is a quirky favorite of mine, Holes by Louis Sachar. Reading this books makes me sad that there aren’t more great books like this. Stanley Yelnats (yes, a palindrome name) is kind of a schlub with no friends, problems at home, and he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time when a pair of shoes fall from the sky. He gets caught with the shoes and a judge with no sympathy sends him to Camp Green Lake (in my opinion, one of the best opening lines of a book “There is no lake at Camp Green Lake”). At Camp Green Lake he’s trying to not get beat up by the troupe of bad boys sent there for their awful deeds, but makes friends with another odd ball, Zero. They dig holes all day long in the hot desert under the watch of some strange adults. There is a mystery hidden in the holes, but the boys don’t know that yet (along with a family curse). I could wax on about how great this book is, but if you haven’t read it, I don’t want to give away too much . If you haven’t read it yet, there’s no excuses, the book is short, you’ll get through it quickly.

I hope you’re understanding the subtle references from the books (or sometimes movies made from the book) that I put in these collages. Did you read Flowers in the Attic and get grossed out by the incest, or think it was funny? (there’s something I find hilarious at the unfortunate situation). Did you read Holes and want to head out West?

Hope you’re enjoying my series :)