An Open Letter to Target Stores: I'm a Grown-Ass Woman Who Loves Dinosaurs. Why Do I Have to Shop the Target Boys' Section for a Jurassic World T-Shirt?

Vintage Vinyl: Portugal. The Man + Avalon Exchange Floral Dress

Inspired by:
Portugal. The Man, In the Mountain In the Cloud (2011)

Favorite tracks: 

"Everything You See (Kids Count Hallelujahs)"  "All Your Light (Times Like These)"  "Once Was One" 

Outfit details:
Dress (Avalon Exchange, St. Louis), necklace (Goodwill), rings purchased at Belleville Flea Market

I inherited my record player at the beginning of high school. Amassing my vinyl collection has become a treasured hobby; just like my continual quest for vintage clothes, I relish in the hunt for cheap deals. (Aside from the records family members passed down, my best bargain to date was $2 for an album of Elton John's greatest hits.) My collection feels very personal to me, because each album has at least one song I could never live without. Some of those first vinyls remain my all-time favorite albums. Listening to them feels restorative. I like being able to unplug from all the external commotion, enjoy the music, and force the gears of my brain to turn in a different direction.

These days I mostly listen to my records when I'm writing. I've gotten into this habit where if I'm suffering a bout of writer's block, I get entranced by the album art and start matching my jewelry to it. As far as exercises in expanding my sartorial limits, it's pretty effective. When I'm getting dressed I often base an outfit around a particular piece of clothing or jewelry; this method challenges me to think in terms of a combination of color, mood, and theme. I've had so much fun with it, I want to try and make it a regular feature on the blog.

The 'Vintage Vinyl' challenge will be to combine my older records with new pieces of clothing, and new records with vintage clothing or jewelry.

In high school, purchasing a Postal Service album on vinyl was the height of luxury. Being employed full-time has allowed me to fill out my record collection with newer artists (although I guess 1990s and newer isn't that 'new' anymore!) that I wouldn't necessarily find rummaging at Goodwill. I've been a casual fan of Portugal. The Man since the release of American Ghetto, but it wasn't until I saw them perform this past summer at Red Rocks that I really appreciated the harmony in their instrumentals. I also enjoy them because a lot of their lyrics deal with growing up and coming to terms with ugly things in the world while trying to stay true to your own ideals (aka, the average millenial's quarter-life crisis). In the Mountain... is trippy but fierce. It includes the kind of tracks that you shout along to in your car pumping your fist because you live on your own weird terms and you're awesome!, emphasis on that exclamation point. I find myself gravitating toward this album when I need a shot of courage.

A fan of pink and purple, I think the album art makes the accent colors on this vintage dress from Avalon Exchange pop. I wanted the jewelry to feel bright and eclectic, with a slight bohemian vibe. 

'Vintage Vinyl' meshes my vinyl collection and personal style. 

St. Louis Thrift Finds: Why You Should Always Check the Discard Rack at Thrift Stores

In keeping with my style resolution to be unafraid of going overboard with my vintage pieces, I give you this obnoxious, colorful mess of floral, beads and embroidery (and I'm not just talking about the vest). 

Isn't the vest a doozy, though? Last year I waxed philosophical about how my thrifting style has evolved, especially in regards to 'so ugly they're beautiful' vests. Well, I'm not always the model of retail restraint I think I am. This blue monstrosity struck my eye during a half-off sale at Value Village, which brings me to the nugget of wisdom that is the point of this post: If you're thrifting, always check the discard rack!

The percentage of items I've purchased that were spotted on my way into the fitting room is staggering. Think of it this way: one woman's ill-fitting garment is another woman's treasure. The discard rack is full of items that other customers have already curated out of the rows of bland so-so's, and for whatever reason they said 'no.' You're lucky enough to get the next first crack at them. When I first spotted this vest, it was still in another girl's hand. She was debating with her friend whether to buy it, and in a moment of doubt that it was too loud, set it on the discard rack. I snatched it within 10 seconds, then silently watched her amble back a few minutes later hoping to reclaim it. I'm not ashamed. Thrifting victories are awarded to the bold.

At $2.50, there was little question of return on investment. The worst case scenario is that I wear it out once or twice, get a few good chuckles, then sell it. So far, I'm having a lot of fun with it. My 18-year-old self would be really proud.

Dress and vest: Value Village (O'Fallon and Fenton, respectively)

See how I paired the vest with a tribal print dress on my Instagram!

Off the Bust: Rainbow Ombre Hair Dye At Home

The inspiration: 

Image credit: Buzzfeed's "How to Be a Pastel Goth"

The result: 

Color Jamz Raspberry Kamikazie + Manic Panic Purple Haze

Does anyone else have the color bug? I've been dyeing my hair since seventh grade. Perhaps you think that's too early, but after a disastrous stint with a bottle of sun-in, I needed color correction. The process was so fun I never stopped!

In the last 13 years I've tinted my hair every shade of brown and red I could find, including a phase during high school where I tried my damnedest to achieve Stacey Farber (Degrassi's Ellie Nash)'s light auburn hue... usually to mixed results. My mom even let me add hot pink streaks prior to my first day of eighth grade--a small change that made me feel like a complete badass walking into school despite the ire of several room mothers. I was emboldened with the knowledge that I could control my look, and therefore, my happiness about myself. That feeling is probably one of the reasons I've always chosen to go the DIY route with my hair care and styling.

Recently I took a window of opportunity in which I didn't have to go to the office for two weeks to finally go back to the rainbow (and take advantage of the ombre trend). Matching my blog layout is unintentional, but I can't get enough of pink and purple together lately. I feel like a human princess who gets to visit Lisa Frank world. The fade-out on the pink is so expressive, and I'm finding that 'Ohh, pretty!' feeling I get every time I see my strands in the mirror is oozing into the rest of my outlook on the world. It's been a happy time, friends. The only sad part: watching that stream of magenta water swirl down the drain. Luckily, that's what touch-ups are for! 

What a difference lighting makes: natural v. incandescent light

Here are my tips for at-home dyeing with rainbow colors:

• Patch tests are a must! Don't fall victim to an allergic reaction. It'll also give you an idea of whether you need to do additional lightening on your hair before you put on the color, or if two applications are required to achieve the result you want. Keep in mind that if you're using products from different companies, one may wash out faster than the other. (I'm finding the Manic Panic has a bit more staying power on my hair, which made me feel justified in putting the purple on the top.)
• Start small. Don't try a full-head application at home until you know how the color works on your hair. If it's your first time trying an ombre look, go slow. You can always add more of the lighter color, or blend multiple shades together on a second application. Much like haircuts: it's better to go slowly and not fuck up than lose the whole look.
• In a pinch, a toothbrush or small makeup brush can help you achieve strategic streaks or highlights. I used a cheap tapered blending brush from Target, and found it was easier to maneuver than the highlighting combs available in most at-home dye kits.
• For the love of god, wear gloves during application and rinsing. With your run of the mill shades I skip the gloves on the latter step. My pink fingers, palms and forearms should serve as a warning to the rest of you. 
• Protect your skin with a layer of petroleum jelly along your hairline and neck. If you're like me and end up with colored blotches on your arms and face anyway, rub off with makeup remover or astringent (if still fresh), or soak in hot water (if it's more set in). 
• If you want the color to look as authentic as the sample, go blonde or go bleach. (Color Jamz offers a pre-lightening package that strikes a balance between the two, and doesn't fry your strands.) And if you're pre-lightening, condition liberally! Semi-permanent dyes aren't usually as abrasive as at-home permanent colors, but you have to keep your hair healthy for future dye jobs.
• That said, be sure to enjoy the fade-out! The color will wash out and develop on your hair in its very own peculiar way, and you should be proud of it! After a few washes the pink in my hair faded to a striking cotton candy hue, and that can only be achieved after you've lived in the color for a few days. Take as many pictures as you can. You'll thank yourself later. 

Pastel tint to the pink dye five days after application

Celebrating My 7 Favorite Remix Looks On Bringing Up Bust Form's Blog Birthday ( + My STLFW Blogger Award Nomination!)

I couldn't be happier to be celebrating Bringing Up Bust Form's first blog birthday/blogiversary/"whatever you want to call it" this week! Not only am I participating as an official blogger of Saint Louis Fashion Week, but ALIVE Magazine has nominated Bringing Up Bust Form among its "Blogs to Watch!" for the 2014 Saint Louis Fashion Blog Awards. Please consider voting on the blogger portion of the STLFW website. The voting period closes Sept. 19! 

But even more so--I'm happy to be finding my readership, which just surpassed 15,000 unique page views! Thank you all for giving this blog a read, and for all of your feedback along the way. I really couldn't be more grateful for you.

Over the next several days I'll be sharing my favorite content from this past year. For now, check out pieces that made multiple appearances during BUBF's first year of life. While I can't deny (or circumvent) my addiction to prints, I do appreciate a remix-worthy piece. 

St. Louis Thrift Finds: Learn About Parsimonia's Pursuit to Showcase STL's Handmade Artisans on ALIVE Magazine

Warning: this "Thrift Finds" post comes with a generous heap of self promotion (and self reflection)!

I recently started contributing to ALIVE Magazine's new blogs--specifically, Style Notes, which keeps St. Louis fashionistas in-the-know about local designers, stores and events. My first post highlights Parsimonia store owner Beth Styles' collaborations with local handmade artists. I love Parsimonia--both the store and Holly, the traveling trailer--because she has armfuls of funky, mid-century dresses that I scour many a thrift store and rummage sale for. Most vintage stores charge a decidedly un-thrifty price for such treasures, but not Parsimonia. She's also really active in setting up local vintage events. But here's the even cooler part: each month Styles selects a different St. Louis artisan to showcase in-store. Learn about March's artist, Julie Schell, and April artist Ruby Francis on ALIVE:

Parsimonia Celebrates Local With Monthly Designer Collaborations

I was a journalism major with a magazine concentration in college, so having my byline appear--even on a magazine's blog--feels like a major accomplishment. I love magazines. Love them (italics, repetition and fragment use necessary). They're visual, and positive in tone, and in an ideal world you close the issue with a new curiosity in learning about or doing something. They're the reason I considered journalism in the first place. Teen Vogue debuted during my freshman year of high school, and it became a staple purchase each month. Many of their early issues featured spreads of "normal girls" dressed for school and going out, which I think catalyzed my need to establish a personal style. It was around the time I was allowed to start venturing to the nearby Salvation Army Fridays after school, and my thrift addiction grew as I experimented with new styling. To this day, I keep a pile of Teen Vogue's squirreled away for inspiration. I've never seen fashion magazines as a 'bible' for my personal style, but a collection of suggestions on how evolve and to make the most of how I wear my clothes.

I ultimately chose a reporting/editing position with a community news publication when it came to full-time employment after graduation, but my heart always yearned to contribute to a magazine... particularly to write about local business and/or fashion. I started "Bringing Up Bust Form" after finding out I was being laid off from that job because I realized I had put all of my creative energy into that one endeavor. I've always been a writer--a journaler, a storyteller, a reporter--but I craved more creative fulfillment. The creation of the blog was meant to remedy that, to finally say, "Screw it," and write about style on my own terms. But I also set a goal to pursue some freelance work. I've been a loyal reader of ALIVE since I moved to the area, and I couldn't be more jazzed to start my foray into magazines with them.

So, huzzah!, I've checked an item off my professional bucket list. I hope you'll give it a peep, and I'll definitely share any more posts that appeal to my fellow thrifters and vintage-lovers!

My Very First Anthropologie Purchase, a.k.a. Sequins Galore

 

Sequined tank: Anthropologie (clearance)

Cardigan: thrited

Necklace: flea market find

Skirt: thrifted, Value Village

Confession: ever since high school, I've dreamed of a 'grown-up' life that involved a closet full of Anthropologie frocks. I've always been attracted to their aesthetic--like browsing a thrift store stocked only with cute clothing. The high quality and attention to detail exude an air of 'Hellooooooo adulthood, I'm sophisticated and fun.' It would be a signal that I was successful at ladyhood, or something. Unfortunately, I've always been super cheap. Even with a full-time job I can't bring myself to spend certain amounts on dresses--even when they're really, really, really, really cute.

It wasn't until this past fall that I purchased my first piece of clothing from the store. (It was on clearance.) Let me state now for clarification that I am not a sequin girl, but the little splashes of teal, periwinkle and deep pink in the zigzags make it more kooky and wearable. I've been having a hard time so far finding places to wear it. The sequins add that something 'extra' that, to me, doesn't feel appropriate for the office or going to a movie. These are my attempts to style the sequins for casual situations.

How do you style sequined tops?

Reporters Can Be Ladies, Too!: Why I Don't Think Robyn Doolittle Deserves Angry E-mails In Response to Flare Magazine Shoot

[Writer's note: While I intend to keep this blog light 'n' frothy for the most part, sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet.]

Saying Goodbye to My Favorite St. Louis-Area Thrift Store

Hey, St. Louis thrifters--enjoy the Shrewsbury Value Village while you can! The store is closing Jan. 12, with 50 percent off all merchandise through the rest of the week.

I've lived in St. Louis under a year and a half, though I could say without hesitation I've visited that Value Village at least twice a month (if not once a week) throughout the duration of that time. It's become my favorite thrift store in the entire area.

I caught the thrifting bug from my grandmother, so I've always sought out a good place to rummage wherever I am. During my first year of high school I had to walk after school to my mom's workplace, which was just a few blocks from a Salvation Army store. Every Friday became thrift day. When I went away to college, I'd hit up the Unique Thrift Store in Uptown during my evenings off. In the Chicago suburbs, it was a Salvation Army store in Downers Grove.

It didn't take me long to find the Shrewsbury store--when I moved here and began covering Crestwood and Sunset Hills, it was one of the most convenient stores to visit. It took even less time to learn to love it, because they offer one of my favorite thrift features: a colored sale tag of the day. And they didn't have the thing I loathe most at resale shops: a dozen of the same clearance rack castoff donated by a nearby department store.

Perhaps because I was raised in an area where a bi-annual rummage sale was a highlight of the season, I've become partial to a specific type of thrift store: the junky-looking ones. I don't mean hoarder-level stacked to the ceilings--but disheveled enough that the hunt is a challenge. Not to say that Value Village is junky. While the ceiling often leaks, it is a pretty well-organized store (and I don't mind the leaks). The amount of merchandise can seem daunting--a thorough pass through the women's department took me anywhere from a half hour to 45 minutes--but you know where to find the skirts, the long sleeve shirts, the vests. The effect: you feel like an archaeologist every time you stumble upon a great steal. As exciting as it is to buy a new piece of clothing you really love, I think that sensation is amplified when that item feels like it was delivered from the cosmos directly to you. (Often it's from some old lady's musty closet, as opposed to the cosmos, but I digress.) In the past year I've found some of my favorite new (old) pieces there--from the interview outfit that secured me my current job, to a blouse that perfectly emanates a look I wanted to steal from Kendi Everyday--and many of them at less than $2.

I braved the snowy roads for a final visit this past Tuesday because it made my heart sick to think I'd lose out on some of their last goodies. My take is pretty respectable: two blouses with embroidered details, a circle skirt, and three great new head scarves. I also snagged a long string of silver beads (which need to be tarnished up) and two other pieces of jewelry, all for under $11. [Writer's note: the sequined shirt pictured was not purchased at Value Village; it was simply me testing new ways to layer.]

Check back on Monday and I will share some of my all-time favorite Value Village buys. I'm hoping to make one last stop this weekend!

The Thrift Store Outfit That Got Me Hired

I am a clothes horse, which tends to come with the territory as a lover of thrifted clothes. (When a blouse is under $3, why not buy every pattern you love?) However, when faced with dressing for a specific occasion, I suddenly find myself saying, "I have nothing to wear!"

I found this was especially true in the case of a recent job interview. The company is a PR firm and said their dress code was business casual. The in-person interview was the third and final phase before hire, and I wanted to make sure I made the right impression.

I had thrown together probably 20 options--mostly solid dresses and blazers that projected, 'professional, mature.' This ensemble was not in that original mix. But once I ran the floral shirt across the skirt, it was hard to concentrate on another option. The cuts are modest but the mixed prints pop together in a good way (IMO). The satin-lapeled blazer counteracts all the color, and hides some of the floral design when I'm wearing it.

This outfit cost me $10. I found the red tank at Value Village for $1.98. The blazer also came from Value Village and cost $4. The skirt, $4, was snagged at a Goodwill store. I kept my feet basic with opaque black tights and black ballet flats.

It took some convincing to actually wear this to the interview. While I believe it's a pretty accurate representation of my style, it's kinda loud. Right? So I wore the outfit out shopping as a test run (also because I was hoping to find some better shoes. I didn't.). A cashier at Anthropologie complimented me on the outfit, so I asked her if she thought it was interview-worthy.

"If you've gotten through multiple interviews, they already like your work. Why not show them what personality comes along with it?" she said.

Have wiser words ever been spoken by a salesperson? She's right--if hired, I'm still going to dress with my own flair. If they can't deal with it in the interview, perhaps it wasn't meant to be.

But, they did. And I'm hired! This blog was started as a meantime project while I was on the job search, but I'm so excited to have money to fund future clothing purchases to share with y'all!

 

For the record, I wore a much plainer necklace to the interview--although I like this cameo best.

My Favorite Fall Jacket

Jacket: hand-me-down

Rogue Wave t-shirt: purchased at concert (2008?)

Shorts: H&M

My grandma's daily uniform as long as I knew her was a crew neck sweatshirt and stretchy polyester slacks. (The woman had a rainbow array of each.) But inside her closet she kept a few relics of her time as a fashionable mom in the 1960s and 1970s. My sophomore year of high school, she let me raid her closet. I found silky high-necked cocktail party blouses, eyelet dresses, a t-shirt with a fierce leopard, and this quilted jacket, which will forever be my favorite. (Here's me showing off the jacket--but hiding my face--in my Senior Year yearbook.)

I could list you a dozen reasons why the jacket appealed to me (and 10 years later, still does). Here are just a few:

• I was immediately drawn to the rich colors--navy blue and red being two of my most frequently-worn colors. 
• The quirky use of plaid
• The cartoony flowers and shiny, painted buttons
• The even cuter rows of red buttons along the shoulders
• It's warm
• It really doesn't require many accessories to 'make the outfit'
• It reminds me of my grandma herself, because she was a quilter. 

While my mom has a tendency to poke fun at my ensembles, my grandma always said my style suited me. (I like to think it was a compliment.) This jacket reminds me of her every time I wear it.

Rock n' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, Or, My Favorite "Story Behind the Shirt"

AC/DC shirt: thrifted, Strange Cargo in Chicago, Ill.

Skirt: thrifted, Value Village

Cardigan: Forever 21

Necklace: thrifted

Bracelet: gift

Booties: Urbanog

I put together this outfit to show off a new skirt I found at Value Village last week, but the piece that pops out most to me is the AC/DC shirt. It's been a beloved wardrobe staple for the last seven years, and it's the item in my closet with the best 'story behind the buy.'

The opportunity to buy the shirt came serendipitously as I was checking out at Strange Cargo in Chicago. This tiny blonde swooped through the door in a pile of fury and dumped out a brown grocery bag full of shirts onto the countertop. I tried not to stare. I tried to make smalltalk with my own cashier, but you couldn't help but overhearing every few words. "parking lot handie... four other girls... vacation in Jamaica..."

At that point, I was attentively staring at the girl and the pile of shirts. They were some pretty choice concert shirts--a few from AC/DC, Journey, Bon Jovi. Some, I'm sure, my mom owned in high school.

"I'm getting rid of him, but first, I'm getting rid of his musty dumb t-shirts," she said.

The cashier explained they weren't a resale shop.

"You don't want 'em? That's fine," the girl said. "I'll give them to homeless people! Yeah! That'll really fuck with his head, seeing his favorite shirts on homeless people!"

"I'd actually like to buy one of those," I said.

Seven seconds later, I had plucked this AC/DC baseball T from the mass, and handed her $30. She definitely looked like she could use some wine.

Whoever you are, cheating guy whose shirts got sold off, thank you. At least one of them is being put to great use.