Geek Chic Part 2

SHOES!
A must have for every Chick Geek is a great pair (or pairs) of shoes. So here's my top picks

First off, Converse. A must have for any geek, and any human being for that matter. 

I have a pair of these  from Urban in the brown color, I love them

Deena and Ozzy Ludlow Oxfords from Urban

Get to the Point Spectators from Modcloth

Just because you're a geek, doesn't mean that you can't still be pretty and feminine!  Here are some cute heels I dug up...

About the Benjamins Heel

Shoeful of Sugar Heel

BDG Wingtip Pump

That's it for shoes... stay tuned for more!
-Brenna Kathleen

Geek Chic Part 1

I love Geeks. I am a Geek. 
One of the most important characteristics of a Geek is their style, or lack thereof. But with this super chic style guide to Geeks, I'll have your average Hobbit lookin' like a classy elf.... er.... at least like a classy Hobbit.
 
Sweaters
Every geek should know, you need a good stash of sweaters for all that time you spend indoors in a dark place making art, geeking out on the computer, playing video games, reading, whatever it is that any geek does. 
So here is my selection of sweater must-haves:

The Keep It Simple Cardigan truly lives up to it's name, perfect basic sweater

You're Welcome Cardigan

Recipe Card-igan

You should know how much I love this style sweater, while it's not the gray/black one I've been searching for, I still love the Haute Chocolate Cardigan

Say it With Stripes Cardigan

THIS is my dream sweater. I'm in love.

Vests
One thing that I've learned is difficult to find are cardigan sweater vests for women. Does anyone else have this problem? I've gone through so many internet searches... all I want is a cardigan wiht the sleeves lopped off, doesn't seem too hard to do. Luckily I found one at Buffalo Exchange this past Labor Day that, once I sew the sides up to make it fit me better, will be a staple in my fall wadrobe.
But here are some cute ones from Modcloth!

Dramaturge Vest

All Vest Up With Someplace To Go

I swear I look at places other than Modcloth, but I couldn't find any vests that I liked, not even any sweater vests! (And if they did, then they were old matronly ugly) I guess they're not in this Fall, or people haven't really switched over yet. 

 Glasses
I'm not saying that all Geeks wear them, I don't. But it's a stereotype, and one that I like.

woodgrain reader

vintage risky reader

wayfarer reader

Geek Tees
Of course, even the most fashionable of Geeks is going to sport a clever tee now and then. 

Super Trooper

You Never Forget Your First Doctor

I [Atom] Science

Evil League of Evil

  Sorry for the long post, but us Geeks gotta' know how to be super chic and not just like we emerged from our parent's basement for the first time in 4 months.

More parts to come!
-Brenna Kathleen
 

I think I should copyright

Check out what I found on Modcloth today.

This past spring I did some painting to sell for my mission's trip. I made some in advance, but I also took requests and made some right there on the spot. I didn't catch photos of all of them, but here's a big picture dump of my paintings. Keep in mind that I don't consider myself a painter or a photographer.

 I had an old copy of Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban that I used to paint on. Most people would consider it an awful thing to do, to take out pages from fine literature and treat it this way. But I love doing it. I don't think it's disrespectful. In fact, I think it to be quite the opposite. I often try to find books or authors I like to make in to art. I use the pages of things that inspire me.
I also love trying to relate the two.
For instance, I painted an owl on a page from the chapter "Owl Post"

 Sometimes the poor art major in me has no other choice but to buy books that I'm not particularly interested in. This page (and others I painted on ) is from an old readers digest. And apparently has several semi-trashy romance novels in it. I found that out when I was in mid-painting and started actually paying attention to some of the words on the page.
For clarification. I bought it because I liked the cover (and kept it for a future project) and the pages had the correct yellow tint that I needed.

 more owl post

 My roommate, Jojo, bought this one from me. I think it was actually the first one I made.

  This was a request, for the chicken on Harry Potter. Love it.

 Another request. I want to recreate this one. I love the wale blue on the book page.

 I made this for my dear friend, Marnie. I call her Narnia, so I painted her the lamp post with Mr. Tumnus.

 More owl post...

 And more owl post... People really liked the owl idea.

Flower commission.

I painted a bunch of different bikes, thinking the hipsters would love it. Some did, most didn't. Next time I need to do more research on things hipsters like.









Well, that was a great reminder to post more of my work! I'm not really going to copyright, but it is giving me ideas to make my own stationary...

A Letter From The Modest Fashionistas

Dear Clothing Manufacturers and Providers,

It has come to my attention over several saddening months that the length and style of certain dress and skirt articles that you are producing and selling are not flattering to all body types and personal preferences. As a modest dresser, I myself find it very difficult to find dresses and skirts that I would attempt to wear in public without the aid of tights or leggings and summer dresses with sleeves that would cover even an inch of my shoulders. 

This is not just a problem with certain clothing providers but with all of them. Even a trip to the mall results in cast away clothing that is short, showy, and down right scandalous.
Hey Modcloth, ever wonder why certain styles sell out the moment you post them online? I do love your "longer lengths" section. But even those are on the pricey side and are lacking sleeves
And Fred Flare,  I love your low prices and super cute clothes. You even have some items that have been sold out over on modcloth. But in all the shots, not one skirt reaches the model's knee.
Urban Outfitters isn't much better. And Anthropologie is everything a vintage loving modest girl could ask for, but is like a knife in the heart when the price tag comes into play.

I know that there are designers out there who make clothes that are more flattering to all tastes and body types. Even as someone who isn't a size small, I can find real vintage finds that look great. But as a size medium-large, I can't find vintage inspired clothes unless I'm willing to pay up over $50 (and even then the quality is sometimes not fitting to the price).

Even though it's been taken over by the "go green" movement. The campaign to be more accepting of all body types is still there. And it would be greatly helped along if the clothing we sell is more flattering to all types that are tall, short, big, or small.

So who's going to be the change?

Home Sweet Home...

I made it! I survived my sophomore year of college. I thought the 18 units were going to pound me into the carpet of my extremely cluttered dorm room.
But after hours of packing and cleaning, traffic, and more traffic resulting in a 3 hour long drive that should have only lasted 1 1/2, I'm home. Yes, I have lots of boxes in the family room that I have to go through over the next few days. Yes, I start work on Tuesday after missing it completely due to traffic today. Yes, I have to do an extreme downsize on everything that I'll be bringing back. But I'm done and home! I've forgotten how comfy my bed here is. I can't wait to snuggle in it again, even if I'm surrounded by suitcases and boxes when I wake up.

Since I'm here and resting. I can leisurely look at web sites again without feeling guilty because I should be doing something else. So I took a quick trip over to........ you guessed it! Modcolth.

I've mentioned before that one of my favorite things that they've done on their site is add a "longer lengths" section in their dresses. Although some of them still seem to be just as the knee, it's better than the usual length which is just below your pelvic bone.

But the things there make me waft off to dream land where money doesn't matter, and your outfit is always darling and cute...

Who wouldn't LOVE this amazing little envelope necklace, with a little letter inside!

I also get some ideas for future living situations, be they dorm room or a real home.

 

Who thought of this beautiful contraption?! It makes me want to wash dishes all day long and whistle happy tunes.

 The barely-dipped rose handle on this mug.... is it disgusting if I describe it as 'delicious'?

I'm actually excited to go through everything I brought back. I won't have much room next year, and I'll have to come up with some sort of container system for my art supplies. 

But think of the potential of an empty canvas of a space, I take it as a challenge.

I've already taken measurements of every piece of furniture in the room, and will be attempting to make a slip cover with built-in cushions for my ugly college-supplied desk chair. 

This will be epic.

Until next time, which won't be so long now that I have more free time!!

-Brenna Kathleen

When Two Loves Combine...

I haven't had a post on any sort of fashion in a while. Mostly because I've been too busy to look and dream about fashion, or have time to look good myself. I've left the nerdy-vintage-chic style that I'm working so hard to have and have gone with tee shirt and jeans with a sweater (not even that now, it's so hot here!) for the past month. But a re-visit to Modcloth and the "longer lengths" in the dress section (that to be honest looks like most of them barely reach your knee, longer? really?) lead me to this beauty

It's called the Blueberry Oatmeal Dress. And if there is one thing everyone should know about me, it's that I absolutely adore breakfast! It's weird, I know. But true. And the fact that this lovely dress is named after one of my favorite things on the planet makes my heart melt a little bit like rich butter on a perfectly brown slice of toast.

Anyways, I have school work to get back to. I'm working on "real work" today after having been out until 5 am last night working in the ceramics studio. Ahh.... the life of the college art major.

Toodles!
-Brenna Kathleen

I've gone down the rabbit hole, and don't plan on climbing back out

Well, I finally saw it. Alice in Wonderland in 3D!

Let me say. BEAUTIFUL!

Alice has always been one of my tippy-top favorite characters of all time. Ever since I was little. And when I was old enough to read the books I fell in love all over again. The poetry in Through The Looking Glass! It's inspired my love of poofy dresses, bottles, cakes, and poetry ( I can even recite the Jabberwocky poem by heart)

Here she is. Alice Liddell. The girl Carroll based the book off of. 

 A sketch of Tim Burton's Alice.

 The costumes (by the amazing Colleen Atwood) are like no other Alice before. I love that the clothes don't grow and shrink with Alice, so she gets dressed in all types of things from fabric scraps to curtains!

Needless to say, when I came out of that movie theater my love for the story, world, and language was again raised from the ashes. I instantly came back and started researching everything I could, mostly dresses I'll admit. I found myself eating up every whimsical blue and white dress I could find

 -an old vintage dress, I forgot where I found it - dress from dELiA's that looks so amazingly similar to Alice's dress in the movies ( I am so tempted to buy this one)- I forgot where I found this one too. poo.

These are amazing dresses I found at Victorian Maiden. Aren't they lovely?

The renewed imagination-ness of Alice has actually come at a good time for me. I've been thinking about my art and where I want to take it. I've found myself holding back in terms of the art I produce for class. I want to come up with a product, so I'm afraid to take chances that may result in a non-product failure. But now I'm going to unleash my imagination. I'm going to let the madness of Alice influence me in the best possible way. 

I may even start to believe 6 impossible things before breakfast as an exercise. 

Send word with the white rabbit if you need to get a message to me,  in the mean time I'll be having tea with the Hatter. 

-Brenna Kathleen