the renegade bean :: tales from my transpacific dress-up box

What I'm Sproutin': Vintage Regression

2010-03-17T13:23:00.006+08:00

Dress: Forever 21, leggings: American Apparel, shoes: Aldo, cardigan: Banana Republic

This is a dress I purchased at Forever 21 when I was back in California for our wedding last May. I really liked the vintage-y print and silhouette -- that is, the dress would have a vintage silhouette if it weren't so short and the armholes weren't so deep that I have to wear a cardigan over it to preserve my dignity. I've read that one of the things fast-fashion stores do to save money is to skimp on fabric by making cuffs shorter and skirts shorter. Over a thousand mass-produced shirts or so, that saves a lot of material (while widening profit margins). I don't know how that works with armholes, though, because wouldn't the leftover material be so awkwardly shaped you wouldn't be able to use it for anything else? Maybe gaping armholes are a trend I don't understand. Anyway, my giant grandpa cardi came to the rescue. I love this one because it's a very thin linen blend and I can wear it on warm days.

I'll be quiet on the blogging and commenting front because I'm off to Singapore for a few days today! It'll be a busy trip because it's technically for work, but I'm going with a friend and intend to make the most of it!

What I'm Sproutin': Sorbet Noir

2010-03-11T23:27:00.004+08:00

Vintage dress: easystreetvintage @ Etsy, cardigan: American Apparel, scarf: Muji, belt: J. Crew outlet, vintage necklace and tights: night market, shoes: Aldo, purse: Hayden Harnett for Target, earrings: Target

Today the sun came out and the temperature went up a bit (it was 8 to 10 degrees Celsius yesterday in Taipei), so I decided to celebrate by breaking out my rainbow dress.

I dressed to match Mr. Dragonfly behind me.

I also wore a pair of giant white filigree earrings, but the hooks started bothering me after a few minutes. I have to swap them out for sterling silver ones. I've been getting more sensitive to nickel and other base metals since hitting my mid-twenties. Does anyone else have this problem?

My dress is handmade, from the 1980s (I think) and has HUGE puffy sleeves. Here is a picture from the seller:

I thought I might be able to get away with them, but I think I'll have to cut them off or otherwise alter them into ordinary short sleeves or maybe flutter sleeves (though that might also be too much). I was also thinking I should shorten the dress (by removing the bottom horizontal rows, shortening the main skirt and then reattaching the self-trim), but I actually like this length with heels. I often do this with dresses in my "to alter" pile. Instead of working on them, I drag them out, shake out the wrinkles and just wear it as is. Sometimes laziness works out!

What I'm Sproutin': Ruby Re-mix

2010-03-08T22:39:00.003+08:00

Dress: Urban Lotus Boutique at Etsy, shoes: Re-Mix Vintage shoes, belt: Forever 21

I am very excited because I just bought a new flash for my camera from Big Camera (相機王), my favorite photography equipment store in Taipei, and can now take indoor photos on cloudy days. Woohoo! Now all I need to do is figure out how to take good indoor photos. My dress is from Urban Lotus Boutique on Etsy. I'm not sure how old it is, but it has a very cool print and a Peter Pan collar. Here's a close-up from the seller:

The hem looks uneven in the photo above, but it isn't. Here's another view. You can also see how much my cat loves me.

My shoes are the highlight of my outfit -- they are from Re-Mix Vintage Shoes and are reproductions of 1940s wedges. I bought them at The Bee's Knees on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland when we were in California for our wedding last May.

They are very comfortable, but I keep falling off of them when I walk because of my over-pronated feet (they roll inwards). I bought motion stabilizing New Balance running shoes that are made specifically for over-pronators, but I still get shin splints in the inner front of my calves when I run, so I have to watch my gait. I guess I just have to learn how to walk/run correctly!

What I'm Sproutin': Gingham to me

2010-03-03T12:40:00.002+08:00

*Reposted with photos you can actually see. Thanks to Elaine for pointing that out to me!

Vintage shirt dress: bvikki vintage, tights: Urban Outfitters, shoes: Aldo, cardigan: Muji, belt: Forever 21?, squirrel necklace: Haoshi (close-up photo here)

These photos were taken before Lunar New Year! It seems so long ago. I can't believe it's already March. I'll have to start planning my summer wardrobe soon. It get so hot and humid in Taiwan during the summer that dressing becomes an art. The hard part is that I don't like sleeveless tops or t-shirts and I'm not a big fan of shorts or short skirts. So that pretty much knocks out 90% of my options. I might just have to buy more vintage shirt dresses.

This will have to be short post because our cat, Taroko George, is playing a game called "knocking stuff off of stuff," but I just want to add that my dress is from bvikki vintage. Becca also keeps an amazing blog of the same name that compiles images from vintage African-American publications.

What I'm Sproutin': Paisley Me Be

2010-02-25T22:33:00.004+08:00

Jacket: Modcloth, dress: Oh My God (store in Taipei, yes, it always confuses people when I tell them I'm going there), tights: night market, shoes: Aldo, bag: Hayden-Harnett for Target, headband: Accessorize

Today was another one of those days in Taipei where the sun put in an appearance for an hour or so in the late morning, and then disappeared. These photos are fuzzier than I'm happy with, but I wanted to post them because they show off my latest obsession -- gray tights. Gray: the perfect compromise between black and white! I got the idea to pair them with bone-colored shoes from Anja at Clever Nettle.

I love the paisley print on this dress. It's so loud. I would also like to point out that this is the second outfit in a row I've posted without any black in it! Wow! I'm on a roll here. When I was in high school and college, I was known as the girl in black and my Mom wondered why I always dressed in such somber colors. I told her I was in mourning for my lost youth. Well, now I'm 28 and over my lost youth. Time to embrace the rainbow!

Unlikely Sources of Inspiration: "Eastern Promises"

2010-02-24T20:53:00.004+08:00

It's been a while since I did an Unlikely Sources of (style) Inspiration post. In fact, I think the last one, about "The Orphan" was also my first one. I like finding ideas in costumes from films that aren't thought of as "costume films," especially if the outfits say things about each character that you can't necessarily glean from the dialogue.

Directed by David Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises" is about the Russian mafia in London and is known for its infamous naked knife fight scene, which involves Viggo Mortenson's character, Nikolai, and two other gangsters (though, technically, only Mortenson was naked and the knives were linoleum cutters, but I digress). The plot revolves around Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife at a large London hospital who becomes obsessed with finding the family of a Russian teenager who died giving birth.

Throughout the course of the movie, we find out that Anna is motivated by several highly emotional experiences, including a miscarriage and the recent death of her Russian-born father. Her uncle Stepan spends a lot of time with Anna and her mom and I loved the family's interactions because they reminded me of the dynamics between the first- and second-generation Taiwanese-Americans in the community I grew up in.

When she isn't in hospital scrubs, Anna's wardrobe consists mainly of jeans and heavy knits (the movie takes place entirely between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) in neutral hues, but they have little details like unusual closures and intricate stitch patterns. Her character is warm, practical, intelligent and hard-headed -- but at the same time very vulnerable. I think those traits are well-represented by her wardrobe.

In several scenes, she wears a motorcycle jacket to ride her father's old motorcycle, which he brought over from Russia. The jacket and helmet serve as a sort of armor, while at the same time tying Anna to her late father and, in turn, her Russian heritage. In fact, all of her jackets and overcoats are black and sharply-tailored, which links her visually to the gangsters, including Nikolai, that she becomes increasingly involved with.

The set detail in the movie is also great. Most of "Eastern Promises" takes place in Anna's mother's apartment, which is filled with the kind of knick-knacks you'd expect to see in a multicultural family's apartment (an embroidered wall hanging contrasts with Laura Ashley-ish curtains and a large collection of porcelain cows in the kitchen) or an upscale Russian restaurant that is a front for Nikolai's gang. The restaurant is grand and decorated in dark colors (pine green, dark varnished wood, crimson) that look festive or ominous depending on the scene.

I highly recommend "Eastern Promises," but it's a very violent film, so don't see it if gore freaks you out!

What I'm Sproutin': School Spirit

2010-02-22T22:11:00.004+08:00

Navy jacket: See's (a discount store in Taipei), blouse: BCBG sale, yellow skirt: same sale, shoes: Aldo, pendant: F-ck You Barbie, double-stranded choker: self-made, purse: Hayden-Harnett for Target, headband: Accessorize

Blue and gold reminds me of my elementary school, because those were our school colors. I remember being very sad when I realized that gold actually meant "bright yellow." I would have liked to break out the bling on school spirit days!

Then again, I've always been very literal when it comes to dressing up. Our middle school had school spirit weeks. Each day had a different theme; home rooms earned points based on how many students showed up in whatever the costume of the day was. I remember Eighties Day, Backwards Day and Pajama Day. On the latter, I came to school wearing my PJs, which were made out of a soft white jersey and had little pastel flowers on them. They looked like baggy long underwear. It wasn't until I saw my classmates parading around in crisp satin sets from Victoria's Secret and brand-new bunny slippers that I realized there was (is?) an unspoken rule among the student body that you don't wear your actual pajamas to Pajama Day. Whoops! I got funny looks, but then again I always got funny looks, so I didn't care.

I've had this skirt for a little while now. My Mom bought it for me at a BCBG sale when I was in California planning my wedding last year. It also came in navy blue and I debated for a bit until my Mom said I should pick the yellow because I already owned enough clothing in depressing hues. I agreed, but then had a hard time figuring out how to style the skirt until I picked up this structured hoodie. Yes, the jacket is navy blue, but I really like this color combo. When my yellow skirt was hanging unworn in my closet, I regretted not choosing the navy blue, but now I'm glad I have such a cheerful-looking item greeting me every time I get dressed.

To make my outfit a little less preppy (not that there is anything wrong with preppy), I added my anatomically-correct heart pendant from a Taipei-based indie design team called F-ck You Barbie. They also made my beloved brain pendant. The weather's been awful recently in Taipei -- gray, wet and chilly. The lack of sun has made me feel both blue and mentally foggy. Maybe I should wear both my pendants together for good luck. Goodness knows, my brain and heart could use some extra help right now!

MUJI Labo

2010-02-17T22:15:00.006+08:00

At the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebration, Ron and I headed over to Breeze Center (微風廣場) to do some shopping in their grocery store. While dilly-dallying in the rest of the mall, I discovered Breeze's MUJI had expanded -- and now included a whole new collection of clothes called MUJI Labo.

MUJI Labo has a lot of the same silhouettes (dropped waist dresses, up-and-down shifts, swing coats, A-line skirts) found in MUJI's regular clothing lines, but features more luxurious fabrics and higher price tags. Most dresses I saw were about NT$4,500 (or about US$140) to NT$6,000 (~NT$187.50).

My favorite pieces included this shawl-collared sweater coat, which looks ordinary from the front but has beautiful, undulating horizontal cables on the back...

...a black/white plaid drop-waisted dress -- the stripes looked like they were felted, instead of woven or printed, onto the white fabric...

...and this cream shift and vest set because of the silhouette and textured brocade.

Overall, I really like MUJI's newest clothing line, even though it's out of my price range (and I always have fit issues with MUJI's more tailored items). I know MUJI enjoys an almost cult-like status in countries where it's hard to find their stuff, like the US, but there is a store in almost every major mall in Taipei. Since moving here two and a half years ago, I've had plenty of time to think of how good MUJI is at marketing their items (and creating really gorgeous catalog shoots) and how their brand philosophy of minimalism just disguises how unextraordinary and overpriced a lot of their products really are. I hope MUJI will continue to launch new product lines that focus on design and quality and spend less time trying to flog crappy plastic boxes that warp easily and pens that dry out within a couple of months (can you tell by my little rant that I've bought a fair amount of MUJI stuff?) before they dilute their appeal.

What do you think of the new line?

What I'm Sproutin': Memento Mori of the Heart

2010-02-15T01:31:00.003+08:00

Skirt and coat: Modcloth, tights and scarf: night market, boots: Breeze Center (微風廣場), bag: Booday (蘑菇)

The weather in Taipei decided to turn rainy and chilly -- just in time for Lunar New Year (AKA Chinese New Year) vacation! Woo-hoo! I shouldn't complain too much, though. Today was the start of the lunar new year in addition to Valentine's Day. There were a couple hours of sun this afternoon and I took advantage of it to go jogging. I worked on a needle-felted miniature sculpture of my cat after I went home (yes, I'm crazy). Ron and I then had a Valentine's Day/New Year dinner incorporating pretty much everything I fantasize about eating but try to stay away from -- red wine, red meat, chocolate ice cream, sponge cake. Heh heh. Double holidays should happen more often.

The point of this outfit post is to show off my Heart coat from Modcloth. This is probably the last Modcloth order I will be making from Taiwan. I love their stuff and their shipping rates are actually quite reasonable if you use their international coupon code (inter75), but I got hit with a doozy of a customs charge. I ordered this coat because my bodice measurements are considered pneumatic by Taiwan standards and I wanted something roomy enough to stuff tons of layers underneath. I had an oversized cardigan, long-sleeved thick jersey shirt and gathered skirt underneath this and still felt comfy. In fact, I should have sized down because the coat's measurements are actually a bit roomier than what the Modcloth site stated.

To keep this coat from being too twee (I swear, I saw a toddler wearing an exact replica of it, but in red... and obviously much smaller), I paired it with my weird face tights and creepy Louis Vuitton pastiche scarf. I love how there are skulls in place of the L's and V's.

The tights are 180 denier and very comfortable. They are by a Japanese brand called Tutuanna. I think you can find them in most night markets -- the packaging is brown. My scarf is also from a night market. I bought it last last year because it was so cool looking I couldn't resist (and I needed a scarf). At first I was worried it was a LV knock-off, but I haven't been able to find any results when I do a search for "LV skull print." I like to think it's a sardonic comment on the cult of luxury goods and the LVMH empire.

Happy Valentine's Day and a Happy New Year for those of you who celebrate the Lunar New Year (or as I've taken to calling it because of the insane number of fireworks that went off in our neighborhood this year, Loony New Year)!

What I'm Sproutin': Dandelion Green

2010-02-11T19:06:00.003+08:00

Dress: Dandelion Vintage, shoes: Aldo, tights: the black hole of my sock drawer, purse: Hayden-Harnett for Target, vintage wooden heart pendant: vendor in Shida night market (師大夜市), belt: J. Crew outlet, headband: Accessorize

This is my first vintage shirt dress and one of my favorite 1960s styles. I bet I could do a nice, collegiate winter look with it and a v-necked black lambswool sweater, but unfortunately I left my v-necked black lambswool sweater home in California. Argh! It's on my list of stuff to fetch when I visit my parents.

This shirtdress has red and yellow stripes that run through the green. You can't see them from afar, but I think they brighten the fabric. They also remind me of dandelions, which is funny, because I purchased this dress from Dandelion Vintage right before I left for Taiwan.

I highly recommend them, by the way. One of my first eBay purchases ever (back in high school, when I still had to go to 7-Eleven to get a money order because I didn't have a checking account yet) was from Dandelion Vintage. It was a chartreuse green satin evening shift and coat set with a rhinestone-encrusted mesh neckline. It's as fabulous as it sounds. I haven't worn it a lot, but I might also bring it back to Taiwan with me and wear the shift an everyday dress. After all, rhinestones are considered a basic embellishment here, the way buttons and top-stitching are in the US, so I would fit in perfectly!

The little details in "Elizabeth"

2010-02-10T23:00:00.005+08:00

"Elizabeth" was one of my favorite movies when I was in high school. As a (former) theater geek, I adored the little details in the costumes, like the motifs embroidered onto Elizabeth's mesh sleeves, layers of jewelry, ribbons intertwined with braids and the scallops on Dudley's jacket.

What I'm Sproutin': Specs Incognito

2010-02-09T21:42:00.006+08:00

Dress and cardigan: H&M, leggings and scarf: American Apparel, shoes: Aldo, mitts: corner store, headband: night market, bag: Booday (蘑菇), birdcage necklace: Accessorize

Andrea of A Cat of Impossible Colour wrote a great post last week on how being the Girl with the Big Glasses used to define her personality -- and still does in a subconscious way. I enjoyed her entry because a couple weeks ago I had a corneal abrasion and had to wear glasses for a few days. I've written before about how putting on specs makes me feel like I'm slipping on a mask and walking around in disguise. I think my sense of style even changed temporarily. And since I had this big thing of plastic on my face, I decided to throw on some bright red lipstick for good measure. This outfit makes me look like an art student, in my opinion. I look like I'm about to go scream at prices for watercolor paper ("That's four sheets for how much!?!?!"). Or maybe I look like a journalism student, which would make sense, because a) I was a journalism student and b) those mitts sure would have come in handy when I developed a raging case of repetitive stress injury while in grad school.

My portable pet Gerry the Bird

The interesting thing about wearing glasses when you are used to contacts is that everything seems narrower, smaller and more distant. My seven-month-old cat looked like a tiny little kitten again. I was verklempt. I guess my glasses aren't just glasses, nor are they just a disguise of sorts -- they are also time machine googles!

Legumes of the Week #14

2010-02-07T21:46:00.006+08:00

Mary Dixon Palmer, 1920, from Shorpy

Antique patterns for all kinds of needlework, from sewing to tatting to knitting. Via WhipUp.net.

Unclutterer shares three easy ways to straighten up your house (and computer) on weekends.

Elsa Mora's adorable Kokeshi-inspired doll.

Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing interviews Carolyn of Diary of a Sewing Fanatic on biases against plus-size sewers.

My Favorite Color is Shiny comes up with a very sweet (and thrifty!) DIY Valentine's Day gift idea.

The Happiness Projects shares 19 tips for cheering yourself up from 200 years ago.

Fashionist, a San Francisco street style blog, showcases James and his amazing outfit for those in-between days when the weather can't decide whether it's spring or still winter.

Pound Puppies: Anyone remember them?

2010-02-05T02:37:00.003+08:00

I've had this annoying theme song stuck in my head for the last twenty-three years or so; today, I finally did a search for "pound puppies" on YouTube. I found a cartoon intro that was disturbingly full of anti-feline rhetoric, but aside from that, it filled me with nostalgia for my early childhood in the early 80s. I don't think a lot of people remember the "Pound Puppies," because they weren't cool in the same way Jem, Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake were, but they definitely deserve a place in the pantheon of 80s cartoon greats (or at least goods). When I was a little girl, I was given a Pound Puppy radio. It was basically a stuffed animal glued on top of a cheap red radio, but I was riveted. Then Teddy Ruxpin came along, and I moved on. Sorry, Pound Puppies!

What I'm Sproutin': Aughty Go-Bye Nautties

2010-02-03T22:53:00.002+08:00

Dress: Macy's, cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft, scarf: Oasis, gloves: Modcloth, boots: Breeze Center (威風廣場), beret: Muji

Whenever I upload outfit photos to iPhoto, I put them in a folder and give them a name. Well, these photos were taken about two weeks ago and I have no idea what the heck I meant by "aughty go-bye nautties." But I am keeping the name, because it cracks me up (yes, I am one of those people who laughs at her own jokes. Or in this case, non-jokes).

I remember being really obsessed with nautical-themed outfits when I was in sixth grade. I had a white sailor shirt, which I wore with white shorts; that same year, I wore a really awesome navy blue dress in what was perhaps my most unflattering school photo. I wish I still fit into it! As it is, I'm still looking for my perfect sailor dress. Andrea from A Cat of Impossible Colour showcased a really awesome one recently. It's a vintage Laura Ashley dress that's been hemmed. I saw a similar one on eBay right before I moved to Taiwan. I still can't believe I didn't buy it!

If you've been curious about the random boards that have been showing up above my head in the past couple of outfits posts, wonder no more! It's a giant dragonfly!

It's part of an advertisement for this year's Taiwan International Floral Exposition. That reminds me of the time my parents, aunt and cousin went to a orchid expo in San Franciso. I was back home for spring break from college and told them to just drop me off on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley so I could do some thrift shopping. That was a ruse; what I really did was go into a body piercing salon and get an industrial. My Mom was all like "we leave you alone for three hours and you get a steel bar punched through the top of your ear!?!" I really loved my piercing, but unfortunately it developed a keloid after a couple of years and I had to take it out. Boo-hoo-hoo.

Vintage Taiwan No. 3: Friends (and some thoughts)

2010-02-02T22:01:00.007+08:00

I love this because the girl on the left is wearing a western-style sundress and her companion has on a traditional qipao

Here are a few more vintage photos I bought from an antique store in Taipei -- including one in color! The stone formation is called the Queen's Head (女王頭), a very famous landmark in Yehliu on the north coast of Taiwan. It's slowly eroding, so I bet tourists aren't allowed to casually lean against it anymore.

After I posted my first series of vintage Taiwan photographs, Threadbared included my blog post in a collection of writings by different bloggers on vintage fashion, race and politics. That entry was re-posted on Racialicious and picked up by Jezebel (Fashion for Writers' Jenny also wrote her own insightful and moving post on the subject).

I was surprised by some of the comments on Racialicious (which I am a fan of) and Jezebel -- many were dismissive of the issues that the other bloggers and I raised. Many commenters basically said, "what's the big deal?" or "I like vintage because it's pretty and I don't think it's worth politicizing."

I feel those responses missed the point of our posts (Julia at à l'allure garçonnière wrote a very thoughtful response). The main reason I enjoy vintage clothing is because it is pretty and different from what I can find in mainstream stores. It's not like race and identity politics are foremost on my mind when I go vintage shopping. But being able to take pleasure in the lush folds of a 1950s dress or a shimmery 1960s evening sheath doesn't mean I can't also devote brain space to thinking about the more difficult issues vintage collecting brings up. The two aren't mutually exclusive. In my case, I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to be mindful about the injustices dealt to Asian Americans and other minorities in the US during the last century, as well the more difficult aspects of Taiwan's social and political history.

I am absolutely not saying vintage enthusiasts who don't think about those issues are shallow; my passion for vintage fashion and design just happens to intersect with my interest in social history. I'm grateful for that because it makes the past come alive in a very immediate way.

On a semi-related topic -- I post these photos because they are novel to me. I rarely see photos of Asian people from before the 1980s doing "everyday" things (i.e. not posing with a dragon or giant pair of chopsticks in an advertisement or something). My family's old photographs are scattered among various relatives, so even those are hard for me to get ahold of. Whenever I stumble upon photos like the ones above, I feel a certain sense of glee -- and relief -- that's hard to put into words.

But I am also cognizant of idealizing the people in the photos. I try to remind myself that they were more than just the cute clothes they are wearing (that I want in my own closet). I know nothing about these people, just that for one moment they posed for a photo that somehow ended up in my hands. I'm planning to re-read "On Photography" by Susan Sontag and "Camera Lucida" by Roland Barthes so I can better articulate my feelings on this issue.

Any thoughts on either of these topics (vintage clothing and politics/race or collecting vintage photographs)? I'd love to hear your feedback.

What I'm Sproutin': Stop Starin' Screwball

2010-02-01T19:55:00.003+08:00

Dress: Stop Staring, cardigan: American Apparel, gloves: dollar store, shawl: night market, fascinator: Giant Dwarf, tights: Urban Outfitters, shoes: Green Pine (興傑鞋)

I've wanted a Stop Staring dress for the longest time and last year I finally realized this particular consumerist desire. Only once I got my hands on the dress, I had no idea what to do with it! When the site says that the bengaline fabric really clings to your figure, they aren't kidding! Excellent for attention-grabbing, but what to do when you don't want to grab that much attention?

So I dressed my dress down with an oversized unisex cardigan, a very shaggy lace shawl (I only noticed the loose threads after my husband took these photos, but I think they add a nice touch) from the night market and a pair of fingerless gray gloves I got from a dollar store. And then I dressed it up again with fishnets and a Giant Dwarf floral fascinator. I like to think that the end result is: screwball comedy heroine realizes that her Rolls-Royce Phantom is on the outs and has to get down on her knees and fix the damn thing herself because her driver/mechanic knocked himself out on moonshine the previous night.

I adore my Stop Staring dress, but I think I'll continue styling it this way unless I'm going out to a party. I like how the cardigan allows me to show off the little details about the dress that I love, like its contrasting kick pleats and Art Deco-ish collar.

I hope everyone is having a nice Monday!

Legumes of the Week #13

2010-01-29T22:07:00.007+08:00

I didn't do a Legumes of the Week last week, so this list will be a bit longer (and some of the links are to blog posts that are older than a week):

First off, how riveting is this illustration from an 1896 book called “Safe Counsel: Searchlights on Health: Light on Dark Corners”? I found it via a Web site called From Old Books, which is exactly what it sounds like. Lots and lots of transfixing graphics, borders and fancy lettering from out-of-copyright books. Hours of intriguing searching!

Kev shares photography tips on Jen Loves Kev.

Moodboard is inspired by black lace and rustic wood -- an awesome combination I never thought of before.

Hello Sandwich on Japan 7-Eleven's new healthy bento plan. I love this! I hope the concept comes over here to Taiwan because our 7-Elevens have bentos that are basically sodium molecules bonded together by rice and meat.

For psychology and mental health geeks -- Wise Bread reviews "Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness" by Ariel Gore. The book examines how the construct of happiness (and what makes a happy life), the self-help book market and the pharmacetical industry all impact American women.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who was obsessed with Rosemary's tanis root pendant in "Rosemary's Baby"! Stay Fancy Free was also fascinated.

Junk Jewelry on Madeline Albright's pins.

Daily Blog Tips on how to make a to-do list that will actually increase your productivity.

The fabulous Meggy Wang of Fashion for Writers on her incredible, eye-popping, inspiring weekly planner hacking.

Last, but certainly not least, Bonjour, It's Jinah rounds up different ways you can help Haiti's earthquake victims.

Cosmetics: how much does the outside count?

2010-01-29T01:12:00.006+08:00

All photos by me unless otherwise noted

Above photo from Jill Stuart Beauty

A couple weeks ago, I went to the launch of Jill Stuart Beauty's (site in Japanese, but graphics intensive) latest collection for spring, Angel Rocker. The eyeshadows and blush are too glittery and perfumed for my taste, but I was entranced by the ornate and extremely princess-y packaging. Most of my everyday make-up is from MAC or Nars, and their plain, black, "we are professional makeup artists and we mean business!" packaging is completely different from the shiny crystal-clear compacts and ornate, jeweled nail polish bottles I saw at the Jill Stuart Beauty launch. The brand is very popular in east Asia, but (as far as I know) available only at certain Jill Stuart stores in the US.

I can see how pulling out a crystal-like compact when you are touching your make-up in the middle of the day might give you a small lift, even if you are just quickly swiping on some lip gloss at your cubicle or patting on some powder in a flourescent-lit office washroom.

This made me wonder how important packaging is to women when they make cosmetic purchases. It was to me when I was younger and make-up seemed like a magical thing. I wanted enameled compacts that closed with a satisfying click and lipstick in gilt tubes. When Coty still sold lipstick, I bought them even though the texture was too dry for me because they came in vintage-style packaging; even the lipstick had that mid-century bullet shape. I also bought Coty loose powder because the packaging had not changed since the 1930s). I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes I'd just wave the puff in front of my face and enjoy the scent, which just smelled so vintage-y. I felt like a character in a Rosamunde Pilcher novel!

1939 ad found on Cosmetics and SkinProduct photo found on [drumroll] Walgreen's online store

Coty still sells the same boxes with the powder puffs against a golden background (the harder to find blue packaging indicates formulation for sensitive skin). I remember passing by a store here in Taipei that had rows of Coty loose powder boxes and feeling a nostalgic thrill, even though I haven't used their products in 10 years (alas, I've forgotten where that store is!).

Credit: Ad Classix... the vintage ad is for sale

When I used Coty make-up as a vintage-obsessed teenager, I felt like I was playing a role. I'd swivel the lipstick out of the tube and pull it against my lips. The almost paste-like texture didn't bother me because I figured that was what women in the 1950s were accustomed to. I set my precious Coty powder box on my dresser next to my iridiscent Caboodles case and felt like I'd been transported into a more glamorous era.

I no longer pay attention to cosmetics packaging, however -- I just want make-up that doesn't irritate my skin, give me a headache with too much perfume or wear off quickly. But when I saw the Jill Stuart cosmetics and all the fans of the brand who were at the event, it made me wonder: what do those compacts and bejeweled brush handles symbolize to them? I got the feeling that most of the women were young professionals like me. Is part of the reason they chose make-up brands like Jill Stuart and Anna Sui over Mac, Smashbox and Nars because the packaging gives them a bit of escapism in the middle of a stressful day?

What do you think? Is fancy, ornate packaging a marketing trap or a way to inject some beauty (or at least prettiness) into your day? Would you be willing to spend extra for product in ornate containers? And (since I'm on this topic) what brands do you think have the most attractive packaging?

In My Pod: Shelves in my home office

2010-01-27T22:23:00.004+08:00

Left to right: Japanese photography magazines, Dover reproductions of vintage Sears catalogs, Taiwanese photography books and "Ways of Seeing" by John Berger

A cyanotype print I made from an old photo of my family

Candy doesn't count as empty calories if it comes in cute tins.

Reproductions of toys once popular in Taiwan and a card deck with vintage cartoon illustrations

Jean Simmons: Strength and Beauty

2010-01-26T18:53:00.001+08:00

As you may have heard, actress Jean Simmons passed away last week. I knew her work through two movies at opposite stages of her career: Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" (she played Ophelia when she was just a teenager) and "The Thorn Birds," in which Simmons portrayed Meggy's distant mother.

Simmons was an intelligent, feisty and well-spoken woman who had a long, distinguished career; she also overcame alcoholism at one point in her life. Her amazing personality really comes out in all the obituaries I've read so far -- in fact, every thing I've ever read or heard about her sparkles with Jean Simmons' spirit.

All above photos from the Life magazine archive

What I'm Sproutin': Bavarian Barney

2010-01-25T18:38:00.000+08:00

Vintage dirndl: eBay, jersey top: Target, cardigan: H&M, vintage wooden heart pendant: Shida night market (師大夜市), shoes: Sogo Zhongxiao (Sogo 忠孝), tights: I have no idea, headband: Forever 21

This dirndl is one of my favorite dresses -- and the best thing about it (besides all the flaming purple) is that it came to me though eBay serendipity. The woman selling it had photographed it backwards on a dress form, so it looked like a plain sleeveless dress with embroidery around the bottom. When I saw the thumbnail, however, I was like "hey, that 'sleeveless cocktail dress' looks just like the back of a dirndl!" Apparently, the seller thought it was supposed to be worn with all the embroidery accentuating the back. I guess that's one way to remix the it!

The rest of my outfit is plain black, as I wanted to put the emphasis on the purple-ness, but I do like my vintage wooden heart necklace and my bandeau-style plastic headband. I forgot to take a close-up, but it has a airy, lace-like pattern on it. People often comment on it when I have it on. I've had some nice conversations with strangers in New York City and Taipei because of this headband. I guess that's one way to get to know people when you're new somewhere -- wear a statement accessory.

What I've Bean Sproutin': Feeling Dotty. A Bit Squirrely, Too.

2010-01-21T11:50:00.002+08:00

Cardigan: H&M, top: Cartoon House (卡通工房), skirt: Modcloth, tights: the depths of my tights box, boots: Sogo Fuxing, headband: Shida night market, necklace: Haoshi

This has got to be one of the weirdest photos of me ever taken! I totally don't look like myself! I think that's what having a combination of pale skin and small features does to you -- gray light totally washes you out! Boo. Anyway, my outfit here is yet another attempt to mix up prints, only in this case there were two things with polka dots, so I guess that doesn't really count as mixing. I do like how the size of the dots and the spacing differ, however!

I've realized that I can mix a lot of black/white/red/gray outfits with the stuff in my closet. I don't know why. I like red, but it's not my favorite color. I do, however, own a lot of black clothing. Maybe buying more and more red stuff is my subconscious way of brightening up my dreary wardrobe. I used to wear all black, until one day I realized I bored myself to death every time I looked in a mirror. Also, it drives me crazy when two black items of clothing don't match EXACTLY. I'm kind of weird that way. I do, however, still buy a lot of gray clothing, or gray and black pieces with interesting patterns, details or shapes, like this skirt.

My squirrel pendant is from a Taiwanese indie design team called Haoshi. Their Web site is in English and Chinese and has the cutest little back stories for their resin animal pendants. The one for the squirrel is: "I move in the forest. Every direction or signature, they all lead me to hope." I love that! I think it's a good mantra for life. I've made some major decisions in the past few years (well, all twentysomethings do, I guess), including moving to a new country and getting married. Not all of them were easy choices (well, getting married was a pretty easy choice, especially since there was a huge chocolate toffee cake involved, heh heh), but all have indeed led me to hope.

Legumes of the Week #12

2010-01-15T23:36:00.004+08:00

Illustration by Cat Maske

A coterie of very talented female animators and artists draw girls -- pin-up girls, space girls, kawaii girls, eerie girls, crazy girls, all awesome girls -- on Girls Drawing Girls. The above illustration is by my wonderful friend Cat Maske.

For all you chronic vacillators out there -- a fascinating interview with the author of "How We Decide" on neuroscience blog The Frontal Cortex.

Hello Sandwich always finds the best blogs! Here she introduces us to Tokyo Connection, which has the most gorgeous photography of everyday sights in the city that is currently on top of my "must visit" list.

Dear Golden Vintage shares a creepy/cool/pretty/thought-provoking photography series by Ofer Wolberg.

We're gonna decorate like it's Nineteen-Sixty-Three, thanks to Millie Motts!

Victorian infographics on BibliOdyssey (via Nubby Twiglet).

And one for those of you who are already falling behind on your New Years Resolutions (like, erm, me) -- Unclutterer explains how to increase your energy with just a tiny bit of planning ahead.

Have a wonderful weekend! Ron and I are hoping to finally see "Avatar" in 3-D. It's been a busy few weeks, but we won't let this weekend pass without going!

An old friend from long ago...

2010-01-14T00:40:00.006+08:00

Source

I was trawling through Vintage Ad Browser when I found an old friend. This vintage advertising poster from China used to hang on my wall when I was in college. I bought it at the Union Square holiday gift fair. The woman in it appealed to me because she seemed bookish, shy and in her own world despite all the busy little graphics around her; during my freshman year of college I could certainly identify with that. I also loved her outfit -- the sleekness of her qipao, the surprisingly modern vest with its rosette and the strands of pearls. It's good to see her again (and it's also good to be able to read Chinese now and know that the poster is advertising the awesome flour and vegetables you'll grow after using ammonium sulfate!).