Reconsidering consumption

Yesterday's thrifting trip was quite successful. Maybe that's because I take rule number 2: "have an open mind," of successful thrifting too seriously. I managed to get 11 pieces for $34. This partly because I mostly bought shirts, which are about $3-4 to begin with, but also because all non-green tags were 1/2 off on Family Day. I pleased to report that this is a 100% thrifted/second hand outfit.

I wanted to give my two cents about the style blogosphere's discussion of SATC2 (I know I am late to the game, but it's taken me a while to get my thoughts together). Edit: This is partially inspired by the post over at Fashionable Academics yesterday. Particularly, I was intrigued by the argument put forth by Jackie Ashley in the Guardian. I won't be seeing the movie (but I don't see many movies in the theatre, although I may drag Blokey to see Girl With the Dragon Tatoo). Ms. Ashley's key claim is that the widespread judgments of SATC2 as an example of crash consumerism is likely amplified by sexism. Here are some of the ways she says it better than I could:
"My contention is that there is nothing more intrinsically objectionable in women fantasising about big shopping and the ups and downs of urban sexuality than men fantasising about war, gangs or fast cars."
"Yes, it's true, Sex and the City celebrates a shallow consumerism that it is the purpose of serious journalism, and indeed serious living, to challenge. But it's the same shallow consumerism that, for instance, allows all those techie boys to jump around waving their Ipads outside the Apple store. The working conditions of the Chinese producing Ipads are horrible. These are machines designed to do "cool stuff". They are more complicated than the products of Jimmy Choo or Versace; but they are no more serious, or deserving of inherent respect."

This relates to an awesome post by Sal about whether stylish women were at odds with feminism. A common contention is that anyone interested in clothes and fashion are reproducing patriarchical scripts. I doubt this, because there is evidence that mocking women for their interest in style predates feminism. Many styles and fashions do not cater towards dominant understandings of heterosexual femininity, whether is it the boyish flapper gowns, the tent-like mod scooter dresses, or gender bending Annie Hall suits. The crazy styles of the 1980s often had very little do to with appealing to heterosexual desires. I increasingly believe that there is something misogynistic about the ways in which interest in clothes and style are disregarded as "crass" and "frivolous," while other kinds of focused consumption are not. Why is someone who spends alot of time and resources on the latest, best wine a "connoisseur" but I am a thrift shop-a-holic? Those who spend a lot of time and money (and self esteem) on working out, listening to live music, or theatre are lauded as healthy or patrons of the arts. Additionally, why do I readily share my cooking blog with real life friends but only a few know about this blog?
Yes, liking to shop for clothing/shoes/bags can become self-destructive if a person overspends, but so can liking/collecting single malt whiskey, intense dedications to working out, or buying gadgets. I know plenty of folks who have gotten in to debt for a number of non-girly shopping reasons, but the resulting social judgment is about lack of budgeting skills, not for the person's interest in computers, going out, or musical instruments.*

Do you think that it's possible that anti-SATC2 sentiments are related to long standing sexist
disdain for women's interest in clothing/shopping/style? Do yo think it's fair to reclaim shopping as simply another kind of consumption?

*Blokey told me about this vintage guitar message board he liked to read, in which men gave eachother hints like "When you buy your newest vintage Stratocaster, be sure to put one of the old ones into storage, so your wife won't know that you bought a new one." Smooth move, guitar man.

Blouse, American Rag, thrifted
Skirt: Cynthia Steffe, thrifted
Belt: thrifted
Shoes: Aerosoles, thrifted

And what I wore to grade

I started the day in jeans and a tee shirt, which I hadn't planned to photograph. But during my laundry haul (3 1/2 flights of narrow stairs, necessary greetings to folks on the street, and 1 1/2 blocks of lugging), they kept sagging and falling, until I was almost guilty of pants on the ground, so I changed in this thrifted dress I haven't figured out how to wear yet.
I like the dress, and I have been on the thrifting look out for a denim dress since it's now quite trendy. While this petite dress generally fits (even at the waist), the shape is a wee bit awkward. But the more I've worn it today, the more comfortable I felt. Even though this lacks the strong utility elements of more current denim dresses, I like this dress because it feels functional but still femme-y. It's a bit late 90s with its princess seams and angled breast pockets, but the late 90s weren't so bad.
I have some ambitions of lightening the dress through a salt wash or other methods. Has anyone has any luck fading denim?
(and I'm still grading. Stupid laundry and other household labor has taken me away from my work duties).

Edit: Yes, I coiled the laces, highly imperfectly. The blogosphere tells me that it's called an Eastland Knot. Click here for a tutorial, complete with awesome illustrations.

Dress: Talbot's petites, thrifted
Belt: from a pair H&M pants
Necklace: street vendor in Hawaii
Shoes: Eastlands, via Alamo Shoes (Chicago)

Curly's gal

Curly's, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

This post doesn't reflect what I'm wearing today, because I am, like Dorky Medievalist and La Historiadora de Moda, Butt-in-Chair mode (and must wear what best suits this function, which is shorts, leggings, and knit top). I recently thrifted this dress, but it was a size 18/20. I thought it had promise. But it did look like this:

DSCF4208, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

Please excuse the crazy hair. I started working on this when I'd come home from teaching, mentally exhausted but wanting something to do to relax. I was inspired by the skills of Sew I Thought and New Dress a Day. (This project is almost finished. I need to reinforce and finish the seams, and fix the seam of one sleeve).

When I showed this to Blokey, he said that it was just a little "too special" to wear in public. (He has since changed his mind). Then he called me "Curly's gal," because it looked like something that the character "Curly's wife" in the Gary Sinise/John Malkovich "Of Mice and Men" might have worn. (I couldn't find any pictures of her, but I did find regional theatre productions' images. He might be on to something):

source

source
source

I didn't know what I was doing, so like an idiot, I took the sleeves and the collar off. I probably didn't need to take the sleeves off, and reattaching them was a learning experience. The bust curves were a lot lower than mine so I ended up pulling up the shoulder seam, but this ended up making the sash about 1 inch higher than my natural waist. In addition, some of the seam ripping did cause a bit of fabric puckering and the reattachment of the collar (I made it a big less huge) remains a tad awkward. Luckily, I don't care that much.

DSCF4246, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

Good thing my ma doesn't do the internet (she pays Baby Sis to do her social media networking for her businesses), because she'd tell me to stand straighter. Damnit, she's right. Note to self: stretch every hour while butt in chair.
Today is gloomy and cool- perfect BIC weather.

Also, thanks for your great responses to the "Fashions in Higher Ed" segment. I really enjoyed hearing everyone's perspective, especially those who did not go on to careers related to their "discipline." I have many opinions about "disciplines" too but that's for another day (and probably a different venue). Happy Tuesday, all!

Dress: Thrifted, DIY altered
Boots: Mia
Leggings: Target

Preppy western

Preppy western, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

Today, I have many many non-teaching duties, including yet another extra credit opportunity for students. They can go and see a panel presentation on sexual violence during war and conflict (uplifting, I know, but important). I would wear something crazier (like my recent goal of dressing in the colors of animals, since I am so color shy), but they need to check in with me to get some of the extra credit points. I am also "experimenting" with "jewelry," namely an earth toned shell short necklace, which I think may work with the wider crewneck/smaller U neck/confused, but deflated boat neck deal that this shirt has going on.
I am of the belief that anyone can wear (proper) cowboy boots almost all the time. Even those who dislike country music and George W. Bush. For some reason, I think the width and cut of the top flatters most figures. And the best thing is that you can find cowboy boots for less at most thrift/vintage shops. These camel colored puppies were $25 at Beacon's closet, but I've seen plenty more at the local charity shops. (I paid $16 to have the soles fixed, and now I don't stumble on them when I clomp around NYC).

These things are lethal weapons- against cockroaches and other forms of NYC apartment vermin

Also a brief interlude and contribution from a good friend, who know how much I've been paying attention to clothes lately. She sent me an email explaining how she went on a nice date with a nice dude. However, this was his look*:
She'd like to you know that the grey trousers are cut at a capri length.
As she is a European-turned Midwesterner recently relocated in Oregon, her only explanation was "Oregon is weird."

I think chimney sweeps and general Victorian raggamuffins are quite popular in Brooklyn as well.

*It wasn't a dealbreaker though.

Skirt: Uniqlo (2008)
Shirt: H&M (2008)
Tights: Uniqlo
Shell necklace: street vendor, Hawaii, 2005
Boots: Durango, thrifted via Beacon's Closet

Lunch break blogging

I've mentioned before how vintage and used clothing on Etsy and Ebay is like crack for me. It distracts me from my work and sucks up my wages (albeit, less so than newer clothes). I try to justify it by thinking that it takes up less opportunity costs than thrifting in person, which requires a lot more patience and time during day time hours, but because there's always the risk that stuff won't fit, and the fact that ebay can suck me until the wee hours (whereas Salvation Army will kick me out at closing time), this is probably not true.

I get on Ebay/Etsy "kicks." Since the fall, I've had the following obsessions: prairie dress (unsuccessful so far, but there are contenders on my Etsy favorites list), granny boots, mod dress (also unsuccessful) and most recently pearl button shirts. Mostly for my fella, but I decided that I need them too. I got a package from Smith and Pooter Vintage yesterday. They worked well for both of us in the shoulders and girth, but the sleeves, oh the sleeves (I should have measured. My bad).

However, I hate to admit defeat, especially as I defend online shopping to my skeptical friends. All little hacking is all that is needed. This shirt is a boys' size 16, I believe. Sleeve problem solved by slight rolling up (which is probably more flattering). It fits a little snug over the chest but I left the top two buttons open, and paired it with a bubble skirt.
This is my dismal, windowless office. I tell myself everyday that I am warmer and unbothered by harsh midday sun light. And it's huge. They would charge $2000/month for a room this size in Chelsea.

I seem to match my broken luggage

The industrial latch on the door that I can not lock is my favorite touch

Pearl button western boy's shirt: $13 (including shipping)
short sleeved fancy thermal shirt: Uniqlo, $10
ponte de roma bubble skirt: Uniqlo, $30
grey pleather belt: free (came with suit purchase on Ebay)
sweater tights: Smartwool (better than pants when paired with tights in winter), some online tights retailer, $35
boots: Mia, $85

Post Script:

My coworkers still give me crap about not decorating my office so I bought a bunch of left wing posters when Northland Posert Collective in Minneapolis was going out of the business. I miss the quirky progressive politics of my former adopted home state. Like:

The Farmer-Labor Party:

source

The Miners in North Country:

source

Awesome first Muslim Congressman ever (he got arrested protesting the war):

Source