A Geek Girl's Guide to Swimwear: Part One. Star Wars.

(Posted on the wordpress version of this blog on June 19th, 2014).

For many, the ideal epitome of girl-geek-meets-bikini is, of course, the little number Leia Organa wore when captured by Jabba the Hutt, in Return of the Jedi. You can purchase this costume from one of many web sites and wear it wherever the hell you you like (because YOLO?) or you can read on and choose from one these fabulously geeky and (mostly) practical pieces.

I began by looking up licensed clothing but, a lot like when I made my own Leia costume and it was a dozen times prettier and more realistic than the the shiny, poly blend messes I found online, I am choosing to ignore my original findings in favour of these.

I think it's safe to say that Black Milk is top dog when it comes to geek swimwear. They actually have a Star Wars collection that features these:

The Artoo Swimsuit. $100 AUD

The AT-AT Swimsuit. $100. AUD

 The Force Swimsuit. $100 AUD

 Nerd Meets Girl has also come up with their own  collection of swimsuits that pay tribute to Star Wars. Each piece has the same shape but the graphics vary. Grab one for $90.00 USD.

 

Etsy also has a slew of Star Wars swimwear, some of which is a direct copy of what Black Milk is selling and some of it more original.

I think this R2D2 wrap , which is going for $47.28 CAD at Rooby Lane is pretty rad.

 

Summer Sonic, another shop on Etsy, has this Darth Vader Swimsuit for $22.11 CAD.

 

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Vaunte: A Mixed Review

When I got my tax return, last week, I decided it was time to buy myself a pair of designer shoes. I'm over shoes that hurt and smell like plastic and I want to start replacing what I own with quality goods. I decided I'd purchase a pair of Sergio Rossi heels, which were at a fraction of the retail price. I could see that there were a few tiny markings on the shoes but nothing major. All other photos in the listing made the shoes look like they were in great condition.

I received my shoes today and was shocked and angered to discover that the two angles not shown in the listing were hidden for a reason. The inner side of the right toe and the entire left side of the shoe bare large and unsightly grey marks. I've added a filter due to my office's yellow lighting:

This should be a simple enough problem to solve, except that my invoices states that Vaunte currently does not accept returns from outside of the US. It's one thing to not be set up for sellers from other countries but if you sell to me, I should be able to return a product, especially when the original listing was very misleading.

This morning I wrote to the seller and to Vaunte and I await a response. If I'm going to spend this much on a pair of shoes from a site that claims to double-check quality, then I'm looking forward to some excellent post-sale customer service.

I'm cautiously hopeful because, worst case scenario, I hand them to Vaunte in person when I'm in New York, next week. I'll add an addendum as this unfolds.

Addendum:

One day later:
Today I sent the seller and Vaunte a third email each. This time I included a link to this post. Within four minutes, Vaunte wrote me back and I was told they are willing to make an exception in this case. They asked for photos of the markings, which I sent. Hopefully, this will go smoothly!

A little over a week later:

The shoes have been stuck at customs since the day they were shipped out because Vaunte never sent me a commercial invoice to go along with the waybill. Now I need their VAT number and a phone number or the shoes can't move. Waiting for news.

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25 Days of Etsy Christmas (2013). Day Two. All Things Spooky.

Most people have someone on their list that appreciates horror-themed items and spooky things in general not only for about two weeks in October but throughout the year. This list is for them!

1. This lovely Elvira print is only $16.18 CAD so you can probably afford to buy a nice frame to place it in before giving it as a gift. Check out Just 13 Art for a great variety of prints; I'm sure you'll find more than one gift if you do!

2. More Than Porcelain, a fantastic little shop based in Greece, offers up a variety of beautiful porcelain items, many with a Victorian and/or spooky feel. This skeleton mug is $31.77 CAD.

3. I know I've featured Damn Good Doormats before but I just love this shop. Check out this Ouija Board Mat that is going for $43.15 CAD.

4. Sheila Rayyan over at Mother Spoon Studio is a gifted artisan whose sugar skull spoon simply had to be included in this list. $70.13 CAD

5. I'm pretty sure I featured these exact monster cushion covers last year but I couldn't resist doing so again. Check out The Kitschy Cupcake for seven pages of nerdy and spooky gift ideas. The cushion covers are $43.15 CAD.

6. I like this set of three Edgar Allan Poe-inspired spirit cups that are $21.58 CAD over at Bunny Safari Poetry.

7. Spooky Shades is another shop I featured last year but if you take a few moments to check them out, you'll see why putting them in this list was a no brainer. This sugar skull lamp is $80.72 CAD.

8. Voodoo Sugar has all sorts of spooky tote bags you can present your horror-themed gifts in, such as this Morticia Addams bag that is going for $20.49 CAD.

9. I absolutely love these bat pantyhose by Tattoo Socks. They're $24.78 CAD. If spooky is not your thing but you've somehow gotten this far anyway, check out their shop for a slew of really fun tights and pantyhose!

10. I like the idea of giving your lover of all things spooky and morbid a lovely tea basket, adding a few foam bats to it, some black ribbon and this hand-stamped poison teaspoon by Milk and Honey Luxuries. $17.24 CAD.

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Ten of My Favourite: Dresses for Fall.

I'm going to break from the job contemplation series (after only one entry, no less) and provide you with a shopping guide mini series. I've been helping a friend of mine get her makeover on and, in doing so, I have come across pieces I can't help but share.

Every Wednesday in October, I'll feature ten items that I love. For this set, I'm looking for versatility and silhouettes that can compliment more than one body type.

...Dresses for fall!

1. This dress from Mango is $89.95 and will look as great over bare legs as it will over black, opaque tights. Outdoors, I would personally wear it with the tights, a chelsea boot, a basic black blazer and a layered, black scarf. I live in Canada and layering is essential to anyone who wants to be out from morning until evening in spring or fall!

2. From ASOS, I recommend this punchy dress. It's going for $64.13 USD and I love how versatile it is. You can wear this with practically any shoe I would, however, rock a tall, black boot with this) and, depending on how you style your hair and make-up, this could easily take you from the office to dinner.

3. I'm really loving this dress from ZARA. it's $79.90 CAD and can be worn with a simple or detailed camisole or tank for work, for more conservative events or if you simply don't want to show off your back and the look can then be dramatically changed if you whip that top off before heading out to your next event.

4. The Pink Tartan contrast shift dress deserves to be on this list, for sure. Once again, I can see this with black tights and chelsea boots for a cute early sixties' inspired look. It's $395.00 CAD and you can grab it at The Bay, as per the link.

5. I think this gold stud tie dress from Simon's is adorable. Grab it for a mere $29.95. I will wanr you, however, that this fabric and cut, bought at Simon's, can be tricky. The lining tends to ride up and lose its shape over time. If you buy this one, do it because you know that, at that price, it doesn't matter if you only wear it a handful of times.

6. And, now, how about a little colour?! I love this merino wool LAUREN RALPH LAUREN dress, also available at The Bay. It's going for $249.00 CAD and I would wear it with flat, brown, riding style boots, curly hair and a beanie or with black heels and a scarf in my straightened hair.

7. One last dress from The Bay that I must recommend is the Dorothy Perkins oxblood and black striped dress. Bonus? It's currently on sale for $31.50 CAD.

8. The I Love Glamp dress from ModCloth is a great one for this fall. It's going for $59.99 USD... which I would pay before heading to the fabric store to buy fabric to extend this dress' lining. I personally don't like the effect or the feel of a shorter lining on a long skirt but, again, it's eay to fix this or have ti fixed if you share my opinion on this.

9. I apologize for the tiny photo but finding one I could copy was difficult. You're looking (or squinting) at the colorblocked v-neck sweater dress by Ann Taylor and it's going for $109.00 USD.

10. Last but not least, I like the long sleeve button-snap front collared dress by Calvin Klein. It's $129.50 USD and I love that it can be worn with boots, heels, flat or, depending on how you style it, even a pair of Chucks. If you click on the link, you'll see it in purple and get a better view of it from the front.

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You're Not a Pinup But You're F*cking Fabulous: Some Swimsuit Recommendations For All Body Types

I feel the need to preface this piece with a disclaimer: Despite what I suggest here, I feel that women should wear whatever the hell they want, when they want, regardless of what anyone says! If you're going to live by one rule and one rule only, adhere to this one: Make sure you're wearing clothing that fits.  I really can't stress this enough. 

Now, with that out of the way, let's stray from all the spring trend talk and (thanks to the fact that they're calling for snow on Friday and that makes me want to beat my head against a wall) move on to thoughts of summer... and swimsuits! 

I have a vintage clothing collection and I love tasteful, retro fashions but I must admit that the last eight or nine years of supposed "pinup" and "burlesque" fashion has often set my teeth on edge. A lot of the class that once embodied the original burlesque performers and pinups has evaporated and, while I understand that everything eventually evolves and this might be the evolution of that, it's really not for me. Let's take cherry prints, for example. When I was a child and a teenager, I loved them. Now, when I see someone in a cherry print dress, I feel like they're trying too hard. Maybe years of exposure to rockabilly culture and watching some women try to out-kitsch each other have also brought me to this point but there you have it. That said, I know I'm going to end up recommending retro bathing suit styles for curvier women because that's just what tends to work. Rest assured that I'll keep it classy.

I'll kick things off with Blame Betty, a fantastic shop based Calgary, Alberta. While a lot of their stock is available elsewhere, I'm going to link to them because they're Canadian. Here we have the   Two-Piece Classic Sheath Bikini for $95.00 CAD, the Bettie One-Piece Pinup Swimsuit (there's that word again!) for $92.00 CAD and the Rita One-Piece Swimsuit for $125.00 CAD. The really great thing that these three bathing suits have in common is that they work on any body type but look especially banging on someone with curves.

Back to Mod Cloth we go. I find that this shop is very hit-or-miss but, given the amount of stock they have, you can always find something great! My top picks for swimsuits for this summer from Mod Cloth are the Parallel Shorelines One Piece for $158.99 USD, the High Tide Style One Piece for $49.99 USD and the Splice of Life One Piece in black (it also comes in red) for $89.99 USD. I've also thrown in the Do It All Together Cover Up ($59.99 USD) because I love it's early 60's appeal.

1. The first swimsuit would probably look best on a boyish figure. The side openings will look warped otherwise and there is the potential for them creating whole new rolls (who needs that?!) if you are spilling out of them, so to speak. 2. I like the High Tide Style piece because, even though the lighter colours are on the outside, the different panels combined create a silhouette of their own, basically overriding yours. Just make sure coral and white work with your skin tone! 3. The third swimsuit also  comes in red but I chose the black one for the collage because of the colour's slimming abilities and the fact that it works on most people. The belt and the lines of the bodice also create silhouette and can a good inch off your waist. Also, it's gorgeous! Do be careful that the suit fits properly though, as bottom seams can push into your thighs and be very unflattering. In my opinion, the suit should be slightly higher cut. No matter your shape, this cut is quite tricky.

From Sak's Fifth Avenue, for the thin woman with a smaller bust, I recommend the following suits:

The Juicy Couture Port Strip bikini. The top is $87.00 USD and the bottom is $80.00 USD.

The Kushcush One-Piece Rachel Swim Dress (finally, someone who puts a hyphen in "one-piece") for $172 USD.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Vintage Stripe Triangle Bikini Top for $80 USD. The bottom is $85 USD. (Look for the romper in the same print-- adorable!)

MIKOH SWIMWEAR Banyans Multi-String Bikini. Top: $100 USD. 

Three swimsuits from asos.com really stood out for me. 1. The Pour Moi Fiji Halter Suit is $63.18 USD and works for just about any body type. 2. The ASOS Plunge Backless Suit is really stunning! It's going for $58.19 USD and is recommended for slim women with small to medium breasts. 3. The ASOS Caged Bow Back Swimsuit is currently out of stock but was going for $49.88 USD. I included it anyway because it might be restocked and because there are similar suits out there right now, including one from Victoria Secret that does not have the bows (they're not everyone's cup of tea and, in my opinion, add chaos to this suit.

And now to Etsy! 

I love the Miss Sailor Girl Swimsuit by meshalo. It's got a nautical feel to it but it isn't tacky. Bonus? It's currently on sale for $78.99 USD.

 This gorgeous suit will work best on the woman who has kicked serious ass to stay in shape. It works for curves but be very careful about what type of curves you have if you buy this suit. If you have stomach fat, this suit will accentuate it --no-- put it on display like nothing else. $125 USD by Lili Ash.

For the thin woman with little to large breasts or one with a small hourglass figure, as seen in the photo, I like this suit by Tani Thompson. $90.oo USD.

As you may have seen in my last post, I'm a sucker for black lace and so there is no way I couldn't include the beautiful Lace Daze swimsuit by Nina Broze. With a simple front and stunning back, it is well-balanced and pretty, with just the right amount of sexy to it. Unless you have back rolls (in which case I will never recommend a backless suit), this suit works for you. It's $109.00 USD. And I want one. 

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Spring 2013 Wardrobe: Black Lace

And now for my 100th post!
***
I know most people are down with all the exciting colour combos that work for spring, this year, but for this post I want to focus on classic, black lace. While researching floral prints, pastels and monochromatic dresses, I came across way too many lovely pieces featuring black lace to not share a few of them with you! Bonus? These can all be worn in the summer, too!

1.  LOST Bossanova black lace shorts. $40 USD at tillys.com.

2. The ASOS lace dress with cape. $79.80 US.

3. Bloomingdale's has the aqua lace dress that is currently on sale for $78.40 USD.

4. How cute is the Parisian black lace cutout playsuit from New Look?

5. Last but certainly not least, I'm really digging the Isla lace ponte dress at Monsoon for $120 USD.

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Etsy Fashion: Key Pieces For your Spring Wardrobe

Every time I purchase fast fashions or suggest doing so to others, I feel the need to balance things out. I sew a few pieces for myself or buy at a thrift store. Another way I can even the score, so to speak, is by taking the time to create shopping guides that support small businesses. 

Here is a list of eight etsy shops where you'll be sure to find a few key pieces for your spring wardrobe:

1. Our Little Daisy:

$70.30 CAD

$79.74 CAD

$51.71 CAD

2. Three Little Ducks:

$115 USD

$180 USD

$120 USD

3. Dresstore 2000 (I must admit that I am dubious regarding just how "small business" this one is, due to the price of the cape and other garments they offer but, given that they have listed less than 150 items, I decided to go through with this.)

$58.00 USD

$65.89 USD

$49.99 USD

4. Laura Galic (Etsy is a big, big place now and this shop definitely makes my top 50 list!)

$179.90 USD

$229.90 USD

$120.00 USD (While I do think this dress should probably have been lined, due to how transparent the fabric is, one can easily wear it with a slip)

P.S. I fully intend to buy the above coat and jacket.

5. Raluca Martinescu (Also from Romania, like Laura Galic, this shop is very small but has so much potential):

$24.00 USD (top)

$24.00 USD (skirt)

$23.00 USD (blouse):

6. Daria Karaseva:

$130.00 USD (blazer)

$210.oo USD (I have seen this type of overlapping sketched out before-- I have sketched some myself-- but this is the first time I see that someone has gone through the trouble of making pants like these and I think they're fantastic!)

Classic, side-draped pants $110.00 USD

7. Ella Lai:

$99.00 USD

$119.00 USD

$99.00 USD (pants):

8. Jekyll und Kleid

$165.00 USD

$154.00 USD

$159.00 USD

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