89; Does anyone love the way they are?

Dress: c/o SheInside.com • Flannel: Don't even remember • Vest: DIY • Beanie: convenience store • Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Stevie • Necklaces: Ganesha (borrowed) and crescent moon (new age shop)

Kathryn harassed me that I should put the last two photos on here. Fine. There. Happy now, Kathryn?

My choice of necklaces was symbolic, reflecting one of the few stories in Hinduism explaining why Ganesha only has one tusk. (Source) It's a story of how he overindulged himself on food given to him by devotees, and on his ride home his steed (the rat he is typically drawn being with) stumbles over a snake, and when Ganesha falls, his belly splits open and all of the sweets fall out. Watching this, the Moon (who according to legend always shone every night) laughs at him, and he takes his tusk and throws it at her, and curses her to never shine again. She disappears from the sky and the balance is disrupted, leaving the sun to always shine. The gods come to Ganesha to have him resolve the issue, and he brings the Moon back, but on the condition that she wax and wane, and can not shine during certain points each month. (New moon.) I just love the silliness of it, and the incorporation of trying to explain why the moon waxes, wanes, becomes full, and disappears from the sky.

I am really ridiculous.

I got this dress courtesy of She Inside. I'm a little late to hopping on the 'maxi dress bandwagon' but whatever. It's fun to use as a canvas for grunging up. I haven't worn one in like, almost a year? They're sort of a challenge for me, in terms of styling them. I can do A LOT when I can mix up the top and bottom to an outfit, but if it's all one entity, I have to get a little more creative -- and if you guys know me (and you probably do) then you'll know how lazy I am.

Still, black's a great colour in terms of clothing, and this just jumped out at me! I immediately knew I had to wear this with a denim vest and beanie, and either flannel or a hoodie. Since I'm lacking in hoodies that aren't incredibly oversized on me (comically so), I went for flannel.

I consulted Formspring as to whether or not to wear Stevies or Creepers with this. The general concensus was Creepers, but I was just loving how the Stevies looked, and I just felt that it was almost too predictable to wear Creepers with this outfit. I like the idea that the 'character' of this outfit is a total babe who loves grunge, but she only has girlyass clothes in her arsenal like dresses and platform heels.

Salia Ren put it beautifully in response to my Formspring question:

"Even though I'm not usually a fan of the Stevie/Lita shape, I'd still go with the Stevies! :-) Gives a different, pretty rad vibe to the outfit. With the creepers, the outfit kind of slurs, "Hey man. 'ts up man. Rock on." *rock hand formation* in a way that I would probably expect. With the Stevies, the outfit turns into some ensemble for a grunge rock diva, and instead of slurring, it might say (in a slightly high-pitched but raspy voice), "'ts up man?! ROCK ON BABY!" *rock hand formation showcasing totally posh long nails but with black chipped nail polish on them* Irresistible."

YOU UNDERSTAND ME.


Title reference:

83; Catch Hell Blues

 

T-shirt: eBay vintage • Earcuff + necklace + belt: eBay (necklace as a birthday present) • Vest: DIY • Pants: Forever21 • Shoes: Steve Madden (TJ Maxx) • Jewelry: so many places! • Crystal necklace: SOULMATES (coming soon!)

Blonde again! I wasn't used to it until I started getting roots. Then I was all, "ahh yeah, that's more like it." I don't know, I like the dark shadow it gives the shaved-side of my head. I can't decide if I just shouldn't bleach that side of my head or not. I've seen other bloggers rock it, but then, would I look just like them? Hmm. Quite a dilemma.

I'd like to draw your attention to the crystal necklace I'm sporting here. It'll be up on SOULMATES later this month! I know you can't really see much of it, so here's a super-close up shot of it. I have more on the way, guys!

I keep feeling some fashion-block upon me, but I'm attributing it to some stress in my little corner of the universe. When I get stressed, I shut down. It's not a good response, and I know it. This time it left me feeling just really blah and gross and frustrated with my appearance. Wasn't a good feel, bro. I'm feeling better though -- I'm actually feeling really great about blogging as of very recently, after having it shown to me my place amongst my favourite blogger girls. It's been really surreal, the past couple of months. My Lookbook sorta exploded and I've gained a lot of followers on this blog, and have had some collaborations with some clothing websites. It's like I'm actually an appealing blogger or something. WHAT.

I don't know, I've always been in the backseat in life. It's strange thinking I might be just vaguely "successful" at this, after a year of blogging the way I have. It's bizarre, but awesome. It makes me happy to be part of this little circle on the internet, to possibly help shape what fashion is for us. It's exciting, and makes me proud to have this blog. I don't have 1000 blog followers or sponsorships flying at me left and right, but I feel like I'm on top of the world, because those things don't make me excited to be a blogger. People would think fashion blogging is just based on dressing up to impress readers, but it really isn't for me. It's the people I meet and talk to, the people who inspire me and show me new and magnificent things to wear, and how it changes me as a person. If I only had ten followers, I'd still be blogging.


I've become so much more confident in myself in so many ways, including my body, because of blogging. I've learned to take risks in my appearance and have discovered how much more like myself I feel when I take those risks, and that those risks don't kill me! I never really felt comfortable in my skin when I was growing up, and I finally just feel...like me. It's made me learn how to become myself, my making me change how I was into what I wanted to be. It's made me less afraid to do bizarre things. It's weird to explain.

Speaking of my lack of body issues, I think my hips got curvier. I hope it isn't from the free donuts I get at work. Oh man, I really need to stop eating those. Immediately. Even if not due to the weight-gain possibility, but because that shit can't be good for the human body.


In other news, thinking of getting hair extensions for the not-shaved part of my hair. Maybe. If I can afford it. I'm almost too afraid to research how much money that would cost, since Sally Beauty sells human hair extensions for over a hundred bucks. I am crying.


Finally, title reference:



Though I feel this song is pretty appropriate for this outfit as well: a Judas Priest + Lady Gaga mash-up that I am obsessed with.

Jeez, is this post long enough yet?

80; WE ARE SOULMATES (Blogiversary + SOULMATES launch!)

Top: Pacsun • Pants + belt: Target (eek, don't judge) • Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Stevie • Bandana: Hot Topic (okay, you can judge now) • Earrings + beaded bracelet: The Garage, Cambridge MA in Harvard Square • Bone-carved bracelet: Waloosi's, Leominster MA

It's my blog's first birthday! Don't bother going to find my first posts from a year ago; they're pretty embarrassing. I was such a newbie. (Though I still am pretty proud of the earcuffs post I made shortly after making my blog. I should do more posts like that.)

I really enjoy this outfit; it's kind of like if the music video for Lady Gaga's "Judas" took place in the 70s...with a little less skin showing. Also, how freaking awesome is this shirt? A glowing white tiger flying out of a horizon at your face via rainbow bird wings. I have half a mind to wear this to the next gay pride event I attend. Pacsun's sale section never manages to dissapoint. I seriously just shopped there the other day and found the most comfortable jersey maxi skirt ever, built in slip and everything, on sale for $6.99. YEAHHH you better believe I'll be sporting that on this blog in the near future.


Okay okay, so I wanted to have a giveaway all set up for my blogiversary, but I'm a little strapped for cash and didn't manage to get everything in order, mainly because I spent some cash on some SOULMATES supplies so I could FINALLY launch the store and start selling stuff. So...consider this my gift to you guys? I also mentioned in my last post that I really wish I could afford giving out a coupon code, but with six pieces and no idea of how successful (or unsuccessful) this will turn out to be, I'm just too nervous. I will keep my prices as reasonable as possible, and if I do generate some good business here, I will certainly do giveaways and coupon codes in the future! I'm already going to give people unique 10% discount codes for leaving positive feedback on my shop, so...!

I do, however, have one crystal pendant at a discounted price, as it was my first attempt at making these pendants, thus there are some cosmetic compromises. It's overall a nice pendant (I think) and I've worn it out a couple of times to certify that it won't fall apart, and I've gotten TONS of compliments on it. Check it out and see if you like it!

So, without futher ado, here is SOULMATES! (Click the banner to get there!)

If you have a blog and would like to support SOULMATES, have a banner! And let me know, too! ♥

79; CULT Classic

Top: c/o Crash & Burn Apparel • Skirt: THE CULTLABEL • Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Stevie • Claw earrings: Little Sister Designs • Earcuff: eBay

First order of business: with all of the gifts that the cool cats over at Crash & Burn have been sending me, they've set up a gift for YOU guys as well: a discount code for purchases on their store!

Crash & Burn Apparel • 20% off discount code: ONTHEGANGES

It expires on April 15th, so you guys have thirty days to use it. That's what, two paycheck cycles, maybe? Go treat yourself to something over there. ♥ If you can't decide what to buy, here's some of my personal faves:

1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10

This shirt is another gift from C&B! I would have worn it as they intended it -- long and with the tie around my waist -- but I was NOT going to wear something so rad with just jeans, and I just wore my AA Disco Pants in a recent outfit, and the only other option was leather pants, and I hate feeling like I look like I'm copying Madeline. (I have some paranoia issues.)

So, it seemed natural to wear it with the skirt I bought from THE CULTLABEL, and since the focal point of this skirt is the tassels, it was too long to wear as-is, and looked best when tied. I thus looped the waist tie back around and tied it that way, cinching it tighter to my waist. Speaking of this skirt, I looove it. My only beef is that it rides up when I walk. (In one of the photos Kathryn took, the skirt is all ridden up in the center front; I don't even know how you can't see my goods, but it still looked funky.) Not sure how to fix that, but I'm sure it's just a bodycon thing, since my Florence Dress does the same thing sometimes. I don't care though, I effing love this skirt.

...Duuude, when was the last time we saw my bare legs? Tights don't count. (Drumroll) ...October! (Pre-Canon Rebel era, too.) I wasn't even platinum then! How insane is that? (And I had a thing about being a cyclops and never brushing my bangs out of my face; sorry guys.) And I still can't even wear shorts reliably at this time of the year; the past three days have been freaking cold again, gah.



Also, guess what? I finally have a launch date for SOULMATES: March 20th* -- which just so happens to be my blog's birthday! On the Ganges will be one year old. I know it's INCREDIBLY short notice, but I've been dragging my ass hardcore on finishing up my current product stock (six whole pieces, ugh) and figured it would be a decent way of saying thank you to everyone for following my blog, commenting, and sticking around with me on this site.

I know six pieces of jewelry isn't much, but those are only the currently finished pieces. Aside from making more necklaces, one of the six finished pieces is a pair of Naga earrings which I intend to make more to sell. This will probably be the one product that I can make near identical multiples of. Since I make crystal pendant necklaces, no two crystals will always be alike, or how I decorate them. The Naga earrings, however, will mostly be the same -- except that they will come in two variants: antique brass, and soon gunmetal! (And if I ever get creative and add more decorations, but that notion is just a glint in my mind's eye at the moment.)

My biggest wish is to be able to afford giving a piece of SOULMATES jewelry away, but I have no freaking clue how well this is going to work, selling handmade jewelry. If it turns out to be a success, and if I can stop being a lazy bum and make more jewelry (winter's harsh, yo) then I can definitely plan on a giveaway in the future. It's up to you kids, though!



*This is only if all goes well and the internet doesn't go out. I can't even begin to tell you how often that happens. Twice a week is GOOD for how often our internet just ups and dies on us. I'll have everything set up to launch, and if I'm missing and nowhere to be found, check my Twitter. I can still access that from my phone, and if the net's out, believe me, I'll be bitching up a storm about it there. ♥