The (Googly) Eye of the Owl and Other Odd Tales

 Fabulous Felt Night Owl Necklace

Top: Urban Outfitters

Skirt: Bar III, Macy's

Shoes: Journeys

Bag: DSW

Leggings: Boscov's

 Fabulous Felt Pink Owl Barrette

Blouse: Alloy

Dress: JCPenney

Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Belt: Wet Seal

Fabulous Felt Wise One Necklace

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Jeans: City Streets, JCPenney

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: DSW

Jacket: Worthington, JCPenney

Fabulous Felt Brown Owl Barrette

Dress: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Marshalls

Scarf: Marshalls

Fall brings to mind things that are folksy.  Like potlucks and hayrides and wildlife.  Why I included those first two I don't know, as there are few things less appealing than Crock-Pots of mystery stew and pieces of straw stuck in your pants, but then, whooooooo cares, as this is clearly all about the wildlife, by which of course I mean owls.  I used to slap owls with the same hipsterish nonsense label I reserved for summer beanies and ironic tee shirts.  But I've decided that they deserve better.  (And also, in my weaker moments, I'm not sure where I weigh in on the hipster vs. non-hipster debate anyway.)  Whimsically wise and fantastically feathered, owls lend a kind of highbrow playfulness wherever they land.  Sort of like that lollipop-loving owl in the Tootsie Pop commercials or Owl from Winnie the Pooh.  Come to think of it, both of them were kind of know-it-alls.  Maybe the hipsters were on to something, softening owls' stuck-up, sophisticated image to one that is more sympathetic and silly.  (I suppose that's a point for team hipster.)    So here's to harvests and new sitcoms, and fresh, bracing air and all those other things that come rustling in with the leaves of October.

Just watch where you sit in the hay truck.

Decoden Deja Vu and Damsels Who Dig Mr. Darcy

I Heart Lemons and Fun Stuff Bib Necklace

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Bubblegum, Macy's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Belt: Wet Seal

 I Heart Limes and Owls Bib Necklace

Sweater: Marshalls

Skirt: Material Girl, Macy's

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: Nordstrom

I Love Lemons and Dinosaurs Bib Necklace

Cardigan: So, Kohl's

Camisole: So, Kohl's

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Nahui Ollin

Belt: Tournier Everything's $10

I Heart Limes and Sweet Stuff Bib Necklace

Crochet top: Mossimo, Target

Tank: Worthington, JCPenney

Skirt: Marshalls

Shoes: Iron Fist, Journeys

Bag: B&B, Ocean City

Belt: Wet Seal

"I think being creative is a waste of time and money."  

This startling sentiment was uttered from the always colorful Jennifer Coolidge, this time through the mouthpiece of Elizabeth Charming, a brassy babe on the make in the unlikely milieu of romantic comedy spoof Austenland.  A reenactment experience catering to Jane Austen addicts, Austenland offers romance gigolo-style in the form of amorously attentive "players" purporting to fall head over heels for the patrons.  Coolidge and Kerri Russell, who plays the auspiciously-named heroine Jane, are lamenting over said suitors (one of whom is Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame) while embellishing hats when Ms. Charming makes her (at least to this crowd) unfortunate observation.  Not that there isn't a grain (or perhaps I should say seed bead) of truth in what she says.  Being creative can indeed be costly and time-consuming.  For example, I recently decided to restring my "fun stuff" bib necklace series since discovering that the beads I initially used (gasp!) fade after just a few wears.  (I'd made a couple of the necklaces for myself, which was how I came to know this.)  At first I thought it might be better to just quietly chuck them.  After all, restringing meant going to the trouble and expense of researching and purchasing new beads in addition to the actual reworking of the jewelry.  Not to mention that blabbing it all here on the blog probably wouldn't be good for business.  Still, my love for my bauble-bedazzled (or, as the Japanese would say, "decoden" bedecked) bibs triumphed, and silence has never been my strong suit.  So here are the upgraded versions, refortified with new plastic neon Delish beads.  

As I'm sure any fairy tale (and, in the end, even Ms. Charming herself) would attest, a few extra evenings and expenditures never stood a chance against such a fashion rehash of a happy ending.       

It's High (Heel!) Time for Another Shoe Montage

From top left, clockwise: Ami Clubwear; Madden Girl, Marshalls; Ami Clubwear; Betseyville, JCPenney; Bandolino, Marshalls; Ami Clubwear; Aubrey Brooke, DSW

About three months have passed since I've gathered enough new shoes to round out a fresh heel wheel.  Of course, this latest crew is a little bit motley in that it features heels and flats as well as a sleek black number "wedged" in between.  Although the wedges are far plainer than my usual picks, I was so taken with them upon my first sighting at Marshalls that I made a special return trip there just to get them.  Even the wackiest woman, after all, needs a pair of blank canvas kicks.  I wore them yesterday with last week's neon cloud dress and am happy to report that they're very comfy.

But that's a wedge for you, a paradox of pizzazz and dependability, not unlike a nice big chunk of cheddar.

And Then There's Mod

 Pompom Princess Bow Brooches

Dress: Modcloth

Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Belt: Wet Seal

Jacket: Material Girl, Macy's

 Lasting Lemons Necklace

Dress: Modcloth

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Nordstrom

 Serious Sparkler Necklace

Dress: L'Amour by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Blouse: Candie's, Kohl's

Boots: Impo, Marshalls

Bag: DSW

If I had the wherewithal and bandwidth-burgling bravado of a more brazen blogger, then I would've arranged for Bea Arthur's head to pop up at the end of that post title.  Not that I ever watched "Maude," "The Golden Girls" being the only sitcom of my acquaintance in the Bea Arthur canon.  But I do appreciate its sentiment, so celebrated-slash-satirized by that "Family Guy" ditty poking fun at its long intro jingle:

"Lady Godiva was a freedom rider

She didn't care if the whole world looked

Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her

She was a sister who really cooked

Madame Curie was a strong woman character

Workin' all day in a science lab, yeah

Clara Barton was a famous nurse 

Who was rapping with the soldiers and bandages too

Susan B. Anthony, always out doin' stuff

Marchin' around and holdin' up signs . . .

Peter: And then there's Maude.

Pocahontas had it all goin' on . . .

Peter: What the hell?

An Indian guide with lots of Indian pride, Indira Ghandi ran a whole big country; that isn't easy even if you're a guy . . .

Peter: And then there's Maude?

Babe Zaharias was a really good athlete . . .

Peter: Aw, come on!

Good at track and field and professional golf, too

Peter: And then there's Maude!

Amelia Earhart flew a lot of airplanes except for that one time when she didn't come back

Cleopatra lived way out in the desert

Peter: And then there's Maude!  Come on!

But still found a way to keep herself looking fine

And then there's Maude

Peter: Ahh!  Ahh!  There we go!  That was an ordeal."

I like to think that the fiercely feminine and intrepidly indie online retailer Modcloth would sing along, too.  But then again, given the song's slightly anti-feminist bent (because who can tell what that rascal Seth MacFarlane is really thinking?), perhaps not.  At any rate, this post features a trio of Mod's most marvelous (and let's be honest, cheapest) pieces, set off, of course, by the sass and quirk of our treasured Trove trinkets.

And if that wasn't enough of an oddball overload, here's a shot of my Stila eyeshadow compact, which gives an ever-so-subtle (if peacock-painted) nod to the aforementioned Earhart:

That tiny, hard-to-read white writing just below the mirror says:

"Flying may not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.  - Amelia Earhart"

Soaring style, Stila, soaring style indeed.

You Look Like a Doily

 Not So Dainty Doily Necklace

Dress: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Guess, Marshalls

Bag: Marshalls

Belt: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Jacket: Decree, JCPenney

These were my wedding shoes.  I purchased them for $12.99 from Ami Clubwear.  They started out life solid red, their only adornment the rhinestone-sprinkled flower perched above the peep toe.  I added Hennytj's lovely pink satin roses and rhinestone buttons as well as craft store peach, yellow, and mint ribbon roses and danced all night with nary a mishap.  Talk about a testament to Gem-Tac!

Garden Guest Star Necklace

Dress: Modcloth

Shoes: Ami Clubwear, embellished by The Tote Trove

Bag: Krystala Creations, Etsy

Scarf: Gifted

Campus Queen Corsage Brooch

Top: Delia's

Jeans: Sears

Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney

Bag: Fred Flare

Scarf: Marshalls

So said Ethan Hawke's Troy to Winona Ryder's Lelaina in Reality Bites when she emerged in a crochet dress to meet Ben Stiller-as-Michael-the-smarmy-record-producer back in the mid-1990s.  A grunge coming-of-age classic if ever there was one, it went right over my head the first time I saw it. (I think I was twelve.)  

Kind of like "Girls."  Yep, that's right.  I'm retracting my former criticism of Lena Dunham's critically acclaimed angst-filled HBO series.  Partly due to my new-found mission to be a kinder, gentler blogger, and partly because I recently watched the entire first season on DVD.  It was good.  Gritty and real and in-your-face and all those other adjectives attached to things that make you squirm.  In the wake of the sad-song-staged final credits, I couldn't help but think that it should be mandatory viewing for twelve-year-old girls, a kind of cautionary tale counseling tempered by a good mom's tough love commentary.  (The irony of my twelve-year-old self lacking the perspective to appreciate even Lelaina's considerably tamer trials is not lost on me.)  Life, after all, isn't all tea house heroine getups.  A point, by the way, most masterfully made in the romantic comedy Austenland, albeit ironically and with more glitter than grit.  But more on that later.  

And with that, we've come full circle.  Not an unfit end for a post starring a doily.