She twines her spines up slowly...

Hi, doves! I haven't done a shoot in my favourite tree since way, way back in this post. I had intended to shoot this outfit in one of our tiny local cemeteries, but my old spot called to me. It's crazy to see how much this area has grown in the past few years. It's wilder now, tougher to navigate, which makes me love it even more. I always feel at home in this tree; it's a place I'll return to time and again to clear my head. Though the briars and sharp snapped ends of branches tore my sweater and scraped up my back, it didn't even register at the time. All I felt was peace of mind. 

(Old Ruche sweater, old ModCloth dress, vintage belt, thredUP boots)

Also, I had wanted to incorporate this gorgeous vintage bag, but none of the shots worked out (anyone else feel awkward trying to maneuver a giant bag??) But I figured I'd show it to you anyway because it's so lovely.

Title from "Far From Any Road" by the Handsome Family.

Witches in disguise...

Hi, doves! I figured this would be the perfect time for me to crawl out from under my rock since it's the first day of autumn here and, most importantly, because Halloween is on its way! 

Sometimes the blurriest photos are my favourite...

(Constantly fidgeting with my belt...)

(Top, tights, shoes - ModCloth, corduroy skirt - HauteLook, belt - stolen from my mum)

I've been gradually getting my house ready for the season and our annual Halloween shindig (including playlist construction). This summer was insanely busy as usual (we finally picked a wedding venue and date! You know, only two years later. We've been together nearly ten years; "rushing" isn't in our vocabulary heh), so I'm ready to slow down a bit and enjoy the fall.

I have a bunch of autumnal and Halloween inspired outfits coming up, and I'm super excited to get back into it. So stay tuned!

(Title from the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Black Cat.")

Thrillseeker...

 
Hi, doves! This outfit got me in the mood to talk a bit about my love of horror. I still remember the exact moment I got hooked! One night when I was but a wee one, I was up past my bed time (on a school night, gasp!) reading "The Pit and the Pendulum" by flashlight. I can still remember my heart pounding, flashlight shaking, holding my breath as I made myself press on. Poe was the beginning of my love of horror and mystery. And I have spent the rest of my life seeking out that thrill in the pages of countless novels and stories. 

 (Volcom dress, Target cardigan, vintage belt, ModCloth socks, those shoes I need to replace, Stephen King triple whammy book purse)
 

From Poe, I made the next logical step to short story compilations such as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (possibly responsible for a slight and very irrational fear of iguanas...) and 100 Creepy Little Creature Stories ("A Birthday Present for Tommy" sticks out in my head to this day. Yeesh). I quickly devoured every book in the beloved Goosebumps series. 

Fast forward to college (high school was filled with existentialism and absurdism which can be just as terrifying as horror, but that's another discussion for another time) when I found King and never turned back. The Shining! Alas! There was that heart pounding terror I knew and loved! Also, if you're wondering, movies have never cut it for me; I'm too difficult to scare. I need to get lost in a good book while my imagination quietly sneaks off and runs away with me.
 

I realize this post could end up a novel in itself, so I'm cutting myself off here to talk about the outfit. I have been saving this bag and dress combination since this spring. I randomly snagged this motorcycle print dress at a surf shop on an outing with my aunt. And this bag! One of my best buds got it for my for my birthday last year, and it's basically the coolest thing ever... Which is what I kept yelling when he gave it to me. Heheh.

Do you gravitate towards any particular genre? Are you a fellow horror fan?? What's your favourite horror novel/story? Seriously, I want to know. Give me more! Rawrawrawr! Ahem, okay, that's enough out of me for now.

All Hallows' Eve

Happy Halloween, doves!!

I'm bummed about not being able to have a party this year. I just wasn't prepared in the slightest. It's on next year, though! I'm actually starting to think of a good costume already.

So, this is what I wore to work today. Festive, yes? This is the same bow print shirt from this post.

(UO cardigan, Ruche shirt, J Crew skirt, ModCloth tights & shoes)

 

Tomorrow we're heading up to Boston for the Red Sox parade (boyfriend is a diehard Boston sports fan). So, I'll be back on Sunday. Hope you're having a splendid Halloween!

Ghosts of Halloweens past...

I think last week I mentioned I might do a collective past Halloween costumes post. Apologies as some of these are pretty terrible (read: phone) photos. Also, there are a few costumes missing because I regrettably have no decent documentation of them. All right, here we go!

For this fox costume (...2007?) I used the dress thing (?) from a teddy bear costume plus a tail (I wish I had taken a photo!) and ears from an awesome seller on etsy. I called myself Fox Force One... because I'm a huge nerd.

Little Red Riding Hood. I bought the dress from Ruche (I think), and it was perfect. The hooded cape is from etsy. And the shoes are old ModCloth. I love these photos. They turned out exactly as I'd planned... That never happens!
 

Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas (Boyfriend was Indiana Jones). I love my Sally. This dress was such an amazing find. I drew my stitches on with liquid eyeliner, and they stayed put all night. I kept the dress (vintage from etsy) because I fully intend to do this again!

 

Uhm. So... Last year I was going to be Strawberry Shortcake but at the last minute I decided I hated what I'd put together (I kept everything, so I might give it another go this year). I remembered I had these shorts I got in one of ModCloth's Stylish Surprises... So, I had my best friends super curl my hair (... I don't know how to do these things) and decided I was Geena Davis (in my dreams!!) from A League of Their Own (love that movie)/a sailor girl of some sort?

There's my Halloween recap! I love putting together my costumes more than anything else about it. It's such a fun, creative project even if it doesn't quite work out as intended. And once I get an idea in my head, there's no stopping me! What are your favourite costumes you've done? Any plans for this year?