PULP HOPE

There's been a lot of talk on blogs, websites and magazines about the 90s/millenial revival that's showing no signs of slowing down just yet. Amanda of Is Mental (possibly the best style blog... ever?) in particular has posted some great remembrances of things past recently. But for me, nothing brings back those sweet n' sticky summer memories of junior high quite like Paul Pope's comics.









Paul Pope draws the cutest girls ever--the kneesocks! the full lips! those skinny 90s eyebrows and chunky-soled shoes!--and not only are they gorgeous space-age cartoon cuties, they also fight the bureaucracy on Mars. You know, with robots. And also make-outs.



If you haven't already read THB, Heavy Liquid, P City Parade, Escapo et al, check them out immediately--and even if you're already a fan, I think it's time to reread some of these classic gems. And even better, get them right in time for Free Comic Book Day!

SUMMER BUMMER

One more note about potential summer gear, as I continue to watch the rain run down my window... this neoprene bralette by Alexandra Cassaniti might be headed to the top of my wishlist. Love that Klein blue, the reversibility, and the way it'll totally protect you from any coral reef-related tit injuries. This is probably as versatile as a surf-inspired bra top can get.

SHEER MADNESS

The weather here is still vacillating between days of genuine summer sun and intermittent thundershowers. Right now we're in the midst of another rain storm, of course! It's really put a damper (no pun intended?) on my search for spring/summer clothes--I'm still piling on the scarves and trench coat to keep warm, while attempting to scope out the ideal wedge sandal that'll last me all the way through September (a topic for another post, but right now I'm feeling these, these, and potentially these guys).

One of the great things about all the sheer/net pieces I'm seeing more and more of these days is their fantastic layering possibilities. Think of the options! On a hot day (and ugh, let's hope we get some of that high-summer hotness back soon), just throw them on over a black lace bra or tank and gooooooo. On a gross, rainy, cool day like yesterday and today (and the rest of this coming week... you can guess my feelings on the matter), pile them on together and put a leather jacket or sleeveless vest on top. Instant outfit! The best.

In that spirit, check out these great sheer pieces from Kimberly Taylor. The sheer pants might look a little crazy as-is but over the right tights (and with an incantation to ward off the static electricity), they'd kill.

And hey, if you're in the midst of preparing a summer wardrobe, you can pick some of these guys up for 10% off through May 1st! Enter the code WITCHFINDER at checkout, and enjoy your ventilated sheer-back dress. Compliments of the witch-finder general!

DROP TROU

When these guys arrived in my mailbox, I was so psyched to finally get my hands on the floral drop-crotch monster pants of my dreams that I had to bust out my camera immediately!



Excuse my beauty/inability to take a full-length shot of myself. Here's what they look like on Pixie Market's website:



Made by the Australian geniuses behind My Pet Square, they're much more light-weight and soft than I was expecting--meaning I'll be wearing them alllll summer. As I said in a previous post, I'm really feeling these new pant silhouettes for spring... which means I'm now seriously considering investing in the black-and-white print version too.

SWEET TRANSVESTITE

Kind of a bittersweet post, since these amazing earrings are already sold out at Pixie Market... but forget about the material, just check out the detail on that mini-talon clutching its pearls.



Nothing says 'Spring' like a dangling jewel stolen from a bird of prey.

Earrings from the difficult-to-Google Transvestite, which seems to come out of Japan (naturally enough).

ABSOLUTE PANTS

Dai Fujiwara's new collection for Issey Miyake is hands-down my favorite so far this season. The silhouette that's being pushed in the majority of the shows I've seen is something I'm getting heartily sick of--it all starts to blend into one stretchy body-con mess after a while. Even some designers whose prints and other surface techniques I admire are just not looking as fresh when they put them on an unchanging rotation of slim-fit mini-skirts and shift dresses. Minis on all of these stick-thin legs are just not doing it for me at all anymore. So despite my longtime belief in the talismanic powers of the dress, I am setting my sights for the first time squarely on PANTS.

Seriously! I'm sort of bummed by the sheer lack of them this season. Every time I see the faintest hint of pant in a little thumbnail on Style.com, I click without fail... only to be rebuffed by leggings.

Fortunately, Fujiwara has totally delivered on my need for trews. Pants please!



(pics from Style)

How good are these? The printed ones are particularly sick, but I wouldn't say no to the ruched style either.

And I am completely feeling these awesome coats.

LOVE. I'm okay with this ovoid, shrouded, kind of butch-cum-batcave (maybe more Batcave than in the literal sense... the frayed-yarn pair of trousers there looks like a perfectly fresh interpretation of found-in-the-attic finery, in that slightly boyish shape) silhouette remaining unpopular for the time being. It's only a matter of seasons before everybody gets bored with the omnipresent Balmain look, after all...

ICE PRINCESS

I haven't really been focusing much on the A/W shows. Should I be? A lot of them seem to be missing the point to me, and right now I'm more interested in thinking about Spring anyway. Spring! If only! Today it was actually a temperature somewhere around 'melting,' but I'm sure we can count on at least a few more weeks of icy conditions.

Scout just put up a bunch of new Diana Orving pieces, and they're truly thrilling me, especially the suspended ruffle-back jacket and ESPECIALLY the drop-crotch leggings...

Okay, who am I trying to kid; variations on the theme of drop-crotch leggings and big scarves have comprised my day-in-day-out wardrobe for at least the past few weeks. Like I said a few posts ago, all the mini lengths and Naugahyde faux-'70s detailing is turning the shows this season into a steady stream of impossible Designer Impostors. This looks like a reasonable alternative...