an illustration by Ida Maria

I just want to quickly share an illustration that Miss Ida Maria Aunsbjerg Villadsen sent to me. 
 





17-year-old Ida Maria, from Denmark,  drew this illustration of one of my outfits (this one) and I think it's marvelous (I'm especially fond of my grumpy expression, which is extraordinarily representative of my usual state). She doesn't have a blog, but I think she should definitely start an illustration blog or something similar-- I hate when talented people go unnoticed!

in action

  
Glasses in action! My Warby Parkers arrived a few days ago and I've been wearing them off and on. It's been a constant game of looking at a distant sign, taking them off, then going, "Incredible, I can't believe I went this long!" I actually feel really strange wearing them around. I don't really ever wear sunglasses and the only times I've worn regular glasses (with clear frames) were for costumes, so I feel sort of self conscious in them.

We had really strangely warm weather today and yesterday (70 degrees yesterday and 82 today) and even though it was only for a couple days, it made this town feel completely different. That's what I love about Spring that doesn't really happen with the transition to other seasons- all of a sudden, there's new life in the city. I make the same bus ride twice a day, but today, with the humid air gushing through the open windows and the heaviness of warmth, I felt like I was in a city I've never seen before.   



On J: 
dress:: thrifted 
shirt:: thrifted 
boots:: thrifted 
bag:: H&M

what's actually in my bag

After reading dozens of "What's in my bag?" features over the past year or so, I'm always struck by the well thought-out, organized, and aesthetically-pleasing contents of fellow bloggers' sacks. *

I've decided to do a similar feature on my blog, only candid. I present to you: the confusing, mismatched, and sometimes disgusting contents of my purse.



1. Wallet.
2. Loose change (* note- the coin compartment of item #1 is perpetually empty).
3. Receipts and scrap paper, assorted trash.
4. Beat-up non-iPhone
5. Various metal things- bobby pins, paper clip.
6. Keys (janitor status).
7. ???
8. Bandaid.
9. More trash.
10. Other miscellanea- old chapstick, old lighter.
11. Pens from restaurants (that's right, servers everywhere- it was probably me. Especially if it was IHOP).


*Just poking a bit of fun, ladies. I enjoy all "What's in my bag" posts, regardless of level of candidness. 

mom jeans

UNASHAMED


(the calivintage jump)





On J:
sweater:: thrifted
pink shirt:: thrifted
shoes:: thrifted
bag:: inherited

THIS IS IMPORTANT

ATTN: All American women and men, especially Virginians.

Remember Mississippi's failed 'personhood' bill? The one that would render abortion murder and ban most hormonal contraceptives?

Virginia's House passed a personhood bill last week, with more support than Mississippi's House had. I have no idea why this hasn't really made national news, but if the bill passes in the Senate (and there's actually a fair chance it will), Virginia will have the most backwards, conservative abortion policies in the country, and will set the precedent to lead and justify other states to follow in our path.
This bill is one of many bills on the floor that, under the guise of women's health, is an attempt to stifle the reproductive rights of women. This is serious. Like, really serious.



Please, holy crap, please, if you are a Virginian, and ESPECIALLY if you are a Richmonder, come to the Capitol (9th and Grace) on Monday morning at 11AM.

From the facebook event page:

" CALL FOR ACTION: On Feb 20th at 11 am, we call for 500 women (but men are very welcome and wanted!) to line either side of the walkway between the General Assembly building and the Capitol in SILENCE as our Senators and Representatives pass between the two buildings several times day to work on passing bills oppressive to women and reproductive rights... 

 The Capitol ground rules say that we cannot assemble, hold signs, chant, yell or protest. We think silence in the face of this struggle and their unconstitutional rules presents the strongest response to their assault on women. Please come out and stand up for our rights and for the rights of all women in VA to choose the best reproductive route for themselves. "

Please, whether you're a Virginian woman or not, this affects you.
Whether you're a Virginia woman or not, please help spread the word.

would be valentine

Thanks for the overwhelming response to my Warby Parker post. Holy geez, 90 comments opinions! I did ask for it I suppose. I ended up going with the Preston in sandalwood matte.

This is what I what have worn on Valentine's Day if I hadn't been holed up in my apartment all day finishing a summary report for my practicum.  I literally did not go outside at all that day. We had to cancel our dinner reservations and everything. Instead I wore the dress I was going to wear for V-day yesterday. It's corduroy! On a separate note, I need tips for maintaining photo quality when shooting red things. There's always so much noise unless I want to lose detail in the red item. Any suggestions?

On J:
dress: vintage, will soon be for sale on my etsy shop.
shoes:: thrifted

men seldom make passes

Ah, Dorothy Parker, will you confirm my worst fears?

If you follow my Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook then you will know (because I won't shut up about it) that I had my first eye exam ever last week and discovered that I'm nearsighted and have astigmatism which means glasses.

I was pretty close to picking out some Kate Spade specs at the glasses place, but I refrained in favor of trying out Warby Parker, both because I'm poor and because I like big nerdy-looking glasses (as most do). They probably won't be as good quality as the Kate Spade pair might have been (or maybe not? I don't really know what I'm talking about. Plus, B tells me that all the 'designer' glasses are manufactured by the same company so there's not really any difference. Seriously! The company is Luxxoitca, look at their brand list.), but I figured why not.

If you read or have ever read any blogs ever in any capacity, you know about Warby Parker's home-try on system (which, by the way, what a genius marketing idea. I don't think I'd even know about Warby Parker if I hadn't seen it on 1 zillion+ blogs).

SO, I turn to you once again, Internet, for help in the basic decision-making process. HELP ME CHOOSE MY GLASSES halp halp


Option #1: The Crosby in greystone




Option #2: The Sinclair in greystone




Option #3: The Preston in Sandalwood Matte (side note- I LOVE MATTE. I LOVE IT. SO MUCH.)




Option #4: The Tenley in burgundy fade




Option #5: The Begley in greystone


Please tell me which you prefer (if you care?).
I don't know, they're all fairly similar. The only ones that don't swallow my face whole are #s 2 and 3, I think. I'm partial to the Prestons (option #3 because of the color and because they're matte and because they're not borderline costumey and ridiculously huge, which I think some of the others are). I also like the Sinclair, but I think they look slightly clunkier on my face in person than they do in the photo. I like all of them though! I do!

Sincerely,
Julia Topaz


*update- I went with #3- the Preston in sandalwood matte. Here I am, wearing them!

Blue Velvet

These are our porch people.

    

Three things:

1.  My shirt and shoes are both velvet! And they're both blue. Hence, the title of this post is not actually an homage to the 1986 movie, Blue Velvet (mostly because I've never seen it!), but really just an unimaginative physical description. I've heard repeatedly that this movie is rad though, so maybe I'll watch it. Also I image.googled Blue Velvet and this image came up:



...so I guess now I have to watch it (??).

2.  I've been loving my "ombre" hair (in quotations because, though it was totally unintentional, I frequently get asked how I did it) these past 6 months or so, but I'm afraid I may have to chop it off soon. The lighter colored bits at the end have been through HELL (back when I was bleach blonde I would bleach my hair once every 3 weeks) and they are fried (see: first photo of this post). Siiighhh. And I so meant to grow my hair down to my waist.

3. One day recently I woke up and looked in the mirror and I just looked...old. Well, not old, but older. It's like it happened overnight. All of a sudden I've got bags under my eyes and laugh lines (which I more likely acquired frowning) and little lines between my eyes (whatever those are called). Obviously I still look quite young- I mean, I'm only 23. But there's something strange about really feeling like you're still 16 and then seeing any kind of lines on your face at all. My mother, who's 60 years old, once said she still feels like she's 20 on the inside- evidence that this feeling never really goes away. Man, the aging process is a powerful and confusing thing.


On J: 
shirt:: thrifted
pants:: thrifted (also worn here)
shoes:: thrifted (also worn here here)
bag:: thrifted (also worn all the time every day)