{my outfit} dress the part

On the way to my Grandpa's house in Door County, WI, I saw a sign for the Spam Museum and knew that I had to go. Those cheesy tourist spots are the funnest places to visit after you've been stuck in the car for 6 hours a day, for 6 days. With my Nikon fully juiced, I snapped shots of "Spammy" and all the different flavors of spam-- I even watched a bit of Monty Python! This photo was taken at the museum. 




What I'm wearing: Floral And Lace Dress; Jeffrey Campbell Woven Flats; Vintage Brown Lens Sunglasses; Vintage Brown Skinny Belt

{my outfit} shorts

It's hot. I have never been a girl who does well in the heat, and since I live in an area that stays pretty chill all year round, 80 degrees is HOT for me. So, what do you do when it's hot out? You wear shorts! I picked up this pair of shorts from a local Urban Outfitters store, and I splurged ($48!). But let me tell you, they were worth every cent!


What I'm Wearing: Nautical Print Blouse w/ nude colored mesh top; black scalloped shorts, vintage brown belt, Jeffrey Campbell brown woven flats

{on my radar} clip-on earrings

I don't know what it is about clip-ons, but I love them. They bring back memories of playing in my Grandma's jewelery box, and pulling out her large clip-on earrings and pilling them onto my toddler sized ears. They hurt, are often heavy, and to some they may look cheap-- but not to me. And since this blog is about independent style, I thought I would post about one of my more unusual fashion-crazes at the moment.
(image from modcloth.com)

Generally when I shop for jewelery I like to stick to vintage stores, thrift stores, and second hand shops--full price is a huge turnoff for me. But this past weekend I was online shopping, trying to find a pair of shoes, and happened to stumble upon a great pair of clip-on earrings from Modcloth! They're pretty well priced, only $12.99 for a  pair. And to sweeten the deal, it got rave reviews! Modcloth is great because costumers can post reviews about the items, so you won't be stuck with an ill-fitting pair of slacks, or a too-tight-here and too-loose-there kind of garment. This particular pair of clip-on square studs got 5/5 stars- that's great! I don't know about you, but after this post, I'm heading back to Modcloth and purchasing a pair!

{blast from the} past

I love vintage things, whether it be clothes or furniture, there's always a place in my heart for pre-owned things. Not only is it great for the environment, you are also showing your individuality, generally saving money, and wearing an item with a story behind it-- it's up to you to figure it out.

Where I live, around half the stores I see are vintage, second-hand or thrift stores, which is great for those who love pre-loved items. Sadly, in more remote areas you may not see this kind of shopping, in that event your best option is to surf the world wide web. Ebay, Etsy and many other stores sell straight from the vendor, where you can communicate with the dealer. Other online vintage stores are set up like any other online retailer, you put the item in your basket and pay with the plastic in your wallet. But no matter where you shop, the same rules apply:

1. Read all of the product information. You wouldn't want to spend $50 on a vintage dress with a huge stain on the back. 
2. Know your measurements, most retailers will list the size printed on the tag, what size it looks, and the exact measurements of the garment. Read them, compare them to your own measurements. Use that measuring tape!
3. Don't be gullible. We all would like to believe that the world is perfect, and that dealers won't rip you off, but that isn't always the case. Stores like Etsy and Ebay have user feedback, so you can normally tell if they are a real store that is reputable. Other places may not have that handy feature, so it's up to your common sense to figure it out. Try asking yourself these questions: Does it look professional? Have I heard of this store before? Do I know anyone who has heard of this store? and Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating? 
4. Continuing on Rule #3's thought, check out the Better Business Bureau. They have accredited stores that you know you cant trust.
5. Yelp! Everyone loves Yelp, and if you can't seem to determine whether the site is safe, Yelp it! If you don't know about Yelp already, it is a site where users can post reviews about stores in their area. All you have to do is go to Yelp, type in a store name, a type of store, or a tag and then the location. 
6. If all other options are coming up short, check the URL when you begin the checkout process. If the URL starts with : "https://" then you know that it is a secured network. 

Have fun surfing the web, be safe, and find some great vintage finds! If you're in the mood for shopping right now, check out these sites, which I have personal experience with, so you can be sure that they are safe! (:

• Nasty Gal: They sell new and vintage pieces on an online only store
• LA Vintage: A large selection of high-quality vintage pieces, and many vintage designer pieces. 
• Etsy: There are many vendors on this site, use the rules above to find a great piece. 

Thanks for reading! Check out my other posts! (: Cassie

{quote} it

"The only rule is don't be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in."

 -Paris Hilton

I may not be a huge fan of this blond-bombshell, but she speaks the truth. Fashion and style lies in those who have the courage to break away from the pack and stand out-- don't blend in.

{my outfit} vintage swim-wear

This past weekend I took a little trip down to the beach. It was probably the one warm day this month that I could actually walk around in my swimsuit and not have goose-bumps. The romper-looking outfit that I'm wearing is actually a swimsuit, a vintage swim suit to be exact. I got it around December in Oakland at a boutique called Pretty Penny. I got it for around $10, thinking that I could alter it and then use it as a romper. But I guess that I turned out loving it as a swimsuit, and now I always try and find ways to wear it!

I only got pictures of the front of it, but the back has a nice scoop, which goes down to about 3/4 of my back--very cute! I feel that the scoop in the back off-sets the overall modesty of the swimsuit, but I still felt a tad covered up when standing next to the majority of the teenage girls there. I wore the swimsuit with a nice pair of vintage shades and my over-worn Jeffrey Campbell woven brown flats. All in all, I love my swimsuit, and my modest sense of style. I guess that's the meaning of being {indie} independent, it's your own independent take on trends and fashion, because in the end, individuality overpowers all else.