Obsession

Top: J Crew
Skirt: Self made
Shoes: Tom's (gift from my mom)
Earrings: Turkey

Y'all, I might be obsessed with this skirt. I'd wear it every day if I thought B wouldn't sit me down to have a serious conversation about how I need to separate myself from this skirt long enough to wash it.


I got the idea for this outfit from this image I pinned over at my favorite website ever. My take is considerably more casual since there was a possibility I'd be walking home from work (again).


And, yes, I did walk home in these shoes. Most. Comfortable. Heels. Ever. It's been proven by this girl who walked up the mountain in them; that's pretty much scientific. The look on my face in the above photo isn't about the shoes, though. That's me singing about how this skirt fits me so well and is so cute.

Friend Friday: So(ng) inspired

Tee: Gap
Shirt: Ralph Lauren (thrifted)
Skirt: thrifted and hemmed
Shoes: Steve Madden (gift from my mom)
Earrings: Turkey
Sunnies: Target

For this week's Friend Friday, we're wearing song inspired clothes. So it kind of looks like I was inspired by the Saved by the Bell theme song, but let me assure you that it wasn't. I mean, maybe I'm channeling Lisa Turtle, but that was not my intention.


Mostly, I woke up with two songs running through my head. The first was Cultura Profética's "Amante luz" and the second was Draco's "Obra de arte". I'm actually kind of impressed that the songs go together (yeah, amazing Puerto Rican artists!) because usually my iTunes mixes sound a little...ADD. But this morning I kept singing two lines to myself, one from each song: "Borinquen, amante luz, rayo de sol" (Puerto Rico, lover of light, ray of sun), and "De los cuarenta colores que yo sé pintar, eres ese color que no lo puedo ni soñar" (Of the forty colors I can paint, you're that color that I can't even imagine).


So I knew two things: I wanted to wear yellow and I wanted to wear something like forty colors. I wanted to look like I was wearing Puerto Rico. Or something. My recently hemmed thrift store skirt fit the bill. Pairing it with yellow stripes seemed natural. But then I was cold, so I reached for this shirt, tied it up, and called it a day.


I think my sunshiny, tropical inspiration served me well because it's nearly two and the clouds seem to be holding off. Amante luz, rayo de sol, indeed.


In other news, I've finally succumbed to wearing oxfords and I'm kind of in love.


AND I tied knots in my hair. Fanciness all around y'all.

FFB: Class and all that's thrifty

Sweater: H&M
Dress: thrifted
Shoes: Crocs
Earrings: came with a pair of boots
Scarf: J Crew
Kitten: Pirata

Remember when this kitteh disappeared and I thought she was dead? That was sad. But she's back! I thought that warranted a photo op.
Anyway, it's time for another FFB post, this time about social class.


I'm not totally sure if my topic fits under that category, but it's one that's been on my mind since I first stumbled into a Tienda Americana here in Costa Rica. This little dress (which is probably actually a nightshirt, but let's keep that between us, shall we?) came from a tienda americana, which is the equivalent of a thrift store, except different.


See, the americanas here are THE place to get clothes. In my deep and thorough research of Costa Rican malls - and by that I mean the anecdotal evidence I've collected by visiting four malls in different cities at different times - they might as well call them "Centers where you can get stuff for $60 US or more". New clothes are prohibitively expensive here, and this is where the americana comes in.


They sell Goodwill and Salvation Army cast offs at reasonable prices. Sometimes, they're even downright cheap - I managed to snag a neon skirt for about 90 cents. The thing is that this is pretty much THE ONLY place where the average Costa Rican can afford to buy clothes. And there's nothing wrong with that, I mean, I like thrifting. A lot. Probably because I wasn't allowed to as a kid (class issues abound in that statement...). Also, I think thrift stores provide a necessary service.


That said, the fact that a single country can supply another country with clothes from its cast offs raises questions for me. I mean, seriously, the stuff that gets here has already trickled through the system: from the store (new), to the closet (worn), donated to a thrift store in the States, and then donated AGAIN to these stores in Costa Rica. Doesn't that say something about social and economic class at a global level? And in some ways, isn't that just perpetuating some neocolonialist attitudes? (Hi, my name is Frances, I majored in Latin American Studies and then went on to study International Development and I blog about what I wear....)


So here I am, in my tienda americana dress and my fast fashion sweater and my over-priced scarf and rubber shoes (I love you J Crew, but let's be real: your accessories are way over-priced). I'm part of the system, part of the consumption - on both ends, no less - and I don't quite know what to do about that. And I haven't even begun to deal with the can of worms that is the origin of most of these items - in many cases, other Central American countries... In some ways, it's coming full circle.


On a lighter note: I didn't know if I'd like knotting my shirt like it's 1992, but I think I'll do it again.

FFB: Women in Media

Tee: J Crew
Blazer: New York & Co.
Skirt: Gap
Belt: Ann Taylor
Scarf: Target
Flats: Naturalizer
Earrings: Target?

This entire look was based on a picture of this hair.

source

That is a true story. I pinned that image I don't even know how long ago and now that my hair is so terribly grown out that I can't wear it down, I've been trying to find a look other than my traditional high bun.


But, enough about my crazy hair. I've been slacking on my Feminist Fashion Bloggers posts for the past few months, but I've been thinking a lot about this month's topic: Women in the Media and Popular Culture.


I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and, of course, I'm thinking of this from the perspective of a Latina who grew up primarily in the States. So, there's my bias. I've been thinking a lot about the representation of women of color in the media quite often these days and thinking about how that plays into my own sense of identity and self expression. Too heavy for a style blog? Perhaps, but let's take it there today, shall we?


I've been thinking about this as I (finally) got caught up on Glee. I think Glee has one of the more diverse casts on television, but one of the issues I have with the show is its reliance on stereotypes for so many of the characters (Mercedes, for example). I think they try. I think there are some characters that are actually complex. As a Latina, I have to mention Santana. While that's one of those names that non-Latinos think are legitimately Latino and I am kind of weird about having believable names, I do like that they've developed her character a bit. The thing that bugs me, though? She's so spicy, that Santana, with all that attitude.


Because, you know, that's what we Latinas are: spicy. And all of us "ethnic" girls are angry, or at least attitude-y. (Either that or subservient women oppressed by machismo - but that's a different post. Also another post: the label "ethnic" for people who are not white.) I grew up seeing these images - not often, of course, because for the first twenty years of my life, I didn't see many Latinas on tv or in movies - and I've fought so hard against being the stereotype.


Because, really? When all you see is that woman with the attitude, who gets mad and spouts off in Spanish for everyone's amusement, it does get to you. Is that how you want to be represented all the time? I'm lucky that I had a family that held up other images, but what about kids that don't have that? You get a little angry that you're constantly portrayed as a one dimensional angry woman. Self fulfilling prophecy....


I often tell B that what I want to see is Latinos on tv just living. And I guess there are some shows like that (Ugly Betty), I just don't watch enough tv to really know. Ditto for the movies. Even more for books. When I write a book, I'm not explaining any of my Latinas. Does that make sense? They're just going to live and be. Maybe they'll be angry, maybe they'll be pushy, but they'll be a whole lot more besides. You know, like me and all the other Latinas I know.

Color Rotation - Yellow

Tee: Gap
Skirt: Target
Belt: Target
Scarf: Target
Shoes: Crocs
Earrings: Turkey

I'm still doing the color rotation, but I'm having a little trouble with purple, so I think I might restart the rotation and work in some purple over the weekend. I have no school appropriate purple items - they're all super casual and tattoo exposing. Anyway, this is yellow.


I had a massive headache this day - last Friday - and all my pictures are weird.


Anyway, I don't have a whole lot to say about this look. I like it fine, and I think it works. It was an appropriate look for a day when I had to walk a little over a mile - half downhill, half up - to and from work.


See this? Fake smile through a migraine.

Quitter in red

Skirt: Gap
Tee: J Crew
Shoes: Crocs
Earrings: Turkey
Belt: gift from my mom
Sunnies: purchased in PR

Y'all, I have a confession to make: I quit the 30x30. I wore fourteen outfits, posted nine, photographed ten, and then decided I was over. it. Why did I quit after completing two 30x30 challenges successfully? Well, for one, I felt like I had learned all I could from the challenge. For two, remember the time I had to get rid of or store about 80% of my wardrobe? Yeah, that was a lesson in consumerism greater than the challenge.


And I was already feeling pretty deprived in every other aspect of my life (we're poor, we don't have access to a car right now, there's no public transportation, and there's not a whole lot of choice when it comes to diet). Adding the challenge felt like the opposite of fun. My life is pretty bare bones right now, so I'd at least like full access to the 20% of my closet that's still in my possession.


Anyway, my aunt M got me this red skirt at Gap when I was back in Puerto Rico visiting family. It was $3.97, so I went for it, even though it's a size larger than I usually wear. I'm not sure if I love the way it fits because it's a little lower in the hips than I'd like, but I think I can make it work. I think it might also be good for a mini alteration with my remedial sewing skills - I should be able to take in a waist, right?

Weekend special aka Outfits #5 and #6

Dress: Target
Earrings: Target
Sandals: Chinese Laundry

This is me on my way to the beach stopping to check out some crocodiles. Yeah, those little lumpy things by the river bank on your right? Crocodiles. Isn't that insane?


We took our returning students to this beach to celebrate their success last year and the end of summer vacation down here. Summer is code for "dry season", by the way, because we don't actually have seasons beyond rainy and dry.


It was nice to hang out with the students in an informal setting and even nicer to soak up some sun and delicious heat. Have I mentioned I like hot weather? Because I do. I love it. I also love crazy beach hair.


Tee: J Crew
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Scarf: Target
Shoes: Crocs
Earrings: gift with purchase from Noble Town Vintage
Bracelet: gift from uncle

Style Nation, meet my crocs. Crocs, meet Style Nation. Judge if you will, because I know I did (do).


I got these shoes for free because they were BOGO at the outlet and my sister wanted a pair. I figured rubber shoes were good for the rain forest, so I went for it. They aren't the best, but they make me feel like I have tiny feet. They're a size four, y'all; for the record, I generally take a six.


I told B that I felt like I should be on vacation in Nantucket in this outfit. I've never been to Nantucket, but if I did, this is what I would wear. Someone should take me, but, you know, not till July when it's finally thawed out enough.

Florals and stripes

All remixed except tee
Tee: Gap
Cardigan: Ann Taylor
Jeggings: J Crew
Flip Flops: Rainbow
Scarf: Target
Earrings: Turkey

I wore this to go into the city last week to get closet type stuff. By closet type stuff, I mean stuff to build a closet. Which B did. Skillfully, I might add. I'll have to take pictures of it because it's crazy and way bigger than a Philly closet.


I didn't wear these shoes, though. I wore (and this is the part where I hang my head in shame) a pair of Crocs. In my defense, they're this style which looks like a proper shoe and not a gardening clog, and also they were free. The bad thing is that flats generally rub my heels raw. So once we came back up to Vara Blanca, I changed into my flip flops IMMEDIATELY.


Another confession: I've been wearing jeans more than I have in the last, oh, six years. I still feel way more comfortable in a skirt, but I've had to do a lot of climbing around and that kind of stuff - jeans are just more practical for that kind of thing. Too bad I don't know how to be very creative with jeans. Any tips out there?

A Day off in Breton Stripes

Jeggings and scarf remixed
Breton stripe tee: J Crew
Jeggings: J Crew
Scarf: J Crew
Shoes: Sperry - taken from my mamita (with her permission, of course)
Socks: Target
Earrings: ?

Today's outfit was super simple and functional. And I love it. I thought about wearing this tee with a full skirt, but then I found out we were supposed to go to La Paz Waterfall Gardens for our first free day in two weeks. There was a lot of walking involved, so I opted for this functional outfit.



I love the preppiness of it - all these classic pieces coming together with just the tiniest bit of pattern mixing to keep it from being too cookie cutter. Also, these boat shoes are the best thing I've ever taken from my mom's closet. Just sayin'.



I have to say today was pretty incredible in that I got to pet a puma, shook hands with a monkey, held a toucan on my arm, and let a Blue Morpho sit on my hand. It was pretty much wonderful, especially because it's kind of just hitting me that we moved our lives here, and for all that it's a tropical paradise, sometimes a girl just wants to be able to run to Target at 9 pm, or call her mamita, or get a package in the mail, or just separate life from work. Today was good for me to get myself back on track and remember why we're here and what we're doing.





Also, I saw a baby female quetzal, which pretty much made me swoon, even if it was pretty much just seeing one at the zoo. While the females are nowhere NEAR as impressive looking as the males, seeing one of these rare-ish birds made my day. Yes, I am a huge nerd.