Steal like an artist.
So yeah, this outfit may not be art, but it certainly is stolen, erm…inspired. After all, there is nothing new under the sun. And all is vanity. So what you wear becomes a catalogue of what and who you come into contact with — and how those combined forces creatively, often subconsciously, synthesize in the daily act of dressing.
The Tibetan turquoise, coral and beaded breastplate ($140, Armor Bijoux) is inspired by… • Bethany’s beautiful and frequent displays of breastplate glory. • My instant envy for Kim’s breastplate gift (hubba). • The ceremonies of the Ladakh tribe, as apparently this is a necklace made for the occasion. • The western US, as I find something so Santa Fe about this piece too. Overall, it makes me think of the soul, and vast open spaces, and mountains, and east meets west, and general bad-assery.

The Carlisle silk shirt (thrifted gift, somewhere in Oregon) is inspired by… • An undying love for labels that read 100% silk. • An undying love for gold. • A sort of mobius strip of inspiration that started with the one-by-one induction of the FU ladies into thrift store fashion fetishism, that in part led to this blog, that led my friend Amanda to start thrift store shopping in Oregon, that led her to buy and give this to me. Boomerang.

Made in the former British Hong Kong, this shirt is beautifully made for women with personal servants. It has intricate buttoning up the back, even hook-and-eyes up the nape of the neck.

The Bonnie and Norma vintage velvet riding pants ($3.75, thrift store) are inspired by… • Anna’s love for vintage velvet, which inspired me to start eagle-eyeing thrift stores for the exquisiteness. When I found these riding pants, she told me she had been on the search for a similar pair for years. Just recently, she found her own, and smokin’ hot. Now if I could only compete with her collection of velvet skirts.

The Frye Boots ($200, after parental gift-discount) are inspired by… • Peer pressure, because like, all the FU ladies have them, practically. • Cowboys. • The Civil War, which apparently inspired the whole boot-making venture in the first place.

All made in the USA baby.

The Leonardo Riva black leather oversized tuxedo jacket ($10, thrift store) is inspired by: • Kelly and Nicole’s fascination with menswear and tuxedo jackets. I love the oversized tuxedo feel of the front. And the yards of leather. (No offense, PETA.)  • My Harley-riding dad, and the added, full-body protection this will give me when on the back of a motorcycle. • My bicycle, and the semi-full-body protection this will give my outfits in the muddy spring. • Some puff sleeved leather jacket I saw on a runway recently. • The f*cking neurotic weather.

In the end, it’s me on a weekday, with the things I carry. Even people, even places, even love.

Photos by the glorious Bethany Walter, FU-ing tomorrow.