Modcloth Polyvore Outfit Challenge!

Modcloth Lead by Example Challenge! by walnutwhale featuring platform wedge shoes

One of my all time favorite clothing websites - Modcloth - approached me last week and asked me if I would be interested in creating a Polyvore outfit featuring their products. Of course I'm interested, I love their entire product catalog!

While I own very few things from Modcloth because I have a hard time justifying a lot of their dress prices (someday, when I'm not horribly broke!), I still salivate wildly over their dresses almost every day. Their cuts and prints are all so cute and flattering and they are massively geek friendly, which is awesome.

Today I was challenged to style the Lead by Example dress, a cute dark blue number with a really cute neckline and great sheath skirt (gathered in all the right places to be flattering!). Unfortunately with my pear shape I don't think this dress would work on me, but it's so cute nonetheless!

The easy way to go with this dress would be to dress it up for a classy night out or for the 9 to 5, but as you guys know I don't LIKE to take the easy way out! I styled this dress for date night - with friends or your boyfriend - with a cute kitty inspired twist. Because who DOESN'T love cats?!

Would you guys wear this outfit?

Outfit #71: Floral and Stripes

Striped Top: Forever 21 (Similar) // Floral Skirt: Thrifted (Similar) // Shoes: Coltrane Knockoffs from eBay (Similar) // Jacket: Forever 21 (Similar) // Rings: eBay (Similar one two three four) // Necklace c/o My Charm Offensive

I have such an intense love affair with high waisted skirts (especially maxis!) and crop tops. It's such a perfect silhouette and SO flattering on my curves. I am so thrilled that the good parts of 90s fashion are coming back now - it makes me want to watch a lot of My So Called Life for inspiration! (And because My So Called Life is awesome, duh). I even ordered a tattoo choker today… ehehe!

My Sailor Moon tattoo is getting finished on Sunday!! I am SO excited that I can hardly stand it - I'm already in love with it and once the blue clouds are added in the background I may just pull my skin off and frame it as art. Maybe.

Also, how precious is this delicate "Geek" necklace from My Charm Offensive? She actually sent it to me to review AGES ago but it got stuck in the very back of my review drawer and I forgot about it, oh no!! I'm the worst blogger ever. But I found it the other day and "squeed" all over again. It's so wonderful! I want to wear it every day!

I went and saw Kyary Pamyu Pamyu last night and it was probably one of the top 100 experiences of my life thus far. She's perfect and hilarious and adorable and it was so much fun!! I loved seeing her mesmerizing dancing and looking at the audience's awesome outfits. I posted lots of pics on my instagram!

Happy Valentine's Day, my precious Peacocks! I hope you have a great day full of candy.

Outfit #70: Timey Wimey Wibbly Wobbly

TARDIS dress: Her Universe (Buy Here) // Jacket: Thrifted (Similar) // Shoes: Thrifted (Jessica Simpson (Similar) // Sonic Screwdriver! (Buy Here)

The first time I ever watched Doctor Who it was the first episode of the 11th Doctor. My ex boyfriend - a high strung Australian who had been raised on the show - sat me down in the hotel room we were sharing and put his laptop on my stomach, queuing up the episode. The entire time I watched it, he watched ME eagerly, gauging my reaction.

By the end of it I turned to him and screamed "WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW THIS TO ME EARLIER?!" and a fan was born.

I went through the rest of the first season of Matt Smith, all of Eccleston, Tennant, and ALL of the old Doctor Who in a little under a year… and my love of the series has never waned. I got drunk a couple of years ago with Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill and I'm probably putting a TARDIS tattoo on my body very soon. There's something about the kitschy scifi that just speaks to my heart, and I highly doubt I'll EVER stop loving it.

Even though I don't really have the body for tight dresses, when Her Universe came out with this TARDIS dress I couldn't resist (they've since made it in fit and flare, yay!). I just want the Doctor to call me sexy, dammit!

Outfit #69: Make a Shadow

Dress: Thrifted (Similar) // Hat: Thrifted (Similar) // Belt: Thrifted (Similar) // Jacket: Forever 21 (Similar) // Necklaces: eBay (Similar - Chain) (Similar - Half Moon) // Shoes: "Coltrane" Knockoffs (Similar) // Sunglasses: eBay (Similar) // Bracelets c/o Frosted Willow // Rings c/o Wanderlustiny // Earrings c/o Little Otto

This dress is probably one of my favorite vintage finds in a LONG time. I found it at a thrift store in Boise Idaho when I was down there not long ago for one of my best friend's weddings. I love the unique floral print and the way it's cut is super flattering on my pear shape. Yay!

I'm so excited: I get to go see Kyary Pamyu Pamyu tomorrow!! She's my favorite J-pop singer and I've essentially worshiped her since her days as a Japanese Street Fashion Model. I've come up with a pretty ridiculous Harajuku inspired outfit that shall be quite delightful (but still mostly black, since I'm allergic to color). I'm sure you guys will see it on my Instagram! 

Outfit #68: Oh Snap!

Pleated Faux Leather Skirt: Forever 21 (Similar) // Oh Snap! Tanktop c/o Graysonshop // Jewelry: eBay (Similar Necklace) (Similar Ring) // Contrast Leather Jacket: Nasty Gal (Similar) // Shoes: Love Culture (Similar)

Gosh, I am exhausted today. This morning it took me about five minutes to acknowledge that my alarm was going off because half asleep I kept wondering "isn't someone going to turn that off?". I blame it on the fact that I cried myself to sleep last night. I'm not proud of it - I was letting my emotions get the better of me in a situation that is pretty much beyond my control and something I saw coming for a long time.

I recently lost one of my oldest and closest friends, and yesterday she quietly "cut the last tie" and deleted me off of Facebook. While I saw this coming - the two of us had been growing apart for ages and nothing really seemed to be able to repair it - the finality of the blow really got to me. While some people say "Facebook isn't real life!" I must argue that in our generation it most certainly IS. Deleting someone off of Facebook is psychologically "purging" them from your life, saying they don't have the privilege of even a voyeueristic and silent look into your life.

I think that's been the hardest part about reaching my mid twenties. I've definitely seen who my TRUE friends are (especially through a lot of the nonsense that occurred during the TV show - I was an awful friend who didn't have time for ANYONE because I was so wrapped up in my own life. The friend who deleted me off of Facebook could not forgive me for this, but I have some pretty solid amazing ladies who were nothing but gracious and understanding through all of it.) But it's difficult… I used to want to be friends with everyone and want everyone to like me so badly. I still desire that, but I don't compromise myself for people anymore - and that truly shows me who should be in my life and who shouldn't be.

All of my friends who are in their thirties assure me that this is a very natural part of your twenties -  you grow up and leave people behind. While it's comforting to know it has happened to countless others, it does not much soothe the sting of loss.

I know all I can do is cling to the wonderful memories she and I had together. She was my best friend for many years and we helped each other through some incredibly difficult times and created some hilarious memories that I will always cherish. I hope someday she can release whatever anger she feels for me and we can laugh about this, but until then I will not allow myself to fall prey to anger or pettiness.

Have any of you experience the inevitable ebb and flow of friendship? How did you deal with it?

Outfit #67: Leather and Lace

Velvet Dress: Thrifted (Similar) // Crochet Vest: Thrifted (Similar) // Jacket: Forever 21 (Buy here) // Shoes: Litas by Jeffrey Campbell (Buy here) // Hat: Thrifted (Similar) // Geometric Necklace c/o Sweet Mayhem Boutique  // Crystal Ring c/o Little Otto

So, a fashion icon of mine has always been Stevie Nicks. Not only do I love the music she creates, but her effortless, medieval/boho inspired fashion has always been a source of inspiration for me. I had grainy printed out pictures of her from the internet tacked to my wall when I was a teenager and constantly tried to emulate her style. As a geeky awkward young thing obsessed with fantasy novels and elves, Stevie's style seemed like the perfect way to look like I had come from a modern day Lothlorien.

Though my style these days shifts pretty constantly from recovering goth to anime girl to Seattle hipster to 70s rock goddess, Stevie is still always close to my fashionable little heart. This outfit was obviously 100% inspired by her - I just need a top hat!

What about you guys? Who are your consistent style icons through the years?