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What I Wore: The Minor Leagues at South Park Tavern, 9.4.2010

amanda_lee — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:14:44 +0000

[Psssst. Our Kickstarter, where you guys can give us backing for our new album in exchange for some awesome prizes, is two dollars away from being fifty percent funded. Who wants to make my day? Get over there!]

These photos were courtesy of the lovely Connie Kenkel, expert masseuse and text messager of physical therapy advice at all hours of the night, as well as A+ band mom. She forgot her camera, so she shot pictures of the show with mine. Clearer photos of this dress will appear soon!

Clearly I’ve been watching a ton of Mad Men. My hair is enormous, thanks to my generous application of Aqua Net in the bar’s bathroom. This dress was a thrift find, a buyout from Target [meaning it was brand-new when I bought it]. I paid two bucks for it. Worth doing.

Again with those damn wedges. I’ll show you some more shoes soon, I promise.

We were super-stoked to be back at South Park Tavern for another show – our first since we got back from Nashville. It was awesome to be onstage again. There were so many cool people that drove from far and wide to see us. Thanks, y’all!

OMG Shoes: White Leather Bucks, Bass

amanda_lee — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:00:29 +0000

You won’t see photos of these shoes on my feet, because they’re secondhand and I’m still breaking them in [read: I need to take them to a shoe shop to be stretched, because no amount of breaking in can make them stretch the half-size that I'd need to make 'em fit for warm weather].

Lately I’ve been loving flat oxfords for transitioning from summer to fall. I was super-lucky to find these gems in mint condition [tags still attached!] at my local Goodwill goldmine – on half-off day, no less. They fit, but I could use some more instep room and maybe another half size so that when the weather gets cold, I can wear them over tights without screaming.

These are considerably more preppy than anything I’ve ever owned [at least, anything I've ever owned after 1994]. What should I wear them with? Last week I paired them with dark skinny jeans and a ruffled blue blouse that Bandmate Hilly passed off to me – no photos yet, ’cause it still needs some alteration, but I liked how it turned out – pretty prep meets menswear for the ladies. What would you pair them with?

What I Wore: 8.2.2010 [Peggy Olson-esque, but not on purpose]

amanda_lee — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:08:36 +0000

Over the weekend I took a break from moving by heading out to the Drama Workshop theatrical sale. This community theatre group was selling over fifty years’ worth of furniture, set pieces, and costumes, and plus, it was a chance to hang out with two of my favorite girls, Tori and Katrina. And since I was late, because I was exhausted from moving, these two awesome ladies picked out this beauty for me.

Dress, vintage, via the Drama Workshop
Shoes, vintage
Bag, Samsonite, vintage
Ring, Avon
Scarf, vintage
Hairpiece, I Love Life I Love You [psst: want one of these? It'll be available soon in my Etsy shop. Mention this post and I'll give ya free shipping.]

This dress. Wow. They really couldn’t have done a better job picking something that I love. I feel like Peggy Olsen after she grows into her own beauty and skill.

I bought these shoes in 2003 for $2 at a Goodwill in Kentucky. I used to have a tank top whose stripes matched them, but I wore it to pieces. Since then, these shoes haven’t gotten a lot of wear, but I’m stoked that this dress is giving me a chance to dust them off. [Sidenote: I really want a dress like Joan wore in Mad Men last night to wear with these shoes - cap-sleeved, scoop-necked, with a bow on the back that makes me look like a present.]

The handbag is a vintage Samsonite. I saw one like it in a Chicago thrift shop when The Minor Leagues toured there, but I knew I could score one for way cheaper on eBay, so I did – three bucks! The scarf on the handbag is vintage; I found it in a bin at Village Thrift in Kentucky.

My dog wanted in on the wardrobe pics. Unfortunately, he’s not that photographable. We’re working on it.

I wore my photographer out.

You can see more of these on my Flickr.

Special thanks to Katrina and Tori for their immaculate taste and generosity of saving me a cool dress amidst a sea of ladies grabbing for sexy vintage. Also to Chris for his amazing photo skills. And finally, to Hachiko, my faithful friend, who might have a future in blogging after all.

What I Wore: 7.25.2010

amanda_lee — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:47:35 +0000

Were you all stoked for the Mad Men premiere Sunday night? I definitely was. I’d been in Louisville visiting friends and parents, and upon discovering that my parents actually have a television and hence, I’d be able to watch it with the rest of the television-having world, I jumped for joy. In any case, here’s what I wore Saturday, in honor of Betty Draper. [Of course, now she's married to a politician so she's wearing a lot more suits, which aren't as fun.]

Blouse, vintage
Skirt, Tulle
Hat, vintage
Shoes, DV by Dolce Vita [on sale, y'all. seventy percent off.]
Two-finger ring, H&M
Circle ring, Avon

I’ve had this shirt for years. Seeing it in the photograph makes me think I need to take it in on the sides. It is polyester, meaning I was sweating my heart out in the ten minutes it took me to take this group of photos.

I got this hat at my favorite local vintage shop, which unfortunately doesn’t have a web page or an online store – pity! I bought about ten hats for four or five bucks each on that day, and I wish I wore them more often.

I ordered this Tulle skirt in both blue and black. I’m loving the shape, but I think they need crinolines to avoid looking droopy. I’m looking for a crinoline in an appropriate length. [Do you have one to spare? Hook a sister up.] My bandmate Hilly also bought the blue one. I think I smell a new band uniform.

The two-finger ring was an impulse buy at H&M. I call it my legal brass knuckles. The circle ring came from a friend of mine who sold Avon in college – she gave me some of her old sample jewelry.

I am now officially the girl who buys shoes on her lunch break at work, as you already know. I’m not wearing them on my commute or on regular office days, but I did wear them out to a bar and out dancing Friday and Saturday night, and my feet didn’t get too sore. I can’t wait to wear them with colorful tights peeking through in the fall.

[Psst: all these photos are courtesy of my good friend Molly Ann Chroneos. If you need any wedding or event photos, she's your girl.]

What I Wore: Taste of Cincinnati and Midpoint Music Festival’s Fountain Square Indie Summer

amanda_lee — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:54:06 +0000

When I bought this dress, I never intended to wear it in the summertime. And then I joined the Minor Leagues, whose current stage uniform requirements are such that I had to, since I don’t have any little black dresses that were any more summer-appropriate than this one. And I spend both the afternoon of Taste of Cincinnati and the evening of Indie Summer sweating like a sausage. But it looked hot, at least. [Good thing, 'cause it was.]

Dress, vintage, purchased at Casablanca
Shoes, Charles David
Hat [in Taste photos only], vintage via Casablanca again
[Note: Special thanks to my good friend Connie Kenkel, who is our photographer-in-residence and president of the Minor Leagues' Parent Association.]

I like being more dressed up than my audience, a habit that hearkens back to my ballet days. Something else from my ballet days is that I like my feet to hurt more than my audience’s. Luckily, I haven’t pulled out my pointe shoes. These heels, however, put me at a weird angle to my keyboard, so I always end up leaning over like a hobbit when I wear them to play. During the Fountain Square show, I kicked them off for the last few songs of our set. Maybe I should sit on a stool like a singer-songwriter with a guitar.

Also during the Fountain Square show, the strap on this dress broke. Naturally, since I was sweating like a sausage, the dress stuck to me and I avoided flashing the entire audience. But I still felt precarious nonetheless. The dress is about twice as old as I am, so obviously repairs are in order. I think I’m going to make brand new straps from scratch – maybe out of some nice soft elastic to avoid potential future flashings.

This hat . . . I don’t really know how to wear it. It doesn’t have any pins or clips attached, so I end up just squeezing it onto my head and then trying to dance without moving my head. Graceful, I’m sure.

At Taste of Cincy, we shared the stage with a lot of bands that a lot of people love. We love ‘em too. The Metromix people were helpful and professional and ran a really smooth show backstage – nothing was late or disorganized, which is such a big help when you’re coordinating a band with seven members and approximately a ton of equipment. We weren’t allowed to swear onstage, though, which resulted in some awkward stage banter from Ben about how the Masons probably killed Mozart. [It was all over Twitter the next day.]

And at Fountain Square, we played with our good friends For Algernon [whose new album Oh My Starling is damn good], Wild Nothing [who were totally sweet and whose drummer is a former neighbor of mine in New York!], and Neon Indian [maybe you've heard of 'em? They're a major buzz band, everyone loved them, and it was a huge honor to play with such talented folks]. Puck, the event coordinator, is an amazing guy for putting us on such an awesome lineup.

Unrelated to this outfit: Would you like to see some sexy Minor Leagues video action? You know you would. That’s why you know you’re stoked to buy one of our new DVDs.

[Album art by the amazing Michael Bond, of Datawaslost Records.]

Sinister Smiles features full-length video for three tracks from our last album: “Good Boys,” “Lost in Ex-Lives,” and “Travel Agent.” It also features almost 40 minutes of exclusive live video from some of our most memorable shows. Highlights include: a record player exploding repeatedly; my bandmate Ben mistakenly telling over two hundred people how great I look in pajamas; a cute couple going on a tragic road trip where they meet at adorable deer [who I made myself!]; and footage of me clumsily trying to shoot a basketball while the rest of my bandmates [teammates?] get it on their first try. Things that happened during filming that didn’t make the cut: Hilly and me playing with Skip-Its; aforementioned cute couple making eyes at a billboard that features a drawing of a sexy lady; and close-ups of bandmate Luke’s skinny pants and skinny tie [which, for the record, were damn hot].

The DVD sells for $5 plus $2 shipping, which is less than some people have paid to see us live before. And you know what? If you order one by emailing me, I’ll write you a postcard and send you a cookie along with it. So getcha one.

What I Wore: 1.16.2010

amanda_lee — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:28:17 +0000

I dressed like a futuristic flight attendant/matador/Dr. Girlfriend for Saturday night’s Minor Leagues show at Cincinnati’s Northside Tavern.

Dress, Target, with modified extended hem
Tights, Target [solid white Betsey Johnson tights underneath for warmth]
Ruffly blouse, vintage
Jacket, Forever 21
Heels, Lindinny [purchased in 2003]
Knitting necklace, a gift from Myrrh
Scarf [worn as bracelet], vintage
Hat, vintage [if anyone can tell me what kind of hat this is, I'd be super-grateful!]

Other thoughts:
I bought this tunic from Target in Rhode Island in 2007. It was two dollars on the clearance rack. It’s always been an awkward length—too long to wear as a top, but too short to wear as a dress without flashing my ladybits at everyone. So I extended the hem by adding solid white satin to the bottom. I love how it turned out. The satin I used, incidentally, is the leftovers from having shortened my New Year’s Eve dress!

I love these ombre tights! They’re from Target as well. They’re thin and they’ve already got a run in the foot after only four wears, so I’m going to try to replicate them with some We Love Colors tights.

As you can see, this jacket is getting a lot of wear. It accompanies me to the office about three days a week. I’d planned to make some huge shoulder pads and replace the buttons with something glittery and over-the-top, but I didn’t have time. Next show, I suppose.

The oxfords I wore at the actual show are looking a little worse for the wear, so . They’ve served me well. As soon as warmer weather rolls around, I’m going to take them to get re-soled. For this photo shoot, I wore these pumps, which I bought in 2003.

The hat was my favorite part of the ensemble. When I bought it, it had a ratty veil attached, and there was no way I would have been able to repair it, so I cut it straight off. It was a hit with everyone I saw, including my band’s drummer John, who introduced me to his family by saying, “Amanda Lee was actually the inspiration for the Madeline books.” Maybe sometime I’ll put some little tails to hang off the back next time I wear it. After the evening was done and my friends and I went to a diner for a late-night snack, a drunk asshole tried to steal my hat from my head. Ridiculous! I yelled at him.

I’ve been doing the scarf-round-the-wrist thing a lot lately. I was a little apprehensive about wearing it when I was playing keyboards, but it didn’t get tangled up in my fingers at all!

My dog decided he wanted to be in a photo…and then he got tired. [He looks a lot more terrifying here than he actually is.]

What I Wore: New Year’s Eve 2010

amanda_lee — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:00:52 +0000

Dress, vintage Lord and Taylor
Coat, Forever 21
Stockings, Target [American Apparel High Socks layered underneath]
Shoes, Jeffrey Campbell
Gloves and hat, vintage

[Special thanks to Chris for taking these photographs. Also, a huge special thanks to TJ for taking the first round of these photographs on New Year's Eve, amidst broken glass, booziness, and debauchery (photographs which, full disclosure, were taken in a state of intoxication and hence didn't make it onto this post). Both of you rock.]

Additional thoughts:

My dear friend Keeh [say it: Kee-yah] gifted me with a ton of sample-size cosmetics from her tenure as a makeup artist and salesperson. She is way more talented with this stuff than I am, but I did my best. [Details: Korres face primer; CG Smoothers AquaSmooth liquid/powder foundation; Urban Decay Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara; Sephora Khaki Electro eyeliner; Tarte cheek bronzer; Rosebud Salve lip balm.]

I found the hat and the gloves at my favorite thrift shop in Northern Kentucky on December 31. Both of them were half off—a total of five bucks, y’all! The gloves were a particularly proud purchase; since I’ve played piano since such a young age, my hands are enormous, and it’s tremendously difficult to find vintage gloves to fit me. But here they are! After the party, they were filthy, so I’m going to hand-wash them and keep them for special occasions only.

I modified the hat, which was originally solid black, to feature that enormous brown tulle bow so that it would pick up on the brown in the dress and the jacket. I’d purchased several yards of said tulle, plus some in other colors, which will feature prominently in an upcoming homemade dress. Keep your eyes peeled, kiddos.

I bought this dress years ago at a thrift shop in New York. It was originally floor length, which is super-impractical for me, so I hemmed it up a bunch. I’m going to use the leftover white satin to make something else awesome. I held out for a long time in wearing it, because the sequins were sooo bold, but fashion leaves no room for timidity, so I think it’ll be a staple from here on. It needs to be dry cleaned, though—too many spilled drinks and punch, yuck!

My stepmum gave me this jacket. Our tastes are really disparate, but with this gift she and I were in complete agreement—such an awesome piece. I’ve been wearing it nonstop.

I took off my shoes by the end of the night. Nonstop champagne and sexy heels do not a happy New Year make.

What did you guys do on New Year’s Eve? How did you feel the next day?

What I Wore: The Minor Leagues Album Release Party, 11.15.2009

amanda_lee — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:29:17 +0000

Dress, made by me!
Yellow tights, We Love Colors [psst...follow them on Twitter!
Earrings, made by my stepmum
Wrist warmers and scarf, I Love Life I Love You
Black oxford heels, vintage

I made this dress myself from scrap fabric given to me by Roommate Jeremy and an old bedsheet, using a pattern that I got from another former roommate. I actually had to cut the whole thing twice, because the first time I cut the pieces, I cut them to tunic length rather than dress length. [Note to self: when sewing, please follow directions; otherwise you might end up after you put in the hem.] I also had to cut the entire bodice down a little, because the pattern is about a size too large for me. I think it turned out well, but next time I’ll probably ask a friend who’s experienced in pattern grading instead of trying to jigsaw it myself.

My hair was huge. I’m getting quite addicted to the backcombing until my hair is long enough for full-on My Little Pony curls. Should I do a backcombing tutorial for this blog, you think?

The album release party was amazing. We were totally on it performance-wise, I didn’t mess up the one thing I always get wrong in rehearsal, and a ton of people showed up, meaning we sold a lot of CDs! Also, I made a special Minor Leagues scarf series, meaning all my bandmates got a one-of-a-kind scarf in a pretty color. Check it!

For the next show, I’m planning another epic handmade outfit. I don’t know for sure what it’s going to entail, but I’ve been lusting for an enormous tulle skirt with a sash for quite awhile. Also, I’m always enthralled by bands who appear onstage in outlandish uniforms or similarly emphatic non-Muggle clothing, so I’m trying to talk my bandmates into allowing me to make a band uniform for everyone to wear onstage. Until then, though, I’m going for the outrageous. After all, I love dressing up like a rock star.

What I Wore: Midpoint Music Festival 2009

amanda_lee — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:31:41 +0000

So, in the last couple of months, I’ve started playing with The Minor Leagues. I’m really glad to be playing music again, and I’m so damn lucky to be playing with such talented musicians. I didn’t get to play on their last album, but it is pretty kickass—grab yourself a copy. However, I did play with them at their show during the 2009 Midpoint Music Festival. Pictures! I have them!

Dress, scarf, and oxford heels, vintage. Tights, Betsey Johnson. Wristwarmers, I Love Life I Love You [hey, that's a brand we've heard of before, yes?].

From left: Luke McGlasson, Hilly Kenkel, Josh Combs, John Kathman, Ben Walpole, and me. [Missing: Patrick Helmes, who was hiding the entire set.]

Hilly, John, me, and Ben, mid-song.

It was one of the best nights I’ve had since I’ve been back in Cincinnati. No lies.

What I Wore: My Go-To Outfit

amanda_lee — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:39:41 +0000

For the last year or so, this shirt combo [or any similar setup involving a pretty vintage blouse under a tank or a cap-sleeve top] has been my go-to when I want to look put together and cute. I wear it with my favorite high-waisted denim or low-rise skinny jeans, as well as with any number of dark skirts when I have to be in a professional-ish office. Somehow I never get tired of it.

A week ago I wore this exact ensemble out to Arthur’s for Monday Burger Madness with the roomies, and I got stares all around…but also a handful of compliments. And I wore it again to get coffee with my good friend Emilie on a very sweltering afternoon last weekend. See? Fashion is fun.

Blouse, vintage, purchased at Brooklyn’s awesome Urban Jungle [I miss you!]
Tank, Urban Outfitters, years ago
Skirt, headband, and rings, H&M
Oxford heels, thrifted in Northern Kentucky last week [six bucks, y'all, and they were worn maybe twice!]
Border collie, Hachiko, found in Kentucky in 2006 [my faithful friend]

What are you wearing, lovelies? Anyone want to share their favorite go-to ensembles?

A Reiteration: Why Fashion Is Important

amanda_lee — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:24:35 +0000

I’ve touched on this before in one of my Inspiration posts, but then a couple weeks ago this happened on Britain’s Got Talent. And I think given that, it bears repeating.

How you look matters, people. And since we’re not always at liberty to change our own height, weight, bone structure, skin condition, or disability, nor is any one of us going to completely change the mindset and habits of immediate judgment inherent in every human being on the planet, the fact that it matters isn’t going away anytime soon.

And because of all this,fashion matters, too. What you wear is the only capacity in which on a daily basis you make decisions that communicate who you are, what you value, and how you feel. Obviously, every decision you make communicates those things, but think about it—does anything change as frequently or vary as much as the things you choose to wear?

Think about it. Your fashion choices demonstrate how you want people to perceive you—are you hiptastic, or do you have other things to worry about? Do you take your professional ambitions seriously, or do you have any at all? Are you confident, meek, sexual, reserved, wealthy, poor, individualistic, or a trend-follower?

What’s more, what you wear demonstrates how you perceive yourself. Do you feel good about your body, or do you dress to hide your so-called problem areas?

Fashion is a key showcase of your consumption choices and thus, your values. Do you go crazy for trends, or do you look for pieces that can be worn over and over again ten years from now? Do you pick out disposable pieces, or do you buy for lasting quality? Are you a green shopper? How does child labor and third-world manufacturing affect your buying decisions? No matter what your values are, they’re evident in what you wear. When I see a girl wearing skinny stonewashed jeans, for instance, I can tell she places a high value on current trends. Someone wearing head-to-toe organic cotton clothing and TOMS shoes likely values the environment and economic charity at least as much as fashion-forwardness. New Yorkers (or tourists!) who wear sneakers instead of heels definitely value their own comfort over their trendiness.

Also, think about it this way: it’s impossible to dress in a way that communicates absolutely nothing about you. If you dress as though you don’t care, the people around you might not be able to see how interesting and unique you are—less able than, say, if you wore your favorite colors or styles every day. If you follow a uniform code to the very letter, you’re still communicating something about yourself—your affiliation with the organization whose uniform you’re wearing [and also perhaps your loyalty to it—that you value the organization you belong to more than you value your individual expression, or maybe just that you value your job enough to follow the rules and thus not be stripped of it]. Likewise, if you choose not to wear anything, you’re making a pretty specific statement about your values and your feelings about your own body! And if you go really grungy (read: you skip on teeth-brushing and shampoo once a week at most; you wait six months or so before doing your laundry; and every item of clothing you own is stained, stretched out, and torn), you’re being unabashedly honest about the fact that you don’t give a damn about what you look like [or what anyone thinks of it].

[Sidenote: I used to know someone like this. And I'm not entirely sure how he held a job or met anyone, because he looked a hot mess all the time. I'm not talking about wearing clothing that was out of style or unflattering…I'm talking about holey, smelly, unlaundered clothing paired with once-weekly showers, if he was feeling super-motivated. Ew.]

So don’t ever let anyone tell you that fashion is dumb. It’s not.

What I Wore: 1.25.2009

amanda_lee — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:09:48 +0000

[No pretty photo montage today…my primary photographer is working day and night on a competition, so he's out of commission for the week. Lori took this one for me.]

Dress, homemade, thrifted
Belt, thrifted
Flower brooch, from my mum
Tights, Betsey Johnson

This dress was homemade, and is literally falling apart at the seams. Before I wear it again, I’m going to have to perform surgery. The seams of the patch pockets on the front look really messy, too. It has the potential for amazingness, just…not yet.

I bought the belt on the same day at the same thrift store in my neighborhood. I also bought a red one, because I loved the combination of bright red, green, and blue…but my shopping companion insisted that white was better. I heeded his wisdom on the day this was taken.

The pin belonged to my mum, and when I was young, I wasn’t allowed to touch it. Now that she’s passed on and I wear all her jewelry, I still feel a little like I’m doing something naughty.

I wore three pairs of tights—two pairs of black ones underneath the blue shown above. It was positively freezing.

Kiddos, what are you wearing?

What I Wore: 12.01.2008

amanda_lee — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:23:27 +0000

On Amanda Lee:
Floral dress, vintage
Black velvet coat, vintage
Black wrap sweater, BodyWrappers (secondhand; get your own similar one here)
Scarf, vintage
Tights, Target
Shoes, Palladium (via Daffy’s)
Ring, H&M
Stick pin, vintage (from my mum)
Bag, Louisville is for Lovers (made by me)

On Robert:
White henley tee, Gap
Blue tee, American Apparel (it’s actually the grown-up version of this tee from the Get-Up Kids. Pandas!)
Corduroys, Gap
Shoes, Kenneth Cole
Bag, Banana Republic
Pins, unknown
Watch, Nike

I wore this outfit on a photo expedition with Robert in Manhattan’s Morningside Park. We set out to document the leaves turning (and took a lot of cute dog pictures too). This is one of the best parks in the city, and I can’t wait to explore it after it’s snow-laden.

I’m pretty sure this dress was homemade; it has no tag, the inner edges were all cut with pinking shears, and the hem is clearly hand-sewn. I bought this dress strictly on the strength of the cut—I was ambivalent about the print of the fabric, but it’s grown on me since then. I love how the bright pink collar looks under this black wrap sweater.The sash of the dress is separate from the dress itself, and one day I want to wear a belt over the dress and then use the sash as a hair bow. Ha.

The stick pin on my coat is my mum’s old sorority pin—she was in Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional sorority for teachers. (She was also in a social sorority, but not the same one as me, so I’m not supposed to wear her badges from that one.)

Robert calls these his breakfast shoes. His friend once complimented them at breakfast, and he told her they were his special breakfast shoes. The name stuck.

Kiddos, what are you wearing?

What I Wore: 12.5.2008

amanda_lee — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:55:00 +0000

I wore this outfit a couple of weeks ago to the Center for Architecture. (My boyfriend actually has work in an exhibit there! You should go see it!)

Shirt, H&M
Skirt, vintage (worn inside out, with the crinoline on the outside and the skirt on the inside)
Tights, Target
Shoes, Palladium (from Daffy’s)
Headband, H&M
Jacket (dragging on the floor), Forever 21
Red “Louisville is for Lovers” tote, made by me (you can’t actually see the graphic here, but I’ll post some better pics soon)

The skirt is actually white with black polka dots all over it. I wore it inside out. Later that week I wore it rightside out with the same top—stripes and polka dots together! Gasp! I bought it in 2004 at one of my favorite vintage shops in Louisville.

People ask me about this tote bag all the time. I had it made at a custom screen printing shop in Indianapolis in 2005 when I was on a road trip with my friend Ben. I was inspired by those “[insert place here] is for Lovers” shirts that I saw everywhere at the time, and also by the title of an annual recording compilation project in my Louisville. On the same trip, Ben, who is a professional photographer and designer, had a shirt made that said, “Stop, or I’ll shoot you” above a silhouette of a camera. My friends are so witty.

Lovelies, what are you wearing?

What I Wore, 10.11.2008: Picnic in the Park + RGB Red

amanda_lee — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:25:53 +0000

Black cowl-neck top, Pitaya

Full-skirted red dress (worn as a skirt), Forever 21

Tights, Target

Daisy pin, vintage (from my mum!)

Red bird pin, promotional giveaway (from a show at )

LouKY pin, WHYLouisville

Black Lucite rose ring, H&M

Iridescent gemstone ring, H&M

Shoes (not shown), Palladium

Black wrap sweater (not shown), thrifted

Other thoughts:
This dress was my go-to all summer whenever I needed to look amazing and stay cool. I love layering things over it so I can keep wearing it as the weather starts to chill.
The flower pin is part of a set that I inherited from my mum. I wasn’t allowed to play with her jewelry when I was young, so a part of me is always super-honored to get to wear it now. Plus, how much more adorable can you get? My mum had such good taste.
I’ve been wearing both of these rings nonstop these days, except when I write or play my bass. (Full disclosure: As I type this, they’re sitting right beside me. I can’t type as efficiently with them on!)

What I Wore, 10.3.2008

amanda_lee — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:24:37 +0000

This was what I wore to a party (and the successive bar-hopping event afterward). The pic was taken in my friends’ kitchen (the same friends that have the tea parties)—look at that pretty parquet floor!

Jeans, H&M.

Blouse, American Eagle (circa 2001).

Necklace and rings, vintage.

Shoes, Lindinny.

Thoughts? Allegations? Things you want to say?

What I Wore, 9.26.2008

amanda_lee — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:12:00 +0000

I wore this outfit to a housewarming party last weekend. I wanted to look like Blair Waldorf (in the books, silly. . . not the show). I was likely the most overdressed person at the party, but then again, that was kind of wonderful. Squee!

Dress, H&M
Tights, Betsey Johnson
Coat, Forever 21
Shoes, Jeffrey Campbell
Lucite flower ring, H&M
Holographic brass-knuckle ring, H&M
Pearls, vintage (inherited from my mum!)
Ribbon headband, made by me

Some more detail shots:

So, kiddos. . . what are you wearing?

What I Wore: 8.21.08

amanda_lee — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:21:07 +0000

[courtesy of Daniel]