My style is in transition right now, changing to suit this post-pregnancy body. I am awed and amazed at how the female frame adapts and alters in order to bear a child. How our skin stretches and then shrinks back, that our entire internal anatomy rearranges itself, how our very bones are spread apart. It’s all so impressive, so beautiful.

I’ve lost the majority of my baby weight, but my body’s been left a completely different shape. Which means I’m re-learning how to dress myself. I curve in ways I never curved before, and it’s an exciting challenge figuring out how to flatter this whole new form!





I wore :

• ”40 Watt Club” T-Shirt: DIY, and if anyone catches the reference you are the shiznit
• Floral Skirt: secondhand, by f21
• Black Cropped Leggings: secondhand, by AA
• Black Vegan Ballet Flats: secondhand
• Yellow Canvas and Wood Purse: secondhand
• Charm Bracelet and Faux Pearls (worn around my ankle): both gifts

Waits wore :

• ”I’m Vegan and I <3 You" T-Shirt: by Herbivore
• Cargo Shorts (which crack me up – because infants NEED pockets, right?): secondhand
• Explorer Hat: secondhand

It was a gorgeous afternoon, sunny and warm with a mild ocean breeze. An easy evening full of friends and laughter, and music late into the night. Thank you Tommy and Kelly. And mazel tov!








I wore :

• Vintage Minidress: secondhand, and it’s handmade!
• White Cotton Tights: from the amazing Sock Dreams
• Black Cardigan: from Nordstrom, ages and ages ago
• Red Flats: also from Nordstrom, also ages ago

Waits wore his own little wedding number. In case you can’t tell, that’s an ‘All Dressed Up’ tux onesie. He also had matching black booties, not pictured. He’s already got mad style, eh?

Photo booth!

Although my bed rest kept my thrifting to a minimum, I was able to pick up a few awesome items this month. And of course, all the clothes and baby clothes I bought were gently used. But it’s not about me – I want to hear about you guys!

How did this month go for you? Were you able to remain entirely secondhand? What kind of goods did you get and how did you have to alter your habits? And most importantly, are you going to try to keep it up indefinitely???

I’d really love to share the thrift store love, so please please please:

1) Send me pics of the pillage! If you scored something amazing that you’d like to share, email me a picture (you don’t have to be wearing it if you don’t want to) at info@bonzaiaphrodite.com Please include your first name and the city/country you found it in.

2) Send me the names and addresses of the BEST secondhand stores in your city, and maybe a brief description of why they’re so rad. I want to compile a list of the greatest thrift stores across America (across the world??). So send me all the top secret hot spots you know of in every city you’ve been to. Send your thrift stats to info@bonzaiaphrodite.com

• Black Flowered Dress: Ancient. A relic.
• Black Long-Sleeved Maternity Shirt: secondhand by Gap Maternity
• Maternity Jeans: secondhand by Old Navy, dyed darker by me
• Red Faux-Patent Heels: secondhand
• Necklace: my wedding rings on a rope
• Bracelet: a cheap chain necklace
• Black Cardigan: secondhand by Banana Republic
• Scarf: handmade by my wifey
• Gloves: I got these at Urban Outfitters like 5 years ago for $2
• Purse: from Herbivore

Alas, we’ve been a bit waylaid here at HQ. Being on bed rest certainly puts a damper on shopping trips. Still, I managed to sneak off to the gently used baby boutique in my neighborhood, and picked up a few super cute essentials, as well as some much needed cloth diapers for my slowly growing collection. And just this past weekend, Damian took some of my store credit (trade-in value) at one of the local shoppes, and found a pair of mint condition Lucky brand jeans for 1/5 the cost of a new pair. Lucky is his favorite, so this was quite the cause for celebration!

Since this mission is all about thrifting, and anyone who shops secondhand knows the joy and the thrill of the hunt, I thought it might be fun for us to really share the love. Here’s what I’m thinking:

1) Send me pics of the pillage! If you score something amazing that you’d like to share, email me a picture (you don’t have to be wearing it if you don’t want to) at info@bonzaiaphrodite.com Please include your first name and the city/country you found it in. At the end of the month I’ll post all the pictures, and we can all revel in the glory of the secondhand goods!

2) Send me the names and addresses of the BEST secondhand stores in your city, and maybe a brief description of why they’re so rad. I want to compile a list of the greatest thrift stores across America (across the world??). So send me all the top secret hot spots you know of in every city you’ve been to. At the end of the month I’ll post a master list, and I’ll continue to update it periodically.

I hope this mission is treating you well – it’s a fun one! Happy hunting, and may the thrift store faeries sprinkle their pixie dust all over you!

Seriously, I hadn’t left my house in 2 weeks. I hadn’t gone outside in 2 weeks! So naturally, even a trip to the doctors office was terribly exciting for me. I had to take the opportunity to gussy up a bit, and show off my swelling belly.

• T-shirt Dress: from Herbivore (they are AWESOME! go there! support them!)
• Long Black Cardigan: secondhand by Banana Rebublic
• Grey Leggings: secondhand
• Multi Blue Knee Highs: Sock Dreams, who have my everlasting stripey devotion
• Combat Boots: many years old, by Gripfast
• White Canvas belt: so very very old
• Blue Stars Children’s Umbrella: secondhand

And I’ve got some good news! This trip was specifically for a test, a test that came back NEGATIVE, which means my chances of preterm labor have gone back down to ‘slim to none’. YAY YAY YAY! So thank you so much to everyone out there who sent your love and support – it worked guys!

Also, I don’t have gestational diabetes (yay vegan!). We celebrated with donuts. =)

#9

I’ve written quite a bit in the past about my idea of ‘Ethical Sartorialism‘. A huge component of the ES lifestyle involves buying almost exclusively secondhand – a seemingly daunting task to many style mavens. But now I’m putting the challenge to all of you!

Pretty straightforward: no buying new textiles. No new clothes! Stay out of the mall! Avoid the big box store!

If it sounds difficult, here’s some inspiration –
1) The Year Of Living Thriftily is a blog by an uber-fashionista who vowed to shop exclusively secondhand for an entire year. She’s got a great sense of humor and there’s lots of fun fashion pics, too.
2) The Uniform Project tracks one girl as she wears ONE dress for an entire year. An interesting exploration of abundance, and this chick has mad style.

So if you’re not shopping at your old retail standbys, where will you get that blazer you need for work or the perfect cocktail dress for your new hot date? Well, you’ll have to be a bit more resourceful. But thrift stores and secondhand boutiques are awesome, often undiscovered, treasure troves! I suggest you get to know your local spots and try to visit often.

You can also do a lot of secondhand shopping online, from Amazon to Ebay to Etsy, these sites offer great opportunities (especially if you’re into vintage).

And what about me? Are you wondering how I’ll participate if I already live this way?

Well let me tell you, if you think thrifting is hard, try maternity thrifting! I’m big and pregnant now and it’s a challenge keeping myself styled. I’m also in full-on baby prep mode, which unfortunately means a lot of consumption – from baby clothes and blankies to bibs and burp rags. I’ve got a lot of stuff to accumulate here!

So, I’ll be working doubly hard to make certain I stick to my principles. All the baby textiles I purchase will be secondhand. That’s my challenge this month.

And what about you, my wonderfully well-dressed friends? Are you with me? Do you choose to accept this mission?

BONZAI!

Six and a half months pregnant, and a girl’s gotta have a night out on the town! Yesterday evening Damian and I met up with my lovely sister for some greasy happy hour grub ($1 PBRs and $1 vegan corn dogs) (no I was not drinking the PBRs), followed by an awesome exhibit at OMSI After Dark. It was so fun! A bunch of 21-and-overs running around the science museum, drinking microbrews and playing like children. I totally won the soda bottle blast.





I’m glad I got a little more use out of my summer shorts and ripped stockings, because today the temperature dropped by about 10 degrees! I’m so underprepared for the SNOW that might be coming this weekend. I still don’t have a warm winter coat that fits over my new-and-improved and ever-expanding frame!

This photo should be titled “Hello, This Is My Pregnancy Cleavage“

• Bird Print T-Shirt: secondhand
• Black Long Cami (underneath): secondhand by Truly Madly Deeply
• Long Black Cardigan: secondhand Banana Rebublic
• Tan Shorts: secondhand American Eagle Outfitters (ha!)
• Ripped Tights: oh my goodness, I’ve had these for so long, I bought them at a dime store in college . . . community college. Yes that long ago!
• Purple Long Socks: Sock Dreams, oh how i love them
• Engineer Boots: secondhand, by Carolina
• Pewter Chain (I knotted it): some mall store, I had a gift card
• Black Flower Ring: a local shoppe

I love this cardigan – I’ve been living in it all autumn. Simple and versatile and a tad bit chic, it’s been the perfect piece to take me into colder weather. Alas, I’m going to need something a bit thicker starting real soon. Any suggestions? It’s gotta be vegan, acquirable used, and accommodating to a big belly. A biggering belly, especially after those corn dogs!

Corn Dogs!!!

I seem to have developed a motif this summer, and I love it when that happens.

big ratty Marla hair + funky little dress + cropped leggings = awesomeness ’09

This stripey minidress perfectly captures my warm-weather uniform. And I know I say it every time, but I love this dress. It’s just so . . . *me*. Those sorts of clothes, the ones that make you feel more like yourself when you wear them, are such little treasures.

Yellow eye-glow / Black liner

• Cotton Minidress: secondhand
• Black Button Leggings: secondhand
• Black Combat Boots: very very old, by Gripfast

I ended my busy Wednesday with a lovely impromptu picnic. Bikes and parks and my favorite person . . . summer nights just don’t get any better!

I recently acquired this reconstructed vintage shirtdress, and it is easily my favorite dress ever. The design is impeccable and the tatter is so refined – it’s truly a work of art. If you love scrap fashion and deconstructed couture, you’ve got to check out Mad Madeline. Portlanders, hit up Last Thursday to see her stuff in person. She’s totally talented, and a sweetheart too!

I first wore my new frock  this Saturday, to the Portland Farmers Market and then to the Let Live NW Animal Rights Conference. The big event, which the local vegan community has been fundraising for, was a smashing success (in my opinion, as an attendee). It was so great to meet everybody, and to hear all the amazing speakers. I hope everyone went home as inspired as I was!

You can sorta make out my ceramic chicken pin – it belonged to my mother.

• Embellished Vintage Dress: Mad Madeline
• Black Leggings: Nordstrom, ages ago
• Black Pinstripe Sneakers: by xhilaration
• Magical Beaded Bracelet: who knows?
• Chicken Pin: an heirloom

With friends at the Portland Farmers Market, before the conference.