Archive for the ‘Eliza Starbuck’ Category
Eliza Starbuck, Day 31
Flapper Schoolgirl
Today is the last day of this wear-a-thon. It’s been so fun having an excuse to play dress-up all month, and I definitely found some new uses for the stuff in my closet. It was also really great to test out my design to see if it really works, and it even gave me a couple ideas on how this little black dress design could evolve.
I pulled out this beautiful 1920′s sundress and am amazed that it’s still holding together. Most of the items that I’ve collected from that era slowly began to shred and disintegrate in the 1990′s. Shelf life of most natural fiber fabrics, before they begin to break down, seems to be about 70 years if they don’t have excessive wash and wear in their glory days. But these days there’s no standard on the how long the make of the clothes will hold up. With some brands, I’ve seen seams fall apart on the racks in the stores. Meanwhile, polyester will probably out live the humans, too bad it just doesn’t breath.
I added the neck scarf tied around my head in a ridiculous bow to add some sass! And don’t ask me why I decided to put on a rasta colored acrylic bracelet with this ensemble, it just called to me. But I think the red lipstick really completes the outfit. On my feet are vintage oxfords that were a hand me down from a college roommate. It’s a miracle they’re not all stained with all of my clutz!
Eliza Starbuck, Day 30
Mexican Purple
I pulled this purple vintage Mexican dress out of my closet, which is another old favorite that I’ve kept for years. But it never seems to get out often enough. And just by chance I found a house with a yucca plant in the front yard, which is native to Mexico as well. It made the perfect accessory, so I snuck into their yard to take my dailies.
The peep-toe suede shoes are the ones that I bought in Argentina on my honeymoon. We had to splurge on the shoes there because of their lovely quality and classic styles.
It was so bright that I could scarcely keep my eyes from watering, thus the squinting. I folded back my little black dress’ neckline to reveal the pretty ruffled collar underneath, and I threw a blue and red woven belt, another Beacon’s Closet find, over the whole thing. From a distance, the blue and red blend into purple matching the purple dress pretty well.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 29
Greek Chic
This is an antique tunic from Greece that was handed down to me from my grandmother, who is not Greek, but she likes to collect beautiful pieces of embroidery she finds along her travels.
The earrings were borrowed for the day from my friend Eleanor, who said she had bought them from a jewelry designer who had made them for an Italian Vogue shoot. Eleanor had somehow convinced the designer to sell them; they really are amazing. The heart ring on my right hand is from my years freelancing at Coach.
The hat is a hand-me-down from someone with a much larger head, I’m not saying who. And on my feet are my trusty, old Dr. Scholls which I clomp around in all over town. They’re the best.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 28
Tea for Two
Working hard all day, I decided to take a break. So I ran around the corner to my friend Eleanor’s house to do some girl talk and have an afternoon tea. As usual, I dressed for the occasion. I thought this soft-colored summer skirt, found at Beacon’s Closet, made the perfect statement.
One must look lady-like when getting the dish! So I put the pleats to the front on my little black dress, belted it with a belt that survived being made by Forever 21, however the dress that it came with was not so lucky. Around my neck is a large rutilated quartz crystal I wrapped with gold filled wire, which helps to keep the positive energy up. Vintage melamine bracelets are, again, on my wrist.
And I opened up the back of the dress, folding it down into a flattering v-open-back, to catch some air and avoid prudery.
Eleanor didn’t exactly spill the dirt, but she does have a rather lovely potted garden on her deck, and we enjoyed sipping our iced teas while we watched the neighbor’s laundry flap in the wind. I like the soft neutral color palette on display there. Perfect break, thanks Eleanor!
Eliza Starbuck, Day 27
Mod Art
I don’t know if you know this about me, but I was a crazy Mod in high-school and a fair part of college. I wore all thing’s 1960′s, had bleached bubble hair, wore polyester, black spider eyelashes, nude lipstick, the works!
Thankfully, I’ve grown out of that stage of my life, but there are still some subtle reminders hanging around… my neck to be specific. Okay, maybe that’s not exactly Mod, but it’s definitely 60′s. This gold bling necklace I scored at a Long Island garage sale in college.
The dress is also a remnant of my retro Edie Sedgwick obsession. But it fits right in with my current “going native” theme of the summer, it’s a tunic-loin-cloth!!! How perfect! If you have to wear polyester, make sure that it lets the air in. I love the tribal abstract modern print and the mustard color.
The hat my mom gave me years ago to keep the sun off of my face. I was always burning my skin by accident in my younger years. Thanks for looking out Mom.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 26
Tom Girl
I really wanted to wear this silk taffeta dress that was sitting in the back of my closet for so long, another Miu Miu sample sale catch. I just love anything fuchsia.
I loved it’s pretty, exaggerated, empire bell shape, and it made my little black dress do the same when I added a scarf as a sash. The gold medallion, a gift from my grandmother, fit so perfectly in the neckline.
Only problem, too pretty, not me. Downright prissy. I was starting to feel like a J.Crew wedding catalogue. So I had to eff it up somehow, make it cool.
I took this fedora I had found in a boutique in the Lower East Side, and put it on backwards. Now we’re getting somewhere.
And to finish the whole look off I put on these funky sneaker sandals I had gotten in a really odd shoe store in Soho, I cannot remember the name, which was equally weird. All the shoes in the shop were totally bizarre, but somehow this pair caught my eye. And now I’m a tom boy ready to party.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 25
Thank Goodness for the Rain
It has been hot, and sticky in NYC. The plants and trees have been dry and dying, and the air is thick enough to slice with a knife. It rained yesterday a couple times, but it just seems to have gotten muggier. The forecast keeps predicting summer thunderstorms, so hopefully we’ll get a bit more rain and it will cool down.
I kept it simple today: vintage sheer men’s Bill Blass button up shirt under my little black dress, from the Queens Salvation Army and my trusty Grecian sandals at my feet.
This belt I found at a vintage shop in the Lower East Side. I love the horsies that ride around it. And at my neck is a big chunk of Aragonite, which is very good for when you’re trying to take on a lot of responsibility and finding it difficult. It makes it easier. Golly, I love my rocks!
Eliza Starbuck, Day 24
Usually, this 1960′s printed dress is just too much for me, even though I love it. But today I was feeling colorful, so I put on with my little black dress as a tunic jacket, which I think calmed the outfit down a bit, and I was done. I found the vintage dress at Village Thrift in Cincinnati in my high school years.
I topped it off with a modest pair of turquoise hoop earrings from the McCarren Park Renegade Craft Fair, and some hand me down melamine bracelets from a friend. The turquoise is good for protection.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 23
Ready for Action
View from my neighbor's rooftop deck is amazing. See the empire state building?
Today I was in a sporting mood, and so I pulled out the old jumpsuit. Every time I put this thing on, I instantly feel like a race car driver. Of course, I found it at a random, off the beaten, path thrift store. It had originally been bright rainbow clown colors, but after over-dying it black, it became the nice muted colors you see here.
I accessorized it with a pair of earrings I found at with a street vender in NYC. I could not believe how cool the design was! Around my wrist, I have an antique necklace, turned into a bracelet, that I found at Junk.
The belt was a friend of my mothers, a hand me down, from year’s ago. And the faux snake skin sandals I found at the Salvation Army around the corner from my house.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 22
Sunday’s Best
PHOTOGRAPHS Diana Marshall
Sorry for the laaate post! Today, I had a lot going on, making the rounds around the neighborhood visiting folks. I felt like getting gussied up, so I wore this old Miu Miu dress that I had gotten at a sample sale ages ago.
The first stop of the day was lunch at my friend Eleanor Friedberger‘s house, just around the corner. She made a lovely friseé and beet salad, and we had fun catching up with our friend Diana, visiting from Texas, who took my daily photos today. Eleanor has one of the most amazing walk in closets I know, with items she’s picked up from thrift stores around the world on her tours. We couldn’t help but have a play little dress up session, and she said that it reminded her to pull out and appreciate some of the items she doesn’t wear so much. She has a whole section devoted to costumes alone! I’m so envious!
I’m wearing a vintage silk scarf I picked up at Cobblestones, NY, on my head as a turban. The earrings I found at Urban Outfitters ages ago, and I can’t remember which vintage shop I got the zig-zag bracelet from.
The next stop was my friend Hope Gangloff‘s painting studio, where Hope had me pose for my portrait. She makes the most beautiful, larger than life portraits of all of her friends and is getting ready for her first big museum show in Connecticut. I was more than happy to pose and so thrilled to be one of the subjects for the show. Congrats Hope!
I finished the day with dinner over at my sister, Gaby, and brother-in-law, Dana’s, house. Dana made the most delicious Sunday chicken dinner. Thanks Dana! Afterwards we all took a evening stroll around Msgr. McGolrick Park which is one of my favorites in Brooklyn, designed by the same park architect as Central Park, but much smaller and more intimate. Sadly, all the plants and trees looked really thirsty, the Sycamore trees were loosing their leaves like it was October! It hasn’t rained here in weeks and it’s been terribly hot. We’ll be doing rain dances over the next couple days in the hopes that the rain comes so we don’t start loosing the trees here in NYC.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 21
Ready for Adventure
Today, I really didn’t feel like clothing. I somehow couldn’t see the purpose of them, and I really didn’t feel like wearing structured clothes. I just wanted to be wrapped in something beautiful and belted. So I pulled out a hand dyed piece of cloth my friend, Lisa, had bought me on her adventures in India and draped it around myself, making it into a halter dress of sorts.
Before it had been today’s halter dress, I had used it as a baby sling, and in the past I’ve used it as a cheerful scarf. It’s so versatile and so lovely. My little black dress gave the whole look some sophistication, and I threw a belt on it to perfect the form of the outfit.
The adventures of the day took me all over Brooklyn. I visited the Bed-Sty public pool, which is free all summer long. After that, the Bright Young Things Street Team had a meeting in a local neighborhood farm-garden, which grew everything from corn to chickens! The folks who ran it were really friendly and invited us to join the Bar-B-Que they were having in the back of the garden. I ended my day with a visit to the McCarren Park Red Gate Garden, which was also quite magical.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 20
Philadelphia Story
Today, I took a little jaunt to Philadelphia, to get out of NYC’s heat for a day and to absorb some American history. We spent the afternoon in the part of town called Old City, which is one of the oldest areas in the city, and took in the sights. This building was particularly amazing, it’s the second oldest bank in the USA.
We walked by Benjamin Franklin’s house, and the building where the Constitution was signed. There were lovely summer showers and sunshine coming and going through the day, so I picked up this vintage style umbrella at one of the local shops. But the rain did not stop the Historical Reenactors, who were busy recruiting new troops for the Revolutionary War. I thought some of the troops lined up here looked a tad bit young. But they were excellent at calling out, “Yes Sir!” when they were prompted.
Wearing a scrap of fabric as a bow on my head. It had been the bow on the gift a friend had given me the day before, and is probably on it's fourth or fifth leg of reuse if I know her.
We ended the day at The Franklin Fountain, where all the ice-cream is made fresh in house. There were so many delicious flavors there that I foolishly ordered 2 scoops, but I had no idea they would be so large. The peach was my favorite.
Once again wearing the dress as a romper, this time, unrolled.
Somehow 2 scoops turned into 3! I guess my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Luckily, I had a friend nearby to help me eat the mint chocolate chip.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 19
Priestess Gear
Maybe it’s the heat and humidity getting to my head, everything feels really heavy and slightly ominous today. Or maybe it’s my serious priestess get up that’s doing it. Usually, I smile and laugh with everyone I walk by on the street, but I found it hard to even crack a smile today. How unusual.
I’ve always believed you are what you present visually, even if that changes from day to day. I find it fascinating how my outfit can effect my mood and feelings. I put on a costume and I become a new character for the day.
With my South African tribal beads wrapped around my wrists, and a tie dyed tube scarf, turned into a head shade, I feel a million miles away from New York City.
I’m wearing my DKNY thrift store dress as a skirt, and on my head is a Liberty of London silk scarf from Cobblestones, NY anchoring my American Apparel tube scarf. I think tomorrow I’ll put on something a little less serious…
Eliza Starbuck, Day 18
American Graffiti
Seems like the graffiti around my neighborhood keeps getting more and more vibrant. I kind of love it. When done well, the colors and graphics really spruce up a drab wall. But I still can’t tell what it’s supposed to read…
Whew, the temperature finally broke. It’s only supposed to go up to 95 degrees today. Ha! I can still remember the first summer I lived in New York City, 12 years ago. It was a lot like this summer, so hot you could barely move, sticky, sweaty, and I had no AC then either! We spent the whole summer making frozen drinks with the $10 blender we got at Odd Job.
Today I’m keeping cool in a fuchsia, lacy-embroidered dress, that I’m wearing backwards under my little black dress. I got it at, you guessed it, the Salvation Army. The belt is from Beacon’s Closet. My earrings were a gift from my dear friend, Elżbieta Kwinta. They’re made out of felted wool, and remind me of wool meatballs. The gold wrapped quartz heart was a gift from my mother-in-law, Lisa. It was made by zen priestess, Kazuko, whom one could say I owe quite a lot to. She was a good friend of my namesake’s, Aunt Lisa, and she introduced my husband’s parents to one another. Though our relations did not know each other back then, I find it to be an odd coincidence.
My pink silk head scarf is my husbands. He bought it at Malin Landaeus Vintage to wrap his tarot cards in. Pink apparently is a marvelous color for charging the energy of your cards. The bracelet I picked up at a Club Monaco sample sale, and the shoes, again, are old favorites from J.Crew.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 17
Return to the Concrete Lagoon
It’s 102 degrees in New York City. Air conditioners are whirling on high, blowing hot air out while they cool everyone on the inside. I start to question my no AC in our appartment policy. Live by example, right? I’m paying for that one… in sweat!
Well, so today I felt like going native, again. Okay, when am I not fantasizing about running around wearing sweet warrior gear with a spear in hand? I had a really hard time accepting clothes at all today, and I had to smile appreciatively at everyone I passed who walked down the streets of New York City wearing as little as possible. It’s ‘effin hot!
But my beads were the perfect solution to baring it all. They cover up and let the air through. The gray beads are hand crafted by villagers in South Aftrica, and my shell beads were found in a huge pile at the thrift store. My vintage Indian printed wrap skirt is another item I’ve had so long I can’t even remember where I got it. And I’m again wearing the Dr. Scholls clog floppers. Where’s the swimming hole???
Eliza Starbuck, Day 16
Chica Chica Boom Chic!
Today I was feeling rather tropical. Must have been the humidity, but when I walked into the grocery store and saw the pineapple, I knew I had found the best accessory of the day! If only it were a hat! And again, I’m reminded of the Patron Saint of Fabulous Over-the-Top Hats: Carmen Miranda. Here’s a little hat-montage of Carmen singing “Chica Chica Boom Chic”:
ie-yie-yie! She is amazing, and boy did she ever turn heads in those costumes!
So I must have looked quite a site myself, walking around with a giant pineapple in hand. Everyone who I walked by started to giggle, and me right with them, and one guy even said, “You look like the Chiquita Banana Girl!” Yup, that too would be Ms. Carmen Miranda.
I’m wearing a skirt I designed while at J.Crew, as a dress. I have a Jasper bead necklace around my neck, which makes me feel tranquil. My hoop earrings, I believe were my mothers when I was a child. And the wedge shoes I’ve had for years, also from my J.Crew years.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 15
Happy Fourth of July!
It’s easy to be cynical, but more worthwhile to remember why this nation was founded.
Around my neck is a broken fluorite heart which I wrapped in gold wire. It maybe broken, but it’s still good.
On my head is a newspaper crown I made out of the New York Times on the day of President Obama’s inauguration.
Around my waist is a red silk sash I got years ago at J.Crew. My skirt is vintage blue linen, which I found at the Salvation Army.
As I walked down the streets of my neighborhood dressed up for the Fourth of July, I got many reactions. Some people smiled and saluted me, some people commented on my crown, and as I passed one older Polish woman she shook her head and I thought I heard her mutter something along the lines of “America Kaput”.
I beg to differ – gotta love that freedom of speech!
Eliza Starbuck, Day 14
Happy Independence
Today for several reasons, I wore another feathered headdress. One reason was that I had just finished it up for a DIY challenge that I was doing for Ecouterre, which was, how to make a feathered headdress. And second, I thought it was festive as I get ready for the Fourth of July.
My headdress involved braiding a band out of suede lacing, weaving feathers into the band, and sewing black coral and turquoise discs onto the band.
With my dress I wore an amazing Indian tunic dress that is hand embroidered and dazzled with mirrors. I found it at the Salvation Army in Queens. At my feet are my gold studded barely there sandals, J.Crew. And around my waist, my trusty Guess belt, another thrift store score.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 13
Day at the Beach
Today was absolutely gorgeous, perfect sky, perfect temperature, perfect day to go to the beach. My sister, Gaby called me and told me she had a car, let’s go to the beach. And so we went.
I threw on a vintage one piece suit I had gotten at the Norwood Thrift Store in high-school from the 1960′s. I had chopped our the lining with the crazy cone boobs attached. A swimsuit that comes with boobs, can you imagine??? Well, anyway I wasn’t having them.
I threw on my little black dress as a cover-up, threw one of my husband’s preppy belts, also from the thrift store, around my waist, grabbed my Rachel Comey sun-hat, I had received as an anniversary gift this year, slipped on a pair of flip flops and was out the door. It was a beautiful day, and a great way to start the Fourth of July Holiday weekend.
Eliza Starbuck, Day 12
Just Because…
Today I felt like getting gussied up, so I put on a vintage floor length gown that I had bought at the Thrift Store a while back.
It’s completely sheer, so it was perfect for styling with in the summer weather.
I wore one of my husband’s ties as a belt, also a Salvation Army find, and on a thin gold chain I wore one of my fluorite heart medallions which I wrapped with gold filled wire. On my thumb I’m wearing a ring I’ve had for years which I bought at an East Village Flea Market because it reminded me for something out of a fairy tale.
I decided to put on a pair of vintage clip on earrings, which I got at a garage sale in Merrick, Long Island for $1. They seemed to go well with my assortment of stud earrings given to me piece by piece by my husband over the years.
