Up the Ante

I have been MIA for months now, but the other half of The Rack Girls is back! My name is Vikky and I have a committed relationship to fashion and beauty. Welcome, grab a cuppa tea,  and enjoy!

The "September" Issue

We're not Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington, and this blog is certainly not Vogue, but the issue of "September", or rather "the beginning", looms just as ominously on our horizons for this Rack Diving #14.

Miss Carrington Goes Hunting.

Jonesing for cooler climes? Well worry not, The Rack Girls have got started on the job of Fall fashion for this Rack Diving #13. Gird your loins, Winter Is Coming.

Cray cray for some Chambray

Finally! I bought this dress weeks ago on a mad hunt for a chambray dress to go with my leather jacket and haven't got the gumption to wear the outfit until today. In seeming defiance of yesterday's decidedly Spring themed outfit, today's look seemed smugly rooted in A/W dress sensibilities. Mid-length dress, thick leggings, jacket, and boots say to the world that I'm ready for the wind and the chill, and I'm looking damn decent at it too1

Jacket - Asos Curve
Dress - Woman Within
Leggings - Vince Camuto, thrift
Boots - Thrift

Potatoes in a Jacket

Feeling tropical! It's highly inappropriate for the fall, but today's weather was more in line with balmier climes than with fall's signature chilly edge anyway! Anyways, its a Monday, and if I have to live through it, I'm going to dress like I was on a beach somewhere instead of slogging through text-heavy law books. The tunic is, as I've noted below, from Dorothy Perkins; I talked about it a few months ago in one of my posts about the joy's of capitalism (or something). It's a delicious item of clothing, and, as a plus, its not jersey! This might have proven problematic, but it fits me quite well so win-win! 

The leggings and the jacket are exciting because I bought them at the thrift store. I went to my first Philly thrift store and it was like trying to go to one in Austin, where hipsters young and old have destroyed the true art and enjoyment of the activity. Nowadays, searching for thrift stores brings you to "quirky" "atmospheric" small businesses where they overcharge for "trendy" "cool" looking old stuff they most likely found in larger establishments (like Goodwill or Salvation Army) for miles cheaper. The one I went to on Saturday was just that. I knew the second I stepped in and glanced around the strategically disorganized smorgasbord of stuff, that I would be sorely disappointed this trip. Most of the store was taken up by useless old stuff like VHS and old CDs, the clothes were sparse and awkwardly arranged throughout the shop. The Halloween section they boasted about on their website and in the front of the store was 2 racks of stained or garish items too outlandish to be considered chic even by the trendiest of trendy young people. 

I almost gave up all hope when I lumbered up the rickety steps and was faced with the single tiny rack labeled "plus size" shoved in an awkward corner next to an assortment of too-ugly-to-be-cool ladies' blouses. The majority of the rack was unacceptably damaged, inexplicably small, or just plain terrible, so I left it to take a gander at the room labeled "the vintage room" (which turned out to be a tragedy and a lie). When I returned I think things had been added because immediately I spotted this blazer and ripped it out. Its slightly too large but works well over things and, of course, has this totally amazing leather part of the lapel. As I was about to leave to meet friends, I spotted these pairs of leggings and snatched up all of them (3) as they were EXACTLY what I needed. They're Vince Camuto and are unique because the seam goes down the back in the middle of the thigh. They're the kind of thick almost-pants type of legging thats perfect for the winter, I'm dead happy about them. I definitely won't be going back to that store as it was mostly an overpriced waste of my time, but my thrift journey hasn't ended! I hear tell of a mystical Cave of Secrets-type Goodwill in North Philly that's meant to be phenomenal and I completely plan on going to it soon. Until then!

Blazer - Thrift

Tunic - Dorothy Perkins

Boots - Lane Bryant

Leggings - Vince Camuto, Thrift

This fall is all about boots....

In the last two years or so, I have managed to accumulate 8 pairs of boots. To me, that seems like a lot. But you gotta have them, they are so versatile and perfect for fall/winter/spring fashion. My new pair of booties are detailed with gold studs on the ankles. Soooo cute!!

The awesome thing is that you really can wear that with almost anything. Last night, I wear them with a velvet skater dress that I found during one of my thrift shopping trips with Ezi. 

I still want to complete this boot collection with a pair of wedge boots and biker boots. Of course, I want the Winchell from Vincent Camuto because I like to fall in love with shoes that I cannot afford! Maybe Xmas gift for moi?

Anyways, if you goils are looking for some boots/booties for this fall, these are some of my favorites:

• For some gold tip Chelsea boots, check these by Ecote from Urban Outfitters.
• Simple black biker boots? Blink Minou on sale at asos.
• Sleek and sexy black booties are also a must for this season. Marc Fisher’s booties in 4 different colors at Macy’s.