Two Fat Cats Bakery

 Silk-screened silhouette tote bags, $22

Although, I am back in my hometown of New York City, during my recent vacation to Maine I took such an overwhelmingly large amount of pictures that I feel doing three blog posts was the only way to do the trip justice. No fear, this is the LAST of the Maine posts…. well, for this summer at least :)

vintage Lucite button earrings, $24

When you think of Maine, generally lobsters, beaches, and Bermuda shorts come to mind —nothing very cosmopolitan. But Blanche and Mimi at 184 Middle Street is cosmopolitan indeed.  Vintage curiosities like hairclips made from old buttons, European café chairs, and retro clocks are mixed among new pieces like silk-screened silhouette tote bags, aprons printed with bold colors and patterns like bird cages or woodland creatures, and sweet bedding with variations of geometrics and florals. The continuity in the store comes from its modern and playful spin on Parisian-chic that all of the items seem to exude. I ended up buying earrings made from vintage Lucite buttons (they’re the green ones featured in the picture I took above), c'est magnifique!

But what is shopping without dessert? I’ve been noticing that lately all of the tweets splayed across my Twitter account involve food (usually dessert). I confess, I have a serious sweet tooth and my ultimate kryptonite is cupcakes; if you ever need a cupcake recommendation in New York, contact me! Two Fat Cats Bakery (47 India Street, Portland, Maine), naturally named after the owners’ cats that live above the bakery, invites you into a world of sweets made from scratch. In appearance, their pastel colored icings and sprinkles make their baked goods seem simple. But their taste is anything but simple; my pink cupcake and lemon shortbread cookie had just the right blends of salty and sweet.

As I am back in NYC, expect a couple of Fashion’s Night Out posts heading your way!

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Pret-a-Port

As continued from my last post, although I was staying in Maine, Portsmouth, New Hampshire was just close enough for the perfect day trip. Portsmouth may seem like just a small town landscaped by the sea, but it has many stores of interest that I keep coming back to (or want to) each year. On this particular visit to Portsmouth, I stopped over at Gus & Ruby Letterpress, 29 Congress Street. The store itself is named after owners Samantha Finigan and Whitney Swaffield’s two dogs, Gus and Ruby and pays homage to Whitney’s grandfather’s printing press business. This paper boutique is certainly a gem with its intriguing stationery and wrapping paper ranging from bicycle motifs, gum drop prints, and 50’s-inspired food graphics--- all of which I could see framed.

 Walking down Portsmouth’s various alleys, I found Fa La Lo at 51 Ceres Street. Owned by Liz Wright and Scott Segee, the shop is devoted to women's clothing, accessories, and household furnishings that are ALL locally made or Fair Traded. If you’re not familiar with the term Fair Trade, it is a social movement, the purpose of which is to help local craftersmen thrive and obtain better trading conditions for locally produced goods (as opposed to mass produced) while promoting sustainability. When I saw Fa La Lo’s sign outside their store I knew I had to stop in. Everything in the store is eclectic, ranging from embroidered eyeglass cases and coin purses, peace sign earrings made from recycled plastic, to Batik pillows, and so, so much more!

Each nook of the store transports you to a different part of the world. The pendant necklaces above are from a New Hampshire craftsman who recycled broken china plates. However, my absolute favorite animal is the elephant. Sitting right by the cash register was a beautifully carved wooden elephant on a chain from Kenya, and I knew right then that that had to be my purchase.

Thrift store-bought cheetah top, Fairtrade elephant necklace, random tote bag, H&M shorts, vintage belt

Lastly, earlier this summer when blogging about a weekend spent up in Woodstock, I visited a church thrift-store where I had bought matching leopard shirts and mentioned that I’d post pictures of them soon. So here’s the leopard tank top!!! I loooove it. Best way to spend $4 ever.

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Footprints in the Sand

 

 Topshop Breton striped shirt, Gap shorts, square vintage 1960's sunglasses

Old Navy embroidered cover-up

 

 Every summer my family takes a trip to the Portland area of Maine. On this particular day, we went to the local farmer’s market to visit some of our favorite purveyors, including Hubba Hubba, which I can still call the best granola I’ve ever had.  Hubba Hubba uses no oil or butter, yet you’d never know because it’s so yummy; the perfection combination of healthy and tasty. We always stock up on it when we’re out there.

 

My Maine thrift hunting started out as a need for some new dresses, but turned into so much more. In one of the many local thrift shops I stopped in, I purchased a Southwestern-patterned red dress (complete with sombreros and cactuses), a wicker picnic basket-inspired purse, two suede belts, a beach print sleeveless button-down, and a striped t-shirt leaving my total all UNDER $10!!!!!!! I must post pictures of all my finds A.S.A.P.

More Maine posts to come! 

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Dear Coco,

This is the third installment of a series of illustrations I’ve put up on the blog. The first, was when I blogged about the fashion illustration class I took during my fashion program last summer. The second, I posted an illustration of the Eiffel Tower and my fictitious A/W 2010 shoe collection. This past year I took drawing & painting at my school for the first time and I absolutely loved it. I’m an artist by no means, and yet I find it really therapeutic, you know?

I’ve had a watercolor set sitting in my apartment for years that has gone untouched. Through my Tumblr, I’ve come across some truly amazing artists that have inspired me to stop procrastinating and make myself set aside time to finally do some watercoloring.

My dad brought home the most delicious box of macarons filled with Nutella, cassis, lemon, mocha, and lavender flavored macarons. So I thought why not make my first watercolor a delicious homage to them? I then made a picnic perfect outfit set (all items are inspired by those in my own closet), and a fictitious postcard sent from a friend to Coco Chanel.

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Please note: all of this artwork is my own, please do not use it for any commercial purposes or take credit for it in any way. Thanks! :)