Experimenting with the Self-Timer

I found this interesting cardigan with a trompe de l'oeuil buckle on it and these green leggings at Value Village yesterday. That's why I love thrifting; you can find neat things you would never find in a new store, and you can find stuff you might be able to find in a new store for way cheaper.

Also, this Joy Division t-shirt was a lovely birthday present.

Happy New Year, all. Choose your president wisely.

List of things I want, but certainly don't need from American Apparel

I only want these running shorts if they make my ass look THAT good.

Green is my favourite colour, so I wouldn't mind owning this hoodie. I'd probably put Green Party buttons on it just to be super awesome.

I don't think I'd ever lose my change if my change purse was this shiny!

I wouldn't mind a striped hoodie either. Though, I would probably wear a shirt underneath or at least zip it up all the way. Poor model...

Like a liar at a witch trial, you look good for your age.

It's my birthday, I'm 18. No more committing heinous crimes and being tried as a 'minor'*... Here is what I'm wearing to eat sushi with my friends today.

Beaded sweater - I seriously found this in my basement.
Black sweater - Value Village
Black shirt (layered under sweater) - American Apparel
Leopard print pants - H&M
Navy blue suede Converse - Winners

* - I kid you, I swear.

Boxing Day/Courtney Love

It's Boxing Day. I haven't been out of the house in almost a week. I think I need to go thrift shopping or something to get out of this funk. I shocked the extended family at dinner last night by admitting that I like Courtney Love more than I like Kurt Cobain. I mean, they're equally talented but people would appreciate Courtney much more if she hadn't lived in Kurt's shadow, and wasn't a drug addict right now. But think about it: if Kurt hadn't have died in '94, he probably wouldn't have been in much better shape than collagen Courtney is right now, no?

Yes, I love Courtney Love. Even if you don't like her, it's impossible to deny that used to be mad talented, mad fashionable and mad hot. I just wish she stayed that way.

I like listening to Christmas radio.

Merry Christmas everyone!
From the girl in the monkey hat and the sequin cape. Best gifts ever! I won't spend too much time talking about what I got, because rampant Christmas materialism is bad, but just let me reiterate... Monkey hat and sequin cape!

Tell me what you all got for Christmas, I'm curious.

Also, if you need some good Christmas listening then check out the song 'Three Generations' by Hawksley Workman. They always play it on CBC.

The Rattlesnake: Installment 3

The Rattlesnake strikes again. This time its the holiday season, and what is there other to do than party? Party in MASKS, of course. This was a Masquerade Ball of a different kind. Let the pictures speak for themselves... The Misshapes legacy is probably drooling right now.




Happy Holidays, all!

DIY Daily Activities

The best way to combat holiday boredom is to:
1. Blog excessively.
2. DIY up a storm!

So far I've spent the day adding little heart patches to a scarf that I handknit, patching up holes in a secondhand cashmere sweater/adding lace to cover them up and adding this precious heart patch with my name on it to another very comfortable secondhand cardigan I own. I'm showing no signs of stopping either. DIY is so much fun!

In the interest of environmental sustainability, I suggest that everyone stops using kleenex and starts using handkerchiefs. It can be as simple as cutting up an old t-shirt or buying a classy, embroidered one. Not only are they eco-friendly, they are softer on your nose. It's a win-win situation. Do it. Remove your dependency on clear-cutting kleenex.

Winter Boots: Hell in a Handbasket

Shopping for winter boots is a nightmare. Let me explain the matter in detail. I have a decent pair of winter boots, but they have one shortcoming - they only fit under pants, not over them. When only the bottom of the boots are showing, they look matronly. Furthermore, this means I cannot wear skinny jeans in the winter without my ankles freezing. I need protection from inclement weather! It is blasphemy, dangnabbit! The only “suitable” boots I’ve been able to find are Uggs, which are not suitable at all if you don’t feel like burning your retinas with ugliness. My mom swears on Sorels, but despite their functionability, they’re not much more attractive than Uggs.

I wouldn’t mind a pair of moccasin boots, but they always seem to come with fur or fringe embellishment.

The solutions must lie in a pair of plain moccasin boots (like these) or Moon Boots. Moon Boots are a lot more obnoxious than what I’d like to be wearing in the wintertime, but at least they’re fun.

The only problem is, I have no idea where to find them.

I don't usually do surveys but...

How could I say no to the lovely Liebemarlene?

1. What’s the story behind the name of your blog and your nickname?
I started Hipster Musings in early 2006, when being a “hipster” was a relatively exciting term and people weren’t sick of the Klaxons. Shortly after, I started getting into the underground ‘hipster’ culture of beat poets, so it just fits. The only reason why most people discover this blog in the first place is because of its title, so ‘Hipster Musings’ continues served me well.

2. Why did you start blogging in the first place?
I had a lot to say, and was narcissistic enough to think that the general public cared.

3. What has been your best blogging related experience? What about the worst?
Best: Being featured in newspapers, I suppose. Just kidding, the best part was discovering that people around the world with exciting views on fashion are sharing them. Without my blog, I never would’ve discovered any other blogs. And believe me, I love blogs.

Worst: A lot of people hate me because I make harsh calls. Well, as they say, it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it.

4. What do you think will happen to your blog in 2008?
I’m going to University, so posting will probably a lot more infrequent as of September ‘08.

Google Earth

Googly eyes: friends of crafters and fashionistas alike. They are just so kooky, I can't help but be drawn to them. I mean, they look pretty fly on the Giles Deacon runway (but then again, what doesn't)...

They also look fly on 'stine?', who is a StyleMob star in my humble opinion.

Good god, googly eyes are gallons of greatness!

P.S. -What is up with this Jamie-Lynn Spears pregnancy hoopla? Poor girl...

If you don't have style, don't flaunt it.

I understand that there are certain "classic" elements of fashion, but there is a very fine line dividing "classic" form "boring". Classic items are things to be thrown on when there is nothing else to wear but you still want to look half decent. You don't take a picture of your "classic" outfit and post it on a style website and pretend it's cutting edge. You just don't.

But the thing is, people do. Look at this.



I go to StyleDiary and StyleMob for fashion inspiration, not to see what somebody wore to work at their 9 to 5 office job. Business casual is BORING! I do not want to see boring passed off as classic. Nobody does. Boring is a boring does. Tan sweaters
and black turtlenecks are BORING!

That was a rant.

Man Ray: King of Class

If I ever get a tattoo, it will most certainly be inspired by this Man Ray photograph. It's just so attractive!





P.S.: On a random biology geek note, doesn't James Watson (the guy on the left) look just like David Bowie?

Surrender to the sweater

I crossed paths with an unexpected thrift find yesterday: this big blue sweater. It jumped out at me on the racks because I quite like the bright colour and the unidentified graphic design. Is it a white flag, the sign of surrender? Who knows. It reminds me of Marc by Marc Jacobs (from the days when Marc was still working his scruffy look) or something you might see on a Scandinavian style website. For the picture, I just couldn't resist matching my Converse to the sweater!

Everybody's Scene Sucks.

If you enjoyed my previous post on Indie Tribes, then you'll unquestionably fall in love with Your Scene Sucks, which I found on reccomendation by the lovely Heather. It's got a lot more biting insults than anything I produced, plus cartoon pictures of what the typified scenester looks like. All of the general characteristics of the scenesters below are just ripped apart. It may be mean, but its funny. I promise.

Indie Tribes

Everybody knows an indie kid when they see one, but there are so many different types of 'indie' that there is no one solid classification. Here I've classified a few different indie stereotypes, all in good fun. Hope you enjoy.

Tea Cosy Indie (Female): Favourite bands include Iron & Wine, Devendra Banhart and Bright Eyes. In fact, anything released by Saddle Creek Records qualifies as a 'favourite'. Usually seen shopping for vintage boots, floral granny dresses and slouchy cardigans at the local Goodwill. They love to knit, drink tea and bake. These granny-like interests coincide with their idolization of the free flowing days of yore a.k.a. the 1960s and 1970s. Generally vegetarian, always kind, never seen without her trusty bicycle.

Nerdcore (Male): Continues to dwell on the tv shows and video games of his youth, like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and Super Mario. Most likely owns a synthesizer so he can recreate the theme songs. Eats pop tarts for breakfast and makes ironic movie references to the point of irritation. Attire is usually quite simple: striped t-shirt, blazer or cardigan, jeans, Converse and messenger bag covered with buttons that display his wide array of pop culture knowledge.

Artiste Indie: Pretends to appreciate the finer things in life but probably couldn't tell Baudelaire from Proust. Lives to be seen smoking a cigarette while reading something conspicuous at the local coffee shop, like William Burroughs or Allan Ginsberg, while constantly looking over their book to see if anyone is watching. Always poor and unemployed, but that just gives them more artist's credibility. They think they have enough talent to make it big, but would never ever sell out.

Party Indie: Personified by Cory Kennedy. Always wears outrageously outrageous getups just to get noticed. They live for drugs/alcohol and judge their quality of living by two things. #1. How bad their hangover is. #2. How many pictures were taken of them at the party. Listens to M.I.A. without realizing that her lyrics are political. Shameless exhibitionist.

To Kate, who is wondering where to shop: St. Vincent de Paul's is sketchy, but there's tons of great cheap stuff. Value Village is a classic, but I think they raised the prices so I don't shop there as much anymore. Boretski Vintage is expensive but so worth it. When in doubt, go to Old Navy. I promise I won't tell anyone. Whatever you do, don't go to Salvation Army. It's crappy around here.

The Rattlesnake 2: A Day in the Life

So, what do hipsters do when they’re not getting wasted at alternative nightclubs, as is their well-documented custom? They go to art class, of course!

Miles is in the preliminary stages of creating his own genre of music, which involves writing post-modern prose and harmonizing it with itself.

Cindy is a great artist with a penchant for Michel Gondry, Egon Schiele and...Steve Aoki!!

Nicole always perks up like this when she hears the sweet strains of Beck.


I could have posted a picture of myself posing like Agyness Deyn but decided ajainst it because some nasty commenter said I looked like a boy two posts ago. Jeez, I really am a whiny bitch.

The Rattlesnake: Installment 1

It all started when I was reading Cory Kennedy's blog and thought "Wow, she justs talks about hanging out with different people. It's about as exciting as where I live (which is certainly not L.A.)...". So there was a group decision to parody the Cobrasnake. This collection of "party photos" will be called the Rattlesnake. Genius, right? I brought my camera to play practice today and took a few shots. They're not very good, because clearly I could never match the photographic genius of Mark Hunter(just kidding, obviously). However, it's quite preliminary and we're all doing our best to look like uber-hipsters. Can you tell?


That cake was supposed to look like male genitalia. Needless to say, ity doesn't. It looks more like a frog, actually but I'm sure you get the point.

I came, I saw, I coveted.

I had been coveting leopard print pants for a very long time now and am happy to say that I now own my very own pair. Hooray! I was in Toronto on the weekend, so I got to try on the Urban Outfitters version, but wasn't about to shell out $80 for ill-fitting pants. So I went to H&M later on and found this similar pair that actually fits for $30. These pants were totally worth the wait. I am in love.

I went to a pro-Kyoto rally on December 8th, hence my presence in Toronto. Protests are really the most amazing occurrences. I can't even begin to describe the frantic, positive energy emanating from the crowd. This band called the New Kings played and the lead singer reminded me of Ian MacKaye as a senior citizen, which was awesome.

Rebel Girl

Most people who are into fashion tend to be anachronisms. I wonder how many girls reading this right now wish they came of age in the fabulous Fifties or swingin' Sixties? I myself would have been much happier being born fifteen years earlier so I could have been an early 1990s Riot Grrl in Olympia, Washington.


Kathleen Hanna is a freakin' goddess. I know this doesn't have much to do with fashion, and that the 1990s weren't even that fashionable to begin with but I have been listening to A LOT of Bikini Kill lately and can't get it out of my head. Revolution Girl Style Now!

Style Mob: Dear Eliza

Dear Eliza, your style is awesome. This isn't meant to be an open letter it's just her username. I know its not for everyone, but I am a huge fan of the thick tights/legwarmers/leather boots look. It doesn't sound like a good combination, until you see someone like Eliza pull it off and then you start to wonder why girls even bother wearing pants in the wintertime. Until you go outside, that is.

I know the scarf look is getting tired, but you cannot deny that she looks 'fresh' in it. (Fresh is a lame adjective, hence the excess punctuation).

I just love how she looks so cozy and stylish at the same time. The jacket looks great with the dress, even if brown and black usually clash. Hell, weren't rules made to be broken?

Note to self: Go buy oversize cardigan sweatervest and modify it to fit. Then take adorable pictures of self while wearing the aforementioned sweatervest.

I feel so inspired right now!

Fear the Reaper

Apparently I was featured in a StyleDiary article on members who are fashion bloggers. That in itself it pretty cool, but I have no idea why they bothered. They really seem to hate me. All the other blogs described as: "We are obsessed with this girl’s blog. Incredible." or "A great, insightful and well-written blog covering fashion." However, my blog gets a mere "One of the highest traffic blogs from our community!" as if they are exclaiming in utter disbelief how this awful blog gets a lot of hits compared to the other incredibly genius blogs that other StyleDiary members are writing. You might want to take a hint. If I'm getting a lot of hits then I might be doing something right...

But if you are sick of my completely banal and utterly self-centred blog like StyleDiary is, you might want to check out The Iron Chic. It's a very new blog but I can already tell you that it is awesome. Here's proof in the pudding...

...and if her bright red pants and rock'n'roll style doesn't make you want to read her blog then her massive collection of Keds really should.

Upside-down and Backwards

Uggs...BAD.

Uggs...Good?

Sea Wolf

I love it when thrift stores set up their own makeshift racks of Christmas clothing. They usually comprise of obnoxiously festive Christmas sweaters that nobody under 65 would be caught dead in or shoulder pad dresses from the 1980s that nobody would be caught dead wearing, period. I don't usually bother looking through them, but this time was different. Between the layers of puffy paint and crushed velvet, I found this $3 handmade wonder.


It sure beats paying $200 for last season's FCUK. Remember this shirtdress?


Also, check out my interview over at the Humane Recipe. Here's the specific link.