Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Elusive Back Door

When I was in university a couple of my friends attended college in the US and we only got to see each other on winter and summer breaks.  These guys were super fun, and my girlfriends and I looked forward to their return trips home where they schooled us about life outside Canada and seemed so very worldly.  Randy and Kenny loved a good rave and after regular club scene hours where we'd rip it up to favorites like 'Jump Around' by House of Pain, they would drag us to these after hours places that looked like abandoned buildings.  I remember being a royal pain (read: scared nerd) the first time we walked up at 2am to dead silence and pounded on the door of some warehouse in the middle of nowhere, "There's no one in there you fools!  Let's go home!!" only to have the door mysteriously swing open revealing thundering music, blinding strobe lights, and hordes of sweaty dancers who weren't ready to retire for the night.  More than once we'd lose track of time only to wander out into broad daylight on Sunday morning and head straight to breakfast.  Ahhhhhh the good old days.

When the Chef pointed out a cool looking alley the other day all I saw was the door, and it immediately took me back to a time when it seemed so cool to gain access to a place reserved only for those in "the know". 
 
Juicy Couture Fur Vest, Zara Pleated Leather Skirt, J.Crew Thigh Highs
The SKIRT!!  I saw this thing over a month ago taking a quick spin 
through Zara.  Like a fool I thought I could come back and grab it. Gone
Thus began the quest...which was completed just the other night when 
my fave shopgirl snagged the LAST one from the window display just for me.
Whew!  Cue "The search is over, you've been with me all the while..."
This is pretty much the condition we'd be in rolling into that secret door.
Okay maybe a bit less chic...but the door didn't smell like joranvandersloot urine.
And it wasn't flanked by palm trees holding crumpled up Marlboro packages.
Uh, anyone use garbage cans anymore?
Before you knew it we'd be rolling back out, donning our shades and heading
off to some diner or pizza joint for breakfast.  Ohthestomachofthecollegestudent.
T Luxury Apparel T-Shirt, Marc Jacobs Shoes, J.Crew Thigh Highs
I'm apologizing now - you may see this skirt several more times in the near future.
Imagine with a grey chunky knit sweater and military boots.
How about with flats, a poufy blouse and a denim jacket thrown over?
The possibilities are endless...a woman wanted to toss me for it in the fitting room.
It was a narrow escape thanks to the workouts.
Here's to the rest of the week going by just as quickly as the past few days.
Happy Thursday everyone!
Woop Woop (that's my rave sound - ahahahaha)

90 comments:

Josie said...

Carrie, you are so chic. All the time. I adore your pleated leather skirt (GENIUS) and those utterly fantastic socks. Inspiring.
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Georgia said...

Agree with the top comment. I envy your style xxxx

Anonymous said...

Do I spy new Melinda Maria bangles? Gorgeous, of course. (And is your circle ring on sale?! I told you I stalk her site! It's my happy place.) That running Christmas list in my head is getting longer and longer. Loving that skirt and wishing there was a hope and a prayer I could fit into the leather skirt hanging in my closet (there's not).

As far as the hair products - get the Freida, it's just as good and dirt cheap. I haven't tried Kerastase because I've heard way too many good things and figured I don't need another expensive addiction. Not that I usually show good judgment about these things...

I'm so glad we got to talk today! I'm sure I'll have tons of questions once I buckle down and actually commit to figuring all this out. Ok, ending this epic long comment now!

Cherry Plum said...

I love that outfit, that vest is gorgeous!

jemina said...

you look fabulous, and I remember the good ol' days back when i was in uni too :)

PS: LOVE that vest & skirt :))

kisses
J
xoxo

www.janetteria.com said...

I need a similar pair of tigh high stockings! LOVE!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

k said...

this outfit is BA and i looooove that little gold bracelet :)

Collette Osuna said...

Hot hot hot......you look great!!

The socks are perfection!!

Stop by and say Hello ♥
Statements in Fashion Blog

Little Paper Trees said...

you had me at House of Pain - oh the memories! x

fashion clocked said...

love the reminiscing and how hot do you look! Fur + leather= amazing. The pleated skirt...I did the same..fell in love with it and stupidly didnt buy it..now it is gone forever.Katie.xx

fashion clocked

Dawn said...

Ahhh...good times and memories.;)
Why do you always look so dang good? Even when attempting to enter forlorn buildings or walking down unknown allies.....
I have NEVER seen someone dress as spectacular as you do- up here! Are you SURE you used to live up here?;))

Have a wonderful day Carrie:)))

Unknown said...

love this whole outfit xxx

STYLE'N said...

wow fur, leather, and knee high socks all in one outfit...only you can pull that off. Love it all and especially the adorable pleated skirt! I am off to check out that ring too.

Anonymous said...

You are a sexy babe, Carrie! Ahhh.... clubbing... the good old days! xo

hip hip gin gin said...

That skirt is about six shades of fabulous!! Love it, I can totally see why you were so excited about it. And I'm loving the cute socks!

BeautyH2T said...

you are sooo chic woman! I am loving the look, want it all head to toe :) xx

Lisa - respect the shoes said...

Fantastic skirt - glad you virtually fought for it!

Closet Fashionista said...

Love the outfit! And sadly, I never went to clubs or anything so I was never "in the know" hahha XD I would have been the scared nerd too though ;)
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

little luxury list said...

LOVING the outfit, especially the thigh highs and shoes!

Ahh the days of university parties and hidden doors! it's a quieter life these days but those parties were something!

Blair McLeod said...

you are a rockstar!!!

Unknown said...

OMG raves - clubbing - WHAT memories! - i use to be at them all the time - total club kid back in the day!!!! ... oh the fun till 12 in the afternoon! - i use to skip high school to go to them! haha - me and my friend STILL talk about it - how we would plan and skip~

Lilacandgrey said...

Oh my goodness..."the good ol dayyys" I don't even know how I lived through it!
<3 Cara
PS. Did you get a chance to enter this Giveaway!?!

Couture Carrie said...

Loooooove your vest, darling!
You look fabulous!

xoxox,
CC

xoxoFashionLady said...

You look amaaazing! <3

Emily Jane said...

Aww, I love hearing about great memories. Awesome outfit, and I love your rave sound LOL :)

Isabel said...

i hate raves with a passion but i love your vest :)

Tiffany Kadani said...

Whew! I'm glad you were able to get the skirt! I love that you attribute your success to your workouts. Gorgeous photos as always!

Miranda said...

Oooo I love this outfit, you look very L.A.

www.indcfashion.com

Taylor said...

Beautiful as always!!!! :)

Unknown said...

gah i love that skirt! i would have gladly gotten in a scuffle for it, too. you can send it to me once you're sick of it :)

Ashley said...

Looove this! Faux fur is definitely a favorite of mine right now! And the location is totally a winner! I love the architecture...we have absolutely nothing like that up here in MN.

Jessica said...

I am loving the captions for these pictures! And the skirt is fantastic. It's perfect. I'm still in college and have only been to a club once- shocker! The only time I went I was with my boyfriend and was totally uncomfortable with the mid-40's creepers asking to buy me drinks. Seriously? Eww. haha I'm so lame.

SiSi Sparkles said...

wow that outfit is SO adorable :D

Kristen said...

I miss the good old days, too! Yours sound like a lot of fun times to miss. oh the life of a party girl.

awesome vest! so stylish right now! I gotta show you my cheetah vest, you'de love it!

Jude said...

That skirt and the whole outfit with the thigh highs, utterly chic and adorable! (Maybe my fave outfit yet :)) Haha, I'm getting flashbacks to goldie-oldie days of college & NYC years - a lifetime ago!

Kerri said...

you are so cute! love those thigh highs! :)

Santina said...

I adore classic cuts that are given an edge...like, oh, I don't know, a leather pleated skirt! I can't wait to see more of that skirt; the possibilities really are endless!

Anonymous said...

Love your skirt Carrie! I bought some Jessica Simpson over the knee socks like that for my friend, Raven.

Nikki said...

omg you just made me want to get that leather skirt! It looks amazing on you!!

Discovery Street said...

ahhh...i too remember those days! Loving the skirt...i can see why you were coveting it!

Jamie said...

Oh Carrie....I LOOOOOVE this!! I am dying for a fur vest and this one is TRES MAGNIFIQUE!!

http://www.glamlatte.com

ChinkyGirLMeL said...

Hello fashionista! I am always so jealous of your outfits!

Anonymous said...

whoaaa. this is amazing. way to, er, bring it? I have no other words. It's too hot. Fur vest, I'll never tire of you.

remember that Dawson's Creek when the tweaky sister is already on major anti-crazy pills and takes X and goes totally nutso at that rave? Sweetness!

-C

Nikki said...

Did you wear a wig too? ;)

Love the fur vest and am amazed Jcrew sells thigh highs!

TheChambrayCountess said...

Fantastic outfit! Love the combo and look forward to seeing the skirt in more outfits-- glad you got the last one!

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

You will wear that skirt tons! Love it.

Valerie said...

First of all, I love that song by Survivor. Secondly, I often think back to the college days of staying up all night, drinking red bull and vodka, then eating a pizza at 4am, going to bed around 6 and waking up the next day feeling like a million bucks. Where did those days go?? Now I eat too much broccoli and I'm in trouble. All the fun things that come with the 30s I guess.

I saw that spiked bangle and DIED over it!!! SO happy you snatched one up. And thank goodness you had an insider locate that skirt for you. I agree, the possibilities are endless. I love the thigh highs and fur with it, oh the fur. I've been dying to wear my mom's faux fur coat that I "borrowed" from her 1970s wardrobe, but it hasn't quite been cold enough yet. Hopefully soon.

xo
Valerie

Courtney Erin said...

I love this look - you look so damn chic!

xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com

FRANKIE HEARTS FASHION said...

Oh my Carrie...you look amazing! The whole outfit is just perfect. You're workin' it sister! xo

A Crimson Kiss said...

I love absolutely EVERYTHING about this!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

YES to Warehouse parties and the Good Old Days. And YES to that pleated skirt, too!

Laura said...

Love your skirt, and I can see why you hunted for it! Cute addition of the fur and knee socks as well :)

Bronzed Humanity said...

I LOVE exclusive parties my fave!! Tha skirt is way awesome!
xx
http://www.hotpinkday.blogspot.com/

Marcie said...

LOVING those tights, Carrie!! I had to laugh about your reference to "the know." I remember using that term all the time in college and thinking was SOOO cool.

Have a great day!
M

Marie a la Mode said...

I love your faux fur vest and those thigh highs! You look fantastic!

When I was younger I went to a couple of raves but I was sober so it wasn't that much fun ; )

Unknown said...

i TOTALLLLLY knew u'd appreciate that horse! - i think he'll be Mr. Ed! - me and him will chat when i sit in my house all alone - haha

Brooke T said...

I love your outfit! Especially the skirt and leggings :)

stylenuggets said...

Firstly thanks for the sweet invitation. I've seen the Hollywood sign in so many movies I'll have to see it for real some day! The skirt and the vest are so cool and would look great if you go to another rave again. Those were the days! Whoever thought we'd grow up and not be so cool ever again?

Catita said...

such a cool outfit! it is a 10 on 10!
xoxo
Catita

Alleen said...

You look great!!! Love the skirt! xx

Laura said...

Lovely outfit. Actually love that your over the knee socks are patterned and not just one solid colour they look stunning.

L x

Diana Mieczan said...

You look so beautiful wearing those knee socks:)...This is such a great outfit,sweetie
Wish you a lovely afternoon
Kisses

Annie said...

You look sooo good! love it! Oh I know those warehouses in the middle of no where... makes for some funny stories now, but how scary when we were actually going inside of them! LOL

Unknown said...

Hot hot hot my dear! And your post title cracked me up for a minute, my mind is in the gutter sometimes, I am lol-ing right now! Love the over-the-knee socks, fur and skirt, you have somehow magically combined all of fall's trends so they look fabulous. Oh, and yes, the good old days! XX!

this free bird said...

om shari i was totally freaking out afterward wondering who would think that...oy

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Hahaha I so remember those days too! Amazing!!! And I''m loving the fur vest. I'm wearing mine today too. Gotta do it with the otk socks. You're inspiring me :)

xoxo

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

I luuurve this! You pull off the fur vest perfectly and those sunglasses are the perfect glam touch.

Linley said...

that fur vest. and those stockings make my night! they looks so good together!! (and thanks about the pants! and where are you getting these codes for BR?? emails??)

Dwelling and Telling

Ashley/ MILK TEETHS said...

oh goodness that skirt is beautiful! and the vest aint too shabby either ;)

xx
MILK TEETHS

the chirpy bird said...

I'm mad... here's why I'm mad. I tried that skirt on a few months ago and my girlfriend asked me if I was planning on playing tennis with Def Leopard. I put it back and I've been thinking about it ever since! I'm seriously going to have to re evaluate our friendship... ahahhaha
looks fabulous on you babe!
xo tash

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I absolutely love that vest. Every time I try to score one, it's been sold out in my size. Boo!

this free bird said...

@linley - yes! sign up!

and @tash...girl you hit it on the head. seeing as DL was playing in the car on the way home (photograph!!) and i rocked out like 1989 with skirt next to me on the seat. woot!! hope i don't look like a headbanger. no offense to the headbangers!

xo

Gorgeous Glam said...

Love the fur vest and leather skirt combo. p.s. I totally had something else in mind when I saw the title! tisk tisk to me! lol xoxo

Jess said...

Oh my God, thigh highs - I HAVE to get some!

LyddieGal said...

Pleated leather -- I would have never thought of what a cute combination!
and I think it's so fab that you've got all these shopgirls looking out for you (the red H&M dress) now this skirt... you are so cool.

Fur and leather is a great combination, and I can't wait to see all your other stylings in reality.

Chic on the Cheap

ps. I gave you an award!

Lila said...

Erika with the Village just blogged about this cute blog that illistrates your outfit post. Go check them out...you would be adorable.

http://whatiworedrawings.blogspot.com/

Lila said...

oops sorry illustrates...haha

Anonymous said...

That outfit is just gorgeous, I havent seen any leather pleated skirt, yours is just cute and awesome, I would wear them all the time too lol
<3
http://reserveradefashion.blogspot.com

Ashley [Free Honey] said...

This is my favorite outfit of your - hands down. It's so chic, yet effortless and trendy but you just look so cool.

I want it all. NOW.

Especially the skirt, and the socks, and the vest.

K, thanks!

J. said...

Hot damn, carrie! You are killing it with this outfit!

Unknown said...

BLAST! I've been wanting that skirt so frikkin bad and now you've found it. Well, congratulations. Apparently no one has tired of this skirt and listed it on ebay yet.. but I'll be waiting.

xx Cristina

Mimi said...

you look so chic, carrie! i love your look! :D

<3, Mimi
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

Joie de Viv said...

That skirt Carrie! THAT skirt! I've been trying to track it down forever too! You lucky, stylish, in the know of the secret door girl! LOVE this look head to toe!

xx Vivian @ http://diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com

o said...

Sounds like fun times, Carrie!!;) Such a great look and omgosh, I've been eyeing this skirt! LOVE it! Thx again for ur comment on my last post! Aah, u're so lucky to have gone to a Rebecca Minkoff sample sale and nabbed a few bags! Wish they would have one in LA this year hehe Have a great weekend!

TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com

zs closet said...

I love that skirt!!xx

www.zscloset.blogspot.com

Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie said...

okay truly one of the best things that you've worn. you look freaking sensational in this!!! I have seen fur vests all over the place this season but am trying to save money or at least spend it on things more versatile so I have yet to purchase it though I definitely want one! They are so cute. I think this is a great example of how it's sometimes beyond appropriate and preferable to blend trends. All of this together looks beautiful... and I'm pretty sure you look like you could be back in college.

Kelly-Ann Maddox said...

Love love love the pleated skirt.

Thanks for your comment on my blog, especially since it led me to yours which is splendid.

Sharon Lei said...

Carrie!!!! I love love love your pleated leather skirt. It's AMAZING!! I want one. :) And that faux fur is perfect on you as well.

I hope you're doing great!! Here's to a fabulous week. Kisses.

xx Love & Aloha

Kristin W said...

What a fab story! It reminds me of the adventures they have in Skins (the BBC show I'm currently obsessing over).

Perfect, perfect outfit. Absolutely perfect. Adore the vest, thigh highs, shoes, and skirt. I, personally, can not wait to see the skirt styled in different ways!

Fierce Pretty said...

Loving this combination! It's young, yet mature and classy! Great match!... I want your vest!!

Xo

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