Showing posts with label irregular choice shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label irregular choice shoes. Show all posts

Sunday, February 24, 2013

What the Art Teacher Wore #56

Presidential Monday: The kiddos had the day off while I had a day of meetings. And kids claim life isn't fair for them? Oh, just you wait until you enter Grown Up Town, Junior. sweater: vintage, found at Goodwill and shown with it's sister sweaters here; skirt: vintage, thrifted; belt and boots: Anthropologie; fishnets: dunno, Target?
'Ello, mates! This week, my students and I began transitioning from all things Germany to the United Kingdom. We've been having a jolly good time learning all about the Queen, her home at Buckingham Palace, her guards with the funny furry hats, the geography, food, slang, you name it, we've chatted about it. We've even been burning up the CD player with one student's One Direction CD and my Beatles collection. My plan is to hold a tea in my art room this week. With a half an hour art time and projects to work on, we'll see how that goes. I'll keep you posted.

To celebrate our voyage to the UK, I've been sporting Union Jack inspired outfits this week. Because of this, I thought I'd share just a pinch of the history of the Union Jack as well as some miscellaneous bits. I hope you enjoy.

This coming week is Read Across America Week! At my school wear are celebrating by dressing a bit wacky everyday (so why don't they just call it Dress Like an Art Teacher Week?). If you are a teacher, are you dressing up? If so, I'd love to see what you are wearing. Please feel free to share a link to your blog in the comments. And if you aren't a teacher, I still wanna see your wacky wears!  
The Union Flag: Aka, Union Jack. This is the flag of the United Kingdom (not just that place where One Direction is from, as my students would have you believe). This is also the flag of several British territories. And it makes an appearance in the upper left hand corner of former British countries (think Australia). Personally, I think this is the best designed flag ever.
The Making of the Union Jack: So the story goes that in 1603, James VI of Scotland inherited the English and Irish thrones. This united England, Scotland and Ireland although they remained separate states. Combining the flags of these states, a new flag was created. I'm not sure why the Welsh flag was not included in this mash up of flag design. Might have something to do with that giant red dragon their flag has smack in the middle.
Union Jack Attack Tuesday: To really kick off our new adventure in the United Kingdom, I decided to wear the colors of the Union Jack this week. Which took some digging into the depths of my closet as I just don't wear a ton of cobalt blue. sweater: vintage, thrifted; plaid dress: from a rare venture into the mall a million years ago; belt: Anthropologie; sparkly fishnets and tights: Target; shoes: Irregular Choice
Union Jack Doc Martins: In junior high, I experienced my own British invasion in the form of a Beatles obsession. Which I think is an absolute requirement if you are to have any taste in music as an adult. My summer job as a corn detasseler in rural Indiana never paid enough for me to purchase my own pair of Docs. If it would have, I think I'd have lived in these.
Trying Hard and Failing Wednesday: Not in love with this outfit, just a little too much pattern clashing for me. Ah well, better luck next Wednesday (which happens to be "words on a shirt" day for Read Across America Week, eep!). shirt: thrifted; sweater: Lucky Brand, thrifted; skirt: Anthro, bought at Buffalo Exchange; belt: Pinup Girl Clothing; fishnets: Target; shoes: Softt
Talkin' 'Bout my Ge-ge-generation: Of course, one British band obsessions usually leads to another. My bedroom growing up housed Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin posters as well. To this day, I don't believe there's a hotter dude than a young Robert Plant. BTW, did Pete Townsend's mom make him wear that jacket? He looks mighty miffed.
The Thursday I'd Like to Forget: Yeah, it was one of those days. So let's focus on the positive: my (almost) completely thrifted outfit! Typing up these little outfit portions, I've noticed that most of my outfits are thrifted this week. There's really nothing like striking gold at the thrift store, says me. sweater: Old Navy, thrifted; dress: BCBG, thrifted; belt: Supayana on etsy; fishnets: Target?; shoes: Irregular Choice
World's Most Expensive Union Jack: According to the The Daily Mail UK, this is the only surviving flag from the Battle of Trafalgar from the early 1800's. It sold for £384,000 (which would be about $585,254). According to The Daily Mail, the huge flag "is littered with holes from shot damage and still has a whiff of gunpowder, flew from the jackstaff of HMS Spartiate at the historic battle 204 years ago. After the victory over Napoleon's French army, the crew lowered the flag and presented it to Lieutenant James Clephan for his outstanding performance."

Graffiti artist, activist, film maker and painter Banksy has been creating public work with a statement since the early 90's. In this particular piece, which depicts a child sewing Union Jack bunting, Bansky was trying to bring to light child labor laws in Britain. The Queen was not a fan of this particular work. To the fury of the local community, this piece was chiseled off the wall and sent to Miami for auction. It's interesting to me how artists can say so much by their depiction of a flag in a work of art.
Painted Legs Friday: Not really. But you wouldn't believe the number of kids that thought I had. Little dudes, I love to go the extra mile for you, but that would be a little too far. Even for a crazy art teacher like me. dress: old, Free People; jacket: old, ModCloth; shoes: Clarks; tights: amazon (where you can seriously find EVERYTHING); floral hair clip: made by me
Ginger Spice! If the Queen wasn't pleased with Banksy's work, I wonder what she thought of this little number. I was in college when "Wannabe" and the Spice Girls exploded, like, everywhere. I was too busy listening to (and pretending to like) those grungy dude bands. Besides, what in the world IS a Sporty Spice? Most def not something I wanted sprinkled on my dinner, thank ya very much.











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Saturday, March 10, 2012

What the Art Teacher Wore #9

Just-in-from-NYC Monday: The great thing about soft and fuzzy sweaters is their soft fuzziness. The bad thing about soft and fuzzy sweaters is that a hundred little grubby hands want to touch them. Although we did have a nice little chat about the difference between angora, wool  and acrylic yarn. sweater: Ann Taylor, thrifted; dress: Anthropologie purchased at Buffalo Exchange in NYC; belt: Pinkyotto, a little boutique in NYC; shoes: Dolls by Nina
 Oh what a wacky week this one has been. It started off with a return home from a fantastic trip to NYC. And like any trip, I always feel like I could use a day or three to recuperate. Thankfully I was able to return to a smooth sailing ship as I'd left Lauren at the helm. But Wednesday was her last day! Neither of us are good at goodbyes so we just said a sad goodbye-for-now and pretended that Thursday wouldn't come. But it did. And my room was so quite without her. When the kids walked in and looked around, they turned to me in a panic and asked, "Where's Ms. Goodwin?!" Thankfully, she'd promised to return on Friday to which they sighed a whew! of relief.

Friday ended up being a rather Freaky Friday what with the full moon, our school's half day and my birthday. The kids were beside themselves wishing me a happy birthday and asking if I liked the gift they worked on with Ms. Goodwin. Er, gift? Wha? When she dropped in with the book she created with all of the kids in the school, I just lost it. Right in front of the kids. A near blubbery meltdown. I mean, it was the most touching gift I've received in a very long time. I promise to share it (and my other fab gifties) in an upcoming post. But have your tissue handy. It's a tear-jerker.

My birthday plans for the weekend? Sleeping in. Cleaning this house. Reading my sweet book from the kids. I do hope you enjoy yours whatever you decide to do!
I am so much in love with this belt that I regret not having bought more. I checked their online shop...but no such luck. Sadness. Guess I'll just have to make a return visit to the East Village.
Look at that sweet face! I was so excited to see her upon my return. She did a fantastic job teaching the kids while I was away. I don't even think they knew I was gone! Her cute dress is an Old Navy number and her boots are from the Nashville Flea Market.
Trench Coat Tuesday: Okay, I have to tell you, I once saw this girl wearing a full skirt trench coat and I almost died. Like, my heart stopped and I couldn't breath and everything. It was gorge! So when I saw this one at Goodwill I just had to have it. And since it was missing it's belt, I've just been using strips of fabric that match my outfit to singe the waist.
sweater: thrifted a million years ago, the sweet little pearls are falling off but I just love the thing to bits; dress: Target, thrifted; tights: Target; shoes: Clarks
I love this look, don't you? I'm a sucker for bringing an outfit together with pops of color and Lauren did this beautifully.
Becoming-Monet's-Garden Wednesday: Here's a photo I took at the MOMA last weekend. The kids are currently studying Monet and working on a Monet-inspired mural. To introduce Monet and celebrate Lauren's last day (sniff), we decided to dress as Monet's garden as twins (which is kinda funny cuz Lauren has a twin!). She even made us matching water lily hair clips and let me install a bumpit in her hair. Because we're corny like that. Don't hate.
both sweaters and my dress: vintage, thrifted; lauren's dress, shoes and tights: Target; belts: made by me; my shoes: thrifted
Do-You-Have-the-Time Thursday: So I finally finished this dress. It was a DIY headache but I'll share more with you on that in a later post. sweater: vintage, thrifted; dress: Plato's Closet; tights: a fantastic fellow etsy seller whose shop is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TejaJamilla?ref=pr_shop_more
It's-My-Party-I'll-Dress-Like-a-Cupcake Friday: Yay! It's my birthday! I have decided that I don't care about the number anymore. It just keeps increasing like my IQ. sweater: vintage, thrifted; dress: Buffalo Exchange in Soho; tights: Target; shoes and bag: Irregular Choice
Okay, I love these shoes by Irregular Choice. Seriously. I mean, just look at them -- they've got it all -- dangly charms, polka dots, a clear heel, what's not to love? I tracked down their store in Soho and it was just as wild as these shoes. I knew I had to get them and a matching purse as my NYC birthday gift to myself.
To announce the upcoming book fair which has a beachy theme, my P.E. Teacher buddy and I dressed the part. Except she surprised me at the end by giving me the birthday hat, balloons and a hardy "happy birthday" song. On the morning announcements. In front of the whole school. Ah, vengeance will be mine!











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