Our blog is now only on: (http://www.excessapparel.com/). So please head over there for all the latest eXCESS APPAREL™ news! Thank you!

Old Navy has always had great clothes with out the huge price tag. Your whole family can shop at Old Navy, including your pet. With styles for Men, Women, Children, even including Maternity and Women’s Plus sizes, it’s hard not to love shopping there. OldNavy.com definitely gives you style that not only makes you look good, but also makes you feel great about how you look! Visit PricePickle.com to get great coupons, free shipping and more!

PacificSunwear.com is one of the leading online sellers of jeans, tanks, shorts, and jackets from top name brands such as, Quicksilver, Roxy, O’Neill, and Billabong. The company started back in 1980 as a little surf shop in Newport Beach, California. As of now they have over 900 stores and sell the top brands in teen fashion. You can save on purchases from PacificSunwear.com using coupons, free shipping offers and promo codes from PricePickle.com.

via: hypebeast

Here is a deeper look at the Supreme x WTAPS collection.

No. I didn’t drink too much – well, not last night.  I am just relaxing in the aftermath of what was a wonderful Christmas.  Not wanting any of it to end.  I LOVE being at home.  I LOVE not having to worry about too much.  I LOVE listening to my kids play – guitar, dolls, text, giggle, Wii, etc. 

This may have been my favorite Christmas EVER!!  This was the first year (I remember) not focusing on what to give and what to get, but instead focus on what others may need.  Sure, it was fun to give & get, but this year was totally different – in my heart.  It took 40 years, but it was worth the wait.

Some highlights of eve & day:

Favorite gifts to give:

gave this painting to Father Runner, LittleFoot and BigFoot – all of them just stared and wondered “who did this?” (never thinking me – i could have) asking “how did you get this?”  Well – this gal painted it for us.  She is raising $$ to bring their baby home.  Check it out and e-mail her, she’ll do one for you too!  Really. The fam took more time with this gift than any other.  Thanks Amy!

Another favorite to give was to FIL – last month he was run over by his own truck while working under it.  We gave him wheel blocks:

he seemed to enjoy it.

My favorite to receive was my water t-shirt from BigFoot and Kris Allen cd from LittleFoot – he was only the 2nd American Idol contestant LittleFoot and I have ever voted for (Chris Daughtry too) – should you ever be on American Idol, and your name is Kris/Chris – we’ll vote for YOU!   FatherRunner and I stopped giving each other gifts years ago – don’t worry, he got something from me.

We did our 11 miles for Baby Cora - we did them on the ‘mill. After a snowy two days and tiny, single-digit temperatures, everything happened inside.  It was hard.  It was interesting.  Luckily we gave BigFoot the GreenDay Live DVD to entertain us him while we ran.  I really couldn’t take my brain to Joel & Jess and their loss for very long.  I prayed. I ran. I listened to GreenDay. But to say I thought of them the entire time would not be truthful – it’s too hard.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose a child.  I can’t make myself think about it… 

For you runners out there – I got these - not that you have to be a runner.  You don’t.  I just like how they give my feet a little massage after running and running.  Get them! you’ll be glad you did.

The absolute best part of my entire Christmas was the fact that our Christmas lunch was postponed to Saturday due to weather.  All we had to do all day was enjoy each other and play.  I really hope Christmas is postponed every year.

Hope your Christmas was Merry!

Run on Friends!

 39 miles – 3 w/ FR (ggrrr…) – 11 for Cora  – 3 this morning = 22 more miles by Friday. No problem.

What color you choose says a lot about you! Enjoy these unisex striped pajamas in several colors to show off your superpowers or just lounge around in. To stay comfy or to get some work done at home, these striped jams come in several clothing layers.

You can find them at the “hue are you?” shop or on Xstreet!

http://madebymaryann.blogspot.com/2008/04/birdcage-veils-and-how-to-make-one-part_20.html

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/09/18/a-wedding-in-a-week-hair-flower/

Love!

via: Highsnobiety

Always was into the iconic fabrics and prints from Pendleton.

Man of Moods 

Buried Alive

Many people, especially women, are strugling their lives to becoming more and more beauty counting on fashionably dressed. They buy a latest dress with their whole month wage, shop all weekend for a suitable sweater for their dust coat. But it seems that many of them will never be satisfied, let alone others’.

So, how to dress to become a beauty? Here is some tips for you to retain the strengths and discard the weaknesses.

Large Hips: Draw attention away from childbearin’ hips by wearing solid, deep colors on the bottom with light or bright colors on top. Instead of tapered leg jeans or pants, try relaxed fit bottoms with a bootcut leg. Stay away from garments that have excessive pockets or details at the hipline. Say no to straight skirts, opting instead for an A-line silhouette. Oh, and lest we forget, avoid pleats like the plague.

Christian Audigier Jeans

Small Bust: To appear a bit fuller on top, wear shirts that have details or pockets at the bustline. Layering is another strategy that works: Try a cute tank top under a cardigan or button-down shirt. Floaty, loose-fitting blouses are also an excellent choice, but be sure to avoid plunging necklines.

ED Hardy Hoody

Large Bust: A little too well-endowed? Try open necklines like V-necks and U-necks. Super-clingy fabrics should be avoided, as should large patterns and prints. As far as sleeves go, opt for those that are long or elbow-length. Avoid short capped sleeves.

ED Hardy T-ShirtED Hardy Hoody

ED Hardy Hoody

Broad Shoulders: If you have wide, strong shoulders, stay away from shoulder pads, boat necks, horizontal stripes and boxy sleeves. Try V-necks, which pull the eye down and away from the problem area.

ED Hardy T-Shirt

Large Stomach/Waist: Avoid snug waistbands and the “tucked in” look if you’re thick around the middle. Also stay away from straight skirts and fabrics that cling over the stomach. Dresses with empire waistlines are a good choice, as are graceful A-line skirts.

Christian Audigier T-Shirt

Too Short: Petite girls who wish to appear more elongated should try short skirts, clamdiggers and capri pants. Avoid busy prints and cuffed pants, and try not to chop up the body with contrasting bold colors. Stay away from garments that are bulky or oversized, such as puffy bubble jackets.

Christian Audigier T-Shirt

Too Tall: Don’t hunch over! Tall women who want to de-emphasize their height can do so by wearing horizontal patterns, textured fabrics, and longer or flared skirts. Short skirts can work as well, especially when paired with knee-high boots.

Christian Audigier T-Shirt

Overall Heaviness: The hype is completely true: black is a very slenderizing color. Dark, solid colors tend to be quite slimming in general, but this certainly doesn’t mean that larger girls should stay away from bright or light shades. Loud prints should be avoided at all costs, however, as should oversize “tentlike” clothes, which make it obvious that you’re trying to hide something. Opt instead for well-fitting, tailored looks that cling in all the right places–but just not too tightly.

Christian Audigier Skirt

Yep, they have quite a variety of the “not so ordinary” t-shirts designs/graphics!

Check them out and I’ll bet you can’t resist very many of them!!!!!

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NIKE NSW in store now!

This blog is, in a convoluted way, a hype blog of sorts. Except it’s the stuff that gets me hyped, which means it’s always going to dip into dark realms of self-indulgence that should alienate more than a few people. That’s just how I like it. Forget retrospectives for the moment too. The lead into 2010 is going to be underwhelming, but as the year unravels and you get used to writing ‘2010′ on cheques or paying-in slips (both fairly old-fashioned habits to carry a date that seems so futuristic, but, hey, for the most part, we’re a regressive people) there’s some good things on the horizon. It won’t be all-wack-everything in the near future. Why? Because here’s twenty reasons to be cheerful over the next twelve months -

PALACE - Skateboarding has never felt like a first, second or third language for us Brits, and attempts to emulate the west coast elements of the sport in grey Great Britain always fall a little flat. Thankfully, the whole X-Games commodification of skating doesn’t work here either. Palace Wayward Boy’s Club revels in the outsider nature of it, with a distinctly London take steeped in South Bank history with a healthy lack of pointless nostalgia. More decks, t-shirts and other good stuff is on its way.

FORTHCOMING CRITERION RELEASES - For obeying region codes, and dropping Blu-Ray discs which can’t be played on most UK machines, Criterion lose points. But how can you stay mad when they’re set to release an insanely comprehensive hi-def ‘Paris Texas’ package in January and the underrated 1956 nuclear family gone astray flick ‘Bigger Than Life’ in March with their usual slickly compiled bells and whistles? Best get that player chipped if you’re living away from the US.

A UK RELEASE FOR ‘KING’S WAY’ - This is actually wishful thinking. It’s annoying that this well-designed history of Melbourne graffiti by Duro and crew is available in the US ($28 on Amazon!) and its native Australia, but retails at £50+ on import in the UK. I’ve heard mixed things, but with no knowledge of the scene, this book fascinates me. You can use US hookups to snare a copy, but it’s a shame that it hasn’t been picked up by the usual litany of sponsors, distributors and publishers who pump out graffiti books time after time.

THE FINAL ISSUE OF ‘CROSSED’ - The ‘Walking Dead’ is a given. If you aren’t reading that, there’s no hope for you, but Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows’s ‘Crossed’ has been a pleasant surprise too with an ultra-brutal take on a plague than makes the afflicted into savages – and no, it’s not like ‘28 Days Later.’ Ennis loves to shock, and he delivered it here with rape, infanticide and all that other bad stuff, but at its core, the casual decline into savagery of the “normals” is an interesting plot. Not to all tastes, but when issue nine hits in early 2010, it’s not going to pull any punches. However, it’s taken over fifteen months for the first eight issues to drop, so don’t hold your breath. ‘Crossed’ isn’t a zombie comic, but on that topic, the film of ‘World War Z’ looks like it’s a 2011 release, so this and Max (son of Mel!) Brooks’s contribution to February’s ‘New Dead’ anthology should fill some survivalist bloodlust in the meantime.

SCANDANAVIANS RULING YOUR WARDROBE - While the rest of the world was preoccupied with made-in-the-USA everything, Wood Wood’s whole aesthetic got even tighter and that retail rollout is slowly taking over Europe, full of staples with added avant-garde. Norse Projects are honing the minimal basics perfectly with an unsettled perfectionist approach, and Our Legacy does nods to the past with a certain precision. From the details-freak to a more nonchalant consumer, all three brands get it very right without reliance on the trends that frequently flash-flood the blogsphere.

‘SUPREME: DOWNTOWN NEW YORK SKATE CULTURE’ - The Rizzoli BAPE book was an unfocused letdown. This book won’t be when it hits in April. Rizzoli’s Margiela and Vuitton efforts were good, and ‘Downtown New York Skate Culture’ promises something a little more exhaustive. We’ve missed a lot of excellent accounts of this NYC institution on account of language barriers with Japanese publications, so this is an appealing prospect. Supreme-bashers will say it’s not what it used to be. The naysayers got into the brand when it was already over seven years old, so their opinion is immediately nulled. You know you’re going to see collaborative Supreme projects, perfectly executed with high and low profile characters over the next year that’ll have you breaking out the plastic, so it’s best not to badmouth the house that Jebbia built.

CARHARTT EUROPE’S DUCK HUNT - Carhartt Europe understand the allure of the union-made US pieces, and they’re going to go to town with them in 2010. Slimmer Euro fits will mean they don’t look so boxy. Cotton duck features heavily, and cunningly implemented on another line, a duck mascot homaging the crocodile and Polo horse on pique is a clever touch. Expect some refined collaborations from the Work In Progress crew too.

‘CARLOS THE JACKAL’ - Need to get a post-’Baader Meinhof Complex’ fix? Me too. France is officially the new cinematic home of the crime drama – think ‘Mesrine’ and ‘A Prophet’ (both with screenplays by Abdel Raouf Dafri, whose ‘L’aviseur’ will be one to watch). A three-part miniseries based on Carlos’s life that’s getting a trimmed down movie-length cinema release too, Olivier Assayas directs, with Edgar Ramirez as Interpol’s most wanted. Expect the inevitable controversy too, as like the cinematic Andreas Baader and associates, Carlos looks pretty stylish.

ARCT’ERYX VEILANCE COLLECTION 2 - Wave one cost a lot, but the quality and fit (a lot of the collection is all about the fit) is outstanding. Now they’ve unleashed some conservative creations on the jacket-obsessed public, Canada’s Arc’teryx continue the Veilance collection for 2010. The Long Coat was great – hopefully, like North Face’s Purple Label, there’s more to come with some quasi-formal flavour. The Alpha pieces from the brand are great, but understandably they seemed built for layering and function alone, whereas Veilance focuses on anatomics and aesthetics with everyday performance too. Not cheap, but it’s progressive product.

SALBIS GTX - Yeah, you’re supposed to be all over Florsheim and Alden or Rick Owens and Pierre Hardy in lieu of the big guns, but there’s impending greatness from Nike, providing they realise how good the product is. Happily reinforcing the confusion between Nike’s Terra prefixed offroad pieces and their ACG range, the Salbis GTX was the best sneaker of 2009. Except it never made production. Why? Who knows. Given their focus on innovation, they’ll deem it dated and never put it out, or see sense, and add this GORE-TEX masterpiece to the Winter 2010 line. The Nike SC2010 looks good too – one of the best mixes of old and new design since the Mateba Model 6 Unica. It would be nice if adidas used their teamup with a famous footballer to put out a great version of the Rod Laver Super as opposed to the dull skinny, vintage Laver wouldn’t it? Oh, and lord willing, that ACRONYM hookup that made a Dunk and Blazer will blossom again in coming months.

‘FROZEN’ - Bad situation b-movies are a personal vice, and done right, they’re great. 2008’s ‘Stuck’ is a case-in-point. Simple conceit – people get stuck on a ski-lift overnight. Now that’s not a good place to be. Sounds innocuous, but with frostbite, animal attacks, stuck skin and broken bones, it could be great. Or it could suck like ‘Open Water.’ Director Adam Green’s ‘Hatchet’ was half a good genre picture. Maybe he’ll pull it off here. He’s not shy of a gory kill or ten.

GARBSTORE & VINTAGE SHOWROOM - This is a good meeting-of-minds. Ian Paley knows his gear and the crew behind the Covent Garden store and West London Vintage Showroom spots have the knowledge too. That’s why this project works. The whole vintage explosion has opened it up for chancers, and the fruits of meetings behind these experts is quite the opposite. I find laceless footwear unnerving. Gareth from Pointer outed me on that matter in the new Sneaker Freaker. The Garbstore/Vintage Showroom Workerbilly Boot is good though, but because of my prejudice I could never wear a pair. Garbstore’s made huge moves lately, and hopefully both parties will be making this an ongoing project. Hopefully the next creations will have laces, or will appear in the shape of some apparel. If anyone can do it right on these shores, it’s these guys.

MORE ‘FRANK151′ CHAPTERS - On the strength of no-replies when I’ve chased payments, we’re losing a few more magazines in the new year. But on the flipside they’ll be several more strong issues of old and new publications.  Other than an impending issue of ‘Sang Bleu,’  it’s a tough one to call, so I’ll stick to an old favourite when I’m trying to get my Nostradamus on – ‘FRANK151′ will drop more classic copies in that handy book size on topics you were clueless on. Over thirty issues into the game, and it just gets better and better, plus it stays free. I dare you to find a better theme-led issue of anything in the last few years than the recent De La edition. If you’ve missed any, they just put the last five years worth up as downloadable PDFs.

THE OTHER JAY & JUSTIN - Hip-hop’s not dead. It doesn’t need reviving or any of that other nonsense. It’s alive and kicking in NYC, LA, Florida, Atlanta and in the Midwest…everywhere really. Except in the UK. It really did die on its arse over here because artists felt they were owed a living because they rapped in “proper” accents. That was of course, bollocks. What is nice is tracks with replay factors of more than ten listens – the current state of music is undeniably a tad disposable, and when something a little sturdier arrives, it deserves to be championed. I was on the fence with Jay Electronica. He was always better than the Rapidshare rappers who popped up in the late ’00s, but I was distrustful. Nice use of film soundtracks, but it all washed over me. Until I heard hs work with Just Blaze and wisely got on board. ‘Exhibit C’ is crack and ‘The Trial And Crucifixion Of Jota Flowers’ is the mooted name for the album. That’ll probably change. Jay’s one of the best to flow on a Just Blaze beat since, well….the other Jay, and if Hov’s got cloth ears and the Yardfather is still slacking with that release (despite telling us it’s coming in the ‘Warning Shots 2′ booklet) like Royce and Primo, here’s a perfectly pitched double-act.

‘THE FIGHTER’ - I didn’t heart the Huckabees, and both leads are overrated one-note performers, but David O. Russell’s ‘The Fighter’ – a biopic of boxer Micky Ward (justly famed for his battles with the sadly deceased Arturro Gatti at the end of his career) with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg appeals. I liked ‘Cinderella Man’ a lot too, so make of that what you will. Seeing as the Pacquiao and Mayweather bout is currently in jeopardy and ‘Pound For Pound’ won’t be at cinemas until 2011, this should keep me happy.

A STANSFIELD SWEATSHIRT PROJECT - According to his excellent blog, Dominic Stansfield is working on some sweatshirts. With a nod to ’90’s rap style, and going on his total obsession with archive gear, you should be excited about this. “Another project I am working on is for one of my oldest and best friend’s from Manchester’s company. Will post about this another day when we are finished but we are channeling the spirit of 80s and early 90s hip hop – the golden era and all that (my mastermind subject) – and starting off with Champion-esque sportswear. Every man should own at least one Champion reverse weave sweatshirt (I have about 10!) – the 100% cotton ones with the ‘C’ chest logo – so that’s what were doing and keeping it accurate and faithful, with a nice little logo.”

A ‘FASHION’ IMPLOSION - Something’s bound to give. It’s all getting a little stale. I’ll concede hypocrisy here – I love old vintage clothing, but I’m a toy who’s stuck in his ways with little interest in fashion, and I expect more insight from those in positions to sway, contextualize and educate with regards to clothing. Bearded men playing at woodsman for shit photoshoots, po-faced treatments of brogues, bad writing, lots of chambray. Boooooring. Look at this ‘Seinfeld’ episode! George Costanza’s sooooo on trend with that jacket! Yes. Because you’ve all become utterly conservative and dress like your dad. In a bad way. Bring on the futuristic fabrics.

EAST LONDON RETAIL - Shopping in London lately has required some serious travel time because of the scattered nature of stores. Central is a little barren, Camden, where I’m stationed is only good for burritos. Further afield, east London has risen again in these recessive times and these’s a genuine sense of a scene. The homies at Goodhood and The Three Threads are bringing it, plus Present, 1948, WAH and Albam, Artwords is holding more magazines and books than ever before, fixie kids are catered for too, and Truman has Rough Trade and, just when closures seemed to kill the clothing side of the brewery, Son Of A Stag is taking denim very seriously. Hopefully the daytime footfall will keep the area looking mighty healthy.

HBO BRINGING THE RUCKUS - There’s nothing like quality television, but bar the non-HBO ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and ‘True Blood’ I haven’t enjoyed much from the States. Yeah, channels that allow swearing, references to sex and biker gangs are cool and all, but I like a spot of substance, which Home Box Office can excel at. ‘The Wire’ was tarnished by irritating latecomers and lefty broadsheets, but 2010 will be ushering David Simon’s ‘Treme,’ Martin Scorcese’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Band Of Brothers’ sequel, ‘The Pacific.’ There’s some heavy torrent and boxset marathons ahead.

LEVI’S VINTAGE’S 2010 PLANS - Cone or Kaihara? First things first, this thread here, which will tell you about physical changes in thread like LVC’s US-made decision to use polycore instead of cotton, is epic. Apparently Maurizio Donardi’s XX division of the brand is taking LVC very seriously. By the sounds of things (unconfirmed) last year’s US-made Cone 1915 jean is the shape of things to come, and whereas there’s been curious differences between Japanese and US factory made pieces, they’re about to all go American-made for the most part. There’s talk of a mysterious  ‘Made and Crafted’ line too. Expect plenty of oddball reintroductions on the horizon, and apparently cotton duck figures heavily here too.

Quite often, for teenagers’ parents any shopping for clothing turns into a hurricane of emotions, not always positive. Perhaps, it can be based on a financial situation of the family, the requirements for school clothes, and the different taste of the child with whom the parents can argue on what to wear that finally leads to controversy. Teenagers often manipulate their parents by comparing their clothes with their friends’ ones or completely refusing to wear already bought clothing chosen by their parents. And, somehow, they are right. The fact is that in teen’s groups the clothing is a kind of a uniform. The point here is neither in fashion nor taste. By certain combination of clothing, teens show their position in society or their addiction that gives a signal to their peers. Perhaps, that is exactly like an expensive watch brand required for a trophy person aged 40, just ragged on the knees jeans or solid metal chain are necessary in 14 years. However, it is up to you to explain to a teenager that no need to adjust to a company where you are valued only for the clothing brand and, sooner or later, he will certainly understand that. But, there no use to ban teens wearing hot teen’s clothing. You should try to combine the demands of the teen and the necessary wardrobe.
Try to follow some tips. Divide the wardrobe of your child on school (formal) and after-school wear (for going out). In their free time children should be allowed to wear what they like. Even, if their clothing looks like a picture of a chimpanzee, it can be that outfit in which the children would feel themselves comfortable among their peers. At the same time, the teenager should be taught how to combine things and where and what kind of clothing would be appropriate. If he/she wants to experiment with the clothing, e.g. to embroider or cut out something or pour some paint from a container on the tee-shirt or jeans, offer your child to experiment with a worn part of the wardrobe, this can develop a gift of a designer. Also, you can help your son put the rivets on his hot outfit and sew a wristband or to show your daughter the secrets of cutting and creating accessories. However, if you believe that green is the most beautiful color, do not try to make your child sure of it, rely on his/her vision of the world. Let your child choose the color spectrum of the wardrobe on his/her own. If you want to save money on clothing, explain why your daughter has to wear your sweatshirt, let her learn the value of money. Let your child sew or invent his/her outfit, discuss with him/her the latest issues of fashion and style, it will help them in the future. Teens’ tastes in clothing may vary, and it is not necessary that a Goth girl will wear gloomy clothes for the rest of her days. In a year her outfits will change into bright and colorful ones and you should understand these changes.

Clothes are one of the merchandise that people tend to buy most often. That is why it is wise for every store owner to think of innovative ways to display their apparel products to their customers. Using clothing displays to market your clothes has also come a long way in attracting buyer attention. Clothing display racks have diverse materials, sizes and designs and buying the accurate one will help you and your business.

clothes. This makes it easier for customers tosee your clothing line. Clothing racks capitalize on the area in your outlet. The floor space of every retail business all over the world. Without buying the accurate one will help you and your business. It is necessary to the merchandise you are advertising in the future for the positive shopping experience. Presenting clothing lines in an effective way is what most shoppers get attracted to. Getting your product line sorted in a mess number free fashion process display may their expect customers.

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Once the year 2010 comes around, the mother of the bride will be seeking a mother of the bride dress to wear to her daughter’s wedding. Likewise, for the mother of the groom. Mother of the bride gown sales usually starts out strong during mid-January onwards.

The typical mother of the bride sometimes despair in finding a dress to wear because the local shops and department stores do not stock what they exactly need in terms of color, style, and sometimes functionality.

The local bridal boutiques do carry stock of the dresses but due to the economic recession, have been cutting back on inventory on the dress racks. Mothers still have to browse catalogs and imagine what they would look like in the dresses they pick out from these catalogs.

AudreysMotheroftheBride.com is now offering customizable or “made-to-measure” special occasion dresses. Whether you are petite or tall, regular or plus size, they are launching their made-to-measure mother of the bride dresses in January 2010.

This is great news for someone who cannot purchase an outfit “off the rack.” Also, even if she could, the color or style might not be just right for her or for the wedding. Prices are so reasonable and are very competitive with the prices of the other “ready-to-wear” apparel found on the website.

We need to hear feedback and kudos (or not) from you regarding this. I do appreciate all comments.

Over the last semester I had finally really enjoyed the clothes I was wearing when I started dressing up while being bound. So, for Christmas, I told my family my male clothing sizes and the few items I would really like to add to my wardrobe.

I got jeans.  Men’s jeans.  They look a hell of a lot like the Tony Hawk jeans I love so much, and they fit right out of the gift wrap (minus the 3-4 inch hem I have to put in).  They’re going to be awesome jeans for when I’m dressed up a little and/or packing.  As I’ll be constantly using Drew as my name and so forth next semester, I’d really like to get my stand-to-pee packer finished. (details to come)

I got dress shirts.  Several colors, all 14 1/2’s 32/33’s.  I have a hell of a time finding shirts in my current size, much less in more than white and black.  I am a little worried that my neck will thicken beyond the 14 1/2 size once I’m on testosterone, but I’m really going to be trying to trim up instead of bulk up more this spring.  As excited as I am to have all of these new dress shirts, they’re fitted cut, which means I’ll either have to be very well bound or post-top surgery.

I got new ties.  My sister gave me a shiny turquoise and black tie that will have me peacocking in no time.  Additionally, my dad had me look through the ties that he was going to give away from his closet of dress clothes from the 80’s and 90’s. Vintage ties.  Premium.

I’m extremely grateful that I’m able to wear dress shirts pre-T without swimming in them, and I’m even more excited to wear these new clothes next semester at work.  The self-esteem boost I get from dressing up is paralleled only by an affectionate woman telling me that I look good, and since that never happens, well, I like to dress up.

I was checking out a fellow costumer’s blog, when I came across a fabulous steampunk coat she’d created for this fellow’s wedding.  From there, I clicked on the fellow’s site, to see more pics (because this was a marvelous wedding, folks, filled with tall ships, bustles, and rayguns!).

But what really filled me with awe was the wedding cake:

Wow.  Just wow.  And from there I went to the cake designer’s site, and you have got to go look!  From the gallery menu, don’t miss the purse and shoe cakes in the “haute couture” section or the children’s “pop-up book” in the children’s cake section.  Unbelievable.  And the prices seem reasonable, too, considering that if I bought a cake like that I’d never be able to cut it up and eat it – I’d want to put it behind glass and stare at it like the piece of art it is!

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