CoedUgly's blog

I probably get the above question more than any other comment on my wardrobe. Even better is my usual articulate and witty response, “Err…. I dunno. Cuz like.. I dunno?” And in all honestly I’m still not quite sure where my gravitation towards androgynous clothing comes from. There are a ton of reasons why someone might want to dress with a more masculine influence. Some women might find it empowering or believe that they’ll be taken more seriously while others consider it to be a reflection of their identity. For me, I think it really comes down to being comfortable in my own skin. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a part of me that loves all things girly, frilly, and romantic. I’ve even been known to wear a dress every now and then; but anyone who sees me often will tell you that more often then not I am in a “man” outfit.

Anyway, it’s something that’s been on my mind and I just wanted to share it with the community. What are your guys thoughts about masculine dress? Is it a conscious choice or does it just come naturally for you?

xo Nancy

The words “sweater guard” probably bring to mind something your grandma keeps handy for when the weather is chilly. You’re probably right. But I didn’t realize until after seeing the lovely Miss Emma Pillsbury on (my fave guilty pleasure-ish show) Glee wear them time after time in modern and interesting ways.

Since being popular in the 50s, sweater guards have since been mostly forgotten and overlooked as an accessory/jewelry piece. Which means it’s the perfect way to bring some unexpected pizzazz to your outfits. While they can be worn in the traditional way, on your sweaters to hold them ajar, sweater guards also look adorable when clipped to the collar of your favorite button-up shirt, as Miss Pillsbury demonstrates in the bottom left photo.

Due to its versatile nature, however, the sweater guard can be worn in so many different ways, especially since they come in both clip and pin form. Here are some I’d like to see:

1. In your hair as a barette
2. On a blazer lapel
3. On your shoulder as a makeshift epaulet
4. On a pair of lace-up booties for blinginess
5. On the waist of a high-waisted skirt
6. On the back of a sweater or jacket to help cinch it in.

If you’re creative you can definitely come up with a way to work one into your wardrobe.

Though sweater guards might not be prolific in your local thrift or vintage stores, chances are, you can score one for under $10 on eBay. Etsy also has some great offerings, as you can see to the right. Find them here for under $15 each:

Bows | Hearts | Simple | Flowers

<3 Wendy

I’m not sure about you guys but I am absolutely dreading the first day of school. This winter break sped by way too fast for my liking. But alas here we are at the start of a new semester. So you’ve moved into an apartment/dorm/you’re sick of the stuff you’ve got and decide it’s time to decorate. You want you’re room to look good but not like the cracked out ones in Kmart commercials. Yes, your college probably has an Ikea conveniently located within driving distance but I thought I’d put together a few alternatives that are probably as equally obvious with a few surprises.

Call me crazy but it kind of weirds me out when people have the same bed sheets as me; and if you’re buying yours at Ikea chances are you’ll probably have several “same-bedsheets” encounters, especially if you live in the dorms. Enter American Apparel bedsheets. Yeah, I didn’t know they made them either but I checked them out the other day and I have to say they feel REALLY nice. There are only a few color options to choose from for the time being but hopefully they come out with some fun patterns hint. Stores like Urban Outfitters and Karmaloop carry tons of fun merchandise including housewares with unique and interesting designs.

As far as decorating you’re apartment I’d say thrifting is probably the cheapest and funnest? way of finding interesting furniture that won’t break the bank. In Berkeley we have an excellent junkyard type place called Urban Ore which carries pretty much everything you might possibly need for dirt cheap. You might not even have to step foot in a furniture store. :)

xo Nancy

1st pic: American Apparel bedding
2nd pic: Urban Outfitters duvet
3rd pic: pillow from Karmaloop

Whether or not you’re back in school (don’t hate me, but I still have another week off!), there’s always room to do a bit of extracurricular reading. And what better subject than fashion? So over break, my reading material included Fifty Dresses that Changed the World and Fifty Shoes that Changed the World.

Covering iconic designs from the 1830s to 2008, the two books show the progression of fashion by discussing what their titles would suggest: Fifty iconic dress and shoe designs. While many of the selections will be familiar to you Chictopians, such as the little black dress and ballet flats, others will likely be new or unexpected to even the most seasoned fashion veteran, like the Vivo barefoot shoe or Wallis Simpson’s wedding dress.

My only issue with the books is that their endings are forcibly entrenched in an old-school sci-fi idea of futurism. The final dress and shoes that are highlighted are the Hussein Chalayan LED dress and the Zaha Hadid x Melissa shoes, with other similar selections in the previous pages. Certainly, they are notable designs (I gasped at that entire Hussein Chalayan collection), but with these endings, the books seem to suggest that this is where the future of fashion is headed. Many of the older designs in the books are iconic due to their prevalence in the streetstyle of their times. To break that theme and imply that we will wearing rubber shoes (well… Crocs, perhaps, but they can hardly be considered shoes) and lite-brite dresses is just confusing and woefully cliché.

Still, these books are more design-focused than fashion trend oriented, and bring up a good point: As we gather more and more vintage inspiration, is it possible that we’ve left ingenuity and novel designs behind? Has everything that can be done (in terms of dresses and shoes at least) been done? What do you think?

<3 Wendy

It’s been a crazy break for me, what with family outings, lots of cooking, and the removal of my wisdom teeth (which sadly means no photos for a while). BUT I do have your Five Fab Finds of the week for ya! Theme: hats!

It’s really no secret that I love hats (or head adornments). I’m rarely seen leaving the house without one, and I feel it adds an element of completion to any outfit. However, lots of people are intimidated by hats and don’t know how to wear them, especially vintage ones. So here are a few simple and easy to wear picks from Etsy! They’re fairly universal in my opinion (unless hats just hate you) but they’re all under $20 (shipping included), which is cheap enough to be worth the risk.

1) Purple net hat w/ bows, $16- It might not seem like it, but net hats like these are very easy to war (molds to all head shapes) and surprisingly subtle, since it’s mostly just a bit of netting. Hold in place with a bobby pin or two to add some spice to both casual and party outfits!

2) Black Net w/ bows, $16- If purple still isn’t subtle enough for you, you really can’t go wrong with black! Simple and elegant is the way to go.

3) Taupe wool beret, $16- If you’re not really into frills and want something a little more everyday but unexpected, how about a classic beret? This one is made of wool and angora, which makes it a tad softer and fuzzier than your average beret.

4) Faux Fur Earmuffs, $8- Okay, so not technically a hat, but I have a pair of earmuffs that do keep me surprisingly toasty since my ears are always like ice. They are also pretty subtle and they help to block out sound, which is great on public transportation or in cafes. I occasionally wear mine under a slouchy beret if I want more warmth. At $8, this pair is a total steal!

5) Floral Headband hat, $10- If you’re looking to play it safe hat-wise, this is probably your best bet. It’s really more of a large headband than a hat, and it’s got all the texture you need to add interest to a simple outfit. It might be a bit springish, but it’s never too early, right?

Have fun topping off your outfits with a unique vintage hat, Uglies, and hats off you all of you! Happy Holidays!

<3 Wendy

After many a finger turned green, I’ve decided to swear off cheap rings.

Before I come off as an elitist, let me clarify that. I have decided to swear off rings made of cheap, crappy metal, and have embraced the world of sterling silver and gold plate, expense (or lackthereof) being a non-issue.

Problem is, nicer rings made of quality metals escalate in price very quickly, making it less than an ideal investment for us budgeted college kids. But quality metals, or at least silver, don’t have to cost too much—the joy of vintage! Scour your local flea market, antique store, or even hole-in-the-wall thrift store. You’ll have to get lucky and hope that there’s something in your size, but it’s definitely worth it when you find a gorgeous piece for next-to-nothing!

If you don’t have any luck there, Ebay or Etsy will have to have something to suit you. I can’t vouch for prices there, but if you check often enough, you’ll definitely bag yourself a good deal on some quality jewelry. Here are some examples, all under $20 including shipping! I’d get all of them if I hadn’t already splurged on one while researching for this post (heh…).

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

I know sizing can be tricky when ordering online, so here’s a ring sizer for you!

No more green fingers, Uglies! Leave those to the gardeners!

<3 Wendy

P.S. This will be the beginning of my weekly installment of “Five Fab Finds” where I’ll introduce you to some beautiful and wallet-friendly stuff perfect for you ramen-eating Coeds! Stay tuned!