my co*des: spring in winter

I'm not really someone who makes New Year's resolutions. Not because I don't believe in the concept, I'm just of the mind that self-growth can occur at any time. That being said, I do see how a new year is prime time for fresh starts and self-reflection. 

My goals are the same as they always are: to have more experiences. Try more things. Do things imperfectly, but do them. What follows is a showcase of that exact principle. 

I feel very strongly about fashion, and have collected so many wonderful pieces over the years. And yet, I've seldom shown them off. 

Let's change that, yeah? 

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

OUTFIT DETAILS

coat: dELiAs
top: alba rosa
bottoms: roxy
boots: el dantes

I've noticed that the shorts + sweater combo was a pretty prevalent one back in the heyday of old school gal. Hot pants were worn alllllllll year long. 

In fact, I think this is one of the easiest formulas for an old school coordinate: shorts + sweater top + chunky boots. 

The coat—though cute—is mere salad dressing. It's not doing a heck of a lot to keep me warm. It's a good thing that Tokyo winters are mild. 

The boots, El Dantes from the 90s, are one of my most prized possessions. I found them on Mercari JP in the アムラ(a colloquialism for the street style inspired by Namie Amuro) tag, which checks out since El Dantes were purportedly Namie-chan's favorite brand of platforms.

They are in exceptional condition, a credit to both their previous owner and the sheer durability of the boot itself. They are beautifully made! It's rare to source genuine 90s shoes due to the fact that they were, by and large, made with synthetic components and have long succumbed to dry rot. 

It's this reason (or at least this is my hypothesis) why all those stunning platforms from iconic old school brands like IDOL and Question Mark are largely absent from the secondhand market. 

Funnily enough, the photos you are now seeing are not the first I took. The first set had to be canned because my zipper was down in. Every. Single. One. (￣▽￣||)

The coat is very 90s-does-70s. 

I love seeing the 60s and 70s inspiration in old school gyaru, especially as someone who used to dress almost exclusively in 70s vintage. I have a soft spot for that era of fashion. It's so fun and warm. 

Can we get a little commotion for the calves?? I love the way platforms make my legs look. 

This is more or less my go-to make. Blue shadow, shimmery white up to the brow, and a touch of white liner underneath. The lipstick isn't expressly gyaru. It's more general 90s, but I thought it looked nice. 

I used my summer foundation, but my face still looks pretty pale. Paler than I'd like for old school. I've transitioned back to solely using tanning lotions after putting the beds behind me, and it's taking a bit of time to build a natural-looking "glow." 

This was my inspiration, primarily for the silhouette: high-neck sweater  + shorts + coat + platform boots.