Copenhagen: Noa Noa Danish Clothing Store

This palena cotton ticking dress by Noa Noa came home with me!

The Bohemian Wardrobe Company, is an online shop that sells the Danish clothing brand Noa Noa.

US source for Noa Noa, Narcisse in Portland, OR; I know where I am headed next time I'm in Portland.

I fell in love with this whistle tunic but it was 100% wool, which I'm allergic to, but you can buy this from Inis.

Their carefree bohemian-style translates into super cute clothing for little people too.

photo credit: top and bottom two images from the Noa Noa website

Copenhagen: Winter Street Style

Francine by Lars Daniel

Mette, Copenhagen Winter, by Phil Oh on Street Peeper

Linnea, waitress, on The Copenhagen Street Style blog

Wake-up: Tis the season...

...for union suits. yah know, the one piece jumpsuit PJs. Outfit the whole family!

Teenager:

Jack Wills' Shelderton All-in-one, $90

Exhilaration union suit, $20 Target

Trendy Aunt and Uncle:

J. Crew classic union suit, $70 (grey and red stripe)

Sports enthusiast:

Burton midweight one-piece, $100 (made for outdoor sports)

The Parents:

LL Bean two-layer union suit, $50

Baby:

Polarn O. Pyret classic striped eco romper, $50

Weekend: DC Tweed Ride 2010

There were many a dandy and quaintrelle on the streets of DC this Sunday afternoon, including myself. We had so much fun dressing up and riding from Lincoln Park to Stroga in Adams Morgan.

Many ladies had on high heels and everyone was dressed to the nines. I will be expanding my tweed collection in preparation for next year and also looking for some seersucker for the summer ride. Ride info here on Dandies & Quaintrelles: Redemption through Style.

photo credit: grey suit by maxedaperture; quaintrelles ride in heels by Oisercage

Back-to-School: Polarn O. Pyret

The August/September fall season definitely has a back-to-school feel despite the fact that I'm no longer a student (thank goodness after 20+ years of being one) and have no kids. But I have niece, MRC, that I love to buy clothing for. Remember the Olive Juice clothing I bought earlier in the summer, well she got it just in time for the first day of school.

This morning DesignMom, in celebration of her 15 year wedding anniversary, posted a giveaway from Polarn O. Pyret, which was irresistible. Thanks to her for the introduction to this fantastic swedish clothing-brand that is famous for its striped clothing.

I think I've always wanted striped leggings, even when I was a little person. Polarn O. Pyret has a great summer sale going on right now and my niece will be getting another back-to-school package in the mail.

photo credit: red checked shirt and striped leggings from the Polarn O. Pyret 2009 Holiday collection on flickr.com

Inspiration: Olive Juice for Little People

I could not resist these cute outfits from Olive Juice that were on the Gilt Group website this weekend. My niece will have a few new school outfits for the fall! Shhhh...don't tell her.

images from Olive Juice website

Gilt Groupe is one of those invitation only websites where some great designer fashions are listed. I browse often and buy little because I am not really needing anything right now. Click here for my personal invitation link and check it out for yourself.

Inspiration: Lichen

Tie Dye sleeveless shirt dress made by Wiksten; Rachel Comey suede dress at Jumelle; fabrics from Uniform Studio; Shabd "aurora" tights; Portal grey felt ipad bag (for the entire Mac family); Winding Indus Tank from Anthropologie

photo credit: lichen on rock in Denali National Park taken by TEB 05.18.10

Blog-tag-sale: SHIRTS

funky Industry brand shirt with grommets, express dress shirt, and t-bags going out shirt!

I've included the best pictures I could manage, measurements, condition, flaws, and price (not including shipping). All clothing are from a pet- and smoke-free home. If you would like an item leave your email in the comment sections and I will confirm that the item is still available. First one to comment, gets the item. Payment only via paypal (unless you are local to San Diego and will be picking up in person). There are no returns.

I am open to reasonable offers and please leave questions in the comments.

{10$} Black Express Dress Shirt - size 4
Basic black button down shirt in the old Express style. Has fantastic seams to make it fitted and great long arms. Best for a smaller than 34 inch chest. Gently worn but still has a lot of wear left in it.

Measurements:
16.5" armpit to armpit, 15" smallest part of trunk, 15" shoulder-seam to shoulder-seam, 24" shoulder-seam to cuff

{10$} Black + Charcoal Industry Knit Shirt - size SMALL/PETITE
Unusual scoop neck, long sleeve knit shirt by Industry. Grommet detailing and contrasting neck and cuff bands in charcoal really make this shirt. Worn less than 10x.

Measurements:
15.75" armpit to armpit, 19.5" armpit to cuff, 14.5" armpit to bottom

SOLD {30$} T-bags Pink and Orange "Vegas" Shirt - size X-SMALL
Retro print, jersey knit halter top by T-bags. Not bra compatible. Best for 34" or less bust. Worn a total of 3x, including 1x in VEGAS. It really is a flattering clubbing top and in perfect condition. I bought it at full price ~150$ before T-bags gained popularity, I really hope this one finds a new owner.

Measurements:
11.5" unstretched bust, 11" width underneath bust, 16.5" armpits to bottom, 3" shorter in back vs. front

SOLD {5$} Black Bebe Halter top - size SMALL
Black (pictures make it look more of a charcoal) jersey knit with 2 velvet bands halter top. Bra compatible but this one has pretty good support w/o it. Forgiving bottom as it is slightly a-lined. It has been worn twice. Tuck it in or out.

Measurements:
13" unstretched bust, 12" width below bust, 14" armpit to bottom

Blog-tag-sale: SKIRTS

marimekko-style print brown/black H&M skirt, red sidewell and green fei skirts from anthropologie!

I've included the best pictures I could manage, measurements, condition, flaws, and price (not including shipping). All clothing are from a pet- and smoke-free home. If you would like an item leave your email in the comment sections and I will confirm that the item is still available. First one to comment, gets the item. Payment only via paypal (unless you are local to San Diego and will be picking up in person). There are no returns. I am open to reasonable offers and please leave questions in the comments.

{15$} NWT Brown/Black print skirt from H&M, size 4
Scandinavian-inspired black and brown print skirt with 2 front pockets, belt loops, and removable belt. This is a high-waisted skirt on a true-to-size 4 person and low-waisted on a size 2. Fully lined, has back zipper and good construction for an H&M piece. Purchased in Spring 2008 and never worn.

Why am I letting it go?
I having finally accepted the fact that I don't look good in high-waisted skirts.

Measurements:
14" waist, 20" length

{15$} Green fine-wale corduroy skirt by Fei from Anthropologie - size 2
This was my favorite Anthropologie piece for a long time and it still has a lot of life left in it. Removeable tie in the front with belt loops. Button and zipper on the front and 2 front pockets. Has a side zip pocket on the front about half-way down the thigh. Purchased at full price about 8 years ago.

Measurements:
14" waist, 17" hips, 36" length

{15$} Red draw-string skirt by Sidwell from Anthropologie - size 2
Fun, red draw-string skirt with grommets by Sidwell. Fabric is 60% cotton and 40% polyamide. This is a high-waisted skirt on a true-to-size 4 person and low-waisted on a size 2. Two front pockets and 1 back slash pocket. Purchased at full price about 8 years ago.

Measurements:
14" waist, 22" length

Blog-tag-sale: PANTS

Brand new mountain hardware hiking pants + anthropologie liquid brand black dress pants!

I've included the best pictures I could manage, measurements, condition, flaws, and price (not including shipping). All clothing are from a pet- and smoke-free home. If you would like an item leave your email in the comment sections and I will confirm that the item is still available. First one to comment, gets the item. Payment only via paypal (unless you are local to San Diego and will be picking up in person). There are no returns. I am open to reasonable offers and please leave questions in the comments.

{40$} Gray Mountain Hardware Zip-off hiking pants - size 2
Virtually brand new mountain hardware hiking pants that zip-off into shorts. Low rise with zippers on the bottom so you can take convert into shorts without taking off your shoes. 100% nylon material, 2 back flap pockets, and 2 front pockets plus a single zip pocket (see left photo, on the left side).
Why am I letting them go?
Seriously only worn for a day and then washed. They shrunk after washing and I liked them so much I bought the next size up.

Measurements:
14" waist, 28.5" inseam, 18" hip, 7.5" waist to crotch in front, 15.75" waist to zip-offs

{20$} Anthropologie Liquid Black Dress Pants - size 2 (tailored)
Classic cotton boot-cut black pants with textured verticle lines (see 2nd photo). Tab-front and no pockets create a very stream-line pant. I had these taken in down the entire length of the pant (too wide) so double check with the measurements below. Worn 1x and in perfect condition.
Measurements:
15.5" waist, 8" waist to crotch in front, 31.5" inseam, 16.25" hips

Blog-tag-sale: JACKETS

brown suede banana republic and cream retro crop swing jacket!

I've included the best pictures I could manage, measurements, condition, flaws, and price (not including shipping). All clothing are from a pet- and smoke-free home. If you would like an item leave your email in the comment sections and I will confirm that the item is still available. First one to comment, gets the item. Payment only via paypal (unless you are local to San Diego and will be picking up in person). There are no returns.

I am open to reasonable offers and please leave questions in the comments.

{50$} Banana Republic Dark Chocolate Brown Suede Jacket - size SMALL
This is perfect condition suede jacket that has precise tailoring and is the perfect dark, dark brown. So dark that you can wear it with black or brown. Two flap front pockets and a single pleat in the back. Fully lined, heavy, and warm.
Measurements:
18" armpit to armpit, 15" shoulder-seam to shoulder-seam, 25" shoulder-seam to cuff, 24" shoulder-seam to bottom, 15.75" smallest part of jacket Why am I letting is go? I probably wore this a total of 10 hours the entire time I've owned it. I have been keeping it around with the hopes that we would buy a vespa scooter and I could wear it to scoot around (with driving goggles and scarf flying in the wind) - no such luck. It is time to give it up.

{10$} Nick & Mo Cream Cropped Retro-style Jacket - size SMALL
Cream colored cropped jacked with retro styling, large buttons, and 3/4 length sleeves. This jacket was one of my favorites. It easy went with jeans and over fancy dresses. 3 buttons, 2 front pockets, and fun polka dot lining Why am I letting this go?
I washed it a few days ago and it shrunk! Has lot of life left it in and it goes with everything. I so wish I had not put it in the dryer. Now its new owner can easily throw it in the washer and dryer.

Measurements:

16.25" armpit to armpit, 13" armpit to cuff, 10.5" armpit to bottom

Winter Wishlist: Boots

Winter Wishlist Boots: I am thinking about gearing up for cold weather in a wet environment. Strangely enough San Diego and Fairbanks, AK have one thing in common despite the drastically different temperatures - dry, low-moisture climates. Living in rainy climates is very foreign to me. I lived in DC for 3 years but I don't think that I mastered the cold, windy and wet winter. Here is what I have on my wishlist if I have to move to where it rains more than 3x/year.

1. Tall waterproof and warm boots that can handle icy sidewalks.

Cydwoq desk boot, pictures from Ped Shoes, 440$. I normally wear European size 39 but sized way down to 37.5 in these American-made shoes. The tailoring was near perfect and good for people with slim calves.

2. Aquatalia by Marvin K, Spunky boot in chocolate brown, 400$. I owned these for about a week before I took them back due to the price. To date they have been the most comfortable boots that I have put on. They have a cushioned foot bed and a narrower calf, though you can see from the photos that the calf area was still a bit big on me. The lug sole is great for slippery sidewalks and all the reviews I read said the suede holds up in rainy weather (Seattle-based reviewers). I am waiting for these to show up on Sierra Trading Post next year. I think the Aquatalia Kerry Suede Waterproof boot is a beauty too.

Wouldn't all these boots look lovely with the Lole plaid Stylish jacket, 190$ (polyester, not wool!).

Backpacking: Clothing List

I cannot believe that I still have stuff to post from my trip to Chile. I am heading out to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks for a short 2 day backpacking trip for the long 4th of July weekend. Also at the end of the July TEB and I will be hiking the High Sierra Camps trails in Yosemite (with our fathers). A gear list seemed necessary. I use TaskPaper to make lists, if you are looking for a good electronic organization system.

When in Patagonia I used the advice from the owner of Erratic Rock Hostel (publisher of Black Sheep newspaper and blog); pack two sets of clothing. One set for hiking and one set for camp. This worked fantastically while out on the W trail for 8 days. I plan to keep using it and with virtually no adjustment this list works if you are going out for 2 days or up to 8-10 days.

CLOTHING PACKLIST

Undergear:
- gals: 1 pair underwear/2 days out
- guys: 2 pairs underwear
- sock liners (2x)
- hiking socks (2x)

Hiking clothing (set 1):
- hiking pants, preferably ones that zip-off into shorts
- short sleeve shirt
- long sleeve shirt
- bandana

Camp Clothing (set 2):
- fleece pants or shorts depending on weather
- long underwear top + bottoms (for sleeping)
- short sleeve shirt
- lightweight down jacket
- lightweight sandals that you can wear with socks
- hat that you are comfortable sleeping in
- 1 pair socks

Outergear:
- sun hat that has a cinching mechanism to keep on head in windy conditions
- rain jacket
- rain pants
- hiking boots, preferably gortex if you are investing in good boots

Tips:

One of the most important things to keep in mind is the fabric of your backpacking clothing. My mom uses the adage "cotton kills" when referring to her own backpacking list. Cotton does not dry quickly, which is an essential quality when out in the backcountry. A synthetic quick-dry fabric or wool are good options. I am allergic to wool so everything from my underwear to my long-sleeve, half-zip mock shirt is made from synthetic material.

Another key clothing item are your boots. You want these to be waterproof (gortex) and to be well-broken in before embarking on any overnight trips. I suggest buying large, expensive items at REI (become a member, if you are not already) so that you can try breaking in your boots or backpack. If you find them uncomfortable then you can return it for something else or get your money back.

Hike 20+ hours, approximately 3 day hikes, in your boots before taking them on a longer trip. Adjust the thickness of your socks or add superfeet insoles for the perfect fit. If you absolutely cannot dayhike in your boots, wear them around town for 40+ hours before a big trip. It is just asking for disaster if you bring unfamiliar boots out into the backcountry. The last thing you want to do is hike 30 miles with open blisters.

Up next: Other gear and organizing your backpack!

{recap: I traveled to Chile during the month of February. I was distracted these past few months and am only now getting to post about my experience in South America. Click here to see all my posts about this fantastic Ph.D. Trip}

photo credit: Cayenne 02.01.09

Nau: Chyrsalis Dress

Swoon, I love dual-function clothing!

photo credit: chrysalis dress photo found on >Inhabitat buy it at >Nau

Being Green: Buying Handmade

When the new year started I declared 2009 the year of the budget. I think I am doing pretty good. I am keeping track of my expenses on MINT. I opened an IRA and am making bi-monthly deposits into my high-interest savings account.

I have also tried to cut down on material goods, meaning that I try to limit clothing shopping. I am even considering taking the buy handmade pledge. Even more compelling is for me to actually make the things I need. First, I need to invest in a sewing machine. For the moment I am using my mother's machine while I get the chance here in Fairbanks.

Another way you can help small businesses is to spent 50$ a month at a local business. They need your help too, become a supporter of the 3/50 project.

So next time you need something for your home or a new scarf, check Etsy, ArtFire, or the DIY options at craftzine before heading to the BIG BOX.

{Cayenne is blogging on location in Fairbanks, AK. See all posts about Alaska here.}

photo credit: Buy Handmade by bymanu

Patagonia: Spring Pick-me-up

Looking for a little change for your wardrobe? I'm thinking about this versatile kamala skirt/dress from Patagonia. Sometimes you feel like a skirt and sometimes a dress. This seems like a good travel item too. Now, what color?

photo credit: top dress from the patagonia company website and bottom skirt from altrec

Runway to Change

Check out the goods on the Runway for Change!photo credit: Change scarf by Alexander Wang; Jan. 20th bowtie shirt by Zac Posen