Unexpected

This gorgeous whimsical beauty of a pattern peeked at me from a random stuff rack at one local Goodwill store. I don't even know what sort of mix was on that rack - the new arrivals which were not sorted out and put on their proper racks yet, or the stuff customers tried on and rejected. What I know for sure is that if not for that random rack, I wouldn't find this top. When I had it in my hands, I noticed that the size was marked as Small (let me remind you that I typically wear  XL, so even if I sometimes check racks with size L, I never even think of checking out a rack with size S...) 

Fate! ;-)

Just like with the red sweater from this post, I can only guess what the designer had in mind (some sort of extremely loose short dress or tunic for a slender girl, which sure can be lots of fun!), but I love the way it fits me. It feels completely comfortable too - soft, stretchy, easy flowing. And I will just go ahead and say that it is my favorite outfit to the date, for so many reasons. The label on this tunic says "Urban Renewal" and "made in the USA from vintage fabrics" (very cute label too). Ahh! What can be better than that? For someone like  me, who adores vintage clothing, yet enjoys modern lines and fit, and feel, and is very much for supporting businesses who produce things locally? After a little Internet research, I found out that it seems Urban Outfitters came up with the Urban Renewal line which offers clothing made of vintage dead stock. What a great idea! It's kind of like Vix with her famous Curtain Couture, only for us simple folks who doesn't sew yet (or already ;). 

I paid the whole $6.56 for this beauty, and I have a feeling that I will be wearing it a lot!

I think it's Curtise who finds that nothing says 1970s more than the orange and brown color combination, and I want to agree! When I look at this top/tunic/dress thingy, the flow of childhood memories rush all over me. I remember those color combos, and whimsical patterns, and those very characteristic of 70s fabrics, I remember my Mom and my aunts had dresses and skirts with very similar feel. I combined it with boyfriend jeans for an easy, relaxed look. (Note: first ones in my whole 40 years of living, unless you count my brother's jeans which I stole from him and bleached them in a tie dye manner when he came back from the army in 1988.)

All other details came together spontaneously from things I loved and bought before. I had no idea that orange is so "in" right now - I only now started noticing it all over the stores... I am not the most attentive person, I know, and not a big trend follower either (but I love it when trends inspire new ideas and fire creativity as it happened here). I always loved orange and its many hues, and when I saw this nail polish in a pharmacy a while ago, I couldn't resist (Sun Kissed by Sally Hansen). The orange leather bracelet is a consignment shop purchase ($12 I believe), extremely well done with tons of beautiful details. My other bracelet is from Russia - hand carved from birch bark, which is a very old traditional Russian technique (I will write about it some day). Its floral folk design echoes the psychedelic pattern of the tunic so beautifully.

 The shoes are a Nordstrom Rack find, by Tsubo, bought for $35, discounted from $140). I adore them - funky, stylish, upbeat and super comfy on my wide feet. They will make  many appearances on In The Writer's Closet, I am sure.

Just look at all these adorable details of the tunic design! It's something timeless in my book...

I showed the purse on a few occasions in my blog (here, here and here for instance). I really love it, pretty much everything about it. I can't remember the brand who does this straw purses, but they appear quite regularly at TJ MAXX (and I am not even a regular shopper there). It was about $20 if I remember right. They come in different colors. I adore the lining and the golden shimmer of mine, but I also saw them in silver tones (I even bought one as a present for a friend who admired my little beauty and even offered to buy it from me :).

Top - Urban Renewal, thrifted. Boyfriend jeans - Lane Bryant (they call them Weekend jeans). Shoes by Tsubo via Nordstrom Rack. Jewelry - from Russia, consignment store and boutique. Purse via TJ MAXX.

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