11.17.2009 Heart to Heart

Wood-grain headband: Accessorize, jumper with heart weave and heart buttons: random store on lower Broadway in Soho, NYC, turtleneck: Gongguan night market （公館夜市), Taipei, boots: Sogo Fuxing

Today I was thinking about how my wardrobe has "cute-i-fied" since moving to Taipei. I'm no afraid of hearts, ruffles, lace and other girly flourishes. When I pulled this jumper out of my closet this morning, I thought, "boy, is my wardrobe Taiwan-ish now!" Then I realized I didn't buy the jumper in Taipei -- I bought it in NYC! I got it after I went to Taipei to visit Ron in December 2007; I guess I missed the style I'd seen in the city's stores and night markets on that trip. My style has definitely become a lot more "feminine" in the last two years. There is definitely a culture of cute in Taiwan (as there is in much of east Asia) and grown women can get away with wearing things like this dress without looking too precious (not that there is anything wrong with looking precious!).

I paired it with an American Apparel unisex cardigan and my red Cambridge Satchel Company bag for the short walk to my cabinet.

My favorite part of the jumper is the black and white heart weave of the fabric and the two shiny red heart-shaped buttons.

I think Taroko George approves, too, because he couldn't stop sniffing around me when I took these photos! Oh, and I got my hair cut after four or five months! Thank goodness, I feel human again! My war with my bangs has come to a temporary ceasefire. Phew!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!