Link-tastic! 26 February 2010

First off, some pretty nifty news: I've been accepted into the Independent Fashion Bloggers network (check out the pretty button in the sidebar!).

Secondly, apologies for the dearth of outfit posts. We've been stuck in Winter Storm Hell here in the Northeastern U.S., and my primary occupation of late has been shoveling my driveway - over and over again. As a result, I've been exploring the fashion possibilities of knee-high gaiters, snow boots, and bulky parkas. Trust me, you don't want to see pictures! Hopefully, more clement weather and cuter outfits will return early next week.

Now, on to this week's links!

Sal at Already Pretty found a great quote that pretty much encapsulates everything that anyone who thinks about fashion feels about him or herself.

I have a love-uncertainty relationship with the Fug Girls (love their funny writing and pithy observations! Uncertain about their level of snark!), but every so often they hit one out of the park - like this loving paean to Gabourey Sidibe. No, she doesn't have a conventionally beautiful figure. Yes, she is awesome and beautiful.

Gertie pokes into the history of the suspender skirt. There are theories that the skirt-with-suspenders combo (as an undergarment) goes back as far as the 1500s. Either way, I'm suddenly craving one.

Haute Macabre found some non-corporate-produced Alice in Wonderland goodies.

No Signposts in the Sea wonders about future vintage, and what an interesting question that is! I've deliberately avoided shopping at H&M, Target, and their ilk for a number of reasons lately, and now I'm really starting to think about issues of sustainability, durability, and quality of manufacture, not to mention quality versus quantity, in regards to clothing.

The Lady Likes fleece-lined tights. I can't argue. The snowdrifts outside are beyond knee-deep, and as far as I'm concerned, the more things that are fleece-lined, the better!

I call myself a fashion theorist, but compared to Minh-Ha T. Pham and Mimi Thi Nguyen of Threadbared, I'm a rank amateur. Their piece on implications and referentiality of prep clothing, especially in urban contexts discusses class theory, race relations, and the perils of historicizing.

 Related to this week's post on pushing your sartorial comfort zone is Sal's answer to a reader's query about finding your style when you're feeling lost, complete with some awesome reader feedback.

A. at academichic theorizes that there are two modes of dress: drag or uniform. What do you think? Is "drag" the appropriate word, or would you, like me, tend to use the slightly less gender-loaded, but (as we explored earlier) potentially misleading term 'costume?' Why?