noel vallens: a skirt only a mother could love

this is the story of my trash treasure skirt. one day a week or month or so ago, i spotted a sign for a stoop sale not far from my apartment. since it was getting late in the afternoon, i was scurrying as fast as i could to get there before everything was gone. unfortunately, the location was unclear and no stoop sale in sight. however, in my frantic searching, i saw a mysterious bag of items near (okay, in) a big trash bin.

never one to pass up some treasures, i took a little peak. i’m sure this was just leftovers from the recently ended stoop sale. right?

just when i was about to give up, i noticed a little gold glimmer shining out in a bin full of grime and grit.

i pulled it out to get a good look. someone had given it a lot of love and wear, and it had definitely seen better days. the fit was all baggy and length too long, so i decided to take it home and give it a makeover.

after chopping a bit off, taking it in, and giving it a better shape…it’s finally ready.  tonight, i was walking around my neighborhood wondering which one of my neighbors threw out this little treasure, and what they’d do if they saw me wearing it around.

trash skirt is worn with the weardrobe dress, courtesy of modcloth, who was nice enough to send the dress out to all of us conference-goers to see how each us styled it up.  i thought the pleated neckline was a perfect compliment to the gold glitziness of the skirt. paired with a vintage faux fur collar and some handmade jewels.

this is a double animal outfit. double predator animals. the lion was a great find at a neighborhood stoop sale for something crazy like $1.

and the snake was a little something i picked up this weekend at a yard sale near beacon, ny. i also got his black snake twin, but he’s missing a tail and needs a little work.

this little guy, barkley, wanted to be a part of the photoshoot. apparently, he loves having his photo taken (he was very excited).

i pretty much put on as much gold as i could find in my closet. these earrings are little something i made over the weekend. they are chunks of pyrite on a chain… and they’re my favorite earrings at the moment.

and finally, everything wouldn’t be complete without gold, shiny heels.

skirt found in the trash, modcloth weardrobe dress, stoop saled lion belt, yard saled snake bangle, self-designed pyrite earrings, seychelles gold platforms, vintage faux fur collar, gap jacket (thrifted), self-designed necklace, oliver peoples glasses