Hear What I Have to Say

Shirt: Anthropologie, harvest from Emily's closet * Skirt: Anthropologie, remixed * Cardigan: Old Navy, remixed * T-strap flats: Urban Outfitters, remixed * Belt: stolen from Joe's closet, originally his grandfather's * Necklace: market in Chile, remixed

So here's your first look at the new place! I love this little spot, because I feel like the back courtyard feels super European, with the brick and the plants and the narrow passageway back to the street. You should all expect to see a lot of this spot, especially on days when I'm tired or grumpy or when it's too hot or too cold or when I just want to escape to the side streets of Siena.

One of the awesome things about living with a fellow fashionista is the coming together of our closets/wardrobes. Emily had a massive "to donate" bag after we moved in together, and I took it upon myself to harvest some organs awesome clothes from it before it was sent away. I love the harvest gold color of this Anthro blouse, and the crazy differently sized buttons. I originally wore just the skirt and blouse, but my office is pretty chilly so I threw on my trusty black cardigan. I've actually been keeping this cardi in my office for the days that I get chilly, but I just loved how it complemented this look, so I wore it home so that the complete outfit could be captured for you.

Thank you all so much for your kind, empathetic comments on yesterday's post. It was so cathartic to talk about our old apartment. I think I needed to take a moment to recognize how important that place was to me. Now I'm just really excited about the next phase. Even with starting a long-distance thing with Joe, I think we're both exploring really exciting things in our lives right now. I'm actually really looking forward to seeing him after a week or two and talking about all the things we've each experienced and learned during that time apart. I'll miss our morning conversations over coffee and breakfast, and of course I'll miss his daily presence in my life, but I couldn't be happier about where his life, and mine, are taking us.

Title song: Neil Young, "Harvest Moon"

Client Corner ~ Colleen

Gals,

We were recently blown away by these stunning images from our client Colleens gorgeous New York Penthouse Wedding. Colleen purchased our "Ivory Tulle Rococco Wrap" to compliment her designer wedding gown and it worked out beautifully with her overall ensemble.

We were thrilled to have an opportunity to see Colleens album by photographer Jen Huang! Doesn't the wedding look like an absolutely gorgeous day! Colleen had a ceremony in Central Park and by the look of the smiles on the faces it looks to be a really magical day for everyone.

We loved working with Colleen , she was such a pleasurable client and really included us in her special day.

We hope you both have a magical life journey together.

xxx

Yvonne & Ger

~bonzie~

http://www.bonziedesigns.com/

The Heater's Warm but Fills the Room

Dress: Target, remixed * Cardigan: Anthropologie, thrifted and remixed * Flat espadrilles: Old Navy, remixed * Dino necklace: gift from Katie, remixed

So I'm just a smidge behind the times with these pictures. These are the last few that were taken in my old apartment! From now on there will be new backdrops, new brick walls, new wood fences. I mean, let's face it: the apartments in Chicago aren't exactly diverse in their setup, so it's not going to be that different. But these pictures make me nostalgic for my old apartment!! I love our new home, but this apartment was really important for me. It was the first home that Joe and I shared together, and it got us through a lot. I'll miss it, and its noisy radiators and sun-soaked dining room and doors that never quite closed.

It was my first "grown-up" home. I didn't feel comfortable in Chicago until we moved in there, and it made Chicago finally feel like home to two small-town kids. It was our space, from Joe's spice rack (a shower rack that he nailed to the kitchen wall!) to my three walk-in closets for my burgeoning wardrobe to our wall of plants on the windowsill to our two bookshelves, each overflowing, one for fiction and one for non-fiction. I'm unbelievably excited for the next phase, and I think that only good things are coming for both of us, but it's a little bit hard to close this chapter of our lives. The past few years could have been so much harder without that space. Having somewhere to call home, to feel comfortable, is more important than we give it credit for, I think, and we were lucky to have this place. So here's to our apartment, our first place together, our cozy safe haven, our bright, open, warm, inviting, wonderful home.

Title song: Ben Gibbard and Andrew Kenny, "You Remind Me of Home"

Everything's in Boxes

Romper: Target * Face-eating scarf, worn as headband: gift from Katie * Shoes: Urban Outfitters, remixed

I'm so, so happy that Emily and I got to share our awesome news yesterday, and totally flattered by your comments. It really has been an absolute delight to live with her, and we've already shared lots of fun moments that we can someday recollect while braiding each others' hair. Late night cinnamon rolls, just enough trashy TV, loads of awesome dinners (okay, this is not so much Emily or me, but more Joe, who is awesome), fabulous trips to Target, lots of home decorating, and, as Emily has so lovingly put it, tons of gooberosity. It's been fabulous, and I'm so excited about hanging out with her this year!

So this is actually the outfit that I wore on super-mega-huge-moving-time-day (that's what they call it in Japan). Being the sharp tacks that we are, we thought it was a good idea to move on the hottest day of summer. I think the heat index was dreadfully close to 100, and we were busy carrying a couch down the street on a Radio Flyer wagon (that's right, we used a wagon to move our shit). Anyway, it was hot, we were sweaty, and I honestly wished that it was possible to wear less than a romper. Having never worn a romper before, I was quite delighted at how fun they are. Oh, and this is the face-eating scarf from the other day. I tied it up all tight to keep it from eating my face. I think it worked.

We're all moved in now, and entering into the first stages of domestic bliss. It's a ball having another blogger around all the time, and though it might put my shopping ban at risk, it's totally worth it 'cause Emily's awesome! And I've reassured Joe that his position as my main photographer is safe, though he might have a new stand-in from time to time.

Title song: The Honor System (Chicago-based punk, yeah!), "Moving Day"

They Always Make Me Cry

Airing Her Dirty Laundry: Sartoriography

Good Monday, everyone. It's time for another edition (almost just wrote "addition"...must be Monday) of my interview-y feature, Airing Her Dirty Laundry. Emily, of the lovely blog sartoriography, and I have been IRL friends for a couple of months now, and we thought it was high time to have a proper introduction (that's right, we've been friends for months and have never asked each other a single question. We're awesome, but apparently rather uncommunicative). So we are asking each other the same series of questions today (here's my post on sartoriography). Some of the questions (and most of the answers) are a bit silly, but bear with us, and be sure to read all the way to the end.

Emily is wearing...Dress: Kelli's closet * Sandals: Target * Belt: Target * Bracelets: "small boy street vendor in Namibia"

1. Who's your style icon? May I say fictional people? Probably an amalgamation of Joan Holloway (of Mad Men fame) and Charlotte Gainsborough or her sister, Lou Doillon. I love the idea of blending sexy, curvy, vintage silhouettes with tough, rocker glam. Also, you are my style icon. I really love that you try so many typed of trends and outfits- jean shorts, pencil skirts, cuffed pants, wide-leg linen trousers, belted dresses, face-eating scarves... It's funny, because you and I are so physically different- short and tall, petite and curvy, short hair and long, etc. etc. And yet I get super inspired by what you wear and how you wear it. Our differences engender pride in my own unique appearance AND new ideas for interesting fashion I hadn't considered before seeing you rock them. :)

2. Name some of your favorite places to shop in Chicago. I'm a really big fan of thrift stores, especially Unique. You should know that, since we went there together and found a treasure trove of sartorial delights.

3. If you had to work at a fashion magazine, which would it be? Probably Mother Jones. My favorite material is hemp, my favorite scent patchouli. Actually, I think we should make our own fashion magazine. You quit your job, I'll drop out of school, and we'll breathe life back into a dying industry!

Wind baby! (self made...see original here)

4. How does your interest in fashion intersect with the rest of your life- your job, your relationships, your ethical perspectives, etc.? If I were answering this question seriously, I'd say something about how, when I need thoughts on an outfit, my boy person is incredibly generous with his advice and artistic analysis (relationship); about using fashion to negotiate the context of a male-dominated classroom and to inspire confidence in often intimidating intellectual situation (job); and about how my commitment to environmentalism and responsible consumption inspire (at least some) of my clothing choices and how my identification as a "feminist" is inextricably linked to my ideas about clothing and fashion (ethics). Instead, I'll say that fashion is what facilitated my friendship with you, and that's all that matters.

5. Is there any exciting news you'd like to share with the blogosphere? Yes. I'd like everyone reading this blog to know that...

Clare and I are roommates!

Uh...we got caught in the mother of all rainstorms and thought that documentation was in order.

That's right, world, an unstoppable blogging duo has been created. Joe will be leaving Chicago for graduate school soon, and though I plan to follow eventually, I'm happy to be hanging in Chicago for the time being, especially with my awesome new apartment and new roomie!

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend!

new embellished maxi at Smoking Lily Boutique , Kilkenny!!

Gals, for those of you living outside of Ireland you might not know that this particular weekend is a very busy weekend for activities and festivities. Our hometown of Waterford is taken over by the fabulous Spraoi Festival where the Arts Community literally lines the streets to share local arts, music and culture along with a few treats of the liquid variety for the spectators. With no work for most on the Monday it's a long weekend that is enjoyed by many!

Since our lovely day out at the new Artisan Craft Fair at the Limerick Milk Markets ( more posts to come on that!) we then made a drop to our official stockist in Kilkenny, Smoking Lily Boutique ( Kierans St, Kilkenny City) to deliver some new pieces to Shona in anticipation of the upcoming Kilkenny Arts Festival hitting on the 6th of August! ( that and the fact that the bonzie corner was running bare with all the July sales and literally needed an injection of new lovelies )

It's been such an incredibly busy week gals, with a lot going on for bonzie. We are now expanding into other projects and spreading our wings a little so we hope you stay and enjoy the flight! :)

We have two new photoshoots coming up this week, and some good news of the Limerick Variety with a new boutique stockist coming onboard for the lovely ladies of Limerick to frequent when we are not at the monthly market there! :)

I took to the coast this weekend for a much needed break. We stayed in a mobile home just behind the Sand Dunes at Bonmahon Beach with our mini yorkie and it was absolute bliss. No phone signal, no internet ( this was a tough one for me! lol) and no city sounds, it was absolutely fab. I'm home now wading through emails, convos, picture editing, facebook etc...... I can feel the rash coming on already! lol

ya gotta love Bank Holidays! :)

Hope you guys enjoyed your one too!!!!!