Now this Crush is Crushing

There aren't many instances where I have a real and true style crush on an actor or singer. Don't get me wrong, I admire the styles of many people, men and women. But the thing is, most times people who are in the public eye (and I'm sure this is no big shocker to anyone) have stylists and personal shoppers and all that jazz, so even though I may admire his/her work, I'm just not that interested in what they wear because I either assume its a costume of sorts, or it fits into a style that really doesn't suit me. For example, I'm sure Rhianna looks amazing in liquid leggings, but I can't really see myself wearing them.

Two big exceptions to this are Tracyanne Campbell and Carey Lander: the ladies of Camera Obscura. I have to admit that I love their styles because I can easily see myself wearing any of their vintage dresses. But its also something more than that. It looks like they really wear these dresses, like its not a uniform or a costume, but their regular clothes...and frankly I like that. Vintage can be tricky, sometimes it can feel like the dress is wearing you, especially if one is not comfortable looking a little unusual. These ladies are sporting their dresses on stage...whilst playing instruments and, to me, there's something so inherently cool about that. They also wear the dresses so simply with few other accessories, and despite my new challenge to myself to incorporate more colors and accessories, I really love the look of an interesting thrifted dress with little else to distract from it--especially in the summer.

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Maybe its just that I'll be starting guitar lessons fairly soon and it helps me to imagine myself rocking out:) Or maybe its that I love the idea of incorporating old clothing and accessories into my everyday outfits, into my life--making beautiful things normal, but at the same time making the everyday incredibly special through the garments in which I choose to clothe myself.

Quite possibly its a little of both.

Either way, the band is one of my favorites. Besides their (in my opinion) cool sartorial choices, the music is also incredible. The lyrics are smart, interesting and complicated and they're surrounded by a distinct, swelling 60's sound--especially on the last album My Maudlin Career. I'd actually started listening to Camera Obscura through my brother several years ago and didn't know about Tracyanne Campbell and Carey Lander's styles until my brother commented last year that one of my dresses looked like something they would wear.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. I'll leave you with one last thought that fits into everyone's recent wishes for an end to winter. As PJ wrote at The Yellow Stereo "It’s almost as if Spring is already here, as listening to anything from this group is almost like having a little bit of sunshine in the palm of your hand. I dare you to listen to them and not at least feel as if your day hasn’t been brightened even slighty."

Enough said.