Holiday Gift Guide: Star Wars Edition

Hello friends! For those of you who still pop on by here, I thank you. It is December now, and it is the Season of the Force. Anyone who has known me for even a little bit of time knows how much I love Star Wars. It's been a huge fandom in my life and has truly connected me with some of the coolest people. The sequel trilogy and the entire Skywalker Saga is coming to an end in just a few days, and I'm honestly a bit overwhelmed. I'm excited and afraid, and even though an end is just another beginning, I'm still trying to prepare myself to let go.

So in honor of that, I put together this little gift guide of not overly expensive things you can get yourself or that Star Wars fan in your life for the holidays.

Galactic Holiday Gift Guide 2019

Jordandené Star Wars apparel - Of course, as an unabashed fan of the brand, I had to include Jordandené in this post, especially when she just released 4 new Star Wars designs on shirts, tanks, and bomber jackets. Just sort the apparel section by NEWEST first.

I specifically asked her for the quote "A thousand generations live in you now," and she made my wish come true. Some of the older designs are still there, too, like "Never tell me the odds" and "I Rebel."

(Full disclosure: I'm also a brand ambassador for Jordandené. If you use my code 'akangaru,' you get 15% off and I get credit, which may translate to a small commission for me at no extra cost to you.)

Black Series Rebels Squad Tags - these key chains feature fun references from a galaxy far, far away and are the perfect gift for your squadron. My fave is the FN-2187 with TR8TR on the back. Normally, I'd suggest you pick up some of BSR's pins, too, because they come in adorable Action Figure packaging, but they are sold out for the holidays!

Lantern Pins Snips Love pins - The enamel pins trend doesn't seem like it's going anywhere soon, and I have loved these heart-shaped lightsaber pins from Lantern Pins for a long time. The ones linked here are her newest, featuring Ahsoka's blades.

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A post shared by Lantern Pins (@lanternpins) on Dec 7, 2019 at 5:57pm PST

Javva the Hutt Mug - here's one for the really big fans. This limited edition mug is not only a great pun on one of the galaxy's most notorious gangsters, it's inspired by the coffee shop of the same name at Lucasfilm HQ. I bought one for myself, and it is my favorite mug right now.

Porg Mini Magnetic Shoulder Plush - for anyone who loves porgs (*raises hand*), these little space birbs are a must-have. You slip the covered metal disk under your sleeve at the shoulder, and the magnet inside the porg lets it sit fairly securely in place. The fun of these is that you can also dress them up! I've seen so many porgs in ponchos and little Mickey ears. It is TOO CUTE.

This is my porg Burble. His sweater and hat are repurposed tree ornaments.

Kyber Crystal - you can get Kyber crystals for $14.99 at Black Spire Outpost, and they make a cool souvenir even if you don't have a lightsaber or holocron (both much pricer) to put them in. BUT if you can't make it out to the edge of the galaxy for your gift-shopping, try these Kyber Crystal necklaces from Punch It Chewie Press! These are extra special because they're handmade, and you can read about the color meanings before choosing the one meant for you (or your loved one). I picked mine up at DesignerCon, and I admit, I never would've thought myself a Red Kyber girl, but the way the color in this one looked was just lovely - like blood drop unfurling in water.

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A post shared by alice (@akangaru) on Dec 8, 2019 at 11:53am PST

Galaxy's Edge Exclusives

If you happen to be visiting Galaxy's Edge at Disney before you meet-up for your gift exchanges, here are a few not-expensive items I think your Star Wars fan friends would enjoy.

Puffer pig (Creature Stall) - these little guys look weird, but they make such a cute desk pet and make the most delightfully funny noise when you squeeze them. In-universe, their value lies in their ability to smell out precious minerals (think truffle hogs).

Restraining Bolt magnet (Droid Depot) - an easily recognizable souvenir, it's a magnet that looks like the restraining bolts put on droids to keep them from running off.

Sabacc Deck (Toydarian Toymaker) - ever wanted to try your hand at the most (in)famous card game in the galaxy? You can pick up your own deck, complete with instructions on how to play, at the Marketplace in Black Spire Outpost. Just don't go betting your whole ship on a hand, okay?

Yoda "hand-made" plush (Toydarian Toymaker) - there's a variety of adorable hand-made aesthetic plushes at the toymaker's shop, but the hot ticket right now is the Yoda. While this isn't the same as a certain beloved child in The Mandalorian, it's probably the closest you're going to get right now. If plushes aren't your thing, I also recommend the variety of wooden toys that also make neat display pieces.

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A post shared by Catherine (@catherine) on Jun 17, 2019 at 6:51am PDT

Hope that helps you with finding the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan-people in your life! HAPPY HOTHIDAYS, my friends. May the Force be with You!

Geekchic OOTD: Meet me in Batuu

It's funny my last outfit post here was a Star Wars-themed one because since then the Star Wars-themed land, Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire Outpost, has opened at Disneyland. AND I HAVE BEEN TO THERE.

Before I get too excited, for those of you not as obsessed with Star Wars as I am, the Galaxy's Edge addition to Disneyland (and Disney World later this summer) is meant to be unlike any other part of the parks. It is an immersive space where you'll find no Star Wars-branded or Disney-branded merch. You're meant to feel like you've ended up in a remote outpost - Black Spire, on the planet of Batuu - in a galaxy far, far away. The cast members speak in-character as denizens of the town. Star Wars characters you may recognize walk around, conducting their own business, though you can, of course, ask them if you can take a picture (get your image scanned) with them. They might not say yes, though.

In any case, I love it immensely because it fulfills a dream of mine - which is to feel like I can visit that world. I was lucky enough to get on 3 separate reservations to go during the first weeks' "soft opening" that ended last week. Of course, I planned 3 separate Star Wars-y outfits for it! I'm sharing them here so they can hopefully inspire you to get into the spirit of dressing up.

I'd previously shared on The Sartorial Geek blog outfit ideas for Light Side Style and Dark Side Chic (check these posts out for more geek style ideas!), but these were the outfits I actually wore to Black Spire Outpost.

LIGHT SIDE STYLE

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A post shared by alice (@akangaru) on Jun 6, 2019 at 3:02pm PDT

Geekchic OOTD: Fly Casual

Is it just me or does each year seem to go by faster and faster? I can't believe we're already a quarter of the way through 2019!

This is an exciting week for 2 reason: I'm going on a short trip, and Star Wars Celebration is happening! Unfortunately, I am NOT going to Celebration, though I came close. I will be jet-setting on a different geeky adventure, but given how much I love Star Wars and the many closet cosplay/ geekbound outfits I've styled in that fandom, I wanted to give you an outfit post.

Maybe this will inspire a closet cosplay of your own, or if you're freaking out over what to wear to Celebration, maybe this is a last minute look that will work for you.

Hope you like this very casual X-Wing pilot-inspired outfit I wore to San Diego Comic Con 2018. It was by far the most comfortable outfit I wore all con, and everything was super easy to find!

Even though orange is not the easiest color to pull off, there is just something about those Rebel Pilot flight suits that is so iconic. Thanks to the current resurgence of jumpsuits and overalls in fashion, it's actually not that hard to find cute ones to wear casually. And that's where the idea for this outfit was born, or shall I say, refined?

Outfit details: Mock-Neck Top (Forever 21) // Overalls (Forever 21) // SUNGLASSES (Ray-Ban) // Fake Fangirl pin (Utinni Bikini) // Sandals (Miista)

At Comic Con 2016, my friends did a version of this Rebel Pilot geekbound with orange dresses and white tops. So the general idea of this pilot-bound outfit had been in my head since then.

While at the mall, I saw these orange overalls and it popped into my head that I could do an updated version of the pilot outfit that was slightly closer to the flight suits. Plus, the shade of orange on these overalls was way more forgiving for regular wear. I found a white mock-neck top to wear underneath that would be a call-back to the white flak vests the Rebel pilots wear over their orange flight suits.

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A post shared by Alice (@girlontheroam) on Aug 5, 2018 at 8:47pm PDT

The Sister re-used the white crop top she used in 2016 and put it over an orange jumpsuit she already had. We both topped our outfits off with Rebel Starbirds. I used the one we made previously out of the craft foam, and she used an enamel pin from Utinni Bikini.

My accessories were the finishing touches to tie it all together. Besides the Rebel Starbird, I included Utinni Bikini's brilliant "Fake Fangirl" enamel pin; it's written in Aurebesh, the written language seen in Star Wars. The kangaroo pocket in the front of my overalls were the perfect place to hide my co-pilot BB-8. It's sunny in San Diego, so when it came to choosing sunglasses, I went with aviators to tie into the whole pilot theme.

So there it is! My "Casual Friday" Rebel pilot outfit. Just remember for a simple geekbound like this, think in color blocks and themes. Accessories can also really pull the look together.

If you're headed to Star Wars Celebration, have so much fun. I'm so excited for all the news that's very likely going to be dropped this week! May the Force be with you!

Celebrating Galentine's Day

I'm slowly getting back into blogging, and the celebration of Galentine's Day seemed like a good time to start posting again.

For any of you who have spent even a little bit of time here, you'll know that I am about my sisters - the one by blood and the others by the bonds of friendship and geekery. As such, I always love a good girl power experience or product, and I'm also lucky enough to know a bunch of badass women creators. So hopefully, you'll find something for you and your squad on this list or at the very least, some cool AF boss babes to support this Galentine's Day.

1) Chickens are Bitches

We loved the friendship between Pek Lin and Rachel in the romantic dramedy Crazy Rich Asians, and we particularly loved the line about playing chicken. Our ConSquad resident graphic designer, Gennia, indulged all of us by designing two delightful "Bok Bok Bitch" shirts for the entire crew.

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A post shared by alice (@akangaru) on Jan 7, 2019 at 9:10am PST

Want your own? Check out the PoeSquadron Teepublic page.


2) Get Strong with you Girl Gang

So I am terrible at staying on top of my fitness game, but it helps so much to go with friends. You can keep each other motivated to at least show up! Last year, I signed up for some trial classes with the Sister, and our friend Sherry. Because of that, we've hiked together, nearly died together in a particularly grueling Pop Physique class, and cried over soreness after kick-boxing.

In a similar vein, I just finished Geek Girl Strong's 1Up Wellness Challenge, which was a week of exercise, self-care, and healthy eating prompts led by Robyn. I found Robyn online through Jordandené, and she is honestly one of the most badass women I know of. She is constantly encouraging and open with her experiences, and seeing her workout videos in my feed is inspiring

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A post shared by Robyn Warren, M.S.Ed. (@geekgirlstrong) on Jan 3, 2019 at 1:01pm PST

The 1Up challenge was great because it came with a dose of community (remember what I said about it being easier to keep stuff up with friends?), and it was done online. So even though Robyn is literally across the country from me, I could participate! I highly recommend joining Geek Girl Strong challenges when they come around, and if you're looking for a health coach, Robyn offers in-person and online coaching packages!


3) Girl Power but make it Fashion

I know I already talked about dressing your girl gang, but I do love a good outfit, especially if it can be geeky. Plus, I'd be remiss to not share some of the rad things boss babes are doing at the intersection of style and fandom.

Sherry in a Jordandene shirt, me in an Elhofferdesign sweater, and Cat in a Spider-Man shirt.

• Skylar Yoo - feminist art and apparel, featuring graphic tees with bold hand-lettering and 20% of their profits go to 2 charities benefiting girls.
• Little Petal - convertible, hand-made dresses with pockets! Very body positive, very feminist.
• Bombsheller - beautiful, vibrant printed leggings in a huge range of sizes, printed on demand & ethically sourced.
• The Colorful Geek - one of the very first geek girl-owned tee-shops I went to because of the fun designs and variety of fandoms!
• ElhofferDesign- body positive and chic AF. Katie is constantly making the clothes of my subtle geek fashion dreams.
• Logan Arch - fun merch combining 90s nostalgia with modern fandom. Their 13th Doctor Collection is seriously for the Time Lady in all of us.

Obviously, I have to mention Jordandené since a big chunk of my everyday geekwear is from there, and there are so many shirts with great, empowering quotes - like Geek Girl Power, Nevertheless She Persisted, and Clever Girl. Not to mention, the 2 designs that debuted this month say "Stay Badass" and "Higher. Further. Faster." - this latter one being a reference to highly anticipated Captain Marvel and it's a limited Shirt of the Month.

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A post shared by alice (@akangaru) on Feb 4, 2019 at 9:34am PST

Plus, they just brought back sweatshirts in different styles and colors, and they added zip-up hoodies! I just got a cropped Loki hoodie, and I can confirm they are as soft as you remember (if you own one of the old sweatshirts). Full disclosure, I am currently a brand ambassador for Jordandené, but that doesn't affect my opinion of the clothes and I've been a fan long before I started getting items for review. Anyway, if you use my code, akangaru, you can get 15% off a $20 minimum purchase, and you help me earn my next review piece!


4) Book Club

From superheroes to hopeless romantics to scientists to artists to women on a mission, the stories of complex female characters and real life women/girls are for everyone. Here are just a few suggestions. I've not read all of these, but if I haven't read it, rest assured it's on my TBR.

These are just a few things to share with your besties this Galentine's Day, besides a fun night out or a nice meal. But of course, the most important part of this day is to celebrate your friends and the amazing people they are. Sisters before Misters and all of that!


Q4U: How do you celebrate Galentine's Day? How do you celebrate your friends?

ThreadedPages Booknerd Gift Guide

We are getting down to the final days before Christmas (if you celebrate)! If you're still looking for ideas for your gifts for your favorite booknerd, may I make a few suggestions?

If you follow my bookstagram account on Instagram (threadedpages), you know it's themed around books and fashion. I love coming up with themed outfits for books or clothes book lovers might enjoy. Likewise, this gift guide will follow that trend.


1) Literary or language-themed sweatshirts.

I found this sweatshirt at Target and I had to have it - literally.


2) Out-of-Print Clothing shirts

Out of Print has been providing shirts and small home goods for the book-inclined for a while now. They've expanded their catalog of book designs, and I fell in love with this THE ODYSSEY shirt from their The Gilded Collection of shirts. Look at that gold!


3) Bookish looks for your Baby Bookworms

A post shared by EQUIP Clothing (@equip_clothing) on Nov 20, 2017 at 2:27am PST

It's never too early to get those kiddos into enjoying written worlds or to at least dress them like they are. The designs from Equip Clothing* are fun, literary, and empowering - and they're a new small business with a great mission statement! You think I could fit into a kids' size XL?


4) Statement Enamel pins

Pins are all the rage right now, and they're fun an easy ways to nerd up any of your outfits or bags. There are so many great book-related ones, but I loved these clean, vintage-y ones from Rather Keen.


5) Bookworm tees

And of course, I have to mention Jordandene's Bookworm shirt because I love her shop and this shirt. It makes a simple statement that you love books and are proud of it.

Equally fun are the designs from The Colorful Geek, whose tees range from book-loving to pop culture. The orange Camp Halfblood shirts look like they're straight from the Percy Jackson book covers, and I got one of my very first Harry Potter shirts here (oh, so long ago!), featuring the Marauders' names in the now ubiquitous Helvetica List design style.

A post shared by Geek Chic Clothing And More (@thecolorfulgeek) on Nov 22, 2017 at 6:08am PST

Hope this helps you with those last minute gifts and stocking stuffers. Even if the gifts arrive a little late, I'm sure your resident reader will love them!

Q4U: What are you hoping to get for the holidays this year?



*Disclaimer: I know the folks behind Equip Clothing and think this new venture is awesome and wanted to share. I'm not otherwise affiliated or sponsored by them.

Geekchic OOTD: Ready to Ragnarok

November is upon us, and with it, Ragnarok! Of course, I don't mean the Norse mythological End of Days/ Twilight of the Gods. I'm talking about the 3rd THOR movie, and by far, the most colorful and funniest of them all.

By now, you should know I'm a Loki stan, and he's been a constant fashion inspiration for the past few years (but will someone please cut his hair?). I was punk rock Loki for Comic Con this year, and I think it's true that tricksters have the most fun.

A post shared by alice (@akangaru) on Jul 21, 2017 at 12:54am PDT

So with a new Thor movie out and the return of my favorite mischief maker to the silver screen, I had to do an outfit post. I ended up doing 3 outfits - 2 casual ones here and a fancier one over at Girl on the Roam. Plus, the Geeky Fashion Blogger Alliance fittingly made this month's style challenge all about Thor. Without further ado...

OOTD No. 1: Trouble Maker

I wanted to do something a little more toned down than what I did for punk rock Loki, so I went with something more 90s grunge for every day wear.

Outfit details: TANKS (Cotton On) // SHIRT-DRESS (Target) // SHORTS (Target) // SHOES (Nike- similar) // BRACELET (World Market - similar) // NECKLACE-collar (Sparkling Rampage) // NECKLACE-scepter (Hot Topic - similar) // SUNGLASSES (Ray-Ban) // LIP COLOR (Colourpop in 'Beeper')

OOTD No. 2: Thunderer

My Thor outfit isn't really decade-inspired, but I wanted to do something similarly casual. This outfit uses, I think, the first Thor shirt I ever bought. It's from years ago, but I still wear it!

Outfit details: TANK (Wetseal) // VEST (Target) // JEANS (Uniqlo) // SHOES (E8 by Miista) // BRACELETS (Forever 21 - similar) // LIP COLOR (Bite Beauty in 'Violet' - similar)

I'd (very last minute) fabric-painted the Ragnarok patch and safety pinned it to the moto vest for Comic Con for the punk Loki costume. So I just re-used it here.



And bonus:

What I wore to see Thor Ragnarok: check out the outfit details at Girl on the Roam.

A post shared by alice (@akangaru) on Nov 3, 2017 at 12:16pm PDT

Q4U: What did you think of the new Thor movie?