Nostalgia: noun 1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days.
2. something that elicits or displays nostalgia.

Lisa Frank Inspired Look by DianaFlo* featuring Marc Jacobs bags

This is nostalgia for my generation. Lisa Frank. Even as a child, I knew this wasn't great design. I knew unicorns and fairies were twee even for a child, but I didn't care. It was bright and shiny and puffy and I loved Lisa Frank stuff. I had the folders, I had a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper, I had those little puffy stickers that were impossible to remove once stuck which made them more irritating than pretty. The phase came and went pretty fast, but there was a time when I just couldn't get enough of it. This set perfectly captures that Lisa Frank mentality. It's not sophisticated or mature, it's just freakin' awesome. Those shoes! I am in love with those shoes! And the grown ups in the office won't let me wear them. The day-glo delight of the early 90's will forever be a reminder of better times, when Clinton was in office and I could still wear shiny leggings with neon stars all over it and look perfectly appropriate. those were the days.

"I Am Human and I Need to Be Laaa-ooooved!" by Ducktape



"Haven't Had a Dream in a Long Time" by Henedina




Is this Gokarm Gratification Day or something? Within the last two hours, I see that two of my favorite polyvorian friends have done something extraordinary. They mozzified freakin' awesome sets! That's right, Mozzy has become a verb, deal with it. These sets are fantastic by themselves, of course. The salmony pretty pink and black is fresh...appealing with a touch of a dark shadow accompanying it...awwwesome. And the sheer awesomeness of everything in Henedina's set...well...that's it, it's just awesome! I think even Morrissey himself would be pleased to see what inspiration his words have wrought.

"It Says it All" by ChemicalPanic!

(Gokarm has nothing more to say)

"I've Decided..." by Ducktape

I freakin' love Ducktape's style and this set is freakin' awesome, in particular. Ducktape has this knack for picking out really unusual pieces and mixing them together in really unusual ways. Floral skirts with t-shirts is only the beginning. She'll mix in snakeskin boots and some kanye sunglasses...for instance. She just GOES there, and I dig it. What I love about this set...well, it's clear isn't it? THE HAT. My god, I don't think even I would have the guts to wear that every day, but it looks spectacular here, next to the checkered shorts and pewter woven sandals. That's all I'm going to say about this set...it's the kind that can't be explained. It's an experience just to view it silently :)

Happy Freakin' Awesome Friday!

"Honey Pie"

"Night Is Young & The Music's High"

"Poisoned Hearts Will Never Change, Walk Away Again"

"I Know You See Me Looking At you And You Already Know"

"Show It To Me Truly, Show Me With a Kiss"

"People think I'm Insane Because i Am Frowning All The Time"

"When Passions' A Prison You Can't Break Free"

"Par Ici Il Y Passe Trois Cavalier"

"In This Land Of Make-Believe, Dead And Dry..."

"First Time our Eyes Met It's The Same Feeling I Get"

"Whimsical Pippi" by Suzanne4

This is FREAKIN' awesome. I mean, I'm always going to be a fan of any set that included "whimsy" or "whimsical" in the title, but beyond that, this is just inspired. Now, okay, the Pippi I know wouldn't wear a black tulle tutu with red ribbons, but I wish she did. Those shoes are amazing, the red [RED!!!] top hat, the shag carpet jacket over a black corset...i mean, FREAKIN'. AWESOME. You can tell I'm crazy about this set and since I missed yesterday's "Set of the Day" (bad Internet connection, SO frustrating) I am making this Thursday's Set of the Day. Did I mention I'm crazy about this set?

"Dark Side" by Natasha11

I don't know how she does it, but somehow Natasha manages to find THE MOST incredible garments I have ever seen on Polyvore. I was gobsmacked when I saw this set. It was clear, vivid, vibrant and, like the title says, dark. I have never seen deconstruction look as good as it does on this dress. The ruffled pieces sort of haphazardly attached to the skirt, the uniform pleating around the bottom reminding the viewer of a past sense of order, the way it looks dirty and oily, but also looks really comfortable and wearable...it's just stunning. And then, paired with that ghostly woman and her deep set eyes...a sort of androgynous priestess...oh, it's all so epic! Bravo, Natasha!

"Little Yellow Spider" by eyesthatlie

Sunglasses. For some reason, that seems to be the only reason I can come up with for why this is Set of the Day. Not that the whole outfit isn't awesome. I love the orange t-shirt with those particular skinny jeans and the matching orange shoes...and I don't want to discount the animal print bag or Devendra Banhart...it all plays a part in the coolness of this set. But if I take out those sunglasses...It's just a mildly good set. However...WITH the sunglasses, this set is unbeatable. UN. BEATABLE. Great way to top off Freakin' Awesome Fridays!

"Little Yellow Spider" by Devendra Banhart
Little yellow spider laughing at the snow
Well maybe that spider knows something that I don't know
Cuz I'm goddamn cold

Little white monkey staring at the sand
Maybe that monkey figured out something I couldn't understand
Who knows

Well I came upon a dancing crab and I stopped to watch it shake, I said,
'Dance for me just one more time before ya hibernate,
and ya come out a crab cake'

And hey there little snapping turtle, snapping at a shell
Oh there's mysteries inside I know
But what they are I just can't tell for sure

And hey there little baby crow, you're looking kind of mean
I think I oughta split before ya start letting off your steam
For sure

And hey there little sexy pig, you mated with a man
And now you've got a little kid
With hooves instead of hands

And oh all of the animals, all of the animals

And hey there little mockingbird, they sing about you in songs
'Oh where ya been? Have ya broke a wing?'
I haven't heard ya in so long

And hey there little albatross, swimming in the air
'Aw, come on you know I can't fly and I
Think we really oughta play fair'

And hey there mister happy squid, you move so psychedelically
You hypnotize with your magic dance all the animals in the sea
For sure

And oh all of the animals, all the animals

And hey there Mr. Morning Sun, what kind of creature are you
I can't stare, but I know you're there
Goddamn, how I wish I knew

And hey there Mrs. Lovely Moon, you're lonely and you're blue
It's kind of strange the way you change
But then again we all do, too.

"Inspired by all you polyvore-people :)" by North of Anna

1,151 people like this set (so far), there are over 500 comments on it and I believe it holds the record for most "I like this" hits ever on polyvore. That is why this set is being featured on Freakin' Awesome Fridays and for no other reason. The amount of success this one set has had is unbelievable. Granted, a lot of that is bandwagon folks who get excited by a common cause...and some of it has to do with the fact that anything rainbow tends to be very popular...and shoes, of course, there is some strange psychological attraction young girls have to shoes that I don't personally share...at least not for any of the shoes in this set. It is also a single unified image with one clear statement that sort of sums up what polyvore is about, creating art with clothes.

HOWEVER...I am not going to sit here and tell you that I like to see this kind of thing. It's cute, but it's not what I look for on polyvore. If you look at the top 5 most popular sets EVER at the moment...it's this, 2 coffee cups filled with multi-colored crap, a panda made out of a rainbow of flowers, and a rainbow spectrum of high heels vs. a rainbow spectrum of converse sneakers. Is it any wonder adults don't take Polyvore seriously? I have to say, there was a time when Polyvore was a lot more sophisticated than it is now...but I suppose with popularity comes a vast amount of mediocrity. That's why I'm so proud to have the friends I have on Polyvore...you guys are chic, cool, classy, and totally fierce and I love you for it!

"Romantica Rocker" by .::like the ROCK::.

To cap off Freakin' Awesome Fridays, I present to you a freakin' awesome set. I'm always a fan of corrupting a perfectly virginal and innocent dress like this one. This is particularly vivid in color and contrast. I think it's because the accessories are sending mixed messages, like the grey rose earrings, or the purple bracelet with those razor sharp leaves. LOVE IT.

"Dandelions Lady" by Misia

This set was made 9 months ago. That's how much I like it. I went deep into Misia's archives in pursuit of this set. The dress she made, albiet not entirely THERE...is stunning. The draped sleeves, the dripping diamonds and jewels, the soft delicacy of everything...just spectacular.

"I'll Be a Rock 'n' Rollin' Bitch for You" by ZiggyMoonieStardust


This is one of my favorites. The boots, the smoky eyes, the leather shorts...(LEATHER SHORTS, fercrissake!) Its got some major fierceness going on and not in the overused Christian Siriano way. I mean this is really a snarling, middle finger of a look and I totally dig it.
This is the video Ziggy selected to go with her set:


But this is what I would have used:


Both are totally and completely freakin' awesome.