I’m back from my blogging dry spell, and I’m dreaming of Brigitte Bardot, Saint Tropez, and absolutely everything sailor-inspired.
Marinière, American Apparel; jeans, Levi; espadrilles, André; leather and gold ring, little shop near my new flat whose name has totally escaped me; earrings, Forever 21; watch, Skagen.
Today was the second day in a row with spring-like temperatures and sunshine, and rain this morning washed away all but a few lonely remnants of snow. I finally feel like I can say that spring has sprung, without having to knock on wood.
After work today I slipped out of my heavy flannel shirt, black jeans and rain boots and put on boyfriend jeans and this little silk camisole, grabbed the dog leash and wandered around campus with my dog for nearly an hour. I grabbed the hat just as I ran out the door but intentionally forgot shoes. My feet were pleasantly muddy when I got home.
Hat, camisole and earrings: Forever 21.
These are old photos, from one of the last big snows (so many this year!), but I thought I’d post them anyway since there’s been a dearth of outfit posts lately.
Jeans and camisole, Gap; sweater, Anthropologie; headband, Urban Outfitters; fringed booties, Éram.
Last weekend Mama and I went thrifting on a whim. We hadn’t been in ages, and luckily we both made some really phenomenal finds!
We bickered over who would have the honor of being the new owner of this hideous vintage dress (I say “hideous” now that I look at the photo I took after winning the battle and bringing it home in my goody bag, but obviously we both saw something more that made it worth rescuing off the rack).
I decided that ditching the belt and shortening it significantly would make it really wearable. Boy, hemming polyester cut on the bias sure is tricky, but I think I did alright and I even got to use my new baby sewing machine I got for Christmas!
I ended up with something that looked like it had just been pulled off the rack at Urban Outfitters, not a dingy thrift store. Maybe it’s the sexy deep-v back, or the sweet little collar the buttons in the back, or the funky 80’s pattern? I’m still not sure what we saw in it, but I sure am glad we did!
The Oxford boots were also among my thrift store loot, and after polishing them a bit and replacing the laces, they looked super cool and were very cozy with their knit lining. The funniest thing about them? Mama says she used to own a pair exactly like them. Maybe even this exact pair. How weird/cool is that?
Dress, boots and belt, thrifted; tights, Express via Gabriel Brothers; cardigan, Gap.
Hannah and I are having a “romantic” night tonight. We made homemade calzones with homemade marinara to dip them in, dressed up in startling similar outfits, and are going to see a movie.
Our outfits weren’t exactly coincidentally alike. We both decided to rock a hippie headband (though it’s more her look than mine) and our fringe booties with leggings and button downs for a indian-princess-meets-indie-band-member kind of look. Yeah. Let’s call it that.
Blouse, borrowed from Mama’s closet; long-sleeve shirt, Gap; velvet leggings, Forever 21; fringe booties, Étam; headband, homemade.
TWO WAYS: NEUTRALS GALORE
When I was living in France I couldn’t help but notice the amazing ability of French girls to wear tons of neutral shades in one outfit without a single splash of color. Admirable though this feat may have been, it always inspired in me a certain gloom. I occasionally find myself falling prey to this bland outfit recipe. Today is a perfect example. This sweater, which I bought during the seasonal sales in Bordeaux, is actually the same shade as this skirt, which I picked off a rack in my favorite secondhand store this summer, even though the picture makes them look different. I think the near exact pairing of these shades is the only reason this outfit even comes close to working. I’m still not sure if it does.
I also couldn’t decide whether I liked the cardigan tucked in and buttoned or open and not tucked in. What do you think?
Sweater, Kookaï; cardigan, Gap; belt, Forever 21; skirt, thrifted Liz Claiborne; tights, Express; headband, drugstore.
I recently bought my very first trench coat, and I already adore all of the fun outfits I can make with it! This morning all of the roads were covered in a thin sheet of ice. I had to take my car to be serviced and didn’t have time to wash my hair, so I resorted to an old high school standby - the ponytail. I always wrap several strands of hair around the ponytail holder to hide it, making it a slightly-more-chic-than-average ponytail. Or at least, that’s how I justify the lack of effort.
I really love this outfit because it’s a little bit gamine because of the striped shirt, a little bit beatnik (this picture doesn’t show my cowboy boots tucked into cuffed jeans), and the high ponytail and neckerchief make it just a little bit 1960’s mod. It’s also undeniably comfy and laid back.
On a weather-related note (I know, fashion bloggers are always on about the weather, but it does have a lot to do with how we dress), I’m so sick of this rainy/sleety cold without snow. I don’t even care whether we get spring or more winter because I’d be just as happy to pull out skirts and dresses and pretty ballerina flats as I would be to squeeze my multiple pairs of socks back into snow boots. I just want something more inspiring than this dull, wet gray and brown landscape.
Trench and jeans, Gap; striped tee, borrowed from Mama’s closet; neckerchief, secondhand.
Even nannies get a snow day every now and then!
Normally snow days would mean extra hours at work, but today I scored a bonus afternoon off when the snow caused plumbing to freeze at one of my employers’ offices. Having left the kids in the care of their parents, I’m looking forward to a productive afternoon of the very grown-up sort: paying bills, re-organizing various spaces in my bedroom, reading my new French poetry book (thanks, Micah!), and maybe even working on a DIY project.
On a brief fashion note, would you believe I found this amazing silver and turquoise pendant in the trash in Bordeaux?! Best cheap jewelry find ever. Also, this sweet little top has woodland creatures on it, which feels especially cute and perfect on a magical snowy day like today.
Stay cozy!
Top, Anthropologie; cardigan, Free People via Gabriel Brothers; necklace, secondhand; earrings, Forever 21; jeans, Gap.
This post is way overdue, especially considering how many adorable outfits I put together over the holidays but failed to photograph. One of my favorites, worn to a family holiday party, was a remix of today’s outfit, with the same black jumper and tights, but paired with a wool blazer and brown suede booties.
This little black cotton jumper, which I thrifted with Jessica last fall, is a perfect example of a really versatile piece that will survive the great wardrobe clean-up. For the Christmas party in December, I dressed it up a lot, but today it feels really comfy for this snowy day. It’s best features are its Madeline-esque bell shape and pockets, which are perfect for keeping my hands toasty, or for storing bobby pins of tiny things the kids hand me throughout the day, like gum wrappers and Playmobile pistols.
Black jumper, American Eagle via Plato’s Closet; sweater, Anthropologie; beret, United Colors of Benetton; scarf, TJ Maxx via Mama’s closet; tights, Express via Gabriel Brothers; black booties, Texto.
