Blame it on the Weather

I have let myself go. There, I said it out loud. I haven’t worn make-up in a month. My hair is not only grown out but badly in need of a cut (I do have an appointment scheduled – two weeks from now. Whoops.). My nails have seen better days. (Also have plans to get a mani/pedi, so it’s in the works.) I never let myself get like this… I blame the cold weather.

So on Thanksgiving this realization came to a head as I almost threw on a cashmere sweater and black jeans and realized – I have a closet full of dresses, maybe I should do something with them. I keep defaulting to college chic on the weekends (leggings, riding boots/wedge sneakers and a North Face) – and sometimes to work, too. If I do put on real clothes, all I’ve wanted to wear is black. My only motivation to do things comes in the form of drinking tea and running (at least I have that still, right?).

So here it is – I’m going to rebel against the terrible weather and start looking cute again. In the meantime, here are some pictures where my outfit is cute but I am ugly. Oh, and my tights are sparkly but you can’t tell.

 

Pop of color does not make up for my terrible personal appearance.

 

Not sold on this dress… what do you think?

 

Get my look:
Dress: Fit & Flare Sweater Dress – American Eagle Outfitters (currently sold out)
Coat: Wool Moto Coat – American Eagle Outfitters
Scarf: Cashmere Woven Scarf – Marc Jacobs
Tights: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Booties: Coconuts – Goldrush

Chat with me:
Do you ever let yourself go in the Winter?

Vested Interest

Last weekend I went to visit one of my closest friends from home, Jessi, in Chicago. The first time I ever knew she existed was when her boyfriend at the time met me and said “You look just like my girlfriend”. The first time my mother met Jessi was at some tennis event (that I was not present at) and she saw her from behind, grabbed her, and asked why she wasn’t at work, thinking she was me. (She would also get us confused in passing at my house if one of us walked by quickly). People always ask if we are sister and Jessi always replies yes so I play along with it.

She hates photos (unlike me) but here is one of us I forced her to take in San Diego when she took me to the zoo to see koalas and feel better about my life this January. She moved from San Diego to Chicago a few months ago to finish school and live with her boyfriend, whom I love for the record. (Thanks for sleeping on the couch and giving me the bed, Alex.)

 

Me and Jessi.

So in case you didn’t know I’m a closet history nerd. I love museums. I mean, I guess I like history in the sense that I’m into the human geography aspect of it all – more anthropology (and also into Anthropologie, the store) than anything. History of Costume was definitely my favorite class in the Fashion aspect of my college career. Jessi took me to the Field Museum which I haven’t been to since I was a little girl and my grandmother and I went to Chicago to go to The American Girl Place before there were multiple locations (you can see why I am the way I am). I couldn’t remember why I loved it so much until I remembered the Titanic exhibition during the height of Titanic fever.

It was cold and windy and miserable all weekend, so I guess typical Chicago-Midwest-Winter in general weather. I try not to wear this fur vest when it’s raining because no one wants matted fur but it hadn’t seen the light of day in months so I brought it out.

Also – fun to note – this is what I look like after being in the rain trying to hail a cab (thank God for Uber Chicago) and with no make-up on. I haven’t worn make-up for two weeks! I need to get my life together.

 

I’m going to find myself on a “worst fashion blog poses” Tumblr someday (DON’T steal that idea).

 

Checking the time… WHERE IS MY UBER CAR?

 

Get my look:
Vest: American Eagle Outfitters (old)
Jeans: DL1961 – Emma
Top: American Eagle Outfitters – Easy Dolman T
Boots: Sam & Libby – Paxton Strappy Ankle Boots (from Target – yeah, I’m as shocked as you are. My first Target clothing purchase basically ever, minus a Thakoon bikini.)

Chat with me:
What Thanksgiving food are you most excited for? Thanksgiving gives me a lot of anxiety.

Traveling Style

My biggest pet peeve in life is people wearing sweatpants at the airport. You’re getting on an airplane, not sitting on your couch watching Lifetime. If you’re on a transoceanic flight, sure, throw some sweats in your bag and change on the plane. Change back into real clothes before you deplane.

I have never worn sweat pants or yoga pants to the airport. I typically wear heels (well, at least wedges) to the airport. I attribute part of this to the fact that my family is all about wearing real clothes. One time in middle school I tried to wear some cute Hollister sweatpants (I WAS IN EIGHTH GRADE GIVE ME A BREAK) to school – both of my parents promptly stopped me and told me to go put on real clothes. My mother never really allowed me to wear sweatshirts out more than one day a week. When you get down to it, my parents honestly did a great job raising me to be a functioning, presentable adult human being. I grew up in Southern West Virginia. Things could have ended bad for me in the fashion department.   (Thankfully my parents were transplants and I was born in PA – arguably a step up).

I am all about non-blue jean denim pants right now. The advent of fashionable silk pants is really paramount to my soft dressing phase that I’m going through right now. These pants are perfect for the airport not just because they are comfy but because they don’t wrinkle – just like this linen top (I LOVE linen)! No one wants to feel like a ragamuffin headed to dinner after spending a few hours traveling on a Friday evening.

You will look like a ragamuffin if you don’t do your hair or make-up after a 16 hour day as seen below.

 

New city, new pose.

 

TWO photos. It’s getting real.

 

Get my look:
Top: Madewell (old)
Pants: Aerie – Day to Night Printed Silky Pant
Shoes: Coconuts – Goldrush
Jacket: Nordstrom – Kenna-T Essential Leather Moto Jacket
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff – Mini MAC in Hunter Green

 

Chat with me:
What are your fashion pet peeves?

Thoughts on High-Low

I love high-low. I’ve had people tell me that when they think about my style, they think high-low because I wear it so much. I just love the idea of it – it feels so elegant, so chic.

One of the few times I have dragged a boyfriend into a store (Brandy Melville, of course), I made him give me his opinion of everything. I have a hard time with the difference between girl hot and boy hot – I always dress for other girls, not boys. Blame it on my fashion degree and working in retail – I have to keep up with other attractive girls. Plus dressing girl hot just makes me feel better about myself. Back to the point – the one thing he LOVED was a high-low skirt.

I bought this dress over the summer. I couldn’t find a plain black high-low skirt that I loved so I thought – just buy a black high-low dress and wear a top with it… which I have never done, of course. It hasn’t seen much wear – one ill-fated evening that potentially ended in Little Haiti in Brooklyn (disclaimer: the part of Brooklyn I was in is not in fact Little Haiti, and after revisiting in the daytime, is actually quite nice – but after a bottle or two of champagne one or two Haitian flags gets your imagination running) at the beginning of Summer and then again in July. Since then it has sat sadly in my closet, seemingly too-dressy for work.

This outfit started innocently enough – on my morning run I realized it was going to be a warm day which to me says “LAST CHANCE TO BARE YOUR LEGS” for the hundredth time this year. I typically think about what I’m going to wear for the day while running. When you’re running six miles in the morning you need something to think about besides breakfast and how cozy your bed is. I couldn’t decide what top to wear with it (since it was too cold to go spaghetti-strap) and thought – scarf. Chic.

 

High-Low ’til I Die-O.

 

Get my look:
Dress: Nordstrom – Mimi Chica Black Stripe High-Low Dress
Scarf: United Colors of Benneton (super old – think freshman year of college ~2007 old)
Shoes: Sam Edelman – Salina

 

Chat with me:
1) Thoughts on high-low: go.
2) Where is the craziest place you have ever ended up? Mine is not in fact imaginary Little Haiti, but instead Snake Alley in Tapei, but that story is for another day.

So, You Need a Last Minute Halloween Costume

I’m bad at Halloween, I’m the first to admit that. Okay, maybe not bad – but not epic. I have a friend at work who was a cat dressed as a shark riding a Roomba – she epically won Halloween. The best part about being an adult – you don’t have to dress slutty for Halloween.

The past few six years my Halloween has been lackluster. Freshman year – freshly dumped, didn’t even dress up, sat moping with a Little Red Riding Hood costume unused. Sophomore year – some fraternity party with my pledge class dressed as a forgettable Cleopatra. Junior year – sloppy Mad Hatter (I was trying to be slutty and failing). Senior year – kind of cool Friday night in a group costume with my roommates as the Alcohol Board of Control (ABC) then lame and cold Saturday and Sunday as Sandy from Grease and a slutty Indian from the Village People in a group costume with my roommates (three days of Halloween with a different costume every night is just too much). 2011 – my boyfriend was an accountant and it was month end so we made margaritas and I fell asleep in the first 10 minutes of a scary movie. Last year – freshly dumped, but Carmen San Diego, so at least I finally had a cute/funny costume.

This year Halloween snuck up on me. I don’t know what I was doing for most of October but coming up and making a Halloween costume just didn’t happen. My only true Halloween costume-requiring plans was my boss’s Halloween party this past weekend, so because I’m  trying to save money spent three thousand dollars on a new computer, I decided to be culturally relevant with what I had on hand/could buy from Forever21. I originally thought about being Miley Cyrus but according to everyone ever, 87% of girls were Miley for Halloween so I dodged that bullet.

Now… without further ado: How to Be Prancersize for Halloween.

Gotta prancersize before you romancersize.

Do I look crazy enough to be the Prancercize girl?

 

Get the look:
Jacket – Silence & Noise Ex-Boyfriend Blazer (also seen here)
Pants – Jegging – American Eagle Outffitters
Tank – H&M
“Ankle Weights” – my dad’s black socks bunched up around my ankles.
Shoes – Hidden Wedge Sneaker – American Eagle Outfitters

If you want to go real Prancersize, get a plastic jewel necklace in white and get a pink/coral blazer that buttons or zips up. I just realized I had a pink one and decided I didn’t feel like looking for/buying a different one.

Pin your hair back into a bob if you don’t have one. I literally just put my hair into a bun with my hands and pinned it really lightly and pulled out the front pieces. Watch a Youtube tutorial, you’ll figure it out. The key to the whole look is make-up though. You need a smokey eye, dark lip, and a ton of bronzer. Go head, girl, get down with a Prancersize Halloween costume.

Chat with me:
Halloween – love it or over-rated? What did you dress up as this year?

So, You Don’t Know About Soft Dressing

Have you heard all the buzz on soft dressing? If not, you’re two years behind the time because that moment is almost up anyway. Soft dressing is all about that Southern European easy fashion – flowy, sheer, chic. I’m a big proponent of soft dressing in the spring/summer because I don’t like wearing clothes so easy-breezy makes me feel like I’m not.

Please forgive I look slightly rough in this photo. It’s possible I had been crying that day (HEY, I’m almost getting it together, give me a break) or just exhausted or probably both. I don’t remember, this look is two weeks old (sorry).

The pants are these great new cotton pants from American Eagle Outfitters. I used to be super against any pants but jeans (and leggings) but then randomly bought these great linen cargos from J Crew a couple years ago and realized I love pants that are also not jeans. I love how they have elastic at the bottom so they are great for shorties (albeit leggy shorties) like myself and you can show off some cute heels or wedges in warmer weather.

I love a good bralette or bandeau (because I don’t believe in real bras in the summer… or usually ever) matched back to a razorback tank and that is the epitome of soft dressing to me. Paired with a cute kimono from Brandy Melville and I look Italian-chic, no?

 

Soft Dressing 101

 

Get my look:
Kimono: Brandy Melville – Alexis Kimono Top (similar)
Tank: American Eagle Outfitters – AE Every Wear Tank
Bandeau: Aerie – Signature Lace Bralette
Pants: American Eagle Outfitters (sold out online, available in select stores)
Shoes: DV by Dolce Vita – Tremor

 

Chat with me:
My go-to style is soft dressing. What is yours?

So Long, Sweet Summer

I know, Summer has been over (officially) for almost a month now. I am the kind of person who goes bare-legged as soon as it is over 65 degrees so naturally while we’ve been enjoying this Indian Summer, I’ve been enjoying continuing to not wear pants.

I was at Madewell a few days before this photo was taken,  trying to not buy everything in the store (per usual). My friend recognized the girl working from her fashion blog (Tye from Lagelle) and we all started chatting about blogging and Pittsburgh, etc. I tried on this great camel colored sweater (not shown, obvi, but to be shown at a later date) and she suggested this skirt! I needed a new skirt to add to my wardrobe that was work appropriate and this was a perfect match.

I decided to go chambray because we all know what company I work for. (Womp womp.) I also really need to work on dressing in things that fit better (i.e. aren’t too big) because this shirt looks kind of awful buttoned up in this photo. My Kate Spade cross-body (an after-Hawaii purchase meant to brighten my mood but really didn’t until I got a million compliments on it) added a POC (pop of color). I also decided to try that whole booties with skirt thing and loved how it turned out.

Thanks to my darling cousin Jaimie who took these photos and listened to me whine about my life on this day. (Hence why my smile is so fake.)

 

Last chance to lose your keys bare your legs.

Get my look:Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters – AE Chambray Shirt (similar)
Skirt: Madewell – Dot Pleat Mini
Bag: Kate Spade – Essex Scout
Booties: DV by Dolce Vita – Maeve
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban – New Wayfarer

Chat with me:
Do you know the song I’m referencing in the photo caption?

What is the saddest part of summer ending for you?

How About Dem Apples?

We had a bout of beautiful weather this week, culminating in cold and a rain storm that kept me from going on a run this morning.

My must-do fall activity every year is apple picking. I’m over carving pumpkins (too messy) and going on hayrides (too many sorority hayride blurry memories), so basically all that’s left for me are apples. I love baking and also apples are my current favorite snack so it’s a win-win for everyone.

I went to Simmons Farm after I spent over an hour trying to find another farm to pick apples at because I’ve been to Simmons Farm for four consecutive Falls now. And I realized that is because it is the only farm in the Pittsburgh area that has pick-your-own apples. I thought I lived a stones-throw from Pennsyltucky AKA farm country so I’m really confused about the lack of pick your own farms.

So anyway it was a really beautiful day so I took advantage and wore some things I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to wear again until next year. Which I have been doing since mid-August so basically at this rate I’ll never have to give any of my favorite Summer clothes up. I felt like I should wear close-toed shoes because you don’t know what kind of dirt or critters are around apple trees. Last year I looked super cute because it was cold so I wore my riding boots and North Face and looked sorority chic.

I wore these shorts to work a couple weeks ago (with a pretty breezy, sheer top) and a friend commented that my shorts were really long that day. Don’t think this length is normal for me.

 

Taste-testing the apples to make sure they are ripe enough. That’s a thing, right?

 

I think I’m going to give up my career and become a professional apple picker.

 

Love the back detail of this shirt!

Get my look:
Top: Madewell (from Spring)
Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters – AE Destroyed Boyfit Midi Shorts
Shoes: Keds – Keds Champion Original Sneakers (similar)

 

Chat with me:
What’s your favorite Fall activity?

Monochromatic

This again is another outfit I didn’t plan on featuring but I kept getting a lot of compliments on it all day. I was down in the photo studio and one of the photographers asked to take my portrait, so I said yes if he would also grab a shot or two of my outfit. The light was really good that day, so I’m not going to lie to myself and pretend he asked to photograph me because I looked great.

These jeans made me nervous to get into. I forgot I had them (probably selectively) because they fit a little stiff even when I was skinnier last year so I decided to do a gut check (pun not intended) and wear them last week. They were a little tight but still fit and didn’t look awful so I paired them with a plain grey T (that I also don’t wear a lot because I only like linen Ts) and an infinity scarf in a darker color to bring everything together.

What’s interesting about this entire outfit is my shoes – I get SO many compliments on them. They are really cute and I’m glad I bought them and broke them in because they are pretty comfy now but they are a little torn up from hitting them on things (probably after a couple glasses of wine or because I’m generally klutzy). People don’t notice or don’t care, I guess.

Photos continuously getting better!

Get my look:
Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters – Skinny
Top: J Crew – Vintage Cotton V-Neck T
Scarf: Brandy Melville – Reese Scarf
Shoes: Sam Edelman – Katie Jupp

Chat with me:Are you clumsy? Do you have baby deer syndrome (can’t stand up) when you have a drink?

Rich & Skinny [Jeans]

Looking at these photos, this isn’t the most flattering shirt. It’s cute, yes, but it’s a little boxy. I definitely remember thinking that in the fitting room trying it on, but I was having a day and just needed to spend money so I bought it. I decided to mix prints a little bit and pair these with my favorite cheetah booties. I have never gotten more compliments on a pair of shoes. I’ve worn them so much the cheetah is wearing out on the side but I just continue rocking them weekly.

But… on to the main event, the jeans. These jeans are my favorite. They were a little more flattering when I wasn’t running as much and my legs were more stick then toned, but as long as they fit I still love them. I don’t love the super-muscular look in jeans. I actually bought them after a run super randomly in San Francisco around this time last year at Industrie Denim.

There is something to be said about good jeans. People may scoff at $200 jeans, but if you think of how much you’re going to wear them (I wear these jeans at least once a week September through May), the price per wear goes way down. (Disclaimer: these weren’t quite $200.)

I started dabbling in designer denim over two years ago when I graduated from college and started losing my Freshman Thirty Fifteen. Suddenly my jeans were falling down at work. I was so frustrated I ran across the street and bought a pair two sizes down. Feeling victorious, I ventured to Nordstrom a few days later and bought my first pair of Seven For All Mankind. I scoured Rue La La and started stocking up on more premium denim. There’s something about premium denim… they don’t stretch out, they don’t fade, and they just fit perfectly. If you’re going to spend big bucks on one article of clothing (considering shoes their own category), spend it on good jeans.

Last year on my infamous San Fran run that ended at Industrie Denim, I tried on these Rich & Skinny ankle jeans and I’ve never been more in love with a pair of jeans. Industrie even has a “Booty Cam” that shows your butt on a closed-circuit TV to ensure you have the perfect fit. Note these are ankle jeans with a dolphin hem but fit me perfectly. I wake up and thank God every day that even though I’m short, I’m leggy for being 5 feet tall. There’s nothing worse in life than being short with short legs. I wish I had a longer torso and 3-4 inches every day, but until that happens, I’ll take the small victories.

Channeling Orange is the New Black in my stripes.

Open-back detailing and wondering what people are doing running in the afternoon.

Cheetah is the new neutral.

Get my look:
Top: American Eagle Outfitters
Jeans: Rich & Skinny
Booties: Sam Edelman “Salina”

Chat with me:
Do you buy expensive jeans? Do you think they are worth the price?