When:
November 26, 2009

What
Dress: The Nantucket Dress, Shabby Apple
Shoes: Marc Jacobs via Buffalo Exchange
Necklace: F21

Where:

Thanksgiving at my parent’s house in Boston!

Why:

I have been dying to wear this dress for MONTHS, and I am so excited I finally had a good reason/event to wear it to.

I love this dress, for it’s LBD qualities, AND for the vintage feel of the silhouette. I paired it with my favorite thrift find ever, a pair of barely worn velvet yellow Marc Jacobs pumps!

We had a lovely dinner at my parent’s house with my boyfriend and extended family. The food was amazing, and I think we all had an amazing time. Everything from my mom’s bourbon slushies, to our annual family game of pig, it was all perfect. This whole weekend has been a great time to relax, take a break from the craziness of life, and really think about all the things in my life I have been blessed with this year.

Everything from this blog, to all of my friends and family and their constant support, to my wonderful boyfriend and his loving family, to my new job, beautiful apartment, and the countless blessings and challenges I receive everyday. I am very blessed and very thankful. Thinking about it all makes me very excited for new year!

When:
November 25, 2009

What
Dress: Vintage via The Garment Room
Cardigan: Zara
Belt: Ralph Lauren
Tights: Free People
Necklace: Vintage
Boots: Steve Madden
Sunnies: Urban Outfitters

Where:

Work, a bus ride to Boston for Thanksgiving weekend!

Why:

I have been dying to wear this vintage beauty since I found it last weekend. I wanted to add a bit of color and a dressy look to my comfortable and casual short work week.

I layered for warm, although the silk dress and thick tights kept me pretty warm without a sweater. The boots are for easy walking and comfort. And the belt is to cinch me in and keep a natural waist, as the dress is a tad big and flowy.

This look is a little different from most of my “travel” looks, but I like the idea of dressing up to travel. There is something so charming about looking classy and put-together as you run through an airport (or bus terminal, in my case) toting a set of matching luggage… I don’t know, I just like that image. What do you wear to travel?

When:
November 23, 2009

What
Sweater: Vintage via The Garment Room
Jeans: Uniglo
Boots: Ralph Lauren
Necklace: Souvenir
Posey Bracelet: Katheryn Riechert via Shop SCAD
Sunnies: Free People

Where:

Work

Why:

Today I felt like straightening my hair.

I felt like wearing one of my cozy new vintage finds (dolman sleeve, shawl-neck, awesomeness for the win!).

I felt like wearing overly reflective aviators (say hello to Jake’s reflection).

I felt like laughing and smiling through my morning pictures… all because I felt happy.

Today I just did what I wanted. I approached the week feeling bright and refreshed and ready to tackle a short work week and run home to Boston to be with my family.

So there you have it. I let my attitude choose my outfit this morning.

I’m glad I have these pictures to remember how I wanted to start the week, with my best foot forward. It helps to see how positive your outlook was at the begining of the day; especially when you get home late, exhausted, hungry, and feeling a bit down about yourself and your performance that day.

Today, all I needed to do was look at how happy and goofy I was this morning, and it seemed to make all of the days troubles melt away.

I bury the events and feelings of the day with a positive blog post, a cup of peppermint roobios tea, and some much needed laughs with my boyfriend and my parents (via the phone).

Remember to always put your best foot forward in everything you do. Every day is a learning experience. Every event is a lesson, intended to help you become a better person. I keep reminding myself that just because I didn’t get it right today, doesn’t mean I wont excel tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a blank slate, a new page, a fresh beginning… and one day closer to my Thanksgiving holiday in Boston!

When:
November 22, 2009

What
Blouse: Liz Claiborne, Vintage
Skirt:  Lulu’s
Tights: Nicole Miller
Boots: Ralph Lauren
Pea-coat: Barney’s New York, Consignment
Sunnies: Urban Outfitters

Where:

On an adventure.

Why:

Every weekend, without fail, Jake and I will look at each other and one of us will say “let’s go on an adventure today!”.

Today was my turn to scream “LET’S GO ON AN ADVENTURE”!

With a short list of errands in Williamsburg and Midtown to attend to, our adventure had no limits, so I went for a colorful and fun outfit. I paired one of my favorite vintage plaid blouses with a flirty skirt, bright tights, and sleek boots to ground the outfit with a more mature look.

I had a fun day, and loved playing with colorful tights instead of relying on the comfort of jeans for an easy weekend look.

Tags: adventure, Daily Outfit, sunday, Vintage

When:
November 21, 2009

What
Dress: Anthropologie
Cardigan: JCrew
Tights: Free People
Boots: Steve Madden
Necklace: Forever 21
Sunnies: Urban Outfitters

Where:

A day of vintage shopping and catching up with Pamela from Market Publique.

Why:

I have been dying to break this dress out of my closet and parade it around town.

I love the fit, the overall look, even the architectural structure of the slight “oompa loompa” pointy hips (I push them in, fold them under, and use as pockets).

I added tights for textured, layered a cardigan for warmth, and the brown boots add a pop of casual color to a LBD that took me from day to night.

Pamela and I had an extensive list of sales, pop-ups, and parties to hit up on Saturday, so I knew I needed something versatile, dressy, and interesting enough to look appropriate for any occasion.

Haven’t you heard of being prepared for anything? Well thank goodness I was because the day took us into night and beyond.

I even pulled a little switcher-roo late in the evening and dropped my trench coat for a B&W plaid mohair cape-let/shawl I snatched up that afternoon (pictures and outfits to hopefully come soon).

All in all I had an amazing day, and this dress made me feel girly and stylish the whole time.

I love versatile, comfortable clothing! How was your Saturday?

Tags: anthropologie, boots, cardigan, Daily Outfit, LBD, Pop Up, sale, saturday, steve madden, trenchcoat, Vintage

I (usually) keep a moleskin nearby at all times for when inspiration strikes. You never know when you’ll get the urge to sketch, write a stream of consciousness, or jot down an inspirational quote.

I think we all have little rituals like this (tearing out magazine images, articles, doodling, scrap-booking, blogging, etc.) that help us unwind and mentally digest our thoughts.

Well, over the past year (especially the past few months) my life has changed so drastically, and gotten so busy, that I fear I have forgotten to make the time for myself to practice these little rituals.

I have piles of magazines that need to be torn up, and I can’t remember the last time I wrote in a personal journal, or sketched just for practice.

Tonight I got off work 3 hours earlier than “normal”. I relished the opportunity to be home before 9pm, knowing I had a good 3-4 hours before my boyfriend got home.

So, I made a little dinner, lit candles throughout the apartment, made of mug of hot cider, and sat down to write in my journal.

I received this particular moleskin as a birthday gift nearly 2 years ago (makes me feel old), and the first thing I did upon receiving it was flip to a random page in the middle and write down this quote:

“Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regret, so love the people who treat you right, and forget about the ones who don’t. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”

- Unknown

I found this “random” page tonight because it just so happened to be the next blank page to write in.

I don’t know/can’t find where I originally discovered this quote (if any of you do please share!) But I love it. It really sums up how I try/want to live my life.

I don’t know where I am going with this post (I don’t have a daily outfit), but I thought it was important to remind myself (and all of you) how vital these little moments of “personal” time are.

Not only for mental health, but also to help give some perspective and inspiration; to help us to clear our thoughts and really get down to reason we are here, and why what we do what we do every day.

I may complain about coming home late, not seeing my friends enough, not having enough time to go to the gym, etc. But at the end of the day and I am really happy with my life right now. I am exactly where I need to be (even though I’m not sure where that is).

All I know is I am grateful for the time I do have to sit, blog, and sip a cup of tea at night. And I am grateful for the opportunity to prove myself, challenge myself, and learn every day.

I never thought life post-college would be this way, or that it would be so hard to get my career off the ground. But at least I know I am trying my hardest; while trying to enjoy the journey.

This brings me to another favorite quote of mine… this song lyric always helps to keep those tough days in perspective:

“I don’t know where I am, don’t know where I’ve been; but I know where I want to go”

-Bright Eyes, “First Day of My Life”

Hope you all have an amazing week!

When:
November 17, 2009

What
Skirt: French Connection
V Neck T Shirt: Old Navy
Yellow Cardigan: J Crew
Grey Cardigan: Zara
Double Wrap Belt: Banana Republic
Purple Tights: Nicole Miller
Boots: Ralph Lauren

Where:

Work

Why:

I wanted to wear some color AND a skirt, so here you have it. I also thought it was time to break out this beauty again.

I love this skirt, and I am not sure why. The bright and digital/geometric print is so NOT characteristically me. But I keep wanting to wear it, so I broke it out today to brighten my mood.

I paired it with a bright cardigan and really liked the look, but after taking a few photos began to feel self conscious that the colors might be too much for my cozy, comfy, black and grey donning co-workers. I would shine in the office like a brand new highlighter (not like thats a bad thing…)

I decided to try tuning down the energy of the outfit with a grey cardi from Zara. Which look do you like best?

When:
November 16, 2009

What
Jeans: Uniglo
Sweater: Banana Republic
Blazer: Calvin Klein
Boots: Steve Madden

Where:

Work

Why:

I don’t know why these photos came out so grey and gloomy. It wasn’t raining out. I wasn’t in a bad mood. I just don’t know, guess the tripod has a mind of it’s own.

So another simple outfit from me, once again. AHHHH I really don’t like it, I’m sorry. I was talking to my mom tonight and even she said it looks like all I wear to work is a tee shirt and jeans. That’s not what I want at all, so I suppose I need to work on getting enough sleep in order to be creative enough in the morning to find outfits that work with the physical demands on my day.

To be honest, after you’ve been at the office for 11 hours, you just want to be cozy. That must be why I keep reaching for these simple basics. Anyways, there you go… my Monday outfit.

When:
November 14, 2009

What
Skirt: Kensie
Blouse: Twelve by Twelve
Tank Top: Express
Tights: CVS?
Necklace: Souvenir from Paris
Booties: Calvin Klein

Where:

Birthday Party in Tribeca

Why:

Not only has it been a while since I uploaded something to this blog (so sorry about that), but it seems like FOREVER since I have been out to socialize with my friends.

Well, I made a special effort Saturday to meet up with my dear friend (and ex-roomie) Leslie. I stayed with Leslie when I first moved to New York, and sublet her apartment while she backpacked through Africa for three months (extremely jealous). Her kindness and generosity is one of the reasons I am even in New York today, and she is one of my oldest and best friends that I still keep in touch with from college.

Anyways, I had to make an effort to meet up with her, her sister, and some college friends for drinks in Tribeca. Since I haven’t been dressing up for work lately, I wanted to go all out and wear heels, a dress, the works.

I layered this long tunic blouse over a skirt and tank top, and added the tights for modesty and warmth. I really like how it turned out, and have already been inspired to re-mix this look with more practical footwear for a work day! So watch out, there might be an outfit repeat in my near future.

What’s your favorite thing to wear for a night on the town?

When:
November 13, 2009

What
Jeans: Uniglo
Tee: Old Navy
Cardigan: Eddie Bauer, Thrifted
Scarf: Thrifted
Necklace: Vintage
Bracelet: ?
Sunnies: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Steve Madden

Where:

Work… TGIF

Why:

Friday the 13th called for comfort and easy. It was rather breezy this morning, which led to a little goofing around while taking my morning pictures.

I tried to recreate a cool outfit that inspired me on the subway… don’t know how well I did it, but at least I like it.

I like the contrast of brown and black, and the pop of green color in the scarf. Nothing too special, just me goofing around in the wind on a Friday morning.