La Vie Quotidienne

1. Ceiling light in my bedroom.
2. Pile of items that seems to define my life right now: September issue of Vogue, some issue of Lucky (the only fashion magazine I actually read ritually), American history textbook, trusty college guide, sheet music for the hymn I sing in Our Town, yet unopened pack of Polaroid film, and some Polaroids I took on Friday when my musically inclined friends played a gig. (Both the photos and the music were stellar.)
3. Two of the more artsy shots I snapped. The film is way expired, probably by about five years, but I like the old quality it gives the pictures.
4-5. My bookshelf, which is much too small to properly shelve all of my books. (Note the double copies of Catcher in the Rye! I just reread it, and rerealized its magnificence.)
6. Cartoon and three poems clipped from The New Yorker, all many months old, that are taped right above my bed.
7. Venetian mask decorated in lace, Swarovski crystals, and gold paint that I bought in Rome last December. Probably my favorite souvenir I have ever bought anywhere.
8. Monet print that I got in Giverny. I loved it enough to actually get it framed!
9. Deliciously soft J.Crew sweater that I stole from Luke and have been living in lately.
10. My new poetry pad. Like I mentioned previously, I have developed a fondness for writing on legal pads.

I realize that you (or at least most of you) are here for fashion related reasons, but these are the things that I see and touch an am inspired by every day, in addition to fashion.

I am unsure whether this sort of post warrants a tag or not... but I would be so happy if Emmy, Sylvia, Frances, Jessica, Rebecca, Vanessa, and any other readers wanted to show a few snapshots of your daily life!

Double Denim

Vintage blazer, Gap tee, Current/Elliott The Legging jeans, vintage boots, Urban Outfitters charm necklace and other random jewelry; Ralph Lauren oxford, thrifted Forever 21 jeans, vintage Frye boots, borrowed belt and cuff, gifted ring

What I wore on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I won the Current/Elliott jeans from a giveaway on Fashion + Geometry, and due to some sizing issues and necessary exchanges they arrived at long last on Monday. Aside from being the most expensive article of clothing that I own, they are tissue thin, deliciously soft, and a perfect fit. I never really considered myself a designer jeans kind of girl, but I love them. Thanks again to Nora and the Chickdowntown ladies for being so sweet and accommodating!

I discovered the second pair of jeans while volunteering at the thrift shop (which, by the way, might be the sweetest gig I have ever scored). Working there three days a week means that I theoretically get dibs on the news items that come in, which is how I scored these jeans - and for five dollars, no less! After careful examination, I have decided that they're the perfect shade of blue.

This morning I toured Brown University with Sylvia. It was only my first college visit, but I might just be in love.

P.S. Three cheers to fifty followers. You guys make me really happy.

C

This, thanks in very large part to all of you and your amazing support, is my one hundredth post.

I honestly could not imagine I would have continued with this blog very long had it not been for all of the kindness, sincerity, and inspiration I have felt since I began. So to kick off the big one zero zero, I just wanted to say the most enormous thank you to anyone who has ever read my blog, left me a comment, given me an award, or even just dropped by for a quick look. You guys make me feel all warm and fuzzy.

To celebrate the big centennial, I have spent the past few weeks compiling a list of one hundred things that I love. Silly and sincere, material and emotional, related to blogging or not, it's all in here. So here you go, in no particular order, those things in life that always make me smile, that simply by existing have made my world a happier place to be.

(P.S. All photos from weheartit unless otherwise stated)

100 Things I Love

Vintage granny sweaters. Obviously.
Completing a poem. Writing one, I mean. It's honestly the most satisfying feeling in the world.
Candles. Beautiful and romantic. Plus, matches are so much fun to light.
White Hanes tees. There are few things more perfect in their simplicity than a plain Hanes undershirt.
Soy chai lattes. So yummy, especially on cold rainy days. Starbucks just knows how to do it.

Red lipstick. I like to wear it when I audition for things. It makes me feel glamorous and not completely myself (in a good way).
Getting dressed up for no reason. Complete with jewelry and fancy shoes. It just makes me feel good!
The fresh, earthy smell of everything after a huge rainstorm. Undoubtedly one of the most refreshing and intoxicating smells ever.
Discovering a song that I cannot get enough of. Most recently, "Nightswimming" by R.E.M. and "Man in a Shed" by Nick Drake.
Going to concerts. Seeing live music is so invigorating. This was at Death Cab for Cutie, probably the best concert I have attended.

Eating breakfast for dinner. Especially at diners.
Discussing Harry Potter at length. It never gets old, and probably never will.
The smell of new books. Crispy and clean and delicious.
Yellow legal pads. I used to like writing and doodling in Moleskines, but they started to feel too intimidating. Legal pads are very unassuming and don't judge you when you cross stuff out or splotch ink (which Moleskines definitely do).
Rings. Undoubtedly my favorite variety of jewelry.

Watching the sun rise. Especially after staying up all night. It's so cleansing and tranquil.
Stargazing. A preferred activity of me and my friends, particularly when it starts to get warm out and everything smells delicious and you can hear the crickets.
Going to the movies with my mom. Usually, either we love it or we hate it. The ones we hate sometimes end up being more fun.
Hazelnut gelato. Possibly my favorite edible thing on the entire planet. It's splendiferous.
Musée Marmottan. Probably my favorite museum in Paris, and maybe in the world. The Monet collection is absolutely breathtaking.

A perfectly warm spring twilight. You know the kind. They are exquisite.
Seeing Broadway shows. I always get excited about seeing shows. There is such an amazing energy about a theater right before the lights go down.
Central Park. It completely makes up for the fact that New York City has no other greenery. Seriously, it's the perfect place to do just about anything. Especially take pictures and eat croissants with your best friend.
Visiting art museums. Aside from Marmottan, the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. is probably my favorite museum. It's just the right size and has the most incredibly diverse art collection.
Diner coffee. So bad it's good.
The smell of old books. Decrepit and romantic and delicious.

Kinder Bueno. Hands down the best candy ever. You just can't go wrong with chocolate and hazelnut.
Peppermint tea. I drink it pretty much daily the second the weather starts to cool down. It has this magical quality of either being really invigorating or really relaxing.
Really long, hot showers. My favorite way to relax or avoid thinking about stressful things. It's impossible to be stressed out while taking a deliciously scalding shower.
Doing puzzles. I have always liked them, and for no apparent reason. They're how I keep myself mentally alert during the summer (along with playing Sudoku nonstop).
Finding a great blog. Lately I have been digging Sequin Magazine and Cheap Thrills for their gorgeous, striking photographs.

My room first thing in the morning. Somehow, no matter what the season, I always wake up with my room bathed in this gorgeous, pale light. It's really peaceful.
The first really significant snowfall of the season. That sensation of waking up, burrowed cozily under all my blankets, and just knowing there's this huge blanket of snow outside - it's the most magical thing.
Cilantro. It makes all food better, and the smell is so divine.
Thick, soft towels. There are few things better than wrapping yourself in a lush towel after a shower. These are probably the most luxurious I've ever used, believe it or not.
Staying up all night. Plain, delirious, unexplainable fun.
Plaid. Otherwise known as the best pattern ever. I will never tire of it.

Trying things on in my grandma's closet. I enjoy it as much now as I did when I was little. There's just something very magical about literally stepping into your grandma's shoes and clasping on her glittery jewelry.
Falafel. As you can see here, I always enjoy it. If you've never eaten any, please do so immediately!
A really good closet purge. Whenever I feel painfully uninspired by my clothes, I literally pull everything in my closet off its hanger, try every single item on, and usually end up getting rid of at least half a dozen things. It usually gets my fashion juices flowing again!
Going to the beach on cloudy days. Bundling up in a sweater and jeans and sitting by the ocean is such a lovely, reflective experience.
Making mixed tapes. Bestowing music upon other people makes me incredibly excited. I think making a great playlist is truly an art.

Good hair days. Probably more than most people, I appreciate when my hair behaves.
Lying on really cushy grass. One of my friends has the most incredibly soft lawn. It's amazing. You can definitely tell the difference between an average lawn and a really spectacular one.
Writing essays. I know, this is weird. But I really do enjoy it.
Entertaining reviews of musicians I like. This one in particular stands out. Blender does glorious things.
The following photograph. They're both wearing stripes! It's just too cute! Whoever got these two together, and for such a chummy picture, deserves a really big kiss.

Pictures taken against brick walls. They always seem to have such a raw, spontaneous quality.
Vintage postcards. I bought a ton while I was in Paris that have the most gorgeous old drawings and pictures of different Parisian landmarks, and most of them are written on!
Hershey bars. Chocolate in its simplest form. Pure bliss.
Listening to acoustic guitar. It's just always pretty. Especially when accompanied by poetic male vocals.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Whenever I visit California, it's the first place I go. Their English breakfast tea lattes are so delicious. Please come to the east coast!
Sequins. Always festive and always fitting. Really, when are sequins not okay?

Hugs. Both initiating and receiving them. I honestly think people who dislike hugs are just really strange. I don't understand! What's not to like about a hug?
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf. Though I have yet to get my hands on a bottle, I tried a sample vial once and it's my favorite perfume I have ever used. It's just perfect. Really.
Plain black pumps. I rarely wear heels, mostly because I am never comfortable in them for long, but there is something so irresistible to me about simple black pumps. They're classic and they go with everything - it's about time I got my hands on a pair!
Sex & The City. Not only is it really brilliantly written, but it has the best clothes. On any television show. Ever. It will never be beat. Seriously.
Popovers. Absurdly easy to make, and so delicious under a pile of whipped cream.

Cologne. I have always contemplated wearing cologne because there are some male scents that are just better than any perfumes. Namely, Hermes Eau d'Orange Verte.
Pajamas fresh out of the dryer. Nothing is cozier. Nothing.
America's Next Top Model marathons. Or, as they are so cleverly named, "modelthons."
Trashy eighties music. Like diner coffee, so bad it's good. Lately I have been completely addicted to "Take On Me" by A-Ha. Please listen to it, and prepare for the craziest high notes you will ever hear a man sing.
Camden Market. Definitely my favorite part of London. It has such a raw, incredible energy.

Blazers. As you have probably guessed. I think they are always a perfect finishing touch, and can often turn a plain outfit into an interesting one.
Tartines. Best eaten while actually in France. After hazelnut gelato these are definitely my favorite food.
Katharine Hepburn. As I rhapsodized here, I think she is one of the most incredible women in history: intelligent, confident, poised, stylish, and audacious.
Really great museum exhibitions. Like the Cézanne installation I saw a few months ago in Philadelphia. Earlier this year I also went to an incredible Van Gogh exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Sunsets. I think this needs no elaboration.

Hearing a song I like on the radio. Since most of the music I like is never played on the radio, it feels like finding buried treasure!
Air conditioning. Although sometimes it seems that modern technology has gone too far, air conditioning is not an example of this. It's completely ingenious.
Walking home in the rain. Especially cold rain. It's so refreshing and beautiful.
Chicken fingers. As far as junk food goes, they are world class.
Hedi Slimane photography. I have posted his photos so many times, and I will probably never stop doing so. His shots of Sasha Pivovarova for the April 2008 issue of French Vogue continue to be some of my favorite photographs ever.

Shakespeare & Co. It's hard to describe exactly what I love so much about this tiny bookstore in Paris, but it has such a rich history and I am going to live there when I decide to be a struggling writer in Paris.
Figuring out the reference to an obscurely titled book. Like with The Bell Jar, it's the most satisfying and surprising feeling to come across that little reference to the title.
Pablo Neruda. I do not read a lot of romance poetry, but his writing just makes me starry eyed. It's so unbelievably beautiful.
Peonies. They are the most exquisite and fragrant flower.
Brown leather. Much more so than black. It's softer, earthier, more versatile, and somehow it always feels romantically antique.
The Hazards of Love. Definitely one of my favorite albums in a very long time. I think I spent literally about a month listening to it exclusively. Everything about it blows me away.

Slouchy clothing. Trousers, tees, boots, sweaters... anything.
Playing Solitaire on my computer. I am ace at computer card games. Seriously. They are my favorite distraction from schoolwork.
Hammocks. So lazy and lovely, and they always remind me of summer.
Swimming in my clothes. Another one of those unexplainable things. It's just so much fun.
The word glorious. You have probably figured that out by now. It just always works!
Twinkly white Christmas lights. They just make me so happy, especially wrapped around trellises and trees. It's impossible to be upset while looking at strings of Christmas lights.

Hot tubs during snowfall. There are few things yummier than sitting in an outdoor hot tub while snow is falling lightly.
Indian food. I am a fan of most ethnic food, but Indian is definitely my favorite. All the spices and meats and vegetables... and naan... and my favorite local Indian restaurant has the most incredible rose petal ice cream. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Street style blogs. They are honestly my favorite form of fashion inspiration, far above any fashion magazines or celebrities. Hel Looks is just consistently brilliant.
Camp. I know a lot of people go to summer camp, but mine is literally my favorite place in the world. For real. I spent six summers there and will hopefully return next year as a counselor, and it's hard to put into words exactly what I love about it so much. Mostly, I think I am never as much myself as I am there.
This wedding ring. If I ever decide to get married, I will never wear a traditional ring. This one was posted recently by Valerie from Bleach Black and belongs to her mother. It truly takes my breath away.

Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Definitely a camp thing. It's the ultimate comfort food combination, and always reminds me of being there.
Driving up the California coast. I have only done this once, but it was such a breathtaking experience. If you ever get a chance, definitely take the trip!
Kurt Vonnegut. I think he is one of the greatest storytellers of all time. His favorite book of mine (so far) is Bluebeard, so if you're thinking about picking up some Vonnegut I would definitely recommend that one!
Sitting on docks. Particularly just before the sun starts to set and the water is reflecting the sunlight in the most mesmerizing way.
Sasha Pivovarova for H&M. The ads are youthful, glamorous, and just the right amount of ridiculous, and Sasha is stunning as always.

Boots. Definitely my favorite variety of footwear. Right now I am craving a pair of really short, slouchy ankle boots in a beautiful brown leather.
Silk. Decadent and glamorous. I have too many oversized vintage silk shirts to count, they are such an excellent alternative to plain cotton tees.
Tattoos of stars. Nothing too big and ornate, but I love the look of tiny little stars. In my opinion, Rihanna did it perfectly.
French poetry. I bought so many books of French poetry this summer. It's kind of insane. My favorite is a collection of twenty prose poems by Baudelaire, with translations in English in addition to the original French. His writing is absolutely exquisite.
Marni Autumn/Winter 2009 Ready-to-Wear. This remains one of my favorite collections ever. The impeccable styling, the glitzy jewelry, the rich color palette and lush patterns, the amazingly versatile separates... there is not a single look I dislike.


Again, I just want to say thank you for everything. Here's to another hundred!

JLCBGGRC

Amid the dozens of stunning collections at New York Fashion Week, I have finally pulled together my favorites. Truly almost every collection featured something I liked (especially the glittery blazer at 3.1 Phillip Lim, the fabulous array of slouchy trousers at Ralph Lauren, and those three fluffy dresses that closed the Jason Wu show), but for me these four were extra special.

Julian Louie has shown me the breathtaking power of a monochromatic outfit sans black. The sunset colors in his collection are gorgeous beyond belief, and I think the balance between body conscious and more flowing pieces is just right. Totally digging the vintage-inspired separates in the first two looks, and the construction of that little peach dress is perfect. The girliness of the collection is awesomely spot on: springy and feminine, but with enough cleanly structured pieces to prevent it from looking sickly sweet. Aces!

Chris Benz has created one of the most unapologetically fun and amazingly fresh collections I have seen in a long time. I adore the juxtaposition of elegant forties-inspired pieces (like that perfectly clingy pink dress) with the totally outrageous sequined items, and the fact that the simpler parts of the collection stand up to its glitzy highlights makes Benz's work that much more impressive. Whether I am in the mood for understated or grandiose partywear, something in this collection will fit the bill, which I think is a very rare feat.

Gary Graham pulls off the ethereal, undone Victorian look to the tee. The collection is gorgeous but not quite pretty, thanks to loose pieces and haphazard belting (not to mention those killer black boots). The first four dresses have a fairylike, wood-nymph feel to them that I adore, but my favorite look is the filmy orange corset and cropped black trousers. The riot of sunset colors and slouchy cut of the pants are the perfect counterpoints to the leather boots and sharp structure of the corset. I really love how untrendy and comfortable everything looks.

Rachel Comey is undoubtedly my favorite New York collection this season. It might not be especially groundbreaking or irreverent, but who says great fashion needs to be? (I know, I know, I am completely not cut out to work in the world of high fashion. I apologize for just liking pretty clothes. Actually, wait... I don't apologize!) In judging how much I like a collection, my criteria are stupidly simple: are the clothes pleasing to the eye, and would I wear them? In the case of Rachel Comey, the answers to these questions are both enthusiastically yes. I adore the pairing of tiny crop tops with roomy bottoms, her color palette is cohesive and lovely, and every look has just the right dose of hipster-granny quirkiness that I look for in daywear.

Of course, I loved and appreciated many of the traditional best in show. Marc by Marc Jacobs was kooky and adorable as always, Rodarte blew my mind with their elaborate conception and prodigiously detailed dresses, and Alexander Wang once again nailed the fresh sportswear with too many fashionable twists to count.

But here I would rather share the collections that fulfill what I personally love about and look for in fashion. Every single look I have posted above I would wear in a heartbeat, and that's what makes a collection a favorite for me. So tell me - what collections have you loved because you can totally see your own style reflected in them?

I might post some more New York favorites soon, but coming up next is my one hundredth post so I have something special planned. Stay tuned!