Catchup

To begin, I actually had the most insanely fun time at our homecoming game on Friday. Rather than actually watch the game, I helped sell hot cider and popcorn to raise money for our theater club. We doled out drinks for a dollar each from portable burners and sang at the top of our lungs to any customers and admirers who would listen (mostly Beatles tunes and perfectly harmonized renditions of "Happy Birthday"). After the game, a bunch of friends and I piled into various cars and went for chocolate chip pancakes and milkshakes at the local diner. In short, it was a perfect night.

The second I saw this photo of Alix, I think I literally squealed out loud. We share a love for vintage floral combat boots! Magnificent.


I am so excited to see Coco Avant Chanel. Does it seem to anyone else that Audrey Tatou appears in every single film that is vaguely related to being French? Well, not that I have a problem with it, considering how adorable and quintessentially française she is. These photos are from a terrific interview on the Elle website with Catherine Leterrier, the costume designer. Definitely take a few minutes to read it and check out the rest of the pictures!


I first came across Purple Label on some blog or another, and after just a few looks at their simple, flattering, and insanely reasonably priced pieces, I am positively in love with this brand. All the tanks and shirts drape so beautifully, and the muted color palette is absolutely lovely. My favorite Purple Label piece by far is that grey jumpsuit. A casual crop top and slouchy harem pants combined into one versatile and crazily affordable piece = perfect on all counts. I hope to get my hands on it soon.

If you have never picked up a copy of Details, please do so immediately. It's more sharply written and chock full of useful lifestyle tips than most (and maybe all) women's magazines, not to mention the fact that there is usually some smoldering celebrity on the cover. The most recent issue I read included a gorgeous spread of camel coats, an article about James McAvoy, and a brief interview with Consuelo Castiglioni about men's fashion. Get yourself a copy, please!


Viktor & Rolf blew me away. Oh my goodness. They literally must be psychically tuned into my color preferences because every single one of my favorite colors is represented here. My jaw dropped when I saw that fluffy coral dress in the last row. In my book, they definitely made up for a lackluster collection last season, and made up for it about ten times over.


Karl Lagerfeld actually made me sigh. I love how the collection is centered around shorts and everything still feels like the most classic and ladylike clothes anybody could put on. The silhouettes are absolutely perfect, and here are my favorite colors again! This has gotten me so psyched for Chanel.
Some other favorites collections lately: Fendi, Marni, Lanvin, and Isabel Marant. I will refrain (at least for now) from posting in detail about these, so suffice it to say that I loved just about every single look in all of them. How has Fashion Week Month been treating you all?

On Saturday I discovered the most incredible piece at the thrift store that, the second I held it up in front of me, reminded me instantly of last season Yohji Yamamoto. I have started playing around with it and you will definitely see it soon! It's much more dramatic than what I normally wear, but it's such a gorgeous thing. I might even ink black hearts on my legs to really get in the spirit!

Mosaic

"Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first of September was crisp and golden as an apple..."
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

"There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, and if it could not be, as if it had not been!"
Percy Bysshe Shelley

"September: it was the most beautiful of words, he'd always felt, evoking orange flowers, swallows, and regret."
Alexander Theroux

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all."
Stanley Horowitz

Forever 21 tee, vintage trousers, Coach belt, vintage Doc Martens, vintage and gifted rings

This is what I wore yesterday. I chose to start school with a simple, comfortable outfit. The slouchy cut of the shirt is so delicious. And, of course, the Doc Martens were the essential finishing touch.

Even though September has just begun, I can already feel the familiar sparkle of autumn starting to descend upon everything. When a golden sun and crisp breezes in a cloudless sky make it just cool enough to put on a cozy scarf, and the intimate forest that surrounds my backyard starts to turn the warm colors of French toast, pumpkins, and graham crackers. Autumn means Halloween and Thanksgiving (my two favorite holidays), apple cider and rehearsals for Our Town, tights with every outfit and the freshness of a new school year.

P.S. Can you tell that I dyed my hair? I hope so! I will try to capture it better in future pictures, but it's essentially black now. I love it so much.

P.P.S. Right after school today I received a phone call from my school choir teacher, who told me that I got into the honors choir I tried out for at the end of June! The choir comprises high school singers from eleven states, and only thirteen students from Connecticut were accepted. I honestly never expected to get in, so this is insanely exciting!

London Calling

Yesterday's metropolitan adventures proved to be extremely successful. Although I lost the bidding war for the floral Doc Martens on eBay, it was a mere three or four hours after the auction closed before I stumbled upon a Craigslist seller getting rid of this pair, miraculously in my size. Infinite thanks to Rachel in Union Square for bestowing these upon me!

As soon as I slipped the boots on, my thoughts of creamy blouses and slouchy tees ran straight out of my head. I wanted black, tight, edgy, reminiscent of London grunge and seventies punk.

After we got my boots, the three of us scooted over to Forever 21 in Union Square and spent more than two hours there. I found not only the neutral basics I felt were missing from my wardrobe, but the perfect items to fulfill my rocker fantasies. I fell in love with this clean, sophisticated take on the whole concept.

I picked up the blazer just this morning at the thrift store bag sale, which was honestly one of the most frenzied and exhausting experiences of my life. I did come away with a stack of old art books and quite a few crazy clothing items, which you will surely see soon.

Out of the hundreds (or more likely thousands) of outfits I have ever put together, this one makes me feel better inside and out than nearly all of them.

Forever 21 tee and skirt, vintage blazer and Doc Martens, gifted ring

I might wear this on the first day of school, depending on the weather. It's undoubtedly one of my favorite outfits I have ever worn, which means I will be wearing it (and variations on it) a lot! I think wearing an outfit once is the silliest thing. If you love and feel great in something, why not repeat it?

In addition to the tee and skirt, I got a few other basic items that will be cropping up soon and often, plus all my crazy finds from the bag sale! In short, be prepared for plenty of exciting outfit posts.

I start school in two days! Call me loony for being so impatient, but I cannot help it. School means my friends, exciting new classes, a sparkly new season for both weather and fashion... now aren't you excited too?

Fall Wardrobe // I NEED YOUR HELP!

Slim blazers, simple tees and tanks in dark neutrals, a romantic lace skirt, sheer blouses in creamy shades, black bandage skirts, quintessential ballet shoes, brown leather oxfords, short slouchy boots...

In short, what I dream of wearing this fall. Dark staples offset by dreamy, ballet-inspired pieces, accessorized with colored tights and simple, elegant gold jewelry...

... and these.

VINTAGE FLORAL DOC MARTENS.
I AM IRREVOCABLY IN LOVE WITH THEM.
BUT I NEED YOUR HELP.

I found the perfect, perfect pair on eBay and the bidding ends in thirty hours, so I need you all to answer me this: how do Doc Marten sizes run compared to regular shoes? If I normally wear an 8 or 8.5, what American size would I be in Docs?
This is of the utmost importance. Thank you thank you thank you!

(Topshop blazers, ballet flats, printed crop top, and lace shirt; Old Navy tees and tank; Forever 21 skirts, sweater vest, boots, and floral blouse; Steve Madden oxfords)