Buttons and Cameras

This outfit is pretty representative of what I've been wearing to work lately. With temperatures mostly below freezing I've been choosing warmth over style. 

I've really discovered the beauty of button down shirts this winter. In the past I've had trouble with fit on button downs. It's hard to find one that fits over my hips and boobs, but isn't too baggy in the shoulders or waist. Thankfully, I've  found two flannel shirts and this chambray shirt that fit pretty well, and I've been wearing them constantly.

Outfit:  Pants- Forever 21; Shirt- Old Navy similar at Macy's; Boots- Me too; Cardigan- Target  similar at Old Navy

I've about had it with my camera. I've been thinking about/ lusting after a DSLR. However, I really don't want to invest a ridiculous amount of money in a camera right now and I don't actually know very much about photography. I'm leaning towards skipping the DSLR for now and upgrading to a nicer point and shoot.

Before I make the purchase, I wanted to reach out to y'all for suggestions. What type of camera do you use? Any suggestions for a user friendly camera that takes beautiful pictures?

Smart Polka Dots

It's no secret I love polka dots. I have three polka dot dresses in my closet (1, 2, 3) and I've been trying REALLY hard not to buy any more, so I was delighted to see this dress on Gwynnie Bee! Borrow a work appropriate polka dot dress whenever I want? Yes please! And the color is divine. It reads as navy in photos, but it's more of a really deep plum color in person. I kind of want to wear it again before I send it back, but there are so many other pieces I want to try! 

Outfit: Dress- Eliza J via Gwynnie Bee; Boots- Madden Girl (similar); Tights- H&M

I wore this dress to work and also to a panel discussion on Boston Fashion hosted by Boston Globe. The discussion "Boston Fashion is Smart" was co-moderated by Jay Calderin of Boston Fashion Week and Chris Muther, a fashion reporter for the Boston Globe and featured some really cool panelists. The discussion focused on how fashion in Boston is evolving and coming into its own. 

While a lot of the discussion was a little too high fashion oriented for my taste- one point of discussion really resonated with me. The features that Boston is often criticized for are actually its strengths. Being a "college town" actually gives Boston its character- it is the ever changing population of students and faculty that make Boston a global city! 

Playing Favorites

I love new clothes. There's something really satisfying about ripping the tags off a garment and wearing it for the first time. Some items go on to become favorites, worn over and over until they literally fall apart. Other items get worn a few times and then get thrown into the "donate/ sell" pile. This dress is one of those items that I will wear until it can't be worn any more. 

I bought this dress at Target  back in February or March and I have worn it once every two weeks ever since. It works for every season, and I love challenging myself to style it in different ways. (Like here, here, and here). When I bought this floral and leopard print scarf (on super clearance for $5!!!) at Urban Outfitters, I knew I would eventually pair it with this dress. Pardon the pattern explosion, but I think they're a perfect match.

Outfit: Dress, Cardigan, Belt & Tights- Target; Boots- Matisse via DSW; Scarf- Urban Outfitters 

Do you play favorites with your clothing? 

A Farewell to Summer Clothes...

Hello friends! Long time, no blog! I've been super busy, very tired, and a little sick, but for the most part I've been getting dressed every day... (if you count wearing the leggings I slept in and throwing on a hoodie as getting dressed.) I even left the house a few times over the long weekend! Here's what I wore for a brunch date, grocery shopping, and a walk around the park with Mike on Saturday. 

We had an unseasonably warm Saturday, so I declared the day a farewell to summer clothes. I ate my brunch al fresco, walked in the sunshine and relished in what will probably be my last opportunity to wear both sandals and a sundress for quite a few months.

Outfit: Dress, belt and cardigan- Target (old); Sandals- Payless (old)

Last week I finally got a new computer. I've been trying to teach myself photo shop, so my pictures might be all over the place over the next few weeks. That being said. I really like the way these turned out with the edits. It was definitely easier to edit the bottom photo. That's probably a good thing, since most of my pictures are going to be in front of concrete walls this fall/ winter. Y'all don't actually expect me to walk away from my apartment building for photos, right? 

Glimpses of Autumn

I have said on this blog before that I am really not a morning person. I've been trying, but I still just can't bring myself to get up in time to do more than shower, get dressed, pack my lunch and pack or grab a coffee. As a result, I've been taking a lot of my outfit photos in the evening.

I'm dreading the day when it will be too dark after work for photos and I'll have to get my butt out of bed to take pictures in the cold!

Outfit: sweater- Old Navy; Pants- H&M+; Jacket- thrifted JCrew; flats- Old Navy; sunnies- thrifted

I'm afraid that day may not be as far off as I'd like. It was 50 degrees outside when I got up for work on Tuesday! I wore a sweater, a jacket, and got a pumpkin spice latte on my way to work. I still refuse to wear socks that require shoes, and I'm not ready to pull my tights out of storage, but I'll acknowledge that Autumn is starting to show herself here in New England.

Settling In

I am finally done with my fourth move in a little over three years. Thursday I spent packing. Friday I packed and cleaned and we loaded the truck. Saturday we got our keys, unloaded the truck, went to Target to get some household essentials, and assembled our bed frame. Sunday was spent unpacking, moving furniture around, and figuring out how in the hell we were going to fit all of my clothes and shoes into our dresser and closet space. I have accomplished so much over the past 5 days, but I am so glad it's over! I missed blogging!

Monday I finally got to take a break from all the moving madness and get dressed in something other than my moving uniform of shorts or work out leggings and a tank top. It was really nice to put on makeup and a pretty dress after a few days of consistently being a grimy mess.

I spent most of the day in hanging out in Somerville's Davis Square. I went there for lunch with my friend Kelly and to sell some clothes at Buffalo Exchange. In the evening I decided to take my tripod for a spin in the adorable Ramier Park, which is just steps from my new apartment. It was really busy at 5pm on a holiday Monday and I'll admit that I felt a little uncomfortable taking pictures with a bunch of people around. One older gentleman offered to take a picture for me. I thanked him and explained that I am used to using a tripod because I take a lot of pictures for my blog. I think he was from the elder living community that borders the park and didn't exactly understand what a blog is, but he was nice none the less.

Outfit: Dress- H&M; Red Belt- H&M; Flats- Payless

It is is a great park for lounging on a bench to read and enjoy the flowers. Of course I'm just hoping it will be an empty park with good lighting for taking outfit pictures in at 8am on weekday mornings.

Striped Shoes!

I found these flats at Marshall's  on the same day I had to return an adorable pair of too narrow hot pink flats to Aldo. They definitely softened the blow. I look forward to wearing them with black tights in the fall, but summer can take her sweet time and stick around for a while. 

Outfit:

Shirt: Old Navy
Pants: Target
Flats: Marshall's
Bracelet: So Good!
Earrings: Gift  

I still love these pants (also seen here and here and here). I've thought about ordering them in additional colors to the extent that I've added them to my cart on Target.com. If they weren't crops I would have ordered a black pair and a green pair a long time ago, but since it's too chilly for crops about 5 months out of the year here, I just can't justify it. The search for similar straight leg, but full length pants continues. If you have any suggestions let me know!

Weekend Recap: Flea Markets and Procrastination

It was a beautiful weekend in Boston. Great for spending time with my friend Kelly before she heads back to Texas, but terrible for accomplishing the dozens of things I need to get done before my guy moves into my current apartment temporarily on Friday. Saturday Kelly and I walked along the Charles River and had a little picnic. Sunday we headed to Davis Square in Somerville for the Davis Flea Market and some thrifting.

The Davis flea was small, but had some great vendors. The prices on the jewelry and home goods were a little better than I'm used to seeing at Flea Markets in this area. I picked up a really pretty jade colored stone necklace, and Kelly got a few rings, a necklace, and some quirky vintage tie clips as gifts for her grandfathers.

We also went to the Davis Square Buffalo Exchange, Goodwill, and an upscale consignment shop that I couldn't afford and forgot the name of. I forgot how greatly stock can vary at Buffalo Exchange. While the Allston location is great for accessories, I've found that they stock mostly smaller sizes and clubwear. The Davis location had a lot more items in my size, so I'll definitely have to go there more often. I picked up a chambray shirt dress that is going to be great for fall. I might try and sell some items there next weekend.

Outfit:
Blouse: Old Navy
Shorts: Old navy
Bag: thrifted
Bracelets: Forever 21, thrifted, and my mother's from the 80s
Necklace: Gift
Sunnies: ?
Sandals: Payless



How was your weekend?

Pink Crayons

My high school wardrobe was built around two colors- pink and black. I think it started with a pink Rancid band tshirt I got in the 8th grade (I was so "punk rock"). But what really my obsession with the colors was a friendship I made in 10th grade. My new bff, Brooke, and I called ourselves the pink crayons (long story behind that one) and naturally, we wore a lot of pink and black. We passed notes back and forth to each other in a hot pink notebook. 

My obsession with pink continued throughout most of high school until Brooke and I had a falling out in the latter part of our senior year. To my Jr. year homecoming I wore a black and white hounds-tooth dress with a pink crinoline underneath and a big pink flower on it. In one of my senior pictures I wore pink and black Chuck Taylors and a pink and black polka dot ribbon belt. My mom has photographic evidence of these things. Let's call this outfit a grown up throwback to my high school self. 

I don't have a lot of pink in my wardrobe these days, so when I saw this lovely beaded cardigan at a clothing swab, I just had to have it! What better to pair a vintage feeling cardigan with than a vintage feeling polka dot dress and some classic black pumps?

Outfit:

Cardigan: swapped

Dress: H&M

Pumps: Crown Vintage via DSW

What did you wear in high school?