tweedy

I've been looking for a dark tweed skirt for the better part of the last year. Who know something so simple was seemingly so hard to find? I thought I finally found "the one" when I found this skirt from Ann Taylor. It was everything I was looking for - (what I thought was) black, thicker, long enough. I waited and waited for it to be included in a sale, and so when the Labor Day sales finally included it, I quickly ordered it (along with this simple but flattering striped top). It arrived, and I spent the better part of twenty minutes trying to convince myself that I loved it. While dark, it turns out it's actually navy, and while I like navy, I know that especially come tights time, I wouldn't wear it because I have a navy/black aversion. I also found the fit a bit off - it was too tight in my thighs but too loose around the waist. I still tried to convince myself that I liked it (and I got it for such a good deal!) to the point that we took pictures of it - you can see it here. It wasn't until I saw the pictures that I really was like "yeahhhhhhnooooooo" - you can't completely tell in that picture, but it hardcore pulls across my thighs.

So back it goes, and the search continues. I did see this beautiful (black!) skirt at Banana Republic, but it's one of those "BR picks" which I'm pretty sure is just BR's way of not putting all their good clothes on sale. They sometimes have their "picks" go on sale though, so I'll just have to wait for that to happen.

Until tights time rolls around though, my pink tweed skirt will serve me well, even if I always go a little matchy matchy with it :)

Top: Loft [pricey similar]

Skirt: Banana Republic [save | splurge]

Necklace: Forever 21 [really dang cute similar]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Ring: DIY [tutorial here]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact]

daytime // nighttime

I've been kind of annoyed with the idea of getting dressed and blogging about it lately. I feel because I don't blog daily like I used to before I was in school that every time I do blog that it should be of something special. I feel this internal pressure that I need to put a lot of thought and effort into what I'm wearing, and make it worth taking pictures and editing and uploading and presenting it as "this is good enough for the internet" kind of thing. A large part of that comes from reading a ton of (awesome) other blogs, and seeing how much effort and talent they put into their space, and then feeling like nothing I can really do can compete with that. Because let's be honest, "work" clothes are kind of boring...and especially when they are being worn in a city that seems to never have nice weather. 

But you know, the whole point here is to show what I'm actually wearing in real life, and not dressing for the blog or putting on special outfits just to take pictures. So here are the two parts of what I wore today. It didn't feel like a costume or fake or something I just wore to blog - it felt comfortable and like myself. The first part is what I wore during the day to go to school. The second outfit is what I changed into to go study at the library - just a few simple changes to make it comfy enough to sit in for 6 hours but also dressed up enough to maybe not look like a freshman on the undergrad campus (unfortunately I think the study-induced forehead wrinkles now give me away!).

Blazer: J.Crew, thrifted

Tee: Boden [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [very similar save | splurge]

Purse: Kate Spade [cute similar]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Shoes:  Lucky [exact]

Nails: Essie [exact]

Blazer: J.Crew, thrifted

Tee: Boden [exact]

Jeans: American Eagle [exact]

Purse: Kate Spade [cute similar]

Shoes:  Lucky [exact]

Scarf: H&M

how do you define your style?

I really liked this outfit today -it just felt very me...but what is "me"? I always have a hard time pinpointing what my "style" is. I think I'm a bit preppy, a bit classic, a bit masculine-inspired with a feminine touch, a bit rough around the edges... but that's all a mouth full, isn't it? I know what I like and I tend to buy similar style pieces again and again because I know it works - like this oxford popover. It's a bit classic but also a bit more casual, inspired by men but with a girly touch. Does that mean I have my taste figured out and I just struggle with the words? 

Can you pinpoint your style or are you complex like I am? ;) 

Shirt: J.Crew [exact]

Jeans: American Eagle [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [save | splurge]

Watch: Fossil [similar]

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs [exact]

Linking up with mix and match fashion!

layers, updated

Continuing with trying to master layering, I've been looking for another vest to add to my collection (that currently only has my cargo vest in it). I have a thicker North Vest puffer vest, but that's for outside wear and not for ya know, normal day-to-day wearing. I've tried on several at Forever 21, Old Navy and H&M, but all were still too puffy and had itty bitty pockets. I bit the bullet and finally ordered the J. Crew version during the last 30% off sale after admiring it online. I really like this vest. It's thin enough that I can still wear it under my lab coat, the pockets are large, and I like the double zipper.

...and of course I'm doing the tank-inbetween trick :)

Vest: J. Crew  {exact in pink on sale}
Sweater: Gap  {save / similar}
Blouse: J. Crew Factory  {save / exact}
Jeans: American Eagle  (exact on sale}
Necklace: Forever 21  {similar}
Shoes: Target  {save / splurge}
Watch: Target

linking up with wiww