Trains

The quality of the pictures still isn't great - I'm crossing my fingers that after my first paycheck next week I'll be able to take my good camera to the shop to be fixed... if not, I'm going to have to save up for a replacement...

The office in the museum where I intern is REALLY cold, so I'm always trying to wear something bright but still kind of warm.  This outfit is a thick jersey dress from H&M under an AMAZING sequined skirt I found in the back of my closet when I moved back home...

The skirt is all primary colors accented with silver sequins, and the print is an old-fashioned train station. I wish I could remember where I got it! I've definitely had it since high school, but I have no memory of buying it or ever wearing it... I guess it'll be a mystery! The tag says "Papillon Los Angeles," which is the same brand as a dress I love... but it still doesn't help any!

dress: H&M

skirt: mystery purchase by Papillon

shoes: forever 21

More Relaxing

So, okay, I know I just wore this t-shirt the other day, but I have SERIOUSLY been freaking out lately, so it's only appropriate. Like... I went to visit a friend the other night & I'm pretty sure I totally wigged him out because I was so twitchy...

Anyway, today I had a meeting with one of my professors about the orchestra piece I've been working on for a class project, and then a piano lesson. I didn't sleep a whole lot last night, so I just kind of threw on the first few things I could find. You can tell by my hair that I've been a little disheveled all day. Also totally love my Barbie mug.

T-Shirt: Target

Skirt: H&M

Tights: Express

Mug: Thrifted in small-town PA

Mixing Patterns

I've been admiring the way some of my favorite bloggers mix patterns. As a novice, I wanted to start mixing slowly. I've been REALLY loving these tights lately... I think I posted them a few days ago, but since I picked this skirt up at Target, I've been wanting to pair the two together. To keep the ensemble less busy but still work on the pattern mixing, I added this white T with very subtle grey stripes.

I really love the way this turned out!

plus, secret pockets!! I love skirt pockets...

T-Shirt: Gap

Skirt: Target

Tights: HUE

i'll be your girl backstage at your show

After going to a really fantastic folk night on Sunday night, I woke up feeling rock-starish. All I had all day was 3 hour French class (that's what I get for deciding to try for fluency in a second language)

I pulled out my shiniest skirt & mixed a couple prints (including this leopard cardigan - after leaving it at a friend's for a few days, I've been wearing it with EVERYTHING!)

I look a little washed out though... I need to remember not to forget the blush!

Black T: F21

Cardigan: INC, Macy's

Skirt: Express

Tights: HUE

Boots: Vintage

Golden Girl

I found this amazing gold skirt at a vintage store last summer. I try not to wear it very often because I love it and the gold cracks a little bit every time I wash it. 

One of my favorite parts of the skirt (besides the gold part) is the fact that it has GIANT POCKETS! so amazing...

Gold Skirt: Vintage - tag says "The Emperor's New Clothes, NYC" (I love it!)

Embellished Tank: Abercrombie & Fitch (from high school)

Cardigan: Olivia & Grace

Boots: Vintage

Shades of Gray

It was cloudy & cold today, and I was inspired to dress in shades of gray. When I'd first bought these tights, I was afraid that they'd make my legs look bruised... Instead, I like them a lot!

I also really love the high-waisted zipper skirt. In the summer I pair it with a black tank top, but this is the first time I've worn it this winter. I like the look of long sleeves with a mini-skirt. I think it's sexy without being too slutty...

My friend Arielle came up to visit for the long weekend, and I really loved the bright sapphire color of her dress - her eyes are really blue, so the bright blue is a fantastic color on her!

On Me:

Turtleneck: Express

Skirt: H&M

Tights & Socks: HUE

Stop & Smell the Flowers

Today I had a meeting with my French professor, since I missed a big exam - She's EXTREMELY stylish (about 60, and a former designer for Victoria's Secret - I hope I'm that stylish when I'm her age) so I always try to look extra polished on days when I have her class. I found this skirt in the back of my closet the last time I visited my apartment, and I can't believe I forgot about it! I'd bought it about 3 years ago for a New Year's Eve party (after a VERY long search for a pencil skirt that was fitted enough for my skinny legs) and even though I'm still really skinny, I've gained a lot of weight in strange places because of the steroids I was on, so it barely fits... I can't wait to get back to Pilates to get toned up again!

The sweater is a great find from Urban Outfitters - I've been looking for a big grey sweater to replace my favorite one (it died a very noble death by overuse after many, many winters). Now I'm on a search to replace a couple of my solid colored turtlenecks (my winter go-to staple for under all kinds of dresses) - mainly a couple of black ones...

I love the buttons up the back of the skirt - sometimes I would unbutton the bottom one if it got too hard to walk around, especially in heels. This skirt is so hard to keep smooth - the material is very difficult to iron, and it picks up wrinkles at the drop of a hat...

Details from the purse - I bought this in Paris, from a tiny shop full of these hand-beaded purses made by a tiny old Frenchwoman. I wish I'd bought more than one! It's extremely roomy, and has a HUGE bone button to keep it closed. The handle is bamboo, and I couldn't get a picture of it because my camera died. The only thing I wish this purse had was an interesting shoulder strap - it's so big that it's a little hard to carry in my hand or on my elbow if it's got a lot of stuff in it! I've thought about adding one, but I don't want to ruin it!

Skirt: Bebe

Turtleneck: INC, Macy's

Sweater: Silence & Noise, Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Steve Madden
Purse: unknown shop, Paris
Earrings: American Eagle

ZIppers & Lace

I picked this lace top up yesterday at Kismet - an amazing little store in O'Bryonville, near campus. One of my favorite skirts is black lace with a nude underlay, but it's getting really raggedy and the elastic is starting to pop out from the lace. It's really on it's last legs, so I was happy to pick up this top to replace the lace skirt. The entire shirt is lace, so I put a black tank underneath, but sometime if I'm feeling particularly racy, I might try it with just a bra underneath and a pair of high waisted jeans...

I wanted something that was going to offset the really feminine lace (I didn't want to be too girly today!) so I paired it with this skirt, which has a great zipper detail.

I bought these earrings at Summerfair (a HUGE art fair in Cincinnati). They're amazing because they're made out of the ends of vintage silverware. If I remember correctly, these were dated from the 1920's.

I found this purse in a tiny little vintage shop when I was living in Italy last summer. It was run by a tiny little old German lady and her daughter, but when I made this purchase, the daughter was out, and neither the old lady nor myself spoke very good Italian. Somehow, though, we managed to agree on a decent price. This is one of my all-time favorite purchases.

Top: Free People

Skirt: H&M

Earrings: Cincinnati Summerfair

Shoes: H&M

Purse: Vintage, thrifted

Fall Wishlist 2009

Well, I think a good place to start off for a Fashion Blog is my wishlist. I'm not really in a position to be spending tons of money right now, but I'm always in a position to be coveting what I see in the magazines and on other blogs.

As always, Chanel is a good place to start. I finally broke down last fall and bought myself a bottle of the famous (or infamous) Le Vernis Vamp - still one of my favorite nail colors. I'd been buying imitations for a couple of years, but nothing really compares to the original. This fall, I'm considering buying the new Jade. I've been seeing it around the blogosphere, and I can't really find a comparable color by any other brand - even Sephora, where I can usually get great colors relatively cheaply.

I'm really, really wishing for a leather pencil skirt. I haven't been able to get out of the house much lately, but as soon as I can, I'm going to head out to Goodwill and see what I can find. I'm hoping H&M might carry a good one, because I'm feeling like this might be a great look for fall... I saw it on one of the Olson twins paired with a grey v-neck T and absolutely fell in love. Leather & cotton? Great combo.

Ohhhh, the band jacket. Could I pull this off in conservative Cincinnati? I'd probably get some stares, but I'd totally do it. I especially love the big shoulders. Can't wait for H&M to open here so I can try one of these babies out.
Last but absolutely not least are the Louboutins. I've been CRAVING a pair of royal blue suede booties, and these are just what I want. They had some similar ones at Nordstrom, but too bad they're most definitely out of my price range. DSW, anyone?