The Chicagoenne

september inspiration.

2013-09-02T13:40:00.000-05:00

LINK LOVE: This post showcasing famous authors' handwritten notes and outlines of their novels. I find these extra inspiring and so cool to look at. My favorite (though I may be a bit biased) is J.K. Rowling's.

This photoessay by James Mollison on where children sleep around the world. Very fascinating and humbling as well.

The Confezioni Crosby S/S 13 collection, featuring gorgeous colors and soft fabrics that almost made me sad summer is ending.

1. black and white 2. i've had it up to here 3. fall color scheme 4. city sunrise 5. the queen and her 70's flair 6. funny & funnier 7. sweater weather 8. sunlight and printed curtains 9+10. braids, red lips, and lots of layers 11. right from the start 12. don't call me daughter 13. in bloom 14. to remember 15. picturesque.

*click through for photo sources.

the anthem // music monday.

2013-05-13T16:30:00.000-05:00

brb just found my anthem.
where has this song been all my life?

isabelle

rediscovered // music monday.

2013-05-06T19:08:00.000-05:00

i thought i'd mix in this week's music monday with an outfit post. it's a two for one deal! lately i've been loving both this song by the strokes and these shoes from aldo. i'd forgotten about these boots for most of the winter and have just recently started wearing them again. i absolutely love rediscovering old favorites and am looking forward to falling in love with all my summer clothes again. i'm also experimenting with some new layout choices for this post and i think i quite like them. what do you guys think?

what i wore: gap jacket, nordstrom tee and bag, urban outfitters jeans, h&m scarf, aldo booties, spitfire sunglasses.

xx
isabelle

may inspiration.

2013-05-04T14:07:00.000-05:00

1. sunglasses in the city 2. a may mantra 3. outdoor nooks 4. nothing but pasta salad 5. red lips and soft curls 6. daily entertainment 7. spidery lashes and bright colors

*click through for photo sources.

music monday.

2013-04-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

welcome to a new feature on the chicagoenne called music monday! i'm a big fan of music but i also tend to get bored of songs quite quickly. this means that i'm always on the hunt for new tunes. every monday i'll share the song (or songs) i've been obsessed with from the past week. lately i've been loving sonnentanz by klangkarussell. now that the weather is warming up i'm dreaming of spending more time outside, and this song is perfect for that.

lumberjack.

2013-04-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

oh wow it's been a while. we've certainly got some catching up to do. how've you been? i've been in the midst of an internet/social networking detox and i think it's finally winding down. i'm ready to get back into blogging and with summer coming up i'll have enough time on my hands to really invest myself. if i'm being honest these pictures are from way back in february and it's pretty embarrassing that i'm only getting to posting them now. stay tuned for more lovely teenage angst pictures.

what i wore: flannel from my dad, zara shirt, urban outfitters jeans and boots, vintage watch, leather bracelet from p.49.

february inspiration.

2013-02-05T14:16:00.002-06:00

1. winged liner and pink cheeks. 2. pink tulle and french braids. 3. whatever. 4. dream home, future home. 5. say anything. 6. winter walks and no one else around. 7. long necklaces and baby pink. 8. you're a peach. 9. heart-shaped everything.

i'm still trying to figure out how january ended because honestly i was supposed to do like ninety-three other things this month. hopefully february isn't the same.

*click through for photo sources

the anti-lazy.

2013-02-02T18:36:00.001-06:00

i've always had this really cute problem that involves lots of wasted time and zero motivation in my day to day life. in other words, i suffer from i'lldoitlater syndrome and, apparently, this is a pretty common thing among like 63.97% of the general population. i mentioned in my 2013 resolutions post that i really wanted to stop procrastinating this year, so naturally i am getting to this no less than 33 days after i said i would. most of my days involve far too much time spent on tumblr thinking i'm too cool for school, and, though i love tumblr, there are probably better ways i could spend my time (she says on her blog). as this is currently my junior year of high school, the amount of time i have to waste is dwindling by the day and i knew i had to get a handle on it somehow. i came with this idea and it couldn't be simpler.

the only things you need to create this little d.i.y project are a pen, some post-its, and any sort of container. this candy jar has been lying around my room empty for a while, and both me and my mother were getting tired of seeing it on my floor. in a past life it was full of jelly beans from dylan's candy bar, and it was just begging for a shining spot on my desk. the page flags are from girl of all work, but any thin slip of paper will work.

once you've got everything, it's just a matter of coming up with ways you wish you could spend your time. for me, this was basically everything from my resolutions post. i did throw ~~some~~ many multiples in there (a LOT of "write a blog post") and the occasional random thing like go to the lake with the dog and run or whatever. anything you feel like you need just a little extra motivation to actually do.

next, just fold the slips. fold in the inner third so that the sticky side faces up, then press the other side down so that the two sides stick together and the slip stays folded shut. toss them into the jar after that and keep going until you've filled up your jar as much as you like.

et voilà! i keep my jar in the corner of my desk so it's always visible and nagging me. whenever i'm bored or feel like i'm doing absolutely nothing i pull out a slip and do whatever is written down on it. so far, it's worked pretty well and even provided me with the motivation to write this blog post. in my book, that's a true success.

but wait! there's more! i picked up these two books at urban outfitters earlier this month and think they are quite fantastic. 642 things to write about and my future listography are great for quick bursts of inspiration whenever you're feeling tired and uninspired. what are your favorite ways to stay productive?

zero.

2013-01-25T20:35:00.002-06:00

winter is finally here and i couldn't be happier. earlier this week the temperature finally hit zero and we had our first snow of 2013, otherwise known as a pretty damn good day. it's been snowing steadily for the rest of the week and i have been savoring it nonstop. i've always preferred the cold and am crossing my fingers in hopes of more days like this. nothing like fresh snow in an alley cheers me up quite the same.

berlin.

2013-01-21T15:15:00.000-06:00

these are some of my favorite pictures from this past summer, when i spent some time in berlin with a few of my closest friends. the city is truly beautiful and looking back at these photos makes me pretty nostalgic. it was one of the few places i've visited that i could actually picture myself living in and i hope that i get the chance to go back sometime in the future.

january inspiration.

2013-01-06T23:23:00.002-06:00

1. duckie knows best, or my attitude on the night before school starts. 2. wednesday addams pigtails and black dresses. 3. home alone winter hats. 4. train tracks to nowhere. 5. mad men, which i started watching over my winter break and have fallen in love with. 6. snow white and pops of red. 7. fur collars à la ikea monkey. 8. where i wish i was. 9. dark lips, big lashes and messy hair.

i figured that with the new year i would start a monthly recurring post of what's inspiring me at the moment, in hopes of both inspiring others and giving me something to look back on during the month as well. if you also do inspiration posts, leave a link below as i'd love to check them out! it'd be a great distraction as school starts back tomorrow and i'm feeling just like that scene from pretty in pink.

*click through for photo sources.

twenty thirteen and some resolutions.

2012-12-31T23:18:00.001-06:00

[image from chibird]

even though i'm 93.6% sure that this picture will capture my new year in a nutshell, i'm sharing my new year's resolutions on the internet in the hopes that it will remind me to actually stick to them. i am notorious for saying that i'll do something and then forgetting it exists (example one: this blog) and, honestly, it's becoming tiring and i'm ready to change that. so, without further ado...

1. i'm really looking forward to getting back into blogging in 2013. i'm going to revamp the design a bit and change the way i blog. i'm ready to do a bit more of whatever i feel inspired by at the moment instead of just style posts. i'm also setting a goal of one blog post a day which i hope will keep me a bit more consistent than i've been haha. 2. i'm starting my new year's cleaning tomorrow and will share some of the things i do to redesign my room in the future. 3. i have always loved writing and used to write nearly every day when i was younger and had more time. lately i have stopped completely and am looking to change that.

4. i'm hoping to change my lifestyle choices in 2013. i definitely want to start exercising regularly and eating healthier. in addition, i want to start using more all natural products and do the most to take good care of myself and the planet. 5. i'm thinking of taking a photography class in 2013 to build skills and would love to take pictures daily. 6. most of my day to day life looks exactly like the picture at the beginning of this post. i spend far too much time lying around on my computer wasting time (which is ironic to write on a blog, i know). i want to stop waiting for things to happen and actually do something productive to make life a bit more interesting.

7. when i was younger, i read ravenously and that has disappeared as i've grown older. i got a couple new books for christmas that i'm really excited to read and will try to keep that up throughout the year. i also want to discover as much good music as possible and go to more concerts in 2013. 8. i value the importance of giving back and am disappointed in myself for not doing much this year. i'm excited to try to volunteer more in 2013. 9. i used to bake frequently, but since i've started high school i haven't found the time to do it. there are tons of recipes bookmarked to my computer that i hope i'll find time to work through and feature on the blog. 10. i absolutely love travelling but due to school and the fact that i can't really voyage on my own yet, i'm not able to do it as often as i like. i'm looking to explore places in chicago that i've never been too despite having lived here for so long in order to make up for this.

that was quite the lengthy and long winded blog post, but i'm quite pleased with it and am excited to write more like these in the new year. during my last hours of 2012 i watched the ball drop with my brother and ate sprinkles cupcakes my mother so kindly picked up for us today. i hope that you all have a great new year's eve and a terrific start to 2013.

happy new year!

xmas.

2012-12-25T11:41:00.000-06:00

wishing you all a very merry christmas and happy holidays!

and a big thank you for supporting this blog.
it's a pretty fantastic christmas gift.

american.

2012-12-20T12:16:00.002-06:00

i realize it's been close to a century since i've posted, but between finals and the holidays and life and school and everything else i have been drained of all inspiration and motivation. it is much more difficult than i thought to keep up with both trigonometry and a blog and i'm sure it would not surprise anyone to know which one i would rather be doing. so i decided that i had to get at least one post up before the world ends tomorrow just in case. enjoy!

what i wore: aritzia denim shirt, gap shirt, j brand jeans, urban outfitters boots, vintage ring.

shadows.

2012-11-12T22:48:00.001-06:00

i'm sorry for having been m.i.a. this past week. my life currently involves a heinous amount of math homework and it's actually quite depressing. i'm desperately counting down the days until thanksgiving because even an hour off would be praised at this point. it's also getting fairly difficult for me to take pictures. now that the days are shorter, i rarely get home before dark and wind up with these unnatural looking things that render me ghostly. short of beckoning the sun to stay, i haven't been able to find a solution. any tips?

what i wore: splendid sweater, agnes b. skirt, aldo boots.

to marissa.

2012-11-07T19:09:00.002-06:00

i stole this coat from my good friend marissa back in september and she graciously let me keep it. it's become one of my favorite things to wear during fall and i definitely owe her one. clothes sharing is pretty much the number one way i revitalize my wardrobe when it starts to become a little dull, and i'm lucky enough to have friends with excellent senses of style who are open to letting me borrow (and sometimes keep) way more often than i should. but hey, as long as there are great clothes to go around, i'm positive sharing them is absolutely fine.

what i wore: gap jacket, band of gypsies top, zara jeans, urban outfitters boots.

brisk.

2012-11-05T16:23:00.001-06:00

i am overjoyed at the fact that it is finally cold enough for me to pull out my winter coats. anyone who knows me is aware that i love the cold and winter months more than anything. i blame this on growing up in chicago and going through blizzards early on in my life. this coat is one of my favorites because it's thin but warm, perfect for november. it may be a little strange that i'm this excited about pulling my coats out from storage, but if the little things in life make you happy, i'm all good.

what i wore: delia's coat, vintage shirt, lily white skirt, urban outfitters boots.

knit.

2012-11-02T18:44:00.001-05:00

i spent my day with jen of elephant's hide watching grey's anatomy reruns and making these beauties from a pastry affair. besides being incredibly talented, she's also hilarious and her blog is definitely worth stopping by. otherwise, i've been listening to this in its entirety on repeat and tacking more pictures on my wall for the past half hour. tonight is the inaugural weekly family movie night my dad has decided to start, which should certainly prove to be interesting seeing as we still haven't picked a movie. hope you all have a great weekend and i loved hearing about all your halloween plans!

what i wore: gap sweater, urban outfitters dress and shoes, hue socks.

halloween.

2012-10-31T22:29:00.002-05:00

happy halloween! i spent the day dressed as a witch minus the hat, which equaled utter confusion from most people. nonetheless, the day went by pretty well, and i ended it eating / stealing most of the candy meant for the trick-or-treaters. i don't have school over the next two days and am more than ready to spend some time relaxing after all the stress of this month. halloween was definitely a great way to get sstarted. hope you all have a great night!

what i wore: bcbg poncho, uniqlo top, thrifted skirt, k. bell socks, urban outfitters boots, guess ring.

shimmer.

2012-10-29T12:54:00.000-05:00

this weekend was fairly stressful due to the boatload of work i had to do. i get two days off of school this week and they couldn't come at a better time. between midterms and everything else going on, i'm pretty sure you could feel the amount of stress in the air around my school. i think we're all looking forward to four days of pure relaxation and recuperation. otherwise, hurricane sandy is sending cold fronts, choppy lakes, and an early winter to chicago, which can't even begin to compare to those in the midst of the storm. to anyone on the east coast: be safe!

what i wore: velvet cardigan, vintage top, agnes b. skirt, urban outfitters shoes, nordstrom belt.

the xx.

2012-10-27T16:55:00.000-05:00

i went to see the xx last week with my friend, jen, and the show was so amazing that i thought i would share a couple pictures from the night. they were absolutely fantastic live, and i must say, it's pretty disappointing to be sitting at home today instead of listening to this being played 50 feet away from me.

collar.

2012-10-23T17:30:00.000-05:00

things have been quiet around here lately. i was sick all weekend and didn't get much of anything done. the only time i left the house was on saturday to go to an xx concert. i got tickets for my birthday back in september and wasn't going to let anything stop me from going. they were absolutely amazing live and, if i ever get to it, i'll share some pictures soon. now that things are going back to normal, i'm going to try to blog more regularly and get more involved. fingers crossed that i actually do.

what i wore: gap sweater, maison scotch shirt, zara jeans, urban outfitters booties.

stripe.

2012-10-20T13:58:00.002-05:00

i'm sorry for the lack of posts this week! with psat testing and near constant rain and two papers due time managed to disappear fairly quickly. now that the madness is over, i'm ready for this weekend to be as calm and quiet as it can possibly be. naturally, this is much easier said than done and would be much more calming if i wasn't sick as well. i'm set for this weekend will turn the downward spiral of my week back around as fast as possible.

one last thing, i didn't get many good pictures for this post since a bird decided to use my tripod as a perch and, well, slight mayhem ensued. but, oh well, it makes for a good story.

what i wore: urban outfitters shirt, zara jeans, aldo booties, spitfire sunglasses.

zodiac.

2012-10-15T18:16:00.000-05:00

my grandmother has an amazing collection of vintage jewelry that she's amassed over her whole life. since she lived all over the world, all of her jewelry is unique and different, which is one of the reasons i love it so much. i can still remember sitting in her room as a kid and sifting through it all with my mom and aunt. now that i'm older, she's started to pass a couple pieces down to me, and these earrings are one of my favorites. she also gave me the ring from this post, and, yes, i am fortunate enough to be the same ring size as her!

what i wore: aritzia shirt, agnes b. skirt, hue tights, urban outfitters boots, vintage earrings.

golden.

2012-10-13T22:28:00.000-05:00

my wishes for cold weather have finally been answered and i am extremely grateful, even though it lead to torrential rain today that made me think it was really monsoon season. nonetheless, i can now wear thick sweaters without looking out of place / suffocating, something i'm willing to accept rain for. in other groundbreaking news regarding my fascinating life, i got a haircut today which is mildly exciting and slightly scary at the same time. hopefully, i'll have pictures of it by the end of the week, which will surprise both of us because it's still blown out and i have yet to see the finished product.

feel free to ignore the green marks on my hand. they're from homecoming and student council writes in tattoo ink or something.

what i wore: ragstock jacket, j. crew sweater and scarf, zara jeans, urban outfitters boots, vintage watch.