the Sweet Roads

SQUARE ONE AND STUFF

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:25:00 +0000

I wasn't expecting to take such a long hiatus from the blog. I just thought I'd get married, settle into my new job, and pick up where I left off. So, er, whoops.

I'm working on making a few changes (blog-wise) and with a little luck, the blog should be back to normal by next week. (You might notice that 80% of my archives are missing, but those will be back up as well.)

Until next week, guys. Not kidding this time.

30 FOR 30, TAKE TWO

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:43:00 +0000

I'm joining Kendi Everyday, as well as dozens of other bloggers, in the Fall edition of the 30 For 30 Remix. As some of you may remember, I participated in it during the summer, but felt horribly restricted because summers in New York are merciless. However, since fall and winter are my favorite seasons, I cannot pass up this opportunity to remix some new pieces and to bring this blog back to full working order.

I was supposed to post my items this weekend and begin the challenge on Monday, the 8th, however, I'll be posting my items on Wednesday and beginning the challenge on Monday, November 15th. It's a long story. It'll all make sense very soon.

Until Wednesday, guys.

WEDDING PLANNING IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO BLOG WRITING

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:46:00 +0000

H&M blouse
Forever 21 cardigan and jeans

H&M jacket and scarf
Forever 21 shirt and jeans

I've been so swamped lately and have alternated between these outfits for the past three weeks. Sad, I know, but it'll all be worth it in a few months. On the bright side, New York has been chillier... but not chilly enough for desert boot wedges, unfortunately (I scored some about a month and a half ago).

I'll make a real post soon.

GET ON UP

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:51:00 +0000

I purchased this Ikat jacket months ago and thought I'd have to wait until October to wear it. However, I got overzealous about the short lived cool front that swept through New York last weekend. It certainly didn't last long enough for me to wear this jacket all day. I had to take it off by noon. October it is, I guess.

H&M jacket
Celebrity Pink jeans
Forever 21 pumps

Fall needs to get to steppin'.

BUT AM I EVER GONNA SEE MY WEDDING DAY?

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:01:00 +0000

Wedding planning has made me fall off the face of the Earth. I wish I was joking. Somehow I've managed to cross a thousand things off my Wedding To Do List (organized by week by Mrs. Type A -- yours truly) and add another two thousand. I now understand why people hire professionals to do this.

But on the bright side, two friends of mine recently tied the knot and A. and I had a wonderful time at their wedding. It was a few weekends ago at the Queens County Farm Museum. It was a really adorable setting.

Forever 21 dress
H&M pumps
Rebecca Minkoff handbag

I promise I'll have something better next time. Perhaps I'll even unveil my wedding dress and ring.

Maybe.

SEVENTY DEGREES

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:14:00 +0000

It almost felt like fall today (even though I know there's another two months of excruciatingly hot weather before it's pleasant in New York), so I wore pants. Today's high is 78 degrees so I probably won't die.

H&M top and pants
Forever 21 necklace
Sam Edelman flats

After blogging regularly during the 30 for 30, it feels weird to let five days go by without a post. Not that I haven't wanted to, but I just realized that the 30 items I used for the challenge are my only 30 season-appropriate pieces and the last four days have been too Deja Vu to bother posting.

Also, my sister told me that I wear too many stripes. That's fair. I do. Anyway, I told her I'd ~switch it up~, so I brought home a chevron blouse. She wasn't pleased.

And look at who greeted me when I went to the living room to take the outfit shot this morning:

THIRTY OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 04:21:00 +0000

Zara top
J. Crew pants
Forever 21 necklace
Steve Madden flats

I wish I had worn something more extreme for my 30th outfit, but I had to look conservative for work yesterday. Womp womp. In retrospect, I should have brought a change of clothes because I dashed to my friends' joint bachelor/bachelorette hangout right after and looked like a prison escapee milkmaid next to everyone else in their party wear.

The 30 For 30 Challenge, although incredibly frustrating at times, was such a fun experience. It's helped me see just how much I do have in my closet and how wasteful it would be to not wear every item. Ironically, there are two items I didn't wear throughout the challenge -- my lacey Forever 21 top and my YSL Imperiale-inspired Forever 21 pumps. It's a shame, really, but I couldn't incorporate the lace into something that looked appropriately summery, so I'll throw it into my next list of 30 for 30 items. The black pumps, on the other hand, were a bust since they hadn't been broken in and I couldn't wear them around my house to get used to them (the apartment's carpeted). I'm not sure what to do with them now.

Anyway, I am definitely doing this challenge again sometime this fall or winter, since I have all these incredible jackets that I purchased during last winter's end-of-season sales. My goal until then is not to purchase more pieces, but to collect better accessories that will allow me to make every item more versatile. Another goal of mine is to wear more items in an "unusual" way. "Unusual" is relative, since whenever I'm in a clothes rut I tend to only wear a certain top with a specific pair of pants, etc. My idea of unusual was wearing the bird silhouette blouse with the scalloped skirt, which seems so tame, I know, but it was a big step outside my comfort zone. Granted, this is all hugely trial and error (and this challenge brought on more error than anything else), but it was the first time I had ever felt like I wasn't in a big style rut. The smaller my pool of pieces, the easier I envisioned outfit possibilities.

Keep following the blog and see how I continue to put these learned lessons into practice. I hope all of you still Challenge-ing it up keep it going, that all of you thinking about starting one actually follow through, and that all of you who have completed yours feel as great as I do. Most importantly, thank you, Kendi!

Aaaaaand that's enough Hallmark for one morning.

TWENTY NINE AND THE HOME STRETCH

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:28:00 +0000

Urban Outfitters jumper
Forever 21 skirt
Steve Madden flats

Whatever, y'all. It's boiling outside.

VEINTIOCHO

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:12:00 +0000

I am so tired of these 30 items. My fall sweaters are starting to tempt me (although I'm pretty sure I would faint if I wore one outside).

Forever 21 top, skirt, and belt
J. Crew cardigan
Steve Madden flats

My shopping ban officially ended yesterday and I couldn't be more... rehabilitated. I really expected to march into my nearest H&M, debit card in hand, the second the ban was lifted, but I don't feel that nagging itch to try everything on anymore. I even walked into a Zara today, tried on a black blazer (a fall staple that I've been meaning to purchase), and left the store without it.

Two more outfits.

TWENTY FIVE, TWENTY SIX, AND TWENTY SEVEN

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:15:00 +0000

The following post was inspired by of Jasmin of Friend in Fashion and her wonderful posts where she shows how to incorporate a piece into various outfits. I suppose in my case it's the black tank and black paperbag shorts (and the Steve Madden flats, but that was entirely because it was raining and the other pair of flats have cloth insoles). Anyway, this experiment was partly out of inspiration and partly out of not wanting to do laundry. I'd say it was 40/60.

J. Crew cardigan
Charlotte Russe tank and shorts
Steve Madden flats
Forever 21 scarf

Topshop jacket
Charlotte Russe tank and shorts
Steve Madden flats

It was actually really difficult to incorporate this jacket into any of my outfits (hence it's very first inclusion in Outfit #26), so imagine how pleased I was when I found that it makes for a very nice, summery blouse.

Forever 21 parka
Charlotte Russe tank and shorts
H&M scarf
Steve Madden flats

Ultra casual and comfortable for two days of work and errand running... and rain. There's only one item of clothing I haven't worn yet, and that's the lace top. I'm going to have to get into these last three outfits somehow.

And I've been tagged by Natalie of the adorable blog Pocket of Presh to answer 8 questions about myself.

1. What movie best describes your style? As a former film major, I'm ashamed to say that I have no idea. I admire the style of many fictional characters, but none feel very me. However, if I've misunderstood the question and I have to pick a film that parallels my closet, I'd have to say 500 Days of Summer, because my tastes are extremely fickle and it really shows when you look through my wardrobe.

2. Where do you find inspiration for your outfits? From my favorite magazines and bloggers, naturally. Although lately it's just been a lot of trial and error (more error than anything else).

3. How do you feel about thrift store shopping? I don't know what I'd do without it. I have no problem just going out and scouring racks for an entire day. It's one of my favorite pastimes (although not quite so much in New York, since it's usually a crapshoot).

4. What's the next item of clothing you really want to buy? Do accessories count? If so, I'd like to get my hands on an Alexander Wang Rocco Duffel during the sample sale this weekend. In the event that it's not available or that I have to pick an actual garment, I'd have to go with a feather miniskirt from the Asos BLACK line.

5. What's your favorite color to wear? Very rich jewel tones. That's not just one. Sorry.

6. If you could shop in any city in the world, what city would you choose? I would love to shop in Seoul. I've seen too many blogger's post their loot and have browsed GMarket too many times to choose otherwise.

7. Do you have an item of clothing from the past that you really regret wearing? Anything between the years 1993-2009. Practically a lifetime of embarrassment. I especially regret wearing this green and white old navy cardigan during my senior year of high school. It pilled, shed, and had some heinous, half-assed Fair Isle-ish pattern on it. I wore it more than once.

8. Which is more important to you when shoe shopping, style or comfort? I'm torn on this one. I wear more flats than heels, which indicates comfort, but I'd rather wear breakneck heels than wear Crocs... see where I'm going with this?

TWENTY THREE AND TWENTY FOUR OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:29:00 +0000

J. Crew cardigan
Forever 21 dress
H&M heels

On Saturday I needed a dress appropriate enough for a bridal shower that could also hide a food baby (the bride's mother is an excellent cook). I threw on my J. Crew cardigan when it got chilly in the evening. It actually just ended up being draped over my legs for most of the evening because the mosquitos were eating everybody alive. I counted 11 on my legs alone.

Forever 21 parka, blouse, and shorts
Steve Madden flats

I call this one "I'm Running Late To Lunch With a Friend and It's Raining Outside, Better Throw This On Top Real Quick." Elegant, I know.

TWENTY TWO OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:38:00 +0000

J. Crew cardigan and pants
H&M tank
Forever 21 necklace
Vera Wang Lavender Label platforms

Another Forever 21 ring

I wore this with flats to work, but I changed into heels to bum around my house. (Isn't it usually the other way around?) I'm just trying to get used to the heavy wooden platform. I feel like a clunker.

Eight more outfits to go after this! I'm actually really looking forward to the increasing creative constraints. Time to get crafty.

How's everyone else doing? Anybody done? Anybody given up?

NINETEEN, TWENTY, AND TWENTY ONE

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:43:00 +0000

I've been so busy for the last four days but I'm still trucking along on this challenge. I can't believe I only have nine outfits to go until the end of the Challenge and six days left until the end of the shopping ban. As much as I want to satisfy that shopping urge, I'm keeping it in check... surprisingly. This morning, I had to purchase a dress online for my friend's wedding* and I began to put other J. Crew pieces in my shopping cart. I don't know what came over me but just as easily as I put them in, I took them out and purchased only the dress. It was a big deal for me. I think I've grown.

But anyway, here's what I've been wearing:

Zara shirt
H&M skirt
Vintage necklace
Steve Madden flats

Forever 21 blouse
Charlotte Russe shorts
Steve Madden flats

Forever 21 blouse and necklace
J. Crew pants
Steve Madden flats

Yes, I did wear my bird silhouette blouse on consecutive days. Three, actually, since I repeated outfit 20 (more on that later). Haters gonna hate (and playas, they gonna play).

So the reason I didn't come up with a new outfit between #20 and #21 is because a particular something has been keeping me incredibly busy.

Meet Lou. She's possibly one of the sweetest cats I've ever met and A. and I couldn't be happier to make her part of our family.

*Not a violation of the ban, since I'd planned to buy this dress in the middle of it. I don't own anything wedding appropriate (my only special occasion dress is black and four sizes too big) and her wedding is right at the end of the ban. Horrible timing, but what can you do?

EIGHTEEN OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:02:00 +0000

This was Friday's outfit. I spent Saturday in old clothes rearranging the furniture in my apartment and playing Monopoly like a boss.

J. Crew cardigan
Acne shirt
Charlotte Russe shorts
Steve Madden flats

I'm off to pick out outfit number 19, watch Inception for the second time, and buy curtain rods at Ikea. Enjoy your Sunday.

DAYS SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:34:00 +0000

Charlotte Russe tank
Forever 21 skirt and belt
H&M scarf
Steve Madden flats

The belted scarf idea was stolen from Linda of Little Tin Soldier, which was stolen from J. Crew's catalog. I wish I could say I was sorry, but I'm getting bored with my tops. You understand.

Charlotte Russe tank
Zara shorts
Sam Edelman flats

And for those wondering where those two pairs of heels I haven't worn are... stay tuned this weekend. I am determined to wear those bad boys everywhere. But on the real, I'll probably just wear them to the grocery store.

DAYS FOURTEEN AND FIFTEEN OF THIRTY, OR THE HALFWAY POINT

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Acne shirt
Forever 21 parka and skirt
Steve Madden flats

J. Crew cardigan
Forever 21 skirt
Charlotte Russe sash (came with the shorts on my list of 30 items)
Steve Madden flats

Now that I've exhausted the obvious combinations, I'm gonna have to unearth some accessories. I'm already off to a good start, though. I found and dusted off an old belt this morning. I have no idea how to incorporate it yet (I think it was in the back of a drawer for a reason, if you know what I mean) but I'll figure it out.

Here's the remixes so far for Days 1 through 15:

Anyone have any favorites yet?

Thanks so much to all the supportive remixers -- Melissa of Miss Melissa, Chantelle of Daisy Dayz, Nat of Juxta-Posing, Kayla of Ramblings of a Small Town Gir l, Kristen of Kristen Shops Too Much, Ady of Growing Up Anthro, and Linda of Little Tin Soldier -- and various other bloggers. I'm so grateful!

Here's to another 15!

THIS WEEKEND/DAYS TWELVE AND THIRTEEN

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:39:00 +0000

I've been bad about posting over the last few days, but one of my best friends is in town and I've been keeping busy. Not that anybody really cares, but I haven't forgotten about the challenge, I promise.

This weekend was unbelievably packed. My friend convinced me to attend the Siren Music Festival, but I only agreed under the condition that we could go to the beach whenever the heat just got too overwhelming. Okay, I'm lying. Wasn't so much a negotiation as a demand, but the last time I was at Siren (2008), my favorite gold flats (RIP) got stuck in the melting asphalt and I ended up leaving early because I just couldn't take it anymore and thought I was gonna faint and I am not a fainter.

That said, I wore practically nothing on Saturday, just a romper over my bathing suit. However, I had to take a picture of the outfit on Monday, the day after my fiancé lovingly decided to do the laundry... and shrunk my damn romper in the dryer. If you think I look like a baby prostitute, you can point that accusatory finger in his direction.

Forever 21 romper and sandals

Too bad I'll never be able to wear it as a romper again unless I feel like flashing people some goodies (or baddies, depends on who you ask).

Sunday was a mess. I made the mistake of scheduling our Ikea trip before taking my friend to ride the Staten Island Ferry and going to Governors Island and, in turn, had to carry some heavy purchases around all day.

Zara shirt
Forever 21 shorts
Steve Madden flats

I would say that I'm sorry that the weekend was nothing to write home about, but I'm actually just proud to have gotten out of my pajamas.

TEN AND ELEVEN OF THIRTY, OR SEE ME LOOPHOLE

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:45:00 +0000

I spent yesterday entertaining a friend that flew in from out of town, so I didn't even get a chance to post yesterday's outfit. Lemme say "yesterday" one more time.

Uniqlo button down
Charlotte Russe shorts
Forever 21 belt
Sam Edelman flats

J. Crew cardigan
Forever 21 blouse, skirt, and belt
Steve Madden flats

Yeah? I know, I know. Another blue blouse/striped skirt combo? I have no valid excuse aside from "it's laundry day."

Now that I've succesfully made it more than a third of the way and I'm not quite as scared of failure, I'll be putting together a recap once Day 15 rolls around. Remember? I said I'd be wearing shorts as a top by then.

I'm actually really surprised that I haven't purchased even so much as an earring in 12 days. However, I'm upset that I can't go to Zara and find this blouse that looks so nice on Joelle Van Dyne, but the symptoms of credit card withdrawal are starting to subside, so I'm not as upset as I normally would be.

Which brings me to a question? Does using a gift card violate the shopping ban? I know Alicia of Back on the Block (another remixer) had the same question, so help us out. But is it considered an expense when technically, the money spent isn't yours? Hmmm. Food for thought.

NINE OF THIRTY, OR I REALLY LIKE STRIPES

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:50:00 +0000

I can't believe I'm almost a third of the way done.

Forever 21 blouse, belt, and dress(worn as skirt)
Sam Edelman flats

Is it sad that out of 8 (7 of them posed) pictures, the one in which I'm accidentally staring at my shoes is the best one? Then again, I could wake up 15 minutes earlier to take more... but that would require getting up 15 minutes earlier.

EIGHT OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:09:00 +0000

I just realized that I'm a day behind. That's what I get for greeting my exterminator in pajamas on Sunday.

Rogan for Target vest
H&M tank and necklace
Forever 21 skirt and belt
Steve Madden flats

You may have looked down at my feet right now and noticed that those flats are neither sequined nor sandals. This morning when I checked the weather and saw that there was a 90% chance of rain, I was incredibly excited to wear my 23rd Street trenchcoat that hadn't gotten much action in a while (hence its place in the 30 items), only to find that it looked really baggy and horrible.

I've withdrawn the trenchcoat from the list of 30 items and instead put in a pair of blush colored flats for the days in which I don't feel like looking shiny or stumpy. I think it's fair, considering I never wore the trench. Yeah? It's fair, right guys? Yeah?

... guys?

SEVEN OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:12:00 +0000

I actually can't believe I've gotten through the first week. Sure, some outfits were duds, but I'm hoping the fact that I've already run out of obvious pairings will kickstart a chain of unusual color and texture combinations.

Or I could just panic and continue to eat my feelings.

Charlotte Russe tankForever 21 necklace
J. Crew pants
Sam Edelman flats

Things I've learned in the past seven days:

1. I shouldn't have included 5 jackets since there's only been two cool days (a relative term since they were about 85 degrees) since the start of the 30 for 30 Challenge.

2. I shouldn't have included only two pairs of flat shoes. Three pairs of heels (only one of which have been broken in) when I can only wear them on the weekends? What was I thinking?

3. My closet needs more tops that aren't blue, black, or white.

4. Next time, I'll have to inject more color in my item selection. I made the same mistake Kendi admitted to making after the last Challenge, selecting a lot of neutrals and hoping they'd be easier to mix and match. Well, they're not.

SIX OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:14:00 +0000

J. Crew cardigan
Charlotte Russe shorts
Forever 21 top, sandals, and belt

I don't know why I'm smiling. I spent $100 on groceries today. I hate the cost of living here sometimes... but it's usually right after I've purchased $100 worth of Cap'n Crunch. (Did I say Cap'n Crunch? I meant good, healthy things.)

Edited at 11:06 p.m.: I just realized that my picture read 6/10. It's been changed, but I think I'm just subconciously trying to let y'all in on something. I have a weird love/hate relationship with this Challenge, but it's been less than a week. I'm gonna be wearing shorts as a top by Day 15.

FIVE OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:19:00 +0000

I was so pumped this morning because I wanted to wear my flowy Topshop jacket since my Mac's Dashboard read 78 degrees. Then I checked Weather.com and saw this...

... so I took off my pretty jacket and put on my parka.

Forever 21 parka
H&M tank
Charlotte Russe shorts
Sam Edelman flats

I even wore my Forever 21 "Elizabeth and James inspired" ring to try to cheer myself up about the weather when I realized that the only thing that could make it better was to listen to this song... only to find that YouTube is making my laptop freak out and embedding is disabled anyway SO WHATEVER BE THAT WAY, YOUTUBE.

FOUR OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:22:00 +0000

I'm surprised it only took four days for me to realize that I don't have very many accessories should I want to Spice Things Up. Not a single statement necklace or hat. At least now I know what I need to buy when my 30 day shopping ban is over. Speaking of which, it's not the worst thing in the world. I haven't exactly been helping myself adjust either, since I've been online window shopping for the last four days. Imaginary shopping carts abound.

Zara shirt and shorts, Forever 21 belt, and Sam Edelman flats

The decision to wear this was easy since it's ideal for my job. However, I had no desire to wear those grey sandals for the millionth time since purchasing them last week. Also, heels are out of the question from Monday through Friday, as I've mentioned previously, and I'm an idiot who only decided to put two pairs of flats on my list of 30 items. Didn't have much of a choice, so I tried on the sequined flats and... I didn't exactly hate it. I kind of look like Steve Irwin's Tacky Sister.

And just in case you missed it: Here are the items I'm using in the challenge. Here's Days One and Two. Here's Day Three.

THREE OF THIRTY

noreply@blogger.com (V) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:25:00 +0000

I had today off work, so I wore heels to run errands. My feet are still so swollen and tender after Six Flags (at least that's what I'm telling myself) that I only lasted about two hours in them.

Urban Outfitters romper, Forever 21 skirt, and H&M heels

I was unsuccessfully trying to hide my misery because every time I had to walk back to the camera to set the timer, I felt my sweat mustache growing larger than my real mustache.

A felt bad for me, so he volunteered to be my photographer. I don't know why, but I don't feel natural in front of a camera at all. I constantly feel the need to hold something or laugh or stare wistfully into the distance. He asked me to "do something" and when I asked "Like what?" he just shrugged and replied, "Dance?" So I did.