Sidewalk Chic

The envelope, please

2012-02-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

Blouse: Old Navy; Pants: Kohls; Shoes: Born Crown, TJ Maxx.

Photos of me by Jeremiah.

I spent the weekend essentially consuming movies -- watching the rest of the Oscar Best Picture nominees (you can read my thoughts here), and then watching the awards show Sunday night. My favorite film this year was "Midnight in Paris" for its witty arts references and cameos (Marion Cotillard! Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali! Ernest Hemingway talks in a monotone and likes to fight!). I was pretty stoked to see Jim Rash win a Best Original Screenplay award for "The Descendants" (you may remember him as the 'Angelina leg pose' guy on stage) -- as one of my favorite characters (Dean Pelton) on "Community," he's so talented.

Anyway, here's what I wore Monday after my post-Oscars, back-to-school-and-work slump.

You can read about my last visits to the Best Picture Showcase here.

How was your weekend?

Everyday aloha

2012-02-24T11:00:00.001-05:00

Dress: Sag Harbor, thrifted; Sweater, boots, tights: Target;

Necklace: gift; Bag: thrift find.

I saw "The Descendants" last week and besides being moved by the story and George Clooney's performance (you can read my brief review here), I've been pining to visit Hawaii again after salivating over the lush countryside featured in the movie. The easiest and quickest fix for winter drudgery was to wear my Hawaiian print dress, which I scored for a couple dollars at the thrift store a few years back. Yes, the print is bright and ostentatious, but it's so awesome to go to class or work and wear a Hawaiian print outside of a vacation context. And perhaps it will help tide me over until Jeremiah and I can book another trip to those islands.

Happy Friday!

And here's how I've worn it before:

Blog side project: Film Rascal

2012-02-23T17:00:00.031-05:00

If you're a longtime reader of this blog, you know that I reference movies/television shows a lot in my daily wear. I finally decided to take those obsessions a step further: meet Film Rascal, where I'll be writing about movies, television and other pop culture musings. The blog started as an assignment for a class, and I think it'll be expanded past that as the months go on. Feel free to take a gander as I tackle Oscars coverage, Hitchcock's filmography, and television shows such as Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Of course, I'll still be posting my outfits and all things sartorial over here. :)

P.S. Are we twitter pals yet? Follow me over here, where I'll always post my thoughts on fashion, photography and film.

Looks like morning in your eyes

2012-02-23T09:00:00.024-05:00

Dress: Elie Tahari, hand-me-down from Aunt P.;

Sweater: Loft; Necklace: F21; Boots: Target; Tights: Kohls.

This is one of those outfits that I've been itching to photograph lately because I haven't tried a white/creme combination in awhile, and the pleats and ruffles seem to recall my old romantic looks back in the early days of my blog. I later wore a different sweater with this dress during the day, but I'm glad I photographed this combination. It rained a lot before I took these photos, and I was so afraid I'd step into soft ground and splash mud all over this dress, which remains a favorite piece from Jeremiah's aunt's collection. Word to the wise: no matter how pretty it is, don't wear prized possessions to the park.

I had major plans to take reflection photos on the long bridge, but the early morning mist prevented that. Another time, perhaps?

Here are some other ways I've worn this dress.

Sgt. Pepper rides again

2012-02-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

Jacket: Ecru, thrifted; Jeans: Old Navy; Sweater, boots: Target; Bag: thrifted.

This jacket was a favorite last year, but I haven't worn it much since. After a particularly hard day last week, I decided to wear it around town during Saturday errands. I like to imagine that I'm some kind of rock star whenever I wear it.

I'll be in and out this week with blogging -- my car died last week after 10 years of wonderful, reliable use, so I'll be replacing it sometime soon (in the midst of midterms -- eek!).

A collection of hearts

2012-02-14T17:00:00.003-05:00

Just a collection of hearts I've taken photos of over the years. Happy Valentine's Day!

Be mine

2012-02-14T09:00:00.050-05:00

Hat, jeans: Old Navy; Blouse: vintage, thrifted;

Jacket: Express, thrifted; Boots: Target; Brooch: thrifted.

While I'm not an overly-sentimental person when it comes to Valentine's Day, I do like dressing up a little for it. I'm celebrating over here with an Everybody Everywear red/pink submission with an outfit I wore over the weekend. I bought this red cloche hat as a belated Christmas gift to myself. I had been looking for one for years (ever since I saw Winona Ryder wear one in "Mr. Deeds") and its cheery color has worked pretty well within my wardrobe.

Red and pink are two of my favorite colors ---
here are just a few ways I've worn this color combination in the past:

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day, regardless of how you celebrate (or not celebrate).

Related:
See my Valentine's Day outfit from last year and the year before.

Blazing ahead

2012-02-13T09:00:00.019-05:00

Blazer: Donna Karan, vintage, secondhand from Aunt P.; Blouse: Ralph Lauren;

Jeans: Old Navy; Necklace: gift from Marilou; Moccasins: Minnetonka.
Photos by Jeremiah.

Thanks so much for the feedback on the last post. It was really interesting and eye-opening to read about what you guys find important in fashion blogging. I suppose I am trying to still find some balance with this blog in trying to show what I really wear and what I find more photoshoot-y/creative. Because while I would like to wear vintage floral dresses and wreaths all the time and frolic in the woods, obviously there are more conducive sartorial choices to my school and work lives. From now on, I'd like to differentiate between more of those creative photoshoot-y pursuits and my everyday wear.

Anyways, here is what I wore on Sunday during a trip to the library. I haven't worn this blazer in a while, and I felt pretty inspired to try them with my new jeans. Here's how I've styled it before:

Reality versus creativity in fashion blogging

2012-02-09T18:49:00.000-05:00

Jacket: Ralph Lauren; Blouse: vintage, thrifted; Jeans: Old Navy;

Shoes: Ipanema, thrifted; Skeleton key necklace: Minx, vintage.

So Franca's thoughtful post on the appearance of reality in fashion blogging got me thinking about how things appear on this blog and why I photograph the things I do. When I started blogging 2 1/2 years ago, this blog was simply a creative outlet for myself while I was entering the professional world, and after college, it was a way for me to be part of a community when my real-life friends scattered across the country after graduation. For the hard-nosed journalist I was trained to be, this personal writing/photography was a whole new world for me, and I continue to like being part of it.

But when I started to really get into blogging, things changed. The locations had to be better. The clothes, more fantastical and more vintage-y. The poses, more pose-y. And so on. And with every new opportunity, all sorts of ethical and philosophical questions began to emerge about how I framed every post on this blog: Does it matter whether I mention that this outfit happened yesterday, two days before, or that I only wore it for 20 minutes last week? How much of my private life should I even mention? Do I show other aspects of my life, like being with my husband, meeting with my friends or doing this or that? Should I mention that it is quite ridiculous to hike in tall shoes through the woods to take these photos?

Or would that break the spell of what I'm trying to do?

And the thing is, I wasn't sure what I was trying to do anymore -- whether it was to depict my reality, my life, as it really was -- or how I wanted all of my readers to perceive it. But I've discovered that by trying to photograph everything, I'm already skewing reality because I'm framing what I want you to see, and not how the big picture really is. Would I take these photos if I didn't want to put them on the blog? Probably not. Would I visit this park on my own if I wasn't doing blog photography? Maybe not. Do I always look this pensive in real life? No. Does this become some kind of twisted reality because I put it here for the world to see? Maybe, yes.

The thing is, I am not really sure if there is a right or wrong way to blog, and obviously, there are good and bad elements of trying depict reality and trying to be creative about it. As I've gotten more into photography, I've realized how much I unintentionally stage what I wore or did for these blog posts, without actually disclosing that I did so. And I think in order to really grow as a person creatively, it might be better for me to try to not do so many outfit-of-the-day posts, because it can be mentally exhausting, and really focus on what I can do creatively. Which may mean more fantastical outfits and locations, because I find all that fun. But I think I'll find better ways to be open about how I set up shots, why I chose this outfit or that background, and all of those technical aspects.

This might have been the most long-winded way of saying that I only wore this outfit for an hour because it was way too cold.

Anyways, I am curious: What is important to you when you blog -- depicting reality or a sense of creativity, or both? Is authenticity an important factor when you read a blog?

Vested interest

2012-02-06T09:00:00.010-05:00

Trench vest, jeans: Old Navy; Silk blouse: thrifted;

Necklace: BR, gift from ML; Moccasins: Minnetonka.

Though I'm usually a dress/skirt-wearer, I've ditched my frocks this winter in favor of jeans and pants to feel more at ease in the casual environments of graduate school and work. I got these jeans and vest as belated birthday presents for myself. Jeremiah said I looked like I was about to go on a safari trek in this vest, an image that I don't mind to be associated with.

I spent this weekend doing homework, updating my resume, visiting with grandparents, and watching the ads during the Super Bowl. How was your weekend?

Sketch roundup

2012-01-31T17:00:00.004-05:00

As I've mentioned, I've recently decided to start sketching again and I'll probably share a few from time to time. I've been experimenting with watercolor pencils and have been enjoying them thoroughly. They force you to loosen up on the hard lines you draw -- something that's analogous to me right now.

Malaise-y

2012-01-31T09:00:00.023-05:00

Shoes: Minnetonka; Blouse: Thrifted;

Sweater: Found at summer camp years ago;

Pants: J. McLaughlin, salvaged from Aunt P.; Necklace: Forever 21.

There once was a girl who tried to take photos. Who loved the outdoors so much, even though her alarm clock and sleep rhythms told her otherwise. Whose beloved sweater, with its nubby, warm cotton threads, was supposed to act as a barrier to all things cold. I defy you, winter! It seemed to say. If sweaters could talk.

And ... no. The girl then promptly went back inside because it was so cold her tripod froze on her. No joke. The legs got stuck and would not close. And then she had to awkwardly carry a four-foot-tall tripod through the park, scaring small dogs and people who passed her on the trails.

Sigh. At least the lake was pretty.

Lately: Nature's inkblot test

2012-01-30T17:00:00.003-05:00

Maybe it's because I studied psychology in undergrad, but I found it amusing to flip a couple of these photos to resemble Rorschach tests.

Eagle wings

2012-01-30T09:00:00.010-05:00

Dress: J. Crew, Plaid shirt: Gap; Green blouse: LEI; Boots, tights: Target;

Belt: from camp years ago; Eagle necklace: vintage; Ring: Gift from mom;
Bag: thrift find; Coat: H&M, thrifted.

It's a bit eerie going to the park during winter mornings because it's so, so quiet. Occasionally, I'll hear a twig snap or some rustling in the distance and I always fear that I'll turn around and get ambushed by someone's dogs. No egrets or ducks this morning, though I know they've been around this winter.

I celebrated my return to picture-taking by doing one of my favorite things: matching my surroundings. The blouse and accessories are new, and were enough to help reinvigorate this old dress. I've never worn this dress with this yellow plaid blouse because it seemed to be too match-y, but I like them with the buffer of the green blouse.

Off to another week! Mine will be spent writing reports, analyzing movies (for class), and studying up on Oscar trivia...

Refresh, refresh

2012-01-29T18:43:00.000-05:00

I have tried writing this post three different times this week and every time I've stopped short. I've no doubt been really quiet on the blog the last couple weeks, and there have been several small reasons why -- school started back up, and my birthday came up, and generally everything schedule-wise has been very chaotic.

And there's been one bigger reason why too, I suppose. My longtime professor and mentor passed away a couple weeks ago, and it's been really difficult losing the person who's helped guide me through my career and graduate school ambitions. And I'm not the only one. In his long, long career, my professor affected thousands of students as a trusted teacher, mentor, friend (and to some, a surrogate father), and it has not been easy to walk by his office and know that he'll never be in there again. He was a true gentleman, and a person of deep consequence.

I suppose with everything that's happened the last couple weeks, I've been especially pensive about what I write, and whether I've been doing it effectively, and well. Of course that is all up to how I define those terms, and for a while I didn't think I was going anywhere with this blog, and wasn't sure where to continue, or if I should. I had this weird impulse to make things with my hands, and so I've spent the last week painting sketchpads and fixing broken things around the house.

It's been deeply satisfying. And doing those things have made me realize how much I do enjoy having this creative space, and how I want to get back into the blogging grind. I'll be back here, slowly and surely, and I may expand the things I post here beyond outfits -- drawings, art, more photography, etc.

So I guess what I am saying is thank you for your emails and comments around here and on twitter. They've meant the world to me, and have made me feel very lucky and grateful to be a part of this community. It's good to be back.

*photo from my cruise -- somewhere around Mexico.

Back to school, ring the bell

2012-01-10T09:00:00.059-05:00

Sweater: Target; Silk blouse: Jones New York, thrifted; Skinny jeans: Kohls;

Black shoes: Ipanema, thrifted; Scarf, bag: thrifted.

Yesterday was a day of firsts: first day of school, first day of outfit photography after a three-week hiatus, and the first time I've ever worn skinny jeans. I haven't given up on my beloved dresses, but with a new season it seemed like a great time to shake up my style a little bit. With some leftover holiday money, I've added a few more blouses and pants to my closet to spice things up. There's already a waiting list of blouses to be paired with these jeans.

I'm looking forward to my new schedule, though it's a full plate: four classes, work and a panel session every week. As for my photography, I'm hoping I'll be back in rhythm with the park soon once I adjust to a new sleep pattern. This night owl is morphing into an early bird.

Goodbye, vacation

2012-01-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

Dress: Liz Claiborne, thrifted; Shoes: Born Crown; Belt: Loft.

Today's the last day before winter vacation ends and graduate school resumes, so it seemed appropriate to wrap up the warm-weather outfit photos. It's been a busy winter, but I feel invigorated for school and whatever comes in the next few months. Spring semester, bring it.

The Yucatan peninsula

2012-01-07T21:19:00.000-05:00

Dress Target; Shoes: Born Crown; Hair wreath: Self-made; Bag: Thrifted.

During our cruise, we explored a good bit of the Yucatan peninsula. On the first day, we went to Progreso and Merida, Mexico. Jeremiah's family hosted an exchange student from Mexico several years ago, so we met up with her and she showed us around her town. We visited Dzibilchaltun, and walked through the ancient Mayan ruins and cooled off in the cenote, a natural sinkhole for swimming. On the second day, Jeremiah and I explored Cozumel on our own and hung out at Ocean Beach for a few hours. My favorite part of the beach? Finding beautiful shells and rocks for my collection at home.

2011 in outfits

2012-01-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Déjà vu

2012-01-02T13:00:00.008-05:00

Dress: Connected Apparel;

Watch: c/o The Trendy Boutique; Shoes: Born Crown.

I took a long break from blogging, but I'm back now regularly. Jeremiah and I headed out of town before Christmas to go on a cruise with his family to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. His family liked the idea of our Thanksgiving cruise so much, they invited us on their winter break one. Jeremiah and I never go on vacation so frequently, so we felt pretty lucky and very, very spoiled to spend December on the high seas so soon.

These photos were from around the ship we were on. I'll be sharing some photos from this trip, and catching up on my regular posts from around Georgia here soon. Can't wait to see what 2012 brings in!

When the year grows old

2011-12-19T09:00:00.020-05:00

Dress: Sangria; Jacket: Aeropostale, thrifted;
Boots: Target; Tights: Vera Wang;

Skeleton key necklace: vintage, from Minx.

I cannot but remember

When the year grows old --

October -- November --

How she disliked the cold!

She used to watch the swallows

Go down across the sky,

And turn from the window

With a little sharp sigh.

And often when the brown leaves

Were brittle on the ground,

And the wind in the chimney

Made a melancholy sound ...

I cannot but remember

When the year grows old --

October -- November --

How she disliked the cold!

- Edna St. Vincent Millay, "When the Year Grows Old"

Ship scraps

2011-12-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

Just a few photos left over from the cruise ...

Suitcase livin'

2011-12-16T09:00:00.024-05:00

Dress: Club Monaco, thrifted; Jacket: Aeropostale, thrifted;

Bracelet: Loft; Shoes: Born Crown.

Final exams are over, which can only mean one thing: suitcase living. For the next couple weeks, Jeremiah and I will be visiting family for the holidays, so I'll be relying on a bag of simple basics to get me through parties, get-togethers and maybe even a trip to the beach (!). The weather's been fantastically warm here and I'm hoping it'll just stay that way through the rest of the year -- I've never been a huge fan of snow.

After a semester of not shopping and keeping a budget on priorities (like books and groceries and sometimes candy to power through finals), these shoes were a little early Christmas gift to myself.

Have fur, will travel

2011-12-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Longtime readers of this blog will remember my blue teddy bear, Sprinkle, and my penchant for posing her in random spots for my own amusement. Jeremiah and I decided to take her on our cruise, and she got into some adventures of her own. From climbing Mayan ruins, visiting port cities and hanging out with her pet ladybug on the ship, photo evidence suggests she had more fun than we humans did ...

There you are, old faithfuls

2011-12-14T10:50:00.000-05:00

Sweater: Banana Republic; Shirt: Arizona Jeans Co., thrifted;

Pants: J. McLaughlin, salvaged from Aunt P.; Boots: Target; Bracelet: Loft;

Bow tie: vintage, from Minx; Bag: Thrift find.

After Thanksgiving vacation, I took a long, two-week break from photography. My retreat was simple: After taking so many photos during our trip, camera fatigue set in, to the point where I wasn't sure if I'd ever want to take another photo again.

But after visiting the park in the morning, I felt a little rejuvenated in knowing that even though most of the leaves have fallen, it is still the same beautiful landscape. And in my trusty sweater and old boots, I felt a little more like myself, and began to explore again, with my lens and feet.