the perks of being lazy

sweater: found
pants: french connection
boots: flea market
bag: vintage
coat: vintage

its unseasonable warm, and I feel lazy.

I think it was the green tea I had for lunch, or the fact that I went to bed at 2.

I found this sweater in the basement, AND IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, my mother was like "wow, really?" she surprised about my love towards neutrals recently. Everyone expects me to wear STRIPES AND DOTS AND FLORALS AND NEONS AND AND...but I'm not twelve anymore...or even 23, I've calmed down a bit in my style, lovin classics, navys, taupes, and greens. I really don't know what happened, but classic colors have got my name ALL OVER IT...I want to give away half my wardrobe and just have essentials. I did it in September, had TWO garbage bags of stuff, but I feel like I need to get rid of half these "ironic" sweaters....

bye bye crazy patterns! hello neuts...

stripes on stripes

Stripe Jacket: American Apparel
Everything else: Vintage
Shoes: Bass Wayfayer loafer

How lucky that when I took these pictures I matched the awnings of the windows behind me. It really was just a matter of luck, this was not preplanned! Or was it?

I recently got this jacket from American Apparel, and I am in absolute love with it, I know that it is slightly springy, but with the burgundy stripes, I feel like it can easily be layered to wear all year round. Plus, I feel like it the perfect match of gamine and grandma, just my taste!

I think I may have went a little pattern crazy, but what better way to cheer yourself up on a cloudy autumn's eve? People tell me I always dress very "holiday" so I guess that's a good sign. And can we say happy feet? I finally got my Bass loafers, and I am in looooooove. Got them 60% off at the outlet mall, even better! I don't think I can go back to plastic shoes. NEVER AGAIN!

and the sky is grey

Everything: Vintage
Pants: Topshop (I know pink pants AGAIN!)

FINALLY it's fall. And I couldn't be more excited. And I don't mean indian summer with the leaves a-changin' but it's still like 80 degrees out. I mean REAL AUTUMNAL WEATHER. Crisp breezes, afternoon showers, cozy up in a cafe and read a book fall. I don't know if its the fact that I have Steely Dan on repeat, or because Argo was life changing, but my love for late 70s dressing has been rekindled! I have always loved it. I used to have a pair of brown corduroy bell bottoms I wore through all of junior high, but I know that I often dance in the world of the 80s. There's just something so romantic about all the brown tones of '79 that I love. Not quite the shake-your-groove-thang 70s, not quite the girls-just-wanna-have-fun 80s. Somewhere, in the middle.

Maybe I love this style because it reflects me, not quite this, not sure of that, a mesh of everything. Plus the music of the time was so romanic, and Woody Allen films where at their PEAK. Sure I know a lot of girlies love 70s boho, but I'll take 70s working woman..any day.

retire young

Hawaiian Crop: Vintage 
Cardigan: Thrifted 
Trousers: TopShop 
Loafers: Thrifted 
Sunglasses: Old Navy 

I can't believe I haven't shown you these pictures sooner! They some how got lost in the mix of everything that is my life currently! If anything they remind me of warmer days, going out with just a cardigan is simply no longer an option. I think I wore this as my last hurrah to summer. Not that I am a summer girl at all, but I do appreciate the idea of it being universally acceptable to just relax. Versus Americans normal mindset of work work work work...more reasons to miss France...

I spent this day lounging in a coffee shop, doodling cats and pretty girls. My boyfriend mentioned that I look like a retired grandma on vacation which I absolutely agree. Maybe I'll spend some of these upcoming harsh winter days crashing with my brother in Florida, pretending to be an old lady. The more I think about it, the more I love the idea... Lets promise to take some time out of our busy schedules to relax, shall we?

Oh yeah....FNO...

(picture 1, someone really blew it with the date, picture 3..LOVE HER HAIIIR!!!)

dress: vintage
mint shirt: need supply
socks: topshop
heels: my mom's because I have like...no heels...

Never got to show you guys what I did/wore for FNO Chicago. The verdict? Boring as usual. In the midwest its just a shopping ploy and throwing 10-15% off to shopaholics as if thats a real discount! Call me when its 50%. Better yet call me come black friday. I left the FNO festivities to head out to an office party celebrating one of our magazines second annerversarie. The location was rad, it look like an old apartment complex from the 20s. And everyone really liked my dress! Proenza? Nope...Thrifted?Yep....

You know me.

birthday brunch

tie: vintage

blazer: vintage
chambray: french connection
polka dot accordion skirt: vintage
(new birthday boots bought at renegade craft): vintage
socks: topshop

I hope you didn't think I was gone for good! I needed my little break, but now I'm back and more inspired than ever. My surgery felt like an apple falling on my head, everything since feels like "eureka!" since....

I know my birthday was a while back, almost feels like a month ago, but I  had a marvelous time. Caught up with good friends, ate delicious food, relaxed! What more could a girl want. My favorite part was trying new restaurants. We went to an old Indian food favorite, (dave and I got all dolled up) But I also go to try a new pancake place called STAX. They were yummy yummy, definitely put a stamp in my pancake passport. They had fresh blueberries that probably stained my teeth blue, but it was well worth it. (the lemon zest was an delightful touch!) If you're ever in the city and want to try a new breakfast place, I whole heartedly reccomend.

As always, as the world turns, the weather changes, I feel my style evolving. Always inspired by Nora Ephron, but I have to admit, Laura Holt from Remington Steele is slowing becoming my new obsession. But alas, more on that later.....

(On dave, everything's vintage except for the tie, we bought that in NYC) 

bicyclettes et bérets

sailor blouse: vintage 
high waisted anchor cropped pants: vintage ralph lauren 
red flats: vintage 
red leather sling: vintage 
beret: ...kmart....

Well, in case you haven't heard, Dave's car broke down. But I must say that I had gotten too spoiled on it anyway. Back in my early college years I used to ride bikes all the time, but as I've gotten older I've become to reliable on the automobile....

And since neither of us are magicians, Dave's car might be out of commission for a year or so...therefore time to break out the bikes! It felt good to ride around town again, IT WAS FREEING, now that summer is cooling off it's a lot easier to get around and not be drenched in sweat. This weekend we rode to the local theatre and caught Batman on a matinee, FINALLY GOT TO SEE IT AND IT WAS....AMAZING...but bittersweet. Now I will no longer make fun of my friend about crying at the last Harry Potter movie...it's so hard to say goodbye. I hope someone picks up the series and moves on with the Joseph Gordon Levitt story....somebody good...like a Coen Brother...or Aronofsky. Nolan created such a strategic universe...I hate to see it thrown away for ANOTHER REBOOT...:(

But I digress...

I really wanted to be cute on my bicycle...Calivintage is such an inspiration for cute biker babes..you don't always have to look like a messenger or that you're on the tour de france. The right shoe, and the right length of pant really comes into play here. Also my linen shirt was extra breathable so I wasn't sweating like a maniac. A small bag is easier to carry than a large tote (do we really need all that stuff?) And sure the beret wasn't necessary...BUT IT TOTALLY WAS. Layer my sailor pants with my sailor shirt, and watch out sailor moon, I'm riding to the stars! Truth be told, I don't miss the car as much as I thought I would.

its not unusual

candy striped blouse: beautiful shyt vintage 
cardigan: target
high waisted linen shorts: american apparel
collar clips: my mothers (vintage)
flatforms: UO
watch: vintage pendleton

 Remember Carlton Banks dancing to Its Not Unusual  on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? I was reminded of that when I was editing these photos and realized that I some how channeled my inner Carlton. Not so much a right winged conservative to hopes to one day be president....but maybe more of his preppy nerdy side, who likes to listen to his parents music. There's nothing wrong with getting down with some oldies and as for me classic 80s jams are always on repeat. Hall & Oates, anyone?

I always loved how the preppy was often considered the villain in 80s-90s media, like Steff on pretty in pink. But like Andy I always found them midly alluring...from big shoulders to a decadent lifestyle it all seems like a synthesized version of the French Rococo period. Still complete with pastel clothing and big hair. Maybe that's why I'm so attracted to it....

Therefore, this is my tribute to Rococo 80s prep, big hair, big shoulders, and all around saturated cheekiness. Lets all eat some cake, shall we?

But before that  I leave you with this...

Happy Friday ;)