She danced in Technicolor

Dress: Talbots, thrifted; Sweater: Faded Glory;

Frog belt: Highland & Ponce, Calivintage giveaway;

Bracelet: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI;

Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell, Elisharon giveaway.

At some point a couple weeks ago, the winds changed course and the weather has been so glorious, I think I may have to pack up my boots and tights for the rest of the season. It seems fitting to celebrate the early spring in bright, saturated colors, gingham and the new Jeffrey Campbell sandals I received from the lovely Sharon of Elisharon (thank you, miss!).

On another note, my shorter hair may be changing my style a little bit, or at least how I perceive my clothes. I've been going for more classic, streamlined feminine looks lately (less ruffles, but more lines and color). I feel a little like Leslie Caron (in "An American in Paris") and Audrey Hepburn (in "Roman Holiday")  in this outfit. I suppose all those late nights watching Turner Classic Movies is having an effect on me...

Have you ever changed up your style after changing your appearance (i.e., a new hairstyle, weight change, makeup routine)?

The sartoriography of bowties

 Dress: J. Crew; Sweater: Banana Republic, thrifted; 

Blouse: Ann Taylor, thrifted; Boots, tights: Target;

Frog belt: Highland & Ponce, Calivintage giveaway;

Hairbow (as bowtie): Treasure Box of Bows.

Besides our shared interests in giant graham crackers, boxcars and referring to each other with dessert nicknames (hello, cupcake!), Emily of Sartoriography and I have a mutual love for wearing bowties. So naturally, with an obsession like that, we had to play twins this week and wear them at the same time.  Go see how Emily styles hers here, and then stick around, because her outfits, writing, rural photography and stories of Chicago living will charm your socks off, buttercups.

This outfit was built upon a formula of how much green can I wear without looking too much like a leprechaun? I think one day this outfit will become more monochromatic, but for now, baby steps. This spring will see an increase of more bowtie looks for me ...

Quarter past the hour

Dress: Banana Republic;

Sweater: Target;

Necklace: Thrifted;

Belt: Highland & Ponce, 

Calivintage giveaway;

Boots: Target.

Not much to say on this Black Friday, except these thoughts from Thoreau:

"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."

Have a great weekend.

One hand in my pocket, the other adjusts the tripod

Paisley dress: J. Crew;

Green dress (underneath): Banana Republic;

Boots: Target;

Frog belt: Highland & Ponce,

Calivintage giveaway.
Listening to: Alanis Morrissette,
"Hand In My Pocket."

I thought I'd start off Day 1 of the 30 for 30 Challenge by wearing two dresses together. For someone who is a self-proclaimed dress lover, I can't believe I've never tried this layering combination before because it is so easy. It also helps that these dresses are lightweight and are in the same color palette. I like that they complement the natural colors of the trail's foliage. I feel indomitable in this outfit.

What you don't see in these pictures is my overcoat -- it was freezing on Friday, so for the few minutes I was jacketless, my fingers were jammed into my top dress's pockets. Almost all my photos came out that way -- I promise I'm not a slouch!

Don't forget to check out the other participants in Kendi's 30 for 30 Challenge!

So dawn goes down to day

Dress: Banana Republic;

Sweater: Old Navy, from Marilou;

Frog belt: Highland & Ponce,

Calivintage giveaway;

Shoes: Zigi Soho.

What a weekend! I've been on kind of a high from all of these one-year posts -- everyone has been so nice and encouraging. This outpouring of community and sisterhood just makes feel like, yes, this is exactly why I love blogging so much. I also feel a little sense of accomplishment, maybe in the same way someone might feel when they finish the last page of a diary or something. A year feels like it has flown by so fast, and then I look back at all these posts and think, Wow, I can't believe I meticulously wrote down so much of it! Okay, going to stop being sentimental ... now.

Amanda from The Upside of Wonder highlighted me and several others in her "Hello, Blogsphere" post -- check it out here. I love discovering new blogs to read and get obsessed with, so I'll very much be looking forward to this blogger feature in the coming months. You should also check out The Upside of Wonder -- I'm a fan of Amanda's sweet vintage style!

The outfit above is from Friday morning/afternoon. It's very similar to this outfit, but it's a different dress and belt. I've been really drawn to greens, yellows and reds recently -- I cannot help but try to match my outdoor surroundings sometimes.

My alma mater had its homecoming football game yesterday, so Jeremiah and I spent almost all day outside catching up with family and old friends. We also went to a tailgate held for all the people who did study abroad in Oxford, England (Jeremiah went a couple years ago. I almost went that year, but took an internship instead). I got to catch up with some of my friends from my college newspaper, so that was nice.

Hope you're having a great weekend so far. Got any great plans? I'm looking forward to the season finale of "Mad Men" tonight and of course I'll be compiling the final link list tomorrow. If you need some catching up before tonight's episode, you can read my posts here.

Happy, happy Sunday!

Chasing sunrises

Dress: Liz Claiborne;

Sweater: LOFT;

Carpet saddle bag: thrifted;

Frog belt: Highland & Ponce,

Calivintage giveaway;

Shoes: Zigi Soho;

Necklace: from Philippines,

gift from Mom.

How I've worn the dress before: here.

I woke up expecting to take my outfit photos in the afternoon because of the wet, rainy morning predictions. So imagine my surprise when I woke up to a brilliant sunrise -- complete with fiery reds and pinks -- truly a rosy-fingered dawn to be marveled. So, feeling that inspiration, I tried to capture all of those colors and happily grabbed things in my closet that matched. I quickly headed out to my photo spot on the hiking trail.

When I got there, the sky was a completely different story. It was muggy, greyish-blue and I felt quite silly for even trying to do a sartorial interpretation of it.

Lesson learned: Dress for the weather, but don't try to dress like the sky. It will almost certainly change on you.