Much Happy. Very Smile.

Denim jacket, crewcuts. Rolling Stones tank top and sunglasses, TJ Maxx. BDG high waisted jeans, Urban Outfitters. Chelsea boots, Marshalls. 5-zip purse, Rebecca Minkoff. 2013 was a particularly hard year for my family because we lost a member. I don't mean a person necessarily, but we had to put my dog, Rocky, who we have had since I was six years old, to sleep. While my younger dog, Pebbles, featured here, is still alive, my whole family feels the hole that Rocky left. Pebbles was especially affected given that Rocky was a big brother figure to her. However, we have been able to shower Pebbles with twice the amount of love since Rocky's death. It's the least we could do for her. Anyways, I used to think that I was definitively a cat person. I have cat-like tendencies myself, preferring my own company, etc. However, at some point, my preferences shifted. Because I'm more of a quiet loner, I prefer people and animals who are quite different from me. My spirit is more attracted to that of dogs and dog people, so slowly, I've started to prefer the idea of having a lovely dog of my own one day. I'm not sure what kind I want, but I can't wait for the day that my pup gets to come home with me. And for those of you who spend as much time on the Internet as I do, you'll recognize the title of this post as being from the Doge meme that has catapulted to popularity recently. I found it and thought that none of my friends would think it is as funny as I do, but quickly realized that we all share an affinity for the doge. We even spent an entire Christmas party speaking just like the cute little shiba-inu. I'm glad that I have people who find such quirky things humorous, or I'd do a lot of laughing to myself.

A Dozen Original Glazed

Red sweater, Target (similar here). Jeans, imogene + willie Vintage Dooney & Bourke purse. Vintage Cole Haan loafers (similar here). Vintage scarf. Arrow necklace, Chibi Jewels.

     I have a theory that all of the problems in my life can be solved by buying a dozen hot donuts from Krispy Kreme and a Coke. The literal act of scarfing down three donuts that just got out of the frier doesn't actually solve anything. But taking that small break from life, that small pause just for myself, that's what allows me to gather myself and move on.

     I'm not sure when my obsession with donuts started. Now, I say obsession with donuts, but I must admit I'm a bit of a brand loyalist when it comes to my donuts of choice. I love small town shops like Richie Kreme in Maryville, but if I'm going for a chain, I will go to Krispy Kreme every time. After all, the chain started in the Southeast. The branding is also something to be admire: the classic red, white, and green boxes get me every time. 

     Since I got to college, one of my favorite ways to spend time with someone is to hop in my car, turn on some good music, and make the twenty minute drive to the closest Krispy Kreme. I buy us a dozen to share, kick back, and let the night unfold from there. This tradition is actually how I met Patrick, who I then dated for almost a year. I'm telling you, these donuts have magical powers. 

     Alright, so magical powers might be a bit of stretch. But there's something about being able to suspend any problems in time and just scarf down horribly unhealthy food while smelling the sweet aroma of new donuts being fried. I can't remember ever being sad while in my local Krispy Kreme. Buying a dozen allows me to share the treat with my friends, something that always brings a smile to my face as well. Next time you're feeling down or stressed out, give my method a try. Even if you have to go to Dunkin. 

Let's Go

     I'm making the final arrangements for my international trip to the UK and Ireland. We're stopping in London, Liverpool, Belfast, and Dublin. It's crazy that the second day of 2014 is going to be spent flying halfway across the world on my first international trip. That being said, I've decided to forgo almost all forms of social media. I'm not bringing my computer, but I will have several outfit posts scheduled while I'm gone and will be able to check emails. You can still access my posts from Twitter and Facebook if that it how you normally follow my blog, but I won't be posting anything other than scheduled links and pictures on Instagram. If you'd like to follow my daily adventures, feel free to follow me: trippplethread. I'm excited for my big adventure!

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     I've never thought that I would be happy to see a year go. I usually like to cling onto all the memories I made before the date of December 31st. I don't want to miss a scrap of what just passed, feeling like a diver with a limited oxygen tank but memories are what's giving me life. New Year's parties usually come along with me being fairly silent, a kind of stunned silence, because another year is passing. But 2013 is different. 2013 is what I'd call in terms of sports a "recruiting" year. What I mean by that is simply that this was a year where I had to rebuild my life. My mom and step dad, who I lived with and considered their house "home", moved halfway across the country to Texas. I didn't go with them.

Reading List: Eleanor & Park

     The reason I never defend my love of Young Adult (and even children's) novels is because the ones I read are usually good enough to transcend any age group and become a true classic. Eleanor & Park is certainly no exception. After reading the entire John Green canon years ago, I figure I'd stroll down the YA aisle to see what else was noteworthy. I had seen the cover of Eleanor & Park pinned on the Urban Outfitters Pinterest, so it caught my eye. Then the short description on the inside of the dust jacket won me over. And probably the fact that it combines "punk rock and true love" on the cover.

      The premise is simple: a new girl comes to school and is pretty much instantly outcast. But then she, Eleanor, sits with Park on the bus. While the relationship is slow to build, especially because of the social problems it presents for Park to like Eleanor, it is such a wonderfully accurate portrayal of falling in love for the first time. Eleanor swoons all day after Park holds her hand. I can remember doing the same. While this is certainly an endearing love story, it's much more raw than that. It explores abusive relationships (don't worry, not between the titular characters), social expectations, peer pressure, and a culture before cell phones. I can't imagine what it would be like to date without technology at this point in my life, but reading about a fledgling couple in the 1980s gave me a bit of a romantic notion for it.

      I think the reason why I liked the story so much is that it forces readers to not be so damn cynical. Love like this happens, even for teenagers. This won't be an enjoyable read if you roll your eyes the whole time. The magic is in the sincerity. And I would love to go back to a time in my life that was simple enough to freak out over someone holding my hand. (Ok, I still do that. Can't lie.)

      If you're looking for an intense read that you have to analyze for weeks to understand, this obviously isn't for you. I read it in about two days. But it will stick with me forever.

The Importance of Female Friends (+ road trip!)

From left to right: Me, Emma, Alysse, Betsy, and Ari

     With a lot of young women, it is tempting to dismiss being friends with other women. "Oh, I just don't get along with other girls," they'll say. I understand this tendency, being largely more comfortable with guys as well as exhibiting several personality traits that are traditionally seen as "masculine". However, I'm here to say that this sentiment is a mistake. The beautiful young women that you see in the picture above are my best friends. 

     The four of us on the right recently took a short trip to see my roommate from the last two years and one of my dearest friends, Ari. No topic is off limits with these girls, which made the sleepover that we had at Alysse's house the night before the drive to North Carolina that much more fun. Our personalities perfectly weave together to form a bond that is unshakeable and uplifting. Even if all of us could easily point out the flaws of the others, it is only because we know each other so well. Those flaws are what enable us to complete each other instead of tear each other down. And that's a beautiful thing.

     I'm the baby of the group by a few months and I love saying things to make everyone laugh. Alysse, the friend I've had the longest (8 years!), is the oldest and is almost a full year older than me. She's the mom of the group in so many ways, including her mad baking skills. Emma is the eternal sweetheart and although I've known her the shortest time, it feels like we've been friends for years. The sharp-witted and adorable Betsy always has us laughing with her perfect commentary and questions. Ari and I have known each other distantly for quite some time, but it wasn't until we decided to share a room at Maryville College that we really got to know each other. I'll never forget the nights we stayed up talking until 3 AM even if we had early classes the next day. 

      Each of these women deserve an entire blog post dedicated to how wonderful they are, but I hope that I've given you an idea of how much they mean to me. Being with them makes me feel giddy, unstoppable, fully supported and loved, and perfectly content. There really is something irreplaceable about being able to go from talking about nail polish to bodily functions in two seconds flat; that's something I couldn't do with my male friends. 

    Hopefully you can see the happy, silly, wonderful vibe of the day that we had in Asheville and Brevard. We are commemorating the trip with something extremely special before school starts and I am so excited to share the news with everyone when it happens. 

An Americana Look with Imported Goods...

Boy shirt in stripe linen, J. Crew. White blazer, Tommy Hilfiger. Secondhand denim shorts (similar here). Red leather flats, Gap (similar here). Vintage scarf.

     Nothing says summer to me more than denim cut off shorts. I've never been one to sport butt-cheek-bearing styles that were popular during my early high school years. Rather than falling under the category of shorts whose pockets are longer than the inseam, these cut-offs are the perfect slouchy fit. I actually scored these a few years ago in a clothing exchange and they have become a summer favorite.

    Instead of styling them in traditional beach-bum fashion, I wanted to clean them up a bit and show just how versatile a similar pair can be. Whether you're going to make your own high-waisted pair from thrifted mom jeans or look online for the perfect pair, you can definitely incorporate some jorts into your wardrobe without sacrificing personal style. After all, denim cut-offs are the perfect layer if you just aren't wanting to bear all. 

    I've chosen to pair mine with some classic, American staples. While the brands I'm wearing in this post are pretty well-known for recreating that Americana feel for the masses, none of them actually manufacture their own goods in the United States. In fact, Gap has recently been in quite a bit of hot water over not signing a safety agreement to improve conditions in Bangladesh. While Tommy Hilfiger is an iconic, seemingly patriotic brand, even this brand can't escape from the consequences of outsourcing labor to save a few bucks. Fortunately for me, my personal favorite of the brands I'm wearing here, J. Crew, seems to have its stuff a bit more together. J. Crew does have partnerships with various "Made in the USA" brands; but, as with many other big retailers that I've seen, they seem to be focusing on the male demographic.

     I chose to bring these issues to light with outfit photos to show that I'm not infallible when it comes to my shopping habits. I've set some quantifiable guidelines for myself in my shopping manifesto. In general, I'm doing well and purchasing mainly American-made or secondhand goods; but I still have items from these brands in my closet. I still like a lot of what they sell, even if I have put a moratorium on buying imported goods. However, I know that simply turning away from these brands and ignoring the reality of the situation isn't enough. 

     But, as Fashionista reports in one of the best articles I've read covering the factory collapses in Bangladesh earlier this year, boycotting the brands who use those factories simply isn't enough. This creates a cyclical effect: the companies will make less and will therefore want to pay workers even less. Instead, it's our job as the consumer to take a stand with our words instead of just our dollars. These jobs are the livelihood of our fellow humans. Instead of boycotting brands that you might happen to still love, write letters to urge them to change their practices. 

     We are absolutely on the cusp of a manufacturing revolution. This year's tragedies have caused a stir within the fashion community. Instead of shimmying into our new, unethically made goods, we actually have the power to go back to ethical practices. After all, taking a stand makes you look better than any outfit ever could.

Weekly Goals: 6/9/13-6/15/13

    While I enjoy the jobs that I have (I second shoot for Sarah C. Photography as well as working as a shop girl/taking pictures for Style of Civilization), neither are quite regular enough to take a significant amount of my time during these long summer days. I'm living on campus this summer for reasons I'll talk about in an upcoming personal post. During the school year, I had plenty of work to keep me busy as well as Patrick to hang out with outside of classes. Now that he is working full time and I don't have any homework to zero in on, I definitely need to set some goals for myself and get motivated! I always find that if I commit to my goals in a very public place, I'm more likely to think about them regularly than if I wrote them down just for myself. 

     

     1. Write in my journal every day. I'm a pretty regular writer as it is, but often I forget to jot down events or write things that seem insignificant but that I wish I could read about in more detail. I won't be making that mistake for much longer.

     2. Get caught up on outfit posts as well as creating new content. The lovely Kailey of Mermaidens has requested that I create a photography tips post and I am happy to oblige! I also still have several outfit pictures to get up and can't wait to share what I've been wearing. I also have some personal things to share as well as discussing more interests outside of fashion (see next goal).

     3. Stick to my cross country work out more diligently.  While summer gives me the potential to be as lazy as I want to be, I still have my cross country summer workout program to follow. I've been running regularly for the past few weeks, but I know that it's important to actually do what our coach emails us. This means I'll be waking up to a fifty minute run Monday morning.

     4. Finish cleaning out my wardrobe and pack away/sell anything that isn't in heavy rotation. Style shifts are hard. They are only made harder by unnecessary clutter in my closet. I can't wait to have my wardrobe pared down to the things I'm wearing most right now. Having less makes getting dressed that much easier.

    5. Get together with more friends and have those important conversations that I've been putting off. You know those potentially lingering situations between friends that could determine how the relationship moves forward? Yeah, I have a few of those that I need to clear up before next school year. My Oak Ridge friends also deserve a bit more love than I've been showing them so I am making it a point to get together with some of the best people I know.

     Because these goals are weekly, there really isn't anything too challenging. But this list serves as a reminder for the little things that I've been neglecting since my schedule was cleared from a lot of obligations. I hope everyone has a great week and I'd love to hear what you're trying to accomplish this summer.

His & Hers: A Commentary

What is one thing that you won’t be called when wearing a full circle skirt and a peter pan collar? A badass. 
Maybe this isn’t the look you are going after. Giving off an aura of femininity and charm is certainly appealing. Bows, lace, and tulle are an easy way to update a more casual wardrobe. Traditionally masculine pieces are usually thought of as too casual or sloppy to make the cut, especially in a certain subset of the fashion blogging community.

    I am thrilled with the diversity of content and styles that are available at our fingertips because of the internet. There are blogs dedicated to the lifestyle of a tomboy. On the other hand, there are bloggers who write, repeatedly, about how much they hate pants. I love seeing where my current ideal style lands on the spectrum, but I have a few qualms with some of the ideas I see going on here.

    First of all, I’ve often heard women lamenting the fact that our clothes are designated for women and women only. When women wear something more androgynous or gender bending, they are lauded for the styling tactic. But the thought of a man in a dress? I’m going to be honest here; it seems ridiculous.

    I’m not saying that this should be the case. The idea that men’s clothing is somehow respectable enough to transcend stereotypical boundaries is pretty blatantly against my values. When a female exhibits certain qualities that make her more of a “bro”,which extends to androgynous styling of hair or clothing, why is that more readily seen as cool than an effeminate male?

I don't think the solution here is as simple as men wearing women's clothing. The ideas go much deeper than that. That being effeminate is often used as an insult, even for women ("Stop being such a girl"...ever heard that one?) is a problem within itself. In a lot of ways the fashion industry pushes boundaries to promote more awareness of gender issues. Just take a look at Casey Legler or Andrej Pejic. But if it happened more often, and perhaps without so much fanfare, then this new equalization effect would perhaps have the chance to become the norm- in both style and society.

The Powerness

Ark & Co maxi dress, c/o Lulu's (similar here). Black motorcycle jacket, Hurley (similar here). Black lace bandeau, aerie. Paris scarf, Madewell. Bullet case + rock earrings, Nothing Too Fancy. Ear cuff, Urban Outfitters. 

       What do you do when you need that extra push to feel positive and powerful? Is it wearing a pair of heels that takes you to the next level? Do you have a particular meal you like to eat or place you like to visit?

     For me, it is a combination of several things. When I feel like negativity is bringing me into an unhealthy place, I need to get out of my own head for a bit. I take a deep breath and reflect on why I'm feeling so down before continuing my negative thought patterns. This is a trick that I particularly like because I can do it in any situation at any time. But there are several other factors that you can change to make your day full of good vibes.

     First of all, as many fashion bloggers will attest to, wearing the right outfit is an instant mood booster. Wearing a tall dress makes me feel, well, tall. When I say tall, I'm implying more than just the physical description. I can get past the little things that are phasing me when I feel like a bigger person, inside and out.

     If I'm feeling overwhelmed, one of my favorite activities is to go on a drive in the countryside and just blast some music. I've made Patrick several CDs over the course of our relationship and we usually end up listening to one of those. However, if I can't actually escape what I'm doing (for example, if I'm working on an assignment on the computer), I crank some upbeat and uplifting playlists from 8tracks. Below is my all time favorite for this purpose as well as where I got the name for this post.  

The powerness from rbm88 on 8tracks Radio.

      If all else fails, there are a few more extreme measures. Scream into a pillow if it's emotions that have you going crazy. Running, while not everyone's favorite past time, is a great mood booster. I find it is even more therapeutic than writing. When I write, I tend to get more and more worked up about an issue as opposed to just leaving it all on the page. That doesn't mean I don't want to keep a record of how I was feeling, but sometimes I need another alternative to move on from the tough stuff. 

     With a list of ways to feel happy and positive in the face of stressors that's so long, I'm hoping I won't dwell to hard on the stress of the upcoming weeks. Finals, job searching, and a particular announcement about my mom's family (that I will be making soon) could easily get me down, but luckily I'm blessed with the ability to get back up.

Thoughts on "Dressing Up"

     This past Friday was an annual tradition for my school: Spring Fling. Maryville College is small enough to be able to hold formal events for the entire student body, not just associated with one group or another. I know that a lot of Greek organizations host their own formals at larger universities, but we have neither Greek life nor that large of a population.

     Anyways, as you can tell, I dressed up with a few of my friends (two of my suite mates are in the middle of the group) and we all went out. Patrick was my date ,of course; and I regret not snapping a picture of his ensemble because he was dressed quite snazzily. I'm so glad that I got the opportunity to dance the night away with roughly 150-200 of my classmates; however, I had a pretty groundbreaking personal revelation that night.

     I hate getting dressed up.

     I know. I'm a fashion blogger. Getting dressed up on a daily basis is just what I do. But when it comes to getting all dolled up in a more formal nature, I am left feeling lost and uncomfortable. How am I ever supposed to feel "dressed up" if I would wear literally all of my dresses to class? It's not a huge problem to have. However, it is incredibly relevant to the direction that my personal style is heading.

     Glamor has never been something that I've been good at. In high school, I did my own hair and make up both years I went to prom. Both looked the same as they did every other day. I don't regret that decision, but it makes me wonder: am I missing something by sticking to my low maintenance and casual guns?

    I'm happy with my sartorial choices outside of these very specific semi-formal/formal situations. I buy things that I can see myself wearing day after day, which seems like a no brainer to me. There are those rare gems in my closet that feel too special to wear out too often, whether those are vintage pieces or other items of value. But in general, I prefer a casual, "effortless" (as my style has been called by many commenters, but that term is the subject for a different post) style to feeling overly coiffed. 

    In the end, I'd rather wear something that I can explore in. I want to be able to roam and drive and walk on cobblestone streets and be able to bend over to pick flowers. While my tagline is "Dressing for life's adventures", maybe formal adventures aren't going to be my cup of tea.

Six Months of Style

     Although our six month "anniversary" was technically last Friday, I wanted to do something special to celebrate the wonderful months that I've spent with my boyfriend, Patrick. We didn't get to do anything together because he is currently singing his heart out with the Maryville College choir on their annual choir tour, but I wanted to do a recap of our relationship and how much our style has grown since we met.

The Beginning:

     I think about half of these pictures were taken before we actually started dating. However, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't know we'd be together from the moment we met. But we got to know each other and through that process Patrick learned a lot about my style and my blog. The first picture you see in this set was the first picture of us together and the first time Patrick helped me out with outfit shots (see the post where he is still "mystery feet" here). I was so happy to hear that he was interested in learning about photography and therefore helping with my blog. It's made such a difference!

     His style was pretty much what you see on any average collegiate boy- plaid shorts and tee shirts for the warmer weather. He knew that I loved clothing, so there were days when I could tell he was definitely dressing to impress me. Apparently it worked pretty well because we started dating on September 15th, only about three weeks after we met. However, it is important to note that I knew I'd feel the same way about him no matter what he was wearing.

The middle:

     At this point, taking pictures and other things about my blog had become an integral part of our relationship. We were starting to feel more comfortable exploring the areas around us for pictures as well as with the way we both dressed. I was extremely glad to know that some of my less "mainstream" outfits didn't make Patrick uncomfortable. In Patrick, I found the perfect support and springboard for all of the ideas that I had- blogging related or otherwise. The conversations we had during this time really solidified the relationship we have today. 

     Because Patrick is always my stand in when I'm metering for outfit pictures, I have just as many "outfit" shots of him as I do of me. It's so fun to see the timeline of his style progressing. He started to wear patterned or plain v neck tee shirts on his casual days as opposed to graphic crew neck shirts. During this period, we began going to thrift stores more often and he started stocking up on some basics. I think the turning point was when we found a very nice pair of brown dress shoes for only a dollar. He started incorporating them into more outfits which I believe started his love of dressing professionally almost every day.

Currently:

     After Patrick got quite the clothing haul for Christmas (I happily obliged in buying him a few things he had spotted and my parents piled on even more), he started perfecting the little details of his outfits. Considering that Target has argyle dress socks for $3, he loves playing around with color and pattern when choosing his socks. His casual days usually mean that he isn't wearing a tie, not that he is wearing a tee shirt and jeans. 

     The lessons that I've learned while watching Patrick's style grow are many. First of all, it's fun to help someone go through a style transformation if they genuinely want to. I keep insisting that I had little to do with the shift in Patrick's wardrobe and for the most part that's true. I tell him what I know, but I hardly ever insert my opinion about what he chooses to wear. He'll always look nice to me, even if he's just finished a game of frisbee and is wearing a tee shirt and gym shorts. 

     We've both grown stronger and better as people since we met and I like to think that our clothing choices are just a way of expressing where we are in life. Our confidence is stroked by one another which in turn makes us more secure in the sartorial and life choices that we have to make every day. I'm not using this post as a way to say "Hey, look what I did for my boyfriend! It's a total makeover story!". Rather, I'm excited to show the world that the way we dress is more than just for appearance. It's a fun part of our relationship and our personalities and I can't wait to see how it develops further.