Neutral Observer

Black and white color block tee shirt, J. Crew. Black circle skirt, Vince Camuto. Black loafers and rounded sunglasses, Target. Leather belt, thrifted. Black and white chevron scarf, Wal Mart. Vintage Dooney & Bourke purse. 

     When in doubt, I pile on the neutral tones. Other than a huge chunk of blue in my closet, the rest of the colors are dwarfed by my blacks, creams, grays, and whites. I typically feel uncomfortable or childish in bright colors and want to change into something more subtle immediately.While I've always been attracted to blue tones, I've been chasing after bright red items to insert for some emphasis in my outfits lately. 

     While I have never thought that my lack of brightly colored wardrobe items said anything about me, the situation I was in while wearing this outfit certainly made me think otherwise. I've never thought of myself has having a "colorful" personality. I don't beg for attention but rather maintain my confidence by being sure of myself. Because of this, I typically tell people exactly how I feel about any given situation. However, watching myself let something slide that I really shouldn't have this past weekend is still getting to me almost a week. Was it because I was dressed in all neutrals? Of course not. But I think I need to see a little bit more red when it comes to standing up for those around me.

Generational

White bow blouse, Frock Stock. Black bra underneath, Nollie. Black silk circle skirt, thrifted F21. Brocade jacket and leather wallet clutch, vintage from my Aunt Dawn. Green bracelets, J. Crew.

     I'm amazed that one of the great vintage pieces that my aunt has given me (she is responsible for a large part of my vintage collection!) is so relevant to this fall's trends. I've always loved this jacket, but never felt quite current wearing it. While I know trends should only consist of a small portion of my personal style, I'm definitely thrilled with the spike in ornamental designs for autumn. Trust me, this isn't the only thing I've been too scared to wear in my closet at the moment. 

     Not only are vintage clothes fun because of the story of the past wearers and as a primary resource for the trends of the past, but I love inheriting any form of clothing from family members. I always think of my mother when I carry her old leather backpack, which we call my "adventure bag". The bag has literally been all over the world with her, and now I get the chance to have my own experiences with it. Anything that a family member gives me has sentimental value in its own way, whether its a vintage wallet from France or a pair of socks. The generations represented in my wardrobe are what makes it so near and dear to my heart. While finding exactly what I want for a bargain at a retail store always gives me a certain sense of satisfaction, nothing can compare to being given the perfect gift.

Insta-Autumn

I'll always bleed orange. Go Vols!

     My Instagram feed has taken on a distinctly autumnal feel as of late. While in the South, the leaves like to wait until the last possible second to illuminate the tree line like an evening bonfire, I soak up every bit of the warmth while I can. Although I stuck to a warmer, cozier feel with this set of pictures, I still like to think that my daily life really looks like this, but with "#nofilter". 

My latest reading spot on campus, where I can see trees slowly shifting into fall mode. 

An autumn shoe shot. These are my "go-to" flats for class. 

If it dips below sixty five you bet I'll be sipping on some hot chocolate. 

Words to live by and shoes to live in. 

The most recent shot of mine captures one activity that I spend most of my money on during the fall months: concerts! I'm so glad I finally got to see Ingrid Michaelson play live after missing her in Knoxville a few years ago.