The Gamine

Striped dress, J. Crew Factory Outlet. Leather belt, vintage Calvin Klein. Suede heeled booties, thrifted Bear Traps. Chambray motorcycle jacket, American Eagle. Vintage scarf.

     There's something about this jaunty little scarf that really makes an outfit. Pretty much anything I wear it with instantly becomes something I could call a "favorite"(such an overused blogger word) outfit. For something that I don't see a lot of my age donning, I still felt extremely confident with the little silk guy nuzzling my neck all evening. Somehow the darling knot made me feel like a mysterious movie character: a not so stereotypical gamine. 

     Or maybe it was just the fact that this is the first time I've gotten dressed up and put on make up since school got out. I choose to believe it was the magical scarf. 

P.S.- I'd really appreciate your votes on my entry into the Chictopia Magic Mirror contest! I've entered my pictures from my Snow White shoot, it's perfect! Click here to see my entry.

Girls of my Dreams

Styled by: Shirley Kurata

Photographed by: Autumn de Wilde

For New York Magazine

     It is rare that I find a television show that holds onto me for more reasons than just the aesthetic. While my all time favorite show ("How I Met Your Mother", in case you were wondering) is just a sitcom that doesn't pretend to be all about the clothes, I was interested in "Gossip Girl" almost entirely for fashion reasons. The plots and downfalls of the characters on "Gossip Girl" didn't make my stomach drop with quite the fervor that the situations on "Girls" have. 

     On the surface, "Girls" may seem like another creation born of privilege (considering the four stars are all daughters of famous men), but it has struck a chord with more than just "rich" white females.  Watching it with my boyfriend every week makes the show that much more important to me as it opens up discussions about everything from post-graduation job horrors to feminism. 

     I really can't express what exactly it is that makes "Girls" so important to me. However, the article in New York Magazine does a pretty good job lauding Lena Dunham's creation. In the article, Emily Nussbaum describes the show as "a show about life lived as a rough draft—something well intentioned, possibly promising, but definitely begging for cruel critiques." I can definitely see that sentiment throughout the episodes I've watched so far and I look forward to it continuing Sunday nights on HBO.

      The comments section of the article brings up a lot of general distaste for the show and the concept of the show. There are quite a lot of thoughtful points on the side against the show (and other shows like it for that matter), but I'll let you decide for yourself.

Elizabeth McKay

1. 50s Dress in Chevron

2. Hayden Short in Flamingo

3. Le Charlot skirt in Argyle

4. Rose Jacket in Green (not available)

     Although we might have broken free from the shackles of oppression that the 1950s have come to represent, can we ever get away from emulating the aesthetic? Even the most independent minded women (or at least those that I follow on the internet) seem to embrace a good fit-and-flare dress from time to time. A great example of such a dress is the top number, above. That being said, my lifestyle does not call for any of the above pieces from Elizabeth McKay, nor do I think it ever truly will. It seems to be appropriate attire for sauntering about New England with a sparkling white smile, but something about the cheery colors and prints have awakened my inner prep if only for a moment. 

Moonrise Kingdom

(via)

Shirt, given to me. Bralette, Francesca's collections. Necklace, local artist. High waisted shorts, cut off by me. Shoes, Gap. Belt and bag, vintage.

     Although the movie was released nowhere near my current residence, I've got my whole family dying to see it. My obsession with vintage style binoculars didn't start with the now famous movie still, shown above, but it was a happy coincidence that I happened to pose as such. Now I just have to wait until the movie is released to a wider audience (and then my wardrobe will probably start to take on some inspiration from the film as well!).

Photo Diary, Summer so far

An old canister from my childhood that I had decorated with several stickers. And to ensure that the stickers stayed, I taped over them. However, I now want the canister sans the 101 Dalmations or Swiper for my vanity.

Since I've gotten home from college, I've been redecorating up a storm in my room! I plan on taking pictures once the transformation is complete!. The color of my walls is my favorite color ever, by the way!

The cameras I used to pose/shoot in this post. 

Some pretty mailers I picked up today to start shipping vintage! More on that soon.

My favorite snack of late: strawberry Nutella toast!

The Match Maker

Floral dress (worn as shirt), H&M. Brocade lace skirt, Altar'd State (similar). Black ballet flats, Coach. Vintage leather belt. 

     Usually separated by forces against their power to prevent (aka my closet organizing tendencies), it didn't seem as though these two pieces were at first fated to meet. Although they share similar attributes, with their black backdrops and ornate motifs, all that they had in common was not enough to cause a chance encounter in their old hang outs. However, a shift occurred and as I was in the process of refilling my garment rack at home with my entire wardrobe, only a few favorite pieces idled on the beam. This skirt is what I always reach to when I'm in a rush and the dress just happened to be on my mind and thus a beautiful couple was born. 

     I hope that my matchmaking skills have other future unexpected successes with my wardrobe in the future ;)

An American Adventure

1. Eddie Bauer shirt

2. Topshop American flag shorts

3. Lucky Brand bag

4. Frye lace up boots

5. Essie nail polish in "Orange, It's Obvious"

6. Diana Mini in Fern Green

7. Karen Walker "The American Girl" scarf

     I'd love the be going on a cross country road trip wearing these items and taking a lot of pictures along the way. What are some of your dream vacation items?

Summer 2012 Goals

1. Set up a sewing spot and sew, sew, sew.

2. Learn how to play "The Rainbow Connection" on banjo and ukulele. 

3. Start selling prints of my favorite photographs. Who'd be interested?

4. Take day trips to Chattanooga, Asheville, and various small towns.

5. Turn more of my imagined photographs into reality.

(Like this one!)

6. Be bolder in what I want out of life and take the necessary steps to do so.

7. Take a drive somewhere by myself.

8. Go to Porter Flea!

9. Renovate my room at home in whatever ways I can.

10. Do something totally out of my comfort zone.

     I have made a summer "list" every year since I left middle school. While my first was rather ambitions (probably around one hundred goals, I still have it somewhere), there are certain goals that are rattling around my head a little bit louder than others this year. What are your plans and dreams for this summer?

P.S.- If you make a summer goals post and leave me a comment with the link, I'll put up a link in the post as well! 

Sometimes I Think This Cycle Never Ends

     It's funny how everything goes in cycles. The water rises and falls with the seasons just as I adjust my circadian rhythm each summer to return to my preferred nocturnal lifestyle. The circular themes that we allow to continue in our lives reveal a lot about us. Why would we stop what we so desperately want to continue, even if it is a routine? Fleeing to the lake house the first chance I have has become a summer tradition. In fact, I have pictures of a similar time here, where my friends and I went straight to the lake house from our last day of high school. I have to say, I think my photography has improved!

     Also, in keeping with the cyclical theme of tonight's post, here's a Death Cab for Cutie song that I can't stop listening to:

I do not own the rights to this song!