{inspired by} the boyfriend (day 14)

j crew tee, target cardigan, vintage belt, banana republic chinos, 9 west flats

If 50's is all about the hour-glass figure; 60's mod; 70's hippie; 80's neon colors; 90s grunge; then I proclaim our decade as the era of the boyfriend. Really, why are we so obsessed with everything boyfriend- from the button downs to the sweaters to the cardigans to the jeans... are we really that insecure that we need to wear our boyfriends on our sleeves? Possible reflections of underlying social turmoils aside, I have to confess- I love the boyfriend. In fact I sometimes peruse the men's sales racks for x-small & smalls that I can incorporate in my own wardrobe. While androgynous is huge on the runways, I can't help but add a touch of femininety to my boy clothes- whether with belts or sequins or soft cardigans. 

Remember when Katie Holmes started the boyfriend jeans back in 07? It's pretty wild when you think about its widespread popularity since then. I definitely had a hard time getting used to this sillouette as I'm usually drawn towards clean lines & waist-cinching belts. While boyfriend jeans are still trendy, I love this pair of boyfriend chinos that I scored a while ago. Incredibly soft, surprisingly easy to wear, and always a classic.

{inspired by} the classics (day 13)

 

Sometimes it's okay to be void of creativity and just fall back to what's tried and true. It really doesn't get classier than a khaki trench, oversized sunglasses, black on black, sweet ballet flats, & a silk square scarf. 

{inspired by} tights girl from high school (day 12)

land's end canvas shirt, f21 skirt, frye boots

There used to be this girl in high school who wore tights obsessively. She had them in every color and pattern imaginable- bright fusia, candy cane stripes, big polka dots... if you can name it, she had it. Her nickname was "tights girl" (not in an endearing way), as tights were considered really weird back then. Oh we'd make jokes and laugh at her ridiculous tights during lunch, thinking we were so cool in our Silver jeans and Abercrombie shirts. Who knew that not-so-far in the future, I'd become quite the tights girl myself- though still not as brave as the original "tights girl" in patterns. (but wish I were)

Can't wait to make more additions to my tights collection this fall. I'm kind of loving the black polka dot ones I've been seeing on quite a few bloggers. A charcoal gray pair wouldn't hurt either. Perhaps another argyle one also... Lesson learned: whatever you think is weird right now will be cool & fashionable in the future. So feel free to embrace your very own inner "tights girl", because everyone else will be wearing it in 5 years. I promise.

{inspired by} leather on leather (day 11)

To say that I have a thing for leather is probably an understatement. (& sounds really wrong) But I really adore all things in this beautiful material- from boots, jackets, to bags & belts... There is something about the buttery softness and the distinct smell that I just can't get enough of. Currently looking for a convertible messenger/tote in brown distressed leather. Though I was hoping to find a perfectly worn in vintage one on etsy, as aged leather just has so much more character, I might just settle on the manufactured vintageness of this one.

PS, I met the older version of my doppelganger in painting form today. It's not an everyday occurence that you get to exchange soulful glances with those, so we had to document it! Enjoy.

30 for 30 week 2: recap

I think the quality of the outfits and photos this week's 30 for 30 definitely took a toll because of the extremely inconsistent weather we've been having out here in the midwest. It was either too hot, too windy, too sunny, or too gloomy. Trying to look cute and stay warm/cool/not blown away was really hard! Hopefully this weather will calm down and I'll do some better planning this week coming up. 

My favorite outfit this week was Day 7. I like the belted scarf look. I also like the unreasonable amount of purple because it makes me feel more artsy.

This is my favorite of Jennifer's outfits this week. The combination of gray & yellow is so refreshing and summery. Also, she didn't just make the skirt, but belted it with a ribbon & a pin- so creative! 

PS, her photos always turn out better than mine...jealous! :)

{inspired by} a pop of color (day 10)

Anthropologie necklace, Gap tee, Frye boots

The reason I fell in love with J Crew years ago is the stack of rainbow colored cardigans inevitably found in every issue of the catalog. From bright turquoise to sunny yellow to coral pink, I loved them all. In fact, they really did make me feel as if I need a cardigan in every single one of these colors. Though I'm still irresistibly drawn towards bright colors, I've gained an appreciation for somber blacks and dark neutrals through the years. Yet an all-dark outfit is still incomplete to me unless I can add a pop of color to it somehow- whether with accessories or simply nail polish. (in this case, a turquoise necklace I snagged on sale @ anthropologie)

These pictures are taken in front of the flower wall in our livingroom. And yes that's all of our faces inside the flowers. Pretty cute stuff, you say? I think so too.

PS, I love this pair of boots, but they didn't turn out in these photos. I promise to get better pics of them tomorrow!

{adventures with} a fellow foodie

In case you were wondering, these are brie, apple, & arugula quesadillas. A good friend Chelsey and I made these for dinner last night- they were so wonderful, especially when served with pico de gallo & homemade chips. The warm melted brie rounds out the sweetness of the fuji apples; the fresh greens add a bright pop of color; and finally the crispiness of the whole wheat tortillas brings everything together. Thank you Atlantis Home for the inspiration. You have such great style and such great taste in food as well! And thank you Cooking Light for the recipe.

{inspired by} pocahontas, the wind, & lazy days (day 9)

Men's V-neck, F21 necklace, vintage belt, VS leggings, Sam Edelman boots

Well I really do think the title & the location of this photo explains it all. I wanted to channel a little bit of our historically inaccurate Disney heroine when I found myself peculiarly drawn towards these boots today. So I added my vintage "Old West" silver buckle belt and my silver leaves necklace to match. I thought it quite clever as today was EXTREMELY windy (such ridiculous weather) and we all know that Pocahontas is famous for "colors of the wind". And really it just has been a very long week and there's still a very long weekend ahead of me followed by another long week etc, so I figured I might as well just stay in pajamas all day long. This is when I take back what I say about the Midwest being lacking in style and praise it for the sloppy sweats trend it has been embracing for the last few decades. (& yes, I did take this photo at work...)

Have a good weekend everyone!

{dedicated to} the civil rights movement (day 8)

I just want to give a shout out there to anyone who has done or is currently doing his part in fighting social injustice. These people and their actions are so motivating and inspiring. I highly recommend the documentary Freedom on My Mind. 

Here is today's outfit. I sort of think of it as Season 1 Jenny Humphrey meets Season 3 Jenny Humphrey. Meaning somewhere in the middle of sickeningly sweetie pie and skank punk chick. And for those of you who don't watch Gossip Girl (you probably should), I really just mean toughened up girly. You can't quite tell from the pictures, but there's a zipper detail on the front of my skirt, and I totally layed like five metal-type necklaces together. Yea I know, I'm so edgy, right?

Arden B skirt. H&M + F21 necklaces. J Crew flip flops.

{starving for} a quick nutritious meal

Seared sea scallops with scallions

Sauteed green beans with fresh garlic & ginger

Tossed whole wheat penne with heirloom green tomatoes, balsamic, basil & olive oil

Took me a total of 30 minutes to prepare & wolf down this baby after a full day of class.

{matched by} farmer's market plums in my fridge (day 7)

The Saturday morning Farmer’s Market trip has been a tradition in our apartment recently. And I emphasize recently as it began two weeks ago. It’s not just a great way to get fresh produce, but also such an experience in itself. Waking up super early, perusing through the vendors, and getting freshly baked apple pastry from the French lady…. These moments trigger childhood memories of myself riding on the back of my mom's bike, going to farmer's markets just like so.

Last weekend I bought some plums. They’re still ripening in my fridge. Today was also the first day of fall, So I figured some plums & purples might be appropriate in my outfit choice. So... happy Autumn! And I hope where you are, the weather matches the season, because it sure doesn't where I am.

{inspired by} daisy by marc jacobs (day 6)

 

 

When Daisy first came out a few years ago, I thought it was much too girly and floral for me. I'm kind of Burberry Brit kind of gal- cologne over floral notes anyday. This last summer, I gave in and bought a bottle for going out and dinner dates. Surprisingly, I wore it much more frequently than I expected. Just a few sprays make me feel so feminine and pretty- in this fresh summery kind of way. Since today was the last day of summer, 88 degrees & sunny, I reached for my summer stable and planned an outfit to match. Dusty pink, ruffles, rosette details & chiffon - hope you're proud, Marc Jacobs.

{embarassed by} what I wore at the age of 14

Dear Lea,

Can we talk about how cool you are? Can we meet so I can get fashion advice? Can we do coffee, at your place, so I can steal all your clothes? Seriously, can we just dicuss the fact that you are 14 years old and more stylish than 99.99% of the people I've met in my entire life? I think we should be friends. Or you can be the younger sister I've never had, and I'll be the older sister that will never be too cool to hang out with you.  

Love the faded turquoise green blazer with seersucker insides, sweet black mary janes, a shimmering silk dress, the sideswept ponytail, and the cutest accessory ever- a puppy.

30 for 30 Week 1: Recap

The first week of 30 for 30 was much more do-able than I predicted. Contrary to my initial thoughts, 30 pieces of clothing is actually quite a lot to play around with. My favorite this week was Day 4. Mainly because it was polished but also the easiest to wear out of these five outfits.

 

Jennifer and I decided to pick a favorite out of each other's week as well. My favorite of hers is Day 1. I love the preppy argyle cardigan, classic chocolate brown belt, with a touch of glamour from the embellished neckline on the layering tank underneath. While you may not be able to see the details of the beading from this picture, I assure you it sparkles in the sunlight.

{inspired by} mall trips & procrastination

Something I really miss about my high school days is Auntie Anne's at the mall. I'd justify the unhealthiness of a cinnamon sugar pretzel by...well, more walking. (or shopping) Now that I do most of my shopping online, I no longer spend entire afternoons at the mall. Today I was being awfully slow with my readings, so I decided to procrastinate by making some homemade whole wheat soft pretzels. While the recipe looks ambitious, I assure you, it is definitely not difficult. And if you liked play-doh as a child, you will love making pretzels. Also, I calculated the calories, including extra toppings & liberally dipping, each of these babies are less than 100 calories each. Yeah, I know.

Servings: 24 small pretzels (approx. 1/2 the size of the kind at the mall)

Ingredients:

Dough:

yeast- 1/4 oz (1 packet)

whole wheat flour- 3 cup

skim milk- 1 cup

lemon- 1 zested & juiced

maple syrup (I prefer grade B)- 2 tsp

greek yogurt- 3 tbs

Boiling mixture:

water- 4 cup

baking soda- 5 tbs

Toppings:

cinnamon

poppyseed

granulated sugar

coarse salt

Dip:

red wine vinegar

dijon mustard

maple syrup

sugar

Directions:

1. Heat milk until very warm, approx 60 sec on high in the microwave. Dissolve yeast in milk. Let sit for 5 min.

2. Meanwhile, zest and juice lemon, mix with greek yogurt and maple syrup.

3. Mix ingredients from step 1 and 2 with the flour. Knead until dough's formed.

4. Place dough in a large bowl coated with olive oil, cover with saran wrap. Let sit for approx. 30 min, or when dough doubles in size.

5. Break the dough into even pieces. If you want larger pretzels, feel free to make less.

6. Form the dough into pretzel shapes & place on greased cooking sheet. If you have trouble, a quick search on youtube should be helpful.

7. Preheat over to 450 degrees.

8. Bring the water/baking soda mixture to a boil.

9. One or two at a time, put the pretzel doughs in for 30 seconds. Place them back onto the cookie sheet.

10. Sprinkle liberally with your favorite topping or leave them plain. I made some poppyseed, some cinnamon sugar.

11. Bake in oven for approx. 10-12 minutes until the outside's golden brown.

12. Meanwhile, heat vinegar, maplesyrup, mustard & sugar in a pan on medium. Adjust the portions to taste. Let simmer for 5 min. 

If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible! :) Happy baking!

{inspired by} football saturdays & the weekend (day 5)

Football Saturdays are such a tradition out here in the midwest. Blasting Kesha at 7am, front lawns covered in red cups, projectile vomits... well, you know the drill. While I may not be the biggest football fan, I love traditions, school spirit and our team colors. (maize & blue) So even if I plan on sitting at my desk reading about policy issues, listening to Vampire Weekend, and sipping on a hot latte- I'll be checking the scores online and wearing my heart on my sleeves (& feet). Wear maize, go blue!

{inspired by} mixed prints (day 4)

h&m dress, vintage belt, rocket dog flats

 It's true, I am a college student during the week and a monk on the weekend. No seriously. Okay just kidding. Hope you didn't get tricked by my soulful glance there. Anyway, aren't polka dots just so chipper? Especially when it's on not just a shirt or a skirt or a pair of shoes but covers your entire body? Extra especially when mixed with a thrifted checkered print belt that you've had since.... well 9th grade. Mixing prints is such a fun way to give an outfit something a little unexpected... or a lot unexpected.

Happy Friday! :)

{inspired by} soft neutrals & sequins (day 3)

I've been pretty obessed with soft neutrals - grays and nudes- since ....quite a while now. They work so well with each other and also with other colors. In fact, sometimes they are more versatile than their brothers, the harsh neutrals - black and white. They're less stark and add just the right amout of feminine touch, without going into the girly girl category of bubblegum pink. If you need any sort of inspiration/guidance in regards to soft neutrals, head on over to Cocorosa because no one does it better than her.

In my dream world, I would be wearing my outfit with this pair of flats from Banana Republic. But the rainy weather and walking to class forced me into my gray Hunters. I love them a lot for keeping my feet warm and dry on cold dreary days, but I just can't make them look stylish- is it because I'm short? Guess not, Ashley Olsen- you're short and look hot in those boots. So I get it, okay? Okay.

{inspired by} holly golightly (day 2)

cardigan: target, dress: f21, belt: vintage (from 7th grd)

Oh hello there. No I'm not talking about Audrey Hepburn's black sheath & pearls & sunglasses & fashion sense. (which I admit, while classic, is jaded by the billions of posters of her hanging up on the dorm walls of freshmen girls everywhere)

According to my 60s History prof, Holly's quite a daring woman. While women acoss American lived in suburbs, cooked for their husbands, & popped out babies, Holly was independent, single (ish?), threw fabulous parties & made her own dollas in the big scary city (though through questionable methods); not giving a care on what others thought of her.

Fast forward to 2010 when I woke up late for my 8:30am & quickly threw on some clothes. En route to class, I realized that I was rocking the UofM uniform in black yoga pants, an American Apparel deep v-neck, a black North Face & a pair of Sperry Topsiders. Though out here in the midwest, Northface is probably designer. If you roll out of bed & throw on some sweats-- no one'd even notice. But if you're in a cute dress that actually fits and nice shoes-- well, you might come off as trying too hard.

Since Holly didn't care that people thought she was a fallen woman, then I'm okay with trying too hard. So I changed into a dress, went to class, & snuck up to the 6th floor of B-School for some photos. I introduce to you the 2010 Holly- risk taker & seasoned rebel.

{inspired by} healthy breakfast & fall

Just made the healthiest and most delicious whole wheat lemon zucchini muffins ever! The zucchinis keep them moist, the flaxseeds give them texture, and the spices evoke a sense of fall. They are so easy to make and actually good for you-- imagine serving them with a big mugful of hot chai & some ingrid michaelson for breakfast. 

makes: 24 fluffy muffins

ingredients:

whole wheat flour- 3 cup

brown sugar- 3/4 cup

granulated sugar- 3/4 cup

baking soda- 2 tsp

ground cinnamon- 3 tsp

ground ginger- 2 tsp

salt- 1 tsp

egg- 1 (lightly beaten)

olive oil- 1/3 cup

maple syrup (I prefer grade B)- 1/2 cup

vanilla extract- 2 tsp

lemons- 2, zested & the juiced

zucchini- 2 cup shredded (approx 3 small ones for me)

flaxseed- 1/3 cup

Directions:

 Preheat over at 350 degrees

1. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients from flour to salt.

2. In a separate smaller bowl, combine all the liquids from egg to lemon juice.

3. Pour the liquid mixture into the large bowl. Mix well.

4. Fold in zucchini & flaxseed.

5. Fill paper-lined or greased pan 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

6. Cool and enjoy, while feeling absolutely guilt-free!

{inspired by} study hardy & gossip girl (day 1)

     Still learning to be comfortable in front of the camera so please excuse my beautiful yet awkward smiles. Since we were shooting at the law quad today I just had to wear RL to feel collegiate (read: smart). The gossip girl season premiere was last night, so of course I needed a headband to pay tribute to Queen B.

     Just love the feel of gothic oxford architecture. Walking through the law quad on a brisk fall day always makes me long for those days when people went to university to read literature, appreciate art, & learn the classics. Now we just go to college so we can make a lot of money and buy beautiful clothes... nothing wrong with that, right?

{inspired by} Kendi Everyday

I decided to do the 30 for 30 remix challenge! It means wearing only 30 pieces of clothing (including shoes) for 30 days. But I'm tweaking the rules a bit to suit my college student needs.... as below.

1) Party clothes not included. (read: slutty clothes for going out)

2) Gym clothes & pajamas not included

3) Tights are not included (they're socks! just really long, like to your butt long)

4) Accessories don't count either (meaning belts, necklaces, scarves, etc)

5) No shopping (unless I absolutely need it, in which case I have to report it via blog post)

That's it for now. I'm doing it with my friend Jennifer. If you want to see my source of inspiration, here's Kendi Everyday.

First Post

     I figured that after hundreds of hours spent on google reader over the last three years reading style blogs (while procrastinating papers and finals studying), it's about time to start my own. I've been flirting with the idea of blogging for a while, but have not had the guts to committ. Over the last few weeks, I've given it some serious thought, and I'm ready to take the plunge and give this relationship my best.

     I want this blog to be a learning and a reflective experience. I have been so inspired by all the bloggers out there- from Garance to teenfashionista (now classic case) to Oh Joy to so many others that I could not possibly list all of them. Through all these talented and stylish men and women, I have learned to appreciate many exquisite details in my surroundings that I had completely missed before. In this blog, I want to share my thoughts and ideas not just on clothing and fashion, but on all the beautiful things in life that constantly inspire me and fill me with awe. That may include fashion, design, books, cooking, or just people in general. I really hope that you will find something worthy here, just as I have in the blogging world of so many others.

     I would like to end this first post with a quote from a very classic children's book, "The Little Prince". Towards the end of the book, the little prince tells the narrator about his secret, and says, "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." In my posts, you might find me overly analytical at times, and we might focus on what looks good very often. But I truely believe that style is achieved through an appreciation for the beauty within. And that can only be seen with the heart.

Love, 

Clare