Packing for Paris: Part Three

Shirts, tees, sweaters, cardigans. I obviously can't go topless in Paris. (Okay, well maybe I could get away with it, but it might get too cold for those kinds of shenanigans.) So to ensure my torso (and other accouterments) stays warm, I will need to make sure I have a decent supply of tops to go along with my skinnies and kicks.

And although I have a healthy supply of tops already vying for their place in my suitcase, I would like to supplement them with some fun yet basic shirts that will allow me to mix and match at my pleasure. Here are some of the treasures I found online that I think would be a great addition to my traveling wardrobe.

Polka Dot Sweater, J.Crew Factory, $47.50; Blue striped t-shirt, Anthropologie, $29.95; Jeweled Collar Sweatshirt, LOFT, $54.50; Black Sweater, Zara, $59.90; Chambray Popover Shirt, New York & Company, $20.

Packing for Paris: Part Two

Now that I've got my kicks figured out, I've got to figure out what I'm going to wear to cover my bee-hind. Being that I'll be in Paris and London in early Fall, I'm planning on wearing pants and jeans most days. Although I don't mind skirts or dresses, I typically only wear them for work or church. And since I definitely won't be doing the former and will unlikely be attending the latter, pants will suffice.  I may throw in a dress or skirt just in case I venture out for a little nighttime fun -- which I hope to do at least once (or deux).

For most of the time, though, pants it will be. And by pants, I mean jeans and khakis (or what other people might refer to as chinos or basically cotton pants). What's great is that there are plenty of options to chose from, although it seems most of the world is currently having a love affair with skinny jeans. (I've even seen advertisements for skinny skinny jeans, which leads me to wonder: How much skinnier can jeans get before we just start painting them on ourselves? I mean, come on, unless you have sticks for legs, skinny jeans just become a veritable self-esteem ass kicker.)

Thankfully designers still offer the standard fair of pant shapes -- straight, bootcut, flare, etc. -- and so as to maintain some level of fashionable style, I've decided that the straight and slightly skinny pant that skims the ankles will be my go-to chic pant style for across the pond. I've already got a couple pairs of jeans that fit the bill (although one pair might cause internal damage if I wear them for too long) and at least one pair of khakis that will look great with almost anything I wear. But I'm on the prowl for more! So, here are some recent styles I found while perusing my usual fav stores.

 1. Chino Trousers, Land's End, $59; 2. Houndstooth Trousers, Zara, $79.90; 3. Slim Ankle Pant, Banana Republic, $89.50; 4. Straight Leg Jeans, LOFT, $69.50; 5. 1969 Real Straight Jeans, Gap, $69.95.

Reading is Fundamental

I'm a huge bibliophile -- I love books! I wish I was more dedicated to reading more, but after two years of English grad school and a full-time job, I've found myself coming home from work and just wanting to veg out watching t.v. or surf the web.  But reading is always in the back of my mind, and I have a ever-growing list of books that I'd love to crack open. It will happen eventually; I've just got to make it a priority.

In the meantime, though, I have decided to inspire myself to read by printing off some photos of my favorite book covers and framing them for my office wall. It is a cheap, easy and chic way to decorate while also showing off my personality and providing some inspiration. I'm hoping that it will do the trick for me and getting me reading again. And maybe it will also encourage me to pen a few of my own stories.

 

I also found some other cool decorative items on Etsy that any self-proclaimed bookworm or scribe would love to have.

 

Typography Quotation Notecards, HitckcockCreative, Etsy, $28;  Mark Twain Quote Print, RawArtLetterpress, Etsy, $27; "Reading is Cool" poster, DazeyChic, Etsy, $20.

Packing for Paris: Part One

Well, it is official! I'm going to Paris! And even though it will be my third trip, this time around I'm also going on a short excursion to London. Plus, I get to spend a whole week with my best friend in two of the most vibrant and stylish cities in the world. I'll be visiting in early Fall, and with the unknown weather a major factor along with a desire to look as fashionable as I can on a budget, I've already started planning my wardrobe.

Starting with the toes and working my way up, the next few posts will be a run down of what I think are essential pieces that will not only work for a traveling gal like myself but also keep me looking chic for less.

First up is the bootie. I initially thought it would be better to buy a pair of knee-high riding boots, but then I started seeing all these fun booties popping up everywhere. They reminded me of a pair of black Nine West booties I owned in the late 90s. Unfortunately, I gave them away sometime in the early 21st century because I thought they were passé. Which reminds me, NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! Like the saying goes, "what goes around comes around"... especially when it comes to fashion.

So with the desire of reigniting those 90s memories and maybe feeling as though I'm in my 20s again, I've decided to buy a pair of booties for my European vacation. Here's a sample of various booties with prices ranging from a very reasonable $59 to a more guilt-filled $345. Which ones do you like?

1. Speartint Booties, Aerosoles, Macy's $69 (plus 20% off); 2. Krando Booties, Madden Girl, Macy's, $59 (plus 10% off); 3. Becky Ankle Booties, Sole Society, $79.95; 4. Billie Boots, Madewell, Shopbob, $228; 5. Quasar Bootie, Franco Sarto, Piperlime, $129; 6. Leoda Flat Bootie, Coach, Bloomingdale's, $345.

Tomboy Chic

As this photo can attest, I was a bit of a tomboy growing up. Although I didn’t mind wearing dresses and could rock a mean jean skirt with rainbow suspenders, I also enjoyed boy-inspired attire – most notably replicating my Dad’s knee-high socks and trucker hat look. That kind of mix and match of masculine and feminine has stayed with me today. And while I may enjoy getting all dolled up in a pretty dress or sophisticated ensemble, I am just as comfortable – if not more so – in a t-shirt and shorts. I don’t wear a lot of makeup or jewelry, and I don’t care about how well my nails are manicured or if I should bother with the latest skincare treatments. I do love though to dazzle people with fancy footwear and stylish duds every now and then.  And for me that combination between tomboy and chic girl is what epitomizes my style.  It isn’t so much an homage to masculine/feminine wear, but a melding of casual and chic, unfussy elegance, and a little rugged individualism with a dash of bourgeois refinement.

It’s pretty easy to replicate this style. Quite a few retail stores offer pieces that play on the masculine/feminine dynamic. Gap, J.Crew, Madewell, and Club Monaco are just a few of them. Basically, it is all about the mixing of casual with elegance and simplicity with a dash of edgy fashionista.  Here’s a sampling of what I would call my Tomboy Chic style…

 Pink dot top and skinny jeans, Gap; White button-down top and polka dot skimmer pants, JCrew Factory; Polka dot boy shirt, pencil skirt and bow tie, JCrew; Striped sweater, navy print shirt and jeans, Madewell; Parka, sweater and cropped print pants, Club Monaco; Terry moto jacket, Gap.

In Memoriam: My Grandma

It has been a very difficult month for me and my family. We lost my grandma this week after a month-long struggle after a bad fall. She was such a huge part of my immediate family, and I will miss her dearly. Ultimately, though, I've found comfort in believing that she is in a better place where she is pain free and at peace.

As difficult as this week has been, I was blessed with the task of compiling old pictures of my grandma for a video montage I put together for her funeral. It was magical looking at the pictures of her from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. She had such style and presence -- she was certainly demure looking, but also quite vivacious  -- and she always looked fashionable even though she lived her earlier life in small town America.

In many ways she reminds me of myself. I'm shy and reserved, but my more bold fashion sense usually makes up for it. Like my grandma, I, too, love clothes and accessories, and boy oh boy can I find a good bargain -- a special trait definitely passed down from generation to generation.

So, in honor of my beautiful grandma, here are some pictures that show her style and presence -- two aspects of her that I know will continue to be a part of who I am and who I will become.

I love you and miss you, my dear grandma.