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.