Black, White, and Being Silly

There's little as striking as a black and white ensemble. It just...speaks. And this one says, "I'm confused. Because I just got invited to a "summer evening" poetry event...on May 19th." Oh, it's not saying that? Well, that's what I'm saying. I'm assuming the hostess just put the wrong month, because JULY 19th is also a Monday?

Anyway, back to clothing. I really love the Jackie-Kennedy-on-vacation vibe of this outfit. White wide leg trousers are so summer-in-the-Cape, and with some statement sunglasses, you can't go too wrong.

As an aside: How do you guys feel about wearing jewelry that was a gift from an old boyfriend? And also, how awesome is the zebra print inside the sunglasses?! I've had these sunglasses for so long I can't even remember where I got them.

I wore this outfit to church with a little vintage-y black jacket. This rope off-the-shoulder detail is really fun and flirty, but not necessarily super church-appropriate. There were three or four of us wearing black and white outfits. I wish we'd gotten a picture!

You can't see my shoes here because the heels sunk into the soft ground. I was wearing the cute bow pumps I got here.  And then I went to Shakespeare in the Park...what a lovely day!!

The Runway Rundown:

Sunnies: Esprit 
Heart earrings: F21
Tank: Tara Jarmon for Target (a few years back)
Bracelet: gift
Trousers: Old Navy
Heels: Thrifted

Just Call Me Libby

Liberty of London. Yes, I know, by now it is WAY old news, but sometimes I'm so old, I'm new again. But this is the first time I've had a chance to wear this adorable new shirt of mine, from the Liberty of London for Target collection. I also snagged one of their Sugared Grapefruit candles which smells amazing, and one of the cute Lucite boxes, as well as a pretty tray (that I used for the graduation party).

But I really love the classic, vintage floral pattern on this top, and the colors are fantastic. The color green of my jeans isn't technically in the shirt, but I figured it coordinated without matching. I knew I wanted to wear this little flouncy granny-chic top as a swimsuit cover-up, but the other morning I decided was as good as any to wear it to work as well. I had no intentions of going to the River afterwards, but a text message on my lunch break advised me that I had planned well...my friend wanted to go to the River! So I ran home after work, grabbed my swimsuit, traded my jeans for some little green shorts, and got to wear this to swim, too! Love it!

Um, yeah. Me loves!

The Runway Rundown:

Earrings: Gift (Lia Sophia)
Sunnies: Local store
Top: Liberty of London for Target
Green jeans: F21
Gold ballet flats: Target
Green shorts: Soffe
Flipflops: Havaianas

Just Call Me Graduate

It's official. I have a Master's degree. Wow. It's weird to say that, like, I haven't earned it or something (crazy-falling-tunnel-flashback to nights being awake until 3am working on papers, editing poetry for days straight, spending three hours on one word, presenting a million times in front of classes, doing dozens of interviews, taking twice the normal load last summer....) Ok, yeah, no, wait: I earned it.

How wonderful is this dress? I really love it. Fits like a glove. What girl doesn't love a girl that fits like a glove? It was on sale at H&M, and I really wanted it, but it didn't have a tag and the salesgirl said it was still $20. Now, understand, I'm still on a grad-student's budget (and will be for the next, oh, 300 years until I pay off my loans). $20 seemed like a bit much for me. I was prepared for one of their red $10 or $15 tags. But I walked the entire length of the mall before deciding I had to have the dress. I knew I would regret it if I got home and this little glove-of-a-dress wasn't there with me.

 
Graduation was so much fun! It was raining on/off the whole day, so I wore these fake-patent-leather (read: PVC), totally waterproof but gorgeous heels. Easy to walk in, too!

I was actually quite dreading Commencement, but who knew wearing a polyester gown with weird-Master's-degree sleeves and a Velvet hood could be so much fun? And then you take off the gown and, hello, beautiful dress!

I didn't have a necklace to go with this until the day before my graduation. My mom and I had a graduation party, and this perfect black necklace was one of my awesome gifts. Score. And, how many beautiful flowers/plants can a girl get? I felt SO spoiled.

Can you tell I'm excited? Now, INTO SUMMER!

The Runway Rundown:
Hat: Hard-earned and quite expensive :-P
Necklace: Gift (from Guatemala)
Dress: H&M
Shoes: Dress Barn

Just Call Me Tara

Just a quick post because I don't have many photos for you...My mom came to town for my graduation. And we threw a party :-) I really like throwing parties. Not like hips-grinding sort of party. More like Martha-Stewart sort of party. The day of my graduation party it rained, so we had it in the barn instead, which actually had MORE atmosphere. It was so cozy and lovely. Mmmmmmm, I was one happy girl.

Anyway, I completely forgot to take any legit outfit photos because I was having such a completely wonderful day, but my mom and good friend managed to snap a few photos at the party (which was complete with streamers!!). I really love this pretty dress, and it was just the right thing for a party that made me feel so incredibly spoiled, blessed, and loved. I'm thinking....maybe I'll just get a Ph.D. so I can do this again, hehehehe.

The Runway Rundown: 

Necklace: Random store forever ago
Dress: F21
Heels: Ann Taylor

Just Call Me Sierra

This outfit was described by a mostly-stranger (yes, that's a term, roll with me here) as "Very 70's cinematic-chic" and that it caught his eye while he was driving down the street. That would be completely creepy were he a total-stranger. But because he was in the category of mostly-stranger, I decided to roll with it (see, it's a give and take thing). Besides the whole "70s cinematic-chic" thing I will totally take!

Anyway, this tunic is one of my new favorite summer finds. I can't get enough of it. It looks rather neutral from afar, but up close, is this gorgeous pattern of sherbet-y pinks and oranges. And how fun is this overlapping fake-wooden belt? Definitely a one-of-a-kind thrift-store item. 

And can I just say, um, hello Aviators. You are quite sexy. It's really rather nice to meet you. Let's hang out all summer. Like, all the time. Okay? I'm quite smitten with my new aviators. And last but not least, it was Kid's Day at the farmer's market the other weekend, and this sign just totally cracked me up. It's super adorable. While I didn't buy a little hand-made gnome, I did buy a cupcake from one kid and some peppermint from another. When all is said and done, that is $1 well spent.

The Runway Rundown:
Sunnies: Local store
Tunic: Local store
Belt: Thrifted
Jeans: American Eagle
Heels: Dress Barn
Purse: Bogner, Thrifted

Spotlight: Royal Wedding

Remember how I mentioned Swedish Princess Madeleine a few months back here? Well, with all of the tabloid covers swooning at the thought of Prince William of England's wedding, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was not to be outdone. Her wedding on Saturday to commoner (some may use a different word here, such as nerd or dork, but I think he's rather a-dork-able, and quite cute with her), Daniel Westling, was beautifully tasteful. I make no comment on the political situation, only the clothing situation :-)

The Queen-to-be Victoria wore a beautiful, very simple, very Jacqueline-Kennedy-esque wedding dress. Her style is classic Princess-Diana on some occasions, such as this tie-front blouse.

The princess has been described as, "Despite her royal upbringing, Victoria is considered to be down to earth, preferring ordinary pastimes like going on nature walks, skiing and working out with her fiancée, to hanging out at Stockholm clubs with her somewhat flashier sister Madeleine. She quite happily gives up formal attire for casual clothes whenever she gets the opportunity, and often has her hair tied up in a simple ponytail." 

 See, how cute is she in just this classic cream pull-over and her glasses? But hi, Daniel, can you cut your hair, please? Thanks a bunch.

That is a girl after my own heart! As much as I love dressing up (and I do love dressing up), I'm really at my most comfortable in some jeans and a sweatshirt.

She also pulls off classic modern-princess quite well, such as this beautiful dress and jewelry she wore to a gala the day before her wedding.

Congratulations to the happy couple! I love a good wedding!

Just Call Me Claira

Have I ever mentioned my love affair with pink and gray? Right, thought so, thanks for reminding me. I know you've seen this belt on FashioNatalie more than you've seen the shirt, but this is the shirt I keep borrowing it from! It's bright and fun!

It was really quite cold the day I wore this outfit, so I wasn't too hot in jeans, and even needed to add a scarf and 'jacket' to keep the chill away in the morning. Those went by the wayside come noontime. As for the jacket, it's really just a long Oxford, the one I wear all the time, open and belted. This makes it look really "artsy" in my opinion, like it's a smock of some sort. I wanted to try to tie in the white shoes (and the white bleach splashes on my jeans from the bleach-water on the bouquets at my brother's wedding, hehe).

These items have all been such workhorses in my closet. These white and cork shoes have been in rotation for 3 or 4 summers now, and they're great with dresses or jeans. Gray skinny jeans just can't be beat, and my vintage sunnies are awesome. I've worn the white Oxford and the pink scarf for countless outfits, too!The yellow belt comes out to play a lot too, who would have guessed? I threw them all together here with a statement shirt and voila! Love it.

The Runway Rundown:

Sunnies: Vintage
Scarf: Walmart
Top: Local boutique
Jeans: F21
Heels: Charlotte Russe
Oxford: Urban Behavior

Just Call Me Sylvia

My best friend lives too far away. But she's my best friend for one reason and one reason only: she sends me clothes. Ok, I lied. She's my best friend for more than one reason, and also, sometimes, she BRINGS me clothes! Do you see the very important distinction?! Meaning, I got to see my best friend, who was in town for graduation this past week (Happy Graduation Serenity!! You're all fancy and smart now with your Masters.), and she brought me some clothes.

This navy skirt is the first one I grabbed out of the pile to wear. Obviously, I should have ironed it. It's pleated in the front, with a higher waist and a cute little detail of a...well...what do you call it? Like a faux-belt thing in the back (help me here...what is that called? not a clasp? it's like a buckle?). I paired it with stripes and cognac for a 'let's take an afternoon on the yacht' feel. You know, if I had a yacht. And a body of water closer. So instead, I just wore this outfit to church.

I think it's a bit long for me...or maybe that's just the shoes and lack of ironing. But what a comfy, go-to skirt! Thanks Serenity!

The Runway Rundown:

Shades: F21
Tank: Old Navy
Belt: Thrifted
Purse: Thrifted, Bogner
Jacket: Thrifted
Skirt: LizSport, hand-me-over (which is better than a hand-me-down)
Heels: F21

Just Call Me Sadie

You just can't really go too wrong with a white shirt and jeans. Any variation on the theme pretty much works. Cuff the jeans, throw in some ruffles on the shirt, sure, why not? I do this all of the time, when nothing works and the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet, grab a white shirt (any of 'em) and a pair of jeans (any of 'em), and you're good to go.

These shoes are gorgeous, and have a teeny tiny little heel that I love (not a kitten heel really, it's just a little wedge at the back, sort of). However, they also happen to be about  a half size too large. Which means every time I walk, my little toe gets jammed into one of the straps....not so super comfy. Sigh. Guess that just reminds me why I hardly ever wear them.

If I look slightly pregnant in these pics, don't be fooled. It's only where the shirt hits. The only thing pregnant in my house is my Spider Plant, which has a pretty little baby shoot (anyone needing to adopt a spider plant?). See your potential new baby in the lower lefthand corner? I'll send you the baby plant and these 8 1/2 shoes in return for some 8s and something else awesome? Can you even send plants in the mail? Oh, yes! You can, and here's a tutorial!

 

The Runway Rundown: 

Blouse: Walmart
Camisole: Walmart
Sweater: Marc Jacobs
Jeans: Karl Lagerfeld, via TJ Maxx
Shoes: Sam Edelman, thrifted

Just Call Me Lots of Names (Nice Ones)

So, I admit, the reason I haven't been blogging lately is because (if you follow my Twitter you already know this...go you!), well, I've been wearing pretty boring outfits. I've been taking pictures, and wanting to post, but it's just...nothing too special, nothing that really deserves it's own whole Runway Rundown treatment. Since that's the case, I decided to lump them all together, into one, slightly-above-acceptable post, perhaps.

The Runway Rundown--Shades: Salvatore Ferragamo, Shirt: Ben Sherman (via my mom), Shorts: Thrifted, Bronze Flips: Target, Ice Cream du Jour: Strawberry-Rhubarb (awesomeness!!!)

First off, why did I think posing next to an orange traffic cone was a good idea? Anyone? (silence. right.) Secondly, I decided to wear as many primary colors as I could at once. The Runway Rundown: Necklace: Thrifted, Tee w/Braided Top: Gap, Shorts: Gap, Belt: Borrowed from another top, Sandals: FL store

Did I mention I went to a Red Sox game?! So much fun. So, so, so much fun. The Runway Rundown: Shades: TJ Maxx, Shirt: Target, Jeans: Target, Necklace: Thrifted, Bracelets: Vintage, Shoes: FL store

Phew! I feel so much better. I actually got to post something! Hope you're having a great start to the summer, and when I get out of my bug-sprayed, sunscreen-ed clothes into something presentable, I'll show ya :-)