12.30.2013

Houndstooth & Tweed


Coat - Jack by B.B. Dakota / Chambray shirt, Sloan satchel, Teddy loafers - Madewell / Lindy legging - Club Monaco / Blanket scarf - Zara / Lipstick - British Red by Revlon


























































































































I had forgotten about this coat until just last week when I pulled it out of the back of my bedroom closet back home. It served as my only winter coat last year, but I grabbed it earlier that spring for a paltry $13. It's a beautiful textured tweed-like material, but it pills really easily and every couple of weeks I found myself giving my coat a hair cut. I've found a replacement coat for this year, but on warmer days I like to take this one out for a spin. It has an elongated blazer shape, which I adore in all sartorial aspects, but it doesn't do the best job of keeping me warm. This blanket scarf is pretty capable of covering what my coat can't, and let's face it, if I really wanted to I could just wrap myself up in the scarf alone. I've been visiting loads of friends and family this past week, and at least one person is bound to comment on the enormity of this scarf. They usually say something along the lines of, "That's a blanket!" and I just agree.

I've been out of classes for just over two weeks now, and I'm embracing the laziness this break allows me. For example: I've worn this outfit three times each week for the past two weeks. I'm slightly ashamed. But only slightly.

P.S. I'm 100% sure I heard a sheep bleating from somewhere in my neighborhood while we were taking these photos. I mean, I know these are the suburbs, but really?

12.23.2013

Buda + Pest



On the last weekend of our program in Prague, three different groups of students set out to spend a couple of days in the Budapest, Hungary. One group chose the fly, the other rented a mini-van, but a friend and I chose the most economical option: an 8-hour long night train.

We left the Czech Republic at midnight and woke up bright and early in the city of Budapest, or Pest to be more specific. My grandpa always noted that the city was separated into two sections by the Danube river, Buda and Pest. Someone also told us that the train station was modeled after Gare du Nord in Paris and that it's often used as a stand-in for films. At the time I had yet to go to Paris, but I can confirm the similarity.

Our hostel was in a charming renovated apartment building, one with a central courtyard and massively high ceilings. Our trip was planned completely last minute, and while I can't say I regret going, the oppressive heat and lack of air conditioning made it hard to want to do anything.





After we dropped our things off in our hostel, we made our way to the beautiful monuments in Heroes Square. At this point we sought refuge in the national art museum on one side of the square, where we lied to get a European Union student discount and waited for the hottest hours of the day to pass. After we admired the Egon Shiele exhibition that happened to be visiting (I ran into it again at a later date in Vienna), we wandered through the shaded castle grounds of City Park. Budapest reminded me of immensely Prague in it's architecture and language, but its parks and islands had such a quiet and naturalistic atmosphere that seemed almost far removed from the capital city.



We spent our only night there on Margaret Island. Groups of friends and even families with children wandered along the banks until midnight. Yelp led us to a strange beer garden called WNDRLND where resident independent artists took turns designing the interior of the space. When we happened to visit, the entryway was an arch made of bicycle frames and parts of crash-test dummies fanned out around the central light post.




Our next and final day there was just as hot as the day before. The heat didn't mix well with our antics from the night before and our 9 a.m. check out time, so we continued our casual sight-seeing from the day prior. Even though I often lament how little time I had to spend in such a beautiful city, our discovery of the trdelník, a traditional Hungarian pastry, made the entire weekend worthwhile. They can be found in Slovakia and the Czech lands too, but none were as good as the one pictured here.

We took another night train and arrived back in Prague just as the sun began to rise. All of the beds were sold out and so I spent a long eight hours trying to make myself comfortable in an upright seat. I don't think I could ever take a night train again. I also didn't visit the baths, as we had decided to avoid the massive EDM party that was occurring that weekend - another student was there and came home with an infected leg cut, so I'm sure it was for the best. Budapest was fleeting, extremely hot, but more than anything, rather beautiful. I'm sure I'll see it again.

12.01.2013

Madewell: Fall 2013 Lookbook



Confession: I work in a clothing store but I consistently find myself stumped when it comes to getting dressed in the morning. I'm not afraid to admit I'm a fickle creature, especially when it comes to clothing. My affections wane and ebb like the waters of a stormy sea and are often quelled, if only temporarily, by Madewell's seasonal lookbook. I have fallen right into their perfectly styled marketing trap.

What drew me so much to these looks, I think, is how many of these pieces I already own. A leather skirt, blue checked button-up, bright coat, black ankle boots, warm-hued a-line skirt, striped shirt, motorcycle jacket and graphic tees already live in my crowded closet space. Next on my list is a pair of coated skinny denim, a marled maxi skirt, a bomber jacket and that Shimmerweave tee dress, the only thing I know I won't be able to find a cheaper version of in H&M.