It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. . .

Hello Readers!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas, and for those of you who are still on vacation/holiday I hope that the time off from work or school is going well! I know that I am enjoying this time off tremendously!

Christmas really is a wonderful time of the year for many reasons, but to me the two reasons that make the days surrounding Christmas so merry and bright are:

(1) the celebration of Jesus' birth (which, I know, probably happened in the spring time- but still the reason for the season) and

(2) family time

Here I am with my cousins Kim, Liz, and Katie (the star of this post)

Both sides of my family are fairly large in number- especially my mom's side of the family. Every year (almost) all of us gather at my grandparents' house for rich experiences of food and fellowship- but there's always something special about Christmas at my grandparents' house. Every branch of the family brings something to the table with food dishes, gifts, smiles, stories, and warm conversations. Usually the grown ups and little kids camp out on the main floor [the grown up men take over the living room to watch a game (and nap, ahem- dad); while the grown up women stay in the kitchen and dining area] while the almost grown ups and not almost grown ups [the cousins, including me] hang out in the basement. We all come together to get food and exchange gifts. Our two groups don't remain separate otherwise though, we intermingle- but these are just the tendencies.

(Here we are! And this isn't even all of us- we are missing the Quists, Uncle Mike, and Bonnie)

So, there you have it- a (somewhat sociological) glimpse of how my family celebrates Christmas. But that probably isn't why you are here today- you are here today to hear about fashion and outfits, right?

For this post, I chose the outfit that my cousin Katie wore to this warm celebration. Katie is one of the most kind, warm, smart and compassionate people I know. Katie brightens every room that she's in with her smile and charm.

Here she is with a bright smile, and a charming outfit:

Retail Details:

Grey Cardigan: Wet Seal

Grey Lace-Trim Tank: American Eagle

Sparkly Layered Necklace: American Eagle (borrowed from her sister Kim)

Distressed Jeans: Silver Jeans (purchased from Bergner's)

Black Socks: Brand Unknown, but they are microfiber socks, and according to Katie they are really comfortable.

Tiffany: The Thrifting Treasure

Merry Christmas Eve Readers!

Last Saturday, on my way to Peoria to finish my Christmas shopping, I decided to stop by the Goodwill by the 150 Bridge to look for fabric for my latest idea. You see, readers, lately I've been playing with the idea of picking up my needle and thread again and starting an Etsy store featuring vintage finds and a few creations of my own. This probably won't happen for a while, but I thought I would get a head start on this idea by visiting a possible source of inspiration: a thrift store.

This summer, for my friend Erin's bachelorette party, we went to this Goodwill to find the lovely old dresses that we wore out on the town (because there is so much out-on-the-towning to do in Peoria). And so, yet again I turned to this Goodwill in hopes that I would find another treasure.

And readers, that is EXACTLY what I found. Peeking out from a stuffed rack of clothes I saw a hint of taffeta and a sparkle of sequins. To my great surprise, both of these eye catching details belonged to the same dress. When I removed the hanger and dress from the rack, I was amazed. Before my eyes I saw a finely crafted dress, with what I believe(d) to be handcrafted details. This was no ordinary dress, and I suspect that it's value may well exceed the meager price that I purchased it for at Goodwill.

Behold: my Thrifting Treasure, "Tiffany":

Tiffany, the Thrifting Treasure

A bit more detail. . .

I tried to look for both brands "Isaacson's Atlanta" and "Jeets" but information is still scarce, which makes me think these brands are no longer in business. Do you know anything about them?

Lace and Silk Taffeta- quite eclectic AND elegant, no?

Finely crafted crinoline/netted tulle

And finally, here I am in the dress! The fit isn't quite perfect for me, but when I open my Etsy shop, I am confident that someone else will love it even more than me!

Megan, The Queen of Scarves

Greetings Readers!

It is almost Christmas- isn't that crazy? The past three days have been a complete blur of occasional blog reading and writing, Christmas movie watching, napping, and avoiding mirrors (my face is still swollen).

Anyways, during this time I've also been looking through recent pictures, and I came across the creative stylings of my friend, and fellow Teaching Assistant and 30 Rock fan, Megan. I've only known Megan since our TA training in August, but I feel like we've been friends since (at least) undergrad- despite the fact that I attended undergrad in Illinois and she attended undergrad in Wisconsin.

Anyways- like many people in my life in St. Louis, Megan is an exceptionally stylish individual. Her color palette- of bright hues, like high-pigment yellows and sweet berry pinks are the perfect narrative elements of her personality: confident, warm, bright, and cheerfully sassy.

In the pictures below, you can see one of Megan's lovely outfits- which I think rings true to her style narrative and personality. Without further adieu- meet Megan!

Megan, striking a pretty pose in her cute scarf and cardi!

Here we are with the statue of Jesus that greets students as they enter our building, also known affectionately as "Touchdown Jesus."

Retail Details (Megan):

Light Brown Boots: Born, purchased at Younkers (also known as Bergner's, Carson Pirie Scott, and Bon-Ton)

Medium Wash Jeans: The Gap

Light Olive-Green T-Shirt: H&M

White Cardigan: The Gap

Yellow, Pink, and White Scarf: Younkers

Retail Details (Me):

CZ Necklace: Juicy Couture

Raspberry Pleated-Neck Sweater: Martin & Osa

Charcoal Belt (one of my best investments): Ann Taylor

Light Grey Lace Cami: Gilly Hicks

Dark Rinse Jeans: Abercrombie & Fitch

Light Brown Sliver Heel Boots: Ann Klein, purchased at either Macy's or Bergner's)

Wisdom Teeth DisAssembly Line

Hello Readers!

I probably won't post any new outfits for at least the rest of the week, because I had two of my wisdom teeth removed yesterday and I look quite atrocious! My mom said that the swelling isn't too terrible, but I think that is what moms are supposed to say to their daughters after the trauma that is wisdom teeth extraction.

The experience began in a slightly depressing waiting room with my mom- surrounded by a few other moms and daughters- even one from the same town as us! After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries, and waiting in uncomfortable chairs (for how expensive the surgery is- you think the office could afford some decent chairs/couches!), my time came.

While I am by no means a medical professional, I think that it is important to listen to your body. In this case, I had two wisdom teeth that were impacted (and growing into my jaw), and two that had already erupted. My dentist recommended that I do what was right for me, but that I should consult the surgeon about my decision to only have the impacted teeth extracted. When I spoke to the surgeon, he said "well, that's pretty stupid- but it's your choice."

Hold on- that's all? Shouldn't he talk to me a bit more? Apparently not, because that was all that he said. Aside from the time that he was hammering out my teeth, that was the only time that I saw the surgeon. The whole experience made me feel like I was just a part on an assembly line:

-Wait in the office for 20 minutes

-Allow 5 minutes for anesthesia to set in (no time for questions or concerns, or instructions)

-Perform surgery

-Shove patient's throbbing face and mouth into an x-ray (and say rude things)

-Allow 5 minutes in the common recovery room (no time for questions or concerns here either, even if the patient is shaking and crying uncontrollably from the pain)

-Rush patient out of the office

*I should add, also, that it was snowing when I left the surgeon's office, and that I was not permitted to leave the office in a wheelchair. Instead, I left the office leaning heavily on my mom while treading upon a slippery sidewalk. Thanks a lot Dr. Assembly Line! If I ever decide to get my other two wisdom teeth removed, rest assured that you will be last on my list of preferred surgeons!

Thankfully, my post op recovery at home has been much better than the 5 minute "recovery" time I was given at the surgeon's office. Thank you Mom!!!

The Best Monday Ever!!!

Last Monday was the last day of Special Occasion speeches in both of my sections of Public Speaking. The last day of speeches. . . the last day (of the semester) that I would need to get to work early to print evaluation sheets, check out and charge a video camera and its accessories. I wasn't in the best of moods when I arrived in class (stress, lack of sleep, etc), but the first speech of the class would change the rest of my day and turn around my attitude for the rest of my week.

One of my students chose to commemorate our particular class, and during her speech she said many wonderful things, and thanked me for my efforts AND presented me with flowers and card from the ENTIRE class. A bouquet of flowers, and a card! This was something that I never expected to receive as a teacher- but my students caught me by surprise!

When I began teaching, I dreamt of not only giving students skills and knowledge as communicators- I also hoped that I could create a meaningful experience of community and learning, and my student's speech confirmed that my dreams became a reality!

Thank you to all of my students in CMM 120 for an amazing semester!

Retail Details:

Sterling Silver and CZ Necklace: Juicy Couture

Light Grey Cardigan: Banana Republic

Light Blue Shirt (under the cardigan): Banana Republic

Navy Blue Skirt: Anthropologie

Grey Tights: Jessica Simpson (Macy's)

Silver Flats: Nine West

Roses and Card: Courtesy of my students in CMM 120, Section 16

Emily the Smart and Stylish!

Why hello readers! Happy December!

I would like to introduce you to my friend, fellow grad student/TA, and office mate, Emily. She is very stylish, super smart, a great listener, and she is a blessing to me, and to many, in so many awesome ways!

Emily also attended the conference that I blogged about in earlier posts (for the National Communication Association's annual meeting, this year in San Francisco), and packed a suitcase full of cute outfits. Emily was gracious enough to strike a pose for me in one of my favorite outfits from this trip, and I am so glad to feature it in tonight's post!

So. . . without further adieu- here is her outfit!

Retail Details:

Stunning Locket: a present from her 21st birthday, from her mom

Dark Grey/Navy Jacket: Old Navy

Brown Cross-Body Purse: The Garage (a Montreal-based store that Emily purchased while in Buffalo, NY)

Maroon and White Top: Daisy Fuentes for Kohl's

Black Knit Jodhpur Pants: LC for Kohl's (Lauren Conrad)

Maroon Mary Jane Pumps: Merona for Target

Thanks Emily, for the inspirational outfit!

Ooo Laa Laa

Hello Readers!

I am really proud of this outfit. I wore it to church last Sunday, and then wore it again on Monday to teach, and for the drive home to the Peoria area. Normally, I don't wear outfits two days in a row- but since I wore the dress for only 2 hours on Sunday, I thought that a repeat was acceptable.

Recently I watched a lovely French movie called "Paris" (2008) starring Juliette Binoche (one of my favorite actresses), and this outfit makes me think of this movie. I'm not sure if this would be an outfit that Juliette's character would wear, but I can imagine an extra or a secondary character wearing this outfit somewhere in the movie: strolling in the streets of Paris, sipping a coffee or chai tea at a humble little cafe, or buying a baguette a boulangerie or a croissant at a patisserie. . . . you get the picture. :)

(But just in case you did not- here is another picture, followed by a picture from the movie, Paris)

Retail Details:

Black Cardigan: Zara

Necklace: Juicy Couture

Watercolor Dress & Black Belt: H&M

Black Tights: El Cortes Inglés

Black Leather Boots: Anne Klein

CZ Post Earrings: Merona (Target)

PS- In case you are interested in watching the movie, here is a trailer:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2134770201/

Thanksgiving: A Time for Family, and a Time for Fashion!

Greetings Readers!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Did anyone travel for the holiday? I traveled home to Peoria on Monday afternoon and have been home ever since- reading, napping, and catching up with friends and family.

Ten years ago my family moved from Vancouver, BC to the Peoria area- a move that was difficult, but a move with outcomes that I appreciate greatly. One of the outcomes of this move, which I am very thankful for, is the opportunity to build relationships with family members who I used to see only once every three or four years. Now that I live in St. Louis, I only get to see them once or twice a month- but the time that I spend with them is very dear to me. And that is why I like holidays like Thanksgiving- because I get to spend time (quality time) with family.

Here I am with my cousins Liz and Kim at my grandparents' house

My cousin Matt, my cousin Liz, my Aunt Shelly, my Aunt Mary, me, and my Grandma

While fashion isn't an essential concern for family gatherings (well, with a few exceptions), or even for Thanksgiving, I like to put together outfits for occasions such as these. Not because I have to, not because I am supposed to- but because I like the mood and the anticipation that dressing up creates. Do you know what I mean? A cute outfit is like foreshadowing- it's like saying "hey- something important is about to happen"- and what could be more important than spending time with loved ones?

People who make us feel a bit crazy at times:

And people who bring balance to our lives:

This Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, I am thankful for the precious and powerful relationships I have with people in my life. People who continue to teach me about love, about grace, about laughter, and yes- even about fashion.

Here are the retail details:

White Rhinestone Headband: J. Crew

Necklace: Juicy Couture (on Market St. in San Francisco)

Light Blue Tee: Banana Republic

Winter White Cardigan: Abercrombie & Fitch (I recommend hand-washing this cardi)

Charcoal Skinny Belt: Ann Taylor

Navy Blue Draped Skirt: Anthropologie

Raspberry Tights: Hue

Brownish-Olivey Jeweled Flats: Via Spiga

The Stinking Rose: Outfit 3 from San Francisco

OK. . . one last outfit from San Fran, featuring two items that I bought in the City by the Bay. To celebrate the last night in town, I joined a large group of friends from grad school (who were also at the conference) at a restaurant called "The Stinking Rose." The company was great, the atmosphere was fun, and the food was OK- worth another try, but nothing spectacular (but I am not a food critic, just a picky eater).

Anyways, before The Stinking Rose, and before Ocean Beach, my friends Emily, Eric, and I started our last full day in San Francisco with a trip to Alamo Square to visit the Painted Ladies (houses featured in the opening credits of Full House), and then to an area known as Haight- Ashbury for lunch. After lunch, Emily and I parted ways with Eric and Brian to shop.

While shopping in this area, Emily and I stopped at Ambiance, a cute boutique with color-sorted clothing from a variety of designers and price points. While the clothing was cute, and the sales were great, the salespeople were a bit too pushy. At first the attention was great, but after an hour of being attended by a slew of salespeople, I was ready to get out of the shop! I wasn't going to buy anything, but on my way out I found a cute pair of off-white spectator pumps by Seychelles for 35 dollars and I couldn't resist the deal.

The other item featured in this post (purchased in San Fran) is a leopard-print blue blouse from Banana Republic. Normally I don't wear leopard print, but I felt daring and this shirt was another great deal that I couldn't resist. Also, I was running out of clean shirts to wear.

Full House!

More of Ocean Beach. . .

Oh Ocean Beach- how I miss you!

Here are some photos that my friend, and fellow TA, Emily took of me at the beach. Thanks Em!

The Ocean. . . is in my eyes!

I didn't know I was still this flexible!

Retail Details:

Dove Grey Headband: J. Crew

Sunglasses: Coach

Aqua, White, and Clear Post Earrings: Anthropologie

Charcoal Grey Necklace: Antique Store in Greenville, IL

Dusty Rose Rosette Tank: Deletta (Anthropologie)

Heathered Grey Lace Trim Cami: Gilly Hicks

Navy Blue Lace Trim Cami: American Eagle Outfitters

Winter White Cardigan: Abercrombie & Fitch

Charcoal Skinny Belt: Ann Taylor

Jeans: Martin & Osa

Sand in my toes: Courtesy of the State of California

Ocean Beach

Greetings Readers!

This post is not about clothing or fashion- it is about the beach and the ocean.

The last time I was at the beach, or anywhere near the ocean, was in April 2008. When I bought my plane ticket to San Francisco (ok, maybe a little bit before that point in time), I started to research beaches around the area. In my research, one beach stood out: Ocean Beach. Perhaps it was the name, or the promise of sand dollars and sand dunes, that made this a place that topped my list of attractions to visit while in San Francisco.

There's something about being near the ocean that I find so beautiful- a beauty that my heart knows and my words cannot explain. So, readers, with this in mind, I will leave you with some pictures from my visit to Ocean Beach. Enjoy!!!

Oh, and happy Thanksgiving!

San Francisco Outfit #1

Hello Readers!

Well, I made it back to St. Louis safely from a delightful stay in San Francisco, CA. The conference and the city were wonderful! The conference began on Sunday, and this was my outfit. Well, it was actually my second outfit (I had jeans on before, but felt underdressed and changed into the skirt and tights).

Here it is:

This picture was taken at the Anthropologie on Market Street in San Francisco (which was incredible!) Here are the retail details:

Dove grey jeweled headband: J. Crew

Charcoal grey scarf: Merona (Target)

Winter white cardigan with sparkly buttons: Abercrombie & Fitch

Charcoal grey patent belt: Ann Taylor

Khaki draped shirt: Anthropologie (it's been on here before)

Raspberry opaque tights: Hue (from Martin & Osa)

Olive jeweled flats: Via Spiga (from Nordstrom Rack in St. Louis)

Upcoming Posts. . .

Hello Readers!

I apologize for the lack of posts over the past few weeks- those weeks have been super busy and hectic- but no need to fear! Within the next few days, I will have a post or two, featuring outfits from my trip to San Francisco, CA (for the National Communication Association annual conference).

Until then, here is a picture that I took of the city from Alcatraz:

Fall Weather. . . and Fashion!!!

Hello Readers!

This week, fall weather made a spectacular appearance in St. Louis, and several of my favorite items were also able to make an appearance in St. Louis (okay, mostly at SLU- since that's where I spend most of my time).

Anyways, I wanted to share this outfit with you all because it was an outfit that I really liked putting together. One of the great parts of outerwear is that the story you tell has greater dimension- sometimes you can even tell two stories.

The first layer (dimension) of my story, as pictured above, demonstrates an enthusiasm for fall: brown boots, navy blue tights, a tan trench coat, and a white scarf. This may sound silly, but I felt very British in this outfit- I think it's the trench coat. . .

The second layer, in the picture below, follows the same color trends as the first layer: white, navy, and tan. But, there's a twist: a gold belt. While searching for costumes in my grandparents' basement, my Grandma found this belt and I liked it so much that she gave it to me to keep! (Thanks Grandma!). This part of the outfit isn't quite as "British," but I do see a New England vibe. What do you think?

I think these stories are worth repeating, and I'm positive that I will re-tell them another time or two this fall!

Have a great Halloween! Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the candy!!!

Retail Details:

Tan Trench Coat: Banana Republic (Tall!)

Off-White Scarf: Target

Navy Blue Opaque Tights: Hue (purchased at Macy's)

Pebble-Brown Boots: Anne Klein

Navy Blue Cardigan: Halogen (purchased on Nordstrom.com)

Off-White Tee: Deletta (purchased at Anthropologie)

Gold Belt: Vintage (given to my in my Grandma's basement)

Tan Draped Skirt: Anthropologie

Charcoal-Smoky-Quartz Necklace: Antique (purchased at an antique store in Greenville, IL)

Purple, Polka Dots, and Positive Feedback

Hello Readers!

As many of you may know, I love teaching Public Speaking- I absolutely love it. Friday, however, my enthusiasm and passion was weighed against my actual ability to teach- and it turns out that I am good at something that I love to do! My supervisor visited one of my classes and took notes on how I ran my class- and I received really positive feedback from her.

To calm my nerves before my evaluation, I decided to select an outfit that would (yet again), tell a story. A story about a confident, fun, and smart teacher, and this is what I came up with:

I think it turned out pretty well, because I felt those things (confidence, fun, intelligent) when I taught my class on Friday. My supervisor even gave me positive feedback on my outfit- which was also wonderful!

Here is a bigger picture of the outfit, along with my retail details:

Black Floral Headband: J. Crew

Heathered Grey Cardigan: Banana Republic (my classrooms are always so cold!)

Dunder Mifflin Mug: Target (The 1-Spot)

Black Short-Sleeve Tee- Banana Republic

Purple, Black and Ivory Silk Skirt: Anthropologie

Black (almost) Opaque Tights: J. Crew

Black Heels: Banana Republic

Borrowing Stories. . . Which one should I choose?

Hello Readers!

Recently, I was invited to a "decade" party for Halloween. Basically, what this means, is that the party attendants dress as a decade. I wasn't sure which decade to choose (I really wanted to dress like Betty Draper from Mad Men), but this past weekend I went home and raided my grandparents' basement for authentic, vintage clothing. Of the items I tried on, I narrowed down my options to three dresses. Each of these stories- I mean dresses- has a narrative of its own.

The dresses are amazing, but what is even more amazing are the stories that each dress tells. But, before I tell those stories (and show them), I need your help. Which of these dresses should I choose?

Dress 1:

This dress is my grandma's dress (she is standing next to me), but it is a dress that has never been worn before! Yes, the tags are still attached to the dress! I think this dress is from the 70s. . . but it has yet to see the light of day. Should I wear this dress?

Dress 2:

This lovely number was worn by my Aunt Teresa as a bridesmaid at my Aunt Shelly's wedding (Aunt Shelly is standing next to me). What I think is so amazing about this dress is how well it fits! The few vintage dresses that I've tried on have been too short in length- but this dress is long enough. I could even wear heels!!! Also, I really like the rad capelet and apricot color. This dress is rad, but is it rad enough to wear to the party?

Dress 3:

This dress was a crowd-pleaser at my grandparents' house. This dress was worn by my grandma while she was on a cruise with my grandpa and she said that she wore it to a dinner they shared with the captain of the cruiseliner. This dress screams Dynasty, and is a grand demonstration of 80s fashion. It is a lovely dress (the giant sleeves are especially lovely), but I tend to wear 80s fashion when occasions such as this party call for decade fashions. (side-note: I would NOT wear the purple tights seen in the picture, I would probably go with black tights and black pumps)

So, readers- which one is the winner? Post your votes below!

A Grand Weekend

Hello again Readers!!!

The past 4 days have been wonderful- quite marvelous actually!!! Every year, it seems like fall break happens at just the right time every semester. Since Friday afternoon, I've been on a relaxathon (a marathon of relaxation). On Friday, I had coffee with one of my mentors from college (Kathie- she is amazing) in Greenville and then went home to celebrate my littlest brother's 14th birthday. On Saturday, I did nothing except nap, read, and go on a date with my dad (we saw the Social Network). Then yesterday, my "home church" (Imago Dei) had its first service at its new location (wonderful), went to Grandview Drive, and spent the evening at my grandparents' house for fun and food. What a great weekend!!!

This week, you may recognize my skirt from a post from last week (Falling Into Neutrals). This weekend I was inspired to re-wear the skirt. I don't usually wear clothing multiple times in one week- but, it was clean and I packed it for my mini-vacation. Like last week's outfit, this one is grounded in neutrals, with a pop of color from a raspberry pair of opaque tights. Below (and above), in a picture taken by my mom on Grandview Drive, is a second "iteration" of the draped tan skirt from Anthropologie:

I love Grandview Drive, and this outfit!

Retail details:

Sunglasses: Coach (Rx)

White Scarf: Target

White Craft & Creation Top (in the first and last pictures): Deletta, from Anthropologie

Tan Creme Confection Jacket: Anthropologie

Tan draped skirt: Anthropologie

Raspberry tights: Hue

Brown-grey sliver-wedge boots: Anne Klein (from Macy's or Bergner's)

Also, when I went to church on Sunday; I saw my friend, fellow blogger, and fellow Greenville College alum Kristi! (check out her blog: www.yarcho365.blogspot.com). Kristi is also a fellow fan of Anthropologie, and when I saw her outfit in church, I thought "That would be a great outfit for my blog!" She graciously agreed to pose with me for a photo in her stylin' outfit!

Here we are at Imago Dei's new location on Arcadia:

Kristi's retail details:

Olive-green short-sleeved tee: Anthropologie

Olive-green striped skirt: Anthropologie (btw, I love this skirt!!!)

Gold Sandals: Target

Hoping for a chilly, rainy day. . .

Yes readers, you read the title of this post correctly- I am, indeed, hoping for a chilly, rainy day!

Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions (ie; this girl is crazy!), I should explain the reasons why I look forward to weather conditions such as the conditions described above.

1) In moderation, I enjoy rainy days- especially rainy days in the fall. I love how autumn leaves look in the rain; whether they are still hanging onto trees, falling to the ground, or resting in puddles. I love it!

2) I finally found THE perfect raincoat, a tan trench coat from Banana Republic. In 2008 I purchased my first trench coat (of a dark green hue) at the beginning of my semester abroad in Madrid and I fell in love with trench coats. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough room in my suitcases to bring the trench coat back with me to the US. Since then, I've searched high and low for a replacement.

Armed with a 30% off coupon, I found this item on bananarepublic.com a month ago. I actually tried on the trench coat at a Banana Republic store, but the sleeves were too short (this happens to me all the time). I went online that night, found the trench coat in tall sizes (thank you Banana!), and made my purchase.

Since its arrival, the trench coat has been sitting restlessly in my closet, waiting for a rainy day. Or- I should say- I have been waiting restlessly for a rainy day (or even a chilly, blustery day) to wear the trench coat. I am still waiting for such an occasion, so until then, posting a picture of the coat on this blog will have to suffice. Here is a picture of the front and back of the coat from the Banana Republic website. Enjoy!

(P.S. in addition to tall sizes, this coat also comes in petite and regular sizes)

Falling into Neutrals

Why Hello Readers!

Fall is here! Well, it's been here for a while officially- but the signs of fall are finally making their appearance in St. Louis. The leaves are changing, Starbucks has Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and the air is starting to adopt that wonderful crispness that I enjoy most about fall. (It's not the most popular thing to talk about, when talking about fall- but I love it!)

I have a tendency to wear neutrals- especially navy, grey, and white (a throwback to my days at Abercrombie), and I've tried to expand my palette of colors- but there are days where I go back to my comfort zone of colors that match almost everything and nearly anything. Monday was one of those days.

Silver, brown, khaki, charcoal, and tan- with a bit of blue to liven up the outfit. When I pick out items of clothing for an outfit I try to tell a story. (I even wrote a paper about narrative and fashion for a conference). The story of today's outfit is "an autumn amble at the beach." I see it- do you all see it? I imagine that this beach (upon which I would amble) would be a beach with rocks, dark sand, logs, and seashells. This is midterm week at SLU, so I've tried to put together outfits with soothing colors that tell relaxing stories (like this one).

So readers, what stories do you like to tell through your outfits?

PS- Here are the "retail details" of this outfit:

Silver bead necklace: American Eagle Outfitters (summer 2010)

Light blue pleated shirt: Banana Republic (at least 2 years ago)

Brown woven belt: Anthropologie (summer 2010)

Tan draped skirt: Anthropologie (summer 2010)

Charcoal tights: Macy's

Golden-tan almond-toed high heels: Calvin Klein, purchased on sale at Nieman Marcus

Ms. H. . . The Teacher

I. LOVE. TO. TEACH!

For those who already know me, you probably already know this- but I want to tell the rest of you how much I enjoy this endeavor. I spend many summers, including this past summer, teaching swim lessons- but this semester I get to teach Public Speaking to two sections of undergraduate students. I absolutely love the teaching process (lesson plans, office hours, providing feedback, etc), but my biggest surprise (so far) has been how awesome my students are.

While I am sure that many Teaching Assistants, during their first semester of teaching, think very highly of their students; I am convinced that I have the best bunch of students enrolled in Public Speaking at my university. But really, I do have the best. :) Over the past few weeks I've learned about their interests, hobbies, social lives, and even their goals and aspirations. For the most part, they are on time, participate in class discussions, greet me with smiles and sometimes waves when they see me on campus, and they care about each other. Each of my classes has created a feeling of community- this is probably what I love most about my students. I could talk about their wonderfulness for hours, but- since this IS a fashion blog, I will move on.

In addition to the awesomeness of my students, another part of my job that I enjoy is dressing, or learning how to dress, like a teacher. My previous roles as a teacher took place in aquatic centers, so I've come a long way from my days of a swim suit, flip flops, sunscreen, and sunglasses. It's been fun mixing and matching trousers, sweaters, blouses, shirts, skirts, dresses, tights, shoes, etc- but for the most part I've been rather conservative. This week, on Monday, I decided to try something a bit braver, and a bit bolder. This look is inspired by the equestrian look that I am beginning to see more and more often this season (I much prefer this look over the dreadful pirate-y look from a few falls ago).

Anyways, I am curious. . .

What do you all think of this outfit? Is it a hit or a miss? (Pictured above, without coat, and below, with coat).

Winter-white cropped coat: Old Navy (2 winters ago, but they have a similar one this fall)

White silk pleated blouse: Banana Republic (Summer 2007, from way back when)

Shamrock-green cashmere blend sweater: American Eagle Outfitters (thank you Mom!)

Chalkboard-grey lace-trim tank: American Eagle Outfitters

Black skinny dress pants: The Gap (this season)

Black sliver-wedge heel boots: Anne Klein (from Bergner's

**Extra Credit Question (in honor of upcoming Mid-Term exams on campus)

What would YOU do if you saw your instructor running down the halls like this:

Would you:

a) Avoid eye contact and keep moving, away

b) Capture the moment using the camera/videocamera on your phone

c) Call Campus Security

d) Join in on the fun, and also run down the hall

Thank you Margaret H. for taking these photos!

More Adventures: Parks, Art, and Cookies

Here are a few more pictures, and an additional outfit, from the week of Kellie's visit to St. Louis. These pictures are actually from Kellie's first day, when we explored Forest Park's Jewel Box and Art Museum. When Kellie and I studied abroad, in Madrid, one of the places we frequented on a regular basis was Retiro, a refreshing park located amidst the hustle and bustle of la ciudad. While St. Louis has less hustle and bustle than the metropolitan madness of Madrid, Forest Park is still offers a welcoming respite to its visitors. Since Kellie had an eventful morning before arriving in St. Louis (waking up early, landing in Atlanta, and navigating Lambert), I thought that Forest Park would provide a soothing introduction to this great city that I currently call home. (Don't worry Mom, St. Louis is just my sort of home).

The first picture (above) was taken in the art museum, through one of the interesting looking glasses in the basement of the museum. Just after this photo was taken, after a 2-3 minute interlude of trying to make creative poses, Kellie and I were caught off guard by a few museum workers who burst through the doors behind us. (Well, they didn't quite burst through, but their sudden arrival did surprise us).

Below is a picture of the first reunion of The Tres Amigas since May of 2008! After my night class, Rachel (center) and Kellie and I caught up and reminisced over giant peanut butter cookies from Great Harvest Bread Company. Here we are:

PS- I also wore this shirt, and belt, on a separate occasion when I went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens with my office roommate, Emily. Here is the ensemble that these items went with:

(George Washington Carver and I admiring a plant)

Emerald Green Silk/Cashmere Cardigan: Martin & Osa

Ivory Ruffled Button-Up ("Bits of Pearl") Blouse: Odille, purchased at Anthropologie (currently in the sale section)

Brown Furrowed Belt: Anthropologie

Charcoal-Grey Tank Top: Abercrombie & Fitch

Medium-Dark Rinse Straight-Fit Jeans: Abercrombie & Fitch

Silver Flats: American Eagle Outfitters (from last year, but currently available online)