Did Helena's Character Shop at Anthro?

Hello Readers,

This week I had the opportunity to see Les Miserables with my dad. While I enjoyed the movie and the actors' performances, I couldn't help but notice something about Madame Thénardier's wardrobe, worn by Helena Bonham Carter.

photo taken from here

photo from vogue.com (here)

Take a look at her outfit. If her character (or costume designer) were to buy that jacket, where do you think they would find something like that?

from guess where

you guessed it

Yes, anthropologie bears a striking resemblance to Madame Thenardier's wardrobe

Case in point.

You all know that I love Anthropologie. Some of my favorite items in my wardrobe are from that store. But. . . sometimes their offerings are a bit too theatrical and out there (for my taste, anyway). I have no conclusion on this matter, just a simple observation.

The end.

In the Midst of Inspiration

Hey Friends,

I haven't much felt like blogging lately- well, since Sophie's passing- but tonight I am sitting in a place very dear to my heart [Adam Brother's Cafe] on the eve of what I am sure will be a very lovely wedding. . .

And I feel inspired!

My life lately has been a miscellany [a favorite word of mine- also inspiring!] of teaching swimming lessons, filling out applications, and going to job interviews. I've either been in workout gear, pajamas, or my interview suits. A not so interesting, or inspiring, history of outfits. . . The good news, though, is my discovery that aerie carries work out pants, a.k.a. "slim gyms," in their online store.

But, as much as I love wearing work out pants, I didn't find very much motivation to photograph or write about my descent into ultra casual wear, or repeat my many [actually, not so many] iterations of an interview outfit over and over and over again.

But lately, even before I stepped into this cafe, my style has been more inspired.

Here is a sample of one of my latest inspirations:

blinking. . .

As many of you know, I have an Etsy shop, Eclectic And Elegant, that has remained dormant for the past few months- but it is back in business! I've been on the lookout for cool things to add to my store, and this burnt sienna (dark orange?) wool skirt is one of my favorite finds so far! I enjoyed it so much that I decided to take it for a spin before listing it in my store.

The skirt seems to be from the 60s- there's something very Mad Men about its shape, color, and construction. What I love most about the skirt, besides all of the compliments I received while wearing it, is its origin. I had to do a bit of linguistic research via Google Translate, but from the words on the tag I discovered that this darling skirt is far from home! The skirt was made in Bucharest, Romania and somehow made its way to Central Illinois! Woah! 

I think I may need to wear this burnt sienna stunner once or twice more before I list it in my shop. . . so irresistible!

Not blinking! Much better!

Retail Details:
White Cardigan: Abercrombie & Fitch
Floral Top: Anthropologie
Copper Beaded Belt: Anthropologie
Dark Orange Wool Skirt: Vintage (from Romania!)
Dark Purple Cabled Tights: Anthropologie
Raspberry Flats: Old Navy

So Fresh So Floral: Rent The Runway Free Dress Rental

Hello Readers!

Last Friday, I received something very exciting in the mail. But before I tell you what that was, I should tell you a bit more of the story.

Last spring (March 2011) I needed to find a dress to wear to my cousin's (Joe) wedding. I had dresses in my wardrobe, but nothing to wear (so to say). All of the dresses I owned were dresses I had already worn to previous events, but I wanted something new. After a random Google search, I found a website named Rent The Runway, where customers could rent designer gowns (way beyond my price range) to wear to events like weddings for a fraction of the dress' actual cost. A perfect solution for my dilemma.

Since then, I've told friends and family members about Rent The Runway (RTR), but I haven't used their services (although I do check their website on a weekly basis to see what's new). A month or so ago I completed a survey about RTR with the incentive of receiving a FREE surprise dress rental on a weekend TBA. I chose 2 possible weekends and 5 dresses for each weekend, and waited for the email to inform me that my dress (a surprise until I opened the box) was in the mail.

My surprise dress was AMAZING! The RTR stylists did a tremendous job choosing a dress that I loved wearing and a dress that was long enough for long legs! Ready to find out which dress it was?

The So Fresh So Floral Maxi by Shoshanna (Rental, $100; Retail $615)
There really is so much to love about this dress, but the colors are probably my favorite. Shoshanna makes dresses with impeccable patterns and oh-so-alluring colors, patterns and colors I've only admired from afar until this free surprise dress rental from RTR (thank you, stylists!)

I would have loved to wear this dress to a wedding, but since I had no weddings that weekend (or other "special" events) I decided to make a special event of the dress by wearing it to church on Sunday as well as Sunday dinner at my grandparents' house. And I LOVED wearing it! At church I paired it with a cardigan from Zara and a sparkly belt from Anthropologie. My experience with this dress (thanks to RTR) was thoroughly splendid. In the midst of an arduous search for a job, this lovely blue and purple dress showed up on my doorstep to lift my spirits and boost my confidence.

Here are a few pictures of me in this lovely dress! Enjoy!

I love this dress!

The church-appropriate version of the dress (with cardigan)

So Fresh!

The weather was (finally) perfect for a breezy maxi dress!

I look like I'm swimming the butterfly! Subconscious tribute to the Summer Olympics? 

I couldn't stop smiling! 

"The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind. . . "

Thank you, Leslie, for taking these pictures!

Retail Details:
Blue and Purple So Fresh So Floral Maxi Dress: Shoshanna (free surprise dress rental)
Grey and Rhinestone Belt: Anthropologie
Dark Silver 'Chirp' Pumps: Seychelles via Nordstrom Rack

March Fitting Room Reviews: Anthropologie

Hello Readers!

I'm back! I had a bit of a hiatus, but I am back on track. It was one of those my-life-is-really-hectic-right- now breaks where this blog fell to the wayside. There were days when I had to choose between working out and blogging- and each time working out won over blogging (and yes, a few times naps won too!).

Since it's been a while, I thought a fitting room review might be just what I need to get back into a productive writing "groove." This particular review comes from one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie. When I lived in St. Louis, I used to go into this store almost every Tuesday but ever since I moved to a quaint-but-far-away town my visits to this store have been less frequent. That being said, I was super-stoked to spend time in the store during a weekend trip to St. Louis last weekend.

Here is what I tried on: a lovely long-sleeve lace shirt, three short-sleeve shirts with intriguing details, and two dresses with delightful textures.

1.

??? size small Lace Long-Sleeve Tee in Lavender and Light Blush

When I found this lacy long-sleeve, nestled between two sweaters in the sale room, I was surprised to find that it was a shirt that I never noticed before online or in the store. Where did this shirt come from? I tried on the only size available, a small, and was delighted to find that the sleeves and torso were long enough for my frame! The shirt was a little bit itchy, but otherwise delightful. I passed on the shirt, however, because I was afraid that I would look naked from a distance since the main color was so close to my skin color.

2.

Tartlet Burst Top by Deletta, size Small. Too tight for me!

Deletta is an Anthro brand who authors so many tees, tops, and dresses that I love to love. The Tartlet Burst top was I top I would love to love- but it didn't quite match my style. But, I could see how a lot of people would love it! The top ran a bit small (if I were to purchase it, I would need a Medium), but the twist detail at the bust was flattering and the asymmetrical strip of fabric on the shoulder created a point of interesting movement.

3.

Oriel Tee by Deletta, size M (small not available)

I love this top! Good job Deletta! It reminds me a lot of shirts I saw (and loved!) in stores like a|wear and Vero Moda when I was in Ireland in 2008. It seemed that the shirt was meant to be loose, so I was a bit confused by how short it was, even in a Medium. I could see how this shirt would be perfect for wearing tucked into skirts or high-waisted pants/shorts. The other day I saw a woman wearing this skirt over a long-sleeved crew neck and looked so cute! I liked this shirt, but it was only offered in navy and gross-green. So, I will wait hopefully for more colors in the future!

Look at that lace! Super cute, but you need to get the right size so you don't expose more skin than you want to/should expose!

4.

Drape and Scallop Top by Weston Wear, Size Small

Side Shot! Oh-so-slimming!

Oh how I love the Drape and Scallop Top- bravo Weston Wear! Initially this shirt didn't even catch my eye when I saw it online because it looked like a greyish blob but. . . it's so much more! There is a sweet teal print that, combined with the ruching, creates an oh-so-slimming effect. I bought this shirt in a Medium for length, but when I brought it home and tried it on again (and looked at the pictures of the Medium and the Small) I realized that the small was actually a better fit. The pictures above are of the shirt in Small and the picture below is the Medium. Not a big difference, but the V of the neck wasn't as low in the Small as it was in the Medium. So, I exchanged it and I am much happier with the Small (the arms also fit better in the S!)

Size Medium

5. Get ready for an extra-strength dose of lovely!

Torchon Embossed Ponte Dress in Cream, Size S

Those of you who read my blog know how much I love my Swirling Lace dress by Tracy Reese. It is one of my favorite things to wear but... it is something I can only wear when the weather is cold or cool. The Torchon Embossed Ponte Dress, from Deletta, is a strong contender for a warm weather alternate to my beloved Swirling Lace Dress. (I'm hoping for a sale to hit soon. . . ).

I grabbed a Small in this dress and it was a perfect fit, but a little bit shorter than I thought it would be. The waist sat at my natural waist, which is a marvelous feat for my height! The dress has a subtle but lovely texture to it and an even lovelier cream color. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

I love this!

Look at that lovely pattern!

6.

Embossed Basket Dress by Ganni, in Blue, size S

The Embossed Basket Dress was one that I spotted online when searching for Zooey Deschanel/Jess Day style dresses for a potential blog post. The color is so bold, and the basket-like texture lends a standout detail that sets this dress apart from all of the bold vintage-inspired dresses currently on the market. I had great hopes for this dress- but I was disappointed with how it looked on me. This is a dress for a shorter frame than my own. You can't tell from the photos, but this dress was short! And even in the Small size, the waist was too big while the shoulders were snug. Strange, right? Those fit issues made me wonder if maybe something was wrong with the particular dress I tried on. With the strange waist- this dress was less than flattering! From the side.. well from the side I looked horrible! My curves were lost and distorted by the strange folds and gaps that extended from the odd waist. This dress is so cute as a concept, but in my opinion it was poorly executed.

Not flattering at all!

Thanks for reading!

Grammy Sunday: Swing and Miss

Oh Readers,

On Sunday I came to an absolute conclusion... I think. I need to do something new with my hair! I love its length, but my bangs are too long, I think I need a few more layers, and my color (natural) isn't doing much for me these days.

Bleh.

Ahhh! Is that a ghost? No... just me!

I did something else on Sunday.... I attended a Grammy viewing party at a friend's apartment. Here is what I wore to church (earlier in the day) and to the party.

Lesson learned: silky fabrics tend to ride up, especially when sitting down. Adjust accordingly. 

Too much texture? Yes.

Famous entertainers will distract those around you from outfit mistakes... maybe...

What I realized, in addition to my need for new hair, is that the outfit was not a win. I thought the dress was an easy outfit... but somehow my trusty cardigan, sparkly belt, cabled tights (ok the tights were an obvious mistake, abstract water colored dress came together in a most sloppy manner.

I tried to be creative with this outfit- but it was a swing and a miss! Thankfully, the Grammy's were entertaining enough to distract anyone from my mistakes (I hope!) and the people at my church were too nice to say anything! :)

So. . . the lesson I learned from this outfit is that outfit experimentation is a-ok. When experimenting with new combinations, it's important to take pictures of your endeavors. Cameras tell no lies my friends, cameras tell no lies!

Here's to adventures in fashion!

Retail Details:
Watercolor Dress: H&M
Enchanting Eyes Beaded Belt: Anthropologie
Charcoal Cabled Tights: Anthropologie
White/Cream Cardigan: Victoria's Secret
Black Studded Ballet Flats: J. Crew

Grinch: The Grossest Green

Hello Readers,


If you are familiar with this blog, you know that I tend to wear neutrals. A lot of neutrals. This doesn't mean that I don't like wearing colors... in fact, I actually love wearing colors like green, aqua, blue, pink, purple, and occasionally red. There is one color, however, that I do not enjoy. I don't like wearing it and I don't like seeing it in my favorite stores. It's a color that falls somewhere in between yellow and green. It looks good on only a handful of people.


What is this color?


dum dum dum.... GRINCH GREEN!

The lightest hues of this color family are what offend my eyes most and I was shocked to find examples from stores I frequent: Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Abercrombie & Fitch. 

Here are a few offenders:

The Orchard House Cardigan

Cute design... but the color! Oh my eyes! Avert!

Twice-Topped Cardi

This color looks like it is made of Grinch hair

Borrowed Zen Blouse

Golden Grinch Gross. Like Grinch highlights

Dantela Corset Top

Oh how I wish this was a different color. 

Banana Republic:

Jewel Button Cardigan

Lightweight Ruffle-Sleeve Cardigan

Old Navy: 

Popcorn Sweater-Knit Beret

Abercrombie & Fitch:

Breanna

I even found a possible misdemeanor in my own wardrobe:

In my defense, this is more of a grass-green IRL

So Readers... What do you think? Does Grinch Green offend you? Have you spotted it anywhere recently? Or, is there another color that offends you?

Thanks for reading!

Early Morning Ahead!

Hello Readers,

I am giving a final tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. That means I will need to be on campus around 7 AM.
I love my job- but I do not love 7 AM. To make my morning easier, and to perhaps gain a greater appreciation for hours when the sun is barely shining, here is my plan:

1) Select an outfit beforehand:

2) Select a "get ready" songs:

-I Feel It All: because there's nothing like fireworks and trash bins early in the morning!

Here It Goes Again: how could this song not wake you up?

3) Wear hair in ponytail with a headband

4) Eat my breakfast while driving to work

I'll let you know how it goes!

Let it Glow, Let it Glow, Let it Glow!

Hello Readers,

I'm not sure how many of you noticed the collection of outfits posted this morning on Anthropologie's website- but I must declare they are delightful! I love how the photographer used a slow shutter speed and light to capture a sense of luminescence and warmth with each ensemble.

Here are a few screenshots from the website:

I think what I like most about this feature of outfits is the photography of these outfits. It reminds me of a technique I learned in undergrad and employ from time to time. The first time I experimented with this artistic form was way back in the Spring of 2008 when I was studying abroad in Madrid.

Mine are not as exquisite as the ones from Anthro's website, but Kellie and Rachel and I had a wonderful time creating each frame! Here are a few:

Catch a falling star... 

The original

This was the final draft I turned in for a grade (A)