What I wore today: 02/22/2015 (Snow White, Rose Red)

I love wearing simple items with special details. When I saw someone wearing this coat in the elevator of my office building, I immediately started searching for it online. Luckily, I found it at an outlet for a third of the original price. I was so excited! I love how it looks clean and classic, but the asymmetry and the placement of the leather details also brings a slightly sic-fi sensibility. 

The Marc by Marc Jacobs bag is also a recent outlet find. My favorite thing about it is that there's a hidden section behind the clear front so that I can achieve that transparent look without having to display every single thing in my bag. 

High-waisted black jeans – Gap
Furry/Feathery-textured "Guimauye Top" – Anthropologie
Asymmetrical wool coat with leather details – Calvin Klein
Wellies – Hunter
Double-pearl necklace – Anthropologie 
Transparent handbag – Marc by Marc Jacobs

What I wore today: 10/20/2014 (High Line)

This fall, I bought myself my first ever nice wool coat. I think my taste has finally evolved to the point where I can invest in something like this, and I'm really happy with my choice of this lovely bi-tonal coat from Madewell. Lately, I feel like I could just live in Madewell. 

Ryan took these photos of my on the High Line, the lovely new(isn) green space that runs through Chelsea along an old rail-line they were going to tear down. It's a real coup too because, other than Central Park, New York is really lacking in good parks. I guess it's hard to keep any space in Manhattan from quickly turning into a building. 

As far as green space goes, I'm really spoiled living in Northside here in Cincinnati because there are several preserved forests within the city just walking distance from my home as well as an incredible cemetery/arboretum. Anyway, the High Line is really special. I'd like to run on it the next time we go to New York. 

Coat - Madewell

Hat - Anthropologie

Sweater - Phillip Lim for Target

Jeans - Gap

Boots - Free People

Bag - thrifted

What I wore today: 02/15/2014 (Sparkle and Stripes)

I bought this dress with an Oscars party in mind, but I didn't want to wait that long to wear it, so I pulled it out for my Valentine's weekend date with Ryan to dinner and the ballet.

By the way, if there is a snowstorm on Valentine's Day, you probably shouldn't assume you can get a table at any of the myriad restaurants in a popular neighborhood the next day. There will be a two-and-a-half hour wait at all of them and you will be reminded why you could never live in New York City. Not that this has happened to me.

Anyway, this dress is just too much: the proportions, the color, the width of the stripes; it's all too much, and that is exactly why I like it. Since the dress was already too, too much, I naturally decided to pair it with a bag that has ears.

Teal and black sequin and striped "Starlit Stripes Dress" - Anthropologie

Leopard brocade coat - Forever 21 (forever ago)

Black pirate booties - Payless (forever ago)

Quilted crossbody bag with bunny ears - ASOS

What I wore today: 09/21/2013 (Fall Floral)

I love nothing more than a good sweater. The best ones add interest and warmth to an outfit with minimal effort. I just bought this lovely floral number at Anthro. The first day I wore it, I took a walk in the woods and got burs in it! I then spent the next half hour sitting in a bar (because that's where my walks in the woods lead to), drinking a lambic, and picking burs out of my sweater.

"Stitched Flora Cardigan" - Anthropologie

"Serif" Jeans - Pilcro and the Letterpress

Deep-V t-shirt - Americal Apparel

Mens leather belt - Obey, Urban Outfitters

Neon necklace - Madewell

Bag - Phillip Lim for Target

What I wore today: 09/16/2013 (Blush and Lace)

I've mentioned before that I can't get enough of classic gray sweatshirts. I especially love ones that have a bit of a twist or a surprising detail of some kind, and I really love when that detail involves lace. Something about gray sweatshirts and white lace just makes me swoon.

I picked up this cute Phillip Lim for Target bag yesterday. Even though highly-anticipated collections like his always sell out online immediately, I can usually count on finding good stuff if I go to a store (without waiting in lines or anything); that's the advantage of living in a not-super-fashion-aware city. This time, I couldn't make it to a store until two days after the collection debuted, but I went to a far-out suburban Target in the lamest part of town and, to my delight, they still had all the items I wanted to try on. Yay!

Gray sweatshirt with white lace detail - Anthropologie

Rose-colored jeans - Gap

"Everly" ankle boots - Jeffrey Campbell 

Cross-body bag - Phillip Lim for Target

What I wore today: 01/27/2013 (Heavy Rotation)

For a novelty sweater, this "La Parisienne" intarsia number from J.Crew has been seeing a lot of action since I purchased it in November. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that it's super warm. I've learned in recent years that cotton sweaters are total bullshit and a complete waste of time. Wool or cashmere fo' life!

This polka-dot blouse is in heavy rotation too. It's so versatile because it's black and brown and can be easily layered under things or over things. 

As for the boots, I've been looking or something like them since I saw these Freebird by Steven ones on Shopbop and Free People. I've kept an eye out for a while for a good pair of leather ankle boots that I could insert pieces of a Mexican blanket into. But, before those turned up, these Target ones did. I've got to say, Target has been so good creating designer inspired shoes lately. Case and point: sneaker wedges.

"La Parisienne" intarsia sweater - J.Crew (still available on eBay)

Skinny jeans - Pilcro and the Letterpress

Sheer polka-dot button down blouse - Forever 21

Blanket ankle cowboy boots - Target

"Winslow satchel" bag - Lauren by Ralph Lauren

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What I wore today: 01/22/2013 (Texas Tux)

As I mentioned here, layering this necklace over a collar buttoned up all the way has become one of my favorite little details to spice up a simple outfit. And you can't get much more simple than denim on denim. (See some of my other Canadian/Texas Tuxedos here & here)

As for the braids, I periodically get obsessed with maiden braids and I've been on a major kick recently. In fact, I learned the other day that my hair is actually long enough to do a whole wreath (not just over the top as I'm wearing here). I've been waiting for this moment since I was 8 years old and saw Leia's braided wreath in The Empire Strikes Back for the first time. I must say, I feel like I've accomplished something big.

I think I'll try to shoot a tutorial soon. 

Ombré chambray shirt - Target

Skinny jeans - Pilcro and the Letterpress

Necklace - J.Crew Factory

Brown Leather Boots - Journey's

"Winslow Satchel" bag - Lauren by Ralph Lauren

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DI(fr)Yday: How to make a studded trasparent clutch

I've been wanting to try Honestly...WTF's transparent-clutch tutorial for a while now. It's not complicated, but it involves drilling into plastic, which takes a lot of patience. You have to be really gentle. It feels like the drill will never break through and you'll want to apply more pressure, but you don't want to crack the plastic. 

I kicked my clutch up a notch by adding screw-in studs like these to the sides. (I used leftovers from the frenemy bracelet.) All I had to do was screw additional holes into the sides of the box. Admittedly, this made the DIY 9-times more complicated (drilling 9 holes instead of 1), but I really like the dainty-meets-tough-girl look that it achieved. 

When my new clutch isn't going for a night on the town, it lives on our dresser where it displays Instagram prints. 

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What I wore today: 06/30/2012 (Maxi Peplum)

Another way to keep a maxi from looking sloppy (as discussed here) is to pair it with a structured top. In the colder months, a blazer could do wonders. In the absurd, 90-degree weather we've been having in the midwest this week, a light peplum tank works well.


This belt is one of my favorite pieces. I can't count the number of outfits I've worn where this belt was the showcase piece: the thing that pulled everything together. Most recently, you've seen it in my anniversary outfit, and last summer you saw it paired with a dress I made. But, you probably haven't seen these old lookbook.nu posts that feature it: here, here, and here.

"Peplum pointe tank" - Anthropologie

Vintage belt - Moschino, eBay (last seen here and here)

Striped maxi skirt - Target (seen in solid gray here and here)

Jeweled leopard sandals - Target (last seen here)

Gold, black, and tan bag - Target (last seen here, here, and here)

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