You guys, this has been a rough, rough week for women. Are you low-level seething? Are you ready to set shit on fire? Me too. But instead I decided to search the internet for soothing animal things to give everyone a break but oops, my rage showed through anyway. It's cool, just go buy a tiger shirt and bare your teeth at the next dummy who tells you to smile. I've got your back.
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Friday, September 28, 2018
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Outfit of The Day: Practically Respectable
Okay, so as I mentioned I bought some black work pants at Loft last weekend and I wasn't really excited about them but you know what? They're actually pretty good:
My farmer's tan? Not so much. Anyway, these are the Slim Pencil Pants in Marisa fit and unfortunately aren't on sale anymore though the regular Slim Pants in Marisa Fit are on sale. I don't really get the difference? Loft, you are confusing me.
I really like that they hit right at the ankles and have a nice, wide waistband. They're decent black work pants! They also come in a grey plaid that I'm interested in, or will be when they're 40% off again. My top is from Ann Taylor and I've had it for years. It's just one of those easy print tops that I can't seem to quit! This print top at AT is really similar and I also like this split neck top. Oh, and this henley shell at Loft is pretty similar as well.
I threw my beloved J.Crew western chambray shirt over it as a cardigan replacement but I'm not sure I love how it looks here - something about the proportions is not working for me. Maybe something like this might have worked better? Or maybe just a really good denim jacket? That's my solution to everything these days.
My attempt to show you my earrings, which are from the Universal Thread line at Target. Unfortunately they seem to be gone, but Marianne loves these hoops, which are still in stock. My necklace is the Miansai mini hook which I told y'all to buy when it was on clearance for $19 at Barneys! They currently have some other pretty Miansai pieces on clearance but no mini hook.
Okay, so I have this problem where it causes me physical pain to see adorable MBMJ bags go for pennies on Poshmark. This is my latest rescue and it's a Globetrotter Mini Rei, the little sister to my blue MBMJ Globetrotter Kirsten bag. It's a little small, but I just love the saturated color.
And finally, my mules. If you follow us on Instagram you know my gold mules are from Target and I LOVE THEM. I don't usually buy cheap shoes but for $20 these just had to go home with me, you know? They also come in a few cute faux suede colors but I couldn't resist the gold color. Do they look like your grandma's house shoes? Maybe a little. Do I care? Not even a tiny bit.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Stuff I Like: Reading, Listening, Playing, Travel
Yay! I like stuff! It's been a while so I have a bunch of stuff saved up to tell you about.
This New Novel From Kate Atkinson!
Okay, so I just downloaded this book on my Kindle and haven't actually read it, but Kate Atkinson is one of my very favorite authors and I am super excited to read Transcription. If you've never read any of her books, I'd make two suggestions. First, her Jackson Brodie series is amazing! Case Histories is the first in the series, so start with that one. (There's a BBC show based on these books that is excellent, but the books are better.) I also recommend Life After Life which is a sort-of reincarnation story set in WWII England.
(Related, but my other favorite writer, Tana French, has a new book coming out Oct 9th! I am beside myself. I'll talk more about her in the next Stuff I Like post.)
Serial Is Back And So Far It's Not Disappointing.
Like most people, I loved the first season of Serial and hated the second one. Season three is out now and I've listened to the first two episodes with interest. While I really like the premise this season I'll admit that I miss the "one story" suspense of season one. Really, nothing they do will ever be as gripping as season one. What do you think so far?
This Addictive Game Marianne Suggested
I spent a lot of time in airports recently and Marianne suggested I download the game Hole. io, which she and her daughter are both into. It's really fun and each game is only two minutes long, so it's not a huge commitment (though I do tend to play 5-6 rounds in a row.) The premise is that you're a black hole and you eat stuff to get bigger than the other holes so you can eat bigger stuff. I don't do a lot of games but this one has both me and my boyfriend pretty addicted.
A Few More Travel Recommendations
This Travel Pillow With a Hood
Marianne bought this inflatable travel pillow recently before a flight and said it was wonderful - the hood is super cozy! I am still on the fence about my Turtl and I accidentally left my eye mask on the plane so I'm very tempted by this one.
Dr. Bronner's Lavender Organic Hand Sanitizer
This was a travel recommendation from Fat Mascara and YOU GUYS. This stuff is so much nicer than your usual gel hand sanitizer! I love that it's all natural, not anti-bacterial and it smells really nice. It also doubles as bathroom freshener if you happen to be sharing an unventilated hotel bathroom. Ahem.
This New Novel From Kate Atkinson!
Okay, so I just downloaded this book on my Kindle and haven't actually read it, but Kate Atkinson is one of my very favorite authors and I am super excited to read Transcription. If you've never read any of her books, I'd make two suggestions. First, her Jackson Brodie series is amazing! Case Histories is the first in the series, so start with that one. (There's a BBC show based on these books that is excellent, but the books are better.) I also recommend Life After Life which is a sort-of reincarnation story set in WWII England.
(Related, but my other favorite writer, Tana French, has a new book coming out Oct 9th! I am beside myself. I'll talk more about her in the next Stuff I Like post.)
Serial Is Back And So Far It's Not Disappointing.
Like most people, I loved the first season of Serial and hated the second one. Season three is out now and I've listened to the first two episodes with interest. While I really like the premise this season I'll admit that I miss the "one story" suspense of season one. Really, nothing they do will ever be as gripping as season one. What do you think so far?
This Addictive Game Marianne Suggested
I spent a lot of time in airports recently and Marianne suggested I download the game Hole. io, which she and her daughter are both into. It's really fun and each game is only two minutes long, so it's not a huge commitment (though I do tend to play 5-6 rounds in a row.) The premise is that you're a black hole and you eat stuff to get bigger than the other holes so you can eat bigger stuff. I don't do a lot of games but this one has both me and my boyfriend pretty addicted.
A Few More Travel Recommendations
This Travel Pillow With a Hood
Marianne bought this inflatable travel pillow recently before a flight and said it was wonderful - the hood is super cozy! I am still on the fence about my Turtl and I accidentally left my eye mask on the plane so I'm very tempted by this one.
Dr. Bronner's Lavender Organic Hand Sanitizer
This was a travel recommendation from Fat Mascara and YOU GUYS. This stuff is so much nicer than your usual gel hand sanitizer! I love that it's all natural, not anti-bacterial and it smells really nice. It also doubles as bathroom freshener if you happen to be sharing an unventilated hotel bathroom. Ahem.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
We Discuss: The Downside of Shopping.
A: I really want a pair of Madewell mules. Something to bridge the gap between Birkenstocks and boots.
M: I am getting the damn leopard ones I think:
A: I’m stuck between those and the bronze with the heel:
M: I want something flat.
A: I don’t own a pair of mules, so I don’t know?
M: I will say if you want to try the style before committing Target has several that are very cute to experiment with.
A: Hmm
M: Leopard is backordered until December 🙄
A: Ugh, seriously, Madewell?
M: Yeah so that’s that. Who wants backless slides in December?
A: I went to the mall on my lunch break to return that shitty pilled sweater to BR and tried on some stuff at a few other stores. Everything I tried on was overpriced and ill-fitting. I don’t even know where to shop anymore.
M: Girl I KNOW.
M: What do we do.
A: Like, what am I supposed to do?
A: I tried on an $88 viscose blouse (hand wash!) that looked awful on.
M: I mean it’s handy that I don’t want anything I guess.
M: But
M: I'm just suddenly desperate for fall clothes and it's still 80 degrees. It's like a switch flipped.
A: I’m like, do I go full Eileen Fisher?
M: Under consideration for sure.
A: Semi-related, I rented a Joie blouse similar to this and loved it:
A: Do I just buy fewer things and try for nicer quality? I want to be that person.
M: That’s what I’m doing.
M: Or buying nicer stuff secondhand if I know the fit.
A: I love Posh but fit is an issue.
A: How does Vince run?
M: Oh well that’s timely because they changed their fit about two years ago and now it runs small and short when it used to run bigger and flowier. BULLSHIT.
A: WHY
M: I give up.
A: It’s so immensely frustrating.
A: Like, the brands that used to be known for quality are now just selling expensive crap.
A: Fit is all over the place.
M: It’s just great.
A: The sweater I returned to BR? I wore it ONE TIME and it was so horribly pilled by the end of the day that I actually marched back there to return it. They didn’t argue at all.
M: Good for you.
A: I was pissed. Like, give me my $28 back.
✶✶✶✶
M: TARGET is literally the only place showing me clothes I like.
A: I wish there was a higher-end Target line. Like, this line but quality.
M: Same.
A: sigh
(To be continued...)
Monday, September 24, 2018
Stuff I Bought: Fall Pants Panic Edition
I have been having a bit of an...edit with my closet lately because when you sell everything on Poshmark that doesn't fit or isn't your style anymore, you aren't really left with much. I mean, I have probably 800 striped shirts and some jeans but I've started to get REAL casual at work and even though nobody has said anything, it's starting to bother me. Like, I used to wear stuff like this to work on the reg! I was DRESSED. (I still have that skirt but I'm afraid to try it on.)
ANYWAY, since I'm all about the pants now I thought maybe I should buy some pants. Kate and I went to Loft last weekend since they have 40% off everything (code NEWNOW) and I TRIED, you guys. I tried really hard. I mean, obviously I tried on the faux leather leggings first:
Let me save you some money: they are AWFUL, thick and heavy. They also smelled really bad in a chemical way that I struggle to describe. (I suggest the Spanx faux leather leggings instead.) I also really wanted to try on these:
Which are actually leggings (shut up) but they run small and didn't have the next size up I needed. I like the cute zippers though. I also thought these looked cute:
But, surprise! They didn't have my size. I tried on a different version of their skinny pants and found that they clung to my calves and bunched up in a way that was not charming. Nope. I did really like the brushed sateen legging/jeans but they didn't have my size in any color. I hate you, Loft. Anyway, I finally settled on these:
They are fine. Nothing exciting, just slim black pants that seem to fit me adequately and are more professional than my Madewell black coated jeans. Maybe I'll post an outfit later this week. And, because I was looking for more ways to be disappointed by Loft pants, I marched home and ordered these:
ANYWAY, since I'm all about the pants now I thought maybe I should buy some pants. Kate and I went to Loft last weekend since they have 40% off everything (code NEWNOW) and I TRIED, you guys. I tried really hard. I mean, obviously I tried on the faux leather leggings first:
Let me save you some money: they are AWFUL, thick and heavy. They also smelled really bad in a chemical way that I struggle to describe. (I suggest the Spanx faux leather leggings instead.) I also really wanted to try on these:
Which are actually leggings (shut up) but they run small and didn't have the next size up I needed. I like the cute zippers though. I also thought these looked cute:
But, surprise! They didn't have my size. I tried on a different version of their skinny pants and found that they clung to my calves and bunched up in a way that was not charming. Nope. I did really like the brushed sateen legging/jeans but they didn't have my size in any color. I hate you, Loft. Anyway, I finally settled on these:
They are fine. Nothing exciting, just slim black pants that seem to fit me adequately and are more professional than my Madewell black coated jeans. Maybe I'll post an outfit later this week. And, because I was looking for more ways to be disappointed by Loft pants, I marched home and ordered these:
Both of which are...technically leggings. Man, I am BAD AT THIS. I also ordered this, so maybe I won't be returning everything?
There's no way it'll be that pretty in real life right? Why do I even bother. I'll report back when my order arrives.
PS. Remember those plaid pants from Target that Marianne told me not to buy? GUESS WHAT I DID.
Friday, September 21, 2018
Weekend Window Shopping: 20% Off at Anthropologie!
Fall shopping is happening, y'all! Suddenly I want stuff I can't wear for, easily, another month or two. No matter, Anthropologie is offering 20% off full-priced clothing and home (and an extra 40% off sale items) this weekend for AnthroPerk members. A lot of the Anthro fall offerings are a bit OTT for me but I found quite a few things that I really liked:
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Stuff I Haven't Bought...Yet.
Now that it's suddenly mid-September I am starting to really think about fall and what I might need to fill the holes in my closet. I've realized that my style has shifted quite a bit and that some of what I have in my closet just doesn't work for me anymore. I can't even remember the last time I wore a skirt! Also, who doesn't own a pair of black flats? Me, apparently. SO, here are some things that I'm thinking about:
I keep coming back to this Dagne Dover backpack even though I think the price is stupid. It would be great for travel but I also hope it would replace my super-sad canvas work tote. I love that it will hold my laptop because that tote gets freaking heavy when I take my computer home. Does anyone have this backpack and love it? Also, WHAT COLOR DO I GET? MAYBE BLACK.
Here is why I don't own black flats, because sometimes flats also come in red camo. Ugh, those are cute. I haven't tried Rothy's but I'm seriously considering it because two of my friends swear by them and I like that they're washable. But...they seem expensive for plastic shoes. Hm.
Speaking of shoes, I am still very into the idea of a pair of mules from Madewell because they seem like a great way to bridge the gap between Birkenstocks and boots, you know? I particularly love metallic as a neutral so these might have to happen.
One thing I actually seriously do need to buy is actual work pants because wearing black jeans to work and pretending they're work pants is fooling nobody. Even though I am mad at Banana Republic right now (REALLY MAD) I keep coming back to look at this pair which ARE BASICALLY JEANS. But they're olive green so not really, right?
Hahha just kidding, I already bought this AllSaints jacket. And that grey Veda jacket. I'm insane.
Because I'm all about wearing pants these days I need to step up my fun blouse game. Loft is great for affordable, washable tops and they have 40% off right now, which is tempting. This twist hem top looks so easy - just throw it on with skinny pants and a fun pair of flats (great, now I want those too) and you're good to go. Add a leather jacket and you're basically me!
Where are you going? Come back here.
Here is why I don't own black flats, because sometimes flats also come in red camo. Ugh, those are cute. I haven't tried Rothy's but I'm seriously considering it because two of my friends swear by them and I like that they're washable. But...they seem expensive for plastic shoes. Hm.
Speaking of shoes, I am still very into the idea of a pair of mules from Madewell because they seem like a great way to bridge the gap between Birkenstocks and boots, you know? I particularly love metallic as a neutral so these might have to happen.
One thing I actually seriously do need to buy is actual work pants because wearing black jeans to work and pretending they're work pants is fooling nobody. Even though I am mad at Banana Republic right now (REALLY MAD) I keep coming back to look at this pair which ARE BASICALLY JEANS. But they're olive green so not really, right?
Hahha just kidding, I already bought this AllSaints jacket. And that grey Veda jacket. I'm insane.
Because I'm all about wearing pants these days I need to step up my fun blouse game. Loft is great for affordable, washable tops and they have 40% off right now, which is tempting. This twist hem top looks so easy - just throw it on with skinny pants and a fun pair of flats (great, now I want those too) and you're good to go. Add a leather jacket and you're basically me!
Where are you going? Come back here.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
London and Paris Trip, Part Two.
Here's part two of my trip! Mostly just my packing update and some info about where we stayed.
Packing
Soooo, packing. I definitely over-thought a lot of aspects of the packing but I was really trying to avoid that thing I usually do where I bring a bunch of stuff that I never end up wearing. This time I tried to edit really carefully. I made sure everything I brought worked together and I stuck to a very limited palette (ie a lot of black.) The list of things I packed can be found here and I did bring the Everlane ponte pants and my metallic flats, which were both question marks.
So, what did I not wear? My Everlane ponte pants and my metallic flats. Ha, I know! I should've trusted my instincts on those but the weather ended up being quite a bit hotter than expected so the ponte pants never got worn. I also wish I'd brought a pair of sandals instead of the flats because my feet could've used a break from socks/shoes.
Another item I wish I'd rethought was my cashmere sweater. The weather was just too warm for it so instead I wore it on the flight home (9+ hours) and was happy to have it because the plane was freezing. (I did end up tearing it off dramatically in the Zurich airport which was hot as balls.) Luckily, I'd bought this Everlane tee to wear underneath and it was a perfect light, fitted layer.
As I mentioned yesterday, my other light sweater was a big disappointment. It looked and felt great initially but one day of wearing it and it was pilled all to hell. I didn't end up wearing it again because it looked so terrible. Stupid BR.
Both jackets I bought were perfect - my Madewell hoooded jacket came in handy on the one rainy morning we had and my denim jacket was a perfect light layer (though I ended up carrying it a lot.)
My sneakers were great, as previously mentioned, but I was happy to change into my Chelsea boots in the evening to give my feet a break. I did really miss my Birkenstocks, I'll admit.
Oh, another thing I brought that I should've left at home - my little mini hairdryer! It's a fantastic dryer but even though it's dual voltage and we had a converter it still overheated almost immediately. Plus, both hotels had hairdryers anyway. Hmph. I was able to use my mini flat iron and it fit in my toiletry bag, which was great.
One last thing! I should've added this folding travel bag to my reviews yesterday. I bought it on Amazon ($14!) and used it, stuffed full of our purchases, as my carry-on bag on the way home. it's great, especially for the price.
Accommodations
I was asked by reader Sarah to talk about our hotels! We booked the whole trip through Tripmasters which I highly recommend (uh, based on our one experience) as it gives you all kinds of options at great prices and books the whole thing. We were given wide choice of hotels and picked based on cost, reviews and location.
Ibis Shoreditch, London
Ibis is a chain but it was inexpensive and fairly well-located. The lobby was really cute and there was a bar, but based on our one drink order I'm not sure the bartender had ever actually made a cocktail. Our room was clean and cute and predictably very small. I don't mind small but that room could have really used some hooks for hanging things as the closet area was teensy.
The bathroom was... pretty awful. Basically a tiny round plastic pod with no fan. Also, we were allotted one small sad towel each. No hand towel, no washcloth. (We did ask for more small, scratchy towels and they were delivered promptly.) There was an air conditioner but we could never get it to do more than grudgingly blow lukewarm air, so the room was warm which made it hard to sleep.
Where the Ibis delivered was the buffet breakfast. We paid extra for it (I think?) and it was totally worth it. They had eggs, sausage, bacon (and other English "full breakfast" items like baked beans), assorted pastries and breads, juice, fresh fruit, smoothies, cereal, oatmeal, you name it. I am a big breakfast person so it was nice to fuel up before going out to see the sights. Oh, and the Ibis has free wifi which was great.
Would we stay here on our next trip to London? Probably not. I think for the money we could find something a bit more charming and perhaps in a different part of town. I enjoyed the college/downtown vibe of Shoreditch but the hotel room wasn't very comfortable.
Hôtel des Nations St-Germain
Our hotel in Paris was in the Latin Quarter and we really loved it. It was small and quite charming, with friendly staff. Our room was tiny and overlooked the street via a Juliet balcony! We loved being able to open the windows and take in the street action.
Carrbbbbbbs! It was all delicious and I believe it was €9 each. Would we stay at the Hotel des Nations again? Absolutely. Aside from the tiny shower it suited our needs perfectly. It was very close to a ton of restaurants and shops and within walking distance of Notre Dame.
I really didn't do much shopping in Paris (mostly walking and eating) but I did stop in a pharmacy and bought a few things:
Packing
Soooo, packing. I definitely over-thought a lot of aspects of the packing but I was really trying to avoid that thing I usually do where I bring a bunch of stuff that I never end up wearing. This time I tried to edit really carefully. I made sure everything I brought worked together and I stuck to a very limited palette (ie a lot of black.) The list of things I packed can be found here and I did bring the Everlane ponte pants and my metallic flats, which were both question marks.
So, what did I not wear? My Everlane ponte pants and my metallic flats. Ha, I know! I should've trusted my instincts on those but the weather ended up being quite a bit hotter than expected so the ponte pants never got worn. I also wish I'd brought a pair of sandals instead of the flats because my feet could've used a break from socks/shoes.
Another item I wish I'd rethought was my cashmere sweater. The weather was just too warm for it so instead I wore it on the flight home (9+ hours) and was happy to have it because the plane was freezing. (I did end up tearing it off dramatically in the Zurich airport which was hot as balls.) Luckily, I'd bought this Everlane tee to wear underneath and it was a perfect light, fitted layer.
As I mentioned yesterday, my other light sweater was a big disappointment. It looked and felt great initially but one day of wearing it and it was pilled all to hell. I didn't end up wearing it again because it looked so terrible. Stupid BR.
Both jackets I bought were perfect - my Madewell hoooded jacket came in handy on the one rainy morning we had and my denim jacket was a perfect light layer (though I ended up carrying it a lot.)
My sneakers were great, as previously mentioned, but I was happy to change into my Chelsea boots in the evening to give my feet a break. I did really miss my Birkenstocks, I'll admit.
Oh, another thing I brought that I should've left at home - my little mini hairdryer! It's a fantastic dryer but even though it's dual voltage and we had a converter it still overheated almost immediately. Plus, both hotels had hairdryers anyway. Hmph. I was able to use my mini flat iron and it fit in my toiletry bag, which was great.
One last thing! I should've added this folding travel bag to my reviews yesterday. I bought it on Amazon ($14!) and used it, stuffed full of our purchases, as my carry-on bag on the way home. it's great, especially for the price.
Accommodations
I was asked by reader Sarah to talk about our hotels! We booked the whole trip through Tripmasters which I highly recommend (uh, based on our one experience) as it gives you all kinds of options at great prices and books the whole thing. We were given wide choice of hotels and picked based on cost, reviews and location.
Ibis Shoreditch, London
Ibis is a chain but it was inexpensive and fairly well-located. The lobby was really cute and there was a bar, but based on our one drink order I'm not sure the bartender had ever actually made a cocktail. Our room was clean and cute and predictably very small. I don't mind small but that room could have really used some hooks for hanging things as the closet area was teensy.
The bathroom was... pretty awful. Basically a tiny round plastic pod with no fan. Also, we were allotted one small sad towel each. No hand towel, no washcloth. (We did ask for more small, scratchy towels and they were delivered promptly.) There was an air conditioner but we could never get it to do more than grudgingly blow lukewarm air, so the room was warm which made it hard to sleep.
Where the Ibis delivered was the buffet breakfast. We paid extra for it (I think?) and it was totally worth it. They had eggs, sausage, bacon (and other English "full breakfast" items like baked beans), assorted pastries and breads, juice, fresh fruit, smoothies, cereal, oatmeal, you name it. I am a big breakfast person so it was nice to fuel up before going out to see the sights. Oh, and the Ibis has free wifi which was great.
Would we stay here on our next trip to London? Probably not. I think for the money we could find something a bit more charming and perhaps in a different part of town. I enjoyed the college/downtown vibe of Shoreditch but the hotel room wasn't very comfortable.
Hôtel des Nations St-Germain
Our hotel in Paris was in the Latin Quarter and we really loved it. It was small and quite charming, with friendly staff. Our room was tiny and overlooked the street via a Juliet balcony! We loved being able to open the windows and take in the street action.
The bathroom was also super small but it was an actual real bathroom so we were happy. The only downside was the shower which was about the size of a phone booth - one wrong turn and you'd hit the handle with an elbow or hip and turn the water off. But, it functioned and the water was hot so not a big deal for us.
The air conditioning worked great (did I mention how much warmer the weather was than expected?) and there was wifi but it was a pretty weak signal and I had a hard time connecting. The hotel had a breakfast buffet (€12) which was quite nice but not as fun as going to a cafe for breakfast. We did both and decided we preferred going out. I mean:
I really didn't do much shopping in Paris (mostly walking and eating) but I did stop in a pharmacy and bought a few things:
Nothing too exciting but it was fun. I promise I'll be more shoppy on our next trip! We'll have more time so I can plan it out better. That's it for today! Thanks again for all your comments and suggestions. It's been really fun to share this with all of you!
Monday, September 17, 2018
I'm Back From My Trip! Here's What I Learned.
HI HI HI. I am back from the best vacation of my life and thanks to all of you who checked out my IG stories on my personal account and the blog account. Also, again, I really appreciate the advice, recommendations, and suggestions I got from all of you! We only had 2 1/2 days in each city so, while we covered a lot of ground, it still feel like we barely scratched the surface. My thoughts:
London. London is totally my kind of place and I felt right at home (even if everything is backwards and I almost got run over by a bus because I looked in the wrong direction.) Such an great city! I loved the tube, I loved the style and vibe of the city and it was so beautiful. And efficient! I don't know how else to describe it but it was an easy city to navigate. Everywhere we went we were blown away by the history and architecture.
And London fashion tip: leather jackets are the thing. Everyone was wearing beautiful leather jackets so obviously I marched right over to Allsaints and bought one like the fashion zombie I am. I am not even kidding. Also, if you visit London you must go to Liberty. It's the most charming tiny department store full of beautiful things and the people who work there are extremely friendly and helpful. I didn't buy a tote bag but I did buy this little zipper pouch. Apparently it's for sunglasses but I'm using it as a wallet. Carnaby street in general was really fun and charming.
Paris. From the second we got off the train I was basically losing my mind. IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE THAT. Like walking back in time! And the light was unreal! Paris exceeded all expectations and we both fell in love and are already planning our next trip because two days in Paris is not enough days. Marianne asked what my favorite part was and this was my reply:
It's pure magic, you guys. I didn't buy much in Paris because we were either trying to see everything or we were sitting outside at various cafes recovering from seeing everything. I do want to mention that learning a bit of French before we left was super valuable. Everyone in Paris was very kind and made it easy for us because we made an effort. (We did witness some terrible American (and other) tourist behavior and were both moderately delighted when the crêpe stand guy assumed we were Dutch.)
Packing: How Did I Do?
Now, I knew that I was really overthinking the packing process but you guys stuck with me and I'm going to write a whole aftermath post about it tomorrow. Also, we checked our luggage and it was fine. REPEAT: We checked out luggage and it was FINE. Don't be afraid to check your luggage! (I mean, if you have three flight connections maybe don't but for direct flights or one connection, you'll be good.)
Stuff: How Did It Work Out?
I bought a fair amount of stuff for this trip and here are my quick reviews:
Travelon Anti Theft Classic Backpack. My backpack worked okay though in retrospect I think it's a bit too small. I appreciated the many pockets and used it mostly for the traveling portions of our trip. However, I'm glad I didn't pay more than $45 as one of the locking zipper pulls broke almost immediately and the lack of double zippers was immensely frustrating. It's fine for a day pack but I think I'll find something a bit bigger and better quality for my next trip.
Turtl Travel Pillow. I used it and it was...okay. I am bad at sleeping on planes and I'm not convinced this thingy is the answer to my airplane pillow prayers but I used it and it was fine. I did like that I could shove it in my backpack when I wasn't using it.
LL Bean Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag. This is the BEST EVER. The medium bag fit all my crap for a week, even my tiny travel flat iron! It held up like a champ and I was grateful for the hook because European hotel bathrooms are the tiniest. I also loved the detachable shower caddy. This bag is probably the best $30 I've spent in a while.
Nike Free RN 2018. These were great! I wore them all over London and Paris and they were comfortable and lightweight. Nike generally fits me well so I wasn't surprised.
Athleta Soho Jogger. Soooo, yeah. Confession time. I have been thrifting on the regular to find things for my Poshmark closet and I found the lined version in grey (slightly older style) in my size for $4. FOUR AMERICAN DOLLARS. So, I returned the Soho joggers but only because why pay $89 when you have perfectly good $4 airplane pants? And they were perfect! I was warm and comfortable.
Vince Camuto Gally crossbody. I bought this on Posh because my MBMJ crossbody was way too small. The VC bag was perfect for what I needed during the day - just big enough for my giant phone, lip gloss, tissues, money/cards and sunglasses. It had two zip compartments and felt secure. Nobody picked my pockets is what I'm saying. Definitely a keeper!
Banana Republic Silk-Cotton Pointelle sweater. Don't buy this. I panic-bought it in black a few days before we left so I'd have a super-light sweater option. It's cute and comfortable and pills so badly that after one wear it looked like total shit. I am going to try to return it because what the actual hell, BR. You're back on my list.
THIS IS A LONG POST. More tomorrow!
Paris. From the second we got off the train I was basically losing my mind. IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE THAT. Like walking back in time! And the light was unreal! Paris exceeded all expectations and we both fell in love and are already planning our next trip because two days in Paris is not enough days. Marianne asked what my favorite part was and this was my reply:
Favorite things: Wandering around the tiny medieval streets in the Marais district; French breakfast (carbs on carbs!); coming up from any metro station and gasping every single time; walking up the tiny staircase in Sainte Chapelle and being breathless at how fucking beautiful it is; sitting next to the chicest woman I’ve ever seen in my life at a cafe on ÃŽle Saint-Louis and being like, THIS IS MY LIFE TOO; making a pharmacist beam when I attempted to speak French while making a purchase.
It's pure magic, you guys. I didn't buy much in Paris because we were either trying to see everything or we were sitting outside at various cafes recovering from seeing everything. I do want to mention that learning a bit of French before we left was super valuable. Everyone in Paris was very kind and made it easy for us because we made an effort. (We did witness some terrible American (and other) tourist behavior and were both moderately delighted when the crêpe stand guy assumed we were Dutch.)
Now, I knew that I was really overthinking the packing process but you guys stuck with me and I'm going to write a whole aftermath post about it tomorrow. Also, we checked our luggage and it was fine. REPEAT: We checked out luggage and it was FINE. Don't be afraid to check your luggage! (I mean, if you have three flight connections maybe don't but for direct flights or one connection, you'll be good.)
Stuff: How Did It Work Out?
I bought a fair amount of stuff for this trip and here are my quick reviews:
Travelon Anti Theft Classic Backpack. My backpack worked okay though in retrospect I think it's a bit too small. I appreciated the many pockets and used it mostly for the traveling portions of our trip. However, I'm glad I didn't pay more than $45 as one of the locking zipper pulls broke almost immediately and the lack of double zippers was immensely frustrating. It's fine for a day pack but I think I'll find something a bit bigger and better quality for my next trip.
Turtl Travel Pillow. I used it and it was...okay. I am bad at sleeping on planes and I'm not convinced this thingy is the answer to my airplane pillow prayers but I used it and it was fine. I did like that I could shove it in my backpack when I wasn't using it.
LL Bean Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag. This is the BEST EVER. The medium bag fit all my crap for a week, even my tiny travel flat iron! It held up like a champ and I was grateful for the hook because European hotel bathrooms are the tiniest. I also loved the detachable shower caddy. This bag is probably the best $30 I've spent in a while.
Nike Free RN 2018. These were great! I wore them all over London and Paris and they were comfortable and lightweight. Nike generally fits me well so I wasn't surprised.
Athleta Soho Jogger. Soooo, yeah. Confession time. I have been thrifting on the regular to find things for my Poshmark closet and I found the lined version in grey (slightly older style) in my size for $4. FOUR AMERICAN DOLLARS. So, I returned the Soho joggers but only because why pay $89 when you have perfectly good $4 airplane pants? And they were perfect! I was warm and comfortable.
Vince Camuto Gally crossbody. I bought this on Posh because my MBMJ crossbody was way too small. The VC bag was perfect for what I needed during the day - just big enough for my giant phone, lip gloss, tissues, money/cards and sunglasses. It had two zip compartments and felt secure. Nobody picked my pockets is what I'm saying. Definitely a keeper!
Banana Republic Silk-Cotton Pointelle sweater. Don't buy this. I panic-bought it in black a few days before we left so I'd have a super-light sweater option. It's cute and comfortable and pills so badly that after one wear it looked like total shit. I am going to try to return it because what the actual hell, BR. You're back on my list.
THIS IS A LONG POST. More tomorrow!
Friday, September 7, 2018
Weekend Window Shopping: Bon Voyage!
I'm off! See you guys in a week or so. Here are some travel accessories I wouldn't mind taking with me...
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Stuff I Don't Like: Packing.
HELLO. I am leaving for my trip TOMORROW. London! Paris! I can hardly believe it and I'm super excited. I've re-read all of your fabulous comments on my initial travel stuff post and taken it to heart. All week long I've been working on my packing list and it's confounding. Packing? Is hard. Trying to pack light? IS HARD.
A: Girl, I need your help.
M: What??
A: MY JACKET GAME IS NOT TIGHT FOR THIS TRIP
M: Hahahahaha
A: Okay, London is 53-74 degrees, probably raining on Saturday
M: You are going to give yourself an ulcer
A: I already have an ulcer and someone stole my dinner so I am PRETTY KEYED UP
A: Paris is 58-84 and sunny!
A: What fucking jackets do I take to cover all of this
M: I say this with LOVE but you are overthinking this
A: WELL, OBVIOUSLY
ANYWAY! She talked me down and we discussed all my options. And before you judge my packing anxiety please remember that a) I don't travel a lot and b) I am not a laid-back person. Anxiety is my cardio, you guys. ALSO: decisions have been made! I am not seeking advice! Do not make me cry by pointing out everything I am doing wrong! I have to live, you guys. Now this is what I’ve decided to take (more or less):
A: Girl, I need your help.
M: What??
A: MY JACKET GAME IS NOT TIGHT FOR THIS TRIP
M: Hahahahaha
A: Okay, London is 53-74 degrees, probably raining on Saturday
M: You are going to give yourself an ulcer
A: I already have an ulcer and someone stole my dinner so I am PRETTY KEYED UP
A: Paris is 58-84 and sunny!
A: What fucking jackets do I take to cover all of this
M: I say this with LOVE but you are overthinking this
A: WELL, OBVIOUSLY
ANYWAY! She talked me down and we discussed all my options. And before you judge my packing anxiety please remember that a) I don't travel a lot and b) I am not a laid-back person. Anxiety is my cardio, you guys. ALSO: decisions have been made! I am not seeking advice! Do not make me cry by pointing out everything I am doing wrong! I have to live, you guys. Now this is what I’ve decided to take (more or less):
- 3 short sleeve tops
- 2 long sleeve tops
- 2 long sleeve layering t-shirts
- 2 light sweaters (one cotton, one cashmere)
- 2-3 jeans/pants (boyfriend, coated skinny, maybe ponte pants)
- airplane pants
- pajamas
- Madewell jacket
- denim jacket
- sneakers
- chelsea boots
- metallic flats (?)
- small crossbody bag
- 2 scarves
- jewelry
All of this all fits easily in a medium-sized suitcase (which I'm checking) with plenty of room left for whatever I buy on my trip. I'm sticking to a palette of mostly black, navy, grey and olive green. Marianne in her wisdom laid out my outfit options in two versions:
I feel good about this! It's all my favorite stuff, lots of layers, easy outfits. I am taking a break from the blog next week but I'll be posting updates on my personal IG and on the Looks Good IG, so follow along if you so wish! And thanks again for all your great advice and comments on previous travel posts. Y'all are the best.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Outfit of the Day: That Anthropologie Jacket
The light has changed and with it goes my perfect little spot of photography wall. I really wanted to show y'all my new Anthro jacket but these photos...aren't the greatest. You know what? Too bad. I am going to show you anyway! Here's my boring outfit:
This is all Banana Republic. Skinny jeans from the Zero Gravity line that I really like and a black tank similar to this one that I've had for a few years. My shoes are red Lotta clogs but they're hard to see. Now, the jacket:
Hooray! It's the Odyssey Draped Coat by BlankNYC and it's great, isn't it? It's faux leather on the back and sleeves and faux suede in the front. It drapes beautifully and I seriously can't tell you how soft and stretchy it is. Like a cardigan but with jacket structure. Yay.
I'm sure you're wondering what it looks like zipped up? Listen, I'm not super crazy about it zipped and probably won't wear it this way, but here you go:
See what I mean? Not terrible but definitely better all open and drape-y. And yes, I haven't taken the tag off yet because it's too hot to actually wear it out. Here's a close-up:
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): Banana Republic Has My Number.
Last weekend Kate and I wandered into Banana Republic to kill time before a movie (Crazy Rich Asians, highly recommend.) I had pretty much given up on BR but was lured back in because they were like, "40% off! Plus 10% off! Plus a puppy!" They've extended the 40% off today just FYI.
Anyway, we were both pleasantly surprised by what we found. The colors this fall? TOTALLY my thing. And camo! Hooray! Here's what I liked:
Anyway, we were both pleasantly surprised by what we found. The colors this fall? TOTALLY my thing. And camo! Hooray! Here's what I liked:
Lots of good sweaters this fall at BR. This one reminded me of Comme des Garçons PLAY.
This one doesn't look very exciting but the color was quite rich and intense IRL.
Soft olive jeans! I would have tried these on but they didn't have my size.
I loved this so much I bought it! Also comes in a blue colorway. Yay camo.
More olive pants! These looked really cute in the store...I might have to go back and try them on.
This is not leather but it is very cool and suede-y. A solid option if leather isn't your thing.
These are real suede and they look like they'd go with everything.
Okay, I didn't see this in the store but it's a great color and the interior is metallic? Y'all.