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#TBT: Nautical—Breton Stripe

Did you know that this classic blue and white striped pattern has a name? As you probably guessed from the title, it’s the Breton stripe, and is summer’s unspoken neutral, especially next to the beach. The original shirt, worn by navy men from Brittany (France) before men from Breton adopted it. Originally, it contained 21 stripes- one for each of Napolean’s victories, but at some point, the French’s military imagination got the better of them and the stripes went haywire. Coco Chanel was instrumental in this diffusion, popularizing the stripe by adding it to her 1917 nautical line.

But I think my favorite reincarnation of this summer staple is Jean Seberg in Godard’s Breathless, which basically makes this post as obnoxious and basic as possible. At this point, I will make my exit.

Je Ne Sais Quoi

When I think of one word I’d like to describe my style, I would be happy if anyone described my look as “anthropologie.” I don’t know what exactly that encompasses (a dab of granola, a handful of adventure, a pinch of cute, a wink to implied quality, maybe?). This outfit is my interpretation. An acquaintance I knew was asked the same question when she applied for a job at anthropologie, and her answer was to describe to handful of situations: “someone who goes to Morocco and leaves all her clothes, only shipping back a rug,” “spends the summer teaching at boys camp in New England,” “goes to Ireland with only the goal to see the giant’s causeway.” Feel free to add what you think contributes to the Anthro joie de vivre below…

As for all the inspiration behind the answers I listed, they come from the fabulous adventures of my favorite photographer Evey Wilson, and if you’re in the DC area looking for photos, this girl can take a photo story, befitting of Anthropologie adventures (or any other sort you need documenting).

Bathing Cute

Isn’t it funny to think that back in the day this is what bathing suits looked like? It’s no wonder people were afraid of getting into the water and drowning! By the time you pick this sopping mess out of the water, most likely, you’re physically spent! But I have to admit, it is super comfy to run around in. I know a lot of people (especially the tall among us) aren’t crazy about rompers (while looking the best in jumpsuits that inevitably coil around my ankles like an unsolicited set of bangles), but I think rompers are the perfect solution to trying to master ease and comfort. They take no thought- like a dress, and at the same time don’t require the constant attention and shall we say poise a dress entails. I can just bungle around wherever I please. 🙂

GMR: Reflections

This week the Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando unleashed their new script, formally acknowledging their partnership with their relationship with Turner Classic Movies, or TCM. Though I’ve heard mixed reviews about the extensive contributions of Robert Osbourne that change the Tour Guide dynamics on the ride (and feel WAYS about any changes to the finale film), on the whole I am excited for the Great Movie Ride as it moves into this new iteration of journey. For those of you who know me (or read the bio), you know that after I graduated from college and before I went to law school, I worked as a Tour Guide at the Great Movie Ride for about six months. Besides the requisite handprint on the wall, I don’t think I contributed much to its history, but I do think I can positively say, I had one of the stupidest nicknames given to a movie rider. For over half my time there, multiple people legitimately called me “Boat.”

I wish I was joking. Needless to say, I didn’t choose it for myself (and was actually secretly offended for a little while because I thought the namers had chosen it to make fun of my weight). Finally, I cornered the nickname’s inagurater and made him explain.

At Disney, you have the option to either walk to your area of employment in full costume or in street clothes (and change there). One day, I apparently came in wearing the shorts shown in these pictures, and one of my fellow cast members thought I looked like I should be on a boat. And that was enough.

But while I may have moved on from the nickname, I will always treasure my time at GMR. I hope this new incarnation spurs renewed interest in what can otherwise be considered after-lunch air-conditioned naptime and fosters new generations who love GMR (and just the building itself!) as much as I do. Once a movie rider, always a movie rider.

Shout out to Ryan Dobbs for this one.

In a Jingle Jangle Morning

The vibe of today’s post was inspired in part by Foxygen’s song entitled San Francisco on their album We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic. However, true to form, rather than looking much like the girl in the video, I think I’m more a reflection of the male singer. Besides that, I hoped to channel the great era that brought the musical revolution which erupted from Haight Ashbury in the 60s. I might be more like Fred from Scooby Doo, but luckily, 70s in coming in, right?

I spent all marveling walking from Chinatown over to Haight Ashbury and Golden Park, marveling over the quaint Victorian houses along the way. At one point, I found a park with a wonderful view, shown below. I was in awe of the fortune of my find. Little did I know, I had only stumbled onto the typical tourist path and was taking pictures of none other than the Painted Ladies, a la Full House fame. Nevertheless, it was still a nice surprise. My blisters the next day were not.

I Descended A Dusty Gravel Ridge…

When I was in High School, I was unabashedly obsessed with the Beat Movement (a fact that will reveal itself in force as the week progresses). With this in mind, there was no way to go to San Francisco without making a veritable pilgrimage to Big Sur. Worthy of an entire love letter- hiking guide- philosophical discussion by Kerouac, the area has continued to inspire in the title track of Death Cab’s latest album (not for much longer!) Narrow Stairs. With all the hubbub, I definitely wanted to check it out, and I was not disappointed. Sun meets the sea meets the mountains and the valley, all in one compendium of sunkissed luxuriance. The weather was perfect, the temperature was perfect, and the sights were stunning. Big Sur is like having everything in one place. Even for someone one as urban-loving as myself, there are a bunch of cute stops for upscale dining in graphically designed perfection you can opt for over more granola choices.

My favorite stop while we were driving through was the Henry Miller Library. Though best known for his salacious novels Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, he also wrote a novel on Big Sur. So nestled in the mountain, a standing homage to his admiration, the library is a peaceful stop on the short path through Big Sur, but certainly one worth making. They have a lot of area-relevant materials, good classic literature, and free coffee (though you might want to make a donation) you can drink on their open wood porch.

As for dressing for Big Sur, that was kind of a challenge. In The Dharma Bums, Kerouac talks about a few days he spent hiking up and down Big Sur, so I wanted to come ready to trek, but on the other hand, I also didn’t know if we’d eat out since it was a day trip. To straddle both, I wore a tunic dress with shorts under it and a cardigan. Sometimes the tunic looked a little too long (learning from mistakes) but on the whole, I think it was good for what I wanted to do, and I managed to avoid sweat stains on the top where it was tucked in (probably something to look out for).

Outfit Details: Tunic/ Dress: Alice + Olivia | Scarf: Oscar de la Renta | Cardigan: H&M | Shoes: Asics Kayanos | Purse: Kate Spade

DON’T FORGET: ECCENTRIC GLAMOUR LINK UP STARTS TOMORROW

Spanish Influence

Isn’t it funny how some of the most accidental discoveries can end up being your favorite things? That’s the way I feel about this cape, and this lovely old town. As for the forner, my friend Elizabeth and I both enjoy a thrift store joke about as much as a thrift store gem. This being the case, she texted me a picture of the “ridiculous cape” she saw while out one day. My only response besides replacing my gaping jaw, was “It’s perfect.” And the economical birthday present was “in the bag.” Subsequently, this (maybe Aztec-inspired) article has become one of my favorite accessories. Paired with what I would consider, “conquistador” boots, I was ready to traipse through (and match the peacocks in) America’s first Spanish colony, St. Augustine.

I really love this city. It’s definitely had its ups and downs (something I will discuss more tomorrow), but it has retained a local flair and eccentric warmth, so that I can’t help but want to be a part of. It’s large enough to be interesting, but small enough to be walkable, and I spent this morning going to a few of the more historic sites for pictures. Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed making them!

Photos by: Madeline Arnall

Shared to Visible Monday

Tuppence a Bag

Goodbye, old England! The memories I made on this trip will remain as sentimental and nostalgic to me as an aged bird woman on the steps of St. Paul’s, reminding us that sometimes the frivolous expenses turn out to be the most meaningful. I have been blessed by this trip and the opportunities it has presented. Thank you for reading along and sharing those adventures with me. ❤ Outfit Details: Hat: vintage from Venice (shown here, Sweater: GAP, Jacket: Barbour, Scarf: Pashmina (bought off the street in New York), Skirt: vintage, Tights: H&M, Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger, Bag: Ba&sh

Fun Fact: The Bird Woman was played by Jane Darwell, the oscar-winning actress who played Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath and Ms. Merriweather in Gone With the Wind.

Salmon Colored Dreams

Medersa Ben-Youssef

After spending my entire first day feasting and wandering around the souks, I made a lofty attempt to see all the tourist sites in one day. Of course, I missed a few things along the way, but it was so overwhelmingly beautiful and episodic, I thought I would do a photo dump here to try to recreate it.

Marrakech Museum

Kasbah Mosque

Badi Palace

Inside Mamounia Hotel

One of many Morocco city gates

Yves Saint Laurent Gardens (a.k.a. Jardin Majorelle)

Saadian Tombs

The Seven Pillars

Mamounia Hotel

The souks after close.

Special Thanks to my photographer, Oliver Marsh.

Pest

I am so happy I went to Budapest. At the time, I felt like exams should take precedent and that I was wasting valuable study time. Now, as I write this, I still feel in awe of that beautiful city. We began the morning at the Szépmûvészeti Múzeum (Museum of Fine Arts) in Pest. However, before we got to adventure over to the Varosliget Castle, we whisked ourselves away to the marketplace. Before my trip, the only thing I had heard about Budapest was the quality of the marketplace. As it closed at 3:00 (and we had a late start), I didn’t want to take any chances. It was well worth the talk. It had all the groceries, souvenirs, and traditional food I could have wanted in one place (I tried langos- the nearest fried thing, like a good Southerner). Because we were so close to the bridge, we went ahead and walked over it, visited the fascinating cave church (a quick Hungarian history lesson), and then climbed up to the liberty statue. Once back down the hill, we went over to get a daylight look at Parliament (sadly missing the last tour by minutes).

Between Friday and Saturday, I spent so long walking around and were so cold that I decided to take a nice long coffee break and watch the sun go down over Parliament. Then, rejuvenated, I decided we should go to see at least one bath while in Budapest. Budapest is famous for its baths since hot springs flow through the rocks under the city. The waters are said to be very medicinal (though they looked quite normal to me. Next time I will probably pony up the money to swim at Szechenyi, but since I didn’t even have my swimsuit, the bath included in the Budapest city card did the trick. From there, I went to back to Varosliget Castle (which offered an ice skating rink beside it for the season) and explored it by night. It reminded me of the beginning music of Beauty and the Beast. On that account, I made sure not to get too close to any windows, as who knew what might lay inside…

Two quick things:

1. Neon orange stuck out like a sore thumb in Budapest. It worked well in that my friend could find me, but I did not look like a local.

2. For anyone travelling to Budapest in November, regardless of the fact Hungary looks like it is southern of England on a map, you can expect similar weather. In other words, a blazer on its own is not going to cut it. Bring a scarf! gloves! heavy coat!

The Clothesline

Style for people blowing in the wind

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