Sportif

Fresh out of fashion week, it seems like clothes were continuing with casually baggy elegance. In my opinion, it’s Katherine Hepburn meets the modern era– the longer look, casually sporty, nearly androgynous (just short of Stockholm). To set the mood, I picked “Victory Bar” this 1940’s-esque once-hangout to denizens of sweaty football lovers (or so I imagine) in downtown South Bend. It’s not my most confident pairing, as there’s only so long and flowing you can look at 5’5 without beginning to look like a set of drapes. Then again, with the Sound of Music celebrating its 50th, that might not be so bad?

Outfit Details: Lion Earrings: Thrifted | Blazer: DKNY | Shirt: Zara | Pants: 3.1 Phillip Lim | Watch: Disney | Shoes: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Midwestern Marvel

Finals are OVER. I couldn’t be happier. Even though I’m still technically not done, it’s been nice to relax a little and kick back. In the short time I have left I’ve been trying to figure out how to see and do all the things I put off with the excuse of finals. South Bend gets a terrible rap, but it (and the general area) has a lot of hidden gems. In my two weeks remaining here, I want to make it into a bit of an adventure, checking off the list (and documenting some of the finer points for you– if I can find an outfit worth showcasing). Today starts the tour (tomorrow will be a brief hiatus), and I thought I’d match my outfit with my perception of the Midwest. Not to say that all the women would wear hair nets, I just think I had an idea of Westward expansion in mind:

I think in my head (though I wouldn’t have admitted it) I imagined a place with log cabins, half pint, well, really just Laura Ingalls Wilder (notice the prairie-length skirt with oversize belt). I haven’t actually made it to Missouri for that childhood pilgrimage yet, but I have two more years to make it happen. In the meantime I’ll perfect the hippie / school teacher vibe I’ve got going here. Speaking of schools (of thought), they say that along with economic decline comes the lengthening of skirts, and this year has not proven contrary…

One thing I miss about England (my three months there) is seeing the fields full of rape — that is the name of the yellow flower, I kid you not. It’s actually quite beautiful, and you’ve probably seen it in movies, even if you didn’t realize (in one of those Gladiator wind in the grass sequences, no doubt)(also, Take Courage did a beautiful shoot in a field of it that you can see here). Well when I saw this field off on the side of the road, my heart just swelled! In addition, it epitomizes another fact about the Midwest. It. Is. Flat. With the exception of Cincinnati (don’t know what happened there Ohio), I have yet to find a hill. It is harder to bike around my neighborhood then this campus.

Outfit Details:Shirt: French Connection (ebay)
Skirt: Anthropologie (Maeve last Fall)
Belt: off an old skirt from Macys
Shoes: Pour La Victoire (ebay again) The grass was so long and soft, they didn’t do their due diligence in these pictures, especially since I was running back and forth with the self timer.

Closeup on Accessories:

Beret: Target
Necklace: Girl with Umbrella (my newest love!) — estate sale last weekend $5
Earrings: Target
Watch: Disney

Sharing to The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday

Midwestern Treasure Troves: Estate Sales Recently

You never really know what you’re going to find at an estate sale. For instance, last week, we stumbled across this priceless gem:

Look closer…

closer…

Ahhh piquant lemon lime flavor, how could we resist you for that long 16 years? Finally, for a mere $2.00 (I didn’t even know Gatorade expired), you can be ours! We’ll just conveniently ignore the ominous game expired looming at us.

In particular at estate sales, I always like to see the weeeeeird stuff people collect. Three weeks ago, the woman collected cow totems and the man was obsessed with trains. This past week, I couldn’t escape bowling mementos (prizes, pins, pens, jerseys) only to find out the couple had owned a bowling alley. My roommate loves to go to collect cardinal ornaments (I had no idea people had so many things with cardinals on them. Now that I’ve noticed, they can’t be unseen! Seriously, go check your house). And of course, I’m always on a mission to locate the hats (with varying success). So here’s the haul of the past two weeks:

  Estate Sale One
Niles, Michigan

Bird picture: 1.50/ Carpet Bag: 20.00/ Scarf: 5.00/ Globe Tin: 1.50/ 2 pairs of antique earrings 1.50 each

This one was fairly blase’ no great stories here. Leigha and I were on a mission for headscarves, and as you can see, I found everything else. I styled the headscarf and carpet bag here.

Estate Sale 2
Elkhart, Indiana

Needlepoint of my future house: 7.00/ Sailing shirt: 1.00/ Legit fur stole: 7.50

Next stop- Russian Aristocracy

Texture Combo.

I stayed relatively calm throughout this venture, but J raided the place. I’ve never gone to an estate sale with anyone who walked away with more than I bought, but in J’s defense, at times, it was like walking through an Urban Outfitters giveaway. Like these smashing new swim trunks:

Panda-licious

PreFontaine Meets Brooks Brothers: A Real American Tradition

California, here he comes.

J also managed to snag several tomes on the (alleged) conspiracy that was the Clinton presidency and a 1950s guide to a Successful Sex Life in Marriage (approved by the American Medical Association, New York Daily, and Catholics of America- all for two dollars!). But the greatest find of the day was probably this little guy:

Upon seeing him, Joe immediately said, “Herbert?” And with his reluctant grin, Herbert returned Js gaze.

This sassy little strigiform is making me seriously reconsider my views on love at first sight. He’s so bold, yet demure! Suffice it to say, he and J have already moved in together. May you be so lucky in love on your next adventure! Happy Friday!