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

Madeline meets Dubai in South Bend

This week in South Bend, a squirrel frolicked amongst the hedgerows I found this wall:

I also found the Chanel 2015 Cruise collection and its ingenious pairing of tunic/ pant sets. (These photos link back to the Chanel website, where I got them).

This collection is an education on the “piquant pant.” Yes, you could run through the mountains bare-legged (probably unshaven) in your Salvation Army shirt-made-dress, but why would you when you can look perfectly chic and tailored in 1. see-through geometry pants? 2. sailor swag pants? 3. Harem pants (all day long)? Frankly, I’m ecstatic. Manrepeller termed them “unnecessary but deeply necessary pants.” I would have to agree, but would go one step further. On the strawberry walnut salad that is the outfit, it seems that Lagerfeld’s ankle-cinched pants are the dressing. You could go low-cal boring, trying to choke down spinach and iceberg without something to whet your whistle, but the taste simply won’t be “piquant” without the wisp of vinaigrette. I got my first taste of this melangé last year in India.

Pay no attention to the sunscreen-slathered blonde-haired reflector beam who in her Lawrence-of-Arabla-cultural-appropriating frenzy decided to shop for tunics kurtas at the open market based on color combinations alone (because I am one size to fit all). The point is India rocks the “tunic” cinched- ankle combo, and using the term “regional” loosely, I feel like as Lagerfeld is known to do, he kept this in mind designing Chanel’s 2015 Cruise looks.

 

So for those of us who want to look Chanel at the supermarket (as our consumer spirits should now be more than blitzed for), how can you bring the look home short of a Sailor Moon tweed tornado? Here’s my interpretation, un peu francais, n’est pas?

I started with color. A hybrid pair of sometimes pants, maybe leggings, and a bright dress set the tone. The hat and collar reminded me of Madeline (twelve little girls in two straight lines sounds almost like a runway), and the scarf was a piece which preserved the Dubai vibe while remaining distinctly Parisien. What do you think?

Outfit Details:
Dress: GAP outlet
Scarf as Belt: Talbots (thank you Mimi)
Pants: The Row (ebay) also shown here
Shoes: Anthropologie
Spotlight on Accessories:
Hat: Antiquing
Collar: I cut this off of an otherwise frumpy Primark clearance shirt (and it was well worth the pound I paid for it!)
La Petit Prince Watch: Madrid find!
Ring: Fossil

I’m sharing this to my favorite link-ups, Patti’s Visible Monday over at Not Dead Yet Style and Trend-SPin at The Fashion Canvas. Check it out, or even better join in!

 

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

Rompin’ ’round a Fiddler’s Hearth

After my first two finals, two of my friends from UGA came into town to save me from sure desperation and destruction. I had a lovely time showing them around Notre Dame, taking them to all my favorite places (we saw this cool Studebaker along the way).

But I have to say, I think my favorite place to go in South Bend (after a walk around the lakes to the grotto) is undoubtedly Fiddler’s Hearth. 

Notre Dame pretends to be Irish, but Fiddler’s is the only truly Irish thing in this town (sorry Mulligans and O’Rourke’s). A wonderful collection of ne’r-do-wells, locals, and misplaced college students., this is the closest Indiana gets to a real Irish pub. They serve their fish and chips in newspaper, their Shepherd’s pie is a dream, but personally I keep coming back for the Irish Stew (as the lamb is cooked to perfection). Not to mention they are one of the only places with good cider on tap. But better than the food, I really love the character of the establishment. Tables are first come, first serve wooden planks, and it isn’t at all amiss for two unaffiliated parties to group up to getting seating when the band starts playing (usually something folk).

Lately, because of finals, I’ve been perfecting the art of no-fuss ensembles. This translates to a one-piece number I can run around, eat dinner, lay on the floor, and sleep in. Thus, I’ve been vacillating between leotards (with a skater skirt) and rompers- both of which are great options, until you have to use the restroom. Still, throw on a pair of heels, and people will think you tried.

Romper: French Connection (ebay find for $12)
Watch: Target Men’s
Earrings: Thrifted
Belt: Zara
and……..

 Shoes: Mui Mui (ebay find FOR $30!!) I’m so in love, they got their own picture.

Here’s a few pictures from my instagram of the outside/ interior of Fiddler’s.

      

Hurray for good friends and good food!

Shared to: What I Wore Wednesday, Three-fer Thursday

Outfit of the Day

Right now it’s vacillating between 12 and -6 degrees Fahrenheit in South Bend, Indiana. It’s hard to muster any fashion aspiration beyond the prospect of parading around as a shapeless, faceless marshmallow (the one thick jacket I own is puffy and white). However, in celebration of my newest ebay acquisition (Diane von Furstenburg NWT: tag price $465, my price $33 with shipping), I attempted some snow day law school chic.

Dress: Diane Von Furstenburg

Wool Blazer: Thrift store gem

Watch: Target Men’s Watch

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Knee Highs: trouser socks from Wal-mart

Probably not the best for my legs considering the weather, but I felt classy (once I cold forget the menacing cold).