Turtlenecks & Tartan

"Time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees" - Emily Bronte

What I Wore: [Top: Gap, Skirt: Vintage (similar), Boots: Franco Sarto (similar), Earrings: J. Crew (similar), Lipstick: Bite Beauty "Cranberry"] 

I can't believe Christmas is already here, it seems like the weeks leading up to the holidays are always  such a blur, making it so that once break finally begins and I get to lay around watching Love, Actually with my dog for three days straight even better than usual. Since I go to school so far away from home being able to come home and be around my entire family at Christmastime is very special to me and something I look forward to all year. For my family, Christmas means food, movies, moon-lit walks through our woods, board games, and more food - AND I LOVE IT. 

Since Christmas day is usually spent in my footie pajamas, or some other comfy equivalent, I try to be a bit more festive on Christmas Eve. Granted, in my family all holidays are extremely casual so this is an outfit that I would just wear to class or any day of the week really, but I thought the tartan print wool skirt and cozy turtle neck made it feel a bit more Christmas-y than my usual "warm dress and black tights" option that I've been known to go for in the past. 

I hope you all have a lovely holiday season, are surrounded by those you love, are perpetually stuffed with delicious food and drink, and get some time to relax before gearing up to take on the new year! 

xo

Keep Your Chin Up

What I Wore: [Top: &otherstories - similar, Jeans: Old Navy, Hat: Target - similar, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Necklace: Kate Spade New York]

On Friday two my of girlfriends and I headed off campus and up to the North East corner of Portland for an afternoon of catching up over coffee at Barista and wandering around Alberta while enjoying one of the last few sunny afternoons before the cold weather and rain hits. It was the perfect way to spend a Friday free of class and responsibly - and this was the perfect outfit to do it in. The jeans are the most comfortable things I have ever put on my lower half, the top is such a classic it's impossible not to love, and I really have no words to describe how much I love being able to wear hats, (they are my go to "I want to feel cool/glam/vintage all at the same time" item). The particular one I am wearing in these photos used to be quite a bit bigger, and thus quite a bit floppier, but because being able to see is important to me I took it upon myself to trim the brim to a more manageable width (good thing the hat was only $10 at Target). I'm hoping now that it's the perfect size I'll be able to get more wear out of it this fall and winter!

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend, thank you so much for stopping by!

Eva

Voila!

What I Wore: [Skirt: American Apparel, Top: Old Navy, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Belt: Francesca's - old]

I've had this glittery belt in my closet for over a year and I've never worn it, do you ever buy something thinking it's going to become a staple and then you just forget about it? That is how I feel about this belt. Today was different though - I felt like glitter and some purple eyeliner were the only things that were going to be able to push me through the day, and I was right! The main reason I dress the way I do is because it makes me feel better about nearly anything - a new dress or my favorite pair of shoes improves my day no matter what way it was going before. And I think that's great. It's so important to do whatever you can to make the most of every day, even if it's as simple as the clothes you wear. For me, today, it was the glittery belt that the world forgot about.  

Variations on a Theme

What I Wore: [Top: Loft - similar, Jeans: Seven - similar, Cardigan: Urban Outfitters - similar, Earrings: Kate Spade New York - similar, Shoes: Lucky Brand]

By the end of the week my style inspiration has usually run a little dry and I often find myself weakly reaching for my black J. Crew Pixi pants and Gap chambray top, my two most well loved clothing items, as I shuffle off to the library. This Friday I tried to break that habit and opted for a more interesting variation on the same theme. As someone who is anything but subtle these black baroque printed jeans are one of my favorite items of clothing ever (and that's saying a lot because we all know I am not a pants girl)! Pair them with this embellished button up, my go-to cardigan that is literally 6 years old, and my "cool" flats and I feel like I might actually have to go out and do something on a Friday night.....watching Project Runway in my bed counts, right? I think so.

Happy Weekend, Everyone!
   

Early Autumn

What I Wore: [Top: Old Navy, Skirt: old Nordstrom - similar, Shoes: old Zara - similar, Lipstick: Bite Beauty "Zin"]

I know I am not alone in saying this but, I love Autumn. Crunchy leaves under my boot clad feet, warm drinks in my hands, and that crisp cool morning air that just makes you feel good - there just isn't a better time of year! In Portland, we're just starting to get some signs of the seasons changing. Although it's still forecasted to be 90 degrees this weekend (kill me, please) every time I see a slightly orange leaf in the trees on my way to class I get a little bit happier. This outfit, I feel, is very "early autumn" appropriate. The skirt is tweed - obviously one of the most Autumnal fabrics, and I've broken out the lightest of my berry lipsticks - yet I'm still able to walk around without tights or any sort of sweater of jacket.  I know that I'll be wearing both the top and the skirt into the later weeks and months as things get cooler and I begin to layer, but for now I am enjoying sitting in the warm sunshine between classes and drinking iced coffee without my hands freezing off.

Pretty Simple

What I Wore: [Top: French Connection, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Bass, Necklace: Kate Spade New York]

Ah, Portland - it's so nice to finally be back. After nine long months of being abroad and then being home for summer I returned back to campus last Sunday, and as overwhelming the last few days have been I couldn't be more happy to be back at school surrounded by all of my wonderful friends in this city that I hold so dearly to my heart. (Side Note: How am I a junior? I still feel like a scared freshman at least once or twice a day) On Wednesday I was able to convince one of my closest friends and roommate this year, Morgan, to take a few quick snaps of my outfit that afternoon after out classes were done. I feel lucky that my campus is in a such a beautiful area for many reasons, not the least of the which is that it provides for an abundance of easily accessible photographing locations - such as the drive-way of a swanky neighboring house. I hope to be able to put them all to good use this year! So yes, I wore this outfit on my second day of classes. It was comfortable and breezy and simple and made me feel like me. This shirt was such a find too, I found it before I left for school for only $20 - gotta love T.J. Maxx.

Happy Thursday!

By Hand London Flora Dress

I have been waiting to write this blog post for about three months now - ever since I picked up the pattern for this dress on my last full day in London. So get ready for a long post, I've got a lot to talk about!

I first heard about ByHandLondon last fall from one of my professors at school who knew I was learning how to sew and that I was going to be going to London. She suggested that I check out their website and I fell in love. I've got a thing for small companies run by by smart, creative, and inspiring women and ByHandLondon is just that. It's a small, London based, pattern making company that was founded a few years ago by three friends. The patterns that they create are unique, universally flattering, customizable, and (most importantly) do-able by anyone! In addition to their patterns, that can be purchased online or in select stores, they run an amazing website and blog which features how-tos, sewing tips, brand updates/new product releases, and their amazing sew-alongs. Let me just put it out there that without the sew-along guide being around to answer every question I could have had this dress would not have turned out as well as it did.

As for the dress I made, I selected their most recent pattern release which is the Flora Dress. I was drawn to this dress because of the shape - I knew it would suit my figure and it looked like it would be perfect to wear to friend's summer wedding I knew I would be attending in August. Once I got home from my travels I was eager to finally get started. I picked up my fabric from Hancock Fabric and set to work. Unlike my previous sewing endeavors I constructed this dress completely on my own, that's how user friendly the pattern + sew-along made the whole experience! There were a few times that I had to ask for input from my mother and together we watched many video tutorials on how to put in an invisible zipper - but all the cutting, stitching, pressing, seam ripping, and re-stitching was done by me. (I'm very proud if you can't tell). Overall the process went very smoothly and was just so much fun - I am so happy with the product and can't wait to make another new ByHandLondon piece!

For reference size-wise I am 5'9" and wear a size 4 or 6 in store bought clothing. When following the measurements on the pattern size guide I made a US size 10 top and size 8 skirt - it fit perfectly! 

Here's How I Styled It:

What I Wore: [Shoes: Madden Girl (old) similar, Belt: BCBG, Bag: Coach Poppy (old) similar, Earrings: Betsey Johnson]

Via my Instagram

Thank you so much for stopping by - hope you're all having a wonderful Wednesday!

Blue Belle

What I Wore: [Dress: Francesca's, Belt: H&M - similar, Shoes: Kelly & Co. - similar, Bag: Vintage, Nails: OPI "Don't Be Such A Budapest, Lips: Bite Beauty "Quince"]

I love any excuse I can get to dressed up, I usually end up going overboard and looking overdressed compared to other people and last night was definitely one of those instances. I went to go see a local production of Les Miserable with my mom (it's one of my most favorite musicals ever) and jumped at the chance to put on one of my favorite dresses and pull this beautiful vintage handbag out of my closet for a classy evening out. In my eyes, the little bag is the star the show. I got this handbag a few months ago during a weekend trip to Scotland while I was abroad - Kaylie and I stumbled into a random vintage shop in Glasgow while trying to escape the rain and I just couldn't leave without it. Believe it or not this is only the second time I've ever taken the bag out! Hopefully I'll be able to find more occasions to use it in the near future because it really is beautiful. 

It was a wonderful evening out - full of good food, entertainment, and an outfit that even had strangers complimenting me (although that may have just been because I wasn't wearing the usual Minnesotan attire of t-shirts and jeans, we'll never know).

Hope you're all having a lovely Thursday, thanks for stopping by!

Eva