The Last "First Day"

What I Wore - Dress: J. Crew Factory, Shoes: Dolce Vita, Earrings: Madewell, Lipstick: Bite Beauty "Brandy", Backpack: Duluth Pack

Today was my first day of school. My first day of my senior year of college. My very last first day of school. I've always been someone who spends the whole of August counting down the days until school starts again. By that point I've usually grown bored of not having a schedule (although that was not an issue this summer), am itching to see my friends everyday, and have a stack of new clothes in my closet that I've been saving all summer to wear. But mainly, I get excited for the first day of school because I have always seen it as an opportunity to introduce the new and best version of Eva; to blow my peers and teachers away with how I've changed (or magically somehow became cooler over the summer, although this stopped happening after I shaved my eyebrows off right before seventh grade). Mainly, I like reinventing myself because the image I have of who I want to be is ever changing and my first day of school outfit has always been indicative of what that desired image of myself is.

Last year I really wanted to embrace all of the new found independence and confidence my semester abroad had given me. I really felt I knew what I wanted and was not going to let myself get in the way of making it all happen. I had a lot of expectations for junior year. My leather mini skirt, pointy toed flats, and embellished oxford shirt on the first day of school made that known. This year, my last year, feels different. I want my senior year to be exactly whatever it's going to end up being. I want to work really hard, spend time with the people I love, do things that challenge and excite me, and stay true to who I have become over the past four years. So I kept my outfit simple and wore what felt natural to me. A shirt dress, nude flats, simple jewelry, and a bold lipstick. I still felt like the best, most authentic, version of myself without feeling like I had to make a statement about it.

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.  

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!