Thursday, September 30, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/30/10

Tuesday, I was "J. Crew." Today, the president of my company used the following to describe me.

"Grunge."
"Nirvana."
"Pearl Jam."

I think it's time I retire this shirt. It's too short and makes me look like a dirty musician. Apparently.




I cried when my coworker, Misti, surprised me with this crane necklace for my birthday. She made it for me. Who am I to deserve this amazing piece of art! I love it beyond words.


Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack
Wedges: Target
Crane Necklace: Gift
Other Necklace: catbird

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/28/10

"You look like you walked straight out of a J. Crew catalog."

I'm pretty sure that's a compliment, and I'm pretty sure I'll take it!

Misc. things I'm also pretty sure about:

- the weather being (temporarily) glorious
- a Rocky marathon in the near future with my dear friend, Thao
- leftover birthday cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream every day this week




Cardigan: H&M
Blouse: J. Crew Outlet
Skirt: Target
Heels: Nine West

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/28/10

This is one outfit where I just know my mom is going to say "Vic! Come look at our adorable daughter!" and drag my dad in from the living room where he's sleeping with a schnauzer on his lap.

Yes, this is how it shall play out. I can tell. DSP (Daughter Sensory Perception.).

Thanks, Mom.



Do you ever have those days where you FEEL like you look supercute, and you even notice that you're carrying yourself as one who's supercute, but then you actually look at your pics and think "WTF really I thought that?".

This is one of those days. I don't know why - nothing special about the outfit - but I guess I just happened to be in exactly the right mindset.

Good thing I was actually wearing clothes and not, like, a giant slice of pizza costume or something.

Closeup of the scarf pattern:


I just picked this up at Plowsharing Crafts with my 15% birthday discount, so it was only like $12 - and real silk. I love the pattern! It's, like, maximum busy-ness. And totally bubushka :-D

Sweater: Target
Skirt: thrifted, originally Forever21
Tee: Old Navy
Shoe: Naturalizer
Tights: American Eagle
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts
Earrings: superold from parents (top pair); some jewelry shop on the loop (bottom pair)

Monday, September 27, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/27/10

For my birthday, I got a cool front. A cool front means that I will be in boots. HECK YES.

This is what I put together on this glorious Monday, and I felt soooooo comfortable and pretty in this. Like this outfit was me. I wish I could dress like this everyday. May I?


Tunic: H&M
Belt: J. Crew Outlet
Tights: Aritzia
Boots: Target

Dear Kate

GREAT MINDS!! I was honestly planning to write about today's glorious weather! It didn't get above 80* today, which is a win for Texas.

Also, I think that you and I wore variations on the same outfit. Seriously. SERIOUSLY!

I will take some bread and apple butter, yes'm!

Yours,
Jen

P.S. The only treatment for reverse S.A.D. is boots. :D

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/27/10

It's finally cool enough to wear my new LLBean dress!

Just a shame that I got home so late tonight - too dark for good pictures. Alas.



So comfy. So cute. I love it!

Since the dress is really PURPLE, I decided to keep all other accessories to a minimum. Just the boots, a small necklace, and my amethyst stud earrings.

I bought this necklace back in early summer, when my job was in jeopardy and I had no spending money. I wandered into Macy's on my lunch break and found this and it was just too cute not to own - especially at the bargain clearance price of $4 ;-) It was a big indulgence for me, then. How sad is that?

And oh, how glad I am that things have turned around :-)



I dunno what that face is. Napoleon Dynamite impression? :-P

Dress: LLBean, 2010
Boots: 704b, via DSW, 2009
Necklace: Fossil, via Macy's, 2010
Earrings: oooooooold - gift from parents

Dear Jen

It got down to about 48* here last night!

I'm not telling you this to make you jealous. I'm telling you this because it officially heralds the beginning of my most favorite time of year. The time of year when leaves change colors, and Starbucks has pumpkin spice lattes (soy - YUM!) and I wear boots and tweed, and...oh it's just so wonderful.

Fall is my second most favorite season. Maybe first-most. I think I have "reverse S.A.D." (no, really. I just made that up, but doesn't it sound like something I'd have?)

And I just made a couple loaves of white bread and I have apple butter to spread on it. YUM. Want some?

<3
Kate

Friday, September 24, 2010

Closet Craving: Daisy Print Multi Tier Shell


Ann Taylor Loft: $49.50

Friday Favorites - 9/24/10

Jen's Favorites:

Are you kidding me? This tutorial by the talented Miss Diana is amazing.


I want to wear this outfit really really badly.

So not me but SO GOOD.

I love the different ways this cloth is used so freaking much.


Kate's Favorites:

Great post re: competition. But the real question is - could I pull off a long denim skirt like that?

Both street outfit and garb - fantastic!

Amazing Etsy Love collection from Diana.

Gorgeous little necklaces!

This loos so yummy, and I love the ethics - wish I could afford it!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/23/10

I'm baaaaack! +1
I'm still in my jeans. -1
I'm wearing heels! +1
There are 2 dogs in my photos! +2
Bonus arbitrary points! +3847108273049287304710982372
______________
Total: 3847108273049287304710982375




According to my calculations, this is the best outfit ever worn by any person ever in the history of life and the world and the universe!

Shrug thing: Nordstrom Rack
Top: Nordstrom Rack
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack
Sandals: Target
My soul: Nordstrom Rack

Daily Outfit Recap - Jen - Boston

In case you missed it, here's some of what I wore in Beantown!

09/19/10, Monday - Location: The Paul Revere House

Cardigan: J. Crew Outlet
Tee: Old Navy
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack
Flats: Steve Madden via DSW
Bag: H&M

09/20/10, Tuesday - Location: New England Aquarium

Top: H&M
Scarf: Chinatown in San Francisco
Skirt: Old Navy
Tights: Target
Boots: Target
Bag: H&M

09/21/10, Wednesday - Location: Harvard

Cardigan: Martin+Osa
Top: Ann Taylor Loft
Belt: J. Crew Outlet
Jeans: Nordstrom
Boots: Target
Bag: H&M

The Spoils: Etsy Seller Sandy a la Mode

I don't know what else to say except that I am officially obsessed with hair pins. I didn't even know that I loved them until Sandy from Sandy a la Mode debuted her Etsy store. Maybe I only love hers. Who knows!

Thankfully, I follow her twitter and jumped on these pretty little things with a quickness. God, I love them. I almost don't even want to share her Etsy store link with you because I want to hoard all the goodies for myself, but I won't, because that would be insanely rude.





OH, AND HI. After shipping, I paid $9 total. NINE DOLLARS. I feel like a criminal. A criminal with pretty pins in her hair.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/21/10

There's a lot happening in this picture:



1)dogblur
2)my neck looks fat, for no apparent reason. Weird camera angle?
3)awesome mixing of black and brown. <3!!!
4)comically haughty facial expression
5)a Jeff standing behind the camera going, "Make a face! Do SOMETHING!"


I like this picture better, but it doesn't really do the outfit justice, now does it?



Skirt: GAP, 2008
Shirt: Target (super-clearance!) 2010. It's a size too big but was so cheap I bought it anyway and have resolved to either wear it belted, or get fat. OK, OK, wear it belted.
Tank (1): thrifted, originally Old Navy
Tank (2): Victoria's Secret
Boots: LLBean
Belt: Target, 2009
Jewelry: mumsie

BLACK. BROWN. BLACK. BROWN. BLACK. BROWN. I love that combo.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/20/10

So it's come to this, eh?



That's right, a repeat. An honest-to-gawd, every-element-the-exact-same REPEAT.

I didn't think it would bother me this much. I don't really *like* that it bothers me this much, to be honest.

A girl should be able to replicate an outfit when she wants to, right?

It shouldn't bother me this much.

(Does it bother YOU this much? Do you ever repeat?)


Dress: Target, 2009
Scarf: Target, 2009
Earrings: mum
Flats: Dillards, circa 2006-ish

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/18/10

Saturday is for errands, cleaning, and an outfit made up of "favorites":



This is also the blog - and life! - debut of this awesome scarf, which my mom found at a head shop in Lawrence, KS a couple months back.

What my mom was *doing* in a head shop in Lawrence, KS, I'm not about to ask. But presumably it at least partially consisted of scarf shopping. So it's OK. :-P

Oh! And also! I made you a present!



It's a face.

I hope you enjoy it.

Skirt: Talbots, via Marshall's
Tee: Target, 2008
Scarf: a head shop in Lawrence KS, via Mom
Bracelet: booth at Red Barn in Kirksville; circa 2007ish
Earrings: Mumsie
Shoes: Softspots, via DSW, 2008(?)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Dear Jen

Can I just say how jealous I am of all your recent travels? I love traveling (who doesn't?), and I don't get to do it enough. I love it all - flopping down on a hotel bed, eating in new and interesting restaurants, getting sort of lost, going to museums. It's all fantastic.

But you know what's my FAVORITE thing about traveling? Souvenir clothing. A scarf from a street vendor, a thrifting adventure with a friend, earrings from that little shop next to the lunch restaurant. Nothing beats souvenir clothing - it comes built-in with fun memories, and (for me at least) it's a guilt-free opportunity to indulge.

I certainly hope you've gotten to do some shopping on one or both of your trips, and I can't wait to see what you've come up with! Makes me want to go on vacation, myself :-)

<3
Kate

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/16/10

Have I mentioned lately that I love this skirt?



I think I subconsciously planned this entire outfit to make myself feel pretty and feminine and happy, at a time when I really just feel tired and gross and lazy. I didn't do it on purpose, I swear!

Cardigan: Target
Tee: GAP
Skirt: thrifted, originally Talbot's
Shoes: Kenneth Cole, via DSW
Necklace: vintage, from Mom
Earrings: Meierotto's Jewelry, KC

Friday, September 17, 2010

Dear Kate

I'm leaving in the morning to head to Boston (so excited) with my honey bunny funny lunny wunny GAG. I'll be tweeting my outfits while I'm traveling and will be back to posting on Thursday the 23rd. It seems so far away. I will miss you. I will miss Roxie. I will miss Two Closets.

While I'm gone, heed my advice:

1) Don't talk to strangers.
2) Don't kiss weird boys.
3) Don't be a menace to society.

Feel free to to disregard my advice once I return, but not a moment before.

Yours,
Jen

Friday Favorites - 9/17/10

Jen's Favorites:

Oh.my.gosh. Fifi's floral jeans. I want to pinch her fictional bunny cheeks!

Well this is a ding dang dong fun print!

This dress almost takes my breath away. Gorgeoussss.

When I see a spot-on makeup job, I die. I died. I'm dead.


Kate's Favorites:


Jen, mind if I copy this color palette?

I want to thrift a too-big buttondown just so I can try this awesome tutorial!

I miss the '90s. Or at least, this updated iteration of it.

Layered chain necklace DIY. I've gotta try this!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/15/10

Today I wear black, to mourn my lost youth.



Saturday I take my lens in to the shop, to figure out why it won't focus.

I rarely do the monochrome thing. Only when I have a really great reason :-D

Cardigan: Old Navy, 2010
Tee: Old Navy
Skirt: thrifted, originally Delia's
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Scarf: ???
Earrings: mum

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/15/10

I've wanted to get some fake pearl strands to tie in a knot for a reaaaally long time. Isn't that ridiculous? I finally found some at H&M in San Francisco and decided that today was the day I'd go for it. I don't think I've second-guessed an accessory more ever before. I went back and forth all morning and felt strangely self-conscious. I finally sucked it up, wore my knotted pearls, and am excited to pair them with future outfits. Weeeeeee. Stepped outside of my comfort zone. Pat on my back!




Cardigan: Target
Tee: Old Navy
Necklace: H&M
Headband: Gift
Jeans: Martin + Osa
Flats: Seychelles via Nordstrom

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/14/10

This morning, I thought this outfit was okay - I wanted something I didn't have to iron, that wasn't jeans, and that was comfortable. That much, I accomplished.

Immediately after I saw my outfit photos, I hated my outfit.

Now, I kind of like it. I'm a flip-flopper in heels!




Cardigan: Newport News
Blouse: Urban Outfitters
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Slacks: Banana Republic
Heels: Nine West

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/14/10

Oh man it feel like it has been AGES since I've been able to wear normal (read: non "businesswoman-y") clothes. But it's really only been like 5 days. But still.

Here's the thing: even though I've been in a white-collar office job for over two years now, I've thus far managed to elude the whole "button-down shirt, slacks and pumps" environment. First by hiding out with a bunch of architects, now by barricading myself in my office in a tiny corner of academia. I've never worked somewhere that frowns upon handknitted shawls or twirly skirts or even pink cowboy boots (though maybe not all three at once). I've been very lucky.

But even so, there are still occasions - forgive me for not going into more detail (I like to keep work and play decidedly separate) - where a girl's gotta look uber-professional, and neutral, and remove all potential for offense. Enter the black pumps, grey a-line skirt, and crisp blue top. I figure that also justifies the lack of outfit posts this past week ;-)

And now that I'm back to normal, I'm...back to normal :-)



I thought this picture was really cute 'till Jeff pointed out that Roxie's hiney looks like a dead turkey on the floor next to me.

Sorry, Roxie. Nothing personal.



This necklace + this cardigan + these shoes = my new most favorite thing ever.

Dear Jen

Can I just tell you how much I want to go to San Francisco now? Seriously. THIS MUCH. I gotta confess I looked at the Facebook pics before your post of awesomeness on Wednesday, and I LOVE it. I think you had pretty much the best - and the most well-dressed - vacation ever.

But guess what the real bitch of it is? Jeff is going there too. This week. This THURSDAY. No fair! I hope he brings me something pretty. If he doesn't, I might pout.

So as you mentioned in your letter yesterday, yeah I just came off the biggest working marathon ever. EVER. As in like, at various points in time it seriously crossed my mind that "maybe I should just stay here and sleep on the couch in my boss's office and as long as I wake up before anyone comes in tomorrow no one will know the difference." But I survived. And y'know what else? I DID IT ALL IN 4" HEELS.

Damn my feet hurt.

<3
Kate

Dear Kate

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Adore you today and everyday!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Dear Kate

I was just about to whine about how utterly exhausted I am, and then I remembered that you've basically been living off of no sleep for the past 2 weeks. So, I'll save my whining for another day.

How are you? I understand that there was frozen yogurt involved in your recovery, so I feel safe assuming that you are on the up and up.

I know I sent you a picture of my wearing the invisibility shawl that you gave me in San Francisco, and I just have to reiterate how insanely glorious it is. Seriously. I love it. My travel companion was oohing and aahing over it, because it is so fabulous (like you!).

Anyway, this week we are still hosting Louisa - the cutie foster dog. She's why I don't have an outfit picture, today. I guess it's not fair to totally blame her, but I can't really do dog training sessions in heels. It's a lot of work, but at the end of this week, Jarod and I will be on a flight to Boston to enjoy being New Englanders for a few days. And hopefully I'll be dawning my beautiful invisibility shawl again.

Thinking of you, deary!

Yours,
Jen

Friday, September 10, 2010

Friday Favorites - 9/10/10

Jen's Favorites:

Loving this ensemble on Anh. My mom used to tell me that floral prints were for grandmas, but she also used to think perming my hair was a great idea, so I'm going to have to conclude that she was wrong about a lot.

Elaine looks like a fancy museum curator. Also, a model. In other words, I want to steal her style.

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/10/10

When I woke up at 4:48 AM today (thanks to Sebastian, Dimitri, Broughton, and Louisa), I had no idea that I could feel remotely cute at any time today. But I did! It's a Friday miracle!






Cardigan: H&M
Blouse: Ann Taylor Loft
Jeans: Martin + Osa
Wedges: Target
Headband: Gift! (Thanks, Thao!)

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/9/10

PSYCH. No outfit photos today. I picked up our new foster this evening. I wore jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes.

Meet Louisa.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Daily Outfit Recap - Jen - Labor Day Weekend

Well hello, there! How were your weekends? San Francisco was amazing. I sunburned my nose, got blisters on my pinky toes, and as promised, tweeted my outfits along the way.

09/04/10, Saturday - Location: Muir Woods

Cardigan: H&M
Top: Nordstrom Rack
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack
Flats: Steve Madden via DSW

09/05/10, Sunday - Location: Lombard Street

Blazer: Tulle
Shirt: J. Crew Outlet
Belt: J. Crew Outlet
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack
Boots: Target

09/06/10, Monday - Location: Japanese Garden

Blouse: H&M
Jeans: Nordstrom
Flats: Steve Madden via DSW

09/07/10, Tuesday - Location: Chinatown

Top Old Navy
Scarf: Gift from Kate!
Skirt: Old Navy
Tights: Aritzia
Boots: Target

Friday, September 3, 2010

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Dear lovely Kate and lovely readers,

I will be flying out to San Francisco early tomorrow with my friend, Thao, to be a prisoner at Alcatraz, a humungous pinecone admirer at Muir Woods, and a glutton at various eateries.

I am excited to do some shopping. It's been a while. Thao has told me drool-worthy stories of a boutique called Aritzia, which I am really pumped about as we do not have one locally. Maybe I can try to impress you all by thrifting or buying something handmade by a local artisan? We shall see!

My outfit posts will resume next Wednesday, but I promise to be held accountable for my fashion choices by tweeting my outfits on the trip. I hear the weather is significantly cooler in San Francisco, so I fully expect to be wearing jeans - don't worry! I'll try to keep it a little fancy.

Have the happiest and safest Labor Day weekend in the history of Labor Day weekends!

Yours,
Jen

Friday Favorites - 9/3/10

Jen's Favorites:

I love this idea - so crafty and earthy. Is that a word?

Kate went shopping and done good - hooray!

At first glance I thought Drew Barrymore's outfit was disgusting. Now, I am obsessed with it.


Kate's Favorites:

Am I daring enough to try this scarf tie?

LOVE this outfit. Love it.

Amazing skirt!

::shoelust::

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/1/10

Y'all know what September hails...



BOOT SEASON!

And apparently "shake hands with the mayor* season" and "this outfit is really cute but the pictures suck because my lens's motor is dying" season

As if I had to tell you.

As you can see, now the mayor* is attempting to eat my hand. The mayor* is fickle.



I broke my own rule about "don't wear thrifted clothes 'till you wash them" just for this occasion. I LOVE this skirt and when it was literally sitting on the floor next to the blue plaid top, I couldn't *not* wear them together, y'know?

Also, some random student at work complimented me on the belt. So that's cool.

Skirt: thrifted
Top: NY & Co., 2010
Cardigan: Francesca's Collection, 2009-ish
Belt: thrifted
Boots: LLBean
Earrings: Mum

Random 1970's-esque hair feathering:

WHERE THE HECK DID THAT COME FROM?

~~~
*She's not actually the mayor. In case you hadn't figured that out. But she does like to shake hands and kiss babies and make stump speeches**.
**By which I mean, pee on stumps.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/2/10

Almost Friday. I am ready for San Francisco and cool weather.





Dress: Target
Flats: Steve Madden

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Daily Outfit - Jen - 9/1/10

Oh, man. I literally laughed aloud when I just uploaded today's outfit photos. You see, today's photos were taken this morning - something we hadn't previously tried. Since I knew I was going to be heading straight to dinner and a movie after work (hence the jeans and casual outfit), I asked Jarod to take pictures this morning. I honestly thought, "I will look fresh and young and rested since I'm not taking these at the end of the day." WRONG.


Anyway. I've worn this before. Was skinnier before.




Vest: Thursday Island
Tee: Old Navy
Jeans: Nordstrom (Rack?)
Necklace: Gift
Flats: Steve Madden via DSW
 
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