Wondering What

 Top, skirt, and boots: Urban Outfitters / Bag: Alice + Olivia / Tights: H&M

Ah, look. A perfectly in-focus palm tree trunk.... Grr. Out of focus photos (that I thought were in-focus until I uploaded them) are the worst! Especially when I'm pretty happy about my outfit.

Speaking of the outfit: I've had this grey skirt for years and bought it because I was sure it would quickly become a wardrobe staple. An easy color, a simple shape, something that would pair with many shirts without too much effort. However, I always find myself stumped when I reach for it...something about how tight it is makes me unsure how loose the top should be, and a little self-conscious to wear it without tights underneath.

Anyone have a suggestion as to what to pair with this grey jersey skirt?

Uniform

 

Top: Gap / Cashmere sweater: bought in Scotland / Jacket: Urban Outfitters / Jeans: JBrand (second hand, $11.00) / Boots: Ralph Lauren / Bag: Alice + Olivia

 

When I lived in Cambridge for my semester abroad, I pretty much had a uniform. Jeans, these leather boots (the only pair of water-proof shoes I own. That's going to have to change, soon...), a sweater, the only coat I brought, and a colored scarf.

I wore a variation of that uniform almost every single day throughout the English winter. Until it got to be June and I broke out the sun dresses along with the rest of the British, celebrating the 65 degree spring. :)

Given this post and the last (yes, these outfits are 50% exactly the same). I seem to be back to my old habits. Got to work on that...

Drizzly Days

 

Top: Gap / Vest: LOFT (gift) / Jacket: Forever 21 / Jeans: JBrand (second hand, $11) / Boots: Ralph Lauren / Necklace: bought at a farmer's market ($15)

Forgive the cruddy indoor shots; these were taken over the weekend when it was raining. And please further forgive my lack of posting recently! I've been pretty sick this past week, and collapsing into a stuffy-nosed heap almost immediately upon getting home each day.

I do, however, have some great news. I found out last week that I got into my top-choice graduate school program! Getting in to grad school at all was awesome, but getting into my #1 choice is even more amazing. :) I can not wait for the fall...

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Inch by Inch, Row by Row

Top: LOFT / Cardigan: Target / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny / Scarf: bought at a book store of all places! / Sandals: Gap / Bag: vintage Coach (via ebay)

  

I spent both days this past weekend shoveling, hoeing, raking, planting, and watering my new garden. A few weeks ago, this baby was a jungle of weeds, as demonstrated here, by Won Ton, who is dreaming of his past life as a tiger:

...ya. Not so good. So, my roommates and I  decided to finally get our act act together and do something about it. Two trips to the garden store, many hours, and a few borrowed shovels later, we finally had a garden. I'm already emotionally attached to these little plants, and also kind of terrified about killing them. So far, though, so good! Wish me luck with my first attempt at this whole being-an-adult-with-a-real-backyard thing. :)

LOFT 30% Off Spring Arrivals

I have a LOFT gift card burning a hole in my wallet from the holidays, so I did a bit of window shopping to see if anything in the new Spring line struck my fancy. (LOFT is currently having a 30% off promotion on all new Spring arrivals.) My window shopping confirmed what I had long suspected; I don't like spring clothes that much. Too ruffly, too florary, too girly for me, and I'm not so keen on pastel colors. Give me the dark earth and jewel tones of Fall (along with cozy scarves and warm jackets) any day, but the light and floraly hues of Spring? Not my favorite, personally.

A few things from LOFT did interest me a bit, though probably not enough to buy right now. (All prices listed are before the 30% off promotion.)

 

Hook-and-Eye Mandarin Collar Jacket ($79.50) / Grosgrain Stripe Full Skirt ($69.50)

 

3/4 Sleeve V-Neck Cardigan ($49.50) / Lace Overlay Ponte Mini Skirt ($69.50)

Stripe Dolman Sleeve Blouse ($54.50) / Isabella Canvas Heels ($89.50)

Casual Shmasual

 Dress: from a local boutique / Cardigan: Forever 21 / Flats: Macy's / Bag: Alice + Olivia
 

I'm not even sure I get credit for this outfit, it's so easy. Dress + cardigan + flats + bag = business casual Friday. Today, being a Saturday and a perfect 68 degrees, will be an even more casual version of the same. I've got to make the most of the LA wheather while I'm still here!

Spring Green

 Top: from a local boutique ($12) / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny sz 00 / Shoes: Target leopard print flats sz 7.5 / Bag: BCBG / Necklace: from a farmer's market

 

I have a few new rules for myself right now as to what I should and should not buy. The number-one culprit on the not-to-buy list is any solid colored, short sleeved cotton t-shirt (my wardrobe staple since high school). In leui of that, I'm trying to get slightly more "grown up" shirts instead, be it by virtue of cut, fabric, detail, or color.

This shirt is still, obviously, a solid colored, short sleeve shirt, but!, it is made of silk (which wrinkles, apparently, no matter what), and has at least an interesting button detail on one shoulder. I think this makes it a "blouse" rather than a "shirt." And blouses are totally grown up, right?

West Coast/East Coast

Top: Gap sz s / Pants: Target sz 2 (super old) / Sandals: Gap sz 7 / Belt: bought in England / Necklace: bought in Italy

 

It was 85 degrees in Los Angeles today, so I wore this, yet I also spent much the day online window-shopping for industrial-strength winter coats. I've never owned such a coat, having lived 99.9% of my life in Southern California, but suddenly, I find myself in need of one. Because, well, I got into graduate school!!

It's the first school I've heard back from, but seeing as I only applied to two, and they're both in Boston, I can now guarantee that I will be spending the next two years in Massachusetts. My life, and this blog, will soon take quite a big turn as I travel across the country, live in another state for the first time, buy winter coats, and get into the grad-school swing of things! I honestly can't wait. :-D

Blogging on a Budget: February

Happy first day of March!

Here's my budget roundup for the month of February:

 

Last month, I spent:

$0 on jewelry

$16.28 on clothing*

$0 on hair

$0 on makeup

Obviously I did not have enough free time last month, or there would have been more shopping. :)

*excluding the two chambray shirts, which will likely be returned