workworkworkwork

 Dress: local boutique / Sweater: Zara / Scarf: homemade by mi madre / Tights: H&M / Boots: local boutique / Socks: Target / Glasses: Coach
  







 Grad school has truly and completely eaten my life. I haven't been able to post in forever (obviously) and am incredibly behind on seeing what you other lovely ladies are up to....I miss it!

I'll do my best to be back here as much as I can, but oh my goodness, I don't even know what free time is any more! Can't complain, though, I am so happy to be doing what I love and learning so much along the way.

Hope you're all doing well, and having a good start to your week!

One Down, One to Go!

Dress: Urban Outfitters / Purple cardigan: Target (similar: $, if only -->$$$) / Faux leather jacket: Zara (similar: $, $$, $$) / Floral carf: Forever 21 (gorgeous one from Coldwater Creek, of all places!) / Chevron tights: Target (similar) / Boots: DSW (similar)

 

Whew! One midterm down, one to go. Upon finishing my midterm, I went to the library and photocopied readings hurried straight home and took some outfit photos. I really like keeping up with this blog and the blogging community and have missed it this past week! Its good to be able to say hi again. :)

In addition to my midterm, this past week I:
-threw a surprise birthday party for the Boyfriend, which featured friends driving
up from New York, and even flying in from Portland and Chicago!
-had an amazing time hanging out with friends from college
-made best friends with/dog-sat this little guy:

Hope you've all had a lovely week! Does it feel like fall yet, where you are?

Thrifting Win and I'm (Almost) Recovered

Top: Forever 21 sz s ( ($17.99) / Jacket: Zara / Jeans: Paige lowrise bootcut sz 26 / Booties: Max Studio sz 7 (thrifted for $17.00!)



Look! I put on clothes! For the first time in three days, I wore something other than pajama pants, an old t-shirt, and my Northface jacket. I'm (kind of/sort of/almost) recovered, and celebrated by taking a shower and going out in the world for a grand total of 1 hour before I had to get back on the couch and cover myself in blankets and dogs. Baby steps.

Here's the part where I have to ask the boyfriend to stop reading, because I'm about to talk about shoes that I TOTALLY DIDN'T BUY STOP JUDGING ME.

Good. Now that he's gone. I bought shoes. These Max Studio brown leather booties, to be exact. I saw them in a thrift store for $17 and figured the price couldn't be beat. Turns out, I was right; similar brown leather booties are retailing on Max Studio's website for $269. Dang. Thrifting win!

Grey Skies

Top: Gap sz s / Sweater: from a local boutique / Jacket: Zara sz xs / Pants: Gap 1969 Always Skinny Jeans sz 00 / Scarf: Forever 21 / Shoes: Target

   

This Zara "leather" jacket was one of my best finds in the past few years. I'd been looking for a dark brown, versitile jacket for quite a while, but had never found anything that looked nice enough but was still within my price range. Shopping with some friends about a year back, I stumbled across this little thing, I believe for about $60-$70. Ya, a bit pricey for me, but I considered it long and hard and thought, in the end, that it was worth it. I'm so glad I made the splurge because I wear this thing all. the. time. Yay for Fall so I can start breaking it out again!

Outerwear is definitely one of the places where it can be hard to skimp on cost. In order to have jackets that keep you warm and/or dry, you might have to shell out a bit of cash. Since I live in LA, I'm able to get away with jackets like this (made out of Polyurethane/Viscose/Polyester, though fully lined and surprisingly warm), which cost way less than nice wool ones you might need on the East coast. Believe it or not, I have still managed to find a cheap warm wool coat (on sale for $25!) that got me through 90% of my winter semester abroad in England, also from Zara. So, I'd highly recommend that store if you're looking for decent outerwear on a budget!

Orange Skirt

 Today, some photos from the pre-face-unveiling era (and one with half a face!). I wore this outfit to Rosh HaShanah services a few weeks ago, and was happy to remix this new addition to my closet: the bright orange skirt.

 

 Top: Gap sz xs / Skirt: Zara sz xs ($10.00) / Shoes: Target sz 7 (old) / Bag: Vintage Coach, eBay / Necklace: Amrita Singh

 I wanted to bring out the blue in the skirt, and I was happy to notice that it was almost the exact same shade as my new (highly, highly discounted) Amrita Singh necklace.

 

I was worried about being able to work this skirt into my wardrobe, given the fact that I own zero other orange-colored clothes, but I'm happy to find that it's fitting in nicely. Granted, both times I've worn it so far it's been with a white shirt, but....baby steps.

Any other thoughts on how to create outfits around this bright orange skirt?

Day in the Life

Top: Gap stretch fitted button down, sz sm / Skirt: Zara ($10.00) / Shoes: Target Merona Elliana Wedge Sandals ($24.99, buy here) / Bag: Charles David (Macy's, borrowed from my sister) / Bangle: Bought in England (about $3.00)

I'm training for a new job for these next 3 weeks, which means fun times in business casual. :) This is my favorite look from the past week, which unfortunately didn't involve too many fashion highlights as I was still unpacking most of my things.

I'm happy I finally figured out a nice way to wear this $10.00 Zara skirt. I bought it because there are zero orange clothes in my closet (normally, I think the color looks awful on me), and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone.

I though the skirt could work in my wardrobe because 1) being a skirt, the orange color isn't near my face, where it would have been much less flattering against my skin tone, 2) the blues and burgundys in the flower print are colors I love to wear and have in my closet already, 3) pockets! 4) it's lined and well-made, for Zara, 5) you can't beat the price!

I'm unsure if I have another way to style it as of yet, but hopefully I'll figure it out. Any thoughts?